Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

QUEEN

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)Qu. | Queene. | Quee. | Quee •• . | F. Queene. | Q. Poytiers
Words609
Characters3171
Typicality0.38 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA12548
BritDrama no.1707
ClusterCluster 13 — Attendant courtiers & citizens

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

How angry has the heavens as been with the sea, That it hath boiled so much, and cast the sands Into such mountains that they overlook The bounds that held them in. Make use of me, you all not want for help. 'Tis perfect charity to help the poor: Yet by these Jewels, you should bear a place, If not amongst the Royal, with the Noble. The Emperor and the Electors are arrived. Your self my Lord in some Adulterate kind. So, so, so: This is the affection that you bear to me? Thinks the French King I'll not revenge this wrong? As I am Queen of France, I'll make her know, What 'tis to be corrival in my Love: She die by Heaven. His name? Thrice welcome all. My Lord. Yes. How! Infortuna ? You flatter me. What Medea was't, Of whom you learned the Art of Sorcery, To inchant a King, and draw him to your bed? Think you, because you are my Maid of Honour, I'll honour you so far, to have my Lord, Thou shameless Callet? 'tis ingratitude, Into my Husbands heart so to intrude. I could have helped thee to a wealthy choice, Had you spared mine; but now it cannot be, For I must hate thee for thy tretchery. In. Exit Floramell. Weel consider farther of your tears: I'll hau her watched, if she proves false, she die; But if continue constant to the end, Never had Lady a more Royal friend. Exit. Are you resolu'de to undergo this charge? 'Tis but and Oath, which I will guild with Crowns, And bear you out against the Law. Take this in earnest, and when 'tis done, you shall have more. I'll instruct you: Here comes Fitzwaters. There is the Letter, which I charge you bear unto King Edward, and assure his Grace I will perform what I have promis'de in't, I'll send the strumpet to you instantly. Exit Queen. I received them in at the back G to. No, where is my witness? But shall the stream turn, this way is my plot Become so weak? you will believe a Subject Before a Queen? I have outshot my self, In seeking Justice at and enemies hand: This is a cross beyond the strength of brain; Sure I shall end my days in Lunacy, Like one to whom endue vengeance is denied, Because of weakness, on my self I'll turn The fury that should light upon my foe, Scatter my hair, Like chaff before the wind, Hell in this world dwells in a jealous mind, Exit. Q. Good Infortuna go along with me, I'll find some help for this thy misery. But if I might advise your Majesty, By former losses you should be more wise, Then hazard France again to the Like snoyle: Edward is fortunate in all his wars; And wise men will not strive against the stream Therefore be circumspect, and keep your own. I'll have about with her, to find out all. Within there. Enter Floramell. The . He ever yet was sovereign of his word, What shall I do, brook this corri alship? No, since I cannot in the Realm of France, Have the revenge my longing heart desires, Elsewhere I'll seek it, I of late behold And English Lord in favour at the Court, His Name Fitzwaters, and I love him well: By his procurement I will lay a plot, To yield King John unto his enemies, So to obtain my purpose, if it take How ever Fools may think to project ill, It likes me well, because I have my will. Speak to her, give the woman comfort.

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…