Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

JUDGE

in The Pedlar's Prophecy — Anonymous

Metadata

PlayThe Pedlar's Prophecy
AuthorAnonymous
Year (catalogued)1595
First performance1561
Decade1590s
GenreMoral
Play typeInterlude
Speech prefix(es)Iudge. | Iud.
Words306
Characters1580
Typicality0.52 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA15516
BritDrama no.344
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

God speed you my masters, forsooth all three, And you worshipful master Justice my friend: It does me good to see you so well agree, Trusting in God that you be all of one mind. Indeed I herd of such a one, And there goes a great bruit of his prophecy. He means unhappily by this fable, I would I had him in my keeping a while. No, no, we will not put you to that pain, But we will hear the Pedlars prophecy still. I pray you tell me, talketh he not of the state of this region? Of the Queens Majesty, and of the Council: What says he concerning religion? How liketh he by the Preachers of the Gospel? Whereat is the Pedlar so soar offended? What is it that he misliketh most? As I have learned here by my brother's report, He entermedleth with matters of religion: With men of all states and of mighty sort, Which will be and occasion, to move strife and sedition. I pray thee amongst all his communication, What would he of Judges say? I pray you tell me as much as you can, What he hath talked of any state? And I promise you, as I am true man, Of us you shall have neither displeasure nor hate. As for prattling of Pedlars we do not pass, But for all things amiss, I wish amendment, If ought be no worse then ever it was, God give us grace to obey his commandment. First let us pray for the Queen's Majesty on this partly, Almighty God prosper and defend her Royal Majesty, Amen say all those, that have a true English heart, We have all cause to pray for her Graces prosperity. Lord save thy people, and bless thine heritage, Thy mercy good Lord, upon this Commonalty extend.

Plot summary

Plot — The Pedlar's Prophecy
An itinerant pedlar possesses a stone which confers on him the gift of prophecy. The play shows him encountering a series of social types to whom he utters cryptic, apocalyptic prophecies about the land of Ilion and the city of Tyre, whilst also offering goods for sale. First he touches on family discipline with two parents and their daughter, who is secretly no longer a virgin. Next he meets three working men and deals with economic malpractice, but learns that he stands in danger of being charged with witchcraft. Then he poses as a third party reporting the pedlar’s words to members of the ecclesiastical and legal professions, and focuses on matters of religion and judicial corruption. The prophecies repeatedly criticize immigration and social abuses arising out of the ownership of land and property; they regularly threaten not only destruction but also bodily metamorphosis; and the pediar offends