The Fatal Contract

The Fatal Contract: A French Tragedy is a Caroline era stage play, written by William Heminges.

In this "most graphic Caroline revenge tragedy...Heminges tops his predecessors' grotesque art by creating a female character, Chrotilda, who disguises herself as a black Moorish eunuch" and "instigates most of the play's murder and mayhem.

"[3] The Fatal Contract was most likely written in 1638–39, and was acted, probably in the latter year, by Queen Henrietta's Men at the Salisbury Court Theatre.

Heminges's primary source for plot materials was the General Inventory of the History of France by Jean de Serres, published in English in 1607.

[4] The play was first published in a quarto originally printed for "J. M." in 1653, and reissued the following year with a new title page by the actor turned stationer Andrew Pennycuicke.

[8] Although the action remained unchanged, the anonymous adapter omitted some lines, borrowed others from Settle's Love and Revenge, and expanded a few scenes.

One of their relatives mistakenly killed the queen's brother Clodimer in revenge, thinking him the rapist; Fredigond is now quietly and systematically exterminating the members of Chrotilda's family.

In a macabre touch, the queen maintains a group portrait of the family; she paints in the members – grandmother, parents, infant child – as she kills them off.

Clotair initially falls for the trick, but Castrato, who is busily manipulating the other characters ("on all sides the eunuch will play foul"), informs him of the queen's intentions.

Landrey tries to escape with a concealed dagger; but in his weakened state he is unable to evade Castrato, who trips him, sits on him, and stabs him.