Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 130 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 130: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose poetry from what appears to be an early printed ballad or narrative poem (not a Victorian penny dreadful, despite the question's framing—the typography and language suggest this is much older, likely 16th or 17th century). The text describes a conflict between two kings who agree to settle their dispute through single combat; King Canute and his opponent fight, then agree to partition their lands as brothers. The passage concludes with an earl named Edricus murdering Edmund to win Canute's favor, for which Canute has Edricus beheaded, after which Canute becomes lord of England, Denmark, and Norway.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
fé dy = Y 06 " RLETIONS “ENGHEND. D eath feares not vs,nor for their liues our ilbewnied Soe care: 4 t followes then,that all muft die wheare all fo def prat are. -Tfall-be flaine,then who thall ferue our Princes that furniue, ° _ Or fence our Forrens 2 better one,then none of both thould thrive, x To thriue therefore,were not a-miffe,that feeing one of twaine ~ Will Owner all that onely they the quarrell doe maintaine _ Or if Combattenfie not pleafe,the Land is rich and large, E And they Copernicers may liue,and vs ofdeath difcharge, it Combat nor Partition be,then will his Warre reviue, -“‘Till one,furuiuing all of vs,wants one with whom to ftriue, _ This faid,the Kings did marke and make a profit of the fame, : | Anddid conclude! by Combacyeto winne or loofe the Game. Within alittle Ifland neare (round which the Armies {tand) _ The Kingly Champions trie their Force,by fighting hand to hand: They {pur their Horfes sorcake their Speares,and beat at Barriers long B And then ,difmounting did renew a Bartell braue and f{trong., ei —Whiltt eyther King thus Martially defends,and did offend, "They breathing,King Canutus{aid: we both I fee thall end, _ Ere Empire fhall begin to one,then be itat thy choyce To fight,or part. With it their Kaights, crie out with common voyce, i. Deuidemoft valiant Kings,deuide,enough ye haue of Fight: _ Aod fothe Champions did embrace,f forgetting malice quite. Partition equally was made betwixt thefe Princes twaine, MaAnd Brother-like they line and loue: tillby adeulith traine, _ Earle Edvicws,a lraytor to the Father and the Sonne, _ Did murther Edmund: and his head (fuppofing to haue wonne ‘ _ The fanour of Canutus{o)prefenting faid (O King) For loue of thee I thus haue done.Amazed at the thing, - Canutus faid and for that thou haft headed him for me, Thy head sone all Exgl:{h heads exalted irfhall be : | a: Earle was headed,& his head poold vp for all to fee. . ; at Englands Danske,and Norway then Canut was perfect Lord, and in this triple Regiasent all with vertue did accord, | Harel Ebooks’ com