Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BASSET

in 1 Henry the Sixth — Nashe, Thomas; Marlowe, Christopher; Shakespeare, William; Anonymous

Metadata

Play1 Henry the Sixth
AuthorNashe, Thomas; Marlowe, Christopher; Shakespeare, William; Anonymous
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1590
Decade1620s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyDerby's (Strange's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Baſſ. | Baſ.
Words192
Characters1036
Typicality0.22 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.20
BritDrama no.919
ClusterCluster 23 — Gulls, fops & laughing-stocks

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Yes Sir, as well as you dare patronage The envious barking of your saucy Tongue, Against my Lord the Duke of Somerset. Why, what is he? as good a man as York. Villain, thou knowest The Law of Arms is such, That who so draws a Sword, it's present death, Or else this Blow should broach thy dearest Blood. But I'll unto his Majesty, and crave, I may have liberty to venge this Wrong, When thou shalt see, I'll meet thee to thy cost. Confirm it so, mine honourable Lord. And me (my Lord) grant me the Combat too. And I with him, for he hath done me wrong. Crossing the Sea, from England into France, This Fellow here with envious carping tongue, Upbraided me about the Rose I wear, Saying, the sanguine colour of the Leaves Did represent my Master's blushing cheeks: When stubbornly he did repugn the truth, About a certain question in the Law, Argued betwixt the Duke of York, and him: With other vile and ignominious terms. In confutation of which rude reproach, And in defence of my Lords worthiness, I crave the benefit of Law of Arms.

Plot summary

Plot — 1 Henry the Sixth
King Henry Vis dead, and England's French lands are lost. After a military setback, the French accept the offered aid of Joan Pucelle , who claims supernatural powers from the Virgin Mary; but they also release Talbot in an exchange of prisoners. With Joan 's help the French recapture the occupied town of Orleans, but the English take it back in a night attack led by Talbot. The Countess of Auvergne invites Talbot to visit her. intending treachery, but he second-guesses her and brings soldiers with him. In England, feuds brew between Gloucester and Winchester, and between Richard Plantagenet and the Duke of Somerset, whose supporters show their allegiance by picking different coloured roses. Richard , who has been deprived of his titles through the attainder of his father, learns from the imprisoned and dying Mortimer that he has a claim to the throne . King Henry restores him to his inheritance, creating him Duke of York. Joan takes Rouen by a ruse , but Talbot recaptures it the same day; she then persuades England's ally Burgundy to join the French. After King Henry's coronation in Paris, York is left in command of Prance, but personal tension between him and Somerset means that troop reinforcements arrive late; in consequence, Talbot is defeated, surviving only long enough to learn that his son has perished in battle. Joan conjures devils, but they will not help her: she is captured by York and burned at the stake. The French and English agree a peace which will entail King Henry making a diplomatic marriage, but this is pre-empted when Suffolk captures Margaret and (having fallen in love with her but being alr eady married) plans to install her as Queen of England . Henry agrees to marry her, and Suffolk goes to France to mili the arrangements.