Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

YOUNG SELBY

in The Valiant Scot — W., J.

Metadata

PlayThe Valiant Scot
AuthorW., J.
Year (catalogued)1637
First performance1626
Decade1630s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyUnknown
Speech prefix(es)Y. Sel.
Words289
Characters1576
Typicality0.27 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA14599
BritDrama no.2189
ClusterCluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Mask her, come Peg hide your Scottish face. I know it's sweet Peggy, and because it's not a picture for every Painter to draw forth, let this curtain be pined before it. No Peggy, th'art my prisoner, but here's thy jail. Here's no man here your hangman, or your jailor. Your friends that hold you only in bonds of love. Tell me what proud Scot loves thee, what Scot dare touch thee now th'art Selbies? Toth' Church, away, I'll marry her there by force. The Devil and's dambe be't, budge not. Unhand that beauteous prize, proud slave, it's mine. Are you so brave. Back, the quarrels mine, and if one single Scot proudest of your swarm dares answer me, step forth. Hark Gentlemen, let not so sleight a shower, Which yet lies hid and wrapped in one poor cloud, Be by rough winds (raised up by you) dispersed Into a general storm, to many eyes Of Scots and English shoots, quick lightning forth Already, but your absence will allay Those fires which else must kindle, get then away, Take shelter in yond tavern. Guard my love, he and I will only exchange cold words. This Scotch Lasle I love. Yes. Is she your wife? She's your whore. She gangs with me then. She is? And to the death thou shalt, no more but this, Thou shalt bear from me Scot. Instantly. Make time Sir, of your weapon, time, and place. This. Dost teach me fencing too in thy own school? I'll Beatrice thee or be beaten, one draws short breath. Yet th'art near thy death. Fight. Inglorious conquest, for King Edwards crown, I'de trample on no enemy were he down. There—if th'art well, partly. Mercy on my soul. Die.

Plot summary

Plot — The Valiant Scot
PLOT Scotland is under English rule. An attempt is made to dispossess Old Wallace of his office and lands; but Old Wallace partially circumvents it by transferring ownership of the land to his son. King Edward plans to make war on France, and appoints Bruce his general. Scotland is left in the charge of Queen Elinor and a panel of commissioners. Young Selby, son of one of the commissioners, abducts Peggy Graham, intending to marry her by force. Wallace intervenes and kills Young Selby in a duel. Commissioner Selby arrests Peggy and threatens her with execution for the murder. Wallace gives himself up, and Peggy is released. His own execution is forestalled when the Queen orders him brought to court for interrogation. He escapes en route, marries Peggy, and becomes a rebel. Friar Gertrid prophesies that he will be victorious until betrayed by his own blood. The English capture Peggy, Gertrid, and Old Wallace, and Selby has them killed. King Edward sends Wallace an ultimatum: if he will surrender and beg for mercy, he may be spared. Wallace sends an alternative ultimatum back: if Edward will admit himself to be a tyrant, he may be spared. Upon discovering that one of the ambassadors, the Queen’s nephew, has no diplomatic accreditation, he puts the young man to death. He then cuts out an ambassador’s tongue and blinds another, and accompanies them back to King Edward disguised as a lame soldier. The English plan to entice Wallace into a trap, and send another messenger to invite him to a parley; but the stratagem fails because the man appointed to escort the messenger to the Scottish camp is the lame soldier — Wallace himself. Wallace sails to seek help from France, but his ship is wrecked. On the shore, he meets first Bolt, from whom he forcibly takes possession of a washed-up chest of provisions, then Selby, who is now banished from England and penurious, and regrets the execution of Old Wallace. Wallace decides not to take revenge, but while he is away fetching food, another of the fallen commissioners turns up and kills Selby in an argument. Bolt returns and kills the murderer, taking him for Wallace. He is presented to King Edward and rewarded, but later discredited when Wallace turns out to be alive. The Scots prepare to fight, but Wallace is offended to be placed in the rearguard, and withdraws his services. He watches the battle from a hill, and finally intervenes after the Scottish general is killed. On the battlefield he meets Bruce, the rightful…