in The Seven Champions of Christendom — Kirke, John
Metadata
Play
The Seven Champions of Christendom
Author
Kirke, John
Year (catalogued)
1638
First performance
1635
Decade
1630s
Genre
Romance
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Red Bull Company (second)
Theater
Red Bull;Phoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)
Shep.
Words
298
Characters
1563
Typicality
0.50 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A04874
BritDrama no.
2432
Cluster
Cluster 0 — Clowns, beggars & street sellers
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 0 (shillings, tom, guts, mutton, wares, dan…). Matches are highlighted.
kill him? Nay good fellow Suckabus be not angry, I do believe: What are those Giants? Prithee tell me? Nay, I do believe they are lusty fellows, And men of tall stomachs, they could never eat so much else, Three Oxen at one meal. Now the Devil choke him, For he's fitter farrefor hell, than to live here. Oh monstrous! marry bless
what indiscretion people learn by Travail! I have herd my Master say, he was Page to a Knight erant they called old Dick, who ha been six days together in the bottom of the Sea, and took Tobacko amongst the sharks and such adventures, but none Like this you speak of: Traveled you ever with him? But pray tell me now, what stature
speak of: Traveled you ever with him? But pray tell me now, what stature might this man be you killed? That's more than ever I herd of i'faith, that soldiers want stomachs: what enemies do they meet with there? I marry sir, I would willingly be put into such sir vice; sure, their Commanders are brave fellows. Oh monstrous! Good
Full speech
Suckabus, where art thou? A feast, a feast; here's princely cheer for thee: here's two Carrots and a Turnip, and a little morsel of Bean bred, that I stole to hearten thee up withal. Would, three Oxen for one Giants dinner? Thou art mistaken sure; thou art not old enough to see a Giant, And could thy Master and thee kill him? Nay good fellow Suckabus be not angry, I do believe: What are those Giants? Prithee tell me? Nay, I do believe they are lusty fellows, And men of tall stomachs, they could never eat so much else, Three Oxen at one meal. Now the Devil choke him, For he's fitter farrefor hell, than to live here. Oh monstrous! marry bless me from him, I had thought They had not been much taller than some of our Guard. Bless us! No hurt I hope good fellow Suckabus: But how could you two kill this monstrous man? That may be done indeed, this carries some show of truth. No, no; Lord, what indiscretion people learn by Travail! I have herd my Master say, he was Page to a Knight erant they called old Dick, who ha been six days together in the bottom of the Sea, and took Tobacko amongst the sharks and such adventures, but none Like this you speak of: Traveled you ever with him? But pray tell me now, what stature might this man be you killed? That's more than ever I herd of i'faith, that soldiers want stomachs: what enemies do they meet with there? I marry sir, I would willingly be put into such sir vice; sure, their Commanders are brave fellows. Oh monstrous! Good Suckabus do, and I'll see if I can tell thee of a Dwarf shall be all as little.
Plot summary
Plot — The Seven Champions of Christendom
Years ago, the witch Calib stole a child, George, intending to bathe in his blood; but she fell in love with the baby and brought him up with her own son, Suckabus. She has always refused to let him know the identity of his real parents, but after much importunity she relents and tells George that he was a bastard whom she saved from infanticide. She asks her diabolic lover Tarpax how long she has to live; the demon prophesies that she will die only when love causes her to lose control of her magical powers. She shows George six Christian champions whom she keeps in her cave, and grants him their ransom. When George feels pity for them but pretends severity, she gives him her magic wand. The ghosts of his parents visit him, and he learns that Calib poisoned them, and that he is really of noble birth. He uses the magic wand to kill Calib, but agrees to take on Suckabus as a servant; Tarpax encourages Suckabus to spread his seed widely around the earth by taking every opportunity for procreation. George joins the six champions, bringing them up to the number prophesied by a Sibyl, seven. They go their separate ways into pagan lands. Trebizond is troubled by monsters: a dragon and a lion terrorize the land and kill knights who attempt to dispose of them. The Emperor proclaims a reward for anyone who will deal with the menace. The champions Andrew and Anthony arrive in Trebizond, and the Princess and Carintha fall in love with them; but their welcome evaporates when the Emperor discovers their religion. An oracle has decreed that any Christians who set foot in Trebizond must convert to paganism or be executed. The Emperor allows them to choose their own executioners; they choose the ladies, who refuse to comply; so they offer to relieve the ladies of the responsibility and execute one another. The Emperor allows them to be rearmed so that they can do so, and this enables them to fight their way to freedom. The champion David accidentally causes the death of Prince Arbasto in a joust. David has helped the King of Tartary, Arbasto’s father, in his war with the Persians, and cannot honourably be executed, so the King offers him a pardon, half the kingdom, and the succession if he will bring back the head of his enemy, Ormandine. The expectation is that Ormandine will kill him. Ormandine was once a duke, but was deposed by the Kings of Tartary and Arabia, and took up magic to avenge himself. A prophecy assures him of his security until the arrival of a British…