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Continuation and suppression of heathen practices

Similar law codes are produced such as the early 11th-century law codes of Cnut and Canons of Edgar, written by Archbishop Wulfstan (died 1023) of York, which enforce observance of Christianity across the whole of England, including the baptism of newborns, paying of tithes, worship and love of one god and participation in housel. They further state that priests should strive to extinguish all heathen practices and forbid the worship of the traditional gods. Many laws specify punishments for those caught following heathen customs such as the Norðhymbra preosta lagu, dating to after 1027, which describes how those guilty of carrying out acts such as blót and " idol worship " are to pay a fine to the Church and to the king. In the case of the building of a friðgeard ("sanctuary"), the laws state that half the fine should go to Christ (likely meaning the Church) and the other to the landowner where the friðgeard was made, suggesting they were secret places, typically attended by those of low social standing. Wulfstan's the Peace of Edward and Guthrum similarly prescribes wergild or a fine proportional to the severity of the crime for those who honour heathenship, whilst the II Cnut law code states that apostates should be exiled or executed. Furthermore, the VII Æthelred law code dated to around 1009 instructs that all religious foundations should sing masses daily named " contra paganos " ("Against the pagans").