Anonymous
Manuscript attributed to William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle
Wit's Triumvirate, or
The Philosopher
1635 (manuscript date)
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ACTAEON
Only mentioned. Actaeon is mentioned by Jealousia when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his obsession with horns since he thinks his wife is being unfaithful to him: "I love not hunting because of winding of horns, nor follow-deer for horns, but especially not stag, in remembrance of Actaeon and his hounds." According to Ovid's Metamorphoses, Actaeon was wandering with his dogs after a day of hunt, saw a cave and entered it–unaware of the fact that, inside the cave, Artemis, the goddess of the wild woods, was about to bathe in the waters of the spring Parthenius together with the nymphs that attended her. As soon as they realised a man had entered the cave, the girls started to cry around and ran to cover the goddess's naked body. Artemis, then, punished Actaeon turning him into a stag, and he, in his new shape, fled away. But his dogs–seeing nothing but a stag–chased him, and when they caught him, wounded him to death.
AESCULAPIUS
Only mentioned. Aesculapius is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when, as he is listening to Master Ominous's superstitions about a maid who took a pin with the point towards herself and "not long after she proved with child", he exclaimed: "By Aesculapius, that was dangerous indeed."
Aesculapius is also mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy, when the latter is begging Doctor Clyster to let him define love in a few verses before he actually starts his treatment to cure him of his disease: "Good Doctor, for Cupid's sake or Aesculapius'–and I will present him with a cock without a comb, let me but speak a few verses what love is." According to Greek, and, later, Roman mythology, Aesculapius was the god of medicine.
ALGEBRA
Master Algebra is a philosopher who, as he reveals to Master Caution, believes "the greatest riches in this world is knowledge." But his interlocutor–a more materialistic man–quickly replies that knowledge does not buy any of the necessary things in life. Master Algebra listens, patiently, to Master Caution's arguments, and then he reprimands him, since he realizes that the latter is a selfish man, as: "the prosperity of others, indeed, hinders your trade." Besides, when Master Caution explains how he uses his money, Master Algebra realizes he is a usurer–and no matter how hard the former tries to hide it, the latter faces him with the truth: he lends money at an interest rate, as if he were a Jew. They go on discussing on the subject, the former defending riches, the latter defending knowledge, until the matter is settled when Master Algebra reproaches Master Caution that he has nothing in his life but money and that he has forgotten how to behave, and he explains that "covetousness is a sluttish, sordid, and a base sin." Then he asks Master Caution where the "rare and learned" he had promised to bring him to see were, but he is told that they will leave that visit for some other day, since Caution needs to deal with them about some business in private. Master Algebra then suspects those "rare and learned men" could be cheaters, and he then determines to find them out when he speaks to them. Thus, later, he goes to visit Master Silence, Doctor Clyster and Bill Bond, explaining that their reputation reached him, and, after some previous ceremony, he tells them he would like to "discuss a little," and to tell them of "some infirmities" he has. He begins by enquiring them about the mysteries of nature, explaining his point of view on the matter, and waiting for their own perspectives on the same issue to be revealed. When the discussion is over, he urges either them to offer him a cure or to admit he is right. Clyster then decides to offer a cure, advising him "not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Clyster decides not to charge Master Algebra for his advice. Bond, on his part, quickly advises him to abandon his dangerous opinions, because many people were severely punished when expressing similar thoughts. He also lets the Philosopher leave, not charging him for their service. That surprises Master Algebra, who had expected to be cozened by them. Therefore he concludes that they are "ignorant impostors." Afterwards, as he passes by their house again, he sees a lot of furious people–their cozened victims–outside, shouting and threatening them. Then he offers to act as a fair judge between both parties, and he turns out to be fair indeed: he explains to each of the victims they had no disease, but just common trouble to all mankind–thus curing them; then he makes the cozeners give their victims their money back; he tells the victims to pardon the cozeners; and he even offers to share the money the victims gave him, as a reward for his fair services, with the three former cozeners–now new and honest men. Bond, extremely grateful and indebted to the wisdom of that man, asks him to accept some present from him and his two friends, which Master Algrebra does very gladly.
ALLEYN, EDWARD
Only mentioned. Alleyn is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Edward Alleyn (1566-1626)–the greatest actor of his time, according to many contemporaries–was the leading player in the Admiral's Men. He succeeded playing the title roles in Tamburlaine and Dr Faustus, and Barabas in The Jew of Malta–the three plays written by Christopher Marlowe.
ANTONY
Only mentioned. Antony is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he explains the parts each of the cozeners had in their 'triumivrate' (sic): "One strives to be Augustus, the other Antony; I shall be Lepidus." Marc Antony (C. 83 B. C.–30 B. C.) was a Roman politician and soldier who belonged to a very distinguished family, being related to Julius Caesar through his mother. It was when Antony returned from Gaul with Lepidus that Augustus joined them to establish the Second Triumvirate. Thus, Antony obtained Gaul, Lepidus, Spain, and Augustus, Africa, Sardinia and Sicily. They made their power absolute by massacring all those who were unfriendly to them in Italy, and by their victories over the republican army in Macedonia, under Brutus and Cassius.
ARISTOTLE
Only mentioned. Aristotle is mentioned by Bill Bond when, talking about the planets with Master Algebra, he asks him: "what do you with all the spheres Aristotle spoke of?" Afterwards, Master Algebra, in his turn, also mentions Aristotle when he replies: "Aristotle was a worthy man, and so was his master, Plato, and yet they differed ..." Later, Aristotle is mentioned by Doctor Clyster too, when he reveals Master Algebra's identity to Master Silence: "Dost not thou remember one Algebra that was the greatest plodder upon Aristotle and Euclid in all the college?" Aristotle (384-322 B. C.) was son to Nichomachus, the court physician to the Macedonian royal family. After being trained in medicine, he was sent to Athens in 367 B. C. to study philosophy with Plato. He was a brilliant pupil who dared oppose some of his master's teaching, thus, when Plato died, Aristotle was not appointed to succeed him as head of the Academy. It is believed that he wrote 150 philosophical treatises (only 30 survive) on a wide range of subjects: philosophy, biology, physics, earth sciences, morals, aesthetics and politics.
AUGUSTUS
Only mentioned. Augustus is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is telling Doctor Clyster about 'good men' who have also been writers: "What say you to Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Germanicus, and most of the emperors?" Later, he is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he explains the parts each of the cozeners had in their 'triumivrate' (sic): "One strives to be Augustus, the other Antony; I shall be Lepidus." Gaius Octavius, born in 63 B. C. took the name of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus in 44 B. C., after his uncle, the great Julius Caesar–who had adopted him and made him his heir–had been murdered. But at that time, he had no official power yet. He had to march on Rome and force the senate to name him consul in order to be established as a power to be reckoned with. Thus, this astute politician became Emperor Augustus through cold political calculation. It was not until Antony returned from Gaul with Lepidus that Augustus joined them to establish the Second Triumvirate. Thus, Antony obtained Gaul, Lepidus, Spain, and Augustus, Africa, Sardinia and Sicily. They made their power absolute by massacring all those who were unfriendly to them in Italy, and by their victories over the republican army in Macedonia, under Brutus and Cassius. When Augustus and Antony won the battle of Philippi, a new division of the provinces was made, and, thus, Augustus obtained Italy and Africa was for Lepidus.
BEAD
Master Bead is a scrupulous Roman Catholic. He visits Master Silence in the belief that he is a Roman priest–therefore he is shocked to find that his outfit does not coincide with what he was expecting him to wear, being a Catholic priest. Nevertheless, he is reassured by Master Silence who affirms: "the inward man is priest." Then, Master Bead proceeds to tell him about his problem, revealing he is troubled by "many scruples of conscience." Master Silence assures him he can help him. But, suddenly, they are interrupted by someone else knocking on the door, and Silence remembers he had another appointment with Narrowit, a Puritan, and he kindly invites Master Bead to "come some other time." Unfortunately, the latter is leaving the following day, and he will not visit the place again for years. Then, Master Silence offers the possibility of placing each of them on different sides of the room, for him to "walk between you and dispatch both as suddenly as I can", and Master Bead accepts. He then proceeds to relate his scruples, and they are all petty devotional trespasses of the Catholic faith–which would not have been trespasses at all had he been a Puritan. When his narration is over, Master Silence tells him that his confessor will give him "perfect absolution for all these." And, aware of the fact that he is a Catholic, and that Catholics believe in relics, he will give him one that will preserve him "from all these scruples hereafter, as anything else that you may call ill." Curious about the nature of the relic, he asks about it, and Master Silence explains that it is "a Tyburn martyr's blood upon a straw." As a sign of gratitude, Master Bead gives him ten pieces of gold. Later, when he finds out he had been cozened, he goes to see Silence to ask him for satisfaction–but Silence threatens to reveal his secret and Bead leaves. But, soon, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
BILL BOND
Bill Bond is an attorney who has devised a plan to cheat people and make some easy money. He needs the help of Master Silence and Doctor Clyster to put it into practice. He announces to his confederates in the business that will perform the role of a lawyer, but noticing that Doctor Clyster hesitates and wonders whether he will be able to play his part successfully, Bill Bond reassures him, explaining him how he has to behave: "'tis gravity, ceremony, noise, and distance than cozen all the world." Thus they start cheating their victims. But when Master Silence finishes his session with Master Ominous, Bond reprimands him because he expected him to get more than to pieces of gold from that man. But Master Silence apologizes, explaining that it was his "first essay." Later, when Sir Cupid Phantsy asks him after Doctor Clyster, Bond, taking care of their business, boasts and exaggerates: "Sir, here hath been two coaches for him this morning, but I have put them off till afternoon to keep him here for you." Afterwards, when Master Caution comes to see him inquiring about the interest rate he can ask for his loans, he provides him with the required information, but explains that, nevertheless, lawyers have tricks to spare men from the punishment of the law. When his client asks him about the possibility of getting away with other breaches of the law he is aware of committing, Bond assures him he can help him, offering him his legal assistance. Then, Master Caution offers the lawyer twenty crowns of gold for his services, but Bond makes him realize that he will have to pay him more if he wants to receive proper service. When his client leaves, Bond rushes to tell Doctor Clyster and Master Silence that he has got five pounds in gold, but he will soon be disappointed with his exploits, when he learns that Clyster has got fifty pounds already and is still expecting more from the same victim. He will have to take part, later, in a philosophical controversy with his two comrades and Master Algebra, who wants to put them to a test and check whether they are cozeners or they can actually cure people. Actually, when they are urged, by Algebra, to offer him a cure or to admit he is right, Bond quickly advises him to abandon his dangerous opinions, because many people were severely punished when expressing similar thoughts. He actually lets the Philosopher leave, not charging him for their service. Later, Bond will be busy devising a plot–with Doctor Clyster and Master Silence–to cheat Dame de Bois as he sleeps: they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Master Silence, in an attempt to seek peace for his soul, and to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Once he has specified what he is going to leave and to whom, it is obvious he has found them out–and he makes it evident when he tells Master Sickly that he leaves him "to be cozened by these honest gentlemen." Aware of the fact that they have been found out, Bond and the other two cheaters send Master Sickly away because they so not want him to realize he has been cheated. When they consider they have, at last, succeeded, they celebrate their triumvirate and their cozening. But Damme de Bois was not cheated so easily, and he comes accompanied by all their victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. When Bond sees Master Caution, incensed, accusing him of having cozened him, the lawyer pretends to be crossed and leaves, threatening to sue him. Then, Master Sickly comes to him, seeking counsel with respect to what legal action he can take against Doctor Clyster, on the charges of having cozened him. Bond then offers to indict the Doctor for practising without a license. Master Sickly still rewards him with ten pounds of gold and assures him he will give him more when the matter is over. But later, things get worse, and their victims threaten to come back, with legal support, to recover their money. Thus, sieged by an army of cozened victims, the cheaters resolve to hide on the upper floor of their house. Luckily, Master Algebra offers to act as a fair judge between both parties, and he turns out to be fair indeed, since he makes the cozeners give their victims their money back, he tells the victims to pardon the cozeners, and he even offers to share the money the victims give him, as reward for his fair services, with the three former cozeners–now new and honest men. Bond, extremely grateful and indebted to the wisdom of that man, asks him to accept some present from him and his two friends, which Master Algebra does very gladly.
BISHOP of CHALCEDON
Only mentioned. The Bishop of Chalcedon is mentioned by Master Bead when he is telling Master Silence about one of his scruples: "talking with the Bishop of Chalcedon, I forgot to give him the title of lord and neglected that due respect and reverence which I ought." At the time, the Bishop of Chalcedon was Richard Smith (1568-1655). He had been appointed vicar apostolic to England and Bishop of Chalcedon in Greece in 1625. Despite the fact that, six years later, in autumn, he fled England, he still remained the religious head of the English Catholics.
BODLEY, SIR THOMAS
Only mentioned. Bodley is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he tries to teach him how to write poetry: "Look you, Doctor, you must first think what you would write of, for the pairing of her left little finger's nail would be matter enough to write volumes to fill libraries beyond Bodley's or the Vatican." Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613) founded the Bodleian Library in Oxford, in 1598.
BOOKER, JOHN
Only mentioned. Booker is mentioned by Bill Bond when he is warning Master Algebra against his "dangerous opinions": "Did you hear how Booker was punished, though but an almanac maker, for some of these tenets?" John Booker (1603-67) was an astrologer who published the first number of his almanac–the telescopium Uranium–in 1631. Three years later, in October, he was brought before the Court of the High Commission and he was ordered not to print any more almanacs without the Archbishop of Canterbury's or the Bishop of London's licence. He was even imprisoned in the Gatehouse.
BRADBORNE
Only mentioned. Bradborne is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his disease. He is in love and he is obsessed with his appearance and with new garments. Thus, he asks the Doctor: "I pray you, did it not set up Bradborne in the New Exchange?" Bradborne is later mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is trying to cure Phantsy of his tendency to speak in verse: "For here's old Cupid Bradborne's pedlar's pack." Bradborne was King Charles I's silk man. He lived in the cheap side on the north side until 1638, at least.
BRAMBLE
Name by which Master Silence addresses to Bill Bond when they are rejoicing in their cozening art. "Master Bramble" is a name usually used with lawyers.
BRIGHTMAN, THOMAS
Only mentioned. Brightman is mentioned by Signor Jealousia as he is telling Doctor Clyster the details regarding the reason why he believes his wife is being unfaithful to him: "I read Brightman's book of proving the pope Antichrist with so many hornes." Thomas Brightman is the author of the book A Revelation of the Apocalypse (1611).
BUCQUOY
Only mentioned. Bucquoy is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valour, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Baron of Vaux, Count of Bucquoy (1571-1621) was an imperial general from Lower Austria. He fought with Spinola in Holland and participated in the siege of Ostende (1601-1604).
BURBAGE, RICHARD
Only mentioned. Burbage is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Richard Burbage (1573?-1619) was son to the actor, theatre manager and owner James Burbage. By the age of 20, he had gained popularity as an actor of the Earl of Leicester's company. He stayed with the same company through its evolution, in 1603, into the King's men. He excelled in tragedy played leading roles such as William Shakespeare's Richard III, Romeo, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and King Lear. He also performed in plays by Thomas Kyd, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Following his father's example, he became major shareholder in the Globe and Blackfriar's theatres.
CALVIN, JOHN
Only mentioned. Calvin is mentioned by Master Bead when he is revealing his Roman-Catholic religious scruples to Silence: "Sir, that lodging where the pictures of Luther and Calvin hang did so much trouble me that I was once in mind to have broken them, for I doubt that for the sin of us Romans, suffering those heretic pictures, we were after punished by the fall of Blackfriars House." John Calvin (1509-1564) was a lawyer, but he soon became saturated with the ideas of Northern Renaissance Humanism. He devoted himself to reform the church and got his chance to build a reformed one in Geneva, in the 1520s, when its citizens revolted against their rulers.
CAMPANELLA
Only mentioned. Campanella is mentioned by Master Algebra, when he is putting Master Silence, Doctor Clyster and Bill Bond to a test, to find out if they are just mere cozeners. As he talks about the nature of the world, and answers to Master Silence's claim that this world is "dead and with no sense", he replies: "You never read Campanella then." Tommaso Campanella (1568-1639) was an Italian Dominican friar and author of two scientific treatises–De Sensu Rerum (ca. 1593), and De Investigatione Rerum (ca. 1593). In fact, the hylozoism typical of Campanella's philosophy is here shared by Master Algebra.
CAVENDISH, THOMAS
Only mentioned. Cavendish is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary fights at sea: "Methinks I'm sailing about this our globe and do discover more than ever Magellan, Drake, or Cavendish did, and make greater fights, and then come home with sails of silk like Cavendish, ..." Thomas Cavendish (1555-1592) was known as 'the Navigator'. He sailed around the world in 1586-88 and returned to England, enormously rich. This voyage was known as the Golden Voyage, and after it, Queen Elizabeth knighted him.
CAUTION
Master Caution is a rich man and a usurer. He holds a conversation with Master Algebra, who believes "the greatest riches in this world is knowledge." But Master Caution–a more materialistic man–quickly replies that knowledge does not buy any of the necessary things in life. And he adds he is just saving money to make his best advantage of it. He explains he is not going to "labour for those that will give him no thanks for it or else will vainly spend it." Master Algebra listens, patiently, to his arguments, and then he reprimands him, since he realizes that the latter is a selfish man, as: "the prosperity of others, indeed, hinders your trade." Besides, when Master Caution explains how he uses his money, Master Algebra realizes he is a usurer–and no matter how hard the former tries to hide it, the latter faces him with the truth: he lends money at an interest rate, as if he were a Jew. They go on discussing on the subject, the former defending riches, the latter defending knowledge, until the matter is settled when Master Algebra reproaches Master Caution that he has nothing in his life but money and that he has forgotten how to behave. When Master Caution tells him about what he eats, he gives himself away as a glutton, and Master Algebra explains that "covetousness is a sluttish, sordid, and a base sin." Then he asks Master Caution where the "rare and learned men" he had promised to bring him to see were, but he is told that they will leave that visit for some other day, since Caution needs to deal with them about some business in private. The latter then goes to see Bill Bond seeking legal advice–he wants to know how much interest he can ask for his loans. After providing him with that information, Bond explains that, nevertheless, lawyers have tricks to save men from the punishment of the law. Master Caution goes on asking about the possibilities of getting away with other breaches of the law he is aware of committing, and Bond assures him he can help him even with those. The former offers the latter twenty crowns of gold for his services, but he soon realizes he will have to pay him more if he wants to receive proper service. When Master Caution learns he has been cozened, encouraged by Damme de Bois he comes to ask for what he had offered him as recompense for his fake services. But the moment Bond sees Master Caution, incensed, accusing him of having cozened him, the lawyer pretends to be crossed and leaves, threatening to sue him. Master Caution, on his part, since Bond threatened to sue him as soon as he heard his accusations, afraid of being sued, pays Clyster forty pounds of gold to kill Bond and save him–promising to make it a hundred when Bond is actually dead. Clyster assures he will do it for a hundred and twenty pounds, and he actually gets that sum from Master Caution. Encouraged by Damme de Bois again, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Master Caution, incensed, suggests going to the Lord Chief of Justice for a warrant to apprehend them. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
CHARLES I
Only mentioned. Charles is mentioned by the Prologue before the King and Queen. The Prologue is here addressing to King Charles I (1600-1649), king of Great Britain and Ireland, who is a member of the audience.
CHAUCER, GEOFFREY
Only mentioned. Chaucer is mentioned by Master Fright when he decides he will also need the help of the church to get rid of his fear of the devil "for Chaucer said long ago (and these poets are shrewd fellows), describing a physician, 'His food was nourishing and digestible, / His study was but little on the bible.'" Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1343-1400) was the author of The Canterbury Tales. The passage quoted here belongs to the General Prologue (1386-87, lines 435-38).
CLYSTER, DOCTOR
Clyster went to university, but he, as well as Silence, "endured expulsion from the College." Then he served as a soldier in the Low Countries during the war with Spain, and there "he felt the miseries of a siege and the dangers of an assault," and he suffered "under brave officers and state's policies." Nevertheless he explains that was nothing compared to what he has to endure now that he is working for an attorney: he has to carry his bag from his office to Westminster, and back again, and he also has to be his pack horse. He finds he has no honour left. Then, he is invited by Silence to take part in a plot he is planning with Bill Bond. However, he will only accept when he is assured they will be "equal all three in this our policy." Bond informs him that he will have to play the role of a grave physician. But Clyster is not sure about whether he will know how to do it, thus, he shares his doubts with Bond, who quickly reassures him. Once he begins to perform the role of Doctor Clyster, his first patient arrives–Master Fright. After learning that the latter is afraid of the dark, and that his fear made him see strange things, related to evil, Doctor Clyster reaches the conclusion that he has been "unseasonably catechized" and frightened with the devil. Therefore he will make the devil leave him alone. His patient thanks and rewards him, and Master Fright leaves content. Later Doctor Clyster is visited by another patient–Sir Cupid Phantsy–who gives him clear hints that the root of his disease lies in the fact that he is in love. Thus, he informs Sir Cupid about all the possible symptoms of his disease, and the latter realizes that he has them all. Besides, from time to time, he also suffers from poetic fits. Doctor Clyster witnesses one of those fits, and he thinks his patient's disease is a serious thing. Sir Cupid then explains the change he has experienced since he is in love: on the one hand, now he can speak long speeches in verse, and, on the other, he has become obsessed with clothes and fashion–a characteristic of lovers. The doctor tells him he will have to study his case, but, meanwhile, he advises him to "forbear all pastorals and quit the church while the psalms are singing." He wants to keep him away from songs and poetry, and advises him to read prose instead. Then he receives some money from his patient, as a token of gratitude, and his 'victim' happily leaves. His next patient is Master Sickly. He admits he goes to see him only after he has been treated by doctors in England and abroad. When Doctor Clyster asks him to tell him about his symptoms, his new patient specifies all sorts of silly affections, nevertheless the doctor seems to have a cure for each of them, though he pretends that to cure his many diseases is going to be hard work–he also explains that, should he fail, he would put his reputation at risk. Then, Master Sickly offers him twenty pounds in gold then, and forty more, when he finishes. Still, the doctor pretends to be reluctant, since so many doctors had failed to cure him before. Master Sickly raises his offer to a hundred pounds when he is recovered. But, still, the doctor goes as far as to ask him for fifty now, and his 'victim' accepts. Finally, Clyster offers his patient a 'medicine' he has prepared as a remedy for his disease, as well as a paper containing a fake charm for sweaty toes–thus, the doctor receives the sum of fifty pounds in gold they had agreed on. The next patient to visit Doctor Clyster is Signor Jealousia. His problem is that he is terribly jealous of his wife, to the extent that he tries to avoid anything related to horns–from hunting to even staying at the Bull's Inn, or at the Saracen's Head, just because both the Bulls and the Saracens have horns. The cure Clyster offers for his patient's disease is to find his wife in the act, but he reacts affirming that he would "rather be still in doubt than know that." Then the doctor tries another solution, and promises to prepare a cure for him. Signor Jealousia, very grateful to him, offers him ten pieces of gold. When his victim leaves, Clyster swears he will cozen him as well as the rest. Besides, he complains that his earnings have fallen from fifty pieces of gold to ten–though he also admits that is far more than what he used to earn before. Afterwards, he is visited by Master Fright again and, on listening to more of his episodes of fear of darkness–which turn out to be perfectly explainable in daylight–he concludes he suffers from 'melancholy'. And hearing all his patient had to say, Clyster explains that "it was more in a divine than a physician to cure" him, and he advises him to go and see Master Silence, whom he describes as "one of the rarest men in Europe." Then, Doctor Clyster receives Master Ominous, who was recommended to him by Master Silence. Master Ominous starts to report the somatic effects of his superstitions, and the doctor diagnoses he suffers from "melancholy, which must be purged", and he assures him he knows how to do it. Thus, he tells him to "forbear the Roman history awhile, to forget the entrails of beasts, birds, flying or pecking of chickens," and to forget about "augurs and soothsayers" and all their superstitions. When Master Ominous offers him a recompense for his services, Clyster refuses it at first "till the cure is finished", but, on his victim's insistence, he takes it. A new patient enters–Sir Conquest Shadow. He explains he suffers from imaginary valour: he thinks of quarrels with brave swordmen, and he always ends up being victorious. The trouble is that, if he is brave in his imagination, he is a coward in real life: he dares not fight when he is conscious. The doctor–impressed by his fantastic accounts–exclaims that if he had that imagination, he would not want to be cured. But his patient explains that those thoughts "trouble me very much and keep me from my business." He then begs Doctor Clyster to cure him, and he offers him ten pounds in gold aforehead, if he does. The doctor forbids him "all foreign corantos, be they gazettes either in French or Dutch," conversing with merchants, living near the coast–so that he cannot hear of "setting out of ships"–and being in the company of swordmen. Besides, he will not read stories about fights, nor letters or news in times of war. Doctor Clyster explains to his 'victim' that, should his prescription fail to work, he would try a "physical cause" with him. Later, Master Algebra arrives and Doctor Clyster and his two friends agree to listen to him. At some point, the doctor is urged, by the philosopher, either to cure him, or to accept he is right. Clyster then decides to offer a cure, advising him "not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Clyster decides not to charge Master Algebra for his advice. The reason for that is revealed when the patient leaves: Clyster calls Silence and explains to him he had recognized Master Algebra–he was a bright man, who might have discovered their ignorance, if not their knavery. Then, Signor Jealousia comes back to Doctor Clyster again, in search of his cure–but it is not ready yet. Instead, the doctor explains he needs more information from him, so that he can "add or diminish my ingredients according to the accidents." Thus, when he hears his patient say he has strange dreams, he offers him "the devil's ring" as a cure. In fact, Clyster guesses the suspicions, problems and even conversations that Signor Jealousia may have with his wife, so precisely, that the former starts to think that the doctor may have been spying on them. But Clyster urges him to dismiss that thought, since his words are just intended to cure him. And, to that aim, he enquires about the origins of his illness, to which his patient replies his disease began when he was a knight bachelor: he was jealous of the husband of a married lady he was in love with. Now, he explains, the problem is that he does not trust his wife because she is a widow–in fact, he does not trust woman's nature. After listening to him, Doctor Clyster offers him a solution: "to wear a purse of a cuckoo's skin [...] and have a stag's head in your chamber to hang your hat on and other things." He wants him to be surrounded by horns "to make them familiar to you." Furthermore, he asks him to acquaint himself "with country knights and gentlemen, that bring up their fair wives and daughters to a lodging in the Strand," so that he gets accustomed to that place, and take a lodging for his wife in the Strand. He assures him that, if he follows his prescription, he will be cured. But Signor Jealousia would rather take a medicine than follow the doctor's advice. Nevertheless, Doctor Clyster assures him that, should his advice fail, he would have a medicine ready for him the next time he came. Then Clyster is gladly surprised to see that he receives ten extra pieces of gold from his 'victim'. Once again, Sir Cupid Phantsy comes to see the doctor–suffering from new fits of poetic speech. He wants the doctor to cure him, but not before he writes a play. However, Doctor Clyster explains that writing a play can be dangerous for him and tries to dissuade him. Then his patient encourages his doctor to write some poetry, to which the latter replies he lacks the main ingredient: he is not in love. And that is precisely the source of his patient's illness: his being in love makes him speak in verse. After discussing about poetry and about Sir Cupid's beloved lady's attitude to him, the doctor decides it is time to cure him. He finds out his patient did not follow his former prescription, and now he forbids him to rhyme in his company, and to make or think in verse; and, since he seems to be getting worse, he is going to put him on a diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." And he threatens him that, should he put those into verse, he will prescribe him "huge volumes of civil law." But, as soon as Doctor Clyster leaves him alone for a moment, Sir Cupid Phantsy starts writing verses again. However, when the doctor comes back, he catches him at it. Then, he urges to give him or throw away any token from his lady he may have. Sir Cupid happens to have a purse, which was hers, and which is tied so hard that he is unable to get the twenty pieces of gold it contains out of it. Hearing that, the doctor insists on keeping the purse, he gets it and they part. Later, when Master Sickly comes with Damme de Bois to meet Doctor Clyster in an attempt to make him realize he should abandon his skepticism and trust the doctor. Once there, Damme de Bois reveals that he believes they are mere cozeners. After a long speech on cozening, he asks for leave to take a nap, which he is granted. But, while he sleeps, Bill Bond, Doctor Clyster and Master Silence will be busy devising a plot to cheat him; then, they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Damme finally leaves the place, but dressed in old clothes–having been cheated by Doctor Clyster. Nevertheless, Damme de Bois was not going to accept being cheated so easily, and he comes back again, this time accompanied by all their cozened victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. Master Caution, since Bond threatened to sue him as soon as he heard his accusations, afraid of being sued, pays Clyster forty pounds of gold to kill Bond and save him–promising to make it a hundred when Bond is actually dead. Clyster assures he will do it for a hundred and twenty pounds, and he actually gets that sum from Master Caution. Then, Master Sickly comes to Bond, seeking counsel with respect to what legal action he can take against Doctor Clyster, on the charges of having cozened him. Bond then offers to indict the Doctor for practicing without a license. Master Sickly still rewards him with ten pounds of gold and assures him he will give him more when the matter is over. Signor Jealousia also accuses Clyster of having cozened him, and he threatens to "have him indicted for a man-witch." When Master Fright arrives, also accusing him, the fake doctor threatens to raise "strange apparitions and ghosts" to haunt him, and his fearful victim ends up leaving. Then, it is Sir Cupid Phantsy's turn to ask for his money back and also for satisfaction, but Clyster threatens to tell his mistress about his folly, and this victim also leaves. Later, Sir Conquest Shadow also comes, aware of the fact that he has been cozened, to see the doctor. But, being a coward, he leaves as soon as the doctor threatens him with proclaiming him a coward. Damme de Bois, on his part, demands, from the cheaters, a share in their exploits and his clothes to be restored–threatening to bring trouble to them should his petition be unheard. But Doctor Clyster, in his cheating mood, remarks that, by his lousy looks, he looks like a thief rather than like a victim. On his insisting on his wanting his coat and cap back, Doctor Clyster takes the old ones from him, but, rather than restoring his, he locks the door, leaving him outside claiming for revenge. Then the three cheaters discuss whether they can find a means of getting away with it with the help of the law. But, soon, they are sieged by all their cozened victims, and they resolve to hide on the upper floor of the house. Their victims knock on the door, not receiving any response. After a while, the cheaters reply, announcing they will keep their door shut until the authorities break it open. Then, Master Caution, incensed, suggests going to the Lord Chief of Justice for a warrant to apprehend them. But Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
COKE, SIR EDWARD
Only mentioned. Coke is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634) was a lawyer of the Inner Temple. He was the founder of English administrative law. He is also the author of Le Reports, a compendium of law bearing on cases which was published in 11 volumes between 1600 and 1615.
COLLINS
Only mentioned. Collins is mentioned by Narrowit when he is explaining to Silence how a brother in the Low Countries established his faith, and now believes in all the stories contained in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, including "Collins his dog and all." According to Foxe's Acts and Monuments or The Book of Martyrs (c. 1554, p. 570), in 1538, Collins, having lost his wife–and also his mind–entered a church while a mass was in progress, and "beynge beside his wyttes seyinge the priest hild up the host ouer his head, and shew it to the people, he in like manner counterfaytinge the priest, taking vp a little gogge by the legges, holdinge him ouer his heade, shewed him vnto the people." The outcome of this unfortunate episode was that both Collins and the dog were burned.
CONNIVER, DOCTOR
Insulting name used by Signor Jealousia to address to Doctor Clyster, once he has found out the latter had been cozening him.
CONQUEST SHADOW, SIR
Sir Conquest Shadow is a coward who can only act as a brave man in his imagination. He visits Doctor Clyster to tell him about his disease–"strange imaginations"–and he explains he suffers from imaginary valor: he thinks of quarrels with brave swordsmen, and he always ends up being victorious. He actually reports several interesting quarrels, duels in England and overseas (with their subsequent trials and all) and fights at sea he imagined, in so much detail that they sound as if they had really been true. The trouble is that, if he is brave in his imagination, he is a coward in real life: he dares not fight when he is conscious. The doctor–impressed by his fantastic accounts–exclaims that if he had that imagination, he would not want to be cured. But his patient explains that those thoughts "trouble me very much and keep me from my business." He then begs Doctor Clyster to cure him, and he offers him ten pounds in gold, if he does. The doctor forbids him "all foreign corantos, be they gazettes either in French or Dutch," conversing with merchants, living near the coast–so that he cannot hear of "setting out of ships"–and being in the company of swordsmen. Besides, he will not read stories about fights, nor letters or news in times of war. When he hears the doctor's prescription he manifests his consternation because he is in pension with a soldier. Then he is advised to either withdraw his pension or let the soldier have it, and leave. Doctor Clyster also explains to him that, should his prescription fail to work, he would try a "physical cause" with him. Later, Sir Conquest Shadow, aware of the fact that he has been cozened, goes to see the doctor again. But, being a coward, he leaves as soon as the doctor threatens him with proclaiming him a coward. Encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
COPERNICUS, NICOLAUS
Only mentioned. Copernicus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when, having heard Master Algebra's claim that "the earth moves and that the sun stands still", he replies "Sir, this was a drunken conceit of Copernicus the German and Tycho Brahe the Dane." Later, Copernicus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster again, when he offers Master Algebra a cure for his disease: "I shall beseech you not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) was a Polish astronomer who defended the astronomical theory that the Earth spins on its axis once daily as it revolves around the sun–which is stationary–annually.
COTTON, SIR ROBERT
Only mentioned. Sir Robert Cotton was mentioned by Master Silence when he is offering Master Ominous a solution to put an end to his misfortunes: "But for Sir Robert Cotton's library, I charge you by and in the name of all out brethren come not near it." Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631) was an antiquarian (librarian and record-keeper) and politician–one of the founders of modern government and rule by precedence and common law. His 1000-book library and his vast collection of manuscripts surpassed the records of the government.
CROMPTON, RICHARD
Only mentioned. Crompton is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Richard Crompton (fl. 1573-1599) wrote L'authoritie et jurisdiction des Courts (1594). He co-authored–with Michael Dalton and William Lambarde–The Complete Justice, published in 1936.
CUPID
Only mentioned. Cupid is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is begging Doctor Clyster to let him define love in a few verses before he actually starts his treatment to cure him of his love-related verse-speaking disease: "Good Doctor, for Cupid's sake or Aesculapius'–and I will present him with a cock without a comb, let me but speak a few verses what love is." Cupid is later mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is still trying to cure Phantsy of his tendency to speak in verse: "For here's old Cupid Bradborne's pedlar's pack." Cupid is also mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, as soon as the latter leaves him alone for a moment: ""Then ha' for my mistress and Cupid." According to mythology, Cupid was the Roman god of love, son to Venus and Mercury.
DAGON
Only mentioned. Dagon is mentioned by Narrowit when he is telling Master Silence about his religious scruples: "And, God forgive me, I have given money towards the repair of Paul's, and I fear it may help to the setting up of Dagon or some antique saint." According to Mesopotamian mythology, Dagon–one of the oldest gods–was the god of vegetation (his name meaning "corn"), responsible for having invented the plough and for having shared his wisdom of the lands with mankind, to aid them to feed themselves. According to the Bible, Dagon was a Syrian divinity–portrayed as half fish and half man–who had sumptuously adorned temples in many of the Philistine cities.
DALTON, MICHAEL
Only mentioned. Dalton is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Michael Dalton (d. 1648) wrote The Countrey Justice: Containing the Practice of the Justices of the Peace Out of their Sessions: Gathered for the BetterHelpe of Such Justices of Peace as Have Not Been Much conversant in the Studie of the Lawes of This Realme (1618) and Officium vicecomitum: The Office and Authority of Sheriffs (1623). He co-authored–with Richard Crompton and William Lambarde–The Complete Justice, published in 1636.
DAMME de BOIS
Damme de Bois is a sceptical man who does not believe in superstitions nor in strange maladies. He actually reprimands Master Sickly, on the grounds that being "well enough", he is waisting his money on doctors who do nothing but make him sick. Thus, Master Sickly decides to take him to meet Doctor Clyster in an attempt to make him realize he should abandon his scepticism and trust the doctor. Once there, Damme de Bois spits to their faces that he believes they are mere cozeners and he asks for permission to smoke–which disturbs Master Silence. After a long speech on cozening, he asks for leave to take a nap, which he is granted. But, while he sleeps, Bill Bond Doctor Clyster and Master Silence will be busy devising a plot to cheat him; then, they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Master Silence, in an attempt to seek peace for his soul, and to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Once he has specified what he is going to leave and to whom, it is obvious he has found them out–and he makes it evident when he tells Master Sickly that he leaves him "to be cozened by these honest gentlemen." Aware of the fact that they have been found out, Bond and the other two cheaters send Master Sickly away because they do not want him to realize he has been cheated. Damme finally leaves the place, but dressed in old clothes–having been cheated by Doctor Clyster. Nevertheless, Damme de Bois was not going to accept being cheated so easily, and he comes back again, this time accompanied by all their cozened victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. He demands, from the cheaters, a share in their exploits and his clothes to be restored–threatening to bring trouble to them should his petition be unheard. But Doctor Clyster, in his cheating mood, remarks that, by his lousy looks, he looks like a thief rather than like a victim. On his insisting on his wanting his coat and cap back, Doctor Clyster takes the old ones from him, but, rather than restoring his, he locks the door, leaving him outside claiming for revenge. Thus, he comes with all the cozened people again and knocks on the door, not receiving any response. After a while, the cheaters reply, announcing they will keep their door shut until the authorities break it open. Then, Master Caution, incensed, suggests going to the Lord Chief of Justice for a warrant to apprehend them. But Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, and he is recompensed.
DAVID
Only mentioned. David is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster to have his fears cured, he is asked if the hangings ever trouble him. He replies that his "hanging story of little David had almost killed" him. Later, he points out that "they had made little David no bigger than Tom Thumb." David was the youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. They lived in Bethlehem. His task was to take care of his father's sheep, which grazed in the pasture fields around their village. His life in the fields, fighting against predators to defend his sheep, had made him brave and strong. His three oldest brothers were also brave men; in fact they were soldiers in King Saul's army. At that time, their country was at war with the Philistines, whose great armies were integrated by giants, as well as men. One of the tallest and strongest of the giants was Goliath, who challenged Saul's troops asking him to choose a man to fight against him. Should the soldier kill Goliath, the Philistines would be their servants, should it be otherwise, they would have to become servants of the Philistines. David offered the king his services to answer the challenge, but fearing for the young man's life, King Saul turned his offer down. But, not having other volunteers at hand, the king finally decided to allow David to confront the giant. He offered the boy his heavy iron coat and helmet, but being too heavy for him, the young man decided to take only his sling and a few stones. And, actually, that was all he needed to kill the giant: he slung a stone straight into his forehead, Goliath fell onto the ground, and David quickly took the giant's sword, stabbed him and cut off his head.
de BOUTEVILLE
Only mentioned. Monsieur de Bouteville is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is reporting, to Doctor Clyster, his imaginary duels overseas: "Methought I fought and killed Monsieur de Bouteville, got a hurt in my hand only, and presently was sent for to the court, graced by the King and Queen." Monsieur de Bouteville was a famous French duelist called François de Montmorency, Comte de Bouteville (1600-27), whom Richelieu executed for challenging the banning of duels.
DEVIL
Only mentioned. The Devil is mentioned by Master Silence when he hears Master Ominous say that the only time he wanted his superstition to work–he dreamt of the death of his grandmother and his mother-in-law–it had not, because they were alive the following morning. Master Silence replies: "Now, I confess this was ill luck indeed, and here, sure, the Devil owed you a spite and paid you." After he hears another misfortune concerning the effort of putting on a left piece of clothing first, Master Silence says: "The devil then paid you on the left side, 'tis his own side." A few lines later Master Silence mentions him again: "The devil first taught the friar the art of shooting by that way." Afterwards, the devil is mentioned by Master Fright when he visits the doctor for a second time to tell him about his episodes of fear of darkness: "Anything that creaks with the wind puts me in mind of the spirits of the air and especially in the dark because the devil is the prince of darkness." Then, he is again mentioned by Master Fright when he goes to see Master Silence about his fear of darkness, as Doctor Clyster had recommended him to do. He concludes that, if in his dreams he sees things that he sees things that never were nor will be "What can that be but the devil?" Later, referring to a tune he sometimes has in his head–and he cannot put out–he asks: "What, is that the devil? Why some chords should please us, others not–is that the devil?" The devil is also mentioned by Master Silence when he is giving Master Fright a cure for his fear: "I would first have you purge yourself of all profane histories and wicked poets, which surely are the devil's library", and later, he adds: "But then, to blow him up (your subtle enemy, the devil) do but take Foxe's Martyrs and read him over ..." Master Silence mentions the devil once more when he is diagnosing the nature of Master Algebra's disease: "I do say it is the devil that haunt thy brain in the likeness of wit, the more for to delude thee." Finally, he is also mentioned by Doctor Clyster as he advises Master Algebra not to read the astronomers, especially Galileo, because: "He has de devil in a glass and a greater devil in his brain for persuassions." And later, when he is listening to Signor Jealousia on his second visit. As the latter tells him he has very strange dreams, Doctor Clyster replies: "The devil's dreams. A cure–the devil's ring." According to the Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions, the devil was the master of hell and chief spirit of evil. Being a fallen angel, he had turned into an adversary of God and the tempter of mankind.
DIANA
Only mentioned. Diana is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is describing the lady he is in love with to Doctor Clyster. He explains she is "beautiful like Venus, chaste as Diana, witty as ..." Later she is mentioned by Jealousia when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his obsession with horns since he thinks his wife is being unfaithful to him: "and Diana, for all her chastity, was the first woman that ever set horns upon any man's head." According to Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess for wild nature and forests, and, eventually, she was also associated to hunting. She was also a protector of women–related to chastity, marriage and childbirth. Her Greek equivalent was goddess Artemis.
DICK WHAT-SHALL-I-CALL-'EM
Only mentioned. Sir Conquest Shadow mentions Dick What-shall-I-call-'em, explaining that–should he become a famous duelist and kill his adversaries–his name could be used to frighten young children by saying: "This is he that killed Dick What-shall-I-call-'em."
DONNE, JOHN
Only mentioned. Doctor Donne is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, considering the words Doctor Clyster is using in order to cure him are cruel, the former describes, in verse, how hard the latter is: "... and in our similes dawn Doctor Donne." John Donne (1572-1631), the most outstanding of the English Metaphysical Poets, was a churchman famous for his hard and threatening sermons. His poems, impregnated with wit ingeniously mixed with seriousness, mark a transition from classical models towards a more personal style.
DRAKE, SIR FRANCIS
Only mentioned. Drake is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary fights at sea: "Methinks I'm sailing about this our globe and do discover more than ever Magellan, Drake, or Cavendish did." Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596) was a navigator and privateer, and a great English sea-captain. Drake was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. He represents the self-made Elizabethan privateer: a rapacious treasure-hunter–especially when those treasures were Spanish–and a daring and visionary explorer.
EDWARD VI
Only mentioned. Edward the Sixth is mentioned by Narrowit when he is telling Master Silence how he is going to recompense his services, offering him "five pounds lawful money of Queen Elizabeth her shillings, King James'; and our good king Charles', and one sovereign of Edward the Sixth." Edward VI (1547-1553) was son to Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. When his father died, he reached to throne at the age of nine. Although he was betrothed to his cousin–Mary Queen of Scots–their marriage was prohibited due to the deterioration of English and Scot relations. The frail young Protestant monarch, who suffered from consumption, died at the age of sixteen.
ELIAS ALLEN
Only mentioned. Elias Allen is mentioned by Bill Bond at the end of the play, when he is asking Master Algebra to accept some presents from them–after having acted as so fair a judge: "our request is that you would be pleased to suffer us to present you with a pair of Hondius globes, a glass of Galileo's with brass mathematical instruments of Elias Allen making." Elias Allen, Master of the Grocers Company and, later, of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, was the leading mathematical instrument maker of his time. According to Thomas Bretnor, in his book A New Almanacke and Pronostication, for the year of our redemption 1618 (London, 1617: c8v), Elias Allen (c. 1588-1653) had a shop "at the Bulls Head ouer against Saint Clements Church in the Strand." It was the 'Sign of the Horse Shoe' and he was still keeping it in 1652.
ELIZABETH I
Only mentioned. Queen Elizabeth is mentioned by Narrowit when he is telling Master Silence how he is going to recompense his services, offering him "five pounds lawful money of Queen Elizabeth her shillings, King James'; and our good king Charles', and one sovereign of Edward the Sixth." Later, she is mentioned by Master Fright, when, telling Master Silence about his fears, he asks: Why, alas man, do you think Queen Elizabeth her measures of most famous memory or dull Lachrimae would grind teeth like French corantoes and Scots jigs? She is also mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow, when talking about his imaginary feats of valor to Doctor Clyster, they move to the subject of politics: "But in the meantime Spain hath had a purge of so many provinces as they possess, thank good Queen Elizabeth their founder." Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603), daughter to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyne, became a legend in her own time, due to her remarkable abilities and achievements. Her fleet defeated the Spanish 'invincible' armada, and she supported the United Provinces–the Low Countries–in their wars against Spain.
EMPEROR
Only mentioned. The emperor is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valour, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." The emperor was Ferdinand II (1578-1637), eldest son to Archduke Karl and the Bavarian Princess María. He was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1619 to 1637.
EUCLID
Only mentioned. Euclid is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he reveals Master Algebra's identity to Master Silence: "Dost not thou remember one Algebra that was the greatest plodder upon Aristotle and Euclid in all the college?" Euclid of Alexandria (c. 325-c. 265 B.C.) was the most outstanding mathematician of antiquity–he taught at Alexandria (Egypt)–author of a famous treatise on mathematics entitled The Elements.
FIELD, NATHAN
Only mentioned. Field is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, after Doctor Clyster compares his reciting poetry to the way several actors do it, he corrects him in the following terms: "Nay, sir, rather Field in Love Lies a Bleeding." Nathan Field (1587-1619?) was an actor from a very early age. When he attended St Paul's School (London), he became a member of the Children of the Queen's Revels about 1600. He remained with the company until, round 1616-17 he joined the King's Men and he was reputed for being an outstanding player–his name is included in the list of actors contained in the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays (1623). He was also the author of two comedies: A Woman Is a Weathercock (staged round 1609) and Amends for Ladies (acted c. 1611). He also collaborated with Philip Massinger, and with Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher. In fact, he played the title role in Philaster (c. 1609) by the two latter playwrights. This tragicomedy would most certainly appeal to Sir Cupid Phantsy more than the early plays mentioned by Doctor Clyster.
FITZHERBERT, SIR ANTHONY
Only mentioned. Fitzherbert is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Sir Anthony Fitzherbert (1470-1538) was the Justice of the Common Pleas at Gray's Inn. He wrote La Graunde Abbregement de le Ley (1514), which constituted the first important attempt to systematize the law. He was also the author of La Novel Natura Brevium (1534)–a manual of procedure–and of L'office et Aucthoritie de iustices de peace, in part collect per Sir Anthonie Fitzherbert Chiualer, iades vn de les iustices del common Banke, translated into English as The New Book of Justices of the Peace–a commentary on municipal courts, which was still being reprinted in 1594 and even later.
FOXE, JOHN
Only mentioned. Foxe is mentioned by Narrowit, when he is explaining to Master Silence wherein his faith was shaken. He states: "in not believing all the stories in our beloved Foxe his Book of Martyrs." Later his also mentioned by Master Silence when he is giving Master Fright a cure for his fear: "then, to blow him up (your subtle enemy, the devil) do but take Foxe's Martyrs and read him over once a quarter and believe him, and I will warrant you the cure will be perfect." John Foxe (1516-1587), educated at Magdalen School and College (Oxford), became an extreme Reformer early in life. Thus, he had to flee to Germany when Mary reached the throne. When he returned to England in 1539, he devoted to his martyrology and published his Acts and Monuments or The Book of Martyrs round 1554. He also wrote sermons and translations and, despite his kind and charitable temper, he addressed harsh controversial attacks on Catholicism.
FRIGHT
Master Fright is a man afraid of darkness. He visits Doctor Clyster, seeking a remedy for his disease. He explains he is afraid of the dark, and of noises and possible spirits lurking in it, and he adds that his fear makes him see strange things, related to evil. When he hears Doctor Clyster's diagnosis that he has been "unseasonably catechized" and frightened with the devil, he decides he will also need the help of the church to get rid of the devil. He thanks and rewards the doctor and leaves content. Afterwards, he goes to see the doctor again and tells him about more of his episodes of fear of darkness–which turn out to be perfectly explainable in daylight. Then Doctor Clyster concludes he suffers from 'melancholy' and, hearing all his patient had to say, he explains that "it was more in a divine than a physician to cure" him, and he advises him to go and see Master Silence, whom he describes as "one of the rarest men in Europe." Thus, following the doctor's advice, he goes to see Master Silence. He also tells him about his fears and keeps blaming the devil for all the awful things he sees and hears at night, which, later on, in day light, are inoffensive. When he finishes with his account he implores to be cured, and the divine prescribes him to purge himself "of all profane histories and wicked poets" and to read pious works instead–a tedious cure for his illness. Then, he offers Master Silence some money for his services, and, though the latter seems to reject it at first, he then accepts it–pretending he will not keep it for himself. Later, when Master Fright finds out that he has been cheated, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he goes to see Doctor Clyster again, and accuses him of being a cozener, but the fake doctor threatens to raise "strange apparitions and ghosts" to haunt him, and his fearful victim ends up leaving. Afterwards, urged by Damme de Bois again, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
GALILEO GALILEI
Only mentioned. Galileo is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is offering Master Sickly an explanation for one of the symptoms of the multiple diseases the latter claims to have: "It seems 'tis a multiplying-glass to you and discovers new diseases as Galileo's did new stars–new worlds of diseases." Later, Galileo is mentioned by Doctor Clyster again, when he offers Master Algebra a cure for his disease: "I shall beseech you not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was a professor of mathematics at the University of Padua (Italy). He invented the telescope, and the discoveries he made with it proved the Copernican system–which supported the theory that the earth and the other planets revolve around the sun. However, his belief in the Copernican system got him into trouble with the Inquisition–they considered that the belief that the sun was the centre of the universe was a heresy. He was finally found guilty of heresy and was sentenced to house arrest–thus, he had to move to his house outside Florence–for the remainder of his life.
GERMANICUS
Only mentioned. Germanicus is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is telling Doctor Clyster about 'good men' who have also been writers: "What say you to Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Germanicus, and most of the emperors?" Germanicus Caesar (15 B. C.–A. D. 19) was a Roman general, son to Drusus Senior, nephew to Emperor Tiberius, brother to Emperor Claudius I, husband to Agrippina I and father to Emperor Caligula and Agrippina II. He conducted three campaigns in Germany and died in Antioch, probably poisoned. He wrote several orations.
GODFREY of BOUILLON
Only mentioned. Godfrey of Bouillon is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire then, my exchequer swelling, I thought of the Holy Land, but that I left to Godfrey of Bouillon's ghost ..." Godfrey of Bouillon (1058-1100), Duke of Lower Lorraine, was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He mortgaged his entire property to finance the expenses of the crusade, and, with the help of his brother Baldwin, he joined the French knights leaving to Holy land.
GOLIATH
Only mentioned. Goliath is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster to have his fears cured, referring to David's killing of Goliath, he explains: "I confess that was some cause of it, for when Goliath's head was off, it looked so strangely, and the great trunk of his body in such a posture!" In the times of King Saul, Jerusalem was at war with the Philistines, whose great armies were integrated by giants, as well as men. One of the tallest and strongest of the giants was Goliath, who challenged Saul's troops asking him to choose a man to fight against him.
GRAND SIGNIOR
Only mentioned. Grand Signior is mentioned by Master Silence when, after he has cozened Master Fright, he says: "If thou hast but faith to believe and patience to endure what I have enjoined thee, thou mayst make a shift to live under the Grand Signior." The Grand Signior was the title given to the Sultan of Turkey.
GREAT DECEIVER
Only mentioned. The Great Deceiver is mentioned by Master Fright when he is describing one of the visions provoked by his disease to Doctor Clyster: "A sleight, I fear, of the old Juggler, the Great Deceiver." The Great Deceiver is another name for the Devil, as well as Lucifer, the Old Juggler, Satanas or Satan.
GUICCIARDINI, LODOVICO
Only mentioned. Guicciardini is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is giving Sir Cupid Phantsy a possible cure for his disease: "and when you read, read Guicciardini or our Speed's chronicle." Lodovico Guicciardini (1521-1589) was a Florentine historian, author of–among other historical works–Storia d'Italia (1561), translated by George Fenton as The Historiae of Guicciardini (1579).
HAKLUYT, RICHARD
Only mentioned. Hakluyt is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is listening to Sir Conquest Shadow tell him about his imaginary bravery and his real cowardice: "And did not Hakluyt and Purchas's Pilgrimages put you into the humor of sea voyages?" Richard Hakluyt (1552?-1616) was a lecturer in Geography at Christ College (University of Oxford). He traveled to North America and, on his return to England, he published several books on exploration–among them: Discourse Concerning Western Discoveries (1584) and The Principal Navigations, Voyages and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589).
HAMLET
Only mentioned. Hamlet is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Hamlet is the leading role in Shakespeare's play of the same title.
HENRIETTA MARIA
Only mentioned. Mary is mentioned by the Prologue before the King and Queen. The Prologue is here addressing to Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife to Charles I, who is a member of the audience.
HENRY VIII
Only mentioned. Henry the Eighth is mentioned by Bill Bond when he is asked by Master Caution about ways of escaping legal punishment. On being asked how he could save him "from the penalty of the statute for keeping so many trotting great horses" according to his "degree, quality and calling," Bond replies: "Oh, that of tricesimo tertio of Henry the Eighth?" Henry VIII (1491-1547) was king of England from 1509 to 1547. His reign witnessed the separation of the Church of England from Roman Catholicism. In 1529, he summoned the Reformation Parliament–which passed 137 statutes in seven years, thus exercising an unprecedented influence both in political and ecclesiastic affairs. According to Cathryn Anne Nelson's A Critical Edition of The Wit's Trumvirate, or The Philosopher (1975: 174, note corresponding to lines 84-85): "The statute of 33rd Henry VIII c. 5 (1541) outlined the number of stoned trotting horses trained to the saddle that members of various classes were obliged to maintain; this statute was repealed in 1623-24 by 21st James I, c. 28." Henry the Eighth is mentioned by Bill Bond again when, still talking to Master Caution, he mentions another statute, the "tricesimo secundo of Henry the Eighth," when he is asked about 'perjury.' Apparently, "the statute of 32nd Henry VIII c. 9, which levied a £10 fine for "the procurement or occasion of any manner of perjury." (Nelson, 1975: 176, note corresponding to line 108.) King Henry VIII impersonated the modern idea of ruler as the ideological icon of the state.
HIGGENBOTHAM
Only mentioned. Higgenbotham is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is telling Damme de Bois that he looks like "a hedge thief or gipsy. Son and heir to Higgenbotham." It seems that the Higgenbotham family went from Germany to England, and there they settled in the English Counties of Chester, Derby, Lancaster, and York. Most of those families were of the landed gentry. Early records of the family in England include those of a Nicholas Higgenbotham (c. 1534- ??) and his sons Anthony (c. 1569-??) and William, but no references to their occupations remain. However, in the early 17th century, the cousins Otwell and Captain John Higgenbotham settled in Barbados, in the West Indies. There are some legends concerning some Higgenbotham being a pirate for the English crown–Doctor Clyster's expression probably derives from that belief.
HONDIUS, JODOCUS
Only mentioned. Hondius is mentioned by Bill Bond at the end of the play, when he is asking Master Algebra to accept some presents from them–after having acted as so fair a judge: "our request is that you would be pleased to suffer us to present you with a pair of Hondius globes, a glass of Galileo's with brass mathematical instruments of Elias Allen making." Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) was a Dutch engraver who fled to London in 1584 to escape religious persecution. He married into the van den Keere family, which introduced him to the leading scientists and geographers of his time. He then learned with the English cartographers Richard Hakluyt and Edward Wright, and reached an international reputation as maker of globes and mathematical instruments and engraver of charts and maps.
JAMES I
Only mentioned. King James is mentioned by Bill Bond when, asked by Master Caution if there was a "law against usury" he states: "the statute of vicesimo primo of King James." King James was king of England (1603-1625). Being also king of Scotland, he found great difficulty in gaining acceptance from the English society. Besides, he did not summon Parliament as often as expected: his extravagant expenditure and his ignoring the nobility's problems caused him serious trouble with Parliament. As a monarch, he lacked the dignity of the Tudors. According to Nelson's A Critical Edition of the Wit's Triumvirate ... (1975: 169-170, note corresponding to lines 4-12), that statute of 21, in its chapter 17 (1623-24) reads: "no person or persons ... shall take directly or indirectly, for the loans of any Moneys Wares Merchandize or other Commodities whatsoever, above the value of Eight pounds for the forbearance of One hundred pounds for a yere, and so after that rate for a greater or leaser some or for a longer or shorter time, (whoever does) ... shall forfeit and loose for every such offence the treble value of the Monies Wares Marchandize and other things so lent bargained sold exchaunged or shifted." Later, King James is mentioned again by Master Caution, in the course of the same conversation. King James is also mentioned by Narrowit when he is telling Master Silence how he is going to recompense his services, offering him "five pounds lawful money of Queen Elizabeth her shillings, King James'; and our good king Charles', and one sovereign of Edward the Sixth."
JEALOUSIA, SIGNOR
Signor Jealousia is a jealous man. He goes to visit Doctor Clyster because he is terribly jealous of his wife, to the extent that he tries to avoid anything related to horns–from hunting to even staying at the Bull's Inn, or at the Saracen's Head, just because both the Bulls and the Saracens have horns. The cure Clyster offers for his patient's disease is to find his wife in the act, but he reacts affirming that he would "rather be still in doubt than know that." Then the doctor tries another solution, and promises to prepare a cure for him. Signor Jealousia, very grateful to him, offers him ten pieces of gold. Later, Signor Jealousia comes back to Doctor Clyster, in search of his cure–but it is not ready yet. Instead, the doctor explains he needs more information from him, so that he can "add or diminish my ingredients according to the accidents." Thus, his patient tells him he has strange dreams, and the doctor offers him "the devil's ring" as a cure. In fact, Clyster guesses the suspicions, problems and even conversations that Signor Jealousia may have with his wife, so precisely, that the former starts to think that the doctor may have been spying on them. But Clyster urges him to dismiss that thought, since his words are just intended to cure him. And, to that aim, he inquires about the origins of his illness, to which his patient replies his disease began when he was a knight bachelor: he was jealous of the husband of a married lady he was in love with. Now, he explains, the problem is that he does not trust his wife because she is a widow–in fact, he does not trust woman's nature. After listening to him, Doctor Clyster offers him a solution: "to wear a purse of a cuckoo's skin [...] and have a stag's head in your chamber to hang your hat on and other things." He wants him to be surrounded by horns "to make them familiar to you." Furthermore, he asks him to acquaint himself "with country knights and gentlemen, that bring up their fair wives and daughters to a lodging in the Strand," so that he gets accustomed to that place, and take a lodging for his wife in the Strand. He assures him that, if he follows his prescription, he will be cured. But Signor Jealousia would rather take a medicine than follow the doctor's advice. Nevertheless, Doctor Clyster assures him that, should his advice fail, he would have a medicine ready for him the next time he came. Then Signor Jealousia rewards the doctor with ten extra pieces of gold for his services. Later, when he realizes he has been cozened, he threatens to "have him indicted for a man-witch presently." Encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
JERONIMO
Only mentioned. Jeronimo is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Jeronimo (or Hieronimo) was the leading character in Thomas Kyd's play The Spanish Tragedy.
JOHN BAPTIST
Only mentioned. John Baptist is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he tells him about more episodes of fear of darkness he suffered: "Methought one night, lying in bed, I saw John Baptist's head in a platter." According to the Bible, John the Baptist was son to Elizabeth and Zachery, and second cousin to Jesus. He went to live in the desert and, there, he led the life of an anchorite. After some time, he came back to deliver his message to the world, and he was followed by men of all conditions, whom he baptized in the River Jordan to confirm their good disposition. Even Jesus approached him, to be baptized by his cousin. But John dared to accuse King Herod Antipas of public adultery–among other evil deeds. Thus, the monarch, encouraged by his niece and lover, Herodias, resolved to punish John apprehending him and sending him to prison. Herodias's daughter, Salome, danced for Herod in the course of his birthday feast, and the king, who was pleased with her danced, made her a rash promise: he would grant her whatever she asked for. Then, the girl, urged by her mother, asked for the head of John the Baptist in a dish, and, thus, he was executed.
JONSON, BENJAMIN
Only mentioned. Jonson is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, talking to Doctor Clyster about poetry, the latter tells him his attitude is "not worthy of a poet," and he replies: "Not of our kingdom's immortal honor and his own, our learned and most famous Jonson, our best poet." Ben Jonson (?1572-1637) was a great seventeenth-century dramatist, wit, and poet–in 1619 he was the first ever Poet Laureate to be appointed to that post. His fine sense of form proves that he was a literary artist.
JULIUS CAESAR
Only mentioned. Julius Caesar is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is telling Doctor Clyster about 'good men' who have also been writers: "What say you to Julius Caesar, Augustus, and Germanicus, and most of the emperors?" Julius Caesar (c. 100-44 B. C.) formed part, with Pompey and Crassus, of the First Triumvirate, and was later elected dictator perpetuus. His account of his eight years of Gallic campaigns in De Bello Gallico (The Gallic Wars) has become a classic of ancient history and literature, and gained him a reputation as a great writer.
KEPLER, JOHANNES
Only mentioned. Kepler is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he offers Master Algebra a cure for his disease: "I shall beseech you not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) was a brilliant German scientist and astronomer who discovered the three laws of planetary motion, and contributed to prove the theory of heliocentric astronomy.
KING (A)
Only mentioned. The King is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is reporting, to Doctor Clyster, his imaginary duels overseas: "Methought I fought and killed Monsieur de Bouteville, got a hurt in my hand only, and presently was sent for to the court, graced by the King and Queen." The king was Louis XIII (1610-1643), King of France. Cardinal Richelieu played a decisive role in the monarch's administration, turning Louis into an absolute ruler who humiliated the Hapsburgs, built a powerful navy, kept the French nobility under control and granted special privileges to the Huguenots.
KING (B)
Only mentioned. The King is mentioned by Master Algebra when he pronounces the Epilogue to the King and Queen: "Our play is ended, and if anything / Did please our gracious Queen and sacred King, / We're happy ..." The King is King Charles I.
LAMBARDE, WILLIAM
Only mentioned. Lambarde is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." William Lambarde (1536-1601) wrote Eirenarcha: or the Office of the Justices of Peace (1582). He co-authored–with Richard Crompton and Michael Dalton–The Complete Justice, published in 1636.
LEPIDUS
Only mentioned. Lepidus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he explains the parts each of the cozeners had in their 'triumvirate' (sic): "One strives to be Augustus, the other Antony; I shall be Lepidus." Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (d. 13 B. C.) was praetor (49 B. C.) and consul (46 B. C.) with Caesar. He was also pontifex maximus. It was when Lepidus returned from Gaul with Antony that Augustus joined them to establish the Second Triumvirate. Thus, Antony obtained Gaul, Lepidus, Spain, and Augustus, Africa, Sardinia and Sicily. They made their power absolute by massacring all those who were unfriendly to them in Italy, and by their victories over the republican army in Macedonia, under Brutus and Cassius.
LITTLETON, SIR THOMAS
Only mentioned. Littleton is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Sir Thomas Littleton (1407?-1481), a lawyer of the Inner Temple in London, was the author of the Tenures, a complete survey of English land laws.
LUCIFER
Only mentioned. Lucifer is mentioned by Master Fright when he is describing his disease to Doctor Clyster: "I mend my pace and leapin amongst them, thinking how near Lucifer was scratching my hinder parts." Then, he is mentioned by Master Silence when, hearing Master Ominous report his bad luck, he exclaims: "But fough, Lucifer's gun and gunpowder!" Later, he is mentioned by Signor Jealousia who, obsessed with horns–because he believes his wife is being unfaithful to him–says: "and Lucifer with his horn major and his regiment of horned devils will revenge my quarrel." He is also mentioned by Master Fright who, explaining––to Doctor Clyster–his episodes of fear of darkness, narrates: "in a windy night I was awakened with such a clapping and rushing as I thought Lucifer had been in the act of procreation with his succuba behind the hangings." Lucifer is another name for the Devil, as well as the Old Juggler, the Great Deceiver, Satanas or Satan.
LUCRETIA
Only mentioned. Lucretia is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, after Doctor Clyster tells him that he is longing in love when he has no reward, he replies: "I forbear to play the Tarquin with my Lucretia, thinking I've gained something upon her when indeed I've lost." According to Roman history and legend, Lucretia was a Roman matron who was raped by Tarquin, the son of a Roman king. Since she had been dishonored and abused, she decided to perform the honorable deed of committing suicide.
LUTHER, MARTIN
Only mentioned. Luther is mentioned by Master Bead when he is revealing his Roman-Catholic religious scruples to Silence: "Sir, that lodging where the pictures of Luther and Calvin hang did so much trouble me that I was once in mind to have broken them, for I doubt that for the sin of us Romans, suffering those heretic pictures, we were after punished by the fall of Blackfriars House." Martin Luther (1483-1546) is responsible for the symbolic blow that initiated the Reformation when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church. That document attacked both papal abuses and the sale of indulgences by church officials. But, for Luther, the Reformation went beyond a mere revolt against ecclesiastical abuses: it was a fight for the gospel.
MAGELLAN, FERDINAND
Only mentioned. Magellan is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary fights at sea: "Methinks I'm sailing about this our globe and do discover more than ever Magellan, Drake, or Cavendish did." Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) led the first circumnavigation of the globe. Born to a family of lower nobility and educated in the Portuguese court, he believed he could reach the Spice Islands by sailing west, either around or through the new World. His idea was soon dismissed by the Portuguese king, but he was supported by the Spanish king Charles I (Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire), who founded his expedition, thus contributing to his success.
MAHOMET
Only mentioned. Mahomet is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he explains he sold his hangings, which frightened him, "to a Puritan upholster, that would have bought Mahomet's history at an easy rate." Mahomet (570-632) was the founder of the great religion of Islam. He started as a prophet who claimed that, after meditating in the desert, God had revealed many truths to him concerning life. These revelations came from the angel Gabriel. Mahomet's revelations were written shortly after his death and they are now called the Qur'an. After his experiences in the desert, he claimed to be a prophet of God whose mission was to guide others by God's message. But that message, asserting the lordship of Allah to those literally worshipped a black stone–Ka'aba–was not well received at first and he was forced to flee Mecca. However, eight years later, he captured Mecca and became its ruler, implementing the divine orders he believed he was called to carry out. He never claimed to be a revolutionary or innovator, he just meant to complete the work of the Jewish Christian prophets
MANDEVILLE, SIR JOHN
Only mentioned. Sir John Mandeville is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he tells him about more episodes of fear of darkness he suffered. He describes the monsters he sees are those which appear "in Purchas' Pilgrimages or Sir John Mandeville." Sir John Mandeville was, in the early fourteen century, the most popular writer in England. In fact, Shakespeare, Milton and Keats were influenced by him. In 1322 he announced he was leaving on a journey to find the holy city of Jerusalem–he returned to England in 1356 and revealed that during that time he had visited Jerusalem, India, China, Tibet, Java and Sumatra. He reported his experiences in his book The Travels (c. 1356), which was printed by Pynson in 1496 as The Book of John Mandeville, Knight.
MARIA, HENRIETTA
Only mentioned. Mary is mentioned by the Prologue before the King and Queen. The Prologue is here addressing to Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife to Charles I, who is a member of the audience.
MARS
Only mentioned. Mars is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is talking to Master Algebra about the planets. When the latter states that, as for Venus–referring to the planet–"her changes and horns can plainly be seen," the former–ironically changing subject to the Roman goddess–replies that "Venus did change indeed! Mars knew that." According to Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war.
MARY
Only mentioned. Mary is mentioned by the Prologue before the King and Queen. The Prologue is here addressing to Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), wife to Charles I, who is a member of the audience.
MERCURY
Only mentioned. Mercury is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is explaining, to Doctor Clyster, the effect love had on him. He "could not dance, but my heels were as nimble as if Mercury has put his wings there; and my head so witty in composing as if I had had Mercury's cap on." According to Roman mythology, Mercury was, originally, the god of the trade in corn, but, eventually, he became the god of commerce and profit, of merchants and travelers. As time went by, he was identified with the Greek cunning and shrewd god Hermes–the god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves–who was also the messenger of the gods. He is represented with winged sandals (talaria) and a winged hat (petasus).
MERDURINOS, DOCTOR
"Doctor Merdurinos" is an insulting name–meaning dung-urine–used by Master Silence to address to Doctor Clyster, once Damme de Bois has gone away: "Now, Doctor Merdurinos, is not this better than your eightpence a day in the Low Countries?"
MUSES
Only mentioned. The Muses are mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is explaining, to Doctor Clyster, the effect love had on him: "the Muses did increase with my love." Here, he is actually identifying "Muses" with "poetic inspiration." According to Greek mythology, the Muses are daughters to Zeus, and they are goddesses of the arts and sciences–inspiring those who excel at these pursuits. The names of the nine muses are
Calliope,
Clio,
Erato,
Euterpe,
Melpomene,
Polyhymnia,
Terpsichore,
Thalia, and
Urania
.
NARROWIT
Narrowit is a Puritan. He visits Master Silence when the latter is busy with another 'patient'–a Catholic he is "converting for our glorious cause, a Romanist that is tacking about to us." And the divine asks him for leave to offer his counsel to both of them, in the same room. Narrowit accepts and proceeds to relate his scruples–petty devotional trespasses of Puritanism–which would not have been trespasses at all had he been a Catholic. When he finishes his report, Master Silence explains that "it would be too long to answer every particular," but he is glad because his scruples "show a tender conscience, which is a great sign of a good man." Then he informs him that, as regards his scruples, "the brethren of Amsterdam will quit you from them all," and he offers him a medicine: "a cordial beyond the elixir for the separation" to preserve him "from all superstitions and abominable ways." Narrowit is curious about the ingredients of the elixir, and he is told it has "a piece of Master Prynne's ear, our blesses saint, which cost me much of the executioner." In order to recompense Master Silence's services, Narrowit will give him "the just sum of five pounds", nevertheless, when the divine suggests he should double that amount, he agrees. Later, when he finds out he has been cozened, he goes to threaten Silence, but he ends up being threatened by him with taking Prynne's ear from about his neck. Afterwards, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR
Only mentioned. Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when, as Sir Cupid Phantsy is praising the lady he is in love with, the moment he starts describing her nails–tired of listening to him, Doctor Clyster ironically replies: "Their length make her wife to Nebuchadnezzar." Nebuchadnezzar (c. 630–562 B. C.) was the king of the Chaldean Empire. He became the most powerful monarch of his dynasty, being mainly famous for his role in Bible History and Prophecy as well as for his vast military conquests.
OLD JUGGLER
Only mentioned. The Old Juggler is mentioned by Master Fright when he is describing one of the visions provoked by his disease to Doctor Clyster: "A sleight, I fear, of the old Juggler, the Great Deceiver." The Old Juggler is another name for the Devil, as well as Lucifer, the Great Deceiver, Satanas or Satan.
OMINOUS
Master Ominous is "a man fearful of superstitious accidents." He goes to visit Master Silence seeking for help–he is an extremely superstitions man and, unfortunately, all his superstitions seem to come true. He proceeds to report all his misfortunes related to superstitions to the divine, and begs him for relief. Then he received his piece of advice from Master Silence–he must "shun all antiquaries and heathenish superstitions and traditions," and explains that his disease is also "partly in the blood," therefore, he recommends him to see also an eminent physician who lives in the same house. He agrees to do as he is told and rewards him for his services. Later, following Master Silence's advice, he goes to see Doctor Clyster, and he starts to report the somatic effects of his superstitions. The doctor diagnoses he suffers from "melancholy, which must be purged", and he assures him he knows how to do it. Thus, he tells him to "forbear the Roman history awhile, to forget the entrails of beasts, birds, flying or pecking of chickens," and to forget about "augurs and soothsayers" and all their superstitions. When Master Ominous offers him a recompense for his services, Clyster refuses it at first "till the cure is finished", but, on his victim's insistence, he takes it. Later, when he finds out he had been cozened, he goes to see Silence to ask him for satisfaction–but Silence threatens him, and Master Ominous leaves. But, soon, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
PAPPENHEIM
Only mentioned. Pappenheim is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Count Gottfried Heinrich zu Pappenheim (1594-1632) was an Imperial Army cavalry general in the Thirty Years' War.
PARACELSUS
Only mentioned. Paracelsus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he explains to Bill Bond that he has sent Master Sickly "to read a treatise, a manuscript of Paracelsus, translated into English for him," so that they can speak in private about what trick to play on Damme de Bois. Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus (1493-1541) was the pseudonym of Dr Theophrastus Bombastus Hohenheim, which meant 'beyond Celsius',–assuming he was greater physician than the still-reputed Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsius. Paracelsus was a Swiss physician, chemist, alchemist and natural philosopher: in fact, one of the fathers of modern medicine.
PAUL
Only mentioned. Paul is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is about to offer Signor Jealousy a remedy for his jealousy, and he brings up "Paul's Latin". He is referring to Saint Paul, but, specifically, to a Latin remark that can be overheard in Paul's walk–which is the middle aisle of Saint Paul's cathedral and a common meeting-place for lawyers. Paul is also mentioned by Narrowit when he is telling Master Silence about his religious scruples: "And, God forgive me, I have given money towards the repair of Paul's, and I fear it may help to the setting up of Dagon or some antique saint." According to Cathryn Anne Nelson (1975, p. 215, note 287), in her critical edition of The Wits Triumvirate, or the Philosopher, "in 1631 Charles I ordered money to be collected for the reparation of St Paul's Church; work began in April, 1633, under the supervision of Iñigo Jones." According to the Bible, St Paul of Tarsus–originally, Saul of Tarsus–was an Israelite (born in Tarsus of Cilicia) of the tribe of Benjamin and a Pharisee. He had actually persecuted the first Christians, but he stopped doing it after having a vision of Jesus on his way to Damascus. He converted and he was appointed to be an apostle of Jesus. He devoted the rest of his life to spread Christianity among the gentiles, and he is considered one of the most important figures in the development of Christianity.
PEGASUS
Only mentioned. Pegasus is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is explaining, to Doctor Clyster, the effect love had on him: "I could not water my horse, but thought of Helicon and flying with Pegasus." According to Greek mythology, Pegasus is the winged horse that sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa when she was decapitated by Perseus. He was also regarded as a symbol of poetic genius since Hippocrene, the fountain of the Muses on Mount Helicon, was said to have sprung from a blow of his hoof.
PERNE, DOCTOR
Only mentioned. Doctor Perne is mentioned by Bill Bond, as he explains to his friends that cozening is better than "feast the freshmen yet with Doctor Perne's old jests, which wit he entailed upon the university for them!" Andrew Perne (1519-1589) was a Cambridge professor–master of Peterhouse–reputed to be a master of the witty retort.
PHANTSY, SIR CUPID
Sir Cupid Phantsy is a lover. He visits Doctor Clyster in the hope that he should cure his disease–giving him clear hints that the root of his disease lies in the fact that he is in love. The doctor informs Phantsy about all the possible symptoms of his disease, and the latter realizes that he has them all. Besides he explains that, from time to time, he also suffers from poetic fits. Doctor Clyster witnesses one of those fits, and he thinks his patient's disease is a serious thing. Sir Cupid then explains the change he has experienced since he is in love: on the one hand, now he can speak long speeches in verse, and, on the other, he has become obsessed with clothes and fashion–a characteristic of lovers. The doctor tells him he will have to study his case, but, meanwhile, he advises him to "forbear all pastorals and quit the church while the psalms are singing." He wants to keep him away from songs and poetry, and advises him to read prose instead. After Phantsy hears the doctor's advice, he gives him some money for his services. Later, Sir Cupid Phantsy goes to see the doctor–suffering from new fits of poetic speech. He wants the doctor to cure him, but not before he writes a play. However, Doctor Clyster explains that writing a play can be dangerous for him and tries to dissuade him. Then his patient encourages his doctor to write some poetry, to which the latter replies he lacks the main ingredient: he is not in love. And that is precisely the source of his patient's illness: his being in love makes him speak in verse. After discussing about poetry and about Sir Cupid's beloved lady's attitude to him, the doctor decides it is time to cure him. He finds out his patient did not follow his former prescription, and now he forbids him to rhyme in his company, and to make or think in verse; and, since he seems to be getting worse, he is going to put him on a diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." And he threatens him that, should he put those into verse, he will prescribe him "huge volumes of civil law." But, as soon as Doctor Clyster leaves him alone for a moment, Sir Cupid Phantsy starts writing verses again. However, when the doctor comes back, he catches him at it. Then, he urges to give him or throw away any token from his lady he may have. Sir Cupid happens to have a purse, which was hers, and which is tied so hard that he is unable to get the twenty pieces of gold it contains out of it. Hearing that, the doctor insists on keeping the purse, he gets it and they part. When, later, Sir Cupid Phantsy learns he has been cheated, he goes to see Clyster again in order to ask for his money back and also for satisfaction, but Clyster threatens to tell his mistress about his folly, and Phantsy leaves. Encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
PLATO
Only mentioned. Plato is mentioned by Master Algebra when, discussing with Bill Bond, about Aristotle's theories regarding the planets with Master Algebra, he replies: "Aristotle was a worthy man, and so was his master, Plato, and yet they differed ..." Plato (428-347 B. C.)–whose real name was Aristocles–was a brilliant Greek philosopher. He was the founder of the Academy in Athens, an institution for the practice of philosophical activity, as well as moderate eating and talk, and all the appropriate sacrifices and religious observances.
POPE
Only mentioned. The Pope is mentioned by Narrowit when, confessing his scruples to Master Silence, he explains that he was "much offended with the sign of the Pope's Head just over against my lodging ..." The Pope's Head was the sign of a tavern on the corner of Pope's Head Alley and Cornhill. Later, he mentions the Pope again: "I doubted whether the Pope was Antichrist, yea or no." At the time the play was written, the Pope was Urban VIII. His real name was Maffeo Barberini (1568-1644). He succeeded Gregory XV and was Pope from 1623 to 1644.
PRINCES of the EMPIRE
Only mentioned. The Princes of the Empire are mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Those Princes of the Empire were several hundred fairly autonomous rulers of the states of the Holy Roman Empire. Within them, there was a special subgroup of the Princes of the Empire–known as Prince-electors (King of Bohemia; Duke of Saxony; Margrave of Brandenburg; Count Palatinate of the Rhine; Archbishops of Mainz, Cologne, and Trier; and eventually the King of Bavaria)–who had the right to vote on the Imperial succession.
PRYNNE, WILLIAM
Only mentioned. Master Prynne is mentioned by Master Silence when he is explaining Narrowit what the elixir he is giving him as a cure for his scruples contains: "a piece of Master Prynne's ear, our blessed saint, which cost me much of the executioner." Later, he is mentioned by Master Silence again when Narrowit, finding out he has been cozened, goes to threaten him. Silence replies: "I will now take Prynne's ear from about thy neck." William Prynne (1600-1669) was a Puritan who opposed the church policy of the Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud. Like many Puritans, he was fiercely opposed to stage plays: thus, in his Histriomastix (1633), he included a denunciation of actresses which was interpreted as an attack of Queen Henrietta Maria. Therefore, he was tried in the Star Chamber in 1633 and sentenced to imprisonment and the removal of part of his ears. But, even in prison, he did not abandon his activities, and that cost him the rest of his ears, which he lost in the pillory in May, 1634.
PULTON, FERDINAND
Only mentioned. Pulton is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is explaining to Sir Cupid Phantsy that he can see he is getting worse, and, thus, he is going to put him on a 'reading' diet: "I prescribe you Littleton's Tenures to read in French, with Lambarde's Justice of Peace, Dalton, Crompton, and Fitzherbert, Pulton's Statutes, and Coke's Reports." Ferdinand Pulton (1536-1618) wrote An Abstract of all the penall Statutes which be generall, in force and use: Wherein is conteined the effect of all those Statutes, which do threaten to the offenders thereof, the losse of life, member . . . or other punishment (1560) and A Kalendar or Table of All the Statutes (1606). De Pace Regis Et Regni, Viz. A Treatise Declaring Which be the Great and Generall Offences of the Realme, and the Chiefe Impediments of the Peace of the King and the Kingdome, as Treasons, Homicides, and Felonies, Menaces, Assaults, Batteries, Ryots, Routs, Vnlawfull Assemblies, Forcible Entries, Forgeries, Periuries, Maintenance, Deceit, Extortion, Oppression: And How Many, and What Sorts of Them There Be, and by Whom and What Meanes the Said Offences, and the Offendores Therein are to be Restrained, Repressed, or Punished. Which Being Reformed or Duely Checked, Florebit Pax Regis & Regni. Collected Out of the Reports of the Common Laws of This Realme, and of the Statutes in Force, and Out of the Painefull Workes of the Reuerend Iudges, Sir Anthonie Fitzharbert, Sir Robert Brooke, Sir William Stanford, Sir Iames Dyer, Sir Edward Coke, Knights, and other Learned Writers of Our Lawes (1609), is a comprehensive overview of criminal law. He is also the author of The Statutes at Large (1618).
PURCHAS, SAMUEL
Only mentioned. Purchas is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he tells him about more episodes of fear of darkness he suffered. He describes the monsters he sees are those which appear "in Purchas' Pilgrimages or Sir John Mandeville." Later, he is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is listening to Sir Conquest Shadow tell him about his imaginary bravery and his real cowardice: "And did not Hakluyt and Purchas's Pilgrimages put you into the humor of sea voyages?" Samuel Purchas (1575?-1626) was an English travel writer–the author of Pilgrimage (1613) and Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas his Pilgrims (1625). The former work was often confused with the latter, but the latter–partly based on manuscripts left by Hakluyt–was a continuation of his Principall Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation (1589).
QUEEN (A)
Only mentioned. The Queen is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when he is reporting, to Doctor Clyster, his imaginary duels overseas: "Methought I fought and killed Monsieur de Bouteville, got a hurt in my hand only, and presently was sent for to the court, graced by the King and Queen." The Queen was Anne of Austria (1601-1666), Queen of France–a Hapsburg, daughter to king Philip III of Spain–wife to King Louis XIII.
QUEEN (B)
Only mentioned. The Queen is mentioned by Master Algebra when he pronounces the Epilogue to the King and Queen: "Our play is ended, and if anything / Did please our gracious Queen and sacred King, / We're happy ..." The Queen is Queen Henrietta Maria.
SATAN
Only mentioned. Satan is mentioned by Master Silence when Master Ominous is telling him about one of his superstitions which came true: he had seen a flaming sword in the air, and then the war first began in Germany. To that, Master Silence replies: "Verily, then it was Satan his two-hand sword of the air, for he can take a body upon him or assume a two-handed sword of air if it please him. Later, Satan is also mentioned by Master Ominous when, reporting his ill luck and his superstition to Silence, he explains "so if a dog do clap his tail between his legs, something of Satan is then waking." Master Silence mentions Satan when, replying to Master Fright's inquiries regarding his fears, he affirms: "now it plainly appeareth to be the stratagem of Satan by the choize of the time, as also of those lewd fiddles for his instruments." Satan is another name for the Devil, as well as Lucifer, the Great Deceiver, the Old Juggler or Satanas.
SATANAS
Only mentioned. Satanas is mentioned by Master Silence when Master Ominous is telling him about one of his superstitions, whose effect was that his pocket was picked of "twenty pounds in good old gold." Hearing this, Master Silence replies: "That was a thief did it, I can tell you that, but set on Satanas." Satanas is another name for the Devil, as well as Lucifer, the Great Deceiver, the Old Juggler or Satan.
SERVANT, FIRST and SECOND
Two servants figure in the play:
Servant 1 works for Bill Bond and his two accomplices–Master Silence and Doctor Clyster. He brings in a candle when Damme de Bois, who has come to visit the cozeners, asks for "leave to take a pipe of tobacco." Later, he and Servant 2 bring hot water and old clothes on stage while Damme de Bois is sleeping. He also helps to cheat that visitor.
Servant 2 also works for Bill Bond and his two accomplices–Master Silence and Doctor Clyster. He and Servant 1 bring hot water and old clothes on stage while Damme de Bois is sleeping. He also helps to cheat that visitor.
SICKLY
Master Sickly is a hypochondriac. He goes to see Doctor Clyster after he has been treated by doctors in England and abroad. He feels he is about to die, and that is a last attempt to recover his health. He explains he feels like burning inside. When Doctor Clyster asks him to tell him about his symptoms, his new patient specifies all sorts of silly affections, nevertheless the doctor seems to have a cure for each of them, though he pretends that to cure his many diseases is going to be hard work–he also explains that, should he fail, he would put his reputation at risk. Then, Master Sickly offers him twenty pounds in gold then, and forty more, when he finishes. Still, the doctor pretends to be reluctant, since so many doctors had failed to cure him before. Master Sickly raises his offer to a hundred pounds when he is recovered. But, still, the doctor goes as far as to ask him for fifty now, and his 'victim' accepts. Finally, Clyster offers his patient a 'medicine' he has prepared as a remedy for his disease, as well as a paper containing a fake charm for sweaty toes–thus, the doctor receives the sum of fifty pounds in gold they had agreed on. Later, Master Sickly goes, with Damme de Bois, to see Doctor Clyster again, in an attempt to make Damme realize he should abandon his skepticism and trust the doctor. When, later, Master Sickly discovers he has been cheated, he comes to Bond, seeking counsel with respect to what legal action he can take against Doctor Clyster, on the charges of having cozened him. Bond then offers to indict the Doctor for practicing without a license. Master Sickly still rewards him with ten pounds of gold and assures him he will give him more when the matter is over. Afterwards, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
SILENCE
Master Silence went to university, but he, as well as Clyster, "endured expulsion from the College." Later, he taught at petty school. Now he is working for a lawyer and he has to write false passes for false begging soldiers and forged briefs to cozen the well-disposed people. He finds he has no honour left. Then he invites Clyster to take part in a plot he and Bill Bond are planning. It takes him some time to convince him, but finally, he manages to do it. When Bond comes, Silence learns he has to play the part of a Silenced Divine–a minister forbidden to preach for non-compliance with canons adopted by the Hampton Court Conference of 1604. The first victim to visit him is Master Ominous, a superstitious man punished with ill fortune. The solution Master Silence replies: "shun all antiquaries and heathenish superstitions and traditions," and explains that his disease is also "partly in the blood," therefore, he recommends him to see also an eminent physician who lives in the same house. But when he finishes his session with Master Ominous, Bond reprimands him because he expected him to get more than to pieces of gold from that man. Master Silence apologizes, explaining that it was his "first essay." His next visitor is Master Bead, thus, he pretends to be a Roman priest. But, realizing that his 'victim' is surprised to find that he is not dressed as such, he assures him that–despite his appearance–"the inward man is priest." When he finds out that Master Bead is troubled by "many scruples of conscience," he assures him he can help him. But, suddenly, they are interrupted by someone else knocking on the door, and he remembers he had another appointment with Narrowit, a Puritan, and he kindly invites Master Bead to "come some other time." Unfortunately, the latter is leaving the following day, and he will not visit the place again for years. Then, Master Silence–unwilling to miss the opportunity to cozen him–offers the possibility of placing each of them on different sides of the room, for him to "walk between you and dispatch both as suddenly as I can", and Master Bead accepts. When Narrowit enters, Master Silence pretends to be a Puritan and claims to be "converting for our glorious cause, a Romanist that is tacking about to us." And he asks him for leave to offer his counsel to both of them, in the same room, as he had previously explained to Master Bead. He then listens to Narrowit's and Bead's scruples, alternatively, and, curiously, they are all petty devotional trespasses related to their respective religions–which would not have been trespasses at all had the Puritan been Catholic or vice versa. Master Silence tells each of them what they want to hear–which is exactly the opposite in each case, since all their scruples coincide. The only thing that changes is the faith they profess and its commandments; thus, Silence has to adapt his advice to one faith or another, according to whom he is talking to. Once he has listened to Narrowit, he explains that "it would be too long to answer every particular," but he is glad because his scruples "show a tender conscience, which is a great sign of a good man." And, as regards Master Bead, he assures him that his confessor will give him "perfect absolution for all these." And, aware of the fact that he is a Catholic, and that Catholics believe in relics, he will give him one that will preserve him "from all these scruples hereafter, as anything else that you may call ill." Curious about the nature of the relic, he asks about it, and Master Silence explains that it is "a Tyburn martyr's blood upon a straw." When he is rewarded with ten pieces of gold by Master Bead, Master Silence–still performing the role of a Catholic priest, assures him that the money will be "put in bank for the general good, for which the order shall give you thanks." Then he addresses to Narrowit, and he informs him that, as regards his scruples, "the brethren of Amsterdam will quit you from them all." And he also offers him a medicine: "a cordial beyond the elixir for the separation." When he is offered five pounds as recompense, by Narrowit, for his services, he suggests he should double that amount–and his victim actually does it. Then, Master Silence receives the visit of Master Fright, who tells him about his fears and keeps blaming the devil for all the awful things he sees and hears at night, which, later on, in day light, are inoffensive. When he finishes with his account he implores to be cured, and Silence prescribes him to purge himself "of all profane histories and wicked poets" and to read pious works instead. Master Fright offers the divine some money for his services, and, though the latter seems to reject it at first, he then accepts it, only "as it may be a weapon against the day of battle to fight against Antichrist." Later, Master Algebra arrives and Master Silence and his two friends agree to listen to him. When he is urged by Master Algebra either to cure him or to accept he is right, he quickly replies that "it is the devil that doth haunt thy brain in the likeness of wit, the more for to delude thee." When the patient leaves, Clyster calls Silence and explains to him he had recognized Master Algebra–he was a bright man, who might have discovered their ignorance, if not their knavery. Then, the divine suggests they should change their lodging "to get new customers and avoid the old." Later, Silence will be busy devising a plot–with Clyster and Bill Bond–to cheat Damme de Bois as he sleeps: they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Master Silence, in an attempt to seek peace for his soul, and to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Once he has specified what he is going to leave and to whom, it is obvious he has found them out–and he makes it evident when he tells Master Sickly that he leaves him "to be cozened by these honest gentlemen." Aware of the fact that they have been found out, Silence and his two comrades send Master Sickly away because they do not want him to realize he has been cheated. When they consider they have, at last, succeeded, they celebrate their triumvirate and their cozening. But Damme de Bois was not cheated so easily, and he comes accompanied by all their victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. Thus, Silence soon receives the visit of Master Ominous, who, having found out he had been cozened, is there to ask him for satisfaction–but Silence threatens him, and his victim leaves. Then it is Narrowit's turn to threaten Silence, but he ends up being threatened by him with taking Prynne's ear from about his neck. Later, Master Bead also goes to see him seeking satisfaction–but Silence threatens to reveal his secret and Bead leaves. However, encouraged by Damme de Bois, all their cozened victims siege their house. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.
SPEED, JOHN
Only mentioned. Speed is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is giving Sir Cupid Phantsy a possible cure for his disease: "and when you read, read Guicciardini or our Speed's chronicle." John Speed's History of Great Britain (1611) is here referred to as Speed's Chronicle. Speed is also mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is asking Sir Cupid Phantsy, on his second visit, "have you done as I prescribed in reading Speed's History? John Speed is the most famous of all English cartographers. He was an antiquary, and the author of the most important and prestigious atlas of his time. His best known works are two atlases: The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (1612), and the Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (1627).
ST. GEORGE
Only mentioned. St George is mentioned by Master Bead when he is telling Master Silence about his religious scruples: "I firmly believe St George and his dragon." Later, he is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, reporting one of his imaginary duels to Doctor Clyster, he explains where it actually took place: "Here, sir, in Saint George's Fields." According to Nelson (1975: 245, note to line 60), "that was a resort of Londoners on the Surrey side of the Thames between Southwark and Lambeth where duels were often fought." The best known of the stories related to St George is that of the dragon: A dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya, who had defeated all the armies that had charged against him. The creature ate two sheep a day, but, should mutton be scarce, it would be substituted for young maidens. When Saint George visited that country, and heard that a princess was to be eaten, he charged against the dragon and killed him with his lance. He then offered the locals a magnificent sermon and converted them. The king gave him a large reward which he distributed to the poor. Devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century.
SWEDE
Only mentioned. Swede is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Swede was the common title for the Swedish King and general Gustavus Adolphus II (1594-1632), who, led by religious interest, supported the Protestant cause in the Thirty Years' War.
TAMBURLAINE
Only mentioned. Tamburlaine is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Tamburlaine is the title character in Christopher Marlowe's play Tamburlaine The Great (Parts 1 and 2).
TARQUIN
Only mentioned. Tarquin is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, after Doctor Clyster tells him that he is longing in love when he has no reward, he replies: "I forbear to play the Tarquin with my Lucretia, thinking I've gained something upon her when indeed I've lost." Tarquin was the son of a Roman king. He raped Lucretia.
TILLY
Only mentioned. Tilly is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Johan Tserclaes (Jan Tserkales) was Count of Tilly (1559-1632), general of the army of the Catholic League in the Thirty Years' War.
TOM O'BEDLAM
A "ghost character." Tom O'Bedlam is mentioned by Signor Jealousia when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his obsession with horns since he thinks his wife is being unfaithful to him: "For Tom O'Bedlam, he's not so mad as to come in my walk." Tom O'Bedlam seems to be another man obsessed with horns, since Signor Jealousia adds: "But I'll never set him in the stocks again, for with his continual tooting he had almost made me as horn-mad as himself."
TOM THUMB
Only mentioned. Tom Thumb is mentioned by Master Fright when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster to have his fears cured, he is asked if the hangings ever trouble him. He replies that his "hanging story of little David had almost killed" him. Later, he points out that "they had made little David no bigger than Tom Thumb." Tom Thumb is the protagonist of an anonymous prose tale published in 1621, which became extremely popular. He was a very little boy, not even as tall as his mother's thumb. In the last four hundred years, many different versions of that original tale have been written.
TULLY
Only mentioned. Vincent was mentioned by Master Silence when he is offering Master Ominous a solution to put an end to his misfortunes: "Then throw away Tully, De divinatione, that heathen lawyer, ay, and De Dis Syris too." Marcus Tullius Cicero attacked divination in De divinatione (44 B. C.). De Dis Syris–Concerning Wealthy Syria–was written by John Selden (1584-1654). Tully is later mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is explaining to Doctor Clyster that "love's language is the finest language", he adds "Tullys spoke them." 'Tullys' is used here as an extensive name for 'Ciceroes', referring to poets in general. Marcus Tullius Cicero (c. 106-43 B. C.) was an accomplished poet, a forensic orator, lawyer, politician, and philosopher. He was an important actor in many of the significant political events of his time, which coincided with the decline and fall of the Roman Republic.
TURNER, JOHN
Only mentioned. Turner is mentioned by Signor Jealousia when, inquired by Doctor Clyster whether he had been a striker when he was a bachelor, Jealousia replies: "Indeed I did use the stock sometimes, Turner's stock." John Turner was a famous fencing master who kept a school in Whitefriars. He was said to have developed considerable skill in dispatching adversaries with thrusts to the eye. He was murdered by several assassins paid by Robert Creighton, Baron of Sanquire (or Sanchar) in 1612.
TYCHO BRAHE
Only mentioned. Tycho Brahe is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when, having heard Master Algebra's claim that "the earth moves and that the sun stands still", he replies "Sir, this was a drunken conceit of Copernicus the German and Tycho Brahe the Dane." Later, Copernicus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster again, when he offers Master Algebra a cure for his disease: "I shall beseech you not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) was a brilliant astronomer and scientist. He supported the theory that the earth remained fixed in the center of the universe, and that the moon and the sun circulated around it. He also added that the rest of the planets circulated around the sun.
VAN DYKE, SIR ANTHONY
Only mentioned. Van Dyke is mentioned by Master Silence when he is explaining Master Bead the nature of the relic he is giving him: "'tis a Tyburn martyr's blood upon a straw, where you shall see that holy martyr's face more exactly done than had Van Dyke with his rare pencil drawn it." Sir Anthony Van Dyke (1599-1641) was a painter, who was appointed principal painter in ordinary to their Majesties by Charles I, in 1632–and he held the office until mid 1640.
VENUS
Only mentioned. Venus is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is describing the lady he is in love with to Doctor Clyster. He explains she is "beautiful like Venus, chaste as Diana, witty as ..." She is also mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is talking to Master Algebra about the planets. When the latter states that, as for Venus–referring to the planet–"her changes and horns can plainly be seen," the former–ironically changing subject to the Roman goddess–replies that "Venus did change indeed! Mars knew that." According to Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love and beauty. Married to the ugly and lame blacksmith god Vulcan, she fell in love with Mars, the god of war. By the latter she had a son, Cupid, the god of love.
VINCENT, AUGUSTINE
Only mentioned. Vincent was mentioned by Master Silence when he is offering Master Ominous a solution to put an end to his misfortunes: "For heraldry, so far as Vincent against York, there is no hurt in that." Augustine Vincent (c. 1584-), Rouge Croix, Pursuivant of Arms, later appointed Windsor Herald and Custodian of the Tower Archive published A discoverie of errours in the first edition of the catalogue of nobility, published by Raphe Brooke, Yorke Herald (1622).
VULCAN
Only mentioned. Vulcan is mentioned by Bill Bond, in reply to Doctor Clyster's ironic remark about the changes experienced by Venus: "And Vulcan knew she had horns for him." According to Roman mythology, Vulcan–the ugly and lame blacksmith god–was married to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. But his wife fell in love with Mars, the god of war.
WALLENSTEIN
Only mentioned. Wallenstein is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valor, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Albrecht Eusebius Wenzel von Wallenstein (1583-1634) was a controversial Austrian general who fought for the Hapsburgs during the Thirty Years' War, and was, on several occasions, commander of the imperial forces.
WITCH of ENDOR
Only mentioned. The Witch of Endor is mentioned by Master Ominous when, telling Doctor Clyster about his superstitions, the latter explains that some people do not believe in the existence of witches. Then, Master Ominous replies: "Then I say pray God forgive them; they forget the Witch of Endor then." According to the Bible, the Witch of Endor was a witch who invoked the ghost of Samuel the prophet at the demand of King Saul of Israel. The prophet's ghost foretold Saul's downfall as king. (See I Samuel 28: 7-14.)
YEOMEN of the GUARD
Only mentioned. The Yeomen of the Guard are mentioned by Master Sickly when he is telling Doctor Clyster about strong men who are quickly consumed by a disease. The Yeomen of the Guard were the members of the bodyguard of the English sovereign.
YORK
Only mentioned. York is mentioned by Master Silence when he is offering Master Ominous a solution to put an end to his misfortunes: "For heraldry, so far as Vincent against York, there is no hurt in that." Ralph Brooke, York Herald, was the author of A Catalogue of Nobility (1619).