KALA
Thamasta's maid in Ford's The Lover's Melancholy, a pert young woman charged by her mistress with the task of discovering whether Parthenophill returns her love. Kala agrees to do this by pretending to be in love with Parthenophill herself. When Kala declares her love to Parthenophill, the supposed youth responds by remarking, "[I]f ever I desire to thrive / In woman's favour, Kala is the first / Whom my ambition shall bend to." Unaware that this is the disguised Eroclea's way of hinting that she will never court a woman, Kala believes that the youth is expressing love for her and incenses her mistress by determining to get him for herself. When she courts Parthenophill a second time, however, the youth clearly states that he cannot and will not have her. Convinced that Parthenophill is a "gelding," Kala spitefully discloses Thamasta's love for him to Thamasta's long-suffering lover, Menaphon. Because of this, Menaphon denounces Thamasta's lightness and falsity, but Kala denies all responsibility when Thamasta accuses her of betraying her confidence. She plays little part in the rest of the play, but is present for the reconciliation scene at its end.
KALANDER**1606
Kalander and Philinax are captains in Day's Isle of Gulls. They escort Julio and Aminter to Dametas, and when they are overheard sneering at him they are dismissed, despite their protestations that they are gentlemen. Later, Demetrius's Boy takes Kalander and Philinax to view Dametas as he tries to retrieve gold from under Diana's Oak; they are amused by his efforts, and by his railing when he finds only a poem, but realise that the Boy has been distracting them from Demetrius.
KALANDER**1638
Uncle to Parthenia, brother to Chrysaclea in Glapthorne's Argalus and Parthenia. He is a rich lord whose castle is the setting for several scenes. He supports Argalus's suit for his niece and encourages him to set by his noble modesty and win her. He also offers to act as their go-between to further the romance and is the first to see the danger of Demagorus's rage against the happy couple. After Pan's Feast, a second entertainment performed by the nymphs and swains, Kalander is the first to notice Parthenia's absence and he goes to search for her. After her departure into self-imposed exile, he offers to cheer Argalus with hunting, to prevent him pining away with grief. Parthenia's return, miraculously cured, leads rapidly to the couple's marriage with his blessing. He attends the wedding celebrations but does not appear further.
KASTRIL
Kastril is an impetuous youth, brother to Dame Pliant, in Jonson's The Alchemist. According to Drugger, who has designs upon the young widow, her brother is a gentleman who has just acquired some land and would not let his sister marry below a knight. Kastril wants to improve his art of quarreling and living by his wits. Face lures Kastril with visions of greatness. Duped, Kastril goes to fetch Dame Pliant. Subtle receives Kastril and Dame Pliant, telling them about the lady's future. When Face enters in his Captain disguise, Kastril invites him to kiss his sister. In the garden of Lovewit's house, Surly reveals himself to Dame Pliant under the disguise of the Spaniard, threatening to expose all. Face fetches Kastril, whom he turns against Surly. Thus, Kastril has the opportunity to practice his art of quarreling. Satisfied with his skill, Kastril takes Face's advice and follows Surly into the street to threaten him some more. Outside Lovewit's house, Kastril enters with Tribulation and Ananias to complain of having been cheated. When Face, disguised as Jeremy, shuts the door on them, Kastril shouts invectives against him, demanding to see his sister. The frustrated Kastril leaves with Ananias and Tribulation. He soon returns with the other defrauded dupes, demanding justice from the law. When Lovewit tells Kastril that he has married his sister, the rebel youth has no choice but to agree, adding that he will raise his sister's dowry by five hundred marks. Kastril then leaves with Dame Pliant to smoke the pipe of peace.
KASTRILL
A nickname in Marmion's A Fine Companion.
Aurelio tells Fido to "Hang him Kastrill" when Fido speaks of Captain Whibble.
Kastrill is not a character appearing in this play.
KATAPLECTUS **1630
Nephew of Anaiskyntia (though he calls her mother) in Randolph's Muses' Looking Glass. Roscius characterizes him as "an overbashful scholar." His opposite is Anaiskyntia.
KATE**1589
Kate is the eldest daughter of Alfonso and later the wife of Ferando in the anonymous The Taming of a Shrew. Although she insults and rejects Ferando when he first comes to woo her, she admits to the audience she is marrying him willingly because she is afraid to be a spinster. During a music lesson with the disguised Valeria, when he flirts with her, she threatens to hit him with the lute, then throws it down and leaves. She attempts to refuse Ferando when he shows up for the wedding in base attire, and later wishes to stay at the wedding feast when Ferando insists they leave immediately, but in each case she is overruled. At Ferando's home, Kate is "tamed" by being refused food and having the clothes she ordered ripped up, both because she is not obedient. When she finally agrees with Ferando that the sun is the moon and an old man is a young girl, Ferando declares that she is now tamed and they will live happily together. When Ferando, Aurelius and Polidor bet that their wives will come when they command, Kate is the only wife to obey, and further obeys Ferando's commands to take off her cap and step on it, to bring in her sisters, and to describe a wife's duty to them.
KATE**1592
Ethenwald's kitchen maid in the anonymous A Knacke To Knowe A Knave. When King Edgar comes to visit Ethenwald, Alfrida and Osrick, Ethenwald, eager to hide his wife from the King, bids Kate to play Alfrida's part. The King soon finds out that something is wrong, and after having seen Kate in Alfrida's dress he asks to see the kitchen maid. Alfrida comes, dressed as a kitchen maid, but immediately reveals her true identity. Kate tries to go on pretending and becomes most rude to the king.
KATE**1594
Also known as Katherine, she is a bad-tempered woman in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Kate "the cursed" is the elder daughter of Baptista, a wealthy gentleman of Padua. Because of her temperament, Katherine is disliked by most of the play's other characters, particularly the men. When Baptista declares that Katherine must marry before her younger sister, Bianca, who has many suitors, both Bianca and her suitors are dismayed because they believe that Katherine is too much a shrew ever to attract a husband. When Petruchio comes to Padua looking for a wife, his friend Hortensio, one of Bianca's suitors, mentions Katherine to him; far from being put off, however, Petruchio is intrigued, especially by Hortensio's report of her father's wealth. Petruchio decides to marry her, quite against her will, and to tame her harsh, stubborn character. After they are married, Katherine (under the humorous guise of caring for her and giving her only the best) is denied food, sleep, and clothing until she complies with her husband's opinions. Finally, Hortensio helps Katherine realize that by cooperating with Petruchio, she can get what she wants. During the final banquet scene, Katherine surprises everyone by being the first wife to come to her husband when summoned, winning a wager for Petruchio. The reformed shrew then lectures her sister and a wealthy widow whom Hortensio marries on a wife's duty to her husband.
KATE**1596
One of Audrey Turfe's bridesmaids in Jonson's A Tale of A Tub.
KATE**1599
A servant at the Bell Inn in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle, she has her clothing stolen by Lady Oldcastle. She is forced to wear Lady Oldcastle's clothes, and as a result, she and Club are arrested for heresy by the Mayor of Albany.
KATE**1605
Greenshield's wife (or one of his wives) in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho, he ran away from her when she was with child. Her father, an innkeeper of Doncaster, has found out where Greeneshield lives and has sent her back to him. As he is short of money, he passes her out as his unfortunate sister, so that she can stay with him and Featherstone at Maybery's garden house. Greenshield does not know that Kate has already had an affair with his friend Featherstone. At night he sleeps with her, but she is in love with Featherstone and pretends to be sleepwalking to get into Featherstone's room. Her acting is so convincing that Greenshield even thanks Featherstone for not waking her up. Featherstone then decides to elope with her and counterfeits a letter from her father, according to which Kate should go to Enfield to get some money. He gives Greenshield certain pills, so that he is unable to travel. Greenshield then asks Featherstone to accompany his wife to Enfield, but they run off to Ware instead. Greenshield leads Maybery and his party to Ware to prove Maybery a cuckold. During a short absence of Featherstone, Greenshield comes disguised as a fawkner to look for a suitable prostitute for Maybery. He does not recognize his own wife because she is wearing a mask, and she follows the "stranger" willingly to be presented to Maybery. When all comes out, Greenshield has been cuckolded by his friend Featherstone, but he has now also cuckolded himself. As Featherstone finds himself also cuckolded by Kate, he agrees to marry Doll Hornet, whom he believes to be Maybery's niece, and Greenshield and Kate remain together.
KATE**1615
Mary's maid in Fletcher's Monsieur
Thomas, she dresses up as a Moor and lies in Mary's bed to frighten Thomas
when he arrives disguised as Dorothy. She dislikes being called a "she-devil."
KATE**1621
A.k.a. 'the She-Fool' in Fletcher's The Pilgrim. A madwoman in the madhouse. The keepers are concerned to see her loose, for fear the madmen "bounce her loins." According to them, she is "as lecherous as a she-ferret," and her behaviour with the equally lascivious Englishman appears to bear out their contention. She apparently helps Alinda to escape from the madhouse, but her remarks to this effect are so garbled that they anger both Alphonso and the Master. The latter orders that she be soundly whipped.
KATE **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Carion imagines when everyone is rich even the milkmaids will be addressed formally as "Madame Kate" or "Madame Ciss." The names Kate, Ciss, and Jane are used several times throughout the play as the names for generic young maids to be loved and kissed.
KATE **1632
In Hausted’s Rival Friends, Lively has given his two maids, one named Kate, and two of his rustic servants leave to go dance on the green. Along with the fiddlers, they encounter Merda and Anteros disguised as Geoffrey and bid them dance with them.
KATE**1640
Kate is waiting maid to Mirabell in Chamberlain's Swaggering Damsel. She is beloved of Hilts.
KATE KEEPDOWN
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Measure
for Measure. A punk, or prostitute, said to have a child by Lucio, who
promised to marry her but did not. In the end, Duke Vincentio punishes Lucio for
slandering him by forcing Lucio to marry her, thereby legitimizing the child and
making Lucio a cuckold.
KATE LOW–WATER
The resourceful wife of Low-Water in Middleton's No
Wit, No Help Like a Woman's. In an effort to improve her family's ebbing
finances and those of her brother, Beveril, Kate contrives to extort money from
the wealthy widow Goldenfleece. Disguised as a man, her youthful exuberance wins
the widow much to the dismay of her four other–financially superior–suitors.
On their wedding night, however, the disguised Mistress Low-Water refuses to go
to bed with her new bride and sends Beveril in her stead. The assembled guests
discover the two in flagrante delicto, and Kate immediately claims she
cannot remain married to Goldenfleece and demands payment. After some negotiation,
she says that she will be satisfied with half the widow's fortune. In order to
save face, Goldenfleece marries Beveril, instantly improving his fortunes as well.
KATE PERCY, LADY
I.
Lady Kate Percy, sister to Edmund Mortimer the Earl of March, is the doting wife
of Hotspur in Shakespeare's 1 Henry
IV. Her conversations with her husband combine adoration with pleasant
sexuality, and her care for her husband's safety is evident in her remonstrations
that he keep no secrets from her.
II.
Lady Percy is the wife of the slain Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland
in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV.
Inconsolable over the death of the husband, Lady Percy joins pleas with Lady Northumberland
in begging the Earl to forego war with the king until the Percy colleagues have
seen some strong measure of success.
III.
Hotspur's Lady is his wife Kate Percy in ?Dering's The History of Henry the Fourth. She has two important scenes. The first time Lady Percy comes on stage she asks her husband Hotspur why he has been neglecting her of late. She informs him that she hears him mutter about battle in the middle of the night. After Percy is killed, the widow Percy convinces her father-in-law Northumberland to avoid battle with Henry. She berates him for failing to appear at Shrewsbury when he could have saved his son and her husband's life.
KATE WESTFORD**1600
Kate is the daughter of Sir Robert and cousin to Bess Mumford in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green. When her father offers her in marriage to Young Plainsey, she objects because he has been engaged to Bess. She declares she would prefer to die rather than marry Young Plainsey, but is forced off stage to him and, since Young Plainsey later talks of his wife, presumably she does marry him. She does not reappear, but several times when wooing the disguised Bess, Young Plainsey talks about his wife's ill health and imminent death, and finally Old Plainsey speaks of her recent death.
KATHARINA
Katharina is daughter of King Lewes of France in the anonymous Trial Of Chivalry. Navarre's son Ferdinand is in love with her, but she secretly admires the Earl of Pembroke, and gets a painter to paint a picture of Pembroke as he talks to her. Ferdinand duels with Pembroke: Katharina travels out to the place where they duelled, in search of Pembroke, whom she finds there. Pembroke shows her the tomb he has built for Ferdinand, and she realizes that she should have loved Ferdinand all along. She returns to the tomb, where Ferdinand surprises her, and they are reunited. After the battle, she presents herself to the two Kings, and is free to marry Ferdinand.
KATHARINE RIARIO, COUNTESS **1607
Katharine in Barnes's The Devil's Charter is the sister-in-law of the Sforza's and the widow of Riario and, as such, she is the ruler, since her husband's death, of Furli, a town that is attacked by Caesar during his campaigns. He seems to admire this "Amazonian" that defends her city better than any man. When Caesar threatens to kill her young sons, she tells them to be brave, and not to fear death, but only dishonor and cowardliness. She tells them to die bravely because they are noble and free and it is better to die free than to live as a slave. She tells Caesar that she will fight to the death, "I spit defiance in your coward's face / Traitor to God and man, hadst thou been, Caesar." She loses the battle in spite of her valiant efforts to defend her town. She expects to see the bodies of her children, but Caesar, a true Machiavellian, has taken care of them and reunites her with the boys. He then takes Katharine with him to Rome and promises that she will be treated fairly.
KATHERINE
See also CATHERINE, KATHARINE, and related spellings.
KATHERINE**1586
I.
Daughter of King Charles of France in the anonymous Famous
Victories of Henry V, she is sent by her father to negotiate with Henry
V and rebut his "unreasonable" demands. She eventually marries Henry V as part
of the political settlement after the decisive English victory at Agincourt.
II.
Katherine is the daughter of the French King Charles VI and Queen Isabel in Shakespeare's
Henry V. Katherine's English
lessons from her attendant Alice prove useful when Henry's marriage to Katherine
becomes a key term of the proposed treaty between the vanquished French and their
English conquerors. While their marriage is being negotiated through official
channels, Henry woos Katherine in a mixture of English and broken French. In the
epilogue, the Chorus reminds the audience that Katherine and Henry's son, Henry
VI, would be unable to retain England's control of France.
KATHERINE**1589
Katherine is the mother of Mathias in Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. She arrives with her son at the slave market to buy a slave, but refuses to speak to Barabas because he is cast off from heaven. When her son is killed in a duel by Lodowick, she at first wants revenge, and then to commit suicide, but finally suggests that she and Ferneze find out who caused them to hate each other. After Barabas has been revealed by Bellamira and arrested, Katherine arrives demanding justice, but the apparent death of Barabas thwarts her desires.
KATHERINE**1591
Listed as "Katherine" in the dramatis personæ but "Katherina" in the speech headings of Peele's Edward I, Katherine is lady in waiting to Queen Elinor. She assists the queen in her revenge upon Mary Bearmbar, the wife of the Mayor of London, by tying Mary to a chair, and upon the order of the queen, affixing poisonous snakes to the woman's breasts.
KATHERINE**1595
Rosaline, Maria, and Katherine are ladies attending the Princess of France in
Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost.
Katherine had a sister who died for love, and she is consequently resistant to
Dumaine's courtship. At the end of the play, when the death of the princess' father,
the King of France, summons the ladies back to France, Katherine like the other
ladies imposes conditions on her lover. If Dumaine wants to win Katherine, he
must wait one year.
KATHERINE**1599
Sister to Constantine and betrothed to Alfonso in the anonymous Wisdom of Doctor Dodypoll. Traveling to see Alfonso, she happens across her nephew Lassinbergh and his unhappy wife, Lucilia. Seeing her own situation as similar to that of Lucilia, she arranges for Lucilia to accompany her to court, promising to help her. In court, she and her brother convince Alfonso to renounce his love for Hyanthe and agree to proceed with his marriage to Katherine.
KATHERINE**1600
The daughter of Sir Edward Fortune and sister to Camelia in Marston's Jack Drum's Entertainment; Katherine is the better of the two daughters. Katherine is courted by Mamon for her father's money and for her beauty, but she pledges herself to her one true love, Ned Pasquil, in a hand-fast ceremony. Like her father, she will marry for love, not for money. She tells Mamon that she cannot love him, as aged and infirm as he appears to be. Her love scene with Pasquil is very like that of the hand-fast ceremony in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Later, when Planet tells her that Pasquil has been murdered, Katherine runs away into the night, tearing her hair and weeping. Immediately after she disappears, Pasquil renters the scene, only to discover that Katherine is gone–he knows that she thinks that he is dead, but he does not know where to find her. In the meantime, thinking that Pasquil is dead, Katherine sinks into deep despair and frequents the spot where she believes Pasquil was killed. One night he finds her there just in time to keep her from committing suicide. At first, she thinks that she is seeing an apparition, but when he convinces her that he is really flesh and blood and not a vision, she collapses into his arms. Then, oddly enough, she sends him off to get her a robe. As soon as Pasquil is out of sight, the evil Mamon appears with a vial of poisoned oil. He pours it on her and leaves her to die. Pasquil returns to see her dying, but she doesn't want him to see her thus destroyed and she sends him off into the night. He chases Mamon and catches up with him. After he destroys Mamon's indenture papers, he hears of the destruction of Mamon's property. Pasquil is satisfied and takes his leave of the now destroyed usurer. At Sir Edward's dinner, Katherine appears again, miraculously recovered from the poisoning by Mamon. She sees Pasquil who is roaming the hall in madness over what he believes is Katherine's horrific death. Sir Edward asks that music be played and Pasquil looks up and sees Katherine. He regains his wits and they embrace. Their reunion is celebrated with a feast.
KATHERINE**1602
Katherine is the Marshall's youngest daughter in Heywood's Royal King. The Marshall returns to live with his daughters in the country after being banished from the court. But the King then sends a message demanding that the Marshall send his fairest daughter to him. The Marshall reluctantly agrees. Katherine volunteers, but the Marshall chooses Isabella. When the King later spurns Isabella when she tells him that she is not really the fairest, the King returns her and demands Katherine instead. The Marshall waits three months, then sends Isabella back, in expensive regalia, with Katherine as a handmaid, and with the dower doubled. Moved by this generosity, the King decides to outdo the Marshall: he keeps his Queen, and allows Katherine to marry the Prince. Later, when the King becomes angry with the Marshall again, and sentences him to death, Isabella, Katherine, the Prince, and the Princess save him by begging the King to remember his familial ties.
KATHERINE**1605
A wealthy orphan in Middleton's Your Five Gallants. She is the daughter of a recently-deceased knight, wooed by all five Gallants for her wealth and by the hero, Fitsgrave, for true love. Their mutual attachment is clear from the outset, although Katherine both expresses herself unworthy of the gentleman and in need of a month's retirement before choosing fairly between her suitors. The chain of pearl given her by Fitsgrave and stolen, passes through many hands during the play, and is instrumental in the ultimate public exposure of her five unworthy suitors. Her gift to Fitsgrave- a jewel later identified as a diamond and sapphire piece- is also stolen to circulate between the Gallants throughout the play to contribute to the confusion, comedy and their eventual downfall. When the month is up, the Gallants' continuing rivalry with Fitsgrave, together with their new pact to co-operate with eachother to ensure one of their number wins her hand to their mutual benefit, leads to their performance of a masque to impress her and outdo Fitsgrave. (Since, as Bouser, he wrote it himself to expose them fully in Katherine's presence, they are all to be ruined.) Katherine invites two ancient Gentlemen, old friends of her father to escort her to the performance and witness her choice. The scale of the entertainment implies the magnificent scale of her fortune. Katherine appears to understand the Latin confessions the Gallants cannot translate: she is reluctant to dance with them during the masque, but does so on Fitsgrave's tactful prompting. She recognizes the stolen pearls when Frippery attempts to give them to her as his own gift: this precipitates the gratifying exposure of the Gallants. Afterwards, Katherine formally offers her hand to Fitsgrave and has the last lines of the lay, as befitting the mistress of the house in which it is cited.
KATHERINE **1606
Katherine is niece to Lord Falconbridge and later married to William Scarborrow
in Wilkins's The Miseries of Enforced
Marriage. Though the marriage is arranged by Lord Falconbridge, Katherine
seems willing to enter into the transaction in an apparent attempt to consolidate
and expand estates—unlike William who rebels at the enforcement since he
has plighted his troth to Clare Harcop.
KATHERINE**1609
Katherine is the daughter of Sir John Worldly and the sister of Bellafront, and Lucida in Field's A Woman is a Weathercock. She is betrothed to Strange, having rejected the advances of Captain Pouts. They are "married" in a joint wedding with Bellafront and Count Frederick. Outside the church, Pouts claims that Katherine has had sexual relations with him. Katherine refuses to defend herself against Pouts' slander, declaring that Strange cannot possibly be so unworthy as to believe him; she vows to reject Strange if he continues to believe the accusation and demands that he challenge Pouts. She retreats to her room and refuses to attend the wedding banquet. When Nevill confesses that he married Bellafront and Count Frederick, Katherine realises that she and Strange have not been truly married either. Pouts is brought to the masque by the disguised Strange, where Pouts admits that he has slandered her and Strange presents her with a signed recantation. Pouts then tells Sir John that Strange has been murdered by the soldier at Katherine's demand. Strange reveals himself, and he and Katherine are reconciled.
KATHERINE**1637
Varletti's wife in the anonymous The Wasp. She is enraged by Varletti's banishment and devises a trick to turn young Gerald's hatred for Varletti into friendship. She was Gerald's "play fellow" when they were young. She convinces Gerald that the barons and Marianus poisoned his father, Gilbert. She has him sign a pact with Varletti to murder Marianus and take the throne for himself. She suggests letting her Uncle Percy command the coop because Marianus banished him to France. She is fooled that Archibald is indeed her Uncle Percy and welcomes him into the conspiracy against Marianus. After Marianus is deposed, Varletti is faced by the loyal barons, and when he renounces the crown, Katherine attempts to take it for herself but is refused.
KATHERINE CARTER
Daughter of Old Carter in Rowley, Dekker and Ford's The
Witch of Edmonton. She is wooed by Somerton, but their courtship ends
when he is accused of Susan's murder. She tends Frank in his sick-bed, but finds
the incriminating knife in his pocket, and raises the alarm. When Somerton is
released from custody, she agrees to marry Somerton in the conclusion, but does
so doubtfully, expressing her fear of untrustworthy husbands.
KATHERINE CROSSWILL
The only daughter of Crosswill in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden. Thwarted by both fathers in her hopes of marriage to Anthony Cockbrain, and knowing her father's cross-willful peevishness, she decides to spare herself other arranged marriages by declaring that her father alone must henceforth choose her husband. She befriends Lucy and is sympathetic to her romantic involvement with her brother. Through the intervention of her brother Mihil, she is married to her long-time love Anthony Cockbrain.
KATHERINE de MEDICI **1617
Only mentioned in the anonymous Pathomachia. She was a termagant as Hatred has become.
KATHERINE GORDON
Lady Katherine Gordon is the typical Fordian heroine in Ford's Perkin Warbeck. She is wholly virtuous in her commitment to marriage. She will not break her vows even in extremis. Her father wishes her to marry noble Dalyell, but the king, James IV, gives her to the pretender Warbeck instead. The wedding to the pretender forces Katherine's father, Huntly, to disown her. She redeems herself in her father's eyes when she demonstrates constancy to her husband even after he has been captured and placed in the stocks. She may be favorably compared to Ford's Penthea, Calantha, and to a lesser degree Annabella.
KATHERINE MINOLA
Also known as Kate, she is a bad-tempered woman in Shakespeare's The
Taming of the Shrew. Katherine is the elder daughter of Baptista, a wealthy
gentleman of Padua. Because of her temperament, Katherine is disliked by most
of the play's other characters, particularly the men. When Baptista declares that
Katherine must marry before her younger sister, Bianca, who has many suitors,
both Bianca and her suitors are dismayed because they believe that Katherine is
too much a shrew ever to attract a husband. When Petruchio comes to Padua looking
for a wife, his friend Hortensio, one of Bianca's suitors, mentions Katherine
to him; far from being put off, however, Petruchio is intrigued, especially by
Hortensio's report of her father's wealth. Petruchio decides to marry her, quite
against her will, and to tame her harsh, stubborn character. After they are married,
Katherine (under the humorous guise of caring for her and giving her only the
best) is denied food, sleep, and clothing until she complies with her husband's
opinions. Finally, Hortensio helps Katherine realize that by cooperating with
Petruchio, she can get what she wants. During the final banquet scene, Katherine
surprises everyone by being the first wife to come to her husband when summoned,
winning a wager for Petruchio. The reformed shrew then lectures her sister and
a wealthy widow whom Hortensio marries on a wife's duty to her husband.
KATHERINE of ARAGON
Queen Katherine is the daughter of the King of Spain and wife of King Henry VIII
in Shakespeare's Henry VIII.
Widowed when the king's brother Arthur died, Katherine is years later divorced
by Henry in a move that begins Henry's break with Catholicism. She is the mother
of Princess Mary.
KATHERINE of FRANCE
A "ghost character." Katherine is the daughter of the French king in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV. She does not appear on stage but is mentioned in the Epilogue as important in the forthcoming story of Hal, now King Henry V.
KAY, THOMAS
The second of the two fathers in Randolph's Thomas Randolph's Salting. Also spelled Key. His part may have been lost or never scripted.
KEECH
Never appearing on stage in the play, Keech is the butcher's wife mentioned by
Mistress Quickly in discussing Falstaff's matrimonial promise in Shakespeare's
2 Henry IV.
KEEP
Placentia's nurse in Jonson's The Magnetic Lady. Berated by Polish for allowing Placentia to get pregnant, she inadvertently mentions in front of Compass that Placentia is actually Polish's daughter, and threatens to tell Lady Lodestone. Polish apologizes, though, and Keep is mollified.
KEEPER**1585
Keeper of the Tower of London in ?Tarlton's Three Plays in One. He holds Henry VI captive. Appears in the
second scene.
KEEPER**1603
Keeper of the prison where Sir Charles is incarcerated in Heywood's A Woman Killed with Kindness.
KEEPER**1613
The Keeper guards the door of the Council chamber in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. He keeps Cranmer waiting outside for half an hour before bringing him in upon the demand of the council members.
KEEPER **1613
The Keeper in Shakespeare's Two Noble
Kinsmen is a message carrier and attendant at the jail where Palamon and
Arcite are incarcerated in Athens. He explains to Palamon that Arcite has been
banished.
KEEPER**1615
A "ghost character" in Middleton's More Dissemblers Besides Women. Andrugio bribes the keeper in the Duchess's prison to let him talk with and kiss Aurelia.
KEEPER**1621
The Keeper of the prison in Terna in Fletcher's The Island Princess. He keeps guard over the king of Sidore while the king is imprisoned. The Keeper has developed a deep respect for the prisoner who maintains his humanity no matter how badly he is treated. The king sings in his miserable surroundings, seemingly unaffected by the inhumane treatment he receives and this nobility of character affects the attitude of the Keeper who watches over him. The keeper listens to his prisoner's songs and tells the other guards (Moors) to listen too.
KEEPER**1624
Keeper of the Marshalsea prison in Drue's The Duchess of Suffolk. He receives Bonner into custody at the end of the play, and releases Grindall, Cox, and Scory at the same time.
KEEPER**1634
The keeper of Marylebone Park (called Marrowbone Park) in Nabbes' Tottenham Court, and father of Cecilia. He encounters Worthgood early in the play and agrees to help him find Bellamie, while implying that he has a secret reason for doing so. Eventually the keeper and his man Slip do help Worthgood find Bellamie, and the keeper later reveals that his daughter Cecilia is actually adopted, and is the sister of Worthgood. He also provides a marriage portion so that Cecilia can marry Bellamie's brother Sam.
KEEPER**1635
A jailer in Brome's The Queen and Concubine. He does not reveal the situation at court to Sforza even when begged to do so.
KEEPER**1637
Disguise assumed by Conon in the anonymous The Wasp. He watches over Archibald in his distress and reveals an intercepted letter that details the traitors' plans to recall Percy from banishment in France to lead the traitors in rebellion.
KEEPER**1638
A jailer in Shirley's The Doubtful Heir. This jailer at the prison which holds Ferdinand and the disguised Rosania escorts the two to trial, mentioning that other conspirators have received pardons.
KEEPER, FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD
Three Keepers figure in Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden:- First Keeper searches for Sir Reverence Lamard after his escape.
- Second Keeper helps in the search for Sir Reverence Lamard.
- Third Keeper helps in the search for Sir Reverence Lamard and asks Pimpwell what direction to look in.
KEEPER of FRESSINGFIELD
The Keeper of Fressingfield is a royal gamekeeper and father to the fair Margaret in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. He is threatened with eviction by Serlsby should Margaret not accept his proposal. Later, when Margaret comes to believe that Lacy has abandoned her in favor of one of Elinor of Castile's waiting women and determines to enter a convent, he and his unnamed Friend try to persuade her to reconsider.
KEEPER of LUDGATE
Keeper of the prison in William Rowley's A
New Wonder: A Woman Never Vexed where Old Foster is incarcerated.
KEEPER of NEWGATE
Anne Sanders asks the Keeper of Newgate Prison to bring Drurie to her, and he obliges in (?)Heywood's A Warning For Fair Women. Then she asks him to allow them a word in private, and he does.
KEEPER of the MARSHALSEA PRISON **1606
He is bribed by Sir Godfrey to free Idle from jail in Middleton's(?) Puritan.
KEEPER of the PRISON**1604
The Keeper guards Vallenger in the anonymous The Fair Maid of Bristow while he is in prison.
KEEPER of the PRISON**1609
A mute character in Tourneur's The Atheist's Tragedy. The Prison Keeper accompanies Sebastian when he visits Charlemont to provide him the money to secure a release, and he holds Sebastian's sword as the two cousins converse.
KEEPER of the PRISON**1631
When Osriick is mistaken for Anthynus and accused of murdering Segebert in Brome's
The Queen's Exchange, he is
entrusted to the Keeper of the prison.
KEEPER or PORTER of the FLEET
The Keeper or Porter works in the Fleet prison (sometimes referred to in the play
as The Tower) in Chettle's(?) Looke
About You. He is the father of Redcap, the stammering errand boy who is
initially sent on the mission to Lady Faukenbridge to seek Prince Richard's help.
The keeper is to be hung for letting Gloster escape, which sends Redcap on a frantic
search for Gloster in order to save his father. Meanwhile Gloster and Lady Faukenbridge
manage to obtain a pardon for the porter signed by the old King; and he is kept
safe and conveyed to Court for the final scene.
KEEPERS**1605
Full-Moon and two keepers at Bedlam (mental hospital) take Bellamont into custody in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho.
KEEPERS**1616
With Shackles, they discover the dead body of the cutpurse whose body Pug occupied, and the wall broken down where Satan, Pug, and Iniquity escaped and returned to Hell in Jonson's The Devil is an Ass.
KEEPERS**1621
Two keepers in Fletcher's The Pilgrim under the authority of the Master guard the madmen at the madhouse in Segonia. Something of a comic double-act, they trade arguments, jokes and barbs about their various charges in between bouts of restraining them. They prove particularly useful in restraining and imprisoning Alphonso when the Master is mistakenly convinced that Alinda's father has gone mad.
KEEPERS **1641
A Keeper of the Wood-Street Counter in Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden introduces Flylove and his friends to the prison. But at least two Keepers speak to Bellaflora when she comes to the prison to look for Flylove. And there are speaking parts for First Keeper, Second Keeper, and Third Keeper who search for Sir Reverence Lamard when he escapes.
KELRICK
Also referred to as Celerick and Kelriick in Brome's The
Queen's Exchange, Kelrick is a sycophantic West Saxon lord who supports
Bertha's marriage to Osriick in hopes of advancing himself. He is present at Bertha's
marriage to Anthynus.
KELLY
A German from whom Forobosco learned the art of alchemy in Fletcher, Ford, Massinger
and Webster's The Fair Maid of the
Inn.
KELLY, EDWARD
Only mentioned in Jonson's The Alchemist. Edward Kelly was an alchemist and associate of Dr. Dee. He died in 1595 and had as a patron the Emperor Rudolph II of Germany. When Mammon wants to ingratiate himself with the mysterious lady he is courting, he tells her that Subtle is an excellent alchemist, a man whom the Emperor has courted above Kelly.
KEMP, WILL
I.
The famous English clown-actor, whom Anthony Sherley meets in Venice in Day, Rowley
and Wilkins's The Travels of the Three
English Brothers. He engages in an improvised comic routine with an Italian
Harlequin, during which he steals a kiss from the Harlequin's wife.
II.
In conversation with his fellow performer, Burbage, the great comic actor Will Kempe compares university-trained dramatists to such common writers as Shakespeare and Jonson to the advantage of the latter in the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus. The two audition Philomusus and Studioso as possible actors and writers.
KENDALL, HENRY MUMFORD, EARL OF
Henry Mumford, Earl of Kendall, is a rebel against King Edward and plots to meet
with King James in Greene's George
a Greene. The reasons for his rebellion are ambiguous; he claims repeatedly
that he seeks to help the oppressed poor, but all the other characters see him
as a traitor and he does boast that he will make himself king, Bonfield Duke of
Lancaster and Armstrong Lord of Doncaster. When he hears that the towns refuse
to provide provisions, he sends Mannering with a commission to demand food. He
is both amused and angered when he hears that George made Mannering eat the commission
seals, and he vows to kill George, telling Grimes to shut up his daughter until
they return. He orders Bonfield and Armstrong to disguise themselves and annoy
George by loosing their horses in the corn. When Jenkin and George arrive, Kendall
refuses to remove the horses and George strikes him. At that point, Bonfield reveals
who they are and Kendall calls forth his men to surround George. When George stands
fearless, Kendall is impressed and asks him to join the rebellion, claiming he
is willing to reconcile to Edward if the king will help the poor. He also claims
a prophecy promises he and King James will meet in London. George pretends to
be impressed and asks Kendall to meet with a local magician to have the prophecy
confirmed. Kendall agrees, and meets with the disguised George, who tells him
he will be beaten by George. This prophecy is immediately fulfilled when George
captures Kendall and sends him to Edward. He arrives there when James is with
Edward, thereby fulfilling the original prophecy. Thanks to George, Kendall is
allowed to live, but Edward confines him to the Tower for the rest of his life.
KENT**1592
Edmund, Earl of Kent, King Edward II's brother and King Edward III's uncle in Marlowe's Edward II. He gives moderating advice to Edward II as well as to the nobles who oppose the king and his favorites, Gaveston and the Spencers. When Edward II beheads Lancaster and Warwick, Kent joins the escaping Mortimer to France. He returns with Mortimer and Queen Isabella, fighting against King Edward's forces, but his attempt to save his brother from death and to keep Prince Edward out of Mortimer's influence cause the latter to order Kent executed.
KENT**1595
Executed by Bolingbroke (now King Henry IV) along with the Earl of Salisbury, Spencer and Blunt for treason in Shakespeare's Richard
II.
KENT **1605
The Earl of Kent in Shakespeare's King
Lear is arguably the truest "king's man" in all of Shakespeare. Banished
by Lear because of honest outspokenness, Kent enters Lear's service in the guise
of Caius. Along with spending hours in the stocks for fighting with Oswald, Kent
also is instrumental in sending vital messages to Cordelia and reuniting her with
her father. Kent refuses Albany's offer to rule the kingdom with Edgar after the
king dies; his plan is shortly to join his master Lear in death.
KENT, JOHN A
John a Kent is an English magician in Munday's John a Kent and John a Cumber. He engages to help Sir Griffin and Powesse retrieve their promised ladies Sydanen and Marian from the rivals Moorton and Pembrooke. Disguised as an old Hermit, John a Kent persuades the Countess to accompany Marian and Sydanen to a secret meeting in the woods. The false Hermit is supposed to lead them to a sacred spring. In fact, the false Hermit leads the ladies to an encounter with their lovers Sir Griffin and Powesse. When he secures the young ladies' approval to follow their lovers, John a Kent reveals himself, and the entire party goes to Gosselin's castle. John a Kent sends Shrimp to tell the bridegrooms and the fathers about the ladies' disappearance. At the castle, John a Kent is unaware that John a Cumber (now disguised as John a Kent) has managed to introduce the rival party into the castle in the form of a pageant. Seeing that John a Cumber has outwitted him through disguise, John a Kent sends Shrimp to spy on his rival. John a Kent is eavesdropping while John a Cumber instructs the amateur actors to perform a play in mockery of his rival. On the lawn before Gosselin's castle, John a Kent (now himself disguised as John a Cumber) arrives as if ready to perform the play and invites the lords Llwellen, Chester, Moorton, and Pembrooke to act as themselves. When John a Cumber appears disguised as John a Kent, the lords believe this is part of the performance and abuse the false John a Kent. Then, the actors enter and fire their share of invective at the false John a Kent, according to their script. Considering that his honor has been restored, John a Kent reveals himself, but accepts John a Cumber's challenge to have one more confrontation. At Chester Abbey, where the marriages of Marian to Pembrooke and of Sydanen to Moorton are to take place, John a Kent anticipates that his rival John a Cumber will guard the only gate into the church, expecting him to come disguised as the Abbot. Instead, John a Kent advises Sir Griffin to disguise as Moorton and Powesse as Pembrooke. Thus, the ladies' marriages to their lovers are effected and John a Kent outwits John a Cumber once more.
KENWELL**1637
A "sharking rascal" in the anonymous The Wasp. He seeks to woo the "lusty widow" of "walltamstowe" Countess Claridon and is accompanied by Dampit, Grig Brandwell, and Huntit. He has Howlet pay for their meals to demonstrate his friendship. Later, he is frightened away from the widow by "Constable Fallbridge" who supposedly has a warrant against him for having twenty-four trades and "monsterous acquaintance" who knows all the cozeners, cut-purses, pickpockets and cheats in the city–"all the Tibs and the Toms, the Natts and the Molls."
KEPLER, JOHANNES
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. 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.
KERSEBOOME, KLEMENT
A "ghost character" in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary. One of the underlings of Harman van Speult, listed by Sheathing-Nail.
KESTER
A nickname Flowerdale gives to 'Christopher', the disguise adopted by Old Flowerdale
in The London Prodigal.
KETLEBASEN, GOODMAN **1599
One of the twenty-four Electors for the Burgomastership in Ruggle’s Club Law. He is Thirten’s godson.
KETLY, SIR RICHARD
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry
V. He is reported among the English dead on the Agincourt battlefield.
KETTREENA
Kettreena is the beautiful and virtuous heroine of Quarles' The Virgin Widow. Supposed to be the daughter of Artesio, she has been married for some years to the unpleasant Pertenax, though she tells the king that she has remained a virgin. Sweet and modest, she dutifully mourns the death of Pertenax, even though she has already admitted that she has loved the king ever since she first met him disguised as a pilgrim. After the death of Augusta, Lactusia reveals that Kettreena is the real queen, swapped in her cradle with Augusta. Kettreena marries Evaldus and the oracle has already made clear that their child will rule after them.
KICKSHAW
Kickshaw is a foppish suitor to Lady Bornwell in Shirley's The
Lady of Pleasure . He is first seen having borrowed a pearl necklace from
Lady Bornwell to have it copied. He is tricked into her bed without knowing it
is Lady Bornwell in bed with him. Instead, he has been told by the bawd, Lady
Decoy, that he is bedding a hag who becomes beautiful in the dark. He believes
he is bedding a demon but accepts the situation because it pays well. When he
describes his lover as a demon complete with tail and cloven hooves, Lady Bornwell
realizes the monster she has become and converts. She determines to convert Kickshaw
by finding him honorable employment at court.
KICKSHAW**1638
A French cook in Nabbes' The Bride who speaks with a comically broad accent and is hired to work at the wedding of Goodlove and the Bride. When the wedding is cancelled, he absconds with some plate and later shows up at Squirrel's tavern dressed as a gentleman. There he encounters the blades, who rob him and taunt him with a greasy wench before leaving him tied up. Squirrel finds and releases him, keeping his cloak as payment for the reckoning. Kickshaw reports the robbery to Justice Ferret, but is distracted by his infatuation with the Bride, whom he ends up escorting away while Maligo and Rhenish are fighting over her. While trying to rape the Bride, Kickshaw chases her into the arms of Theophilus, effecting the lovers' reconciliation. He then awakens the apparently dead Raven while trying to rob him, and is blackmailed into helping Raven with his schemes. Kickshaw escapes from the room in Horton's house where he is being held, taking with him several rarities, but is caught by the Bride's father and brought forth in the play's penultimate scene. He tells the truth about what he has done, forcing Raven to confess his own villainous plots.
KILDARE
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry
VIII. Kildare once served as deputy of Ireland and accuses Wolsey of working
to remove him from that Irish office.
KILDERKIN
Kilderkin is part of the watch and a mute character in the anonymous Blurt,
Master Constable. The name suggests a cask for liquor or fish. During
their midnight watch, Blurt sees Curvetto climbing a rope ladder to Imperia's
window. When Frisco calls for help against the pretended "thief," the constable
orders Kilderkin and the others to take Curvetto away to prison. On the second
round of the watch, Blurt orders his men to take the half-naked urine stinking
Lazarillo to prison. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his guards
enter with the Duke to enforce the law when the incensed Venetian gentlemen want
to kill Fontinel. When Camillo calls Blurt a peasant, the members of the watch
jump with their swords to retaliate. Blurt restrains Kilderkin and Pissbreech
from attacking the Venetian gentlemen.
KINDHEART
Kindheart is a "fictional character" in the Induction of Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Kindheart was an itinerant tooth-drawer in Elizabethan times. The stage-keeper in the Induction complains that the Author of the play does not observe the characteristics of real life in his theatrical Fair. Among other things, the stage-keeper says the poet does not have a Kindheart among his characters, as it used to be in the stage-keeper's time. The stage-keeper holds the view that the stage-world and the real world are one, and he thinks the tooth-drawer might pull people's teeth, if anybody's teeth happened to ache during the play.
KINDRED
A kinsman to Everyman in the anonymous Everyman.
Kindred accompanies Cousin and refuses to accompany Everyman on his journey to
make his reckoning before God.
KING
For particular kings, search under regnal names, e.g. "EDWARD III."
KING**1597
Appears in scenes 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 18 of the anonymous plot of Frederick and Basilea; played by Mr. Jubie (Edward Juby).
KING**1601
Aside from the original list of characters of Shakespeare's Hamlet, Claudius is never designated by his name, but only by the title King. In Q1, he is known only as King.
KING**1610
The King is a typical lusty monarch in Beaumont and Fletcher's The Maid's Tragedy. He marries his whore, Evadne, to a noble and honest young man, Amintor, in order to hide his fornication. He means to make Amintor a wittol
and his bawd. He shows no remorse over his actions. He learns from Calianax that
Evadne's brother, Melantius, plans to kill him for dishonoring Evadne, but the
King does not believe the old man. Evadne, having repented, ties the King to his
bed and stabs him to death.
KING**1611
An unnamed Greek monarch in Heywood's The Silver Age who praises Hercules for his triumph at Olympia.
KING**1615
A "ghost character" in P. Fletcher's Sicelides. Tyrinthus claims that he was taken years before "by Persians on the Gracian seas," claims that he "did please" his "captaine and the King," and reveals some details about where he has spent the past "thrice five summers."
KING**1621
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's The Pilgrim. An unseen but highly influential presence in the play, the King has become angry with his Captain, Roderigo, for some misdemeanour. His displeasure drives Roderigo to become an outlaw and to defy royal authority. Conversely, the King seems quite favourably disposed toward Ferando and his son, Pedro, and is reported to be grief-stricken when the young man is presumed dead. The Governor and Verdugo go out of their way to arrange elaborate and peaceful celebrations for the King's birthday in Segonia, and pay fulsome tribute to him there before the play's denouement ensues.
KING**1622
A "ghost character" and possibly a fictitious character in Fletcher and Massinger's Spanish Curate. Ascanio reports to his friends that his fictional father served the King (presumably the King of Spain) as a military Captain.
KING**1629
Brother to Cleonarda in Carlell's The Deserving Favorite. He esteems the Duke more than anyone and would do anything for him. Unlike the Duke, he prefers to work by violence and coercion. Twice he advises the Duke to simply use his political power to force Clarinda's hand in marriage. Believing the Duke has been killed in a duel, he grows enraged and vows vengeance. Jacomo informs him that the duel was with Lysander. The King then goes to Clarinda, intending to kill Count Utrante, but Clarinda's beauty softens his rage. Nonetheless, neither Clarinda's nor Cleonarda's pleas succeed in abating his anger towards Lysander. Jacomo leads him to the lodge where he arrests Gerard and Lysander. Lysander's claims to have forced Gerard to assist him do not lessen the King's anger toward Gerard. He is also initially unmoved by Cleonarda's revelation that she assisted Lysander willingly and will kill herself if Lysander is killed. Eventually, he overcomes his anger but insists that justice requires Lysander's death. When the Duke (in disguise) corroborates Clarinda's accusation that Jacomo intend to rape her, the King orders Jacomo be sent to the galleys. When the Duke removes his disguise, the King frees Lysander. He at first objects to his sister's decision to marry Lysander, but when the two lovers make it clear that they will kill themselves if prevented, he consents to the marriage.
KING**1629
A "ghost character" in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen. The King is mentioned by Undermine at the end of the play. He would probably be part of the audience, as his address indicates: "[All humble thanks unto our gratious Queene], [That ask'd his pardon and our Kings thus gave it]." Taking into account that the approximate date of the play is 1629, the King at that time was Charles I (reigned 1625-49).
KING**1634
A dancer in Heywood's Love's Mistress, one of Love's Contrarieties.
KING**1636
One of Arviragus's chief enemies throughout Carlell's 1 Arviragus and Philicia, the usurping King of Pictland is the father of Philicia and Guimantes. Having had mercy upon Arviragus as a child, bringing him up with his "own sonne and daughter," he has promised the former King of Pictland's son "his fathers principality" if he "return'd victorious from the warre" against "th' Danes" (which Arviragus does without question at the play's beginning). Although he assures Arviragus that he will "make . . .good" on his promise, he conspires with various characters throughout the play (including Adrastus, Sinatus, Guimantes, and Eugenius) to have him killed. The King questions Philicia concerning her brother's hatred of Arviragus, gives Sinatus his "ring, and with it power" to communicate with the "Campe" on his behalf and, hopefully, "confirm the Souldiers loyalties" before Arviragus does, and offers his son the chance to be his "Generall." In order to "withdraw Eugenius" from the side of Arviragus the King offers the "assurance of a double marriage betwixt [their] children" but, suspicious of Philicia's feelings towards his enemy, concocts a test which reveals her love for Arviragus and results in his vow to "inflict" upon her "torments on earth, above the paines of hell." The King sends Adrastus and Cratus to the Witch (whom he trusts due to her previous prophecy that he would conquer the Picts and become King, though "three brothers stood betwixt him, and the throne") in order to learn from her "the issue of the present warre" and "when, and what shall be his end" and, for failing to kill Arviragus, the King brands Eugenius as a "traytor" and means to "strike off his head" until Sinatus speaks for the Lord. The King chooses Philicia to accompany him to his requested "enterview" with Arviragus and agrees to her suggestion that "for three daies. . .a truce be sworne by either side, in which time all may be considered, [and] more maturely weighed." He is murdered by Cratus and Adrastus at the play's end, and Guimantes vows to "revenge" his father's death by breaking the truce and "charg[ing] th'enemy" at the "forfeit" of Adrastus's "head" if he does not "gaine" the battle.
KING**1637
I.
The king of Persia, a cruel tyrant in Suckling's Aglaura (first version); married to Orbella, brother of Ariaspes and father of Thersamnes. Before the beginning of the play, there have been civil wars, but he and Thersamnes are supposedly reconciled. However, Thersamnes's secret marriage to Aglaura makes
him suspicious, and he captures and separates them, partly to keep the Prince
under close guard and partly to have his way with Aglaura. He tries, unsuccessfully,
to persuade Aglaura to become his mistress, but she refuses, and he is enraged
when the Prince escapes. He is easily persuaded to go to a remote cave where Aglaura
is waiting for Thersamnes. He is ambushed and killed before she arrives.
II.
In the "happy ending" second version, the character engages in much the same action. The king of Persia, a cruel tyrant in Suckling's Aglaura (second version); married to Orbella, brother of Ariaspes and father of Thersamnes. Before the beginning of the play, there have been civil wars, but he and Thersamnes are supposedly reconciled. However, Thersamnes's secret marriage to Aglaura makes him suspicious, and he captures and separates them, partly to keep the Prince under close guard and partly to have his way with Aglaura. He tries, nsuccessfully,
to persuade Aglaura to become his mistress, but she refuses, and he is enraged when the Prince escapes. He is easily persuaded to go to a remote cave where Aglaura is waiting for Thersamnes. He is captured by Zorannes and is deeply penitent and at Zorannes's mercy. Given his throne back again, he quickly metes out justice to the conspirators, blesses his son's marriage to Aglaura, and vows to do three years of penance at Zorannes's father's tomb.
KING**1638
One of the roles that Playfair's Cousin assumes in Shirley's Constant Maid. The Cousin impersonates the king, honoring Hornet with a knighthood that proves quite expensive for Hornet.
KING ARTHUR **1588
I.
Arthur is King of Great Britain in Hughes' The Misfortunes of Arthur. Before the action of the play, his father, Uther Pendragon employed the power of Merlin the magician to seduce Igerna, the wife of the Cornish king Gorlois. The union produced Arthur and a twin sister Anne, with whom Arthur later has an incestuous relationship, one that results in the birth of the villainous Mordred. Arthur's nine-year absence fighting on the Continent is the occasion for an affair between Mordred and Arthur's wife Gueneuora and for Mordred's attempt to seize his father's throne. The play begins with Arthur returning to Britain. Arthur is at first unwilling to attack Mordred, but he is finally convinced by his father-in-law Cador of the need to confront Mordred. The subsequent battle in Cornwall between the armies of father and son results in Arthur's killing Mordred, but only after Mordred has delivered a blow to Arthur's head that itself will prove fatal.
II.
Only mentioned in Jonson's The New Inn. When Lovel praises the noble education he received from Lord Beaufort, he distinguishes between the teaching of frivolous courtly manners and the profound righteousness inherited from the great classical epitomes of morality. Lovel illustrates the two types of education with examples from chivalric romance and classical antiquity. Deprecating the frivolity of chivalry, Lovel says his noble tutor taught him no such things, because his education had no Arthurs. The heroes of chivalric romance are considered public nothings, abortive notions of the fabulous, sent out to poison courts and infest manners. Thus, Arthur, the legendary founder of the Round Table Knighthood, becomes a disparaging reference related to the Arthurian cycle of chivalric romance.
KING ARTHUR **1608
An apparition conjured by Merlin to illustrate his prophecy of Britain's future
in William Rowley's The Birth of Merlin:
or, The Child Hath Found His Father.
KING–AT–ARMS
A "ghost character". Northumberland calls for the King-at-Arms (the title used for any of the three chief heraldic officers of England) when he orders that Lady Jane Grey be publicly proclaimed Queen of England.
KING CAPANEUS
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Two
Noble Kinsmen. King Capaneus is mentioned as being the dead husband of
the First Queen; obtaining the right to bury Capaneus' body is the cause of the
First Queen's petition to Theseus.
KING, CATHOLIC **1589
A "ghost character" in Marlowe's The Jew
of Malta. The Catholic King is how Bosco refers to the king of Spain.
Bosco promises that the king will send aid to defend Malta against the Turks.
KING, CATHOLIC **1616
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's Love's
Pilgrimage. The Catholic King is how Incubo twice refers to the King of
Spain. The first time, Incubo describes himself as an officer of the King, sent
to check on the quality of inns. The second time, Incubo calls himself a minister
of the King in order gain entrance for Philippo into Theodosia's room.
KING COPHETUA
Only mentioned in Shakespeare's 2
Henry IV, King Cophetua is a name Falstaff uses on one occasion to refer
to himself. Falstaff compares his own marital prospects with those of Cophetua,
who supposedly wed a lowborn maiden.
KING CORRECTION
Also referred to as "Divine Correction" in the Second Part of Lindsay's Satire of the Three Estates. Arrives at King Humanity's court and orders that Chastity and Verity be released from the stocks. Confronting King Humanity, he informs him that his authority comes directly from God, and orders him to banish Lady Sensuality. He then admonishes and pardons the courtiers, Solace, Wantonness, and Placebo, ordering them to tempt the king to none but appropriate pleasures such as singing, chess, hawking, etc. He and King Humanity will henceforth reign jointly. In the Second Part, he interrogates the Three Estates to discover why they are "backwards." When John the Common-weal identifies the Three Vices as the cause of this evil, he orders them put in the stocks. He invites John the Commonweal to address the Parliament with suggestions for strengthening the Commonwealth, and orders the Three Estates to control thievery of all kinds. He orders the Spirituality despoiled.
KING EDWARD
Although never specified in Greene's George
a Greene, this is presumably Edward I (the actual history would require
Richard I or John, Edward's grandfather). He enters with King James after the
latter has been brought to London as a prisoner. Despite Edward's first speech,
in which he displays anger that James would break the truce, James is clearly
a guest rather than a prisoner. When Cuddie uses the phrase "as good as George
a Greene" King Edward questions him about the man, since he keeps hearing him
described as a paragon. When Kendall is brought in, Cuddie explains to Edward
all that has happened so far and Edward is interested enough to travel to the
North, with James, to meet George. The two kings travel in disguise, and they
first meet the Shoemaker, who orders them to trail their staffs, as is the custom
in the town. They agree, not wanting to start a fight, and so when they meet George
and Robin, they are taken for peasants pretending to be yeoman. There is a fight,
although the stage directions have George beating the Shoemakers, not the two
kings, and after he wins, Edward reveals himself. He pardons George for beating
him, Robin for being an outlaw, and the Shoemakers for, apparently, fooling him.
He then grants Jenkin's boon of renaming the Shoemakers the trade of gentle craft,
knights Musgrove, and convinces Grimes to approve the marriage of George and Beatrice.
He attempts to knight George, but George refuses, wanting to remain a yeoman like
his father. Edward finishes by suggesting a visit to Jane a Barley to see if she
is as fair as James has said.
KING FERDINAND
A "ghost character" in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall
of Robert Earl of Huntington. When Skelton says that the servants he has
sent have been unable to locate Eltham, Eltham responds that he has been very
busy looking over maps sent by King Ferdinand, clearly King Ferdinand of Spain,
to the king.
KING FRANCIS**1602
A ‘ghost character’ in Percy’s A Country Tragedy in Vacunium. Amadour asserts that King Francis has granted him an office that will recompense any loss Florimel may suffer from her father for marrying him.
KING, FRENCH
A "ghost character" in Dekker, Ford and Rowley's The
Welsh Embassador. Cornwall asks the disguised Edmond, Eldred and Penda
if the French king fought in person.
KING HARRY
King Harry is the overly familiar term used by Rumor to refer to King Henry IV
in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV.
KING HUMANITY
A young monarch, initially pious and sincere in Lindsay's Satire of the Three Estates. When he sees Lady Sensuality, however, he is overcome with desire and sends Solace and Wantonness to woo her with rich gifts. Learning of her willingness, he begs his courtiers to teach him the arts of love, and makes love to Lady Sensuality when she arrives at court. Asked by Lady Sensuality to banish Chastity, he complies and has her put into the stocks with Verity, and goes to sleep in Sensuality's arms. Awakened by Divine Correction, he submits to his authority and welcomes Good Counsel, Verity, and Chastity as his courtiers in place of the banished Sensuality, Solace, Placebo, and Wantonness. He orders Diligence to call up a parliament of the Three Estates. Informed that his advisors (Sapience, Discretion, and Devotion) were really the Vices in disguise, he asks Good Counsel to help him avoid making such mistakes in future. He and Divine Correction begin to reign jointly. In the Second Part, King Humanity and King Correction examine the Three Estates to discover why they have become "backward."
KING IMMANUEL
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley, mentioned once by King Phillip of Spain and the Portugese ambassador as having interests on the Barbary coast.
KING in DUMB SHOW FIVE
The King, in a bloodstained black harness, enters supported by two heralds in
mourning dress in Hughes' The Misfortunes
of Arthur. One of the heralds bears a coat of arms depicting Mars, the
god of war, the other has Arthur's coat of arms. This signifies that Arthur is
victorious but has received a mortal wound from Mordred.
KING in DUMB SHOW FOUR
The King in Dumb Show Four of Hughes' The
Misfortunes of Arthur enters wearing a crown and walks about the stage.
The same Soldiers who attacked the Lady in this dumb show attack the King, throw
his crown down, and then drag him away. This foreshadows the end to Mordred's
attempt to steal Arthur's throne.
KING in DUMB SHOW TWO
The King comes from the part of the stage designated "Mordred's house" in Hughes'
The Misfortunes of Arthur
and walks about until he is encountered by Nymphs who offer him a cornucopia,
a golden olive branch, and a sheaf of wheat. The King rejects them scornfully.
The items represent Arthur's offer of peace, an offer rejected by Mordred.
KING JAMES
James, King of Scotland, has been sending messages to the rebels to arrange a
meeting in Greene's George a Greene,
but he enters England in order to woo Jane a Barley. He, John and Lord Hume meet
first with Edward a Barley, and then James tries to convince Jane to let her in
since her husband is gone. Jane refuses and James threatens to kill Edward. His
plan is interrupted by Musgrove's attack, and James is captured by Musgrove. James
is taken to London where he is treated more as a guest than a prisoner, and when
Edward decides to visit the North and meet George, James goes along. The two kings
travel in disguise, and they first meet the Shoemaker, who orders them to trail
their staffs, as is the custom in the town. They agree, not wanting to start a
fight, and so when they meet George and Robin, they are taken for peasants pretending
to be yeoman. It makes sense that he should reveal himself when Edward does, but
it is not specified in the stage directions, and in fact, James does not speak
again, even when Musgrove gives Edward the sword he won from James.
KING LEAR or KING LEIR
I.
Leir is the king of England in the anonymous King
Leir. He is a recent widower who decides, now that he has no wife, to
match his three daughters to neighboring kings to ensure stability. However, he
knows that his youngest daughter, Cordella, refuses to marry at his command. He
decides to trick her with a "love test" and to ask each daughter to express how
much she loves him. When Cordella, as he expects, claims she loves him best, he
will ask that she prove it by marrying at his command. His two eldest daughters,
Gonorill and Ragan, are warned by Skalliger of the nature of the test, and declare
that they will do anything he says, but Cordella says only that she loves him
as a child should love a father. Enraged, Leir dispossesses her and tells her
to leave the court. He then divides his kingdom between Gonorill (now married
to the King of Cornwall) and Ragan (now married to the King of Cambria). Leir
decides to live with Gonorill, but he manages to enrage her at every turn, and
he finally feels that he must leave Cornwall. Perillus, his only loyal companion,
suggests traveling to Cambria to live with Ragan, and Leir agrees. They make the
journey on foot, arriving exhausted, to be greeted by a welcoming Cambria and
a furious but dissembling Ragan. Ragan sends a message to both Leir and Perillus
to meet her at a thicket two miles outside of the castle, where they both fall
asleep out of weariness. They are awakened by the Messenger, whom Ragan has sent
to kill them. At first, Leir believes that the Messenger is a robber, and then
he is convinced that Cordella has arranged the murder attempt. When he is shown
proof that it is Ragan, he is willing to die because of his daughters' lack of
love, However, he attempts to save Perillus from death, and Perillus is equally
determined to save Leir. Between the two of them, they convince the Messenger
not to kill them. Leir is overcome with grief, but Perillus convinces him that
he was wrong about Cordella's anger and that he should travel to Gaul. They arrive
in Gaul without money to pay for their passage, and Leir is required to give up
his gown and cap to the First Mariner. They are starved and dying when Cordella
along with the Gallian King and Mumford, who are all disguised, discover them.
At first, Leir does not recognize them, and when they have given him food and
drink, he tells them his story and his reluctance to approach Cordella who, he
believes, must hate him. Cordella reveals herself and there is an emotional reunion.
The King swears to return Leir to the throne and invades England with an army.
After taking Dover, Leir meets with the Nobles, and they declare their happiness
to have him back (although see the note under "CHIEF of DOVER"). Leir then meets
with his daughters and their husbands and reveals the letters that show Ragan's
attempt to have him murdered, but she refuses to admit that she has done wrong.
After the battle, Leir is restored to the throne thanks Mumford and the King.
He ends by admitting that Cordella's declaration of love was the true one.
II.
King Lear is a sovereign whose sufferings are brought about through poor judgment
and the machinations of vicious offspring in Shakespeare's King
Lear. Dividing his kingdom between Goneril and Regan after casting off
his youngest daughter and his most trusted earl, Lear is subsequently cast off
by both of his older daughters and suffers a madness borne of physical hardship
and emotional distress. Reunited with Cordelia and on the way to recovery, Lear
is once again shattered when Cordelia is hung in prison; he dies quite literally
of grief at the play's end, embracing the lifeless form of Cordelia.
KING LEIR'S WIFE
A "ghost character" in the anonymous King
Leir. The play begins with Leir mourning his recently deceased wife, who
is considered to have been "a perfect pattern" and raised her daughters well.
She apparently raised them almost alone because Leir expresses great uncertainty
about how to provide for them now that she is dead. (for King Leir see "KING LEAR
or KING LEIR").
KING–MAKER
See also the Earl of WARWICK.
KING–MAKER
The Earl of Warwick, King-Maker in ?Tarlton's Three Plays in One. He comes into Henry's tower cell in the
penultimate scene of the play, presumably to espouse his cause and free the
captive monarch.
KING MELLISEUS
King of Epyre in Heywood's The Golden
Age. Along with his daughters he harbors Jupiter as a baby, and he rears
him to be a courageous prince and considers him his own son. He also assists Jupiter
in his battle against King Troos and Saturn.
KING of AMASIA
A late-appearing ally of Callapine in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. He joins Callapine to march against Tamburlaine outside of the fallen Babylon. His troops run away when Tamburlaine appears on the battlefield.
KING of ARABIA
Zenocrate's betrothed first love in Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1. His name is mentioned only once in passing, it is Alcidamus. It is to him that Zenocrate is venturing from Media when Tamburlaine captures her and her train. He joins with the Soldan of Egypt to break Tamburlaine's siege of Damascus. He is wounded there, fights his way to Zenocrate, and dies in her arms professing his love. At the closing moments of the play, Tamburlaine promises he will have an honorable burial.
KING of ARAGON
The King of Aragon, Amadine's father, favors Segasto as a future son-in-law and
heir in the anonymous Mucedorus.
Eventually, after Mucedorus saves Amadine from Bremo, the king agrees to let Mucedorus
marry Amadine if Segasto will relinquish his claim. He does, and the play ends
happily.
KING of ARCADIA
Only mentioned in Glapthorne's Argalus and Parthenia. Husband to the Queen and father of the imprisoned princesses, Philoclea and Philoclea's sister. His decision to select the newly-wed Argalus as his champion to fight for the release of the princesses leads directly to Argalus's death in combat with his daughters' captor, Amphialus. His continuing grief for their imprisonment, combined with the death of Zelmane, leads Philarchus to encourage the remorseful Amphialus that his strategy will yet succeed, but the discussion is interrupted by the entrance of Parthenia in arms, and nothing further is heard about this off-stage sub-plot. This character is based on Basilius, from Sydney's Arcadia, and Glapthorne's play assumes great familiarity with this work.
KING of ARGIER
He enters in III.i of Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1 and with Bajazeth scoffs at Tamburlaine's threat to rout the Turkish siege of Constantinople. In parley later with Tamburlaine, he says actions speak louder than words and reminds them how the Turks defeated the Greeks. He is killed offstage in the ensuing battle. Later, Tamburlaine gives his crown and kingdom to Theridamas.
KING of ARMENIA **1618
The King of Armenia in Goffe's Raging Turk hates Baiazet, and agrees to help Zemes overthrow his brother. In the battle, however, he is overcome by Achmetes and flees.
KING of BAKAM**1621
A foreign king and suitor to the Princess in Fletcher's The Island Princess. Pyniero describes this king as "A fellow that farts terror." He is a loud, bellowing man. A foil to the King of Siana, he is part of the company of men. An ally to the King of Sidore, he helps to arrest and imprison Terna.
KING of BANTAM
The King of Bantam is a "fictional character" in Jonson's The Alchemist. Face wants to create an attractive picture of the pretended lady's graces for Mammon's benefit. He presents a hypothetical situation, in which Mammon, having obtained the Philosopher's Stone and absolute power over women, will make this mysterious lady his empress, while he will be King of Bantam.
KING of BITHYNIA **1638
A “ghost character" in Mayne’s Amorous War. When Bithynia fell to Thrace, the old king promised his daughter, Barsene, in marriage to the Thracian prince, now king Eurymedon. His dying breath, however, granted his daughter to the prince of Thessaly.
KING of BOHEMIA
The King of Bohemia in the anonymous King
Edward III is an ally of France in the war against England. Prince Edward
kills him (offstage) at the battle of Crécy.
KING of BOHEMIA**1604
Along with Corinth and Thrace in Verney’s Antipoe, he agrees to meet Dramurgon’s army and fight on Thursday next. A squire appears on the field of combat after Dramurgon swoons and asks the kings of Bohemia, Corinth and Thrace if they will agree to face a champion from Dramurgon under the same terms, and they agree. Bohemia is thrown down by the champion, Antipoe. He yields and accepts Antipoe’s protection.
KING of BORNO
A "ghost character" in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. Techelles defeated him and bore him in chains to Damasco.
KING of BRITAIN**1608
Allured is the King of Britain in William Rowley's A
Shoemaker a Gentleman. He dies in the opening scene after a battle with
the Romans. His dying request is for the Queen and the two princes, Elred and
Offa, to flee.
KING of BRITAIN**1612
Gederus is King of Britain in Robert Armin's The
Valiant Welshman. He asks for assistance from Octavian, King of Wales,
in the war against the Romans. He welcomes Caradoc and the Welsh soldiers, but
slanderous letters sent by Gloucester make him suspicious, so he shifts the Welshmen
to a hill during the battle. In the fighting, Claudius's forces overwhelm Gederus,
but Caradoc wins the battle.
KING of BRITTANY
A "ghost character" in the anonymous King
Leir. Leir's choice for Cordella's husband. Leir plans to use her protestations
of love to force her to accept Brittany, who is also sometimes called the Irish
King and the King of Hibernia.
KING of BURGONY
The King of Burgony is Agenor and Clarimant's father in Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers. He suspects Prince Agenor of being too ambitious. As for him, he prefers to sign peace treaties with foreign countries instead of declaring war. He is also against homosexuality, which he considers to be something unnatural, and he celebrates the fact that Cleon loves women. In Act One, questioned by his son, he refuses to punish those who humiliated Agenor, and then he is advised not to let the prince leave the court to stop his ambition. The King favors Clarimant in spite of being the youngest son so when, in Act Three, he finds out that Agenor has escaped, he sends his troops against him. Later, in Act Four, he is succeeded by his son Clarimant at his death.
KING of BURGONY'S COUNCELLORS
"Ghost characters" in Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers. They are thought to control the king in the taking of decisions.
KING of CALABRIA
From the start the King of Calabria is seen as something of an usurper in Beaumont
and Fletcher's Philaster, or Love
Lies A-Bleeding. He not only has unrightfully taken the kingdom from Philaster's
father but who also plans to give both his daughter and the kingdom to the foreigner,
Pharamond of Sicily. Unable to keep order in his own kingdom, the king has given
in to demands of the citizens that Philaster remain a free man. Despite his errant
policies, the king is concerned enough with morality to stop Megra's illicit relationship
with Pharamond and to order his daughter Arethusa to dismiss her page Bellario.
When he finally realizes the innocence of his daughter and the strength of Philaster's
popularity, the king commits to honoring Philaster's rightful claim to the throne
and offers a blessing upon the marriage of Arethusa and Philaster.
KING of CALECUT
A "ghost character" in Hawkins's Apollo Shroving. Captaine Complement claims to have received a variety of titles from "the great Mogull" when he "went Ambassadour to him from the King of Calecut."
KING of CASTILE**1589
The King of Castile is Elinor's father in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. He and the German Emperor accompany her to England for her first meeting with Prince Edward, and they stay to witness her marriage.
KING of CASTILE**1633
Basilino's father in Montague's The
Shepherd's Paradise. Initially opposed to his son's match with Fidamira,
he agrees to it, only to fall in love with her himself. He blames himself for
having driven both his son and Fidamira away by his own bad behavior and is quite
relieved when at the end of the play they are alive and well. He agrees to the
marriage of his son to Saphira, the match he desired in the first place.
KING of CASTILE**1640
The King of Castile in Habington's The
Queen of Aragon. Tired of the responsibilities of state, he has disguised
himself as Ascanio. We never learn his true name.
KING of CICILIA
The Kings of Iberia, Thessaly, Cicilia, Epirus, and Thrace are captives and followers of Pompey in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey.
KING of CILICIA
One of the kings subservient to Rasni in Greene and Lodge's A Looking Glass For London And England, the King of Cilicia encourages Rasni to marry his own sister Remilia, and he is present when Aluida poisons her husband the King of Paphlagonia in order to continue her affair with Rasni. Later, he becomes the focus of Aluida's attention and is desperate to avoid her. When the Hand from the Clouds appears, he is able to distract the king by calling attention to this extraordinary event, one of the portents that Nineveh is headed for destruction. When Rasni finally begins to lament the life he has led and the evil into which he has taken his people, the King of Cilicia joins in the royal court's prayers for pardon.
KING of CORINTH **1604
Along with Bohemia and Thrace in Verney’s Antipoe, he agrees to meet Dramurgon’s army and fight on Thursday next. A squire appears on the field of combat after Dramurgon swoons and asks the kings of Bohemia, Corinth and Thrace if they will agree to face a champion from Dramurgon under the same terms, and they agree. Corinth is killed by the champion, Antipoe.
KING of CORINTH
"Ghost character" in Fletcher's Queen of Corinth. Late husband to the Queen of Corinth and father to Prince Theanor. We learn that he was a private gentleman, raised to the throne by the Queen's love. The Queen remarks that he was the only man whose bed she ever graced.
KING of CRACOVIA **1607
A "ghost character" in The Grocer's Honour portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Nell calls for this character's daughter to appear and talk to Rafe, but the actors instead present Pompiona as the daughter of the King of Moldavia. Cracovia is Cracow, ancient capital of Poland, while Moldavia is a Danubian province now a part of Romania.
KING of CRETE
One of Rasni's subordinate rulers in Greene and Lodge's A Looking Glass For London And England, the King of Crete objects to the proposed incestuous marriage between Rasni and his sister Remilia. This opposition costs the king his position, and Rasni bestows the crown of Crete upon the flattering Radagon.
KING of CRETE **1635
He usurped the country sixteen years previously in Killigrew’s The Conspiracy. He killed the king, drove off the prince, and captured the princess. He wishes to enjoy the present time of mirth despite several of his nobles’ wish to remain in arms. He gives Aratus the honor of greeting the newly arrived prince, Clearchus. Later, he listens to Timeus’ fears and gives his son license to root out any evil he fears in the kingdom. The king has two traitors captured and is amazed to learn from Polyander that two others were taken in the court. When he learns that the city governor has come to warn of growing rebellion in the countryside he is finally convinced that Timeus is correct and treason is afoot. On the eve of battle, the king remembers his usurpation with regret. Pallantus breaks in and kills him but not before he has a chance to order his guards not to avenge themselves on Pallantus. He dies begging forgiveness and relieving his spirit of his crimes.
KING of CRICKETS
Only mentioned in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Merrygreek in his attempt to impress Margery Mumblecrust with Roister Doister's supposed physical prowess claims that Roister Doister once beat the King of Crickets on Christmas day and sent him packing into a hole.
KING of CYPRUS
Desperately in love with the Queen of Sicily in Markham and Machin's The Dumb Knight. The King of Cyprus has laid siege to her country to win her. When the Queen threatens suicide, the King agrees to double combat; he will fight the Duke of Epire, and the King's second, Philocles, will fight Alphonso. The Duke defeats the King, but Philocles defeats both Alphonso and the Duke, winning the Queen for the King. After Philocles takes his vow of silence, the King seeks a cure for his friend's speechlessness, offering a large reward to anyone who succeeds, but promising death to anyone who fails. When Mariana accepts the challenge and fails to convince Philocles to break the vow she forced him to make, the King sentences her to death, resisting all pleas for mercy and inviting the vengeance of Mariana's brother Epire. The King is summoned from a chess game by Epire, who attempts to convince the King that the Queen has been unfaithful. Hearing this, the King threatens to kill Epire, but is soon convinced of the Queen's infidelity. Epire promises to show the King the Queen in bed with Philocles, announcing in an aside that after the King kills the Queen, Epire will proclaim the Queen's innocence so the King will be deposed and Epire can take the throne. The King and Epire disguise themselves as guards to observe the Queen who dances with Philocles, inadvertently convincing the King she has been unfaithful. Epire removes his disguise and announces the King's imminent return; the Queen ends the revels and asks Epire to play cards with her. He claims he is too busy and sends Philocles to her closet; Epire and the King secretly observe the game, and Epire interprets the Queen's conversation and card play as disguised flirtation. The King orders the guard to arrest the Queen, and he sends Epire to assemble Parliament, intending to condemn the Queen and Philocles without allowing either of them to speak. The Queen challenges the law, and Philocles, who has escaped from prison, fights as her champion, defeating Epire and extracting a confession from him. The King begs pardon of all and allows the Queen to determine Epire's fate. The King settles the suits of Drape and Veloups, pronounces Prate's wife chaste, and restores Meshant's property.
KING of DENMARK
Father of Juliana and Clyomon in the anonymous Clyomon
and Clamydes; he sent his knightly son out into the world (before the
play begins) with a solemn vow never to reveal his name to anyone who does not
first defeat him in battle. The King of Denmark makes his first entrance at play's
end (xxiii). He is fooled into believing that Bryan Sans Foy is Clamydes and prepares
the nuptials for him and Juliana. In the midst of preparations, he is overjoyed
to learn from "Cur Daceer" that Clyomon returns.
KING of EGYPT
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's
Promises. Mentioned by God as a punishment he inflicted on the Israelites
for a return to idolatry.
KING of EGYPT
A ‘ghost character’ in Verney’s Antipoe. Dramurgon has just defeated him as the play begins, and he is said to send the masque to the king of Bohemia, although this is a ruse by the Tartar knights Dabon, Lipersus, Macro and Sapos to gain access to Bohemia’s daughters as they have promised.
KING of ENGLAND**1590
The father-in-law of James IV was historically Henry VII, but there is no indication
that Greene has remembered this in Greene's James IV. His King of England sails home after Dorothea's wedding and returns at the head of an army when he hears what has happened to her. Eventually the
restoration of his daughter persuades him to make peace. Historically, Henry VII's
daughter was Margaret Tudor, and her marriage to James IV of Scotland bears little
resemblance to that of Dorothea in this play.
KING of ENGLAND**1599
He is the figure of authority controlling the play in Dekker's Shoemaker's Holiday. He integrates and legitimates the shoemakers' rowdy subversions of the social hierarchy. His participation in Simon Eyre's Shrove Tuesday feast, while acknowledging the shoemaker's alternative power, also presents the occasion for his vindication of the secret marriage between Rowland Lacy and Rose Oatley. Historically, this was Henry VI.
KING of ENGLAND**1602
The King of England returns from the Crusades in Heywood's Royal King. He commends his Marshall for saving his life in battle, and makes him his second-in-command and heir. The other lords are jealous, and under pressure from them, he becomes cold toward the Marshall, finally humiliating him by giving the Marshall's office, key and staff to Clinton and Chester. When the Marshall protests, the King banishes him. Then the King demands that the Marshall send him his fairest daughter. Isabella is duly sent, and the King falls in love with her and makes her his Queen. The Marshall sends a handsome dowry, which the King accepts but refuses to change his attitude to him. Isabella is a good Queen and everyone admires her. But when she begins to suspect that she is pregnant, she reveals to the King that her sister is in fact fairer than she. The King is furious and loses all his love for her. He sends her back, with her dowry, and demands the other daughter. After three months, the King gets impatient. (In the meantime, he concludes the subplot when he meets the Captain, and makes him a courtier). The Marshall sends Isabella back, in expensive regalia, attended by Katherine as a handmaid, and with the dower doubled. Moved by this generosity, the King decides to outdo the Marshall: he keeps his Queen, and allows Katherine to marry the Prince, believing that he has won the battle of generosity. But the Marshall then enters and presents the King with the greatest treasure of all: a baby boy that Isabella has given birth to. The Marshall then marries the Princess, and the King gives them a large dowry. But the Marshall returns it because he loves the Princess for her virtue, not her wealth. This angers the King again. The Marshall is brought to trial, and the King sentences him to death. But before this can be carried out, Isabella, Katherine, the Prince, and the Princess save the Marshall by begging the King to remember his familial ties. In the end, the King eulogizes the Marshall as "the substance of all perfect loyalty."
KING of ENGLAND**1606
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Known for his goodness, the King of England is believed to be able to cure maladies by touch and to see the future. He allows Malcolm to raise an army in England and supports the revolt against Macbeth. Historically this was King Edward the
Confessor, but he is not so identified in the play.
KING of ENGLAND**1607
A "ghost character." Sends a letter to the Great Turk demanding the return of
Thomas Sherley Jr. in Day, Rowley and Wilkins's The Travels of the Three English Brothers.
KING of EPIRE
He is taken prisoner by Dioclesian in Massinger and Dekker's The
Virgin Martyr.
KING of EPIRUS
The Kings of Iberia, Thessaly, Cicilia, Epirus, and Thrace are captives and followers of Pompey in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey.
KING of FEZ
In III.i of Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1, he joins Bajazeth in scoffing at Tamburlaine's threat to rout the Turkish siege of Constantinople. He advises that a basso be sent to warn Tamburlaine to say in Asia. In parley later with Tamburlaine, he advises Bajazeth not to talk to the base "Persian." He is killed offstage in the ensuing battle. Later, Tamburlaine gives his crown and kingdom to Techelles.
KING of FRANCE**1595
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Love's
Labour's Lost. Marcade interrupts the Pageant of Nine Worthies to inform
the Princess of France that her father is dead.
KING of FRANCE**1597
Dotes on Martia, and agrees to Lemot's plan to bring the two of them together
(along with Florilla and Count Moren) at Verone's tavern in Chapman's An
Humourous Day's Mirth. He leads his entourage to view Dowsecer's melancholy,
then travels to the secret rendezvous at the tavern. When he learns in the final
scene that Dowsecer and Martia are in love, he blesses their union. He is reconciled
with the Queen, who had come to the tavern at Lemot's bidding mistakenly believing
the king in need of rescue.
KING of FRANCE**1600
The king of France leaves for a pilgrimage to Palestine in the anonymous Weakest Goeth to the Wall, leaving France to be ruled jointly by Lodowick, the new Duke of Bullen and the evil Duke of Anjou (whom the audience has already seen in the dumb show killing Phillip, the previous Duke of Bullen). At the end of the play it is announced that the king has returned from the Holy Land. Lodowick is glad because the king can now sentence the traitorous Anjou.
KING of FRANCE **1600
Taking advantage of the old Earl of Boulogne's absence in Thomas Heywood's The
Four Prentices of London, the French king seizes the Earl's estates. Failing
to recognize Guy as the son of the dispossessed Earl, the King commissions him
to command his crusading forces.
KING of FRANCE**1602
King of France in Shakespeare's All's Well. Afflicted with a fistula that his physicians have been unable to cure, the King despairs. When Helena claims to be able to cure him, he initially dismisses her, but later relents and promises her a husband from his court if her cure is successful. When he is cured, he fulfils his promise by requiring Bertram to marry Helena. In the end, he is reconciled to Bertram, then suspects Bertram of having murdered Helena, and is reconciled to him again when Helena reappears.
KING of FRANCE **1604
A "ghost character" in Chapman's Monsieur D'Olive. The king is the uncle of Vandome and St. Anne's late wife.
KING of FRANCE **1605
One of two suitors for the hand of Lear's youngest daughter Cordelia in Shakespeare's
King Lear. France is honored
to accept the dowerless princess to be his queen. He mounts a military offensive
against Cornwall but is recalled to France, leaving Cordelia behind with the French
troops. France is never actually seen in the play after the first act.
KING of FRANCE**1605
A "ghost character" in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho. Bellamont hopes that his tragedy will be played at the weddings of the Duke of Orleans and the Admiral of France, each time in the presence of the King of France.
KING of FRANCE**1610
Only mentioned in Jonson's The Alchemist. When Subtle lists the benefits of Philosopher's Stone for the Anabaptists' cause, he mentions that, with the gold obtained by transmutation, the Brethren will be able to buy the King of France out of his realms if they want to.
KING of FRANCE**1624
A "ghost character" in Heywood's The Captives. Gives Lady Averne a pardon for her husband the Duke of Averne.
KING of FRANCE**1625
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's The Elder Brother. Brisac and Lewis are on their way to see him in the play's final scene in the hope that the king will adjudicate their dispute over the marriage of Charles and Angellina.
KING of FRANCE**1634
King of France, enters at the end of Massinger's 1634 Cleander, or Lisander and Calista (a revision of Fletcher's 1623 The Wandering Lovers?). He comes to preside over the trial of Caliste. He finds Caliste and Lisander not guilty of all charges, and has Leon and Clarinda taken away for their scheming. He orders Lisander to build a monument for the men he has killed, and to marry Caliste in one year's time.
KING of GAUL or GALLIA
The King of Gaul decides to travel with Mumford, both disguised as pilgrims, to
England to view the beautiful daughters of Leir in the anonymous King
Leir. In this palmer's disguise, he first suggests Tressilus as a name.
When Mumford objects that it is too difficult to remember, the king opts for the
name Will. He meets Cordella on the day her sisters are marrying, and she tells
him how she was dispossessed. He falls instantly in love with her and pretends
to woo her for the Gallian King, but she tells him to woo for himself. After trying
to convince her that she cannot live the life of a pilgrim, he reveals himself
and promises to marry her that day so that it can truly be said that all three
daughters married upon the same day. Back in Gaul, he notices that Cordella is
unhappy and sends the Ambassador to England to ask Leir to forgive her and visit
them in France. While they are waiting to hear news, they along with Mumford travel
to the seacoast disguised as country folk. There they meet Leir and Perillus,
who have escaped Ragan's murder attempt and arrived in Gaul with nothing. The
King counsels Cordella not to reveal herself until they know what has happened
and until Leir and Perillus have had food and are stronger. After they do reveal
themselves, and Leir and Cordella are reconciled, the King swears he will return
Leir to his throne. After the successful invasion of Dover, the King is quick
to assure the people that he comes only to restore Leir. When this is completed,
Leir, who promises to spend some time in France, thanks him.
KING of HIBERNIA
Another name for the King of Brittany in the anonymous King
Leir, used by Skalliger when speaking of him to Gonorill and Ragan.
KING of IBERIA
The Kings of Iberia, Thessaly, Cicilia, Epirus, and Thrace are captives and followers of Pompey in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey.
KING of JERUSALEM**1589
A contributory of Callapine in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. He carries the imperial crown before his returning emperor. He promises to aid in the fight against Tamburlaine. He marches with Callapine to Aleppo where Tamburlaine defeats them. He is led in with Orcanes and held in reserve to draw Tamburlaine's chariot after Trebizon and Soria are exhausted. When Trebizon and Soria are hanged at Babylon, he is harnessed to the chariot along with Orcanes. He is present but muted by his bridle and bit at Tamburlaine's death.
KING of JERUSALEM**1593
Sultan Shamurath's Muslim forces attack the King of Jerusalem's regime in the anonymous Guy Earl of Warwick. The King refuses to surrender Jerusalem to the Sultan. His rule is saved by the heroic feats of Guy of Warwick. After the Sultan is defeated, the King of Jerusalem orders all of Babylon's Muslims to convert to Christianity.
KING of LYCIA
Appears only in the first Dumb Show of T.D.'s The Bloody Banquet, giving the hand of his daughter to
Lapyrus, the nephew of the Lydian King, ruining the tentative peace between
the two realms. The renewed conflict results in the opportunistic
usurpation of Lydia by Cicilia.
KING of LYDIA
In Act One of T.D.'s The Bloody Banquet, he is usurped by Armatrites, the King of Cicilia. His nephew
has betrayed him, leaving to seek matrimony with the daughter of Lydia's
enemy, the King of Lycia. His Queen has fled for fear of her life and the
lives of her two infants. Only two servants remain loyal to Lydia. In Act
Two, Lydia helps to rescue Lapyrus from the Shepherd's wolf-trap. He
forgives his treacherous nephew, recruiting him in the search for the Queen
and the two children. In Act Five, he enters Armatrites' castle, disguised
as a pilgrim, together with his followers. He endures the sight of his own
son's flesh being eaten by the disgraced Queen of Cicilia. He reveals
himself to Armatrites, and, with the assistance of his followers, slays
him. Restored to his throne, his joy is complete when his Queen and
surviving son, Manophes, are presented to him.
KING of MACEDON**1620
He is taken prisoner by Dioclesian in Massinger and Dekker's The Virgin Martyr.
KING of MACEDON**1635
The King of Macedon sends the champions of Christendom to kill Brandron the giant,
who has abducted his daughters in Kirke's The
Seven Champions of Christendom. When Brandron is killed, the King is delighted,
and when his daughters (who had been transformed into swans) change back into
human form, he allows them to marry Saints Patrick, Denis and James.
KING of MACEDON'S DAUGHTERS
Brandron the giant abducted the three Daughters of the King of Macedon in Kirke's The Seven Champions of Christendom. Before he could rape them, they prayed to God, and were turned into swans. When Brandron dies, they change back into women, and marry Saints Denis, James and Patrick.
KING of MOLDAVIA **1607
A "ghost character" in Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Father of Pomponia in The Grocer's Honour portion of the play.
KING of MOROCCO
In III.i of Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1, he joins Bajazeth in scoffing at Tamburlaine's threat to rout the Turkish siege of Constantinople. In parley later with Tamburlaine, he wonders aloud how the noble Moors can abide Tamburlaine's indignities. He is killed offstage in the ensuing battle. Later, Tamburlaine gives his crown and kingdom to Usumcasane.
KING of NAPLES**1611
Alphonso in Dekker's If It Be Not Good. Under the influence of the devil Ruffman, the recently crowned King of Naples decrees that he will dedicate some of his time to the pursuit of pleasure. He mocks the sober entertainments encouraged by his uncle Octavio, instead preferring the strange and exciting offerings of Ruffman. At Ruffman's prompting, he rejects Erminhilde, to whom he is engaged. He also dismisses the suit of the two gentlemen whom Bartervile has cheated, and then extorts Bartervile when he catches him perjuring himself. In response to the Subprior's request for help in bringing order to the priory, the King gives management of it to Brisco, a courtier. When Erminhilde disappears, and the Duke of Calabria, her father, marches against Naples, he stays behind rather than hide with the rest of the courtiers. Although Ruffman tries to persuade him to kill himself, he resolves to live. He disguises himself as a friar and discovers Bartervile's plan to betray the courtiers to the Duke of Calabria. He follows Bartervile to the priory, where he is found by the Duke. At the priory, he finds Erminhilde, who has been hiding there. He asks for her forgiveness, and is reconciled with the Duke. Finally, he celebrates his return to moral rectitude by setting fire to the priory and burning the friars to punish their wrongdoing.
KING of NAPLES**1618
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Swetnam. Father to Lisandro, he is an old enemy of King Atticus of Sicily. Atticus feels sure that he is unaware of Lisandro's love for Leonida, as otherwise he would have come to speak for his son, or at least have sent ambassadors.
KING of NAPLES**1624
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's A
Wife for a Month. His death three months before the start of the play
has made Alphonso king, but Alphonso's grief over the death has rendered him mute
and melancholy and therefore unfit to rule. Alphonso spends much of the play in
a monastery mourning. At play's end, when Alphonso is restored to health and to
the throne, he sentences his wicked brother, Frederick, inter alia, to
the monastery where he must mourn daily over the dead king their father.
KING of NAPLES **1633
This monarch is altogether too much ruled by his son Cesario in Shirley's The Young Admiral, listening as his son spreads false tales about the disloyalty of Vittori and Alphonso, and banishing that father and son, along with Cassandra. The king eventually recognizes his son's faults and is pleased to welcome the Sicilian princess Rosinda as a future daughter-in-law.
KING of NAPLES**1637
Shirley's Royal Master refers to the King of Naples, brother to Theodosia and widower of the Duke of Florence's sister. The king decides to reward his favorite Montalto by wedding him to Domitilla. Montalto, of course, has other ideas, desiring Theodosia for himself and therefore casting suspicion upon her fidelity in hopes that the duke who courts her will abandon his courtship offer. At last suspicious of Montalto, the king tricks Montalto into revealing his various treacheries and banishes him, along with Guido, Aloisio, and Alexio.
KING of NAPLES**1638
The King of Naples in Davenant's The
Fair Favorite. Very much in love with Eumena, he was nevertheless manipulated
into marrying the Queen, thinking Eumena was dead. Finding instead that she is
alive, he neglects his Queen, refusing to consummate the marriage and spending
his time platonically with Eumena. His Queen is quite patient with him, but his
infatuation causes much trouble elsewhere. He periodically tries to transfer his
affections from Eumena to the Queen, without success, and attempts to punish Eumena
by summarily withdrawing his favors. Convinced that Eumena actually loves Amadore,
he permanently transfers his affections to the Queen at the end of the play.
KING of NAPLES **1639
He is newly returned from a long but victorious war against Portugal in Sharpe’s Noble Stranger. The war sprung up when the King of Portugal was disappointed in a hoped-for match with Naples’ sister, who married instead the Duke of Pavia. The king is scandalized to learn that Honorio has been wooing the princess and Fabianus is their agent. Callidus tells him, and the king threatens him with death if he should be lying. He allows Callidus to lead him to see the lovers’ garden tryst and hides behind the arras. When he sees them wooing, he reveals himself and threatens the women and is surprised when Honorio and Fabianus draw their swords against him to protect the women. He sentences the princess to confinement in her lodgings with Callidus as her guard, banishes the men on pain of death by starvation, and yet pardons Clara for her father’s past service to the king. When the princess proves unwilling to shift her affections, the king forbids her the company of Clara or Marania. He offers his daughter in marriage to the King of Portugal’s son.
KING of NAVARRE**1633
A "ghost character" in Montague's The
Shepherd's Paradise. Father to Miranda, Pallante, and Saphira, he sends
Romero to find the latter, but does not appear in the action of the play himself.
KING of NAVARRE**1641
King is a good man who serves mainly as a functionary in Shirley's The
Cardinal . He is manipulated by the evil Cardinal though he means to do
well. After it appears that Columbo has released the Duchess from her promise
of marriage, he grants her request to be married to D'Alverez. When Columbo murders
D'Alverez, the King allows the Cardinal to persuade him to imprison Columbo rather
than execute him. He then allows himself to be persuaded to release Columbo entirely.
He arrives at play's end in time to learn the perfidy of the Cardinal.
KING of NEUSTREA
I.
The King of Neustrea is a foreign monarch to whom Agenor goes asking for help in Act Three of Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers. He is the King of Burgony's enemy. He appoints his daughter, Austrella, the heir of his kingdom but before she has to marry a prince. The king grants her the right to marry whoever she wants. But, when she opposes the marriage, the king temporally appoints Olinda his heir until Austrella accepts her duty. In Act Four, he apologizes to the princes that have been rejected, but he cannot hide his happiness for seeing his daughter married. So much joy will disappear when, in Act Five, he gets a letter where he is informed that a foreign king is marching against his kingdom. Thus, he asks the princes for help, but that is not granted to him in spite of offering them his daughter as a wife. Being informed that he has to hand over Agenor, who is the legitimate heir to the crown of Burgony, he regrets not having offered him the hand of his daughter and apologizes to Agenor and Austrella.
II.
The King of Neustrea is Austrella's father and the monarch of Neustrea in Carlell's 2 Passionate Lovers. In Act One, he meets the Prince of Aquitain, whom he wants to thank for his help. He had helped him with his fleet. Then, he is told about the Prince's affection for his youngest daughter. Thus, when Agenor comes in Act Three asking for revenge on the Prince, the king refuses to punish him as he has promised loyalty to him. He is to protect the Prince as long as he lives in his kingdom. Knowing that he has disappeared, the king is worried that he is dead as that would mean that other foreign princes would lose their faith in him. The King still wants the Prince to marry Olinda as he does not believe that Clarimant will ever forget Clorinda. However, he also believes that Clarimant would be a good husband for his daughter. In Act Four, the King makes up his mind about the Prince when he is told about the kidnap of his daughter and then he sends his troops against him. In Act Five, he is informed of their success and he goes to celebrate the wedding between Clorinda and Clarimant, and the Prince's funeral.
KING of NORTH WALES
Octavian is the elderly King of North Wales in Robert Armin's The
Valiant Welshman. He fights a battle against the usurping lord Monmouth.
After the battle he slights his base-born son Codigun by making Caradoc heir to
the throne. When Caradoc goes to aid Gederus against the Romans, Codigun and his
allies poison Octavian. When Caradoc learns that Codigun has usurped the Welsh
kingdom, he defeats him in single combat and is crowned King of Wales.
KING of NORWAY**1588
The unnamed King of Norway in Hughes' The
Misfortunes of Arthur joins Aschillus, King of Denmark, in offering support
to Arthur in the conflict with Mordred.
KING of NORWAY **1639
Having courted Albina and been refused in Shirley's The Politician, the king of Norway has wed the widow Marpisa, much to the chagrin of the honest people in the court and the military. The king continues to proposition Albina, and he continues to be duped by Gotharius, believing the forged letters that mark Turgesius as an unfaithful son and discontent courtier. Brought slowly to the realization that Turgesius is loyal and Gotharius is treacherous, the king promises to be less susceptible to subversion in the future.
KING of NORWAY, FORMER
A "ghost character" in Burnell's Landgartha. He has been overthrown and murdered by Frollo.
KING of PAPHLAGONIA
One of Rasni's subordinate monarchs in Greene and Lodge's A Looking Glass For London And England, the King of Paphlagonia is the husband of the beautiful Aluida. When Rasni's sister Remilia is killed before he can enter into an incestuous union with her, Radagon suggests that Rasni take Aluida as his mistress. When the King of Paphlagonia confronts Rasni with his dishonorable behavior and the latter orders Aluida to return to her husband, the woman demands a public assurance from him that he will forgive and forget. The King of Paphlagonia agrees to take a public oath, and at Aluida's prompting, to seal it by drinking a toast with special Greek wine. The lady then supplies a poisoned goblet, and her husband's death allows her to resume her dalliance with Rasni.
KING of PARTHIA
A "ghost character" in Fletcher and Massinger's The False One. The King of Parthia is described as famous for this defeat of the Crassi, and offers Pompey protection.
KING of POLAND **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Carion, drunk with glee over his riches, imagines that he will raise an army against the Spanish Inquisition, the Turks, Rupert, and the King of Poland.
KING of PONT
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. One of the kings listed by Caesar as joining Antony's side of the war.
KING of PONTUS
He is taken prisoner by Dioclesian in Massinger and Dekker's The
Virgin Martyr.
KING of PORTUGAL
He does not want to pay three years' tribute after his father's death in the anonymous
First Part of Jeronimo, even
if this means war with Spain.
KING of PORTUGAL **1639
A “ghost character" in Sharpe’s Noble Stranger. An old man. He waged war with Naples when the Neapolitan king’s sister married the Duke of Pavia instead of him. When the princess upsets the King of Naples, he treats with Portugal to have their king marry her to his son.
KING of POWYS
A "ghost character" in William Rowley's A
Shoemaker a Gentleman. The father of Hugh.
KING of SIANA**1621
A foreign king and suitor to the Princess in Fletcher's The Island Princess. Unlike his cohort, this king is tall, dignified, brave, and valiant. A foil to the King of Bakan and ally to the King of Sidore. He also helps to bring down the governor of Terna.
KING of SICILIA
Father of Radagon, and enemy of Pheander in [?]W. Rowley's The
Thracian Wonder. He threatens to invade Thrace if Radagon is not found,
and is surprised when Pheander resigns the kingdom to him, in order to search
for Radagon. He returns the kingdom to the Thracian Lords to govern themselves.
When the truce expires, and Pheander has not, as he promised, found Radagon, Sicilia
returns to invade Thrace. Captured by Eusanius in battle, he is left in Radagon's
charge, and is puzzled when Radagon (whom he does not recognize) switches sides
and releases him. After the second battle, he agrees to settle the war by single
combat between Radagon and Eusanius. When Radagon reveals his true identity, Sicilia
offers his crown to his son, but Radagon refuses it.
KING of SICILY**1620
The King of Sicily is unnamed in May's The Heir. He presides over the first hearing of the capital case against Philocles for the abduction of the heiress, Leucothoë, aware that the fathers of these lovers are old enemies. Before the King can make a decision, Leucothoë interrupts with her own desperate plea for a pardon. The King is impressed by her love and loyalty and is almost swayed to accede to her request. He is emotionally unstable and indecisive, ordering her out, ordering her back and finally deciding to hear her in private. He gives in to a sudden, ungovernable passion for her [modeled on Angelo in Measure, and many Beaumont and Fletcher lustful tyrants] and proposes to pardon Philocles on condition that she sleep with him. He promises to keep their illicit relationship quite secret. Furious at her refusal, he swears a solemn oath never to pardon Philocles unless she consent to sex and is amazed by her constancy. In a tyrannical burst of resentment, he accuses her of witchcraft and treachery to have so worked on his lower emotions with her beauty. He is subsequently shamed back to his senses by the dignified and loyal regrets of old Euphues, who departs without hope. The King next accuses Polymetes of malice and threatens him with savage reprisals should he ever break the law himself. Alone with his confidant, the courtier Nicanor, the King deeply regrets his unruly passion and ill-considered oath. He now wants to spare Philocles but is bound by his oath. His first hope is papal intervention, but after having Nicanor check the 'Taxes of the Apostolic Chancery' is too disgusted by the sordid nature of the precedents quoted to proceed. He next summons a lawyer, Matho, trusting to the corrupt nature of lawyers to find him a loophole. Matho proves too honest to be useful. The King, with Nicanor, decides to listen in secret to Philocles's arraignment. He rejoices at Eugenio's arrival with revelations to save the day and rewards him with the offer of any boon he desires. He grants Eugenio's request for the hand of his own niece, Leda, and plans to be the guest of honour at the planned double-wedding which will follow.
KING of SICILY **1633
Because his daughter Rosinda has been courted and then shunned by the Neapolitan prince Cesario in Shirley's The Young Admiral, the Sicilian king attacks Naples. He first gives succor to the banished Vittori and next holds Cassandra as surety that Vittori will turn traitor to Naples. His daughter's honor is eventually avenged as Cesario and Rosinda plight their troth toward the play's end.
KING of SICILY **1635
Lysimell’s brother in Killigrew’s The Prisoners. He plans to attack Sardinia for not coming to Sicily’s aid in their recent war. Hearing his sister’s cry, he arrives in time to rescue her, Hipparchus, and Pausanes from the pirate Gillippus. He leaves the country in his sister’s hands and gives her Hipparchus and Pausanes to do with as she wishes. He comes across Gillippus in Sardinia and believes he has killed the pirate, who merely feigns death. As he is chasing Leucanthe to capture her, Hipparchus blocks his way and refuses to allow the king to pass and fights him. The fight is stopped when Eucratia comes to beg the king’s mercy and protection as she yields in defeat. The king professes his love for Eucratia and, upon learning that Leucanthe has been taken by Gillippus, sends the noble Hipparchus to rescue her. During the act four storm, he begs Eucratia’s forgiveness for bringing her into the danger at sea. It appears that the king and Eucratia marry aboard the ship. She is called his queen in that scene. Pausanes and Hipparchus see that the king and Eucratia get safely to the long boats as the ship strikes the coral. He arrives safely ashore and at the signal beacon bears witness to all the unmaskings.
KING of SICILY **1636
In Killigrew’s Claricilla, he has taken advantage of Silvander’s love of Claricilla and used her power over him to make him withdraw to a villa where the king hopes to attack him. Though Silvander is defeated, the king grows wary of anyone not of the blood who offers love to Claricilla. When he learns that Seleucus has offered his love to her, he arrests his favorite, but Seleucus disarms him with a frank confession and the excuse that he did so in order to betray a true villain, by whom he means the stranger that killed Silvander. Seleucus shows him where the stranger and Claricilla embrace in the garden, and the king takes his “dishonored" daughter from the stranger and banishes him to leave the city before sunset the next day. He is surprised and pleased to learn from Manlius that the stranger was Melintus and that Philemon lives, and he conspires with Seleucus to capture and kill them. Seleucus advises the king to send Claricilla the letter to discover whether she means to accept Melintus or not. If she means to accept him, he dies. In the garden, Seleucus surprises him by having the “slaves" capture him along with Claricilla and Appius. When he is saved by the “slaves," who turn out to be Melintus and Philemon, he forgives them and acquiesces to Clarissa’s marriage to Melintus.
KING of SICILY **1636
A “ghost character" in Killigrew’s The Princess. The father of Facertes, Cicilia, and Lucius fell in battle against Virgilius. His death remains a primary cause of vengeance for the Sicilians for which Virgilius must crave forgiveness.
KING of SIDORE**1621
A wise, brave, and valiant Christian king of the Island nation of Sidore and brother to the Princess Quisara in Fletcher's The Island Princess. He is captured and imprisoned by the Governor of Terna and kept in inhumane and miserable conditions. Still, he sings during his imprisonment, winning the admiration of the Keeper and the guards. When Terna taunts the king by insulting his sister, the Princess, the prisoner-king refuses to be affected, enraging Terna even further and increasing the prisoner's discomfort. The king is ultimately rescued by Armusia and supports him in his quest to marry the Princess until the Governor of Terna, disguised as a Moorish priest, convinces the king that the marriage must not happen since Armusia is a Christian. After Armusia spares the life of Ruy Dias in a duel, and the Princess defends him to her brother and to the "priest," Panura and Pyniero reveal the true identity of the Moor-Priest as the Governor of Terna and the King of Sidore arrests and imprisons the Governor, giving his blessing to the marriage of his sister to Armusia.
KING of SORIA
A contributory of Callapine in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. He carries the scepter before his returning emperor. He promises to aid in the fight against Tamburlaine. He marches with Callapine to Aleppo where Tamburlaine defeats them. He is made to draw Tamburlaine's chariot with Trebizon and is thus one of the "pampered jades of Asia." Exhausted before the walls of Babylon, Tamburlaine has he and Trebizon unharnessed and hanged.
KING of SPAIN**1601
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Blurt,
Master Constable. When Lazarillo de Tormes in Castille introduces himself
to Blurt, he claims he is first cousin to the lieutenant of the King of Spain.
KING of SPAIN**1604
I.
The King of Portugal has not paid tribute to Spain for three years in the anonymous
First Part of Jeronimo. A
new ambassador has to be sent to Portugal. The King chooses Andrea for this important
errand. When Andrea returns, the King wants to welcome him and sees the dead body
of Alcario being brought. Lazarotto seems to be the murderer and the King demands
that he should be executed immediately. In the meantime, Andrea tells the King that the Portuguese do not intend to pay their tribute and are prepared for a war against Spain. Then a messenger comes to tell that the Portuguese are already in arms.
II.
In Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy he is convinced that Hieronimo, his judge, has been driven mad. His failure to hear Heironimo's pleas for justice drives the revenger into wreaking his vengeance upon Lornezo and Balthazar.
KING of SPAIN**1607
Appears in the final dumbshow in Day, Rowley and Wilkins's The Travels of the Three English Brothers, awarding the order of St Iago to Anthony Sherley.
KING of SPAIN **1611
He is overbearing, cruel, and lustful in Dekker’s Match Me in London. He suspects his brother’s intentions to overthrow him and warns Valesco not to side with the prince. Dildoman tells the king of the arrival of the newlywed Tormiella in Seville, and he lusts for girl. He and Dildoman go to Cordolente’s shop and trick Tormiella into returning with them. When she refuses him, he lets her go home to think about what good it will do her to yield when next he calls her. He calls her to him and scorns the queen’s insults. Learning that Prince John is plotting against him, he has his brother called to court. When Prince John and Valasco accuse one another, the king has both confined to their chambers. When the queen tells him that Tormiella has run away, he rages and reveals to her how much the girl means to him. He woos the girl, but she still resists. He calls for her husband and father and promises to raise them up or destroy them depending upon her answer to him. He makes Malevento Vice Admiral of the Navy but Cordolente upbraids the king. Later, the king discovers that the prince conspired with Portugal against him and sends Valasco to oversee the prince’s execution. The king lays a trap to make Martines appear to be the queen’s lover and sends both to prison. Next, he employs “Lupo" to kill the queen and Cordolente. When the king hears that the queen is dead, he says he will marry Tormiella (although he has learned that she is mad). In a dumb show, the wedding is halted by thunder and lightning. He learns from Tormiella that Gazetto swore her to murder him in his wedding sheets. When Gazetto confesses, the king renounces his lust, is overjoyed that his queen is still alive, and blesses the marriage of Tormiella and Cordolente. He then forgives his brother, Prince John, who is also not dead, and finally forgives Gazetto and recommends him to John.
KING of SPAIN**1614
Only mentioned in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. The King of Spain is part of a hypothetical elect audience at a Fair in real life. The stage-keeper in the Induction complains that the Author of the play does not observe the characteristics of real life in his theatrical Fair. Among other things, the stage-keeper says the poet does not have a Juggler with an educated ape to come over the chain for the King, the Prince, and back again for the Pope and the King of Spain attending the Fair.
KING of SPAIN**1619
Roderick is the King of Spain during an invasion of African Moors in William Rowley's
All's Lost by Lust. He lusts
after Jacinta, and gains access to her by naming her father Julianus leader in
the war against the Moors. When Roderick's agents, Lothario and Malena, fail to
persuade Jacinta to yield to him, Roderick rapes her. He imprisons her in his
castle, but she escapes. Fearful that Julianus will learn what has happened, Roderick
orders that Julianus remain at a distance from the court. He is terrified when
he learns that Julianus is leading an army to depose him, and breaks into a mysterious
locked room in his castle, which all of his predecessors have left unopened. Inside,
Roderick finds Devils impersonating himself and his enemies in a preternaturally
prescient dumb show. The Devils show Roderick kneeling to the Moor and losing
his crown. As the rebels attack, Roderick flees to exile in Biscany.
KING of SPAIN**1624
A "ghost character." Duke Medina fakes a letter from the King ordering
Leon to the wars in Fletcher's Rule
a Wife and Have a Wife.
KING of SPAIN**1626
Though he never appears on the stage in the anonymous Dick of Devonshire, the King of Spain is heard from by means of messengers at various points in the play. After Pike's trial, he receives the English warrior in Madrid and offers him a place in the royal guard; when Pike declines the king gives him safe conduct back to England, and a cash reward to boot.
KING of SPAIN**1626
Prior to the action of Dekker's Noble Spanish Soldier, he was contracted to Onælia and had a child (Sebastian) by her. After his marriage to Paulina, he grows fearful of Onælia's claim to him and devises a plan to get the contract from her. He claims he will show the contract to the Cardinals so that his marriage to Paulina will be declared unlawful. Once he has the contract in his hands, he scorns Onælia. Back at court, he entertains Balthazar and hears of a siege on the Moors. After he grants Balthazar permission to talk freely, Balthazar upbraids him for his treatment of Onælia. He warns Balthazar never to criticize him again. Then, he burns the contract in front of several witnesses. As Medina's faction grows in popularity, the King agrees to have Onælia and her son killed. Balthazar says that he will only kill them if the King commands him to do so in writing, and the King agrees. The King is frustrated to learn that Balthazar's conscience has prevented him from completing the murders and agrees to pay Doctor Devile (Medina in disguise) to poison Onælia. Later, he accepts Medina's offer to secure peace by marrying Onælia to Cockadillio. He is then troubled when Balthazar pretends to have killed Sebastian. At the wedding feast, Count Malateste accidentally poisons him. On his deathbed he calls for a Friar. Sebastian is sent to him, and the King delights to see that he is alive. He delights even more to see him in holy attire, claiming that "Had I been cloth'd so, I had never fill'd / Spain's chronicle with my black calumny." Before he dies, he invalidates the marriage between Onælia and Cockadillio, claiming Onælia as his lawful wife and Sebastian as his lawful heir. He instructs that the Queen be sent back to Florence with triple her dowry.
KING of SWAVIA
Father of Clamydes in the anonymous Clyomon
and Clamydes. As he prepares to dub his son a knight, he charges him with
the chivalric ideal: defend the poor, be true to God, King, and country, and pursue
honor. Clyomon interposes himself, however, at the crucial moment in the ceremony
and takes the mace's blow thus robbing Clamydes of his knighthood. The King charges
Clamydes to pursue the Knight of the Golden Shield and discover his name and country
or else never return to Swavia. He then dubs Clamydes a knight.
KING of TARTARE, DRAMURGON
He returns in victory from Africa in Verney’s Antipoe and wonders if Cleantha smiled to learn of his success. He orders Antipoe imprisoned for reporting danger abroad because, in is pride, Dramurgon refuses to believe that the world does not quake before his might. He then has his messengers killed and mutilated when they bring in reports that support Antipoe’s. He entreats Drupon to spy out Antipoe’s friends, whom he believes to be his foes. He slips away from the sleeping Macros, whom he fears, ‘running lightly, with his shoes off.’ He meets the armies of Bohemia, Corinth, and Thrace but refuses to fight man-to-man while scorning their suggestions that he is a coward, making them agree to meet and fight on Thursday next. He woos Cleantha, who despises him, but collects her dropped glove and wins her promise to love him if he can demonstrate his honour in battle on Thursday next. He goes to the President, who refuses to execute Antipoe without charges or trial and chastises Dramurgon for his tyranny. Dramurgon endures the old man only because he is Cleantha’s father. When at the prison he finds that Antipoe has escaped, he has the torturers hang up the Jailor, Jailor’s wife, and servants. On the Thursday of the single combat, Dramurgon takes his spear but falls in a swoon and must be carried back to his pavilion. He returns after Antipoe has defeated the three kings and attempts to claim Bohemia, who has yielded, for himself. When Antipoe refuses, he calls down his knights but runs away when Antipoe and the four worthy knights kill his men. Unaware that Clentha has secretly married Antipoe, Dramurgon goes to renew his wooing with her but is rebuffed because he did not show the bravery he promised in the combat. He returns to rape her but is run away by Antipoe. He meets the army returning from Africa to fight Antipoe though he proposes to remain behind and not enter the fight personally. In the battle, his army loses and he is taken prisoner and grovels before Antipoe, who relents and spares him. He tells the trusting Antipoe what he wants to hear in order to regain the crown but secretly intends to return to his tyrannous ways. Macros appears, having heard all, and kills Dramurgon while he pleads for his life on his knees. He is later seen as a ghost, clad in black, descending to torture with Drupon at the behest of Charon.
KING of TARTARIAN LANDS **1618
Ruler of the lands north and east of the Black Sea in Goffe's Raging Turk, the Tartarian King supports Selymus' ambitions.
KING of TARTARY
The King of Tartary mourns when St. David accidentally kills the heir to the throne,
Arbasto, during a joust in Kirke's The
Seven Champions of Christendom. Lenon persuades him that David must be
executed. When David protests that he loved Arbasto, the King sends him on a mission
to slay Ormandine the enchanter, thinking that David will be killed.
KING of the GOTHS
Huldrick is king of the Goths in William Rowley's A
Shoemaker a Gentleman. During the battle with the Romans, he captures
the Roman standard. Crispianus recaptures it and kills Huldrick.
KING of the LOMBARDS
Brother of Panopia, cousin of Arioldus in Wilson's The
Swisser. At the beginning of the play, troops from Ravenna have invaded
Lombardy. General Timentes is unable to keep his army together, but the King still
believes his flatterers and lets the fearful but boasting general mishandle the
battle, against better advice from Clephis and Andrucho, and against the wish
of his soldiers. In the end he has to concede that Timentes is incompetent, and
he goes to Arioldus and convinces him to leave his seclusion and lead the army.
After the victory he hears from Timentes that Arioldus has a lovely Ravennan prisoner,
Eurinia. He goes to see her and falls in love with her because she reminds him
of his former love Eugenia, whom he believes to be dead. He wants her to come
with him to his palace, but Arioldus defends her honesty, swearing that the King
must kill him first. The King is about to kill him when Eurinia interferes and
accepts the King's dangerous invitation. At the palace, the King tries to seduce
her. When he fails, he rapes her. He only regrets this deed when it is too late.
When Arioldus comes to revenge her, the King first tells him that Arioldus may
marry his sister Panopia, an offer that Arioldus declines, although he is in love
with Panopia. The King then offers a duel and gives Arioldus a written guarantee
that he would not be punished if he kills the King. Arioldus accepts this as the
only possibility to save Eurinia's honor in some way, but when they start to fight
Andrucho intervenes. When Andrucho finds out that Eurinia is his daughter Eugenia,
he wants to revenge himself as well. But it seems that Eurinia (upon learning
that Arioldus has always been in love with Panopia) is now willing to marry the
king. Panopia, Arioldus and Andrucho then organize a plot to punish the King and
teach him a moral lesson. Arioldus asks the King to use his sister in the same
way as he had used Eurinia, which the King must decline. Andrucho wants a duel
unless the King marries his daughter Eurinia, a poor Swiss girl, and then Panopia
comes and offers to prostitute herself to Arioldus. When everything is discovered,
the King marries Eugenia, whom he has always loved, and Arioldus marries Panopia,
whom he has always loved, too.
KING of the VANDALS
Rodrick king of the Vandals in William Rowley's A
Shoemaker a Gentleman. During the battle with the Romans, he fights with
the Emperor Dioclesian, but is beaten off by Crispianus. When he is defeated,
he abases himself before the Romans.
KING of THESSALY**1605
The Kings of Iberia, Thessaly, Cicilia, Epirus, and Thrace are captives and followers of Pompey in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey.
KING of THESSALY**1639
Having no son, the King is plagued by demands that he establish a rightful heir in Brome's Love-Sick Court. The law stipulates that if the King dies without a male heir, the commons may elect anyone who is "of noble blood, a soldier, and one / That had done public service for the Crown" or "the son of some / Great General slain in battle for his country." However, if his daughter marries, her husband "stand immediate heir unto the Crown / Against all contradiction." The King promises that within a month his daughter Eudyna shall be married to a suitable heir. When Eudyna is unable to choose between Philargus and Philocles, he gives her five days to choose one or he will force her to marry Stratocles. The King announces that he favors Philocles but does not disapprove of Philargus. He accepts Stratocles's penitence after the attempted rape of Eudyna and maintains that she must marry him if she does not choose between the brothers. When Eudyna's time has run out and the brothers have not appeared (because Philargus has been drugged) he orders Stratocles to marry her. Stratocles, however, refuses because he claims that doing so would fly in the face of the clemency that Eudyna and the brothers have shown him. After learning of Philargus's apparent death, he persuades Eudyna to marry Philocles. This match is prevented by the discovery that the two are brother and sister.
KING of THRACE
The Kings of Iberia, Thessaly, Cicilia, Epirus, and Thrace are captives and followers of Pompey in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey.
KING of THRACE**1604
Along with Bohemia and Thrace in Verney’s Antipoe, he agrees to meet Dramurgon’s army and fight on Thursday next. A squire appears on the field of combat after Dramurgon swoons and asks the kings of Bohemia, Corinth and Thrace if they will agree to face a champion from Dramurgon under the same terms, and they agree. Thrace is killed by the champion, Antipoe.
KING of TREBIZON
A contributory of Callapine in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. He carries the sword before his returning emperor. He promises to aid in the fight against Tamburlaine. He marches with Callapine to Aleppo where Tamburlaine defeats them. He is made to draw Tamburlaine's chariot with Soria and is thus one of the "pampered jades of Asia." Exhausted before the walls of Babylon, Tamburlaine has he and Soria unharnessed and hanged.
KING of TRINIDADO **1607
Tobacco’s proper title in Tomkis’ Lingua.
KING of TUNIS
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's The
Tempest. Husband of Claribel, Alonso's daughter. Alonso and his train
are stranded on Prospero's island while returning from their wedding.
KING of VALENCIA
Mucedorus' father, the King of Valencia, proposes Amadine as a potential bride
for his son in the anonymous Mucedorus.
When Mucedorus disguises himself as a shepherd and travels to Aragon to see if
Amadine would be a good match for him, the king's grief at his son's absence finally
persuades Anselmo to reveal Mucedorus' whereabouts. Anselmo and the king arrive
in Aragon just as Mucedorus has received the King of Aragon's consent to marry
Amadine.
KING PHILIP'S SON
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's The Humorous Lieutenant. Leontius, after Antigonus explains that Demetrius
would be commanding the battles, speaks of the experience King Philip's son
had already acquired by the time he was Demetrius's age.
KING PHILLIP
The notorious King of Spain in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley uses Stukeley in his duplicitous plot to have his countryman Don Antonio accede the throne of Portugal. He sends Stukeley as his emissary to the pope to ask his advice in this endeavor, for which the captain is appointed Marquis of Ireland. To enact his plan, he enters the Battle of Alcazar on the side of Sebastian and after initial success, his armies are utterly destroyed and his deputy Antonio is captured and sold into slavery.
KING PHIZANTIUS
King Phizantius banishes Hermione after Hermione wounds Armenio in the anonymous Rare Triumphs Of Love And Fortune. Requests that Bomelio, disguised as a physician, cure his son Armenio, who has been struck dumb. Along with Armenio, searches for and discovers the lovers Fidelia and Hermione. When Fidelia offers her life to save that of her lover, Phizantius intervenes, orders Armenio not to harm them, but that they be permanently separated. Venus and Fortune intervene and override Phizantius' orders, and command that the lovers be united in marriage. He forgives both the lovers and restores Bomelio to his former place in the realm.
KING TROOS
King of Troy, father of Ganimede in Heywood's The
Golden Age. He helps Saturn attack his son Jupiter, but, loosing the battle,
they fly from the battlefield leaving Ganimede (who refuses to escape) behind.
Upon his retreat, King Troos says, "Crete thou hast won/ My thirty thousand soldiers,
and my son."
KING TULLIUS
Only mentioned in Lodge's The Wounds of Civil War. Tullius was the sixth king of Rome. Octavius refers to his law that the best and aged men will be the ones to decide on the ruler of Rome, causing the beginnings of a battle between the young and old citizens. When Scilla is first declared Dictator of Rome, Octavius promises the Senate that he will uphold King Tullius' laws.
KING, USURPED **1635
A “ghost character" in Killigrew’s The Conspiracy. Father of Cleander and Hianthe. Timeus was responsible for his murder.
KINGCOB
Shared name of Tales and Clement in Chapman's Sir Giles Goosecap.
KINGCOB, LADY
A "ghost character" in Chapman's Sir Giles Goosecap. Lady for whom Captain Fouleweather used to work.
KING'S ATTORNEY
Unnamed in Shakespeare's Henry
VIII, the King's Attorney is mentioned in the First Gentleman's account
of Buckingham's trial.
KING'S CAPTAIN
Part of the "prettie policy th'King us'd to know the certainty" of Philicia's feelings towards Arviragus in Carlell's 1 Arviragus and Philicia. The Captain delivers news of Arviragus's defeat to the King and his children. When Philicia "swounds," revealing her true affections for Arviragus, she leaves herself open to the future "torments" of her angry father.
KINGS CAPTIVE to FORTUNE, FOUR
They curse Fortune for the injustice she has done to them in Dekker's Old
Fortunatus.
KING'S GENTLEMAN USHER
A mute character in Whetstone's 2 Promos and Cassandra. A member of the King's retinue.
KING'S LORD
Announces the arrival of Sinatus to the King at the beginning of Carlell's 1 Arviragus and Philicia and, later, the arrival of Eugenius.
KING'S MESSENGER
Referred to merely as "one" in Carlell's 1 Arviragus and Philicia, this character informs the King that Arviragus's army, lead by Eugenius, is "up in armes" and is "a thousand strong." He also claims that "upon the way [he] met Prince Arviragus" and, for not attempting to capture or kill him, he is deemed a traitor by the King who orders that he be "hang[ed]."
KING'S NUCIO
King Philip's fool advises dissimulation as the best policy in the king's dealings with Captain Stukeley and the English in general in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley.
KINGS, SEVEN
"Ghost characters" in the anonymous Mundus et Infans. Mundus tells Infans/Manhood that he must swear fealty to seven kings. The kings are the seven deadly sins.
KINGS, THREE
Three Kings attend on the Empress of Babylon in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. They seem to represent the monarchies loyal to Roman Catholicism at the time of Queen Elizabeth I:
- France,
- the Holy Roman Empire, and
- Spain
respectively. All three are horrified to hear of Titania's blasphemies against the Empress, and vow to avenge their mistress' wrongs. They appear at Titania's court under the guise of suitors for her hand, and present a masque in which they dance with her ladies. After each tries to entice Titania into marriage by praising his own country, all three declare that they will be pleased with her choice as long as she chooses one of them. However, they are vehemently rejected, first by Titania's counselors and then by herself.- An agent of the Empress of Babylon, the First King represents the King of France. After behaving as a unit with the other two Kings in their quest to gain the hand of Titania, he reacts to her rejection by returning to the Empress of Babylon with the Second King.
- The Second King represents the Holy Roman Emperor. After acting as a unit with the other two Kings in their quest for Titania's hand, he joins the First King in returning to Babylon after Titania rejects them. When the Empress is rude to him after the defeat of the Armada, he threatens to leave her service and to call in Electors to make her a mere servant of his Empire, whereupon she quickly changes her tune and begins flattering him.
- Sometimes called 'Satyran,' the Third King represents King Philip of Spain. Unlike his confreres, he reacts to Titania's rejection of their suit not by returning to the Empress of Babylon's embrace but by "lurking" in Fairyland and fomenting rebellion among its fairy population. He does this by disguising himself—as a soldier, a farmer, a courtier, and so on—and mingling with various elements of the population in order to slander Titania and her ministers. While disguised as a scholar, he lures the proud and disgruntled Campeius into the service of the Empress of Babylon. He returns to Babylon to lead the Armada against the Fairies, but is routed with the rest of his confederates, reports the defeat to the Empress, and is shocked by her violent response.
The three Kings are reunited in Babylon during the formation of the Armada and are present at the decisive sea battle with the Fairies; all finally choose to flee in order to save their skins from the Fairy onslaught.
KINGS, TWO
Only mentioned. Two kings figure in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate:- The first 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.
- The second 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.
KINGS, TWO MOORISH **1637
“Ghost characters" in Rutter’s The Cid. Roderigo is the hero of the day when he vanquishes the Moorish invasion and takes two of their kings captive. He sends the kings as a present to his own king. They name Roderigo their CID, which means Lord.
KINSAYDER**1603
In the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus, Iudicio supposes that Kinsayder is a nom de plume for the satirist John Marston.
KINSAYDER, DON
A name used elsewhere by Marston himself; in Marston's What You Will it is applied by Quadratus either to Lampatho Doria or possibly to Simplicius Faber. In 1598 Marston published his pamphlet The Scourge of Villanie under the name W. Kinsayder, and in 1601 (the same year as What You Will) his character in the anonymous Return from Parnassus was named Kinsayder.
KINSWOMAN of LADY AGER
Probably a fictitious character in Middleton and Rowley's A
Fair Quarrel. When she invents her story about Captain Ager's conception,
Lady Ager makes up a long-dead kinswoman who betrayed her.
KINTZKI
Earl of Kintzki, with his colleague the Earl of Tertzki, loyal supporters of Wallenstein in Glapthorne's Albertus Wallenstein. With Tertzki, Illawe and Newman, he helps to break up the fight between Wallenstein's sons. Later accompanies Wallenstein to Egers with other allies, where, with them, he is shot by Lesle's Soldiers.
KIPARIM
Kiparim is the mother of King Herod and of Salumith in Markham's Herod
and Antipater. She nurses a strong hatred for the king's wife Marriam
and Marriam's mother Alexandra.
KIRRIAH JAIRIM
A "ghost character" in Marlowe's The Jew
of Malta. Barabas describes him as a Jew of great wealth who lives in
Greece.
KIT
Nickname of Dame Christian Custance in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Ralph Roister Doister uses the diminutive "Kit" for Dame Custance in his attempts to woo her.
KIT**1595
Kit appears in one of the deleted scenes of Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. During the May Day riots of 1517, he argues with the apprentice Harry and challenges him to a duel with cudgels.
KITCHMAID at the WINDMILL TAVERN
The sharp-tongued Kitchenmaid at the Windmill tavern in Foy has a brief-but-spirited
exchange with the abusive blusterer Roughman in Thomas Heywood's The
Fair Maid of the West, Part One.
KITE, MASTER
A fictitious character made up by Lady Bird and Caperwit in Shirley's Changes; he supposedly owes Lady Bird one hundred pounds.
KITELY
Family name of Thomas and Dame Kitely in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour.
KITELY, THOMAS
Thomas Kitely is a London merchant who is jealous of his wife in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. At Kitely's house in the Old Jewry, Kitely enters with Cash and Downright. After dispatching Cash on some business errands, Kitely shows his displeasure at Wellbred's company of frivolous gallants. Dame Kitely enters and Kitely interprets her care for him as hypocrisy. However, Kitely seems distinctly aware of the new contagious disease of jealousy and its potential danger to his marriage. At his warehouse, Kitely enters with Cash, whom he instructs to keep an eye on his wife and the gallants during his absence, since he is called to the city on business. At Justice Clement's house, Kitely enters with Cob, who reports on the gallants' visit to his house. Hearing that Wellbred's friends are still there, Kitely hurries to his house. However, when he enters upon the brawl, the party disperses. Kitely reprimands his sister for her loose behavior and is displeased at her defense of a certain special gentlemen, whom he later identifies as Edward Knowell. At his house, Kitely is having dinner with his wife, his sister, and Wellbred. He is lured outside on a false pretext, but re-enters furiously, angry at having been deceived. In the meantime, his wife had left to Cob's house, inferring that her husband had a secret assignation there. Being under the impression that Dame Kitely was meeting her lover furtively, Kitely exits in a rage. Before Cob's house, Kitely enters to find Knowell and his wife there. While Dame Kitely accuses her husband of adultery, because she thought he was there for an assignation, Kitely thinks that Knowell was his wife's lover. Kitely exits with the entire party of misled people to take their case before the judge. In the final revelation scene, Kitely is reconciled with his wife and both see that their jealousy obscured their better judgment.
KIX
A friend of Onesipherus Hoard in Middleton's A
Trick to Catch the Old One. After being invited to the festivities following
the wedding of Hoard and Medler, he is present when the true identity of the Courtesan
is revealed to Walkadine Hoard.
KIX, SIR OLIVER
A wealthy man who cannot get children with his wife though they have been married seven years in Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside. Whorehound is their residuary legatee and, lest they produce offspring, he stands to inherit all of their property after their deaths. Touchwood Sr. offers him a cure—a medicinal water that he must drink and then be active for many hours before copulating with his wife, results guaranteed. He is pleased when his wife becomes pregnant, never guessing it is Touchwood, Sr. who has made her so. The Kix child assures that Whorehound will not inherit their wealth. Kix, overjoyed, orders that Touchwood, Sr. be paid one hundred pounds for the "water" and laughs that this news will make Whorehound poor. He orders Kix to go back to his home and that he will himself provide money to raise the Touchwood, Sr. progeny.
KIX, MRS.
Wife to a wealthy man who cannot get children by her though they have been married
seven years in Middleton's A Chaste Maid
in Cheapside. Whorehound is their residuary legatee and, lest they produce
offspring, he stands to inherit all of their property after their deaths. While
her husband takes Touchwood Sr.'s medicinal waters to make him potent (and goes
off riding to activate the juice), she beds Touchwood Sr., becomes pregnant by
him, and so cheats Whorehound of an inheritance.
KIX'S MAID
Their maid tells the Kixes that there is a man, a Master Touchwood (Sr.), who
has special water guaranteed to produce children in an infertile couple in Middleton's
A Chaste Maid in Cheapside.
KLEMENT KERSEBOOME
A "ghost character" in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary. One of the underlings of Harman van Speult, listed by Sheathing-Nail.
KNAVE**1513
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Hick Scorner. Imagination refers to him as a "knave catchpoll." He intervened while Imagination dallied with a wench, struck him, and took his purse.
KNAVE
An 'anticke' dancer in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. He appears before Slightall wearing "I am a Knave" on his breast. The word anticke (antique), apart from meaning 'old, ancient', also means 'disguised'.
KNAVE, CLEON'S SISTER'S
Disguise that Selina takes later in Neustrea to come to court in Carlell's 2 Passionate Lovers. She meets Clindor who is looking for Cleon's sister, but she does not let him enter the lady's room, what ends up discovering her feminine nature. Her tongue and look betray her in front of the captain.
KNAVESBEE
Knavesbee is a lawyer and a pander to his wife, Sib in Middleton's Anything
for a Quiet Life. Knavesbee reminds Beaufort that they were students at
Cambridge together, and at his house, Knavesbee tries to persuade Sib to have
an affair wit Beaufort. He proposes a confession-trick: each should confess the
other their amorous transgressions and be pardoned. Knavesbee starts first, telling
his wife he cheated on her with a laundress and a she-chamberlain. While Sib admits
to having been admired by a Cambridge scholar, she refuses to acknowledge an affair.
Before their house, Sib announces to her husband that he is a cuckold, after her
assignation with Beaufort. Outside Beaufort's house, Knavesbee expects his reward
from Beaufort for having offered him his wife as a mistress. Instead of the expected
reward, Knavesbee receives insults and a beating from Beaufort. He tells Knavesbee
that Sib is a strumpet because she admitted to being in love with his page, Selenger.
Knavesbee promises to cut Sib's nose off and then drown himself. In the street
outside Beaufort's house, Knavesbee enters quarreling with the Barber-the two
men have a mutual murder pact. Knavesbee has made a deal to hang Sweetball, while
the Barber is supposed to cut his throat in exchange. The dispute was over which
of them should first make good on their promise. Knavesbee explains he wishes
to die because his wife admitted to having had an affair with Beaufort's page.
While Knavesbee complains about Sib's behavior, his wife enters with Mistress
Cressingham (erstwhile disguised as Selenger) now dressed as a woman. At George
Cressingham's request, Knavesbee kneels before his wife. While Sib holds the Barber's
razor to his throat, Knavesbee swears he will never play the pander to his wife.
KNIGHT**1561
Vows to serve Cambyses, and his delegate Sisamnes during the war with Egypt in Preston's Cambises.
KNIGHT**1592
The Squire's brother in the anonymous A
Knacke To Knowe A Knave. He follows the old aristocratic values of keeping
an open house for everybody and helping the poor, but he notices that this is
no longer fashionable and that he is running out of money. Walter, the farmer,
tells him to save expenses by dismissing his servants and by inviting fewer guests.
He must also brew weaker beer and other such money-saving ploys. But the Knight
thinks his goods are lent to him to "relieve his needy brethren". When he witnesses
Walter's behavior towards the two poor old men he pays the 40 shillings to the
Bailiff to set them free. When Perin comes to ask for money to lend to the King,
he can give only £20. He invites Honesty to eat with him and his brother.
KNIGHT **1592
In the A-text of Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, the Knight is a skeptic who mocks Faustus' magical powers during the latter's visit to the court of Charles V. Faustus makes a fool of him by planting horns on his head, but then removes them when requested by the Emperor. In the B-text his role, much expanded, is taken by Benvolio.
KNIGHT**1604
This unnamed Knight is having an affair with the Jeweler's Wife in Middleton's
The Phoenix. He calls her
"Revenue" in an obvious reference to the primary gain that he realizes from this
relationship. Eventually arrested for debt, he is helped to escape by the Gentleman,
who temporarily blinds the Knight's captors.
KNIGHT **1605
One of a hundred knights serving in Lear's entourage in Shakespeare's King
Lear. This courtier is the first to tell the king that Goneril's household
is doing Lear a great disservice, as is Goneril herself.
KNIGHT**1606
The Knight has known the Husband's family in A
Yorkshire Tragedy. He pities the mad husband, who has murdered two of
his sons and stabbed his wife. He decides that the Husband should be taken to
prison until he comes to regret his deed, and only be judged the next day after.
KNIGHT**1606
A "ghost character" in Beaumont and Fletcher's The Woman Hater. A nameless poor knight who proposed marriage to Julia. When Pandar proposes to Julia that she should marry the rich but foolish Mercer, Julia declines. She tells Pandar that she could have married a knight, who was so poor that he said he would have married her if she would lend him forty shillings to redeem his cloak.
KNIGHT**1607
Alternative speech prefix for Sir Timothy Troublesome in Sharpham's Cupid's Whirligig.
KNIGHT**1627
A fictional character in Hawkins's Apollo Shroving, Complement invents a "husband who was dubbed Knight with an unbloody sword" for his Lady "weeping and mournfull, for that her Monkey is sicke of the mumps" during his first lesson to Gringle in the play.
KNIGHT**1633
He is one of the silent characters at the ordinary in Shirley's The Gamester. His desperate, financially reckless habits are described by Hazard.
KNIGHT, FIRST, SECOND, and OTHERS
Several Knights figure in Marlowe's The
Jew of Malta:
- Two of these knights are differentiated:
- The First Knight is with Ferneze when the Jews are told they must give up half their estates to pay the Turkish tribute. After Barabas protests and is stripped of all his goods, the First Knight suggests turning Barabas' house into a nunnery. When Bosco arrives, the First Knight asks him to persuade Ferneze out of paying the tribute, since he fears that once the tribute is paid, Calymath will still attack. After Barabas is arrested, the First Knight suggests that Barabas might confess without torture, which he does not. Finally, when Barabas and Ferneze conspire to kill Calymath, the First Knight promises to do anything to escape life as Turkish thrall, and sounds the charge to enter and surround Calymath after Barabas is killed.
- The Second Knight answers Barabas' complaint that Ferneze is taxing strangers when he taxes the Jews by claiming that strangers (the Turks) are demanding money, so they also have the right to take money from strangers.
- Later, an unspecified number of Knights swear together to protect Ferneze at the banquet given by Barabas as a ruse for killing Calymath.
KNIGHT, FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD
Three knights stand with Palamon in the challenge with Arcite in Shakespeare's
Two Noble Kinsmen:
- The First Knight offers that the winner's honor is no greater than his own as a loser, and he provides a purse for the Jailer's Daughter.
- The Second Knight also, along with Palamon and the other knights, bequeaths his purse to the Jailer's Daughter.
- The Third Knight who stands with Palamon in the challenge also bequeaths his purse to the Jailer's Daughter.
KNIGHT, LADY DOWNEFALNE'S
A "ghost character" in Massinger's A
New Way to Pay Old Debts. Lady Downefalne's knight was apparently placed
in a debtors' prison by Overreach, who threatens to give him Lady Downefalne's
company if the distressed Lady refuses any service to his daughter Margaret.
KNIGHT of the BURNING PESTLE **1607
This is the title first suggested (sarcastically) by the Prologue and later taken by Rafe in The Grocer's Honour portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. In this guise Rafe goes forth with Tim, his squire, and little George, his dwarf, to become a "grocer errant."
KNIGHT, POOR **1611
A “ghost character" in Dekker’s Match Me in London. Dildoman’s husband. He lies in the Counter.
KNIGHT, STRANGE
Lysander's disguise while he is supposed to be in Dipolis, twenty miles from his
home in Chapman's The Widow's Tears.
In this disguise he is supposedly awaiting news of his wife's response to his
feigned death. Tharsalio thinks the disguise a good one since "there's a number
of strange knights abroad." In fact, Lysander disguises as a soldier and returns
to witness Cynthia's response firsthand.
KNIGHTS**1608
Three knights in Simonides' tournament who come as suitors to Thaisa have speaking
parts in Shakespeare's Pericles.
The play also calls for additional knights in Simonides' tournament.
KNIGHTS**1611
"Ghost characters" in Jonson's Catiline. The Roman Knights who are likely to join Catiline's conspiracy. When Catiline discusses the necessity of enrolling Roman generals and patricians to his cause, he mentions the impoverished Roman Knights, who have wasted their patrimonies. Since they are oppressed by material need and threatened with their debts, Catiline argues, they are likely to look favorably to a promised change of regime, and so join Catiline's conspiracy.
KNIGHTS, EGYPTIAN **1607
Only mentioned in Tomkis’ Lingua. Tactus wishes to be buried in his robe and crown, like the Egyptian Knights, rather than leave them to the other senses when he dies.
KNIGHTS, THREE CAPTIVE
Three knights whom Clamydes rescues from Bryan Sans Foy's prison in the anonymous
Clyomon and Clamydes. They
were each enchanted (as Clamydes had been) when they attempted to slay the flying
serpent for Juliana. They presumably aid Clamydes in killing Bryan's men—action
that the audience only hears offstage. The First Captive Knight avows that they
had come seeking Juliana's love. All three promise to redeem Clamydes's honor
by telling Clyomon, should they meet him, why he was delayed in coming to Macedonia.
Later, the First Knight comes upon Clyomon and explains Clamydes's delay and reports
his bravery. This information much relieves Clyomon, who realizes that his own
honor is thus redeemed.
KNIGHTS, THREE CAPTIVE **1607
Barbaroso's "captives" released by the Knight of the Burning Pestle in The Grocer's Honour portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle are in fact clients of the barber undergoing treatment for venereal disease:- The First is being cured of the itch. All of his hair and beard have been cut off.
- The Second is called Sir Pockhole. He has the pox and appears with a plaster on his nose where "Barbaroso" has cut away the gristle. His breath stinks.
- The Third appears with a "captive woman," his lover of Turnbull Street. They are both syphilitics, have diet-bread, water, and lotion, and must be "rescued" from a hot tub.
In each case, the "knights" are mistaken for fallen heroes who must be rescued from the "giant's" tortures.
KNIGHTS, TWIBILL **1636
Mute characters in Glapthorne’s Hollander. The order of Dutch knighthood to which Sconce aspires and Fortress and Captain Pick belong. It is clearly an order of pimps and pickpockets. Their arms are three rooks volant in a field sanguine with two broken jugs as supporters and a Twibill for the crest. An unspecified number of them are on hand when Sconce is inducted into their order.
KNIPPERDOLING
Only mentioned as an epithet in Jonson's The Alchemist. When Ananias introduces himself to Subtle as "Brother," the bogus alchemist pretends to understand he meant a brother in alchemy, a fellow-alchemist, and refers to some important names in alchemy. When the Puritan Ananias responds he understands no heathen language, Subtle pretends to be offended and calls him ironically a Knipperdoling. Knipperdoling was a leader of the Anabaptist sect, and Subtle makes the name sound like an insult. According to Subtle, the language of alchemy is sacred art, not heathen language, as Ananias believes.
KNOCKDOWN **1636
One of the knights of the order of the Twibill in Glapthorne’s Hollander. He is on hand at Sconce’s initiation into the order.
KNOCKDOWN, JOSEPH
A Puritan preacher in Cowley's The Guardian whom the Widow is anxious to send to Captain Blade when he seems to be dying. Blade succeeds in keeping him out.
[In Cowley's own 1658 revision of this play, Cutter of Coleman Street (performed 1661), we are told that he performs the marriage of Colonel Jolly (Blade) and Mistress Barebottle (Widow). In The Guardian, that cleric is unnamed.]
KNOCKEM, JORDAN
Jordan Knockem is a horse-dealer and a ranger of Turnbull in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Knockem is an accomplice of Edgworth in stealing the customers' purses. When Knockem sees Quarlous and Winwife, he invites them for a pipe of tobacco. In the ensuing fight, spurred by Knockem and Ursula, Edgworth attempts to rob Quarlous and Winwife, but he reports they had no money. After the fight, Knockem leaves with Mooncalf and Leatherhead. When Knockem spies the Cokes party approaching Ursula's booth, he invites the customers in, praising the cooking and the ale. While Ursula thinks they are not good drinking clients, Knockem tells her they are hypocrites and good gluttons. At the Fair, Knockem is in the company of Wasp, Cutting, Northern, Puppy, and Whit. They play a game of "vapours," which is nonsense: every person has to oppose the last person that spoke, whether it concerned them or not. During the commotion created by the drunken brawl, Knockem and Whit steal all the men's cloaks. After the brawl, Knockem leaves. Knockem, Whit, and Ursula plot to persuade Mistress Overdo and Mistress Littlewit to disguise as ladies of pleasure for the gallants. Knockem enters the puppet-theatre with Whit, Edgworth, and Mistresses Overdo and Littlewit, masked. In the final scene, when Overdo reveals himself, Knockem and Wasp want to steal away, but Overdo tells them to stay. Knockem will be one of the guests for supper at Overdo's house.
KNOWELL
Family name of Edward and Old Knowell in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour.
KNOWELL **1638
Friend to Thorowgood and Valentine in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable. He upbraids his friends (the very rooks of the age) for having been bested in a game of wits by two city girls. He agrees to assist them in their witty revenge against Clare and Grace. He goes to Covet along with Thorowgood and reveals Valentine disguised as Sir Timothy’s niece. It is just possible that he is intended to have the lines assigned to “Freewit" in the final scene (after the weddings when both Freewit and Thorowgood are mentioned in the same two stage directions).
KNOWLEDGE**1495
Sister to Good Deeds in the anonymous Everyman, Knowledge (a term probably referring to faith) serves as a guide to Everyman on his journey to give his accounting before God. Knowledge, like Everyman's other advisors, goes with him to the grave but not into it.
KNOWLEDGE**1570
A disguise assumed by Subtle Shift in the anonymous Clyomon and Clamydes. As Knowledge, he claims to be the son of Apollo. He is called Knowledge throughout the play, and no one on stage ever learns his true identity.
KNOWLITTLE**1629
The son of Worldly in Randolph's(?) The Drinking Academy; he has been studying at the Drinking Academy to become more gentlemanly by learning to smoke, drink and quarrel. His success in these fields has won the heart of Pecunia and Knowlittle sends Simple to her with letters, while he practices ridiculous poetical compliments. With Worldly and Whiffe, he is tricked by Shirke, Nimmer and Bidstand into believing they are faced with Pluto and Pecunia's Ghost. All three are then robbed of money and clothes.
KNOWLITTLE, ZEALOUS **1632
A box-maker and suitor to Mistress Ursely for the parsonage’s sake in Hausted’s Rival Friends. He is identified as the ringleader of the suitors and says he went to both universities. He speaks through his nose when he woos. He has not taken orders but gave a sermon to a female audience and has seventeen letters of commendation from amongst their neighbors. When Bully Lively pretends to die, he and the other suitors begin pulling at Ursely as on a rope to win her quickly. When Anteros receives the parsonage deed and Sacrilege Hook drives Zealous off, he and the other suitors flock to Anteros and call him patron. He is driven off by Anteros as unworthy to marry his sister.
KNOW–WORTH, MISTRESS **1636
Lady Yellow’s sister in Glapthorne’s Hollander. She’s staying with Artless being cured of her summer ague and awaiting the arrival of her sister as the play opens. She confronts Freewit with the knowledge that he once wronged his mother’s chambermaid, Martha. She requires him to restore Martha’s honor by marrying the girl. Later, Freewit again pleads with Lady Know-worth that he cannot find Martha, try as he might, but she remains firm that he must do right by the girl. She relents a little in telling him that if by tomorrow night he can find Martha and she will renounce her claim to him that Lady Know-worth will accept him again as her suitor. When Freewit cannot discover Martha anywhere, he nobly renounces his hopes in Lady Know-worth. His protestations are so honorable, however, that she falls in love with him anew. Unable to have him, however, she determines to marry her ‘man’ Mr. Lovering after he’s gone through the ‘sham’ marriage to Sconce. Freewit is stung by her sudden choice of so lowly a husband, but he humbly forfeits all right in her to him. At that moment, Freewit pulls off Mr. Lovering’s wig to reveal that ‘he’ is really Martha. Freewit placed her with Know-worth to test her resolve. Martha, he avows, is honest.
KNOX, JOHN
Only mentioned in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. John Knox was the Scots' religious leader. When Mistress Littlewit calls her husband a fool-John, Quarlous takes the allusion to refer to the Puritans' excessive religious zeal. Quarlous launches in a long speech about the sexual unattractiveness of the widows Winwife pursues. These widows lead a religious life full of deprivation. At one point, Quarlous describes the life of the Puritans, who listen to arid sermons on the issue of predestination, while their strict wives moderate the discussion with a cup of wine and a sentence out of Knox. These wives provide the pool of rich widows available for Winwife's selection.
KOSE, SIR JOHN
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Pater, Filius et Uxor. Sir John Kose does not physically appear in the extant text of this interlude. He is only mentioned by Uxor, and we infer he may be one of her probable lovers.
KYTE
Kyte is the name given in the character list to the Notary in Chapman's All Fools. The name is otherwise unused.