The first edition was printed in 1657 for Henry Brome, who found it "among other things of this nature, written, and left by Mr. Rich. Brome." Although the title page indicates that it was acted at Blackfriars, Henry Brome indicates that he does not know where it was originally acted. The same text was reprinted in 1661 as The Royal Exchange.
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALBERTO
Alberto was a banished from Kenwalcus's court for speaking against Segebert although Segebert entreated Kenwalcus to forgive him. Alberto lives as a hermit in the woods, praying and caring for the citizens frequently attacked by outlaws. After Segebert is attacked, Alberto nurses him back to life, for which deed Bertha ultimately reverses his banishment.
ALFRIDE
A Northumbrian Lord. Alfride selects Jeffrey as court fool to entertain King Osriick, who has fallen into melancholy. Later he and Edelbert find Anthynus asleep and mistake him for Osriick. While Anthynus is left in Osriick's place at the Northumbrian court, Alfride accompanies the disguised Osriick to Mildred's house.
ANTHYNUS
Segebert's eldest son. Anthynus is physically indistinguishable from Osriick. Although Anthynus is humble, pious and honorable, Segebert thinks ill of him because he refuses to flatter him. Segebert leaves control of his estate to Anthynus's younger brother Offa, but agrees to take Anthynus with him as a servant. After they are attacked by outlaws hired by Offa to kill them, Anthynus tries to care for his wounded father. While Anthynus is searching the woods for a remedy, Segebert is taken into Alberto's care. Returning to find his father gone, Anthynus swears not to sleep until he finds him. On the point of exhaustion, after chasing an echo through the woods, Anthynus sees the ghosts of six West Saxon Kings, who indicate that he shall be the next King. After this vision, he falls into a deep sleep and is mistaken for Osriick by Alfride and Edelbert who take him to the court. Hoping that his subjects will mistake Anthynus for himself, Osriick leaves Anthynus with Edelbert and Ethelswick and sets out to court Mildred. When Anthynus wakes up, Edelbert and Ethelswick have to tie him to the bed to maintain the illusion that Osriick is incapacitated by melancholia. Theodwald and Eaufride free Anthynus, mistaking his claims that he is not the King for Osriick's delusions. Genius whispers to Anthynus and instructs him to play they part of Osriick, which he does and is married to Bertha. Returning to the West Saxons, he finds himself called upon to sit in judgment over Osriick, whom they believe to be Anthynus, on charges of patricide. Anthynus reveals his true identity, and the charges of patricide are dropped when Jeffrey enters with Segebert. He is reunited with his father and remains married to Bertha.
ARNOLD
Arnold is an old servant in Offa's household. When Osriick comes to court Mildred and is mistaken for Anthynus and charged with Segebert's murder, Arnold prevents Offa from killing Osriick, insisting instead that he should be taken to prison.
BERTHA
Bertha becomes Queen of the West Saxons after the death of her father, Kenwalcus. Although she pledges her hopes of ruling justly in the eyes of heaven, she refuses to follow her father's commandment that she should only marry with Segebert's approval. When Segebert objects that her proposed marriage to Osriick the King of Northumbria threatens to "pervert" the West Saxon laws with the (apparently more authoritarian) Northumbrian laws, she banishes Segebert. She sends word to Osriick via Theodrick that she has accepted his marriage proposal. The wedding, however, is postponed when Osriick falls in love with Mildred and falls into a melancholy. After Osriick flees Northumbria leaving his doppelganger Anthynus in his place, Eaufride sends forged letters hastening the marriage in the hopes that it will cure Osriick of his delusions. As a result, Bertha is married to Anthynus. Bertha and Anthynus are called to sit in judgment over Osriick (who has been mistaken for Anthynus) on charges of patricide, at which point Anthynus reveals his true identity. Bertha still accepts the marriage and forgives all who are penitent for their crimes.
CARDINAL
A Cardinal marries Bertha and Anthynus in a dumb show.
CARPENTER
One of the craftsmen who constructed the secret pit for Offa. He and the other craftsmen return disguised as devils to steal the money they assume Offa has hidden in the pit. Instead, they end up freeing the outlaws and escorting Mildred and Edith out of the house.
CELERICK
A sycophantic West Saxon lord who supports Bertha's marriage to Osriick. Alternate spelling of KELRICK.
CLOWNS
Four Northumbrian laborers. They are anxious to celebrate the "holy day" proclaimed by Osriick in anticipation of his marriage to Bertha. When their masters will not provide them enough wood for a bonfire, Jeffrey convinces them to burn their tools instead. They are prevented from doing so by the constable.
CONSTABLE
The Constable breaks up the Clowns' intended celebration of Osriick's marriage to Bertha with news that Osriick has fallen sick.
DEVILS
A disguise assumed by craftsman. The Carpenter, Mason, and Smith, who have built Offa's secret pit, suspect he will hide treasure in it. They return disguised as devils to steal the money. Instead, they discover that the pit is a prison and end up freeing the outlaws and escorting Mildred and Edith out of the house.
EAUFRIDE
A Northumbrian Lord. Suspecting that Ethelswick and Edelbert are abusing the melancholic Osriick (actually Anthynus), he forces them out of the court. He summons Theodrick to see the ill King and sends forged letters to Bertha that result in her marriage to Anthynus.
ECHO
After being separated from his dying father, Anthynus is led in circles through the woods by an echo.
EDELBERT
A Northumbrian Lord. He and Alfride find the sleeping Anthynus and mistake him for Osriick. When Osriick leaves Northumbria, Edelbert remains with Ethelswick to watch over Anthynus. Eventually, he is forced from the court by Eaufride and Theodwald.
EDITH
Edith is Mildred's nurse. When she learns of Offa's incestuous desire for Mildred, she tells him that Mildred is not actually his sister, that she is the daughter of a noblewoman whose husband was in exile who gave the child to Mildred's mother after Offa's actual sister was stillborn. She promises him proof of this in three days. She hopes that this lie will prevent Offa from raping and killing Mildred in the belief that she may become his legal bride.
EMBASSADOR
Favorite to Osriick the King of Northumbria. See THEODRICK.
ELFRIDE
Elfride is a sycophantic West Saxon lord who supports Bertha's marriage to Osriick in hopes of advancing himself.
ELKWINE
Elkwine is a sycophantic West Saxon lord who supports Bertha's marriage to Osriick in hopes of advancing himself. He is present at Bertha's marriage to Anthynus.
ETHELSWICK
Ethelswick was Favorite to Osriick's father, but was replaced in Osriick's favor by Theodrick. After Osriick banishes Theodrick from the court, he summons Ethelswick so that he can again have a confidant. Osriick tries to convince Ethelswick to rule Northumbria himself, telling the people that Osriick is sick in bed while Osriick secretly leaves the court to pursue Mildred. Ethelswick is fearful that the people will suspect foul play if they do not see the King. Once Anthynus is offered as a substitute for Osriick, Ethelswick remains in Northumbria with Edelbert to watch over him. Eventually, he is forced out of the court by Eaufride and Theodwald.
GENIUS
An invisible character who speaks in whispers to Anthynus, advising him to assume the role of Osriick. The audience cannot hear what Genius whispers, only Anthynus's reaction to the invisible whispers discloses the character.
GHOST of KENWALCUS
Kenwalcus, Bertha's father, was the King of the West Saxons. He attempted to protect the laws he established against innovation by commanding his daughter to marry only with the advice of the Segebert. His only appearance in the play is as a ghost in a dumb show indicating that Anthynus will be the next West Saxon king.
GHOSTS of WEST SAXON KINGS
The ghosts of six West Saxon Kings, including Kenwalcus, appear to Anthynus after his is separated from his wounded father and indicate in a dumb show that he will be the next West Saxon King.
HERMIT
Alberto lives as a hermit in the woods, praying and caring for the citizens frequently attacked by outlaws. See ALBERTO.
JEFFREY
A clown, Jeffrey convinces four laborers whose masters have denied them enough wood to make a bonfire in celebration of Osriick's intended marriage to Bertha that they should burn their tools instead. Alfride selects him as court fool to entertain the melancholic King Osriick. Jeffrey sharply criticizes court life and suggests that he should be granted a monopoly to provide the King with fools. Under Anthynus's command (whom he believes to be Osriick), he searches the wood and finds Segebert.
KEEPER of the PRISON
When Osriick is mistaken for Anthynus and accused of murdering Segebert, he is entrusted to the Keeper of the prison.
KELRICK
Also referred to as Celerick and Kelriick, Kelrick is a sycophantic West Saxon lord who supports Bertha's marriage to Osriick in hopes of advancing himself. He is present at Bertha's marriage to Anthynus.
LORDS
Four Lords attend Osriick and carry out various orders such as announcing his intended marriage to Bertha.
MASON
One of the craftsmen who constructed the secret pit for Offa. He and the other craftsmen return disguised as devils to steal the money they assume Offa has hidden in the pit. Instead, they end up freeing the outlaws and escorting Mildred and Edith out of the house.
MILDRED
Segebert's daughter. She was courted by Theodrick. He shows her picture to Osriick, who also falls in love with her. When her father is banished, her brother Offa tries to convince her to sleep with him. In order to buy herself some time, she pretends to be attracted to him but unwilling to violate the incest taboo. On the night the craftsmen break into the house, Offa almost rapes her but is prevented by the arrival of Osriick, whom he mistakes for Anthynus. She and her nurse Edith are secreted out of the house by the craftsmen. Under the mistaken belief that she is not related to Anthynus (prompted by Edith's honorable lie to Offa), Mildred goes to Osriick (whom she believes to be Anthynus) and declares her love for him. After Osriick's identity is revealed, she consents to marry him.
OFFA
Segebert's youngest son. His flattery blinds Segebert to his evil nature. Being left in control of his father's estate, Offa tries to secure his position by hiring outlaws to kill Segebert and Anthynus. After the outlaws fail once, Offa accompanies them and strikes at his father himself, wounding him in the head but leaving behind his sword. Convinced that his father and brother are dead, Offa casts the outlaws into a secret pit he has had constructed in his house. Next, he informs his sister Mildred of his incestuous desire for her. He is stalled briefly by Mildred and Edith's deceptions; however, he eventually attempts to rape her. He is prevented from doing so by the arrival of Osriick, whom he mistakes for Anthynus and charges with patricide. As his plans are thwarted, he grows mad and is brought on in the final scene raving and bound to a chair. He is untied and taken away to recover in the hopes, as Segebert expresses it, that "his senses may / Bring a new soul into him."
OSRIICK
King of Northumbria. Osriick is physically indistinguishable from Anthynus. Osriick initially seeks Bertha's hand in marriage; however, after seeing Mildred's picture, he falls in love with her. Banishing Theodrick, Mildred's former suitor, from the court, Osriick falls into a melancholy as a result of having no one in whom to confide. He summons Ethelswick to help him. When he discovers his resemblance to Anthynus, Osriick plans to leave Northumbria secretly and to court Mildred while Anthynus remains in his place, ostensibly still suffering from melancholia. Upon arriving at Mildred's house, he is mistaken for Anthynus and imprisoned for patricide. At the prison, Mildred (thinking Osriick is Anthynus and under the mistaken impression that she is not Anthynus's sister) declares her love to Osriick. When he is sent before Bertha and Anthynus (whom everyone believes to be Osriick) for trial, his true identity is revealed and Mildred consents to marry him.
OUTLAWS, THREE
Offa hires three outlaws to kill the banished Segebert and Anthynus in the woods. One outlaw is left for dead after the fight and is tended to by Alberto. After being assured by the other two outlaws that Segebert and Anthynus are dead, Offa locks them in a secret pit to starve so that they will not betray him. They are inadvertently rescued by the craftsmen who had built the pit when they return to Offa's house hoping to steal the money they assume he has hidden in the pit. The outlaw saved by Alberto becomes penitent, testifies against Offa and is forgiven by Bertha.
PHYSICIAN
A physician attempts to cure Osriick's melancholy.
PROLOGUE
Identifies Brome as a modest playwright, who "scarce ever durst / of Poets rank himself above the worst / Though most that he has writ had past the rest." He offers the play to the audience to judge.
SEGEBERT
A West Saxon Lord. Segebert was commanded by Kenwalcus to protect the West Saxon laws when Bertha became Queen by not allowing her to marry anyone who would compromise them. Bertha banishes Segebert when he attempts to prevent her marriage to Osriick the King of Northumbria, who would be too harsh. Before leaving the Kingdom, Segebert entrusts his estate to his youngest son Offa, the wicked flatterer, and advises his daughter Mildred to reject the affection shown her by Theodrick. Although Segebert does not trust his eldest son Anthynus, who will not flatter him, he takes him with him into banishment as a servant. In this way he hopes to prevent Anthynus from challenging Offa for control of the estate. He sets out for Northumbria in an attempt to convince Osriick not to marry Bertha. En route, he is set upon by outlaws hired by Offa to kill him. After escaping them once, he is wounded in the head by Offa himself. Recognizing the sword that he had given Offa, Segebert realizes that he had misjudged his sons. While Anthynus is searching for a remedy for his wounds, Segebert is taken in by Alberto the Hermit, who nurses him back to health. Jeffrey finds Segebert in the woods and brings him to Anthynus with Offa's sword as evidence against him. After his own banishment is reversed, he entreats Bertha to reverse Alberto the Hermit's as well. Segebert is extremely pious and expresses faith that anyone who is penitent may be forgiven. These positive qualities, however, are counterbalanced by his susceptibility to Offa's flattery.
SERVANT to the HERMIT
While living as a hermit, Alberto is accompanied by a comic servant who frequently complains of his lack of food. The servant complains that while Alberto spends most of his time praying, he is left with the brunt of the difficult work of caring for or burying the outlaw's victims who appear weekly.
SERVANTS to OFFA
The stage directions indicate four servants are present in Offa's house when Osriick is mistaken for Anthynus. One voices support for Arnold's decision to take "Anthynus" to prison.
SMITH
One of the craftsmen who constructed the secret pit for Offa. He and the other craftsmen return disguised as devils to steal the money they assume Offa has hidden in the pit. Instead, they end up freeing the outlaws and escorting Mildred and Edith out of the house.
THEODRICK
Also identified in the text as "Embassador," Theodrick is Favorite to Osriick the King of Northumbria. While negotiating the marriage between Osriick and Bertha, Theodrick falls in love with Mildred. After concluding the marriage negotiations, he shows Mildred's picture to Osriick, who also falls in love with her. Osriick banishes Theodrick from the court and confines him to his house under guard. When Eaufride and Theodwald suspect that Ethelswick and Edelbert are abusing Osriick (actually Anthynus), they send for Theodrick. Theodrick announces that being separated from the King has been torturous, apologizes for loving Mildred and relinquishes any claim to her.
THEODWALD
A Northumbrian Lord. Suspecting that Ethelswick and Edelbert are abusing the melancholic Osriick (actually Anthynus), he helps Eaufride force them out of the court. He is present at Bertha's marriage to Anthynus.