University of Virginia Library

[Act 3]

Enter at one doore: ye Arch B: of Caunter[OMITTED]y[OMITTED] at th'other ye Arch B: of Yorke
Caunterb:
Whie bends not the presumptious knee of Yorke
when Canter: speakes: Cannot the Curse
of god and mee the metropolitan
vnder the Pope of all Dominions
wt hin this realme of England Cause thee feare
prowd irreligious prelate know my power
stretcheth beyond thie Compasse [ever] even as much
as Rome doth mine then quiver when I Curse
and like a Child indeed prostrate thie self
before my feete that thy humilitie
may move mee to absolve thie former sinnes
and sett the free from Hells Damnacōn

Yorke:
Traytor to god and to thie lawfull kinge
where thou dost blese I Cvrse where Cvrse I blesse
as thou art Bishope my Com̄ision
stretcheth as farr as thine, and lett me saye
([[illeg.]] vnlese thou leave thy Contimulious threates)
further then mine Noe Canterbury noe
I humble me to God and not to thee
A traytor a betrayor of his kinge
[A rebell a prophane preist a Pharesie]
[A parrasite, an enimie to peace]
A foe to trewth and to Religion
I saye I will not bend myself to him
and such a one arte thou and therefore heere
vnles repentance bend thie stobborne harte
I heere pronounce the Curse of god and man
vppon thie soule and soe farwell and [med] mend

yorke offers to Departe
Canter:
Staye Yorke and heare me speake, thie puffie wordes
thie windie threates thie raylinge Cvrses light
vppon thie stubborne necke vnles wt h speede
thou dost forsake the parte of Ironside
and cleave vnto Canutus, and more submit thie self
to mee thie head and to or mother Church
replie not Bishoppe for [th] I seale thie lipes
wt h my Irrivocable bitter Curse
yf one vntoward woord slipp from thie tongue

Yorke
So heapest thou Cole of fier vppon thie head
[OMITTED] and blessest mee wt h Cursing impious preist
[OMITTED] oh lett mee dye whenas I leave my kinge
[OMITTED] A trew borne prince for anie forriner

Canter':
Oh I Could eate thee, now my Crossier stafe
longes to bee peltinge that old hory pate
my hands doe quake wt h rage

Yorke
You are a Champion for the Devell and Canutus
I flye not from thie Curses but thie strokes
Exet Yorke

Cant'
Ile follow thee wt h Curses and wt h Clubbes
Exit Cant'

Enter Canuts South: Edricus Vskataulf Swetho Harrold at armes and souldiers
Canuts.
Goe to yon Citie wc h wee meane to sacke
new Troy the state of Edmond Ironside
Com̄and a parley at the Cytie gates
bid them Chuse whether they will lett vs in
or els wt hstand the vtmost of or wrath
and bee Consmed to ashes and to Coles
wt h flayminge fyre which Whilom did distroy
their mother Cytie Quandam Called Troy

The Herrold departeth from the kinge to the walls soundinge his trumpit The Balifes appeare aboue
Herrold:/
Canutus kinge of England prince of daines
greetes you by mee his trustie messenger
Comaundinge you to serve him as your lord
biddinge you waite on him as on yor kinge
[and you shalbee intreated loveingly]
yf not hee is prepaird wt h fire and sword
to race yor Cytie thus hee sendes you woord:/

1 Balife
Goe tell yor Master thus wee answer him
may
his shippes that proudly ride vppon the Thames
shall anccor on the ground wher hee abides
born by the bloodshed of or Carcases
and wee Compeld by thirst to sucke the streame
of this fair river drye, soe that his [mean] men
may dryeshod march ouer the flottinge deepes
ere wee will lett him enter in theis gattes
[or ope or lipes to Call him soueraigne]
[tell him wee are resolved to keepe him backe]
Tell him wee are noe Traytors but are sworne
to bee Kinge Edmonds leigemen while wee live
and yf hee staye that shall hee soone perceve

Harrold:/
Advise you Balifes what is best to doe
incur[a] not danger wt h securetie
Canutus is yor kinge then him obaye
and to his gentle Mess[[illeg.]]age saye not naye

Both Blifes:/
Wee are resolved to put Canutus backe
he comes not heere his threates are spent in vaine

Herrold:/
I feare your wills will put yor p wittes to paine
and you repent yt when yt is to late [OMITTED]

i Balife:/
You haue yor answers soldiers gard the gatte[s] [OMITTED]

Balifes departe Herrold [OMITTED] retvrneth:/
Herrold./
There answer good my Lord is negative
full of haughtie Courage and disdainfull pride
this little peace hath brought theire stomaches vppe
wc h makes them to disdane yor princly mercy

Canutes:/
And dare they thus refuse my proffred grace
sett they soe light by my Com̄aundement
assault, the Cytie batter downe the walls
[skale all the Turretes, rush the gatts assunder]
whie slacke yee souldiers whoe is formost man
to give a valiant onsett on the Towne:/

assayle the walls
Enter a Messenger
Messeng'
Worthie Comaunder of theis Warlike troppes
Edmond yor foe is cominge hetherward
wt h a Choyce Companie of Armed men
intendinge to supprice you svddenly

Canutus:/
Hee is welcome though I hope vnto [yor] his Cost
Wee are beholdinge to his exelence
that hee voutsafe for safegard of his Towne
to yeild himself wt hout Compulsion
[Wee are as forward and as fitt as hee]
[to give his force an equall Counterbvffe]
[thoughe hee suppose to take vs vnawares]
Now noble Lordes or neuer shew yor might
to put his Men to sword and him to flight

South:
Hee that gives backe lett him be slaine
by his next fellow that doth second him
yf English men at first begin to flye
Southampton willingly for them will dye

Vska:
This day shall manifestly be knowne
how daines have better hartes then Englishmen
and bodies answerable to the same
elce lett them loose their everlastinge fame

Edricus:
The daye is yours before the fight begines
great and renowned prince faire Englandes kinge
for emulacōn wc h doth somtyme loose
now doth assure you of the victory
[See you not how the English Lords Contend]
[Whoe should exell in feates of Chivaldry]
[and Creepe vppe farthest in yor highnes grace./]
[on thother syde, behold brave minded daines]
[scorninge to ore match in feates of Armes]
[strive whoe should Compas most by porer or witt]
[OMITTED] [to ampliefie your honorable fame]
[OMITTED] The souldiers are not slothfull in this sturr
[OMITTED] but redye, forward prompt, and fitt to fight
[OMITTED] expectinge gladly that delightsome hower
When they shall grapple wt h theire enimies
Then in assurance of this happie Daye
arme to the fight yt is in vayne to staye

Canutus:/
I doe presume on this to winne the feild
but all my striveinge is to gett the Crowne
Sound Drum̄ wt hin
[Alarum]
Soft what Churlish Drum̄e doth
ringe soe rude apeale
wt hin the heareinge of our Armed troopes
Tis Edmund stricke vppe drumes
Enter Edmund wt h souldiers
and trumpittes sound
Ile not delay my hopes wt h anie parley

Alarum they fight Edmond drives Canutus offe the stage The drum̄e soundes a farr offe
Enter attired in blacke sayinge:/
Chorus:
The fight is hott but Canutus is ore Come
and Edmond huntes him out from place to place
hee flyes to Worcester Edmond followes him
the waye is longe and I am waxen faint
I faine [I] would haue you vnderstand the truth
and see the battailes Acted on the stage
But that theire length wilbe to tedious
then in dumbe shewes I will explaine at large
theire fightes theire flightes and Edmonds victory
ffor as they strivd to Conquer and to kill
even soe we strive to purchase yor good will

Alarum Enter Canutus flyinge Edmond followinge they fight The Two kinges parley sounde a Retreate and parte
Chorus
Canutus is beholdinge to the gracious sun̄e
whoe greevd to see such heapes of Carcases
lye mangled and besmered in theire gore
made hast and went to rest before his tyme
soe that the kinges for want of light agreed
to [vntell] parte vntell Aurora raise the larke
and now tis morninge and they ioyne to fight

Alarum Enter Canutus at one dore and Edm«u» at the other they fight Canutus gives backe an«d» flies Enter the souldiers of Edmond persuing[OMITTED] Canutus and his lords Edricus takes a dead «m» head vppon his swords poynt holdinge yt vppe [OMITTED] Edmonds souldiers they flie Enter Edmond a[OMITTED] Cheeringe them vp and makes Canutus flie:/[OMITTED]
Chorus:/
Edricus perceavinge Canutus to have the worst
and Edmond like to trivmph in theire fall [OMITTED]
out of the bowells of a Traytorous harte [OMITTED]
brought forth this subtell dangerous stratagem [OMITTED]
whilst the Two Battales dealt the dole of Death [OMITTED]
and Edmond in the forefront stoutly fought [OMITTED]
[wt h words encoraginge his souldiers]
[and wt h rude stroakes discouraginge the Daines]
Edricus tooke vppe an English dead mans head
and stickinge yt vppon his bloody sword
vnto the vanward of kinge Edmondes tropes
held his dispightfull and most speedy Cource
tellinge the souldiors Edmond Ironside
was slaine, biddinge the souldiors yeald
or flye the feild and trust vnto theire heeles
The soldiors in a maze begane to flye
then Edmond heareinge of this stratagem
amongest the Thickest of his enimies
gave notice that hee lived a conqueror
his souldiors takeinge harte retorned and fought
his enimies dispareinge Rune awaye
Edmond returnes in tryumph [on] [in] [to] the [stage] [ffeild]
But Canutus returnes in passion and in rage
what after happens wt h your patience
the entringe Actors gives intelligence

Exit
Enter Edmond Ironside wt h Lordes and souldiors:/
Edmond/
Praysd bee theternall bulwarke of this land
the fortresse of my Crowne in whome I trust
that hath thus discomfited my fooes
by his omnipotent all Conquoringe arme
And worthie Lordes tryumphant warriors
[whose vallours eccho through the mouth of fame]
[and writes you worthies in the booke of life]
mauger the envie of detraccōn
wee render hartie thanckes to each of you
for fightinge in or rites wt h such bould spirites
Continew to bee valliant, and yf god
make vs once happie in a peacefull Raigne
Ile guerdion every souldior bountiously
that liftes a weapon to defend or rite
Lett vs not loyter oppertunitie
but follow danish Canute and force him flye
One march afore, sound trumpittes stricke vppe drumes
lett shrickinge fifes tell Canute that Edmond Comes

The souldiors shout et exeunt
Enter Canutus Edricus wt h other Lords and souldiers
Canutus:/
A plague vppon you all for arrant Cowards
looke how a dunghill Cocke, not rightly bred
doth come into the pitt wt h greater grace
brvslinge his feathers, settinge vppe his plumes
Clappinge his winges and Crowinge lowder out
then doth a cocke of game that meanes to fight
[OMITTED] Yett after when he feeles the spures to pricke
[OMITTED] crakes like a Craven and bewrayes himself
[OMITTED] Even soe my bigbond daines adrest to fight
[OMITTED] as though they meant to scale the Cope of heaven
(and like the Giants graple wt h the godes)
at first encounter rush vppon theire foes
but straige retire? retire? nay runn a waye
as men distraught wt h lightninge from aboue
or Dastards feared wt h a sodaine fraye

Edricus./
Renowned Soueraigne doe not fret yor self
Fortune in turninge will exalt yor state
and Change the Countenaunce of her Clowdy browe
[now you must hope for better still and better]
[and Edmond must expect still worse and worse]
A lowringe morninge proves a fayer daye
ffortunes ilfavord frowne shewes shee will smille
on you and frowne on Ironside:/

Canutus:
What telst thou mee of ffortune and her frownes
of her sower visage and her rowlinge stone
thy tongue rowles headlonge in to flattery
[now by theis heavens aboue or wretched heades]
[ye are but Cowards euery one of you]
Edmond is blest, oh had I but his men
I would not doute to Conquer all the world
in shorter tyme the Alexander did
But all my Daines are Braggadochios
and I accurst to bee the generall
of such A flocke of fearefull run̄awaies

South:/
Remember you haue lost Tenn Thowsand men
all English borne except a Thowsand Daines
yor pensive lookes will kill them that survive
yf thus to Choller you give libertie

Canutus:/
It weare noe matter yf they all weare slaine
then they should neaver runne awaye againe

Vska:/
My noble lord or Cuntry men are safe
in all theis broyles English gainst English fight
the Daines or none or very few are slaine

Turns towards Vskataul[OMITTED]
Canutus:/
It was a signe yee fled and did not fight
Ist not a Dishonor vnto you
to see a foraingne nation fight for mee
whenas my homebred Cuntrymen doe runn̄e
leaveinge theire kinge amongest his enimies

Edricus:/
Give not such scoope to humorous discontent
wee all are ∥tners of yor privat greefes
[Kinges are the heades and yf the head but ache]
[the little finger is distempered]
[wee greeve to se you greeved wc h hurteth vs]
[and yet availes not to asswage your greefe]
[You are the Sunne my lo: wee Marigoldes]
[whenas you shine wh wee spred or selves abroade]
[and take or glory from yor influence]
and
[But] when you hide yor face or darken yt
wt h th'least incounter of a Clowdy looke [OMITTED]
wee Close or eies as partners of yor woes [OMITTED]
Droopinge or heades as grasse downe waid wt h due [OMITTED]
Then Cleere ye vpp my lord [ad] and Cheere vpp vs [OMITTED]
for now or valours are extinguished [OMITTED]
and all or force lyes drownd in brinish teares [OMITTED]
as Iewells in the bottome of the sea [OMITTED]
I doe beseech yor grace to heare mee speake

Edricus talkes to h«i»
South:
I doe [besch] not like this humor in my sonne
twill quight discoradge all [OMITTED]his followers

Vska:/
Hee stopes his eares to all perswasions
his Councell cannot bee admitted spech
his father Swaine was much more patient
and Could aswell brooke losse as victory

Canut:
Theis wordes proceede not from A shallow, braine

Edricus
Praise the event my lord the end is all
in the meane tyme Ile goe write to Ironside
craveinge forgiuenes and insinuate:/
his yealdinge favor, hee is pittifull
and I am rare in moveinge passion
[I knowe the prince will quickly Creditt mee]
[and putt affiance in my smooth pretence]
[but what soere hee doth or minds to doe]
[you shalbe sure to haue intelligence]
But good my Lord leave me a little while
to privat Contemplacōn for my head
swimes full of plotts and other stratagemes
of great availe and I must emptie yt

Canute:
God prosper what thou dost intend

Edricus:/
Praye to the divell god is not my frind
Exeunt manet Edricus
Stich, what Stich, Call in Stich

Enter Stich
Stich:
Heeres a Stichinge indeed, you have made Stich have a stich in his
side, wt h Cominge soe hastely after diner

Edricus:
Whie villaine darst thou eate meate in theis troblesome tymes

Stich:
Dare I eate meate I and eate tyme bee hee never so troblesome
my lord weare Mars himself made of beefe and brewis
I durst in this Chollericke stomache devour him quicke

Edrick:
Sure yeare a tall mann

Stich:/
I sir at the end of a fraye, and begininge of a feast

Edricus:
well fetch me paper and a Cornegraph

Stich:
a hornegrafter whats that, sir?

Edricus:
Serra I meane an Inckhorne

Stich:
You meane well sir. A blackhorne, you haue dipt yor penne
in manye amans Inckehorne besides yor owne
exit Stich·/

Edricus
My state may bee Compared vnto his
that venters all his creditt and his wealth
vppon the fickle hazard of a Dye
the Crowne I levell at, I venter lyfe
the Derest Iewell and of greatest price
that anie mortall hath possession of
my life is sweete yet will I venter yt
at all or nothinge trust a mother witt

Enter Stich wt h paper and an Inckehorne
Stich:
Heere ser I would never haue men that are vnmaried
soe vnprouided as they should be compelled to borough hornes
of younge men, Nor would I haue youngemen to boroughe
[OMITTED] Inhornes of married men Oh yt is perrilous when theire
[OMITTED] fore heades proves blushinge papers to bewraye younge buddes

«d»ricus:/
Sirrah be gon but bee not farre from hence
[OMITTED] I presently shall haue occacōn
[OMITTED] to imploye you in some serious busnes

[OMITTED]Stich:/
I wilbe absent when you Call I warrant you
Exit Stich

Edricus sitts downe writteth and blotteth
Edricus:/
Nay trye thie wittes thou writtest for awager
tis not for gold, but grace, and for thie life
A thinge that would putt spirrit in a blocke
and bee a whetstone to a blunter head
wt h what exordion shall I wine his harte
how shall I tye his eares to my discourse
A schole boye hath a redier witt then I
I never tryed my barraine sconce tell now
and now I see I am not Edricus
but a most blockish and dulpated hinde
[graveld at such an esie interprise]
[What standest thou triflinge and delayinge tyme]
fetch fyer from heaven and mix yt wt h thie incke
gather Parassus due and writte wt h that
plucke Cyllens feathers and make pens wt h them
borrow the Muses ayd and lett them breath
[some dulcet and melodious harmoney]
some never hard of woordes into thie pate
Hee writteth and blotteth
Ah foole how hard yt is to writte for lyfe
had I now written for my Mr i s love
I could haue fild my pene, and raysed my spech
vnto the highest stepp of flattery
[had I now written for an other man]
[to save his life or gett him into grace]
[why all the world might have given place to mee]
[for sugred lynes and phrases past Compaire]
[had I bine now in favor wt h the kinge]
[and had indevored to flatter him]
[my pene would have distelled golden dropes]
[and varied tearmes inchauntinge Cerberus]
But now I knowe not how or what to writte
to flatter weare to agravate my faulte
for anger would sift out my vild intent
Plainely to writte weare to accuse my self
and bee a witnesse gainst my guiltie soule
Yet writt I will and in the plainest sorte
for that is Cosen German vnto truth
Truth needes noe cullors though I meane to lye
my simple writtinge shall deceave his eie
Hee writteth and sayeth
I soe, O rare Conceyted peece of worke
how cuningly thou [Cast] canst convert thy shape
into an Angell when thoudost intend
to flatter the plaine honest meaninge kinge
hee fouldes yt vppe
Now for a swift winge footed messenger
to flye in post that I might follow him
[yt more behoofes mee to bee Cercumspect [OMITTED]]
[and wt h my life to trust none but myself [OMITTED]]
[swyfter then sure is noe good messenger [OMITTED]]
And now I thincke ont oh tis exelent [OMITTED]
Ile for this once deliuer yt my self [OMITTED]
but in disigisement of my mans attyre
soe may I safly goe and vnderstand
how Edmond is adicted vnto mee
and how all matters now are mannaged
Stich: Stich:

Enter Stich
Stich.
Yor will sir

Edricus:/
My will is that you will vncase for I meane to Change apparell«.»

Stich:
whye sir you not turne wiseman will you

Edricus:
Yes foole for this once, Come I saye when

Stich:
Mary sir when I som̄e boote Comeinge roundly from you for I «p»
promise you I will not Change wt hout boote

Edricus:
But I will sirrah Come dispatch

Stich:/
well sir sence their is shift but I must change
shiftes I am contented
They shifte apparell
By my troth sir methinckes yare a properer man by odes
in those the ye weare in theis, I would I Could perswade him
to bee leue mee then yt should bee knowne by his aparell
what a foole I haue made of him Sr shall wee change liveinge and
lord shippe and name and all

Edricus:/
I Stich for this once, thou shalt bee Lord Edricus and I Stich
looke—you keepe in tell [you] I Come home Iadvise you and
behaue yourself like a Lord

Stich:
I warant you good Stich Ile be lordly enough: farwell honest
Stich, fawell foole

Edricus:
Now am I Edricus and Edricus man
the secratary and the messenger
All to effect wt h Counterfeytinge guile
experimentes of matchles pollecye
well this plaine suite doth now Contayne more witt
then for soe meane a peece of Cloth is fitt
Exit Edricus

Enter Stich in his lordes attire wt h Blewcoates after him:
Stich:

Come on Yee blewcoated slaves, you that weare sattine doblets
never but at good tymes, and weare a blew-coate buto once
in a yeare, Come on I saye, ye trencher scrapeing cutters Yee
Cloake bagge Cariers, ye sword and bucklere carriers ye rubbers
of horse heles, ye Devourers of fatt oxen ye swillers of March
beere, Come after mee I saye, take example after my vertue howe
to mount, I proceedinge from the loynes of a man very littel better
the a gentle man, am now by my vertue and good educcōn to bee
yo
r Master, yor vpholders, the staffe of yor lifes, and maintainer of yo
r mastershipes, vncover Ye rouges. soe Cover. so. sirrah take my Cloake, beare yov my rapier, soe I am some what humerous and

yt becomes mee, well, follow mee follow, How I can playe the lordes
parte, oh what a foole is my m
r to Change his nobillitie for my worshipe.

[OMITTED]Roger
Blud sir, or sir Stich you must goe in heres a folloinge
[OMITTED] wee must waite on you must wee

[OMITTED]tich:
Blud Sr you must goe in, Oh hould me hould me I am Collericke
[OMITTED] whye ye shakeragge · had ye never a lord vnder yor gerdell
[OMITTED] plaine Sr Stch wt h out welt or gard, whie howe now You
[OMITTED] malipert knave haue ye forgott all good manners

[OMITTED]Roger:
Good manners bee yor speede:

Stich:
whie this tis to keepe familliar serveingman, As I am a Lord
by my honnor I sweare, I will revenge yt, wt h puttinge you out of
my howse, you fellowes take example by his punishment, follow
me iust 3 foote behind not aboue nor beneth and Roger
Rackehell for yor sawsines come you last

Exeunt