University of Virginia Library

A trew Cronicle History called [OMITTED]

[Warr hath made all freindes:/]

Enter Canutvs Archbishope of Canterbury Earle of South«am» Edricus Duke of Mercia Leofricke Earle of Chester Tu«rku» Duke of Norff' and Suff' Vskataulf and Swetho Da[OMITTED] They sitt about a table:
Canutus:/
Archbishope and you other English peeres
I heare how Egleredus late your kinge
my trybutary is departed life
And how his sonne prince Edmond weares the Crowne
wt hout the notice of yor free Consent [or]
or homage vnto mee his Soueraigne
yor selves lordes Spirituall and Temporall
besides the due my ffathers Conquest Claymes
have Chosen mee
And by an vniversall sound decree
have sollomly throughout this little world
proclaymd mee heire aparant to the Crowne
when [Egle] Egleredus livd[d]
Then lett not this younge vpstart prince of prates
hee ryse[OMITTED]
Curb yor proceedinges wt h vntutord woordes
but fnish boldly what you have begun̄e
resist his pryvate Coronacōn
and put not vppe this vild dishonor Done
vnto you Cheife Comaunders of the Realme
as though you weare not worth the sendinge for [OMITTED]

Arch B:/
Indeed his rashnes is importable
and meerely nothinge but a proud contempt [OMITTED]
against vs of the Cleirgie and the rest [OMITTED]
that have for publique proffitt of the Realme [OMITTED]
for peace for quiet and vtilitie [OMITTED]
elected prince Canutus for our kinge [OMITTED]
whose vallor wee have provd[d] vnto our Cost
whose love vnto the Church wee neede not doubt
whose Care for all we may relye vppon
and whose true bounty is soe notable
that even his fooes admire and honor him
When th'other what hee is I need not tell
tis to well knowne I would I Could saye well./
But this I say and sweare weare I my self
he ryseth./
profest a souldior or a man at armes
as I am one deprived from the world
[and from my Cradle Calld to serve the Lord]
I would wt h launce approve his tytle naught
and plead your Coronacōn wt h my sword

Canutus:/
Stout harted Bishope spoken like a Mann
would all the English lordes weare of thie minde

South:
Am I not redy to defend yor right
wt h force of armes as doth become a knight

Leofricke:/
I neare was slacke or hindmost of the rest
but ever first and formost wt h the best

Edricus/
Had I not bin a helpe vnto yor father
when as [yo] he first arived in Albion
you neare had stood in question for the Crowne
nor had your fathers warrs so prospored
Twas I that first did Councell Egelred
to paye you trybute and to buye your league
where by wee emptied all the treasurye
and had not gould fayld you had neare bin kinge.
I had a Navye once the tyme when twas
in Egelredus daies your father lyveinge
wt h wc h I should have mett you on the seae
wt h in the straightes of England and I wis
had then noe lytle vantage on yor shipes
yet I as favoringe your party moste
gave waye and lett you land wt h out resistance
and for that fact rest foulye scandalizd.
Was yt not I that gave intelligence
of all the Councells of kinge Egelred
vnto yor father, did not I I praye
fayne sicknes, weaknes, Disadvantages
whenas the kinge sent mee to fight wt h him
[OMITTED] was I not Causer of yor good successe
[OMITTED] in all yor accōns sence yor fathers death
[OMITTED]As Namely in that battale lately fought
«et»wene yor self and Edmond Ironside
[OMITTED]where I fled from him and did succor you
[OMITTED] Then sence tho'nely ladder vppon wc h
yor father Clymed to gett and you to hold
this gotten kindome was my dilligence
I hope you will not the least motion
of an ill thought Creepe in to hinder mee
nor doe I thinke you vsed this speech by mee

Canutus:/
Whie what need all this repeticōn
good fayth I meant noe harme in sayeinge soe
whie should I doubt you, wherefore should I feare
you never yet deceyved mee:/
I cannot speake but som̄e or other straight
misconsters mee
whie by my troth my lord I meant not you
but those that cleive to Edmond Ironside
and hange in parte against my goverment
calme yee therefore and bee not discontent

South:/
In token then you meane as you have said
honor my Castle wt h the name of Courte
and take a subiectes welcome from [from] his harte
to signifie you love my towne and mee

Vskataulfe whispereth in Canutus eare
Vskata:/
Whiy thates a tryfle mightie Soveraigne
yeald vnto him in[gt] this peticōn
yt will Conferme the peoples hartes to you
and make him live and dye to honor you

Canutus:/
I willingely dysscend to yor request
and will this night bee wt h you at yor place

South:/
Ile goe bee fore to Countenaunce yor grace

Exit South:/ Enter a Companye of cuntrymen makeinge a noyse.
Cuntrymen:
Where is the kinge that hee may right or wronge

Canutus/
The kinge is heere, whoe is yt Calls the kinge
I am yor kinge, speake gentle Cuntrymen
what laules hand hath Done you inivrye

One of the Cuntry:/
Renownd Canutus wee are all Daines by birth
the remnant of thie needye followers
whoe when thie father lived, lived here secure [OMITTED]
and dwelt amongest the fatest of this land [OMITTED]
wee then did yoake the Saxons and Compeld [OMITTED]
theire [thei] stoborne neckes to eare the fallow feildes
Wee then did force [vs] them honor vs as lordes
and bee or slaves or drudges and or dogges
But now I know not what the Cause shold bee
vnles the instigacōn of theire prince
younge Ironside, or ells theire stoborne nature
They all rebell and wt h Conioyned force
assault vs manly and from every ∥te
of this perturbed Iland banish vs
[wee are not able to resist theire powers]
[but fall like leaves before the Northen winde]
[huge heapes of vs lye dead in every place]
and wee vnles you healpe shall all bee slaine

All Crye:/
Healpe, healpe Canutus healpe and sccor vs.

Canutus:/
Good Cuntrymen Canutus will not see you wrongd
for yet the spirrit of my father Swaine
runes in theis vaines, wc h I will sheed
even drope by drope eare I will see you harmd
goe in good frindes and pacifie yor selves
be Confident in mee, and yf I live
I plant you in yor former quiet states
Swetho looke to them they shalbee yor Care
Exeunt Swetho wt h the poore Daines:/
Now lordes lett not this sodaine rumor daunte
yor manly hartes though Edmond bee soe stronge
wee are as stronge, and stronger farr then hee
then tell mee shall wee now assayle him
saye Vskataulf what is to bee donn̄e

Vskataulf:/
You may my Lord, yet bee remembred now
against what nacōn you are bound to warr
a generacōn like the [Ch*s**I***s] Chosen Iewes
stoborne vnwildye feirce and wild to tame
skorninge to bee Compeld [ag*s*] against their wills
abhoreinge servitude as haveinge felt
the over lodinge burden of the same

[OMITTED] Edricus
Indeed my Cuntrymen are faccous
[OMITTED] and must bee rayned wt h a markinge stall


[OMITTED]Curbe them my Lord and brydle but theire wills
[OMITTED]nd you shall find them mild and tractable


[OMITTED] Yf that you vse them as yor father did
they dare not, nay they will not look awrye
but serve you as your slaves by Conquest due
But yf you lay the teame vppon theire neckes
and lett them have but any scope to run̄e
whye then bee sure, they'l gad as theyweare [gald] [glad]
and neither know themselves nor yet yor grace
for Lynitie doth Cause them to rebell
Cause they are Ignorant of lyveinge well:/

Vskataulf:/
List how this flatteringe mate soothes vpp the kinge
and doth abuse his gracious sufferance
bace vild insinuatinge Sicophant
Degenerat bastard falcely bred
foule mother killinge Viper traytor slave
the scume of vices all the ill that may bee.
Whoe would excite the kinge to Tyranie
against his Cuntrymen but onely hee
I am a Daine renowned Soueraigne
[you have experience of my loyaltie]
[and that my Councell is not mercinary]
yf I weare wise enough to give advice
You should not prove a tyrant but a kinge
A Tyrant is abhord of god and man
when as a kinge loved and honored
accomptest thou Edricus the Saxons fooles
or rather hardy wisie and vallowrous
theire names discover what theire natures are
more hard then stones and yet not stones indeed
In [ffyght] fight more then stones detesting flight
in peace as soft as waxe wise provident
witnes the manye Combates they have fought
Denmarke or Cuntryes losse by them and theires
wt h manie other witnesses of worth
[how often they have driven vs to or shiftes]
[and made vs take the sea for our defence]
[when wee in number have bin three to one]
Oh you deceave yor self and eke the kinge
in wishinge him soe much against himself[OMITTED]
recall the former perrills wee have past [OMITTED]
whose deere boughte tymes are freshly yet in minde [OMITTED]
The tyranny yor father Swanus vsed
in tythinge peopele, killinge 9 of io
what did ensue, whie lose of manye holdes
bloodshed and warr, rebellion, sword, and fyer:/
for they are Englishmen, easye to rule
wt h lynitie, soe they bee vsed like men
patient of right, impatient of wronge
brookeinge noe tyranie in anie sorte,
But hateinge and revengeinge yt wt h death,
therefore I Counsell you, yf yt might stand
to wine theire hartes, not by severytie
but by your favor love and lynitie

Canutus:/
Good Vskataulf I alowe yor speech
and prayse yor Counsell by my owne Consent
I will indevor to suppresse my rage
and quench the burninge Choller of my harte
[wc h sometymes soe inflames my inward ∥tes]
[as I fall out wt h my best loved frindes]
[I will therefore soe moderate my self]
[as Englishmen shall thinke mee English borne]
I wilbee mild and gentle to my foes
yf gentlenes Cann winn theire stoborne hartes
But lett vs hence my Lordes by this the Earle
expectes vs at Southampton theire wele rest
till we Consult yf peace or warr bee best

Exeunt omnes
Leofricke pulls Turkillus by the sleeve, as hee is goeinge and stayes him:/
[OMITTED] Leofricke:/
A word my lord

[OMITTED]Turkillus:/
Soe you vse no bloes:/

«L»eofricke:/
I thinke you noble, vertuous, secret, wise
[OMITTED] ells would I not have opned my intent
[OMITTED] w«c»h doth soe much Conserne or privat good
[OMITTED] to you in privat soe yt is my lord
I oft have noted yor discontented gate
wc h measurd by my owne doe well declayre
the mind that rules yor body is not pleased
And sence soe sweete a Simphonie appeares:/
betwixt or bodyes, Discontent I Iudge
or mindes disturbance to bee onely one
Causd from the sadd neglect of theis strange Daies
Oh what a greefe is yt to noble bloodes
to see each bace borne grome promoted vppe
each dunghill brat arreard to dignitie
each flatterer esteemed vertious
When the true noble vertious gentlemen
are scornd disgraced and held in obliqui[e]
Bace Edricus a traytor to his kinge
is held in honor, wee twoe trustye subiectes
are feard, suspected and have libertye
only to live, yet not in libertye
for what is yt but prisonment or worse
when as or Children blood of or owne blood
are kept Close prisoners pledges for or faithes
[King Edmond whoe indeed is or trew kinge]
[for good regard of merrit and desarte]
[for honor fame and true nobilitye]
[ys rightly termd mirrour of maiestie]
Canutus is a prudent noble prince
and l[OMITTED]ves to heare him Cald soe too too much
But I «will» tell you this as longe as wee
take ∥te against or Soueraigne Ironside
wee are but traytor s therefore—

Turkillus:/
Stay noble Chester for I spie yor drift [OMITTED]
to heape as manie tytles on yor head [OMITTED]
as you have pourd on mine, weare but yor d«ue»
yet to Cutt off such troytinge theeves of tyme [OMITTED]
I saye Amen to yor intencōn
wc h is to leave Canutus and his Courte
and fly to Edmond or true lawfull kinge
But least you should suspect my secresie
by beinge woone soe soone to yor Device:/
I here assure you that this very plott
hath longe bine hameringe in my trobled braine
and had not you prevented my intent
I should eare longe have moved you heerein
but what shall then become of our Two boyes
whoe are our pledges they shall surely dye

Leofricke:/
Tutt tis noe matter yf they dye they dye
they Cannot suffer in a better tyme
nor for a better Cause theire Cuntryes good
wee gave them life for vs they sheed theire blood

Turkullus:/
Hee that sent them Can send vs more againe
then lett vs hence delaye of tyme is vaine

Exeunt
Enter Edricus solus:/
Edricus./
What shall I thinke of him that means to begg
and Canne thvs finely live vppon his witt
I was as meane as anie bace ly borne
fye saye not soe yt will discreditt thee
Tut noe man heeres mee I but thinke not soe
for yt will make thie peacockes plumes fall downe
yf one such abiect thought posse thie mind
tis strange to see how I am favored
posses thy duke dome and Canutus grace
and am the Cheife of all his Counsellours
when as my betters are exild the Courte
being discountenancd and out of grace
They Cannot so desemble as I Can
Cloake, Cosen, Cogge and flatter wt h the kinge
[Crouch and seeme Courtious promise and protest]
saye much doe naught in all thinges vse decept
tell troth to noe man Carry tailes abroad
whisper Close secretes in the giddye ayre
bee as a newes monger feed the kinge wt h soothes
please all mens humors wt h humilitie
wc h hee must doe that is a Courtier
and mindes to keepe in favor wt h the kinge
[OMITTED] [hee that had hard my story from the eand]
[OMITTED] how manie treasons I have practised
[OMITTED] how manie vild thinges I have brought to passe
[OMITTED] and what great wonders have bin Compassed
[OMITTED]by this deepe reachinge pate would thincke I wis
[OMITTED] I had bine bound apprentice to deceipt
and from my bearth daye studied villanie
I vnderstand prince Edmondes vppe in armes
layes hold vppon occacōns sluggie locke
And whilst Canutus here securely sleepes
hee wines wt h ease what wee wt h paine have gott
Mas yf hee doe and fortune favor him
I will soe woorke as Ile bee in his grace
and keepe my liveinge and my self vnhurte
But yf Canutus Chaunce to gaine a gaine
then I am his for I Can glose wt h all
And yet indeed to saye the very troth
rather of both I love Canutus best
for Edmonds father first did raise mee vppe
and from a Plowmans son̄e promoted mee
to be a duke for all my villanie
[and soe as often as I looke on him]
[I must remember what hee did for mee]
[and whence I did decend, and what I am]
wc h thoughtes abace my state most abiecly
Therefore I hate him, and desire his death
and will procure his end in what I cann
But for Canutus hee doth honor mee
becavse hee knowes not whence I did dissend
Therefore of the Two I love Canutus best
yet I Can play an Ambodexters parte
and sweare I love, yet hate him wt h my harte

Exit
Enter Edmond and Alfricke the generall vnder the kinge:/
Edmond
But are ye sure my Lo: that all is fitt
are all my souldiers furnished for this warr
what have they meate and drincke to theire Contente
doe not the Capitaines pince them of theire paye

Alfricke
Assure yor Mat i e my Care is such
as I doe daylie ouersee them all
and Cause the meanest souldier to bee searved
and have his fill of meate and drincke thats good
wt h out Controulment Checke or menaces
for th'only meanes to mare a souldiers fight
pinch him of meate and paye and pinch his might

Edmond
Then doe yee well for I am of this minde
hee that for private bace Comodetie
will starve his souldiers or keepe backe theire paye
hee that to decke himself in gorgious tire [OMITTED]
will see his men goe naked, dye for Cold [OMITTED]
ys a plaine Cutthroat to the Com̄onwealth [OMITTED]
A worthie Capitaine seeinge a tall souldier [OMITTED]
march barefoote haultinge pluckt off his owne showes [OMITTED]
and gave them to the souldier, sayinge fellow
when I want shooes, then give mee theis againe
But Capitaines now a daies
plucke offe theire souldiers shooes naye sell theire lives
to make them ritch and gallant to the eie
but soft what are yon Twoe strangers

Enter Turkullus an[OMITTED] Leofricke
Turkullus:/
Wee are rebellious traytors to yor grace:
they kneell
borne Englishmen but strangers to or selves
whoe in remorce of Consience knowinge well
wee have in takeinge ∥te wt h Danish Canutus
deserved, death come of our owne free wills
either to suffor for or hainous factes
or elce imbrace or pardons wc h we crave
even as hereafter wee shall merritt yt

Edmond
Rise vppe Turkullus, Leofricke arise
give mee yor hands and wt h yor handes your hartes
I more esteme the life of one Trew subiect
then the distruction of a Thowsand foes
One sheepe that was lost I more reioyce to find
then Twenty other wc h I never mist
A frinde of whose retorne I stood in doubt
is more welcom to mee then ffortie other
Oh that when Strangers cannot Conquer vs
wee should Conspire wt h them against our selves
[England yf ever warr thy face doth spoyle]
[thancke not thy outward foe but inward frind]
[for thou shalt never perishe tell that daye]
[when thie right hand shall make thie harte awaye]
goe in brave lords your sight doth mee more ioye
then Agamemnon when hee Conqverd Troye

Exeunt eōs