I enjoin upon all the sheriffs and reeves throughout my kingdom that, as they desire to retain my friendship and their own sercurity, they employ no unjust force towards any man, either rich or poor, but that all, both nobles and commoners, rich and poor, shall have their right of just possession, which shall not be infringed upon in any way, either for the sake of obtaining the favour of the king or of gratifying any powerful person or of collecting money for me; and I have no need that monoey should be collected for me by any unust exactions. Ecclesiastical laws of Canute are: Above all else, love and honour one God, and uphold one Christian faith, and love King Canute with due fidlity. *Maintain the security and sanctity of the churches of God, and frequently attend them for the salvation of our souls and our own benefit. He who violates the protection given by the church of God within its walls, or the protection granted by a Christian king in person shall lose both land and life, unless the king is willing to pardon him. Homicide within the church's walls shall not be atoned for by any payment of compensation, and everyone shall pursue the miscreant, unless it happen that he escapes from there and reaches so inviolable a sanctuary that the king, because of that, grants him his life, upon condition that he makes full amends both towards God and towards men. The first conditon is that he shall give his own wergeld to Christ and to the king and by that means obtain the legal right to offer compensation. And if the king allows compensation, amends for the violation of the protection of the church shall be made by the payment to the church of the full fine for breach of the king's mund, and the purification of the church shall be carried out as is fiting, and compensation both to the kin and to the lord of the slain man shall be fully psid, and supplication shall earnestly be made to God. If the protection of the church is broken by offenses such as fighting or robbery, without the taking of life, amends shall diligently be made in accordance with the nature of the offense. The penalty for violation of the protection of a principal church is 5 pounds, for a church of medium rank is 120s., for a church with a graveyard 60s., and for a country chapel where there is no graveyard, 30s. Maintain the security and sanctity of holy things and priests according to their rank, for they drive away devils, baptize anyone, hallow the Eucharist, and intercede to Christ for the needs of the people. If an accusation of evil practices is made against a priest and he knows himself to be guiltless, he shall say Mass, if he dares, and thus clear himelf by the Holy Communion in the cases of a simple accusation, and by the Holy Communion with two supporters of the same ecclesiastical rank in the case of a triple accusation. If he has no supporters, he shall go to the ordeal of consecrated bread.