Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BONFIELD

in George a Green, the Pinner of Wakefield — Greene, Robert (?)

Metadata

PlayGeorge a Green, the Pinner of Wakefield
AuthorGreene, Robert (?)
Year (catalogued)1599
First performance1590
Decade1590s
GenreRomance
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanySussex's Men
Speech prefix(es)Bonfild. | Bon. | Bonfild,
Words312
Characters1636
Typicality0.26 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA02070
BritDrama no.893
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

Nothing, my Lord, makes me amazed at all, But that our soldiers finds our victuals scant: We must make havoc of those country Swains: For so will the rest tremble and be afraid, And humbly send provision to your camp. On that, good Grime, I am talking with thy Daughter; But she in quirks and quiddities of love, Sets me to school, she is so overwise. But, gentle girl, if thou wilt forsake The pinner, and be my love, I will advance thee high: To dignify those hairs of amber hiew, I'll grace them with a chaplet made of pearl, Set with choice rubies, sparks, and diamonds, Planted upon a velvet hood to hide that head, Wherein two saphires burn Like sparkling fire: This will I do, fair Bettris, and far more, If thou wilt love the Lord of Doncaster. How now, my Lord? what news? What says fair Bettris? But him? why, look on me, my girl: Thou knowest, that yesternight I courted thee, And swore at my return to wed with thee: Then tell me, love, shall I have all thy fair? Bootless, my Lord, are many vain replies. Let us hie us to Wakefield, and send her the pinners head. Villain, what hast thou done? thou hast stroke And Earl. Now, ge ̄ tle Grime, God a mercy for our good cheer, Our fare was royal, and our welcome great; And sith so kindly thou hast entertained us, If we return with happy victory, We will deal as friendly with thee in recompense. A pardon my Lord for this pinner, For trust me he speaks Like a man of worth. why standest thou as a man in dumps? Courage: for if I win, I'll make thee Duke: I Henry Momford will be King my self, And I will make thee Duke of Lancaster, And Gilbert Armestrong Lord of Doncaster.

Plot summary

Plot — George a Green, the Pinner of Wakefield
(helEarlSfKendal, inspired by a prophecy that he and e KinglfiSeets will meet in London and defeat the KingofEngland, musters his troops and communicates with King James. THENMEHIOPOrKShize, of his treason, refuse to victual his army. When Sir Nicholas Maniniering threatens the people of Wakefield, GGrge- aeGreehe tears up his commission and makes him eat the seals. Infuriated, Kendal plans revenge: he and his allies go to Wakefield in disguise, but George impounds their horses. Kendal tries to entice George to: join him in rebellion, insisting that he seeks social justice rather than power. Encouraged by George, he visits a hermit to hear his fortunes; but the hermit is actually George himself in disguise, and the visit a ruse to get Kendal and his henchmen alone. George fights them, takes Kendal prisoner, and hands him over to the authorities. King James brings troops into England, but is distracted by his passion for JARGMANBaHEy, whose husband is away. When she refuses him, he besieges her castle. The aged war veteran Milsgrave, who refuses to hand over the responsibility of arms to his n Gay, arrives and raises the siege. James is taken prisoner, and both he and Kendal are brought before King Edward. Kendal is imprisoned and Edward visits the north to meet George. Willy liberates George’s love, B@HGHS, from Grime her father by visiting her disguised as a woman and swapping clothes with her. The lovers are reunited, leaving Willy still at Grime’s house. However, Bettris will not marry without her father’s consent; and he will not give it because of George’s lowly status. Maid Mafiah is peeved that George's fame exceeds Robin Hood’s. She nags Robin into going to Wakefield to fight George, but neither of them wins. Later, visiting Bradford, they see Kings Edward and James, disguised, trailing their staffs in accordance with local custom to ===== PAGE 110 ===== .- 110 | 893. Géorge-a: Greene avoid a fight with the shoemaker. Outraged by this _ servility, George threatens the travellers, only later ~ learning Edward's true identity. The King forgives him, aot. _ ** agrees to intervene with GME, grants shoemakers the ae - epithet ‘the gentle craft’, and knights Musgrove. Grime . - agrees that George may marry Bettris, in return for consent to marry Willy, whom he still takes for a ; woman: .Willy soon disabuses him. George refuses a .' « ".. knighthood, but is asked to set the terms for King . James’s release: he requires the payment of reparations ” to…