Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

MONTMORENCY

in Chabot, Admiral of France — Chapman, George; Shirley, James, rev.

Metadata

PlayChabot, Admiral of France
AuthorChapman, George; Shirley, James, rev.
Year (catalogued)1639
First performance1612
Decade1630s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyUnknown
TheaterPhoenix/Cockpit;Indoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Con. | Con,
Words664
Characters3622
Typicality0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idB12027
BritDrama no.1676
ClusterCluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Passed all earth policy that would infringe it. Your desires attend you. My stay? My good Lord Chancellor, Shall I so late atoned, and by the Kings Hearty and earnest motion, fallen in pieces? You speak a ra e affection, and high souls, But give me leave great Lords, still my just thanks Remembered oh your counsels and direction, I seeking this way to confirm my self I undermine the columns that support My hopeful glorious fortune, and at once Provoke the tempest though did drown my envy, With what assurance shall the King expect My faith to him, that break it for another, He has engaged our peace, and my revenge Forfits my trust with him, whose narrow ight Will penetrate through all our mists, could we Veil our design with clouds blacker than night; But grant this danger over, with what Justice, Or satisfaction to the inward Judge, Shall I be guilty of this good men ruin, Though I may still the murmuring tongues without me, Loud conscience has a voice to shadder greatness Misery Of rising Statesmen I must on, I see That against the politic, and privileged f shion, All justice tastes but affectation. I thought my Lord our reconcilement perfect, You have expressed what sea of gall flowed in you, In tearing of the bill I sent to allow. Dare, why not? Betrays? Brave resolution so his acts be just, He cares for gain not honour. By doing justice still in all his actions. I desire Your Lordship wood excuse me. She attends you Madam. Brave old man. Yes great Madam, And read a noble spirit, which becomes The wife of Chabot, their great ti of m rriage I not more strong upon em, than their virtues. Religiously, a true, most zealous Patrior, And worth all royal favour. Such a will be far From Montmoranzie, Pioneers of state Have left no art to gain me to their faction, And 'tis my misery to be placed in such A sphere where I am whirled by violence Of a fierce raging motion, and not what My own will would incline me. I shall make This appear Madam, if you please to second My free speech with the King. I would not have It lie upon my fame, that I should be Mentioned in Story his unjust supplanter For your whole Kingdom, I have been abused, And made believe my suit was just and necessary, My walks have not been safe, my closet prayers, But some plot has pursued me, by some great ones Against your noble Admiral, they have frighted My fancy into my dreams with their close whispers, How to uncement your affections, And re der him the fable, and the scorn Of France. Have I a soul? or gratitude, to acknowledge My self your creature, dignified and honoured By your high favours with and equal truth, I must declare the justice of your Admiral (In what my thoughts are conscious) and will rather Give up my claim to birth, title, and offices, Be thrown from your warm smile, the top and crown Of Subject's happiness, then be bribed with all Their glories to the gilded of Chabots ruin. It confirms My shame alive, and buried will corrupt My very dust, make our house-genious groan, And fright the honest marble from my ashes: His fallen prepare my triumph? turn me first A naked exile to the world. Poor soul, she thinks the Queen is still against him, Who employeth all her powers to preserve him. It will fame your Justice. And live Kings best example. To me now most welcome. He never had More reason in his soul, to entertain All the delights of health. There will be But a sad interview and dialogue. Here's the King. Sir, be prudent, And do not for your son fright the Kings health. Mounsieur Allegre, He that was racked sir for your Admiral. He may recover sir. I feared this issue. I will—

Plot summary

Plot — Chabot, Admiral of France
Admiral Philip Chabot has been supplanted at court by a new royal favourite, the Duke Montmorency. The King intervenes to put a stop to their rivalry, but Montmorency is encouraged by his fellow courtiers to renege and seek Chabot’s downfall. The opportunity arises when Montmorency proffers a suit, concerning a merchant ship seized by the Spanish, and has the bill approved by the King and Council; it is forwarded to Chabot for signature, but he insists on reading it and, finding it unjust, tears it up. The Queen encourages her husband to treat Chabot’s action as criminal defiance, but the King claims he was only testing the Admiral’s probity, and expected him to destroy the bill. He sees Chabot privately and tries to persuade him to relent and allow the bill, but Chabot is adamant that no injustice must be done in the King’s name. Offended by his stubbornness, the King asks Poyet, the Lord Chancellor, to prepare the case against him. His secretary Allegre is racked, but confesses nothing against him. At his trial, the inferior judges point out that the only crimes mentioned in the accusation are trivial ones, but Poyet is adamant that Chabot must be convicted of high treason, and the judges sign the condemnation under duress. Meanwhile, the Queen meets Chabot’s wife and, impressed by her loyalty and humility, has a change of heart. She and Montmorency approach the King to plead for Chabot, but he says he cannot interfere with the workings of the law. The news of the conviction comes through, and Poyet presses for an early execution. The King summons Chabot and publicly pardons him, but Chabot insists that he has committed no crime and so needs no pardon. The King takes this for contempt, but asks to see the bill of condemnation. Sure enough, no specific crimes are listed, and Poyet’s over-zealous behaviour comes to light. The King has him arrested and put to trial: he is vilified by the same prosecutor who flattered him at Chabot’s arraignment. He is fined, deprived of office, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in his own castle. The King cancels the sentence, thinking it too lenient, and gives Chabot the right to substitute an alternative, heavier punishment. Chabot asks instead that Poyet be forgiven, then drops dead, exhausted by his experiences. The King complies with his dying wishes, and promises to look after his family.