Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

VERSSES

in Edward the First — Peele, George

Metadata

PlayEdward the First
AuthorPeele, George
Year (catalogued)1593
First performance1591
Decade1590s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyUnknown
Speech prefix(es)Versses. | Versses
Words278
Characters1492
Typicality0.32 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA09224
BritDrama no.881
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

Although no common post, yet for my king I will to England maugre England's might, And do mine errand boldly as becomes, Albeit I honour English Edwards name, And hold this S uish contemnment to scorn. Baliell hath chosen at this time to stum e, To rouse him Lion Like and cast the yoke: That Scots ingloriously have born from thee, And all the predecessors of thy line: And make his rods to reobtain his rights, And for his homage sends thee all this despite. I do my message truly from my king, This sword and targ to chide in louder terms, I bring defiance from king John Balliol, To English Edward and his Barons all. Balliol my king in Berwick makes his Court, His pe he spreads upon the sand e plain, And worser res thee to the battle in his right. Yes King of England whom my heart beloves, Think as I promised him to brave thee hear, So shall I bid John Balliol base from thee. Versses my Lord in terms Like to himself, Like to the messenger of Scottish King, Worser ed the Pears of England and their lords, That all his Barons trembles at my threats, And Longsharkes himself as dainted and amazed, Gazed on my face not witting what to say: Till rouzing up he shaked his threating hair, Versses quoth he take thou King Edwards chain, Upon condition, thou a message do, To Balliol false, periurde Balliol. For in these terms he bade me greet your Grace, And gave this halter to your excellences, I took the chain and gave your Grace the rope. Tidings to make thee tremble English king.

Plot summary

Plot — Edward the First
Edwardilongshanks returns from the crusades to find that in his absence both his father and his son have 1591 died, and that he is now King of England. He makes provision to house his wounded veterans, and all the nobility contribute handsomely. His @W@8n asks him to defer the coronation to give her time to send to Spain for the latest fashions. MEW was planning to take advantage of Edward’s absence to secure his power in Wales. A Welshliprophet encourages him with the assertion that he will mount higher than all his kin. Now he intends reprisals against Edward for the detention of his betrothed wife, DA@VMEI@HGr, daughter of an English rebel. His brother DaWid, a spy in the English court, proposes getting himself captured by the Welsh in order to create a pretext for an exchange of prisoners. The plan goes awry when the Welsh soldiers agree to make peace with the English, on condition that Edward does not impose direct rule from England. Llewelyn and his entourage pose as Robin Hood, and waylay passers-by in the forest. M@riimiér, who loves Lady Eleanor, goes to Wales and joins in the masquerade by assuming the identity of the potter from the Robin Hood story; but this means he gets a thrashing. To comply with the Welsh demand for a Welsh-born prince, Edward summons the pregnant Queen to Wales, where she gives birth to a son: Edward, Prince of Wales. The loyal Welsh present the child with a frieze mantle, but the Queen takes offence at the homespun fabric. Edward promises her a boon, and she demands that the English men should cut their long hair and beards, and that the English women’s breasts should be likewise amputated; Edward is forced to consent, but the Queen is displeased that he insists on being the first to go under the barber, and withdraws her request when he proposes that she should likewise undergo the first mastectomy. Prince Edward is christened and the Queen’s daughter, J6am, married to the BarllshiGlowcester. The nine lords of Scotland are unable to agree which of them should be king, so they approach Edward to adjudicate. He crowns JOHHMBalliG], who endows an Oxford college in gratitude, but later asserts Scotland’s independence from England. In Wales, Edward is set upon by Llewelyn and his crew of outlaws, who demand half his money. Instead he proposes single combat, winner take all. Llewelyn is beaten, but Edward spares his life in order to save Mortimer. He then goes to deal with the Scottish insurrection, leaving Mortimer to mop up…