in 1 Sir John Oldcastle — Munday, Anthony; Drayton, Michael; Wilson, Robert; Hathaway, Richard
Metadata
Play
1 Sir John Oldcastle
Author
Munday, Anthony; Drayton, Michael; Wilson, Robert; Hathaway, Richard
Year (catalogued)
1600
First performance
1599
Decade
1600s
Genre
History
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men
Speech prefix(es)
1. Iud. | 1. Iud | 1. Iudge
Words
323
Characters
1844
Typicality
0.45 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A08469
BritDrama no.
1211
Cluster
Cluster 14 — Law & judgment
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 14 (madestee, welse, enormity, bench, peopill, worshipful…). Matches are highlighted.
them, and the Lord Herberts men, Weel talk with them, when the Assize is done, Exeunt. Riotous, audacious, and unruly Grooms, Must we be forced to come from the Bench, To quiet brawls, which every Constable In other civil places can suppress? This case concerns the Kings prerogative, And S dangerous to the State and common wealth.
look to your citizens, You master Sheriff unto your shire, and you As Justices in every ones precinct There be no meetings. When the vulgar sort Fit on their Alebench, with their cups and kannes, Matters of state be not their common talk, Nor pure religion by their lips prophande. Let us return unto the Bench again, And there
Full speech
Where's the Lord Herbert? is he hurt or slain? Convey him hence, let not his wounds take air, And get him dressed with expedition, Ex. Herb. & Gough M. Mayor of Hereford M Snriue o'th shire, Commit Lord Powesse to safe custody, To answer the disturbance of the peace, Lord Herberts peril, and his high contempt Of us, and you the Kings commissioners, See it be done with care and diligence. Away with them. To Jail with them, and the Lord Herberts men, Weel talk with them, when the Assize is done, Exeunt. Riotous, audacious, and unruly Grooms, Must we be forced to come from the Bench, To quiet brawls, which every Constable In other civil places can suppress? This case concerns the Kings prerogative, And S dangerous to the State and common wealth. Gentlemen, Justices, master Mayor, and master Shrieve, It does behoove us all, and each of us In general and particular, to have care For the suppressing of all mutinies, And all assemblies, except soldiers musters For the Kings preparation into France. We hear of secret conventicles made, And there is doubt of some conspiracies, Which may break out into rebellious arms When the King's gone, perchance before he go: Note as and instance, this one perilous fray, What factions might have grown on either partly, To the destruction of the King and Realm, Yet, in my conscience, sir John Oldcastle Innocent of it, only his name was used. We therefore from his Highness give this charge. You master Mayor, look to your citizens, You master Sheriff unto your shire, and you As Justices in every ones precinct There be no meetings. When the vulgar sort Fit on their Alebench, with their cups and kannes, Matters of state be not their common talk, Nor pure religion by their lips prophande. Let us return unto the Bench again, And there examine further of this fray. Enter a Baily and a Sergeant
Plot summary
Plot — 1 Sir John Oldcastle
Despite a royal prohibition on disorder during the preparations for the invasion of France, Lords Herbert and Po·wys fall out over their religious differences, and brawl with their followers in the streets of Hereford;Herbert is wounded, and Powys flees, with orders given for his arrest. The Bishop of Rochester does his best to associate dissent and conspiracy with Sir John Oldcastle, but the King is not convinced. Powys takes refuge in Oldcastle's house, just before two orders arrive: one to attend at court, the other to answer charges before Rochester's ecclesiastical court; Oldcastle's servant Harpoole forces Rochester's summoner to eat his own summons, wax and all. The King advises Oldcastle to keep his religious views private: he can believe what he likes so long as he does not antagonize the bishops or encourage Protestant rebellion. In turn. Oldcastle intercedes for Powys, and the King signs his pardon. Rebellion is brewing in England. On the basis of a superior dynastic claim, the Earl of Cambridge intends to seize the throne with French support. Oldcastle is invited to join the plot, but he procures an incriminating document and takes it to court. Meanwhile, Protestant rebels muster their forces in London. The King plans to spy on them in disguise, but is robbed by the renegade priest Sir John; the priest gets him to promise to secure the King's pardon for robbery, and gives him half a coin as a token by which they can know one another again. On the night before the battle, the King. in his own person, plays dice with Sir John and wins back his stolen money, including the broken coin; as promised, he agrees to spare Sir John's life ifhe gives up his life of crime. The rebels are routed, but the prisoners falsely implicate Oldcastle. The charges collapse when it becomes clear that the rebels don't recognize him, and Oldcastle further demonstrates his loyalty with his evidence of the Cambridge conspiracy. The rebel leaders are executed, Cambridge exposed and arrested, and the King's faith in Oldcastle is restored. In the King's absence, Rochester has Oldcastle's property seized, and Oldcastle himself arrested for treason when he arrives home; his books are burnt when they are found to be in English. Rochester visits Oldcastle in prison in the hope that he may recant, but Oldcastle overpowers him and escapes in his clothes. On the run, he arrives with his wife in St Albans, but is forced to escape arrest by another illicit exchange of clothes.…