Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

DODGER

in The Shoemaker's Holiday, or The Gentle Craft — Dekker, Thomas

Metadata

PlayThe Shoemaker's Holiday, or The Gentle Craft
AuthorDekker, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyAdmiral's (Nottingham's) Men
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)Dodger | Dodger. | Dod.
Words294
Characters1584
Typicality0.29 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA20083
BritDrama no.1188
ClusterCluster 8 — Martial kings & Roman gravity

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 8 (massinissa, yaw, league, renown, quasi, apud…). Matches are highlighted.

the eighteen day of May, The French and English were prepared to fight, Each side with eager fury gave the sign Of a most hight encounter, five long hours Both armies fought together: at the length, The lot of victory fell on our sides, Twelve thousand of the Frenchmen that day died, Four thousand English, and no man of name,

Full speech

My lord, your uncle on the Tower hill, Stays with the lord Mayor, and the Aldermen, And does request you with all speed you may To hasten thither. exit Dodger. My Lord, upon the eighteen day of May, The French and English were prepared to fight, Each side with eager fury gave the sign Of a most hight encounter, five long hours Both armies fought together: at the length, The lot of victory fell on our sides, Twelve thousand of the Frenchmen that day died, Four thousand English, and no man of name, But Captain Hyam, and young Ardington, Two gallant Gentlemen, I knew them well. My Lord, your cousin Lacy was not there. My Lord I am advised, That what I spoke is true: to prove it so, His cousin Askew that supplied his place, Sent me for him from France, that secretly He might convey himself hither. None else, my Lord. I fear so, my good Lord. Yea my Lord. I warrant you my Lord. exit. Idem gladly speak in private to your honour. No I assure your lordship, but disguised Lurks here in London. I take my leave. exit. Dodger. My Lord I come to bring unwelcome news, Your Nephew Lacy, and your daughter Rose, Early this morning wedded at the Savoy, None being present but the Lady Mairesse: Beside I learned among the officers, The Lord Mayor vows to stand in their defence, Gainst any that shall seek to cross the match. The Earl of Lincoln by me greets your lordship And earnestly requests you (if you can) Inform him where his Nephew Lacy keeps. Beside, his grace, to day dines with the Mayor, Who on his knees humbly intends to fallen, And beg a pardon for your Nephews fault.

Plot summary

Plot — The Shoemaker's Holiday, or The Gentle Craft
Before the start of the action, Lacy went bankrupt on a Continental tour, and learned the cobbler's trade in Wittenberg. On his return to England, he fell in love with Rose Oatley, but they fall foul of disapproving relatives: the Earl of Lincoln contrives for Lacy to leave the country. as a commander in the French wars, and her father takes her away to his country house. The newly married shoemaker Ralph is recruited into the army and takes a sad leave of his wife, Jane, and his colleagues. Lacy, however, deserts after the troops take ship: he sends his cousin to war in his place, and returns to London in the hope of making contact with Rose. Disguised as a Dutch shoemaker, Hans, he seeks employment with Simon Eyre and, though the business does not need another journeyman, he is accepted because Eyre's other workmen like him. A Dutch ship arrives in London with a rich cargo of luxury items, which the skipper offers at a bargain price; Lacy helps Eyre to buy the goods, using the money Lincoln gave him for his expenses in France. Eyre grows prosperous and becomes first an alderman, then Sheriff, and makes over his shop to his foreman. Hodge. In the country, Rose meets Hammon during a hunt, and her father thinks him a suitable son-in-law; at the betrothal, however, she rejects him and declares that she will live a maid. Hammon decides to try his luck with a London shopkeeper instead. The English rout the French in battle with relatively few fatal casualties, but Ralph is injured and comes home lame. He finds that Jane, forced to make her own living in his absence, has disappeared.Eyre is invited to dine with Oatley in the country, and the shoemakers accompany him to provide musical entertainment. Oatley hopes that the Eyres will. talk some marital sense into Rose, but she recognizes one of the morris-dancing shoemakers as Lacy. She summons him the following day on the pretext of fitting her shoes, and they elope. Oatley and Lincoln are decoyed to wait at the wrong church, but the couple are married before they realize their mistake. Meanwhile Hammon courts Jane, who is working as a seaJnstress, and overcomes her lack of interest by showing her Ralph's name on a list of the war dead. He orders a new pair of shoes for her to wear at the wedding, and sends one of her old ones as a model; Ralph recognizes it and his fellow shoemakers help him to intercept the wedding party before they reach the church. Jane is delighted that her true love is still alive; Hammon…