Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ARCHBISHOP

in Jack Straw — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayJack Straw
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1593
First performance1591
Decade1590s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyUnknown
Speech prefix(es)Archbiſhop. | Biſhop.
Words372
Characters1985
Typicality0.50 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA13062
BritDrama no.855
ClusterCluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Lord Treasurer it seems strange to me, That being won with reason and regard, Of true succeeding Prince, the common sort, Should be so slack to give or grudge the gift, That is to be employed for their behoof, Hard and unnatural be the thoughts of theirs, That suck the milk, and will not help the Well, The King himself being now but young of age: If things should fallen out otherwise than well, The blame does fallen upon the Counsellor, And if I take my aim not all awry, The Multitude a Beast of many heads, Of misconceiving and misconstruing minds, Reputes this last benevolence to the King, Given at high Court of Parliament, A matter more require for private good, Than help or benefit of common weal, Wherein how much they wrong the better sort, My conscience bears witness in the cause. My Lords, this brief does openly unfold, A dangerous task to us and all our trains, With speed let us impart the news unto my Lord the King, The fearful news that while the flame does but begin, Sad policy may serve to quench the fire: The Commons now are up in Kenned, let us not suffer this first attempt too far. Who are the Captains of this Rebel rout, That thus do rise gainst their anointed King? What be they men of any worth or no? If men of worth, I cannot choose but pity them. Your grace herein is very well advised, With resolution fitting your degree, Your Grace must show your self to be a King, And rule Like Gods visgerent here on earth, The looks of Kings do lend both life and death, And when a King does set down his decree, His sentence should be irrevocable, Your grace herein hath shown your Princely mind, In that you hate to pray on carrion flesh, Such prays befits not Kings to pray upon, That may command and countermand their own. I hope my Lord this message so will prove, That public hate will turn to private love. And therefore I say my Lord you have answered well, The task was given your Grace by Act of Parliament, And you have reason to demand your Due.

Plot summary

Plot — Jack Straw
MHENKING is gathering taxes to finance war in France. After a EARN@OM@Gfr attempts an intimate physical examination of JaeRMStawSMdaughter to establish whether or HOMISHEMISNSIEMEnSughtoNbeMliazble forltaxatiomjastraw loses his temper and kills him. ParSOHMBAll speaks out against social abuses and inequality, inciting the men of Kent to rise in rebellion under Straw and MW&@HllTyi@F; they are joined by men of Essex, and send their demands to the King through Sir J@HBMIMG@EHGh, holding his family hostage. The King agrees to meet them at Greenwich, but breaks the appointment when he sees their disorderly conduct. The rebels advance on London, freeing prisoners, burning legal documents, despoiling their fellow countrymen, and murdering immigrants who cannot speak English properly. The King makes a second attempt to parley, meets the rebels at Smithfield, and hears their grievances. The issue of a general pardon induces the Essex men to go home, but the Kentish rebels remain in arms under Tyler and Straw. At the third encounter with the King, Straw demands a courtier’s sword, and the BOFaIMA¥ar of London stabs him. The rebellion is put down, but the King is reluctant to order mass executions; only the ringleaders, Tyler and Ball, are to die. The Lord Mayor is rewarded with a knighthood.