George Chapman
THE CONSPIRACY OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BYRON
1608
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALBERT
The Archduke of Austria. He and the members of his court flatter Byron. He vows to maintain the peace between himself and Henry, but his actions subtly undermine this.
BELLIEVRE
The French commissioner at Brussels. He accompanies Byron in his embassy to the Archduke.
BRETON
A Lord attending the Duke of Savoy. He appears in the opening scene in Paris.
BRULART
The French commissioner at Brussels. He accompanies Byron in his embassy to the Archduke.
CHARLES, DUKE OF BYRON
A nobleman and military leader of France, who proclaims his loyalty to Henry, but allows himself to be flattered by those in the Archduke's court in Brussels. Upon his return to Paris, he listens to La Fin's story and sympathizes with his plight. When he fears La Fin is in despair, he takes him into his service and plans to introduce him to Savoy, with whom he has allied himself. In their next meeting, Savoy tells Byron that the King has downplayed Byron's military prowess and Byron is incensed. After the King tells him he is sending him as ambassador to England, he decides to go in disguise to consult an astrologer. The astrologer reveals that the person whose horoscope he's reading (Byron pretends it is not his own) will lose his head for actions he has taken. He beats the astrologer, then states that he won't believe the predictions since he doesn't consider himself subject to any law. When he returns from England, he asks Henry to grant to one he names the keeping of the citadel of Bourg; Henry refuses. When Henry also accuses him of conspiring with his enemies, he first protests and then asserts that he will be his own king. He attempts draw his pistol as the King exits and is held back by D'Auvergne. When he next encounters Henry, the King once more confronts him with his apparent betrayal; Byron acknowledges all and repents, kneeling at the King's feet. The King forgives him.
CREQUI
A French noblemen. He reports to D'Aumont the speeches exchanged by Queen Elizabeth and Byron during his visit to England.
D'AUMALE
A French exile at Brussels, enemy to Henry.
D'AUMONT
A French nobleman. He asks Crequi to report on Byron's visit to England, and Crequi tells him of the exchanges that took place.
D'AUVERGNE
A friend of Byron. He urges him to take care of what he requests from the King upon his return from England, but Byron brushes off his concern. When the King refuses Byron what he wants, D'Auvergne prevents him from attacking Henry.
DUKE OF SAVOY
The play begins with his embassy to Paris, where he meets with King Henry and is present when the King banishes La Fin. He then conspires with La Fin to lure Byron to their cause against Henry. When Henry discusses Byron's exploits with him and indicates that others were valiant too, Savoy later uses this information in rouse Byron's anger against Henry. Among his other activities, Savoy also becomes involved with three ladies of the court, and in the final act his entrance with these three provides a moment of comic relief for the King and Byron, who withdraw and watch their conversation. Savoy then declares that he is leaving the court and bestows gifts upon both Henry and Byron. Byron refuses, stating that Savoy is a stranger to him. When Savoy departs from court, Henry warns him against becoming involved in a conflict with the King of Spain.
EPERNON
A French nobleman. In the play's final scene, he announces Savoy's entrance with the three ladies, and after his departure, he mocks his experiences with them.
HENRY IV OF FRANCE
King of France. In the opening scene, he received the Duke of Savoy and exiles La Fin. When Savoy extols the merits of Byron, Henry corrects his accounts of various battles, indicating the others who were involved. He decides to send Byron as an ambassador to the English court; when he goes to his house to inform him and sees La Fin leaving, he warns Byron of the risks of listening to flatterers. When Byron returns from England and asks Henry to bestow the keeping of the citadel of Bourg on a man of Byron's choosing, the King refuses. He also reveals, in this conversation, that he believes Byron has been conspiring with his enemies. After Byron goes on a tirade about the King's ingratitude, he leaves. In their next encounter, Henry again chides Byron for his behavior, and this time Byron recognizes his faults and repents, and the King forgives him.
JANIN
A French minister.
LA BROSSE
An astrologer. Byron comes to him in disguise, and he predicts that the man whose horoscope he's reading will lose his head. Byron then beats him.
LADIES, THREE
Three ladies at the French court whom Savoy courts. They appear with him in the final scene as he prepares to depart.
LA FIN
A ruined French noble. He is exiled by Henry in the first scene of the play; he then conspires with Savoy to lure Byron to their cause. His apparent despair persuades Byron to take him into his service.
MANSFIELD
A Nobleman in the Archduke's court. He is one of several who flatter Byron during his embassy.
NEMOURS
A French nobleman.
ORANGE
A Nobleman in the Archduke's court.
PICOTE
A Frenchman in the Spanish service at Brussels. He ingratiates himself with Byron when the latter appears as ambassador to the Archduke.
ROCHETTE
A Lord attending the Duke of Savoy. He appears in the opening scene in Paris.
ROISEAU
A French gentleman attending the Embassy. He notes the honors done Byron in the Archduke's court in act one, and observes that Picote is the most likely candidate to be the tempter of Byron. He reports to Henry on how Byron was received in Brussels, comparing him to a wife tempted to adultery by the flattery of noblemen.
RONCAS
An Ambassador of Savoy at Paris. He appears in the opening scene.