Thomas Heywood

2 IF YOU KNOW NOT ME YOU KNOW NOBODY
with the Building of the Royal Exchange, and the Famous Victory of Queen Elizabeth

(Probably the same play as
The Life and Death of Sir Thomas Gresham
With the Building of the Royal Exchange mentioned in The Knight of the Burning Pestle of 1607)

1605

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

AMBASSADOR
A Russian ambassador.

ANTONIO
A "ghost character." Antonio hates John Gresham who is having an affair with his wife.

BOY
A messenger.

MISTRESS BLUNT
Reputed to be a bawd.

CAPTAIN
An officer who brings news of the continuing battle with the Spanish fleet.

CEMO
A "ghost character." A cardinal who has promised absolution to Doctor Parry if he will murder the Queen.

CLOWN
A servant of Gresham.

COURTESAN
A courtesan hired by John Gresham.

CRACK
A prentice in service to Hobson. Also known as Goodman.

CREDITOR, FIRST and SECOND
Creditors of John Gresham.

DRAKE
An English officer who reports the English victory over the Spanish to the Queen. Probably intended to be Sir Francis Drake.

ELIZABETH I
Queen of England. She names the Royal Exchange and knights Gresham for his service. It is to her that the news of the English victory of the Spanish fleet is reported.

FACTOR, FIRST and SECOND
Several factors figure in the play:

The first factor is an agent of Gresham who aids in his Barbary sugar dealings.
The second factor is also an agent of Gresham's.
There are several other agents called on to help John deceive Hobson. They pretend to speak French to help convince Hobson that they are officers who may arrest him. They may or may not be the same factors as the first and second factors.

AGNES FOSTER
A "ghost character." A charitable woman whose portrait is admired by Doctor Nowell.

MARTIN FURBISHER
A "ghost character." An English officer who distinguishes himself in combat against Spain.

GENTLEMAN
A gentleman who announces the arrivals of various aristocrats.

AVE GIBSON
A "ghost character." A charitable woman whose portrait is admired by Doctor Nowell.

JOHN GOODFELLOW
A country pedlar and customer of Hobson. Also called Tawniecoat and Rowland. Accidentally leaving Hobson's shop without paying and returning to pay later, he is angered when the apprentices will not take his money since they are not able to find his correct name in their account books. Eventually the matter is sorted and Hobson befriends him. Later, fallen into poverty, he is assisted by Hobson.

GOODMAN
A prentice in service to Hobson. Also known as Crack.

JOHN GRESHAM
Nephew of Gresham. Gresham doubts the morality of his nephew's behavior, but John defends his actions with scripture. Later he runs off with a large sum of his uncle's money and lives extravagantly in France. When his money has run out, he returns and seeks the hand of the recently widowed Lady Ramsey. His suit is rejected, but she helps him with his debts nevertheless.

THOMAS GRESHAM
A merchant. Gresham makes a risky deal with the King of Barbary, securing exclusive access to Barbary sugar while the King lives. Later, he squabbles with Ramsey over a property they both claim to own, finally agreeing to settle the suit amicably. Next, troubled that merchants have nowhere to meet besides the open street, and inspired by portraits of influential men and women, he plans a new structure for trading. As the Exchange nears completion, however, Gresham is saddened by the loss at sea of the lavish artwork he had commissioned for the edifice, and stunned to learn that the King of Barbary has been slain–and his large investment is lost. Nevertheless, the Queen herself is greatly impressed by his trading project, names it the Royal Exchange and knights Gresham for it.

HARE
A "ghost character" whose murder was attempted by Doctor Parry.

HOBSON
A merchant. Gresham places his nephew in Hobson's service. Hobson encourages Gresham to settle his lawsuit with Ramsey. He is initially enraged at Goodfellow, whom he nicknames Tawniecoat, but is quickly reconciled to him, and helps him when he falls into poverty. Learning of John Gresham's riotous living abroad, he travels to France–not even taking the time to change out of his slippers–and confronts him. There, he is manipulated into concealing the whole affair.

HONESTY
A Sergeant.

GUNTER
A neighbour of Hobson.

INTERPRETER
The interpreter translates for the Russian ambassador.

WILLIAM LAXTON
A "ghost character." A former mayor of London whose portrait is admired by Doctor Nowell.

LEICESTER
Lecester [sic] is an English lord who is supportive of the Exchange and an attendant of the Queen.

LORD, FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD
Three lords of London.

MARINER
The mariner brings news that Gresham's portraits, destined to decorate the Exchange, have been lost.

JOHN ALLEN MERCER
A "ghost character." A former mayor of London whose portrait is admired by Doctor Nowell.

MERCHANT, FIRST and SECOND
Two merchants figure in the play:

The first is a merchant doing business with Gresham.
The second is a merchant and jeweller who attempts to sell a valuable pearl to the Russian ambassador.

NIMBLECHAPS
A prentice in service to Hobson.

DOCTOR NOWELL
A friend of Lady Ramsey and Dean of St. Paul's. Called on to help mediate the dispute between Sir Thomas Ramsey and Gresham. He admires a series of portraits of benefactors and influential persons.

DOCTOR PARRY
A physician, formerly disgraced, but forgiven by the Queen. Despite her gracious treatment of him, Parry conspires with Catholics abroad to murder her. He attempts the crime, but, not fully committed to it, he only exposes himself as a traitor. He is condemned to death by Lecester.

PEDRO
A "ghost character." A Spanish Admiral.

JOHN PHILPOT
A "ghost character." A former mayor whose portrait admired by Lady Ramsey.

POST, FIRST and SECOND
Two messengers bring news of the English battle with the Spanish fleet.

PRENTICE, FIRST and SECOND
Two young apprentices in the service of Hobson figure in the play:

The first prentice is also called Nimblechaps.
The second prentice is also called Goodman and Crack.

PURSUIVANT
A messenger.

SCENT
A "ghost character." A perfumer once served by Quick.

QUARRELL
A "ghost character." A glazier once served by Quick.

QUICK
A yeoman who aids the sergeant Honesty.

RAMSEY
Family name of Lady and Sir Thomas Ramsey.

LADY RAMSEY
Wife of Sir Thomas Ramsey. Employs Doctor Nowell to effect a reconciliation between her husband and Gresham. Following the death of her husband, she is courted by the penniless John Gresham, but insists on never marrying again.

SIR THOMAS RAMSEY
A knight. Gresham is enmeshed in a legal dispute with Ramsey over a property each claims as his own. Later, as Lord Mayor, Ramsey is a supporter of the Exchange. He dies shortly thereafter.

SHERIFF
A sheriff of London.

SPANISH ENSIGNS
Non-speaking roles. The Spanish ensigns are captured by Drake and his men.

SUSSEX
A lord attending the Queen.

SWORD BEARER
An official of the Court of Aldermen.

TALLOW
A "ghost character." A currier once served by Quick.

TIMOTHY THINBEARD
A servant of Thomas Gresham who doubts the honesty of John Gresham. Later, Timothy is condemned to death for stealing, but is aided by Hobson.

WENCH
A woman at the house of John Gresham in France.

RICHARD WHITTINGTON
A "ghost character." A former mayor of London whose portrait is admired by Doctor Nowell. He is the famous Dick Whittington who, along with his equally famous cat, rose from poverty to become Lord Mayor.