Edward the Confessor of Edward's lands exceeded that of the greatest earls, but they were scattered among the southern earldoms. He had no personal powerbase, and he does not seem to have attempted to build one. In 1050–51 he even paid off the fourteen foreign ships which constituted his standing navy and abolished the tax raised to pay for it. However, in ecclesiastical and foreign affairs he was able to follow his own policy. King Magnus I of Norway aspired to the English throne, and in 1045 and 1046, fearing an invasion, Edward took command of the fleet at Sandwich. Beorn's elder brother,
Iste confessor To Him be health, honor and virtue // who always shining on the heavenly throne </poem> Iste confessor Domini sacratus <poem> 1 Iste confessor Domini sacratus, // Festa plebs cuius celebrat per orbem, 2 Qui pius, prudens, humilis, pudicus, // Sobrius, castus fuit, et quietus, 3 Ad sacrum cuius tumulum frequenter, // Membra languentum modo sanitati, 4 Unde nunc noster chorus in honorem // Ipsius, hymnum canit hunc libenter, 5 Sit salus illi, decus, atque virtus, // Qui supra cæli residens cacumen, </poem> This holy confessor of the Lord <poem> 1 This holy confessor of the Lord // the feast