in The Triumphs of Reunited Britannia — Munday, Anthony
Metadata
Play
The Triumphs of Reunited Britannia
Author
Munday, Anthony
Year (catalogued)
1605
First performance
1605
Decade
1600s
Genre
Civic Pageant
Play type
Occasional
Speech prefix(es)
Pheme | PHEME.
Words
407
Characters
2375
Typicality
0.34 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A07907
BritDrama no.
1482
Cluster
Cluster 3 — Citizens, tradesfolk & neighbors
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
FAME that attends on Britain's Monarchy, Thus reunited to one state again, Ushers this Chariot of true dignity, Wherein seven kings that did in England reign, These Royal virtues in their shields contain, Expressing what great grace each Majesty, Gave to the Merchant-tailors Company When they were first a Guild, and bore the style Of Tayiors, and of Armourers beside Of the Linen armoury: for no little while Were they so known, and daily did provide, Those coats of arms that quailed our soe-mens pride When England's bent-Bow, and the gray-goos wing Our many victories abroad did sing. From this employment for the States defence, Their ancient title first unto them came, and then their following care and diligence, Squarde them the way to order well and frame, all means to keep their Guild in honest fame. Now gracious virtues unto you I leave, What further Fortune's Time did them bequeathe. But sacred Lady, deign me so much grace, As tell me, why that seat is unsupplied Being the most eminent and chiefest place, With State, with Crown and Sceptre dignified? I find recorded in my Register, Seven Kings have honoured this Society: Fourteen great Dukes did willingly prefer, Their love and kindness to this Company, Threescore eight Lords declared Like amity, terming themselves all brothers of this band, The very worthiest Lords in all the Land. Three Dukes, three Earls, four Lords of Noble name all in one year did join in Brotherhood: IN the year 1390. Edward Duke of York. Though mass, Duke of Gloucester. Henry Duke of Hereford and Earl of Darby, who afterwards was K. Henry the fourth. Edward, Earl of Rutland. Thomas Earl of Warwick. John Holland, Earl of Hunting done. John, Lord Ros . Rafe Lord Nevil. Thomas L. Furnivall. Reignald, Lord Grey of Rithin. I find beside great Lords from France there came To hold Like league, and do them any good: Gaylard, Lord Danuers. Barard, Lord Delamote, Barard, Lord Montferrant, &c. Yet no embasing to their heighth in blood: For they accounted honour then most High, When it was held up by community. Of Bishops, Knights and Deans, to those before, (Not spoke in vaunt or any spirit of pride) My Records could afford as many more All Brothers, Merchant-tailors signified That lived in love with them, and when they died Left me their names, to aftertimes to tell, Thus then they did, and thought it good and well.
Plot summary
Plot — The Triumphs of Reunited Britannia
‘The ship the Royal Exchange returns to London laden with merchandise. Its crew are delighted to learn that the ship’s owner has just been sworn in as the new Lord Mayor, and fire the guns in a joyous salute. Britannia and Brute discuss how, in the distant past, he conquered her. He civilized the land by driving out the giants, changed her name from Albion to Britannia, a variant of his own, and built New Troy. He then divided Britain into three kingdoms for his three sons. The kingdoms argue that the result was war: Humber, King of the Huns, invaded and killed Albanact, only to be defeated by an alliance of Locrine and Camber and drowned in the river which now bears his name. Later ===== PAGE 238 ===== Locrine committed adultery with Elstrid, and both were killed by Locrine’s wife, Gwendoline. So much for the past. But now a second Brute has emerged from Albanact’s kingdom to undo the damage and reunite Britannia: that is why she now rides in triumph. New Troy (latterly London) and England's principal rivers welcome the King. Pheme leads a chariot of dignity bearing the shields of seven kings of England who favoured the Merchant Taylors’ Company. The seven figures on the chariot describe the institutional evolution of the guild under these successive kings. But there is a seat vacant, the highest place of all, to be occupied by King James. Neptune and Amphitrita pronounce blessings on King James and the new Lord Mayor, and enjoin the latter to rule justly and well.