Anonymous
THE HISTORY OF THE TWO VALIANT KNIGHTS,
SIR CLYOMON
KNIGHT OF THE GOLDEN SHIELD,
SON TO THE KING OF DENMARK
AND CLAMYDES
THE WHITE KNIGHT,
SON TO THE KING OF SWAVIA
Original version 1570—1583?
Acquired (and revised?) by the Queen's Men circa 1583
Purchased by Thomas Creede circa 1593/4, Published 1599
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
King of Macedonia. Before the play begins, Clyomon once fought and won a great contest before Alexander. He defeated Sir Samuel and won the golden shield that has identified him ever since. Alexander is first seen in the play (at iv) returning from his conquests, anachronistically referring to his conquests of Kings and Keysars. In the midst of his glorying in victory, his First Lord counsels against arrogance. This Alexander accepts as good advice. Throughout the play, Clyomon holds Alexander up as an example of a great man and king. Alexander's court is Clyomon's goal throughout most of the play. When the crown of the Isle of Strange Marshes is contested, Alexander declares that a trial of champions should decide the issue. Clamydes is chosen champion of Mustantius, but when no champion rises for the queen, Alexander wisely brokers a compromise: Mustantius will be king until the queen's child is born. Clyomon arrives too late to declare for the queen but begs to be allowed to fight Clamydes for his honor. Alexander wisely discovers a trick that allows Clyomon to reveal his name without having to battle Clamydes. The revelation that the Knight of the Golden Shield is Juliana's brother makes Clamydes his friend.
AMBODEXTER
Subtle Shift, who prides himself in shifting for himself, calls himself "an Ambodexter" at one point.
APOLLO
A "ghost character." Disguised as Knowledge, Subtle Shift claims that Apollo is his father.
BOATSWAIN
He sets Clyomon ashore on the Isle of Strange Marshes during the play's second tempest. He tells Clyomon that King Patranius rules this land.
BRYAN OR BRIAN SANS FOY
An enchanter. Famed for both his cowardice in battle and his great magic by which he destroys his enemies, he sees himself as a lover. He loves Juliana and through his magic has captured all the knights she has sent into the Forest of Marvels to slay the flying serpent. His plan is to enchant the knight who slays the serpent, steal the head, and present it to Juliana and claim the victory and her hand in marriage. Subtle Shift informs him that Clamydes has slain the beast. Bryan enchants Clamydes into a ten-day sleep. He then dons Clamydes's garments, shield, sword, and with the beast's head makes for Denmark. He then disappears from the play from x—xx, reappearing in xxi to say that his cowardice has forced him to journey by night and thus slowed his progress. he appears again in xxiii before the Danish court, claiming to be Clamydes and displaying the serpent's head. He claims Juliana. Clamydes arrives, however, and Bryan's cowardice betrays him as the imposter. The King of Denmark sentences him to prison forever and assigns Subtle Shift (known to all as "Knowledge") the post of guard to watch Bryan.
CLAMYDES
The White Knight and son to the King of Swavia. Juliana saves him from a sea tempest as the play opens. She grants him safe harbor in Denmark. In return, he promises to slay the flying serpent that terrorizes the women of Denmark. Though he promises to do this, he must first go to Swavia to be dubbed a knight. In Swavia, Clyomon, the Knight of the Golden Shield, takes the King's honorable blow meant for Clamydes and so steals his knighthood. Clamydes vows revenge for the insult. His father charges him to discover the name and country of the Knight of the Golden Shield or else never return to Swavia. Only after this charge is he knighted and allowed to proceed upon his quest. He takes Subtle Shift as his servant, thinking the Vice to be Knowledge. Clamydes finds Clyomon but is persuaded to fight with him—and so learn his name—in Macedonia before Alexander the Great. In the fifteen days before their meeting, Clamydes determines to fulfill his promise to slay the flying serpent. The slaying is accomplished offstage, and he enters in vii with the creature's head on his sword. He has ten days remaining before he must meet Clyomon in Macedonia, and he determines to fill the time by freeing the knights that Bryan Sans Foy holds captive. Bryan enchants him into a ten-day sleep, steals his garment, shield, the sword with the beast's head on it, and puts him in his prison. When Clamydes awakes, he finds Subtle Shift pretending to free him. Like Clyomon, Clamydes fears that he will be dishonored for having missed the contest in Macedonia. He learns that the Knight of the Golden Shield is on the Isle of Strange Marshes and goes there. There be becomes Champion for Mustantius in the contest for the crown. A deal between the queen of the island and Mustantius stops the contest, but Clamydes recognizes the disguised Clyomon (champion for the queen), and begs Alexander the Great that they may be allowed to fight. Instead, Alexander orders Clyomon to reveal his name in a manner that allows him not to break his vow. Learning that Clyomon is brother to Juliana, Clamydes swears friendship to the Knight of the Golden Shield. In Denmark, he unmasks the imposter Bryan Sans Foy and is reunited with Juliana. A double wedding is then planned for Clamydes/Juliana and Clyomon/Neronis.
CLYOMON
Son to the King of Denmark. He is a lover of martial games and is known throughout the world only as The Knight of the Golden Shield. Years before the play's start, he took his leave of his father with a solemn vow that he would never reveal his name to anyone who did not first defeat him in battle. Since then, he has become famous, but because he is anonymous, his people believe he has died. He won his golden shield when Alexander the Great gave it him after his defeat of Sir Samuel in a contest. We first meet him in Swavia, where he finds Subtle Shift stuck in a mire. Thinking that Subtle Shift is Knowledge, Clyomon accepts him as a companion and servant. Together, they go to see Clamydes dubbed a knight, but he rakishly interposes himself as the King lowers his mace onto his son and takes the honorable blow himself, thus stealing Clamydes's knighthood. Clamydes pursues him and is willing to fight him to learn his name. Clyomon convinces him to delay the contest fifteen days and gain more honor by meeting in Macedonia in order to fight before Alexander the Great. On his way to Macedonia, however, Clyomon is caught in the play's second tempest and forced to land on the Isle of Strange Marshes, too seasick to continue. Like Clamydes, he fears he will be dishonored for failing to keep his appointment in Macedonia. On the island, Princess Neronis discovers him and nurses him to health. They fall in love, and she gives him a jewel in return for his promise to return in sixty days. He is honor-bound to seek out Clamydes and so continues towards Macedonia. He meets one of the captive knights, whom Clamydes recovered, and is told that Clamydes also missed the Macedonian contest. Relieved, Clyomon decides to return to Neronis, but he learns from Rumor that the King of Norway has kidnapped her and that her father, King Patranius, has died of grief. His death has caused a power struggle on the island between his pregnant queen and his brother Mustantius. They are vassals of Alexander, and it is he who must decide the matter. Clyomon resolves to go to Norway and liberate his love from Thrasellus. He comes upon Thrasellus searching for the escaped Neronis. He fights the Norwegian king and kills him, but is himself grievously wounded in the fight. Corin discovers him, binds his wounds, and together they bury Thrasellus. He places his shield on the grave and also his sword, point downward to signify a defeated knight. However, when he later learns that the Queen of the Isle of Strange Marshes is begging for a champion, he reclaims his shield and sword and disguises himself before setting out. In disguise, he meets a page, who is actually his love Neronis in disguise. Not recognizing one another, Clyomon take Neronis into his service. He arrives too late to fight in the queen's name, but he there begs Alexander to be allowed to fight Clamydes for his vow's sake. Alexander, wishing to avoid conflict between two such fine knights, asks him to reveal his name. Clyomon responds that a solemn vow forces him not to. But when Alexander then asks his country and his birth, he is obliged to answer that he is Prince of Denmark, and by that answer all know him. Because Clamydes is the beloved of Clyomon's sister, they become fast friends. They return to Denmark where Clyomon stands beside the real Clamydes in the face of the imposter Bryan Sans Foy. When all is resolved, "Cur Daceer" reveals that she is actually Neronis, and they are reunited. They plan a double wedding with Clamydes and Juliana.
CORIN
Also called "Father Corin," he is husband to Madge and a shepherd in Norway. His favorite oath is "Gos bones." Meeting the disguised Neronis in the forest, he takes "him" as a servant and dubs "him" Jack. He thinks this lad is unusually comely and warns him of the many lusty wenches he knows. Later, he discovers Clyomon, wounded in his fight with Thrasellus. He binds Clyomon's wounds and helps him to bury the slain King of Norway.
CORIN'S DOG
A shepherd's dog. He accompanies Corin when they find Clyomon, wounded in the forest. Corin talks at length to the dog, describing how "Jack" (Neronis in disguise) has won the hearts of the country lasses.
CUR DACEER OR CŒUR D'ACER
The name Neronis adopts in her second disguising as a page. This is her guise while in service to Clyomon. Clyomon glosses the name for the audience "Heart of Steel." In this disguise Neronis accompanies Clyomon to the Isle of Strange Marshes and, after Clyomon and Clamydes become friends, is sent to Denmark to announce to the King and Queen that Clyomon is alive and returning home.
FILCHER
A "ghost character." A neighbor of Corin who owns a farmhouse.
FLYING SERPENT
A "ghost character." A Danish beast that eats women. Whoever slays this beast will be espoused to Juliana, Princess of Denmark. Clamydes slays it (offstage), and Subtle Shift brings the news of the slaying to Bryan Sans Foy. The creature appears later as a head upon Clamydes's sword.
FRUMPTON
A "ghost character." One of Corin's neighbors who has a wench.
FRUMPTON'S WENCH
A "ghost character." Corin tells the disguised Neronis that Frumpton's wench wears a "freese sacke" and is merry with Corin at milking time.
GILLIAN OR GILIAN GIFFREY
A "ghost character." A local girl whom Corin reports as smitten by "Jack" (Neronis in disguise). She has fought with Joan Jenkin over "him."
HODGE
A "ghost character." A neighbor of the shepherd Corin whose maid "had a clap."
JACK
A disguise assumed by Neronis. Though she never calls herself Jack, the shepherd Corin dubs her thus when he takes her into his service.
JOAN OR JONE JENKIN
A "ghost character." A local girl whom Corin reports as smitten by "Jack" (Neronis in disguise). She has fought with Gillian Giffray over "him."
JULIANA
Daughter of the King and Queen of Denmark, heir to the throne since her brother Clyomon's disappearance. As the play opens, she gives Clamydes safe harbor from a storm in return for his promise to slay the flying serpent that terrorizes the women of Denmark. She gives Clamydes a white shield and the name "White Knight of the Silver Shield." She promises him marriage is he succeeds. Later, she has a premonition that an unknown knight will claim Clamydes's deed and valor. She is in fact later deceived into believing that Bryan Sans Foy is Clamydes when he appears in court with the beast's head. When the real Clamydes arrives, she thinks that he is the imposter (having seen Bryan in the coat and shield she gave him). When Clamydes challenges Bryan, however, and Bryan runs away, she realizes her mistake and is forgiven. Clamydes see her refusal to believe him as commendable constancy in her. They are reunited and plan a double wedding with Clyomon and Neronis.
KING OF DENMARK
Father of Juliana and Clyomon, 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 SWAVIA
Father of 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.
KNIGHTS, THREE CAPTIVE
Three knights whom Clamydes rescues from Bryan Sans Foy's prison. 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.
KNOWLEDGE
A disguise assumed by Subtle Shift. 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.
LADIES OF THE ISLE OF STRANGE MARSHES
Mute characters. They are with the Princess Neronis when she comes upon Clyomon, who is seasick on their shores.
LORD OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
He counsels Alexander against arrogance. He reminds his king that Alexander's father, Philip, hired a child to enter his chamber each morning and remind him that he was but a mortal man. Alexander accepts this as wise advice.
LORDS OF DENMARK, TWO
Mute characters. They attend the King and Queen of Denmark in the final scene (xxiii).
LORDS OF NORWAY, TWO
Advisors to King Thrasellus. They counsel him not to attempt a martial assault upon the well-defended Isle of Strange Marshes. Rather, they advise him to disguise as a merchant and trick Neronis onto his ship and kidnap her.
LORDS OF SWAVIA, FIRST AND SECOND
The King of Swavia orders them after Clyomon when he steals Clamydes's knighthood. They cannot catch the Knight of the Golden Shield but instead return with his servant, Subtle Shift.
LORDS OF THE ISLE OF STRANGE MARSHES, TWO
Two lords who are with Neronis when she discovers Clyomon, who is seasick on their shores. They carry (or assist) the stricken knight off stage at Neronis's request.
MADGE
A "ghost character." Corin's wife, she goes on Sunday in a gray gown. Corin claims that "Jack" (Neronis in disguise) is even grander that Madge on Sunday.
MAID, HODGES'S
A "ghost character." The shepherd Corin recounts to the disguised Neronis that this maid "had a clap." He warns "Jack" not to meddle with her because she has "eaten set leekes."
MUSTANTIUS
Brother to the King Patranius of the Isle of Strange Marshes. We first learn of him when Rumor reports to Clyomon that the king has died and a power struggle has erupted between the widow-queen and Mustantius over the crown. The island is in vassalage to Alexander the Great, and he decides that the crown's fate must rest upon a battle between champions. Clamydes becomes champion for Mustantius. When is appears none will rise for the pregnant queen, Alexander brokers a deal whereby Mustantius will rule until the child is born. If the child lives, it will take the crown. Mustantius will receive five thousand crowns recompense.
NERONIS
Princess of the Isle of Strange Marshes. While walking with some of her Lords and Ladies, she comes upon Clyomon, who is seasick almost to death and cast upon her shores. He will not reveal his name to her, but she knows him as the Knight of the Golden Shield and offers the worthy man her succor. She falls deeply but secretly in love with him and fears he hides his name because he is lowly born or else a "runnagate." She slyly tricks him into declaring his love and gives him a jewel if he promises to return from Macedonia within "three score days." Thrasellus, the Norwegian king, kidnaps her and takes her to Norway. In Norway, she escapes by tricking him into believing she loves him and then disguising herself as a page and running into the woods. Still disguised as a boy, she gives herself in service to a shepherd, Corin, who calls her Jack. Later, bemoaning her shepherd's toil, she comes upon Thrasellus's forest grave adorned with Clyomon's arms. She believes that Clyomon has been slain. Determined to end her own life, she sings a song, and is interrupted by Providence, who descends to her. She is bidden to read the inscription on the grave and discover that Clyomon lives. She leaves Corin's service, exchanging her shepherd's disguise for the page disguise and calling herself "Cur Daceer." Dressed thus, she meets Clyomon, who is also disguised, and becomes his page (neither recognizing the other). They travel to the Isle of Strange Marshes, where Clyomon means to become the queen's champion. There Clyomon and Clamydes become friends, and "Cur Daceer" is sent to Denmark to announce the homecoming of Clyomon. When all is resolved in Denmark, Neronis takes the Danish Queen into her confidence and, with her aid, reveals her true identity to Clyomon, and they are reunited. They plan a double wedding with Clamydes and Juliana.
NICHOLS OR NYCHOLS
A "ghost character." One of Corin's neighbors who has a daughter.
NICHOLS'S OR NYCHOLS'S DAUGHTER
A "ghost character." Corin knows her as "a jolly smug whore" with fat cheeks who is sure to like the looks of "Jack" (Neronis in disguise).
PAGE, FIRST AND SECOND
There are two pages that figure in the play.
The First Page lives on the Isle of Strange Marshes. He appears on the day of the Battle of Champions. He only comments in an side that he wishes that he had Mustantius's favorable choice.
The second page is actually a disguise that Neronis assumes in order to escape from Thrasellus, the Norwegian king. In this disguise she offers herself into service to the shepherd, Corin, who calls her Jack. Later, she becomes Clyomon's page, at which point she calls herself "Cur Daceer." In this last disguise, she travels to Denmark to inform the King and Queen that their son is alive and returning home.
PATRANIUS
A "ghost character." King of the Isle of Strange Marshes and father of Neronis, he has a pregnant queen. When Thrasellus kidnaps Neronis, Rumor enters to report that Patranius has died of grief. His death creates a power struggle for his crown between his queen and his brother, Mustantius. Alexander the Great must come to decide the matter.
PHILIP OF MACEDON
A "ghost character." Father of Alexander the Great. According to Alexander's Lord, Philip had a child enter his chamber each morning to remind him that he was but a mortal man.
POLICIE
A nickname, which Bryan Sans Foy bestows upon Subtle Shift.
PROLOGUE
The Prologue praises the author's work, generally treats the play's plot, and begs the audience's courtesy. He likens spectators who talk at the play to swine who have "peereles" cast before them.
PROVIDENCE
In what might be the first use of flying machinery identified on the popular English stage, Providence descends to stop Neronis's suicide. He bids her read the inscription on Thrasellus's grave to discover that it is the Norwegian king, not Clyomon, who is slain. He then ascends.
QUEEN OF DENMARK
Mother to Clyomon and Juliana. She makes her first entrance at play's end (xxiii). She is overjoyed to learn from "Cur Daceer" that Clyomon returns. She withdraws with "Cur Daceer" supposedly to hear a private communication from Clyomon. It is a ploy, however, and they return with Neronis in her proper attire to be reunited with Clyomon.
QUEEN OF THE ISLE OF STRANGE MARSHES
Mother of Neronis and wife (later widow) to King Patranius. We first learn of her when Rumor tells Clyomon that she, pregnant and recently widowed, is in a power struggle over the crown with her brother-in-law, Mustantius. Alexander, their liege lord, decides that a contest of champions must resolve the issue. The queen cannot find a champion for her cause to stand against Mustantius's champion, Clamydes. Alexander brokers an agreement whereby Mustantius is allowed to rule until her child is born, after which Mustantius is to receive five thousand crowns to recompense him. She agrees just as Clyomon enters, disguised, and offers to be her champion. The arrangement, however, is already concluded.
RUMOR
He enters running. He informs Clyomon that Thrasellus has kidnapped Neronis, her father has died of grief, and the pregnant queen is in a power struggle over the crown with her brother-in-law Mustantius. Alexander the Great is to decide the issue of who receives the crown.
SERVANTS OF BRYAN SANS FOY, TWO
Mute characters. The help Bryan Sans Foy to carry the enchanted Clamydes to Bryan's prison. They are also presumably slain by Clamydes and the Three Captive Knights, but his action is only heard offstage.
SHIPMASTER
He is only an offstage voice. During the second tempest of the play, he is heard offstage barking orders to strike sail and cast anchor while the Boatswain deposits a seasick Clyomon on the shores of the Isle of Strange Marshes.
SIR JOHN
A "ghost character." The shepherd Corin's parish priest. Corin says that more people will look at "Jack" (Neronis in disguise) on Sunday than will look at Sir John.
SIR SAMUEL
A "ghost character." A "worthy knight of fame" whom Clyomon defeated in a contest before Alexander the Great. This victory won Clyomon the golden shield that has also become his epithet, "Knight of the Golden Shield."
SUBTLE SHIFT
Called the Vice in the dramatis personae. He is a spouter of proverbs who shifts only for himself and whose favorite oath is "Gogs bloud." He is first found in Swavia, stuck (offstage) in a mire. He introduces himself to Clyomon as Knowledge, son of Apollo, and is called Knowledge throughout the play. He offers his service to Clyomon and tells him the news that Clamydes is to be dubbed a knight that day. When Clyomon steals Clamydes's knighthood, Subtle Shift is captured and threatened with death if he does not reveal his master's name. This he cannot do because the Knight of the Golden Shield tells his name to no one. He is saved when Clamydes, also thinking he is Knowledge, takes him as his servant. He runs away, however, as soon as Clamydes and Clyomon meet to fight. He is quickly reunited with Clamydes and tells him of the enchanter, Bryan Sans Foy, when he learns that his master means to enter the Forest of Marvels to slay the flying serpent. Fearing the enchanter himself, Subtle Shift goes to Bryan, tells him of Clamydes's coming, and offers to be the enchanter's servant. He also brings news that Clamydes has slain the serpent. After Bryan enchants Clamydes and takes his sword, the beast's head, shield, and garments, Subtle Shift determines to help Clamydes escape from the enchanter's prison. When Clamydes awakes from his enchantment, Subtle Shift appears with a sword and target, pretending to fight his way in and release his master. While Clamydes then frees the Three Captive Knights and slays Bryan's men, Subtle Shift breaks open Bryan's treasure chest and steals all that he can carry. This load then comically burdens him as he follows Clamydes on the remainder of their journeys. When Alexander the Great comes to judge the crown of the Isle of Strange Marshes, Subtle Shift dresses in finery and tries to insinuate himself into the court. He next enters as a "Whiffler" to say that no champion for the queen of the Isle of Strange Marshes has appeared and the day has arrived. He rashly offers to be her champion but withdraws the offer immediately. When all is resolved, the King of Denmark makes him Bryan Sans Foy's warden.
THRASELLUS
King of Norway. He complains to his Lords that he is hopelessly in love with Neronis. Her father, King Patranius, has rejected his request to marry her, and he now proposes to take her by force. His Lords counsel him to disguise himself as a merchant and steal her instead. He accepts this advice, and it succeeds. Once back in Norway, Neronis tricks him into believing that she loves him. Lulled into a false security, Thrasellus allows her enough freedom to effect her escape from him disguised as a page. Pursuing her into the woods, Thrasellus meets Clyomon. They fight, and though he wounds the Knight of the Golden Shield, he is killed. Corin and Clyomon bury him. Clyomon leaves his golden shield and sword at the grave—the point hanging down to signify that Thrasellus was conquered and lost renown. Clyomon also writes a placard describing who lies in the grave. It is this grave that Neronis later discovers and mistakes for Clyomon's.