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
fire came neer him Rand. That 's strange Well Grim bid them alter their course for Winchester bid them put in at Lyn and Yarmouth and let London be the farthest of their journey until these Wars afford us better safety Grim. Alas Master if you stow up your ships you may ee'n hang up your Collyers for they 'l starve and dye if they come above ground once you have sevescore pits and seven hundred lusty Collyers daily digging in them and if they come above ground once What Thornton my old Acquaintance How ist 't How ist't man Thorn Never better yfaith Good Dost thou know him Grim. Better then the Taylor that made his Doublet Know Thornton the famous Needle-maker of Northumberland There 's not a Beggar that carries a Patch about her but knows him All our Collyers buy Needles of him for the same purpose Many a night has he lain in the Sellerage amongst •Thornton How many Eggs have you roasted at our fire in the Coal-pits Thorn Thou posest me now yfaith Grim I have been infinitly beholding to thee and when I am a rich man here 's my hand I le requite it Grim. I had rather thou would'st set a certain day to do 't Dost thou think to be rich by Pedlers Eggs and Lambs-skins Thorn But I have other Imployments now Grim. Good He is my servant Sir and is already by my best liking voyaging to Sea Grim. Does he go a foot Sir Good Sirra Sirra He 's a Venturer too and when you see his safe return again with wealth from Sea you 'l make legs to him Grim. How legs to him I scorn him and his Lambs-skins No Sir Thorxton must remember I am Controler of the Cole-pits and that many a night I have committed him to the Hole and there he lay forty Fathom deep beneath me where I co'd have buried him alive if I had thought on 't Make legs to him Good Come Come Sir Wee 'l have you friends at parting Go George follow my directions and let Thornton have that Imployment I prescribed to you Come Sir you shall first erect your Character according to your mind at the Towns end to keep a Record of your Entrance in Thorn With hope a Halfpenny and a Lambs-skin that 's all Sir Grim. Ha Ha a brave rich man I promise you Exeunt Enter Erkinwald and Alured Erkin Is thy name Eldred Alur Yes My good Lord Erkin Thou art my prisoner still and we have power o're all thy Life and Fortunes Alur I still confess it Sir Erkin 'T is well Canst thou guess then why my love extends it self so lineally towards thee Thou know'st that even from death I have advanced thee close to my self and trust thee with my secrets and one above the rest requires thy aid thy subtle and quick brain can better forge matter of fair discourse than mine can be The bright Elgina thou must court for me In Peace and War she has been still my aym for her the tedious night I do beguile with serious thoughts of her divinity and watching till the midnight Chimes be past have wak'd again before the Village Cock had call'd the Plowman to his early labor Go plead my love yet ere thou go here swear Yet I with love will win thee not with fear Never to injure me in this disguise Nor with Icarian wing to soar too high Alur I were a villain to betray your trust being so meritless of your great favours and therefore vow by all that man may swear by I le be as true to you in this imployment as truth is to the just Erk Thou hast said enough I leave it to thy tr•st Go return and make me happy there 's gold spend freely Exit Alu. Fortune I see thou now art blind and foolish and without aim direct'st thy giddy shafts these gifts thou givest to me which I despise what physick h•lps a man just as he dies T is Englands peace that I would live to Court but she is fled and I a captive Prince slave to my mortal foes till time release me that once I may regreet my English friends which long ere this I know have wish'd my presence to joyn our forces for our Countryes freedom Enter Elgina But here she comes whom I must plead for love my faith is past and were she beauties Queen and half the world her dowre I wo'd not wrong The trust I have receiv'd I le court her for him And plead my Masters love though she abhor him Elg. Who 's there Eldred Alu. Your pardon beauteous Princess I must wooe you Elg. But I le prevent you sir for I le wooe you Alu. For noble Erkinwald my warlike Master All love from him Elg. Is nothing like to thee That conquer'st love and Cupids Deity Alu. You do amaze me Lady Elg. Be not afraid But tell me boldly could you love a Maid That for thy sake wo'd be a president and teach all women a new way to win the often wish'd desires of stubborn me• In me you shall observe patience and duty tender care and fear by thy bright eyes I le teach the constant Turtle truer love and make the Nuns at Vesta's Altar swea• The Virgin state is not so strict to move As the obsequious life you lead in love And cannot you yet say you mean to love me Alu. Beshrew me Madam but you tempt me shrewdly pray give me leave to think upon 't Ha! my vow 's not broke yet for I wooe not her that was my oath sure and I think there 's no man that can withstand the wooing of a woman Fond fool how quickly youth and blood transform Elg. Come What 's your answer Alu. Dearest Lady There is but one thing in the world that hates me and you have brought it with you Elg. O me what sho'd it be Alu. Forgive my rashness 't is a thing within you not you that charms me from you Elg. Be it my heart I le pull it out so thou wilt love me Alu. O gracious Princess 't is your Royal blood so near allied i•to the great Canutus Keeps me at distance were our states made even My love sho'd be as strong as zeal to H•aven Therefore Imperial Maid Elg. No more if that be all we will dispence with greatness use me like one that loves you I le Invent a plot that shall in short secure us both I crave but this that thou be true of faith For by my life I love thee Alu. And gracious Princess since now I see your passions are unfeign'd I vow not onely to requite your love but with affected and sincere intents to crown your wishes though it work my ruin Elg. Our faiths and hearts are one then Cupids wings Can crown mean births with joy make slaves of Kings Knew Erkinwald my heart hee 'd change with thee And be thy slave to have command ore me Lend me thine ear in private Enter Erkinwald Erk. At it so close I le hear their conference win her
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
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
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
the glorious tryumphs of the great Canutus whom you must comfort for the Love-sick King sits sadly doating on a beauteous Nun. Elg. Is' t possible my Lord the King our brother In midst of Conquest sho'd be Cupids prisoner Erk. Such is loves power it flies with swiftest wings And midst his armed Guards he woundeth Kings Elg. Venus defend me if he be thus powerful we shall be all Souldiers and these stern Wars must be transformed into Loves encounters Well my good Lord wee 'l see this English wonder my Brother so admires call for our Guard and Train Erk. They are ready madam Elg. Go you before then sir and I le not stay Look to your Prisoner lest he •un away Erk. O fear not Lady Come sir Ex. Erk. Alur Elg. Wo'd he wo'd run so he wo'd take me with him by Iove I love him but 't is bashfulness that thus makes women hide their passions even till we burst and die we must not plead love Yea tho 't be offered we must still refuse it With fo•d denial when we wish to chuse it I see no sence for this well amorous youth For thy sake I le teach women what to do And spight of custom to begin to wooe Exit ACT. 2. Enter Thorneton with Needles and a A Lambs-skin Singing Thor Be gone be gone my Juggy my Puggy be gone my Love my Dear my Money is gone and ware I have none but one poor Lamb-skin here Why so and who buies this Lamb-skin now A most fine dainty nappy Lamb-skin if a Lady would line her Petticoat A sweeter Lamb-skin cannot kiss her Catastrophe Let me see how often do I transform my self in four and twenty hours First Here in Northumberland mine own native Country amongst poor people I change these myllan fustian Needles into eggs then my eggs into money and then am I a Merchant not of Eels-skins but Lamb-skins and thus poor Thornton of Northumberland picks out a living in spight of Beggery Yet this is not the living that I aim at neither for I may tell to all men that I have a terrible mind to be a horrible rich man nay I am half assured on 't too for where ere I go there 's something still whispers in mine ears I shall be greater and here at Newcastle too into which I am now entring All which to confirm a Witch or a Jugler has guided my fate in writing and now I le read it once again that all the World may know my fortunes and wonder at them Mark then for thus it goes Reads Go to Newcastle take thy fate Yet ere thou enter count thy State If service in that place thou get Thy wealth will rise to infinite And Thorntons name in England stand The richest Subject in the Land O fortune how hast thou favoured a poor Merchant stranger I have all this wealth in conceit already and all this have I got of cunning man for two poor Millan Needles and one of 'em lacks an eye too No matter Hope keeps the heart whole and I shall be rich that 's certain but how I know not nor care not so I come in any likeness my Fortune says I must get a service here in Newcastle but ere I enter I must count the wealth I have now and that 's soon reckoned one poor half penny and a Lambs-skin is all the wealth I have yfaith and yet for all this my state must stand the richest Subject in the Land 't is certain my mind gives me it and I am assur'd on 't yet I must put my self in remembrance of my poverty lest I should forget my self when I am grown so rich I will write a note on 't ere I enter the Town and hang it here upon some tree to keep it in mind as long as the River of Tine runs under it Let me see instead of paper this Tile-stone shall serve and here 's and Ink-horn I stole from my Hostis a scurvy Quean if I had not given her money for my Ale she would have chaulked me presently this shall serve the turn I le sit down and write sweet Hellicon inspire me with thy Castalian lucke Enter Goodgift and Randolfe and George his Wife Good Come come dispatch the wind is North North West and blows fair on us Where is George my Factor Fact Here Sir Good At the next ebb good George I and the ship fall down to Tinmouth are your books made even the goods made fit and all things fitting for the voyage Fact All 's done sir the Commodities priz'd and summ'd their value at my back return from Sea I hope to treble to you Good Heaven deal in that or gain or loss we must be still contented and therefore are we call'd Adventurers because we know 't is hazzard Rand. •Tis indeed sir and I do wonder at this gain of hazard you le set so great a state seeing the time joyns with the Sea in danger the Danish Fleet watcheth to pill the English Venturers Then be advis'd Wife Yet to avoid all dangers Husband I 'de have you do as here my Brother doth ve•ture your state in your own Country tho the gains be smaller the safety 's not so doubtful Good I I Wife thy Brother Randolfe here is known a famous Merchant for Newcastle Coals and England holds the circuit of his traffick but we that are Adventures abroad must fame our Country through all Christendom nay far beyond our Christian Territories to Egypt Barbary and the Tauny Moors Where not indeed if Sea and wind gives way unto our dancing Vessels nay nay Brother your merchandize compar'd with us I tell you is but a poor fresh-water venture Rand. Well brother well pursue your Foraign gain I rest content at home at the years end wee 'l cast the difference 'twixt your far-fetch'd treasure and our Newcastle home-bred Minerals you shall perceive strange transformation black coals turn'd to white silver that 's my comfort sir Good And take it to you sir with much good I wish it But stay slay who is that Rand. One that is very brain busie it seems Good Peace peace observe him prethee Thorn Here did Thornton enter in With hope a half penny and a Lambs-skin It shall go yfaith I le never strive to mend it foot this Poetry and a mans brains were not well laid in his head woo'd make him mad I think if there be any Hellicon in England 't is here at Newcastle I am inspired with it every Coal-pit has a rellish on 't for who goes down but he comes out as black as Ink Good Is not this fellow mad Rand. Good faith I doubt it Thorn Well this writing will I set up here at the Towns end that when I have got all these riches together and sit amongst my comely Brethren I then may staulk the pace of wit and worship here to read this Manuscript then will I view my Ware-houses disperse my coyn comfort the poor I and perhaps build Churches Rand.