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