Anonymous
1 JERONIMO, or
THE FIRST PART OF IERONIMO. WITH THE WARRES OF PORTUGALL, AND THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DON ANDRĈA
1600–1605
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALCARIO
A Spanish courtier, the duke of Medina's son. Lorenzo knows that Alcario loves Belimperia, and he tells him to wear Andrea's clothes in order to impersonate Andrea in front of his sister while Andrea is still in Portugal. Alcario does this, and Lorenzo then speaks to him as if he were Andrea, who had just returned from Portugal. Belimperia is duped, takes Alcario for her beloved Andrea, talks to him and kisses him goodbye. Lazarotto sees this and kills Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea.
ALEXANDRO
A Portuguese Lord, friend of Balthazar's. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally. Then they decide who is going to fight whom. Alexandro should fight with Lorenzo, but in the end he kills Rogero.
AMBASSADOR
An ambassador comes from Portugal, with the news that the Portuguese no longer intend to pay the tribute they owe to Spain. The King then sends Andrea on a mission to Portugal.
ANDREA
A disguise that Alcario assumes in order to fool Belimperia. It works, and she takes Alcario for her beloved Andrea, talks to him and kisses him goodbye. Lazarotto sees this and kills Alcario, also believing that he is Don Andrea.
ANDREA, DON
Spanish Lord, Belimperia's lover. The King chooses him as an ambassador to Portugal to ask for the tribute of three years. Andrea then says adieu to Belimperia, Lorenzo's sister. She is afraid because she knows both his own and Balthazar's temper, and entreats him at least to try to reach a peaceful solution. In Portugal Andrea delivers his message, but when the King of Portugal tells him that he does not intend to pay the tribute that his father owed—a father who has been dead for three years—Andrea declares war on Portugal. Balthazar and Andrea challenge each other and agree to meet in a fight during the next battle. When Andrea returns to Spain, Rogero and others receive him. They hear groans and come across Lazarotto who has just killed Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea. Andrea is now warned that somebody wants to kill him. He is just reporting Portugal's answer to the King when a messenger comes and announces that the Portuguese are in arms. Andrea again takes his leave from Belimperia, who gives him a love knot to remember her. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally, and they agree who is going to fight whom. Andrea should fight with Balthazar, but in the actual battle he can't find him for a long time. Finally they meet, and Balthazar wins, but Horatio comes to Andrea's help. In a new fight, Andrea has Balthazar down when two Portuguese come and kill him. Horatio deplores his death and fights Balthazar, he "has him down" when Lorenzo comes, seizes his weapons and claims to have won the prince as his prisoner. After a long quarrel they decide to leave this to their King to judge. Horatio takes Andrea's badge (Belimperia's love knot) and carries his body from the field/stage. As a ghost (see "Ghost of Andrea") Andrea takes part at his own funeral and tries to thank his friend Horatio for his help in the battle.
BALTHAZAR
The King of Portugal's son. He is looking forward to fighting against Spain, like Andrea he is rash and challenges Andrea to a fight in the battle that will soon take place. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally. Ieronimo, who is much shorter and older than Balthazar is one of the loudest. Before they start, they agree who is going to fight whom. Balthazar should fight Andrea, but he first does not meet him and fights Rogero, who should fight Vollupo. In his first encounter with Andrea he wins, but then Horatio comes to Andrea's rescue. In his second encounter he is losing, but two other Portuguese soldiers come to his help and slay Andrea. Horatio then defeats Balthazar, but Lorenzo has already taken his weapons and claims him as his own prisoner.
BEL-IMPERIA OR BELIMPERIA
Lorenzo's sister. She is in love with Andrea. Before Andrea leaves for Portugal, she asks him to keep both his and Balthazar's rash temper under control and to try to reach a peaceful solution. During Andrea's absence, her brother Lorenzo misuses her love for his own ends. He has Alcario, who is also in love with her, dress in Andrea's clothes. He then speaks to Alcario as if he were Andrea who had just returned from Portugal, and Belimperia is fooled; she mistakes Alcario for her lover Andrea, talks to him and even kisses him goodbye. Lazarotto then kills Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea. When Belimperia comes back, she thinks that Andrea has been killed. But the real Andrea is there and comforts her. As the Portuguese want to have a war, Belimperia must take her leave of Andrea again, and she gives him a love knot to remember her.
CAPTAIN
A Spanish officer, who appears once on the side of Andrea during the battle, Andrea sends him to find Balthazar.
CASSIMERO
A Spanish nobleman. He takes part at Andrea's funeral. He is mentioned in the stage direction, but does not speak.
CHARON
Enters at the end of the play to fetch the Ghost of Andrea, after a cry "Charon, a boat, a boat"; After he has taken Andrea over the river, there are more cries for him, and he complains about too much work.
DON PEDRO
Portuguese Lord. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally, and then they agree who is going to fight whom. Don Pedro should fight with Horatio, but in the end Lorenzo kills him.
DONNE VOLUPIO
Portuguese Lord. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally, and then they agree who is going to fight whom. Vollupo should fight with Rogero.
DUKE OF CASTILE
A Spanish nobleman.
DUKE OF MEDINA
A Spanish nobleman, father of Alcario.
GENERAL OF THE PORTUGUESE
He has to say "Defiance to the Spaniards" before the battle begins.
GENERAL OF THE SPANIARDS OR LORD GENERAL
He has to say "Defiance to the Portugales" before the battle begins.
GHOST OF ANDREA
Enters the stage at the end of the play, during Andrea's funeral. Lorenzo does not notice him, but Horatio sees him waiting to get into Charon's boat. He wants to thank his friend for his help in the battle, but Revenge tells him that he is not allowed to speak as a Ghost.
HORATIO
Ieronimo's son. He is young, and ready to spend his blood in war. He admires Andrea and calls himself "Andrea's second self". He even stays with Andrea and Belimperia when they want to take leave of each other. He and Ieronimo overhear Lorenzo's and Lazorotto's plans to kill Andrea. Ieronimo then dictates Horatio a letter that they want to send to Andrea, warning him of Lorenzo's plans. Lorenzo and Isabella interrupt their loud re-reading of the letter, and they are not sure whether Lorenzo has heard a part of it, but Isabella saves the situation by her belief that it was a love letter to some Spanish lady. Horatio and Ieronimo arrive after Lazarotto has murdered Alcario, and like everybody else they believe that Andrea has been killed. Horatio wants to commit suicide because his best friend is dead, but the real Andrea stops him. Their letter has not reached him, but he has been warned now anyway. Before it comes to the battle against Portugal, the two parties attack each other verbally and agree who is going to fight whom. Horatio has to fight with Don Pedro, and Andrea fights with Balthazar. Balthazar has the upper hand, but Horatio comes to Andrea's help. In a second fight, Andrea has Balthazar down, when two Portuguese soldiers come to Balthazar's help and kill Andrea. Horatio deplores the death of his friend and fights Balthazar, he has him defeated when Lorenzo comes, seizes his weapons and claims to have won the prince as his prisoner. After a long quarrel they decide to leave this to their King to judge. Horatio takes Andrea's badge (Belimperia's love knot) and carries his body from the stage.
IERONIMO
Fifty years old, Horatio's father. The King makes him Marshall of Spain in the first stage direction. Ieronimo and Horatio overhear Lorenzo's and Lazorotto's plans to kill Andrea. Ieronimo then dictates to Horatio a letter that they want to send to Andrea, warning him of Lorenzo's plans. Lorenzo and Isabella interrupt their loud re-reading of the letter, and they are not sure, whether Lorenzo has heard a part of it, but Isabella saves the situation by her belief that it was a love letter to some Spanish lady. Horatio and Ieronimo arrive after Lazarotto has murdered Alcario (mistaking him for Andrea), and, as everybody else does, they believe that Andrea has been killed. Horatio wants to commit suicide because his best friend is dead, but the real Andrea stops him. Their letter has not reached him, but he has now been warned anyway. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally. Ieronimo, who is much shorter and older, is as loud and aggressive as Balthazar is. Before they start, they agree who is going to fight whom. Ieronimo has no direct enemy and is left to watch his son perform.
ISABELLA
Ieronimo's wife, Horatio's mother. Together with Lorenzo she surprises Ieronimo and Horatio when they re-read the letter they want to send to Andrea, a letter warning him that Lorenzo wants to kill him when he comes back from Portugal. She jokingly says that it might be a love letter to some Spanish lady.
KING OF PORTUGAL
He does not want to pay three years' tribute after his father's death, even if this means war with Spain.
KING OF SPAIN
The King of Portugal has not paid tribute to Spain for three years. A new ambassador has to be sent to Portugal. The King chooses Andrea for this important errand. When Andrea returns, the King wants to welcome him and sees the dead body of Alcario being brought. Lazarotto seems to be the murderer and the King demands that he should be executed immediately. In the meantime, Andrea tells the King that the Portuguese do not intend to pay their tribute and are prepared for a war against Spain. Then a messenger comes to tell that the Portuguese are already in arms.
LAZAROTTO
A Spanish courtier and villain. Lorenzo pays him to thwart the love between Belimperia and Andrea. Lazarotto suggests that Alcario should woo her, and he would kill Andrea on his arrival from Portugal. Ieronimo and Horatio overhear these plans. When Lazarotto sees Belimperia and Alcario in Andrea's clothes, he thinks that Lorenzo has not managed to kill Andrea yet. Lazarotto then kills Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea. Just at that moment the real Andrea, Rogero, Ieronimo, Horatio and others appear, they discover the body and the murderer in the act. Lorenzo promises Lazarotto to get the King's pardon for him. Lazarotto then swears that it had been Alcario who had paid him to murder Andrea because he was his rival in the suit of Belimperia. Without telling him, Alcario had taken advantage of Andrea's absence and disguised himself as Andrea. Ironically, therefore, he had mistaken Alcario for his designed victim. The King decides that Lazarotto should be executed immediately. Lazarotto now asks Lorenzo to get his pardon, otherwise he would tell everything. Lorenzo manages to discredit him as a liar before he can detect the truth, and he sees to it that he is immediately executed.
LORENZO
Spanish courtier, brother of Belimperia. He becomes angry and envious when Andrea is chosen as ambassador to Portugal. Andrea loves his sister Belimperia, and because of that Lorenzo plots his death. With Lazarotto he plans that Alcario should woo for Belimperia, and Lazarotto will kill Andrea when he comes back from Portugal. He tells Alcario to wear Andrea's clothes in order to impersonate Andrea in front of his sister, Belimperia, while Andrea is still in Portugal. Alcario does this, and Lorenzo then speaks to him as if he were Andrea who had just returned from Portugal. Belimperia comes and is duped by their charade; she mistakes Alcario for her lover Andrea, talks to him and kisses him goodbye. Lazarotto sees this and kills Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea. When the real Andrea, Rogero, Ieronimo, Horatio and others discover the body and the murderer, Lorenzo has to act quickly. He promises Lazarotto to get him a pardon from the King. Lazarotto then swears that he had been paid by Alcario to murder Andrea, who had been his rival in the suit of Belimperia. But without telling him, Alcario took advantage of Andrea's absence and disguised himself as Andrea. Lazarotto should be executed immediately, demands the King. Lazarotto now asks Lorenzo to get his pardon, otherwise he will tell everything. Lorenzo manages to discredit him as a liar before he can reveal the truth, and sees to it that he is immediately executed. Before it comes to the battle with Portugal, the two parties attack each other verbally, and they agree who is going to fight whom. Lorenzo should fight with Alexandro, when he doesn't find him he kills Don Pedro, while Andrea fights with Balthazar. After two Portuguese soldiers have killed Andrea, Horatio fights and defeats Balthazar. But Lorenzo comes, seizes his weapons and claims to have won the prince as his prisoner. After a long quarrel they decide to leave it to their King to judge who had really won against the prince.
MESSENGER
He comes to announce to the King that the Portuguese army is approaching.
PEDRINGANO
Andrea's servant.
PHILIPPO
A Spanish nobleman who takes part at Andrea's funeral. He is mentioned in the stage direction, but does not speak.
REVENGE
She appears in the last scene and tells the Ghost of Andrea, who wants to give his thanks to Horatio, that he is not allowed to speak.
ROGERO
A Spanish Lord. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally and they agree who is going to fight whom. Rogero should fight against Vollupo, but in the end Alexandro kills Rogero.