Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MORATES (STEM MOR)

in The Four Prentices of London — Heywood, Thomas

Metadata

PlayThe Four Prentices of London
AuthorHeywood, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1615
First performance1594
Decade1610s
GenreRomance
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyWorcester's Men
TheaterRed Bull;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)MOR. | MOR | MO.
Words225
Characters1285
Typicality0.16 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03202
BritDrama no.1351
ClusterCluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

My tongue give place unto the Sold age. Experience does instruct the Sultans tongue, Harken to him, he speaks judicially. I to persuade a peace. The Babylonian Soldan, mighty Princes, Sends me to know the cause of this your March Into a land so far remote from you. If you intend to see your Prophets Tomb, As holy Pilgrimss, peace shall guard your way. Let me conclude my message. I fear me Turnus, had you known before The spirits of these haughty Christians, To-have be so full of envious chivalry, You would have tempered some partly of your rage. You see they strive, and fight amongst themselves, To practice hate against they meet with us. Princes adieu, with terror I depart. The Christians would not lend and ear to peace. There was no tongue but breathed defiance forth: I could not see a face but menaced death: No hand, but brandished a victorious sword. They all cry Battle, Battle, peace defy, And not a heart but promised victory. But how shall we receive their armed Troops? What special order will your grace assign To them that shall command your Companies? To burn your bodies over your Prophets graven. Death. Despair. Quench your hight spleens with drops of sweet advice, Temper your rage with con ell mighty Kings. Health to the Christians from the mighty Soldan.

Plot summary

Plot — The Four Prentices of London
Deposed and banished by the King of France, the Earl of Bouillon flees to England, where he helped to put King William on the throne. Planning to end his life on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he takes his leave of his four sons, who have found work as London apprentices. Dissatisfied by their jobs and itching for the military life, the four brothers join Robert of Normandy's army embarking on a crusade; their sister Bella Franca follows them in disguise. The army is struck by a storm at sea, and the brothers are separated, variously washed up in Bouillon, France, Italy, and Ireland, each believing the others to be dead. Godfrey frees the town of Bouillon from its usurping Spanish occupiers, and the people acclaim him their earl. Guy is spotted on a raft by the Princess of France, who falls in love with him and persuades her father to make him a courtier - a dangerous situation, since the King is the enemy of Guy's father and would execute him if he knew his true identity. Uninterested in love, Guy joins the army which the King is sending to the crusade, but the princess follows him disguised as a page. In Ireland, Eustace acquires a servant. In Italy, Charles is set on by banditti, but kills their captain and becomes their leader. He attempts to impose civility on them, and discovers that they have captured his father. Charles releases him, tells him of his brothers' death, and gives him money for his continuing pilgrimage. The banditti appointed to escort the old Earl try to rob and murder him, but Eustace and his Irish servant intervene in his defence. Now the divided family begins to meet up, but the mutual assumption of death at sea prevents them from recognizing one another. Charles wants Eustace to join the outlaws, and challenges him to a fight, wagering their purses; Bella Franca runs between them and stops the battle. Both are attracted to her, not realizing that she is their sister. Prince Tancred leads soldiers to dispose of the banditti, but Charles and Eustace persuade him to deploy his forces in the crusade instead. Since both brothers want to marry Bella Franca, Tancred takes her into his custody until the end of the war; she is attracted to him. Godfrey rejoins Duke Robert's troops and meets Guy, now in command of the French army. They quarrel over precedence, but finally agree to go side by side. The combined army marches into Tancred's territory, and he sends Eustace to order them out. Rather than see a bloody battle between fellow…