other than his origins in canterbury, little is known about the life of ælnoth, with even the dates of his arrival in denmark and when he wrote the 'life and passion of st canute' being uncertain. there are hints at persecution from which ælnoth considered himself the object, possibly from a priest higher up in the hierarchy. according to olrik, ælnoth shows familiarity with denmark and danish customs, but little sympathy for the danes, and appears to hate the normans who had caused him to leave his own country.