Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

KINGCOB

in Sir Giles Goosecap — Chapman, George

Metadata

PlaySir Giles Goosecap
AuthorChapman, George
Year (catalogued)1606
First performance1602
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeBoys Professional
CompanyChildren of the Chapel (second)
Speech prefix(es)King. | King | Kin.
Words342
Characters1717
Typicality0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA01911
BritDrama no.1340
ClusterCluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Why? all things shood be continued ̄ mon betwixt Lords, and Ladies you know. You speak of that I wood do madam, but in earnest, I am now suing for a new mistress; look in my hand sweet Lady, and tell me what fortune I shall have with her. Pardon me Madam, but I know you to be learned in all hinges. What find you in it madam? What now Ladi ? The age of letting go is passed madam, we must not now let go, but strike up men's heals, and take am as they fallen. And therefore as I hear he will earnestly invite guests to his house, of purpose to make his wife drunk, and then dotes on her humour most profanely. 'Tis time to leave your Chests Ladies 'tis too studious and exercise after dinner. From the Spanish pike to the Spanish needle, he shall play with any knight n England Lady. I think he be too wise for that indeed madam, for he has 20. miles length in land lies together, and he wood be loath to bring it all to the length of pike. He is a kind gentleman Lady though he be blunt, and is of this humour, the more you pre fume upon him without Ceremony, the mor he lo you, if he know you think him kind once and will say nothing but still use him, you may melt him into any kindness you will; he is right Like a woe man, and had rather, you shood bluntly take the greatest our you can of him, then shamefastly entreat it. Some that he makes sport withal perhaps, but none that he respects assureye. Some two thousand a year Lady. At chests my Lords, Why my Lo it needs not, they make the knights gulls. So she may answer him with horns indeed. Never was sorrow worthier bestowed Then for the ill state of so good a man. Oh Good Lady who can live without living? So may it speed deer Countsse, worthy Clarence.

Plot summary

Plot — Sir Giles Goosecap
The widow Eugenia lives in chastity with two virgins, Hippolyta and Penelope. They entertain three foolish would-be suitors to supper: Sir Giles Goosecap, Sir Cuthbert Rudesby, and Captain Foulweather. A page tells the guests that the ladies plan an early morning visit to Barnet the next day, and encourages them to rendezvous there; in fact, it is to be a wild-goose chase. The pages later meet the suitors on their way back, and tell them that the ladies decided not to go after all, asa test of tolerance. Clarence is also in love with Eugenia, and confides this to his best friend, her uncle, Lord Momford. Disturbed to hear of the supper with the knights, Momford visits his niece and tries to press Clarence’s suit. Relatives of Goosecap and Rudesby likewise sing their in-laws’ praises, albeit rather unconvincingly. Momford brings a love-letter from Clarence and tries to get Eugenia to reply; he agrees to take dictation from her, but writes down her refusal with additional phrases which turn it into an acceptance, then signs her name on her behalf. Momford invites the ladies to supper. Eugenia is persuaded to come only on the assurance that Clarence is too ill to be present. The other suitors are also invited. Momford takes his guests on a tour of the house, during which they overhear Clarence discussing Eugenia with his doctor - an ‘accident’ which was planned by Momford all along. Eugenia suspects that he also intends to arrange a more direct encounter with Clarence, so she hides in the one place they will not expect to find her: Clarence’s bedroom. But Clarence is there, and they agree to marry. Momford is delighted that she has accepted his friend without knowing that the young man is also his heir.