Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BURGUNDY

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)Bur. | Burg.
Words339
Characters1838
Typicality0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.20
BritDrama no.919
ClusterCluster 5 — Romantic leads (high style)

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Traitors have never other company. But what's that Puzell whom they tear me so pure? Pray God she prove not masculine ere long: If underneath the Standard of the French She carry Armour, as she hath begun. And I to this. Doubtless he would have made a noble Knight: See where he lies inherced in the arms Of the most bloody Nursser of his harms. I trust the Ghost of Talbot is not there: Now he is gone my Lord, you need not fear. My self, as far as I could well discern, For smoke, and dusky vapours of the night, Am sure I scared the Dolphin and his Trull, When Arm in Arm they both came swiftly running, Like to a pair of loving Turtledoves, That could not live asunder day or night. After that things are set in order here, We'll follow them with all the power we have. Is it even so? Nay, then I see our Wars Will turn unto a peaceful Comic sport, When Ladies crave to be encountered with. You may not (my Lord) despise her gentle suit. Scoff on vile Fiend, and shameless Courtesan, I trust ere long to choke thee with thine own, And make thee curse the Harvest of that Corn. My Vows are equal partners with thy Vows. Courageous Bedford, let us now persuade you. Warlike and Martial Talbot, Burgonie Inshrines thee in his heart, and there erects Thy noble Deeds, as Valours Monuments. What wills Lord Talbot, pleases Burgonie. Who craves a Parley with the Burgonie? What sayest thou Charles ? for I am marching hence. Speak on, but be not overtedious. Either she hath bewitched me with her words, Or Nature makes me suddenly relent. I am vanquished: These haughty words of hers Have battered me Like roaring Cannon-shot, And made me almost yield upon my knees. Forgive me Country, and sweet Countrymen: And Lords accept this hearty kind embrace. My Forces and my Power of Men are yours. So farewell Talbot, I'll no longer trust thee.

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.