Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

BARRISOR

in Bussy D'Ambois

Metadata

PlayBussy D'Ambois
Year (catalogued)1607
First performance1607
Decade1600s
GenreHistory;Foreign History
Play typeBoys Professional;Professional
CompanyChildren of Paul's (second)
TheaterPaul's;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Bar.
Words209
Characters1093
Typicality0.41 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA18403
BritDrama no.1428
ClusterCluster 11 — Tosspots & tavern railers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

What newcome Gallant have we here, that dares mate the Guise thus? Here's a sudden transmigration with D'Ambois, out of the Knights ward, into the Duchess bed. By no means, let the new suit work, wee'll see the issue. Why here's the Lion, skard with the throat of a dung hill Cock; a fellow that has newly shaked off his shackles; Now does he crow for that victory. I have herd of a fellow, that by a fixed imagination loo king upon a Bulbaiting, had a visible pair of horns grew out of his forehead: and I believe this Gallant ouerioied with the conceit of Monsieurs cast suit, imagines himself to be the Mon sieur. Marry let him look sir, what will you say now if the Guise be gone to fetch a blanket for him? True, when he curvets in the blanket. Lord bless us, let's away. If you ask my opinion sir, I think your suit sits as well as if't had been made for you. This jealousy of yours sir, confesses some close defect in your self, that we never dreamed of. For life's sake let's be gone; hee'll kill's outright. Not sir. Does your confident spirit doubt that sir? Come fol low us and try.

Plot summary

Plot — Bussy D'Ambois
Monsieur is heir presumptive to the French crown: only his brother's life stands between him and the throne. He seeks to engage the services of the poor, discontented, and ambitious soldier Bussy D'Amboise, and sends Maffé to him with money. Maffé tries to fob off Bussy with a smaller sum, intending to pocket the difference; but Bussy takes offence and assaults Maffé. Monsieur introduces Bussy to court as an attendant on the King, but many courtiers regard him as an upstart, especially the Duke of Guise, who considers him inappropriately familiar with his Duchess. A fight breaks out between Bussy and a group of courtiers; only Bussy escapes alive, and Monsieur procures a royal pardon for him. Monsieur attempts to seduce Tamyra, but she is more interested in Bussy and engages her confessor, Friar Comolet, to act as go-between. While her husband, Montsoreau, is away overnight, she has an assignation with Bussy. Unbeknown to them, this is witnessed by Tamyra's maid, Pero, who tells Montsoreau what she has seen. Monsieur is jealous of Bussy's intimacy with Tamyra, but his higher plans take precedence - until Bussy declares that he will serve him in any way except by killing the King. Monsieur and Guise conspire to inform Montsoreau of Tamyra's adultery. In order to discover what they know and what they intend, Comolet conjures the spirit Behemoth, who is unable to procure the letter containing Guise's information, but declares that Tamyra is the greatest danger to Bussy and promises to tell more when invoked by him. At Guise's suggestion, Montsoreau tries to force Tamyra to write to Bussy inviting him to another assignation - which will, in reality, be a trap. He wounds and tortures her, and finally she writes the letter in her own blood. Comolet drops dead, and his ghost warns Bussy of violence to come. Bussy seeks further information from Behemoth,who tells him that the Friar is dead and Tamyra's letter will be fatal; but when Montsoreau delivers the letter disguised as Comolet, Bussy disbelieves the spirit and keeps his date with Tamyra. Most of the murderers are scared off by Comolet's ghost, but one remains, and Bussy kills him. Montsoreau returns with the assassins and Bussy is killed. Tamyra is ordered out of the house, her marriage to Montsoreau irretrievably broken.