The First Part of
IF YOU KNOW NOT ME, YOU KNOW NO BODY,
or THE TROUBLES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH
1603–1605
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ANGELS
Unnamed Angels appear in a dumb show; they stop the Fryers from murdering Elizabeth.
BARWICK
Barwick presents a minor role as servant to Beningfield.
BOY
At the risk of being whipped, this unnamed Boy brings several nosegays to Elizabeth in the Tower.
CARDINAL POOLE
Poole appears in a dumb show and receives sceptre and purse from Queen Mary. He falls ill and dies shortly after he succeeds Cardinal Winchester.
CARDINAL WINCHESTER
Winchester is a vindictive churchman desperate to remove Elizabeth from the line of succession. He is part of the council group that interrogates Elizabeth, and he allows no niceties to her while she is in the Tower. He attempts to shuffle her death warrant unseen into papers awaiting Philip's signature, and when Elizabeth is set free he plans other ways to incense Queen Mary against her sister. When he dies, he is succeeded by Cardinal Poole.
CLARENTIA
Clarentia is Elizabeth's gentlewoman attendant both at home and in the Tower.
CLOWN
This Clown, loyal to Elizabeth, has a good deal of fun at Beningfield's expense, pulling a chair out from under the knight upon one occasion and falsely claiming that a man had scaled the garden wall to see Elizabeth on another (the "man" is a goat).
COOK
This loyal servant of Elizabeth stands with the Pantler so Elizabeth may see her trustworthy staff as she crosses the river by the Tower.
COURTNEY, EARL OF DEVONSHIRE
Cardinal Winchester argues that Courtney has been known to favor Elizabeth's cause.
DOCTOR OWINE
Owine attends Elizabeth and considers her ill but able to travel to the queen.
DOCTOR WENDITH
Wendith attends Elizabeth and considers her ill but able to travel to the queen.
DUKE OF NORFOLK
Norfolk is mentioned as attending the dying Queen Mary.
EARL OF ARUNDELL
Arundell is mentioned as attending the dying Queen Mary.
EARL OF OXFORD
Oxford is mentioned as attending the dying Queen Mary.
EDWARD VI
Winchester mentions Elizabeth's brother Edward in accusing her of treason.
King Edward is also mentioned by Dodds in connection with a religious petition.
EIGHT HENRY
Henry VIII is referred to as "Eight Henry" by his daughter Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH
Princess Elizabeth, crowned Queen by the play's end, is the target of Winchester and others who despise her non-Catholic preferences. Accused of treason, she is taken to the Tower, refusing to admit of any guilt or conspiracy. Finally allowed an audience with Queen Mary, Elizabeth pleads her innocence and is set at liberty. With one of her greatest enemies, Winchester, dead, Elizabeth succeeds to the throne upon Mary's death; her future religious bent is foreshadowed as she praises the Lord Mayor's gift to her of an English Bible.
ENGLISHMAN
This Englishman is slain by a cowardly Spaniard. The Spaniard calls him Signior
Cavalero Danglatero.
FIRST POOR MAN
This Poor Man hopes to present tokens of veneration to Elizabeth as she passes by.
FIRST SOLDIER
This First Soldier guards Elizabeth. As he cannot make direct reference to matters of state, he instead offers that neither of his own sisters would ever imprison the other.
FROGMORTON
Frogmorton is described as having been arraigned with the traitor Wyat and as not having implicated Elizabeth.
FRYERS
Appearing only in dumb show, these Fryers attempt to murder Elizabeth but are stopped by Angels.
GENTLEWOMAN
This Gentlewoman serving Elizabeth reports her mistress' unquiet sleep to Gage.
GRESHAM
Gresham is King Philip's Agent. He informs Philip that Elizabeth's death warrant is among papers awaiting the king's signature.
GUILFORD
Guilford is mentioned by Beningfield as a rebel who, along with wife Lady Jane Gray, was executed.
LADY JANE
Lady Jane Gray is mentioned as having been executed along with her rebel husband Guilford.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Lord Chamberlain announces that Cardinal Winchester, the Lord of Tame, Lord Shandoyse, Lord Howard, and Sir Henry Beningfield are in council with Queen Mary.
LORD CONSTABLE
The Lord Constable is a harsh jailer at the Tower, strictly following Winchester's orders and refusing any niceties for Elizabeth during her stay there. He sees Elizabeth as a heretic and is dismayed when she is released, yet he bears the Cap of Maintenance at Elizabeth's coronation.
LORD HOWARD
Lord Howard does his best to protect Elizabeth. Though he is part of the council group that interrogates Elizabeth, he nonetheless makes certain that the king notices Elizabeth's death warrant among papers signatory. Howard bears the sceptre at Elizabeth's coronation and receives the title of high Admiral.
LORD SHANDOYSE
Lord Shandoyse, bearer of the Mace for Queen Mary, sits on the council that interrogates Elizabeth. He later bears the Sword at Elizabeth's coronation.
LORD OF TAME
The Lord of Tame bears the purse for Queen Mary. Part of the council that interrogates Elizabeth, he later bears the Collar at Elizabeth's coronation.
MARY I
As England's Catholic sovereign, Queen Mary is determined to establish her power and has Elizabeth sent to the Tower along with other rebels against the crown. Influenced by her husband Philip, however, the Queen eventually speaks with Elizabeth and sets her free. She becomes ill and dies near the play's end, leaving the path clear for Elizabeth's succession.
MASTER DODDS
Master Dodds petitions Queen Mary about her promise to keep the faith of King Edward.
MASTER GAGE
Gage is loyal to Elizabeth. He denounces her treatment at the Tower and pledges to carry Elizabeth's letter to Queen Mary. He is made Captain Pensioner when Elizabeth becomes Queen.
MAYOR OF LONDON
The Mayor of London presents a purse and an English Bible to Queen Elizabeth.
NORTHUMBERLAND
The father of Lord Guilford, Northumberland is mentioned by Beningfield as a past rebel.
PANTLER
The Pantler loyally serves Elizabeth and stands with the Cook so Elizabeth may see them when crossing the river near the Tower.
PHILIP
As a prince of Spain, Philip weds Queen Mary. He always urges his wife to be as lenient as possible in the treatment of Elizabeth, not willing to believe wrongdoing of the queen's sister. When he is shown Elizabeth's death warrant among other of his signatory papers, Philip dismisses Beningfield and listens behind an arras to Mary's conversation with Elizabeth. His continuing and conscientious intervention in affairs undoubtedly saves Elizabeth's life.
PURSE-BEARER
This unnamed courtier bears the purse at Elizabeth's coronation.
PURSEVANT
The Pursevant awaits Winchester's order to ride quickly in carrying out the order for Elizabeth's death as soon as Philip signs the warrant.
SECOND POOR MAN
This Second Poor Man waits to present a nosegay to Elizabeth, remarking that the princess is virtuous enough to accept a cup of cold water.
SECOND SOLDIER
This Second Solider guarding Elizabeth urges his fellow guards to beware of talking about the princess.
SERGEANT TRUMPETER
This Sergeant carries the mace during the queen's coronation.
SIGNIOR CAVALERO DANGLATERO
The Spaniard uses this name to refer to an Englishman that he fights and kills.
SIR HENRY BENINGFIELD
Beningfield is a staunch loyalist to Queen Mary. He is appointed Elizabeth's guardian after her release from the Tower and pledges to do evil to the princess under the direction of Winchester.
SIR HENRY CAREW
Sir Henry Carew brings news to Elizabeth that Queen Mary has died and Elizabeth is now queen. Elizabeth grants Carew the title of Baron.
SIR JOHN BROCKET
Brocket had hoped to be the first to bring Elizabeth the news of her succession. He is Captain of Queen Elizabeth's Guards.
SIR PETER CAREW
Sir Peter Carew is mentioned as having been a Western rebel.
SIR WILLIAM SENTLOW
Sir William Sentlow is sent to the Tower by Queen Mary for urging the Queen's grace toward Elizabeth.
SPANIARD
This unnamed Spaniard duels with and kills an Englishman. King Philip orders the Spaniard hanged for his cowardly behavior in the duel.
SUSSEX
Sussex is among the council members interrogating Elizabeth. He never agrees that Elizabeth should be sent to the Tower and deplores the princess' treatment there. He bears the crown at Elizabeth's coronation.
THIRD SOLDIER
This Third Soldier guarding Elizabeth plans to spend the night drinking and talking of friends instead of discussing matters of state.
WOMAN
This Woman serves Elizabeth at home. She asks that Tame and Shandoyse wait until morning to see Elizabeth, who has been ill.
WYAT
Wyat is mentioned by Beningfield as having been a rebel recently executed.