Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MESSENGER

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)Mes. | Mest. | Mess.
Words297
Characters1578
Typicality0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA03224.2
BritDrama no.1196
ClusterCluster 6 — Battlefield messengers & soldiers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Health to the victorious King of England: The worthy Earl S. Paul. The worthy Earl S. Paul greets noble Edwa. And gives your grace to understand by me, That whereas Charles that painted sepulchre, And most disloyal Duke of Burgundy, Hath but usurped the habit of a friend, Being in heart your deadly enemy, As well appears in his false breach of promise, And that whereas he never meant himself, To send you aid, but likewise was the means, To binder my Lords well affected duty, Alleging you desired his company But that you might betray him to his King, Beside whereas it will be proud my Lord, That he did hire the Gunner of S. Quintins, For a large sum of money, to discharge Three several pieces of great Ordnance, Upon your coming to that cursed town, To slay your Majesty: in which regard If it will please you to revoke from France. And think of Burgundy as he deserves, The Duke with expedition bade me say, That he would put the Earl into your hands. Whereby you might revenge his treacherous purpose And aid you too with twice slew thousand men, And seat you Like a conqueror in France, It was my lord. My Lord heres letters to your Majesty, One from the Duke of Burgundy, the other from the Constable, I did my Lord, and therein fabled not. No more then he is willing to perform. I do my Lord. I cannot say but that it is his hand. Where is M. Doctor Shaw? K. Richard prays ye to come to him strait. For he would be confessed. A Friar M. Doctor I see none. The king of France my L. attended royally, Is marching hitherward to meet your Grace. Yes my dread Sovereign.

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…