Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

FRENCHMAN

in The Hector of Germany, or The Palsgrave, Prime Elector — Smith, William (?)

Metadata

PlayThe Hector of Germany, or The Palsgrave, Prime Elector
AuthorSmith, William (?)
Year (catalogued)1615
First performance1614
Decade1610s
GenrePseudo-History
Play typePrivate
TheaterRed Bull;Curtain;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)French: | Frenchman. | French. | Frenchm. | Frenchm:
Words270
Characters1368
Typicality0.51 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12548
BritDrama no.1707
ClusterCluster 0 — Clowns, beggars & street sellers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

A Frenchman, and no traveller. The better man? Peuh, is that all? we have a number of great Christians that will do so, and when a man comes to demand his own somewhat holdly, he shall be come mitted to prison, or made a Fool, to stand waiting at the foredore where the Coach stands, while the Lord steals out at the backdoor by water. That our Tradesmen can tell, to their great hindrance, & I my self know this, that being in povert j, a Lord called me by my name thrice, but he would not remember it once, when he came to his Lands. Nay rather for fear of paying the old score. I love none. Here comes her Majesty. What must he swear? Thats a brave King. He shall be my Juggler. I am very sleepy. What are you? We ere somewhat a kin in the first partly of our names, and I pray heartily let us be better acquainted together. We will. Content. Exeunt French. & English. And by some great woman: For I can tell you their tricks too. Your only fine Lady is wantonness, & new Fashions, your Citizens wife gallops after. But she is not so well horste to overtake her. The play's done, and now we must go home. Farewell. Exeunt Fools. Why I pray sir, do not all Nations kiss alike? I can do little being so animated, if I should not forswear my self, for so fair a Queen. Players, by this light players: O I love a play with all my heart. Is not your name Master do much?

Plot summary

Plot — The Hector of Germany, or The Palsgrave, Prime Elector
. Defeated in his attempt to seize power in Spain, Henry the Bastard attempts to get himself elected Holy Roman Emperor; he secures the support of three of the seven Electors, promising that Saxony will be the power behind his throne. But the other Electors, including the sickly Palsgrave, prefer the Duke of Savoy’s candidature, so the Bastard uses force: he defeats the opposing Electors in battle, imprisons two of them, and has himself crowned, then breaks his word and excludes Saxony from power. News of the ===== PAGE 311 ===== 1613 usurpation cures the Palsgrave, who prepares to mobilize an army. Spain is the theatre of war for their first confrontation. The Palsgrave is victorious, and the Bastard is captured, but rescued by Saxony. The warring potentates seek alliances against one another: the Palsgrave goes to England, the Bastard to France. The Palsgrave competes in an English tournament and is installed in the Order of the Garter. King John of France is reluctant to fight the English again (they have too good a track record of victory in France), and hopes to use diplomacy to secure Edward III’s neutrality. Refused the chance to conduct the mission, Saxony goes to England in disguise, but is identified by the Palsgrave, who dishonours him by pulling off a lock of his hair. Diplomacy fails, and Edward and the Palsgrave invade France, dispatching troops to free the imprisoned Electors. The Palsgrave defeats and kills Saxony in single combat. King John withdraws his support from the Bastard, and Savoy is formally crowned Emperor. In the sub-plot, Lord Fitzwaters is betrothed to Floramell, but discovers that she loves his son. He witnesses a secret assignation between the lovers in the garden of Lord Clinton, Floramell’s father. Clinton orders Young Fitzwaters off his land; Lord Fitzwaters goes further and banishes him from England. Floramell goes with him, leaving in her place a cross-dressed page, whom Lord Fitzwaters ‘marries’. The lovers are separated in a shipwreck: Floramell is washed up on the French coast and becomes a maid of honour at court; Young Fitzwaters is marooned on a barren rock and subsists on a fish diet until he is rescued by Saxony. King John is attracted to Floramell and offers to make way for her by having the Queen murdered. Floramell will not consent to adultery or murder, but agrees to give him a single kiss. Unfortunately this is witnessed by the Queen, who plans revenge and engages as her murderer an English newcomer to…