Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

SIR JOHN

in The Merry Devil of Edmonton — Anonymous (?)

Metadata

PlayThe Merry Devil of Edmonton
AuthorAnonymous (?)
Year (catalogued)1608
First performance1602
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
TheaterGlobe;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Sir Io. | Sir Ioh. | Prie. | Priest.
Words536
Characters2747
Typicality0.30 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA21136
BritDrama no.1392
ClusterCluster 16 — Errand servants & brief parts

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Neighbour Banks of Uvaltham, and Goodman Smug the honest Smith of Edmonton, as I dwell betwixt you bothat Enfield, I know the taste of both your ale houses, they are good both, smart both: Hem, Grass and hay, we are all mortal, let's live till we die, and be merry and theres and end. No oaths, no oaths, good neighbour Smug, Weel wet our lips together in hug; Car rouse in private, and elevate the heart, And the liver and the lights, and the lights, Mark you me within us, for hem, Grass and hay, we are all mortal, lets live till we die, and be Merry, and the and end. Into the forest neighbour Banks, into Brians walk the mad keeper. The question is good neighbour Banks, let me see, the Moon shines to night, ther's not a narrow bridge betwixt this and the forest, his brain will be settled ere night, he may go, he may go neighbour Banks: Now we want none but the come pany of mine host Blague at the George at Uvaltham, if he were here, our Consort were full; look where comes my good host, the Duke of Norfolks man, and how and how? a hem, grass and hay, we are not yet mortall' lets live till we die and be merry, and ther's and end. Peace neighbour Smug, you see this is a Boor, a Boor of the country, and illiterate Boor, and yet the Citizen of good fellows, come lets provide a hen: Grass and hay, we are not yet all mortal, weel live till we die, and be merry, and theres and end: come Smug. Come sever, care no spirits, weel have a Buck pre sently, we have watched later then this for a Do, mine Host. Why then come, Grass and hay, &c. Grass and hay, we are all mortal, the keepers a broad, and ther's and end. Neighbour Banks what news? Grass and hay, where's mine host Blague? Sir to prove my self and honest man, being that I was last night in the forest stealing Venison; now sir to have you stand my friend, if that matter should be called in question, I married you daughter to this worthy gentleman. If you do, I am as resolute as my Neighbour vicar of Uvaltham Abbey: a hem, Grass and hay, we are all mortal, Lets live till we be hanged mine host, And be merry and theres and end. Mine host and Smug, stand there Banks, you and your horse keep together; but lie close, show no tricks for fear of the keeper. If we be scared weel meet in the Church-porch at Enfeild. Grass and heigh, we are all mortal, who's there? Sexton. For mortalities sake, What's the matter? Oh good Salomon; I have been about a deed of darkness to night: Oh Lord I saw fifteen spirits in the forest, Like white bulls, if I lie I am and arrant thief: mortality haunts us; grass and hay the devils at our heals, and lets hence to the parson nages. Oh no mine host, but there sat one in the porch, I have not breath enough left to bless me from the Devil.

Plot summary

Plot — The Merry Devil of Edmonton
The magician Peter Fabell’s bargain with the devil falls due, and Coreb comes to collect his soul; but Fabell traps him in a magic chair and demands another seven years as the price of freedom. Millicent Clare loves her fiancé, Raymond Mounchensey; but her father Sir Arthur, unsure of Sir Richard Mounchensey’s financial stability, plans to break off the match and place her as a novice in a nunnery for three months while he arranges an alternative marriage with young Jerningham. Feeling sorry for Raymond, his friend and one-time fellow student, Fabell, tells him what Sir Arthur has in mind, and the young men plot to frustrate the old man’s plans. Millicent is entered in the nunnery, and is dismayed at her new life of abstinence, prayer, and flagellation. Posing as the Abbot of Waltham, Fabell substitutes Raymond for one of the friars, Benedick. Taking him for the novice he seems, Sir Arthur tells Raymond everything, and takes him to hear Millicent’s confession. This enables him to plan Millicent’s escape. The young men succeed in getting Millicent out of the nunnery, but are separated from her when they encounter some locals on a poaching expedition: assuming them to be Sir Arthur, they lead the locals off the scent. Millicent is found by the keeper. The poachers rendezvous in Enfield churchyard and scare the sexton into thinking he has seen a ghost. Sir Arthur complains to the real Abbot of Waltham about Millicent’s abduction, but is discomfited when the Abbot produces the real Friar Benedick. Sir Arthur and Sir Richard return to their inn, but spend the night in the wrong one after the signs are switched. In their absence, Raymond and Millicent are married. Sir Arthur accepts the fait accompli.