Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ARMORER

in 2 Henry the Sixth (The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster) — Shakespeare, William; Marlowe, Christopher; Anonymous (?)

Metadata

Play2 Henry the Sixth (The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster)
AuthorShakespeare, William; Marlowe, Christopher; Anonymous (?)
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1590
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyPembroke's Men (?)
Speech prefix(es)Armor. | Armonrer | Arm.
Words174
Characters880
Typicality0.33 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA68931
BritDrama no.888
ClusterCluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Ant shall please your majesty, I never said any such matter, God is my witness, I am falsely accused by this villain here. Alas my Lord, hang me if ever I speak these words, my accuser is my prentice, and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees that he would be even with me, I have good witness of this, and therefore I beseech your majesty do not cast away and honest man for a villains accusation. And I accept the combat willingly. Let it come, i'faith I'll pledge you all, And a fig for Peter. Here to thee neighbour, fill all the pots again, for be before we fight, look you, I will tell you my mind, for I am come hither, as it were of men instigation, to prove my self and ho nest man, & Peter a knave, & so have at you Peter, with down right blows, as Bevis of Southampton fell upon Askapart. Hold Peter, I confess, treason, treason.

Plot summary

Plot — 2 Henry the Sixth (The First Part of the Contention betwixt the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster)
Siiffolk brings KingiHenryiVd his new queen, Margaret, having been his proxy at their wedding in France; the agreement means peace with France, but also the surrender of some of England’s French possessions. In England, factions develop for and against Gioueester, the Lord Protector, while WOFk intends to claim the crown for himself; moreover, rivalry brews between the Queen and Gloucester’s ambitious wife, who also covets the throne. Common talk about York’s claim to the crown means that SOimierset supplants him as Regent of France, and this talk is later verified in a trial by combat. _ ile incites the DGGHESSIGAEGIONEESEr to solicit demonic predictions about England’s political future (some of which come true later in the play); she is forced to do penance, and banished. By careful questioning, Gloucester establishes that a supposed miracle is actually fraudulent. Somerset’s regency results in the loss of all England’s French lands; the Queen and barons unite to lay the blame on Gloucester and have him first arrested for high treason, then murdered. Suffolk is . banished by popular acclamation, captured at sea by pirates, and beheaded. MH@NCaFdifial dies in a delirium ‘of guilt for his part in Gloucester’s murder. , ’ York goes to put down a rising in Ireland, and arranges for a rebellion in his absence to give him a reason to return in arms: Jaeki@ade and his men duly wreak havoc in London before Glifférd quells the rebellion with a promise of pardon; Cade himself is caught, starving, on private land, and killed. York returns in arms, but dismisses his troops on learning that Cade has been defeated and Somerset imprisoned; -but Somerset’s disgrace proves to be a deception, and civil war breaks out. The Yorkists win the battle of St Albans, and Henry flees to London to hold a parliament.