University of Virginia Library

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.

'Tis 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
Fealty. But since your Father Hardiknute 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 Garrisons 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.
Alarm, 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, Ile 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, Ile tell so sad a Tale.

Alur.
I cannot stay to hear it, hark great Sir,
Wars Musick 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 Jove, as look
upon Canutus sound 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.

'Twas 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; Ile 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 sake, Ile 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 Majoralty, 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 with 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, Ile 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, Ile carry no Coals neither, I can tell you, and yet I have
another Chaldron of curtesies to desire 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 'twas fore-promised, and
'tis 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 above,
Let Cartesmunda dye in our new love;
And let swift fame thy former glories ring,
And hide the follies of a Love-sick King.

Exeunt omnes.