in The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyatt — Dekker, Thomas; Webster, John; Heywood, Thomas (?); Chettle, Henry (?)
Metadata
Play
The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyatt
Author
Dekker, Thomas; Webster, John; Heywood, Thomas (?); Chettle, Henry (?)
Year (catalogued)
1607
First performance
1602
Decade
1600s
Genre
History
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Worcester's Men
Speech prefix(es)
Suff: | Suff. | Suff,
Words
351
Characters
1812
Typicality
0.31 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A20096
BritDrama no.
1369a
Cluster
Cluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 1 (nony, tailors, butler, mall, jesu, massinissa…). Matches are highlighted.
to my graven, 'tis time that I were dead, When he that held my heart betrays my head. Oh Jane! now ght but fearethy Title & thy state, Thou now must leave for a small graven. Had I been contented to a been great, I had stood, But now my rising, is pulled down with blood. Farewell, point me my house of prayers. Here comes Sir
Full speech
H Owe fares the King, my Lord? speaks he cheerly? Is the Kings will confirmed? That will confirm my Daughter Queen. How fares his Highness? Are all our numbers full? See them arain'd, I will set forward steright. Ned Homes, speak hast thou brought me meat? And thou hast don't, thou hast betrayed me. Go on, go on. I kiss thee in requital of this love. Ah me! Ned Homes we are undone, Both thou and I betrayed. I do obey, and only crave this kindness, You would be good unto my Servant Homes, Where in relieving me, hath but performed The duty of a servant to his Lord. Hast thou betrayed me? yet with such a tongue, so smoothly oilde, slight of my dangers fear, Oh break my heart, this grief's too great to bear. God pardon thee, and lay not to thy soul This grievous inn: Farewell. And when thou spendest this ill God gold Remember how thy Master life was sold. Thy Lord that gave thee Lordship's, made thee great, Yet thou betraidst him as he sat at meat. On to my graven, 'tis time that I were dead, When he that held my heart betrays my head. Oh Jane! now ght but fearethy Title & thy state, Thou now must leave for a small graven. Had I been contented to a been great, I had stood, But now my rising, is pulled down with blood. Farewell, point me my house of prayers. Here comes Sir Thomas Wyat. Best to take the opinion of the counsel. Why sighs your Majesty? Never, and it Like your grace. Three days are passed, Monday, Tuesday and Wed nesday too Yet my protesting servant is not come. Himself conducted me to this hard lodging, A simple Cabin, for so great a Prince, And then he swore, but oaths you see are vain , That he would hourly come and visit me: I that was wont, to sur in estate, Am now through hunger almost desolate. I prithee do, need bids me eat, Need bids me hear thee too. Go on, go on.
Plot summary
Plot — The Famous History of Sir Thomas Wyatt
The King of England is dying. Northumberland and Suffolk conspire to disinherit his sister, Mary, in favour of Suffolk’s daughter, the reluctant Lady Jane Grey. When news arrives of the King’s death, they have her proclaimed Queen. Sir Thomas Wyatt, refusing to be a party to this, leaves court, and brings the news to Mary, who is living in frugal retirement. Northumberland and Suffolk raise an army against Mary, but Wyatt and the Lord Treasurer speak in the Council for a legal succession in accordance with the will of King Henry VIII. Mary is proclaimed Queen in London, and Lady Jane and her husband Guildford Dudley are arrested. Northumberland is ordered to discharge his troops and come to court, and is arrested. Suffolk is on the run. His servant, Holmes, brings him food, but also brings the Sheriff to arrest him. Holmes is paid well, but later strangles himself in remorse. Queen Mary begins to make fiscal arrangements, and reneges on her promise not to make any alteration in state religion: she plans to restore the Roman Catholic church. She also plans to marry Philip of Spain, contrary to the laws established by her father. Northumberland is executed. Disgusted at the prospect of Spanish infiltration, Wyatt raises rebellion in Kent. Part of Norfolk’s army defects to Wyatt on nationalist grounds, but when Pembroke bars the gates of London against him, his supporters slink away and he is arrested. Jane and Guildford are tried, and declare their innocence; Guildford notes that the commissioners were originally supporters of Northumberland in his attempt to influence the succession, and accuses them of hypocrisy. Though several commissioners want to seek clemency, the Bishop of Winchester sentences them to traitors’ deaths. Wyatt is taken to execution. Jane and Guildford are to die together; Jane is beheaded first. Guildford faints as he is taken away, but recovers to see her severed head, and is taken to the block.