Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MESSENGER

in Thomas Lord Cromwell — S., W.

Metadata

PlayThomas Lord Cromwell
AuthorS., W.
Year (catalogued)1602
First performance1600
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Mes. | Mess.
Words193
Characters1035
Typicality0.26 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11265
BritDrama no.1290
ClusterCluster 17 — Intriguers & schemers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Pardon my Lord, I come to tell your honour, That they have hired a Neopolitan: Who by his Oratory hath promised them, Without the shedding of one drop of blood, Into their hands safe to deliver you, And therefore craves none but himself may enter, And a poor swain that attends on him. Men of Bononia: this my message is, To let you know the Noble Earl of Bedford: Is safe within the town of Mantua, And wills you send the pessant that you have, Who hath deceived your expectation, Or else the States of Mantua have vowed: They will recall the truce that they have made, And not a man shall stir, from forth your town, That shall return unless you send him back. Farewell Bononians, come friend a long with me, My Lord the dukes of Norfolk and of Suffolk, Accompanied with the Bishop of Winchester, Intreats you to come presently to Lambeth, On earnest matters that concerns the state. Sir hears a letter from my Lord of Bedford. He does desire your grace to read it, Because he says it does concern you near. Sir the Lords be at hand,

Plot summary

Plot — Thomas Lord Cromwell
So devoted is young Thomas Cromwell to his studies thathe tries to stop his father's workmen from making a noise. Old Cromwell is concerned at his ambitious son's lavishness with money: he seems not to understand the economic realities of life. He is making a living by working as a copyist, but accepts a job as a secretary in Antwerp. Banister owes Friskiball £1,ooo. Bagot has him arrested in Friskiball's name, and hardens the creditor's heart by telling him that Banister has enough money to pay his debts, if he were willing to do so. Frisk.iball relents after Mistress Banister pleads for her husband, and defers the debt until the couple have become prosperous; but the vindictive Bagot buys Banister's debts in order to oppress him. Banister flees to Antwerp, but Bagot pursues and arrests him. Cromwell agref!S to help the Banisters, and speaks to Bagot; but fails to move pity in him. Bagot negotiates with the Governor of Antwerp over some jewels, w:hich turn out to be stolen. Bagot is arrested and sent back to England; Banister is released, and awarded his confi.s.cated property. Cromwell goes to Florence with his servant Hodge, but they are robbed of their clothes. Following Italian custom, they set up bills describing their misfortune, and the anglophile Friskiball gives them money. They travel on to Bologna to relieve the Earl of Bedford, who is trapped in a house surrounded by French troops. Cromwell rescues the Earl posing as a Neapolitan hired by the French to abduct him: Hodge and Bedford exchange clothing, and Hodge is arrested in the Earl's place, but released after news arrives that Bedford is safe in Mantua. Declining the invitation to join the Ead's retinue, Cromwell completes his European tour with a trip to Spain, then returns to England, where he enters the household of Sir Thomas Hales. Im.pressed by Cromwell, Cardinal Wolsey appoints him his solicitor. After Wolsey dies, accused of treason, Croli;lwell surrenders his papers for the King's perusal. A grateful Bedford introduces him to the King; he is knighted and showered with public offices, and sets about reforming the church by confiscating ecclesiastical property. Despite his elevation, he acknowledges the lowly people he knew in his youth and pays the debts he accrued then. Meanwhile Friskiball returns to London in poverty: his debtors have defaulted, and Bagot has been hanged; only Banister acknowledges him. He waits on Cromwell, who remembers him from Florence and repays his…