Anonymous

THE WASP

1636–1639

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ALEXANDER HANNIBAL CAESAR DANGERFIELD

Disguise name of Grig Brandwell. He takes on this disguise to help Kenwell court the "lusty widow" of "walltamstowe" the Countess Claridon. He is supposedly the captain of the garrison in Gunpowder Alley. Brandwell is not very clear on his disguise name. Once he says he will be "Alexander Han: Dangerfield." Later, he says he is "Hanniball, Cesar Dangerfield" and "a solyor [soldier]-Alexander himself no more."

BARROT

Likely the name of the actor who enters. He is given the speech heading "One" and does no more than announce to "Justice Bindover" that some seafarers await him at his shop.

BINDOVER, JUSTICE

Disguise assumed by Howlet. He is a merry fool who comes to settle the tension when Countess Claridon objects to The Wasp's handling of her estate. When she discovers the disguise, she is enraged and seeks justice in the court of Marianus.

BRUTUS

Only mentioned. Katherine says that Gerald must be the Brutus who succeeds Marianus' Tarquin.

CAESAR

A "ghost character." Marianus, Prorex of Britain, rules in his name. Which Caesar is meant is never made clear.

CLARE

The nickname sometimes used for Gilbert, Baron of Claridon.

CLARIDON, COUNTESS

Gilbert's wife. At Gilbert's "death" she becomes inconsolable and becomes a Vestal, vowing never again to marry. She moves to Walthamstowe where she lives happily away from pride and ambition that "waits on greatness." She likes The Wasp's honest tongue and accepts the disguised Howlet into her service. To keep away suitors, she agrees to pretend that she had married The Wasp, but in pretense she finds that she loves him in fact and worries about breaking her vow to Vesta. She gives him full management of her estate but becomes cross when she perceives that he misuses his power. She grows enraged when the mediator sent for, Justice Bindover, turns out to be her servant Howlet in disguise. She goes to plead her case in Marianus' court. She drops her complaint, however, when Gilbert reveals his true identity in court and is happily reunited with him.

CONON

A British Baron. Comes to visit his sick friend, Gilbert, who has been stripped of his title Champion and lost £1,000 per annum by Varletti. He declares war on Marianus along with Elidure, Devon, and Tom Archibald. At the last moment, on advice from noble Archibald, they supplicate to Marianus, who in reward banishes Varletti. He is on hand to see the banished Archibald rescue Marianus, and when the traitorous letter from Varletti arrives, he and the other barons are sent from Marianus. Disguised as Archibald's keeper, he reveals a letter he has acquired exposing the plot to bring Katherine's Uncle Percy out of exile in France to lead the conspirators in rebellion. He accompanies Archibald in his guise of Percy, uncle to the traitors, and stands loyally with Marianus at the crisis moment in the final act.

CONSTABLE

A "ghost character." Howlet sys that a coxcomb constable lent him his clothes in which to impersonate Constable Fallbridge.

DAMPIT

A Lombard broker. He furnishes Kenwell, Grig Brandwell, Huntit, and himself as they go help Kenwell woo the "lusty widow" of "walltamstowe" Countess Claridon. He arrives in disguise to woo her himself but is frightened away by "Constable Fallbridge" who supposedly has a warrant against him for receiving stolen goods.

DASH

Clerk to "Justice Bindover." He joins in the mock trial between The Wasp and Countess Claridon to settle their disagreement.

DEVON

A British Baron. Comes to visit his sick friend, Gilbert, who has been stripped of his title Champion and lost £1,000 per annum by Varletti. He declares war on Marianus along with Elidure, Devon, and Tom Archibald. At the last moment, on advice from noble Archibald, they supplicate to Marianus, who in reward banishes Varletti. He is on hand to see the banished Archibald rescue Marianus, and when the traitorous letter from Varletti arrives, he and the other barons are sent from Marianus. He accompanies Archibald in his guise of Percy, uncle to the traitors, and stands loyally with Marianus at the crisis moment in the final act.

ELIDURE

A British Baron. Comes to visit his sick friend, Gilbert, who has been stripped of his title Champion and lost £1,000 per annum by Varletti. He declares war on Marianus along with Elidure, Devon, and Tom Archibald. At the last moment, on advice from noble Archibald, they supplicate to Marianus, who in reward banishes Varletti. He is on hand to see the banished Archibald rescue Marianus, and when the traitorous letter from Varletti arrives, he and the other barons are sent from Marianus. He accompanies Archibald in his guise of Percy, uncle to the traitors, and stands loyally with Marianus at the crisis moment in the final act.

FALLBRIDGE, CONSTABLE

Disguise assumed by Howlet. In this guise, he comes to "make privy search for three or four disguised rascals" at Countess Claridon's while Grig Brandwell, Dampit, Kenwell, and Huntit are there in disguise attempting to woo her. The trick succeeds in driving away the unwanted suitors.

GERALD, GERALDINE, GERARD

Son of Gilbert and Countess Claridon. Unhappy that his inheritance has been divided between him, his mother, and the servant Howlet, he works to dispossess them both. Marianus employs him to entrap Varletti into treason, and he goes with a carte blanche for himself to make Varletti utter traitorous oaths. Katherine, however, a former play fellow and now Varletti's wife, convinces Gerald that Marianus and the barons poisoned his father Gilbert. He signs a pact with Varletti to murder Marianus and take the throne. He agrees to having Katherine's Uncle Percy come back from exile in France to lead them. He and Varletti ambush Marianus in the forest, pretending to work in Archibald's name, but Archibald overhears and intervenes, saving Marianus while the two disguised assassins escape. Marianus is fooled into believing that Gerald is loyal, and Gerald takes his father's title, Champion, as well as Earl of Conon, master of the horse, and captain of the guards. He welcomes Archibald, disguised as Percy, into the conspiracy against Marianus. After deposing the Prorex, he jeers and revels at his banquet until suddenly the banquet table turns to reveal snakes, toads, and newts. He believes himself poisoned, thinks he sees his father's ghost, and renounces his designs upon the throne.

GILBERT, BARON of CLARIDON

Also sometimes nicknamed Clare. The Wasp. Robbed of his title of champion and of the £1,000 per annum that goes with it by Varletti, he takes to his bed and pretends to die. He then disguises himself as The Wasp, a malcontent "Timonist" who rails at authority. He hears from Howlet how his son has turned profligate. As The Wasp, he waits upon the "widow" Countess Claridon. In order to keep off her suitors, he proposes that the Countess let people think that she has privately married The Wasp. When the Countess, having given him her full trust, later objects to his use of her land, he has Howlet, disguised as Justice Bindover, adjudicate her grievance. In court before Marianus, he gives saucy Wasp replies to Countess Claridon before revealing himself and reuniting with her. He reenters after Gerald has usurped Marianus' crown and is mistaken for the ghost of himself, causing Gerald to renounce his usurpation.

GRIG BRANDWELL

A hangman and tavern keeper. He welcomes Howlet, who is disguised as a brother hangman. He agrees along with Dampit and Huntit to assist Kenwell in wooing the "lusty widow" of "walltamstowe" Countess Claridon. He disguises himself as a soldier–Alexander Hannibal Caesar Dangerfield, captain of the garrison in Gunpowder Alley. He courts the widow in this guise but fails to impress her. He is frightened away by "Constable Fallbridge" who supposedly has a warrant against him for taking bribes as a hangman and burning hands with cold irons.

GUARDS, FIRST and SECOND

Marianus' guards. They escort Archibald's wife and son to work in the laundry and kitchen.

HANGMAN

Disguise assumed by Howlet. He falls in with Grig Brandwell, Dampit, Kenwell, and Huntit and learns that they mean to woo the "lust widow" of "walltamstowe", his mistress Countess Claridon.

HANNIBAL

Only mentioned. Archibald, disguised as Percy, likens his crossing from France to Hannibal's crossing the Alps.

HONORIA

A "ghost character." Sister to Marianus. Varletti wishes to marry her to move himself closer to the Prorex.

HORATIO

Only mentioned. When Grig Brandwell, disguised as the soldier Alexander Hannibal Caesar Dangerfield, woos the Countess Claridon and throws down his glove to her, The Wasp replies, "Thanks, good Horatio."

HORATIUS

Only mentioned. Archibald, disguised as Percy, likens his crossing from France to Horatius swimming the Tiber in full armor.

HOWLET

Gilbert's man. He receives the farm, Ivy Bush, as inheritance from his "dead" master. He helps Gilbert feign his death and burial. Gerald then dispossesses him of his farm. Howlet disguises as a hangman from Breakneckshire and reports to his disguised master Gilbert (The Wasp) on Gerald's profligacy. He then becomes Countess Claridon's servant, still in disguise. As "Constable Fallbridge" he scares away her unwanted suitors, Grig Brandwell, Dampit, Kenwell, and Huntit. As "Just ice Bindover" he attempts to smooth the tension arising when Countess Claridon objects to The Wasp's handling of her estate. He reveals himself along with Gilbert in Marianus' court and is rewarded with Ivy Bush again.

HUNTIT

An informer. He goes along with Kenwell, Grig Brandwell, and Dampit to help Kenwell woo the "lusty widow" of "walltamstowe" Countess Claridon. He arrives in disguise as a country lawyer to woo her himself but fails to impress her. He is frightened away by "Constable Fallbridge" who supposedly has a warrant against him for taking bribes to allow vintners and victualers to dress and sell meat on fasting days (and then turning them over to another informer and splitting the reward).

KATHERINE

Varletti's wife. 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.

KEEPER

Disguise assumed by Conon. 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.

KENWELL

A "sharking rascal." 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."

LADY, FIRST and SECOND

Women in Marianus' court. When Gerald and Varletti depose Marianus, they attempt to seduce the women in court, but these turn out to be strumpets placed there to discourage them.

LORDS, FIRST and SECOND

Lords in Marianus' court. They trade quips with The Wasp in the final act.

LUCE

Countess Claridon's woman. She is glad not to have moved into a monastery with her lady but rather out to Walthamstowe. She is hungry for a husband–"six husbands in seven weeks."

MACHIAVEL

Only mentioned. Varletti calls Katherine "my she-Machevill."

MARIANUS

Roman Prorex of Britain. When confronted by the British barons Conon, Elidure, and Devon (forewarned by Archibald) he declares war against them. When they supplicate, he banishes Varletti for his audacity in wishing to marry Marianus' sister and also Tom Archibald for failing to sign his document unread. Hunting later in the forest, he is almost assassinated by the disguised Varletti and Gerald (who falsely claim that they are acting for Archibald). Archibald overhears and rescues Marianus. Marianus, however, receives a message from Varletti falsely claiming that Archibald stage-managed the rescue to curry favor, and Marianus sends Archibald to work like a horse in the mill. He calls for Varletti and Gerald, believing that they have behaved nobly in warning him. He dispossesses the supposed traitorous barons and gives their titles to Varletti and Gerald. He presides over the grievance hearing between Countess Claridon and The Wasp and witnesses The Wasp reveal his true identity as Gilbert, Baron of Claridon. When the rebels intrude to dethrone him, he calls for help from Conon, Elidure, and Devon, forgetting that he has sent them away. Beaten, he gives his crown to the disguised Archibald. Only then does he realize how he has plucked down "true nobility and rais[ed] boys and upstarts." He watches as his loyal, disguised barons defend him and trick the traitors into renouncing their designs upon the throne. He then receives him crown back from Archibald, and pardons the barons.

MESSENGER

From Varletti. He runs his horse to death to deliver a supposed warning from Varletti that Archibald and the barons are traitors against Marianus.

PENELOPE

Only mentioned. When Gilbert sees how Countess Claridon pines over his death and will admit no suitors for a second marriage, he likens her to "good Penelope."

PERCY

The same character appears in two guises:
  • A "ghost character." Katherine's uncle, banished to France. She writes to him to come lead the conspirators against Marianus.
  • The disguise assumed by Archibald after Katherine's letter is intercepted by the loyal barons. As Percy, he receives Marianus' crown. After testing Varletti and Gerald, he stands loyally beside Marianus and returns to him his crown.

SERVANT

A servant of Countess Claridon. He announces the arrival of "Constable Fallbridge."

SON, ARCHIBALD'S

Also called filius. Pleads for his banished father, but Marianus will not listen. Instead, he is sent to the kitchens to work among "the black guards." He dutifully takes refreshment to his jailed father against Marianus' orders and heroically accepts his father's rebuke for disloyalty to the crown. Proving his true loyalty to his father, he accompanies Archibald when he impersonates Percy and looks after the horses. He is among the disguised barons who show loyalty to Marianus in the final act.

TARQUIN

Only mentioned. Katherine alludes to Marianus as the Tarquin whom Gerald's Brutus must depose.

TOM ARCHIBALD

A friend of Gilbert and a wholly honorable man. He prefers to be though of as "plain, homespun Tom" rather than lord. He tells Marianus that Gilbert has died and also that the barons are treacherously unhappy about Varletti's preferments. He says that the commons will rebel if Varletti is not banished. When war is about to erupt, he talks the barons into supplicating before their Prorex, Marianus. In return, Marianus offers them a paper to sign without reading, which Archibald nobly declines. This act is seen as traitorous, and Archibald is banished. He lives simply in the woods and is on hand to thwart Varletti and Gerald's attempt on Marianus' life. Marianus is on the point of pardoning him when a letter arrives from Varletti that convinces Marianus that Archibald stage-managed the rescue to curry favor. Marianus condemns him to be sent to the mill and grind meal like a workhorse. Though he works a torturous routine, Archibald remains loyal. Conan, disguised as his keeper, reveals the plot to bring Katherine's Uncle Percy back from exile in France to lead the conspirators against Marianus. When Archibald's son breaks the law to bring food to him, Archibald reacts by calling the boy traitor and turning him over to the authorities. As Percy, Archibald takes Marianus' crown during the coop. He seats Gerald and Varletti to a banquet and encourages their revels, then literally turns the table to reveal a banquet of snakes, toads, and newts. He causes Gerald and Varletti to renounce their designs on the throne, loyally protects Marianus, and returns the crown to the Prorex.

TRILLABUB

A "ghost character" and likely fictitious. Howlet, disguised as a hangman, alludes to an argument he had with Trillabub the sergeant.

VARLETTI

German favorite of Marianus. He has used his position to enrich himself with Gilbert's titles and annuity. He convinces Marianus to agree to allow him to divorce his wife, Katherine, and marry Marianus' sister, Honoria. Instead, Marianus banishes him. When Gerald come to try to entrap him in a charge of treason, Varletti allows his wife, Katherine, to turn tables on Gerald. Once he receives Gerald's written pact to dethrone Marianus, he plans to use Gerald's help and then use the document as proof of Gerald's treachery in order to dethrone him and take the throne for himself. He and Gerald, disguised, attempt to assassinate Marianus in the forest, pretending to act in Archibald's name, but Archibald intervenes and prevents them. He then sends a message to Marianus convincing him that Archibald stage-managed the rescue to curry favor. Varletti is taken back into Marianus' favor and becomes Marshall and General of the Roman garrison, high admiral of the royal navy, and lord of Devon. He welcomes Archibald, disguised as Percy, into the conspiracy against Marianus. When Marianus is deposed, Varletti jeers and revels at a banquet until suddenly the banquet table turns to reveal snakes, toads, and newts. When the loyal barons intercede, he renounces his designs upon the throne.

WASP, THE

Disguise assumed by Gilbert, Baron of Claridon. As The Wasp, he is a malcontent who buzzes against authority. He watches over his wife, Countess Claridon, and learns about his son Gerald's misconduct.

WIFE, ARCHIBALD'S

Also called uxor. She pleads for her banished husband, but Marianus will not listen. Instead, she is sent to work in the laundry. Although her son later joins the loyal barons, we never learn what becomes of her.

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