 | Edmond Ironside : or War Hath Made All Friends |  |
[Act 4]
58
Edm:
What winde doth Cause yor Mr writte to vs
all is not well I doute give mee the Letter
The Letter:/
Prepaire Perillus Bull to punish mee
or some new never-hard of torteringe paine
to scourge me for my foule ingratitude
Rumor did rayse suspition in my harte
as yt hath lately done wt hin yor brest
by some whoe envied my prosperitie
my love and zeale vnto your Maiestie
that you were doutefull of my spotles truth
and meant to cutt mee of by Cuttinge shorte
my headles body wt h a bloody Axe
This on a sodaine cominge to my eare
yt payrd my harte and strooke me to the quicke
causeinge me flee the Courte to save my life
as sadly as the late espoused man
greeves to De∥te from his new maried wife
[how manie sighes[s] I fetched at my Departe]
[how manie tymes I turnd to Come againe]
[how oft I plaind how often[ddid] I [weepe] did weepe]
[were too too longe to writte or you to reade]
[But haveinge now Considred wt h myself]
[my ouer light beleefe to Credulous]
I come againe like to a strayed sheepe
tainted god watt wt h naught but ignorance
oh take mee to yor mercye, or yf not soe
kill mee yor self death is the eand of woe
finis Letter
Edm:
Heare ye my lordes this humble suplicacōn
yor mr is become an Orrator
but tell him Edmond is not lunaticke
soe like a woeman to be wonne wt h woordes
Edricus.
This Cottnes accordinge to my minde
the kinge is angrie see hee faceth me
his collour comes and goes, I hold my life
59
Edmond:
Harke yee my lords what would you saye [OMITTED]
yf yon plaine fellow should bee Edricus [OMITTED]
Alfrick:
I thinke not soe my Lord [OMITTED]
Edmond./
Ile quickly knowe
com̄e hether fellow tell thy mr thus:/
he pulls of the velvet patch of his
what Edricus ist you I thought noe lesse
you ment some good noe dout tell me the troth
what was the reason you Came this disguisde
Edricus:/
Now witt or never helpe, poore naked trewth
hath taine awaye svspicōn of decept
I neede noe arte, Art cannot helpe mee now
then plainly thus renowned soveraigne
I came thus plainely to yor maiestye
disguised in clownes attire to sound the truth
what oppinion yf good or bad
60
I had determied to bewray myself
yf otherwise, I meant wt h secret speede
to leave my native cuntry and to exile
myself from England sayleinge into Spaine
whereas I meant in Contemplacōn
in pilgramage and prayers for yor grace
to end my life.
Enter a messenger runinge
Messenger:/
Hast, hast, kinge Edmund to releeve thie land
which is opprest by multitudes of Daines
they swarme alonge thy Costes like little gnates
ouer a river in a Summers night
[or like to bees when they begine to flight]
[soe Comes theis Daines prepared fitt to fight]
Theire Battaile mane of Threescore Thowsand men
wt h bristle poynted speeres wc h vpright stand
[shewes like a new shred grove of Ashes tall]
[or elce a wood of pines and seaders tall small]
Theire flagges and Banners yellow, blew and red
resembles much the weedes in ripened Corne
Theire Drumes and Trumpittes wt h a dredfull sound
of Clashinge armor and fyer brethinge steedes
soundes like the fearefull Thunder sent from heaven
mixt wt h Æolus boystrous northen breth
They praye vppon thie subiects cruelly
like hungry Tygers vppon silley kidds
sparinge not Ancient men for reverence
nor weomen for imbisillitie
nor guiltles babes for their vnspoted life
nor holy men theire maddnes is so rise
Edmund:/
A sunne shine Daye is quicly ouercaste
a springeinge budd is killed wt h a blast
I see my state is fickell and vnsure
there is nothinge in this world can fermly Dure
yet corage Lordes we were and are the same
or hartes are sound or bodies are not lame
61
[OMITTED] god fightes for vs, god will defend the right
[OMITTED] Bace Edricus thou wert the fatall Crowe
[OMITTED] that by thie hored voyce this newes did showe
[OMITTED] thou camst to gaine wt h Cursed trechery
[OMITTED] the surname of vild inckname polecye/
[Right did I thinke whenas the fox did preach]
[he ment to gett a goose wt hin his reach]
[right did I Gesse when wt h thie oylie speech]
[thou didest my pardon and my grace beseech]
some mischife was a Broch but god a boue
Doth alwais at a pinch my patron proue
And wee have now learnd though to or laile
not to beleeve each smooth face forged taile
Edricus:
Now my most gracious Lord as god shall helpe mee
my cominge was onely for this intente
to vnfould Canutus cominge and bewraye
matters of secret to yor maiestye
62
plotted by Canutus wc h now shall dye wt h mee
yf you seeme anie whitt suspicious
Edmund
I prethy harke, lett mee heare some of them
Edrius talketh wt h Edmund secretly Alfricke pulls him backe
Alfricke:/
Traytor darst thou presume
to speake vnto thie soveraign? good my Lord
as god shall healpe mee you wilbee in trapt
Edricus:
Traytor? remember this. malice hath a perfect memory
Edmund:
Alfrick you are to blame you doe forgett yorself
age makes yee dote, know I not what to doe
wt h out yor tellinge, goe too hold yor peace
A[yleward:]
[Alfrick yor Combe is cutt yet will I speake]
kinge I am sworne to Counsell thee aright
and though I dye, I will not hold my tongue
remember hee hath often broke his faith
and fled awaye from you remember too
hee Comes from Canutus thie vtter enimie
remember he is a traytorous flatterer, A villaine & a dambned hipocrite
Edmund:
Peace Ayleward, hold yor tongue
my youth in som thinges ouerrunes yor age
tis pollecy to graunte him audience
naye further grace, naye further yf hee Craues
perhapes the leadinge or armye too
for thus I thinke yt standes hee hath promised Canutus
haveinge the leadinge of or forces
to yeald to him seeminge as though compeld
haveinge first givene an onsett on the foe
for cullor s sake but wee will ouer match him
for whilst the force of Canute on pollecye
retyres by Edrickes drift, then wee will take
the oppertunitie and rush wt h speed
63
[and trustinge vppon Edrickes pollecye]
shall all come pray vnto or souldior s
how like you this:
Alfrick:
It cannot hape amis
Edmund:
Come hether Edricus:
they whisper Edm. saith: [OMITTED]
I faith ye lye
they whisper againe [OMITTED]
Tut, tut, yt cannot bee
they whisper againe [OMITTED]
If this bee trew I pardon thee for all
and will reward thee wt h diservd grace
I will not dout yt, faith I think tis trew
though yt weare not in hope thou wilt amend
goe lett vs in and lett all quarrells end
for now I meane indeed to Creditt thee
by beinge captaine generall [OMITTED] of my armie
Edricus:/
Dutie and thankes I give tis all I have
See what dessemulacōn bringes to passe
howe quicly I Cann make the kinge an asse
Exeunt·
64
Emma:
Sweete Boyes borne to be crost before yor tyme[s]
oh lett mee kisse you ere you goe awaye
curst bee the Cavse of [y]or departinge thus
the prosicution of theis bloody daines
whose vnrelentinge eies delight to see
the full conclusion of or tradegie
Alphred:/
Good mothe sorrow not though wee de∥te
wee shalbee welcome to or vncle Richard
and saffer there then in this trobled Ile
wc h like the reelinge sea is tost wt h warr
heere wee are ever in continuall broyles
there in tranquillitie in peace and rest
heere in the midest of vnknowne enimies
there in the armes of true approved frindes
here danger eminent doth Compasse vs
there frinds and frindly Counsell shall defend vs
Therefore reioyce wee are escaped the Daines
whose greedy mawes devoures the Saxons blood
like hungry lions, voyd of anie good
Emma:
Good boye in whome thie fathers feature lives
though death hath seazd him in his wastefull armes
if I could moderate my greeved minde
wt hout remembrance what ere now I was
then should my greefe deminish wt h my teares
But memory the afflictor of the soule
bides me remember how I was a Queene
how Egelredus was my lawfull Lord
how Normands Duke was my renowned syre
how Englande was my pleasures paradice
and how tyme was when tyme did waite on mee
[OMITTED] All theis are but Bellowes to the fyer
[OMITTED] to burne my harte, consumed afore wt h sighthes
[OMITTED] Alphred, Need is a childe thou arte of age
[OMITTED] to take example by my myserye
[OMITTED] not to beleve foule fortunes flatterye
65
Good mother weepe not, yf yee doe Ile crye
[OMITTED]Emma:/
Ah my prittie harte
[OMITTED] hast thou a feeleinge of my passion?
then will I weepe the more to ease my harte
Ile morne for thee, for him and for my self
for England and for Edmund Ironside
whose ∥te god prosper, Heaven defend the right
Gun:
Madam yor healpeles teares are but a meanes
to drawe more teares from vs to drowne or hartes
Emma:
Whie man I wep«e» to ease and not to load
I trowe the more I shed, the lesse I have
and as my teares wast soe my cares consume
To dam my [harte] eies were bvt to drowne my harte
like Hecuba the wofull Queene of Troye
whoe haveinge noe avoydance for her grefe
66
But good Gunthranus to omit vaine talke
sence I have heretofore aproved thy faith
I make a Choyce of thee amongest the rest
of manie frindes to guide my little Boyes
and to conduct them into Normandye
intreat my brother for to intreat them well
they are his Nephewes and his sisters ioye
if anie thinge amis should light on them
the same on mee should bee redobled
Gunthra:
Madam even by the liveinge god I vowe
I will attend and watch them as my soule
knowinge duke Richard will accompt of them
as nigh of blood unto his Royall self
Emma:/
Then farwell boyes the Comofrt of my life
they offer to de∥te
Yet Come againe yee shall not soe departe
if that wee dye weile Choose to dye to geither.
dyeinge or liveing wee wilbee to geither
fonde woeman blesse them and then lett them goe
that is the saffest waye to keepe them safe
Then farwell once againe, god blesse you both
they offer to de∥te
But Softe awhile I have not sayd my minde
first lett me wash your face in mothers teares
then sobb out sighthes to overload the earth
[and cast a mistie fogge uppon the [w]ayre]
Shee imbraceth them
[that noe inquireinge foe may find you out]
oh lett yor sanctuary bee my lappe
She sittes downe and settinge [OMITTED] Edward on her knee a[OMITTED] Alphred in her arme [OMITTED]
yor refuge, yor sepulchers, and your graves
a Cradle fittes you better then a shippe
Gunthra:
See see Dame Naturs operacōn
what force yt breedes wt hin a mothers mind
none feeles a mothes sorrow but a mother
67
for wisdome suffringe and for patience
for Cloakeinge sorrow a desemblinge greefe[OMITTED]
and beareinge all thinges wt h a Constant minde [OMITTED]
yt can shee not conceale affection soe [OMITTED]
but that yt breaketh forth like hidden fyer
Emma rise«t»
Emma:/
ffye, fye, hid Natures found indulgencye [OMITTED]
de∥te sweet Boyes, god keepe you in yor waye
they offer [OMITTED]
Come hether Aphred, Ned I prethe staye
I will goe wt h you to the foaminge haven
and take my farwell of my darlinges there
exeunt omnes
Enter Canutus with a Letter in his hand and wt h him: Vskataulfe: Swethoe: Southampton: Archbishope of Caunterbury: Egina: wt h souldiers.
Canutus:/
Coradge brave Captaines Conquest is at hand
this letter comes from trustie Edricus
and certifies mee that hee is in grace
wt h Edmund Ironsid, and howe hee leades
68
now he assures mee of the victorye
wt hout the losse of manie souldiors
[for hee will disapoynt the warlike youth]
[and flee to vs, leaveinge him desolate]
where fore brave souldiors put forth all yor might
to quaile theire stomaches at the first approch
hee that doth take the prince in fight or flight
shall have his ransome and dubd a knight
1 Soul:
Ile venter hard to make Ioane my wif a Ladye
2 Soul:
The king shall scape my fingers narrowly
3 Soul:
Masse if I had steele sides as hee hath Ironsides
I would gore him thim that I would
4 Soul:
What yf misse the kinge, Ile have a Duke
an Earle a Lord, a knight, or gentleman
South:
Or noebody and then youle hitt yt
tell not yor chickens sires, ere they bee hatched
perchaunce the egges are rotten in the nest
then all yor broodinge hopes is cast awaye
and you remaine as rich as new shorne sheepe
I never loved to gaine by trechery
for that againe was lost by trechery
I doe remember hardy Hanniball:
did vse theis woordes at wonne Tarentums losse
Eadem arte qua prius cœpimus Tarentum amisimus
ffraud woone Tarentum ffraud Tarentum lost
soe Hanniball reapes his labor for his Cost
The drum̄s sound afar off
Canutus:
Soe Edmund so thou Comste vnto thie cost
thy roreinge drum̄e persageth thy mishape
ringinge thie soules knell wt h a hollow voyce
as thine doth mourne soe lett or Drum̄e reioyce
The Drum̄e[s] sound Enter Edmond wt h Edricus other Lordes and souldiers they fight Canutus gives et exeunt
69
[OMITTED]«t»us:/
Edricus
[OMITTED]ricus/
My Lord: hye Cheere yor flyeinge troopes
[OMITTED] and bid them stay awhile for victory
[OMITTED] whenas you see mee lead my men aloofe
[OMITTED] then take occacōn and assaile the prince
[OMITTED] and Ile be absent when hee needes mee most
[OMITTED] and present for yor best availe, make hast
[OMITTED]Canutus:/
How much I love thee Edricus heavens doe knowe
[OMITTED] and I wt h guiftes one day will manifest
Exit Canute
[OMITTED] Edricus./
Soe Edrick now thie plotforme is afoote
and one shall dye yt skills noe matter wc h
yf Edmund, Canute shall quickly follow him
yf Canute, then Edmond shall not staye behinde
whilst they wt h eger blowes assaile each other
I heere remaine a newter free from feare
not takeinge ∥te wt h Canute nor Ironside
before I see whoe gettes the victory
70
and privilye will aid him wt h supplies
rather then Edmund should escape the feild
Alarum Enter Edmund chaseinge of Canutus Edricus backes Canutus Edmund flies: exeunt: and returne. Canutus wt h Edricus
Canutus:
Thanckes worthie Edricke for this victory
this daye had made an end of me and mine
hadst Thou not backed vs wt h thie warlike troopes
know ye yf Edmond be escaped or noe?
Edricus:/
Edmund is gon and I must after him
to staye longe heere would breed suspition
then mightie Canute live longe a Conquerer
and when thou hast the Crowne remember mee
Canutus:/
yf I forgett thee, god forgett my suite
when like a sinner I doe humbly praye
forgett the Edricke god aboue doth see
how good a harte I ever bore to thee
Edricus:/
Then noble Canutus, I pawne a souldiors faith
by my best blood, and by my after hopes
I will remaine to thee and to thy heires
as trew, as falce to Edmund Ironside
Lett vs not linger heere muster yor men
and make them reddy for a new assault
I will to Edmund and excuse my self
and how I served him now Ile serve him then:
exeunt [OMITTED]
| Edmond Ironside : or War Hath Made All Friends | |