B
A youth in Medwall’s Fulgens and Lucrece with no other name designation and, according to the character known as A, a ‘masterless’ man. He begins the play by pretending to be part of the audience, who have apparently just enjoyed a banquet before the play. He tells the so-called A (a character with no other name designation) that he is not a player (despite his fine attire) and yet proceeds to present the lengthy argument of the play. He is ultimately the servant to Publius Cornelius (having been hired from out of the audience where he sits, and referring to himself as a ‘bawd’ to help Publius Cornelius to marry Lucrece. He later becomes a rival to A for the hand of Joan. When they must prove themselves to Joan, they at first sing then wrestle but fail to impress the girl. At last they joust ‘at fart prick in cule (buttock)’: a contest that apparently requires their hands to be bound and ends with the loser creating a foul miasma (Thomas Betteridge and Greg Walker, in The Oxford Handbook of Tudor Drama, opine that in this event ‘they launch[] themselves at each other in squatting positions with poles thrust between their buttocks, joking about incontinence and farting’ although they provide no evidence for this specific interpretation of the activity). B throws A down. When B claims her in victory, Joan informs them that she is already promised to another man but will spin them each a pair of breeches as a consolation prize. She then beats them. B promises revenge for this. After the (apparently lengthy) interval, B carries a message from Publius Cornelius to Lucrece but comically mistakes the meaning to bawdy effect. Later, when Lucrece tells B to tell his master that she has chosen his rival suitor, B fears that Publius Cornelius will run ‘mad as a hare’. After B and A exchange some comic observations upon Lucrece’s choice, and on husbands and wives generally, B is left to make the curtain speech, ask forgiveness for the author if the play has offended anyone, and end the piece.

BAAL
I. A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. Worshipped by man, and a reason of God's anger. II. Only mentioned in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. In the Bible, Baal designated all fake gods and idols. When Busy interrupts the puppet-show, ranting against all forms of entertainment, including the theatre idol, he says the theatrical profession is damnable because it is an idol. In Busy's opinion, those who plead for the theatre actually vouch for Baal.

BAALAM
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. Moses reminds God of his mercy in saving man from this devil.

BAAL'S PRIESTS
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of sinful men.

BAALPHOENIX
Listed in the dramatis personae of the anonymous Philander, King of Thrace. Characteristics and actions not given in the surviving plot.

BAASHA
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.

BABBLE
Listed in the dramatis personae of the anonymous Philander, King of Thrace. Characteristics and actions not given in the surviving plot.

BABIES
Several babies, likely prop dolls, appear in Middleton's A Chaste Maid in Cheapside. The country wench confronts Touchwood Senior with one. The wet nurse brings one in to Allwit and Whorehound. The Lady with a basket leaves one with the two Promoters. The Midwife brings in the newest Allwit child to be viewed at the christening. Davy brings the baby to the Allwits with the rest of their children.

BABILAS
Babilas is son to Senio and Aurelia's brother in the anonymous Ghost. He fights against Octavian in a duel, and abandons his seriously wounded body. He runs away because strict laws against duels had been proclaimed. In a letter he sends to his friend Valerio from Orleans, where he lives disguised in order not to be found out, he explains he killed Octavian and encourages his friend to woo his sister Aurelia, now that her fiancée, Octavian, had been slain. Later, still disguised, he visits Valerio at Erotia's, and reveals that he would deliver himself "to the Laws" if he knew his sister were to become Valerio's wife, but until that moment, he intends to remain disguised. On the day of the funeral, in the Friar's cave, Babilas is frightened by Octavian's "ghost," and he confesses his sins. At the end of the play it turns out that Octavian is alive. Therefore, Babilas is not a murderer, and they are finally reconciled. He will accept to be one of the "bridesmen" at the weddings both of Philarchus and Erotia, and of Pinnario and Cunicula.

BABULO**1600
A foolish servant to Janicola in Chettle, Dekker and Haughton's Patient Grissil. His odd wit catches the attention of Gwalter who takes him to the court when he marries Grissil. Later, he is banished from court along with Janicola and Laurio as part of Gwalter's test of Grissil.

BABY**1625
A non-speaking character in Fletcher's The Chances. The son of Constantia and the Duke, the Baby is given by a Woman to John, who hires Gillian to take care of him. Gillian and Constantia take the Baby to Peter Vecchio's house, where they are reunited with the Duke.

BABY**1629
Constance Holdup's illegitimate child in Brome's The Northern Lass. It is referred to by herself and by Sir Philip. This may or may not be the 'baby' she carries on when masquerading as the mad Northern Lass.

BABYLONICUS, BUDDA **1615
Only mentioned in Tomkis’ Albumazar. Albumazar’s magical cant includes this allusion.

BACCHA
Baccha is a waiting-woman at the banquet of Petrutio in Marmion's The Antiquary. With Julia she dresses the drunken Petro in women's clothing.

BACCHANALES
A group of mute female Bacchanales accompanies the priest of Bacchus to the stage in Gascoigne and Kinwelmershe's Jocasta.

BACCHANALIANS
In Richards' Messalina eight Bacchanalians dance in the wedding masque.

BACCHUS
I. The Chorus and Polynice express their reverence for Bacchus, tutelary god of the Greek drama and of the city of Thebes in Gascoigne and Kinwelmershe's Jocasta. II. The "belly-God" (according to Mercury) in Wilson's The Cobbler's Prophecy; he walks across the stage with the other gods in the opening dumbshow. III. Bacchus, the god, is entertained by King Midas in Lyly's Midas. In return, Bacchus offers Midas anything that the King should ask for. Midas requests the ability to turn everything he touches into gold. IV. Bacchus is the god of wine and a member of the Olympian tribunal hearing the case against Paris in Peele's The Arraignment of Paris. V. Only mentioned in the anonymous Birthe of Hercules. Mercurius mentions Bacchus when he states that his father has told him to prevent Amphitruo from coming and, to that end, he will "put a garlande on my head and make myself lyke one of Bacchus knights." VI. Bacchus figures twice in Jonson's Poetaster.

• Tibullus is disguised as Bacchus at the masquerade banquet at court. Tibullus/Bacchus enters with Ovid's party and takes part in the revelry presided by Ovid/Jupiter. When the master of the gods pretends to court Chloë/Venus, in order to make Julia/Juno jealous, Tibullus/Bacchus observes that Tucca/Mars is very angry. When everybody asks for a song, Tibullus/Bacchus inquires for the opinion of his mistress, Plautia/Ceres. When she consents, Tibullus/Bacchus invites Albius/Vulcan to sing a song. When Caesar enters, railing against the debauched party and banishing Ovid, it is understood that Tibullus, like the other poets, sheds off his revelry role and shares Ovid's disgrace.
• The god is only mentioned. On the Via sacra in Rome, Tucca manages to save Crispinus from being arrested for debt. Moreover, he manages to make the gullible Minos pay for a fictional play-writing enterprise, commissioning Crispinus to write a play against Horace. Satisfied with himself, Tucca invites everyone to make peace, take their hands, and honor the gods sometimes. The gods Tucca proposes to be honored are Bacchus, Comus, and Priapus, who patronize alcoholism, debauchery, and sexual excess. In Roman mythology, Bacchus is the god of wine, counterpart of Dionysius. He was one of the most worshipped gods of Greek mythology. At first, he was only the god of wine. Later, Bacchus became the god of vegetation and warm moisture. Still later, he was the god of pleasures and of civilization.

VII. Only mentioned in Jonson, Marston, and Chapman's Eastward Ho!. At the Blue Anchor tavern, Security and Bramble find the knight and his crew on their knees for too much drinking. Security explains they are praying for the success of their voyage, while Bramble observes cynically that the three adventurers are praying to god Bacchus. VIII. Bacchus represents autumn in the last of the four little masque-like interludes in [?]Queen Henrietta's Florimène. He enters singing, supported by two Sileni and followed by three "boon companions," who dance. They are briefly interrupted by four satyrs, who later ask pardon from Pan, the god who brings an end to the autumn interlude. IX. Only mentioned in the anonymous Narcissus. Clinias mentions Bacchus when, flattering Narcissus, he praises his slender belly in relation to that of Bacchus. Later, Narcissus also mentions him when he falls in love with his own image in the water of the well, unaware of the fact that it is his own reflection. He states his intention to fast for love: "Not care of Ceres, Morpheus, nor of Bacchus, / That is meate, drinke and sleepe from hence shall lake us." According to Greek mythology, Bacchus–son to Zeus–was the god of wine and vegetation. He is usually characterized in two ways: either as the god of vegetation (of the fruit of the trees), or as the popular god of wine and cheer, who showed mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make wine. As the latter, he is portrayed as a pleasantly-plump, belly-protruding drowsy and merry god. X. The infant son of Jupiter and Semele in Heywood's The Silver Age, Bacchus is rescued by his father from his mother's womb as she is being destroyed by the overwhelming force of divine love. XI. Bacchus is an attendant of Harmony in the masque with which Brome's The Antipodes concludes. XII. Only mentioned in Randolph's Muses' Looking Glass. Part of the lineage of Tragedy, according to Comedy. XIII. God of wine in Tomkis’ Lingua. Part of Gustus’s retinue. He wears a garland of leaves and grapes, a white suit covered with a thin “sarsenet" falling to his feet. He carries a spear wreathed with vine leaves and a target displaying a tiger. XIV. Only mentioned in Dekker’s Match Me in London. Valesco and Granada admire his grapes.

BACCHUS**1599
Baccchus accompanies Plenty in Marston's Histrio-Mastix.

BACHA
Bacha is a young widow and the mother of Urania in Beaumont & Fletcher's Cupid's Revenge. She has a secret affair with Leucippus, son of the duke Leontius motivated by his money and status. Leucippus is discovered at Bacha's house by Leontius, Ismenus and Timantus . Trying to protect her, Leucippus swears that he came to her with lustful thoughts but that she refused him and even refused marriage. Leontius is persuaded by Leucippus' speech; he decides to send Leucippus away and woo Bacha himself. Bacha marries Leontius, but tries to maintain her sexual relationship with Leucippus. When Leucippus refuses her, Bacha decides to take revenge, using Timantus as a tool, and to make her daughter heir to the throne. Bacha and Timantus make Leontius resentful towards Leucippus by praising him extravagantly; Bacha then sends the lords Agenor , Nisus and Dorialus to Leontius to defend Leucippus, knowing that this will make him even more suspicious. She eventually tells Leontius that Leucippus has propositioned her, and the duke orders that his son be taken to prison. After Leucippus' escape, Bacha is informed by Timantus that Urania has fled. She sends Timantus to assassinate Leucippus, and raises an army. Ismenus, Agenor, Dorialus and Nisus bring the news that Leontius is dead. They take Bacha to Leucippus. Leucippus refuses to stain his hands with her blood, and Bacha stabs him with a concealed knife, before stabbing herself. The new duke Ismenus declines to bury Bacha, and instead orders that she be thrown in a ditch.

BACHEUS **1619
Arismena’s father and Lariscus’s uncle, a shepherd in (?)Goffe’s Careless Shepherdess. He argues with Cleobulus over their children wishing to marry and orders the rich man off his land. He privately vows to make Cleobulus realize that his virtuous daughter is actually too good for Cleobulus’ son. He goes home in a rage and beats Graculus and his whelp. He is mollified by Arismena’s assurances that she does not love Philaritus. Castarina tells him that Philaritus and Lariscus are about to fight a duel over the women. He informs Cleobulus of the duel. Although he does not like Cleobulus, he conspires with him to stop the bloodshed, and they are reconciled. The young men return with news that the women have been stolen by satyrs. He disguises as a satyr to demonstrate that it was all a jest and he, Cleobulus, and servants only pretended to steal the women. When the actual satyrs attack and steal the women in earnest, he goes in pursuit with the others. He is captured along with the others and taken before the Grand Satyr. He weeps over the hearses of Arismena and Castarina. When the women rise up, however, and all is explained, he happily leads the lovers to their weddings.

BACON, FRIAR ROGER
I. A scholar and magician in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Friar Bacon takes up residence in Oxford early in the play, determined to continue the necromantic activities for which he is already famous. His chief projects include ringing all England with a wall of brass and creating the Brazen Head that will be capable of delivering philosophic lectures. When the disguised Prince Edward visits him for assistance in his pursuit of Margaret, the friar shows him the magic "glass prospective" in which the prince views the love relationship that has arisen between Margaret and Edward Lacy, the prince's best friend. When King Henry, the Emperor of Germany, and the King of Castile visit Oxford, Bacon finds himself in a magic competition with Jaques Vandermast, the Emperor's magician. Although Vandermast easily bests Friar Bungay by having the Spirit in the Shape of Hercules appear to destroy the magic tree with its fire-breathing dragon that Bungay has created, the visiting magician instantly concedes defeat when Bacon arrives, and the Englishman then orders the Spirit to take Vandermast back to his native Hapsburg. Later, Bacon, with the assistance of Bungay, has nearly completed his work on the Brazen Head when he and his colleague become fatigued from watching the Head around the clock. In order to rest, Bacon commands Miles to attend the Head and to wake him the instant the object speaks, so that the final actions necessary to complete the project may be taken. The foolish assistant, however, neglects to call the friar when the Brazen Head utters "Time is," and again fails to call Bacon when the Head says "Time was." Only after the object utters "Tim is past" and the Hand With the Hammer destroys the Head does Miles summon the friar. Outraged at the loss of what was to be his greatest work, Bacon curses Miles, a curse that is fulfilled a short time later when a devil arrives to take the assistant off to hell. Bacon's final involvement with magic comes when two young friends, both undergraduates at Oxford (the First and Second Scholars) visit the friar with the request to use his "glass prospective" to see how their fathers (Lambert and Serlsby) are doing at home. What the young men view is the duel their fathers fight over Margaret of Fressingfield, and the sight of their parents' deaths incites them to fight and kill one another. Bacon is so distressed by the harm his magic has caused that he destroys the magic glass and commits himself to a life henceforth focused on God alone. II. A scholar and magician in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Friar Bacon takes up residence in Oxford early in the play, determined to continue the necromantic activities for which he is already famous. His chief projects include ringing all England with a wall of brass and creating the Brazen Head that will be capable of delivering philosophic lectures. When the disguised Prince Edward visits him for assistance in his pursuit of Margaret, the friar shows him the magic "glass prospective" in which the prince views the love relationship that has arisen between Margaret and Edward Lacy, the prince's best friend. When King Henry, the Emperor of Germany, and the King of Castile visit Oxford, Bacon finds himself in a magic competition with Jaques Vandermast, the Emperor's magician. Although Vandermast easily bests Friar Bungay by having the Spirit in the Shape of Hercules appear to destroy the magic tree with its fire-breathing dragon that Bungay has created, the visiting magician instantly concedes defeat when Bacon arrives, and the Englishman then orders the Spirit to take Vandermast back to his native Hapsburg. Later, Bacon, with the assistance of Bungay, has nearly completed his work on the Brazen Head when he and his colleague become fatigued from watching the Head around the clock. In order to rest, Bacon commands Miles to attend the Head and to wake him the instant the object speaks, so that the final actions necessary to complete the project may be taken. The foolish assistant, however, neglects to call the friar when the Brazen Head utters "Time is," and again fails to call Bacon when the Head says "Time was." Only after the object utters "Tim is past" and the Hand With the Hammer destroys the Head does Miles summon the friar. Outraged at the loss of what was to be his greatest work, Bacon curses Miles, a curse that is fulfilled a short time later when a devil arrives to take the assistant off to hell. Bacon's final involvement with magic comes when two young friends, both undergraduates at Oxford (the First and Second Scholars) visit the friar with the request to use his "glass prospective" to see how their fathers (Lambert and Serlsby) are doing at home. What the young men view is the duel their fathers fight over Margaret of Fressingfield, and the sight of their parents' deaths incites them to fight and kill one another. Bacon is so distressed by the harm his magic has caused that he destroys the magic glass and commits himself to a life henceforth focused on God alone. III. The Friar helps the Germans defeat the Turkish army at Ravenna in ?Greene and Chettle's John of Bordeaux, but he is quickly captured by the Turkish as he is reading a conjuring book. He tricks Amurath into giving up his crown and royal robes by conjuring a false Sellimus, who tells his father that unless he pays the ransom, he will be killed. Along with Ferdinand and Vandermast he conjures a dream for the Emperor in which is foretold the outcome of his ongoing war with the Turkish. He blocks Vandermast's attempts at conjuring the now banished Queen for the sake of Ferdinand by substituting Ferdinand's wife. He feeds and cheers the depressed and banished John of Bordeaux and befriends John's wife. He is blamed by the Emperor for conspiring against him, and is captured and imprisoned. Bacon is told that unless he can find someone to defend his case, he will be executed. Bacon conjures a spirit, Astrow, who sets him free. With a final word of warning to Perce to mend his ways, he sets him free, along with all the Emperor's prisoners. IV. Only mentioned in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. The Medieval English friar Roger Bacon (1214?-1294?) was one of the earliest and most farseeing of scientists. He stressed the need for observation and experiment as the true basis of science. He believed that knowledge could be more certainly advanced by experimenting with real things than by poring over the books of Aristotle. During the conversation between Cob and Mathew, the water bearer alludes ironically to Mathew's humble origin, since his father was a fishmonger. Thus, Cob says that his nose will be favored with the ghost of herring and of Rasher Bacon. In his self-conceited attempt to seem educated, Mathew corrects Cob, implying that he probably meant Roger Bacon. Cob's pragmatism, however, has the upper hand, and he replies imperturbably that, no, he meant Rasher Bacon. Cob does not allow Mathew to intimidate him by mentioning great philosophers' names, and he sticks to his point, grounded in the immediate reality.

BACTRIANS
Indicated as "people of Bohare" in the original plot of the anonymous Tamar Cam. One of the groups of envoys sent from the conquered races. They enter in procession at play's end to do homage to their conqueror, Tamor Cham.

BACURIUS
Bacurius is an Iberian lord in Beaumont and Fletcher's A King and No King. Bacurius's function in the play is to torment Bessus. In act three, Bacurius challenges Bessus to a fight for the sole purpose of exposing the latter as a coward. Bacurius refuses to accept Bessus's excuses for postponement. Bacurius coerces Bessus into proclaiming himself a coward. Bacurius also takes Bessus's sword. In act five, it is Bacurius who brings Licones to see Spaconia. When Bacurius is confronted by the two loony swordsmen hired by Bessus, Bacurius easily beats the two men into submission. Bacurius even has his own servant beat the swordsmen and Bessus.

BADLUCK, THOMAS
A "ghost character" in Quarles' The Virgin Widow. Pertenax has a bond from him.

BAGLIONI**1607
An assassin and a braggart in Barnes's The Devil's Charter hired by Caesar Borgia to kill Bandino Rozzi, the apothecary. On the night that Frescobaldi is to murder the Duke of Candy, he runs into Baglioni who sees him practicing his stabbing skill in pantomime and asks him if he's gone mad in a bizarre dialog where the two ruffians allude to devils, gods, and mythical characters of the night. After Frescobaldi is killed by Caesar, Baglioni does not reappear until Act 5 when Caesar Borgia gives him gold to murder the apothecary, Rozzi. He meets Rozzi and Bernardo, Alexander's manservant who has come for poison. But Rozzi has the final laugh, because Baglioni drinks the poison wine and after he shoots Rozzi, Baglioni, in a long prose speech recognizes that he too has been poisoned, "guilty of mine own death."

BAGLIONE, PAULO
Paulo Baglione is the Abbot of Monaco and uncle to Biancha, Duchess of Pavia, in Ford's Love's Sacrifice. His status as a prince of the Church runs counter to derogatory remarks by other characters concerning Biancha's low birth. The Abbot's first visit to the Court of Pavia breaks his journey to Rome, where he is due to be made a Cardinal (although his new dignity is not specifically referred to on his return). His welcome is shown in a dumbshow. After dinner, he is entertained by a masque of 'antickes' which turns into a massacre, as the three court ladies made pregnant and deserted by Ferentes turn the performance into a public execution of private justice, when they collectively stab him to death. The Abbot makes no comment or intervention on this occasion. When he returns from Rome to visit his niece, Biancha has been murdered by her husband, and recently buried. The Abbot attends the Duke's ceremonial penance at her tomb, where her innocence is proclaimed before both Fernando and the Duke commit suicide. The Abbot on this occasion is moved to make brief remarks on both men's desperate ends, and nearly as briefly gives his approval and blessing to the severe justice dispensed by the new Duke, Roseilli. Very possibly the most reticent Cardinal in the entire cannon.

BAGOA
A servant to Dipsas, the enchantress in Lyly's Endymion. She assists her mistress to place a curse upon Endymion while he sleeps, but she pities him quietly as she does. We later learn from Dares that Dipsas turned Bagoa into an aspen tree for betraying her secrets. We learn in V.iii that the secret she betrayed was the curse her mistress placed upon Endymion. Cynthia's touch restores her to her woman's shape, and she is matched to Sir Tophas.

BAGOLA
Bagola is a sutler's wife in Davenant's The Siege. She and her husband camp with the Tuscan army and make a living by selling provisions to the soldiers. She is amazed and confused by the rampant extortion amongst the Tuscan troops. For example, when Mervole rolls up a large tab, he tells Bagola to charge Ariotto's account and add a hefty tip for herself.

BAGOT **1600
"A cruel covetous broker" in the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell. He enters close to the beginning of the play to announce that though Banister's father was at one time Bagot's master, he has had Banister arrested for owing Frescobald £1000 hoping for a reward from Frescobald. Frescobald reprimands him for his action but Bagot explains that Banister is well able to pay his debts and wastes his money on gambling and prostitutes. Banister and his wife explain that Bagot is ungrateful and dishonest and Frescobald believes them, sending Bagot away. To get vengeance on Banister Bagot swears he will buy up all Banister's debts cheap from his creditors in order to make Banister ache with sorrow. Later, in Antwerp he has Banister detained by the Governor hoping to watch him rot in prison, his wife hang herself, and her children die of starvation. He has brought jewels worth £5000 for which he paid only £200. He knows they're stolen and so wishes to sell them abroad. The governor and he are within £200 of making a deal. He has sent the bills of debt to Cromwell in advance so that if the winds delayed his boat Cromwell wd nevertheless be able to arrest Banister. He rejects Crowell's wishes that he should show human warmth towards Banister and accuses Cromwell who has rejected gain as a motive to act, of hypocrisy. When the governor negotiates to buy the jewels Bagot has brought from England the Governor's increases his offer on condition that the honest Banister be forgiven his debts. Bagot refuses to do anything to help Banister. When Bowser arrives with news that Bagot has jewels stolen from the king Bagot is arrested and later hanged. His property is given by the Antwerp merchants to Banister.

BAGOT, EDWARD
I. Favorite of King Richard II, along with Bushy, Scroop, and Greene in the anonymous Thomas of Woodstock. Bagot and his friends, assisted by the crooked lawyer Tresilian, hate Woodstock and stir up the King's resentment of his government; their intention is to run the country for themselves. At the coronation, Richard, stung by Woodstock's forthright criticism, gives Bagot the important post of Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. Soon the favorites persuade the King to "farm out" the realm to them, one piece each: Bagot gets the long south-western stretch between the Thames and the tip of Cornwall. He fights and is defeated in the last battle, but escapes; according to the rumour, he has fled to Bristol, and the King's opponents resolve to guard the ports to prevent him from fleeing abroad. II. Along with Bushy and Green, he is a follower of King Richard in Shakespeare's Richard II. When Bushy and Green go to Bristol, Bagot goes to King Richard in Ireland but he later turns informer and accuses the Duke of Aumerle of being involved in the murder of the Duke of Gloucester.

BAGPIPER
Plays music to accompany the return of the victorious Jockey in Shirley's Hyde Park. He is given money by Bonavent, so that he will play more, this time to provide a tune to which Lacy will have to dance.

BAG–SHOT
A decayed Clerk, or run-down student in Cartwright's The Ordinary, he is a regular at the Ordinary or inn and along with Catchney, Sir Christopher, and Rimewell, spends much time lamenting how bad business is and drinking heavily. All four of them sing outside Andrew's window at his supposed wedding to Jane (really to Priscilla) and are promptly arrested.

BAIAZET
See also BAJAZET and related spellings.

BAIAZET **1587
A lord serving Amurack in Greene's Alphonsus, King of Arragon.

BAIAZET**1618
Baiazet is the eldest son of Amurath and the heir to the Turkish throne in Goffe's The Courageous Turk. He marries Hatam, the daughter of the Phrygian king Germaine Ogly in order to seal a diplomatic and military alliance. When his father dies, Baiazet has some misgivings about following "the Turkish law" that requires he have his brother Jacup killed so that there will be no possible rival for political power, but he finally accepts the advice of Lala Schahin and Eurenoses that Jacup must die.

BAIAZET **1618
At the beginning of Goffe's Raging Turk, Baiazet, who longs like Tamburlane for power and glory, has been passed over as Emperor of Turkey, and the people have instead chosen his youngest son, the wise and gentle Corcutus. To avoid his father's threats of war, Corcutus yields the throne to to him. Baiazet learns of his brother Zemes's flight to Armenia, and resolves to destroy this threat on the battlefield with the help of Achmetes. Before meeting Zemes' forces, he orders his sons Trizham and Mahomet to prevent Zemes from escaping after the battle. When the vengeful Isaack tells him that Achmetes has knowingly allowed Zemes to escape, he vows to punish the treachery, and is advised by the bassa to give the general Death's Mantle, which by identifying its recipient as the emperor's enemy authorizes any man to kill him. He stages a celebration, at which he hears but does not believe Achmetes' account of his fight with Zemes. He responds with a speech of praise, but at the end of it gives the general the black mantle. At Caigubus' call, however, the janissaries enter and threaten the emperor with death instead. He pretends to forgive Achmetes, and announces a war against Rome. Mahomet and Trizham try to persuade him to keep the peace, but he orders their death, and personally strangles them with the help of Isaack, Selymus, and Mesithes for their failure to prevent Zemes' escape. Then he stabs Achmetes to death. In his fury, he feels himself abandoned, and threatens to kill himself, but is stopped by the courtiers; yet he feels cursed by what he has done. He gives the province of Amasia to Mahomates (though he is made jealous by the people's affection for this prince), but tells Selymus he is still too young to govern. The Monk's failed assassination attempt makes him realize that power has brought not satisfaction but anxiety, and he resolves to crown Achometes in his stead and retire to a life of quiet satisfaction. When he has Achometes proclaimed, however, the people refuse to accept him. To assuage his fear of his son Mahomates he suborns Asmehemedes to murder him, then murders the murderer in return. Returning to Constantinople, he is ambushed by Selymus and his Tartars, but drives the rebels from the field. He learns that Achomates has revolted on learning that the people prefer his father, and decides on the advice of the bassas to appoint Selymus as his champion rather than risk his own life to punish his favorite's insolence. When the bassas leave with the boy, however, he suspects treachery, a suspicion confirmed when their joint force makes him give up his crown. He rages. Under Haman's care, he meditates on the vagaries of political fortune, until a vision brought by Nemesis of all the victims of his ambition unhinges him, and imagining that he will somehow rise above mortality he dies.

BAILEY
A "ghost" or possibly a fictional character in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. When Ely is in disguise as a countryman, he attempts to keep Robin Hood from looking into his egg basket by telling him that all the eggs are promised to Master Bailey's wife. Robin responds that neither Bailey nor his wife will have a single egg, and then finds the Regent's seal in the basket.

BAILEY ERRAND
A persona adopted by Iniquity in the anonymous Nice Wanton when he serves the judge Daniel.

BAILEY'S WIFE
A "ghost" or possibly a fictional character in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. When Ely is in disguise as a countryman, he attempts to keep Robin Hood from looking into his egg basket by telling him that all the eggs are promised to Master Bailey's wife.

BAILIE**1513
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Hick Scorner. The bailiff, or sheriff's man, who caught Imagination stealing his brother's hackney horse, a lame brown bay.

BAILIFF**1592
An anonymous bailiff in the Anonymous A Knacke To Knowe A Knave brings two Poor Old Men before Walter, the Knight and the Squire. The poor old men will be imprisoned unless they give Walter their houses, but the Knight relieves them by paying their small debt of 40 shillings.

BAILIFF**1618
Creon's Bailiff is made unemployed when Simonides inherits his father's estate in Massinger, Middleton and Rowley's The Old Law. Along with the other servants, the Bailiff persuades Gnothos and the Clerk to help them find rich widows who are old enough to be executed under the Old Law. They marry these widows, and dance with them in a tavern. At the end of the play, Evander reveals that the Old Law was a fiction, and the servants are thus lumbered with their elderly wives.

BAILIFF of HEREFORD **1599
Attempts to break up the fight between Herbert and Powis in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle. He is knocked to the ground.

BAILIFF of HEXHAM
The father of four sons in the Anonymous A Knacke To Knowe A Knave:

• Walter, the farmer;
• John, the priest,
• Cutbert Cutpurse the Coneycatcher, and
• Perin, the courtier.

During his sixty years as a bailiff he has collected bribes from his prisoners. Now he his dying, and he has asked his four sons to assemble at his deathbed. He admonishes them to look to themselves and to get rich by cheating others, which they all have done so far. He dies without repenting and a devil comes to fetch him.

BAILIFFS
Two bailiffs of London refuse to submit their city to Canute in the Anonymous Edmond Ironside. In the ensuing attack, Canute's army is dispersed and Canute has to flee to Worcester.

BAILIFFS, TWO **1641
A “ghost character" in (?)Shipman’s Grobiana’s Nuptials. Grobians. They are on the list of invitees Oyestus is sent to cry into the Grobian feast.

BAILO
Bailo is Antigone's tutor in Gascoigne and Kinwelmershe's Jocasta (this Italian designation tells us that Gascoigne and Kinwelmershe were working from Dolce rather than a Greek or Latin text of Euripides). He tells her about the besieging army and about Polynices' projected parlay with Eteocles.

BAJAZET
See also BAIAZET and related spellings.

BAJAZET
Emperor of the Turks in ?Greene's Selimus I. Begins the play with a long monologue outlining the cares a ruler faces. He laments the loss of his allies, Ishmael the Perisan Sophi, Caragius Bassa, and Hali Bassa, and the loss of his eldest son Alemshae in battle versus Ramurchan and his Tartars. Forced to conclude a peace with his enemies, Bajazet laments the challenges his three sons pose for him, particularly Selimus, who openly seeks the crown. Although Bajazet wants the crown to go to his son Acomat, Selimus has popular support as well as the support of the Janissaries. Bajazet is left having to overlook Selimus' treachery or else face overthrow at the hands of the Bashaws. Chereseoli and Mustaffa enter to Bajazet and console him by asserting their loyalty, but two Messengers then enter, bringing Bajazet news that Selimus has arranged a marriage with Ramurchan's daughter and is marching towards Bajazet leading a force of Tartars and his followers from Trebizond. Bajazet then receives Occhiali, Selimus' messenger, and refuses to believe Selimus' professions of loyalty, seeing them as a ploy to gain the crown. Bajazet grants Selimus authority over Samandria, and sends Chereseoli with Occhiali to deliver this news to Selimus. Bajazet then takes Mustaffa's counsel and prepares to move himself and his forces to Byzantium, in order to protect the town against Selimus. Leading his army to Byzantium, Bajazet encounters Selimus at the head of his army and chastises him for his disloyalty. Selimus counters by accusing Bajazet of misunderstanding him and being disloyal to him by willing the crown to Acomat. After defeating Selimus' forces in battle, Bajazet laments the death of Chereseoli and orders the execution of Ottrante, who was responsible for the earlier death of Bajazet's son Alemshae. Bajazet then promises to reward his loyal followers once they arrive in Byzantium. Later, wearied by the cares of ruling and fearing further rebellions from his sons, Bajazet sleeps. He is awakened by Regan, who was sent from Acomat, asking Bajazet to pass the crown on to Acomat in Bajazet's lifetime as he had promised. Another messenger arrives from Corcut asking Bajazet to keep the crown himself while he lives. Bajazet, unsure what to do, seeks the counsel of his Bashaws; Mustaffa, speaking on their behalf, counsels him to keep the crown to avoid civil war. Bajazet agrees with Mustaffa's advice and begins to plan how he can pacify Acomat. Bajazet's fears regarding Acomat seem to be confirmed by the entry of Mahomet's and Zonara's coffins, along with Belierbey, wounded and confined to a chair. When Belierbey tells Bajazet how Mahomet and Zonara died, Bajazet swoons. When he recovers, he forgives Selimus, since his direct attack was more manly than Acomat's murders. Belierbey tells Bajazet of the slaughter of Natolia's citizens and then dies. Bajazet sends Aga to negotiate with Acomat, hoping he will relent in his cruelty. When Aga returns from Acomat, he tells Bajazet that Acomat vows to take Bajazet's life and has Mustaffa show Bajazet the present Acomat has sent him–Aga's severed hands. Bajazet is overcome with grief and does not know how to reply. He agrees to Mustaffa's counsel that Selimus be ordered to lead a force against Acomat. Bajazet offers to care for the injured Aga. He then greets Selimus, who vows his loyalty and begs pardon for his earlier deeds. Bajazet proclaims Selimus head of the Janissaries and sends him to fight Acomat. Selimus quickly returns, however, with Hali, Cali, Sinam, and the Janissaries, to announce that they have chosen Selimus as their new ruler and that Bajazet must consent to transfer power or be killed. Bajazet gives the crown to Selimus and wishes him a successful reign; he then exits with Aga to retire to Dimoticum. While traveling and dressed in a mourning cloak, Bajazet sits with Aga to lament their misfortunes. When Bajazet has cursed his stomach dry, Abraham offers him a drink. Bajazet asks Abraham to drink first. Bajazet then drinks and asks Abraham to help Aga drink. When they all have drunk, Abraham reveals that the cup contained poison and that he was sent by Selimus to kill them. Abraham dies and Bajazet curses fate, which led to his son murdering him rather than dying in battle. He bids Aga farewell and dies.

BAJAZETH
I. The Turkish emperor in Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1. He enters in III.i in great pomp and scoffs, along with his contributory kings of Fez, Morocco, and Argiers, at Tamburlaine's threat to drive his armies from the siege of Constantinople. He encounters Tamburlaine in parley and is haughty, referring to himself as Mahomet's kinsman and Tamburlaine as a slave. When he is defeated and captured at Bithynia, he swears his garrisons in Africa and Greece will redeem him. In IV.i Tamburlaine first uses him as a footstool after first removing him from the cage where he is kept and starved. Outside Damascus he joins with his wife, Zabina, in cursing Tamburlaine as he prepares to meet the combined forces of Egypt and Arabia. He despairs his fate and, sending Zabina away to fetch him water, dashes his brains out upon the bars of his cage. At play's end, Tamburlaine promises to give him an honorable burial. II. A "ghost character" in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. Father of Callapine. Callapine swears to avenge his father's death.

BAJAZETH**1607
A "ghost character" in Barnes's The Devil's Charter. The brother of Gemen Ottoman, a Turkish prisoner.

BAJAZETH'S SONS
"Ghost characters" in Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1. In praising his wife's superiority and grandeur, Bajazeth speaks of the three sons she has borne him. He compares them favorably to Hercules and predicts that they will grow into mighty warriors. One of these sons, Callapine, will be named and figure prominently in Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2.

BAKER
Loans his horse to Friar Richard in Heywood's The Captives, who plans to use it to escape after supposedly murdering Friar John. Later, the Baker reports to Dennis and the Duke of Averne the news about the armed Friar John attacking Friar Richard on horseback; he then exits to inform the Abbot and returns with him.

BALAAM
A Sergeant at Law, King of the Chiauses in Percy's Arabia Sitiens. Puts Epimenide into a sleep state before Guavequir and Mongir take her into custody.

BALANCE, MASTER
A London goldsmith in Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque. He informs Lionell of Spendall's impending arrest for extortion and fraud.

BALBIANO, CHARLES **1607
A "ghost character" in Barnes's The Devil's Charter. Listed in the Dramatis Personae as an Italian ally of the French King, Charles, Balbiano does not otherwise appear.

BALBUS
One of the Roman freedmen in Fletcher's Valentinian who help to prepare Valentinian's rape of Lucina, Maximus' chaste and virtuous wife. A coward, he is unable to kill Aëtius at Valentinian's behest and instead is slain by the valiant Pontius during the attempted assassination of Aëtius.

BALDANZOZO
Another name for Herod Frappatore in Marston's Parasitaster, or The Fawn.

BALDOCK
Tutor to Edward II's niece and servant to the late Earl of Gloucester in Marlowe's Edward II. Baldock comes into Edward's service and encourages the king to fight the barons for his kingdom. When Edward's forces are defeated, Baldock urges the king to take flight and ends up hiding with him and Spencer in an abbey in Wales. Taken prisoner there by Leicester and Rice ap Howell, Baldock and Spencer are both executed.

BALDWIN**1589
Lord of Buda and Bohemia in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2. He is present but does not speak at the initial meeting between Orcanes and Sigismund. Later, when Frederick advises Sigismund to sneak up treacherously on Orcanes' flank, Baldwin affirms that oaths by Christ need not be honored if they were made to infidels such as Orcanes.

BALDWIN**1619
A "ghost character" in ?Ford's The Laws of Candy. Baldwin is described as tyrannical emperor of the Greek islands who made Mountferato Governor of Candy.

BALDWIN **1619
Rollo and Otto’s tutor in Fletcher’s Bloody Brother. He stands with Gisbert and Aubrey in the attempt to calm Rollo and Otto and make peace. He is astonished when Aubrey agrees not to accuse Rollo of Otto’s murder. When he refuses to make an oration excusing Rollo’s murder of Otto, Rollo has him summarily beheaded. Rollo was swayed by Edith’s pleas for her father, but his pardon arrived too late to save Baldwin. He is to be buried with all funerary rites.

BALE the PROLOGUE
I. Bale serves as Chorus in Bale's John Baptist's Preaching in the Wilderness. He announces that there have been many prophets, but none could lead Man to God until Jesus arrived on earth. He then states that the play will show Jesus meekly seeking baptism and that all should follow in his footsteps. After the baptism, Bale reappears to remind the audience that the people listened to John's message, not the Pharisee. He points out that John did not counsel fasting or living in the desert, but baptism and repentance. II. Bale acts as Chorus in Bale's The Temptation of Our Lord. Before Jesus and Satan enters, Bale describes what will happen, and sternly informs the audience that to "print" the play on their minds so that they will learn to recognize and defend against Satan. After the play, Bale reappears to repeat the message, and to add that the point is not that Christians should fast—Christ did not teach that—but that they should ignore the voices of strangers and hold the Scriptures above all else. III. Bale introduces Bale's God's Promises by promising that it will contain nothing fantastical, but only matter that will cheer and instruct: the fall and rise of humanity through God's love and mercy. At the end of the play, Bale describes how all that has been shown culminates in the Jesus Christ. IV. As in most of his plays, Bale appears as the Prologue in Bale's Three Laws.

BALEUS PROLOCUTOR
See BALE the PROLOGUE.

BALIA**1566
A nurse in Gascoigne's The Supposes. In the opening of the play, Balia tries to dissuade Polynesta from secretly meeting with Dulippo, whom she thinks is merely a servant, and with whom, ironically, she originally set up Polynesta. Balia quickly learns, however, that the gentleman she thinks of as Dulippo is actually Erostrato, son to Philogano, one of the wealthiest men in the country.

BALIA**1604
Balia is an old schoolmistress in the anonymous Wit of a Woman. She is educating the four Wenches, teaching them needlework and writing among other arts. She invites to the house a dancing-master, a schoolmaster, a painter and a doctor, without realizing that these four young men are in fact suitors in disguise. She is asked by Bario to further his suit to one of the daughters, which she attempts to do. She is present at the end, when the wedding-feast takes place in her house.

BALIGNY
Lord-lieutenant of Cambrai, and brother-in-law of Clermont D'Ambois in Chapman's The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois; he is married to Clermont's sister Charlotte, who made him vow to avenge the death of her other brother, Bussy D'Ambois, before she agreed to marry him. He is relieved of that task when Clermont vows to avenge his brother's death. Baligny, however, betrays Clermont's plan to King Henry, who considers this an indirect assault upon himself (due to Clermont's friendship with Guise, whom the King considers a threat). He is indirectly involved in the murder of Guise at the hands of Henry's guards.

BALIO
A typographical error for Balia in a stage direction in the anonymous Wit of a Woman.

BALIOL
Baliol is one of two devils in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus whom Wagner conjures up to pressure Clown to become his servant. Baliol is also called Balioll and Banio by Wagner and Balio by Clown.

BALIOL, JOHN
Selected by King Edward from among the nine claimants to the Scottish throne to be the next King of Scotland in Peele's Edward I. Baliol ultimately rebels and attempts to shake off the English yoke. Following his defeat at the hands of Edward's forces, Baliol pleads for mercy with such rhetorical skill that the English king spares his life while noting that he intends to keep a careful watch on the Scotsman hereafter. Late in the play, Baliol revolts a second time, and Edward marches against him.

BALL**1590
Ball is the dog owned by the smith Clunch in Peele's The Old Wives' Tale. His barking is heard off-stage as the pages Antic, Frolic, and Fantastic are lost in the wood.

BALL**1625
A servant to one "old Huffit" in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker, he is described by Miles as "mad Ball." When pressed into her Majesty's service by Sir Jarvis Clifton, he accepts on the grounds that he is as adaptable as leather. He makes fun of Joshua's devotion to his cat. Later, he is one of those deceived by Doysells, Mortigue and the other Frenchmen in women's clothing, asking one of them if (s)he would be "content to kennel with me in straw." Having fought valiantly at the Battle of Leith, he returns to Nottinghamshire to help to plan the entertainments for Queen Elizabeth's progress there. He accedes eagerly to Miles' suggestion that he play the dragon in these entertainments.

BALL, JOHN
John Ball is the given name of Parson Ball in the anonymous Jack Straw.

BALLAD–MAN **1641
Book–worm’s new profession in Wild’s The Benefice, which suits him poorly.

BALLAD WOMAN
The ballad woman is an Antipodean, a character in the inset play of Brome's The Antipodes. She is "giving light" to the learned antiquary.

BALLADINO, ANTONIO
Pageant-maker for Milan and confidante to Lord Paulo Ferneze in Jonson's The Case is Altered.

BALLIO **1632
A pander and Asotus' tutor in Randolph's Jealous Lovers. He instructs Asotus in all disciplines from alchemy to wooing. He is employed by Dipsas to stoke the fires of jealousy in Tyndarus and Techmessa and cross the two sets of lovers. He steals Pamphilus' sword from Paegnium in order to convince Techmessa that her lover would rather give up his sword than defend her honor. He also affirms to Tyndarus, untruthfully, that Asotus has slept with Evadne. Paegnium arrives with officers, however, to arrest him for the theft of the sword, and Ballio is forced to confess his misdeeds. As a punishment, Asotus and he are made to cudgel one another. He later hides Simo where he can watch Asotus carouse and then takes a bribe to get Asotus out of the room while Simo attempts to seduce Phryne. He agrees to help spread the rumor that Tyndarus and Techmessa have committed suicide, but in reality he tries to get the Sexton to bury them alive so he can inherit Tyndarus' estate. Unbeknownst to Ballio, however, the "Sexton" he enlists is really Tyndarus in disguise. When he discovers this, he runs away. At play's end he returns repentant with a halter around his neck. Asotus asks Tyndarus to forgive him as a wedding present, and Ballio goes free.

BALSARO
Balsaro is a prominent citizen in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. He arrives at the Exchange looking for Pisaro. He announces that business is to close for the day and Pisaro invites him back for dinner. At the end of the play he returns to Pisaro's, having seen Laurentia married to Ferdinand following instructions apparently from Pisaro but actually from Laurentia disguised as Anthony.

BALTAZARO CLERE MAUTADO, SIGNIOR
Diego claims this to be his full name in Shirley's The Maid's Revenge; he answers to Diego "for brevity's sake."

BALTHASAR
See also "BALTHAZAR," BALTAZAR," and related spellings.

BALTHASAR**1595
A servant to Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Along with Abraham, he is baited into brawling with Gregory and Samson. Later, Balthasar, unaware that the Friar has merely made Juliet appear to be dead, tells Romeo the news that Juliet is dead indeed, spurring Romeo to buy poison and kill himself.

BALTHASAR**1596
There are two Balthasars that figure in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.

• Balthasar is a servant of Portia's. She sends him to Doctor Bellario for disguises so that she and Nerissa can impersonate lawyers.
• Balthasar is also the name Portia uses when disguised as a young lawyer. As Balthasar, she is able to engineer Antonio's release from Shylock's bond.

BALTHASAR**1597
Serving-man to Count Ferneze in Jonson's The Case is Altered.

BALTHASAR**1598
Balthasar is an attendant to Don Pedro in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He sings in II.iii while Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro allow Benedick to eavesdrop on their conversation about Beatrice's supposedly ungovernable passion for him.

BALTHAZAR
See also "BALTHASAR," "BALTAZAR," and related spellings.

BALTHAZAR**1588
the Viceroy's son, Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. Responsible for the treacherous killing of Don Andrea in battle, Balthazar is captured. His ransom goes to Horatio while Lorenzo is given the honor of hosting him. He conspires with Lorenzo to kill Horatio and win the affections of Bel-imperia (Lorenzo's sister and the beloved of both Don Andrea and, later, Horatio). Bel-imperia murders him during the play-within-the play.

BALTHAZAR**1592
Balthazar is an Ephesian merchant and friend of Antipholus Sereptus in Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. He urges Antipholus Erotes to have patience when Adriana refuses to allow her husband entry to the Phoenix Inn for dinner, attributing her behavior to feminine whimsy.

BALTHAZAR or BALTAZAR **1600
The Moors Baltazar and Zarack are Eleazar's loyal servants in the Anonymous Lust's Dominion. Baltazar is both a character and a disguise assumed by Philip.

1. Baltazar and Zarack ought to kill Cardinal Mendoza and Prince Philip when the Court is in Eleazar's castle, but they do not succeed. Their victims flee with the help of two Friars, Cole and Crab. Eleazar then tells Baltazar and Zarack to kill Cole and Crab, which they do in Sevilla: Baltazar kills Crab and Zarack kills Cole. In V they have to put the Queen Mother, Prince Philip and the Cardinal in iron chains under a yoke. When Hortenzo comes and shows them Eleazar's ring to free the Queen Mother and Philip, they arrest him, too. Bribed by Isabella, Zarack sets Philip and Hortenzo free and kills his colleague Baltazar. Philip then kills Zarack, Philip and Hortenzo paint their faces black and assume the roles of Baltazar and Zarack.
2. In V Prince Philip, acting upon Isabella's plan, paints his face black and assumes Baltazar's role. Thus disguised, he is able to trick and trap Eleazor and kill him.

BALTHAZAR**1601
A "ghost character" in Marston's What You Will. Former suitor of Meletza.

BALTHAZAR**1604
The King of Portugal's son in the Anonymous First Part of Jeronimo. He is looking forward to fighting against Spain, like Andrea he is rash and challenges Andrea to a fight in the battle that will soon take place. Before it comes to the battle, the two parties attack each other verbally. Ieronimo, who is much shorter and older than Balthazar is one of the loudest. Before they start, they agree who is going to fight whom. Balthazar should fight Andrea, but he first does not meet him and fights Rogero, who should fight Vollupo. In his first encounter with Andrea he wins, but then Horatio comes to Andrea's rescue. In his second encounter he is losing, but two other Portuguese soldiers come to his help and slay Andrea. Horatio then defeats Balthazar, but Lorenzo has already taken his weapons and claims him as his own prisoner.

BALTHAZAR**1626
The noble soldier of Dekker's Noble Spanish Soldier. Returning from battling the Moors ragged and ungroomed, he criticizes the vain courtiers and then visits the King. After recounting the battle, he asks for permission to speak freely, which the King grants. He then upbraids the King for his treatment of Onælia. Next, he visits Onælia and offers to kill the King. When Onælia says she would like to see the King dead, he criticizes her, and she recants the desire. He then offers himself as her servant. He returns to the court and wounds a soldier to gain access to the King, for which he is almost banished. The Queen arranges to revoke his banishment so that he can aid her. She and Malateste ask him to kill Onælia and her son, Sebastian. He says that he will do so if the King will give him a written command to do so, which he does. He then shows the command to Medina, who instructs him to take Sebastian to the monastery of St. Paul for safekeeping. Upon returning, he receives a cryptic message from Onælia: "sol re me fa mi." He interprets this to mean "Solus Rex me facit miseram" ("The King alone makes me unhappy"). He then returns to the King and claims that his conscience prevented him from killing Onælia and her son when he saw a painting of Hell in Cardinal Alvarez's gallery. While there, he witnesses Medina (disguised as Doctor Devile) offer to kill Onælia. He accosts Medina, who reveals himself to Balthazar. Balthazar then tells the King that he has murdered Sebastian. Before the wedding between Onælia and Cockadillio, he dissuades Medina from killing the King. At the end of the play, he is placed in charge of protecting Sebastian.

BALTHAZAR**1639
Brother to Claramante and Leonte in Davenant's The Spanish Lovers. At the beginning of the play, he is wounded by unknown assailants and rescued by Dorando, who has fallen in love with Claramante. Balthazar remains his friend even after Leonte, jealous of his sister's honour, drives Dorando from Cordua. When Claramante elopes with Orgemon, Balthazar and Leonte go in search of her; they find, instead, Amiana, who has been kidnapped by Orco. Balthazar falls in love with Amiana, but to no effect: she remains faithful to her flighty lover, Androlio, and so Balthazar decides not to rescue her after all. Guessing (rightly) that Claramante is with Orgemon, whom he trusts, Balthazar resolves to abandon the search and go home; but when he discovers that Orgemon and Dorando have been fighting over her, he presses the claim of Dorando, his rescuer. By the end of the play, his role has evaporated.

BALTHAZAR, CASTILIO
A gentleman of the Venetian Court, one of five in Marston's Antonio and Mellida. Castilio Balthazar banters with Rossaline, with whom he is in love, dances with Flavia, perfumes himself for his mistress, and sings with Feliche for his beloved. Like the author, Baldassare Castiglione, whose name probably provided satirical inspiration for his own, Castilio loves "the perfection" of court life. He also claims to like court life because all the ladies send him love letters, but Feliche proves his boast false using a "letter" that is really a tailor's bill.

BALURDO, SIR GEOFFREY
I. A gentleman in Piero's court in Venice, one of five in Marston's Antonio and Mellida. He first appears in the play's Induction wherein the actors comment upon their parts (though the speech headings identify them only by their character names). Sir Geoffrey Balurdo is a wealthy fop who often speaks nonsense and is mocked even by his own page, Dildo. He continually flirts with Rossaline, including a lewd interchange in the final scene, and he comes to the masque as a songbook. His name suggests "balordo," Italian for blockhead. II. Geoffrey Balurdo is a gentleman of the Venetian court in Marston's Antonio's Revenge. He first appears on stage with Antonio and a group of gentlemen. He teases Matzagente for having a red face. Balurdo demonstrates a love for unusual words such as "wighy purt." When Antonio dreams of his dead father, Balurdo tells of his dream about a misshapen simile. Balurdo appears on stage with half a beard and tells Piero that he had tried to affix the fake whiskers to cure his bald wit. Piero instructs Balurdo to imprison Mellida. Later, Balurdo is told to serenade Maria the evening before her planned wedding to Piero. Balurdo is quickly sent away by the lady. A disguised Antonio taunts Balurdo with bubbles at Mellida's trial. Piero tires of Balurdo and orders Castillo to throw the foolish wit in prison. Balurdo risks hanging by breaking out of prison due to hunger. He leaves the stage singing. He comes upon Antonio and his men, as they are about to kill Piero and declines an invitation to join them. He instead goes off to find something to eat. Balurdo does, however, stumble back onto the stage for the masque.

BAMFORD
Bamford is father to Bettrice and brother to Fenell in the anonymous July and Julian. He agrees to take part in the plot Wilkin and Fenell have engineered to cheat the Messenger. Thus, he appears crying and lamenting the loss of his daughter before the Messenger, complaining about the fact that she should have been sold to the Merchant instead of Julian. He even threatens and insults Wilkin and Fenell, calling them cozeners. He plays his role convincingly, their plan succeeds and both girls (Julian and Bettrice) are finally freed. Later on, he is also going to take part, with his two accomplices, in another trick–this time to be played on Chremes: they decide to make him drunk for his son July to be able to get leave from him to marry the girl he wants and reward his faithful servants with his father's consent. In fact, that plot is also successful and even Bamford (who convinces the old man that there is a wealthy and worthy lady in his house–who is no one but Julian–who could be a good match for his son) gets his reward from tipsy Chremes: he is granted the house–where he had been dwelling–forever.

BANAUSUS **1630
Roscius in Randolph's Muses' Looking Glass characterizes him as one who "out of a mere ostentation [is] vaingloriously expensive." His opposite is Microprepes.

BAND**1615
A character in the Anonymous Band, Ruff, and Cuff. He represents the stiffly starched collar of linen or cambric surrounding the neck. Two styles of band predominated in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the falling band and the standing band. The falling band, fashionable from the 1540's to the 1640's, laid flat over the shoulders and was usually fastened by band strings that were visible and ornate or small and hidden according to the fashion. The standing band, known in Spain as the golilla, is a semi-circular collar that stands up stiffly around the back of the head while the straight edges in front meet under the chin and tie with band-strings. Both types of band may be decorated with lace, embroidery, or cut-work. Bands replaced ruffs in fashion around the time that James I's reign ended, and their plainness made them acceptable to the Puritans. As the embodiment of the style that eventually replaced the elaborate ruff, Band attempts to start a fight with Ruff by teasing him.

BAND**1626
Pecunia's first waiting-woman in Jonson's The Staple of News. Her name means bond, so she functions symbolically as a financial contract for Pecunia's capital.

BANDINO ROZZI**1607
The apothecary in Barnes's The Devil's Charter who mixes and then sells the poison that Alexander and Caesar Borgia plan to use to kill Cardinals Modina and Cornetto, possible competitors to Caesar's power. Caesar hires the assassin Baglioni to shoot Rozzi once the poison exchanges hands. Baglioni kills Rozzi and drags his body away.

BANDITTI
These non-speaking Italian thieves in Heywood's Four Prentices of London fall under the leadership of Charles, who, shipwrecked off the coast of Italy, kills their leader and urges the group to pursue more honest pastimes.

BANDITTI **1600
"Ghost characters" in the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell. Spelled "Bandetti", they are Italian bandits who rob Thomas Cromwell and his servant Hodge in Florence.

BANDITTI **1617
Malice’s name for the banished Affections in the anonymous Pathomachia.

BANDITTI, THREE
Three bandits, deserters from Alcibiades' army in Shakespeare's The Life of Timon of Athens, have heard that Timon has found gold. Timon encourages them to continue in their honest profession (stealing and killing) and gives them gold.

BANELASSE, NATHANIEL
(Originally spelled "Nathaniell" in Brome's The English Moor.) A young rake who plots with Edmond and Vincent to cuckold Quicksands. He has debauched Phyllis and refuses to marry her. Hoping to cheer Theophilus with his plan to cuckold to Quicksands, he is attacked by him instead and flees with Edmond and Vincent. Disguised as a mummer, he appears with Edmond, Vincent, and others at Quicksands' house in a profane marriage-masque. He, Edmond, and Vincent have Buzzard pose as Quicksands' idiot bastard and Arnold as his keeper, to disrupt Quicksands' feast. When Quicksands presents the disguised Millicent as his blackamoor servant, Catalyna, Nathaniel is instantly attracted to her. During Quicksands' masque, he is exposed as penniless; however, he spirits the "Queen of Ethiopia" away during the dance and has sex with her, unaware that she's really Phyllis. When Quicksands laments that it is his wife who has been debauched, Nathaniel is overjoyed; he swears to marry the "Moor" in Testy's court the next morning, in spite of Testy's warning that she will have no dowry. He is angered to discover that his bride is Phyllis, but contents himself with the jewels that Quicksand has promised to bestow on her.

BANESWRIGHT **1637
Old Plotwell’s disguise in Mayne’s City Match. He is a matchmaker. He helps Madam Aurelia to a new maid. Warehouse hires him to find a wife so he can get an heir after disowning Frank. Frank suborns him into agreeing to supply Madam Aurelia as the bride. He convinces Warehouse to marry her in the French church (and language) because it does not require a license and, he claims, Frank has bribed all the offices not to grant him a marriage license. He is surprised to learn that Aurelia will not marry Warehouse but rather Dorcas. He falls into the plot as soon as Aurelia tells him that Frank has changed the plan. He arrives in the final scene newly disguised. He and Quartfield come in the final scene in disguise to assure Warehouse’s ‘lost’ ships. They engage in the assurances with Warehouse. As a final unmasking in the play, he reveals himself to be old Plotwell, Warehouse’s brother and the father of Frank and Penelope.

BANIO
Banio is one of two devils in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus whom Wagner makes appear to pressure Clown to become his servant. He is also called as Baliol or Balioll by Wagner and Balio by Clown.

BANISTER**1591
Banister is Buckingham's servant in the anonymous True Tragedy of Richard III. He is sent by Richard to arrest Buckingham after Richard murders the princes. Buckingham rebukes Banister for the betrayal and stabs him to death.

BANISTER **1600
He is an honest merchant of London who owes £1000 to Frescobald in the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell. Bagot has him arrested for the debt in hopes of a reward from Frescobald, but when Frescobald rejects his action Bagot goes off to buy up Banister's debts cheaply from his creditors in order to persecute him. Banister flees to Antwerp where Bagot pursues him and has him imprisoned. When more of Bagot's dishonesty is disclosed, Banister is delighted to be told the Antwerp merchants have awarded him � worth of Bagot's confiscated property. Later Banister and his wife appear after Cromwell's procession around London has ended. They recognize Frescobald, impoverished now and ready to die. Banister explains that since they last met he is now well off and will repay the £1000 pound he owes him. They agree to go along with him to Cromwell's banquet.

BANISTER**1613
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. The Duke of Buckingham mentions banister as the servant who betrayed Buckingham's father years ago.

BANISTER, MISTRESS **1600
In the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell, she explains to Frescobald, who seems about to imprison her husband, that they are willing to go hungry in order to pay back their debt to Frescobald and that she and her children will pray for him. When the Banisters flee to Antwerp Cromwell hears her weeping. She explains that her husband has been arrested by the Governor for his debts and begs Cromwell to dissuade Bagot from pursuing them. She continues to offer prayers and thanks to God and continues to do so when Banister is awarded Bagot's property. Later, back in London she and her husband appear after Cromwell's procession around London has ended. They recognize the impoverished Frescobald. She and her husband agree to go along with him to Cromwell's where Frescobald has been invited.

BANKS**1602
A miller from Waltham in the Anonymous The Merry Devil of Edmonton. He goes poaching in Brian's Wood, together with Sir John, Smug, and Blague.

BANKS**1621
Family name of Old Banks and Cuddy (a.k.a. "Young Banks"), the clown character in Rowley, Dekker and Ford's The Witch of Edmonton.

BANKS the CONJUROR **1627
A "ghost character" in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Godfather of Plutus, god of wealth.

BANQUO
A thane of Scotland and, with Macbeth, a captain of the Scottish army that puts down Macdonald's and the Thane of Cawdor's rebellion against Duncan in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The witches predict that Banquo shall father a long line of kings, which incidentally will include England's King James I (for whom the play was written). Macbeth, feeling that his hold of the Scottish throne is threatened, orders Banquo and his son Fleance murdered. After the murder, Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth during his coronation banquet, throwing Macbeth into a fit of fear.

BANTAM
A gallant in Heywood and Brome's The Late Lancashire Witches, Master Bantam is the friend and companion of Master Arthur and Master Shackston. Bantam initially professes skepticism regarding witchcraft, but the events of the play change his mind. He is invited, along with the other gallants, to dine with Master Generous, on the condition that they tolerate Generous' foolish nephew Whetstone. They agree, but the pretentious Whetstone proves too irritating for quick-tempered Bantam, who loses patience and insults Whetstone by making reference to his unknown paternity. Bantam is also amongst the guests who witness the witchery at Lawrence and Parnell's wedding celebration, and later is an onlooker during the Skimmington ritual performed outside the Seely household. Whetstone, meanwhile, has vowed revenge on the gallants for Bantam's insult, and invites them for supper. Afterward, Whetstone offers to conjure the gallants' fathers, and the Pedant, who in a dumb show claims him as his son, confronts Bantam. Angered by the unfounded suggestion that he was begotten illegitimately, Bantam attempts to draw his sword but is prevented by unseen forces. Bantam is in turn revenged in the final scene, however, when the witches are arrested and Whetstone is denounced for consorting with them.

BAPTIST, JOHN
John Baptist begins by preaching to representatives of the population in Bale's John Baptist's Preaching in the Wilderness. His preaching wins over most of the audience and, in turn, he is approached by the Common People, the Publican and the Soldier, who repent their sins and ask to be baptized, which John does. Each person then asks for guidance or precepts, and John gives each rules to obey. He is then approached by the Pharisee and the Sadducee, who question him on his teachings and his authority to preach. He condemns them in turn, the Pharisee for twisting the laws of Moses and the Sadducee for having no forgiveness and placing their emphasis on outward signs of holiness. When they argue that they are blessed because they are descended from Abraham, John rejects the idea of a special tribe, and claims that following God is all that matters, not the actual tribe. The Pharisee and Sadducee leave, and Jesus arrives to ask to be baptized. John refuses at first, saying he is unworthy, but is finally persuaded by Jesus' argument that he must be baptized to fulfill God's law. When the Heavenly Father appears and blesses Jesus, John rejoices at the coming of the Son, who will purify all of us.

BAPTISA
Baptista is the name Hamlet gives to the Player Queen in Shakespeare's Hamlet when he describes the play to Claudius and Gertrude. He states that she is married to a Viennese duke. In Q1, the speech headings are "Duchess" instead of "Player Queen" marking a more direct link to the play within the play, but a less direct link to the audience of Claudius and Gertrude.

BAPTISTA**1601
Baptista is a Venetian gentleman and a mute character in the Anonymous Blurt, Master Constable. Like Hipolito, Bentivolio, and Virgilio, Baptista has just returned from war. At Camillo's house, Baptista and the other Venetian gentlemen are invited at a banquet in honor of the war heroes. Each cavalier wears a glove in his hat, since it was customary for gallants to wear their mistresses' gloves in their hats. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. In the street before Imperia's house, Baptista and the other Venetian gentlemen declare they are dishonored and want to kill Fontinel. When the Duke requests them to explain the cause of their revolt, Camillo speaks in their name. When Camillo says that, if impeded, they will use their swords to cut a passage through the Duke's guards, all the Venetian gentlemen say the same thing. When Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, all the Venetian gentlemen want to kill him immediately, as Camillo says. When the Duke makes peace between them and Fontinel, the Venetian gentlemen promise they will be friends.

BAPTISTA**1629
Baptista, a magician/scholar in Massinger's The Picturewho accompanies Mathias. The magic picture is of his devising.

BAPTISTA**1631
Baptista, Angelo Lotti's faithful, cautious and supportive friend in Dekker's Wonder of A Kingdom, mostly comments on his friend's actions. He is the counterpart to the love-stricken hero, and often advises him to make safer choices than the irrational actions he ultimately takes. He defends Lotti against Piero's initial claims to have stolen his sister's heart, and later advises an as a Lotti (disguised as the doctor) to abduct Fiametta and escape. On another occasion, Baptista warns Lotti, who is preoccupied by his plotting with Fiametta, of the Duke's approach.

BAPTISTA MINOLA
Baptista is a wealthy gentleman of Padua and the father of Katherine and Bianca in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. He favors his youngest daughter, Bianca, lavishing care and attention on her to the neglect of the elder Katherine. However, he declares to the dismay of Bianca and her several suitors that she shall not marry before Katherine. During the final banquet scene, Lucentio and he wager that Bianca will be the first wife to come when summoned by her husband.

BAPTISTO
Baptisto is a shepherd of Trebizond in Kirke's The Seven Champions of Christendom. He reports the deaths of Niger, Palemon and Antigonus, who were killed by the dragon and the lion.

BARABAS
Barabas is an extremely wealthy Jew of Malta in Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. He is first introduced adding to and gloating over his wealth, as his ships all come to Malta richly loaded. Immediately, however, he loses all of his wealth when he refuses to give half of his goods to the state for the tribute required by the Turks. Because he refuses to willingly give up half his goods, Ferneze seizes everything, and converts his house into a nunnery. Barabas reveals to his daughter that he has wealth hidden away, and asks that she pretend to join the nunnery in order to retrieve it, which she does, throwing the bags down to him at night. She then leaves the nunnery and Barabas reestablishes himself as a wealthy merchant. He attends the slave market and buys Ithamore to help him in his revenge. Barabas then promises Abigail to both Mathias, whom she loves, and Lodowick, so that he can make them jealous of each other. He sends Ithamore to each with a false challenge, and then watches with glee as they duel and kill each other. When Abigail rejoins the nunnery out of grief at Mathias' death, Barabas poisons the entire nunnery, including Abigail, with poisoned rice. He is confronted by Bernadine and Jacomo, who discovered his involvement with the death of Mathias and Lodowick from Abigail's deathbed confession. Barabas successfully convinced them that he is contrite and wishes to become a friar and donate all of his money. Barabas then strangles Bernadine and accuses Jacomo of his murder. After this, however, he is blackmailed by Ithamore, who is in love with Bellamira. After handing over first three hundred and then five hundred crowns, Barabas visits Ithamore, Bellamira and Pilia-Borza, disguised as a French Musician, and poisons them all. However, the dose is too small to kill them before Bellamira and Pilia-Borza tell all they have learned of his crimes to Ferneze, who orders him arrested. Barabas fakes his death and is thrown out of the city, where he meets with Calymath and guides the Turkish invasion force into the heart of Malta. In return for his aid, Calymath creates Barabas governor, but Barabas is not convinced he is safe and decides to kill Calymath in order to win over the citizens of Malta. He arranges with Ferneze to lure Calymath and his soldiers to a banquet, and dump Calymath into a cauldron of boiling water. Ferneze betrays Barabas however, giving the signal early and killing Barabas instead of Calymath.

BARBARA**1632
Barbara is Lady Mosely's chambermaid in ?Brewer's The Country Girl. She wants to get married soon and Mr. William tells her that he will find a husband for her. Meanwhile, she will disguise herself as her lady when Lady Mosely does not want to see the suitors. Together with Mr. William, she plays with the suitors, who think that she is Lady Mosely. She sets appointments with them in three different parts of Lymestreet. She promises that she will meet the three of them again in an hour. During these meetings, she gets to know Mr. Rash, whom she fancies. Later, she marries him and goes to a church dressed as a Puritan.

BARBARA**1638
Barbara is the wife of Blaze in Brome's The Antipodes. She assumes principal care of Martha.

BARBARA**1641
Barbara, chambermaid to Lucy in Cavendish's The Variety, tries to convince her mistress that Newman has only gone to the tavern in order to test the strength of Lucy's affection.

BARBARINO
A Florentine nobleman in Cokain's Trappolin. Barbarino desires Trappolin's sweetheart, Flametta, and attempts to win her through gifts of money and jewels. She is devoted to Trappolin and impervious to Barbarino's persuasions. When Trappolin goads Barbarino for his failure and flouts his authority, Barbarino vows to take vengeance against Trappolin for his insolence. Barbarino and Machavil are granted shared governance of Florence when Lavinio journeys to Milan to wed, and Barbarino immediately recognizes this as an opportunity to exact his revenge. He has Trappolin arrested for pandering, and when Trappolin admits that this is his mode of survival, Barbarino banishes him from Florence on pain of death, but it is clear that this is merely an excuse to punish Trappolin. Upon learning from Mattemores that Prudentia has fallen in love with Horatio, Barbarino orders his imprisonment to prevent them from eloping. Trappolin returns to Florence, magically disguised as Duke Lavinio, and chastises Barbarino and Machavil for banishing Trappolin, then rides into Florence on Barbarino's back, commanding Mattemores to run at his side in place of his lackey. When they protest his approval, as Duke Lavinio, of the marriage of Horatio and Prudentia, he has them arrested. Released from prison upon the return of the true Duke Lavinio, Barbarino and the other nobles think their Duke is mad, since he has no recollection of "his" actions during the previous scenes. When the disguised Trappolin encounters the Barbarino and Machavil, he orders them imprisoned once again, claiming to have been drunk when he ordered their release. These alternations between Trappolin's will and that of the true Duke continue, as Trappolin seeks an opportunity to transform the Duke with his magic powder. When the transformation is accomplished, Barbarino believes Trappolin to be the Duke, and vice versa, and he ignores the pleas of the true Duke. When the truth is at last revealed, he graciously forgives Trappolin.

BARBAROSSA**1607
A military nobleman in Barnes's The Devil's Charter who swears loyalty to Gismond di Viselli. Walking together, they find notices on the statue of Pasquil that accuse the Borgia pope and two of his children of corruption. The notices call the Pope the Antichrist, his son Caesar his equally corrupt accomplice, and his daughter Lucretia of incest and murder. Viselli calls the posters slander and calls on Barbarossa to help him expel such "vile breath" from Rome. Barbarossa later finds Viselli's bleeding body with a fake suicide note. He questions Lucretia, but she acts as if she knows nothing and he believes her act of grief and shock. He reports the bloody death to the Pope. When the Duke of Candy suspects his sister of the murder, he first questions Barbarossa who reports that he found the body and saw Lucretia immediately after Viselli's death. He tells the Duke of Candy that Lucretia seemed "disconsolate." Later Barbarossa fights alongside Caesar in the assault against the warrior Countess Katharine. He has taken Katharine's two sons captive and he brings them into her view when Caesar threatens to kill them unless she surrenders. In the final act, Barbarossa enters the papal castle with Caesar and their troops, but he does not speak.

BARBARY
Barbary in Shakespeare's Two Noble Kinsmen is named as one of the women who will dance with the morris-dancers for the Duke.

BARBER**1601
The barber serving the affected courtiers is summoned at their party together with the tailor, perfumer, milliner, jeweler, and feather-maker in Jonson's Cynthia's Revels. Mercury, disguised as a Frenchified Gentleman, uses and abuses these merchants, thus showing the gallants how ridiculous they are. While Barber is cutting and trimming the competitors' hair during the elegance contest, Mercury and Amorphus abuse the other retailers finding faults with their services. Seeing that Mercury is fidgeting, Barber tells him to hold still because he cannot do his work. Mercury abuses Barber and starts beating him. It is understood that Barber and the other dealers attend the scene in which the pretentious gallants and nymphs are being disgraced through Mercury's over-reaction in elegant courtly manners. Barber exits with the rest of the party.

BARBER**1605
Along with the falconer, huntsman, perfumer, and tailor, he has a functional use befitting his name in Middleton's A Trick to Catch the Old One. After Hoard's marriage to Medler, these characters become the liveried servants of Walkadine Hoard, used by him to show off his newly acquired wealth.

BARBER**1615
Like the Apothecary in Fletcher's Monsieur Thomas, a non-speaking role. The stage directions have him visiting Francis with the Physicians and the Apothecary, but he never speaks.

BARBER**1618
The Barber, along with the tailor, petitions Hengist on behalf of the citizens of Queenborough, to choose their mayor in Middleton's Hengist.

BARBER**1639
Julio's Barber in J.D.'s The Knave In Grain New Vamped unknowingly helps Julio gull the Mercer's Man. Julio tells the Barber that the Mercer's Man has come in search of treatment for a venereal disease and is too shy to admit it. Confusion ensues.

BARBER**1639
Trims the disguised Duke's hair in Dekker's(?) Telltale so that he can impersonate the Duke, according to the Captain's plan.

BARBER SURGEON **1611
A “ghost character" in Dekker’s Match Me in London. Bilbo saw him with Tormiella on Saturday night, very late. come to ‘trim her’. Malevento calls the barber a Muskcod. According to Bilbo, he knew it was a barber because he wore a checkered apron and smelled of “Camphire, Bay leaves and Rose water." He was at least half an hour “fiddling with Tormeilla" on a “Citterne with a man’s broken head at it" that Bilbo took him to be a barber surgeon.

BARBER, THOMAS
Barber and gossip-gatherer to Pennyboy Junior in Jonson's The Staple of News. He buys him a position as a clerk in the Staple of News office. He brings the news of the Staple's demise and of Picklock's lawsuit to Pennyboy Junior and witnesses, from a hidden vantage, Picklock's proposal to Pennyboy Junior to retake Pecunia from Pennyboy Canter. His testimony helps to expose Picklock.

BARBERS
Non-speaking characters in Peele's Edward I. When Queen Elinor, in what Glocester terms her "Spanish fit," tells Edward that she desires all Englishwomen to have a breast removed and all Englishmen to be clean shaven, Edward summons the barbers, stating that he will be the first to be shorn. This shocks the proud queen into dropping her outrageous requests.

BARBORAT
Only mentioned in Jonson's The Alchemist. Mathlai, Tarmiel, Barborat, Rael, Velel, and Thiel are the names of spirits taken from Elementa Magica by Pietro d'Albano. Subtle recommends to the gullible Drugger the best solutions for the location of his shop. He suggests that Drugger should write the names of Mathlai, Tarmiel, and Barborat on the eastern side of his shop, and Rael, Velel, and Thiel on the northern part. Subtle claims these are the names of the Mercurial spirits, meant to frighten flies from the boxes of tobacco. Implicitly, the god of commerce, Mercury, was supposed to protect the shop.

BARD
A poet in Shirley's St. Patrick For Ireland, who sometimes makes down-to-earth, perceptive comments and sometimes contrives facetious, hastily written poems. He mocks Rodamant's comments about his passion for the Queen of Ireland, and observes amusedly when Rodamant is poisoned and then saved by the poisoned wine meant only for Patrick. Milcho tells him to lighten the misery of Emeria. He comments matter-of-factly about Milcho's treacherous conduct. He reports the urgent news to the Queen: the house in which she is imprisoned is on fire. The Bard flirts with the idea of turning Christian, but worries about his ability to tolerate 'an ounce of care'. He is pitied by Patrick for his immersion in the petty pleasures of the world.

BARDH
A Welsh poet reawakened by Fortune in the opening sequence of The Valiant Welshman. The Bardh rises from his tomb and acts as the play's Chorus.

BARDOLF
See also BARDOLFF and BARDOLPH.

BARDOLF
Lord Bardolf is on stage at the ending of ?Dering's The History of Henry the Fourth.

BARDOLFF
Bardolff is one of Hal's drinking companions from the tavern in ?Dering's The History of Henry the Fourth. He is best known for his scarlet complexion and large red nose. Falstaff refers to Bardolff as a walking memento mori. Bardolff takes part in the Gads Hill robbery and is robbed by a disguised Hal and Poins. He is pressed into service for the battle of Shrewsbury, but does not appear on stage for the battle.

BARDOLPH
See also BARDOLFF and BARDOLF.

BARDOLPH
I. Bardolph is one of Falstaff's cronies in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV who assists Falstaff in the robbery at Gadshill. He is remarkable for a bulbous, red, and apparently warty nose. II. Under the command of Falstaff in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV, Corporal Bardolph assists in recruiting Feeble, Wart, and Shallow. He is among a dozen captains who arrive at the Boar's Head Tavern to escort Falstaff to court. III. Bardolph is a follower of Falstaff who, with Pistol and Nym, succeed in making Slender drunk and picking his purse in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. He is fired because Falstaff can no longer pay him. Bardolph is then apprenticed to a tapster at the Garter Inn. IV. Along with Pistol and Nym, Lieutenant Bardolph is one of the Boar's Head characters, the companions of Henry's youth in Shakespeare's Henry V. When Bardolph is caught stealing and faces execution, Pistol endeavors to save his life, but Henry agrees that Bardolph deserves to be hanged. Although the text only reports his hanging, it has become a modern theatrical feature to present the execution on stage.

BARDOLPH, LORD
Lord Bardolph, a baron in King Henry IV's realm, is allied with the Archbishop of York in the faction against the king in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV. At the beginning of the play he brings to Northumberland hearsay reports of Percy victory at Shrewsbury.

BARDS
As a chorus in Fisher's Fuimus Troes, five bards (or Poets Laureate), accompanied by a harper, sing two songs at the end of every act. At the end of the first act, they sing songs of spring and love. At the end of the second act, they sing of the ancestors, of ancient Brute who tamed the giants and founded a second Troy, of his son Locrine and Elstrid, of Leill, Rex Pacificus and Elud, Badud and Mulmutius, and in the second song they praise the living kings, Cassibelane and Nennius. At the end of act III, they rejoice over the victory, in act IV they complain Alecto's raising (the Roman army) and Landora's death, and in act V, before Mercury and the two ghosts end the play, they sing songs of peace.

BARE NOTWITHSTANDING, SIR **1615
A "ghost character" in S.S's Honest Lawyer. Gripe tells Nice to seek out Sir Bare Notwithstanding, who lives three miles off, to trade his debt to Gripe for bail money. Nice describes him to Benjamin as worth 400 a year, but he does not come to provide bail.

BAREBONES
Barebones is a poor scholar who flees the sacking of Antioch in the anonymous Two Noble Ladies and the Converted Conjurer. He decides to help his friend Sinew win the love of Mistress Caro, and persuades Cyprian to lend him a demon, Cantharides. With the help of Cantharides, Caro is made to fall in love with Sinew. But by this time, Barebones is smitten by Caro, so Cantharides makes her fall in love with him. This demonically inspired love is only temporary, so, on Barebones's orders, Cantharides makes a fool out of Blood and Sinew by biting them. However, the devil then turns on Barebones and bites him, too. Barebones exits in agony, and draws the conclusion that all lovers are asses.

[BAREBOTTLE, FEAR-THE-LORD]
[A "ghost character" in Cutter of Coleman Street (performed 1661), the 1658 revision of Cowley's The Guardian. He is the dead husband of Mistress Barebottle who bought Jolly's estate. He is described as a "saint and soapboiler." His widow's grisly reminiscences reveal his hypocritical and grasping nature.]

[BAREBOTTLE, MISTRESS]
A character from Cutter of Coleman Street, a 1658 revision of Cowley's The Guardian. See "WIDOW."

BAREHEADED MAN
The Bareheaded Man, wearing Irish clothes and sporting a dagger, appears in Dumb Show Two of Hughes' The Misfortunes of Arthur, driving the King in the dumb show into the area on the stage designated "Mordred's house." The Bareheaded Man signifies Mordred's fury and his desire for revenge after Arthur's successful return to Britain.

BARIO
Bario, one of the four Fathers of the anonymous Wit of a Woman, is an old Merchant. He is the father of Veronte and Erinta. It seems that he attempts to marry both Isabella (with Balia's connivance) and Gianetta, but he does not succeed in marrying either of them.

BARKER, FRANK
Frank Barker is an admitted cynic in Shirley's The Ball who accompanies Lord Rainbow, answering variously to Cato and Diogenes when called same by his companion. He amuses us near the play's end when he dresses as a satyr and dances at the request of Honoria.

BARLEY
The name "A Barley" is the family name of John, Jane, and Edward in Greene's George a Greene.

BARNABAS
A prudent child in the anonymous Nice Wanton. He is the brother of Ismael and Dalilah and the son of Xantippe. He urges them to follow his example, and to eschew sinful behavior, but to no avail. When he encounters the diseased Dalilah later, he is saddened by her plight, and offers her both spiritual and medical aid. Later, he prevents his mother from killing herself and gives her spiritual instruction.

BARNABE BUNCH
He is an English botcher, a mender of worn out clothes, in the anonymous Weakest Goeth to the Wall. He is in France to learn languages and understand fashion. As the city is invaded, a group of citizens wishes for somewhere to hide their valuables. Bunch ends up with Lodowick (the fleeing Duke of Bullen), his wife and daughter in Flanders, at the house of Jacob. Bunch is offended by Jacob, misunderstanding his Flemish accent; Lodowick makes peace between the two. Lodowick strikes a deal with Bunch that if he does not reveal where Lodowick and his family come from, he will remunerate Bunch when his fortune returns, Bunch declares that he will protect them for nothing. When Jacob demands that Lodowick leave the house for not paying his debts and that he leave behind his wife and daughter as surety, Bunch offers all his the money to Jacob to cover Lodowick's debts, but it is not nearly enough. Lodowick leaves for London, and Bunch takes Jacob down to an inn. Jacob returns violent and drunk. Bunch offers all his money to Oriana and Diana with which they are to run away. The women leave, looking for Lodowick in London, prompting Bunch to leave Flanders and go back to France. On his journey he meets Ferdinand and Odillia, fleeing from Odillia's father, the Duke of Brabant. The three meet Lodowick dressed as a sexton and discover that they are in Picardy. While Ferdinand and Odillia are arranging to be married, Lodowick, who recognizes Bunch, discovers that his wife and daughter have set off for London to find him. Lodowick persuades Sir Nicholas, the vicar of the parish, to let Bunch replace him as sexton. Bunch accepts the offer, expressing a hope that plague will spread across France, thus increasing his income as gravedigger. Back in France, Lodowick sends a letter to Sir Nicholas revealing his identity. Sir Nicholas is proud of the connection. Bunch crows that he knew Duke Lodowick while they were all staying at Jacob Smelt's, before Nicholas met him. Bunch asks Odillia, who has been summoned to Lodowick, to convey to the Duke how well he has learnt his new trade of sexton. After Odillia leaves, Sir Nicholas and Bunch go off to the Dragon for a pot of ale.

BARNABE TRUNDLE
Barnabe Trundle is the name adopted by Stuff, the tailor, when he disguises as Lady Frampul's coachman in Jonson's The New Inn. In the stables at the New Inn, Prudence instructs Trundle to get the coach ready and lead the horses out but half a mile in the field. Then, he should come back at the back gate with the coach curtains pulled down. Prudence instructs him that, if somebody inquires about his passenger, he should say he has brought Lady Frampul's kinswoman (Frank in disguise). Trundle/Stuff is incredulous of the whole affair, but finally is convinced to obey and exits to do his job. In the servants' room at the inn, Trundle/Stuff enters with Ferret, Pierce, Peck, and Jordan. The merry group of servants indulges in gossip and drinking, patronized by Tipto and Fly, who join them in libations. The company of servants is organized according to the military hierarchy, with Fly as the quartermaster of the staff officers, and Trundle/Stuff as the carriage master. When the whistle sounds for dinner, the merry party of drunkards disperses. Although Colonel Tipto wants his drinking party to stay longer, Trundle/Stuff says he has to go to the stable and salute the mares. Pierce says that Trundle is as drunk as a fish and almost dead with alcohol. Trundle/Stuff plays the Crier in the mock court of love presided by Prudence. When the court of love is adjourned till the next one-hour session in the evening, Trundle/Stuff announces that any man and woman who wish to attend should keep the second hour. Trundle/Stuff enters with Jordan and Jug. He asks for drinks and reports he has brought another lady at the inn. Trundle/Stuff exits and re-enters with Pinnacia, who calls him his bodyguard. Finally, Trundle is revealed as Stuff the tailor, Pinnacia's husband.

BARNABY
The clown is a journeyman shoemaker, characterized by pragmatic cowardice in William Rowley's A Shoemaker a Gentleman. He teaches Crispinus the art of shoemaking, and accompanies him on his first visit to Princess Leodice. Barnaby avoids being pressed into the army by pretending to be ill. He tells the shoemakers about Hugh's capture by the Romans, and later tries to persuade Hugh to be pragmatic and renounce Christianity. After Hugh's death, Barnaby becomes more serious. He leads the shoemakers in their solemn burial of Hugh's bones, names him Saint Hugh, and demands the creation of a holiday in his honour.

BARNACLE, OLD
A rich citizen in Shirley's The Gamester. He flatters the brave Hazard, remarking that he is reputed to be a tough young man. He bribes Hazard with gold, so that he will allow himself to be beaten in a brawl by Barnacle's university-educated nephew, Young Barnacle. He brings his nephew and his nephew's servant, Dwindle, to the tavern where Hazard and the other gamesters drink, trusting that Hazard will honour the deal. Later, he woos a disinterested Leonora on his nephew's behalf. He repeatedly claims that his nephew, who has indeed been allowed to strike Hazard at the tavern, is a brave gallant who would defend any lady's honour. But his nephew's corrosive, argumentative behavior escalates, causing Old Barnacle to worry that he will wind up murdered or murdering. He gives Hazard more money, this time to beat his nephew. Seeing the nephew violently humiliated, he himself kicks him. He then accepts the nephew's apology and revitalized submission to his uncle's authority. Relieved, Old Barnacle promises continuing care for Young Barnacle.

BARNACLE, YOUNG
The nephew of Old Barnacle in Shirley's The Gamester. He is escorted to the tavern by his uncle and his servant, Dwindle, where he is to beat Hazard in the sham fight. Nervous in case Hazard does not stick to his promise that he will not retaliate, he clings onto the support of his slightly contemptuous servant. He verbally abuses the gamesters with witless attacks, and eventually is unimpeded as he strikes Hazard. Later, he enters the ordinary, where having discoursed senselessly about Lubberland, which he seems to regard as a real kingdom, he plays at dice, losing so much money that he sells off some items of clothing. Later, he starts a row with Wilding's Page, who is disguised as a rough, dangerous brawler. He becomes friends with the Page, oblivious to the snide jibes that the Page aims at him. Old Barnacle worries that his bravado has spiraled out of control - indeed, he even threatens to assault his uncle. Hazard is paid again by Old Barnacle, this time to beat and humiliate Young Barnacle. He is beaten by Hazard, the other gamesters and even by his uncle. Now aware of his limitations, he apologizes to Old Barnacle, and promises to show meekness and obedience to his forgiving uncle.

BARNARD
Barnard is a gentleman in debt to Master Berry and in love with his daughter Mall in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange. When Barnard is arrested for defaulting on his loan, the Cripple forces Mall to admit that she has loved Barnard all along and elicits her promise to break off her relationship with Humfry Bowdler. The Cripple then arranges for Barnard to be taken to Berry before being sent to prison, and he has Mall admit before her father that as Barnard's "wife" she must stand bail for him. When the accompanying officers report that they are witnesses to Mall's having declared her love for the gentleman, Barnard expresses his love for her, reminds Berry that, although mortgaged at the moment, there are lands in his possession, and promises henceforth to reform and commit himself to industry. Upon these terms, Berry accepts Barnard as his new son-in-law.

BARNARDINE
A prisoner, set to be executed in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. Born in Bohemia but raised in Vienna, Barnardine has been a prisoner for nine years. Frequently drunk, he expresses no concern about being executed. When Abhorson and Pompey come to execute him, Barnardine refuses to participate and returns to his cell. Duke Vincentio initially plots to have him executed in place of Claudio to trick Angelo, but drops that plan because Barnardine is not yet ready for heaven. He is not needed when Ragusine, who better resembles Claudio, dies of a fever. In the end, the Duke pardons Barnardine and places him in Friar Peter's custody.

BARNARDO
Barnardo is one of the guards to see the Ghost in Shakespeare's Hamlet. He is clearly unnerved by the Ghost, as shown by his challenge of Francisco, rather than waiting to be challenged. His focus is purely practical; he has fewer lines than Marcellus and they all concern the Ghost's physical appearance. He is with Horatio and Marcellus when they tell Hamlet of the Ghost, but despite his claim that he has guard duty again that night, he is not present when the Ghost appears to Hamlet.

BARNAVELT
Family name of Sir John Van Olden and William in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt.

BARNAVELT'S DAUGHTER
The daughter of Barnavelt in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt. A child, she appears to ask her father in to supper just before his arrest and later with her mother to appeal for him after the arrest.

BARNAVELT'S WIFE
The wife of Barnavelt is devoted to him in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt. She tries to encourage him before his arrest, thanks the burghers who honour him in his absence, and sends him, while he is in prison, a message hidden in a pear. This message is found by the Provost, who takes it to Maurice, thus strengthening his resolve to have Barnavelt put to death.

BARNAVELT'S SERVANT
The servant in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt is entrusted by Barnavelt's wife with pears containing a secret message that she wants delivered to her husband in prison. The Provost greedily takes one for himself, which the servant realizes will destroy the whole attempt; he is glad to escape with his own life.

BARNAVET **1636
A “ghost character" in Glapthorne’s Hollander. Sconce’s father was one of the ‘Barnavet’ conspiracy but escaped to England while the Dutch hanged ‘Barnavet.’

BARNE
Barne is a Farmer in Cokain's Trappolin. He brings a suit before Trappolin, accusing Tiler of having fallen from the roof onto his only son and killed him. Trappolin's judgment is that Barne should go up to the roof and fall on Tiler, which Barne sees as an unsatisfactory judgment.

BARNES**1588
Family name of Mall (Mary, Marie), Phillip, and Master and Mistress Barnes in Porter's 1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon.

BARNES**1599
Master Barnes in (?)Heywood's A Warning For Fair Women is a business associate of George Sanders and the employer of John Bean, his man. Barnes sends a reluctant Bean to Greenwich to ask Sanders to visit him in Woolwich on a business matter. The urgency upon which Barnes' insists brings Sanders and Bean in darkness by the wood Bean fears, thus providing George Browne an opportunity to slay them. Barnes takes in the dying Bean, sheltering him until Browne is captured and brought to Barnes' home where Bean identifies him as the murderer.

BARNES, GEORGE
Never appearing on stage in the play, George Barnes is mentioned as a crony of Shallow's during the latter's law education in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV.

BARNES, LYONELL
A "ghost character" in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange, Barnes is a master of arts at Cambridge. William Bennet asks his friend Richard Gardiner to pass along his respects to Barnes when the latter visits Cambridge.

BARNES, MASTER
Master Barnes is the neighbor of Goursey and father of Mall in Porter's 1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon. His wife is one of the two angry women of the title. He dismisses Goursey's thanks for entertaining him, pointing out it is all part of good neighborliness, and that good neighborliness is next to wedded love. He tries to dissuade his wife from gambling so much money per game when she and Mistress Goursey play at dice, and he tries to get her to control her poisonous tongue when she speaks to Mistress Goursey. After Mistress Barnes has left in a huff and Mistress Goursey shown such good humor, he praises Mistress Goursey's reasonableness. The two men lament that they, like all men, have cursed wives, yet they have to try to keep them friendly at home. At home he mildly reprimands his wife for being so rude to Mistress Goursey who, he claims, is noble, and expresses his wish that the two women should be friends. After Mistress Barnes leaves, angry once more, he wonders if his daughter, Mall, will behave in the same way as her mother. This prompts him to think of her being married and married to Frank Goursey, his neighbors' son. Barnes will provide a good dowry and the two mothers will become friends. He questions Mall who is pleased at the proposal. When asked, Phillip, his son, excitedly tells Barnes that Frank Goursey is a very fine young man, but Barnes points out that they must show patience and wait to hear what Frank's father says about the proposed marriage. When the servant Nicholas Proverbs enters, Barnes is amused at Phillip's imitation of Nicholas's manner of constantly speaking in proverbs. Barnes sends Nicholas to Master Goursey with a letter proposing the marriage between Mall and Frank, his neighbor's son, and tells Phillip to strengthen the proposal by arriving at the house when Master Goursey is reading the letter. He himself will meditate to purge himself of treacherous thoughts. That night when Frank arrives in the dark to meet Mall, followed by his angry mother and her servants, Barnes tries to persuade his wife to approve their marriage. When it is clear she will not, he instructs Phillip, his son, to tell Mall to escape to a rabbit field where she will meet up later with Frank. A great deal of running in and out and false identification ensues with no one able to see anything and everyone hallooing to contact the person each is seeking. As Master Goursey, who has followed his wife, meets Master Barnes, they comment on the hallooing and regret not being able to find the people they had set out to meet. Of the many people who appear and disappear is Sir Raph, a gentleman who is planning to hunt throughout the night. Another is Phillip, followed by Frank who has been unable to find Mall. Goursey and Phillip reprimand Frank for not finding her. Master Goursey and Master Barnes decide on a policy to make their wives friends. When they find their wives fighting in the dark over a torch Mistress Barnes has set on the ground, the two men appear to take offence at each other and prepare to fight. To prevent the men damaging each other, the women kiss and make up. Sir Raph then re-appears with Mall, and the women agree that the marriage between her and Frank can go forward.

BARNES, MISTRESS
Mistress Barnes is one of the two angry women in Porter's 1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon. She reacts with bitter suspicion when Mistress Goursey expresses a wish to invite her and her husband over to the Goursey house. When the dicing tables are set up the women agree to play for a pound a game, despite their husbands' attempts to make the purse smaller. Mistress Barnes, using bawdy innuendo, chooses to play only because she believes Mistress Goursey will seduce her husband if she doesn't remain close to her. She rejects her husband's wish to control her tongue and walks off in a huff. Later, when her husband again reprimands her for treating Mistress Goursey so rudely, she leaves again, angrily rejecting her husband's accusation, pointing out that Mistress Goursey is a strumpet, and accusing her husband of being in love with her. Soon after, when she finds out that her husband is planning to find Mall a husband, she tells Mall she is too young to marry. Then she scorns Phillip, her son, for walking home with Frank Goursey, saying he is not Goursey's servant. When she tells him her husband wastes his money on the harlot Mistress Goursey, Phillip points out that Barnes loves her and that she is to blame for misunderstanding her husband. She turns on her son in anger, pointing out to her husband, who has just entered, that it's bad enough having him accusing her unjustly of bad behaviour, without having her son do the same. That night, in the dark, she finds Mall pledging marriage to Frank and refuses to allow the match. Mistress Gourcey arrives with her servants and quarrels violently with Mistress Barnes, a quarrel in which Mistress Barnes both criticizes Mall for disobeying her and defends Mall against Mistress Goursey's insults. When Mall runs to the rabbit green to await Frank, Mistress Barnes follows, trying to find her. Later, alone in the pitch black and frightened, she hides but leaves her torch on the ground to see what happens. When Mistress Goursey enters and picks it up a physical struggle takes place as the two women fight for ownership. Their husbands then appear and as a result of what the women say (and of a policy the men have agreed earlier) the men prepare to fight each other. The women are frightened the men will damage each other and agree to make friends if their husbands will abandon their fight. They agree. When Sir Raph brings in Mall, the women agree to allow the marriage of Mall and Frank to go ahead.

BARNET
A young gentleman apparently in search of a rich marriage, attached to the much richer Dotterel on a similar quest in May's The Old Couple. He appears to be aware of his own financial limitations, too realistic to pursue his apparent attraction to Lady Whimsey; his friends all agree that she is out of his league. He hints at having a secret scheme of his own to make a fortune. (He is secretly working for Lady Whimsey in her quest for a rich husband- together they have agreed to manipulate Dotterel to the altar for their mutual benefit.) He encourages Dotterel's infatuation with Lady Whimsey. Later Euphues and Barnet discuss the successful progress of Dotterel's suit. Barnet appears to be secretly working as Lady Whimsey's agent, on commission, to assist her in her quest for a new rich husband. When the grotesque bridal couple enter, he and Euphues hide behind the hangings to eavesdrop and make witty remarks at their expense. Euphues is moved by Sir Argent's confession to rush to offer help to his cousin Artemia. Barnet has business with Lady Whimsey, when his mysterious hints are finally clarified. He has been working to obtain her a husband, specifically Dotterel and is prepared to return her fee if the marriage falls through. He is another defrauded heir. In his case, a rich estate due to him has been stolen by Dotterel's father and its return will make him far richer than the fee he was offered. It seems that they have an agreement that Lady Whimsey will return it to him on her marriage, as its extraction from a foolish husband will present no problem, but make little difference to her own increased wealth while amply rewarding Barnet with justice and his due riches. The marriage duly takes place offstage while other characters attend to the revelation of Scudmore's survival, Barnet having succeeded in reclaiming his property.

BARON, MANTLE
Accompanied by other Welsh Barons in Peele's Edward I, the Mantle Baron swears allegiance to the infant Edward of Caernarvon on behalf of the loyal Welsh and presents the child the "mantle of frieze" that indicates their recognition of his status as Prince of Wales.

BARONS
Only mentioned in (?)Speed’s The Converted Robber. Jarbus relates how the king of Britain’s noble barons were killed by Vortiger in the year 575.

BARONS, WELSH
Non-speaking characters in Peele's Edward I. Three Welsh barons accompany the Mantle Baron to Edward in Wales and swear allegiance to the newly born Edward of Caernarvon. The Mantle Baron presents the infant with a "mantle of frieze" as a symbol of the child's status as their prince. In an aside, Sir David of Brecknock remarks that two of the barons are Morris Vaughn and Lord Anglesey, both of whom he labels traitors to Wales.

BARREN
One of the gossips in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker who attends Ann at the birth of her child. Magpy comments that she has been married seven years, but never borne a baby. Despite Ann's pleas, she gets drunk and falls asleep, allowing Young Bateman's ghost to enter. She then joins in the search for Ann after Ann disappears from her childbed.

BARRISOR
Barrisor is a French courtier and Bussy's enemy in Chapman's Bussy D'Ambois. Barrisor is present when Bussy defies the Duke of Guise and is sure that Bussy is trying to bed Elenor. After Bussy forced the Duke to back down temporarily, Barrisor, D'Alou and Pyrhot confront Bussy, Brisac and Melynell. The six resolve to settle their differences via the blade. According to Nuntius, Barrisor faces off against Bussy in battle. Barrisor initially offers to fight Bussy alone, but L'Anou and Pyrhot insist upon joining the fight against D'Ambois' comrades. Barrisor is killed by Bussy. It is reported by the Friar after Barrisor's death that Barrisor was madly in love with Tamyra.

BARRISTERS
Disguises assumed by Snap and Swift in the Anonymous Oberon the Second. They pose as barristers to help carry out their deception of their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello).

BARRON
A "ghost character" in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen. Barron is mentioned by Modestina as a possible suitor for Miniona. The latter despises him because he is not a man of "spotless honour."

BARROT**1637
Likely the name of the actor who enters in the anonymous The Wasp. He is given the speech heading "One" and does no more than announce to "Justice Bindover" that some seafarers await him at his shop.

BARSENE **1638
Archidamus’ sister in Mayne’s Amorous War. Her father promised her to Eurymedon when Thrace made Bithynia a tributary nation. On his deathbed, however, he promised her to the prince of Thessaly, and she respects his dying wish. She invites Eurymedon to woo her peacefully and without an army at his back. She rankles at being placed safely on an island and petitions her brother to allow her to remain and help fight the war. Roxane and Barsene are captured and like Orythia, Thalaestris, Menalippe, and Marthesia trussed like Amazons in golden fetters pinioned with silken cords. It is all a ruse, however, for Eurymedon to get close to and woo her. He lays his army at her feet, and she exacts a promise from him to engage with her and Roxane in a trick they mean to pull. She colors her face “a comely brown" and poses as Antiope, the Amazon princess, in league with the Bithynians. In her guise, she complains that seeing plays and hearing poems is not worthy of an Amazon, and that the women yearn to fight and shed blood. Barsene and Roxane test Archidamus’s love by offering to let him choose between the two “Amazon princesses" to be his queen. He chooses to remain true to Roxane and when he prepares to fight with Eurymedon, both Roxane and Barsene appear, undisguised, to plead for peace, and all are reconciled happily as two priests sing the nuptial song over the new-made couples.

BARTELLO
Silvio's uncle, Captain of the Citadel, and husband to Rodope in Fletcher's Women Pleased. He attempts to woo Isabella, but escapes when Lopez discovers him. Called to witness Lopez' accusations of Isabella, and her protestations of innocence, he threatens Lopez into apologizing. Visiting Isabella again, he is discovered and embarrassed, and reconciles with his wife. Participates as a dancer in the wedding masque for Silvio and the hag.

BARTERVILE
The merchant Bartervile is more villainous than the devil Lurchall who is sent to corrupt him in Dekker's If It Be Not Good. He grants the Bravo's petition to curtail the tobacco shops, since they take business away from the whorehouses. He tricks the two Gentlemen out of their mortgage payment. At court, he swears that he paid Farneze the money he owes him, but the act of perjuring himself causes him to fall down in a swoon. The devils Lurchall and Ruffman help him recover in time for the King to demand a sizeable sum of money from him in order to support the war effort. To avoid payment, Bartervile disguises himself as a Turk and plans to fake his own death. In this disguise, he agrees to hide the courtiers in his cellar, but sends Lurchall to report their location to the Duke of Calabria. The devils drag him down to hell, where he suffers torments with the Prodigal, Guy Fawkes, and Ravillac. He is doomed by the infernal court to drown in a lake of molten gold.

BARTHOLOMEW
A young page to the Lord in the play's induction in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Bartholomew is commanded to dress as a woman and pretend to be Christopher Sly's wife as part of the practical joke the Lord plays on Sly. When the players enter, Bartholomew sits with Sly to watch them perform the play within the play, which is The Taming of the Shrew. Shortly after the play begins, Bartholomew and Sly disappear from the text.

BARTHOLEMEW BUBBLES
In many ways, Bubbles and Thomas Greene, Queen Anne's Servants' notorious clown who portrayed him, plays the title and central thematic roles in Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque. Erstwhile servant to Staines, a young London gallant, the master-servant relationship is reversed when Bubbles becomes the beneficiary of a lucrative inheritance from his uncle, a wealthy usurer. His newfound fortune allows him to pursue marriage with Joyce, a daughter of Sir Lionell (a prospect which she dreads), hire his erstwhile master Staines as a servant (who he duly renames Gervase) to train him in gentlemanly etiquette, and acquaint himself with the typical fashions and pastimes of young, well-to-do Londoners. Following Staines' instructions to the letter, however, proves a detriment to the would-be gallant when it leads to acute gambling debts, adopting ridiculous behavior (especially the constant repetition of the phrase "tu quoque"), the eventual extortion of his money, and an ignominious return to Staines's service.

BARTHOLOMEW BURST
Bartholomew Burst is an adventurer in Jonson's The New Inn. He likes drinking, and a merry guest at the New Inn. Pierce speaks of him as one who has been a citizen, a courtier, and now a gamester. Though he is still a merchant, Burst is characterized as an adventurer and a friend of Jug. The allusion is to the fact that Burst likes drinking. In a room at the inn, Burst is drinking with Huffle, Tipto, and Fly. Tipto says he does not like Bust, and they soon start a quarrel related to the Spaniards' character. While Tipto holds that the Spaniards possess all the qualities, Burst adds that they have these at half measure. The quarrel is interrupted when Pinnacia and Stuff enter. It is understood that Bust attends the second session of the court of love but he speaks no more.

BARTHOLOMEW COKES
Bartholomew Cokes is an esquire of Harrow, soon to be married to Grace Wellborn in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Cokes comes to Littlewit's house, accompanied by Mistress Overdo and Grace, apparently to retrieve his marriage license. Cokes does not sparkle by his wit, and Grace is none too happy at the prospect of marrying a fool. Cokes goes to the Fair, in the company of Mistress Overdo, Grace, and Wasp. At the Fair, while Cokes listens to Overdo's anti-tobacco speech, Edgworth pinches Cokes' purse. In another scene at the Fair, Cokes admires all the junk that Leatherhead and Trash have for sale. In his naiveté, Cokes offers to buy the entire shop of Leatherhead, and Trash's gingerbread basket. Nightingale and Edgworth enter, and Cokes boasts his full purse, defying any cutpurse around. Nightingale pretends to have a spell against cutpurses. While Nightingale is singing, Edgworth tickles Cokes in the ear to make him draw his hand out of his pocket, and he pinches his purse. When Cokes notices that his purse is gone, he blames the Madman (Overdo disguised) for the theft. Cokes follows Overdo/Madman to the stocks, and he is thereby separated from his companions and becomes lost at the Fair. Cokes falls into a third trap designed by Nightingale and Edgworth, who steal his sword, cloak, and hat. Unable to find his way home, Cokes wanders to the puppet-theatre, where he sees Littlewit and asks him to lend him some money, which he uses to pay his entrance into the play. During the play, Cokes makes foolish remarks regarding the plot. In the final scene, when he learns that his marriage license is no more, Cokes seems to be easily placated with the promise of a puppet show. When Overdo invites everybody to his home for supper, Cokes tells them to bring the actors along and have the rest of the play performed there.

BARTLETT
Only mentioned in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Miles jokingly threatens to haul loads of fools from Oxford on a great ship, one like "Bartlett's ship," a reference to Alexander Barclay, the translator of Sebastian Brant's Das Narrenschiff (The Ship of Fools).

BARTLEY
Bartley, along with Wentloe, is one of Sir Francis Ilford's two dissolute companions in Wilkins's The Miseries of Enforced Marriage.

BARTOLUS
A covetous, jealous lawyer married to Amaranta, the most beautiful woman in Corduba in Fletcher and Massinger's Spanish Curate. When Amaranta objects to his jealousy, he puts her off with promises of rich presents. Bartolus readily accepts Leandro as his law student once he knows he will be paid 300 ducats, but he is nearly cuckolded for his trust in the shy, retiring Leandro. When Henrique decides to claim Ascanio as his son and heir, Bartolus serves as his lawyer. Lopez tricks Bartolus into believing that Diego, the sexton, has died rich and has willed a large portion of his estate to Bartolus. When the ruse is uncovered, Bartolus is not amused, and vows revenge. He throws a breakfast party and invites all those who helped fool him. Instead of food, disguised Algazeirs and Paritors serve each man. Each receives a different form of legal revenge on his plate, such as a summons to court, a fine, and the like. Bartolus relents only when Jamie promises to tell the court of some mysterious past misdeeds.

BARTRAM, SIR
Sir Bartram is the elderly Scottish friend and host of Eustace in Greene's James IV. He has tried to lease land through Ateukin, but Ateukin double-crossed him. Sir Bartram therefore asks Slipper to steal the letters relating to this transaction from Ateukin, but Slipper also accidentally steals the warrant for Dorothea's execution, which Sir Bartram then shows to her.

BARTRAM'S WIFE, SIR
A "ghost character" in Greene's James IV. Sir Bartram's wife is mentioned as awaiting Eustace at dinner.

BARTUS
Friend of Navarre in Marlowe's Massacre at Paris.

BARUCH
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.

BARUCH **1632
Only mentioned in Randolph's Jealous Lovers. Demetrius, disguised as an astrologer, rattles off a list of "the learned Cabalists and all the Chaldees." The list includes Asla, Baruch, Abohali, Caucaph, Toz, Arcaphan, Albuas, Gasar, Hali, Hippocras, Lencuo, Ben, Benesaphan, and Albubetes.

BARUTHEN
A "ghost character" in Suckling's Brennoralt. An officer under Brennoralt. Grainevert suggests retiring "to Baruthen's tent" and Stratheman says "Baruthen had the watch tonight."

BARWICK
Barwick presents a minor role in Heywood's 1 If You Know Not Me as servant to Beningfield.

BASE
A court jester in Fletcher and Middleton's The Nice Valour, Base sings a long duet with the Passionate Lord when the lord is in his merry fit. When the Souldier stabs the Passionate Lord, Base is the first to cry murder.

BASHA**1607
A Turkish lord in Day, Rowley and Wilkins's The Travels of the Three English Brothers who is taken prisoner by Anthony and Robert Sherley, who then argue with Halibeck over whether or not the Basha should be executed.

BASHA**1618
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's The Knight of Malta. The Basha is a Turkish lord who has fallen in love with Oriana and written to her. Mountferrat and Abdella use this letter to accuse Oriana of treason.

BASHAW
Several Bashaws are mentioned as attending on Calymath in the stage directions of Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. Only one speaks; in the first appearance of the Turks, he formally announces that the Turks have come from various islands in the Mediterranean Sea, such as Cyprus and Rhodes. He returns for the tribute from Malta, but is refused by Ferneze. The Bashaw declares that Calymath will invade the island and leaves.

BASHAW ALCADE
I. Alcade is a bashaw (pasha) in service to Mullisheg, King of Morocco and Fez in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part One. He encourages the King to tax, and if necessary to confiscate, the ships and the goods of the Europeans who have enriched themselves by trade along the Barbary Coast. II. Although he is charged to watch Spencer in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part Two, he allows the Englishman outside the gate, allegedly to seek a prostitute. Alcade assumes that, by keeping Spencer out of the way while Mullisheg is supposedly having a dalliance with Bess, the King will be grateful.

BASHAW, CALI
Blames the defeat of the Turkish on John of Bordeaux in ?Greene and Chettle's John of Bordeaux.

BASHAW JOFFER
I. Joffer is a bashaw (pasha) in service to Mullisheg, King of Morocco and Fez in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part One. He encourages the King's plan to collect European women for service as concubines in the palace, a plan that leads directly to Mullisheg's desire to see Bess when he learns that an "English lady" has recently landed in Morocco. II. Joffer arrests Spencer as he tries to escape in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part Two, but because he admires the fight the Englishman has put up, he allows him to visit Bess aboard her ship The Negro in order to talk her out of committing suicide. Joffer does this knowing that, should Spencer not return as agreed, his own life will be forfeit. He makes this gesture in order to show the Englishman that Moors are capable of noble behavior. Later, Joffer is taken captive by the Florentines, and Spencer and his party offer all they have to ransom him. The Duke of Florence is so taken with this gesture that he frees the captive without ransom, and Joffer is so impressed with European honor and magnanimity that he determines to convert to Christianity.

BASHAWS, TWO TURKISH
Mirza takes the bashaws prisoner in Denham's The Sophy. He treats them with honour and asks his father, King Abbas, to allow them a military command,. Abbas's favourite, Haly, uses this request to exacerbate the King's suspicion and jealousy of his son. Realizing the prince's danger, the bashaws, now devotedly loyal to him, offer their lives to Abbas to confirm his innocence. Their offer finally explodes Haly's deceit, and he tells Abbas the truth: that Mirza was never plotting against him. Haly then has the bashaws taken off for execution.

BASHAW, THE
(part played by Hieronimo in Hieronimo's Play), Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy.

BASHFULNESS **1617
A “ghost character" in the anonymous Pathomachia. One of the four half-Virtues (or imperfect Virtues) at King Love’s command. Bashfulness has recently been banished from Spain and is therefore available for Love’s war.

BASILEA
Appears in scenes 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18 of the Anonymous plot of Frederick and Basilea; played by the young actor Dick (Edward Dutton's boy).

BASILEUS
See also BASILIUS.

BASILEUS
Basileus is a right and honorable king in Wager's The Cruel Debtor. As soon as he discloses Flateri and Rigor, he expels them from his court. Then, having decided to collect debts, he summons his greatest debtor, Ophiletis, into his presence.

BASILINO
Basilino is the Prince of Castile in Montague's The Shepherd's Paradise. A match has been arranged for him with Saphira, the Princess of Navarre, but he has refused it on the grounds that he is in love with Fidamira, a lady of the court and supposed daughter to Bonoso. Refused by Fidamira and unaware that his friend Agenor is also in love with Fidamira, he departs for the Shepherd's Paradise, a society of voluntary chastity to which the truly unfortunate can be admitted at the yearly election of the Queen. Adopting the name and disguise of Moramante, he arrives at the Shepherd's Paradise and tells the story of his thwarted love for Fidamira, without mentioning names that would identify him. He falls in love with Bellesa, the newly elected Queen. At the end of the play, he is revealed as Prince of Castile and reconciled with his father, and it is revealed that he is actually in love with Saphira, Princess of Navarre, the young woman he was supposed to marry all along and who has been disguised as Fidamira.

BASILISCO
A braggart knight in Kyd's Soliman and Perseda. He participates in the Governor's games and is in love with Perseda. He is dismayed when he sees her in Erastus's company and complains to Piston. He serves as comic relief through much of the play. Proclaiming himself Perseda's knight, he vows to destroy Erastus after Perseda has learned of his apparent betrayal. After Ferdinando's death, he places himself in the service of both Perseda and Lucina, neither of whom appear interested. He is captured during the Turkish assault on Rhodes, and agrees to "turn Turk" to save his life (though he says it is for love of Perseda). Once in Turkey, he learns from Piston of the marriage of Erastus and Perseda, and he decides to return to Rhodes and to reclaim his Christian faith. He stands with Perseda to defend Rhodes, but is killed by Soliman when he attempts to kiss the dead Perseda.

BASILIUS
See also BASILEUS.

BASILIUS**1592
A "ghost character" in ?Greene's Selimus I. Emperor of Russia. Mentioned by Selimus as an enemy who would threaten him if he were to govern Samandria.

BASILIUS**1606
Basilius is the Duke of Arcadia in Day's Isle of Gulls. He is the husband of Gynetia and the father of Hippolita and Violetta. Annoyed by the constant influx of suitors to his court, Basilius has retreated to a fortified desert island. He is accompanied by his counsellor, Dametas, a man who comes from a humble background and owes all his advancement to Basilius. Basilius has issued a challenge to any princes who wish to marry his daughters: if they manage to steal the princesses away from the island they will inherit his titles. He keeps Violetta close by him, and puts Hippolita under the charge of Dametas, Miso, and Mopsa. While Basilius and the court are hunting, the princesses are abducted by Julio and Aminter, who have the help of Dametas. They are, however, rescued by Lisander and Demetrius, who are disguised as an Amazon, Zelmane, and a woodman, Dorus. Believing that Lisander is a woman, Basilius falls in love with him. He realises that his wife also loves Lisander, thinking him to be a man, and arranges for Gynetia to woo Lisander in front of him. Later, Basilius, Gynetia, Lisander and Violetta play bowls, and Lisander takes the opportunity to woo Violetta under her parents' noses. Basilius courts Lisander repeatedly, and Lisander eventually agrees to meet him at Adonis's Bower; Basilius does not realise that Lisander has also arranged for Gynetia to meet him there, and that it is a ruse to give the two princes the opportunity to escape with Hippolita and Violetta. Basilius and Gynetia watch the arrival of Manasses in Lisander's Amazonian costume and initially believe him to be Zelmane. They also watch the arrival of Mopsa, Dametas, Miso and Manasses's Wife. Eventually, Lisander and Demetrius arrive and announce that they have conveyed the princesses away from the island. However, they are double-crossed by Julio and Aminter, who claim the princesses for themselves. Basilius approves the claim of Julio and Aminter within the rules of the challenge.

BASILIUS**1640
King of Arcadia in Shirley's The Arcadia. For fear of a prophecy coming true, Basilius has gone into hiding with his wife, Gynecia, and their two daughters, Philoclea and Pamela. His marriage has been lacking in affection. He becomes infatuated with the amazon Zellmane (Pyrocles), arranging to meet with "her" secretly. Finds Gynecia there instead, drinks a potion she gives him, and falls asleep, appearing to be dead. Revives at the end, negating Euarchus' sentencing of Gynecia, Musidorus, and Pyrocles for his murder. On awakening, Basilius finds that the prophecy has come true despite his precautions, yet all is well.

BASILLUS
Basillus is a tribune and a supporter of Scilla in Lodge's The Wounds of Civil War. When Scilla takes Rome, Basillus wishes him happiness, if he is no foe to Rome—an "if" that angers Scilla—although Basillus is not punished for it.

BASILONTE
A nobleman of Cordua in Davenant's The Spanish Lovers. Father of Amiana, and, as he finally reveals, father of Orgemon and Dorando too. He guards his daughter jealously, but she manages to escape and reach (eventually) the house of her lover, Androlio. Basilonte finds her there and challenges Androlio; the two quirky characters take an unexpected liking to each other and easily agree that Androlio should marry Amiana. Orgemon and Dorando have reached the point of trying to kill each other for the love of Claramante when Basilonte discloses that they are both his sons, sent away in their infancy so that he could test their characters before making them his heirs. They have been recently summoned to Cordua by him through a proxy. Since Orgemon is the elder brother, Dorando has to give way to him in the courtship.

BASKET HILTS
Squire Tripoly Tub's valet, an irreverent clown in Jonson's A Tale of A Tub. He poses as the servant of the pseudonymous "Captain Thumb" and delays the wedding of Audrey and John Clay by identifying Clay as the leader of a band of thieves roaming the woods outside Totten. He delivers Audrey to Squire Tub and, when Tub is "arrested" by Miles Metaphor disguised as a Pursuivant, threatens Metaphor into revealing Justice Preamble's plot. He does the same later when he and Squire Tub catch Metaphor on his way to pick up the restitution money and Audrey from the Turfe residence.

BASKET WEAVER
The basket weaver is an Antipodean, a character in the inset play of Brome's The Antipodes. The basket weaver is confuting Bellarmine.

BASON
A silent character in ?Brewer's The Country Girl. He comes with the Constable and Whip to arrest the bawd.

BASON'S WIFE
Only mentioned in ?Brewer's The Country Girl. She is thought to have a tooth drawn in the area above.

BASSA
Name shared by Bostangi, Cali, Caragius, Hali, and Sinam in ?Greene's Selimus I.

BASSA CALCEPIUS
Also known as Calcepius Bassa in Peele's The Battle of Alcazar. Bassa is the leader of a trusty band of men that carefully attend Abdelmelec's people in their camp–his men are soldiers comparable to the guard of myrmidons that kept Achilles tent. Sent by Amurath, the king of Turks, to repay Abdelmelec's service in Amurath's father's dangerous war, Bassa's duty is to invade the Moor's realm and seek revenge, and to install the proper emperor to the throne. Given tokens of gratitude after helping Abdelmelec's people win the war against the brutish Moor, Bassa returns to his home "as glorious as Great Pompey in his pride."

BASSA, CARRADIN
Carradin Bassa is a Turkish governor in Goffe's The Courageous Turk who participates in the victory over Lazarus of Servia and Sesmenos of Bulgaria. Along with Lala Schahin, he presents to Amurath a group of Christian Men who have been captured, and endorses Lala Schahin's recommendation that they be trained as janissaries to serve as Amurath's bodyguard.

BASSANES
Bassanes in Ford's The Broken Heart owes much to the jealous husband of the New Comedy tradition. The character is much darker in this tragedy, however, and the effects of jealousy upon the innocent wife here prove catastrophic. Like Ithocles, he commits his wrongs blindly and repents once he sees them. He operates mainly as the catalyst in the play to fuel the anger of Orgilus, who was to have wed Penthea, the woman who became Bassanes' wife. By play's end he is reduced to the minor role of affirming the truth of Ithocles' murder. His name means "vexation."

BASSANIO
Bassanio is a spendthrift friend of Antonio's in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Despite having borrowed money from him that he cannot repay, Bassanio asks for a further loan of 3000 ducats so that he can court Portia and gain her fortune. When Antonio turns to Shylock for the loan, Bassanio tries to stop Antonio from agreeing to the bond of a pound of flesh, but Antonio insists. Bassanio then agrees to have Lancelot for his servant, and to allow Gratiano to accompany him to Belmont, if he promises to behave soberly. Bassanio correctly picks the lead casket and is rewarded with Portia's hand, but their celebration is interrupted by Salerio's arrival with word that Antonio has lost his ships and cannot pay back the loan, and that Shylock is insisting on the pound of flesh. Bassanio immediately returns to Venice and offers three times the original loan, but is denied. After the disguised Portia wins the case, she asks for the ring she has given him as payment, but he at first refuses. Only after Antonio asks does he hand over the ring. Back in Belmont, Portia teases him by claiming to have slept with the clerk who has the ring, but then reveals herself.

BASSETT
Bassett, in the Duke of Somerset's service and a Lancastrian supporter in Shakespeare's 1 Henry VI, quarrels with Vernon, a Yorkist.

BASSIANUS**1594
Bassianus is the younger brother of Saturninus in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. He gives up his claim to the throne when Titus supports Saturninus. He refuses, however, to give up Lavinia, to whom he is betrothed, when Titus decides she should marry Saturninus. Chiron and Demetrius kill Bassianus before they rape and mutilate Lavinia.

BASSIANUS**1608
A Roman nobleman and warrior who attends on Maximinus in William Rowley's A Shoemaker a Gentleman. With Lutius, he captures Amphiabel and Winifred. He desecrates the holy well, whereupon he is struck by the blinded Lutius, but despite this warning from God, he still leads the two Christians to execution. Bassianus helps to raise the alarm after the Country People report the firing of the beacons.

BASSIOLO
Gentleman usher to Lasso in Chapman's The Gentleman Usher. He is the key person in the household. He accepts Vincentio's offer of a friendship between equals (Vincentio offers to let Bassilio call him Vince) and agrees to carry a letter to Margaret. He delivers the letter and urges her to reply, but she suggests he do so on her behalf. When she rejects his effort and asks him to write down her own words, he keeps the initial effort to use. He delivers the letter, then brings Margaret herself to Vincentio. Later, when Lasso threatens to find out who has been Margaret's confidant, Bassiolo attempts to change her mind and accept the Duke's suit, but Margaret persuades him to be true to his friend and arrange again for the lovers to meet. He guides them to their meeting, which the Duke disrupts, and he flees. He is returned in the final scene, under guard, but is released when the play achieves its happy ending and the lovers are united with the blessings of their fathers.

BASSO
Bajazeth's guard in Marlowe's Tamburlaine Part 1. He is sent to warn Tamburlaine to stay in Asia. He tells Tamburlaine that the Turks outnumber him: 10,000 janizaries on Mauritanian steeds and 200,000 foot soldiers.

BASTARD**1588
I. Philip the bastard in the anonymous 2 Troublesome Reign of John, born Fauconbridge, but revealed in Part 1 as the bastard son of Richard Coeur de Lion and knighted as Richard Plantagenet, brings John the news of the barons' revolt and the immanent invasion of Lewes at the head of the French army. He attends the lords' meeting at Bury, and argues that it offends God's law for sworn subjects to rise up against an anointed king. When Pandulph's curse fails to end the attack on John he leads a sally against the gathered foe. Not knowing of Meloun's revelations to the English peers, and heavily outnumbered by the combined armies of the French and the alienated nobles, he leads the English soldiers north, but a sudden storm catches them as they are crossing the Wash and decimates the force. He and John take refuge in Swinstead Abbey. As they are dining in the abbey orchard, the king and the murderous Monk having drunk from a poisoned cup both die. Perceiving that the Abbot is an accessory, the Bastard kills him. When Pandulph, Henry, and the barons arrive, the prince asks him to destroy the abbey, and he it is who organizes the funeral procession and coronation and speaks the last speech of the play. II. Philip the Bastard is the son of Lady Falconbridge and Richard I in Shakespeare's King John. He and his younger brother appear before John quarreling over who should inherit Lord Falconbridge's land. John and Eleanor are convinced by the Bastard's appearance that he is the son of Richard, and suggest that he give up his claim to the land and instead serve the Queen. When he agrees, John renames him Richard Plantagenet. After the first, inconclusive battle between France and England, he suggests they join together to conquer Angers. At first they agree, but the Citizen suggests a marital alliance instead, an agreement which enrages the Bastard. In the second battle, the Bastard kills Austria and rescues Queen Eleanor from capture. John then sends the Bastard to England to take money for the fight from the monasteries. He does so, but as he is collecting money, he realizes that the people are turning against John, and finds Peter of Pomfret, a prophet, who has declared that John will give up his crown soon. John then sends the Bastard to seek out Salisbury, Bigot and Pembroke, who have turned against him. When the Bastard finds them, they have discovered the dead body of Arthur. At first the Bastard is as appalled as they are, but he believes Hubert's claim that it was not murder, and returns to John. When John submits to Pandolf, the Bastard is disgusted, but remains loyal. He protects England against the Dauphin's army when John is poisoned, and after he is dead speaks the final lines promising that England will never be conquered if her subjects are true to her.

BASTARD**1598
Don John, Don Pedro's illegitimate half-brother in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, is sometimes given the speech prefix Bastard.

BASTARD **1599
Bastard in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV is the derogatory term used by Master Joffelin to refer to Falconbridge.

BASTARD**1614
The Bastard is pretender to the thrones of Spain and Germany in Smith's The Hector of Germany. He is in league with Saxon and the Bishops Mentz and Trier against Savoy, Bohemia, the Palsgrave, King Edward and the King of Spain. In his employment are the murderous henchmen Valdome and Mendoza. The Bastard defeats Savoy and Bohemia in battle while the Palsgrave is ill. Saxon repeatedly demands that The Bastard allow him to control the kingdom once The Bastard is crowned. The Bastard agrees at first, although Saxon drops the demand as soon as the Bastard defeats Saxon in a one-on-one fight. The Bastard is crowned Emperor of Germany. After defeating Savoy and Bohemia, the Bastard moves on to invade Spain. When the Palsgrave challenges to fight any pretender to Spain's throne, the Bastard declines the invitation, preferring to fight a full-scale battle instead. During the battle, the Bastard is captured by the Palsgrave and subsequently rescued by Saxon. The Bastard sends Mendoza and Vandome to hatch a plot against the lives of King Edward and the Palsgrave. He also agrees to seek the assistance of King John of France. Young Fitzwaters kills the Bastard's men Artoise, Mendoza and Vandome; in addition, the Queen of France betrays him by allowing the Palsgrave and his men to enter the Bastard's hall dressed as masque dancers. The Bastard is ambushed, arrested and condemned.

BASTARD of ORLEANS
Jean, Count Dunois in Shakespeare's 1 Henry VI, illegitimate son of the Duke of Orleans and thus King Charles's first cousin, is referred to as the Bastard of Orleans. He is the first to introduce Joan on stage, presenting her as a heaven-sent prophetess.

BASTARD, SIR GEOFFREY HOLD–FAST’S **1638
A “ghost character" in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable. Jeremy suggests that the imposter who claimed to be Sir Geoffrey Hold–fast’s son was some bastard of his father’s, gotten upon his tailor’s wife or laundress because “he has a good store of them."

BAT
A "ghost character" in Middleton's The Family of Love. A bellman mentioned by Gerardine as a criminal who must appear in court.

BATEMAN**1625
Family name of Old and Young Bateman in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker.

BATEMAN**1629
A "ghost character" in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen. Mr. Bateman is a creditor. He sends a servant to see Sly in the hope he should pay him the money his master owes him. Actually, at first, he seems to be the only creditor who is going to be paid, although, in the end, all of them recover their money.

BATEMAN of KENDAL
A "ghost character" in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. Bateman of Kendal gave kendal green (a woolen cloth) to Scarlet and Scathlock when they became outlaws.

BATES, JOHN
John Bates is an English soldier in Henry's army in Shakespeare's Henry V. On the eve of the battle at Agincourt, when Henry puts on Sir Thomas Erpingham's cloak and wanders among the soldiers incognito, he speaks with Bates, Williams, and Court about his responsibilities in battle and their own. Still unrecognized, Henry quarrels with Williams about the king's promise not to be ransomed if the English lose, Williams mistrusting the vow and Henry defending it. Bates reminds them that they should be fighting the French, not each other.

BATT BENDBOWE
A "ghost character" in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary. One of the workers in the shipyard. His name is called out by the Clerk of the Check.

BATTUS
One of the pupils of the Pedant in Marston's What You Will.

BAUD
Baud is the maid to Mistress Wanton in Killigrew's Parson's Wedding. Her main function in the play is to publicly claim that the Parson seduced her into his bed, in order to further Wanton and the Captain's jest.

BAVIAN
The Bavian is a morris-dancer dressed in a traditional ape costume in Shakespeare's Two Noble Kinsmen.

BAWD**1599
Only mentioned in Jonson's Every Man out of His Humour. Bawd is a character in Plautus' comedy Cistellaria. Cordatus mentions Plautus when he speaks of the device of inserting elements of violence in the comedy. After the episode of Sordido's suicide attempt, Cordatus gives the example of Plautus' comedy Cistellaria, in which such a violent incident happens. The character, Alcesimarchus, tries to commit suicide and is saved by Selenium and the Bawd. Cordatus considers the example from Plautus of the highest authority.

BAWD**1602
The Bawd in Heywood's Royal King turns away the Captain and the Clown from her bawdy-house because they are wearing ragged clothes. When the Captain reveals that he has money, she changes her mind. But then the Captain lectures the Bawd and her whores on their moral corruption, and stalks off.

BAWD**1605
A patient of Bedlam (mental hospital), also called "the dancing Bear" in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho. She lost her wits by a fire.

BAWD**1608
A bawd in Shakespeare's Pericles. Along with Boult and Pander, Bawd purchases Marina from pirates with the intent of forcing her to become a whore.

BAWD**1611
A "ghost character" in Jonson's Catiline. Lentulus's mistress. After the conspirators have been exposed in the Roman Senate, being placed under private custody, the praetors' report comes that they continued the seditious actions subversively. According to Pomtinius, Lentulus's Bawd has been visiting the shops in every street, paying people to raise in arms against the consuls.

BAWD**1625
Second Constantia's bawd in Fletcher's The Chances. The Bawd is arrested by Petruccio and put in the custody of an Officer, along with Second Constantia and Francisco.

BAWD **1631
This unnamed Madame complains of how little money is brought into her house in Marmion's Holland's Leaguer. She fits the visiting Ardelio with a whore sound in "wind and limb."

BAWD**1632
Disguise that Lady Malory uses in ?Brewer's The Country Girl to catch her husband red-handed. She visits Margaret to whom she lies when she tells her that Sir Robert has good intentions. She discovers his flirtations for herself when she realizes that the country girl will not accept Sir Robert's proposals. Having proved the virtues of the girl, she gives money to Margaret.

BAWD**1638
The bawd is an Antipodean, a character in the inset play of Brome's The Antipodes. She is one of the dubious characters seeking public relief from poverty. Byplay readily grants her suit.

BAWD**1638
A "ghost character" in Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers with whom Clindor has lost his monthly payment.

BAWDBER
A corrupt lord in Fletcher and Massinger's Thierry and Theodoret. Brunhalt's long-standing servant and, more particularly, pandar to her lechery. Loyal to her, as much out of fear of her violent temper if crossed. Fearful of his punishment should Brunhalt's exposure ever lead to the revelation of his own guilty complicity with her. He bribes De Vitry with fifty crowns to take a beating from Protaldy in an attempt to re-establish his reputation for courage, and he witnesses the failure of the scheme. He remains at court and reports on Thierry's illness after he has been poisoned. Present at the denouement, he is not singled out for punishment by Martell, but must be assumed to be chief amongst the survivors of Brunhalt's conspiracies condemned to be whipped out of court.

BAWDS
The bawds at the Fair are "fictional characters" in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. the stage-keeper in the Induction complains that the Author of the play does not observe the characteristics of real life in his theatrical Fair. Among other things, the stage-keeper says the poet does not have a bully to take care of the bawds at the Fair, as it used to be in the stage-keeper's time. Actually, the play Bartholomew Fair presents a bawd (Ursula), a pimp (Whit), and a prostitute (Punk Alice).

BAXTER, DOCTOR
Doctor Baxter, chancellor of Oxford in Wilkins's The Miseries of Enforced Marriage. He is employed by Lord Falconbridge to certify the marriage contract between William and Katherine that Lord Falconbridge has arranged. When he later tries to help William see his duty to his abandoned wife and children he nearly precipitates the murder of the wife and children (a reference to the Calverley murders in Wakefield, Yorkshire, in April 1605, on which the play is based). The near murder is prevented by the loyal Butler. Scarborrow has said he will not lie with Katherine and very soon vows to leave her and "make a consumption of this pile of man" in London when he learns that Clare has committed suicide. Thus vow is discontinuous because Katherine appears with two children later in the play.

BAY, BROWN**1513
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Hick Scorner. The hackney horse, lame in back, that Imagination once stole from the bailiff's brother. Imagination escaped arrest by convincing the bailiff that it was exactly like his own horse, the morning was foggy, he was nearly blind with a migraine, and he made an honest mistake.

BAYLEY, MASTER
The constable in [?]Stevenson's Gammer Gurton's Needle. Dr. Rat, who has had his broken head and wants Dame Chat to be arrested for it, calls for him and his servant Scapethryft. When it is discovered that Diccon is behind the mischief, Master Bayley, Diccon's friend, lets the rascal off very lightly.

BAZARDO
a Painter, Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy.

BAZON
Name of the spirit impersonated by Haddit during the deception and robbery of Hog in Tailor's The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl.

BAZULTO
an old man, Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy.

BEAD
Master Bead is a scrupulous Roman Catholic in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. He visits Master Silence in the belief that he is a Roman priest–therefore he is shocked to find that his outfit does not coincide with what he was expecting him to wear, being a Catholic priest. Nevertheless, he is reassured by Master Silence who affirms: "the inward man is priest." Then, Master Bead proceeds to tell him about his problem, revealing he is troubled by "many scruples of conscience." Master Silence assures him he can help him. But, suddenly, they are interrupted by someone else knocking on the door, and Silence remembers he had another appointment with Narrowit, a Puritan, and he kindly invites Master Bead to "come some other time." Unfortunately, the latter is leaving the following day, and he will not visit the place again for years. Then, Master Silence offers the possibility of placing each of them on different sides of the room, for him to "walk between you and dispatch both as suddenly as I can", and Master Bead accepts. He then proceeds to relate his scruples, and they are all petty devotional trespasses of the Catholic faith–which would not have been trespasses at all had he been a Puritan. When his narration is over, Master Silence tells him that his confessor will give him "perfect absolution for all these." And, aware of the fact that he is a Catholic, and that Catholics believe in relics, he will give him one that will preserve him "from all these scruples hereafter, as anything else that you may call ill." Curious about the nature of the relic, he asks about it, and Master Silence explains that it is "a Tyburn martyr's blood upon a straw." As a sign of gratitude, Master Bead gives him ten pieces of gold. Later, when he finds out he had been cozened, he goes to see Silence to ask him for satisfaction–but Silence threatens to reveal his secret and Bead leaves. But, soon, encouraged by Damme de Bois, he and the other cozened victims siege the house of the three cheaters. Finally, Master Algebra, who was passing by, offers to act as a judge, and he actually solves the case satisfactorily for all the parties involved, cures the cozened people and he is recompensed both by the victims and by the cheaters.

BEADLE**1578
An under-bailiff in Whetstone's 1 Promos and Cassandra. He helps Gripax and Rapax bring Lamia and Rosko to Phallax.

BEADLE**1581
The officer in Wilson's The Three Ladies of London who whips Simplicity is also refereed to as a Beadle.

BEADLE**1591
Gloucester in Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI uses judicious questions to prove that the miraculous cure of Simpcox's blindness is a ruse, and then he demonstrates that the man's lameness is also an imposture when Simpcox flees the beadle who has been summoned to whip him.

BEADLE**1606
A disguise assumed by Ephestian Quomodo after faking his own death in order to observe the reactions of his family and friends in Middleton's Michaelmas Term. The disguise proves Quomodo's undoing when he signs an indenture transferring his property to Easy under his real name.

BEADLE, FIRST
This First Beadle is in charge of Mistress Quickly and Doll Tearsheet when they are detained in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV. There isn't a second beadle in the play.

BEADLE of the MERCHANT TAILORS
A minor official of the Merchant Tailors' guild in Whetstone's 2 Promos and Cassandra. He asks Phallax where the Merchant Tailors can set up their show for the King's welcome. He expresses displeasure when Phallax assigns them to an area rife with beggars, but goes off to deliver the answer to his guild.

BEADLES
Two minor officials of the city of Julio in Whetstone's 2 Promos and Cassandra. They assist Gresco in rounding up knaves after the King's public court.

BEALE, DOCTOR **1595
A "ghost character" in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. John Lincoln assures his fellow citizens that, unlike Doctor Standish, Doctor Beale supports their cause and has agreed to read their bill of complaints against the foreigners during the "Spital sermons" (the Easter week sermons delivered at St. Mary of the Hospital).

BEAN, JOHN
John Beane, a yeoman, is servant or "man" to Master Barnes in (?)Heywood's A Warning For Fair Women. Fearful of the dangers of going by land route to London, Bean nevertheless obeys Barnes' directive walk to George Sanders' residence to ask Sanders to visit Barnes. In route Bean meets his friend, Old John, and his sweetheart, Joan, Old John's maid. Since George Sanders is at court when Bean arrives, Anne Sanders invites Bean to stay until her husband returns. When Sanders comes home, Bean insists that he and Sanders start immediately for Barnes' house but then wants to turn back when the two arrive after dark at the forbidding wood. Sanders makes them continue through the wood, where George Browne, ambushes them, killing Sanders and leaving Beam seemingly lifeless. Somehow Bean Bean survives and crawls, barely conscious, to the path where Old John and Joan discover him and carry him home. Unconscious for two days, he comes to life long enough to identify Browne as the murderer; then he dies. Because of the class consciousness and hortatory intent of this morality tale, neither judges nor populace nor even Barnes seemed much concerned that Bean and been slain or courageously held on to life. Judges and public opinion spoke only of the murder of Gentleman Sanders.

BEAR**1591
In the dumb show to I of the Anonymous Locrine a Bear or "any other Beast" is followed by a lion. An archer then kills the lion. Ate compares the Lion to Brute, the Archer to Death.

BEAR**1610
When Antigonus arrives in Bohemia in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, he successfully deposits the infant Perdita on the shore before being chased and killed by a bear. At this point in the play's action, the period's arguably most famous stage direction appears: Exit, pursued by a bear (III.iii.57 s.d.). The clown reports that the bear ate him. It is a matter of scholarly debate whether the bear was played by a costumed actor or by a genuine bear (perhaps borrowed from the bear-baiting pit nearby or from a showman with a trained performing bear).

BEAR–HERD, HELLNO the **1607
A “ghost character" in Tomkis’ Lingua. Appetitus initially mistakes Mendacio for Hellno, but Hellno is dead.

BEAR, WHITE **1641
A “ghost character" in (?)Shipman’s Grobiana’s Nuptials. Ursin has missed seeing the white bear baited as well as the sports with the ape and horse at the garden. He names several other of his bears Rose, Nan Stiles and Tearthecoat, but whether one of them is the white bear does not appear.

BEARD, LIEUTENANT
Lieutenant Beard is an associate of William Smallshanks in Barry's Ram Alley. He helps William in the deception of Sir Oliver Smallshanks, playing the part of the butler of "Constantia Sommerfield," who is really the courtesan Francis impersonating Constantia. Beard urges "Constantia" to marry Throat instead of William, and claims that William owes him thirteen pounds. He carries the torch as William, "Constantia," Thomas Boutcher and Thomas Smallshanks proceed to the Savoy; en route they are attacked, and Throat and Dash make off with "Constantia." When Francis is arrested, Beard goes to fetch bail for her; he returns and releases her, enraged by the attempt of the Sergeant to solicit sexual favors from Francis. Beard loses "Constantia" to an ambush by Thomas Smallshanks and his men. He decides that William was behind the ambush, and that Francis must really be the heir, Constantia. Beard goes to the house of Lady Sommerfield and tells Throat that he has lost her; he is arrested by Justice Tutchin and brought to the house of Changeable Taffeta, where he helps Throat to accuse William.

BEARDBUSH
A "ghost character" in Middleton's The Family of Love. A barber mentioned by Dryfat.

BEARERS
Four Bearers carry Mercurio's coffin onto the stage during his mock-funeral in Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden.

BEARMBAR, MARY
Mary Bearmbar is the wife of the Mayor of London in Peele's Edward I. Early in the play, she incurs the wrath of the proud Queen Elinor, who objects to the Mayoress being accompanied through the streets by musicians as she goes to have her son christened. Later, Elinor summons Mary and inquires if the woman would wish to become a royal laundress or the nurse to Edward, Prince of Wales. When Mary chooses the latter, the queen has her bound to a chair and poisonous snakes affixed to her breasts in order to determine what kind of a "nurse" Mary will be.

BEARWARD
A "ghost character" in Jonson's Epicoene. The bearward cries his trade in the street before Morose's house. When Truewit discusses Morose's noise-hating idiosyncrasy with Clerimont, Page mentions an incident involving a bearward. Page narrates how he asked a bearward to shout his trade before Morose's windows. Probably the tricky page had a grudge or a debt against the bearward, because he says he asked him to come down with the dogs of some four parishes. Hearing such terrible noise, Morose punished the bearward, sending him away with his head bleeding.

BEAST**1591
A suggested replacement for the Bear of the first dumb show of the Anonymous Locrine. See "BEAR."

BEAST**1606
Likely, but not certainly, a "ghost character" (animal) in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. In a clear reference to the Revelation of St. John, the Empress of Babylon describes the "adored beast on which we ride." It is not clear whether or not she actually rides it in the course of the play.

BEATRICE**1590
Beatrice is the daughter of Grimes and the love of George in Greene's George a Greene. Her father is frustrated because, although she is wooed by many high ranking men, including Bonfield, she refuses to marry any but George. Kendall orders her father to lock her up until George is dead. She escapes with the help of George's boy Wiley, and finds George, but will not marry him until her father consents. This is accomplished through an appeal to King Edward.

BEATRICE**1598
Beatrice is Leonato's niece in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, presumably by a sibling other than Antonio or perhaps from his wife's side of the family. When the soldiers holiday in Messina following their victory, Beatrice's verbal sparring with Benedick inspires Don Pedro to play a practical joke with the aim of uniting them. Apparently Benedick once toyed with her affections, and she is now resolutely opposed to being courted. Positioning themselves so that Beatrice will overhear their conversation, Hero and Ursula discuss Benedick's supposedly ungovernable passion for Beatrice. The ploy works, and Beatrice begins to admit her love for Benedick. When Claudio accuses Hero of adultery, Beatrice and Benedick's relationship has grown strong enough that he accepts Beatrice's ultimatum to kill Claudio. Fortunately, Don John is revealed as the instigator of Claudio's misapprehension before Benedick can make good his promise, and both couples are married.

BEATRICE**1604
Beatrice is Young Freevill's fiancée in Marston's Dutch Courtesan. Up until he met her, he was involved with Franceschina, a Dutch courtesan. Indeed, even after Freevill's engagement, he continues to visit Franceschina, kissing her, caressing her, listening to her sing, offering her to his friend Malheureux, and discoursing upon the virtues of courtesans and the joys of stews. Beatrice is as patient and forgiving. When he disturbs their pre-wedding masque in order to participate in a pretend fight with Malheureux and leaves without any notice, she forgives him. When Franceschina tells Beatrice that Freevill was in love with Franceschina and not Beatrice, she promises to love Franceschina even more because of her dearness to Freevill. When Freevill skulks about in disguise and allows Beatrice to believe that he is dead, she contemplates suicide. Ultimately, Beatrice's example of unconditional love teaches Freevill that there is no greater joy than to have a virtuous wife.

BEATRICE**1636
Beatrice is a waiting woman serving Matilda in Massinger's The Bashful Lover. She and Ascanio first espy Hortensio, and allow him to meet Matilda, who is depressed over the coming war.

BEATRICE–JOANNA
Beatrice-Joanna is the daughter of the wealthy and powerful Vermandero in Middleton and Rowley's The Changeling. Her father has decided that she must marry Alonzo de Piracquo, but when she meets Alsemero, Beatrice decides that he is her man. The lovers meet in secret, but when Alsemero decides to duel with Alonzo, Beatrice, fearful of losing him, plots Alonzo's murder. She hires DeFlores, a disfigured servant whom she has always loathed, to do the deed. DeFlores murders Alonzo, and Vermandero, thinking Alonzo has run away, chooses Alsemero as her new fiancé. But Beatrice is horrified when DeFlores demands a sex as payment for his work. He blackmails her, forcing her to sleep with him before her wedding night. After the wedding, the deflowered Beatrice is alarmed to find a test for virginity in Alsemero's closet. Knowing that she would fail the test, she persuades Diaphanta to sleep with Alsemero while he thinks she is Beatrice. She also tries the virginity test on Diaphanta: she passes, and Beatrice copies her reactions when Alsemero tries the test on her. That night, Diaphanta sleeps with Alsemero, but she stays too long, and Beatrice becomes anxious that she will give the game away, so DeFlores murders Diaphanta. Beatrice begins to love DeFlores, because he is so diligent in protecting her. But DeFlores continues to have sex with her, and Jasperino and Alsemero observe them. When Alsemero confronts Beatrice with the evidence, she confesses, says she did it all to marry him. He locks her in his closet, and when DeFlores arrives, thrusts him in after. There, DeFlores stabs Beatrice. She dies begging forgiveness from Alsemero.

BEAU–
For sirnames beginning with BEAU– see also BEW– and related spellings.

BEAU DESERT
Beau Desert is a "ghost character" and probably an assumed name in Fletcher's The Loyal Subject. When the Duke makes amorous advances to Alinda, "she" tells him he used to have a Mistress who nursed him, called Beau-desert. The Duke cannot remember this name, and Alinda says the woman had a plainer name and was related to Lord Archas. Probably Alinda refers to a nurse the children had in the time of the Old Duke.

BEAUFIELD, LADY
Lady Beaufield is a flirt in Cavendish's The Variety. She also enjoys teasing men. She makes light of Sir William's fancy language at the beginning of the play and angers him by taking a romantic interest in Manley, after Manly successfully turns the tables on Sir William in the episode of the ghost of Leicester. She provokes Manley into drawing his sword by showing a romantic interest in Simpleton, and it appears that the love interest that has been generated between her and Manley is over. After all of the other couples are one by one brought together and reconciled to their lots, Lady Beaufield says to Manley, "Nay then let marriages goe round, with this [her hand] take both possession of my heart and fortunes."

BEAUFORD
Beauford is a nobleman engaged to wed Gratiana, daughter of Sir John Belfare in James Shirley's The Wedding. His friend Marwood tells Beauford that Gratiana is unchaste. He informs him that Cardona, Gratiana's maid, had arranged an intimate liaison for Marwood with Gratiana. Beauford and Marwood duel; Beauford wounds Marwood and is led to believe that his friend has died. He accuses Gratiana of being unchaste and deserts her only to discover by play's end that Gratiana is indeed chaste and Marwood alive. Marwood had unknowingly slept instead with Lucibel, the daughter of Cardona, and not with Gratiana. Beauford and Gratiana are reconciled and celebrate the wedding for which the play is named.

BEAUFORT **1592
Family name of Henry (Bishop, later Cardinal, of Winchester), Thomas (Duke of Exeter), and John (Earl, later Duke, of Somerset) in Shakespeare's 1 Henry VI.

BEAUFORT**1621
Lord Beaufort is a friend of Sir Francis Cressingham in Middleton's Anything for a Quiet Life. Beaufort is appalled that Sir Francis, having become a widower only a month before, has committed the indiscretion of marrying a fifteen-year-old lady educated at court. Beaufort asks Chamlet about the news in Cheapside, admiring Chamlet's expertise at the stock exchange and his wife's elegance. Before the start of the play, Beaufort promised Franklin to rig him a ship to sail for the East Indies. Beaufort explains that a recent purchase has prevented him from keeping his promise and offers Franklin a position as his gentleman companion instead. Franklin accepts. Later, Beaufort wants to seduce the lawyer Knavesbee's wife, Sib, and asks Knavesbee to play the pander for him. Knavesbee obliges and Beaufort is introduced to Sib and left alone with her. He confesses his admiration for her and makes a midnight assignation at his house. However, when Beaufort learns that Sib has fallen in love with the page Selenger, he goes to vent his frustration on Knavesbee. When later Chamlet announces that he intends to retire and have a quiet life on a peaceful island, Beaufort tries to change his mind. When Rachel enters, fearing her husband Chamlet has left her, Beaufort tells her that her sharp tongue is the cause of her problems. Beaufort encourages Rachel to go home and persuades Chamlet to give up his intended voyage to the Bermudas. Sweetball and Knavesbee ask Beaufort to mediate in their conflict over which of them should kill the other first. Sib next enters with Mistress Cressingham (no longer disguised as Selenger but rather dressed as a woman). At the sight of a repentant Lady Cressingham, Beaufort (who has recognized his page) benevolently announces that they should all be joyful publicly for the restoration of Sir Francis's fortune. Beaufort has the final word, before the Epilogue. He tells everyone that such happy reunions deserve a public show, and he promises to pay for the feast.

BEAUFORT**1629
Beaufort is the only son of the deceased Lord Beaufort in Jonson's The New Inn. According to Lovel, he is a virtuous young man, but has become his rival to Lady Frampul's affections. At the New Inn, Host welcomes Beaufort and Latimer to his house. When Lady Frampul enters with her party, Beaufort and Latimer accept to take part in the mock court of love, where Lovel is the appellant and Lady Frampul the defendant. Beaufort enters with Lady Frampul's party to attend the mock court of love, presided by Prudence as the supreme judge. When Lovel starts his Neoplatonic disquisition of love, Beaufort makes some side comments, which show that he is acquainted with Plato's Symposium at least as well as Lovel is. Yet, Beaufort expresses his preference for an Ovidian feast of the senses in matters of love, instead of the spiritual union of the souls. During the second session of the love court, Beaufort applies his strategy of enjoying love in an unmediated way. While Lovel speaks about valor and honor, it seems that Beaufort loses interest in the debate. It is inferred that, during Lovel's peroration, Beaufort courts Frank/Laetitia and they slip away secretly. Later, Fly reports to Host that they were married in a stable. Beaufort enters with Frank/Laetitia, thanking Fly for having arranged his secret marriage. When Beaufort orders the bed to be prepared to consummate his marriage, Host reveals that the "bride" is a boy. In a coup de theâtre, Nurse reveals that Frank, whom Host had thought a boy, is, in fact, her daughter. Hearing that he is married to a beggar woman's daughter, Beaufort repudiates his bride. When Nurse/Lady Frampul reveals that "Frank" is Laetitia, Lord Frampul's long-lost daughter, Beaufort accepts his wife readily.

BEAUFORT, JUNIOR
Beaufort, Junior, the son of Beaufort in Massinger's Unnatural Combat. He seeks Theocrine, but she is stolen by her father, Malefort, who lusts after her.

BEAUFORT, LORD
A "ghost character" in Jonson's The New Inn. The deceased Lord Beaufort is father to Beaufort. From a discussion between Lovel and Host it emerges that Lovel was Lord Beaufort's page, and later his friend. According to Lovel, Lord Beaufort fought bravely in France and taught his page the nobility of being a gentleman, in the manner of the classical examples of the great Greek and Roman fathers. Lovel reports that, after Lord Beaufort's death, his only son, a virtuous lord, has become his rival in the affections of Lady Frampul, but the lady seems to scorn both suitors.

BEAUFORT, SENIOR
Beaufort, Senior, is the governor of Marseilles in Massinger's Unnatural Combat. He helps his son steal away with Theocrine. Later, he arrests Montreville

BEAUFORT, THOMAS
Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter in Shakespeare's Henry V, is the half-brother of Henry IV and therefore Henry V's uncle. He serves the function of English ambassador in II.iv, when he brings Charles VI Henry's challenge to cede the crown of France or prepare for war. Exeter also conveys a message to the Dauphin, reiterating Henry's threat that he will repay the Dauphin's scornful gift to him with war on France. When the governor of Harfleur surrenders, Henry puts Exeter in charge of the town.

BEAUMART, HAUCE **1600
A "ghost character" in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green. Hauce Beaumart is a captain who consented to help the French win Guynes, part of the plot that caused Mumford's banishment.

BEAUMELLE
Rochfort's daughter in Field and Massinger's The Fatal Dowry. A fickle and wayward woman, she keeps her lover, the unscrupulous and vain Young Novall, after she has married (at her father's behest) the noble Charalois. Unmoved when her husband's friend Romont, who becomes witness to their affair, urges her to give up her lover, and able at first to dupe her father and her husband into believing that she is a chaste and virtuous wife, Charalois finally catches her together with her lover. To punish his wife, Charalois sets up a mock trial in which he forces her father to sentence her to death and immediately carries out the judgement by, in essence, "executing" Beaumelle.

BEAUMONT**1592
The Clerk of the Crown in Marlowe's Edward II. After Gaveston's exile to Ireland is followed by a brief reconciliation among Edward II and the barons, the king sends Beaumont, Clerk of the Crown, to overtake Gaveston and bid him return.

BEAUMONT**1599
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry V. He is reported among the French dead on the Agincourt battlefield.

BEAUMONT**1619
An educated gentleman and "scholar" in Field and Massinger's The Fatal Dowry, he acts as a messenger for various characters in the play. In this function he transports good news or vital evidence, although he lacks steadfastness and good judgement himself.

BEAUMONT**1633
He is first discovered in Shirley's The Gamester being moved, under arrest, by Officers, for the wounding and possible killing of Delamore. Though thought of as a murderer, Sir Richard Hurry is still keen to have him marry his daughter, Leonora. In gaol, Beaumont refuses Sir Richard's offer to arrange pardon and the hand of Leonora; he insists that his love is exclusively for Violante. A delighted Violante overhears this expression of love for her: the couple have an emotional reunion in the gaol, while all the time mourning for his friend, Delamore. Brought in front of Sir Francis again, now at the Hurry household, he again refuses to be bribed by offers of freedom and the hand of Leonora. Facing death or lifelong imprisonment, he will accept these outcomes rather than betray his love for Violante. He is rewarded when Sir Francis reveals that he has merely been testing Beaumont's character. Beaumont hears that his friend, Delamore, has actually survived. He is released from custody, free to pursue his requited love with Violante.

BEAUMONT**1637
Beaumont is an English lord who takes part in the campaign against the rebel Scots in J.W.'s The Valiant Scot. He is sent to Wallace's camp with a letter from Clifford and Percy. Unfortunately, his 'guide' turns out to be none other than Wallace in disguise as an injured soldier. Not long after they have set off, Wallace sends Beaumont back to the English camp.

BEAUMONT, FRANCIS **1641
Only mentioned in Wild’s The Benefice. Invention reads some praise for Beaumont and Fletcher (‘the Muses’ twins’) but Furor Poeticus finds fault in their works (‘a couple of cowards . . . one find rhyme, and another reason’) and calls for an imaginary Jailor to take them away.

BEAUMONT, LORD
Mentioned by Green as a supporter of Bolingbroke, along with the Earl of Northumberland, Harry Percy, Lord Ross and Lord Willoughby in Shakespeare's Richard II.

BEAUPRE**1604
Beaupre is Elenor's niece in Chapman's Bussy D'Ambois. She takes an immediate dislike to Bussy, calling him rotten before ripe.

BEAUPRE**1619
Vertaigne's son and Lamira's beloved brother in Fletcher and Massinger's The Little French Lawyer. Beaupre decides to avenge the insult done to his sister when Dinant confronts her on her wedding day. Challenging Dinant to a duel in honorable fashion, Beaupre is prevented from fighting with him when Lamira tricks Dinant into avoiding the duel. Instead, Beaupre and his second Verdoone fight with Dinant's second Cleremont and La-writ, the little French lawyer, who happens to be walking in the park near the dueling site. When Champernell hears that Beaupre has lost the duel, he orders the young man out of his house, but, hearing that Dinant did not duel, relents. Beaupre is a witness to Lamira's humiliation of Dinant, and is kidnapped along with Lamira and others as Dinant works his counter-revenge. Bound, wearing a halter, and forced to march past his sister, Beaupre becomes part of Dinant's plot to humble Lamira. Beaupre is reunited with his sister once Dinant has succeeded in humbling Lamira.

BEAUPRE**1624
Beaupre is the name Calista adopts for her Moorish slave disguise in Massinger's The Parliament of Love. The wife of Clarindore, she serves as the waiting woman to Bellisant. She sleeps with Clarindore, but it is a bed trick in which he mistakes her for Bellisant. At the end of the play, she and her husband are reunited.

BEAUTEOUS GANYMEDE, SIR
Friend of Moll Cutpurse in Middleton and Dekker's Moll Cutpurse, The Roaring Girl. Sir Beauteous and Sir Thomas Long overhear Ralph Trapdoor saying that Jack Dapper was being held for ransom for his gambling debts; they tell Moll, who saves him. Sir Beauteous joins her, Jack Dapper, Sir Thomas, and Lord Noland when they are accosted by Trapdoor and Tearcat disguised as poor soldiers and by the cutpurses. Moll explains to him and the others the practice of canting and the profession of cutting purses. Later, Sir Beauteous and Lord Noland escort Mary Fitzallard to Sir Alexander Wengrave's home as Sebastian Wengrave's wife.

BEAUTY**1495
An advisor to Everyman in the Anonymous Everyman. Beauty represents Everyman's physical attractiveness and accompanies Everyman to the edge of the grave and then abandons him.

BEAUTY**1635
Only mentioned in Jordan's Money is an Ass. To gain access to Clutch's house, Penniless disguises himself as Precious Jewel, brother to Gold, and assures Credit that he is married to Beauty, sister to Lady Portion.

BEAVIS
Mistress Trainwell's blunt servant who aids her in her plots in Brome's The Northern Lass. He strongly dislikes being mistaken for a pimp by Pate and Anvil.

BEBIA
Like Lais, she comes to St. Dunstan's and the Devil tavern to carouse with Timothy in the anonymous Wisest Have Their Fools. The boy/drawer hails her from next door. She says all women are wanton, modesty is only a disguise.

BEBIUS
A "ghost character" in Lodge's The Wounds of Civil War. Bebius is one of Marius' enemies after he takes Rome. Marius commands his soldiers to seek out Bebius and cut off his head.

BEBRITIUS
King of Bebritia in Chapman's The Blind Beggar of Alexandria. Bebritius joins with Kings Bion, Porus, and Rhesus to attack Egypt. They are defeated in battle. In the aftermath of the war, Bebritius seeks the love of the widow Elimine, but she chooses King Porus. Cleanthes (Irus in disguise), victor in the battle and now King of Egypt, promises to find him a suitable Egyptian bride.

BECK**1613
Name given to Rebecca by Young Lord Wealthy in Tailor's The Hog Hath Lost His Pearl.

BECK**1635
Nickname that Brittleware gives to his wife in tender moments in Brome's The Sparagus Garden. (See "REBECCA").

BEDFORD
John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. See "PRINCE JOHN."

BEDFORD
A "ghost character" in Thomas Heywood's 2 Edward IV. Bourbon mentions Bedford as an Englishman who wreaked havoc in past battles with the French.

BEDFORD**1600
Bedford is the leader of the English troops in France in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green. He is convinced by the trickery of Sir Robert Westford and Young Plainsey that Muford is a traitor and banishes him.

BEDFORD, EARL of **1600
He first appears in the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell in an inn in Bononia talking defiantly to his host about the French who are surrounded the building. Cromwell arrives, disguised as a Neopolitan who has promised to get Bedford to surrender to the French without a drop of blood being shed. Bedford remembers Cromwell as the son of his farrier. He agrees to change clothes with Hodge (Cromwell's servant and called "clown" at this point in the SD) and escapes with Cromwell. He next appears in Act 4, after Wolsey has fallen, as the nobles discuss Wolsey's plots. He recognizes Cromwell as the man who saved him from the French and says he will commend him to the king. Cromwell is steadily promoted. Bedford next appears at Cromwell's banquet in Act 4 but says nothing. When Gardiner accuses Cromwell of plotting against the king he does not believe him and leaves to think. He is troubled and goes to confront Cromwell as twice he passes Bedford in the street on his way to important business. In the end he writes Cromwell a letter which Cromwell fails to read, warning Cromwell not to go to the meeting at Lambeth with the nobles. When he watches Cromwell's arrest he weeps at Cromwell's downfall and later reprimands Gardiner for disturbing Cromwell as he is about to be executed. He embraces Cromwell and after the execution announces that Cromwell was his truest friend.

BEDINGFIELD, SIR HENRY
Sir Henry Bedingfield, a supporter of Queen Mary in Dekker and Webster's Sir Thomas Wyatt, brings her the news of Edward VI's death.

BEDLAM, JERONIMO **1605
A servant to Katherine, friendly to Fitsgrave in Middleton's Your Five Gallants. He is sent to search for the pearls stolen from her, when he meets Fitsgrave and mentions the theft, he alleviates Fitsgrave's guilt for having had his own gift from her also stolen. This is his only named scene. Fitsgrave subsequently alludes to the madness implied in his name, but it is hard to see in this one brief encounter what eccentricities are manifest. It would be appropriate for Bedlam to be present at other scenes in Katherine's house, especially the finale, when many hands are needed to apprehend the guilty Gallants.

BEDUNENUS
Along with Synis and Nasutus, Bedunenus is one of the three rustic fiddlers who attempt to play a song in honor of the bride (Livia) in Lyly's Mother Bombie. Their bumbling attempts to salute the clandestine marriage are met with hostility at the various houses they visit. They unwittingly help to rouse the parental suspicions of the fathers in the play, and this in turn contributes to the unraveling of the plot of the witty servants (Dromio, Riscio, Lucio, and Halfpenny).

BEECH, ROBERT
A chandler in Yarington's Two Lamentable Tragedies. Along with the Neighbour, visits Merry in his tavern and drinks a can of his beer. When Merry laments his lack of financial prosperity, Merry expresses his own satisfaction with his business and his store of wealth. Later, Beech is sitting outside his shop reading when he is approached by Merry, who tells him that friends have asked him to join them at Merry's tavern. Although reluctant to leave his shop, Beech eventually joins Merry and as he ascends the stairs in Merry's tavern is murdered by Merry, who strikes him on the head with a hammer fifteen times. Beech's body is removed to Merry's tavern where Merry cuts it up and disposes of it. The remains are discovered, however, and Merry is executed for his crime.

BEERE **1607
Part of Gustus’s retinue in Tomkis’ Lingua. A small, thin boy.

BEERPOT, HANCE
Hance Beerpot is a drunken Fleming, and is the sometime companion of Ill-Will and Shrewd Wit in the Anonymous An Interlude of Wealth and Health. He also goes by the name of War. He asks Ill-Will and Shrewd Wit for a place to stay in England; they direct him to go to court and ask for Wealth. During Wealth's disappearance, he tells Good Remedy that he has taken Wealth to Flanders and away from England.

BEGGAR**1592
When he comes with Honesty in the Anonymous A Knacke To Knowe A Knave and asks the priest for a penny, he receives nothing.

BEGGAR**1625
An 'anticke' dancer in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. He appears before Slightall wearing "I am a Begger" on his breast. The word anticke (antique), apart from meaning 'old, ancient', also means 'disguised'.

BEGGAR**1634
A dancer in Heywood's Love's Mistress, one of Love's Contrarieties.

BEGGAR**1638
The beggar is an Antipodean, a character in the inset play of Brome's The Antipodes. Notably well-spoken, he tries to lend money to the Gallant but cannot because he has only enough money to pay the lawyer, who demands his fee.

BEGGAR**1641
Beggar is a branch of the commonwealth (Utopia) represented in the aborted masque following the beggars' wedding in Brome's A Jovial Crew. The role is not assigned. Beggar overcomes the soldier and brings all the branches of the commonwealth to Beggar's Hall.

BEGGAR BOY
The unnamed Beggar Boy in Fletcher's Beggars' Bush accompanies Clause (Gerrard in disguise) as he enters the tavern outside Bruges to fleece the Boors who are drinking there. The Boy adds to the generally festive atmosphere of the scene by singing a song.

BEGGAR, FIRST **1600
One of the beggars invited to dinner by Gwenthyan in Chettle, Dekker and Haughton's Patient Grissil. He initially urges his fellows to act civilly but quickly joins them in their drunken feast and leaves hoping the Gwenthyan and Sir Owen will continue to argue so that he may have more free meals.

BEGGAR, TOM
Tom Beggar and Wily Will are an efficient begging team in Wilson's The Three Ladies of London. Simplicity joins them and they sing a song together. But they fool Simplicity out of all the best takings. On the orders of Fraud, they rob Mercadore the merchant.

BEGGAR–WENCH **1599
In Ruggle’s Club Law, she is asleep in the tub that Niphle sneaks into to escape the search. Niphles tries to maintain that he was arresting the beggar-wench, but she tells the search that he offered her two pence to lie still. She is arrested along with Niphle and both are paraded to jail in their tub.

BEGGARLAND, MASTER
A "ghost character" in Middleton's Michaelmas Term. Beggarland is a merchant who is unable to purchase the goods lent on credit to Blastfield and Easy. He is likely an invention to fool Easy into believing that Blastfield (Shortyard) has actually attempted to sell the cloth.

BEGGARS **1599
They enter with Cressida about three-quarters of the way through Chettle and Dekker's Troilus and Cressida.

BEGGARS**1600
A group of beggars brought in deliberately by Gwenthyan to ruin a dinner in Chettle, Dekker and Haughton's Patient Grissil. They oblige by getting drunk and eating all the food, leaving none for Sir Owen and his guests.

BEGGARS**1620
Several beggars in the anonymous Costly Whore rehearse the story of the Archbishop, eaten by rats for his mistreatment of the poor, and thus establish a theme that runs through the play.

BEGGARS**1621
Four beggars in Fletcher's The Pilgrim appear with Pedro and the Pilgrim at Alinda's door, hoping for charity and praising Alinda as an angel of mercy. They are insulted by the Porter and Alphonso, but fed by Alinda.

BEGGARS**1624
Beggars receive alms from and thank the Duchess at the beginning of Drue's The Duchess of Suffolk.

BEGGARS**1641
Beggars comprise the main of supernumeraries in Brome's A Jovial Crew. In addition, the elderly bride and groom are beggars. Springlove adopts the persona of beggar every spring. The guise of beggar is taken up by four characters as a central feature of the play:

• Meriel;
• Rachel;
• Hilliard;
• Vincent.

There are also four numbered, speaking beggars in the play:

• Beggar 1 is Scribble, the poet;
• Beggar 2 is the lawyer;
• Beggar 3 is the soldier;
• Beggar 4 is the courtier.

BEGGARY
A non-speaking role: one of the allegorical attendants in the Masque of Cupid's Council in Marston's Parasitaster, or The Fawn.

BEHEMOTH
Behemoth is a spirit in Chapman's Bussy D'Ambois. It is called by Friar Comolet to discover what Monsieur and Montsurry plan to do with the secret paper. Behemoth is rather offended to be called upon for such a menial task. So, Behemoth sends Cartophylax to find out what is written on the paper. Behemoth tells the Friar that Bussy and the Friar will live so long as Tamyra dos not write a letter in her own blood. Behemoth visits Bussy and tells him not to obey the command in Tamyra's next letter. The spirit also says the Friar has died of natural causes and that Monsieur and Guise are the agents of Bussy's fate.

BEIEROANE
A "ghost character" in Marston's Dutch Courtesan. Master Beieroane does not appear in the play. Mary Faugh lists him, along with the Irishman Sir Patrick, the Spaniard Don Skirtoll, and the Dutchman Haunce Herkin Gluken Skellan Flapdragon, as one of the members, presumably representing the Italian contingent, of the wide-ranging international clientele that Franceschina entertained before she met Freevill.

BELARIUS
Twenty years before Shakespeare's Cymbeline begins, Belarius was banished from Cymbeline's court. He took the name Morgan and settled near Milford Haven with his wife Euriphile and Cymbeline's sons Arviragus and Guiderius, whom he and Euriphile had kidnapped. Belarius and Euriphile raised the boys, renaming them Cadwal and Polydore. Twenty years later, Belarius and his supposed sons become Imogen's hosts when she is wandering near Milford Haven disguised as a man. After Belarius and his "sons" save Britain from near defeat and Belarius is knighted and reveals his true identity and theirs, Cymbeline forgives Belarius and greets him as a brother.

BELCEPHON
Belcephon is the devil Bacon conjures up to bring the Hostess of the Bell Tavern to Oxford in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay.

BELCH
Belch is a "beard-maker" in Marston's Histrio-Mastix. Out of work during the reign of Plenty, he becomes an actor in Sir Oliver Owlet's Company.

BELCH, HANS VAN
One of Doll Hornet's duped lovers in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho, a Belgian merchant, who only speaks Flemish. Doll presents one of her companions, Jack Hornet, as her father, and Hans is convinced that she is a gentlewoman. He gives her his gold watch. Captain Jenkins finds him and informs him about Doll's tricks. Together with Allam and Jenkins he follows her to Ware with a warrant, but her new husband Featherstone agrees to pay her debts.

BELCH, SIR TOBY
Sir Toby Belch is the uncle of Olivia and apparently living off of her in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He is a boisterous drunkard, and therefore constantly at odds with Malvolio. He is friends with Sir Andrew Aguecheeck, and has convinced that gentleman that he has a chance to marry Olivia. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Feste engage in a night of drunken singing, aided by Maria, and are roundly condemned by Malvolio. They therefore decide to take revenge on him by convincing him, through a forged letter, that Olivia is in love with him. The plan is carried out, although when Malvolio muses out loud how he would treat those beneath him once he is married to Olivia, Sir Toby becomes so angry he can barely remain hidden. Once Olivia is convinced that Malvolio is mad or possessed, she turns him over to Sir Toby's care; Sir Toby promptly has him confined in a dark cell. Meanwhile, Sir Andrew has realized that Olivia is in love with the disguised Viola and Sir Toby must simultaneously convince Sir Andrew that Olivia is merely pretending to make him jealous and maneuver the jealous but timid knight into a duel. Sir Toby and Fabian bring Viola and Sir Andrew together for the duel, although both are terrified, but they are interrupted by Antonio, who believes Viola is Sebastian. After that fight is broken up by the arrest of Antonio, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew meet and attack Sebastian, but are stopped by Olivia, who leads Sebastian away. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew finally get to fight, but instead of the timid Cesario they encounter Sebastian and are soundly beaten. After accusing Viola of being the attacker, Sir Andrew and Sir Toby are helped off, so they are not present for the final revelations, but Fabian tells the others that Sir Toby has married Maria to reward her for her part in fooling Malvolio.

BELCHAR**1607
A devil in Barnes's The Devil's Charter. In the final act, Asteroth calls on his fellow devils, Belchar among them, to help him take Alexander's soul to hell. Belchar brags that it was he who exchanged the glasses of wine at dinner, thus poisoning the Pope and Caesar instead of the Cardinals Cornetto and Modina. Belchar claims the right to put toads into Alexander's mouth because, in life, the Pope's lust could never be satisfied. He will also pour molten gold and lead into Alexander's stomach because of the pope's seemingly insatiable greed.

BELCHER
Belcher is one of two devils in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus whom Wagner makes appear to pressure Clown to become his servant. Later the Clown summons Belcher and Mephistophilis, but only the latter appears. Clown also refers to him as Belcheo.

BELDAMS
I. Four elderly women in Heywood's The Golden Age, appointed by King Acrifius to guard and keep men away from the brazen tower in which his daughter Danae is imprisoned. They are fit for this position because, as Neptune remarks, they are "past their lusts," and therefore cannot be charmed by men. They are also said to be pitiless, and thus will not yield to Danae's tears and prayers. They are bribed and threatened by King Acrifius so they dare not disobey him. However, Jupiter comes to Danae's tower disguised as a peddler, and his clown manages to keep the Beldams busy with gold and precious gifts (supposedly sent by Jupiter–"the shower of gold") while he reveals himself to the young princess. At the end of the evening, the Beldams allow the "peddlers" to stay in for the night, assuming that men of such lowly rank would not dare court a princess. Thus, Jupiter manages to obtain Danae's bed and deflower her. When King Acrifius learns about this, he burns the four Beldams. II. The four Beldams–comic old women, not distinguished from each other in Heywood's The Escapes of Jupiter–are appointed by Acrisius to keep watch over his daughter, Danae. They are easily persuaded to admit two supposed pedlars to the tower–in fact Jupiter and the Clown, bent on Danae's seduction.

BELFARE, SIR JOHN
Sir John Belfare is the father of Gratiana in James Shirley's The Wedding. He plans a large wedding with lavish feast for his daughter's wedding, and he is crushed when Beauford's accusations that Gratiana is unchaste cancel the nuptials. He becomes unstable in mind when Gratiana disappears. He wishes he could summon Ptolemy to examine the stars and discover the condition and whereabouts of his daughter. He is naturally overjoyed by the play's end to find Gratiana alive, chaste, and reconciled with her beloved Beauford.

BELFOREST
The French baron Belforest is Levidulcia's husband and father to Castabella in Tourneur's The Atheist's Tragedy. Taking a liking to the hypocritical Languebeau Snuff, Belforest creates the Puritan candle maker his household chaplain in order to enjoy Snuff's conversation. Late in the play, Belforest comes to suspect that his wife Levidulcia is visiting the house of Cataplasma for the purpose of an assignation with Sebastian, D'Amville's younger son, and having forced the truth from Cataplasma's servant Fresco, the baron rushes to confront his rival. When the two meet, a fight ensues that leads to both of their deaths.

BELGARDE
Belgarde, a poor captain in Beaufort Sr.'s employ in Massinger's Unnatural Combat. He is used as a decoy so that Beaufort Jr. can steal away with Theocrine

BELI MAUR
A "ghost character" in Fisher's Fuimus Troes. Mentioned in the dramatis personae. Beli Maur (or Beli Mawr or Heli) was a former king of Britain, the father of Lud, Cassibelane and Nennius.

BELIERBEY
Lord Governor of Natolia in ?Greene's Selimus I. Discusses with Mahomet how to react to Acomat's impending attack. Belierbey counsels Mahomet to flee since, as Alemshae's son, Mahomet is next in line for the Turkish crown. Mahomet rejects this counsel, vowing instead to stay and fight. Appears with Mahomet during the parley with Acomat and is later wounded. Escapes from Acomat with some soldiers and the bodies of Mahomet and Zonara, which he brings before Bajazet while confined to a chair. He explains how Acomat murdered both of them and, after Bajazet recovers from his swoon, relates the slaughter of the citizens of Natolia by Acomat's forces. He then dies of his injuries.

BELIMOTH
Belimoth is one of two devils in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus whom Faustus conjures by name along with Mephostophilis in Act 4. The other devil is Asteroth.

BEL—IMPERIA
I. Lorenzo's sister in the Anonymous First Part of Jeronimo. She is in love with Don Andrea. Before Andrea leaves for Portugal, she asks him to keep both his and Balthazar's rash temper under control and to try to reach a peaceful solution. During Andrea's absence, her brother Lorenzo misuses her love for his own ends. He has Alcario, who is also in love with her, dress in Andrea's clothes. He then speaks to Alcario as if he were Andrea who had just returned from Portugal, and Belimperia is fooled; she mistakes Alcario for her lover Andrea, talks to him and even kisses him goodbye. Lazarotto then kills Alcario, mistaking him for Andrea. When Belimperia comes back, she thinks that Andrea has been killed. But the real Andrea is there and comforts her. As the Portuguese want to have a war, Belimperia must take her leave of Andrea again, and she gives him a love knot to remember her. II. Lorenzo's sister, Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. Once beloved of Don Andrea, Bel-imperia enlists her new lover, Horatio, to avenge Andrea's death. When Horatio is also murdered, she is abducted by her brother, Lorenzo, and would-be lover, Balthazar, the man who murdered both Andrea and Horatio. She conspires with Hieronimo and kills Balthazar during the play-within-the play. She then commits suicide.

BELINDA
Belinda is Grimundo's wife in Shirley's Grateful Servant. In a ruse to tame the lascivious Lodwick, Belinda agrees to dress richly and appear to Lodwick as a shape-changing devil. Belinda receives grateful thanks from the duke for her help in reforming his brother.

BELINUS **1587
The King of Naples in Greene's Alphonsus, King of Arragon. At war with Arragon, he quickly finds that he must defend his capital, Naples; in order to do so he unwittingly enlists the help of Alphonsus. After Alphonsus' betrayal of him, and the loss of Naples, he flees to Turkey in order to get help in his war with Alphonsus.

BELINUS**1625
A chief Nobleman in Fisher's Fuimus Troes. Cassibelane's counselor.

BELIOTH
Only mentioned in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. Belioth is mentioned by Fryer John when he is being asked to exorcise the spirit haunting the house of the Changeables: "Had it bin great Belioth, Asteroth, or Belzebub, / I durst affront them, and confront them too." He is an evil spirit.

BELIZA
Beliza is a wealthy and beautiful heiress of Corinth, and the beloved of Euphanes in Fletcher's Queen of Corinth. Having financed Euphanes, otherwise a penniless younger brother, on his martial expeditions, she is rewarded with his gratitude and adoration. She presents him to the Queen of Corinth on his victorious return, and is both pleased and a little jealous to find him becoming the Queen's favourite. She is horrified when her close friend, Merione, is raped and tries fruitlessly to comfort her, but finds some compensation when the Queen reluctantly allows Euphanes to marry her. When she shows Merione the jewels Euphanes has given her, she is unable to believe Merione's claim that Euphanes must be her rapist because he possesses the ring that was taken from her during the rape. Relieved when Euphanes' innocence is proved, she looks forward to their marriage, but is apparently raped by Theanor on the eve of the wedding. At Theanor's trial, she demands his death as punishment while his other victim, Merione, asks only that he be forced to marry her. In the end the truth emerges: it was actually Merione, disguised as Beliza, who Theanor attacked in the second rape. Theanor thus marries Merione to atone for his sins against her, and the chaste Beliza is free to marry Euphanes.

BELLA FRANCA
Daughter to the aged Earl of Boulogne in Thomas Heywood's The Four Prentices of London. Deserted in London when her brothers depart for the First Crusade, Bella decides to follow her brethren in disguise. In Italy, some rapist bandits assault her, though her brothers, Eustace and Charles, quickly save her; the siblings do not recognize each other. As the various crusading forces combine, Bella Franca receives the amorous attentions of her unwitting brothers but defuses this potentially incestuous situation by reminding her siblings that they have a graver purpose at hand, the crusade. To her growing list of suitors is added Tancred and Robert of Normandy. To escape their labored attentions, Bella Franca decides to decamp, taking with her the French King's daughter who is disguised as a page. The Clown assaults her. She betters him in swordplay, aided by Eustace, after which, finally, she identifies Eustace as her brother. In the final scene of recognition, Bella Franca reveals her true identity and is betrothed to Tancred.

BELLAFLORA, MRS.
Mrs Bellaflora was formerly betrothed to Flylove in Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden. She adopts the pseudonym of Mary Fair-Chaste, and flirts with Flylove without being recognized by him. After Flylove's arrest, he offers to marry her, and then changes his mind on his release. However, when she reveals her true identity, he agrees to marry her.

BELLAFRONT**1604
I. Bellafront is the honest whore in Dekker and Middleton's 1 The Honest Whore. She was seduced by Matheo and, when he refused to marry her, became a successful prostitute. She first appears preparing for company with the help of her servant Roger, joking with him about their trade. With Roger, she extracts money from Fluello and then Castruchio by pretending to be angry when he apparently spills the wine. She falls in love with the grieving Hippolyto, who is brought to her place by Matheo, but he rejects her love and denounces her profession furiously and at length. She is converted by his words and decides to become "honest." She attempts to convince her bawd, Mistress Fingerlock, and Roger to give up prostitution and quarrels with them when they refuse. When Matheo, Castruchio, Fluello and Pioratto come to find out why she did not meet them for dinner, she urges them to give up prostitutes. She asks Matheo to marry her in recompense for taking her virginity, but he refuses. She next goes to visit Hippolyto, disguised as Matheo's page, but when Hippolyto discovers that she is a woman, he is furious that his self-imposed retirement has been breached. When he rejects her again, she decides to leave the city and return to her father. Instead, she ends up at the Bethlem Monastery, apparently mad, and there reveals that the three friars are Hippolyto, Infelice and Matheo in disguise. After the Duke is reconciled to the marriage of Hippolyto and Infelice, Bellafront petitions him to require Matheo to marry her, which he does. Matheo swears he will marry her when she is sane again, at which point she reveals that she has only pretended to be mad in hopes of winning Hippolyto. II. The honest whore in Dekker's 2 Honest Whore. Bellafront is the daughter of Orlando Friscobaldo. She had been a prostitute in Part One and had fallen in love with Hippolito. Through his instruction, she reformed completely and, when Hippolito is married to his true love Infelice at the play's end, Bellafront in turn marries her original seducer, Hippolito's friend Matheo. As Part Two opens, Bellafront approaches Hippolito with a request that he intercede for Matheo who has been imprisoned for a murder, and the count agrees to do so. However, seeing Bellafront again, Hippolito is overcome with a passion for her and decides to attempt to seduce her. Bellafront rejects his letters, gifts, and offers of an affair, wishing to remain faithful to her husband Matheo, even though he is an obvious scoundrel and prodigal. When Hippolito continues his pursuit of her, Bellafront agrees to his proposal, provided that he can advance a better argument for infidelity than she can offer for fidelity. Ironically, Hippolito here employs all the rhetorical skill in attempting to corrupt Bellafront that he used in Part One to bring about her reformation. Bellafront turns Hippolito's arguments back in every instance, and she then flees suddenly. At the end of the play, she goes to Bridewell to gain the release of Matheo, who has been arrested for robbery, and when her husband nastily lies that she and Hippolito have been having an affair, the count defends her and warrants her fidelity. At this moment, her father Orlando who has been disguised as Pacheco, the servant to both Bellafront and Matheo, reveals himself, confirms his daughter's reformation, and is publicly reconciled to her. He promises to support her and Matheo in the future, and warns his son-in-law that a reformation will be expected of him.

BELLAFRONT**1609
Bellafront is the daughter of Sir John Worldly and the sister of Katherine, and Lucida in Field's A Woman is a Weathercock. She is in love with Scudamore, but has agreed to marry Count Frederick to fulfil the wishes of her acquisitive father. Scudamore confronts her outside the church, but she rejects his objections to the marriage and proceeds to be married. At the wedding banquet, Scudamore again confronts Bellafront; she claims that, in addition to her father's threats, she was annoyed by Scudamore's public claims about their intimacy. Ranting, Scudamore dismisses her protests; she asks him to find some way of getting her out of her marriage night with Count Frederick, threatening to kill herself, but he rejects her. She is preparing to commit suicide when Katherine and Lucida bring news that the wedding masque is being prepared. The sisters compare their situations, before Sir John tells them to take their places for the masque. In the masque, Scudamore, wearing the mask of Nevill, partners Bellafront. During the second strain they leave together. After the third strain they reappear, Scudamore now unmasked and armed, accompanied by the real Parson. Scudamore and Bellafront declare that they are married, and Nevill, entering in his parson's clothes, confesses that it was he who 'married' Bellafront and Count Frederick.

BELLAMENTE
A noble gentleman in Shirley's Love's Cruelty. He is at first in love with Clariana. Bellamente brags to Clariana about a close friend–Hippolito–who refuses to allow anything or anyone to divide his love for and service to Bellamente. Because of Clariana's machinations, Hippolito and Clariana not only meet but fall in love; the two are suspected by Bellamente, who instantly weds Clariana. Upon later discovering Clariana and Hippolito together, Bellamente publicly accuses neither, requiring only that Hippolito leave and that Clariana no longer expect her husband as bedfellow. He yet again discovers the two together; Clariana is urging Hippolito not to forget her and not to wed the lady Eubella. Clariana and Hippolito mortally wound one another; the miserable Bellamente dies while explaining to the newly arrived duke that Clariana and Hippolito suffer from wounds inflicted upon themselves.

BELLAMIA PEREGRINE
Lady Peregrine is the wife of Sir Walter Peregrine, niece to Sir Solitary Plot, and sister to Jacinta in Shirley's The Example. Sir Walter has left the country because of unpaid debts, and in her husband's absence, Bellamia has been studiously courted by Lord Fitzavarice; she even receives jewels from her adamant suitor and must return them. Eventually she is able to retrieve her mortgage from the reformed Fitzavarice.

BELLAMIE**1634
The main female protagonist of Nabbes' Tottenham Court, and fiancée of Worthgood. As the play begins, she and Worthgood are fleeing from her disapproving uncle through Marylebone Park, but they become separated. She soon encounters and befriends Cicely, the daughter of the park's keeper, and the two women switch identities to help Bellamie escape her pursuers. They are mistaken for prostitutes by James, who represents the sensual love of which Nabbes disapproved. Bellamie, in contrast, is the play's major proponent of idealistic, Platonic love. She is eventually reunited with Worthgood in act four after swooning from her brother Sam's verbal abuse, and in the play's final scene she finally receives her uncle's blessing to marry Worthgood after Worthgood's rich uncle dies.

BELLAMIRA**1589
Bellamira is a prostitute of Malta in Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. Because of the siege, she has lost all her trade, except for the faithful Pilia-Borza, who steals money from Barabas to give to her. Together, they pretend that Bellamira is in love with Ithamore, hoping that he will steal money from Barabas. Ithamore tells them he cannot steal the money, since Barabas keeps it well hidden, but he writes a letter demanding money in exchange for silence about the murder of the nuns and Bernadine. When Bellamira and Pilia-Borza find out about the murders, they decide to go to Ferneze, but delay in order to blackmail Barabas more. Barabas, disguised as a French Musician, attempts to poison them, but he does not use a strong enough dose and Bellamira reports what she has learned to Ferneze. Along with Ithamore and Pilia-Borza, she dies of the poison immediately after telling what she knows.

BELLAMIRA**1601
Bellamira is daughter of the King of Navarre and is in love with Philip in the anonymous Trial Of Chivalry. Burbon breaks into her tent and applies poison to her face, causing it to turn leprous. She then steals away from court in disguise, since she thinks she would not now be a fit wife for Philip. She encounters Pembroke and Katharina at Ferdinand's tomb in the lonely wood, and Katharina sends her to a hermit who is able to cure her disfigured face. She returns to present herself to the Kings at the end of the play, and is free to marry Philip.

BELLAMIRA**1602
A character from the badly deteriorated plot of the anonymous 2 Fortune's Tennis. At one point she disguises as a pilgrim. Because of the state of decay, nothing more can be deduced regarding the character's function in the otherwise lost play.

BELLAMONT, JACK
Jack Bellamont, a poet and dramatist, is the central character in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho, masterminding (and finally combining) the revenge actions in the main plot (around Maybery, Greenshield, Featherstone and Kate) and in the subplot (around Doll Hornet and his son Philip). Bellamont does not believe Greenshield's and Featherstone's story about the infidelity of Maybery's wife - he can convince his friend Maybery that they lie, and he suggests a way of revenge by inviting the two slanderers into Maybery's house. He releases his son Philip from prison by paying his debts, and he then tries to get him away from Doll, the trickster who is responsible for these debts. Doll wants to get acquainted with him by playing a gentlewoman and ordering twelve love poems from him, but her charms do not work on him. When Captain Jenkins comes to Bellamont to order a love poem, Doll tries a second attack. Bellamont tells Jenkins to hide behind a curtain, and he then hears Doll confessing her tricks. Together with her two other victims, Hans van Belch and Allom, he follows her to Ware to have her arrested. In the meantime, Maybery has arranged a plot to take his revenge on Greenshield. Greenshield has been led to believe that Mrs Maybery will meet a gentleman in Ware, and he wants Maybery to go there, surprise them, and show himself openly as a cuckold, but Greenshield would then only discover his own wife, Kate, in bed with his friend Featherstone. Maybery wants as many people as possible present at this occasion, so he asks Bellamont, Philip, Leverpool and Chartley to follow him and Greenshield. Bellamont suggests a small bet for their entertainment on the way: They should play practical jokes on each other during their journey, and the victim of the best joke would then have to pay for all the expenses of the party. During a short visit to Bedlam (mental hospital), Bellamont talks with one of the patients, and Greenshield tells the keeper that Bellamont is mad and should be kept there. When he is relased again, Greenshield is convinced that he has won the bet and that Bellamont now has to pay for their travel. But when they arrive in Ware, Bellamont overtops Maybery's revenge plan with an extra twist that leads Greenshield to offer his own wife as a companion to Maybery, so that both he and Featherstone show themselves as cuckolds in front of the whole party. They cannot find Mrs Maybery, because Bellamont has told her to hide. Greenshield is told that she is in Puckridge, and he wants to go there immediately, but Maybery pretends to be tired and melancholy and does not want to go any further. Bellamont tells Greenshield that he should provide a prostitute for him to make him happy. During a short absence of Featherstone, Greenshield, disguised as a fawkner, goes to his inn to look for a suitable prostitute for Maybery. He does not recognize his own wife because she is wearing a mask, and she follows the "stranger" willingly to be presented to Maybery. When all is discovered, Greenshield has been cuckolded by his friend Featherstone, but he has now also cuckolded himself. As Featherstone finds himself also cuckolded by Kate, he agrees to marry the prostitute Doll, whom he believes to be Maybery's niece, and he has to pay for everything in the end, and Greenshield is left with his own unfaithful wife and without money.

BELLAMORE
One of the Three Suitors to the Widow in Fletcher's Wit Without Money. None of them distinguishes himself as an individual. While important to the plot development as a group, they are treated in the play almost as a single personality.

BELLAMY**1638
Bellamy is the widowed mother of Frances in Shirley's Constant Maid. She refuses advances from Giles Hornet, whom she feels would be a domineering mate. When her daughter's suitor, Hartwell, falls on unexpected financial hard times, Bellamy urges her daughter instead to consider the courtship of Startup, a foolish country gentleman. Bellamy also claims a great affection of her own for Hartwell, an affection that turns out to have been a test of Hartwell's and Frances' constancy and love.

BELLAMY**1639
Bellamy is a young handsome gentleman in Brome's A Mad Couple. He depends on Lord Lovely. However, when he visits Alicia in Act One, Bellamy betrays his master by opening his heart to her. Being rejected, he compares her with Endymion. Bellamy asks her to wear a pair of silk stockings and a ring, which seems to convince the lady. However, to have her love he is given a dangerous test: to sleep with Lady Thrivewell. He is caught red-handed by Saveall. Nevertheless, he gets away with it and goes to sleep with Alicia. Later on, in Act Four, he is informed by the cuckold about his plans of revenge. Bellamy goes to Lord Thrivewell to tell him that his house has been a bawd house as this lord had saved him from robbery and murder in the past. Bellamy marries Amie at the end of the play.

BELLANORA
Bellanora is the daughter of Gostanzo, and the beloved of Fortunio in Chapman's All Fools. Like Gratiana, she is unable to be with her lover because of her father, and she complains about her separation to Gazetta. However, after seeing the way Cornelio treats Gazetta, Bellanora and Gratiana agree that they would rather have no love than suffer jealousy like his. She agrees to play along with Rinaldo's scheme, and welcomes Gratiana into the house as the wife of Fortunio. She enters with the others when Cornelio has the Notary draw up papers of divorce, and asks Cornelio, in the name of gentlewomen, not to go through with the divorce. When Gostanzo first finds out that Valerio has secretly married, he announces that he is settling all his wealth on Bellanora, at which point Fortunio thanks him for making him wealthy, but Bellanora does not speak herself.

BELLAPERT
The younger of Beaumelle's two trusted intimates (the other is Florimell) in Field and Massinger's The Fatal Dowry. She is her special confidante and an expert on love matters. She acts as the go-between for Beaumelle and Young Novall. Following Romont's discovery of the affair, she helps her mistress to dupe her father, Rochfort, into believing that his daughter is a chaste and virtuous wife. Together with Young Novall's friends, Aymer and Liladam, she is finally brought before the court for her involvement in Beaumelle and Young Novall's affair, and will, as the final words of the play suggest, receive the appropriate punishment.

BELLARIO **1609
Actually Dion's daughter Euphrasia in the disguise of a male page, Bellario enters Philaster's service in Beaumont and Fletcher's Philaster, or Love Lies A-Bleeding. Incognito because she loves Philaster she is promptly given the task of liaison between Philaster and Arethusa. Accused of illicit relations with the princess, Bellario is dismissed from both Philaster's and Arethusa's service. When Philaster wounds Arethusa in the woods, Bellario confesses to the crime to save Philaster. Eventually, Bellario reveals himself to Dion as Euphrasia, clearing the good name of Arethusa and embarking upon a life of service to the princess Arethusa and her husband Philaster.

BELLARIO**1614
Bellario belongs to the play's group of urban clowns in the Anonymous The Faithful Friends; he is a seasoned soldier whom peacetime has forced to gain a living by lying, cheating, and stealing. He rejoices when the expedition against the Sabines gives him a chance to fight again, and does good service.

BELLARIO, DOCTOR
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice. Doctor Bellario is Portia's cousin and a famous lawyer in Padua. Portia sends Balthasar to him for a disguise and a message to the Duke. The Duke has also sent for him to help save Antonio, but Doctor Bellario sends a message that he is ill and instead sends a young lawyer, Balthasar, who is in reality the disguised Portia.

BELLARIUS
Bellarius is the secret lover of Leonella, and the enemy of Votarius in [?]Middleton's The Second Maiden's Tragedy. He has a tendency to creep around in a dark muffler. He and Leonella conspire to get revenge on Votarius by ensuring that he is compromised with the Wife. Bellarius' furtive behavior encourages Votarius to suspect him of having an affair with Anselmus' Wife. It is Bellarius who encourages Leonella to 'forget' to tell Votarius to wear armor, and to put poison on the sword that the Wife plans to use on him. He secretly watches Anselmus' Wife kill Votarius. But when Anselmus stabs Leonella, Bellarius comes out of hiding and attacks Anselmus. Although Anselmus' Wife runs between their swords and dies, both men have already been mortally wounded. Bellarius has enough strength to explain events to the surprised Govianus, and thereby to reveal to Anselmus his wife's love for Votarius.

BELLARMINE
Bellarmine is a character in the inset play and the only historical person featured in Brome's The Antipodes. Bellarmine was a cardinal who disputed with James I over the authority of the Pope. In the play the basket weaver refutes him.

BELLARMO
Bellarmo is one of the king's twin sons in Quarles' The Virgin Widow. He and Palladius jockey for the succession and, egged on by Museus, challenge each other to a duel. When the King asks the Oracle to decide which of the two should succeed him and the Oracle replies that neither will, Bellarmo declares that it is a false oracle and is instantly struck dead, along with his brother Palladio, their mother, and her maid.

BELLAURA**1630
Bellaura is daughter of the Duke of Burgundy in Wilson's The Inconstant Lady. She was left as an infant to die in the Grove of Cloris on Busario's orders. A witch had reportedly told Busario that Bellaura would be his ruin. When Bellaura disappeared, the trusted Busario convinced the Duke and all his court that she had died of an abscess. In fact, she was discovered alive by Emilia's father and raised as her sister with the name of Cloris. As Emilia's father lay dying, he told her that Cloris was not her biological sister, but neither Emilia nor her father knew that the Duke was Cloris' real father. Cloris knew none of this. Only in the concluding scene does Cloris, the Duke, Emilia, and the rest of the court discover that Cloris is the grown up Bellaura.

BELLAURA**1639
Bellaura is the duke's niece and is greatly admired by Giovanni in Shirley's The Gentleman of Venice. She enjoys her conversations in the garden with Giovanni, and she sympathizes with him when he explains his reasons for becoming a soldier: he states that he is in love with a woman who is far above him socially. Bellaura is happy to furnish Giovanni's equipment for war, but of course she feels that she could never wed him. By the play's end, however, when Giovanni is discovered to be the true son of the duke, Bellaura is more than pleased at Giovanni's social advancement.

BELLEROPHON
I. At the outset of Heywood's The Silver Age this hero has helped King Pretus defend the throne of Argos against the tyrannical Acrisius, but is falsely accused of attempted rape by Queen Aurea. He declines either to accept her love or to charge her with unchastity, and for his honorable behavior is banished and sent to battle the Chimera. On the way he meets Perseus, with whose help he overcomes the monster. They return to Argos, slay Pretus and Aurea, and restore Acrisius. But when Perseus accidentally kills his grandfather Acrisius, Bellerophon is installed as king of Argos. II. Only mentioned in Jonson's The New Inn. During the first session of the mock court of love, Lovel expresses his feelings for Lady Frampul in ornamented terms, using Neoplatonic rhetoric. At the end of this lengthy disquisition, Host expresses his admiration for Lovel's eloquence and says he is happy that Lovel has cast off his melancholy by expressing himself. Host compares Lovel's poetic expressiveness with an amazing act of courage, as if he had obtained Bellerophon's arms. In Greek mythology, Bellerophon was the son of the King Glaucus of Epyrus and Corinth. A brave warrior, the legend says that Bellerophon, after having triumphed over his enemies, fell into deep melancholy, avoiding human companionship. Other sources say that Athena gave Pegasus to Bellerophon in order to combat the Chimera, and the hero wanted to rise to the sky on his magic horse, but he was struck with Zeus' lightning. Like Bellerophon, Lovel had fallen into deep melancholy, caused by love, but he purged his feelings by expressing himself, and raised his spirits on the wings of poetry.

BELLESA
Bellesa is the disguise adopted by Saphira, Princess of Navarre, when she runs away from home and joins the Shepherd's Paradise in Montague's The Shepherd's Paradise. She is elected Queen for her beauty and is loved by Martiro, Moramante (the disguised Basilino), and Genorio (the disguised Agenor). She falls in love with Moramante, rules as Queen, and at the end of her year resigns to leave the Shepherds' Paradise and engineers the election of Gemella, who is really Fidamira, disguised as a Moor. She is revealed to be Saphira and is betrothed to Basilino.

BELLETZO
Family name of Albano, Adrian, and Randolfo in Marston's What You Will. When Albano supposedly dies in a shipwreck, Adrian and Randolfo (in league with Jacomo) suborn Soranza into impersonating him. They hope to prevent Albano's "widow," Celia, from marrying Laverdure.

BELLEUR
Friend of Mirabel, in love with Rosalura in Fletcher's Wild-Goose Chase. Shares Mirabel's love of women and freedom, but quickly finds himself in love with Rosalura, whom he initially mistakes for a meek and timid, albeit potentially fruitful, maid. He discovers, however, in a private conversation that, like her sister, her real personality differs greatly from her public face: rather than a meek and timid young woman, she is actually strong willed and shrewish. Belleur falls more deeply in love, however, and vows to woo her. Later, after her shrewish nature causes him to be publicly humiliated, he threatens her, insisting she become more submissive. After being further abused by her, he ultimately agrees to marry her once she has seen the error of her ways and agrees to be a good, submissive wife.

BELLEVEILLE
A disguise adopted by Eschines on the advice of the magician Urganda in the anonymous Dead Man's Fortune. What end this disguise serves is obscured by the sketchy state of the surviving plot.

BELLIBARNE **1627
A "ghost character" in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Brun's wife. If he is not allowed to fight, he will go home to her and "get lusty martial bairns."

BELLIDES
Bellides is the father of Ismenia in Fletcher and Rowley's The Maid in the Mill. His household is at enmity with the house of Julio. When events cause them to fear for the lives of their children, Bellides and Julio decide to end their differences. Having learned via Martine that Ismenia and Antonio plan to marry, they decide to maintain a pretence of animosity until the last minute. Bellides pretends to be angry with Ismenia and locks her up. He then pretends to be angry with Antonio. But having ordered Antonio to marry 'Isabella', Bellides and Julio reveal that they have made friends, for they knew Isabella was the disguised Ismenia all along.

BELLIEVRE
I. The French commissioner at Brussels in Chapman's The Conspiracy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He accompanies Byron in his embassy to the Archduke. II. The French Chancellor in Chapman's The Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He agrees to keep the evidence of conspiracy delivered to Henry by La Fin close to hand (in fact, to sew the papers into his doublet). He is one of the four judges in Byron's trial, and reads out the charges against him. He and the other judges deliver their sentence to Byron in his cell and also appear at the time of his execution to read the sentence again.

BELLINA
Bellina is the daughter of Bellizarius in Henry Shirley's The Martyred Soldier. When her father is imprisoned for his conversion to Christianity, Bellina visits him in prison, and he converts her. When Hubert falls in love with Bellina, she insists that he must convert to Christianity before they marry, and offers to be his tutor. When Hubert becomes a Christian king of the Vandals, Bellina becomes his queen.

BELLINGHAM, SIR OLIVER
Sir Oliver is a knight in ?Brewer's The Country Girl. He is in love with Sir Robert's sister, Lady Mosely. Sir Robert fancies him and will help him by offering 1,000 a year as a dowry. But, Lady Mosely has made up her mind. In Act IV, he is to fight Captain George. He tries to avoid Captain George, but when the captain wounds himself accidentally, he takes him to a doctor. However, he flees thinking that he has killed his opponent. He is also sad because he loves Lady Mosely. He comes back to the hospital and meets his friend with whom he goes disguised as a doctor to the final scene.

BELLISANT
Bellisant, a noble lady in Massinger's The Parliament of Love, tricks Clarindore into believing that he has seduced her. But she has created a bed trick, placing her servant Beaupre, who is really Calista (Clarindore's wife), in her stead. Bellisant is really in love with Montrose, who apparently comes back to life in the last scene. Charles VIII orders that they be married.

BELLIZARIUS
Bellizarius is the eponymous martyred soldier in Henry Shirley's The Martyred Soldier. For his prowess in the purging of Christians, Genzerick makes him vice regent of Africa. When Bellizarius learns of Eugenius' miraculous powers, he prays for divine advice, and an Angel converts him to Christianity. Bellizarius then outrages the Vandal court when he tries to persuade King Henrick that the Christian God is superior to him. His wife and daughter, Victoria and Bellina, visit him in prison, and he converts them to Christianity. When Henrick lusts after Victoria, he decides that Bellizarius will only be released if he persuades Victoria to love him. Bellizarius responds by asking Victoria to love Henrick as a Christian, so as to convert him. Henrick orders Bellizarius to be executed by stretching him with weights, and he dies a martyr's death.

BELLMAN
Butterwicke the Bellman is a night watchman in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. See BUTTERWICKE.

BELLONA
I. Only mentioned in Haughton's The Devil and his Dame. When Castiliano comes upon his wife Mariana trysting with her lover Captain Clinton, he sarcastically suggests that she too has become a soldier, and compares her to Bellona, the Roman goddess of war. II. Only mentioned in Randolph's Praeludium. When the hungry Captain actor performs to the Gentleman for food and clothing, he uses references to classical mythology to demonstrate the extremity of his hunger. The Captain declaims that he is a disciple of Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, who will lend him her fiery daggers to conquer and eat the pastry before him. III. Only mentioned in Carlell's 2 Passionate Lovers. Bellona is a mythological character to whom Clindor is compared when one of his soldiers accuses him of having forgotten about war and of being a coward. Bellona was the Roman goddess of war and she was thought to be a bloodthirsty warrior.

BELLULA
Bellula is a lady, the wife of Philarcus in Marston's Histrio-Mastix. Along with the other characters, she follows the cycle that begins with the reign of Plenty and ends with Poverty.

BELISIA
Belisia is Lady Marlove's daughter in ?Glapthorne's The Lady Mother. She is a playful, affectionate, witty young woman, who delights in teasing her suitors and playing them against each other. Her affection is clearly focused on Bonville, and she is appalled when he accuses her of unchaste behavior. She forgives the unknown accuser from whom Bonville gained his false information, and expresses the hope that he'll find a worthier lover in the future, asserting her intention to sequester herself. A short time later, Belisia seeks out Bonville, asserts her innocence, bids him farewell, and begs him to keep his unjust accusations to himself. The newly chastised Bonville, who now knows that he accused her falsely, asks to come with her, apologizing for his unfair accusation and affirming his faith in her purity. She says she'll forgive him only if he reveals the source of the slander. When he reveals that it came from her mother, she sees this as a false accusation and a magnification of his transgression, and breaks with him in outrage. Thorowgood quickly reveals the truth of Bonville's story, explaining that her mother commissioned him to mislead her suitor. Out of filial duty she refuses to believe him, suggesting that Bonville hired him to affirm the story. Despite Clariana's warning, she maintains her faith in her mother's truthfulness. She then withstands and rejects the suit of Suckett, who apparently is not especially committed to this match. Belisia and Clariana are summoned by their mother and chastised for their uncivil refusal of the suits of Sir Geffery and Crackby, and admonished to welcome their unworthy suitors or suffer disinheritance. Crackby, nephew of Geffery, shifts his suit from Clariana to Belisia, but she rejects him as she has rejected Suckett. He presses aggressively, and tries to wrench a ring from her finger as a token of his success. Bonville arrives and rescues her, and she declares the ring, a gift from his, to be second only to her virtue in value to her. They are reconciled and renew their love vows. They plan to elope, confiding only in Clariana, who agrees to keep their secret and keep them apprised of Lady Marlove's reactions. They are rumored to have drowned while eloping, but this story is revealed to be a hoax at the end of the story. They enter in disguise with the other masquers after Young Marlove's trial, and reveal their identity when Lady Marlove confesses she would bless their union if they had only lived. Their marriage receives the blessing of Lady Marlove at the end of the play.

BELON
Belon is a follower of Alexander in Daniel's Philotas. He appears at the trial of Philotas. He rejects Philotas's request that the oracle of Ammon be consulted.

BELORA
Listed in the dramatis personae of the anonymous Philander, King of Thrace. Characteristics and actions not given in the surviving plot.

BELPHAGOR
Belphagor is the titular Devil in Haughton's The Devil and his Dame. Because he is "patient, mild, and pitiful," is chosen by Pluto, King of Hell, to go to earth for a year and a day and marry, in order to verify Malbecco's claim that human women can be so wicked as to drive one to suicide. He assumes the person of one Castiliano, a Spanish doctor and, taking his devilish servant Akercock as his human manservant Robin, arrives in England where, in a contest with St. Dunston, he cures the muteness of Honorea, daughter of Morgan Earl of London. Belphagor chooses Honorea as his wife, but Morgan has promised her to Lacy Earl of Kent, and she herself is in love with Musgrave, a young gentleman. After a "bed-trick" Belphagor finds himself married to Mariana, Honorea's waiting-maid. He decides to make the best of it, but his wife is shrewish, devious and adulterous. After urging Castiliano to poison Earl Lacy (he substitutes a sleeping potion), Mariana plots to murder her husband both by poison and by inciting her lover, Captain Clinton, to ambush him. As Castiliano is dying from the poison, the year and a day expire, and to the amazement of the onlookers, the earth opens and he disappears, returning to hell. Belphagor reports to the judges of Hell that, although not all women are wicked, his own wife was horrible enough to lend credence to Malbecco's story. As a result of Mariana's adultery, Belphagor now sports a pair of cuckold's horns, and to ease his embarrassment Pluto decrees that hereafter all devils must wear horns.

BELPHEGHOR
A porter at Heaven's gate in Percy's Arabia Sitiens. He intercedes in the argument between Pyr and Whisk and sends them to Mecha on an errand that will test their wisdom. Admits Epimenide to Heaven and calls Mahomet and the angels to see her. When Pyr and Whisk return, he asks them about the state of Arabia and they give him incredible accounts of its dryness. He then conducts a sort of trial in which Pyr, Whisk, Friar Dervis and Chiause argue which of the latter two is the greater rogue. Pyr, Belpheghor, and Whisk eventually agree to take the issue to Mahomet. They take the Friar and Chiause to Heaven and he asks Mahomet to pass judgment. Mahomet orders Belpheghor whipped for bringing men into Heaven.

BELT
Long-suffering servant to Crosswill in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden, he bears the brunt of his master's mood swings and beatings. He is generally sympathetic to the concerns of the younger generation.

BELUS
A "ghost character in Marlowe's Tamburlaine the Great, Part 2". A former conqueror of Babylon to whom Tamburlaine compares himself.

BELVIDERE
"A virtuous Princess," the Duchess of Florence's only daughter, in love with Silvio in Fletcher's Women Pleased. She is in protective custody in the Citadel because of the Duke of Milan's abduction attempt. Discovered meeting secretly with Silvio, she pretends to be penitent and to agree to marriage with the Duke of Siena. She wheedles from her mother the answer to Silvio's riddle and escapes. Disguised as a hag, she convinces Silvio to let her follow him into battle, and exacts from him a promise to grant her request in return for the answer to the Duchess' riddle. After Silvio answers it correctly, she appears before the court in disguise and claims his hand in marriage. During the wedding masque, she appears in the "guise" of Belvidere and demands that Silvio choose whether he wishes her to be beautiful and unfaithful, or haglike and faithful. When he defers to her will, she rewards him with her true self.

BELZEBUB
I. Only mentioned in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Roister Doister is attempting to impress Margery Mumblecrust. Merrygreek tells the old woman that Roister Doister once snatched a club from Belzebub's hand during a fight. II. Belzebub in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus appears to Faustus with Lucifer, his "companion prince in hell," and with Mephostophilis early in Act 2 when Faustus waivers in his allegiance and calls on Christ to save his soul. Belzebub says they came from hell to show Faustus the Seven Deadly Sins for pastimes. At the end of the play, he returns with Lucifer and Mephostophilis to claim Faustus' soul and take it to hell. III. Only mentioned in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. Belzebub is first mentioned by the 'anticke dancer' who claims he is the devil, when he invokes the actual character of the Divell (who is no other that Mister Changeable himself in disguise): "Belzebub, / If thou hast any sufferance here on Earth, / Or limited powe o'er man, once more appeare / And offer me free language." From that moment onwards he is going to be a disguise adopted by one of the characters in the play: Master Changeable, who, impersonating the Divell, enters like a gentleman, and introduces himself as "The Divell Belzebub." Later, Slightall will address to the Divell (Master Changeable in disguise) as "great Belzebub". Finally, he is going to be mentioned by Fryer John when, as he is being asked to exorcise the spirit haunting the house of the Changeables, he replies: "Had it bin great Belioth, Asteroth, or Belzebub, / I durst affront them, and confront them too." Beelzebub is another name for the Devil, as well as Lucifer or Satan.

BEMBO'S COOK, CARDINAL
A "ghost character" in Jonson's Volpone. Volpone, disguised as Scoto of Mantua, denies having poisoned the Cardinal's cook.

BEN **1632
Only mentioned in Randolph's Jealous Lovers. Demetrius, disguised as an astrologer, rattles off a list of "the learned Cabalists and all the Chaldees." The list includes Asla, Baruch, Abohali, Caucaph, Toz, Arcaphan, Albuas, Gasar, Hali, Hippocras, Lencuo, Ben, Benesaphan, and Albubetes.

BEN JONSON **1641
Only mentioned in Wild’s The Benefice. Invention reads some praise for him (The ‘great brick-bat Ben’ and the ‘only English brow [that[ deserves the bays’) but Furor Poeticus finds fault in his works (any ‘ordinary wit would make him piss and stink . . . like an old bear’ and ‘sack must be sent . . . into his guts to tell his brains they must come up quickly and help out with a line’) and calls for an imaginary Jailor to take him away.

BEN PENNILESS, CAPTAIN
A destitute prodigal in Jordan's Money is an Ass. He attempts to borrow money from Featherbrain. After discovering that Featherbrain, too, is penniless, the two conspire to steal Felixina and Feminia from Money and Credit. Disguised as Money and Credit's servants, the two prodigals gain access to Clutch's house. Penniless courts Feminia, who advises him to get money from Credit under the pretence of being her brother. Once he is better appareled, he passes as Precious Jewel and assures Credit that he is already married to Beauty in order to accompany Money and Credit to Clutch's house. Once there, he again exchanges pledges of love with Feminia. He is dismayed by Calumny's claim that she has already had sex with Credit, but Featherbrain convinces him that Calumny's story is untrue. He forces Credit to renounce his claim to Feminia at sword point. He is then free to marry Feminia with half of Credit's estate being offered by Clutch as a dowry. Prior to the wedding, Penniless reveals his true identity, but Clutch sanctions the match anyway.

BENATZI
Ex-servant of Adurni and ex-husband of Levidolche in Ford's The Lady's Trial. After a checkered career, he returns to Genoa as a beggared outlaw. Levidolche recognizes him at once, though he does not recognize her, and pretends to make a bargain with him: she will marry him if he will kill Malfato and Adurni, who have insulted her. He is prepared to carry out the killings when she tells him the truth, and they are bloodlessly reunited.

BENCHERS **1637
“Ghost characters" in Mayne’s City Match. Bright and Newcut say they were called away by the benchers to contribute to one of them that has become a Reader.

BENDBOWE, BATT
A "ghost character" in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary. One of the workers in the shipyard. His name is called out by the Clerk of the Check.

BENEDIC
See also "BENEDICK," BENEDICT," and related spellings.

BENEDIC
Friar Hildersome's novice, but also Raymond Mounchensey in disguise in the Anonymous The Merry Devil of Edmonton. The real Hildersome is a Benedictine friar and hermit, and the nuns' confessor in Chester. We are told that Peter Fabell has disguised himself as Hildersome to deceive Sir Arthur Clare, who comes to look for a confessor for his daughter Milliscent in the nunnery, a scene that is not dramatized. Sir Arthur then accompanies the disguised Raymond Mounchensey, whom he believes to be Benedic, to Milliscent in the nunnery. The real Hildersome and his real novice Benedic appear only in the last act. Their appearance heightens the comic confusion and leads to the happy ending.

BENEDICK
See also "BENEDIC," BENEDICT," and related spellings.

BENEDICK**1598
Benedick is a Paduan gentleman, a soldier in Don Pedro's company in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. When the soldiers holiday in Messina following their victory, Benedick's verbal sparring with Beatrice inspires Don Pedro to play a practical joke with the aim of uniting them. Positioning themselves where Benedick will overhear their conversation, Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro discuss Beatrice's supposedly ungovernable passion for Benedick. The ploy works, and the erstwhile confirmed bachelor Benedick confesses his love for Beatrice. Benedick's moment of choice between the soldier's life of masculine camaraderie and the life of a married man comes when Claudio accuses Hero of unchastity. Benedick does not follow the soldiers when they leave the scene, choosing to remain with Beatrice and agreeing to her demand that he kill Claudio. Fortunately, Don John is revealed as the instigator of Claudio's misapprehension before Benedick can make good his promise, and both couples are married. In the final lines of the play, Benedick recommends deferring Don John's punishment until after the double wedding festivities, when he vows to devise a suitable punishment.

BENEDICK**1604
The Doctor in Dekker and Middleton's 1 The Honest Whore. Doctor Benedick provides a potion to the Duke to drug his daughter, Infelice, so that she will appear to have died, and, with the Duke and his servants, he watches Infelice wake. He backs up the Duke's lie that she fainted and became ill when brought news of Hippolyto's death and agrees that she should retire to Bergamo. When the Duke wishes that Hippolyto really were dead, the Doctor offers to poison him, and the Duke promises to leave him half his goods. The Doctor tells the Duke that he has successfully poisoned Hippolyto, although he has not, and the Duke rejects him, stating that although great men love treason, they hate the traitor. At this, the Doctor turns against the Duke, and tells Hippolyto that Infelice is still alive, and arranges for them to be secretly married by Anselmo at Bethlem Monastery.

BENEDICK**1619
A "ghost character" in William Rowley's All's Lost by Lust. A friar in Saint Austin's Monastery who marries Margaretta and Antonio.

BENEDICK, DOCTOR
The Doctor in Dekker and Middleton's 1 The Honest Whore provides a potion to the Duke to drug his daughter, Infelice, so that she will appear to have died, and, with the Duke and his servants, he watches Infelice wake. He backs up the Duke's lie that she fainted and became ill when brought news of Hippolyto's death and agrees that she should retire to Bergamo. When the Duke wishes that Hippolyto really were dead, the Doctor offers to poison him, and the Duke promises to leave him half his goods. The Doctor tells the Duke that he has successfully poisoned Hippolyto, although he has not, and the Duke rejects him, stating that although great men love treason, they hate the traitor. At this, the Doctor turns against the Duke, and tells Hippolyto that Infelice is still alive, and arranges for them to be secretly married by Anselmo at Bethlem Monastery.

BENESAPHAN **1632
Only mentioned in Randolph's Jealous Lovers. Demetrius, disguised as an astrologer, rattles off a list of "the learned Cabalists and all the Chaldees." The list includes Asla, Baruch, Abohali, Caucaph, Toz, Arcaphan, Albuas, Gasar, Hali, Hippocras, Lencuo, Ben, Benesaphan, and Albubetes.

BENEVEMUS
A doctor who attends on Strozza when he is wounded in the hunt in Chapman's The Gentleman Usher. He fears the wound may be deadly. After Strozza's recovery, Benevemus accompanies him to Lasso's home, where he applies a mask to Margaret's face that will restore her beauty, and there he also attends to Vincentio's wounds.

BENINGFIELD, SIR HENRY
Beningfield is a staunch loyalist to Queen Mary in Heywood's 1 If You Know Not Me. He is appointed Elizabeth's guardian after her release from the Tower and pledges to do evil to the princess under the direction of Winchester.

BENJAMIN GRIPE**1615
Benjamin is the "honest lawyer" of S.S's Honest Lawyer. He is son of a sickly usurer who is sent by his father to claim Vaster's lands. When Vaster insults his father, they duel and Benjamin believes he has killed Vaster. He promises to look after Vaster's wife and children and spends the rest of the play attempting to do just that. He removes Vaster's wife from the brothel where Vaster has placed her and provides shelter for Vaster's children, Robin and Anne. He also immediately falls in love with Anne and offers to marry her twice. The first time, they are interrupted by the entrance of Gripe, who threatens to disown Benjamin, so Anne will not stay with him. The second time she accepts him. Benjamin also helps Sagar, warning him that Bromley intends to harm him, and disguising him so that he can confront Bromley in the final scene. When Gripe tries to poison Vaster's wife, Benjamin substitutes a harmless concoction and then helps her hide until the final scene. Finally, he admits to killing Vaster in the duel, and is ready to be hanged when Vaster reveals himself. Benjamin speaks the epilogue, offering the standard thanks and asking for applause.

BENJAMIN JONSON
I. Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Jonson is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, talking to Doctor Clyster about poetry, the latter tells him his attitude is "not worthy of a poet," and he replies: "Not of our kingdom's immortal honor and his own, our learned and most famous Jonson, our best poet." Ben Jonson (?1572-1637) was a great seventeenth-century dramatist, wit, and poet–in 1619 he was the first ever Poet Laureate to be appointed to that post. His fine sense of form proves that he was a literary artist. II. A "ghost character" in Jonson's The Magnetic Lady. Quoted on several occasions by characters in the play, as an epigrammist and the playwright of The New Inn, and also by the Prologue as this play's author. III. Only mentioned in Shirley's Love's Cruelty. Jonson is the English playwright mentioned by Hippolito in trying to win Eubella for the duke.

BENNET, WILLIAM
Bennet is a gentleman friend of Richard Gardiner in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange. He is on hand at the Exchange when Gardiner attempts to seduce Phillis, and he asks Gardiner to pass along greetings to Lyonell Barnes when Gardiner visits Cambridge.

BENNIZAVARIAN
A "ghost character" in William Rowley's All's Lost by Lust. A Moor reportedly slain in the battle.

BENTII
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's All's Well. A commander in the Florentine army.

BENTIVOLE
A ‘ghost character’ in Percy’s A Country Tragedy in Vacunium. Rhodaghond recounts how Guasto, the Duke of Vacunium, called forth a ‘solemn cheer’ and his noblemen came from far and near to participate, including Camillo, Bentivole, Lepido, Collinio, Ursino, Novoli, Gonsagua, Columna, Flaminio, ‘and twenty more’. It was during this event that Florimel, who once despised Amadour, grew to love him when he earned great praise from the Duke of Vacunium for his prowess in the games.

BENTIVOLI**1607
A nobleman of the Borgia entourage in Barnes's The Devil's Charter. He accompanies Caesar and is dismissed when Alexander needs to discuss Candy's murder in private with Caesar. When he is recalled, Caesar tells Alexander that his men are wearing arms in preparation for revenging Candy's death. Bentivoli asks Caesar if Candy's funeral arrangements have been made. Finally, it is Bentovolli, along with Cardinal Caraffa who sees that Alexander is dead and orders that the funeral be a celebration of freedom from the corruption of the Borgia Pope.

BENTIVOLI**1639
The telltale in Dekker's(?) Telltale; Lord of Florence and brother of Fernese. Enters with the court party and the Venetian princes for the Valentine game and enters the mock dispute between Garrullo and Hortensio, accusing Hortensio of cowardice by means of an Aesopian fable. When the Duke intervenes and asks Bentivoli to stop goading Hortensio, Bentivoli tells another fable, in which he implies that he would rather retain his freedom to criticize others than to surrender it for the comforts of court life. He then agrees to a duel with Hortensio the following morning. Later, after Cancko's account of Bentivoli's victory in the duel, Bentivoli enters to Elinor and Garullo with two weapons. He denies Elinor's claim that he entered the duel on account of her beauty, stating instead that his concern was for Garullo's reputation. When Garullo takes offense at this, Bentivoli calls him a coward and exits, after telling a tale of cowardly betrayal. Bentivoli joins Aspero and the court as they greet the Ambassadors, and criticizes Elinor for keeping a fool (the disguised Garullo). He witnesses the entry of the distracted Hortensio and then the arrival of the Duke, disguised as a hermit. He listens to the hermit bring news of the Duke's death, supposedly murdered by associates of the Duchess and Picentio and hears the dead Duke's order that the Duchess and Picentio should be put to death, but only after allowing the hermit to be their confessor. Aspero orders Julio, disguised as Corbino, to bring the Duchess and Picentio to him, but Corbino reports that they are dead. The final message the hermit conveys from the Duke is to deliver the Duke's signet and his authority to Aspero, who is the Duke's choice as successor. The hermit also tells Isabella that the Duke willed her to marry Aspero. The hermit refuses Aspero's offer of money, and Aspero promises to fulfill the Duke's will. Later, after Aspero assumes control, Bentivoli discusses with Gismond, Fernese, and Cosmo how to deal with Aspero's growing tyranny. He tells a fable of the mice and the rats and their attempt to bell the cat: the Lords understand that, since they cannot eliminate Aspero, they must "bell" him by providing counsel. The problem remains who will bell the cat. As they discuss this problem, Aspero enters with the Ambassadors and the Doctor. The Lords each begin to present their dissatisfaction to Aspero, who grows increasingly angry. They are interrupted by Elinor's entry. Bentivoli delivers a letter from Garullo to Elinor and watches with satisfaction her distress as she learns of Garullo's marriage to Lesbia; he then observes her reconciliation with Hortensio. At the end of the scene, after Aspero exits, the Lords note that the cat must still be belled. The start of Bentivoli's next scene is missing from the manuscript. After Cosmo, Gismond, and Fernese have revealed the Duke's plan to use force against Aspero to Isabella and Picentio, Bentivoli enters, is informed of the news, and then tells a fable, to show their need to rely on themselves alone against Aspero. He joins Fernese as he visits Garullo and Lesbia, held captive on Elinor's order, and mocks Garullo's melancholy humor. After Garullo dirnks the supposedly poisoned cup of wine and exits, Bentivoli orders that he be preserved and brought to court for Elinor's amusement. Bentivoli enters with the court for Aspero's coronation and marriage to Isabella. Aspero notes the dissatisfaction of the nobles and and demands that their concerns about his tyranny be cleared before he assumes the throne. The nobles react favorably to Aspero's promise to prove his innocence by having the French Doctor raise the spirits of the Duke, Duchess, Picentio, Julio, the Captain, Lieutenant, and Ancient, who will then say whether Aspero was responsible for their deaths. The nobles observe as the ghosts of the Duke, Duchess, Julio, Captain, Lieutenant and Ancient appear and are commanded by the French Doctor to show their approval or disapproval of Aspero. The ghosts indicate their favor and the nobles ask Aspero to pardon them. The nobles observe as the ghosts perform a dance, in which the Duke and Duchess take the crown and scepter. After the Duke is restored to power, Bentivoli tells a fable about a lion transferring his authority to an ass, mirroring the careers of the Duke and Aspero. Bentivoli reads the list of things purged by Garullo and exits with the court to celebrate the weddings of Picentio and Isabella and Hortenio and Elinor.

BENTIVOLIO**1601
Bentivolio is a Venetian gentleman and a mute character in the Anonymous Blurt, Master Constable. Like Hipolito, Baptista, and Virgilio, Bentivolio has just returned from war. At Camillo's house, Bentivolio and the other Venetian gentlemen are invited at a banquet in honor of the war heroes. Each cavalier wears a glove in his hat, since it was customary for gallants to wear their mistresses' gloves in their hats. At Camillo's house, Camillo incites the Venetian gentlemen Hipolito, Virgilio, Asorino, Baptista, and Bentivolio to take revenge against Fontinel. Claiming that the Frenchman has dishonored Violetta by doting on a courtesan, Camillo sends them to Imperia's house to kill Fontinel. In the street before Imperia's house, Bentivolio and the other Venetian gentlemen declare they are dishonored and want to kill Fontinel. When the Duke requests them to explain the cause of their revolt, Camillo speaks in their name. When Camillo says that, if impeded, they will use their swords to cut a passage through the Duke's guards, all the Venetian gentlemen say the same thing. When Blurt brings Fontinel under arrest, all the Venetian gentlemen want to kill him immediately, as Camillo says. When the Duke makes peace between them and Fontinel, the Venetian gentlemen promise they will be friends.

BENTIVOLIO **1636
Bentivolio, betrothed to Ardelia, is chagrined at the attention paid to Ardelia by the duke in Shirley's The Duke's Mistress. Determined to se her despite her obligations at court, Bentivolio hides in the garden, overhearing the duke swear he's not been intimate with Ardelia. Convinced by the artifices of Valerio and Leontio that the duke knows of the betrothal, Bentivolio promises to kill the duke and indeed thinks he has done so when he stabs a man who hides behind a hanging in Ardelia's chamber. The man he kills, however, is Valerio. At the play's end, Bentivolio is to wed Ardelia with the duke's blessing.

BENVOGLIO
Benvoglio is a character in "The Triumph of Love," the second play within the play of Fletcher's Four Plays in One. He is the brother of Rinaldo. He plans to marry his daughter Violanta to Ferdinand but discovers the secret relationship between Violanta and Gerrard. Furious at the deception, he sends Violanta poison to avoid public execution and demands the death of Gerrard. Benvoglio is spared from punishment when Dorothea gives Violanta opium instead of the poison.

BENVOLIA, LADY
A "ghost character" in Davenant's The Cruel Brother. This is one of the two ladies that Corsa guesses was Luinna's nighttime visitor (who was actually the Duke).

BENVOLIO **1592
Benvolio is a knight and a courtier to Emperor Charles V in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Skeptical of Faustus' power, he mocks the doctor by saying he will turn himself into Acteon, if Faustus conjures up Alexander. Faustus makes a fool of him by planting horns on his head, and Benvolio in revenge organizes his fellow knights, Frederick and Martino, to kill Faustus. Benvolio decapitates and mutilates Faustus, but instead of dying Faustus has devils put horns on the three knights' heads and drag them through the wild. In the A-text, his role, much reduced, is taken by the unnamed Knight.

BENVOLIO**1595
A friend and kinsman of Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. He attempts to stop the brawl between Gregory, Samson, Abraham, and Balthasar. On his advice, Romeo attends the Capulet feast where he falls in love with Juliet. Benvolio repeatedly urges others to avoid violence to no avail.

BENWASH
An old, wealthy, Jewish merchant, trading in stolen goods and slaves in Daborne's A Christian Turned Turk. He has turned Turk and is married (as a reward for his conversion) to Agar, sister of Crosman. First mentioned as the intended victim of Dansiker's plot to firebomb his house, resort of pirates, in the plan to destroy all the pirate ships in Tunis harbor. Benwash keeps open house to pirates, making them free of the company of his wife. He believes this is good business practice, but it makes him extremely jealous of her honour. First seen haggling with Gismund over the sale of the French captives, he notices Gallop's interest in his wife and sets his servant Rabshake to watch over her. He reflects that he originally turned Turk to preserve his wife's honour from assault by Turks; he is now concerned at the threat from Christian pirates. Agar demonstrates her fidelity by giving him a purse of gold allegedly given by Gallop to buy her favors, but rejected. It is actually her gift to entice and encourage Gallop to proceed, when Benwash angrily but complacently 'returns' it to him. Crosman later cites his brother-in-law as an example of a prosperous convert to Ward, Benwash arguing that, if God had been offended by Islam, its followers would have been destroyed. Instead, they prosper. Having relaxed his guard over his wife, Benwash is unaware that she is committing adultery with Gallop at the time his house is fired by Dansiker's agent. He raises the alarm and coincidentally finds Gallop's stolen gold and breeches, which incriminate the lovers. He prevents Ward from rescuing his own property stored with Benwash, more intent on his wife's betrayal than his material losses. He agrees to spare his guilty wife's life if she helps him to murder Gallop, but this is a pretense. His revenge is comprehensive. Rabshake strangles Agar on his orders and he himself kills Gallop. To make the murders look like the work of outsiders, he orders Rabshake to wound him sufficiently and then persuades Rabshake to let him tie him up. He strangles Rabshake too, and calls for help. He accuses the disguised Dansiker of being the murderer, who stabs him before revealing his true identity. Dying, Benwash admits his guilt and recants his own conversion, preferring to die a Jew.

BERALDO
Beraldo is another of the gentlemen who wait upon Hippolito in Dekker's 2 Honest Whore.

BERECINTHIUS
Berecinthius, a Flamen of Cybele in Massinger's Believe As You List, is a loyal follower and believer of Antiochus. He travels throughout the play continually searching for someone to believe in Antiochus' identity.

BERECYNTHIA
Berecynthia is the name given to Delia by the magician Sacrapant when he orders her to oversee the slave labor performed by her brothers Calypha and Thelea in Peele's The Old Wives' Tale.

BERGER
A gallant in Chapman's An Humourous Day's Mirth. He may appear in several early scenes, but his first lines occur in scene 8, when he is the second man to arrive for the culminating scenes at Verone's tavern. He invites Rowley to play cards, but Rowley declines; he plays with others when they arrive. With Blanuel, Berger, Catalian, and Verone, he plays a trick on Labesha that reveals that Labesha's melancholy is easily diverted by food.

BERGETTO
Bergetto is a simple fool in Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. His desires for Annabella are quickly shifted to love for Philotis. His mistaken murder by Grimaldi works only to rid the play of the both of them.

BERIA
A "ghost character" in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. According to Plain Dealing, this baby boy is born in the Fairy camp at Beria and laid in the hollow back of an old, rusty suit of armor. He is named after his birthplace, Beria (Tilbury).

BERINTHIA
Berinthia is the vengeful maid in Shirley's The Maid's Revenge. She is the younger daughter of Vilarezo and sister to Catalina and Sebastiano. Duty-bound to reject love offers until her sister is wed, Berinthia nevertheless loves the visiting Antonio, sparking the vile jealousy in her sister who also desires Antonio. Berinthia fails to consume the poison planned for her and is taken to Elvas Castle by Antonio. Here she sees her beloved Antonio and brother Sebastiano fight. Antonio is killed, and Berinthia returned home to Avero. This maid's revenge involves poisoning her sister Catalina and stabbing to death her brother Sebastiano, all before she kills herself in anguish over Antonio's death.

BERKELEY
A gentleman in Shakespeare's Richard III escorting Lady Anne as she transfers Henry VI's corpse from St. Paul's Cathedral to Chertsey monastery. After Anne's encounter with Richard, Berkeley, along with Tressell, escorts her away.

BERKELEY, LORD
A supporter of King Richard and Lord of Berkeley Castle, where the Duke of York's and Bolingbroke's armies meet in II.iii of Shakespeare's Richard II.

BERKELEY, SIR THOMAS
A knight in Marlowe's Edward II. On Mortimer's command Sir Thomas Berkeley takes charge of Edward II from Leicester and leads the recently abdicated king under arrest to Berkeley Castle. Shortly afterward, Mortimer orders Berkeley to hand Edward II over to Gurney and Matrevis.

BERNADINE, FRIAR
Bernadine is a friar in Malta in Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. He is one of the friars who helps move the nuns to their new home in Barabas' house, and he supports Abigail's desire to become a novice. When the nuns are poisoned, the Abbess sends for Bernadine to confess her. He meets the dying Abigail and hears her confession that her father caused the fight between Lodowick and Mathias. After her death, Bernadine mourns the fact that she died a virgin, and then, with Jacomo, sets off to confront Barabas. He is swayed by Barabas' apparent contrition and his promise to give all his goods to Bernadine's order. He agrees to stay the night, and is strangled by Barabas and Ithamore. His corpse is then propped up and made to seem to bar Jacomo's way. When Jacomo grows angry and strikes the corpse, making it fall, he believes that he has killed Bernadine.

BERNARD
Son to Guido and a student at Wittenberg in ?Cumber's Two Merry Milkmaids, Bernard believes he is in possession of magical abilities taught him by Landoffe. Believing to control a spirit Asmody (really Landoffe disguised), Bernard assists Dorilus in his suit for Dorigene by having Landoffe procure for him a garland of flowers to give to his beloved. Along with his tutor, he plays a significant roll in penetrating Raymond's corrupt scheme to inflame the Duke against Dorigene and plays a signal roll in the masque given by the Duke which caps the play.

BERNARD, FRIAR
Fryer Bernard is a cloistered friar in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. He has been visiting the weak and sick with Fryer John, and it has become too late to go to the cloister. Thus, he agrees with Fryer John to ask for shelter in a house. They knock, but the lady is reluctant to let them in, explaining that her husband is absent. Finally, upon their insistence, she lets them sleep in the garret–though, in order to avoid suspicion, she will lock them and keep the key. They agree to it. Later, we learn that Treatwell has gone to look for him, in the hope that the friar should agree to rid the haunted chamber at the Changeables of the spirit haunting it. But Fryer Bernard, who does not believe in such superstitions, refuses to do such a thing. Afterwards, Slightall appeals to the Church for help against the Divell, who comes to fetch his soul–as a consequence of the deal they had made: if the Divell met all his debts, then Slightall would let him claim his soul. Fryer Bernard then explains that since the Divell has paid all Slightall's debts, now the young man is indebted to the Divell, therefore, since he is still indebted, the Divell cannot take his soul yet. At the end of the play, Fryar Bernard and Fyer John are going to marry Slightall and Anne.

BERNARDO**1607
Pope Alexander's servant and accessory to Alexander's murders in Barnes's The Devil's Charter; Bernardo is first seen announcing the arrival of the Spanish Ambassadors from Spain to Alexander. Later, the pope orders Bernardo to bring Astor to the papal chambers. When Alexander "sees" Candy's murder, it is Bernardo who tries to comfort him. Alexander decides to kill Lucretia with poisoned make-up, and he sends Bernardo to the apothecary to get the poison-making Bernardo an accomplice to the crime. Bernardo serves Astor and Phillipo Manfredi the poisoned wine, then he covers the crime with the lie that the young men had exhausted themselves playing tennis and then they drank wine too quickly, causing their deaths. He rationalizes his crimes to the apothecary Rozzi by explaining that gold blurs all sense of right and wrong. Bernardo brings the drugged wine to the final banquet: the wine meant for the Cardinal but switched by the devils and consumed instead by Alexander and Caesar.

BERNARDO**1627
Bernardo, one of the servants to Charomonte along with Caponi and Petruchio in Massinger's The Great Duke of Florence.

BERNARDO**1629
A servant to the Duke in Carlell's The Deserving Favorite. Bernardo gives Clarinda, Utrante and Lysander a tour of the Duke's pictures. Later, he delivers the message instructing Lysander to meet the Duke in the forest. After the Duke fails to return from this meeting, he delivers the Duke's message to the King. He tells Jasper that Lysander is to be executed, and the two go to watch the event.

BERNARDO**1638
Bernardo is one of Malipiero's companions in Shirley's The Gentleman of Venice. Along with Malipiero and Marcello, Bernardo plots to murder Florelli. Ha also visits the home of Rosabella the courtesan.

BEROE
I. Semele's aged nurse in Heywood's The Silver Age, whose likeness Juno assumes to persuade Semele that in order to prove that he is truly Jupiter the god must put off his mortal disguise and make love to her in his own divine form. II. Juno takes on the form of Beroe, the old nurse of Semele in Heywood's The Escapes of Jupiter, to trick the foolish girl into asking her lover, Jupiter, to come to her in all his glory.

BERONTES**1611
Berontes is a Cyclops in service to Vulcan in Heywood's Brazen Age. He is brother to Pyragman.

BEROWNE
With Longaville and Dumaine, Berowne is a lord attending King Ferdinand and a member of the Academe that Ferdinand founds as Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost opens. As Ferdinand explains, the men of the Academe will achieve an immortality of sorts, living on in the memories of future generations. From the outset, Berowne quibbles about the Academe's regulations, agreeing to be a member for three years but taking issue with Ferdinand's strict regulations governing the academics' eating, sleeping, and socializing habits. Berowne's love-letter to Rosaline miscarries and eventually ends up in Ferdinand's possession, but soon Berowne discovers that he is not the only culprit when all of the academics confess that they have fallen in love. Berowne persuades the others that love is ennobling because it instigates and facilitates the pursuit of wisdom. They resolve to woo the French ladies, but they are initially rebuffed and then promised a better reception in a year's time.

BERRI
The Duke of Berri, uncle of the French King Charles VI in Shakespeare's Henry V, is a mute character.

BERRY
The family name of Mall (or Moll) and her father ("Master") in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange.

• The father of Mall, Master Berry, is a merchant and money lender associated with Master Flower. When Barnard asks for a two month extension for repaying a loan, Berry refuses, charging Barnard and his friends (a group that includes Bowdler and the Cripple) with being worthless libertines who indulge themselves at the expense of others. The Cripple responds heatedly and characterizes Berry as mean-spirited and notorious for greed.

BERSABE
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. The wife of Uriah, seduced by David. God confronts David with his sinfulness with her. See also "BETHSABE."

BERSABE'S SON
A "ghost character" in Bale's God's Promises. God swears that the son of Bersabe and David will die because of David's sinfulness.

BERSAT
A "ghost character" in Suckling's The Goblins. One of the thieves led by Tamoren.

BERSOGNIA
Bersognia is a servant of Charintha in Davenant's The Just Italian. She announces the coming of both the fake and real Dandolo, but is much more impressed with the fake one, since he gives away more jewels. When the real Dandolo attempts to bribe her, he is not rich enough and she throws the offering away. She enters with a distraught Charintha in the last scene, commenting that Cupid has pricked Charintha sorely.

BERTHA**1600
Bertha is the daughter of Eudon in the Anonymous Charlemagne. She marries La Busse, and helps him to solve the riddle imposed by Charlemagne.

BERTHA**1622
Bertha, disguised as Gertrude, the daughter of the merchant Van-dunck, is in fact the heir to the dukedom of Brabant in Fletcher's Beggars' Bush. Kidnapped as a child by Wolfort, she has been placed with Van-dunck until she reaches maturity, at which time the usurper intends to marry her and cement his power. Living in Bruges, Bertha falls in love with the merchant Goswin (actually Florez, the heir to the earldom of Flanders), and they are engaged to be married. When Goswin disappears on the night of their wedding, Bertha suspects a rival and follows him to Beggars' Bush where she is surprised and taken by Wolfort. When Hubert's plan to have Wolfort attacked by a group of beggars and merchants succeeds, the lovers are reunited.

BERTHA**1631
Bertha becomes Queen of the West Saxons after the death of her father, Kenwalcus in Brome's The Queen's Exchange. 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.

BERTIE
Servant to the Duchess of Suffolk, later her husband in Drue's The Duchess of Suffolk. Attends Duchess at start of play and delivers her alms to the beggars. After Gardner and Bonner are led away, he begins to persuade the Duchess to marry Palsgrave. After the entry of Cranwell, Palsgrave, Arundell, Foxe, Northumberland, and Erbaigh, Bertie is surprised to find himself rather than Palsgrave as the Duchess' choice for her new husband. After Catholic Queen Mary assumes power, Bertie is brought by Clunie before Lord Paget, Gardner, and Bonner for questioning concerning the Duchess' religious beliefs. He gains permission from Gardner and Bonner to go to Europe to fetch money owed to the Duchess by the Emperor Charles V. As he bids farewell to the Duchess, Bertie tells her he has arranged for a boat to convey her in secret to Europe to join him. Later, Bertie is reunited with the Duchess, along with the Nurse, Susan, Cranwell, and Sands, after the Duchess' party arrives in Europe. Bertie sends the Duchess and her party on to Santon in order to avoid those who have been sent to search for her; Bertie in the meantime briefly remains with Perecell. Fearing for the Duchess, Bertie disguises himself as an outlaw and discovers that the Duchess's party has been attacked by thieves. He draws most of them away with a false report of rich merchants nearby, then attacks and binds the remaining thief. He rescues the Duchess and assists the wounded Cranwell; he then joins the Duchess in searching for the Nurse and Susan. They discover Susan in a bush beside the wounded Cranwell. As the Duchess goes into labor, Bertie assists her to a church porch and then begins to search for firewood. He encounters a Sexton and beats him away, then encounters Erasmus, who helps Bertie carry the Duchess in a chair to Perecell's home. After hearing that the Duchess has given birth to a son, Bertie learns from Foxe that Clunie and his party have arrived from England to capture him and the Duchess; he agrees to take part in Perecell's plot to smuggle the Duchess and her son out of town in a coffin by dressing as a mourner. After escaping the town, Bertie, the Duchess and their children are discovered by Foxe, Clunie, and a band of soldiers led by the Palsgrave's Captain. Bertie begins to fight the Captain and his soldiers, and the Duchess takes a sword and joins him, beating away the soldiers. They flee after Bertie kills the Captain, and are apprehended by the Burgomaster and his soldiers. As Bertie is led to the statehouse for trial, the Duchess discovers that she has lost her two children in the confusion. When the Duchess and Bertie are brought by the Burgomaster before Palsgrave for trial, Erbaigh recognizes them and Palsgrave protects them against the murder charge as well as the warrant brought by Brunswick and the English Captain. For further protection, Palsgrave awards Bertie the title Earl of Crozam. Returns to London with the Duchess, Sands, Cranwell and Foxe where they are met by Lord Hunsdon, the Lord Admiral, and Lord Clinton, who inform Bertie that Queen Elizabeth has made him Secretary of State; Bertie gratefully declines the office.

BERTOLDI
Bertoldi is the cowardly son of Florelia in Shirley's The Imposture. Leonato is unable to locate Bertoldi during the heat of battle, yet Bertoldi arrives later and claims to have fought hard and killed many. Recognizing his own cowardice, he constantly schemes to have others offer praise of his valor; he promises the reward of his mother's hand to no fewer than six men in exchange for their testimony.

BERTOLDO
Bertoldo, Knight of Malta in Massinger's The Maid of Honor, bastard brother to Roberto, in love, initially with Camiola.

BERTOLINA
Bertolina is Governor Foscari's daughter and the object of Sorzano's desire in Davenant's The Siege. Most importantly, Bertolina is Florello's true love. Bertolina has unending faith in the men of her life, Foscari and Florello. She believes or has been raised to believe wholeheartedly in the code of martial honor. Bertolina often expresses a firm belief in Providence: in her opinion, the war-dead are doomed from birth. Consequently, she does not wish for her father to show fear in the face of a Tuscan attack. Nor does Bertolina want Florello to act dishonorably, even though Florello's honorable service will most likely lead to her own death. In fact, when Florello abandons his general on the eve of a Tuscan offensive, Bertolina rebukes his rashness and brands him a coward. She announces that she could never love such a dishonorable traitor and most certainly could not bear his children. As a result, she breaks from their secret betrothal. When Foscari hears of Bertolina's decision, he almost kills her. While she rides out her father's displeasure, Bertolina meets Soranzo, who professes an undying love for her; Florello finds the pair and considers killing them. When Florello decides to let Bertolina and Soranzo go, Bertolina confesses that she has always and would always love Florello alone. Soranzo backs off of his suit and Bertolina is reunited with her true love. Their betrothal is blessed both by Castracagnio and Foscari.

BERTONE
Beronte, brother to Cleander in Massinger's 1634 Cleander, or Lisander and Calista (a revision of Fletcher's 1623 The Wandering Lovers?), schemes against Caliste with the help of Clarinda. He offers testimony confirming Caliste's adultery and then apologizes after Leon tells the truth.

BERTRAM
A young nobleman of France in Shakespeare's All's Well. His father, the old Count of Rossillion, has died, and Bertram must leave his grieving mother and take his place in the King's court. When the King requires Bertram to marry Helena, the young Count is aghast since Helena, he well knows, is the humble daughter of a physician. He grudgingly weds Helena, but refuses to consummate the marriage, and departs for the Italian wars. From Italy, he writes to Helena that he will never accept her until she can get his ring and bear a child by him–all of which Bertram believes to be impossible. In Italy, Bertram becomes enamored of Diana, gives her his ring as a token of his affections, and arranges to come to her bedchamber. It is a "bed trick," however, and he must promise not to speak to her and to take a ring from her as well. Later, the wars having ended, and thinking Helena dead, Bertram prepares to return to France, though not before learning of Parolles' treachery. In France, Bertram prepares to wed the daughter of Lafew, but is questioned about the ring he is wearing, which is clearly Helena's. He denies that is hers and lies about how he came by it. When Diana appears in the court and accuses him, he lies again, calling her a whore. When Helena appears, he begs her forgiveness and promises to love her dearly.

BESS**1596 Wife of the wealthy alderman Sir Thomas Curtis in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley. Believing that age will calm the young gallant's youthful habits, she agrees to Captain Thomas Stukeley's suit for her daughter, despite the stability offered by Vernon. She conspires with a Spanish Cardinal Hernando to bring about Stukeley's demise, but is unwilling to support his execution.

BESS **1599
Bess in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV is the name used by King Edward in speaking with his wife the queen. Historically, she was Edward's second wife, Elizabeth Wydville or Woodeville. (For this same person, see listings under "ELIZABETH" and "QUEEN").

BESS**1602
A fictional character invented by Gerardine in Middleton's The Family of Love. The daughter of the fictional Thomasine Tweedles, the supposed country mistress of Glister.

BESS**1621
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's The Pilgrim. A madwoman at the madhouse, described by her keepers as "roar[ing] like thunder."

BESS**1625
Nickname of Queen Elizabeth I of England in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker. Dubbed "Bess" by both Sir Jarvis Clifton and the Mayor of Nottingham.

BESS BRIDGES
I. Bess Bridges is the titular character in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part One. Daughter of a bankrupt tanner in Somersetshire, Bess serves as a barmaid in the Castle tavern where she meets and falls in love with Spencer, a gentleman staying in Plymouth and awaiting the departure of the Earl of Essex's forces on the Islands' Voyage of 1597. When Spencer leaves (after having killed the bully Carrol), Bess follows his wishes and moves to Foy (Fowey) in Cornwall. There she assumes control of the Windmill tavern and awaits his return. Upon receiving the mistaken report of Spencer's death, Bess bestows most of the fortune she has now inherited from him on worthy local causes (underwriting young men who are beginning in the trades, providing dowries for poor girls, supporting injured soldiers, et cetera), and she purchases a ship which she orders to be painted black and christens the Negro. After feasting the whole town at her expense, she appoints Goodlack master of the ship and sails for the Azores to retrieve the body of her beloved. For the journey, Bess dons male attire, as she had earlier to teach the cowardly Roughman his place, and thus she appears hereafter to be a ship's officer. Arriving in the Azores and discovering that the body of the man named Spencer has been disinterred and the remains burned by the Spanish, Bess sets out to destroy as many Spanish vessels as she may. In the course of her career, she rescues the English ship bearing Spencer, her now recovered lover, but seeing him, she assumes him to be a ghost. He notices something familiar about her, but is deceived by her male clothing. When her ship lands at Mamorah to take on water, Mullisheg, the King of Fez and Morocco, who wishes to add many European women to the number of his concubines, summons her. The effect of her beauty and obvious virtue is so great, however, that the King gives up any thought of carnal pursuit, grants Bess and her followers a number of favors and, when he sees Bess and Spencer reunited, arranges a magnificent wedding feast for the new couple. II. Bess Bridges is again the titular character in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part Two. When she first appears in Part Two, Bess has been reunited with her beloved Spencer, and the two have been married. Mullisheg, the King of Fez and Morocco, resumes his carnal passion for her and attempts to have Captain Goodlack provide her for a tryst. The captain devises a "bed trick" to allow Bess and her companions to escape, but Spencer is taken captive, and after arranging a brief visit to convince her not to take her own life, he returns to face whatever awaits. Bess and her party then return en masse, and this display of courage, loyalty, and love convinces Mullisheg to grant them freedom, to bestow treasure on them, and to attempt to emulate the virtuous behavior he has seen. Sailing toward home, Bess's ship is attacked by a French pirate, and in the commotion of battle, both Spencer and Goodlack are swept away, only to wash ashore in Italy. Bess and her crew then find themselves shipwrecked and ashore in territory controlled by Florence. Attacked by local bandits, Bess is left alone with the Captain of the Banditti who is about to rape her when the Duke of Florence happens by and saves her. Smitten by her beauty, the Duke takes her to Florence, installs her in the palace with great wealth, and attempts to woo her. When by a series of coincidences Spencer and the rest of Bess's companions make their several ways to Florence, it appears the couple will be reunited. Unfortunately, Spencer has unwittingly agreed to be a messenger for the Duke to Bess and has sworn an oath to have nothing to do with the lady, making it a matter of honor that he appear not to know her. Because Bess assumes that there must be something with a terrible hold on Spencer for him to behave so, Bess arranges things to appear that he has stolen a jewel from her and receives permission from the Duke to sentence the felon herself. When she uses the occasion to reveal her relationship to Spencer and the love she bears him, the Duke releases Spencer from his oaths, and the couple are formally reunited amidst celebration and the promise of riches to come.

BESS BROUGHTON **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. An example of an "unconsconiable" quean who never unbuttoned to any of the guard for nothing, according to Carion's reading of Plutarch.

BESS BUFFLEHEAD
A "ghost character" in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden. Madge frequently subcontracts the prostitute Bess when her regular staff is indisposed.

BESS MUMFORD**1600
Bess is the daughter of Mumford in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green. She is engaged to Young Plainsey, but he repudiates her after her father's disgrace. When she gives a poor solider (her disguised father) a diamond, her guardian, Sir Robert Westford, is enraged and turns her out. She meets her father disguised as a beggar and decides that she will call him father because he resembles Mumford. Together they nobly nurse Sir Robert back to health after his fight with Old Strowd, and convince him to appear and save Strowd from the gallows by revealing he is alive. When Young Plainsey sees Bess, he does not recognize her, but, impressed by her beauty, courts her, first to be his mistress and then his wife. Bess rejects him completely. When Young Plainsey appears at their cottage and demands she give in to him, she declares she has vowed to die a virgin, whereupon he threatens to kill her father, and then rape and mutilate her. The disguised Mumford at first agrees she must give in, but then, in yet another disguise, fights off Young Plainsey. Young Plainsey hires Tom Strowd to capture Bess and take her to his house, but Tom, having fallen in love with her, instead takes her to safety. In the final scene, Tom declares his intention to marry Bess, despite the fact that she is a beggar's daughter. Mumford reveals himself and gives Bess to Tom. Although she does not indicate her feelings, it may be assumed she is happy with the match.

BESSE**1513
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Hick Scorner. Along with Cate, Jane, and Sibley, Free Will refers to her as his "sweet trully mully."

BESSE
Wife's chambermaid in Heywood's The English Traveler. Tells Young Geraldine that Wife and Dalavill have been in Wife's bedroom together.

BESSE COLBY **1599
Colby’s wife in Ruggle’s Club Law. She would do anything for Musonius but is annoyed with him that he doesn’t seem to understand her hints to bed her. She tells him of her husband’s plan to have the town’s boys beat the students with their own clubs at the Cudgill play. She conspires with Musonius to let the students steal the townsmen’s arsenal of staves and poles from Colby’s storehouse.

BESSUS
Bessus is an Iberian captain, a coward and the primary source of comic relief in Beaumont and Fletcher's A King and No King. Bessus and Mardonius open the play on stage together. From the beginning, Mardonius labels Bessus a coward. It is learned that Bessus was an orphaned thief regularly beaten by his intended victims. While in the army, Bessus gains unintended fame in battle by retreating in the wrong direction. Instead of fleeing the enemy, he leads a group of soldiers straight into the jaws of the enemy. Instead of enjoying his glory, Bessus wishes to return to the low expectations of the cowardly life. Bessus helps Tigranes find a position for his lover Spaconia in Panthea's court. Bessus returns to court before the rest of the army and talks endlessly about himself when Panthea inquires about Arbaces's health. It is obvious that Bessus is lying about his brave acts since his account of battle contain no verifiable details. Bessus is puzzled that Mardonius does not expose Bessus as a coward. When Arbaces tries to claim that Panthea is not his sister, Bessus is the only person to agree. When Bessus is challenged to fight by three gentlemen, he avoids conflict by claiming to have a long list of men to fight. Bacurius challenges Bessus and refuses to accept the false story. Bacurius compels Bessus to admit cowardice. Bacurius also demands and receives Bessus's sword. After Mardonius refuses to help Arbaces woo his sister, Bessus readily agrees to the heinous task. In fact, it is Bessus's lack of scruples that temporarily snaps Arbaces back into sanity. Bessus is confronted by Spaconia's father Ligoces and blamed for the young woman's fall into whoredom. Bessus hires two swordsmen to restore his good name by confronting Bacurius. Bacurius easily beats Bessus and his hired help into submission. In fact, Bacurius's servant beats the three men as well. At the conclusion of the play, Bessus provides the final comic moment when he reminds Arbaces that he, Bessus, had been the only man to agree that Panthea was not the king's sister.

BESTIA, LUCIUS
Lucius Bestia is a tribune and an ally to Catiline in Jonson's Catiline. According to Catiline, Bestia is ambitious and therefore he is among those to whom Catiline has promised a rich province, should he become consul. At Catiline's house, Bestia enters with the other conspirators. After hearing Catiline's incendiary address, the confederates are invited to partake of fresh human blood as a symbolic seal of their pact. After the ritual ceremony, the conspirators exeunt. After the plot was exposed in the Senate, the conspirators gather at Catiline's house to elaborate their strategy. The plan is to set Rome on fire on the night of the Saturnalia, and remove all the enemies at once. After each conspirator has been allotted his task, all depart secretly. After Cicero has exposed the incendiary plot in the Senate and Catiline has been exiled, the conspirators plan to go along with their plot. Volturtius is supposed to accompany the Allobroges with a message from the party in Rome, informing Catiline that Lucius Bestia is expected to deliver a speech in the Senate, blaming the war on Cicero's ambition. Bestia's address will be taken as a signal for the beginning of the hostilities. It is not clear what happens to Bestia when the conspirators are apprehended and punished. It is understood that he shares their fate.

BETHSABE
Bethsabe (sometimes called Bersabe in the text) is the wife of Urias in Peele's David and Bethsabe. When David sees her bathing, he determines to have her for himself and eventually orders Urias be placed in the forefront of the attack upon Rabbah where he is killed. David's affair with Bethsabe produces the unnamed Child who is sickly at birth and who soon dies. David and Bethsabe see in this an indication of God's punishment for their illicit relationship. David then declares that he will marry Bethsabe, a marriage that will produce another son, Salomon. Following the defeat of Absalon but before his death is known, Bethsabe finds David despondent about his estrangement from Absalon. She and Nathan force David to admit that God has chosen Salomon as the next king of Israel, but he asserts that Absalon is still his favorite child. With Cusay's report of Absalon's death, David falls into a deep grief, and Bethsabe shares his pain. Eventually, Nathan forces both of them to recognize that their response to the news is immoderate.

BETTRICE
Bettrice is daughter to Bamford and niece to Fenell in the anonymous July and Julian. She consents to take part in a plot Fenell and Wilkin devise in order to free Julian from slavery. Thus, she is offered to the Messenger to be sold to the Merchant instead of Julian. Once the transaction is effected, Bamford, her father, appears denouncing the unfairness of such transaction, and Bettrice is freed and safely restored to him, as they had planned.

BETTS**1595
Family name of Ralph and George Betts in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More.

BETTY**1632
A prostitute in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden. She fights with her peer Francesca over a Citizen lover and later, with her, assaults the Citizen for his slanderous rumors. She also serves to swell the martial throng in the therapeutic deception of Gabriel Crosswill.

BETTY**1640
Betty is a waiting maid to Sabina in Chamberlain's Swaggering Damsel. In Act Two, she brings a letter from her lady to Valentine. Later, she returns to her lady and tells her that Valentine is truly in love with her. She advises her to wait and not to be so sad if she does not want to be as melancholic as a Spaniell.

BEVERIL
Brother to Kate Low-Water in Middleton's No Wit, No Help Like a Woman's. Like his sister and brother-in-law, Beveril has fallen on hard times. The family's fortunes are rehabilitated through Kate Low-Water's resourcefulness when she disguises herself as a youthful male gallant and wins the heart of the wealthy widow Goldenfleece, to the dismay of her four persistent and wealthier suitors. On their wedding night, Kate refuses to go to bed with her new wife. Sending Beveril in her stead, the assembled guests discover the two in flagrante delicto and Kate immediately claims she cannot remain married to Goldenfleece and demands payment. After some negotiation, she says that she will be satisfied with half the widow's fortune. In order to save face, Goldenfleece marries Beveril, instantly improving his fortunes.

BEVERLEY **1599
He agrees with Acton, Bourne and Murley in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle to meet the following Friday at Tothill Fields, where they are captured. He pleads for clemency, arguing that he did not mean harm to the king, just reformation in religion, but he is ordered executed.

BEVILONA **1615
A courtesan in Tomkis’ Albumazar. The thieves hire her to pretend to be a gentlewoman and entertain Trincalo (believing himself transformed to Antonio) for two hours while they make off with all of Pandolfo’s wealth. She entertains “Antonio" at her house until her “husband" comes home unexpectedly (Ronca in disguise). She bids “Antonio" hide in an empty hogshead where he is nearly drowned when Ronca calls to have the barrel filled.

BEVIS BULLION, SIR
A "ghost character" in Jonson's The Staple of News. Pennyboy Canter claims to have been "bred" in his mines; this is probably a pseudonym for Sir Bevis Bulmer, a famous mining engineer.

BEVIS, GEORGE
Bevis is a follower of the rebel Jack Cade in Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI.

BEVIS, SIR **1607
Only mentioned in Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Humphrey wishes he were as bold as Sir Bevis.

BEW–
For sirnames beginning with BEW– see also BEAU– and related spellings.

BEWCHAMPE
An English peer in the anonymous 2 Troublesome Reign of John, one of the conspirators, Bewchampe has helped to assemble the lords for the secret meeting at Bury St. Edmonds.

BEWFORD**1598
A "ghost character" in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. Bewford, a parson, who presumably was to carry out marriages for Pisaro between the foreign merchants and Pisaro's daughters. Anthony is sent to church to see that Bewford is ready.

BEWFORD**1600
The Cardinal's former name was Lord Bewford in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green.

BEWFORD**1626
One of Madam Marine's gallants in Fletcher's The Noble Gentleman. He assists her in her deception of her husband. He mistakes the disguised Jaques for a whore and arranges a tryst in his rooms, but is interrupted by Maria, who claims to be pregnant by him. He agrees to a private wedding witnessed by Longaville and proclaims himself a reformed man. He halts the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine)'s journey home by pretending to remove, in the King's name, his title. He learns Maria is not really pregnant, but resigns himself to marriage.

BIANCA**1604
Bianca is a lady attending on the Duchess Aurelia in Marston's Malcontent.

BIANCA**1604
Cassio's mistress in Shakespeare's Othello. Cassio gives her Desdemona's handkerchief to take out and have copied. She initially agrees, but later returns and flings the handkerchief at him. She suspects that the handkerchief is a love token from another woman. It is Bianca that Othello overhears Cassio boasting about to Iago, but Iago manipulates the conversation so Othello believes Cassio is trumpeting his conquest of Desdemona.

BIANCA**1611
Spelled Byanca in the text in Fletcher's The Woman's Prize. Cousin to the sisters, Maria and Livia, and niece to Petronius, Biancha sides with Maria in her sex strike to tame Petruchio. "Colonel" Byanca becomes "Commander in chief" when she and Maria lock Maria's doors against Petruchio, Petronius, and the other men, thereby rallying the City Wives, Country Wives, and Maids against controlling husbands. Later Byanca conspires with Tranio to marry her cousin, Livia, to Livia's beloved Rowland by tricking both suitor, Moroso, and her uncle, Petronius, into signing the necessary papers. Possibly the same character as Shakespeare's BIANCA MINOLA.

BIANCA**1621
Bianca in Middleton's Women Beware Women begins as an ingenue of sorts, happy to live on love in her husband's mean house. The promise of riches and the flattery of the Duke soon seduce her. She becomes impudent to Guardiano and Livia, then to her mother-in-law, and finally to Leantio. She insulates herself entirely within the Duke's protection and uses her favored position to spit vitriol at the other characters. She shows not the least remorse at Leantio's death, the man who, four acts earlier, was her whole world. She does not pause long enough to make even a show of mourning, but rather rushes into marriage with the Duke. She has not a moment's hesitation in trying to poison her brother-in-law, who happens also to be the Cardinal and a man who does not deserve to die. She dies by her own hand having accidentally killed the Duke. It is she who issues the abjuration, "Women beware women."

BIANCA**1626
The eponymous fair maid of the inn in Fletcher, Ford, Massinger and Webster's The Fair Maid of the Inn. Her beauty attracts suitors to the inn, all of whom are foolish except Caesario. Bianca rebuffs Caesario when he refuses to marry her out of fear for debasing his gentility, and she is therefore pleased when his true parentage is revealed. When Caesario turns to her after being refused all other offers of marriage, she rejects him, saying that although she pities him, she has decided never to marry. When, however, she is revealed to be an aristocratic foundling, and daughter of Baptista, she forgives Caesario and marries him.

BIANCA MINOLA
Bianca is the younger daughter of Baptista, a wealthy gentleman of Padua in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Because of her beauty and mild temperament, she is favored by her father and by several suitors, including Hortensio and Gremio. She has a secret affair with Lucentio, disguised as her private tutor Cambio, and they eventually elope. During the final banquet scene, Lucentio and her father wagers that she will be the first wife to come when summoned by her husband; when she refuses her husband's command, she proves to be shrewish herself. Katherine then lectures her, along with the Widow Hortensio marries, on the duty a wife has to her husband.

BIANCHA**1613
Also called Biancha in Fletcher's The Honest Man's Fortune. Although Lady Orleans once favored Montaigne over the man who became her husband, the Duke of Orleans, she has been completely faithful to Orleans since their marriage; Orleans refuses to believe this, however, accusing her of having cuckolded him, and throws her out to live with the impoverished Montaigne. Lady Orleans demonstrates her loyalty to her husband and her brother by pretending that Orleans's accusations are true, thus preventing duels between Orleans and Amiens and then Amiens and Montaigne. After Lady Orleans resists Montaigne's feigned advances, he gives her half of his remaining money and sends her and Veramour, his page, to his friend Lamira, who welcomes them. Lamira compares marriage to slavery, but Lady Orleans maintains that no woman can be happy without a husband and defends her husband by claiming that he is only testing her. Lady Orleans hears that Orleans and Amiens once again intend to duel and goes to prevent the conflict, but when Longavile apparently shoots Orleans with a pistol, Lady Orleans herself collapses. Orleans, believing Lady Orleans to be dead, repents, and when Lady Orleans recovers from her faint, the two are reconciled.

BIANCHA**1632
Newly-married Duchess of Pavia at the start of the play in Ford's Love's Sacrifice. Her low birth, as the daughter of a mere gentleman, is stressed, although her uncle is the Abbot of Monaco. The Duke has married her for her beauty, ignoring criticism of her social inferiority. Biancha is particularly resented by the Duke's sister, Fiormunda. Her marital fidelity is the crux of the action. She is passionately desired by the Duke's best friend, Fernando, and has repelled his advances twice before the start of the play. When he tries again to seduce her, she lectures him sternly about his betrayal of his friendship with her husband, and her determination to keep her marriage vows. He later tries one last time to persuade her that his lust has been replaced by the purest love, but she again rejects him, outraged that he should question her fidelity and betray his friend. She later visits him indiscreetly and declares that she has also loved him from the first. She offers herself to him; warning that if he chooses to consummate their love, she will be forced to atone by killing herself. They agree on a chaste, platonic love hereafter. Although they decide together not to commit adultery (the 'sacrifice' of the title), their intimate conversation is overheard by D'avolos (Fiormunda's corrupt agent) and misinterpreted. Her honor is thus compromised anyway. D'avolos (like Iago) feeds her husband's groundless jealousy with sinister hints. Her shows of platonic affection for Fernando continue to be open to misinterpretation. She is only once seen to attempt to influence her husband (like Desdemona) planning to persuade him to recall the banished Roseilli. The Duke lays a trap and finds the lovers together, shortly after Biancha has revealed that she is tempted to greater physical intimacy with Fernando than before. Left to defend herself before her enraged husband, she exculpates Fernando to the best of her ability, and also derides her husband's attitude, and physical deficiencies. She declares that, as passion led the Duke to marry her, so passion has led her to love Fernando. She is shameless, because she has nothing to be ashamed of. The Duke takes revenge on her imagined adultery and murders her. Fernando commits suicide in her tomb for her sake, having persuaded the Duke of her innocence. The Duke then also kills himself in remorse, demanding to be buried together with them in the same tomb.

BIAS
A secretary in Jonson's The Magnetic Lady. He acts as a Machiavellian court lobbyist for the rich. He is Sir Moth Interest's preferred candidate for Placentia's hand. After hearing a rumor of Placentia's pregnancy, he threatens to have Sir Moth Interest ruined at Court, but is mollified by Placentia's appearance at the dinner and by Interest's offer to share Placentia's inheritance with him. He agrees to marry Placentia even after she is revealed to be Polish's daughter, on Interest's promise to entail the fortune on her and away from Pleasance, but repudiates the marriage upon learning that Placentia has given birth to Needle's child.

BIDET, [BOSPHOROS CARMELYDON HONORIFICACUMINOS]
Bidet is the page of Laverdure in Marston's What You Will. He overhears the plot to disguise Soranza as Albano and warns his master, who is preparing to marry Albano's "widow." He himself plots with the other pages and disguises himself as a fool when Holifernes Pippo dresses up as a merchant's wife.

BIDSTAND, JACK **1629
A friend of Shirke's in Randolph's(?) The Drinking Academy, Bidstand helps to terrorize and steal from Worldly and Knowlittle. He dresses up as both Alecto, a ballad seller, and Pluto.

BIFRONS
Only mentioned in Wilson's The Three Ladies of London. Serviceable Diligence compares the deformed Love to "Bifrons the base daughter of Juno."

BIGOT, EARL
I. Bigot accompanies Lewes to the meeting at Bury in the anonymous 2 Troublesome Reign of John. II. Lord Bigot first appears with Salisbury and Pembroke, making plans to ally with France and then discovering the body of Arthur in Shakespeare's King John. Although he is listed as appearing in several scenes after this, he does not speak and never acts separately from Salisbury and Pembroke. Since Essex appears in the first scene and then disappears, it is possible that Shakespeare meant to combine the roles.

BILBO
Sir Arthur Clare's servant in the Anonymous The Merry Devil of Edmonton.

BILBO CAVEARE **1611
Servant to Malevento and later journeyman to Cordolente in Dekker’s Match Me in London. He is the comic relief of the play and discovers Tormiella at Cordolente’s house and accepts his bribe to keep quiet while the newlyweds escape from Cordova to Seville. He runs away with them to help run Cordolente’s shop. In IV.ii he debates with Coxcomb over the relative merits of court versus city, taking the side of the citizen.

BILIOSO
Bilioso is an old marshal in the service of Duke Pietro in Marston's Malcontent. He is verbally abused by Malevole. Bilioso alternates between favor and dislike of Malevole depending on Malevole's status with Pietro.

BILL
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Work For Cutlers. A concave blade or ax used chiefly by the military until the seventeenth century. Bill never appears on stage, and seems to function chiefly as a vehicle for elaborate puns. Dagger describes him as a "notable sturdy villain" and a "tall fellow," comparing Bill's size and visibility to his own, and says Bill "will quickly be wood," suggesting use of the weapon will soon go out of fashion. Sword participates in the wordplay, promising to "pay [Bill] soundly."

BILL BOND
Bill Bond is an attorney in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. He has devised a plan to cheat people and make some easy money. He needs the help of Master Silence and Doctor Clyster to put it into practice. He announces to his confederates in the business that will perform the role of a lawyer, but noticing that Doctor Clyster hesitates and wonders whether he will be able to play his part successfully, Bill Bond reassures him, explaining him how he has to behave: "'tis gravity, ceremony, noise, and distance than cozen all the world." Thus they start cheating their victims. But when Master Silence finishes his session with Master Ominous, Bond reprimands him because he expected him to get more than to pieces of gold from that man. But Master Silence apologizes, explaining that it was his "first essay." Later, when Sir Cupid Phantsy asks him after Doctor Clyster, Bond, taking care of their business, boasts and exaggerates: "Sir, here hath been two coaches for him this morning, but I have put them off till afternoon to keep him here for you." Afterwards, when Master Caution comes to see him inquiring about the interest rate he can ask for his loans, he provides him with the required information, but explains that, nevertheless, lawyers have tricks to spare men from the punishment of the law. When his client asks him about the possibility of getting away with other breaches of the law he is aware of committing, Bond assures him he can help him, offering him his legal assistance. Then, Master Caution offers the lawyer twenty crowns of gold for his services, but Bond makes him realize that he will have to pay him more if he wants to receive proper service. When his client leaves, Bond rushes to tell Doctor Clyster and Master Silence that he has got five pounds in gold, but he will soon be disappointed with his exploits, when he learns that Clyster has got fifty pounds already and is still expecting more from the same victim. He will have to take part, later, in a philosophical controversy with his two comrades and Master Algebra, who wants to put them to a test and check whether they are cozeners or they can actually cure people. Actually, when they are urged, by Algebra, to offer him a cure or to admit he is right, Bond quickly advises him to abandon his dangerous opinions, because many people were severely punished when expressing similar thoughts. He actually lets the Philosopher leave, not charging him for their service. Later, Bond will be busy devising a plot–with Doctor Clyster and Master Silence–to cheat Dame de Bois as he sleeps: they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Master Silence, in an attempt to seek peace for his soul, and to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Once he has specified what he is going to leave and to whom, it is obvious he has found them out–and he makes it evident when he tells Master Sickly that he leaves him "to be cozened by these honest gentlemen." Aware of the fact that they have been found out, Bond and the other two cheaters send Master Sickly away because they so not want him to realize he has been cheated. When they consider they have, at last, succeeded, they celebrate their triumvirate and their cozening. But Damme de Bois was not cheated so easily, and he comes accompanied by all their victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. When Bond sees Master Caution, incensed, accusing him of having cozened him, the lawyer pretends to be crossed and leaves, threatening to sue him. Then, Master Sickly comes to him, seeking counsel with respect to what legal action he can take against Doctor Clyster, on the charges of having cozened him. Bond then offers to indict the Doctor for practising without a license. Master Sickly still rewards him with ten pounds of gold and assures him he will give him more when the matter is over. But later, things get worse, and their victims threaten to come back, with legal support, to recover their money. Thus, sieged by an army of cozened victims, the cheaters resolve to hide on the upper floor of their house. Luckily, Master Algebra offers to act as a fair judge between both parties, and he turns out to be fair indeed, since he makes the cozeners give their victims their money back, he tells the victims to pardon the cozeners, and he even offers to share the money the victims give him, as reward for his fair services, with the three former cozeners–now new and honest men. Bond, extremely grateful and indebted to the wisdom of that man, asks him to accept some present from him and his two friends, which Master Algebra does very gladly.

BILLA
A name listed in the dramatis personae of the anonymous Wit of a Woman but who in the play is probably the character known as Figga.

BILLMAN
An minor officer of the peace in Whetstone's 1 Promos and Cassandra, called a billman because he carries a weapon known as a brown bill. He helps Gripax and Rapax bring Lamia and Rosko to Phallax.

BILLMEN
Three law officers in Whetstone's 2 Promos and Cassandra. They lead Lamia to her judgment. They also lead Promos to execution.

BILLY
Lady Strangelove's boy in Brome's Court Beggar is ultimately revealed to be Billy, Philomel's illegitimate son. Citwit cheerfully accepts the child as if he were his own. He plays Cupid in the concluding masque but is unable to remember his lines.

BILLY GRIME
Billy Grime of Glendale in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV is the man that Jockey claims has taken Jockey's land.

BINDOVER, JUSTICE**1637
Disguise assumed by Howlet in the anonymous The Wasp. 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.

BION
King of Phasiaca in Chapman's The Blind Beggar of Alexandria. Bion joins with Kings Bebritius, Porus, and Rhesus to attack Egypt. They are defeated in battle. In the aftermath of the war, Bion seeks the love of the widow Samathis, who accepts his suit.

BIONDELLO **1564
Biondello, servant to the miserly Amedeus in (?)Jeffere's The Bugbears, successfully plots against his master to obtain the latter's approval for Amedeus' son, Formosus, to marry Rosimunda. Biondello develops the scheme and orchestrates costumed conspirators and special effects so effectively that Amedeus is frightened into thinking that his home is haunted by spirits (buggbears) who steal the money needed for Rosimunda's dowry. Biondello recruits and coaches every key player in the plot against Amedeus, including the pretended exorcist, Trappola. Like the other servants in Buggbears, Biondello mocks his master and seems wiser than he.

BIONDELLO**1594
One of Lucentio's servants in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Biondello primarily acts as a messenger and helps to perpetrate the hoax that Tranio is really Lucentio. Biondello heralds Petruchio's arrival to marry Katherine by describing Petruchio's outlandish apparel, and during the banquet he is sent to summon Bianca and the widow that Hortensio has married; he reports that they will not come when their husbands send for them.

BIRD **1630
A feather-man in Randolph's Muses' Looking Glass. One "of the sanctified fraternity of Blackfriars," he brings feathers to the playhouse. In the opening scene, Flowerdew and Bird rant at the iniquity of playhouses, employing many of the Puritan arguments. They attempt to convert Roscius from play-acting. Roscius persuades him to stay and witness a play to see that it is not lewd but rather morally improving. By play's end, he is convinced.

BIRD, PIED
In the masque of beasts in Fletcher's The Mad Lover, the Page (Picus) appears as a pied Bird.

BIRDLIME
A bawd who manages Luce in Dekker and Webster's Westward Ho. She offers to help Mistress Justiniano become the Earl's mistress, as she has done for Clare Tenterhook and the Earl's nephew, Monopoly, but is dismayed when Mistress Justiniano refuses. She tries to keep separate Honeysuckle, Tenterhook, and Wafer when they all arrive to visit Luce at the same time, pretending to each that Luce is his exclusively. She fails, and the three men are about to leave when Justiniano arrives to inform them of his disguises and the wives' plot. In revenge, Birdlime takes Clare's diamonds, given to Luce by Tenterhook, to Brainford, in an attempt to rescue the wives' reputations. She is detained by a drunken Gosling, but manages to attend the wives, and reveals Clare's diamonds, proves Tenterhook (and the other husbands) guilty of whoremongering. The women ungratefully condemn her as a bawd, though, and she leaves angrily.

BIRDLYME
Disguise adopted by Brainsicke in order to cheat Undermine in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen. He claims he was a Paper Smith, a profession he defines as that of a scrivener who used to forge everything that went under his hand. In that guise the former misleads the latter into believing that he and his friends (Clutch and Shackle, also disguised) intend to help citizens like Undermine who, due to their knavery, have become bankrupt and are prosecuted by their creditors. They offer to hide and protect him in their household until everything is over.

BIRON, LORD
A "ghost character" in Dekker and Webster's Northward Ho. The poet Bellamont hopes that his tragedy will be played at the weddings of the Duke of Orleans and the Admiral of France, in the presence of the King of France. Lord Biron will then present him to the King as an eminent poet.

BISHOP
For named bishops, including bishops from A Game at Chess (e.g. "WHITE BISHOP"), look under the given name.

BISHOP**1540
Seated among the Spirituality in Lindsay's Satire of the Three Estates, he rejects Chastity and welcomes Lady Sensuality. In the Second Part, he denies all charges against it, but when told to consult St. Paul regarding church government, he admits he cannot read. All his objections to the reformations proposed by John the Commonweal and seconded by the Temporality and Burgesses are in vain. Under examination, he admits his corruption, and, along with the rest of the Spirituality, is exposed by Flattery and stripped of his ecclesiastical robes, revealing the motley beneath.

BISHOP**1591
Apparently, the same character as the church official identified originally as the Lord Archbishop in the anonymous Jack Straw.

BISHOP**1591
After the christening of Edward of Caernarvon in Peele's Edward I, the unnamed Bishop officially presents the child first to Edward and then to Queen Elinor.

BISHOP**1608
The bishop in Chapman's The Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron is Byron's confessor in the play's final scene.

BISHOP**1608
Intends to perform the marriage of Constantia and Cador in William Rowley's The Birth of Merlin: or, The Child Hath Found His Father. He is supportive of Constantia when she decides to become a nun instead.

BISHOP**1614
A bishop is called to Clynton and Old Fitzwaters after the two fathers have found their offspring together without permission in Smith's The Hector of Germany. It is intended that he will marry Old Fitzwaters and Floramell. The bishop helps Old Fitzwaters interpret a dream of being cuckolded. After Old Fitzwaters is left at the altar, the bishop concludes that the dream has come true.

BISHOP**1619
An ecclesiastical attendant at Duke Earnest's court in ?Cumber's Two Merry Milkmaids.

BISHOP **1635
The Bishop in Shirley's Coronation first affects Epire when he testifies that the deceased Theodosius gave son Demetrius to Macarius to raise safe from political intrigues. Later, the Bishop affirms that Leonatus is really the elder son of Theodosius; Leonatus/Seleucus is the rightful heir to the crown of Epire.

BISHOP**1638
A non-speaking character in Act Five of (?)Brome's The Cunning Lovers. He takes part in the wedding of Antonio–being Prospero–and the Spanish Lady–that is, Valentia.

BISHOP, FIRST and SECOND
There are two bishops in Fletcher's The Knight of Malta.

• The First Bishop assists in the knighting of Miranda, ceremoniously asking what he desires and directing the Second Bishop to gird him with spurs and sword.
• The Second Bishop assists in the knighting of Miranda, asking him to state his vow, and ceremoniously girding him with spurs and sword.

BISHOP, IRISH
The Bishop has been sent to Ireland by Pope Gregory to conquer the land for the Pope and restore it to the Roman Faith in Peele's The Battle of Alcazar. When Sebastian asks the Bishop to join forces with Mahamet, the Bishop replies that to turn away from conquering Ireland in order to aid the Moor of Barbary would betray his vows to the Catholic Church.

BISHOP of BAYONNE
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. King Henry argues that when he was debating a marriage between his daughter Mary and the French Duke of Orleance, the Bishop of Bayonne was the French ambassador who originally sowed doubt into Henry's mind about the validity of his marriage to Katherine.

BISHOP of CARLISLE
A loyal supporter of King Richard who speaks out against Bolingbroke's usurpation of the crown and is subsequently arrested in Shakespeare's Richard II. He plots against Bolingbroke with the Duke of Aumerle and the Abbot of Westminster, however he is not executed but exiled by Bolingbroke (now King Henry IV).

BISHOP of CHALCEDON
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. The Bishop of Chalcedon is mentioned by Master Bead when he is telling Master Silence about one of his scruples: "talking with the Bishop of Chalcedon, I forgot to give him the title of lord and neglected that due respect and reverence which I ought." At the time, the Bishop of Chalcedon was Richard Smith (1568-1655). He had been appointed vicar apostolic to England and Bishop of Chalcedon in Greece in 1625. Despite the fact that, six years later, in autumn, he fled England, he still remained the religious head of the English Catholics.

BISHOP of COVENTRY
A bishop in Marlowe's Edward II. Because the Bishop of Coventry was instrumental in Gaveston's exile to France before the action in Act 1 begins, newly crowned Edward II sends Coventry to the Tower and gives the bishop's house, goods, and lands to the recently returned Gaveston. Coventry calls Gaveston "wicked" and Edward "accurst of God."

BISHOP of ELY**1593
Supporter of Richmond in Shakespeare's Richard III. The Bishop of Ely is present during the council scene in the Tower of London, where the dukes and lords meet to discuss the Yorkist Prince Edward's coronation. Richard III asks the Bishop to send for strawberries from the Bishop's garden. Later, the Bishop joins with Richmond and urges him to lead a rebellion against Richard.

BISHOP of ELY**1595
A "ghost character" in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. When Falkner is arrested for the fray in Paternoster Row between the servants of the Bishop of Ely and those of the Bishop of Winchester, he claims to have been only trying to part the two sides.

BISHOP of ELY**1599
The Bishop of Ely in Shakespeare's Henry V along with the Archbishop of Canterbury advises Henry about his right to invade France and claim the crown.

BISHOP of EXETER
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Richard III. The elder brother of Sir Edward Courtenay and a supporter of Richmond. The Bishop of Exeter, along with his brother, march soldiers through Devonshire to attack Richard III's forces.

BISHOP of LINCOLN
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. King Henry claims that it was this Bishop that he first openly questioned the legitimacy of the marriage to Queen Katherine. The Bishop of Lincoln supposedly had urged the King several years ago to seek a divorce.

BISHOP of ROCHESTER**1599
He complains in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle of Protestants who meet secretly and plot against the Church and the King. He brings news to Sir John and the Bishop of the death of Herbert. Later he convinces the King of the necessity of calling Sir John Oldcastle to the Arches, an ecclesiastical court, to answer accusations of heresy. Not knowing that the king has cleared Oldcastle of wrongdoing, he re-arrests him and confiscates his belongings. After being forced to deal with the confused arrests at St. Albans, he returns to London.

BISHOP of ST. ANDREW'S
The Bishop of St. Andrew's is one of three Scots magnates in Greene's James IV who all enter separately brooding about the king's behavior and meet Dorothea and Nano. The Bishop tells Dorothea that he despairs of the king and will leave the court, which he subsequently appears to have done.

BISHOP of WINCHESTER**1592
A bishop in Marlowe's Edward II. At Killingworth Castle with Leicester and Trussell for the abdication of Edward II, the Bishop of Winchester urges Edward to give up his crown for his son's sake. After Edward abdicates Winchester brings his crown to the Queen and reports a rumor that Kent had plotted to free Edward.

BISHOP of WINCHESTER**1595
A "ghost character" in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. The ruffian Falkner serves Morris, the secretary to the Bishop of Winchester.

BISHOP of WINCHESTER**1604
The Bishop of Winchester in Dekker and Webster's Sir Thomas Wyatt (the historical Stephen Gardiner) was a supporter of Queen Mary. As a member of the royal council, he is relatively quiet at first, but after Mary is proclaimed queen, he becomes an active force in political and ecclesiastical affairs. He petitions Mary to have the Roman clergy released from prison and returned to their posts, but she tells him she has already ordered the Duke of Norfolk to see to it. When Sir Thomas Wyatt urges the queen to be merciful to young Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley, Winchester takes the queen's line and urges the maximum punishment. He clashes again with Wyatt over the proposed marriage of Mary to Phillip II of Spain, a match that he fully endorses as being in the country's best interest. Finally, he presides at the trial of Lady Jane and Guildford, and rejecting the appeals for mercy from the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Arundel, orders them beheaded.

BISHOP of WINCHESTER**1623
The Bishop of Winchester in Dekker, Ford and Rowley's The Welsh Embassador is sent by the king to assure Armante (who is the bishop's kinswoman) that the king will marry her. He is furious when he learns that she has been tricked out of the written marriage promise and plots revenge with Colchester and Kent, although he tells them he will defend the king if any attempt is made on his life. He disguises himself as a friar to take the prince to his father and tells him that Armante has become a nun.

BISHOPS
Clearly Roman Catholic bishops in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon, these follow the hearse of the dead Queen Mariana in the dumb show at the beginning of the play. They join the friars and cardinals in singing in Latin.

BISHOPS, TWELVE FRENCH **1604
“Ghost characters" in Rowley’s When You See Me. Sent to Rome to move Campeus and the Cardinals for Wolsey’s election to the papal crown.

BISTUS
A "ghost character" in Heywood's The Silver Age, King of the Lapithes, Brisus is mentioned in the drinking bout of the heroes and centaurs at the wedding of his daughter Hypodamia.

BITEFIGG, SIR THOMAS
Father to Mrs. Jane in Cartwright's The Ordinary. He wishes his daughter to marry Andrew, the son of Simon Credulous, because he is wealthy, but she wishes to marry Littleworth instead. At the end of the play, he confesses his avarice on what he supposes to be his deathbed to a person he supposes to be a confessor (in reality Shape in disguise). He ultimately agrees that Andrew would have been a disastrous son-in-law and agrees to Jane's marriage to Littleworth.

BIZARDO
Bizardo is Bragardo's man in the anonymous Wit of a Woman. He accompanies Bragardo in his two appearances on stage, and flees with Bragardo at the end.

BLACK BISHOP
The Black Bishop represents the Father-General of the Jesuits in Middleton's A Game at Chess. He helps to forge evidence when the Black Bishop's Pawn's lechery is revealed by the White Queen's Pawn. He plots with the Black Knight to entrap the Fat Bishop into returning to the Black House, and assists the Black Knight in trying to convert the White Knight.

BLACK BISHOP, SECOND
A "ghost character" in Middleton's A Game at Chess. Referred to as representing the Pope, but he does not appear in the play.

BLACK BISHOP'S PAWN
The Black Bishop's Pawn in Middleton's A Game at Chess does not seem to be based on a real person although various possibilities have been suggested. He is a scheming Jesuit, whose attempt at converting the White Queen's Pawn is undermined by his lechery: when he tries to force himself on her, she escapes to the White House and reveals to them his true colours. The Black Bishop's Pawn escapes, and the Black House forges letters to prove his absence at the time in question. This ploy fools the White House until the White Knight arrives and unmasks the deception. The Black Bishop's Pawn returns to gull the White Queen's Pawn. He looks over her shoulder when she is looking for the face of her future husband in a magic mirror, and thereby tricks her into thinking that they are destined for each other. The White Queen's Pawn refuses sex before marriage; since priests cannot marry, the Black Queen's Pawn suggests that the Black Bishop's Pawn offer a marriage contract and later deny it: this will not break any vows to the Church. But the Black Queen's Pawn then uses a 'bed trick' to fool the Bishop's Pawn into sleeping with her when he thinks he's sleeping with the White Queen's Pawn. She then triumphantly reveals her trickery and the Black Bishop's Pawn is 'taken' by the White Bishop's Pawn, and thrown into the Bag.

BLACK DUKE
The Black Duke in Middleton's A Game at Chess represents the Conde-Duque de Olivares (1587-1645), a favourite of Philip IV of Spain. He contributes nothing to the plot, and in the conclusion the White Duke throws him into the Bag.

BLACK JACK
Butler to Lady Tub in Jonson's A Tale of A Tub.

BLACK JESTING PAWN
A Black pawn in Middleton's A Game at Chess who catches a White Pawn between himself and a Second Black Pawn. They move off, sandwiched together, and the White Pawn kicks the Jesting Pawn as they go; he cannot kick back because he is on the end of the 'skewer'.

BLACK KING
The Black King is a caricature of Philip IV of Spain in Middleton's A Game at Chess. He and his underlings are plotting to rape the White Queen. In the play's conclusion, the Black House is defeated by the White Knight's cunning, and the White King throws the Black King into the Bag.

BLACK KNIGHT
The Black Knight in Middleton's A Game at Chess is a caricature of Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, Conde de Gondomor (1567-1626), Spanish ambassador to England. The play portrays Gondomar as a boastful Machiavel, and pokes fun at his crippling anal fistula, which required him to travel on a specially made sedan chair. The Black Knight is plotting to overthrow the White House and achieve world domination. He plots to bring the Fat Bishop to the Black side, tempting him with a letter hinting at a bishopric, but does this only in order to damn him, as revenge for a joke the Bishop once made about his fistula. He leads the plot that seeks to hide the Black Bishop's Pawn's lechery. He encourages the White King's Pawn to come over to the Black side and then throws him into the Bag when his purpose is served. He then invites the White Knight to the Black House, and offers to satisfy all the desires of the flesh that the White Knight confesses to, but the White Knight then announces that he requested these things only to trap the Black side into revealing their evil. The Black side is defeated, and the White Knight throws the Black Knight into the Bag.

BLACK KNIGHT'S PAWN
The Black Knight's Pawn in Middleton's A Game at Chess does not seem to be based on a real person although various possibilities have been suggested. He is responsible for the castration of the White Bishop's Pawn, and is now suffering the pangs of conscience. The Black Bishop's Pawn refuses to grant him absolution, so he goes to the Fat Bishop and asks to pay penance. But the Fat Bishop cannot find castration in the Taxa Poenitentiaria, and therefore turns him down. The Black Knight's Pawn decides that his only option is to murder the White Bishop's Pawn, thereby committing a crime for which penance can be paid. But his attempt at murder is foiled when he is 'taken' by the White Queen's Pawn and thrown into the Bag.

BLACK NAG
A ‘ghost character’ in Percy’s Cuckqueans and Cuckolds Errants. This is the horse James rides to Harwich. Doucebella imagines the horse will carry him straight to Maldon.

BLACK PAWN, SECOND
A Black pawn in Middleton's A Game at Chess. He catches a White Pawn between himself and the Black Jesting Pawn. They move off, sandwiched together. The Second Black Pawn kicks the White Pawn, who kicks the Jesting Pawn in turn.

BLACK PRINCE, GHOST of
The Ghost of the Black Prince in the anonymous Thomas of Woodstock, father of Richard II and brother to Thomas of Woodstock and the Dukes of York and Lancaster, appears to Thomas in his captivity at Calais, warning him of his approaching death and the curse it will bring on King Richard.

BLACK QUEEN
The Black Queen in Middleton's A Game at Chess represents the Queen of Spain, but her character is given no definition. In the conclusion, the White Queen throws her into the Bag.

BLACK QUEEN'S PAWN
The Black Queen's Pawn in Middleton's A Game at Chess does not seem to be based on a real person although various possibilities have been suggested. She is a scheming Jesuitess who, along with the Black Bishop's Pawn, is trying to convert the White Queen's Pawn to the Black side. She prevents the Black Bishop's Pawn from forcing his lust onto the White Queen's Pawn because she thinks this will lose any chance of converting her. She then helps him to flee. Later, the Black Queen's Pawn tells the White Queen's Pawn that she has a magic mirror, which will reveal her future husband. When the White Queen's Pawn looks into it, the Black Bishop's Pawn looks over her shoulder; she sees his face and resolves to marry him. When the White Queen's Pawn refuses sex before marriage, the Black Queen's Pawn encourages the Black Bishop's Pawn to make a marriage contract (with a view later to deny it). This done, she uses a 'bed trick' to fool the Black Bishop's Pawn into sleeping with her rather than the White Queen's Pawn. She then triumphantly reveals her trickery, which she sees as a punishment for his lechery. She is 'taken' by the White Queen, and thrown into the Bag.

BLACK SNOUT
Black Snout is a clownish smith in the Anonymous The Faithful Friends, who boasts of his military valor until called to serve against the Sabines, when he proves to be a coward for all his impressive size and strength.

BLACK WILL
A villain whom Greene hires, along with Shakebag, to murder Arden in the Anonymous Arden of Feversham. After missing an opportunity to kill Arden in St. Paul's, he accosts Michael, who is also trying to kill Arden and joins him to their band. When Mosbie and Shakebag are injured in their attempt to stab Arden with swords, Black Will is forced to flee with his wounded comrades. It is Black Will who creeps out of the counting house behind Arden's chair during the backgammon game and drags him to the ground with a towel. He flees to London and from there to Flushing. Franklin tells us that Black Will was burned on a scaffold in Flushing.

BLACK WILL **1604
He is known and feared in Rowley’s When You See Me throughout the seventeen Provinces and is the man who murdered the two merchants. He is leaving the stews to avoid capture when he comes upon the disguised Henry and shows him how he evades the London watch. Henry fights with Black Will and injures him before the watch takes them both to the counter. When the king is discovered, Black Will fears being sent to Tyburn and is surprised when the king gives him twenty angels and offers to send him to the wars. This pleases Black Will.

BLACKAMOORS
Spelled "Nagars" in the original plot of the anonymous Tamar Cam. One of the groups of envoys sent from the conquered races. They enter in procession at play's end to do homage to their conqueror, Tamor Cham.

BLACKCOATS **1632
Stipes’s nickname in Hausted’s Rival Friends for the young scholars that come courting Ursely.

BLACKSTONE, DICK A "ghost character" in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley mentioned as Stukeley's armourer.

BLACKSWAN
A "ghost character" in Brome's The Damoiselle. He is the dog that Sir Amphilus likes. He knows plenty of tricks. He is finally bought and shipped far from Sir Amphilus.

BLADE
A "ghost character" in Sharpham's The Fleire. A cutler named by Antifront as one of the many customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.

BLADE, CAPTAIN
The "Guardian" in Cowley's The Guardian; uncle and guardian to Lucia and father to Aurelia. Having lost his money to a usurer, Blade wants to recoup by marrying the usurer's Widow; in order to persuade her, he needs to secure some more money for himself, which means taking Lucia's estate. He can do this, by the terms his brother (Lucia's father) has laid down, if she marries without his consent: a situation he hopes to produce by blocking her marriage to Young Truman and insisting on marrying her to either Cutter or Dogrel, his two worthless friends. Young Truman and Lucia slip him a potion that produces the immediate symptoms of poison in order to appeal to him when he thinks he is dying; this fails, and Blade tries to betroth his own daughter, Aurelia, to Young Truman. Thanks to Aurelia's tricks, the foolish Puny believes he has betrothed himself to Lucia, which delights Blade: it seems her estate is safely his, and thus he has no further use for Cutter and Dogrel. Dogrel and Puny now decide to take revenge on him by pretending to be his long-lost brother (See under Brother) and the brother's manservant, John; Blade sees through the trick, and uses his servants Ralph and William to put a stop to it. Shortly afterwards, he succeeds in marrying the Widow, so, when Lucia reveals at the end that she, not Aurelia, has married Young Truman, he takes the news with good humour and does not press his claim to her estate.

[In Cowley's own 1658 revision of this play, Cutter of Coleman Street (performed 1661), Blade is transformed into Colonel Jolly, and considerably renovated. He has now lost his money as a punishment for his loyalty to the King, and he feels guilty about trying to rob his niece. It is a step to which he is driven in part by concern for his daughter, he says (a concern from which The Guardian's Blade seems to be free). He offers her to Cutter and Worm (The Guardian's Dogrel), but with a difference: he will take only part of the money, and whichever of them wins Lucia must agree to treat her well (another concern which does not occur to his prototype)].

BLADES**1638
Ruffians employed by Squirrel in his bawdy-house in Nabbes' The Bride; he gives their names as "Rashbe, Spilman, Poinard, and others", but they are not named elsewhere. After hearing them carousing, Raven asks Squirrel to have them attack Theophilus and the Bride, whereupon they carry the Bride away and threaten to rape her. Theophilus successfully fights them and forces them to release the Bride and give up their weapons. They go and get Justice Ferret to complain about Theophilus's abuse of them, but disappear before pressing charges. Later they return and encounter Kickshaw, whom they rob and leave tied up.

BLADUD
Only mentioned in Fisher's Fuimus Troes. Former King of Britain, founder of Bath, mentioned in the Bards' song in act II.

BLAGUE
The host of the St. George in Waltham in the Anonymous The Merry Devil of Edmonton. Together with his friends Sir John, Banks, and Smug, he intends to steal some venison from Brian's Wood to entertain his guests, Sir Arthur Clare, Sir Richard Mounchensey, Sir Ralph Ierningham and their family.

BLAGUE OR BLAGES, MISTRESS
I. An acquaintance and confidante of Mistress Jane Shore in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV, Mistress Blague at first claims inability to counsel Jane. Eventually, however, she implies Jane is damned if she accepts the invitation to court and damned if she doesn't. II. The old friend of Mistress Shore who earlier counseled Jane about accepting Edward's advances, Blages is unwilling to help the disgraced Shore in Thomas Heywood's 2 Edward IV when she learns of Gloster's edict against giving Jane Shore aid. Blages hopes to keep the belongings of Jane but is caught before Jane can leave the premises of the Blages home. The woman's goods are confiscated and she is thrown into the streets wearing only her petticoat. She reconciles with Jane near play's end.

BLANCH**1590
Blanch is the daughter of Zweno, King of Denmark in [?]Wilson's Fair Em, the Miller's Daughter. Marquis Lubeck carries a portrait of her on his shield, and William the Conqueror falls in love with the image. William travels in disguise to Denmark with the aim of wooing her, but is disappointed when the real-life Blanch turns out to be ugly. Blanch loves William, but he spurns her in favor of Mariana, who does not love him. Mariana and Blanch conspire to resolve the situation with trickery. Mariana tells William that she agrees to elope with him, but it is really Blanch, in a veil, whom William takes back to England. Blanch is kept by Duke Dirot until the wedding, and therefore William does not discover her trickery until Zweno and his army arrive to reclaim her. When William realizes what has happened, he refuses to marry Blanch and spurns the female sex as inconstant. But when he meets the constant Em, abused by her inconstant suitor, he reconsiders, and decides to marry Blanch after all.

BLANCH**1615
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's Monsieur Thomas. A dairymaid who does not appear in the play, but whom Dorothy (cuttingly referring to "Lady Blanch the Dairy Maid") uses as an example of the many wenches impregnated by her brother, Thomas. Blanch has borne him a bastard, John.

BLANCHE**1588
I. Daughter of the King of Spain in the anonymous 1 Troublesome Reign of John, Blanche accompanies her cousin John and her aunt Queen Elianor to France. After the inconclusive battle of Angiers she is married to Lewes, son of the King of France. II. Lady Blanche of Spain is the niece of King John in Shakespeare's King John. After the first, inconclusive battle between France and England at Angers, the Citizen suggests that Blanche marry the Dauphin and that her dowry be the disputed territories. Blanche immediately and dutifully admits to being in love with the Dauphin. When Pandolf excommunicates John and the Dauphin urges his father to take up arms against England, Blanche protests that it is her wedding day and begs him not to attack her uncle. He ignores her pleas except to point out that his fortune is hers now. Blanche bitterly laments her torn loyalties, but accepts her duty to follow her new husband.

BLANCHE**1624
A "ghost character" in Middleton's A Game at Chess. A daughter of the Black Bishop's Pawn who, as does her sister Bridget, writes to her father from "safe sanctuary in the Whitefriars" (which implies that she is a prostitute).

BLANCKE, MASTER
The scrivener to the newly wealthy Bartholemew Bubbles in Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque. Along with his assistant Pursenet, he oversees a bond between Spendall and Sir Lionell in the former's attempts to gull the knight.

BLANDA
A whore in Heywood's The English Traveler. Daughter of Scapha Girlfriend of Young Lionell. Though a prostitute, and the daughter of a prostitute, Blanda still believes in love.

BLANUEL
A gallant in Chapman's An Humourous Day's Mirth. In an early scene, he is the source of mirth in others for his habit of repeating pleasantries. According to Berger's report at the tavern, he is jailed as part of a raid at a bawdy house, but he appears immediately after the remark is made. He participates, along with Berger, in the gulling of Labesha

BLASTFIELD
An alias assumed by Shortyard in Middleton's Michaelmas Term. He, along with Falselight (alias Idem), is the henchman of Ephestian Quomodo, the overreaching woolen draper. Under this assumed name, the character befriends the Essex gentleman, Richard Easy, and is integral in Quomodo's efforts to extort his lands. After promising Easy that he will provide for his every need during his sojourn in the city, Blastfield feigns the inability to secure credit from his typical sources, including Quomodo. Quomodo, however, is willing to provide Blastfield cloth on credit that he can sell to raise the necessary funds but, invoking "custom," mandates that Easy must cosign on the loan. When no merchant is willing to purchase this merchandise, Blastfield defaults on the loan, and, disguised as a sergeant, arrests Easy on Quomodo's suit. Quomodo, feigning leniency, allows Easy to seek temporary bail from a "generous citizen" in order to track down Blastfield. Shortyard assumes the identity and posts Easy's bail with his lands in Essex as surety. When Easy is unable to locate Blastfield, his estate is forfeit to Quomodo, and the three tricksters celebrate their coup.

BLATT
Callimela's old nurse (80 years) in the anonymous Timon of Athens. When young, Blatt rejected her lovers Traneo, Albius, Curio and Demetrius. Now she wants to get married, but she is too old and too ugly. Lollio calls her "Hecuba." Only Gelasimus offers to marry her in the last scene.

BLAZE
A herald painter in Brome's The Antipodes, Blaze serves as host to Joyless, Diana, and Peregrine. Blaze informs Joyless of Hughball's high rate of success in treating subjects with various mental disorders. Blaze admits to being treated himself by Hughball for obsessive sexual jealousy.

BLEPHARO
I. Blepharo is Amphitruo's shipmaster in the anonymous Birthe of Hercules. Sosia goes to tell him that his master requires his presence, and Blepharo agrees to accompany him. On their way to Amphitruo's house, the shipmaster wonders at the news that there are two Sosias and two Amphitruos. In fact, when he finally meets his master, the latter is surprised, since he had not sent anyone to look for him. But the former insists on the fact that he had sent Sosia to tell him to accompany him and have dinner with Amphitruo. Having listened to both Sosia and Amphitruo, Blepharo suggests that a magician must have enchanted his master's family, and persuades the latter to check if that is true before taking any revenge on, probably, innocent people. After a while, Iupiter–still in the shape of Amphitruo–, goes out of the house, and the general and the god face each other for the first time, and ask Blepharo to decide which one is the real Amphitruo. However, that is a difficult task because, no matter the nature of the questions posed by Blepharo, both Iupiter and Amphitruo would answer them correctly. Therefore, Blepharo gives up, not being able to discern who the real one is. II. The captain of Amphitrio's ship in Heywood's The Silver Age, he participates in the confusions unleashed by Jupiter and Ganimede when they take the forms of Amphitrio and Socia. III. Blepharo (whose name suggests problems with his eyesight) is the master of the ship that brings Amphitryo back to Thebes after his defeat of the Teleboans in Heywood's The Escapes of Jupiter. Like everyone else, Blepharo is baffled by the confusion of identities engineered by the disguised Jupiter.

BLEPSIDEMUS **1627
Friend of Chremylus in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. He is amazed to find his friend grown rich because he is also honest. When he learns the truth that Plutus will reward only honest men, he is happy to help Chremylus and Carion escort Plutus to the Temple of Esculapius to have his eyesight restored. He enjoys his new wealth afterwards.

BLEW MORRICE LAUGATHIN
A "ghost character" in William Rowley's A Shoemaker a Gentleman. One of the Shoemaker's Welsh cousins.

BLIND BEGGAR of BEDNALL–GREEN**1600
The Blind Beggar in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green is the main disguise of three that Mumford takes on during the play.

BLIND MAN**1598
This is a disguise taken by Fitzwater in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington when he has been banished and heads to the forest in search of Robin Hood and Marian.

BLIND MAN**1618
A "ghost character" in Henry Shirley's The Martyred Soldier, miraculously cured by Eugenius, an act that inspires Bellizarius's conversion to Christianity.

BLIND MAN, OLD
A disguise assumed by Fitzwater after he is banished by John and searching the forest for his daughter in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. When he meets with Marian and Robin Hood, he does not reveal himself, even after he is greeted kindly and cared for.

BLIND MAN under BRIDGE
A "ghost character" in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. When Robin Hood plans to rescue Scarlet and Scathlock, he says he will change clothes with the blind man who lives under the bridge, and go in that disguise.

BLINKINSOP, BRYAN
A "ghost character" in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Bryan Blinkinsop is one of the individuals Merrygreek admits to having sponged from before taking up with Ralph Roister Doister.

B[ ]LISSA
Listed in the dramatis personae of the anonymous Philander, King of Thrace. Characteristics and actions not given in the surviving plot.

BLITHE TRIPSHORT
Niece to Sir Swithin Whimlby in Brome's The New Academy. She and Erasmus are most removed from and critical of the foolish characters around them. She rejects the plan by Sir Whimlby and Lady Nestlecock that she marry Nehemiah, pointing out that she would quickly grow tired of laughing at him, does not find beating him worth the trouble, and does not want to be reduced to the "common town-trick" of cuckolding him. Her uncle takes her to the New Academy in hopes that she may be taught to requite Nehemiah's wooing in a courtly manner. While there, Erasmus helps her hide from Nehemiah and is secretly married to her himself.

BLOCK**1599
Block is the servant of old Faukenbridge in Chettle's(?) Looke About You and also a friend of Robert Earl of Huntingdon, also known as Robin Hood. Together with Robin and Faukenbridge, Block is an ally of Prince Richard, which places him in the camp supporting the old King. He assists in the various missions to save Gloster from execution.

BLOCK**1626
One of Pennyboy Senior's dogs in Jonson's The Staple of News. It is put on mock-trial by his insane master for making messes.

BLOOD
A servant of Colatus in the anonymous Two Noble Ladies and the Converted Conjurer. Blood is a "proud, boasting courtier," whom Mistress Caro loves. The invisible demon Cantharides makes Caro fall in love with the common soldier Sinew, to Blood's fury. However, Blood laughs when she swiftly rejects Sinew in favor of Barebones. Caro soon recovers and returns to Blood. But Cantharides bites him, and he "runs up and down, hollering"; Caro thinks he is running away from her.

BLOODHOUND
The family name of Alexander, Mary (Moll), and Tim. It is the only name given for their sire, a heartless usurer in William Rowley's A Match at Midnight. He is fond of repeating 'politic saws'. Bloodhound has arranged to marry the rich Widow Wagge, and to marry his daughter Moll to the elderly Earlack. When Ancient Young arrives four days late for paying off his mortgage, Bloodhound falsely tells him that he has sold it. When he goes to meet the Widow on the Exchange at night, Bloodhound leaves his keys with Moll, who steals the mortgage to return to the Ancient. On the Exchange, Bloodhound is gulled by Jarvis into believing that Mistress Coote the Bawd is the Widow. Next morning, he is devastated to find that he has brought the wrong woman home, and that she has slept with Earlack; furthermore, he learns that Alexander now plans to marry the Widow. In the play's conclusion, Bloodhound therefore ends up with no wife, since the Widow resolves never to marry any man and Mistress Coote is sent to Bridewell.

BLUEBEARD
A "ghost character" in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV, Bluebeard is mentioned by Falconbridge in his oratory as a rascal who rose up against a monarch over a trifle.

BLUNT**1595
Executed by Bolingbroke (now King Henry IV) along with the Earl of Salisbury, Spencer and Kent for treason in Shakespeare's Richard II.

BLUNT **1596 Also know as Thomas Thumpe in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley, a buckler-maker of the Strand (St. Giles). Along with many other tradesmen, he gossips about the impending marriage of Captain Stukeley and Nell, daughter of the wealthy Sir Thomas Curtis. Immediately after the wedding, they seek to abscond with Stukeley's newfound money, citing debs both real and fabricated.

BLUNT**1601
Blunt is a wedding guest at the marriage celebrations of Cælestine and Sir Walter Terill in Dekker's Satiromastix. He initially acts as a kind of bridging character, as Terill asks him to visit the poet Horace to collect the nuptial songs commissioned for the occasion, and Blunt appears in the next scene at Horace's lodgings. There he exhorts Horace to complete the nearly finished songs quickly, but his dramatic function in the scene seems to be to facilitate Tucca's intrusion into Horace's lodgings, where Tucca proceeds to antagonize Horace. Blunt is often privy to the actions of the play, as one of the guests at Sir Adam Prickshaft's party and later as one of the masquers who presents Cælestine's body before king William Rufus, but his presence has little bearing on the development of the plot.

BLUNT**1604
Blunt is the name adopted by Harbert in disguise in the Anonymous The Fair Maid of Bristow. He uses it as an excuse for his blunt behavior.

BLUNT, CAPTAIN
Captain Blunt is in charge of security at Hames Castle in the anonymous True Tragedy of Richard III. With Blunt's help, the Earl of Oxford escapes from Hames and flees to assist Richmond in battle against Richard. Blunt himself fights with Richmond at Bosworth Field. Blunt is placed in charge of the archers at the battle.

BLUNT, JOHN
Sir John Blunt appears on stage at the end of ?Dering's The History of Henry the Fourth and does not have any lines. He is a young man loyal to Henry IV/Henry V.

BLUNT, MISTRESS
Reputed to be a bawd in Heywood's 2 If You Know Not Me.

BLUNT, SIR JAMES
A supporter of Richmond's campaign for the crown of England in Shakespeare's Richard III. Blunt is a captain of Richmond's army during the Battle of Bosworth. He was the son of Sir John Blunt and grandson of Sir Walter Blunt.

BLUNT, SIR WALTER **1597
Supremely loyal to King Henry in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, Blunt serves as emissary to the Percy camp, bringing the king's offer to hear the rebels' complaints and grant pardons. Blunt is killed by Douglas in the ensuing Shrewsbury battle; disguised in the king's armor, Blunt offers the ultimate sacrifice. He was father to Sir John Blunt and grandfather to Sir James Blunt.

BLUNT, SIR WALTER **1598
I. A possible "ghost character" in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington, but also a possible mistake in the extant text. Walter Blunt is the keeper of Lady Bruce and her son at Windsor Castle and is mentioned several times by John. There is some confusion; a messenger reports that Young Bruce has slain Blunt when he takes the castle, but in a later scene, a William Blunt appears to clear John of deliberately starving Lady Bruce and her son, saying that Brand did bring food with him, but locked it away and would not allow the Bruces to have any. It seems likely that the playwrights' final intention was to have a single constable who was not killed. (See also "BLUNT, WILLIAM"). II. Possibly a "ghost character" or a mute character in Davenport's King John and Matilda. He is named as the custodian of Windsor Castle, where the King sends Lady Bruce and her young son to be incarcerated. In the Windsor scenes, therefore, he might be inferred as present.

BLUNT, SIR WALTER**1623
Sir Walter Blunt is Henry IV's most trusted adviser in ?Dering's The History of Henry the Fourth. He is respected both by the king and by the rebel Percy faction. Blunt is almost always by the King's side, except for the battle of Shrewsbury, where Blunt dons Henry's colors and plays a royal body double. Before the battle, Blunt visits s to the rebel leadership and delivers Henry's terms for peace. In the subsequent battle, Blunt is killed by Douglas, who mistakes Blunt for Henry IV.

BLUNT, WILLIAM
Sir William Blunt arrives to clear John of deliberately starving Lady Bruce and her son in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. He says that Brand did bring food with him, but locked it away and would not allow the Bruces to have any. There is some confusion here, since all previous references to the constable of Windsor have been to Sir Walter Blunt, and he is reported slain when Young Bruce took the castle. It seems most likely that the playwrights's final intention was to have a single constable who was not killed. (See also "BLUNT, WALTER").

BLUNTS, THE
"Ghost characters." Used once in the plural in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV, this term refers to Sir Walter Blunt and his son, Sir John, loyalists to King Henry IV.

BLURT
Blurt is the master constable in Venice in the Anonymous Blurt, Master Constable. The name suggests a contemptuous interjection. The constable is wary of the warlike Lazarillo, who is in search of suitable lodgings. Speaking of his identity, Blurt says he has "two voices," one as master constable, another as Blurt, and a "third" as Blurt, master constable. His arithmetic, as his writing, are faulty, nevertheless Blurt makes the case that his office is so important that it becomes part of himself. Anxious to maintain law and order in the city, Blurt asks for Lazarillo's permit from the Duke. Blurt is illiterate, but he hates to admit it. Slubber reads Lazarillo's permit. Thinking that Lazarillo is an important person Blurt invites him to lodge in his house. In the street before Imperia's house, Blurt and his watch are on their midnight rounds when Blurt sees Curvetto stand below an illumined window and hears him whistle. When Curvetto ascends the rope ladder hanging from Imperia's window and Frisco calls for help against thieves, Blurt arrests Curvetto and orders Gulch and Woodcock to take him away to prison. Returning on the second round before Imperia's house, Blurt finds an almost naked and drenched Lazarillo. Blurt charges the Spaniard with suspicion of burglary and arrests him. Blurt accompanies the Duke to restore law and order to the impetuous Venetian gentlemen, who have come in arms to kill Fontinel. At the Duke's order, Blurt and his watch arrest Fontinel and a masked lady, then they fetch Curvetto and Lazarillo from prison. Hearing that the Duke has pardoned both Curvetto and Lazarillo, Blurt claims that the Spaniard owes him twenty shillings for his lodgings, though it is clear that Lazarillo has spent all the night at Imperia's house. Blurt accepts the Duke's offer to cover Lazarillo's debt, saying he trusts the Duke's word completely.

BLURT, JEFFREY The bailiff of Finsbury in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley. Assists Stukeley's various creditors in recouping their debts after Stukeley's fortuitous marriage to Nell Curtis, daughter of the wealthy alderman Sir Thomas Curtis.

BLUSHING **1617
A mute character in the anonymous Pathomachia. One of the sixteen banished Affections not otherwise listed in the dramatis personae but included in Madame Curiosity’s list of banditti. He is to join the main battle of Pride’s army. She disguises herself as Shame, but Justice sees through the disguise at once and sentences her to imprisonment both gentle and free.

BLUSO
Bluso is the son of the Witch and assists her in conjuring up the Serpent in The Valiant Welshman. When Caradoc defeats the Serpent, he kills the Witch and makes Bluso promise to use his magic only for virtuous purposes. Bluso is redeemed when he helps Gald to rescue Voada by making him invisible.

BO PEEP, JOHN
'John Boe Peepe' is an insulting name Master Slightall uses to addresses his former servant Geffrey when the latter offers to kick him in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil.

BOAR, CALEDONIAN **1611
A "ghost character" in Heywood's Brazen Age. Spelled Catalonian Boar in the text, this animal is a vicious beast sent to torment Oeneus's people because the king fails offer a suitable sacrifice. He kills a number of hunters, most notably Adonis, before finally being killed by Meleager and his entire band of hunters.

BOAR of CALLED
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Guy Earl of Warwick. The audience learns that before the play begins Guy had earned a glorious reputation by defeating both the savage Bore [sic] of Called and the wild cow of Dunmore Heath.

BOAR, WILD **1635
A character in the poet’s play in Killigrew’s The Conspiracy. He pursues a fleeing nymph.

BOATSWAIN**1570
He sets Clyomon ashore on the Isle of Strange Marshes during the second tempest of the Anonymous Clyomon and Clamydes. He tells Clyomon that King Patranius rules this land.

BOATSWAIN**1611
An officer on the ship that is carrying Alonso and his train back to Naples in Shakespeare's The Tempest. During the storm conjured by Prospero, the Boatswain tries to maintain order on the ship's main deck and keep the ship from foundering; he offends the noble passengers by ordering them to either stay out of the mariners' way or to set to work saving the ship. He reappears at play's end, having been charmed to sleep during the main action, to report that the ship is whole and undamaged by the storm.

BOATSWAIN **1620
A loyal and admiring member of the banished Duke of Sesse's pirate crew for fourteen years in Fletcher and Massinger's The Double Marriage. The Boatswain fights fiercely when Virolet attempts to capture Sesse. The Boatswain is among the men who discover Virolet and Sesse's daughter Martia escaping from Sesse's ship, and he later disguises himself to help Sesse as he searches Naples for his daughter. In Naples, the Boatswain describes the odd behavior of the terrified silent citizens and, mistaking the royally costumed parasite Castruchio for Ferrand, launches an attack on Castruchio and the guards. The Boatswain participates in Sesse's later plan to assassinate Ferrand by infiltrating his court disguised as Switzers; after a painful encounter with Sesse's disloyal daughter Martia, the "Switzers" liberate the citizens and behead Ferrand. After Sesse confronts Martia and accuses her of betrayal, the Boatswain kills her to prevent Sesse from suffering the guilt of murdering his own daughter.

BOATSWAIN**1622
The Boatswain works on the ship captained by Albert in Fletcher and Massinger's The Sea Voyage. He first suggests throwing the ship's cargo overboard during the storm.

BOATSWAIN**1624
Boatswain, a friend of Grimaldi in Massinger's The Renegado. With the Master, he saves Grimaldi from suicide and aids in the escape of Paulina, Vitelli and Donusa.

BOATSWAIN**1633
The boatswain in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary leads the launching of the Mary.

BOATSWAIN**1635
A boatswain on Seawit's ship in Davenant's News From Plymouth. He informs Seawit that in his absence Furious Inland has quarreled with the officers and crew. In the final scene, he announces that the wind has shifted and that the fleet is preparing to embark.

BOATSWAIN **1635
He is aboard Hipparchus and Pausanes’ ship in Killigrew’s The Prisoners during the act four storm and calls out orders to try to keep the ship from foundering.

BOATSWAIN, DUTCH
He delivers Bumble's challenge to Furious Inland in Davenant's News From Plymouth.

BOBADILL
Captain Bobadill is a cowardly braggart in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. He pretends to have exceptional skill in fencing. He lodges at Cob's house but, according to Cob, his tenant is behind with the rent and owes him some money for tobacco. At Cob's house, Bobadill receives Mathew, who invites him to a party in town. While Bobadill is getting dressed, the conversation veers towards the Spanish fencing masters and Bobadill makes a demonstration of his skill in fencing using a bed-staff for a sword. Bobadill exits with Mathew to the city. At the Windmill Tavern in the Old Jewry, Bobadill enters with Mathew and Wellbred. The other gallants enter and Bobadill boasts his exploits in the battle with the Moors. Bobadill exits with the gallants. At Kitely's house, Bobadill enters with Wellbred's party and eventually gives Cob a good beating for having spoken against tobacco. When Downright insults the gallants, Bobadill draws his sword eagerly, but makes himself scarce, like the others, when Kitely enters. At Moorfields, Bobadill enters with the gallants, boasting his fencing exploits, but retires in disgrace when Downright disarms and beats him. In a street, Bobadill enters with Mathew. Seeing Brainworm disguised in Formal's clothes, the two pay him to procure them a warrant for Downright's arrest. Later, Bobadill and Mathew see Brainworm disguised as a Sergeant, who tells them he has a warrant for Downright's arrest. Bobadill and Mathew attend the scene of Stephen's mistaken arrest, and then follow the entire party to the judge. In the revelation scene before Justice Clement, Bobadill enters apparently to complain against Downright. When he discovers Brainworm's many disguises, Bobadill remains sensibly silent, lest his own cowardice might be detected.

BOBADILLA**1605
Bobadilla, a witty knave and servant to the Alvarez family in Fletcher, Beaumont, and Massinger's, Love's Cure, mocks Lucio for his feminine behavior. He delivers letters for both Clara and Vitelli and serves as a confidant to Alvarez and servant to Eugenia. Just before the duel between Alvarez and Vitelli, Eugenia calls for Bobadilla to enter with two swords and a pistol. She informs the men that, for every blow rendered, Bobadilla will administer the same on the women. This forces Alvarez to call a truce.

BOBADILLA**1615
A "ghost character" in P. Fletcher's Sicelides. Conchylio (disguised as Cupid) includes the Nymph Bobadilla in a list of possible love interests for Cancrone, and Cancrone claims that "Boberdil sounds like a fine play-fellow" for him. However, Conchylio assures him that Cosma is the better choice, and Cancrone agrees to make his suit to her.

BOBADILLA**1627
A young woman and, along with Edentula, Urina's associate in the anonymous Wisest Have Their Fools.

BOBBINGTON
Appearing early in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange with Scarlet, Bobbington takes the lead in the attack upon Ursula and Phillis. He later appears disguised as the ship's master Racket to procure money from Master Flower. As security, he leaves Flower a diamond he has stolen from Wood.

BOBTAIL **1619
A “ghost character" in (?)Goffe’s Careless Shepherdess. Bacheus and Graculus’ bitch that helps tend the sheep and kennels with Graculus.

BOCCACE
I. Only mentioned in Jonson's The Alchemist. In an attempt to convince the skeptical Surly of the benefits of alchemy, Mammon claims that Boccace's Demogorgon is an alchemical parable. In Boccaccio's Genealogia Deorum, Demogorgon is the ancestor of the gods. Alchemically he was interpreted as Chaos, as the quinta essentia, and as parentum omnium rerum, father of all things. II. Only mentioned in Jonson's Epicoene. Giovanni Boccaccio (1313, in Paris - 1375, in Florence) was the greatest of Petrarch's disciples and an important Renaissance humanist in his own right. His works included On Famous Women and the Decameron. Boccaccio's characters are notable for their era in that they are realistic, spirited and clever individuals who are grounded in reality, in contradiction to the characters of his contemporaries. His Decameron–named because its intent was to produce ten stories by ten travelers - was very influential in the Renaissance. Dauphine tells Clerimont about the supposedly silent lady intended as a wife to Morose, who stays at Daw's house. In order to explain that Sir John Daw is courting the silent lady, Dauphine says that the other night he saw such a Decameron of sport that Boccace would have never thought of. The allusion is to the stories of courtship narrated in Boccaccio's Decameron. According to Dauphine, Daw courts the lady in an inverse way, since he wished one issue and addressed another. He waited to lie with her and praised her modesty, he desired that she would talk and praised her silence in verses. When the lady did not respond to his courtship, Dauphine reports that Daw railed at his fortune and wished he had been a counselor called to affairs of state.

BOCCHUS
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. One of the kings listed by Caesar as joining Antony's side of the war. He is the King of Libya.

BODENHAM, JOHN**1603
A literary gentleman in the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus who seems to have organized the publication of a series of late Elizabethan literary anthologies, including Belvedere. He is identified and scorned by Ingenioso in the MS version of the play as a scribbler whose name will live as long as his health is drunk in ale-houses by the writers he has patronized (the corresponding place in the published version is blank).

BODKIN **1641
A “ghost character" in Wild’s The Benefice. He is a tailor for whom Invention must invent new-fashioned breeches.

BODLEY, SIR THOMAS
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Bodley is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when, on his second visit to Doctor Clyster, he tries to teach him how to write poetry: "Look you, Doctor, you must first think what you would write of, for the pairing of her left little finger's nail would be matter enough to write volumes to fill libraries beyond Bodley's or the Vatican." Sir Thomas Bodley (1545-1613) founded the Bodleian Library in Oxford, in 1598.

BODY
Master Body is a fictional character in Middleton's Anything for a Quiet Life. When George reads the fabricated guest list for the dinner invitation at Chamlet's house, presumably to celebrate Chamlet's marriage, Master Body and his wife are among the guests.

BOHAN
Bohan is a misanthropic Scot in Greene's James IV. He is found in the Induction sleeping in a tomb and dressed (in a conjectural emendation) as 'a Redesdale man'–i.e. a Border reaver, one of those who lived in the lawless no-man's-land between Scotland and England and existed principally on the proceeds of cattle theft. He is also the father of Slipper and Nano. Asked by Oberon why he is in the tomb, Bohan says that he is a former courtier who has despaired of the world. Bohan offers to explain to Oberon why this has come to pass by arranging to have the main play presented for his benefit. He returns as a Chorus after each act.

BOHAN'S WIFE
A "ghost character" in Greene's James IV. Bohan's wife is mentioned in the Induction as having died; he wishes she had done so twenty years sooner.

BOHEMIA
The King of Bohemia supports Savoy's claim to the German crown in Smith's The Hector of Germany. Bohemia visits Palsgrave in his sickbed and worries aloud for Germany's prospects without a healthy champion. Bohemia has the Palsgrave moved to a more secure castle to recover. Bohemia joins in battle with Savoy against the Bastard and Saxon and is imprisoned for the vast majority of the play. Old Fitzwaters and Clynton free him at the end of the play. Bohemia re-appears on stage to see Savoy crowned Emperor of Germany.

BOHEMIA, HENRY, KING of
Henry, King of Bohemia, is one of the seven Electors of the German Empire, and Churfurst and Sewer to the Emperor in the anonymous Alphonsus Emperor of Germany. He is power-hungry and intrigues successfully to be made co-Emperor with Alphonsus. He draws the role of taster in Fortune's Revels, and during those revels Alphonsus administers to him a slow poison in his drink. Bohemia grows sicker and sicker, and dies from the poison.

BOHEMIA, KING of
Along with Corinth and Thrace in Verney’s Antipoe, he agrees to meet Dramurgon’s army and fight on Thursday next. A squire appears on the field of combat after Dramurgon swoons and asks the kings of Bohemia, Corinth and Thrace if they will agree to face a champion from Dramurgon under the same terms, and they agree. Bohemia is thrown down by the champion, Antipoe. He yields and accepts Antipoe’s protection.

BOHEMIA, QUEENE of
In Verney’s Antipoe, she worries for her husband’s single combat with Dramurgon.

BOHOR, SHALKAN
Usually referred to as Bohor in Dekker's If It Be Not Good, the identity assumed by the devil Ruffman when he infiltrates the Neapolitan court.

BOHUN, EDWARD
Edward Bohun is the given name of Buckingham in Shakespeare's Henry VIII; he uses this name in referring to himself as a stalwart loyalist.

BOISISE
Like Morier in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt, a French ambassador who intervenes vainly for Barnavelt's life.

BOLANUS
Only mentioned in Jonson's Poetaster. Bolanus is a fictitious semi-historical character in Horace, such as Canidia, Pantolabus, Persius, and Scaeva. When he complains of Crispinus's company, Horace says that bold Bolanus, if accosted by such a fellow, would not have hesitated to call him a fool and joke at his expense. In Horace's opinion, such a rude treatment would have discouraged the impertinent poetaster, sending him away. Unlike Bolanus, Horace laments, his tame modesty prevents him from behaving rudely to Crispinus, and so he must bear his insolence.

BOLD
Bold is in love with the widowed Lady Bright, who has forbidden him to come within her sight in Field's Amends for Ladies. He disguises himself as an elderly waiting-gentlewoman, Mary Princox, and arranges to have himself introduced to Lady Bright by his rival, Lord Feesimple, as a servant. Bold claims to have been in the service of Bold's sister and to have been dismissed when "she" rejected Bold's attentions. Bold attends Lady Bright, and is invited to share her bed. He removes his disguise and attempts to seduce her; she draws a sword on him. He claims that, having shared a bed, they must now marry; she claims not to care about public opinion. She swears that she loves him, but she will not marry him, and turns him out of the house naked. Bold is discovered by Subtle, who is rehearsing love songs with his Boy. Bold claims to have lost all his clothes playing dice, but Subtle is convinced that he has been in the bed of Lady Perfect. Bold goes to the house of his friend Welltried in order to clothe himself. Welltried scorns Bold's failure to win Lady Bright's acceptance, but agrees to help him in a new plan and is sent to invite Lady Bright to Bold's wedding. When Feesimple wakes up from his drunken stupor, Bold tells him that he has killed three men and that Welltried has fled; Feesimple is ready to believe him, but is then told that he has really killed nobody. Bold then tells Feesimple that he is required to meet Lady Bright at the church, in disguise. At the wedding, Welltried and Bold introduce Lady Bright to a masked woman who is supposedly Bold's fiancée. 'She' is really Lord Feesimple, who thinks that he has been brought there in disguise to marry Lady Bright. Lady Bright swears that she will not oppose Bold's marriage, saying that her lands and goods will be forfeit if she does. Bold then asks the Parson to marry them, saying that if she declines her lands and goods are forfeit to him. At this, Lady Bright capitulates–"since there's no remedy. | Your widow (without goods) sells scurvily"–and agrees to marry Bold.

BOLDNESS **1617
A “ghost character" in the anonymous Pathomachia. One of the nine inferior Affections. An agent of Hope who attended the Parliament during Hope’s absence.

BOLINGBROKE
I. Later King Henry IV, Bolingbroke is also called Henry (or Harry) of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby in Shakespeare's Richard II. He is the son of John of Gaunt and, like King Richard, grandson of Edward III. Unlike Richard, he is more pragmatic than poetic. He is banished by Richard for six years. After Richard confiscates the late John of Gaunt's lands, Bolingbroke returns to England with an army whilst the King is in Ireland. Bolingbroke gains the support of the common people and many of the nobles and leads a rebellion. Although he at first asserts that he only wants to reclaim what is rightfully his (John of Gaunt's estate) he ultimately usurps the throne and is crowned King Henry IV. However, he deplores Sir Piers Exton's murder of Richard and at play's end decides to lead a crusade to the Holy Land as atonement. II. Bolingbroke is the surname of King Henry IV in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV where the name is used sarcastically by Hotspur in referring to the king and also in 2 Henry IV. III. A "ghost character" in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV. Bolingbroke does not appear in the play but is mentioned as he who deposed King Richard.

BOLINGBROOK, ROGER
At Eleanor's behest in Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI, the duplicitous priest Hume arranges a séance in which he, Roger Bolingbrook, the priest Southwell, and the witch Margery Jourdain conjure a spirit who will ostensibly help Eleanor to become queen. Hume is working for Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk, who plan to use Eleanor to discredit her husband, the Duke of Gloucester. With Hume's collusion the séance is interrupted and the participants arrested. King Henry condemns the three men to the gallows, Margery Jourdain to Smithfield where she will be burnt as a witch, and Eleanor to the Isle of Man where she will live in exile after a public humiliation.

BOLT
Bolt is Sir Jeffrey's comic clerk in J.W.'s The Valiant Scot. He interrogates Wallace, Mountford and Glascot at the gates of the English camp, where he is fooled by Wallace's disguise and makes friends with him. Later, Bolt and Sir Jeffrey find a trunk full of food and wine washed up on the seashore. Then the shipwrecked Wallace washes up too, and gulls them out of the food by pretending to be an anonymous Scot. When he reveals his identity, Bolt and Sir Jeffrey run away. They then return and Bolt kills Haslerig in error for Wallace. When he announces to the King that he has killed Wallace he receives £100, but when he turns out to be mistaken, he saves his life only by amusing the King with his wit. For the rest of the play, he behaves as a jester-like figure for the King.

BOLT **1619
A door keeper in the Praeludium in (?)Goffe’s Careless Shepherdess. He asks Thrift for a shilling to allow him into the play. He tells Spruce that the trumpet for the play has already sounded thrice.

BOMBASTUS PARACELSUS, AURELIUS **1636
A fictional character in Glapthorne’s Hollander. Urinal tells Sconce that Arelius Bombastus Paracelsus was the first inventor of the ‘admirable unguent’ that Artless calls weapon salve. Sconce says he was his countryman, and that he was regarded as an arrant conjurer.

BOMBIE, MOTHER
The village cunning woman in Lyly's Mother Bombie. Mother Bombie may have been based on a real historical figure, as Reginald Scot mentions a "Mother Bungie . . . the great witch of Rochester" in his Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584). Various characters in the play consult Mother Bombie:

• the first to visit her is the foolish Silena, who is given an ominous prophecy that she fails to understand.
• Mæstius and Serena, who are troubled by their supposedly incestuous desires for each other, next consult Mother Bombie. Mother Bombie prophesies that they will be lawfully married tomorrow, and that they will each displace a fool and become wealthy in the process. Believing such events to be impossible and viewing the prophecy as a cruel joke, they insult Mother Bombie and leave despondent.
• The plotting servants (Dromio, Riscio, Lucio, and Halfpenny) are the next to call on Mother Bombie. They visit her primarily to find out whether or not their stratagem will succeed, but they also ask about petty things such as lost objects, dream interpretation, and their personal fortunes. Mother Bombie answers all of their questions, and tells them that their plan will be successful even though they will be revealed as cozeners.
• Finally, Vicinia consults Mother Bombie. She is troubled by the guilty secret of having switched her own children shortly after birth with those of Memphio and Stellio. Mother Bombie's cryptic prophecy convinces Vicinia to come forward, thus preventing the incestuous marriage between Accius and Silena and also restoring Mæstius and Serena to their proper birthright and allowing them to marry.

Mother Bombie's presence in the play has no direct influence on the development of the plot, with perhaps the exception of her effect on Vicinia, but her character is central to the village life of Rochester. Although it is unclear whether Mother Bombie has legitimate prophetic power or whether she is merely a keen observer of community dynamics, her prophecies are all proven accurate at the end of the play.

BOMBO
Bombo is Domitilla's illiterate secretary in Shirley's Royal Master. He is retained mainly because he makes the ladies laugh; the lengths to which he will go to avoid being brought into the presence of the duke are indeed laughable. By the end of the play, Bombo has returned to the country, afraid of being made a court favorite.

BOMBY
"An enemy to Watches and May-Poles" in Fletcher's Women Pleased. A cobbler who plays the Hobby-Horse in Soto's Morris Dance, he regrets his participation and condemns all such entertainments, but is again coerced into dancing by Soto.

BOMELIO
An exiled lord in the anonymous Rare Triumphs Of Love And Fortune who, while living in a cave for nearly five years, disguises himself as a hermit. He meets with Fidelia, but cannot prevent her capture by Armenio. Hermione arrives, learns of Fidelia's fate from Bomelio, and Bomelio, upon realizing who the young man is, is reunited with his son. Upon hearing of Armenio's dumbness, he disguises himself as a physician and tells Phizantius that Armenio's condition is caused by magic, but that he can cure it with blood from Armenio's greatest enemy, Fidelia. Bomelio persuades her to help cure Armenio. He reveals himself to her and tells her he will escort her to his son, Hermione. Upon doing so, he discover that his son has burned his conjuring books and he becomes maddened. He is cured when Fidelia's blood is sprinkled on his face.

BOMILCAR**1635
A Carthaginian in Nabbes' Hannibal and Scipio who arrives near the end of act one with word that Hannibal has been ordered to return to Carthage. Played by Robert Axen in the original production.

BOMOLOCHUS **1630
Eutrapeles complains that Bomolochus has abused him in Randolph's Muses' Looking Glass. Justice Nimis Sends Eutrapeles to jail, even though he is the complaining party, on the whim that it was he that offended. Roscius later characterizes him as "a fellow conceited of his own wit, though indeed it be nothing but the base dregs of scandal, and a lump of most vile and loathsome scurrility." His opposite is Agroicus.

BOMOLOCHUS **1632
A poet in Randolph's Jealous Lovers. A member of Asotus' roaring coterie. At Ballio's house he invents pretty praises for the courtesan Phryne, and Asotus crowns him with wine and laurels. He momentarily switches allegiance when Simo intercedes to seduce Phryne but returns to Asotus when Simo retreats. Later, he helps spread the false rumor of Tyndarus and Techmessa's suicide.

BONA of SAVOY
I. Lady Bona is the sister of the French queen in Shakespeare's 3 Henry VI. Warwick travels to France seeking to broker a marriage between King Edward IV and Lady Bona, and the French king agrees to it if she consents. Earlier reports of Edward's merits and Warwick's account of Edward's love for Lady Bona convince her, and she expresses her desire to be Edward's queen. When letters arrive reporting that Edward has already married Lady Grey, Warwick withdraws his support of the Yorkist cause, and the French king becomes Edward's enemy. With France's assistance, Margaret and Warwick return to England with an army bent on returning Henry to the throne. As a token of his loyalty, Warwick offers to let Margaret's son Edward, Prince of Wales marry his daughter. II. A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Richard III. Sister-in-law of the King of France who had originally been betrothed to Edward IV. Edward disregarded the betrothal contract and married Elizabeth, widow of Lord Gray, instead. Richard III and Buckingham try to use the betrothal, which was a legal contract and a de facto marriage, to prove that Prince Edward and Prince Richard are illegitimate and therefore unable to inherit the kingship of England.

BONAMICO
Bonamico is a mountebank and "decayed artist" in Shirley's The Bird in a Cage. In order to escape his creditors, he disguises himself as Altomaro and claims to have, by natural art, the ability to make himself and others invisible. He fails to win the confidence of Rollyardo but has greater success with Morello, Dondolo, and Grutti. Betrayed by his servant, Carlo, he is arrested for debt but gains his freedom when Rollyardo uses the Duke's money to set at large those in prison for debt. In gratitude, he builds a birdcage in which Rollyardo conceals himself and is thus able to gain access to Eugenia.

BONARIO
The son of Corbaccio in Jonson's Volpone. When he is informed by Mosca that his father intends to disinherit him, he agrees to seek proof. While waiting in Volpone's house, he sees Volpone about to rape Celia and intercedes. He seeks justice but is himself accused of plotting against his father. He is eventually vindicated.

BONAVENT
Disguised in Shirley's Hyde Park, he approaches his old home, hearing the high spirits. He learns from a servant that Lacy is due to marry his wife, Mistress Bonavent, Bonavent having been lost at sea for nearly seven years. Having been brought into the company by the Servant, he is humiliated and forced to dance by Lacy. He reacts angrily, even pointing to his sword. He wins a bet with Venture over the foot race, but becomes angry again when Venture fails to pay up. He follows the company, unseen; hearing the Nightingale, he assumes that it is a lucky sign. He tips a Bagpiper to play music and, with the threat of violence, forces Lacy to dance. On Mistress Bonavent's request, he agrees to be civil to Lacy. In a note, he reveals his identity to his wife; she agrees to his request that he remains concealed for now. Bonavent appears at the wedding party of Lacy and Mistress Bonavent. He gives willow garlands (a sign of mourning) to all of the losers in love–Rider, Trier, and Venture. Lacy is shocked when he too receives a garland. Lacy's befuddlement is settled when, with a great flourish, Bonavent revels his identity. He will now resume his marriage with Mistress Bonavent, and promises to relate his maritime adventures after supper.

BONAVENT, CICELY
Mistress Bonavent's husband was a maritime trader in Shirley's Hyde Park. They had a pact: if he disappeared, Mistress Bonavent would wait for seven years before remarrying. The end of this time is approaching fast: she will marry Lacy as soon as the seven-year wait is over. She does not enjoy the way in which Lacy mocks and forces the strange newcomer (who is actually her husband in disguise) to dance. She loses a small bet with Carol on the foot race–wrongly, she predicted that the English runner would win. She is angry with the newcomer when he humiliates Lacy in revenge for the earlier forced dancing incident. She wonder aloud what his credentials are to be among the company–and who let him join them. On receipt of a note, she realizes that the newcomer is her husband in disguise. She promises not to reveal his identity, and will go along with his plan. She announces to the company that she has known that her once-lost husband has been present since they were in the Park earlier. She enjoys the theatricality with which Bonavent reveals himself, and celebrates the reinvigoration of her own marriage and the new bond between Carol and Fairfield.

BONAVENTURA, FRIAR
Friar Bonaventura is in the mold of R&J's Friar Lawrence in Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. He is the voice of reason and morality, but he goes almost entirely unheeded. Unlike Lawrence, who encourages lovers in order to bring families together, Bonaventura discourages the lovers in order to keep the families from falling apart.

BONAVENTURE, MR.
A "ghost character" in Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden. He is an English merchant who has Sir Reverence Lamard arrested for a debt of £6000.

BONAVIDA
Lord Bonavida is a noble and honest Spanish lord in Heywood's A Challenge for Beauty. He is disgusted by Queen Isabella's pride and vanity, and refuses to flatter her. As a punishment, she challenges him to find a woman more beautiful and virtuous than she, or lose his head. Bonavida travels across Europe, with his servant, the Clown, but finds no suitable women until he comes to England. There, he finds Hellena and persuades her to accompany him to Spain, after he has first proven her virtue. To prove her virtue, he gives her a ring and makes her promises not to give it away. She gives him a carcanet in return. He then returns to Spain to announce his find, but Isabella is angry that he has not brought Hellena with him. She throws him in a dungeon, confiscates the carcanet, and orders Pineda and Centella to get the ring from Hellena. They succeed, and return to Spain, triumphantly announcing that Hellena is a whore. Lord Bonavida is devastated and begs for death. But Hellena, who arrives at the gallows just in time to reveal the truth, saves him.

BOND
Clerk to the lawyer Hilarius in the anonymous Wisest Have Their Fools. The law establishment is overworked and requires help. He tells Hilarius of a poor scholar, Musophilus, who might take the position. He then instructs Musophilus in the need to learn the false Latin of Westminster. His first name could be Tim, the reference is obscure.

BOND, BILL
Bill Bond is an attorney in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. He has devised a plan to cheat people and make some easy money. He needs the help of Master Silence and Doctor Clyster to put it into practice. He announces to his confederates in the business that will perform the role of a lawyer, but noticing that Doctor Clyster hesitates and wonders whether he will be able to play his part successfully, Bill Bond reassures him, explaining him how he has to behave: "'tis gravity, ceremony, noise, and distance than cozen all the world." Thus they start cheating their victims. But when Master Silence finishes his session with Master Ominous, Bond reprimands him because he expected him to get more than to pieces of gold from that man. But Master Silence apologizes, explaining that it was his "first essay." Later, when Sir Cupid Phantsy asks him after Doctor Clyster, Bond, taking care of their business, boasts and exaggerates: "Sir, here hath been two coaches for him this morning, but I have put them off till afternoon to keep him here for you." Afterwards, when Master Caution comes to see him inquiring about the interest rate he can ask for his loans, he provides him with the required information, but explains that, nevertheless, lawyers have tricks to spare men from the punishment of the law. When his client asks him about the possibility of getting away with other breaches of the law he is aware of committing, Bond assures him he can help him, offering him his legal assistance. Then, Master Caution offers the lawyer twenty crowns of gold for his services, but Bond makes him realize that he will have to pay him more if he wants to receive proper service. When his client leaves, Bond rushes to tell Doctor Clyster and Master Silence that he has got five pounds in gold, but he will soon be disappointed with his exploits, when he learns that Clyster has got fifty pounds already and is still expecting more from the same victim. He will have to take part, later, in a philosophical controversy with his two comrades and Master Algebra, who wants to put them to a test and check whether they are cozeners or they can actually cure people. Actually, when they are urged, by Algebra, to offer him a cure or to admit he is right, Bond quickly advises him to abandon his dangerous opinions, because many people were severely punished when expressing similar thoughts. He actually lets the Philosopher leave, not charging him for their service. Later, Bond will be busy devising a plot–with Doctor Clyster and Master Silence–to cheat Dame de Bois as he sleeps: they suddenly wake him up and try to make him believe that he is dying. After a while, when they tell him that he seems to have come to himself, he realizes he is being cozened, and he decides to follow their game. Thus, after speaking to Master Silence, in an attempt to seek peace for his soul, and to Doctor Clyster, he expresses his wish to write his last will and testament before the lawyer. Once he has specified what he is going to leave and to whom, it is obvious he has found them out–and he makes it evident when he tells Master Sickly that he leaves him "to be cozened by these honest gentlemen." Aware of the fact that they have been found out, Bond and the other two cheaters send Master Sickly away because they so not want him to realize he has been cheated. When they consider they have, at last, succeeded, they celebrate their triumvirate and their cozening. But Damme de Bois was not cheated so easily, and he comes accompanied by all their victims, encouraging them to ask for what they had offered them as recompense for their fake services. When Bond sees Master Caution, incensed, accusing him of having cozened him, the lawyer pretends to be crossed and leaves, threatening to sue him. Then, Master Sickly comes to him, seeking counsel with respect to what legal action he can take against Doctor Clyster, on the charges of having cozened him. Bond then offers to indict the Doctor for practising without a license. Master Sickly still rewards him with ten pounds of gold and assures him he will give him more when the matter is over. But later, things get worse, and their victims threaten to come back, with legal support, to recover their money. Thus, sieged by an army of cozened victims, the cheaters resolve to hide on the upper floor of their house. Luckily, Master Algebra offers to act as a fair judge between both parties, and he turns out to be fair indeed, since he makes the cozeners give their victims their money back, he tells the victims to pardon the cozeners, and he even offers to share the money the victims give him, as reward for his fair services, with the three former cozeners–now new and honest men. Bond, extremely grateful and indebted to the wisdom of that man, asks him to accept some present from him and his two friends, which Master Algebra does very gladly.

BONDAGE
Bondage accompanies Poverty in Marston's Histrio-Mastix.

BONDUCA
Bonduca is the British warrior-queen in Fletcher's Bonduca. She is known in history as the Iceni (East Anglia) queen Boudicca, now popularly called Boadicea (a linguistic reformulation without authority or meaning). Bonduca has defeated the Romans in battle, and revels in her triumph. But she is wild and tempestuous, and her kinsman Caratach continually reminds her that female indiscipline is no substitute for the manly fortitude and control that the Romans possess. Before the second battle, Bonduca and her daughters pray to the gods, but the altar does not catch fire until Caratach prays to the god of war. In the ensuing battle, Bonduca ruins everything by charging full-tilt at the Romans. The Britons are defeated, and Bonduca retreats with her Daughters to a fort, where the Romans besiege them. Rather than submit to capture, Bonduca drinks poison and dies.

BONESUCK, MASTER
A "ghost character" in Middleton and Rowley's A Fair Quarrel. A creditor of Fitzallen, perhaps a fictional invention of Russell.

BONEVET**1637
See also BONIVET and related spellings.

BONEVET, LORD **1604
French high admiral and chief ambassador in Rowley’s When You See Me. He has promised to help Wolsey to the papacy for his help with Henry. The French ask Henry to renew a league of peace and to marry his sister Mary to old King Louis of France.

BONFIELD, CHARNEL
Charnel Bonfield is one of the rebels against King Edward in Greene's George a Greene. He is distressed because the towns will give no food to his soldiers, causing Kendall to send Mannering to demand tribute. He is also distressed because he is in love with Beatrice, but she is in love with George. He offers her coronets and velvet hoods, but when she still rejects him, he declares that he will send her George's head on a stick. When George strikes the disguised Kendall, Bonfield reveals who it is out of shock. When George captures Kendall and Bonfield, Bonfield appeals to George to send them to the King rather than the local justice because he does not wish to be executed by serfs. George agrees to have them both sent to the King, although only Kendall appears in that scene.

BONIFACE**1602
A character from the badly deteriorated plot of the anonymous 2 Fortune's Tennis. Because of the state of decay, nothing more can be deduced regarding the character's function in the otherwise lost play.

BONIFACE**1604
Honeysuckle's apprentice in Dekker and Webster's Westward Ho.

BONIFACE, SIR
Sir Boniface Absee, addressed only as "Sir Boniface" in the play, is a scholar hired by Sir Harry to tutor his children in Thomas Heywood's The Wise Woman of Hogsdon. Irritatingly prone to speaking in Latin even when other characters beseech him to converse in English, Sir Boniface is consequently often misunderstood by Sir Harry and his servant Taber. Sir Boniface is also a deacon, and in that capacity is a confederate of the Wise-Woman of Hogsdon who christens the illegitimate children who come temporarily into her care. It is Sir Boniface who conducts the secret double wedding ceremony between Luce and Boyster and Young Chartley and Second Luce. When Sencer infiltrates Sir Harry's household disguised as "Sir Timothy," a rival scholar competing for Sir Boniface's position, Sir Boniface's propensity for speaking in Latin is turned against him. "Sir Timothy" convinces Sir Harry that Sir Boniface's Latin is obscene, and Sir Boniface is dismissed from service. He is reinstated when "Sir Timothy" reveals that he is really Sencer and is shunned by Sir Harry. Once Sir Boniface regains his position in Sir Harry's household, he ceases to be a major agent in the play.

BONIFACE the EIGHTH **1617
Only mentioned in the anonymous Pathomachia. Pride boasts of how he aided him amongst the Christians and infinite other authors of heresies and schisms.

BONIFACE the THIRD **1617
Only mentioned in the anonymous Pathomachia. Pride boasts of how he aided him amongst the Christians and infinite other authors of heresies and schisms.

BONIVET**1637
See also BONEVET and related spellings.

BONIVET**1637
Kinsman to the Duke in Glapthorne's Ladie's Privilege, he quarrels with Doria when the latter appears to reject Chrisea. They fight and Bonivet is injured. He is reported dead, which leads to the arrest of Doria. His death, however, turns out to be part of the test arranged by Chrisea and he returns in the final scene.

BONNER
I. Bishop in Drue's The Duchess of Suffolk. The historical Edmund Bonner (c.1500–69), Catholic Bishop of London under Henry VIII and Mary I. Met by the Duchess and her company early in the play as he is led to the Tower under guard. Along with Gardner, freed from prison and restored to office when Clunie brings news of Edward VI's death and Mary I's succession; begins plotting revenge against supporters of religious reform. Receives commission from Queen Mary via Lord Paget to cleanse the state of heresy; chooses Duchess as his first target. Questions Bertie concerning the Duchess' religious beliefs, and allows him to leave for Europe, since Bertie's absence will make his revenge against the Duchess easier. Later, appears with Garnder to hear Clunie's accusation that Hugh Tiler and Jenkin helped Sands to escape, and quickly demands that they be burned at the stake. Questions Foxe regarding the Duchess' whereabouts, and when he learns where she is from the Post, vows to pursue her in disguise and to take Foxe along to positively identify her. Waits near Goseling's home, and, as the Duchess and her party pass on their way to the ship, is knocked into a well by Foxe. After being pulled out, learns of the Duchess' escape from Goseling, whom he promises to reward for loyalty; he also sends Foxe and Clunie to pursue the Duchess and her party in another boat. Later, waiting for news of the search in Europe for the Duchess, Bonner laments the slow pace of heresy executions. When Cranmer recants his return to Catholicism, Bonner orders his arrest, and looks forward to burning the Duchess once Latimer and Ridley have been executed. At the end of the play, after Queen Elizabeth has assumed the throne, Bonner is taken to prison by officers and is abused by 3 citizens along the way. When he arrives at prison he meets Grindall, Cox, and Scory, who are being released by the Keeper; they forgive Bonner for his harshness towards them. II. Wolsey’s “trusted friend" in Rowley’s When You See Me. He announces the arrival of Compton to Wolsey. Wolsey instructs him to barrel up his ecclesiastical gold in the wine cellar in preparation for Wolsey’s papal advancement. He promises Bonner the Bishopric of London. Henry calls him a knave and flattering fool for agreeing that Brandon deserves death for marrying Henry’s sister, Mary. Fearful of Queen Catherine’s Protestant sympathies, Bonner and Gardner plot to unseat her or undermine her with Henry. Queen Catherine disputes with Bonner and Gardner on the question of whether Henry and all Christian kings should read Luther’s writings and decide if they make sense. He convinces Henry that Queen Catherine is the ringleader of Lutherans in England. He advises Henry to have Catherine sent to the Tower. He and Gardner attempt to arrest Queen Catherine as she walks with Henry. Henry orders them to the Fleet but they are saved by an appeal from a forgiving Queen Catherine. They are banished from the king’s sight instead.

BONOSO
Bonoso is a lord of Castile in Montague's The Shepherd's Paradise. He is supposed to be Fidamira's father, but in reality he has saved her from the siege of Pamplona and disguised her true identity, which is Miranda, Princess of Navarre.

BONUS GENIUS of CASTARINA **1619
Whilst Castarina is sleeping in (?)Goffe’s Careless Shepherdess, this character enters and sings to her to choose death rather than be ravished at the satyr’s hands.

BONVICA
The Second Daughter of Bonduca is named Bonvica in Fletcher's Bonduca, but the name is used only once in the text (when she signs a letter).

BONVILE**1602
Bonvile is the proper name of the character usually referred to as the Captain in Heywood's Royal King; he should not be confused with Lord Bonvile.

BONVILE**1625
Bonvile is the newly wed husband of Annabel in Webster and Rowley's A Cure for a Cuckold. He abandons Annabel on their wedding night when Lessingham asks him to be his second in a duel. They travel to Calais Sands, where Lessingham reveals that in fact he wants to duel with Bonvile, because Clare will not marry him until he kills his best friend. Bonvile refuses to fight, and suggests that since all friendship between them is now dead, he has fulfilled Clare's terms. Back in England, Clare explains that Lessingham misunderstood her letter, which was referring to her own wish for death, caused by unrequited love for Bonvile. Bonvile suggests that she marry Lessingham, since it would be a fitting punishment for him. When Lessingham spitefully hints that Annabel has had an affair with Rochfield Bonvile threatens to disinherit Annabel. However, once Rochfield has explained his innocence, Bonvile is satisfied, and he and Annabel are reconciled.

BONVILE, LORD
Lord Bonvile in Heywood's Royal King refuses to aid his kinsman, the Captain, who is suffering poverty. He is present in many of the court scenes, but contributes little to the plot.

BONVILLE**1598
Bonville enters and addresses John briefly after John awakes from a dream about Matilda in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. He is listed in the mass entrance for the next scene, but does not speak and within fifty lines has apparently been replaced by Hubert (who has no entrance marked). Bonville does not appear again. This appears to be one of many indications of incomplete playwright revision in this play. (See "HUBERT").

BONVILLE **1635
Bonville is frustrated in his pursuit of Lady Marlove's daughter Belisia in ?Glapthorne's The Lady Mother. Belisia awaits her mother's consent to marry Thorowgood before giving her hand to Bonville. Informed by Thorowgood that Belisia is a whore, Bonville leaps to defend her honor, challenging him to fight a duel, until Thorowgood reveals that the information comes from Lady Marlove herself. Overcome with anguish and disgust, Bonville is approached by the unknowing (and actually pure) Belisia, who ministers to his unexplained anguish with willing kisses. Bonville puzzles over the apparent sweetness of her kisses, then vents his disgust and accuses her of unchastity and adultery. They break off their engagement. Bonville approaches Lady Marlove and asks about her daughter's chastity, and Marlove reaffirms that Belisia has been unchaste. Making a rapid recovery, he shifts his suit from the daughter to the mother, pressing a suit for the hand of the seemingly receptive Lady Marlove. After leading him on briefly, Lady Marlove chastises Bonville for his mutability, and reveals that she invented Belisia's unchastity to test his devotion–a test he has clearly failed. Belisia seeks out Bonville, asserts her innocence, bids him farewell, and begs him to keep his unjust accusations to himself. Overcome with remorse at his failed devotion and false accusation against Belisia, Bonville asks to come with her, apologizing for his unfair accusation and affirming his faith in her purity. When she presses him for the source of the slander, he reveals that it came from her mother. She sees this as a false accusation and a magnification of his transgression, and breaks with him in outrage. When he encounters the uncivil Crackby attempting to gain a love token from Belisia by force, he rescues her and they renew their love vows. They confide in Clariana that they plan to elope, and she agrees to help them. The lovers are reported drowned, but this is eventually revealed to be a hoax perpetrated by Thorowgood to teach Lady Marlove a lesson. They enter in disguise with the other masquers after Young Marlove's trial, and reveal their identity when Lady Marlove confesses she would bless their union if they had only lived. Their marriage is given Lady Marlove's blessing at the end of the play.

BONVILLE, LORD
Trier (who is obsequious to the Lord's face in Shirley's Hyde Park) tells the company that Bonville is lecherous. He meets Julietta, and immediately falls for her innocent charm. He compliments and flatters Julietta, stepping up his seduction plan when he walks with her in Hyde Park. He bets in the foot race, picking the English runner on patriotic grounds. He tells the feuding Bonavent and Venture to relax, and that a drinking session in a Covent Garden tavern will ease all tensions. He is extremely (suspiciously?) confident about the outcome of the horse race, opposing Venture and placing a lot of money on the 'Jockey'. He is correct: Venture loses. He narrates, with hilarity, the fall of Venture in the race. He gives money to, and receives acclaim from, two Park keepers. He makes a mammoth effort to seduce Julietta, becoming quite clear and explicit about his motivations. But Julietta rebuffs him, appealing to his sense of pride in his exalted, noble status. He professes that he will change his lustful ways. He is apparently reformed and chaste. He agrees that Trier has been wrong to test Julietta's character. He wishes good health to the new couple, Carol and Falstaff.

BOOBY
Booby is an alternative name for Huanebango's servant Corebus in Peele's The Old Wives' Tale.

BOOKER **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Pond, Booker, Allestree, Jeffry, Neve Gent, and Merlinus Anglicus were good astronomers, according to Carion, who nevertheless cannot predict so well as Chremyla's corns.

BOOKER, JOHN
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Booker is mentioned by Bill Bond when he is warning Master Algebra against his "dangerous opinions": "Did you hear how Booker was punished, though but an almanac maker, for some of these tenets?" John Booker (1603-67) was an astrologer who published the first number of his almanac–the telescopium Uranium–in 1631. Three years later, in October, he was brought before the Court of the High Commission and he was ordered not to print any more almanacs without the Archbishop of Canterbury's or the Bishop of London's licence. He was even imprisoned in the Gatehouse.

BOOK–HOLDER
The book-holder is a prompter and a character in the Induction of Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. When the stage-keeper offers his advice drawing on his experience of the stage, regarding the use of characters and props from real-life Fair in the play Bartholomew Fair, the book-holder chases the stage-keeper away. When the stage-keeper exits, the book-holder says that Author has sent him before the audience, by way of a New Prologue, to draw up a contract between Author and the spectators. The book-holder invites the scrivener to read the articles of the contract.

BOOK–WORM **1641
A young divine in Wild’s The Benefice. He has studied himself into poverty and is dismayed when Marchurch will not give him the living in his control. Marchurch told him the living was gone unless he could offer a suitable bribe for it. He offered his learning, which cost him at least four hundred pounds, and Marchurch turned him out. The money he spent in studies he could have used to live the life of a substantial rogue, but now he has but thirteen shillings left. He decides to pawn his clothes and go into trade selling pamphlets. He returns later as a ballad-man. He sells almanacs to Furor Poeticus for two pence each. He watches as Fantastes comes to Marchurch for the living and delights when Fantastes and Scuttle squabble, Puritain to Papist, and strive together for the benefice.

BOORS
The Boors are three or four drunken peasants in the tavern outside Bruges in Fletcher's Beggars' Bush. Clause (Gerrard in disguise) and his band of beggars use the distractions created by Prig and Higgen to take advantage of them. When the Boors later ally themselves with Hemskirk and attempt to take Goswin (Florez in disguise) as he arrives to fight the duel with Hemskirk, the beggars take them instead and punish them by making them cudgel one another.

BOOTE, OLD
Ann's father in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker, he separates her from Young Bateman, the man to whom he had promised her, on the grounds that Old Bateman's lands are too overladen with debts to provide her with a sufficiently rich husband. He chooses German as a more appropriate parti, and rejoices when Ann accedes to his will. When Young Bateman hangs himself, Old Boot laughs at Old Bateman's grief. He cannot see Young Bateman's Ghost when it appears to Ann, and dismisses her distraction as a product of indigestion. When she begs his leave to express her contrition to Old Bateman, he refuses. At her childbed, he is eager to know whether the child is a boy with "a purse, and two pence in't," but seems content to hear that it is a girl and departs to find godfathers for it in German's absence. When he returns, he finds that Ann has disappeared and is present when her corpse is brought back from the river. Mourning her death, he is reconciled with Old Bateman. He is recovered enough by the time of Queen Elizabeth's visit to upbraid Miles for trying to "steal" Ursula.

BORACHIA
Borachia is the wife of Cuculo in Fletcher and Massinger's A Very Woman. As her husband, she is a comic figure. She complains that he is impotent and has her eye on Antonio, whom she thinks is no more than a newly purchased slave. She notes that he is "circumsinged," evidence that she has seen him naked. She also misunderstands Pedro's politeness for sexual interest. As her name suggests, she is an alcoholic. When Antonio supplies her with wine, she tells him she will make him her heir. As she becomes inebriated, she becomes more shrewish, mercilessly henpecking and publicly belittling her husband. She is the first to see that Almira is in love with Antonio, and she sets up a meeting for the two. When the Viceroy orders Antonio executed, she comes forward to defend him, but the Viceroy dismisses her speeches as the rantings of an alcoholic.

BORACHIO**1598
Borachio is one of Don John's henchmen in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He brings his master news that Claudio is planning to court Hero, and he is instrumental in the development of Don John's plot to ruin the match. Don John brings Claudio beneath Hero's window, where they see Margaret and Borachio in an embrace. Claudio is convinced that the woman is Hero, and he meets her the next day at their wedding ceremony where he accuses her publicly. Later, after he has been interrogated by Dogberry, Borachio's confession to Don Pedro and Claudio begins the dénouement of the play, allowing Claudio to repent his rashness and sparing Benedick from fulfilling his promise to kill Claudio.

BORACHIO**1609
Servant to and confidant of D'Amville in Tourneur's The Atheist's Tragedy. Borachio contributes to the dispossession of Charlemont by reporting falsely that the young man has died in battle and by murdering Charlemont's father in the gravel pit where D'Amville has thrown him. Later, D'Amville orders Borachio to murder the newly returned Charlemont in St. Winfred's churchyard, but when his pistol misfires, Borachio is slain himself by Charlemont.

BORACHIO**1627
Borachio is one of the comic characters, the servant of Lothario in Davenant's The Cruel Brother. He speaks almost entirely in proverbs and clichés, a fact which several characters note. Unlike Lothario, Borachio is not impressed with court life and several times mentions plans to return home to his wife. Nevertheless, he believes the lies of Castruchio, Dorido and Cosimo, who pretend that Lothario is a favorite of the Duke. When Lothario is talked into challenging Foreste's heritage and is taken by Foreste's servants, Borachio runs away. He complains to Castruchio about the conditions of Lothario's imprisonment, asking how the Duke could imprison his favorite, and is overjoyed when told Lothario is freed. When Castruchio incites Lothario against Foreste, Borachio attempts to stop him, but is not listened to by either. He promises to follow Lothario, but then disappears from the play and is not part of the final tragedy.

BORACHIO'S WIFE
A "ghost character" in Davenant's The Cruel Brother. Borachio mentions his wife several times, always in the context of leaving the court to return to her, and how happy this will make her.

BORDELLO
Bordello is a traveler in Florence accompanied by his page Pantofle in Mason's Mulleasses. Bordello spends the majority of his energy professing disinterest in women; however, this disinterest fails to dissuade the women of Florence from seeking his company. Eunuchus plots to kill Bordello in order to have a corpse to bury in Timoclea's coffin. Eunuchus tells Bordello that he is being sent to Timoclea's chamber, yet he is actually directed to Borgias's room. Before going to see Timoclea, Bordello is moved upon by Madame Fulsome. When Bordello arrives at Borgias's room, he finds Timoclea's murdered body. The Dukes of Venice and a Lord of Florence charge Bordello for the killing and have him arrested. Venice clears Bordello of the crime at the conclusion of the play.

BOREAS
I. At Cupid's request in Heywood's Love's Mistress, the god of the north wind raises a storm to destroy Cupid's bower and disperse the audience of the singing contest. II. Only mentioned in Davenport's New Trick to Cheat the Devil. Boreas is mentioned by Slightall when he is instructing his friends on how to love any creature, even if it is the "loathed'st", by taking no notice of their imperfections. He illustrates his point with the following words: "She that is puffed like Boreas in the cheeke, / Is but full fat, and Daphne she is like." According to Greek mythology, Boreas was the god of the North Wind, son to Astraeus and Eos. He inhabited the extreme north of either Thrace or Scythia. He is reputed to be the most violent of all the winds and he was the only wind god with a cult in Athens.

BORGIA**1607
The family name of Caesar, Lucretia and the Duke of Candy in Barnes's The Devil's Charter.

BORGIA
A "ghost character" in Shirley's The Opportunity. Borgia, the son of Mercutio and the brother of Cornelia, never appears in the play, but his identity is assumed by Aurelio, who is mistaken for Borgia upon entering Urbino. The real Borgia has been banished for killing Ursini's brother; the real Borgia also obtains a pardon for this deed, should he ever return in earnest.

BORGIAS
Borgias is the governor of Florence in Mason's Mulleasses. He gained control of the city after the Duke of Florence, Borgias's brother, died and left the latter protector over his daughter Julia, the Duchess of Florence. At the beginning of the play, Borgias supports the Duke of Ferrara's suit for Julia's hand in marriage. In doing so, he opposes the senate-supported suit of the Duke of Venice. Borgias publicly announces that Julia has died and invited Ferrara and Venice to stay for the funeral rites. Borgias orders his daughter to spread the word that his wife Timoclea has died. He further informs Amada that she must marry the Muslim Mulleasses. Borgias reveals to the audience that he has betrayed Christianity to secure personal gain. Borgias tells Eunuchus to kill a person to bury in Timoclea's coffin, since Timoclea is to be buried in Julia's coffin. Borgias fails to convince Julia to marry him. After being double-crossed by Mulleasses, who sedates rather than poisons Timoclea, Borgias fakes a suicide so that his enemies will consider him dead. When Ferrara, disguised as Eunuchus, finds Borgias and begins to move him, Borgias stabs the Duke to death. Borgias then appears to Timoclea as an avenging ghost and coerces her to allow him to strangle her. Borgias and Mulleasses mortally wound one another. Borgias confesses his crimes before dying.

BORGIAS**1639
A Venetian prince and brother of Hortensio, captured by the Duke of Florence's forces in Dekker's(?) Telltale. Enters to the Duke with the court party and partakes in the Valentine's game. He later joins Aspero, the lords, Elinor, Garullo disguised as a fool, Isabella, Lesbia, and the Ambassadors. The Ambassadors greet him warmly, and Borgias explains to them as well as Aspero and the court that his brother has become distracted with melancholy over the combined loss to Bentivoli in their duel and Elinor's preference for the foppish Garullo rather than him. After Aspero orders the two Doctors to care for Hortensio, Hortensio himself enters and distractedly talks at length about fighting against the Turk. Borgias later enters with Hortensio and witnesses the recovery of his sanity by means of the false Elinor's profession of love, and then the real Elinor's denial of affection. At the end of the play, Borgias enters with the court for Aspero's coronation and marriage to Isabella. Aspero notes the dissatisfaction of the nobles and and demands that their concerns about his tyranny be cleared before he assumes the throne. The nobles react favorably to Aspero's promise to prove his innocence by having the French Doctor raise the spirits of the Duke, Duchess, Picentio, Julio, the Captain, Lieutenant, and Ancient, who will then say whether Aspero was responsible for their deaths. The court observes as the ghosts of the Duke, Duchess, Julio, Captain, Lieutenant and Ancient appear and are commanded by the French Doctor to show their approval or disapproval of Aspero. The ghosts indicate their favor and the nobles ask Aspero to pardon them. The court observes as the ghosts perform a dance, in which the Duke and Duchess take the crown and scepter. After the Duke is restored to power, Borgias joins the court as they listen to Bentivoli's fable and witness the arrival of the purged Garullo, and then he exits with the court to celebrate Hortensio's wedding to Elinor as well as the wedding of Picentio and Isabella.

BORGIAS'S GHOST
Borgias disguises as his own ghost in Mason's Mulleasses. After being double-crossed by Mulleasses, who sedates rather than poisons Timoclea, Borgias fakes a suicide so that his enemies will consider him dead. When Ferrara, disguised as Eunuchus, finds Borgias and begins to move him, Borgias stabs the Duke to death. Borgias then appears to Timoclea as an avenging ghost and coerces her to allow him to strangle her. Borgias and Mulleasses mortally wound one another.

BORIO
A typographical error for Dorio in the dramatis personae for the anonymous Wit of a Woman.

BORNWELL
Bornwell is the unhappy husband of the Restoration more than the fearful cuckold of the Jacobean drama in Shirley's The Lady of Pleasure . While Pinchwife (The Country Wife)will continue the cuckold character into the Restoration, Bornwell is nearly a wittol in knowing that his wife may cuckold him while doing nothing to stop her. He merely attempts to make Lady Bornwell jealous by pretending interest in Celestina. The gambit fails, however, only encouraging Lady Bornwell into infidelity herself. He ultimately wins her back when he succeeds in showing her the foolishness of indulgence and the consequences of penury.

BORNWELL, LADY
Lady Bornwell is the prototype of the Lady of the City Restoration comedy in Shirley's The Lady of Pleasure . She deplores the country and its stifling nature and longs to be a great lady in society. She may be a development from Mrs. Yellowhammer (A Chaste Maid in Cheapside), though she is a country girl with city pretensions in line with the latter characters Mrs. Pinchwife (The Country Wife), Harriet (The Man of Mode), Millwood (The London Merchant), and Lady Teazle (The School for Scandal). Lady Bornwell is also a shocking evolution from earlier haughty wives in that she intentionally and readily cuckolds her husband by tricking Kickshaw into her bed. Earlier comedy drew greatly upon the comic situation of the wife trying to bed her lover and failing. Shirley places Lady Bornwell into her lustful sheets without ado. Her conversion is perhaps more human because she has fallen so readily and repented most sincerely.

BOROSKIE
Boroskie is an old gentleman attending the Duke in Fletcher's The Loyal Subject. A variant spelling of the name is Boroskey. He raised the young prince from childhood. Through his envious machinations and slandering Boroskie manages to cause Archas to fall out of favor with the Duke. Boroskie hints that Archas's humility is but a way to hide his claws. The Duke nominates Boroskie the new General. When he learns that the Tartars are heading towards the city, Boroskie claims to be sick. When Archas returns victorious from the war against the Tartars, Boroskie disparages Archas's merits and causes the Duke to refrain from awarding him full honors. Boroskie and Archas are the trustees of a treasure hidden by the Old Duke for his son in case of necessity. By arranging for the new Duke find and claim the treasure, Boroskie proves his disloyalty to the Old Duke. During the military crisis, Boroskie complains to the Duke that Archas is responsible for inciting the soldiers to mutiny. At the Duke's banquet, Boroskie has Archas arrested under the thin pretext that he had taken the sanctified weapons from the Church and used them in the war against the Tartars. In prison, Boroskie exceeds his authority and orders Archas's torture. In the final reconciliation, the Duke leaves Boroskie to Archas's punishment, but Archas forgives. Boroskie repents and promises to be a loyal and obedient subject.

BOS
Also spelled Boss in Machin's(?) Every Woman in Her Humour. As manservant to Getica, Bos's chief responsibilities include speaking in mock blazons and caring for Getica's dog. He appears also to tend to Getica's sexual needs as well. Bos is at the inn when Acutus encourages Philautus to drink himself into a sleepy stupor. Bos also partakes, and he ends up naked in a barrel. Before they will give him a new suit of clothes, Acutus and Graccus force Bos to win a debate on drunkenness (a challenge that he seems to enjoy thoroughly).

BOSCO
Martin del Bosco is the Vice-Admiral of Spain in Marlowe's The Jew of Malta. He arrives in Malta to sell Turkish slaves taken in battle, and is told by Ferneze that such a sale cannot be allowed because of Calymath's presence. Bosco promises that the Spanish King will send aid against the Turks and that he will serve as general. Ferneze agrees and allows him to sell the slaves. Bosco appears in several other scenes, but is surprisingly passive; Ferneze is the one who defies the Turks. Bosco's only line is to comment on the strangeness of Barabas' supposed death.

BOSOLA
Daniel de Bosola is a malcontent who has done good service for the noble family, especially for the Cardinal and Ferdinand, but he has received nothing in return in Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. He is ultimately given the post of Gentleman of the Horse to the Duchess. The post is a guise, Bosola is sent by the Cardinal and Ferdinand to spy upon his mistress. When he later defends Antonio's reputation, the Duchess mistakes him for a friend and confides her secret marriage to him. He tells the Cardinal and Ferdinand that the Duchess is indeed married and so promulgates the tragedy. Bosola is next made to torture the Duchess in an insane asylum, showing her wax replicas of her family and pretending to her that they are dead. He pleads with the brothers to let the woman have a Bible but is at last made to strangle her unshriven. After the murder, Bosola turns hero revenger, seeking to murder the brothers. Instead, he accidentally kills Antonio, thinking him Ferdinand, when he was ironically trying to join forces with Antonio. At the end he kills both the Cardinal and Ferdinand but not before Ferdinand deals him a mortal blow. Bosola's name could come from the Italian Bussola, a compass. The compass at the time of Webster's play was reputed to have been invented in Amalfi by Gioia.

BOSTANGI BASSA
A "ghost character" in ?Greene's Selimus I. Selimus' son-in-law, who is in charge of a naval blockade designed to capture Corcut.

BOSTAR**1635
A Carthaginian senator in Nabbes' Hannibal and Scipio who, at the outset of act four, discusses with his fellow senators their plan to betray Hannibal to the Romans. Bostar is especially worried about preserving his wealth in the face of Hannibal's defeat, and is physically afraid of Hannibal when he arrives before the senators. Played in the original production by George Stutfield, who doubled as the Soldier in act one.

BOSTOCK
Bostock is a companion to Lord Rainbow and opens Shirley's The Ball with his visit to Lady Lucina, the rich young widow he hopes to impress and wed. He tries to comply when that Lady claims that she wishes him half as noble as he is–indeed a hard task for Bostock, whose efforts in life most often are directed toward proving himself of noble status. Bostock is proved a liar and an unsuitable suitor by the play's end; Lady Lucina makes a fool of him indeed.

BOTELLIO The Portuguese Ambassador in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley. On Behalf of Don Sebastian, his king, he negotiates with King Phillip of Spain for peace and an alliance against the Turkish infidels led by Abdelmalek. Unbeknownst to him, Phillip only uses the alliance in an attempt to usurp the Portuguese throne for Spain.

BOTS**1605
Although he presents himself to the gentlemen associated with Hippolito as "Lieutenant" Bots, a gentleman and a soldier in Dekker's 2 Honest Whore, he is actually only a pimp associated with the bawd Mistress Horseleech. Bots undertakes to corrupt Candido's Bride, but she rebuffs him. Later in the play, Bots is present when the Constable arrives to arrest Matheo, and when the officer recognizes Bots, he is taken off with the others to the Milanese version of Bridewell prison. There, his pose as a soldier is first undercut by the sharp-tongued prostitute Catherina Bountinall and finally destroyed when Mistress Horseleech naively identifies him as someone whose sweet face she could never forget. The Duke of Milan orders that Bots be given twice the usual punishments prescribed for inmates at the prison, be whipped around the city, and finally be banished from the country.

BOTS**1611
Bots is a roaring boy in Field's Amends for Ladies. He is found in a tavern on Turnbull Street, in the company of Tearchaps, Whorebang, and Spillblood. Welltried brings Lord Feesimple to them in an attempt to cure his fear of swords. A fight breaks out, and Whorebang, Tearchaps, Bots and Spillblood flee the scene.

BOTTOM, LIEUTENANT
A soldier turned highwayman in William Rowley's A Match at Midnight. He works with Captain Carvegut. They try to rob Randall, but he escapes them and steals their stash of money. They are drinking partners of Alexander, and help him to gull Tim.

BOTTOM, NICK
Nick Bottom, a weaver by profession, is one of the rude mechanicals in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Misusing words in a typical Shakespearean clown fashion (saying 'odious' when he means 'odorous' flowers, et cetera), Bottom has an inflated sense of his own dramatic capabilities. He takes the role of Pyramus in the clowns' theatrical production of Pyramus and Thisbe and spends an eventful night with Titania, his head transformed by Puck into that of an ass and Titania's view of him transformed by Oberon's love essence into one of passionate dotage. His performance as Pyramus at the play's end is one of the most amusingly overacted in all of Shakespeare: he has seven lines of dialogue after stabbing himself and repeats the word 'die' not fewer than five times in his final moment.

BOUCIQUALT
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry V. He is reported among the French dead on the Agincourt battlefield.

BOUDICCA **1617
Only mentioned in the anonymous Pathomachia. ‘Queen of Essex’ otherwise known as Boadicea. Justice likens Queen Hatred to ‘Bunduica,’ who slew four score thousand Romans in two battles near Malden.

BOULOGNESE
These "non-speaking" citizens of Boulogne appear in a dumb-show in Heywood's Four Prentices of London. After their rightful Earl is supplanted by a tyrannous surrogate appointed by the King of France, the oppressed citizens eagerly join a rebellion led by Godfrey, freeing the city once more. They subsequently install Godfrey as Earl.

BOULT
A bawd in Shakespeare's Pericles. Along with Bawd and Pander, Boult purchases Marina from pirates with the intent of forcing her to become a whore. Ultimately Boult, like many of the brothel's customers, is won over by Marina and helps her become a teacher in an honest house.

BOULTON, BRIDGET **1599
A “ghost character" in Ruggle’s Club Law. Probably a prostitute. She a mutual acquaintance of Luce’s and Sponer.

BOUNCE
A fictional soldier-poet, invented by Gilbert, in whose guise Samuel appears at the Asparagus Garden in order to dupe Sir Arnold Cautious in Brome's The Sparagus Garden. As Bounce, Samuel assaults Sir Arnold when the latter disparages poetry.

BOUNTEOUS PROGRESS, SIR
An old, wealthy knight, grandfather to Richard Follywit in Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters. This generous, plump character "is too much like his name," according to his companions Sir Andrew Polcut and Sir Aquitaine Colewort. Because of his munificence, he is a frequent victim of robbery, both literal and metaphorical from a panoply of characters, especially his grandson, Follywit. Urged by Follywit, disguised as Lord Owemuch, and contemplating the future of his estate, Sir Bounteous decides, with trepidation to bequeath his wealth to his grandson. Follywit and his companions, this time posing as robbers, steal from Sir Bounteous more literally, and, again adopting the guise of Owemuch and his attendants are paid for the inconvenience of being bound by these same robbers. Believing that his courtesan is pregnant, Sir Bounteous is obliged to offer her a cash payment and to pay Penitent Brothel, who is disguised as a physician, for her extravagant medical bills. In a final show of imprudent largesse, Sir Bounteous hosts a feast in which Follywit and his companions pose as Owemuch's players and steal several of Sir Bounteous' personal effects to properly "outfit" their performance. They immediately escape capture by convincing the party that the is constable part of their play. He is bound and ridiculed as a poor player while the players slip away. Follywit and companions then return as themselves. This time, however, Sir Bounteous hears the ticking of his watch in Follywit's pocket and retrieves his property but furnishes his grandson with a thousand marks to "spice" the newly revealed wedding of Follywit and the courtesan.

BOUNTINALL, CATHERINA
Catherina is the third prostitute examined by the duke in the final act of Dekker's 2 Honest Whore. When she greets Mistress Horseleech as the bawd she is, Horseleech attempts to present herself as an honest woman. Catherina then undermines Bots's posturing as an honest man, thus contributing to the duke's sentence of punishment for the pander. Bountinall exits in a most spirited way, even calling the duke "Master Slave," telling him that her skirt is lined with silk and that gentlemen such as he would be glad to wipe their noses on it. When the duke takes exception to her effrontery and orders the First Master to inform her that the duke himself is present, she retorts that she would not care if the Devil himself were on hand.

BOUNTY
Bounty is a character in "The Triumph of Time," the final play within the play of Fletcher's Four Plays in One. He serves Anthropos until he is released from service.

BOURBON**1592
A French Admiral in Shakespeare's 3 Henry VI. A non-speaking part, Bourbon appears in the French King's palace during the conference between Margaret and Lewis XI. He witnesses the offer from Warwick that Lady Bona should marry Edward. The insulted French king orders Lord Bourbon to take the French army to England. Possibly same character as found in Heywood's 2 Edward IV.

BOURBON **1599
The Frenchman Bourbon agrees with the King of France in Thomas Heywood's 2 Edward IV that it is better to win peace than to war with England. Possibly the same character as found in Shakespeare's 3 Henry VI.

BOURBON**1599
The Duke of Bourbon is uncle of the French King Charles VI in Shakespeare's Henry V. At Agincourt, Bourbon refuses to capitulate and urges the other French leaders to continue fighting what appears to be a losing battle. He is killed on the battlefield.

BOURBON**1639
One of the noblemen exiled with Lanove and Martell, friends of Dumain and opponents of the corrupt monarchy in Hemming's Fatal Contract. They welcome him and Charles Brissac to the campaign to depose the king. Their revolution is later taken over and led to victory by Clovis.

BOURNE**1599
With Acton, Beverley and Murley in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle, he discusses plans for organizing the Protestant movement.

BOUSER, MASTER RALPH **1605
In Middleton's Your Five Gallants this is the name used by Fitsgrave in his disguise as a credulous university scholar in the company of the five Gallants. This scholarly disguise has the additional merit of suiting him for the role of author for their masque: a circumstance which the sufficiently literate Fitsgrave turns to his own advantage by using his script to expose them.

BOUTCHER, THOMAS
Thomas Boutcher is a friend of William Smallshanks and is loved by Constantia Sommerfield in Barry's Ram Alley. He takes Constantia into his service disguised as a page, thinking that "he" is a servant recommended to him by Constantia, whom he describes as his "noble mistress." He assists William in his plan to regain his lands from Throat, lending him forty shillings and supporting his plan to pass the courtesan Francis off as Constantia. Boutcher finds himself falling for the rich widow Changeable Taffeta, but resists her because he claims that he has been told by a fortuneteller that a widow would endanger his life, soul, lands and reputation. Boutcher goes with Constantia to tell Throat the news that William is to be married to the rich Sommerfield heiress and wants Throat to be his steward. He later goes to speak to Taffeta and is rebuffed by Adriana; Constantia advises him to woo (i.e. to bribe) the maid to get to the lady. At Taffeta's request Boutcher humiliates Captain Face, who is made to get on a tavern table and behave like a performing animal. William tells Boutcher that he should not bother with Taffeta because Constantia is in love with him, but this does not stop Boutcher from trying to hang himself when he realizes that Taffeta is to marry another man. William assists Constantia in reviving Boutcher, and explains that he, and not Sir Oliver, has married Taffeta. Constantia—still in disguise as a page—offers to help Boutcher to marry Constantia Sommerfield, swearing to bring her to him. When Lady Sommerfield demands to know where her daughter is, Constantia reveals herself and declares her love for Boutcher. They are betrothed.

BOVALDO
Bovaldo is an old courtier and father of Hippolito in Shirley's Love's Cruelty. He is jealous of Sebastian's advancement. He takes Sebastian out, making sure that Sebastian becomes drunk. He then encourages Sebastian to upbraid the duke; Sebastian's too-free speech of course lands him in prison.

BOWDLER, HUMFRY
Bowdler is a vain and blustering gallant in love with Mall Berry in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange. When Bowdler is tongue-tied upon Mall's entry, the Cripple asks if there's nothing in his reading he might use to impress the young woman. Bowdler confesses to having read only one book in his life–Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis–but his attempts to use lines from that work are turned back by Mall's wit. Mall will later agree to marry Bowdler, only to forsake him at the end for Barnard.

BOWES, SIR HUMPHREY
Bowes is a Justice in King Edward's realm in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV. He offers a dinner invitation to the King and Queen during a hunting expedition, and he proposes financial aid to the king's war effort against the French.

BOWLERS
The Bowlers make a lot of noise under the stage in the 'gaming scene' of William Rowley's A New Wonder: A Woman Never Vexed, and Host Boxall is obliged to silence them. When Stephen, Robert and the Host are fighting the gamesters, the Bowlers sneak in and steal their cloaks.

BOWSER **1600
Also spelled Bouser in the anonymous Thomas Lord Cromwell. He is a merchant. At the beginning of the play, after young Thomas Cromwell has meditated on his humble origins and the rise of humble people over time, Bowser enters to offer Cromwell his first appointment, that of secretary to the house for English merchants in Antwerp. Later, in Antwerp, when Bagot refuses to forgive Banister his debts, Bowser arrives with news that £7000 worth of the kings jewels have been stolen and sold to Bagot for £300, and that jewels worth £5000 and plate and furniture worth £2500 have been confiscated from Bagot, given to the Antwerp merchants who have donated it to Banister.

BOW–STRING
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Work For Cutlers. The string or cord portion of the weapon used to shoot arrows. Like Bill and Gun, Bow-String does not appear on stage, but is the subject of heavy wordplay. Rapier cites Bow-String's primitive technology, calling him an "old soldier," and Sword hopes to "tickle Bow's nock," or posteriors.

BOW WOW
The Clown in the anonymous Trial Of Chivalry claims (probably in jest) that this is his real name.

BOWYER, DICK
Captain Dick Bowyer is an English soldier, serving the Earl of Pembroke in the anonymous Trial Of Chivalry. He is in love with Thomasin, and is thus a rival to Peter de Lions, with whom he is caught fighting early on in the play. Bowyer's company are sent out into the trenches to keep watch, and in the night Bowyer sees both Ferdinand, and Pembroke, on their way to their duel. Bowyer fights for Navarre during the battle at the end of the play, rescues Thomasin from Peter de Lions, and then kills Peter de Lions on the battlefield. In spite of the play's subtitle, Bowyer does not die in the course of it.

BOXALL
Host Boxall is the landlord of the gaming den where Stephen Foster spends his money in William Rowley's A New Wonder: A Woman Never Vexed. He and Robert rescue Stephen when the gamesters attack him. During the fight, the Bowlers sneak in and steal Stephen, Robert and the Host's cloaks.

BOX–KEEPER
A member of staff at the ordinary in Shirley's The Gamester. He assures Hazard that there will be a lot of gambling on the premises.

BOY**1528
A suitor in John Heywood's The Play of the Wether. The Boy asks Jupiter for snow and frost that would help him in his games.

BOY**1586
The Vintner's boy in the Anonymous Famous Victories of Henry V, he appears at the beginning of the play where he informs John Cobbler, Lawrence Costermonger, Derrick and John that Prince Henry was arrested by the Major and the Sheriff for fomenting riot and civic disorder in front of a tavern.

BOY**1588
This lad is one of the country people beguiled by Peter the Prophet in the anonymous 1 Troublesome Reign of John, to whom he gives a cheese in return for a prognostication.

BOY**1588
Boy is Frank's servant in Porter's 1 The Two Angry Women of Abingdon. He is very open in his conversation with Phillip about Frank's horses, describing in detail a particularly fine one that Frank has apparently been keeping secret. He talks to Frank about the drunken butler, Coomes. On the night of the events at the rabbit green, he butts into conversation between Frank and Coomes, asking clownlike questions. In the dark, the boy is exhausted from running and lies down to rest. Hodge steals the torch Hodge and Boy had stolen from Dick Coomes their colleague in the Gourcey family.

BOY**1590
In the Anonymous Mucedorus, when Amadine is trying to persuade her father (King of Aragon) to spare Mucedorus' life, she has a boy bring in the head of the bear Mucedorus slew. This visual prop is instrumental in saving Mucedorus' life.

BOY**1593
Also known as Ned Plantagenet, the son of Clarence in Shakespeare's Richard III. After Clarence's murder and Edward IV's death, the boy and the girl, his sister, grieve for the loss of their father while Elizabeth grieves for Edward IV and the Duchess of York grieves for both. Later, Richard III has the boy locked away because he would stand to inherit the crown from Clarence, Richard's older brother.

BOY**1597
I. If the character of the Boy in Henry V is intended to be Falstaff's Page, then this character first saw life as a gift from Prince Hal in service to Sir John Falstaff in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV. He has no speaking part in the play. He is a remarkably small character to contrast Falstaff's large proportions. He is probably the same character who returns as "Boy" in Henry V and as "Robin" in The Merry Wives of Windsor. However, some scholarship has suggested that the actor might have been a dwarf or midget rather than a child and that he may have also performed the part of Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night. II. Robin serves as Falstaff's page in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. He delivers letters to Margaret Page and Alice Ford. He helps the two women to cozen the fat knight, and assists Falstaff into the laundry basket. He is likely the same character known as "Page" in 2 Henry IV and "Boy" in Henry V. III. The Boy in Shakespeare's Henry V, formerly Falstaff's page, attends Pistol, Bardolph and Nym when they join Henry's army. When Pistol captures a French soldier at the battle of Agincourt, Pistol's questions and the soldier's pleas for mercy work at cross purposes until the Boy arrives to serve as their translator. The Boy is able to explain that the soldier's name is Monsieur Le Fer, and eventually a ransom agreement is reached. Later, Fluellen is outraged when the French contravene the rules of engagement by killing the boys guarding the English army's luggage. The Boy is among those killed.

BOY**1598
The Boy is a servant of Hugh Lacy in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. After John stabs Hugh, the Boy runs off and returns with Ely, Chester and Officers.

BOY **1599
The Boy is in service to Mistress Jane Shore in Thomas Heywood's 1 Edward IV. He brings news to Master Matthew Shore that Jane has been requested at court.

BOY**1599
A non-speaking character in Jonson's Every Man out of His Humour. Boy is Carlo Buffone's servant. Carlo Buffone enters followed by Boy with wine. Carlo Buffone tells Boy to fetch him a glass to serve Cordatus and Mitis. Boy re-enters and serves Canary wine to Carlo Buffone, Mitis, and Cordatus.

BOY**1600
A young servant to Babulo at court in Chettle, Dekker and Haughton's Patient Grissil. They joke with one another about masters and servants.

BOY**1602
This character says nothing in the anonymous Wily Beguiled but brings wine and a napkin to Gripe for Wil Cricket.

BOY**1602
The Boy in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange works in the shop with Phillis. Her haughtiness elicits his comment that her pride has made her a "by-word to th' Exchange," and her response–threatening and verbally abusive–reveals a side of Phillis's character generally hidden in the play.

BOY**1603
This boy in the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus, like the Prologue in Part 1, starts to announce the play and is promptly interrupted and carried off by the Stagekeeper.

BOY**1604
Wafer's apprentice in Dekker and Webster's Westward Ho.

BOY **1604
At the risk of being whipped, this unnamed Boy in Heywood's 1 If You Know Not Me brings several nosegays to Elizabeth in the Tower.

BOY**1604
The Boy attends the Jeweler's lusty Wife in Middleton's The Phoenix.

BOY**1605
A messenger in Heywood's 2 If You Know Not Me.

BOY**1605
Runs minor errands in Middleton's A Trick to Catch the Old One for Hoard, Lucre, and the Host.

BOY**1605
Servant to Pursenet in Middleton's Your Five Gallants. He is an experienced pickpocket, who first steals from Katherine the chain of pearl given her by Fitsgrave. At Primero's brothel, he sings to entertain the customers; he also steals Fitsgrave's jewel, his gift from Katherine, again passing on the profits to his master. He stands lookout for Pursenet's highway robberies. The Boy is later caught trying to pick Bungler's pocket and threatened with prison; when his master feigns vehement horror, Bungler himself is fooled into excusing the Boy. He alerts Pursenet to the rich pickings to be had from Pyamont in St Paul's. Although they fail to accomplish the theft at their first attempt onstage, Pyamont later identifies the Boy as the likely culprit In the Gallants' masque Fitsgrave casts him as his narrator, the thief of the gods, Mercury. He rehearses his lines with the Gallants and joins in the performance of the masque at Katherine's house. When the chain of pearl he originally stole is produced, he attempts to flee, but is prevented. His and his master's crimes are exposed are he is taken away to prison, to be whipped, and according to Tailby, on account of his record, possibly hanged.

BOY**1606
Lazarillo's servant acts as an errand-boy and a kitchen spy to his food-loving master in Beaumont and Fletcher's The Woman Hater. At Lazarillo's lodgings, Boy enters following his master, who instructs him to spy on what is being cooked in Duke's kitchen. Boy returns and reads the menu to Lazarillo, who gloats on hearing it. At Valore's house, Boy enters following Lazarillo. They go to Gondarino's house, where Boy learns that the fish-head has been sent to Mercer's. At Mercer's house, it is understood that Boy is spying in the kitchen while Lazarillo and Valore converse with Mercer. Keeping on the fish-head trail, Boy informs his master that the meal is gone but he knows where it is. In a street before the brothel, Boy enters following Lazarillo, telling his master that the fish-head can be found in this house. Apparently, Boy had followed Mercer's Prentice to the house and reported it to Lazarillo. Though Boy thinks critically of Lazarillo, considering him an ass, he tells his master to go into the house and retrieve his fish-head. Speaking from experience, Boy instructs Lazarillo to muffle his head in a cloak when entering the house, because it is customary among gallants to walk into brothels as if they had the rheum. When Lazarillo is arrested, it is understood that Boy remains behind. When his master is released, Boy accompanies Lazarillo to the brothel to retrieve his fish-head from Julia. When Lazarillo demands his promised dinner and Julia wants marriage first, Boy comments pragmatically that his master is marrying a whore. However, as Boy muses before he exits, Lazarillo and Julia are bound by a form of destiny not to be altered.

BOY**1606
The Boy attends Demetrius in Day's Isle of Gulls. He comments cynically on his master and Lisander, but serves him faithfully. In order to help Demetrius and Lisander to escape, the Boy decoys the captains Kalander and Philinax by taking them to view Dametas as he tries to retrieve gold from under Diana's Oak.

BOY**1606
Featured in Middleton's Michaelmas Term induction, the boy speaks with the four allegorical personages of the four law terms (Easter, Hilary, Michaelmas, and Trinity). The boy reappears attending Quomodo's henchman Shortyard (alias Blastfield) in their plot to extort Easy's lands in Essex.

BOY**1607
A servant of the Sophy's Niece in Day, Rowley and Wilkins's The Travels of the Three English Brothers. He is cheeky to Calimath.

BOY**1607
Possibly a mistake for Bos in Machin's(?) Every Woman in Her Humour. Boy appears in only one scene, early in the play, in which he accompanies the three dandies: Philautus, Scilicet, and Servulus. Boy is full of witty retorts and playful critique of his superiors. When Philautus worries that he's losing his hair, for instance, Boy says that although it's getting thin, Philautus still has more hair than wit; an assessment that the vain Philautus finds quite reassuring. Indeed, given that Bos's discourse is so similar to the Boy's and neither appears onstage at the same time, it is not impossible that "Boy" is a printer's error and that Bos and the Boy are, in fact, the same character.

BOY**1607
The Boy in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra sings a song to Bacchus during the drinking that takes place on Pompey's ship.

BOY**1607
Page to the Welsh courtier Nucome in Sharpham's Cupid's Whirligig.

BOY **1607
A "ghost character" in the King of Moldavia's house in The Grocer's Honour portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Rafe gives this character 2d by way of Pompiona so as not to be beholding to the king. As there is truly no such person, one must imagine that the actor playing Pomponia keeps this money for himself.

BOY **1607
He "danceth and singeth" according to the dramatis personae in Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. He performs during interludes between acts and might also be one of the "Boys" who performs a part in the play proper.

BOY **1607
A boy is part of Visus’ grand entrance of III.vi in Tomkis’ Lingua. He enters last and is not otherwise described.

BOY**1608
He plays word games with John in Armin's The Two Maids of More–Clacke.

BOY**1608
The Boy serves the First Citizen in Beaumont & Fletcher's Cupid's Revenge.

BOY**1608
This unnamed Boy is page to Aspero in Day's Humour Out of Breath. (The Boy is a page, and Florimel's Page is a boy, but they are here, as usually in the text, called Boy and Page respectively to differentiate them.) Probably he is present whenever Aspero appears, though sometimes he is mute. He has no lines in 1.2, 3.1, 5.2 and 5.3, but in the last two scenes he is included in the stage directions; and though he is not mentioned in the stage directions to 1.2, Aspero addresses him as they go out; so he is probably a silent presence in 3.1 as well. In 2.1, the Boy attends Aspero, trading witticisms with him and advising him, on his first encounters with his enemy Octavio and with Octavios's daughter Florimel. He also briefly trades barbs with Florimel's Page who plays a similar role. He is again attendant on Aspero when the latter is playfully "imprisoned" in Florimel's chamber, joking with him, advising him and bringing him news of Florimel's intentions. He then helps Aspero feign death in order to sneak into Florimel's presence, and presumably accompanies Aspero when Hortensio arrests him and takes him off to real prison. There the Boy helps Florimel and her Page to blindfold Hortensio in a game of Blind-man's Buff that allows Aspero to escape and switch clothes with Hortensio. Though he has no further lines to speak, according to the stage directions he accompanies his master during the confrontation and reconciliation scenes that end the play.

BOY**1608
A "ghost character" in Middleton and Dekker's Moll Cutpurse, The Roaring Girl. Servant of Jack Dapper, the boy was dismissed because of his thinness; Jack, who also is of slight build, was teased by other gallants for his and the boy's frailty.

BOY**1609
A ship's boy on Young Forrest's vessel in Heywood and Rowley's Fortune by Land and Sea. He spies the pirate-ship from the crow's nest.

BOY**1609
Hired by Gregory to sing a song under the Niece's window in Middleton and Rowley's Wit at Several Weapons.

BOY**1611
The boy in Beaumont and Fletcher's A King and No King accompanies Bessus and the two swordsmen hired by Bessus to confront Bacurius.

BOY**1611
An attendant on Spendall in Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque.

BOY**1611
The Boy in Field's Amends for Ladies is in the service of Subtle and sings his love song, intended for Lady Perfect.

BOY**1611
The slave Boy who acts as a messenger between Catiline and the Priest is a mute character in Jonson's Catiline. At his house, before his inflaming address to the conspirators, Catiline sends a boy slave with a message to the priest. Catiline's orders to the priest are to kill the slave he had marked a night before, as prearranged, collect his blood, and give it to the messenger. According to Catiline's instruction, Boy is expected to wait outside Catiline's study with the bowl of fresh blood until he is summoned in. It is inferred that the priest fulfills Catiline's instructions because, after his address to the conspirators, Catiline invites them to partake of the blood as a symbolic seal of their pact. While all the conspirators drink human blood and swear allegiance to the cause, Catiline observes that Boy does not perform the bloody ritual. Catiline admonishes him, menacing that he will strike the slave with his foot if he dares show such a face again. It is inferred that Boy was sad because he saw how the conspirators were drinking the blood of his fellow slave, probably his friend, and he feared that he might have a similar fate.

BOY **1613
The unnamed Boy in Shakespeare's Two Noble Kinsmen follows Hymen during the Duke and Hippolyta's wedding processional and sings a song of blessing for the couple.

BOY**1616
The Boy in Fletcher's Love's Pilgrimage works for the Host and offers Diego wine.

BOY **1617
In Goffe’s Orestes, he sweeps a room to make it ready for Aegystheus and Clytemnestra to take physic from the disguised Orestes.

BOY**1618
A boy, possibly a page in the anonymous Swetnam, is present when the women attack Swetnam after Atlanta traps him and offers them "small Pins" enough to prick him to death.

BOY **1619
In Fletcher’s Bloody Brother, Edith has a boy sing for Rollo when she entertains him in V.ii. The boy sings the same “Take oh take those lips away" to be found in Measure for Measure IV.i, though this play adds a second verse not found in the Shakespeare play.

BOY **1620
A crewmember on Sesse's ship in Fletcher and Massinger's The Double Marriage. The boy enters "atop" and spies a pursuing ship from Naples. During the ensuing battle, the boy brings cans of water to the Boatswain, Gunner, and Master.

BOY**1620
The Boy is a singer in Fletcher and Massinger's The False One. On Apollodorus' command, he sings a song to Cleopatra that describes how she is more beautiful in captivity and how her mind cannot be chained.

BOY**1621
One of the alter egos of Alinda, who disguises herself as a boy in Fletcher's The Pilgrim, deceiving Roderigo and his men. In this guise she manages to convince Roderigo not to kill Pedro. She is still disguised as a boy when she arrives at the madhouse in Segonia, and is much praised as a "handsome youth."

BOY**1624
Sings a song about wantonness to Margarita and Altea in Fletcher's Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.

BOY**1626
The unnamed young son of Lady Miriam in Hemminge's The Jews' Tragedy. A winsome child, sacrificed and butchered by his mother during the extreme famine. He is served in a pie to the seditious captains.

BOY**1626
The unnamed boy works at the Dolphin tavern, where Aristippus lodges and where Simplicius seeks him out in Randolph's Aristippus. The Boy misunderstands Simplicius's request for Aristippus and brings him a drink instead: unable to cope with the confusion, he fetches the two Schollers to deal with the new arrival.

BOY**1627
The drawer in St. Dunstan's and the Devil tavern in the anonymous Wisest Have Their Fools. He fetches wine and women, Lais and Bebia, for Timothy and Carouse.

BOY**1627
The boy is a singer who accompanies Corsa to Foreste's house after her rape in Davenant's The Cruel Brother. He sings a song about the need to accept what Providence brings. Corsa dismisses him on Foreste's command.

BOY **1627
A mute character and Goggle's servant in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. He carries Goggle's shoes and cloak for Goggle to dedicate to Plutus.

BOY**1628
A boy sings to the sleeping Meleander at the beginning of the last scene in Ford's The Lover's Melancholy, bidding the shadows that hang around the old man "fly hence."

BOY**1629
Disguise assumed by Clarinda to escape after learning that Lysander has not been killed in the duel in Carlell's The Deserving Favorite. As the boy, she runs into the woods accompanied by Jacomo, who attempts to rape her and ties her to a tree. The Duke, disguised as a traveler, discovers and releases the "boy" and takes "him" to Gerard's lodge, but they lose their way and end up at Count Orsinio's dwelling. Orsinio offers the two a single bed for the night, also believing both to be male. To prevent discovery that she is a female, Clarinda sleeps in her doublet. She reveals her true identity to the Duke next morning and returns to court to accuse Jacomo of trying to rape her. The Duke verifies that he did indeed find her tied to a tree, and Jacomo is arrested.

BOY**1629
In the scene in which Bidstand, Nimmer and Shirke pretend to sell ballads in Randolph's(?) The Drinking Academy, the Boy helps them.

BOY**1631
This Boy's small role in Marmion's Holland's Leaguer is to announce visitors to Agurtes.

BOY**1631
Disguise adopted by "Eurinia" (Eugenia) in Wilson's The Swisser in order to follow her love Arioldus into battle. (See "EURINIA" for complete description).

BOY**1632
A servant at the Paris Tavern in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden.

BOY**1632
In the Induction and between the acts of Jonson's The Magnetic Lady, the boy actor serves as chorus. He banters with two audience members, Probee and Damplay, who claim to represent "The People," and wittily defends the playwright's comedic style against their uninformed criticisms. He also assures the spectators that no specific persons are being satirized by any of the play's characters.

BOY **1632
He appears in Hausted’s Rival Friends after the Introduction and before the prologue. He tells the courtly audience that they are to suppose the play is in a country village in England and that it is St. Valentine’s Day. He says the poet cannot endure a woman and therefore must be laughed at. He then introduces the entry of Prologue.

BOY **1633
This unnamed Boy in Marmion's A Fine Companion announces Spruse has come to see Careless.

BOY**1633
Drawer in the tavern where the workmen meet in Mountfort's The Launching of The Mary.

BOY**1633
A very minor character, also known as Drawer in Nabbes' Covent Garden. He appears with Hugh Jerker and Jeffrey at the beginning and end of act IV and only speaks three lines.

BOY**1634
The Boy is a singer in Davenant's Love and Honor. He appears first to sing a love song to Vasco after his wedding day (on the urging of Frivolo and Tristan), and then to sing a mourning song outside of the prison where Evandra and Melora are held (at the request of Alvaro, Leonelle and Prospero).

BOY**1634
Two boys figure in Heywood and Brome's The Late Lancashire Witches:

• Although not named, the character of the main Boy is presumably based on the real-life Edmund Robinson, the boy whose fraudulent testimony was integral to the 1634 Lancashire witch trials on which this play is partly based. In the play, the Boy encounters a brace of greyhounds, seemingly broken loose from their master, and determines to return them in hopes of reward. When the Boy later beats the dogs for not giving chase to a hare, however, two of the greyhounds are transformed into the witch Goody Dickison and Boy 2. Although Goody Dickison promises not to harm the Boy, she tells him that he must accompany her to a feast "so thou tell no tales." He refuses, but she spirits him away to the Sabbat celebration anyway. The Boy is polite but refuses to partake of the feast (claiming the food is tasteless) and, seizing an opportunity during the witches' revelry, he makes his escape. The Boy is one of the witnesses called forth by the witch-finder Doughty in the final scene, where he relates seeing the accused witches at the Sabbat, and Robin corroborates his story.
• The second Boy character is not given a name or lines, but he is listed in the dramatis personae and stage directions as "Boy 2." He appears in only one scene, and seems to be at the mercy of the witches. After a beating, two greyhounds are transformed into Goody Dickison (a witch) and Boy 2. Goody Dickison orders Boy 2 to "take your shape" and he exits, presumably transforming into a horse off-stage. Boy 2 then transports Goody Dickison and the main Boy to the feast in this form, but he is not mentioned again in the play.

BOY**1634
The Boy is ordered by his master Thyrsis to sing him a song near the beginning of Rutter's The Shepherds' Holiday, which the shepherd cuts short as he instructs him to go and "be careful of [his] tender lambs."

BOY**1636
Possibly the same character as Himen ("the presenter of the Antemaske and maske") in Wilde's Love's Hospital. The Boy leads the blind Caecilius to Lepidus's house to check on Facetia after Lysander's and Lepidus's failed attempt to marry the unsuspecting Caecilius to Olimpa (who is disguised as Nigella).

BOY**1637
Serving-boy at the tavern in Brome's The English Moor.

BOY**1638
Silent character in Carlell's 2 Passionate Lovers that in Act Three guides Clorinda, Olinda, Clarimant and Clindor to the druid's house.

BOY**1638
As Pisistratus enters in the final scene of Mead's Combat of Love and Friendship to prove his worth in poetry, a boy carries a laurel before him.

BOY**1639
Disguised as Elinor in Dekker's(?) Telltale, the Boy along with the Doctor work to cure Hortensio's lunacy. The Boy reassures Hortensio that (as Elinor) she loves him and attributes his defeat by Bentivoli to fortune rather than his valour. She seals her love with a kiss and exits.

BOY**1639
Performs in a masque with Jaques and Hymen in Cokain's The Obstinate Lady before the lovers Vandona and Lorece, singing a song with the others about the proper behavior of husbands and wives.

BOY **1639
At Honorio’s request in Sharpe’s Noble Stranger, he sings “tell me Jove, should she disdaine" under the princess’ window at the opening of act two. Could be a part double case with “lady" in act five, which is also a singer.

BOY**1640
A servant of Lady Strangelove in Brome's Court Beggar, he delivers various messages to her. He is ultimately revealed to be Billy, Philomel's illegitimate son. Citwit cheerfully accepts the child as if he were his own. He plays Cupid in the concluding masque but is unable to remember his lines.

BOY**1640
The Boy sings a song in front of the court to flatter Landgartha and also to heal the king in Burnell's Landgartha. The song had been written by the king and it tells how sad a person feels when he is not loved.

BOY**1640
A singer at the tavern in Cavendish & Shirley's Country Captain. He sings a short song about the merits of various kinds of drinks.

BOY**1640
In Act Five of Chamberlain's Swaggering Damsel, this boy comes to Welt´s looking for Trash as his master is waiting for him.

BOY, BULLY LIVELY’S **1632
Possibly the same boy who appears before the prologue in Hausted’s Rival Friends. He brings Lively his sack.

BOY, CAPTAIN'S
The Captain's boy in Killigrew's Parson's Wedding delivers to Lady Love-all a letter that the Captain wrote to Wanton but accidentally addressed to Lady Love-all.

BOY, DUTCH
A servant to the Dutch Merchant in Middleton's No Wit, No Help Like a Woman's. Savorwit uses the boy's inability to speak English to persuade Twilight that his wife is dead and, therefore, will not return to England. Upon further examination from Oliver Twilight and the Dutch Merchant, the boy's actual report that Lady Twilight is alive is discovered.

BOY, FIDLER’S **1638
He sings a song in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable in praise of constables that begins “Sing and rejoice, the day is gone."

BOY, FIRST and SECOND
Two boys figure in Fletcher's Queen of Corinth.

• A boy at the tavern is called upon by Conon to fetch Euphanes after Crates wagers Conon that Euphanes will no longer recognize his old friends now that he has gained the Queen's favour. The boy calls Euphanes, who proves his brother wrong by greeting his old friend joyfully.
• Crates calls upon a second boy at the tavern to fetch Lamprias and his entourage, after he has sent the first boy to fetch Euphanes. The second boy executes his mission faithfully.

BOY, FURNACE'S
A "ghost character" in Massinger's A New Way to Pay Old Debts by whom Greedy promises to send "a brace of threepences" to Furnace if the cook will send him some of the dinner he must miss in order to attend a commission for Overreach.

BOY, HILARIO'S **1636
Hilario's Boy enters in Strode's The Floating Island to announce the arrival of Queen Fancie.

BOY, JONES'S
In the sequence with Cressida and the Beggars in Chettle and Dekker's Troilus and Cressida, this name appears discretely, perhaps an actor's name (possibly a boy named Stephen, although Stephen could be another actor).

BOY, LONDON PLAYHOUSE **1632
A disguise assumed by Isabella in Hausted’s Rival Friends. In this disguise, she tells Placenta that ‘he’ left the London players because ‘he’ was abused there. ‘He’ claims that business has fallen off of late because gallants spend all their money on their whores and seldom go to the plays anymore.

BOY, LORD'S
The boy is one of the players, who, at the command of the Lord, dresses as a woman and acts as Sly's wife in the Anonymous The Taming of a Shrew. In this guise he calls himself Catapie.

BOY, LUXURIOSO'S **1600
This youngster sings or recites Luxurioso's verses to a rustic audience at the local fair in the anonymous 1 Return From Parnassus. When their enterprise fails to make money, they set out with Studioso and Philomusus to look for better fortune.

BOY, NAKED
The naked boy kept in style by Face's fictional young gentleman is a "fictional character" in Jonson's The Alchemist. When Face wants to introduce to Kastril the magician's infallible methods of helping one gain at games, he gives the example of a fictional young gentleman. Face says that this young man, who is comparatively poor, will now be able to buy a barony. In Face's sophisticated fiction, this young gentleman will live a life of luxury and keep his punk and a naked boy in style. The licentiousness of Face's narrative, including the homoerotic allusion, is meant to attract Kastril as Subtle's client.

BOY of the TAVERN, FIRST, SECOND, and THIRD
Three tavern boys figure in Fletcher's The Captain.

• The First Tavern Boy is possibly also called Peter.
• The Second Tavern Boy is probably also called Robin. He brings alcohol to the Host, Jacamo, Piso, and Lodowicke.
• The Third Tavern Boy is given no name.

All three boys draw alcohol and prepare tobacco for the Host and discuss how drunk the Host and Jacamo are.

BOY, POST
The Post Boy in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay delivers a letter from Lacy to Margaret along with a hundred pounds for her dowry. It is he who indicates that the earl is being forced by the king to marry the chief lady-in-waiting to Elinor of Castile. Margaret gives him the hundred pounds simply because he has the good fortune to be Lacy's servant.

BOY, PRIEST'S
A Page in Fletcher's The Mad Lover. When the Priest of Venus learns that her old lover Chilax has returned, she sends her page (the Priest's Boy) with a ring and the message that she wishes to see him. Leaving on this errand, the Boy promises to go in all haste.

BOY, ROSECLAP’S **1637
A singer in Mayne’s City Match. He sings a song about the wonderful fish that the captain displays.

BOY, SCULLERY **1635
A “ghost character" in Rider’s The Twins. Lurco sends Jovio to watch the stairs to see Fulvio creep into Charmia’s chamber. Jovio reports seeing the ‘Scullion boy’ taking up a basket of coal.

BOY SERVANT
A servant under Rosko in Whetstone's 1 Promos and Cassandra. Brings sweet water to Rosko while Grimball is being barbered.

BOY, SINGING
The Singing Boy has no part written for him in ?Glapthorne's The Lady Mother, but would presumably sing a song on stage at the request of Grimes.

BOY, STREMON'S
A page in service to the singing soldier in Fletcher's The Mad Lover. Stremon's Boy takes the role of the Tree (or Bush) in the musical performance intended to cure Memnon of his love madness.

BOY, STUDIOSO'S **1600
Studioso's pupil in the country is ignorant, lazy, and insolent in the anonymous 1 Return From Parnassus; his complaints to his parents about Studioso's teaching help get the scholar fired.

BOY, TACTUS’S **1607
A “ghost character" in Tomkis’ Lingua. Tactus intended to have a show of a gentlewoman being caressed by her lover, but the dozen maids attiring the boy took so long about it that he is not ready in time for the show.

BOY, TOURES'S
He goes to drink with Toures in Armin's The Two Maids of More–Clacke. He informs us that Toures has gone to Putney with Mary to get married.

BOY with LUTE
Performs for Orleans in Dekker's Old Fortunatus, who quickly bids him to depart.

BOYET
Boyet is a lord attending the Princess of France in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. When the Princess and her coterie arrive in Navarre, Boyet is sent to inform Ferdinand of their arrival. He returns to report that Ferdinand has ordered them lodged in a field in fulfillment of his edict prohibiting women from coming within one mile of his court. Boyet acts as a matchmaker in the play, teasing Rosaline, Maria, and Katherine about Ferdinand's academics Berowne, Dumaine, Longaville, and answering the academics' questions about the ladies. Later, Boyet tells the ladies that he has overheard the men discussing plans to woo them disguised as a Masque of Muscovites. Armed with this information, the ladies don masks and trick each man into wooing the wrong lady.

BOYS**1565
"Ghost characters" in Edwards's Damon and Pithias. Gronno announces that he must sharpen his ax in order to deal with Pithias' head at one blow, or the Boyes will stone him to death in the street.

BOYS**1588
In the parade during the marriage in Wilson's The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London, boys wearing blue gowns carry the lances and shields of Policy, Pomp and Pleasure. In the second parade, they bear torches instead of the shields. It is not clear why this duty is performed by unnamed boys, rather than by the pages, Wit, Will and Wealth.

BOYS**1602
Students of Aminadab in (?)Heywood's How A Man May Choose A Good Wife From A Bad. Two Boys, along with Pipkin, recite their Latin grammar lesson for Aminadab. Later two or three boys recite lessons with Aminadab when they see Mistress Arthur (in her shroud) returning from the tomb; they flee, thinking they have seen a ghost.

BOYS**1605
Four boys carrying bows and quivers (to represent Cupid) escort Massinissa to Sophonisba in Marston's Sophonisba.

BOYS **1607
At least five boys appear in The London Merchant portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle:

• One boy has a running dialogue with George and Nell and is often imposed upon to bring Rafe out or otherwise rearrange the play to suit the grocer and his wife. He may be the same boy who speaks the Prologue, performs between acts, or takes other parts in the action of the play, but it is impossible to recover these facts.
• Another boy carries a letter for Jasper to Venturewell. The letter announces Jasper's death. The boy assists in reuniting the lovers and helps Luce escape in Jasper's coffin. He takes it, at Venturewell's command, to Old Merrythought for the play's happy resolution.
• Another boy works for Venturewell and locks Luce in her room at his master's command.
• Another boy tells Merrythought that his credit is no longer trusted, and he may therefore have not more drink.
• And the final boy tells Merrythought that he can get no more bread or supper on credit.

BOYS **1607
The young sons of Countess Katharine in Barnes's The Devil's Charter. Caesar seizes them and threatens to behead the boys if Katharine refuses to surrender the town of Furli to him. Initially the boys beg their mother to surrender and save their lives, but after she tells them to die in honor rather than live in slavery, the older of the two boys encourages his brother to die bravely. Caesar does not execute the boys and they are last seen playing cards and happily greeting their mother in one of Caesar's tents.

BOYS**1620
Two singing chimney-sweeps in Fletcher's Women Pleased who reveal the hidden Bartello to Lopez and Rodope.

BOYS**1627
"Ghost characters" in Hawkins's Apollo Shroving. Lauriger describes the way in which "the boyes in the outer-court of Apollos Pallace"–after perceiving that Complement "was like to be banished"–tied "squibs to his skirts; which being fired [. . .] mounted up into the ayre as high as a Larke." As Philoponus states, "One boy said, that this was the Captaines lofty capering tricke."

BOYS**1635
Three boys appear in Brome's The Sparagus Garden:

1. The first boy is a "ghost character". Sir Hugh Moneylacks promises this "pretty little knave" to Tim Hoyden as a servant in place of Coulter.
2. The other two boys work at the Asparagus Garden and serve Samuel, Walter and Gilbert with asparagus, wine and sugar when they arrive there. One of them wittily responds in French when Gilbert asks how much the feast costs, on the grounds that bargaining for meat before eating it is a nasty French habit, not a good English one.

BOYS **1636
“Ghost characters" in Killigrew’s The Princess. A group of boys were captured along with Sophia at Baio. The pirates are afraid that the boys are so beautiful they might depress the price of the women they intend to sell in Naples and it is decided to sell the women first before showing the boys at the market. They may be the same characters as the Roman soldiers, but the text is unclear.

BOYS**1639
Julio's contrite return to the court in J.D.'s The Knave In Grain New Vamped is heralded by a large number of boys running in.

BOYS, ANGRY
"Ghost characters" in Jonson's The Alchemist. The angry boys or roisterers visiting Drugger's tobacco shop. When Kastril tells Face he wants to learn the arts of quarrel from the alchemist, he mentions the angry boys with whom he argued at the tobacco shop. Kastril says he would like to be like one of these boys, who quarrel all the time and practice the art of fencing in the country.

BOYS, CHOIR
Three choir boys appear in the anonymous Narcissus. They are called Primus, Secundus, and Tertius. Look under those listings for more information.

BOYS, GUSTUS’S **1607
They enter in Tomkis’ Lingua and hand around a banquet of sweets and food to demonstrate Gustus’s quality.

BOYS, LITTLE
Non-speaking characters in Wilde's Love's Hospital. Himen introduces "4 little boyes in yellow colowred suits" which dance with the 4 Beasts and 4 Satyrs in the antimasque near the play's end.

BOYS, NAKED INDIAN **1607
Two naked Indian boys lead in Tobacco as part of Olfactus’s retinue in Tomkis’ Lingua. They carry tapers, tobacco boxes, and lighted pipes.

BOYS, OLFACTUS’S **1607
Seven boys bring in Olfactus’s objects to demonstrate his quality in Tomkis’ Lingua. Two carry casting bottles. Two more with censors filled with incense. Another brings in a velvet cushion stuck with flowers. Another brings a basket of herbs. The final boy carries a box of ointments. One of these boys is soon identified as Odor.

BOYS SHAPED like FROGS
Four boys dressed as frogs whom Forobosco pretends are water-spirits in Fletcher, Ford, Massinger and Webster's The Fair Maid of the Inn. They dance and the Clown pretends to be conjured into joining them.

BOYS, THREE **1619
The boys in Fletcher’s Bloody Brother taunt the kitchen staff as they are taken to execution. They jeer and laugh and run on ahead to get a good place to see. They call the execution good sport.

BOYS, TWO
Singers in (?)Speed’s The Converted Robber, who add to the atmosphere as the place of shepherds is revealed.

BOYSTER
A friend and fellow gamester of Young Chartley in Thomas Heywood's The Wise Woman of Hogsdon. Boyster is also Young Chartley's rival for the affections of Luce. Because of his blunt nature, Boyster's attempts to woo Luce are too straightforward and unconventional, and he loses her to Young Chartley. Boyster consults the Wise-Woman of Hogsdon for her help to make Luce his wife. She arranges for Boyster and Luce, Young Chartley and Second Luce to be married secretly at her lodgings while disguised, but while Boyster has in fact married Luce he is led to believe that he has been gulled into marrying the Wise-Woman's servant-boy Jack, who is Second Luce in disguise. Still in love with Luce, he attempts again to woo her in vain (she now believing she is secretly married to Young Chartley), but when Boyster informs Luce that Young Chartley is to be married to Gratiana and Young Chartley publicly denies her, he is there at her rescue when she faints, demonstrating his worthiness. Having vowed revenge against the Wise-Woman for allegedly being duped in the earlier marriage plot, Boyster returns to the Wise-Woman's and threatens her, but she promises to bring about his marriage to Luce if he will be ruled. He relents, and becomes one of the party that confronts Young Chartley about his wrongdoings in the final scene. In due course the Wise-Woman reveals that it was Boyster and not Young Chartley who was wedded to Luce, and Luce's father accepts Boyster as his son-in-law.

BRABANT JUNIOR**1600
Younger of the two Brabant brothers in Marston's Jack Drum's Entertainment, but he is the better man and he knows it, although, as the second son, he is not the legitimate heir. He recognizes that his older brother, Brabant Signior is a foolish spendthrift. He is, however, blind to the nature of Camelia, the woman with whom he is enamored. As a friend of Planet, Brabant Junior has a good advisor–whether or not he chooses to listen. Brabant sings outside of Camelia's window and is surprised when his lady's maid, Winifrede appears to tell him that her mistress does not appreciate his song, and he is even more surprised when Camelia immediately responds to John Ellis's call. Brabant is totally humiliated and begins to beat Ellis. He is stopped by Sir Edward but not before he bloodies Ellis's nose. He cannot believe that Camelia, who he believes to be wonderful, could fall for such a cowardly fool as Ellis. Later he watches as Camelia and Ellis kiss and sing of their love in front of him. When Camelia tells Brabant to go and seek his fortune, he tells her that he is aware of his standing as a second son, but that does not make him unworthy of her. Sounding very like her father, Sir Edward, he tells her that "Love should make marriage and not marriage love," but she rejects him utterly. When Planet tries to avenge his friend's rejection by Camelia, Brabant mistakes their faux relationship for the real thing. He believes that Planet is pursuing Camelia and he decides to have his Page kill Planet. He condemns all women for bringing men to this state and when he sees Camelia approach, he turns away so she'll think that he's Planet. When she begs him not to spurn her or scorn her but rather, love her in the name of his dearest friend, Brabant. When Brabant hears this, he realizes that Planet was not only innocent of betraying him, but that he had come to his defense and was, therefore, the most faithful of friends. Brabant then decides to kill himself, but Sir Edward happens upon the scene and stops him. Brabant explains that he has murdered Planet and is determined to kill himself for it. Brabant's older brother arrives and promises to have him pardoned, but Brabant Junior is intent on dying. Suddenly Planet and the young Page enter and tell Brabant that the Page merely discharged the pistol as Planet asked him to do and that Planet was never shot at all. The Page states that he thought Brabant was insane to have him kill his best friend. The Page then revealed Brabant's plan to Planet, who then helped the Page trick Brabant. At this good news, Sir Edward calls for dinner and the assembly retires to the Banquet Hall for a much needed feast.

BRABANT, MISTRESS**1600
Wife of Brabant Signior in Marston's Jack Drum's Entertainment. He use her as a means to play a joke on the Frenchman, fo de King. He tells fo de King that he is taking him to see a famous courtesan when, in fact, he is introducing fo de King to his own wife, Mistress Brabant. When Brabant leaves them alone and the Frenchman propositions her, she happily and confidently leads him to her bedroom.

BRABANT SIGNIOR**1600
Eldest of the two Brabant brothers in Marston's Jack Drum's Entertainment, he is a womanizer and a spendthrift. His brother believes him to be the biggest kind of fool, and he is proven to be so when he "gives" his wife to fo de King, thinking that he can predict her response–when, in fact, he has never known her at all. When he sees Pasquil (who is pretending to be dead), Mamon tells him that right before Pasquil died, he asked that Katherine now give her love to Mamon. When Winifrede fools fo de King and the Frenchman is left without a woman, Brabant promises him a courtesan in town–a courtesan that will turn out to be Brabant's own wife. He meets fo de King and, at Brabant's prompting, he begins to seranade her. When Mistress Brabant answers the door, her husband leaves her alone with fo de King who immediately begins to woo Brabant's wife and asks her to bed. Brabant's joke backfires and she willingly sleeps with the Frenchman, making a cuckold of Brabant Signoir: some scholars believe that this Brabant Signoir is a caricature of Ben Jonson. Brabant comes to his brother's aid when Brabant Junior believes that he has killed Planet. When it turns out that there was no murder, he joins Sir Edward, his brother, Planet, and John Ellis for dinner, drinking, and dancing.

BRABANTIO
Father to Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello. He initially suspects Othello of witchcraft when he discovers Othello and Desdemona's secret marriage. After he is forced to accept the circumstances of the marriage, he still claims that he was deceived by his daughter, and warns Othello to beware of her. We later learn from Gratiano that Brabantio has died from grief.

BRABO
A braggart and companion to Mistress Mary and Mistress Splay in (?)Heywood's How A Man May Choose A Good Wife From A Bad. When Mistress Splay plans to discuss marriage strategies with Mistress Mary, Mistress Mary tells Brabo to leave them. He returns with his sword later in the scene when Aminadab has armed and hidden himself, ready to fight off any suitors. Brabo threatens to hang Aminadab up like a dried sausage and then exits with Mistress Mary. Later, pleading his long service to her, Brabo asks Mistress Mary to marry him; she refuses, and tells him her aim is to entrap Young Master Arthur. Brabo next appears after Mistress Mary and Young Master Arthur are married. Brabo defends Mistress Mary's right to do as she pleases, and threatens violence against Young Master Arthur if he tries to harm her. When Mistress Mary dismisses Pipkin from the household, Brabo is called upon to turn him out. Brabo then stands aside with Mistress Splay while Mistress Mary and Young Master Arthur speak privately. When Young Master Arthur flees, fearing arrest for the murder of Mistress Arthur, Mistress Mary sends Brabo to get an arrest warrant for him. Brabo, along with some Officers, Mistress Splay, and Hugh, finds the impoverished and despairing Young Master Arthur. Brabo encourages the Officers to apprehend Arthur, staying behind them to ensure that none of them run away. At the end of the play he appears with Mistress Mary, Mistress Splay, Young Master Arthur and Hugh before Justice Reason, and offers to act as a witness to Arthur's confession before Mistress Mary. He then goes with Hugh to assist in the apprehension of Aminadab for selling poison. When Mistress Arthur appears and the murder charge disappears, Brabo wonders what prevented the poison from working on her.

BRACHIANO
Brachiano, or Paulo Giordano Ursini, Duke of Brachiano in Webster's The White Devil, is perhaps The White Devil, he never sullies his own hands with his mischief. He allows Isabella to look bad when it is he who has refused to go to her bed; he allows Julio and Flamineo to be his assassins; and when he is called on in court he insists that his whore is nothing of the kind. He is, to the eyes of the world he lives in, guiltless (or at least guilt cannot be proved against him) of any of his loathsome crimes. He is driven mad by a poison sprinkled into his helmet by Lodovico. When he momentarily recovers his senses from the poison, Lodovico strangles him to death. His ghost returns to throw grave dirt upon Flamineo.

BRACHMAN **1615
Only mentioned in Tomkis’ Albumazar. Albumazar’s magical cant includes this allusion.

BRACKENBURY, SIR ROBERT
I. The Lieutenant of the Tower of London in Shakespeare's Richard III. Brackenbury holds the keys to the Tower, and acts as warden to the prisoners kept there. He later dies during the Battle of Bosworth. II. Brackenbury is originally in charge of Marshalsea Prison and later master of the Tower in Thomas Heywood's 2 Edward IV. He asks Mistress Shore's help in pardoning an imprisoned kinsman, Captain Harry Stranguidge, who captured a French ship in ignorance of the recently made French-English peace.

BRACY, SIR JOHN
A loyalist to the crown in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, Sir John Bracy is sent by King Henry to the Boar's Head Tavern with a message requiring Prince Henry to come to court for discussion of the forthcoming Percy war.

BRADAMANTE
Only mentioned as an epithet in Jonson's The Alchemist. Bradamante is the heroine in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso. When Mammon sees Dol Common in passing, he becomes interested in her, calling the lady a "brave piece" and a Bradamante.

BRADBORNE
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Bradborne is mentioned by Sir Cupid Phantsy when he is telling Doctor Clyster about his disease. He is in love and he is obsessed with his appearance and with new garments. Thus, he asks the Doctor: "I pray you, did it not set up Bradborne in the New Exchange?" Bradborne is later mentioned by Doctor Clyster when he is trying to cure Phantsy of his tendency to speak in verse: "For here's old Cupid Bradborne's pedlar's pack." Bradborne was King Charles I's silk man. He lived in the cheap side on the north side until 1638, at least.

BRADSHAW
A man accused of stealing plate from Lord Cheiny in the Anonymous Arden of Feversham. He goes with Greene looking for two ruffians. They meet Black Will and Shakebag. Black Will tells Bradshaw, for a price, that it was Jack Fitten who stole the plate. Bradshaw is relieved that he can escape jail with this information. Mosbie gives him a letter to take to Alice, in it he tells her that the plans for Arden's murder are laid. Later, Bradshaw along with Franklin and Adam Fowle is one of the guests who becomes suspicious when he visits the Arden house after the murder. Michael and Bradshaw are sentenced to die in Feversham (despite Alice's affirmation that Bradshaw was an innocent courier who did not know the contents of the letter he brought her from Mosbie).

BRAGADINE **1636
The son of the Governor of Naples in Killigrew’s The Princess. He likes the looks of Cicilia at the Naples slave market but thinks two thousand sestertia is too much. He jostles Virgilius as he leaves and they exchange ‘scurvy’ looks. He buys Cicilia before Virgilius’s man can return with the money and sets his soldiers on Virgilius when Virgilius kills Bragadine’s servant for touching Cicilia. He is shamed by Paulina into leaving Cicilia with her. Olympia, however, betrays to him that Paulina loves Virgilius, and he plans to catch them when they attempt their escape. He lies in wait with two hired bravos and shoots Virgilius. Believing he has killed Virgilius, he comes from hiding only to discover his shot merely glanced the prince. He fights Virgilius and is killed.

BRAGADINO
Bragadino is a martial Spaniard, and ally of Egypt in Chapman's The Blind Beggar of Alexandria. He woos Elimine, in competition with Count Hermes (Irus in disguise), and loses.

BRAGARDO
Bragardo is a Ruffian, and the master of Bizardo in the anonymous Wit of a Woman. A miles gloriousus figure, on his first appearance he announces his intention of marrying one of the Wenches. He meets disguised gallants, who better him in repartee and sell him a series of worthless goods and services: an allegedly magic "character", some make-up, a supposedly breath-sweetening pill, and a dancing lesson which ends with him being tripped. He arrives at Balia's house in the middle of the wedding preparations, where he is insulted by the servants. Balia invites him in, but off stage, the Gallants beat him again and cut off his hair and beard. He flees from Balia's house in disgrace.

BRAGGART**1595
An alternative designation for Armado in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost. Armado is not, however, in the mold of the Miles Gloriosus but rather the stock Spanish soldier, the verbose and pompous bore.

BRAGGART**1605
At the behest of Somebody in the Anonymous Nobody and Somebody, the braggart subdues Nobody only to lose his quarry when the clown rescues him.

BRAHE, TYCHO
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Tycho Brahe is mentioned by Doctor Clyster when, having heard Master Algebra's claim that "the earth moves and that the sun stands still", he replies "Sir, this was a drunken conceit of Copernicus the German and Tycho Brahe the Dane." Later, Copernicus is mentioned by Doctor Clyster again, when he offers Master Algebra a cure for his disease: "I shall beseech you not to taste Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, or Kepler, but especially Galileo." Tycho Brahe (1546-1601) was a brilliant astronomer and scientist. He supported the theory that the earth remained fixed in the center of the universe, and that the moon and the sun circulated around it. He also added that the rest of the planets circulated around the sun.

BRAINS
Brains is servant to Sir George Richley in Shirley's The Witty Fair One. His commission is to keep Richley's daughter Violetta secluded-especially from Frank Aimwell-pending her wedding to Sir Nicholas Treedle. Brains manages to interfere with Violetta's epistles but is separated from his mistress through trickery that leads to his temporary arrest. He advises Sir Treedle, who has wedded a chambermaid, Sensible, disguised as Violetta, to save face by claiming the marriage was no accident.

BRAINSICKE, SAMUEL
Samuell Brainsicke is a licentious young gentleman in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen who is in prison when the play starts. He sends his boy, Fewtricks, to see Undermine with a letter in which he asks the wealthy man for money to be able to pay his bail (or to bribe someone–that is not too clear) to leave prison, since his old father is dying. Undermine is actually moved by what the boy reports and gives the money to him. Later, when Brainsicke is reminded by Clutch of the fact that he has to write to his father, the young gentleman plans to write a threatening letter in order to shock and kill the old man. But he is soon dissuaded by Clutch and Fewtricks, who argue that in the event that his father should not die when reading the letter, he would remember its contents and wish to take revenge on his son. However, if he lets the old man live long enough to write his will–considering that he will most certainly disinherit his son and leave his property to his servants–on his death, his son could argue he was a lunatic, which would make the will void before the law, and, thus, everything would go to him. Once out of prison, Brainsicke goes to visit Undermine with the intention of making him drunk–offering him wine and telling him stories about Greek gods. On a second visit to the wealthy man, he meets a Creditor's servant who has been cheated by Undermine. Suddenly he sees Miniona, and notices that she is extremely kind to him. But he soon realizes that her intention is to dissuade him from giving her father away to his creditors. Thus, he decides to see how far she can go. Then, Hodge brings him a letter from the country with the news that his old father has passed away, and Brainsicke seems to be pleased to hear it. He explains to Miniona that, being the elder brother (he has another brother and two sisters) he will be the administrator of the fortune. Afterwards, he asks her to marry him, but he has to overcome her reluctance, based on her awareness of the licentious life he has been leading. When she finally accepts him, he then makes it a condition that they will not give any money to her father, not even if he asks for it. Later, when the girl meets her father, although she is eager to break the news of her betrothal to him, Brainsicke advises her not to do it yet, because he wants to prolong his suffering–since Undermine is being prosecuted by his creditors–to see if, in the meantime, her father dies. In the end, he marries Miniona, and he goes to visit his father-in-law. The latter–on learning that his son-in-law's father has passed away, and in the belief that the young man has been bequeathed a fortune–asks Brainsicke to pay his debts. But the youth then shows him the letter his father had sent him, which reveals that the only property he has inherited from his father is a bull.

BRAINWORM
Brainworm is Knowell's servant in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. His character is the finding out of things with the purpose of fooling everybody, but he is fooled in the end himself. In a street before Knowell's house in London, Brainworm opens the door to his master, who arrived to visit his supposedly studious son. Brainworm sees that Knowell intercepted a letter addressed to his son, and promises to deliver it to Edward Knowell as if it had never been opened. However, when he gives the letter to the son, Brainworm tells him his father has read it and is very angry about its contents. At Moorfields, Brainworm enters disguised as a maimed soldier and introduces himself to Knowell as Fitz-Sword, pretending to serve him faithfully. In fact, the servant intends to learn the father's plans and reveal them to his son. At Kitely's house, Brainworm enters disguised in Formal's clothes, pretending to summon Kitely to a meeting with Justice Clement. When Kitely exits, Wellbred congratulates Brainworm on his disguise, telling him to deliver a message to Edward Knowell. Still in Formal's clothes, Brainworm meets Mathew and Bobadill, who pay the supposed clerk to procure them a warrant for Downright's arrest. Brainworm enters disguised as a city sergeant, telling Mathew and Bobadill he has a warrant to arrest Downright. When Downright enters, Brainworm/Sergeant pretends to arrest him. The entire party goes before Justice Clement. In the final scene, Brainworm's multiple disguises, and his treachery towards Knowell, are revealed. He is repentant and forgiven.

BRAMBLE**1605
Master Bramble is the lawyer in Jonson, Marston, and Chapman's Eastward Ho! who draws the papers for the transfer of property from Gertrude to Petronel after the marriage and concomitantly for the sale of the land. At the Blue Anchor tavern, the malicious Security brings Bramble along, apparently to take their leave of Sir Petronel. In fact, Security believes that Bramble's wife is eloping with Petronel. Bramble notices that the masked lady's garments look very much like Winifred's, Security's wife, and he tells Security so. Because he believes that the fugitive masked lady is Bramble's wife, Security laughs, telling Bramble he sails to Cuckold Haven. When Sir Petronel, Quicksilver, and Security are imprisoned, Bramble comes to the Counter to offer them legal advice. Bramble tells Sir Petronel and Quicksilver that there are no judges in town till the next session, so the prisoners cannot be bailed. However, if they have a friend to vouch for them to some justice of the town, they may be bailed. Bramble presents their case in legal terms, telling them that they may claim the imprisonment was done under terror and they might start an action of false detention against Touchstone. When Quicksilver hears from Wolf that Golding showed pity for them, he sends Bramble away, telling him to trouble them no more with his legal winding devices.

BRAMBLE**1635
A nickname in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. It is a name by which Master Silence addresses to Bill Bond when they are rejoicing in their cozening art. "Master Bramble" is a name usually used with lawyers.

BRAMBLE, MISTRESS
Mistress Bramble is Bramble's wife and a "ghost character" in Jonson, Marston, and Chapman's Eastward Ho!. When Sir Petronel plots to trick Security and elope with Winifred, he tells the usurer that he is to run away with Bramble's wife, thus generating a number of deceits and disguises.

BRANCATIUS
Brancatius betroths his daughter, Rosimunda, to Cantalupo, who is old enough to be her father in (?)Jeffere's The Bugbears. She is saved from this mismatch to marry her secret husband, only when Brancatius is fooled into accepting sufficient dowry money from his brother, Donatus.

BRAND, WILL
I. Will Brand is John's henchman in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. He is first ordered to take care of Lady Bruce and her son by removing them from the custody of Walter Blunt and locking them away without food. He does this, lying to Lady Bruce in order to get her to agree. Later it is revealed that John had a change of heart and told Brand to take them food, which Brand promised to do, but did not. His next task is to poison Matilda if she will not submit to John. She, of course, refuses, and Brand tells her that he will now poison her. Rather than fearing death, Matilda welcomes it, and thanks both John and Brand for allowing her to die of poison as Robin did. Her courage and forgiveness terrify Brand and he runs from the room and attempts to hang himself high in a tree. The branch gives way and he falls to his death. II. Loyal but brutal servant to Chester in Davenport's King John and Matilda. He takes Lady Bruce and her younger son George into captivity and receives a letter from his imprisoned master to treat his captives no better than he is treated. He has already denied them food, and when Lady Bruce rejects his sexual advances, he starves them to death. He takes the King's commission to murder Matilda in the convent. He is lured out of hiding by Matilda's cousin Young Bruce and killed in revenge for all three deaths. Before dying, he absolves the King from the deaths of the Bruces by confessing to his own motivation (frustrated lechery) for starving mother and son.

BRANDENBURG**1604
Joachim Carolus, Marquess of Brandenburg, is one of the seven Electors of Germany, and Treasurer to Alphonsus in the anonymous Alphonsus Emperor of Germany. He and Trier are described as "simple men that wish the common good", and he himself is an aged man. He supports the election of Bohemia as co-Emperor; is physician in the revels; and fights for Alphonsus against Richard.

BRANDENBURG**1634
Marquess of Brandenburg, ally to Wallenstein in Glapthorne's Albertus Wallenstein. When Wallenstein decides to defy the Emperor, he is summoned to Dresden to join in the rebel league. He believes that Wallenstein's league will bring overdue peace to Germany and is happy to sign the treaty.

BRANDENBURGH
Marquesse Brandenburgh is loyal to the King of Bohemia in Smith's The Hector of Germany . He supports Savoy's claim to the German throne. He is captured in battle at the beginning of the play in a skirmish with Saxon and the Bastard. Brandenburgh spends the vast majority of the play imprisoned. Clynton and Old Fitzwaters free him at the end of the play.

BRANDIMART
King of the Isles in Greene's Orlando Furioso. Sides with Rodamant, Mandricard and Sacripant. Along with Rodamant, escapes Orlando's initial attack. Killed by Orlando when he and Rodamant attempt to rape Angelica after she is banished.

BRANDINO **1616
Brandino is a local justice and husband of Philippa in Thomas Middleton's The Widow. Finding a letter he believes was written by Francisco to his wife, he nevertheless believes Francisco's explanation that he was only testing Philippa's fidelity. He never suspects that Francisco has designs upon Philippa. He refuses to bail Francisco out of jail when it becomes apparent that Francisco has been arrested for an insult to Brandino's sister-in-law Valeria. Seeking medicine, he visits Latrocino, discovering there Ansaldo wearing Brandino's own clothing. Because his own purse has been stolen by Latrocino's confederates, Brandino gives his seal ring to Latrocino in promise of payment when the purse is found. Brandino's probable jealousy at finding Ansaldo in his house is what causes Philippa to dress Ansaldo in her own clothing.

BRANDINO**1624
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's A Wife for a Month. He is referred to as the "Father to the Princess" (although there is no princess in the play). Before the beginning of the play Brandino had attempted to cure the rightful heir Alphonso of his melancholy so that he could inherit the throne of Naples.

BRANDON
Brandon is in charge of the guards who arrest Buckingham in Shakespeare's Henry VIII.

BRANDON, CHARLES
I. A "ghost character" in Dekker and Webster's Sir Thomas Wyatt. When Sir Thomas Wyatt pleads with Queen Mary to have mercy on Lady Jane Grey, he calls attention to their close blood ties, reminding her that the queen's own aunt Mary, Queen of France, (Henry VIII's youngest sister) married Charles Brandon, the first Duke of Suffolk. Their daughter Frances is Lady Jane's mother. II. BRANDON, CHARLES **1604
Duke of Suffolk in Rowley’s When You See Me. He brings in the French ambassadors to meet Henry. He conspires with the king, who wishes to see London by night and in disguise. His part will be to await the king at Baynards Castle. When called, he goes with Compton to the counter and redeems the king. He tells Henry the old French king has died and is sent to France to collect Henry’s sister, the queen. It is unclear whether Brandon or Compton is sent to give a ring to Catherine “Parry" and send Anne of Cleves back to her home, but it is one of the two. He marries Harry’s sister, Mary, at Dover as they are returning from France. Henry pretends to send him to the Tower for it but relents and blesses the match.

BRANDON, SIR WILLIAM
Supporter of Richmond in Shakespeare's Richard III. Brandon bears Richmond's standard and is killed during the Battle of Bosworth.

BRANDRON
Brandron is a giant, who lives in a castle in Macedonia in Kirke's The Seven Champions of Christendom. He has abducted the daughters of the King of Macedon, but they turned into swans before he could rape them. He captures Suckabus, who has raided the larder, but Suckabus uses magic to make Brandron fall in love with him. Brandron dotes on Suckabus. When Saints Andrew, Anthony, Denis, David, James and Patrick arrive to slay Brandron, Suckabus tricks them and imprisons them. Brandron orders the champions to support him or die, and forces them to fight St. George when he arrives. But George defeats all six champions, and Brandon, rather than be killed by George, beats out his own brains.

BRANDWELL, GRIG **1637
A hangman and tavern keeper in the anonymous The Wasp. 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.

BRATS, TWENTY
Probably fantasy characters in (?)Speed’s The Converted Robber. Autolius, in boasting of his masculinity, claims that there are already twenty brats grown old enough to call him father, the youngest already able to pick a purse.

BRAVE
The brave is hired by Machvile to assassinate Raymond in Rawlins's The Rebellion. The Brave hides under a table and stabs Raymond. The Brave is killed by Raymond's wife Philippa.

BRAVO**1611
The Bravo arrives at the merchant Bartervile's house in Dekker's If It Be Not Good to deliver pension payments from the whorehouses. He asks Bartervile to shut down the tobacco shops, since they detract from the whores' business.

BRAVO**1620
An unnamed assailant, or assassin in Fletcher and Massinger's Custom of the Country, hired by Leopold to maim Arnoldo, whose accidental interference in Leopold's pursuit of Hippolyta has provoked his resentment. The Bravo debates his fee for mutilation, explaining that he charges more for non-fatal disfigurement than outright killing, to cover the overheads involved in likely retaliation by his victim. His services are ultimately not required.

BRAVO **1635
Bravo is the name assumed by the disguised father of Aurelio in Marmion's The Antiquary. Playing the part of a braggadocio, Bravo is hired by Moccinigo to kill Aurelio. With Aemelia's help, Bravo plays a madman and convicts Moccinigo of his crime.

BRAVOS, TWO **1636
In Killigrew’s The Princess, Bragadine hires two men to help surprise Virgilius and Facertes in their attempt to free Cicilia. The first Bravo’s name is Ennius. He is an acquaintance of Olympia’s and claims to have killed two men for her, the last one named Olympick. They ambush Facertes and Virgilius. Facertes kills Ennius while Virgilius kills the second bravo.

BRAYDE
Disguise adopted by Shackle in order to cheat Undermine in ?Clavell's The Soddered Citizen. He claims he was a "Haberdasher of small ware." In that guise, he, together with Clutch and Brainsicke (also disguised), mislead the wealthy man into believing that they intend to help citizens like Undermine who, due to their knavery, have become bankrupt and are prosecuted by their creditors. They offer to hide and protect him in their household until everything is over.

BRAZEN HEAD
A magical representation in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. After seven years of necromantic labor, Friar Bacon has all but completed the talking head of brass that is to be one of his greatest accomplishments. For the final sixty days of the process, Bacon and Friar Bungay share the duty of monitoring the Head so that the last tasks may be attended to when the Head begins to speak. Nearly overcome by fatigue, Bacon assigns Miles the duty of watching the Head and reporting to him when it finds its voice. Because the lean-witted Miles has heard that the Head will be capable of delivering long speeches, he fails to wake Bacon when the object utters the words "Time is." A brief while later, the Head speaks the words "Time was," and still Miles fails to call the friar. Finally, the Head says "Time is past," and the Hand With the Hammer breaks it into pieces. Only then does the foolish student wake the friar.

BRAZIER
The Brazier is a petitioner used by Vortiger to vex Constantius in Middleton's Hengist.

BREAD–AND–MEAT MAN
The Bread and Meat Man in J.D.'s The Knave In Grain New Vamped begs for charity bread and meat to feed the prisoners in jail. Julio buys all his stock and uses it to gull the gallants into thinking they have eaten a great meal.

BRECKNOCKE **1599
The outgoing Burgomaster of Athens in Ruggle’s Club Law. Cricket hits him with an apple. He offers Niphle advice on running Athens but is generally ignored. In the fight, he is bested by Musonius. When Niphle comes to him and asks him to go along to the duke to complain for remedy, Brecknocke refuses. He prefers mending fences with the students and regaining his estate. He is offended when Niphle calls him an ass. He agrees to Niphle’s compromise plan to appear to make peace with the students and look for an opportunity for revenge.

BRECKNOCKE, PETER **1599
Brecknocke’s son in Ruggle’s Club Law. He brings out some cudgels when it is time to go beat the “Athenians."

BREDERO
A lord of the States of Holland in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt; favours Maurice.

BREMO
When Amadine and Mucedorus decide to run away together in the Anonymous Mucedorus, their rendezvous in the forest is prevented by Bremo, a wild man, who captures Amadine. He plans to kill and eat her, but a mysterious power prevents him from acting and he decides to make her his mate instead. Later, Bremo captures Mucedorus, who is disguised as a hermit. Mucedorus and Amadine escape Bremo and return to Aragon, where they are married.

BRENNORALT
The hero of Suckling's Brennoralt. He is the "discontented colonel" of the subtitle, loyal, despite his discontent, to King Sigismond. Brennoralt generally takes a hard line against the rebels, discouraging the king from pardoning those he captures; but he is secretly in love with Francelia, the daughter of the rebellious Palatine of Mensecke, and for her sake saves the life of her brother, Fresolin. Informed by his friend Doran that Francelia is engaged to Almerin, Brennoralt enters the rebels' fort with the help of the servants Raguelin and Orilla and reaches Francelia's room in secret; she sets his mind at rest about Almerin but will not say she loves Brennoralt himself, since she has secretly fallen in love with Iphigene. At the end of the play, Brennoralt storms the fort and finds Francelia dying of stab-wounds, with Iphigene beside her; he kills Iphigene, whom he thinks the guilty man. Almerin rushes in, telling Brennoralt that Iphigene is in fact an innocent woman, and the two fight; Brennoralt kills Almerin, and then retires into private life, refusing the King's offers of two vacant palatinates on the grounds that they have come too late.

BRENNUS
In the introduction to Fisher's Fuimus Troes, Mercury enters with the ghosts of Brennus and Camillus. Brennus was the leader of the Gauls who crossed the Appenine in 391 AD, annihilated a Roman army of 40,000 men at the Allia in 390 AD, and then ransacked Rome. M. Furius Camillus was the Roman dictator who finally drew the Gauls under Brennus from the city (cf. Plutarch, Lives, "Camillus"). The two warriors are in complete armor, they have their swords drawn and want to continue their fight, till Mercury tells them that they cannot kill each other because have already been dead for a long time. But now, so many years later, Romans and Britains are again at war, and the two ghosts should incite their countrymen. In scene II.vii, the ghost of Brennus appears and speaks to Nennius and the ghost of Camillus to Caesar. Caesar later mentions that Camillus visits him every night, and after Nennius' death, Cassibelane mentions that Brennus has visited him. At the end of the play, they comment on the braveness of their countrymen, and Mercury has the two ghosts become friends at last.

BRETANDONA
A "ghost character" in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. According to Como, he leads the Levantines who form the sixth squadron of the Babylonian Armada sent to attack Titania.

BRETHREN**1610
"Ghost characters" in Jonson's The Alchemist. The Brethren of the Anabaptist sect. Tribulation refers to them as "Saints." Subtle is willing, for a price, to help them find the Philosopher's Stone for the Cause. Subtle lists the benefits the Brethren and their cause could obtain from his magic. Besides being able to attract a large number of Hollanders to the sect with their money, the medical potions will cure the gout, palsy, dropsy, leper, bone-ache, or ladies' wrinkles. By helping cure people, Subtle argues, the Anabaptist Brethren would gain many friends and followers. Showing extensive knowledge of the Puritan principles and actions, Subtle says that the Brethren need no longer libel prelates, or rail against plays, or take names as Tribulation, Persecution, or Restraint, which would affect the entire family. Tribulation confirms that the Brethren have invented these practices for the propagation of their generous Cause.

BRETHREN**1614
The Puritan Brethren of Banbury are "ghost characters" in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Banbury is a town in Oxfordshire, proverbially noted for Puritans and cakes. Littlewit informs Winwife that Dame Purecraft is entertaining Busy, whom Littlewit describes as an old elder who comes from Banbury. According to Littlewit, Busy praises the painful Brethren and says grace as long as his heart lasts him.

BRETON
A Lord attending the Duke of Savoy in Chapman's The Conspiracy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He appears in the opening scene in Paris.

BRETT, ALEXANDER
Alexander Brett is a captain in Dekker and Webster's Sir Thomas Wyatt who first serves with the Dukes of Northumberland and Suffolk, but later takes service with the Duke of Norfolk. In the first phase of his employment, he is ordered to quarter his troops in Cambridge and learns at that place that the people are not sympathetic to Lady Jane Grey or her supporters. With the Duke of Norfolk at Rochester, Brett is ordered to take his five hundred Londoners and lead the attack upon Wyatt's forces, but during his speech encouraging his men to fight bravely, he finds himself admitting that Wyatt's attempt to prevent a marriage between Phillip of Spain and Queen Mary is his cause too and leads all his men over to Wyatt's side. When Wyatt attempts to attack London, however, Brett's troops realize that their fellow citizens remain firmly supportive of Queen Mary, and although Brett grudgingly remains with Wyatt, his London troops quietly steal away.

BREWER **1638
A “ghost character" in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable. One of the watchmen knows of a brewer who, being a constable, earned enough from being bribed by prostitutes that he bought a new mash-vat and mended all his coolers.

BREWER, ROBIN **1595
Robin is the More household brewer in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. Like Giles the porter, Ralph the horsekeeper, and the other servants, he is upset upon learning that More must die. With his fellows, he will receive a gift of twenty nobles for his good service.

BREWERS
Two non-speaking Brewers accompany Wildeman to beat Aristippus, Simplicius and the scholars off stage in Randolph's Aristippus. They seriously wound Aristipppus in the head.

BREY
A "ghost character" in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker. One of the English soldiers praised by Arguile for their bravery in mounting the scaling ladders at the siege of Leith.

BRIAN
See also 'BRYAN."

BRIAN
Constable and gamekeeper in the Anonymous The Merry Devil of Edmonton. He helps Peter Fabell and the young lovers. After her escape from the nunnery, Milliscent is to be brought to his lodge in the wood. But Brian's Wood is also the place where Sir John, Banks, Blague and Smug go poaching. Brian tries to surprise them in the act. Milliscent, Raymond, Frank and Henry are startled and disperse as they hear the voices of the poachers and of Brian's men. They fear that they are already pursued by the two knights, Sir Ralph Ierningham and Sir Arthur Clare. Brian finds Millicent, and as the others of her party reappear he hears that the poachers have fled towards Enfield. When the two knights arrive in pursuit of the young lovers, Brian delays them by accusing them of poaching.

BRIAN **1607
A "ghost character" in The London Merchant portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. The "honest host of the Red Roaring Lion" in Waltham from whom Humphrey bought his sorrel horse.

BRIAN MacTEAGE
This is one of the two names to which Edmond answers in his disguise as an Irishman in Dekker, Ford and Rowley's The Welsh Embassador.

BRIAREUS
A "ghost character" in Heywood's The Silver Age. Pluto recounts the defeat of this hundred-handed giant during the giants' struggle against Jupiter.

BRIBERY
A "ghost character" in Wilson's The Three Ladies of London. A guest at the wedding of Dissimulation and Love.

BRICKLAYER
Character that takes part in the construction of the tower in (?)Brome's The Cunning Lovers. In Act One, he is told by the Clown to build chimneys that would cast heat without heat in it.

BRIDE
The bride is a beggar in Brome's A Jovial Crew. She is eighty years old and blind while her groom is eighty-seven and lame. The other beggars plan a masque to celebrate the nuptials.

BRIDE**1638
The unnamed title character of Nabbes' The Bride. As the play begins, she is about to marry Goodlove despite his much greater age. However, when Theophilus expresses his affection for the Bride, she reciprocates his affections and the young couple flees, whereupon Goodlove reveals that he had intended all along to give the Bride to Theophilus. The couple arrives at Squirrel's tavern, where they argue when Theophilus expresses guilt over his abandonment of Goodlove and says he will not marry the Bride without the full consent of her parents and Goodlove. Raven arrives and urges them to flee to the country, falsely telling them that Goodlove has disinherited Theophilus. Before they can leave, the blades arrive (secretly prompted by Raven) and nearly carry off the Bride, but Theophilus fights them and forces them to surrender their weapons. Theophilus begins to suspect Raven's sincerity, and when Justice Ferrett arrives and tells him of Goodlove's plans, he resolves to return to Goodlove and find out the truth. Justice and Mistress Ferrett take the Bride to Horten's house, where she is left alone with Maligo and Rhenish. While they are fighting over her, Kickshaw escorts her off instead and tries to rape her, but she is saved when she comes across Theophilus. The couple run off together again, and finally show up again in the play's final scene. Then it is revealed that Theophilus has ingratiated himself with the Bride's father and gained his blessing, and Raven reveals that Theophilus is actually Goodlove's biological son.

BRIDE, CANDIDO'S
During her wedding reception in Dekker's 2 Honest Whore, Candido's Bride strikes one of the apprentices (possibly Luke) for having served her a cup of sack instead of claret. Her behavior here makes it appear that Candido, the patient husband, may have found in his second wife another shrew like his first (Viola of Part One). However, when Lodovico (disguised as an apprentice in order to teach her a lesson) arranges for Candido to appear impatient with her and to feign being a domineering husband, the Bride surprises everyone by immediately submitting to Candido.

BRIDE, MOTHER Wife of Old Thomas Stukeley and mother of the title character, Captain Thomas Stukeley, in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley. She disagrees with her husband's displeasure over the urban antics and overseas adventures of their son.

BRIDGES
Family name of Bess, the titular character in Thomas Heywood's The Fair Maid of the West, Part One and also his The Fair Maid of the West, Part Two.

BRIDGET**1592
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors. Bridget is a serving woman at the Phoenix Inn belonging to Antipholus Sereptus and Adriana. Dromio of Ephesus calls to her and the other serving women to open the door to him and their master. Inside, Dromio of Syracuse responds "malt-horse" (i.e. drudge) to this name.

BRIDGET**1598
Bridget is Kitely's sister in Jonson's Every Man in His Humour. She lives in her brother's house and is courted by Mathew, but ends by marrying Edward Knowell. At Kitely's house in the Old Jewry, Bridget enters with Dame Kitely and the party of gallants. While Mathew is courting her ardently, Bridget plays him down, mocking him covertly. At the same time, however, she might show silent signs of acceptance to Edward Knowell, who is present at the party. When Downright insults the gallants and the men draw swords, Bridget and Dame Kitely call for help. When Kitely enters and the gallants disperse, Bridget stands up to her brother, defending one special gentleman, later to be identified as Edward Knowell. When Kitely tells her he must be her lover, Bridget does not deny. Moreover, she warns him that he may be prepared to pay her dowry sooner than he thinks. Bridget exits with Dame Kitely. At Kitely's house, Bridget is at dinner with her brother, his wife, and Wellbred. When Kitely is lured away on a false pretext, Wellbred tries to convince Bridget that Edward Knowell loves her and she should marry him. Lured by Wellbred's promise of marriage with Edward Knowell, Bridget exits accompanied by her brother-in-law to a secret assignation with her lover. In the final reconciliation scene, Bridget is brought with Edward Knowell before the judge, where they are officially united, with their families' consent. Bridget is silent during this scene, but it is understood that she is blushing.

BRIDGET**1624
A "ghost character" in Middleton's A Game at Chess. A daughter of the Black Bishop's Pawn who, as does her sister Blanche, writes to her father from "safe sanctuary in the Whitefriars" (which implies that she is a prostitute).

BRIDGET**1630
Bridget is Josina's maid in Brome's The City Wit. Though courted by Sarpego, she ultimately marries Crack.

BRIDGET BOULTON **1599
A “ghost character" in Ruggle’s Club Law. Probably a prostitute. She a mutual acquaintance of Luce’s and Sponer.

BRIGHT**1637
One of two Templars along with Newcut, one of Frank Plotwell’s “Fleet street friends" in Mayne’s City Match. He resents Warehouse taking Plotwell from the Temple to make him a journeyman. Bright and Newcut tear off Frank’s velvet jacket (his merchant weeds) and tell him to put on one of his Temple suits of silk. He engages in a war of wits along with Newcut, Timothy, and Frank, and she bests them. Bright and Newcut overhear Baneswright’s plan to marry Warehouse to Madam Aurelia and go to dissuade her from the match. They try to talk her out of marrying the cold old man and taking instead their friend Frank Plotwell. She says she knows him to be only a prodigal and abused with the company of Bright and Newcut who live by “the new heresy" of Platonic Love. They agree later to help Frank in his plan to abuse Warehouse. After the faux marriage, the footmen bring in two “night pieces" for the new bride, Dorcas. When Warehouse pulls the curtains aside the ‘pictures’ turn out to be Bright and Newcut.

BRIGHT, LADY
Lady Bright is also called 'Widow' in speech prefixes of Field's Amends for Ladies. She and Lady Honour and Lady Perfect dispute whether it is better to be a maid, a wife or a widow. Having listened to the conversation between Lady Honour and Ingen, Lady Perfect and Lady Bright mock Lady Honour's previous praise of her suitor. Lady Bright is the subject of attention from Lord Feesimple and Bold; she has forbidden Bold to come within her sight. Bold disguises himself as an elderly waiting-gentlewoman, Mary Princox, and arranges to have himself introduced to Lady Bright as a former servant of Bold's sister. Bold attends Lady Bright, and is invited to share her bed. He removes his disguise and attempts to seduce her; she draws a sword on him. He claims that having shared a bed they must now marry; she declares that she does not care about public opinion. She claims to love him, but will not marry him, and turns him out of the house naked. Bold sends his friend Welltried to tell Lady Bright that he is going to marry another woman. At the wedding, Welltried and Bold introduce Lady Bright to a masked woman who is supposedly Bold's fiancée. "She" is really the disguised Lord Feesimple, who thinks that he has been brought there to marry Lady Bright. Lady Bright swears that she will not oppose Bold's marriage, saying that her lands and goods will be forfeit if she does. Bold then asks the Parson to marry them, saying that if she declines, her lands and goods are forfeit to him. At this, Lady Bright capitulates–'since there's no remedy. | Your widow (without goods) sells scurvily"–and agrees to marry Bold.

BRIGHTMAN, THOMAS
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Brightman is mentioned by Signor Jealousia as he is telling Doctor Clyster the details regarding the reason why he believes his wife is being unfaithful to him: "I read Brightman's book of proving the pope Antichrist with so many hornes." Thomas Brightman is the author of the book A Revelation of the Apocalypse (1611).

BRIONELLA **1607
A fantasy "ghost character" in The Grocer's Honour portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. Referred to by the Knight of the Burning Pestle as the beauteous damsel that girt his sword about him. It is a name he has taken from the Palmerin tales. Though Brionella at first appears to be the Lady for whom the Knight of the Burning Pestle quests, she is mentioned only this once and her function is later assumed by Susan, the cobbler's daughter of Milk Street, who appears to be Rafe's actual girlfriend.

BRISAC**1604
Brisac is a French courtier and Bussy's friend in Chapman's Bussy D'Ambois. After Bussy forced the Duke to back down temporarily, Barrisor, D'Alou and Pyrhot confront Bussy, Brisac and Melynell. The six resolve to settle their differences via the blade. According to Nuntius, Brisac faces off against L'Anou in battle. Barrisor initially offers to fight Bussy alone, but L'Anou and Pyrhot insist upon joining the fight against D'Ambois' comrades. Brisac is slain by L'Anou in the subsequent skirmish.

BRISAC**1625
A wealthy justice in Fletcher's The Elder Brother. He is delighted when his neighbor Lewis proposes a marriage between one of Brisac's sons and Lewis's daughter Angellina. Brisac argues bitterly with his brother Miramont about which son is suitable for marriage: the scholarly Charles will be unable to manage Brisac's considerable estates, and Brisace prefers the superficial courtier Eustace. Brisac plots to disinherit Charles by having his inheritance transferred to Eustace, assuring the furious Miramont and Charles's loyal servant Andrew that Charles will always have an income to pay for his books. After arranging an elaborate wedding banquet, Brisac is dismayed that Charles, who has suddenly fallen in love with Angellina, is unwilling to sign the legal documents transferring his inheritance. When Angellina unexpectedly accepts Charles's marriage proposal, Brisac disowns his son, then encourages Eustace and his courtier friends Egremont and Cowsy to recover Angellina. Confronted by Lewis and ordered to deliver Angellina, who has taken refuge with Brisac's brother Miramont, Brisac rages about Angellina's fickleness and, when alone, decides to seek comfort in the arms of Lilly, the wife of Charles's servant Andrew for whom Brisac has purchased a nearby farm. With Andrew and eventually Miramont watching, Brisac has his assignation with Lilly. She allows some flirting and fondling, but refuses to have sex with Brisac, citing his advanced age as her reason. When Brisac threatens to take away the farm, Lilly retorts that she will tell the judge all about it, but then decides to give in to Brisac's importunities in order to avoid a lawsuit. Andrew and Miramont interrupt and humiliate the couple, threatening Brisac with public exposure and loss of his judgeship. Brisac leaves in a fury, cursing everyone. After his house is seized by Lewis, Brisac accompanies his neighbor to Paris in the hope that the King will hear their case. Along the way, Lewis refuses to listen to Brisac's defense. Brisac is eventually rescued by his sons Charles and Eustace, and Miramont persuades Lewis to drop the suit against Brisac.

BRISCO**1611
Like Spendola, Jovinelli, and Narcisso, Brisco is a Count of Naples in Dekker's If It Be Not Good. Under the king's new rule of pleasure, co-authored by the devil Ruffman, Brisco brings aspiring entertainers to court. When the Subprior arrives at court to complain about the corruption of the priory, the King gives management of the priory and its profits to Brisco. During the Duke's seige, he hides with the other courtiers in the merchant Bartervile's cellar. He is betrayed by Bartervile to the Duke of Calabria, captured, and beheaded.

BRISCO **1631
Brisco is the name used by Autolicus in impersonating a Justice's clerk in Marmion's Holland's Leaguer.

BRISEUS
I. A "ghost character" in Heywood's 2 The Iron Age; Cethus uses the fact that Agamemnon took Briseis away from Achilles in his argument to persuade Clitemnestra to murder her husband. II. BRISEIS **1617
A “ghost character" in Goffe’s Orestes. Aegystheus reminds Clytemnestra of Agamemnon’s rape of the priest’s daughter in order to resolve her to the murder.

BRISHIO
Brishio (also Brisheo) is Lelio's father-in-law and father of Zepherius and Orphinio in the anonymous Knack To Know An Honest Man. When he hears that Lelio apparently killed Sempronio, a gentleman of Venice, because the latter had tried to seduce Lelio's wife (Brishio's daughter), he helps Lelio escape despite that fact if caught he himself will be banished and his goods confiscated. When questioned by Fortunio and Marchetto, Brishio admits to helping Lelio escape, explaining that his goods and two sons are nothing compared with helping his honorable son-in-law. (This leads the disguised Sempronio, also present at the questioning, to say "Here's a knack to know an honest man." After he is expelled from Venice, Brishio becomes a successful soldier for the Duke of Milan who chooses him to be his champion in a fight against the champion of the Duke of Florence, to settle the war between the two dukes. Florence's champion turns out of be Lelio, Brishio's son-in-law. When they each discover the identity of the other, they refuse to fight. As a consequence, Milan and Florence agree follow their example and to settle their differences as Brishio and Lelio decide. Meanwhile Brishio's sons have also been forced to flee Venice after defending their niece and sister against Fortunio, the Duke of Venice's son. They end up in Florence and try to force Lelio to return to Venice so that their father may return to Venice. When Brishio learns of this, he severely reprimands them and they withdraw their insistence. Nevertheless Lelio leaves voluntarily for Venice, but Brishio assumes he does so as a result of his sons' treatment. He tells them to go to Venice to rescue Lelio even if it means they have to die themselves. They obey. He has second thoughts soon after the sons have left and so leaves for Venice himself, to save their lives. He arrives in Venice as Lelio and his two sons have been sentenced to death and offers himself up to the same punishment, saying he values law and that is what the law demands. (A senator points out that a hundred crown fine, not death, is the proper punishment for his deed.) Brishio has no money so cannot pay the fine, and when his granddaughter Lucida offers to pay the fine herself, Brishio rejects her offer. He has nothing to live for if his sons and son-in law are executed. All the while, Lelio has been insisting that he himself should be executed. Eventually the Duke forgives everyone except Lelio, and once again Brishio steps forward asking that all be forgiven or all executed.

BRISK, FASTIDIOUS
Fastidious Brisk is an affecting courtier, fashionably dressed but always in debt in Jonson's Every Man out of His Humour. The name suggests a boring person, from the Italian fastidioso, tedious, dull. Under the mask of this character it is possible to read a satire of Samuel Daniel, accepted poet of the court, sonneteer, and follower of men's fashion. Before Puntavorlo's country house, Fastidious Brisk enters with Carlo Buffone and Sogliardo. The three men have a silly conversation about hobbyhorses and amusing pastimes. At Deliro's house in London, Fastidious Brisk boasts his connections at court and his fashionable suits. Fastidious Brisk asks Deliro in private to lend him some money, and exits after the merchant. At St. Paul's, Fastidious Brisk enters with Deliro and Macilente but mixes with the Puntavorlo party. In an apartment at court, Fastidious Brisk enters with Macilente boasting about his favor with a certain court lady. When Saviolina enters, however, Macilente witnesses how she makes a fool of Fastidious Brisk. At Puntavorlo's lodgings in London, Fastidious Brisk comes to sign the insurance papers. After a conversation praising the excellence of life at court, Fastidious Brisk exits with the Puntavorlo party to go to court. At court, Fastidious Brisk enters with Puntavorlo, Fungoso, and Saviolina. The men play a trick on Sogliardo and Saviolina, making them look like fools. Fastidious Brisk exits with the Puntavorlo party to the tavern. During the ensuing brawl at the Mitre Tavern, Fastidious Brisk tries to escape arrest, but Constable seizes him as he is rushing by. Fastidious Brisk and Carlo Buffone are arrested. In prison, Fallace visits Fastidious Brisk and kisses him just when her husband enters. Macilente informs Fastidious Brisk that Delirio has entered three legal actions against him, claiming his bonds. Fastidious Brisk exits in haste to arrange his disastrous financial situation.

BRISKIE
Briskie is Archas's brother in Fletcher's The Loyal Subject. He has secretly raised Archas's youngest son, Young Archas. Hoping that his brother's son would be better protected at court in a woman's disguise (as Alinda) Briskie accompanies him disguised as Putskie, a captain in the army. When Archas wants to kill his son Theodor for having rebelled against the Duke, disclosing that he has another heir, Young Archas, Briskie (still disguised as Putskie) threatens to kill Young Archas unless Archas agrees to pardon Theodor. When Archas forgives Theodor, Briskie reveals that fear of the new Duke's persecution and the anticipation of the old general's disgrace made him educate the boy secretly and bring him to the court disguised as Alinda.

BRISSAC
Family name of Old Brissac and his children, Aphelia and Charles, in Hemming's Fatal Contract. Old Brissac is an elderly and superstitious courtier, afraid for his daughter's honor. He attempts to plead for her life at Clovis's 'funeral' but is ignored. His death is reported later, lending further credibility to his son's part in opposition to the corrupt regime of Fredigond and Clotair.

BRISSONET
A co-conspirator, along with Virolet and Camillo, in a plot to depose the tyrant King Ferrand in Fletcher and Massinger's The Double Marriage. Brissonet brings Ferrand's favorite, Ronvere, to a meeting of the conspirators, to Virolet's dismay. Ronvere promises to assist their efforts by arranging for various noble youth to present a masque of virgins for the lascivious king during which the conspirators will be torchbearers, hiding their swords in the candles. After Ronvere reveals the plot and imprisons the conspirators, Brissonet agrees to take part in an effort to rescue Ferrand's beloved nephew Ascanio from the pirate Sesse. Brissonet does not survive the attack on Sesse's ship.

BRISTLE, DAVY
Davy Bristle is one of the watchmen in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Bristle enters with Haggis, apparently to restore order at the Fair. Bristle tells Haggis that it appears they have come for nothing. It seems that Bristle is well acquainted with the Fair people, but is ignorant of their irony. Later, Bristle and Haggis bring Overdo/Madman to be put into the stocks. When he sees Overdo/Madman kissing the stocks in veneration, Bristle thinks he is a Catholic priest educated at the seminary, who takes the stocks to be a shrine. Bristle describes Overdo as a severe judge who can be angry at times. According to Bristle's peculiar logic, even when Justice Overdo is angry, be it right or wrong, he always has the law on his side. Bristle exits with Haggis, Poacher, and the other officers to take the madman (Overdo) and Busy before Justice Overdo. Following a drunken brawl, Bristle and the officers arrest Wasp, Northern, and Puppy. Since Whit suggests that Northern and Puppy will buy their freedom, Bristle puts only Wasp into the stocks. When Haggis enters with Overdo/Madman and Busy, they put the two prisoners into the stocks. While opening the stocks for the new prisoners, Wasp manages to escape, and Bristle and Haggis must run after him. When they return, Trouble-all creates confusion, Bristle starts fighting with the madman, and the officers forget to lock the stocks. While they are fighting, the prisoners escape. Seeing the empty stocks, Bristle blames it on witchcraft, saying that the madman was a devil and he is an ass.

BRITAEL
King of Demetia (Wales) in Fisher's Fuimus Troes, a follower of Cassibelane.

BRITANNICUS
I. A "ghost character" in Richards' Messalina. Young son of Claudius and Messalina. II. The only son of the Emperor Claudius in May's Julia Agrippina. Britannicus expects to succeed, but Seneca persuades the Senate to pass him over in favor of Nero on the grounds that the latter is older. Britannicus is resentful, and when Nero invites him to sing at a party he suggests that the song should be about the wrongs he has suffered. He is then poisoned by Locusta on Nero's orders.

BRITTAINE, DUKE of
He does not appear on stage in Shakespeare's Richard II, but he is mentioned as the supplier of eight ships and three thousand soldiers for Bolingbroke's army.

BRITTANY
As Henry's army continues its invasion of France in Shakespeare's Henry V, Brittany agrees with the French Dauphin's low estimate of army and leader.

BRITTLE JOY
A personified figure in Wilmot's Tancred and Gismunda. He accompanies Cupid when he arrives from the heavens to assert his power. Cupid has a blue twist of silk in his left hand, which is apparently held by or attached to Brittle Joy and Vain Hope.

BRITTLEWARE
Family name of John (or Jack) and Rebecca in Brome's The Sparagus Garden.

BROCAS
A "ghost character." Although he does not appear on stage in Shakespeare's Richard II, he is mentioned as being executed by Bolingbroke (now King Henry IV) along with Sir Bennet Seely for his part in an attempted rebellion at Oxford.

BROCK **1641
A “ghost character" in Wild’s The Benefice. Marchurch’s ‘grisle’ mare. Hob–nail informs Marchurch that she is laid up with the ‘kibes’ and must be annointed with brimstone and train-oil.

BROCKET, SIR JOHN
Brocket had hoped to be the first to bring Elizabeth the news of her succession in Heywood's 1 If You Know Not Me. He is Captain of Queen Elizabeth's Guards.

BROKENBURY, SIR ROBERT
Sir Robert Brokenbury is in charge of security at the Tower of London in the anonymous True Tragedy of Richard III. After the princes are sent there by the Lord Protector, Brokenbury refuses multiple directives by Richard to kill the boys. When James Terrell appears at the Tower and demands the keys to the boys' cell, Brokenbury protests briefly but hands the keys over to Terrell. Brokenbury is killed at Bosworth Field.

BROKER**1606
A "ghost character" in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. According to Plain Dealing, he causes infection in the Fairy camp at Beria (Tilbury) by hawking commodities to the soldiers at inflated prices.

BROKER **1614
One of the Madmen who torments the Duchess in Webster's The Duchess of Malfi.

BROKER**1626
Pecunia's secretary and Gentleman-usher in Jonson's The Staple of News. He agrees to help Picklock secure Pecunia for himself, rather than for Pennyboy Junior, thereby fulfilling his symbolic function of bringing investors to capital schemes. Thematically, he is equated to a pimp.

BROKER**1631
Together with the Apothecary in Dekker's Wonder of A Kingdom, the usurious Broker makes up the cast of parasites who appear at Iacomo's home to ask him for money under false pretences. The Broker initially pretends to be destitute, having lost all his goods in a fire. Knowing Iacomo to be a generous and benevolent man, he asks to borrow one hundred pounds, and receives this from Iacomo's Steward. But when a lame soldier suddenly arrives and exposes the Broker's real intentions and character, the Broker admits his guilt. As just punishment for his usury, Iacomo offers the Broker "a hundred blows" or the repayment of the hundred pounds to the soldier. Eventually the Broker gives in, performs the latter penance, and departs.

BROKER'S WIFE
A "ghost character" in Dekker's The Whore of Babylon. According to Plain Dealing, she abets her husband's gulling of Titania's soldiers by enticing musketeers into her cabin to 'drink' tobacco.

BROME, RICHARD
Master Brome is a "ghost character" in the Induction of Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Richard Brome was a servant, friend, and imitator of Ben Jonson, and a successful member of "the tribe of Ben." The stage-keeper in the Induction says that the comedy Bartholomew Fair is very conceited, but he is looking around lest the poet, or his man, Master Brome, should hear him. According to the stage-keeper, the poet and his friend are behind the arras, and they might disapprove of such presentation of the play. In 1614, Brome was still Jonson's servant. Later, he would become a playwright in his own right.

BROMIA
Bromia is one of Alcumena's waiting women in the anonymous Birthe of Hercules. She describes, to the audience, the moment her mistress gave birth to her two sons as if heaven and earth had come together, with thunder and lightning, and other strange natural fenomena. She then sees her lord, Amphitruo, sleeping ouside the house, on the ground, and she breaks the news, to him, that his wife has given birth to twins. She also tells him about the strange supernatural events that took place when the children were born, and the fact that two serpents came as soon as they were put into the cradle. She also reveals that Iupiter spoke to Alcumena.

BROMIUS
Iocastus's man, a blunt Clown in Randolph's Amyntas. Wiser than his master, he is skeptical of Dorylas's appearance as Oberon with his Bevy of Fairies. He is punished by a mass pinching, but later is able to laugh at his master's exposed folly, and offer Iocastus his fool's coat.

BROMLEY, NICHOLAS**1615
Nicholas Bromley in S.S's Honest Lawyer was formerly the Vaster steward, but is now is independent and holds the mortgage on Sagar's property. When Sagar refuses to give up his lands Bromley decides to kill him, and shoots what he thinks is Sagar in a field. He is immediately afraid of getting caught and runs off, but his crime is found out by Griffin, who agrees to conceal the fact if they share the lands. He is accused of the murder and at first denies it, but finally admits to the crime and implicates Griffin. Benjamin then tells Bromley to give up his lease to Sagar's wife and children. When he does so, Sagar then reveals himself.

BROMLY **1599
Searcher in the service of the Rector in Ruggle’s Club Law. He attends Musonius when he comes with a writ to catch Niphle in his lechery with Luce at Tavie’s house. After the searchers find Niphle hiding in a tub with a beggar-wench and parade them to jail in the tub, he helps Purcus to arrest Luce.

BROOKALL
Brookall is a gentleman impoverished by Vermine in Brome's The Damoiselle. He has a sister, Elianor, who was dishonored by Dryground. He also has a son, Frank, who decided to go to France when his father lost his property. Brookall does not know where his son is and he asks Freindly about him because he thinks he is dead. Soon, news arrives about his offspring when Valentine comes with a letter and forty pieces from his son. However, he does not want the money. Desperate for his bad luck, Brookall gets angry and blames Valentine for his disgrace as he is his enemy's son. He challenges Valentine to a duel. Later, when he meets Vermine looking for his daughter, Brookall advises Vermine to visit the brothel. He is given forty pounds again by Valentine who has prepared a boat for him to escape. He accepts the money, but he cannot keep it any more because he needs it urgently. Nevertheless, he stays and finds his son in the last scene of the play where, in a last-minute miracle, marriages are arranged leading to a harmonious end. Before that, in IV.ii, he meets his sister's daughter and he is led by Valentine and Phillis to the neighborhoods where his sister lives.

BROOKE**1599
Only mentioned in Jonson's Every Man out of His Humour. Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke (1554–1628) was a poet and philosopher, friend to Sir Edward Dyer, Samuel Daniel, and Francis Bacon. Fulke Greville's works include a sonnet cycle, verses on religious and philosophical themes, and a philosophical treatise on knowledge entitled A Treatise of Human Learning. When Fungoso wants to extract some money from his father in order to buy a new suit, he asks Sogliardo to tell Sordido that he wants to buy some books at bargain price. Fungoso says that the books by Plowden, Dyar, and Brooke can be bought at half-price.

BROOKE**1600
A disguise assumed by Frank Ford when he bribes Falstaff to "lay amiable siege" to Mistress Ford for him in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. Later, again as Mr. Brooke, Ford learns from Falstaff how he escaped Ford while hidden in a laundry basket.

BROOKES
A "ghost character" in [?]Heywood's The Fair Maid of the Exchange. Brookes is mentioned by the Boy in the shop as a merchant who has supplied silk to Phillis.

BROOKS, FREDERICK
Frederick Brooks is the true name of the character known throughout Jordan's Walks of Islington and Hogsden as Frank Rivers.

BROOM–MAN
A part played by Poggio in an after-dinner masque in Chapman's The Gentleman Usher.

BROOM–MEN
"Ghost characters" in Jonson's Epicoene. The broom-men make loud noises crying their trade in front of Morose's windows. When Truewit discusses Morose's noise-hating idiosyncrasy with Clerimont, he mentions that Morose has tried to bribe all the vendors bellowing under his windows. While Morose was able to conclude a treaty of silence with the fishwives and orange-women, it seems he was not so successful with the chimney-sweepers, broom-men, and costermongers, who stood out and continued to shout their wares in the street.

BROTHEL, PENITENT
A country gentleman in Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters. He is fond of trickery of all sorts and therefore envious of Follywit's skill in that regard. Brothel hires the courtesan of Sir Bounteous Progress, Frank Gullman, in an effort to corrupt Master Harebrain and evoke suspicion in his wife, with whom he continues to pursue an adulterous affair. Penitent also uses his friendship with the courtesan to extort money both from her frequent consort Sir Bounteous and her erstwhile suitors Inesse and Possibility. Using their sexual voraciousness against them, Penitent, acting as physician to the Courtesan while she feigns illness, receives large sums of money and valuables from the three to cover her extravagant medical bills. Brothel's various "sins" come to an abrupt end, however, when the Succubus (devil) appears to him as Mistress Harebrain. Along with many characters, he is present at the feast given by Sir Bounteous at which Owemuch's players perform The Slip and Follywit's marriage to the courtesan is revealed.

BROTHER
A "ghost character" in A Yorkshire Tragedy. The Husband's virtuous brother, a promising student of theology. He is in prison because he stood surety for his brother.

BROTHER **1600
Brother of the Blind Beggar of Bednall-Green in Chettle and Day's Blind Beggar of Bednal Green. Another of the disguises that Mumford assumes. When Young Plainsey threatens Bess, Mumford (in his disguise as an old blind beggar) agrees to hand her over, and disappears into the cottage. A moment later the Beggar's Brother, a former servant to Mumford, appears and beats Young Plainsey. He then tells Bess to tend to her the old beggar, and when she finds no trace of him, reveals himself to her. Later, in the same disguise, Mumford fights with and beats Canbee and Hadland.

BROTHER, AGENOR'S
I. Disguise that Clorinda takes while she is in Neustrea in Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers. II. Disguise that Clorinda takes while she is in Neustrea in Carlell's 2 Passionate Lovers. In Act One, she is visited by Clarimant who suspects her. Clorinda is challenged to fight the noble man, what makes her reveal her true identity to Clarimant. Clorinda thinks that she will never be free in Neustrea and therefore she asks Clarimant to take her life, but she is disobeyed as the gentleman adores her. Nevertheless, in Act Two, Clorinda keeps her mask to the rest of the courtiers. Then, she is visited by Austrella and Olinda, who try to cheer her up, but she feels that she is unworthy of their love. Being thought to have a mistress at the court, she swoons in front of the ladies. After that, Clorinda will try to avoid Austrella who begins to suspect her. She wants to leave the court, but before that she is to give Olinda a letter where she reveals her a big secret concerning her. She is to be back in two days if she survives, but she is interrupted in her departure by the Prince of Aquitain who humiliates Olinda. Clorinda defends the Princess before Clarimant arrives. However, she is discovered and reveals her true identity to all the court.

BROTHER, ANTIUS’
A ‘ghost character’ in Salusbury’s Love or Money. Xanthippi makes several derogatory references to her husband’s brother.

BROTHER, ANTONY'S
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Mentioned several times as joining Fulvia in going to war against Caesar.

BROTHER, BAILIE'S**1513
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Hick Scorner. Imagination stole his brown bay hackney horse but was caught by the bailie.

BROTHER, BULLY LIVELY’S **1632
A “ghost character" in Hausted’s Rival Friends. He owned the land upon which the parsonage stands until Sacrilege Hook “with a golden bait did pluck it from him."

BROTHER, CARTANDES'S
Formerly "oppose[d]" by Arviragus in Carlell's 2 Arviragus and Philicia. The Queen's brother is the "dead Soveraigne" and previous King of the Danes whose hatred of Arviragus grew from "the sad newes [. . .] of such defeates as [. . .] his men received" in battle with the warrior. "At his death" he "engaged [Cartandes] in a promise, of passing with the Army then in readinesse into th[e] Ile," and "appointed that inhumane sacrifice to Mars" which the Queen vows to go through with at the play's beginning.

BROTHER, CLEON'S
A "ghost character" in Carlell's 1 The Passionate Lovers. Cleon's brother is thought to be homosexual as he courts men.

BROTHER, CURFEW'S **1615
A "ghost character" in S.S's Honest Lawyer. When the Abbot went on pilgrimage, he appointed Curfew's brother, "an honest Friar" to his deputy. However, his brother died suddenly and Curfew buried him privately and assumed his part, hoping to turn it to his advantage.

BROTHER, DRAMURGON’S
A ‘ghost character’ in Verney’s Antipoe. Dramurgon murdered him.

BROTHER, DUKE'S
The Duke's Brother was lost and presumed dead in a battle with Milan, ten years ago in Davenant's Love and Honor. It is his death which causes the Duke to declare that Evandra must be executed. In fact, the Duke's brother has spent the last ten years hidden away from public life by the Duke of Milan, to prevent him from continuing the war. The Duke's Brother enters Savoy disguised as the Second Ambassador to plead for Evandra's life. When the Duke refuses to change his mind, his brother reveals himself and announces that he has been completely happy living a studious and retired life. His appearance overjoys the Duke, and all plans for revenge or war are put aside.

BROTHER DUMAIN'S
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's All's Well. Brother to the First Lord of France, and a captain in the Florentine army.

BROTHER, EUBELLA'S
This unnamed brother of Eubella and son of Sebastian in Shirley's Love's Cruelty. He is said to possess few social graces and is sorely lacking in court skills.

BROTHER, FIRST AND SECOND
The visibly pregnant Lady that disguises herself as Cupid has two brothers in Fletcher and Middleton's The Nice Valour:

1. The First Brother schemes to unite his sister and her child's father, the Passionate Lord; assists with Cupid's masques; and attempts to find a more suitable position for the professional masochist Lapet and a gentler master for the badly beaten Clown Galoshio.
2. The Second Brother assists in the scheme to unite his sister with her child's father, the Passionate Lord; takes part in Cupid's masques; and helps in the effort to find a more suitable position for the professional masochist Lapet and a gentler master for the badly beaten Clown Galoshio.

BROTHER, HENGO'S
A "ghost character" in Fletcher's Bonduca. Hengo recalls seeing him die.

BROTHER–IN–LAW, TRISTRAM’S **1638
A “ghost character" in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable. Tristram says his brother-in-law is a cook in London and can use Jeremy Hold–fast’s reams of paper to put under his baked meats.

BROTHER, JAILER'S
This unnamed Brother of the Jailer in Shakespeare's Two Noble Kinsmen opens his home to his niece the Jailer's Daughter when she is rescued by her Wooer from a suicidal drowning attempt.

BROTHER, KING of SICILY’S **1636
A “ghost character" in Killigrew’s Claricilla. According to the dramatis personae, he is father of Melintus and Philemon. He died in the struggle against Silvander. Melintus refers to this murder “of my father" when he kills Silvander, but he and Philemon never refer to one another as anything but friend. Both are referred to as princes but never brothers.

BROTHER, LALA'S
A "ghost character" in Hawkins's Apollo Shroving. Lala passes on her brother's wisdom in the play's Introduction.

BROTHER, LONG LOST
A "ghost character" in Cowley's The Guardian. The long-lost brother of Captain Blade does not appear in the play, but is impersonated, first by Dogrel, then—in a counter plot intended to unmask Dogrel—by Blade's servant William. Apart from his career as a traveler, all that is revealed about him is his short memory, which Dogrel zealously feigns.

[Called "The Merchant" but still a "ghost character" in Cowley's own 1658 revision of this play, Cutter of Coleman Street (performed 1661), the long-lost brother of Colonel Jolly (Captain Blade in The Guardian). He does not appear, any more than he does in The Guardian; Cutter ends with Jolly's remark: "If my true brother had come in at last too after his being five years dead, 'twould ha' been a very play."]

BROTHER, LUCE'S LITTLE **1607
A "ghost character" in The London Merchant portion of Beaumont's Knight of the Burning Pestle. He is inquired after when Humphrey speaks to Luce.

BROTHER, "MAD" LADY'S
The "mad" lady's brother, the lord, is a "fictional character" in Jonson's The Alchemist. When Face as Lungs tells Mammon about the mysterious lady (Dol Common in disguise), he explains she is a lord's sister who has gone mad with too much learning and her brother has sent her to the alchemist to be cured. Face summons again the fictional brother's convenient image when he wants to scare Mammon away, after his attempted seduction of the "mad" lady. When someone knocks at the door, Face tells Mammon it is the lady's brother, whose coach is at the door, and who is as furious as his sister is mad. This disquieting news forces Mammon to flee the house.

BROTHER, OLIVIA'S
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Her brother's death causes Olivia to swear she will remain in deep mourning and refuse the company of men for seven years.

BROTHER, PANDOLFO’S **1615
A “ghost character" in Tomkis’ Albumazar. He is an officer of the wardrobe. Pandolfo gives Albumazar a ring to take him in token of borrowing all the costumes he will need for the transformation ceremony.

BROTHER, PHYGINOIS'S
A "ghost character" in Cokain's The Obstinate Lady. Cleanthe's Nurse stole her with the intention of marrying her to this boy, Nurse's oldest son, in order to improve his fortune. Phyginois thwarts the plot.

BROTHER, SECOND
An alternative designation for Jaques de Boys in Shakespeare's As You Like It.

BROTHERS, the MOOR'S
Two non-speaking Princes in Peele's The Battle of Alcazar. They are smothered in bed by their older brother Muly Mahamet so he may be certain that they will not ascend to the throne.

BROTHER, TORRENTI'S
An unnamed brother of Torrenti in Dekker's Wonder of A Kingdom. This gentleman was born in Florence and captured by Turks in an attempt to free Rhodes. He escaped Turkish captivity after three years as a galley slave, and made his way back to Torrenti. At his arrival at his brother's home, he asks him for help, but is repulsed, as Torrenti judges him only by his appearance, and pretends not to know him. After having tried to make Torrenti see that he really is his brother, he starts to recount the events of his journey to Rhodes and his captivity. Distraught to have realised that he can expect neither pity, food, nor clothes from his brother, he threatens him, but only incurs more scorn. Torrenti provokes his brother further by causing a table covered with food, and guarded by two gallants with pistols, to be carried past him. The Brother snatches a pistol, rebukes Torrenti and prophecies that his fortunes will not last much longer. At Iacomo Gentili's residence, the Brother appears again as the last of a trio of suppliants–the others being the Broker and the Apothecary, and Gentili provides for his needs.

BROTHER, YOUNGER
A "ghost character" in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. Pisaro worries that Harvey's younger brother will inherit after the supposedly ill Harvey dies. The threat of losing the land to this brother prompts Pisaro to allow his daughter Marina to marry Harvey. This way he intends to keep the land in the family and under his control.

BRO(THERS), THREE
Some uncertainty surrounds whether "3. BRO" in the text of Chettle's(?) Looke About You refers to the three brothers of young King Henry, i.e. John, Richard and Jeffrey (even though Jeffrey does not appear anywhere else in the play).

BROUGHTON, HUGH
Only mentioned in Jonson's The Alchemist. Hugh Broughton was a rabbinical scholar who died in 1612. Face explains to Mammon that the "lady" he saw in Subtle's study (Dol Common in disguise) is a noble scholar who has gone mad with too much learning, especially with studying Broughton's works in Hebrew. When she plays the "mad" lady before Mammon, Doll's gibberish incorporates phrases from Hugh Broughton's Concent of Scriptures.

BROUGHTON, SIR GILBERT
A mute character in (?Chettle and) Munday's Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington. Sir Gilbert Broughton is present at the dinner where Robin Hood is outlawed. Robin threatens him, as well as Lacy and Warman, stating that if they do not avoid him, he will execute them all for treachery against him. At this Broughton and the others run away.

BROWFILLDORA
Also sometimes called "Brumfilldora" and, more commonly, "Garaganta" in Habington's The Queen of Aragon. Browfilldora is Sanmartino's dwarf, and he carries his master's challenge to Oniate. He spends a significant portion of his stage time talking about his phantom mistress.

BROWNE **1598
Browne is a clothier in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. He does business with Pisaro at the Exchange and owns the house at which Harvey lodges. At the end of the play he is an essential part of Anthony's trick. He enters to tell Pisaro (wrongly) that Harvey is at the point of death. This distresses Pisaro because if Harvey dies Pisaro will have to surrender his mortgaged lands to Harvey's younger brother. Browne explains that Harvey has made a will, that Marina is to receive all his lands on his death, and that Moore advises that Harvey should come to Pisaro's house to make sure the will is executed. The trick brings Harvey and Moll together.

BROWNE**1599
Family name of Captain George and Anthony Browne in (?)Heywood's A Warning For Fair Women.

BROWNE, EDWARD **1604
Also called Ned in Rowley’s When You See Me. A young playmate who carries Prince Edward’s cloak and hat while he plays tennis. Cranmer has him whipped because he draws the prince from his studies. Prince Edward knights Browne for bleeding on his behalf and Henry confirms the knighthood and gives him three thousand marks a year for his living.

BRUCE
I. Family name of "Old," "Young," and "Lady" Bruce. Confusingly, this is an alternate name for Old Bruce until he dies on the field of battle, at which point it becomes an alternate name for Young Bruce in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. (For complete character notes see under "OLD BRUCE" and "YOUNG BRUCE"). II. Family name of Old Lord and Lady Bruce, Young Bruce and George in Davenport's King John and Matilda.

BRUCE, LADY
I. Lady Bruce is the wife of Old Bruce and the mother of Young Bruce in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. She is at Guildford Castle, and John sends Hubert there to take both the castle and Lady Bruce's youngest son as a pledge of her husband's faith. Lady Bruce does not trust either John or Hubert and claims that she has sent her son away. When John threatens to burn the castle down, she begs to be allowed to rescue some linens and clothes. John calls these things trash and commands the fire to be set, but stops when Lady Bruce describes a rich jewel she wishes to rescue. It turns out to be her son, George, whom she had hidden. They are sent to Windsor Castle and put in charge of Sir Walter Blunt. However, John shortly decides to have Brand go to Windsor Castle and shut up Lady Bruce and her son without food. Lady Bruce is at first suspicious of Brand when he arrives, and begs to be allowed to feed her son before being locked up, but eventually has no choice but to submit. Young Bruce takes the castle, but too late; he finds his mother and brother dead from starvation, and describes to the king how he found her with her arm ripped open, attempting to feed her son with her own blood. II. Old Lord Bruce's wife and sister to Fitzwater in Davenport's King John and Matilda. Mother to Young Bruce and a younger son, George. She attempts unsuccessfully to defend her castle against the King's army and fails to rescue George, who is taken as a hostage. Her effort to smuggle him away in a hamper is detected and both are captured. Imprisoned with her son by the King, she is left in the charge of Brand. She rejects his lecherous advances and both she and young George are starved to death. The king's opponents, led by her brother and husband add this cruelty to their grievances against the King.

BRUCE, ROBERT
I. A non-speaking character in Peele's Edward I. On Baliol's orders, Bruce places the halter around the neck of Lord Versses to remind him to go in haste to Edward with the message of Scottish defiance. II. Robert Bruce is heir to the throne of Scotland, but resident at the English court in J.W.'s The Valiant Scot. His plea for a discussion of his status is ignored by King Edward, who sends him to levy troops against France. Later, he fights in the battle against the rebel Scots. He meets Wallace in the field, who tells him that he is fighting on the wrong side. To prove this, Wallace suggests that Bruce wash his hands in blood and then see how much respect he gets from the English. Bruce does so, and sure enough the English are dismissive of his prowess. Clifford tells Bruce that the English sneer at him as a traitorous Scot, and then sends him twelve silver pence and a pair of spurs, meaning that he is a traitor to his country and ought to flee. Bruce recognizes his folly, and decides to join with Wallace. But before he can leave, Wallace is brought into the English camp by Mentith and Coming. King Edward then crowns Bruce the King of Scotland and Bruce bends to his command. However, he then stabs Coming to avenge the death of Wallace.

BRULART
The French commissioner at Brussels in Chapman's The Conspiracy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He accompanies Byron in his embassy to the Archduke.

BRUN **1627
A Scottish soldier who follows Penia-Penniless in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. He lost an arm at Chevy Chase. He speaks in the comic stage dialect of his country. In the argument over who shall be captain of Penia-Penniless' "fleece tattered" army, he threatens to go back to Scotland if it is not he, and Caradoc and Termock support him, then the three of them support Penia herself as leader until they all agree that is should be Higgen. Nothing is seen of him after this in the play.

BRUN, HUGH LE
A "ghost character" in Munday and Chettle's Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington. Hugh le Brun was engaged to Isabel before she married John, and is a background threat of rebellion during the play.

BRUNDUCA **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Caradoc compares Penia-Penniless with several great Amazons, including her. This blunder for Bonduca is probably intentional.

BRUNETTO
Brunetto is an alternate name for Horatio in Cokain's Trappolin. A nephew of the Mantuan Duke, Horatio fought against Tuscany and is now Lavinio's prisoner of war under the false name of Brunetto. As Brunetto, he gives a ring to Trappolin to help him survive his banishment from Florence. In this guise he wins the heart of Prudentia, but quickly reveals his true identity and condition. They pledge mutual love, and are eventually wed, through the help of Trappolin, disguised as Duke Lavinio. Horatio's identity remains unknown to the other characters, and is only gradually revealed to them.

BRUNHALT
Virago and arch-villainess in Fletcher and Massinger's Thierry and Theodoret. Mother to Thierry, King of France, Theodoret, Prince of Austracia, and grandmother to the princess, Memberge. A Widowed queen, she is driven by the need to retain power and indulge her vices, particularly her scandalous affair with her upstart young protégé, Protaldy. Theodoret challenges her immoral behavior and instructs her to join a convent. She moves to Thierry's court and plans revenge. She libels Theodoret in an attempt to start a war between the brothers. Thierry is at first persuaded. When the brothers confront each other, both are fooled by her feigned repentance. She becomes infuriated at and insanely jealous of the arrival of Thierry's bride, Ordella. Martell's exposure of Protaldy as a coward wins Brunhalt further revenge for her lover's disgrace. She supports Protaldy's shameless return to court. She plots to restore his reputation and continues to plot the death of Theodoret. With the aid of her physician, Lecure, and her pandar, Bawdber, she contrives to use an impotence drug to ruin her son's wedding-night. Ordella's chaste love for Thierry does not require consummation, however, and the plot is foiled. Brunhalt privately warns Thierry that a childless marriage will be politically dangerous, and advises him to consult the hermit-magician Le Forte. She plans to make Thierry himself kill Ordella. The plan is thwarted when Ordella is persuaded to go into hiding. Protaldy murders Theodoret on her instructions. She then claims that Theodoret was merely a low-born changeling, not a legitimate prince, covering her revenge by persuading Thierry that the murder was for his sake. She is then appalled at Thierry's decision to marry his niece, Memberge. She fails to persuade him that her earlier story of Theodoret's birth was untrue. To prevent the second marriage, which would again supplant her unrivaled status as first lady of the kingdom, she gives Thierry a slow-acting, poisoned handkerchief. De Vitry discovers her letters to Theodoret's illegitimate son, Leonor, explaining Thierry's murder is a means for his own succession to France, and makes them public. When Martell demands her reasons, she refuses to explain or to heed her dying son's pleas to repent. She is forced to watch Protaldy's torture and execution (offstage) at which point she commits suicide by "choking herself."

BRUNO**1578
A gentleman in Whetstone's 2 Promos and Cassandra. He and Apio patronize Lamia's house.

BRUNO **1592
Bruno, a Saxon, is the rival German pope in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. He is elected by the Emperor but defeated by papal forces and marched in chains to Rome in the Pope's victory parade. Condemned to be burned as a heretic, Faustus and Mephostophilis free him and send him safely back to the imperial German court.

BRUNSCHWEIGE
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Alphonsus Emperor of Germany. Otho, Duke of Brunschweige has previously fought against the Archbishop of Mentz and captured him in battle. Only a ransom provided by Richard saved Mentz's life. The Duke also captured, and killed, Count Mansfield.

BRUSCO
An old soldier in Davenant's The Unfortunate Lovers. Rampino's companion, he assists him in deceiving his creditors and remains loyal to the Prince as long as possible.

BRUSOR
Soliman's general in Kyd's Soliman and Perseda. He participates in the Governor's games. When he returns to Turkey, he extols the merits of young Erastus, as Soliman explains his plan to conquer Rhodes. Brusor leads the triumphant Turkish assault on Rhodes, and brings Perseda and Lucina back to the emperor as prisoners. Soliman gives him Lucina. When Soliman approves the marriage of Erastus and Perseda, and appoints Erastus Governor of Rhodes, Brusor is overcome with envy. He counsels Soliman to continue to court Perseda, and to allow Lucina to encourage Perseda to consider the suit. He suggests that Soliman request Erastus's return from Rhodes, charge him with treason, and thereby clear the way to Perseda. He travels with Lucina to Rhodes to request Erastus's return, and returns to Turkey with him. After Erastus's execution, he returns to Rhodes with Soliman; following Perseda's death, the emperor proclaims that Brusor was the cause of all and orders his execution.

BRUSTER, YOUNG **1615
A "ghost character" in S.S's Honest Lawyer. Gripe orders Benjamin to go to Goldington to look over Young Bruster's lands, because they are offered to Gripe in mortgage.

BRUTE
See also BRUTUS.

BRUTE**1551
Only mentioned in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Brute is one of the heroes Merrygreek insists all women think of when they encounter Roister Doister.

BRUTE**1625
Only mentioned in Fisher's Fuimus Troes. The Trojan Brute is the legendary founder of Troynovant (London) and the first King of Britain.

BRUTUS**1591
I. Father of Locrine, Albanact and Camber in the Anonymous Locrine. He and his followers had to leave Italy. They fought in Greece against Antigonus and Pandrassus, traveled through the Hellespont to Lestrigon, and passed through the Sicilian Gulf to Aquitain. There Brutus and his brother Corineus fought successfully against Gathelius and Goffarius and the Gauls. They finally arrived in Albion (England), where they fought Gogmagog and his crew of Giants. In the first scene Brutus has to be carried in a chair. He marries his oldest son Locrine to his brother's daughter Gwendoline and gives him the crown of Britain, the South of the country he gives to Camber and the North to his youngest son Albanact, then he dies. He is buried in Trinovant (e.g. Troynovant, London). II. Only mentioned in Burnell's Landgartha. In the masque, Brutus kills his father so he has to go to exile. At the end, he founds Britain. His descendants have been rulers since then. Brutus is presented as Reynard's ancestor.

BRUTUS **1604
He appears at the end of Verney’s Antipoe, when everyone has died, with Charon. Jove has sent him to place the worthy dead upon the throne, which somehow all eleven white-clad ghosts mount.

BRUTUS**1607
Brutus is a nobleman and cousin to both Tarquin and Lucrece in Heywood's The Rape of Lucrece. He speaks in enigmatic phrases. Most, especially his nephews Aruns and Sextus think he is a fool. He is asked by Aruns and Sextus to go with them to the Oracle, who places the blame for Servius' death squarely on Tullia. The Oracle also states that Tarquin's successor will be someone who first kisses his mother. Brutus faints on the news. Falling to the ground, he kisses mother earth and , thus, fulfils the prophecy. Aruns and Sextus do not interpret Brutus' fall correctly and race home to kiss their mother. Brutus is ordered to join Collatine, Sextus, Valarius and Mutius Scevola in Ardea, leaving Porsenna's forces in charge of Rome. He is present at the drunken banquet in which Sextus belligerently denies Collatine's claim to having the most virtuous wife. Collatine decides to bet horse and armor that his wife is the most virtuous and the most beautiful. They decide to visit Horatius Cocles', Aruns', Valarius' , and Mutius Scevola's respective wives, and then Collatine's wife, Lucrece. Brutus is ordered to stay behind with the army. He is asked to come to Lucrece's house by Pompie, and does so, accompanied by Collatine, Horatius Cocles, Aruns, Valarius, and Mutius Scevola. After Lucrece commits suicide, Brutus is nominated general of the rebellion. He orders the body of Lucrece be laid out in the marketplace. (Presumably, the body is laid out for some sort of oration, but it is missing from the extant text.) As the civil war breaks out, we see Brutus and his allies chasing Tarquin and Tullia. Horatius Cocles demands that Brutus be made counsel; Rome will have no more kings. In the civil war, Aruns fights with Brutus. Both are wounded, though neither fatally. Brutus dies in single combat with Sextus.

BRUTUS **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Caradoc asserts that his own lice are descended from the "magnanimous lice of ap Shinkin ap Shon ap Owen ap Richard ap Morgan ap Hugh ap Brutus ap Sylvius ap Æneas ap Troilus ap Hector."

BRUTUS**1637
Only mentioned in the anonymous The Wasp. Katherine says that Gerald must be the Brutus who succeeds Marianus' Tarquin.

BRUTUS **1637
Alcinous calls Autolius ‘Brutus’ in (?)Speed’s The Converted Robber and strikes him when Autolius confronts him as a ‘Talassio’ for converting to the shepherds’ side.

BRUTUS, DECIMUS **1594
A Roman commander in Kyd's Cornelia who wants to support Caesar, but is persuaded by Cassius that Caesar may be getting too powerful. Although Cassius is anxious to destroy Caesar, Brutus advises restraint. Brutus declares that he loves Caesar and that he took up arms and followed Caesar into battle willingly. He thinks Caesar is a good leader, but may be overly ambitious, as Cassius claims. Still, Brutus asks Cassius to wait and see what Caesar does once the wars are ended. Perhaps the factions and the dissent in the government can be resolved. But Cassius is convinced that Caesar wants to become an absolute monarch; Brutus wants to believe that Caesar will hand power back to the Senate and to the people.

BRUTUS, DECIUS**1599
Decius Brutus is part of the plot to kill Caesar in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Arriving first to escort Caesar to the Senate, he hears Calpurnia's dream recited as the reason Caesar has chosen to stay at home. Decius offers a favorable interpretation of the dream and convinces Caesar to go to the Senate as planned.

BRUTUS, DECIUS**1611
A "ghost character" in Jonson's Catiline. Decius Brutus is a Roman patrician and Sempronia's husband. While he is away from Rome, his wife sides with Catiline's conspiracy and uses his house as a clandestine meeting place between the conspirators and Allobroges. At Decius Brutus's house, Allobroges meet with the conspirators Lentulus and Gabinius and they receive the incriminating letters, supposedly to be conveyed to their chieftains. When the conspirators are discovered and punished, Cicero takes no measures against Decius Brutus, probably because he was thought innocent and unaware of his wife's political machinations.

BRUTUS, JUNIUS**1588
Brutus is a magistrate and a supporter of Marius in Lodge's The Wounds of Civil War. He first proposes Marius as general to the Senate and tells Scilla that Marius is replacing him. He exits with Marius to show his support.

BRUTUS, JUNIUS**1608
Junius Brutus, along with Sicinius, is one of the first tribunes elected to serve as a spokesman for the common people in Shakespeare's Coriolanus. Recognizing Coriolanus's absolute antipathy for the tribunes and all they represent, Brutus combines with Sicinius to enflame the Roman plebeians against the hero and to engineer the warrior's banishment.

BRUTUS, JUNIUS**1614
Only mentioned in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Lucius Junius Brutus lived in the sixth century BC and was nephew to Tarquinius Superbus. In order to escape execution at the hands of Tarquinius Superbus, he disguised himself as an idiot. Junius Brutus was also famous as an inflexible judge. When Overdo enters the Fair disguised as a madman, in order to detect the wrongdoers and bring them to justice, he compares himself to Junius Brutus. Justice Overdo's two-fold identification with this Roman personage is manifested in his profession as a judge, and his idea of disguising himself as an idiot.

BRUTUS, MARCUS
I. A young aristocrat in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey. He is a follower of Pompey, whom he sees as the strongest hope for the survival of Republican Rome. He finally surrenders to Caesar, surprising his father-in-law, Cato. When asked his opinion of Cato's suicide, Brutus condemns it, and is reprimanded for this by Caesar. He takes charge of the execution of Achillas, Salvius, and Septimius. II. Spared by Caesar after the defeat at Pharsalia in the anonymous Caesar and Pompey, Brutus lives to fight another day. He breaks the news of Pompey's defeat to his former followers. Persuaded by Cassius to act against Caesar, he detains Antony while Caesar enters the Senate, and then gives Caesar his death stroke. After the defeat at Philippi he kills himself. III. Marcus Brutus is part of the plot against Julius Caesar in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Though he loves and is trusted by Caesar, he believes Caesar will eventually accept the crown, and Brutus cannot tolerate the thought of tyranny in Rome. Brutus does not feel Caesar-or anyone-should be chosen king and fears dissolution of the Roman republic, yet it takes a fair amount of convincing from the other conspirators before Brutus joins the group and assists in planning Caesar's murder. He is the last to stab Caesar. It is Brutus' argument that keeps Mark Antony from being murdered with Caesar, and Brutus' ill judgment that allows Antony to eulogize Caesar. Brutus becomes embroiled in the war against the triumvirate after Caesar's death. Visited by Caesar's ghost twice upon the battlefields of Sardis and Philippi, Brutus foresees failure of the conspirators' ultimate aim. He chooses to die rather than be captured, and is refused assistance by three companions (Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius) before his servant Strato holds the sword so that Brutus might run upon it. IV. A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Brutus was one of the Senators who assassinated Julius Caesar. Pompey refers to their attempt to keep Rome a republic as reason for his own war. V. Only mentioned in Marmion's Holland's Leaguer. One of the murderers of Julius Caesar, Brutus is mentioned by Agurtes in referring to contemporary military men who have been vanquished.

BRUYNE
Bruyne (pronounced 'Bruin') is a rich but virtuous London merchant in William Rowley's A New Wonder: A Woman Never Vexed. He tries to persuade Old Foster to be charitable to the prodigal Stephen Foster. Two gentlemen pursue his daughter, Jane's hand, but when they turn out to be impoverished, Bruyne is happy for her to marry the diligent merchant Robert Foster. Bruyne's honest trading pays off when he becomes an Alderman, and he uses his money charitably, by building a Domus Dei in Spitalfields.

BRYAN
See also "BRIAN."

BRYAN
An Irish footman in service to Hippolito in Dekker's 2 Honest Whore. Bryan provides much of the verbal humor early in the play by his exaggerated "stage Irish" accent and the confusion it sometimes causes. Having learned of Hippolito's advances and gifts to Bellafront, Infelice charges Bryan with having served as her husband's go-between, and when Hippolito mistakenly concludes that Bryan has been the source of information about his intended affair with Bellafront, the count dismisses the footman.

BRYAN BLINKINSOP
A "ghost character" in Udall's Ralph Roister Doister. Bryan Blinkinsop is one of the individuals Merrygreek admits to having sponged from before taking up with Ralph Roister Doister.

BRYAN McPHELAN This "ghost character" in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley is mentioned as an Irish soldier defending Dundalk.

BRYAN or BRIAN SANS FOY
An enchanter in the Anonymous Clyomon and Clamydes. 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. (See also "BRIAN").

BUBBLES, BARTHOLEMEW
In many ways, Bubbles and Thomas Greene, Queen Anne's Servants' notorious clown who portrayed him, plays the title and central thematic roles in Cooke's Greene's Tu Quoque. Erstwhile servant to Staines, a young London gallant, the master-servant relationship is reversed when Bubbles becomes the beneficiary of a lucrative inheritance from his uncle, a wealthy usurer. His newfound fortune allows him to pursue marriage with Joyce, a daughter of Sir Lionell (a prospect which she dreads), hire his erstwhile master Staines as a servant (who he duly renames Gervase) to train him in gentlemanly etiquette, and acquaint himself with the typical fashions and pastimes of young, well-to-do Londoners. Following Staines' instructions to the letter, however, proves a detriment to the would-be gallant when it leads to acute gambling debts, adopting ridiculous behavior (especially the constant repetition of the phrase "tu quoque"), the eventual extortion of his money, and an ignominious return to Staines's service.

BUBO
As his name implies, Asinius Bubo is an ass, an uneducated and barely literate fool who is constantly in the company of Horace in Dekker's Satiromastix. It is Bubo who, on Horace's behalf, circulates Horace's satiric epigrams against his enemies amongst the city's gallants—an action that results in his being challenged to a duel by Tucca. Bubo is saved from having to fight with Tucca by Horace's disingenuous apology, which Horace immediately betrays. In the final scene Bubo, along with Horace, is taken before the king, William Rufus, and is subjected to a mock trial over which Crispinus presides. Like Horace, Bubo is bound and forced to wear horns "like Satyres." Bubo is forced to swear an oath that he will no longer hire Horace as a poet, pass off Horace's writings as his own, or call Horace his "Ningle"; he readily professes his oath and flees the court.

BUBULCUS
Bubulcus is a rich, haughty fellow who loves Hilaria in Shirley's The School of Compliment and consequently despises Antonio, his competition. Bubulcus, thrown to the floor and kicked by Antonio, seeks an unusual revenge: he would murder Antonio with "mouth-guns." Neither of the speeches he learns at the Compliment School, outrageous as they are, is ever delivered intact to the appropriate person; Bubulcus must therefore save face by claiming to have challenged and killed Antonio. At the shepherd's festival his lie about the duel is disproved, for Antonio appears at the festival—alive, well, and ready to wed Hilaria. Bubulcus has lost his suit.

BUCEPHALUS **1602
Only mentioned in Percy’s A Country Tragedy in Vacunium. Affranio’s horse, usually mild, was bold as Bucephalus on the morning of Affranio’s murder, but he failed to read the portent of that.

BUCEPHALUS **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. The famous war-horse of Alexander the Great. Anus says that she would choose Neanias as her lover "Though Pegasus and Bucephalus came a-wooing me."

BUCEPHALAS **1632
Only mentioned in ?Brewer's The Country Girl. Alexander the Great's horse, though not mentioned by name, is compared with the lady by Mister Gregory when he says that he wants to be the only one that rides her.

BUCEPHALUS **1637
Only mentioned in (?)Speed’s The Converted Robber. Conto boasts that if the cart boy were Alexander himself, and his horse Bucephalus, he would not be spared.

BUCKINGHAM **1591
I. The Duke of Buckingham sends his messenger Percival to Richard Gloucester in the anonymous True Tragedy of Richard III to inform the Lord Protector that any past bad blood between the men is forgotten. Buckingham instructs Percival to inform Richard by word of mouth that Buckingham has assembled a company of men in support of Richard. Buckingham also reports that Lord Hastings will join the power play. The Duke accompanies Gloucester in the ambush of Earl Rivers at an inn. Buckingham is also at Richard's side for the arrests of Gray, Hapce and Vaughan. The page reports that Buckingham works behind the scenes to find support for Richard's claim to the throne. After Richard is crowned, he hires Buckingham's servant to betray his master. Buckingham stabs his servant Banister to death. A herald then appears with orders to arrest Buckingham. Buckingham followers attempt to rescue him, but he accepts his fate willingly. He states that he has already readied the way for Richmond to return to England from Brittany. Buckingham wishes Richmond success against Richard and expresses the hope that Richmond will marry the princess Elizabeth. Catesby reports that Buckingham has been executed at Salisbury Castle. II. Richard's main supporter and co-conspirator in Shakespeare's Richard III. The Duke of Buckingham organizes the London citizenry into rejecting the legitimacy of the Yorkist Prince Edward and calling for the coronation of Richard instead. In exchange for Buckingham's support, Richard promises to give him the earldom of Hereford. However, Buckingham hesitates when Richard indicates that he wants Prince Edward and Prince Richard murdered, causing Richard to renege on the promise. Buckingham defects to Richmond's side, but he is captured by Richard's forces and executed after his army deserts him. His ghost visits Richard and Richmond the night before the Battle of Bosworth, cursing Richard and blessing Richmond. III. Buckingham in Thomas Heywood's 2 Edward IV has been a supporter of Richard in plots to ascend to the throne. Approaching the newly crowned King Richard, Buckingham claims a promised reward: possession of the Earl of Hereford's land. Buckingham realizes the deep evil of the new king when the request is denied and promises to see King Richard deposed by Harry Richmond.

BUCKINGHAM**1591
I. Humphrey, first Duke of Buckingham, is King Henry's cousin in Shakespeare's 2 Henry VI. He informs Henry and Gloucester that Gloucester's wife Eleanor has been arrested for her part in a séance which enlisted a spirit, a witch, a conjurer and two priests in league against Henry. Later, Buckingham and Lord Clifford attempt to end Jack Cade's rebellion by promising that Cade's supporters will be pardoned if they relent, but Cade persuades the rebels that such promises cannot be trusted. He later accepts York's capitulation to the crown. In history he was Humphrey Stafford. II. A "ghost character" in Shakspeare's 3 Henry VI. In the opening moments of the play, Edward Plantagenet boasts that he has given Lord Buckingham, Stafford's father, a dangerous wound. Edward crows, "I cleft his beaver with a downright blow." Buckingham's blood is displayed upon Edward's sword. He has, in fact, been slain.

BUCOLIAN
Bucolian helps stab Caesar in the anonymous Caesar and Pompey.

BUCQUOY
Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Bucquoy is mentioned by Sir Conquest Shadow when, telling Doctor Clyster about his imaginary valour, he explains: "I'll tell you, Doctor, all the time of the / German War I have overthrown the Emperor I cannot tell how many times, Tilly in many a battle, Bucquoy before, Wallenstein afterward and made Pappenheim fly like atoms in the air with my great ordnance. And so methought Swede and I came to play for the empire ... won the game, and so established the Princes of the Empire ..." Charles Bonaventure de Longueval, Baron of Vaux, Count of Bucquoy (1571-1621) was an imperial general from Lower Austria. He fought with Spinola in Holland and participated in the siege of Ostende (1601-1604).

BUDDA BABYLONICUS **1615
Only mentioned in Tomkis’ Albumazar. Albumazar’s magical cant includes this allusion.

BUDGET
Budget is Muchcraft´s man in Chamberlain's Swaggering Damsel. He works with the Attorney in legal cases.

BUFFLEHEAD, BESS
A "ghost character" in Brome's The Weeding of Covent Garden. Madge frequently subcontracts the prostitute Bess when her regular staff is indisposed.

BUFFONE, CARLO
Carlo Buffone is a foolish jester in Jonson's Every Man out of His Humour. The name suggests his personality, since buffone is the Italian for jester. In the countryside, Carlo Buffone enters with Sogliardo, who tells him he wants to be a gentleman. Carlo Buffone gives Sogliardo advice in the ways of a gentleman courtier. Before Puntavorlo's country house, Carlo Buffone enters with Sogliardo and Fastidious Brisk. The three men have a silly conversation about hobbyhorses and agreeable pastimes. Puntavorlo arrives and Carlo Buffone's party watches him perform a rehearsed game of courtship to his lady, making ironic comments at Puntavorlo's histrionics. In London, at St. Paul's, Carlo Buffone enters with Puntavorlo. Sogliardo enters announcing he has just bought a coat of arms, and Carlo Buffone pretends to admire the design. Carlo Buffone, Puntavorlo, Fastidious Brisk, and Sogliardo watch Shift brandishing his sword. Carlo Buffone makes ironic remarks relative to Shift and he exits with his party to have dinner. At Puntavorlo's lodgings in London, Carlo Buffone reports on Sogliardo and Fastidious Brisk to Puntavorlo, and when the knight exits with the others to sign the insurance papers for his journey, Carlo Buffone accompanies them as a witness. At Puntavorlo's house, Carlo Buffone enters with Sogliardo, Shift, and Macilente. Carlo says he wants to persuade Sogliardo to become a courtier. Carlo Buffone arranges to meet the whole party again at the tavern. At the Mitre Tavern, Carlo Buffone is waiting for the Puntavorlo party, drinking heavily in the meantime. When they enter, Carlo's alcohol-induced loquacity makes Puntavorlo get out of his benevolent humor, and he seals Carlo's lips with wax to reduce him to silence. They get into a fight and Carlo Buffone is arrested and taken to prison, without being able to say anything in his defense.

BUFFWOMAN
The Buffwoman is an Antipodean, a character in the inset play of Brome's The Antipodes. She is represented by the lawyer in the Marshall's Court and forces him to accept payment under threat of physical injury.

BUFO
As his name suggests, Bufo is the most clownish and stupid of Alphonso's three flattering followers in ?Ford's The Queen. Pardoned by the Queen for his part in the rebellion against her, he tries to keep the peace between Muretto and Pynto, but his efforts seem rather to reflect cowardice and a wish to avoid further trouble than a sincere love of concord. He becomes a leading courtier when the Queen marries Alphonso, and tries to take advantage of his newfound status by courting the Queen's lady-in-waiting, Herophil. At Alphonso's behest, Bufo abuses and beats Velasco; he assumes that Velasco is a coward because he offers no resistance, not knowing that the onetime general has promised his beloved Salassa that he will refrain from fighting. The fact that the cowardly Bufo rapidly becomes the 'muscle' in Alphonso's train, helping to seize Petruchi when he is accused of adultery with the Queen, speaks volumes about the pettiness of the Alphonso clique. Bufo receives his comeuppance when he is deluded into mistaking Mopas for Herophil. He marries the disguised page in haste, and is left to repent at leisure.

BULFINCH
A fictitious character in Shirley's Changes, conjured up and discussed briefly by the disguised page acting as Lady Bird; Bulfinch is supposedly Lady Bird's steward.

BULFINCH, MASTER APPREHENSION
A justice in Brome's The Northern Lass, friend to Mistress Fitchow, for whom he performs 'a father's part' (i.e., giving her away) at her marriage to Sir Philip Luckless. When she realizes her mistake, she asks him for advice on obtaining a divorce. At Sir Paul Squelch's dinner party he almost condemns his friend Sir Paul, disguised as a Spaniard, to prison.

BULFLESH
Bulflesh is a butcher in Cokain's Trappolin. He is the defendant in a suit brought before Trappolin by the Puritan Calfshead. He has killed Calfshead's serving man while drunk, for which he is condemned to be murdered by the tea-totaling Calfshead, as soon as the offended Puritan deigns to become drunk and perform the murder. Bulflesh is pleased with this judgment, while Calfshead finds it an outrage.

BULL
A silent character in Davenport's The City Night Cap. He takes part in the masque in Act Four.

BULLAKER
Captain Fouleweather's servant in Chapman's Sir Giles Goosecap. Bullaker is a French page that comes to Lady Eugenia's house at the beginning of the play.

BULLCALF
Peter Bullcalf, recruited by Shallow for military service with Sir John Falstaff, complains bitterly that he is a diseased man with a cough who should not go off to war in Shakespeare's 2 Henry IV. He buys himself out of military service with ten shillings.

BULLEN, ANNE
I. Beginning simply as Queen Katherine's Maid of Honor in Shakespeare's Henry VIII, Anne meets the masked King Henry at Wolsey's dinner. Though originally feeling sorry for what King Henry is doing to Katherine, Anne nevertheless accepts first the title of Marchioness of Pembroke and later that of Henry's second wife and queen, mother of Elizabeth. II. BULLEN, ANNE **1604
Only mentioned in Rowley’s When You See Me. Wolsey takes pride in having “wrought such means" with the king that she lost her head.

BULLEN, SIR THOMAS
Thomas Bullen is Anne's father and the Viscount Rochford in Shakespeare's Henry VIII.

BULLINGBROOK
Variant spelling, in some editions, of King Henry IV's surname in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV and also his 2 Henry IV.

BULLION, SIR BEVIS
A "ghost character" in Jonson's The Staple of News. Pennyboy Canter claims to have been "bred" in his mines; this is probably a pseudonym for Sir Bevis Bulmer, a famous mining engineer.

BULLITHRUMBLE
A shepherd in ?Greene's Selimus I. Laments the abuse he receives from his shrewish wife, whom he has fled to eat his meal in peace. As he eats, he encounters Corcut and his Page, who are dressed as mourners. Thinking that they are thieves, he hides his meal. Corcut and the Page beg Bullithrumble for food, and, once they have promised not to rob him, he leads them to a feast of hogs' cheeks, tripe, and puddings. After Corcut is apprehended by Hali, Cali arrests Bullithrumble, who protests that he cannot leave his family and farm. As the party exits, Bullithrumble slips away.

BULLY LIVELY **1632
An old merry fellow of eighty in Hausted’s Rival Friends. He lives in the impropriate parsonage. He has the parsonage for his lifetime and means to cheat Sacrilege Hook and the parasites from getting it. He will drink sack to stay healthy and outlive them all. For a joke he names Hook his heir and falls down as if dead. He rises again as Hook is having the bell tolled for him, laughs at Hook’s covetousness, and says he will change his will. Both Lucius and Neander have asked Lively to win Pandora for the other, but because Lively most favors Lucius, he tells Neander to pretend to marry another girl so Lucius might believe himself free to marry Pandora. When Stipes finds Constantina disguised as a boy, Bully Lively takes the boy on as his gentleman servant. He discovers that it is Constantina looking for her Cleopes and promises to help. He tells Neander that this is a boy dressed as a girl and has them contract marriage before a vicar in furtherance of his plan. When Neander discovers that he has married a woman in earnest, he threatens Lively with a sword. After Neander discloses that he is Cleopes and embraces the match with Constantina, he forgives and thanks Lively.

BULMER, SIR WILLIAM
A "ghost character" in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. Bulmer is mentioned in the Surveyor's testimony against Buckingham. The Surveyor reports that Buckingham was angry when King Henry scolded him for drawing away the friendship of Bulmer.

BUMBLE, HANS VAN
A Dutch sea captain in Davenant's News From Plymouth. He drinks a toast with Warwell to the King of England, thus angering Furious Inland. The quarrel is quickly broken up, but Bumble vows vengeance and later sends Inland a challenge to combat at sea. The combat never takes place because Inland does not have a ship.

BUMPSEY
Bumpsey is an old Justice man in Brome's The Damoiselle. He is Dryground's friend. Bumpsey is thinking about marrying his daughter, Jane, with Drygroung's son, Valentine, but he does not know if Dryground is going to leave a lot of property to his son. Bumpsey gives 10,000 pounds to Jane as a dowry. He has made a fortune from the money that he got when he married his wife, Magdalen. After listening to his wife's advice, he accepts Valentine as his son-in-law. However, he wants to test Valentine's ability to run his business, so he proposes that Valentine run half of his businesses while he keeps the other half. If he succeeds, Valentine will get the other half when Bumpsey dies. Bumpsey will do what Valentine does with his half. If he saves, he will save; if he spends his half, he will do so too. When Bumpsey tells his wife that his son-in-law has taken 500 pounds, she wants him to make Valentine return them but he does not. Later, he is visited by Vermine to whom he advises to forgive his children and spend the rest of his state. Finally, he will also help Valentine with ten pieces when his young son decides to take Frances out of the brothel.

BUMPSEY'S SERVANT
He announces the arrival of Vermine to his master's in III.ii of Brome's The Damoiselle.

BUNCH
Bunch is Sir Geffery's servant in ?Glapthorne's The Lady Mother. He accompanies him and comments on the exchanges of the other characters.

BUNCH, BARNABE
He is an English botcher, a mender of worn out clothes, in the anonymous Weakest Goeth to the Wall. He is in France to learn languages and understand fashion. As the city is invaded, a group of citizens wishes for somewhere to hide their valuables. Bunch ends up with Lodowick (the fleeing Duke of Bullen), his wife and daughter in Flanders, at the house of Jacob. Bunch is offended by Jacob, misunderstanding his Flemish accent; Lodowick makes peace between the two. Lodowick strikes a deal with Bunch that if he does not reveal where Lodowick and his family come from, he will remunerate Bunch when his fortune returns, Bunch declares that he will protect them for nothing. When Jacob demands that Lodowick leave the house for not paying his debts and that he leave behind his wife and daughter as surety, Bunch offers all his the money to Jacob to cover Lodowick's debts, but it is not nearly enough. Lodowick leaves for London, and Bunch takes Jacob down to an inn. Jacob returns violent and drunk. Bunch offers all his money to Oriana and Diana with which they are to run away. The women leave, looking for Lodowick in London, prompting Bunch to leave Flanders and go back to France. On his journey he meets Ferdinand and Odillia, fleeing from Odillia's father, the Duke of Brabant. The three meet Lodowick dressed as a sexton and discover that they are in Picardy. While Ferdinand and Odillia are arranging to be married, Lodowick, who recognizes Bunch, discovers that his wife and daughter have set off for London to find him. Lodowick persuades Sir Nicholas, the vicar of the parish, to let Bunch replace him as sexton. Bunch accepts the offer, expressing a hope that plague will spread across France, thus increasing his income as gravedigger. Back in France, Lodowick sends a letter to Sir Nicholas revealing his identity. Sir Nicholas is proud of the connection. Bunch crows that he knew Duke Lodowick while they were all staying at Jacob Smelt's, before Nicholas met him. Bunch asks Odillia, who has been summoned to Lodowick, to convey to the Duke how well he has learnt his new trade of sexton. After Odillia leaves, Sir Nicholas and Bunch go off to the Dragon for a pot of ale.

BUNCH, MOTHER
A "ghost character" in the anonymous Narcissus. Mother Bunch is mentioned by the Porter when he tries to make the choir boys stay. Mother Bunch is a familiar character of British folklore. She was a celebrated ale-wife in Thomas Dekker in The Shoemaker's Holiday, performed in the Rose Theatre in 1599. She also appears in Dekker's Satiro-mastix, produced in 1601. Later, the popularity of this character grew to the extent that, in 1604, a work entitled Pasquil's Jests, mixed with Mother Bunch's Merriments was published. And, in 1760, there appeared, in two parts, Mother Bunch's Closet newly Broke Open containing rare secrets of art and nature, tried and experienced by learned philosophers, and recommended to all ingenious young men and maids, teaching them how to get good wives and husbands. Nowadays, Mother Bunch's Fairy Tales are very popular in nurseries.

BUNGAY, FRIAR
I. A magician from Suffolk in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Bungay is at first Friar Bacon's competitor and later his associate. When Prince Edward uses Bacon's "glass prospective" to spy on Lacy and Margaret, he sees Bungay attempt to marry the couple, only to be thwarted when Bacon casts a spell that strikes Bungay dumb. During his visit to Oxford, Bungay is defeated in magic by the visiting German magician Vandermast and later assists Bacon in the final phases of the creation of the Brazen Head. II. A magician from Suffolk in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. Bungay is at first Friar Bacon's competitor and later his associate. When Prince Edward uses Bacon's "glass prospective" to spy on Lacy and Margaret, he sees Bungay attempt to marry the couple, only to be thwarted when Bacon casts a spell that strikes Bungay dumb. During his visit to Oxford, Bungay is defeated in magic by the visiting German magician Vandermast and later assists Bacon in the final phases of the creation of the Brazen Head.

BUNGLER **1605
Cousin to Mistress Newcut, newly arrived in London from the country in Middleton's Your Five Gallants. He is also previously acquainted with Pyamont. Taken up by the Gallants as a naïve mark, he is brought to Primero's brothel, where he narrowly misses encountering Newcut in her immoral leisure time as an amateur prostitute. Looses money in a crooked game of dice run by Goldstone. He catches Pursenet's Boy caught trying to pick his pocket, threatens his with prison, but is fooled into accepting an apology. Invited to dinner by Newcut, he extends the invitation to Goldstone. Goldstone uses the opportunity to accost him in disguise, feign mutual kinship with him and Newcut, and steal from her. With Pyamont, Bungler joins forces with Fitsgrave to expose the Gallants and bring them to justice. Attends the rehearsal of the masque: his presence at its performance and his assistance at the Gallants' apprehension can thus be inferred.

BUONATESTE
A "generous artist," or benevolent scholar in Davenant's The Platonic Lovers, equally adept with chemicals and rhetoric. Fredeline, who wants him to provide an "elixir" to warm the platonic love of Duke Theander for Eurithea into "natural appetite," summons him to Sicily. On his arrival, Buonateste meets some skepticism from the blunt old Sciolto, but defends himself and his studies with vigour—even when his remedy seems at first to fail. Later, when Theander has begun to show its effects, Fredeline confides his secret in Buonateste: he is infatuated with Eurithea himself. He asks for a love potion to use on her, and Buonateste agrees. He will provide a powder which Fredeline himself is to breathe in and then look at her, so that his "am'rous optic spirits ... steal into her eyes." At the end, however, Fredeline learns that Buonateste's potion is not at all what he had hoped. It makes him sick, and has no effect on Eurithea. Buonateste explains that, since it is impossible to drug anyone into love, he has instead given Fredeline something to put an end to his own lust.

BURBAGE, RICHARD
I. In the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus, the actor Richard Burbage discusses with Kempe the difference between the university wits and such common playwrights as Shakespeare and Jonson, to the advantage of the latter. The two players interview Studioso and Philomusus as possible actors and writers, and are satisfied with the results. II. Richard Burbage, an actor of the King's Men at the Globe Theatre, argues with Sly and Sinklo about the play, and theatrical issues in general, in the Induction to Marston's Malcontent. III. Only mentioned in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Richard Burbage (1573-1619) was one of the greatest Elizabethan actors, creator of many Shakespearean and Jonsonian characters. When Lantern/Leatherhead shows Cokes the puppets as the "actors," Cokes asks about his Burbage, meaning the best actor. IV. Only mentioned in the anonymous Wit's Triumvirate. Burbage is mentioned by Doctor Clyster, when he catches Sir Cupid Phantsy versifying again, when he had made him assure him he would not do it again. Sir Cupid, in an attempt to avoid being reprimanded, replies he was at his prayers, but the Doctor, ironically, asks him: "What, so loud, and acting, as if Burbage's soul had newly revived Hamlet and Jeronimo again, or Alleyn, Tamburlaine?" Richard Burbage (1573?-1619) was son to the actor, theatre manager and owner James Burbage. By the age of 20, he had gained popularity as an actor of the Earl of Leicester's company. He stayed with the same company through its evolution, in 1603, into the King's men. He excelled in tragedy played leading roles such as William Shakespeare's Richard III, Romeo, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and King Lear. He also performed in plays by Thomas Kyd, Ben Jonson, John Webster, Following his father's example, he became major shareholder in the Globe and Blackfriar's theatres.

BURBON**1601
Burbon is a supporter of the King of Navarre in the anonymous Trial Of Chivalry, but a treacherous one, plotting to take the throne of Navarre for himself. He is angry that Navarre refuses to give him Bellamira's hand in marriage. Therefore, with the help of his servant Peter, he enters the tent of Bellamira by night, and applies poison to her face. He then offers battle to the King of Navarre, thus gaining the support of the King of France. His co-conspirator has been the equally treacherous Rodorick, who betrays him by letting Bellamira's lover Philip into his tent the night before the battle. There, Burbon is challenged, and killed, by Philip.

BURBON**1625
A "ghost character" in Sampson's The Vow-Breaker. One of the noble French soldiers taken prisoner at the Battle of Leith.

BURDEN
Burden is an Oxford scholar in Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay. He reveals Bacon's work on the talking Brazen Head and the friar's intention to have devils build a wall of brass around England. When Burden nastily implies that Bacon cannot do such things, the friar has the Hostess of the Bell Tavern in Henley-upon-the-Thames, Burden's mistress, brought to Oxford on a whirlwind, much to Burden's embarrassment.

BURGER
Four Burgers figure in the anonymous A Larum for London.

• The First Burger reveals that the gunshots have hit and asks Danila to explain. He finds astonishing Danila's admission that he ordered the shots. He hears the explanation that it is insulting to the residents of Antwerp to allow the Prince of Orange to use the harbor for commerce.
• The Second Burger points out that the smoke and sound are evidence that the shots have hit and tells Danila that three people have died.
• The Third Burger is with the Antwerp Forces. He comments on arrangements Marques d'Hauurye offers for the defense of Antwerp; he worries about his own family and suggests that Stump should fight out of patriotism. He thinks each citizen should defend his own house.
• The Fat Burger is the last of the citizens attacked by the Spanish soldiers. They tie him up by his thumbs to torture him into revealing his wealth.

BURGESS**1603
This citizen in the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus, a butcher, is tricked by Philomusus' use of medical terminology into supposing him a real doctor; when it comes time to pay, however, the Burgess is miserly.

BURGESSES **1540
Also referred to as the Merchants in Lindsay's Satire of the Three Estates, they are a group representing the Third Estate of Scotland. They process onto the stage at the beginning of the play and remain there as auditors throughout, exiting during the interlude between the parts. The Merchant sits among them. When they re-enter for the Second Part, they are led by Falset and Deceit and walk backwards. When John the Commonweal addresses the Parliament with suggestions for strengthening the Commonwealth, and Divine Correction orders the Three Estates to control thievery of all kinds, they vow to cooperate and welcome John the Commonweal among them.

BURGESSES**1610
The burgesses who become Mammon's hypothetical fools are "fictional characters" in Jonson's The Alchemist. Mammon imagines having a huge amount of money, which he will gain from alchemical transmutation, and fantasizes that the eloquent burgesses will be his fools for the right sum.

BURGESSES, TWO **1599
They come with Brecknocke to ask Niphle to make peace after the fight in Ruggle’s Club Law. They want him not to complain to the duke and fear the ruination of their estates. The assert that only the rich will survive if Niphle does not stop persecuting the “Athenians." They agree to Niphle’s compromise plan to appear to make peace with the students and look for an opportunity for revenge.

BURGH, HUBERT de
I. Appointed by John to guard Arthur in the anonymous 1 Troublesome Reign of John, Hubert de Burgh receives the king's warrant to put out the boy's eyes, and binds him to a chair in order to do so. Arthur's arguments persuade him, however, that his duty to God supersedes his duty to his king. He spares Arthur, but tells the king that the boy is dead. When the news alienates the lords and dismays the king, Hubert confesses that Arthur is still alive. The good news ends Part I. II. Arriving just after the three earls find Arthur's body at the foot of the castle walls in the anonymous 2 Troublesome Reign of John, Hubert, the boy's keeper, insists that he left him safe and well. He returns to the king with the fateful news. III. Hubert is a follower of King John in Shakespeare's King John. When Arthur is captured, John gives him over to Hubert for execution. Apparently that order is changed, since Hubert arrives with a warrant to blind Arthur. He gives in to the pleas of Arthur and promises to hide him. He returns to John and announces that the dead is done, but when John regrets his decision and blames Hubert, Hubert reveals that Arthur is still alive. He returns to the castle where Arthur was kept, only to find that the boy has tried to escape and fallen to his death. He is called a murderer by Pembroke, Salisbury and Bigot, but is defended by the Bastard, who believes him. During the battles against the Dauphin, Hubert meets with John, bringing him news of the battle, and then seeks out the Bastard to tell him John has been poisoned by a monk and seems likely to die.

BURGHERS, THREE
The three burghers in Fletcher and Massinger's Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt discuss the situation of Barnavelt when he is arrested, and are confident that nothing will be done to him. Maurice overhears this and uses it against him.

BURGIO
A disguise adopted by Paulo in Brome's The Novella. Also spelled Borgio in the text. The priest Paulo (Victoria's brother) disguises himself as Burgio, a pimp who claims to have worked with six of Venice's most famous prostitutes during the last sixty years. He claims that the secret to earning money is for the prostitute to retain her virginity as long as possible. In this way, she is in greater demand, and he can collect fees from men anxious to gain admittance to the house for the chance to corrupt her. This is Victoria's main plan, to pose as The Novella, a virgin prostitute, and remain chaste while trying to win Fabritio.

BURGOMASTER**1596
A disguise assumed by Pego, Irus's man in Chapman's The Blind Beggar of Alexandria.

BURGOMASTER**1624
After Bertie kills the Palsgrave's Captain in Drue's The Duchess of Suffolk, the Burgomaster and a group of soldiers discover and arrest Bertie for murder, believing he is a mercenary. After accepting Bertie's request and swearing that he will see Bertie has a fair trial, the Burgomaster takes Bertie away to the statehouse for trial. When Palsgrave and Erbaigh recognize the Duchess and Bertie, Palsgrave dismisses the Burgomaster's case against Bertie. Also called Nicholas van Houe by Palsgrave.

BURGUNDY**1599
I. After England has conquered France in Shakespeare's Henry V, the Duke of Burgundy is instrumental in bringing about the peace treaty between Henry and Charles VI. At the meeting of the two kings, Burgundy describes how France has been ravaged by their war. In history he was Philip duke of Burgundy, also known as Philip the Good. II. Burgundy supports the English side while it seems to be the strongest, but Joan persuades him to defect to the French side in Shakespeare's 1 Henry VI. News of his defection is transmitted to King Henry in a letter carried, appropriately, by the cowardly Sir John Falstaff.

BURGUNDY **1605
The Duke of Burgundy in Shakespeare's King Lear is one of two suitors for the hand of Cordelia, Lear's youngest daughter. Burgundy refuses to wed Cordelia when Lear disinherits her.

BURKES **1604
A “ghost character" in Rowley’s When You See Me. He is stirring up Irish rebels since Henry went into mourning after his queen’s death.

BURNISH
Master Burnish, the goldsmith, appears in only one scene of Marston's Dutch Courtesan, in which he sells a cup to Mulligrub.

BURRHUS AFRANIUS
Burrhus Afranius is appointed commander of the Praetorian guard at the instigation of Agrippina and Pallas in May's Julia Agrippina. Although he is an upright man, he subsequently persuades the soldiers to accept Nero as Emperor. Together with Seneca, he then conspires to encourage Nero to persuade Agrippina to withdraw from affairs of state, which leads Agrippina to quarrel with Nero, who therefore has her murdered. Burrhus has only one hand.

BURRIS
Burris is a loyal counselor to the Duke in Fletcher's The Loyal Subject. He reminds the Duke that Archas served the Old Duke as a loyal subject. When the Tartars are heading for Moscow, the Duke sends Burris to Archas to plead for help, but he brings back the message that Archas could not be convinced to leave his retirement. Burris later persuades the Duke to overcome his pride and ask for Archas's help. The Duke sends Burris to Olimpia with a ring for Alinda. Burris tells Olimpia that the Duke's interest might be just a way of vaunting a new mistress. At Archas's retirement house in the country, Burris announces the Duke's visit. When the Duke has retrieved the money hidden in Archas's house by the Old Duke, he pays Burris generously for his faithfulness and gives him his ring. Burris uses the money to repay Archas. At the Duke's banquet, Burris weeps when he sees the honest general arrested. In a private conversation with Burris, the Duke reveals that he knows Boroskie is false and hates Archas, and that the arrest was a way of trying Archas's integrity. Burris then acts as a messenger between Theodor's rebel army and Archas, who remains loyal to the Duke. In the final reconciliation, the Duke repays Burris for his faithful service by giving him Viola's hand in marriage.

BURST, BARTHOLOMEW
Bartholomew Burst is an adventurer in Jonson's The New Inn. He likes drinking, and a merry guest at the New Inn. Pierce speaks of him as one who has been a citizen, a courtier, and now a gamester. Though he is still a merchant, Burst is characterized as an adventurer and a friend of Jug. The allusion is to the fact that Burst likes drinking. In a room at the inn, Burst is drinking with Huffle, Tipto, and Fly. Tipto says he does not like Bust, and they soon start a quarrel related to the Spaniards' character. While Tipto holds that the Spaniards possess all the qualities, Burst adds that they have these at half measure. The quarrel is interrupted when Pinnacia and Stuff enter. It is understood that Bust attends the second session of the court of love but he speaks no more.

BURTON **1627
Only mentioned in Randolph's Plutophthalmia. Goggle remembers Never-good as the one who made him stand in the "Popish pillory" with Prynne and Burton.

BUSARIO
The old and trusted right-hand man of the Duke of Burgundy in Wilson's The Inconstant Lady. Lord Busario has killed all of his rivals and potential rivals, including, he believes, the Duke's daughter and heir, Bellaura. His guilty conscience leads him to frequent the whorehouse of Madame Romilia, also a haunt of his son, Pantarbo. Ignorant of all of this, the Duke entrusts Busario to guard Cloris, whom the Duke locks her in the palace in hopes of making her his wife. Busario, in turn, employs Gratus to woo Cloris for the Duke. Gratus, gradually realizing that Cloris is really Bellaura, explains this to the Duke in Busario's presence. To avoid torture after this revelation, Busario confesses, and the Duke banishes him from the realm and confiscates his property. Before he leaves Busario is shamed once more by learning that Pantarbo has outwitted himself into marrying Romilia.

BUSBY, ISBELL
Isbell Busby learns from her friend, Alison, of the existence of Misogonus' twin brother in (?)Johnson's Misogonus. A tenant of Philogonus, she wants to be compensated for her knowledge, just as Alison is, so she agrees to tell the truth about Eugonus despite pressure from a disguised Carcurgus to deny that Misogonus has a twin.

BUSHY, WILLIAM
I. A strong supporter of King Richard, along with Bagot and Green in Shakespeare's Richard II. Bushy and Green attempt to take refuge at Bristol Castle but are captured by Bolingbroke and condemned to death for treason. II. Favorite of King Richard II in the anonymous Thomas of Woodstock, along with Bagot, Scroop, and Greene (qq.v.; for a general account of them, see under Bagot). Bushy makes the crucial discovery of the King's birth date, thus revealing to him that he is of age and may legally cast off the Protectorship of his uncle Woodstock. In the division of the kingdom, Bushy receives Wales and the midlands. He is taken prisoner in the final battle, but is still alive when the play breaks off.

BUSIE **1638
A linen draper, Jeremy Hold–fast’s landlord, and the constable in Glapthorne’s Wit in a Constable. Though the titular character, he does not first appear until act three. He prides himself on being a wit, but he is given to short quips that cause the gallants to laugh at him as much as with him. As act four opens, he offers to help Clare and Grace revenge themselves upon Thorowgood and Valentine. He loves the girls for the kindness they have shown his daughter (who is named Luce in the stage direction). When he learns that Sir Timothy and Jeremy are secretly contracted to marry Clare and Grace, he arranges to have them meet at ten to be married at his house. He next tells “Freewit" (Thorowgood intended) and Valentine to get marriage licenses and meet at his house at nine. He then tells “Luce" (Maudlin intended) to bring two of her ladies’ gowns to his house. Busie gives the watch instructions in the manner of Dogberry not to meddle with the criminal classes. Their instructions include allowing all men and women to pass the gate without let. When Sir Timothy, Jeremy, and Grimes appear with a sedan chair, he surprises them by insisting to look inside the sedan, forcing them to retreat. As he enjoys a drink in the tavern, Covet and Sir Geoffrey come to have him arrested, but the watch will only listen to him. He has Covet and Sir Geoffrey arrested instead and taken to be held at his house. He arranges it so Clare and Grace mistakenly marry Thorowgood (aka Freewit) and Jeremy while Sir Timothy and Jeremy mistakenly marry Luce and Nell. The fathers are on hand, then, to come to terms with, accept, and bless the unions.

BUSIRIS**1611
Busiris is an Egyptian tyrant killed by Hercules in a mime show onstage at the end of act one in Heywood's Brazen Age.

BUSKE, GILLAM A Scot in league with the Irish forces in the anonymous Captain Thomas Stukeley. He fights with O'Neal for command of the force; O'Neal eventually retreats. He eventually kills O' Neal's secretary, Neal Mackener.

BUSSY D'AMBOIS
Chapman's Bussy D'Ambois begins with Bussy D'Ambois, a poor military officer, alone on stage bemoaning the fact that fortune does not take a man's intrinsic worth into account when deciding whether or not he'll be successful. Bussy claims that the majority of worthy men flounder while markedly inferior men flourish. He believes that each man should upon his virtue or be ruined. The king's brother Monsieur recruits the young soldier for his personal force. Bussy is convinced that a move with the Duke to court would not only be personally fortuitous, but would also be a virtuous service to the nation. Bussy is somewhat hesitant to appear at court: he does not want to make a living flattering pampered nobles. Ultimately, Bussy accepts one thousand crowns from the Duke's steward Maffe and proceeds to court. When Bussy arrives to court, he acts immodestly. He asks to serve the Duchess of Guise before first serving lower-born ladies. When the Duke of Guise objects to Bussy's pursuit of the Duchess' favor, Bussy ignores him, even after the Due threatens to cut his throat. Bussy dismisses the Duke's threat and counters that the Duke's real targets are the king and the rest of the nobility. The Duke threatens to have Bussy whipped out of the court, but Bussy persists in his conversation with Elenor until Monsieur breaks up the argument. After Bussy forced the Duke to back down temporarily, Barrisor, D'Alou and Pyrhot confront Bussy, Brisac and Melynell. The six resolve to settle their differences via the blade. According to Nuntius, Bussy faces off against Barrisor in battle. Barrisor initially offers to fight Bussy alone, but L'Anou and Pyrhot insist upon joining the fight against D'Ambois' comrades. During the battle, all five other men are killed. Bussy is the sole survivor. Henry and Guise are set to condemn Bussy for murder until Monsieur steps in and secures D'Ambois a pardon. Interestingly, when D'Ambois is pardoned by the king, Bussy thanks Henry but continues to plead his innocence. Bussy believes that when he is wronged, he is a king himself, authorized to deal out justice. Bussy soon reveals to the audience that Bussy is not really interested in the Elenor; he loves Tamyra. One night, Bussy is taken to Tamyra's bedchamber by Friar Comolet via a secret vault. Bussy tells Tamyra that he has broken into her room to ease her conscience. A rumor had been spread that the fight between Barrisor and Bussy was fought over Tamyra. Tamyra and Bussy leave the stage for a while and re-emerge to debate the nature of sin. Tamyra feigns guilt and Bussy professes contempt for fear of sin. He receives a gift from Tamyra and leaves. Bussy's frank observations attract Henry's attention. As the king begins to admire Bussy, Monsieur begins to hate his former champion. It is obvious that the king's compliments enrage Bussy's pride into an arrogant unsustainable crest. When Bussy is again confronted by Guise, Monsieur advises Bussy to back off, but the young warrior refuses to give ground. Bussy finally backs down when commanded to do so by the king. Henry tries to forge a truce between Bussy and Guise and calls them both in for a feast. Monsieur is found alone railing about how badly he wants to get rid of Bussy a Bussy enters the room. Bussy tells Monsieur that he will do anything for him except kill Henry. The Duke proposes that the two men speak freely of one another. Monsieur identifies Bussy as a thoughtless, soulless force of nature. Bussy suggests that all devious violence at the court originates with Monsieur. The two men then go off to dinner together. Bussy learns that Monsieur and Montsurry are plotting against him. The Ghost of the Friar visits Bussy and tells him to meet at Tamyra's chamber. Bussy is warned by Behemoth that Tamyra's next letter will bring death if obeyed. When Montsurry, dressed as the dead Friar, appears and delivers a letter from Tamyra, Bussy chooses to believe the spirit was either wrong or lying. Busy walks into the trap, even though Tamyra screams for him to stay away. The spirit of the priest appears as Bussy fights off a cowardly set of murderers. Bussy is horrified when he sees the spirit of the Friar, since it confirms the validity of Behemoth's prophecy.

BUSSY D'AMBOIS, GHOST of
The ghost of the dead brother of Clermont and Charlotte appears in V.i of Chapman's The Revenge of Bussy D'Ambois. He appears in the home of Guise where Clermont sees him (though Guise does not) urging revenge for his murder. He appears again following Clermont's murder of Montsurry with the ghosts of Guise, Cardinal Guise, Chatillon, and Monsieur.

BUSTAMENTE, DON FRANCISCO
Don Francisco Bustamente is Captain of Cadiz Castle in the anonymous Dick of Devonshire. He surrenders the fort but tries to defend the city, and is arrested for treason. He and Pike meet just prior to their trials, and express mutual respect. His trial at the hands of Don Fernando ends with a sentence of imprisonment, which is subsequently lengthened by the king.

BUSTOFA
Bustofa is the clownish son of Franio the miller and brother of Florimell in Fletcher and Rowley's The Maid in the Mill. Bustofa is to play Paris in a play to be performed by the locals before the visiting aristocracy, but his father will not let him go. Otrante and Gerasto distract Franio so that Bustofa can sneak out, but they insist that he bring Florimell with him. When Florimell is abducted during the performance, Bustofa fears his father's anger. Julio orders Antonio to look after Bustofa, but Antonio pays him to leave them. When he encounters Julio, Bustofa excuses Antonio's absence by inventing a fight between Antonio and the Bellides clan, which makes Julio realise how much he loves Antonio. In the conclusion, Bustofa brings 'Isabella' before Antonio. When Bustofa learns that Florimell is a foundling, he is disappointed to learn that he remains a miller's son, but the lords permit him to wear rich clothes provided by Vertigo.

BUSY, CONSTABLE
A night-constable in William Rowley's A Match at Midnight. While drunk, he tells Randall that Moll would be an ideal wife. He frightens some of the characters during their midnight adventures, but does not arrest anyone. In the play's conclusion, it is Busy who reveals to Tim that Sue is a whore.

BUSY, ZEAL–OF–THE–LAND
Zeal-of-the-Land Busy is a Banbury Puritan, suitor to Dame Purecraft in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair. Littlewit describes him as a former baker who had visions, has given over his trade AND become a zealous Puritan. Quarlous calls him a hypocrite and reports that he had debts and is a dull and arrogant fellow. It seems that Busy preaches renunciation of the pleasures of life while he secretly enjoys those pleasures in private. Busy is at Littlewit's house when Mistress Littlewit faints and says she wants to go to the Fair to eat pig. Busy follows the Littlewit party to the Fair, claiming that he will protect them from temptation. At the Fair, Busy is with the Littlewit party and enters Ursula's booth with the others to eat pig. After having ingested a huge quantity of pig, Busy rails against the vanities of the Fair. Littlewit pays Leatherhead to fetch the officers and charge Busy with disturbing the business, and the officers take the vociferous Puritan away. The officers intend to put Busy and Overdo/Madman in the stocks, but Haggis comes up with the idea of taking them before Justice Overdo. Since Justice Overdo cannot be found, they place Busy in the stocks with Overdo/Madman but do not lock them in. When Trouble-all diverts the officers' attention, Busy and Overdo/Madman run away. Busy exclaims they have been delivered by miracle. Busy enters the puppet-theatre and starts ranting against the vanity of the show. He launches into a dogmatic confutation with Puppet Dionysius and finally admits defeat only upon seeing under the puppet's costume and realizing that it is genderless. He accepts this and allows the play to go on. However, the puppet play remains unfinished, and a less zealous Busy is in the party invited to Overdo's house, where the play is expected to continue.

BUTAS
A servant of Cato in Chapman's Caesar and Pompey. [Plutarch, Life of Cato 70.2, calls him Cato's "chief agent in public matters".]

BUTCHER**1592
Along with the Farmer and Cowtail in the anonymous Thomas of Woodstock, the Butcher mutters against the new "blank charters" of taxation in the hearing of Nimble and Ignorance, who manoeuvre them into signing the charters despite their misgivings, and then arrest them as "privy whisperers".

BUTCHER **1599
A “ghost character" in Ruggle’s Club Law. In the fight, he struck Musonius on the shoulder with his cleaver but Musonius paid him back for it.

BUTCHER**1603
This citizen in the anonymous 2 Return From Parnassus, called Burgess, is tricked by Philomusus' use of medical terminology into supposing him a real doctor; when it comes time to pay, however, the Burgess is miserly.

BUTCHER**1605
The Butcher of Eastcheap is a "ghost character" in Jonson, Marston, and Chapman's Eastward Ho!. He sends Slitgut to the banks of the Thames to honor Saint Luke with an offering of ox's horns.

BUTCHER**1617
A "ghost character" in Middleton and Rowley's A Fair Quarrel. Trimtram bargains with him to buy bladders so that Chough can learn to swim.

BUTCHER**1631
Only mentioned in Zouche's The Sophister. Distinction illustrates the cost of an attorney when he uses the example of a case between "younger and elder, Butcher and Tanner of Witam and Wolvercoate."

BUTCHER BROWNE
This butcher of Rochester calls George Browne "coosin" (cousin) and is addressed as "coosin" by him in (?)Heywood's A Warning For Fair Women. Although the two are not directly related, George knew the butcher well enough to seek refuge in his home after his killings, pretending that he is hiding from a creditor. George is apprehended at the Butcher's residence, but Butcher Browne neither questioned nor accused. Instead, he and the Mayor of Rochester exchange pleasantries.

BUTCHERS **1638
“Ghost characters" in Mayne’s Amorous War. At the rumor of the Thracian invasion, they have taken to the street armed with cleavers.

BUTIOR
A "ghost character" and probably fictional in Chapman's All Fools. The Notary refers to the case of Butior and Caseo as proof of his learning and knowledge, but "butior and caseo" is bad Latin for "bread and cheese."

BUTLER**1597
Butler is a servant of Hotspur sent to bring horses from the sheriff in Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV. He brings but a single, crop-eared roan.

BUTLER **1599
Oldcastle's servant in Munday, Drayton, Hathaway, and Wilson's Sir John Oldcastle, he discovers the King as he is about to fight Wrotham over the stolen gold, and reveals to him the true identity of the King.

BUTLER **1599
A “ghost character" in Ruggle’s Club Law. Cricket tells Tavie that he will speak to the Butler to make Tavie under skinker in the Buttery,

BUTLER**1604
A "ghost character" and probably fictional in Chapman's All Fools. The Notary refers to the case of Butler and Cason as proof of his learning and knowledge.

BUTLER **1606
The Butler is a loyal and clever servant to the Scarborrow family who helps the younger brothers John and Thomas and sister (unnamed) when they are left destitute as a result of William Scarborrow's profligacy in Wilkins's The Miseries of Enforced Marriage. The Butler helps the brothers rob Sir John Harcop and trick Sir Francis Ilford into marrying William Scarborrow's sister as vengeance for depleting Scarborrow's estate.

BUTLER**1608
A disguise assumed by Lieutenant Beard in Barry's Ram Alley as he helps William in the deception of Sir Oliver Smallshanks. He plays the part of the butler of "Constantia Sommerfield," who is really the courtesan Francis impersonating Constantia.

BUTLER**1618
Creon's Butler is made unemployed when Simonides inherits his father's estate in Massinger, Middleton and Rowley's The Old Law. Along with the other servants, the Butler persuades Gnothos and the Clerk to help them find rich widows who are old enough to be executed under the Old Law. They marry these widows, and dance with them in a tavern. At the end of the play, Evander reveals that the Old Law was a fiction, and the servants are thus lumbered with their elderly wives.

BUTLER **1619
The Cook, Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler sing a drinking song in Fletcher’s Bloody Brother. He agrees to make a place for a bevy of young lasses that Latorch has promised to look upon the banquet. He accepts Latorch’s bribe of five hundred crowns and a pardon to poison Otto at the banquet. Later, to curry favor and appear most royal and noble Rollo promises the citizens to have him executed for plotting to poison Otto. He is led to his execution as boys jeer him and the kitchen staff. He and the others sing their ballad as they are led along, not trusting their ballad to be written by a poet after they are dead.

BUTLER**1638
A "ghost character" in Baylie's The Wizard. Shallow appears "speaking as at the door" to Mr. Butler, whom he thanks for his beaver. Mr. Butler is the brother of the Cook.

BUTLER**1641
Oldrents' Butler in Brome's A Jovial Crew. In Oldrents' absence, he praises his master's generosity and provides Oliver with beer.

BUTLER, ARNOLL
Arnoll Butler travels to Bosworth Field in the anonymous True Tragedy of Richard III to join Richmond against Richard III. Although Butler had betrayed Richmond in the past, Henry, unlike Richard, shows the capacity to forgive.

BUTLER, CAPTAIN
Captain Butler, one of the foreign mercenaries, historically Irish, but described, with Lesle and Gordon, as a Scot in Glapthorne's Albertus Wallenstein. Non-speaking in his first scene, and he remains taciturn throughout. With Gordon, he first supports Wallenstein, but is persuaded by the treacherous Lesle to assist his plot to betray him to the Emperor for a large reward. With Gordon, he accompanies Lesle to the Emperor to offer their services and back to the Duke, protesting loyalty. The three successfully stab Wallenstein according to plan.

BUTLER, NED **1595
Ned is the butler in More's household in Chettle, Dekker and Munday's Sir Thomas More. With his fellows Robin the brewer and Giles the porter, he is dismayed to learn of More's death sentence, and with them, he receives More's gift of twenty nobles.

BUTTERWICKE
Butterwicke the Bellman is a night watchman in Haughton's Englishmen for My Money. He identifies Frisco when Frisco is leading Alvaro and Delio, both lost, through the stinking streets of London. The Bellman tells them where they are and takes the three lost souls to Pisaro's house where Alvaro gives him a tip.

BUTTONE, ALESSANDRO
A "ghost character" in Jonson's Volpone. A detractor of Scoto of Mantua; Volpone mentions him while disguised as Scoto.

BUTTONMONGER
The Buttonmonger is a petitioner used by Vortiger to vex Constantius in Middleton's Hengist.

BUTTS, DOCTOR
Doctor Butts serves as physician to King Henry VIII in Shakespeare's Henry VIII. He eavesdrops with the king as Cranmer is summoned to the council and made to wait with messengers and attendants.

BUZ, HANS
A "ghost character" in Jonson's The Staple of News. The emissary or reporter to the Staple of News for the Royal Exchange.

BUZARDO, ASINIUS
Asinius Buzardo is a foolish gentleman in Dekker's Wonder of A Kingdom who only appears briefly at the beginning of the play. When Asinius arrives at Iacomo Gentili's home, he hands a letter from Ieronimo Guydanes to Iacomo. In it, Guydanes asks Gentili to take Buzardo into his service. Iacomo Gentili enquires about Asinius' gentlemanly qualities, or skills, but Asinius only replies foolishly. Finally, Iacomo sends him away. He never returns to the stage.

BUZZANO
Don Pedro's comic servant in the anonymous Dick of Devonshire. Torn between sympathy for the ravished Eleanora and fear of her ravisher, Henrico, he initially supports Henrico's attempt to undermine Manuel but finally seconds Eleanora's account of her rape.

BUZZARD, JONATHAN
Quicksands' servant in Brome's The English Moor, fired as part of the cover-up of Millicent's "disappearance." The rakes get him drunk and press him for details; he reveals that Quicksands has an idiot bastard son, kept secretly in Norfolk, whom he can imitate accurately. Passing out, he is shaved by the rakes and disguised as Quicksands' son. He arrives at Quicksands' feast accompanied by Arnold, also disguised, and sings madly. He unmasks in Testy's court and delights in his revenge on Quicksands.

BYPLAY
Byplay is one of Letoy's men and actors in Brome's The Antipodes. He is gifted with the ability to speak extemporaneously and act without a script. In the inset play, he provides primary interaction with Peregrine and assumes various roles, including that of judge and statesman.

BYRON, CHARLES, DUKE of
I. A nobleman and military leader of France in Chapman's The Conspiracy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He proclaims his loyalty to Henry, but allows himself to be flattered by those in the Archduke's court in Brussels. Upon his return to Paris, he listens to La Fin's story and sympathizes with his plight. When he fears La Fin is in despair, he takes him into his service and plans to introduce him to Savoy, with whom he has allied himself. In their next meeting, Savoy tells Byron that the King has downplayed Byron's military prowess and Byron is incensed. After the King tells him he is sending him as ambassador to England, he decides to go in disguise to consult an astrologer. The astrologer reveals that the person whose horoscope he's reading (Byron pretends it is not his own) will lose his head for actions he has taken. He beats the astrologer, then states that he won't believe the predictions since he doesn't consider himself subject to any law. When he returns from England, he asks Henry to grant to one he names the keeping of the citadel of Bourg; Henry refuses. When Henry also accuses him of conspiring with his enemies, he first protests and then asserts that he will be his own king. He attempts draw his pistol as the King exits and is held back by D'Auvergne. When he next encounters Henry, the King once more confronts him with his apparent betrayal; Byron acknowledges all and repents, kneeling at the King's feet. The King forgives him. II. A nobleman and military leader of France in Chapman's The Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron. He wants to be even more. He makes alliances with the Duke of Savoy (whose daughter is promised to him), the King of Spain, and various Italian forces to once again stir up a military campaign in France. His supporters include La Fin and D'Auvergne. When the King sends two messengers to him at Dijon to request his return to court (Henry plans to put him in charge of the forces he is raising to confront the foreign threat), Byron refuses to do so. When La Brunel brings letters from La Fin that indicate it will be safe for him to return to the court, he decides to do so despite La Brunel's warning about La Fin's possible treachery. When he arrives at the court, he declares that all the rumors of his treachery are false, as his willingness to appear should indicate, but the King indicates that the charges made against him are serious and must be discussed further. Byron and D'Auvergne note the way others in the court refuse to speak with them. When Soissons encourages him to throw himself on the King's mercy at the beginning of IV, he asserts that his loyalty is spotless. He goes to the attend the King in the company of D'Auvergne, the Queen, Epernon, D'Entragues, Montigny, another lady, and others. While playing cards, he proclaims the virtues of the late King of Spain. When the King ends the game and dismisses everyone but Byron from his presence, and once more asks Byron if he will confess his treachery, Byron asserts his innocence once again. The King then leaves. Vitry, Epernon, the Vidame, and two or three of the Guard enter and ask him to resign his sword. Janin arrives to make the request again, and finally the King himself returns and demands that Byron be taken away. When he appears at his trial, he rails against the petty judges. After hearing the charges against him, he refutes each one, and asserts that he had considered suicide when the King refused to grant him the citadel he requested. When La Fin confirms Byron's treachery, Byron launches into a long speech which accuses La Fin of jealousy and witchcraft. When returned to his cell, he tells his captors that he has won the day. When the judges arrive to deliver his sentence, he still proclaims his innocence and asks if he might ask the King's mercy. He is told it is too late. His long final speech, just before he is executed, ends the play.

BYRON'S SISTER
Her voice is heard off-stage during V.iii of Chapman's The Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron, when Byron is in his cell.

BYTHEAS
Bytheas is a Carthaginian senator in Marston's Sophonisba who conspired with Hanno Magnus to betray Massinissa. Bytheas kills Gisco when the latter returns to confess that he has failed to poison Massinissa. Bytheas, Hanno Magnus and [H]asdrubal[l] subsequently quarrel when faced with the defeat of their scheme.