Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

WEATHERCOCK

in The London Prodigal — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayThe London Prodigal
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1605
First performance1604
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
Speech prefix(es)Wea. | VVea. | Whe. | Wen. | 〈◊〉 . [Weathercock]
Words715
Characters3558
Typicality0.51 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12023
BritDrama no.1443
ClusterCluster 9 — Boon companions & bluff banter

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

But what say you to me sir Lancelot? I by the Rood sir Lancelot that she hath, But had she tried me, she should a found a man of me indeed. The more fool she. No mistake me not sir , But 'tis and old proverb, and you know it well, That women dying maids, led apes in hell. By the mass I think it be, and therefore let it go: But who shall marry with mistress Frances? Oh he sir, he's a desperate dick indeed. Bar him your house. By my faie and so he is, and a proper man. I marry, the the point : For the and old saying, Be he rich, or be he poor, hie, or be he low: Be he born in bairn or hall, 'Tis manners makes the man and all. I that he is sir Arthur, he hath the nobles, The golden ruddocks he. Believe me he hath bit you there, he hath touched you to the quick, that hath he. Now by my troath, I know no otherwise, Oh your old mother was a dame indeed: Heaven hath her soul, and my wives too I trust: And your good father, honest gentleman, He is gone a Journey as I hear, far hence. You have said well: indeed right well. Marry I am sorry for it good sir Lancelot, But if you will be ruled by me, weel stay the fury. Marry isle tell you, by promising young Flowerdale the read lipped Luce. Marry God bless your eyes, mine hath be dim all most this thirty years, Nay there is true love indeed, he gave it to me but this very morn, and bid me keep it unseen from any one, good youth, to see, how men may be deceived. All, all good man, he hath given you all. How Like you this good knight? how Like you this? Why that is friendly said, lets ride to London and pre ent their match, by promising your daughter to that lovely lad. And I , where be thy honest friends? A, he hath overreached me too. Do faith Mistress Luce, leave him. Withal my heart, for I love good cheer. Ill luck, but what remedy. Sure, nothing more sure. It may be very Like, no doubt he hath. Marry may you, and overthrow him too Believe me so he may, therefore take heed. Woman he hath killed his wife. By my troth I must weep, I can not choose. By the mackins, I do. By my faith it will go hard. What hath he killed his father? Why this is well, and towards fair Luces stock, heres forty shillings: and forty good shillings more, I'll give her marry Come sir Lancelot, I must have you friends. M. Flowerdale, welcome from ̄ death, good M. Flowerdale. It said so here, it said so here good faith. I 'tis best so, good master Olyuer. A by the matkins, good sir Lancelot, I saw him the other day hold up the bucklers, Like and Hercules, I faith God a marcy lad, I Like thee well. I thank you sir, I thank you friendly knight, I'll come and visit you, by the mouse-foot I will: In the mean time, take heed of cutting Flowerdale, He is a desperate dyck I warrant you. I thank you sir Here Daffidill, and honest fellow and a tall thou art: well, isle take my leave good knight, and hope to have you and all your daughters at my poor house, in good sooth I must. And welcome, heartily farewell. Why how now sir Arthur? all a mort master Oliver, how now man? Cheerly sir Lancelot, and merrily say, Who can hold that will away. I grant you may, you may do what you list. I marry is he sir, a very Justice, and sworn to keep the peace, you must not disturb the weddings. M. Flowerdale, sir Lancelot, look you who here is? M. I sir Lancelot I would have thought so too, but you and I have be deceived in him, come read this will, or deed, or what you call it, I know not: Come, come, your spectacles I pray. Indeed you must sir Lancelot, you must. Benedicitie, we are over wretched I believe.

Plot summary

Plot — The London Prodigal
Old Flowerdale returns secretly from Venice and hears tales of his son’s prodigality. Wanting to think the best of his offspring, he tests the young man by posing as Christopher, a sailor bringing news of his own death and a will disinheriting his son. Under his new identity he lends his son money to enable him to pursue an advantageous marriage to Sir Lancelot’s daughter Luce, and enters his service to observe him at close quarters. Sir Lancelot is trying to get husbands for all three of his daughters, but Delia prefers a virgin life. For Luce, Sir Lancelot initially favours the wealthy bumpkin Oliver, and takes his part when Young Flowerdale challenges him to a duel. However, ‘Christopher’ forges a will which makes Flowerdale seem richer than Oliver, so Sir Lancelot changes his mind and persuades Flowerdale to go to his own wedding rather than keep his appointment to fight Oliver. It is to be a double wedding: another daughter, Frances, is marrying a merchant’s son. Flowerdale makes no secret of the fact that he intends to exploit Luce financially. Disappointed in him, Old Flowerdale arranges for his uncle to have him arrested for debt immediately after the wedding; apart from teaching the young man a lesson, it will also establish whether Luce genuinely loves him. When Sir Lancelot tries to shrug off the debt, the will is exposed as a fraud. Luce, who only married Flowerdale in obedience to her father, now insists on honouring her marital vows. Intending that Flowerdale should rot in beggary, Sir Lancelot disowns her. Her entreaties get Flowerdale released, but he too rejects her, so ‘Christopher’ gets her a job in Frances’s household, disguised as a Dutch chambermaid. Destitute and starving after squandering his money in gambling and dissolute living, Young Flowerdale is reduced to theft and begging: first he robs his sister- in-law Delia, then seeks people’s sympathy, and money, with a lie that his wife is dead. He finds that begging is a profitable trade, but the report of Luce’s death causes Sir Lancelot to seek his arrest on suspicion of murder. Luce reveals herself, Flowerdale repents, and most of the characters give Luce money and presents, but Sir Lancelot is not reconciled until ‘Christopher’ reveals who he really is. Though offered the choice of Sir Arthur and Oliver, Delia opts to remain unmarried, and everyone goes off for a celebratory feast.