THE Love-sick KING An English Tragical History WITH The Life and Death of Cartesmunda the fair Nun of Winchester Written by Anth. Brewer Gent. LONDON Printed for Rob. Pollard at the Ben Ionson-head behind the Exchange and Iohn Sweeting at the Angel in Popes-head-Alley 1655. Persons of the Play Etheldred King of England slain Alured his Brother after disguised under the name of Eldred and at last King Canutus King of Denmark the Love-sick King The King of Scotland Edmond Duke of Thetford Edulf and Edell Lords 1 Captain 2. Captain Osbert the Rebel Duke of Mertia Erkinwald and Harrold Lords of Denmark Osrick Hoffman Huldrick Danes Walcolme a Scot The Abbot of Winchester Goodgift a Merchant of Newcastle Randal a Coal-Merchant brother to Goodgifts wife George Factor to Goodgift Thornton the Pedlar Grim the Collier Servant to Randal A Black-smith A Gold-smith A Workman 〈◊〉 Elgina Sister to Canutus King of Denmark Cartesm•nda the fair Nun of Winchester Wife to Goodgift after his widow The Scene England The Love Sick KING ACT. 1. SCEN. 1. Enter King Etheldred Alured his Brother Edmond Duke of Thetford Edulf Edell Earl of Hampshire with their Swords drawn and some Souldiers wounded before them Alarms continuing afar off King O Stay and hear me speak my noble Friends my Subjects and my Souldiers hear your King in nine set Battels •gainst the conquering Danes hath Ethelred with various fortunes fought to rescue you and England from the spoyls of War and Tyranny Recall your spirits this City Winchester is all our strength And if you cease to fight the Foe comes on With bloody rage and sad confusion Cap. 1. The breach is made the Danes rush ore the Walls and like the pent up Ocean 'bove his banks falls from his height with roaring violence and drowns us all in blood Alu. despair not quite We yet may beat 'em back arm arm to fight Edm. The Danes are in the streets slaughter begins and execution is their Souldiers words O will you lay your throats beneath their swords or doth your danger make you desperate your houses will be preys to fire and theft King Your Wives and Daughters slaves to Danish lust Alur Your Children in their Mothers arms struck dead Edm. The names of English torn from memory Oh let your valors in one chance be buil'd Or quite extirpe a Nation from the World King See on my knees I pray you for your selves O 't is for Englands safety not my own makes me a Subject to my Subjects thus pitty your King your Country and your selves that now are falling let your valors rise and in this last resist your enemies Alu. Now by my Princely birth my royal Brother His sight amazes more than all the Danes rise rise and speak no more put them away the stones will sooner yeeld you aid than they 2. Capt. Rip up our Brests and see our loyal hearts to fight and die for you in this just cause But death hath seized us all our bloods are wasted and through our many wounds our souls exhausted 1. Capt. And since we can no more O let your swords take swift revenge and save the Danes a labor In killing us you ease our present woes Alarm and cryes within Ent Edel Fly royal Princes save your lives by flight the day looks clouded there 's no hope of safety The traiterous Osbert Duke of Mertia makes Head against you and with all his Troops enters the City gates guards in the Danes tryumphs in slaughter thorough every street The aged Father of St. Swithins Abby that with his holy Cross between his hands mounted the Walls to cause the Souldiers on to fight for Freedom and Religion Seeing this Treason hath retir'd himself and on the holy Altar heaves his hands awaiting death the chast religious Mayds with Cartesmunda their fair Governess Flock to the Temple as their last defence Hoping that place may shield their innocence King Come Princely Alured my noble Brother le ts seek to stop their pressing through the City if we must die Alur 'T is but our Fate Which even till death close by thy side I le wait Exeunt Alarm Enter Osbert Erkinwald Harold and the Danes crying Kill kill the wounded Souldiers rise and fight to them the King Alured and the English who are driven out and the King slain Edm. Seek for your safety Sir the King is dead Alur See noble Edmond what the Danes have done a King by Heaven created for a Crown now onely made fit for a golden Urne betrayd to death and slaughter pittiless Edm. Curse on the Traitors heart that wrought this Treason rebellious Osbert that betrayest thy Country Alur Leave his reward to Heaven that will avenge it and brave Duke Edmond sith the times are such le ts take disguise with speed and seek for safety If Heaven be pleas'd brave Lord we yet may live if not what Heaven has given I le freely give Hie thee to Thetford raise thy friends in Norfolk If I escape with life I le post to Scotland Donald the King is of a noble spirit and will not slack I know to send his aide against this common Foe to both our Kingdoms There shalt thou meet me tho our journeys far Wee 'l once again renue this dreadful war Edm. Spoke like the hope of England Royal Prince shake hands in this red City and then part for in thy quarrell I will live and dye Alu. First bear hence this cold clay of Majesty our hapless Brother and revenge his death Edm. That and what else may but express thy Worth and Title to the Crown I le still pursue or may black infamy my baseness tell Alu. My soul shall quit thy love Brave Prince farewell Exeunt severally Alarm Enter Canutus K. of Denmark Elgina his Sister Erkinwald Osbert Harold Osrick Souldiers Osb. The Cities wone my Lord the King is slain and great Canutus with his Royal Troops may rake possession of this conquer'd Town Canu Thy love brave Osbert duke of Mertia revolting from the English to our part has overturn'd the City Winchester drown'd in the blood of Kingly Etheldred and all his Hoast Hie thee Duke Erkinwald conduct our beauteous Sister to our Tent You shall go back Elgina strongly guarded till with our swords we clear all passages that may oppose our peaceful enterance Stand on you Hill and hear the English crys While Trumpets sound the Da•ish Victories Conduct her Elkinwald Erk. I shall great Prince Elgi The Gods protect my noble Brothers safety and crown thy brows with wreathes of victory Canu Duke Harold take our Guards and march before ransack the Temple and each private house Who bears the name of English strike him dead This day the Kingdom 's wholly conquered Osb. Long may it so remain to great Canutus an hundred thirty years the English Kings have paid just Tribute to the conquering Danes which now re-conquered with assured hopes to hold possession of the State and Crown see here the slaughtered
Body of a King 〈◊〉 and disloyal Etheldred Thus 〈…〉 his foot upon thy head That was a 〈◊〉 late with precious 〈◊〉 Rejoycing 〈◊〉 by me thy pride is 〈◊〉 Canu For bear brave English Lord remember this he was a King let not thy Subject foot tread on thy Sovereigns head Take off his Crown and when the slaughter 's past present it to us and we will then reward thy faithful service enter the Town spare neither Sex no• Age Whip out this English Race with iron rods The vanquish'd are but men the Victors gods Exeunt Alarm A great Cry within Enter Abbot bearing a Cross Cartesmunda with two Tapers burning which she placeth on the Altar two or three Nuns following Abbot Come holy Virgins hie you to the Altar Car. The raging Foe pursues defend us Heaven Take Virgin tears the balm of martyr'd Saints as tribute due to thy Tribunal Throne with thy right hand keep us from rage and murder let not our danger fright us but our sins Misfortunes touch our Bodies not our Souls Keep Faith before us from Hell none escapes Our deaths may be thy will but not our Rapes Abb Fair Cartesmunda bright illustrious Maid O be thou constant in this day of tryal Vertue is Vice unless it do persever That is true Holiness that lasts for ever Car. Upon my knees to you and Heaven I swear when I do yeeld my Virgin vow to lust in the soft I wines of an insatiate bed may I give up the treasure of my youth To such a man whose lust and poisoned breath May soon reward my sin and be my death Follow follow Alarm Abb. Such Vows being kept are true religious Hark hark the bloody Foe has forc'd the Temple Turn boldly and be constant here 's the tryal All Virgins To Nature wee 'l be false to Heaven be loyal Alarm Enter Canutus Erkinwald Harrold Hofman Osri•k Souldiers Canu On on kill all spare none this by Canusus dyes ha Who holds my conquering hand what power unknown By Magick thus transforms me to a stone Senseless of all the faculties of life My blood runs back I have no power to strike Call in our Guards and bid them all give ore Sheath up your swords with me and kill no more Her Angel-beauty cryes she must not dye Nor live but mine O I am taken strangely Methinks I lift my sword against my self When I oppose her All perfection O see the pearled dew drops from her eye Arise in peace fair soul will you be mine Car. If you be death not else Canut Here is his power for if my wrath thou move This blow shall rid my heart of torturing love Pale deaths effect shall take away the cause and I be 〈◊〉 as Ayr Thou Sorceress that stay'st my hand with Witchcraft and with Charms I will unwind thy cunning Ex•rcismes Rare beautious Virgin Will you love Canutus Cartes When to these bodies dead thou givest new l••e I then will love thee Canut I le give thee death As those in blood have faln and thou shalt dye I cud We will withdraw Then kill her Cartes And I am ready Ty•ant do thy worst O heaven Canut Hold Traytor hold th' ast kill'd thy Sovereign Does she not bleed O Love how strong 's thy fear All England shall not buy this Jewel from me Didst thou strike her Har. I had not drawn my sword you came so sudden Canut Nor never may'st thou draw it 'gainst her life so she bee pleas'd to love Cartes To ha•e thee I will love but never love thee Canut Grant me thy Love my Royalties are thine and thou shalt strike the Sun blind with thy lustre in Ornaments more rich then is the Treasure •id in the unknown bottome of the Sea And for thy pleasures Cartes Peace sleek Flattery Thou seekest to violate my Virgin Vow with thy inchanting tongue which 〈◊〉 I break The heavens shall fright the earth Saints prove unjust Death lose this power ere I imbrace ma•s lust Canut She turns me wild with rage and passion I le rip thy bofome up to see that wonder a constant womans heart Sure thine is f•ne yet thus I le peirce it were it Adamant Oh! Ho offers to strike and his sword falls Erkin My Royal Lord Har. Great Prince recall your spirits Canut I 'm struck with lightning from the torrid Zone Stand all betwixt me and that flaming Sun Yet do not Let her heat in death be spent Go Erkinwald convey her to my Tent Let her be guarded with more watchful eyes Then heaven has stars for fear she be surpriz'd If here she stay I shall consume and dye 'T is time must give my passions remedy Art thou not gone Kill him that gazeth on her For all that see her sure must doat like me And Treason will be wrought against us for her Be sudden To our Tents Prethee away The hell on earth is love that brings delay Exit Erk in with Cartes Har. The Duke of Mertia with the English Crown attends the pleasure of my Lord the King Canut Present him to us O obdurate Maid The English Crown is value less to thee This thy Idea crowns my victory Ent. Osbert Osb. Low as obedience thus the vanquish'd English yeelds subject duty to the King of Danes and with this conquer'd Crown our lives and honors Canut You please us well Duke Osbert come invest us thy warlike hand shall crown Canutus head For by thy aid this Realm is conquered Osb. Long live Canutus mighty King of Danes of Denmark Norway and of England King Florish Canut Thanks Duke of Mertia We must now remember that by thy late revolt we wan this City slew Etheldred the Lord of many thousands Now for reward which should ha' come before Thou never shalt crown King or subject more Off with his head Osb. My Lord Canut A guard I say stop up the Traytors mouth Let us have fear not love Mans nature will be bold where it is lik'd A Kingdome got by blood must so be kept I will not hear him speak Away with him Bring me his wisdoms head into my Tent there wee l converse Osb. Heavens wrath is justly sent Exit with Guard Canut Here was it that I saw that blazing Star whose bright aspect promis'd a general peace to this affrighted Kingdome Torches Slaves the night comes on us we are all in darkness prepare my bed wee l rest us after toyl and sleep thou mother of forgetfulness drown all my thoughts that ere I saw this Virgin make her a stranger to my memory that I may joy in this not dye for love Hofman her looks are heaven her eyes are Cupids darts Go bring her to me Art not gone yet slave It is an Embassie too good for Hermes the Herauld of the gods Thou shalt meet Lightning yet on thou must go ask that weeping Nun dost hear me Art not gone Were Hellen now alive this Maid alone would stain her beauty and new Troy should burn Paris would dye
again to live to see her O bring me her Dull slave with reverence Let not the Sun be more out-worshipp'd by the tann'd Barbarian Tell her A bleeding Lover sent thee to her and name me if thou chance to see her smile Tha 'st not forgot my name A cup of Wine ready Hos. No my good Lord Canut Let me not spurn thee Go Fetch me some Wine wee l war a while with Love Fair Phaedra who in Corinth once was found compar'd to her as different they wo'd show as sable Ebony to Alpine Snow when first I saw her at the holy Altar Surely the gods more careful of her life then of a mass of souls brought me upon her and fix'd my soul to hers Let 's have some Musick Ent. Hofman But thou prevent'st us with a better sound The Accent of her Name strikes Musick dumb for she is Ayr of all perfection Her Name Hof Her three times sacred Name most Royal King is Cartesmunda a Religious Nun. Canut It needs no Epithite t' express the Name For Cartesmunda is the worlds bright frame I charge thee Villain strait conduct her to me Her sacred Name is Cartesmunda call'd O fairest soul I fear 't a harder Task to conquer thee than all the spacious Bounds of Barbary Had the gods none to take my glory from me but a weak woman O strange destin'd Fate Ten Worlds in Arms against Canutus State Enter Osrick and Cartesunda See the day breaks Look where Aurora comes and see the Mornings dew falls from her eyes begetting better Flowers than those of May from the glad ravish'd Earth O tell me Fayr Speak English Maid How camest thou to my sight What makest thou here Camest thou to murder me Cartis What all my friends have found but wretched I I seek for death to end my misery Canut But canst not find him for thou art immortal Death wud dye for thee if he even saw thee and for thy sake make blunt his Ebon dart Pray weep no more He prayes that might command We will not force the Jewel thou so prizest till thou bequeath it freely to my youth We are o th' Eagles kind and scorn to stoop to an ignoble Thought Sweet will you hear me 'T was King Canutus fetch'd that sigh you heard Still turn aside Well if you loathe me leave me there lyes your way Yet be advis'd Fond Maid No sooner shalt thou pass from forth my sight but the base Souldiers will lay hold on thee and what I value 'bove Religion will not be thus much there They 'l ravish thee and therefore prethee stay with tears I pray thee Thou frosty April woo't not love for love Doo 't then for Honor Pleasure Majesty Ungentle still Then get thee from my sight Go to the Woods and learn of wilder Beasts a little pitty You preserve chastity with a foul sin Ingratitude Goodnight Yet stay We are strangers We may kiss at parting Thou hast infus'd Promethean Fires into me I have two lives Yet none of them mine own Fair Cartesmunda If thou wilt be gone bid me Goodnight though in some Language that I understand not Cartes Goodnight My Lord Canut When shall I have thy Love Cartes When men shall cease to think there is a God or any thing more strange Alas great Prince My Chastity stands at the Bar above My Life I owe to you but not my Love Canut So young and full of grey hair'd Purity In vain I shoot against a wall of brass that sends mine own shafts back upon my self I must choose fitter time to conquer thee Lights and a double guard t' attend my Love Fairest Good rest be dutious in her keeping He wake with thought of thee and then with weeping Exeunt Manet Erkinwald Harold Captain Erk. The King is Love-sick Harold Joyn thy powers and round begir• this City Winchester Beset the wayes let not the English scape That stood the siege and sack of Winchester Har. I think there 's few escap'd the King is slain And England now submits toth ' conquering Dane Erk. Prince Alured the Brother to the King and Edmond Duke of Thetford both are scap'd and may raise powers afresh Therefore be careful Enter Elgina Har. Doubt not my Lord See here comes the Princes Ex. Erk. Madam I bring you dear commends from your great Brother England is won and the white flag of peace is rear'd upon the ruins of this City King Etheldred slain and great Canutus invested with his Crown and Dignity What conquest can be more Elg. That you subdue your thoughts and sir give ore till I have conference with the King Erk. And then you le love Elg. Till then I le love no other Enter two Souldiers dragging in Alured in disguise 1 Soul Drag him along he 's English and must dye Come forward sir Alu. Yee cannot fright me 't is my wish to die And I that seek it scoff your Tyranny O for fair Englands good and my lost powers Mine be the suffering and the glory yours Erk. What prisoner have our Danish Souldiers got 2 Sould. One of the straggling English my good Lord And now are leading him to have him tortur'd Erk. Let him come near us Say what art thou Whispers with Alured Elg. Some God I think disguis'd in humane shape come down to court us with bewitching looks There 's something tels me if my thoughts speak truth To thee I owe the pleasure of my youth Erk. Was that thy fortune ' thad been better far Th'adst fallen amongst thy friends in this dread war Then live to further shame Away and hang him Elg. Stay good my Lord Erk. Madam forbear the King hath sworn the deaths of all that bar'd his enterance to this City they scorn'd his profer'd peace and now must perish This may suffice Hee 's English and must dye Elg. If all the English perish then must I for I now know in England here was b•ed although descended of the Danish blood King 〈◊〉 my Father thirty years governed the one half of this famous Kingdom where I that time was born an English Princess Therefore I pray my Lord set this man free Let me bestow his life and liberty I le beg it of the King Erk. Madam t is yours go Souldiers drink this gold and let our word to you discharge your Prisoner 1. S•ul It shall my Lord wo'd we were rid of all the English thus Ex. Sould. Elg. Pray Sir resolve me what has your fortunes been Alu. The most of woes dear Princess I have liv'd to see my Country ruin'd my friends murdred My self condemn'd to die and but for you I had been dead that life I have's your due Elg. Comfort your self henceforth you shall be mine Attend this noble Lord 't is for your good Where mildness conquers we must shed no blood Erk. You are all compact of Love and Mercy Lady attend me sir and for this Princess sake we will prefer thee come beauteous Madam you now must leave the Tents to entertain
be my Arms thy Bed my Tent Har. Defend me Heaven how is this King transform'd my news is not so sad as is this sight Can. Whos 's there Harold what news Har. The English Princes mighty Sovereign seeing your Highness thus forsake the field threaten fresh war and England will be lost Can. But Cartesmunda won In thee we have all good that England holds All Conquest in these Arms Canutus folds Hast more to say Har. Yes but with grief my Lord The fair Elgina your beauteous •ister and that only one that made her Sex admir'd is slain great King Canut Give me this Bracel•t I have begg'd it long Har. And noble Erkinwald lyes murd'red too Can. Why now th' art my pretty one Come kiss thy Canutus Har. Had you my Lord as I beheld that sight the Tyranny of death had sure amaz'd you Can. What does he talk on Car. Do you not mark my Lord he sayes Your Sister 's dead Can. Let her be buried then Remove out of mine eye thou fright'st my love Some Musick there Come Cartesmunda kiss me Go bid our Souldiers hang their Arms up Fold up our Ensigns and unbrace our Drums England is conquer'd all our Wars are done and all in this that Cartesmunda's won Exeunt Manet Har. Har. O strange Inchantment the sad news I brought Though now regardless whilom would have made his eyes start from their orbs to hear of it O fair Elgina happy now th' art dead and dost not live to see thy brothers folly This is not now Canutus nor his Palace but rather seems a Roman Theatre and this young N•ro acting Comedies with some light Strumpet in bold scenes of Lust This change with wonder I behold and see That love is powerfulo're inferior things When thus to baseness it transforms great Kings Exit Act. III. Enter Grim and Colliers with Baskets and Sacks Grim. Come Bullies fetch more Coals and aboard with 'em lustily shew your selves Newcastle-men not proud but honest and humble and such as do not scorn to carry Coals 1 Col. I warrant you Mr. Grim We•'l send 'em going Newcastle Coals are Here•icks and must be burnt at London Exeunt Colliers Grim. You say well Wee 'l put 'em to water first and then let 'em put fire in their Tayls afterward Enter Randolph Rand. Well said Grim I see thou art not idle Grim. No Master I am Bayly of your Cole-pits and your Worships Benefactor I will do what lies in a true serva•t Seven hundred 〈◊〉 Indians or Newcastle Collyers your Worship keeps daily to dive for Treasure five hundred fathom deep for you and as they bring it up I le send it out to your profit Sir Rand. 'T is well done Grim thy gains will one day be a Gentleman Grim. A Gentleman Nay I hope one day to purchase a Lordship and all my Collyers under me shall be Ladies for I le maintain'em with black Masks on their faces already but do you hear Master I hear there is some disadvantage towards us and it behoves us to look to 't they say there are a new sort of Colliers crept up neer London at a place call'd Croydon that have found out a way by scorching of wood to make Charcoals and ' •is to be fear'd this may hinder our Traffick Master Rand. How To make Coals of wood art sure 't is so Grim. Most certain Sir but never fear it Master Newcastle Coals shall conquer Croydon we can give a Chaldron of Sea-coals for a sack of Char-coals Rand Thou say'st well Grim but I hear my brothers ship 's return'd with large Advantage I mean to see him mean time insist upon •hy care good Grim. Grim. O sweet Master Let me go with you I 'd fain see how Thornton our Needle-merchant has sped I doubt me his Lambs-skin is turn'd to three Sheeps-skins the wrong side outward Rand. Come Let 's go but see they come to us Enter Goodgift his Wife Thornton and George Good Now brother Randolph how is'• with you Sir Rand. Glad by the happy tydings of your News Sir Fame has out-strip'd the wind that brought your ships and tells us of a rich and prosperous Voyage I le talk with your Factor Sir and know your Pur•hase Good Do Do Mean time I le talk with Thornton here my honest Merchant of Millan Needles How hast thou sped in thy Voyage how didst thou brook the Sea Grim. I think he was glad to pump over-board How say you Thornton Thorn Tush Tush Thou art a Fresh-water Fellow Grim. Grim. A Fresh-water Fellow O disgrace to a Collier If ever I kill a Whale hand to hand it shall be thee Good Nay good Grim. Grim. Mr. Goodgift I pray pardon me Shall Grim the Collyer that has been thus long Controler of the Cole-pits chief Sergeant of the Selleridge nay the very Demigorgan of the Dungeon be call'd a Fresh-water Fellow Good Quietness I say Wee 'l have no quarrelling Grim. I beseech you Sir Let 's both be let down into a Cole pit five Fathom deep and he that kills the other shall be sti•led with a Damp and so you shall never be troubled to hang nor bury us Good Go to I say I le have yee friends again Come shake hands Grim. Never unless I may call him Porpoise now at single hand Sir Good I I Thou shalt Grim. Thou go thy wayes thou art a Porpoise and now I am friends with thee Good So So 'T is well and now as I was saying Thornton What Voyage hast thou made to benefit thy hopes your Halfpenny and your Lambs-skin My Factor tells me here thou hast been careful and diligent but to the wealth and greatness you expect I yet hear nothing Wife I marry Husband that 's the news I look for Sir Come tell us Thornton How have you bestowed the mony that I gave you Thorn Faith Mistriss as the rest my full stock to Sea you and my good friends gave was five shillings and putting in at Preston for fresh water I turn'd it there into six Tun of Iron one of which Tuns I have already sold unto an Anchor-Smith here in Newcastle for four pound the rest if I put off so well will multiply my stock most richly Mistriss Good 'T is well but far from hope of wealth and Lordships Thornton Rand. Yet that re-multiplied again good brother may help his Halfpenny and his Lambs-skin somewhat Good Well well Thornton th' art welcome home however So art thou George Go see the ship unl•ded wee 'l go before and view the Ware-houses Fac I shall Sir Good Come brother will you go Rand. Yes Sir You 'l quarrel no more if we leave you together now Grim. No Sir I mean to borrow some mony of him now Rand. That 's not his way to thrive Look to him Thornton Exeunt Manent Thorn Grim. Grim. I warrant you Master wee 'l agree well enough Ah Sirra Mr. Thornton you have got six Tun of Iron already you must take heed now that you
My Fate is come great King my vestal Vow that broken with my wish is faln upon me For your fair love I fayl'd my faith with heaven And from your hand my death is justly given Such was my former wish farewel Canutus And with my fall may thy great Fame arise Poor Cartesmunda thus untimely dyes Dyes Can. May all the world dye with thee now I see The heavens envy an earthly Diety Har. Brave Huldrick that durst dye for Countries good And for our freedom spent thy life and blood Canut Ha sit you weeping there or has Amazement turn'd you into stone That like men gasping all Medusia's stand To see my Love thus fall by mine own hand Our Self will instantly be in the Field and scourge the English pride and Inhabitants Sound up our D•um and call our Troops together and arm with speed I le to the Field and fight Farewel dear Love whom I of life bereft for which unwilling Act O pardon me Canutus arms a while shall be thy Tomb Then gold inclose thee till the day of Doom Exeunt Act. V. At one Door Enter Canutus Harold Captains with Drum and Colours At the other Malcol Alured Edm Drum with Colours Can. How harsh these Drums sound now that once like Musick did more delight mine ear than Orpheus Lute Sweet Cartesmunda's death my senses kill Like one long sick I relish all things ill Enter all the Colliers Har. Courage my Lord see where the English stand braving your Mightiness Let 's set upon 'em and never leave till to their mother Earth they pay their lives as Tribute Now what sayes Canutus Can. That ye all are Rebels Om. Eng. Rebels Alu. Stay let him speak it out Can. An hundred thirteen years the English Kings have paid to Denmark and our Ancestry an annual Tribute of ten thousand pounds which you unjustly and rebelliously detain from me a lawful successor Alur 'T is true Canutus that the Denmark Kings so long our native Island hath usurp'd and whilst they kept within their Danish bounds and left us to enjoy our own in peace we justly paid our homage F•alty But since your Father Hardiknut• arose and you succeeding him neither content with that our Tribute but would further seek our utter Extirpation which five and twenty years you have attempted planting here your selves in Norfolk Suffolk and in Cambridgeshire erecting Garrison• through all our Kingdom against the Laws of former Articles we now resolve to spend our Royal blood and either countervail our former loss or hazard all we hold by doubtful battel Can. That is your answer then Omnes Resolvedly for all Can. Now by the high and Royal blood of Kings Edm. Swear by the beauteous Nun of Winchester you oft have kist that book Can. And that one word has rais'd more vigor in my active blood then ere her beauty flam'd my Appetite to crop the sweets of Love Mal. It shall be cool'd with better spels than earst her wanton Magick could e're invent to lay thy burning Ardor All Danes Parly no more Canutus Can. O Cartesmunda from thy gentle Arms I flye to conquer in Wars rough Alarms Exeunt Al•rm Excursions Enter Canutus and Alured Can. Why do'st not strike do'st thou not like thy Aym or do'st not know me I am the Danish King that which all Souldiers seek in bloody War may here be got on me eternal honor and easily too for by the powers that made me my senses are benummed Alur I dare not nor will take no such Advantage though I on thee could vent my roughest spleen pass safe my Lord I will not fight with you for your fair Sisters sake whose love was to me so high and potent that it did attract her Virgin-thoughts to dart Loves joyes into me and for the zeal due to her Memory keep what I co'd take from you Life and Honor Can. I prethee take it I le yeeld it willingly and for I see thou art religious in thy love let me imbrace thy brest and of my Love bright Cartesmunda Nun of Winchester I le tell so sad a Tale Alur I cannot stay to hear it hark great Sir Wars Mu sick summos me for Elgina's sake I slip the Advantage that Fate bids me take Exit Can. O for a Midwife I am big with grief And fain would be delivered tho with death Alarms Enter Harold Osrick Captains and Souldiers Har. See where he stands secure him Souldiers Never did man so feebly use his sword in such sad times of Terror O my Lord can you in all this danger be thus calm Os. Though you neglect your self yet prize your honor or if not that yet for your subjects sake be pleas'd to re-assume your wonted valor Can. Can he be valiant that 's without a heart or can a senseless Trunck have sense of Loss Such have you made me therefore share the gain And to these English leave your Lives and Fame All There is no way but Flight Can. Thank your selves for 't had Cartesmunda liv'd and grac'd mine Attempts but with a smile these English would as soon take part with those that from Olympus strove to pluck down Iove as look upon Canutus•ound Retreat the blood of Cartesmunda stirs the gods for this Revenge and if this may appease her angry soul we get by losing it Do what yee will for I will never more taste joy on earth her death makes all things poor Omnes What shall we do Har. What else but fight and dye And in our deaths hide all our Infamy Alarm Enter Thornton Randolph and the Colliers they fight and take Canutus prisoner and drive out the rest A Florish and a Retreat sounded K. Scots Enter Alured Donald Malcolme Edmond Thornton with prisoners Grim and the Colliers leading Canutus and Osrick K. Thus from the usurped Temples of Canutus we take the English Crown and plant it here to whom in right it legally belongs Princes and Souldiers now with me proclaim Victorious Alured Englands Sovereign Omnes Long live great Alured our lawful King Florish Alur First to all-helping heaven due thanks we give Then next to you by whom our glories live Grim. 'T was I that took him prisoner my Lord the Colliers are the Conquerors Alu. We will reward your Valours Har. Propose a ransome Royal Alured to sad Canutus and his Country-men Can. Give me no Ransom sir O let me dye in Cartesmunda's death I brake my vow and for her sake I have neglected all and willingly have sought mine own sad ruine I le have no Ransom Cartesmunda's dead let me be buried with her that 's all the mercy I now will beg of thee from all thy Conquests Alu. No great Canutus for I pitty thee I call to mind thy Royal Sisters love beauteous Elgina worthier then thy Nun whose loving heart was once unbosom'd here and for her •ake I le like a brother use thee this one condition frees thee ransomless that you abate the Fealty we paid you you shall return unto your State in Denmark and henceforth even as brothers wee will live exchanging Embassies of Love and Honor And now to you my worthy Country-men it shall be texted to your lasting fame that your Newcastle strength set England free in this dayes fair and happy Victory for which and for thy sake most worthy Thornton wee 'l give a lasting honor to the Town now beautified by thee with Wals and Towers to which wee 'l add all noble priviledge belonging to a Town Incorporate and for your former Government of Poretereans we here establish it a Majo•alty and Thornton as the first we here create Mayor of Newcastle and give thee the power to elect a brotherhood of Aldermen with choice of Sheriffs to assist thy Government your Charter shall be drawn wi•h fullest strength Even with the fairest Cities of our Land This Sword confirms it from King Alureds hand Bear it before ye still Thorn Your Highness gives us honor 'bove our Merits Alur We have not yet done all but what we want wee 'l study to requite to thee and them Grim. Then since your grace is got into the giving Vain I beseech you sir Let Corporal Grim be bold to put a Colliers request into one of your ears Alur What 's that Grim Grim. Only this sweet King I that for thy service sake was Corporal to be Warden of your Coal-Carriers to provide Coals Surreverence for your Highness own tooth I le promise you weight and measure if none of your Officers do purloyn and warm their Noses at your fires in their own Chimnies Alu. A reasonable Request Thou art our Coal-carrier Grim. Nay I le carry no Coals neither I can tell you and yet I have another Chaldron of curtesies to 〈◊〉 from your kindness that in remembrance of Newcastle Colliers that have fought so bravely we may from henceforth have the upper shoulder and the wall of Croydon Colliers and that if ever they be found with a Goose in their sacks they may be made to stand a whole Market day in the Bakers Pulpit because they shewed themselves Cowards to their Country and durst not fight against the Danes as we have done Alur All this is granted sir Grim. Then stand thy ground old Coal of Newcastle and a fig for Croyden Alur How now still sad Canutus We now must war with love to raise this siege which we will do with Banquets and with Revels Great King of Scotland we are yet a debtor to your kind love which thus we 'gin to pay all those our Northern borders bounding on Cumberland from Tine to Tweed we add unto your Crown so 't was fore-promised and 't is now perform'd Most fit it is that we be ever lovers The Sea that binds us in one Continent Doth teach us to imbrace two hearts in one To strengthen both 'gainst all invasion Look up Canutus now all 's cleer ab•ve Let Cartesmunda dye in our•new love And let swift fame thy former glories ring And hide the sollies of a Love-sick King Exeunt omnes FINIS
and gain thy Freedom Love and Honor Ha! That kiss bold slave past thy Commission Death and the Devil she kisseth him too O fond Erkinwald be blind and do not see them thy office was to speak but not for thy self Alu. Natures Divinity is in thy looks and he an Atheist sees thee and not loves Should Erkinwald now see it I wo'd love thee tho for each kiss I had a several torture ten deaths for thy injoying were my Bliss Elg. So high I pr•ze thee by this Virgins kiss Erk. Yet you make shift to reach him with your lips Degenerate Princess I suspect thy birth Yet well mayst thou be Sister to thy Brother For Great Canutus blood runs low as t•ine and Love-sick doa•eth on an English Nun. Alu. Then you resolve to •ly Elg. Heaven knows I do Erk. Here 's one will stop your Journey Thunder part ye slave Elg. Ha O me unfortunate Alu Tush fear not Madam See here I stand my Lord Erk. A perjur'd Villain Alu. That tongue lies that speaks it Hea• me I courted for thee with my best of speech and shew'd my faith as firm as Adamant till fate that rules all love ore-rul'd her so that she became a Suiter for my love And on my worthless self her smiles hath thrown My tongue was yours but my consent mine ow• Erk. I le have that heart she loves hold eyes from weeping Elg. But I shall hate that heart if in thy keeping Sheath up thy sword and hear me Elkinwald what shall I give thee to renounce my love Erk. As much as thou would'st give t' attain Elizium sho'd not avert my love from these fair eyes Ioves thunder or eternal miseries shall never so transform me Elg. Yet I cannot love thee Erk. But I le remove the cause of that Villain thou hast seen our slaves dye when their Lords have laugh'd Come run on my weapon this is Princely favor For greater tortures do attend on thee But wee 'l be merciful in Tyranny Elg. See on the Earth thy Sovereigns Sister kneels to beg thy pitty Erk. There 's nothing but thy love can purchase it Elg. Yet have mercy the fault in love was thine thou didst betray me when thou let'st me see him and Villain thou if thou but touch his life the Great Canutus shall revenge my wrongs For after him Elgina will not live Bethink thee then O yet some pitty give Alu. Do not debase your self for my poor life I dare his worst my love is constant still More resolute to die than thou to kill Erk. T is worthy praise then see behold thy death Alu. With open eyes as I wo'd view her state And like a man thus I pursue my fate They fight Elgina goes between Erkinwald kils her Elg. Hold hold O I am slain farewell dear friend the loss of thee is Tyranny in d•ath And death a dream so thou but close mine eies Chaste love is born in Heaven and never dies Erk. Amazement to my soul O my Elgina O I am most accurs• 't was this hand struck thee Alu. For which I le be revenged thus Heaven is just Kills him Erk. Base Villain thou hast slain me Alu. 'T is thy fate Farewel Oh pure unspotted Maid unhappy Princess This hand shall keep thy will and close thine eyes Let thy soul joy for here thy Murderer lies Dead at my foot and I with thee could die Were my poor Country free from misery War calls me to the field O my Elgina Autume is on thy ch•eks the Rose is wither'd and thou look'st like the Alablaster statue Upon thy lips I print this parting kiss And flying from thee leave all earthly bliss Exit Enter Harrold Osrick and Captains Har. Osrick we hear the Duke of Thatford raiseth men in Norfolk Osr. All England sure I think will mutiny if 〈◊〉 the King neglect his hopeful Conquest by doating on a womans lustful Beauty Har. Never was man in love bewitcht like him he will not suffer speech or any counsel that may dis-swade from her he bars his fight from any but the Nun and his loo•e Panders Ha! what sight is this Duke Erkinwald and the Princess murdered this sight wo•d sad even Tyranny it self draw tears from Tygers and make wonder dumb Oh Great Canutus what por•ents are thes• This heavy curse lights on thy lust and ease Thy sister and thy best of friends are slain And safety now is frighted from thy Throne Convey this spectacle of grief aside and let a guard pursue the m••derer I le hie me to the King and there relate Their deaths his lust both guided by strong fate Exeunt Banquet Enter K. Canutus Can. She is an Angel in the shape of woman chaster than Dian colder than Freezland snow and yet she burns me if I miss her now my death must be the period of my love Go let those Jewels Cates perfumes and Musick be all produc'd together in one sense Unite all raptures let 's have nothing s•ant That she may taste at once what all Queens want Musick Strike heavenly Musick with a tuneful measure And with thy raptures swell her blood and pleasure Enter Cartesmunda and Osrick The star appears welcome dear soul to make our joyes more full fit to this Banquet Great Queen of my heart and fully joy thy senses in each part Cart. My senses are intranc'd or do I dream O let me back return to hide my shame Can. O stay divinest soul hear me but speak Cart. O I have lost my sence with these Inchantments I am I know not how for all my powers are useless but mine eyes to weep Can. Make not the earth proud to receive thy tears lest being subject unto me her King I force her to restore again those pearls more rich than all the Jewels of our Crown so high I prize thy tears yet thee 'bove all Cart. I am your Servant Prisoner Vassal worse Can. Thine eyes upon my freedom laid that curse If thou bee'st mine I do command thy love Where Kings of Subjects beg let pitty move Cart. How can so great a King be weakness slave Can. In doating of those joyes I near shall have Cart. Men that lust women once no more indure 'em In health they loathe the physick that did cure 'em Can. When I neglect thy love or touch thy life may all my Battels prove unfortunate and I lose all the conquering Danes have got and end my days with shame and inward grief Cart. Your words be registred with hands divine O keep your vow great Prince for I break mine I blush to say I yeeld I 'm wholly yours a spotless Virgin now is in your power and as you mildly courted so this kiss confirms mee to you Can. And my soul to thee Never did man meet more felicitie Run Vassals run prepare all sweet delight For Cartesmunda sleeps with me to night Enter Harold England shall sleep in peace for all my force On Cartesmunda's love shall now be spent Thy Arms shall