Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BUCKINGHAM

in 2 Edward the Fourth — Heywood, Thomas (?)

Metadata

Play2 Edward the Fourth
AuthorHeywood, Thomas (?)
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyDerby's (Strange's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Buc. | Buck.
Words153
Characters793
Typicality0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03224.2
BritDrama no.1196
ClusterCluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Now am I bold to put your grace in mind Of my long suit, and partly your own promise, The Earl of Herefords lands. M pains my Lord hath not deserved delay. I Richard, is it come to this? In my first suit of all, dost thou dense me? Break thine oh word, & turn me off so slightly, Richard thoud hadst as good have damnde thy soul, As basely thus to beal with Buckingham: Richard isle fit upon thy crumb ped shoulder: I faith I will, if heaven will give me leave, And Harry Richmond, this hand alone, Shall fetch Thee home, and seat thee in his throne. My Sovereign by the general consent Of all the Lords and commons of the land, I tender to your royal majesty, This princely Lady, the Lady Anne of Warwick Judged the only worthiest of your love, To be your highness bride, fair England's Queen

Plot summary

Plot — 2 Edward the Fourth
King Edward invades France; but the Duke of Burgundy and the Constable of France fail to supply the military aid they promised. Several English soldiers are shot by the Constable's men in a failed attempt to assassinate Edward; the Constable pleads an accident,The English herald sent to King Louis is offered peace terms, which Edward modifies: Louis must submit to his suzerainty, and pay both the expenses of the invasion and an annual tribute thereafter. Louis accepts the offer and a treaty is agreed. Burgundy and the Constable try to double-cross both Edward and one another: each writes independently to both Edward and Louis, offering Louis Edward's murder and Edward assistance against Louis. Edward feigns deafness, forcing the envoys to speak loud enough for the hidden Louis to hear; then confronts the envoys with their masters' treachery. He returns to England, leaving troops in France to help Louis rout the traitors. Jane Shore visits the London prisons, distributing alms to the prisoners. Brakenbury solicits her help to procure a pardon for his kinsman Strangwidge, whose actions against French shipping were committed in ignorance of the recent treaty which made them piratical. Also condemned is his passenger, known as Flood but actually Matthew Shore. The Queen first confronts, then forgives Jane for her adultery with Edward. The King pardons Strangwidge and his crew, and Jane pays their prison fees herself. Brakenbury employs 'Flood' at the Tower. Edward has fallen ill and is anxious about a prophecy that 'G' will dispose of his sons and usurp the throne. His brother Clarence is imprisoned and drowned in the Tower. Edward dies and Richard of Gloucester becomes Lord Protector. Jane is expelled from court, and goes to stay with Mistress Blague. Richard lodges the young King and his brother in the Tower and has them murdered. 'Flood' is wounded in an altercation with the murderers and seeks succour at Mistress Blague's inn, where he is tended by Jane. The ghost of Friar Anselm tells Dr Shaw that everyone involved in the death of the princes will come to a bad end; Richard will reign only three years. Richard issues a proclamation banning anyone from giving Jane food or shelter, and Mistress Blague turns her out; but not soon enough to evade being arrested. Jane does penance. Several grateful Londoners give her food, but are arrested. Aire is hanged and Jockie whipped, but 'Flood' exonerates himself by revealing his true identity: it cannot be illegal…