Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

FACTOR

in 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody (The Second Part of Queen Elizabeth's Troubles) — Heywood, Thomas

Metadata

Play2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody (The Second Part of Queen Elizabeth's Troubles)
AuthorHeywood, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1606
First performance1605
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyQueen Anne's Men
Speech prefix(es)Fact. | 1. Fact. | Factor. | Fact: | 2. Fact:
Words320
Characters1809
Typicality0.27 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03217
BritDrama no.1433
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

Neither to flatter nor detract from him, He is a Merchant of good estimate, Care how to get, and forecast to increase, (If so they be accounted) be his faults. Yes, by my faith sir, but you have a friend Would not see you stand out for twice the sum. Unwelcome news sir, the King of Barbary is slain. By war, in that renowned Battle, Swift Fame desires to carry through the world: The Battle of Alcasar, wherein two Kings Beside this King of Barbary was slain, Kings of Moroco and of Portugal, With Srewkeley that renowned Englishman That had a spirit equal with a King, Mad fellow with these Kings in warlike strife, Honoured his Country and concluded life. In peace, and the succeeding happy, Was crowned then King when I took ship from thence. The King that in the regal chair succeeds The King late dead I summoned, and demanded Either your money tendered, or the Sugars After the rate proposed, he denied both Alleging though he was successive heir, He was not therefore either tide to pay The late Kings debts, nor yet to stand unto Unnecessary bargains: notwithstanding To gratify your love, the King hath sent you As presents, not as satisfaction: A costly dagger, and a pair of slippers, And there's all for you threescore thousand pound. Your worships merry. 'Tis held your credit, and your Countries honour, That being but a Merchant of the City, And taken in a manner unprovided, You should upon a mere presumption And naked promise, partly with so much Cash, Which the best Merchants both in Spain and France, Denied to venture on. That if the King confirm and seal your Patent, London will yield you partners enough. Measar man a moi. M Y Master sir, requests your company, About confirming certain covenants Touching your last nights conference. At hand sir, did you call? J vow stre sau Amiss.

Plot summary

Plot — 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody (The Second Part of Queen Elizabeth's Troubles)
GhomasyGresham is in long legal dispute with Sir (homaspRamisay over a land deal: Gresham outbid Ramsay after contracts were exchanged, bought the land and built on it, so each man now claims ownership. DEINGWEll adjudicates fairly between them and makes them friends. Under the terms of the settlement, Gresham is to pay Ramsay £100, but his nephew John misappropriates the money and contrives ===== PAGE 115 ===== 1604 to get Timothy the factor arrested for debt. Caught out, Timothy admits that he has embezzled £500 from Gresham, and Gresham applauds John’s misbehaviour as an example of good financial management. Gresham sees the need for a dry place in London where merchants can do business; and, inspired by portraits of famous Londoners responsible for important civic buildings and institutions, he gets permission and funding to build it himself. He is unabashed by heavy losses through war and shipwreck (including a change of king in Barbary after the battle of Alcazar, which costs him his trade monopoly in Barbary sugar). Eventually an impressive Burse is built, and opened by Queen Elizabeth: she names it the Royal Exchange, and knights Gresham. Another strand of the action focuses on the comic eccentricities of old M@bSGH, who records an honest pedlar’s account under a nickname, Bawny2@oat, so that the man is unable to pay what he owes when he returns to the shop. “Tawny-Coat’ is ruined by his debts to Hobson and by his own charity, but Hobson takes pity when he finds him honest in poverty, and he eventually becomes a prominent and prosperous citizen. Hobson further shows his good nature by rushing off to save [im6thy, who is to be hanged for theft. Meanwhile, hoping to cure his prodigality, Gresham has sent J@HHi to work for Hobson, who in turn has sent the young man to France. There he cheats his master by taking his instructions literally, and, knowing that the English Channel is between him and Hobson, wastes time and money on prostitutes and riotous living. Hobson eventually hears of this and goes to France; but when he catches John with a courtesan, John turns the tables by pretending that the old man will himself be arrested if he is found in her company. Back in England, John finally seeks to rectify his desperate financial situation by marrying Ramsay's rich widow; she refuses him, but pays his debts. At court, Dr Parry, a convicted criminal whom the Queen has pardoned, has been induced by the Catholic church to assassinate her, but he cannot…