Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BLAGUE

in 1 Edward the Fourth — Heywood, Thomas (?)

Metadata

Play1 Edward the Fourth
AuthorHeywood, Thomas (?)
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyDerby's (Strange's) Men
Speech prefix(es)M. Bla. | M, Blague. | Mi. Blague. | M. B.
Words357
Characters1875
Typicality0.39 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03224.1
BritDrama no.1195
ClusterCluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Now mistress Shore, what urgent cause is that, Which made you send for me in such great haste? I it made me half afraid, you were not well. But will no answer serve? Believe me M. Shore, a dangerous case, And every way repeat with doubtful fear, If you should yield, your virtuous name were foiled And your beloved husband made a scorn, And if not yield, its likely that his love, Which now admires you, will convert to hate, And who knows not a princes hate is death? Yet I will not be she shall counsel the, Good mistress Shore do what you will for me. Now mistress Shore bethink you what to do. Such suitors come not every day to woo. So we do say, dishonour is no shame, When slander does not touch offenders name, You shall be folded in a princes arms, Whose beck disperses even the greatest harms, Many that fit themselves in high degree, Will then be glad to stoop, and bend the knee, And who is't, having plenty in the hand, Never commanded, but does still command, That cannot work in such excess of things, To quit the gilded one small transgression brings? Yet I will not be she shall counsel you, Good mistress Shore do what you will for Me. True, I confess a private life is good, Nor would I otherwise be understood, To be a Goldsmiths wife is some content, But Dam es in court more pleasantly are spent, A households government deserves renown, But what is a companion to a crown? The name of mistress is a pretty thing, But Madam at each word does glory bring. Yet I will not be she shall counsel the, Good mistress Shore do what you will for nice. You know his greatness ra ̄ dispense with ill, Making the sin seem lesser by his worth, And you your self, your children & your friends, Be all adn nced to worldly dignity, And this world's pomp you know is a goodly thing, Yet I will not be she shall connsaile you, Good mistress Shore do what you will for me.

Plot summary

Plot — 1 Edward the Fourth
Although he has made diplomatic arrangements to marry a French princess, King Edward impulsively takes an English bride instead, much to his mother's disapproval. The bastard Falconbridge leads a rebellion to reinstate the deposed King Henry VI. The London authorities prepare the city's defences: Falconbridge is unable to penetrate the gates, the city apprentices make a significant contribution to the battle, and the rebels are beaten back to Mile End. When they regroup, the Londoners rout them again, and Matthew Shore defeats a rearguard attempt to take the city while the militia are at Mile End. The King rewards the civic officials with knighthoods, but Shore modestly declines. Falconbridge flees with a price on his head, and he and his associate Spicing plan to betray one another and claim the reward. A miller captures Spicing, but Falconbridge escapes. Spicing is hanged by his former comrade in arms, Chub. While out hunting, members of the court encounter Hobs the tanner. King Edward, pretending to be his own butler, tries to induce Hobs to say something uncomplimentary or treasonous about him, but fails. He accepts the tanner's invitation to supper, where he takes a fancy to Hobs's daughter Nell. Meanwhile, things are going King Edward's way: his brother Gloucester sends word that King Henry VI is dead, and Falconbridge is captured and executed. Back in London, he dines with the Lord Mayor, where he meets Jane Shore. He is attracted to her and grapples with his conscience, but later visits her incognito in her husband's shop. Initially she rejects his advances, but Mistress Blague, who hopes to acquire status and influence through her, advises her to submit to adultery. While her husband confides his suspicio ns to the Lord Mayor, she absconds to court. Shore gives away all his property and goes into exile. En route he encounters Jane, now a sought-after power-broker trying to deal justly with the people who seek her influence with the King; one of them, Jockie, she entertains as a servant. On recognizing her husband she regrets her betrayal, but he refuses to take her back: she now belongs to the King. Meanwhile, Edward pursues his claim to the French throne. Planning an invasion but financially depleted after the civil war and rebellion, he seeks support from his subjects, not by taxation or forced loan but voluntary contributions. Hobs's generosity shames his fellows into giving more. He comes to London to try and procure a pardon for his son, who…