Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BLACK WILL

in When You See Me You Know Me (Henry the Eighth) — Rowley, Samuel

Metadata

PlayWhen You See Me You Know Me (Henry the Eighth)
AuthorRowley, Samuel
Year (catalogued)1605
First performance1604
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyPrince Henry's Men
Speech prefix(es)Black VVill. | Blacke VVill. | Black. | Blacke Will. | Blacke VVil. | Blacke will. | Blac. | Blacke. | Blacke • il. | Blacke Wil.
Words444
Characters2271
Typicality0.43 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11146
BritDrama no.1441
ClusterCluster 11 — Tosspots & tavern railers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

So, how I am God within the City, I am as safe as in a Sanctuarieat is a hard world, when Black Will, for a venture of iue pound, must commit such petty robberies at Mile-ende, but the plain truth is, the Stews from whence I had my quartaridgeas now grown too ote for me: theres some suspection of a murder lately done upon two Mar chants of the Stilliard, which indeed as far as some five or six stabs comes too, I confess I had a hand in. But mum budget, all the Dogs in the town must not bark at it. I must withdraw awhile till the heat ee over, remove my lodging, and live upon dark nights and morning's. Now let me them see, the strongest watch in London inter cept my passage. Sblood before me sir: What a Worser ell art thou? My names Black Will. Sfoot, dost thou doubt of my manhood? Nay then defend your self, isle give you a try all presently, be take ye to your tools sir, isle teach you to stand upon Interga tories. And art thou valiant? A sword and a buckler, and know not me, Not Black Will? Follow me then, and isle tell thee more. How likest thou now? Sownes, I am hurt, hold I say. Slave, then thou art neither Traveller, nor Purse-taker: for I tell thee, Black will is known and fea read though the seventeen theres not a sword and Buckler man in England nor Europe, but has had a taste of my manhood. I am tole-free in all Cities, & the Suburbs about them: this is my Sconce, my Castle, my Citadel, and but King Harry, God bless his Majesty, I fear not the proudest. Would thou and all the men he keeps were hanged, and you love not him then: but I will not change my revenues for all his guards wages. Let his guard eats beef and be thankful, give me a man will cover himself with his buckler, and not booge and the devil come. Art thou a good fellow? May I speak freely, and wilt not tell the king ont? A good fellow: come close, regard them not. As you please sir: yet because th'art his man, isle ob serve it, and neither thrust nore strike beneath the knee. Sownes the Moons a waining harlot, with the glimpse of her light I lost his point, & mistook my ward, had near brought my blood else. I'll shake hands with thee, because thou carriest a Sword and Buckler, yet thart not right Cauelere, thou knowest not how to use them, thaste a heavy arm.

Plot summary

Plot — When You See Me You Know Me (Henry the Eighth)
Cardinalgwoisey uses his power over English foreign policy to buy international support for his candidacy for the papacy. To win over the King of France, he abets the ambassadors sent to negotiate a marriage with King Henry’s sister, BAGyaMary. QHEEHIANE dies giving birth to Prince Edward; Wolsey hopes that the King will not now marry a Protestant. Harried by Irish rebellion and international Protestant opposition to his activities, the King has a four-day bout of bad temper until Wall§SOmers jests him back to good humour. He then learns that the Pope has awarded him the title Defender of the Faith; in return, Henry agrees to contribute military assistance to repulse the Turkish invasion of Rhodes. Having heard of lax policing in London, King Henry decides to see for himself, and pays the city a nocturnal visit in disguise. He catches the watch asleep on duty, and witnesses their failure to arrest a night-walking criminal, BI@ERIWG. He and Black Will fight, and are arrested; Henry sends word to the Duke of Suffolk that he is in prison. He is there, observing abuses and amusing himself with his fellow-prisoners, when Suffolk arrives to release him. Black Will is given money to keep him in jail until the King needs him for a soldier. Later the King investigates the abuses and dismisses a servant, RGOKSBY. Protestantism grows in popularity in England, a process furthered by the King’s marriage to Kathenine Parr she has anti-Catholic views on such issues as ===== PAGE 146 ===== loyalty to the crown, the Latin Bible, and indulgences. When the King of France dies, the alliance with England is dissolved, and Suffolk, sent to bring Lady Mary home, marries her. Protestants and Catholics clash over the education of the royal children: Wolsey’s agents BOnmer and Gafdifier have the tutelage of PrincessiMary, but Bishop @ranmier is responsible for PrinceEdward! Under his regime, in which Ned Browne is beaten for the Prince’s negligence, Edward makes good progress in logic, theology, and music. While Wolsey is out of the country pursuing his papal ambitions, Bonner and Gardiner plot to discredit the Queen and banish Cranmer. Prince Edward makes the peace between his father and stepmother; Bonner and Gardiner lose their influence after they use the King’s warrant to attempt the Queen’s arrest in the presence chamber. Wolsey is suspected of corruption after his fool and Will Somers discover gold hoarded in his wine cellars, and the arrival of the Emperor in England…