Thomas Killigrew

THE CONSPIRACY, or
PALLANTUS AND EUDORA
as it was intended for the nuptials of the Lord Charles Herbert and the Lady Villers

Though officially listed today as a tragicomedy, the introduction makes clear that Killigrew considered this play a tragedy.

1635

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

CHARACTERS IN THE INTRODUCTION

COMEDY
A “ghost character.” In the introduction, Juno calls for a play to celebrate the nuptials and at first favors a comedy, but Tragedia convinces her that a tragedy is nobler and better able to bless the viewer.

DIANA
She comes in the introduction lamenting the loss of one of her nymphs but is reconciled by Juno to the idea that the pure virgin has become a pure bride. They are likely alluding to Lady Villers whose nuptial this plays was intended to celebrate.

JUNO
In the introduction, Juno reconciles Diana to the idea that the pure virgin has become a pure bride. They are likely alluding to Lady Villers whose nuptial this plays was intended to celebrate. She calls for a play to celebrate the nuptials and at first favors a comedy, but Tragedia convinces her that a tragedy is nobler and better able to bless the viewer.

NYMPHS
Mute characters. They accompany Diana in the introduction. Two go off at Diana’s command to search for the woodsmen that sometimes join them in their hunt.

TRAGEDIA
In the introduction, she scorns comedy as fit for a nuptial and convinces Juno that a tragedy is nobler and better able to bless the viewer.

WOODSMEN
“Ghost characters.” In the introduction, Diana sends two of her nymphs to find the woodsmen who sometimes help them in their hunt.

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

ACHATES
Achates discovers Cleander sleeping and wakes him rudely.

AMANTHES
A “ghost character.” When Timeus finds the body of his slain father he calls for support from Clitus, Charisius, Erastus, and Amathes but none are at hand.

ARATUS
A melancholy lord and leader of the secret conspiracy against the usurper. The king gives him the honor of greeting the newly arrived prince, Clearchus. He secretly plots with Phronimius and Eurylochus to raise a rebellion and unseat the king. Aratus, Phronimius, and Aratus, meet Pallantus, who has killed his assailants, and without learning his name they befriend him for his valiant act. They go greet Cleararchus together. He later tells Clearchus that the king has two peerless princesses. He later recommends Pallantus to be Melissa’s servant. Clearchus and Haimantus disguise themselves as holy men to see Hianthe with Aratus’ assistance. He later introduces Clearchus to Cleander as their secret prince. Later, Clearchus brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. Demophilus delivers good news to Aratus in act four that Phronimius and Eurylochus have not been captured along with the young king, Cleander. They are well and advancing to their positions. Two others were captured and slain by the enemy. When the day is won, Rodia reports how Aratus appeared in the marketplace to reveal the true king to his people and affect a peaceful change of power. Aratus is also named the king’s successor should the king die without issue. He praises the king by noting that the war was won with little loss of life when the usurper’s army voluntarily laid down their arms. He is on hand when the king visits Eudora and sees his reign peacefully begun.

ARGESTES
One of Timeus’ guards along with Coracinus. He and Coracinus fight Pallantus upon Timeus’ order and almost lose until Timeus himself enters the fight.

BOAR, WILD
A character in the poet’s play. He pursues a fleeing nymph.

CAPTAINS
Three captains figure in the play.

Two guards and their captain attempt to stop Pallantus killing the usurping king. The mortally wounded king forbids them from taking vengeance upon Pallantus and, when Pallantus escapes them, they go to Timeus. When prepares to commit suicide, he is prevented by the captain and two guards, who bid him to take up the crown.
A second captain attends Poliander, Menetius, and Comastes in their tent before the battle. He brings them wine. When the six soldiers attempt to desert, he is sent to punish them. When the battle is lost, Timeus, Menetius, Poliander, Comastes, and this captain take refuge in a fort.
A third captain accompanies Pallantus when he breaks into Eudora’s chamber. When Eudora chastises Pallantus, the captain is enraged by her and only Pallantus can stop him harming her. Pallantus orders him and his soldiers from Eudora’s room.

CHARISIUS
A “ghost character.” When Timeus finds the body of his slain father he calls for support from Clitus, Charisius, Erastus, and Amathes but none are at hand.

CHORUS
Each act ends with a chorus. The chorus summarizes the situation in preparation for the following act. At play’s end three Flamen and the chorus call for blessings upon the new regime.

CLEANDER
Achates discovers him sleeping and wakes him rudely as he dreams of being a king. He is taken to a secret meeting where Aratus reveals to him that he is in fact the country’s true king. He has been kept hidden during the sixteen-year reign of the current usurper. Later, Clearchus brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. Demophilus delivers good news to Aratus in act four that Phronimius and Eurylochus have not been captured along with the young king, Cleander. They are well and advancing to their positions. Two others were captured and slain by the enemy. When Pallantus assassinates the usurper, Cleander’s speech headings subtly change to ‘King.’ He is reunited with his sister, Hianthe, and promises her in marriage to Clearchus but only after she has been allowed to sit as queen of her homeland awhile. He grants Clearchus’ request to be allowed to continue upon the business his father sent him on before the storm drove him to Crete. When Pallantus and Hianthe beg Cleander for mercy in helping Eudora’s misery, he allows Aratus to offer clemency to Timeus if he be found worthy of mercy. He grants mercy to all, including the foolish Comestes, and hopes Pallantus and Eudora shall marry.

CLEARCHUS
He has been driven to Crete by the storm that foundered Pallantus’ ship. He and Haimantus are in quest for their captured princess and have heard two peerless women live upon this island. Though he is met and escorted by Aratus and the rest, he is offended that the princes did not meet him and that his accommodation is unfitting to his station. He is dumbfounded when Comastes tells him that the king loves drunkenness best of all things. After a cold greeting by the king, he accidentally comes upon Hianthe and her ladies. He apologizes and withdraws at once. He falls in love with Hianthe at first sight. He and Haimantus disguise themselves as holy men and with Aratus’ assistance courts Hianthe. He learns that Cleander is the country’s true king and promises Aratus that he will be a friend to the conspiracy to replace the usurper. He offers his great navy to their service. Later, he brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. The war won, the young king promises Hianthe in marriage to Clearchus but only after she has been allowed to sit as queen of her homeland awhile. The king grants Clearchus’ request to be allowed to continue upon the business his father sent him on before the storm drove him to Crete.

CLITUS
A “ghost character.” When Timeus finds the body of his slain father he calls for support from Clitus, Charisius, Erastus, and Amathes but none are at hand.

COMASTES
The king’s fool. He tells Clearchus that the king loves to be drunk and surrounded by drunkards best of all. Later, he conjures the ‘monster’ Pallantus as if he were a devil. He next appears in his tent as a captain. Polyander, Menetius, and Comastes are together in their tent where they drink wine and jest about killing the enemy. He is not on hand when news arrives that the usurper and the prince are dead and Polyander and Menetius agree to commit suicide. Timeus, Menetius, Poliander, Comastes, and a captain take refuge in a fort. When Pallantus treats peace with the usurpers and convinces them of the new king’s mercy, Comastes determines to go to the new king and play the same fool’s part he had for the usurper. The king will not accept him as a fool but rather allows him a place in court to prove his honor.

CORACINUS
One of Timeus’ guards along with Argestes. He reports to Timeus that the men sent to assassinate Pallantus have been found but fishermen murdered. He and Argestes fight Pallantus upon Timeus’ order and almost lose until Timeus himself enters the fight.

COURTIERS, TWO
One passes by Clearchus, drunk, and the second, a fat man, passes by also, leading Clearchus to believe he is being neglected.

DEMOPHILUS
A messenger. He delivers good news to Aratus in act four that Phronimius and Eurylochus have not been captured along with the young king, Cleander. They are well and advancing to their positions. Two others were captured and slain by the enemy.

EPILOGUE
Calling upon the heavenly powers, the epilogue praises the issue of generation in a rather typically Killigrew-esque convolution.

ERASTUS
A “ghost character.” When Timeus finds the body of his slain father he calls for support from Clitus, Charisius, Erastus, and Amathes but none are at hand.

EUDORA
The princess and Timeus’ sister. Timeus tells her that she must not see the newly arrived prince, Clearchus, nor let him woo. She agrees to avoid him but refuses to behave in a proud or uncivil manner. In act four, when Pallantus and his rebels burst into her chamber, she is scornful of them and directly insults Pallantus. Her hot words enrage the rebel captain until Pallantus, accepting her words, orders all the soldiers from her room. While he is the ugliest creature she has ever seen, she is the loveliest he has beheld. When Pallantus offers her any service, she asks him to kill her. When he cannot, she takes a blade but he prevents her. She faints. Later, when Rodia reports that the rebels have taken peaceful possession of the country and revealed the true king, Eudora realizes that she was part of a corrupt usurpation and grieves at her blind acceptance of it. Pallantus returns to her having removed his ugly disguise. He seeks Eudora’s forgiveness by telling her that he worked only to avenge his own fallen king and murdered father. He shows her Timeus’ letter ordering Pallantus’ assassination and convinces her that his cause was just. When Pallantus redeems Timeus with the new king, he wins Eudora’s love.

EUGENIA
A character in the poet’s play. She is said to enter her scene dying.

EURYLOCHUS
He attends the king but does not speak in the first scene. He secretly plots with Phronimius and Aratus to raise a rebellion and unseat the usurper. Aratus, Phronimius, and Aratus, meet Pallantus, who has killed his assailants, and without learning his name they befriend him for his valiant act. They go greet Cleararchus together. Later, as the secret ceremony, Eurylochus reveals that he has a great army ready to rise on the side of the patriots against the usurper and along with Phronimius they take their young king, Cleander, to protect him as they go to meet their armies. Clearchus brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. Demophilus delivers good news to Aratus in act four that Phronimius and Eurylochus have not been captured along with the young king, Cleander. They are well and advancing to their positions. Two others were captured and slain by the enemy. His arrival helps ensure the rebel victory.

FATHER, PALLANTUS’
A “ghost character.” Pallantus’ father was hated by Timeus.

FISHERMEN
“Ghost characters.” Coracinus reports that fishermen found Timeus’ assassins stabbed to death on the shore.

FLAMEN
Several Flamen figure in the play.

A priest is brought in to witness the rebel oath between Aratus, Phronimius, Eurylochus, and Clearchus.
At play’s end three Flamen and the chorus call for blessings upon the new regime.

GUARDS, TWO
Two guards and their captain attempt to stop Pallantus killing the usurping king. The mortally wounded king forbids them from taking vengeance upon Pallantus and, when Pallantus escapes them, they go to Timeus. When Timeus prepares to commit suicide, he is prevented by the captain and two guards, who bid him to take up the crown. Later, one of these guards bursts into the tent of Polyander, Menetius, and Comastes with the news that the usurper and the prince are both dead. The rumor of Timeus’ death proves untrue, however.

HAIMANTUS
He serves Clearchus and is making ready the ships that have been driven to Creta in the storm. He is with Clearchus when he comes accidentally upon Hianthe and her ladies. He and Clearchus disguise themselves as holy men to see Hianthe with Aratus’ assistance. He appears with Clearchus in succeeding scenes but plays little part in the forward movement of the plot.

HARPASTES
He Melampus and others were hired by Timeus to kill Pallantus but the shipwreck prevented them. When they assault Pallantus on the shore, he kills them.

HIANTHE
The other princess, the former king’s daughter, held by the usurper as his own. She is a virtual prisoner in her rooms and may not even walk in the garden. While she and her ladies read over the poet’s play, Clearchus happens upon their company by mistake. His appearance affects her, and she accepts his wooing when he returns. She joins in the conspiracy against the usurper. Timeus comes to release her from her confinement, and she is standing by when Timeus and the king learn of the growing treason in the country. The war won, the young king, Cleander, is reunited with his sister, Hianthe, and promises her in marriage to Clearchus but only after she has been allowed to sit as queen of her homeland awhile. When Pallantus and Hianthe beg Cleander for mercy in helping Eudora’s misery, the young king allows Aratus to offer clemency to Timeus if he be found worthy of mercy.

KING
He usurped the country sixteen years previously. 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, USURPED
A “ghost character.” Father of Cleander and Hianthe. Timeus was responsible for his murder.

LADIES
Two groups of ladies figure in the play.

The first are Hianthe’s two ladies. They wait upon Hianthe. They offer to plead her case to Hianthe’s lord, but Hianthe tells them it would do no good.
The second are Eudorta’s ladies. They are on hand, along with Rodia, in act four when Pallantus and Eudora meet.

MELAMPUS
He Melampus and others were hired by Timeus to kill Pallantus but the shipwreck prevented them. When they assault Pallantus on the shore, he kills them.

MELISSA
Also spelled Mellissa. One of Hianthe’s maids. She passes by Clearchus, as do a drunken and a fat courtier, leading Clearchus to believe he is being neglected. Hianthe believes she has broken free, but Melissa returns to her. She tells of seeing the king’s cold greeting of Clearchus and brings a Poet to entertain the ladies. Upon Aratus’ recommendation, she takes Pallantus as her servant. She appears in later scenes as a spectator.

MENETIUS
He attends the king in the first scene but does not speak. In act four, he appears in his tent as a captain. Polyander, Menetius, and Comastes are together in their tent where they drink wine and jest about killing the enemy. When news arrives that the usurper and the prince are dead, Polyander and Menetius agree to commit suicide. The timely arrival of the prince, Timeus, restores their courage. When the battle is lost, Timeus, Menetius, Poliander, Comastes, and a captain take refuge in a fort. Pallantus treats peace with the usurpers and convinces them of the new king’s mercy. They follow him.

MESSENGERS
Many messengers figure in the play.

A messenger tells Clearchus that Aratus and his train are coming to meet him on the shore.
“Ghost characters.” The usurper speaks of two traitors taken in the court and later Aratus tells Pallantus that two of their messengers were taken. One was so emotional in delivering their message that the king took his words for threats and had him beheaded. The second messenger was sent back with the king’s scorn.

NYMPH
A character in the poet’s play. She in pursued by a wild boar.

PALLANTUS
He has been away so long and burned so black by the sun and scarred in battle that none of his old acquaintances will recognize him now. He supported the old king. His father died defending the old regime, and now Pallantus, the famous patriot, is returning to avenge the usurpation. Two of his shipwrecked mates, Harpastes and Melampus, attempt to kill him ashore, but he kills them. He finds a letter on them revealing that they had been hired by Timeus to murder him. He meets Aratus, Phronimius, and Aratus, and they befriend him for his valiant act, not knowing his identity. They go greet Cleararchus together. Later, Melissa thinks him as black as an ink bottle, and he becomes her servant. Polyander opines that Pallantus must have studied to appear horrible. At the secret ceremony to reveal Cleander as the true king, Pallantus reveals himself as the famous patriot who has returned to avenge the usurpation. His revelation greatly heartens his kinsman Aratus and the patriotic conspirators. When Timeus orders Coracinus and Argestes to fight Pallantus, Pallantus drives them back until Timeus himself enters the fight. He escapes them, but Timeus offers a rich reward for the first man to bring back Pallantus’ head. Later, Clearchus brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. In anger, he breaks into the usurper’s camp and kills the usurping king. When the king dies begging forgiveness and ordering his guards not to harm Pallantus, Pallantus finds it in him to pity the death even while affirming the justice of it. He escapes capture as the captain and guards grieve over their fallen king. He next leads an assault that brings him to Eudora’s chambers. While he is the ugliest creature she has ever seen, she is the loveliest he has beheld. When Pallantus offers Eudora any service, she asks him to kill her. When he cannot, she takes a blade but he prevents her. She faints. Thinking that she has died, Pallantus stabs himself. When she recovers, however, he discovers that he is not mortally wounded and leaves his soldiers for her to command. He returns to her having removed his ugly disguise. He seeks Eudora’s forgiveness by telling her that he worked only to avenge his own fallen king and murdered father. He shows her Timeus’ letter ordering Pallantus’ assassination and convinces her that his cause was just. When Pallantus and Hianthe beg Cleander for mercy in helping Eudora’s misery, the young king allows Aratus to offer clemency to Timeus if he be found worthy of mercy. Pallantus treats peace with the usurpers and convinces them of the new king’s mercy. They follow him. He takes Timeus before Eudora and earns her heart.

PEOPLE
The people, en masse, praise Cleander as he comes amongst them after gaining the crown.

PHRONIMIUS
Also spelled Phronimus. He attends the king but does not speak in the first scene. He secretly plots with Aratus and Eurylochus to raise a rebellion and unseat the usurper. Aratus, Phronimius, and Aratus, meet Pallantus, who has killed his assailants, and without learning his name they befriend him for his valiant act. They go greet Cleararchus together. Later, as the secret ceremony, Phronimius reveals that he has a great army ready to rise on the side of the patriots against the usurper and along with Eurylochus they take their young king, Cleander, to protect him as they go to meet their armies. Clearchus brings news to Aratus and Pallantus that Phronimius and Eurylochus were captured along with the young king, Cleander. The camp mutinies at the news. Demophilus delivers good news to Aratus in act four that Phronimius and Eurylochus have not been captured along with the young king, Cleander. They are well and advancing to their positions. Two others were captured and slain by the enemy. His arrival helps ensure the rebel victory.

POET
Melissa brings him along to entertain Hianthe and her train. He gives them his play, which they intend to act in order to pass the time.

POLYANDER
Also spelled Poliander. A lord who believes pleasure flows from greatness. He later comments that Pallantus must have studied to appear horrible. He brings the king word that two messengers from Aratus have been captured. They wished to see the king but, in confinement, confessed to wishing to overthrow him. He next appears in his tent as a captain. Polyander, Menetius, and Comastes are together in their tent where they drink wine and jest about killing the enemy. When news arrives that the usurper and the prince are dead, Polyander and Menetius agree to commit suicide. The timely arrival of the prince, Timeus, restores their courage. When the fight is lost, he advises Timeus to escape to a foreign country and raise a new army when it is safe to slip away. Timeus, Menetius, Poliander, Comastes, and a captain take refuge in a fort. Pallantus treats peace with the usurpers and convinces them of the new king’s mercy. They follow him.

PROLOGUE
The prologue claims that this nuptial tragedy will bless the royal wedding and be so grand as to make Tragedia herself smile.

RODIA
Eudora’s servant. She is on hand in act four when Pallantus and Eudora meet. After Eudora faints and Pallantus stabs himself and then both recover, she thinks Pallantus a noble and good man. Later, Rodia reports to Eudora that the rebels have taken peaceful possession of the country and revealed the true king. Answering a knock at the door, she is amazed to find a handsome man that turns out to be Pallantus. She appears in later scenes primarily as a spectator.

SERVANTS, TWO
They prepare the opening banquet for the king and his nobles. Another servant (perhaps one of the same two) later reports to Timeus that Pallantus has escaped and is probably hiding in a nearby lodging.

SOLDIERS
There are a number of soldiers that figure in this play.

A group of six soldiers: They represent the unrest in the usurper’s army, undermined by rebels who spread rumors in the ranks of their hopeless fight. Hearing the rumor that both the usurper and his prince are dead, six soldiers go to the tent of Poliander, Menetius, and Comastes with a view towards slaying them and joining the rebels. The sight of their captains discourages their action, but they are caught and confess their intentions.
Another group of rebel soldiers burst into Eudora’s chamber with their captain and Pallantus. They are mute characters and Pallantus orders them out along with the captain.

TIMEUS
The king’s son and Eudora’s brother. He prefers to see his king in battle that at banquets. He tells the king that a foreign prince has been forced to their shores by a storm. He learns from Coracinus that his assassins were found by fishermen. He tells Eudora to avoid the newly arrived prince, Clearchus, and send back any presents he may proffer. Later, the king finally listens to Timeus’ fears and gives his son license to root out any evil he fears in the kingdom. He learns that Aratus, Phronimius, and Eurylochus are the secret leaders of the rebellion. He hates the look of Pallantus, and has Coracinus and Argestes fight Pallantus; they almost lose until Timeus himself enters the fight. Pallantus escapes them, but Timeus offers a rich reward for the first man to bring back Pallantus’ head. When Aratus reveals that he met the man after a shipwreck, Timeus pieces out that it is none other than Pallantus he seeks, and he spies on Aratus to lead him to the man. The king has two traitors captured and Polyander reports that two others were taken in the court. When the city governor comes to warn of growing rebellion in the countryside the king is finally convinced that Timeus is correct and treason is afoot. He takes control of the kingdom’s defense for his father, but when Pallantus assassinates the usurper, Timeus is filled with grief and rage. Timeus calls for support from Clitus, Charisius, Erastus, and Amathes but none answer his call. He prepares to commit suicide and is prevented by the captain and two guards, who bid him to take up the crown. When the fight is lost, he allows himself to be persuaded to fly to a foreign shore and seek a new army when he may safely slip away. Timeus, Menetius, Poliander, Comastes, and a captain take refuge in a fort. Pallantus treats peace with the usurpers and convinces them of the new king’s mercy. They follow him. Pallantus takes Timeus to Eudora, who upbraids him with the letter he wrote ordering Pallantus’ assassination. When the young king comes to call upon Eudora, Timeus begs to be allowed to withdraw as he is not yet ready to stand before the king.

WAITERS, TWO
They marvel when Cleanthus accidentally comes into the company of Hianthe and her ladies.