George Chapman
THE TRAGEDY OF CHARLES, DUKE OF BYRON
1608
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
BELLIEVRE
The French Chancellor. 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.
BISHOP
The bishop is Byron's confessor in the play's final scene.
BYRON'S SISTER
Her voice is heard off-stage during V.iii, when Byron is in his cell.
CAPTAIN OF BYRON'S GUARD
The Captain comes to court in act four to deliver a letter from a friend, and to tell Byron of various ominous portents that occurred in Dijon after his departure.
CHARLES, DUKE OF BYRON
A nobleman and military leader of France, who 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 act four, 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.
CUPID
The only speaking character in the second act Masque of the Virtues, whose performers include the King's wife, Maria d'Medici and his mistress, Mademoiselle D'Entragues, who have reconciled their differences, and four other ladies.
DAUPHIN
Non-speaking part. Infant son of King Henry. He is brought to the King by his nurse and a lady in the first scene. The King places his sword in the infant's hand, and addresses a long speech to him, hoping that his reign will be a peaceful one.
D'AUVERGNE
A friend to Byron. He reasserts his loyalty to his friend in act three. When the King attempts to persuade him to reveal Byron's treacheries in act four, he states that he knows of none. He is arrested by Pralin following the arrest of Byron.
D'ESCURES
A French nobleman. Travels with a message from the King to Byron in Dijon, requesting that Byron return to court. Byron refuses and D'Escures leaves. He last appears in the execution scene, where Byron asks him to ask the Chancellor to allow his body to be interred with his ancestors at Byron.
EPERNON
A French nobleman; supporter of the King. He guesses the answer to Cupid's riddle during the masque.
FLEURY
A judge. He is one of the four judges in Byron's trial. 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.
GUARDS
Non-speaking characters who appear in IV.ii and again in V.iv.
HANGMAN
Byron's executioner; he appears in the final scene.
HARLAY
A judge. He is one of the four judges in Byron's trial. 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. Harlay reads the sentence.
HENRY IV OF FRANCE
King of France. In the opening scene, he learns from Janin that Byron is once again conspiring against Henry in hopes of attaining the crown for himself. This information is confirmed by La Fin, but Henry still states that he will pardon Byron again if he will submit himself to the king, and fight for France rather than conspiring against her. He sends D'Escures to Byron, asking him to come to court to receive the command of an army Henry will raise against the Italian forces. He also urges La Fin to write to Byron to reassure him, and also sends Janin to persuade him to rejoin the King. When Byron appears and proclaims his innocence of the rumored treason, the King indicates that the charges against him are damaging and that they will discuss them further in private. After consulting with Bellievre (the Chancellor), the Vidame, Janin, Vitry, and Pralin, Henry agrees to have Byron arrested in or near his chambers to preclude any violence. When Byron, D'Auvergne, and others arrive to attend the King, the King attempts to persuade D'Auvergne to reveal Byron's treachery as an indication of his own loyalty, but D'Auvergne asserts he knows of none. The King dismisses those gathered, but asks Byron to remain. He gives Byron one last chance to acknowledge his treason, and Byron again asserts his innocence. The King leaves, but returns after Byron has refused to submit to Vitry and Janin. Henry orders Byron taken away.
JANIN
A French minister. He informs King Henry in the opening scene of Byron's renewed perfidy. He travels with a second message (following that from D'Escures) from the King to Byron in Dijon, requesting his return. Byron refuses and he leaves. In act four, scene two, he arrives after Vitry and urges Byron to give himself up.
LA BRUNEL
A captain under Byron. He brings letters from La Fin to Byron in act three, which persuade Byron (after he has told the King's two messengers that he will not return to the court) to return to meet with the King. La Brunel warns Byron of La Fin's possible treachery.
LADIES, FOUR
Non-speaking characters. Four ladies appear along with the other performers in the second act Masque of the Virtues.
LADY
Non-speaking character. Accompanies the nurse and the Dauphin to the King in the opening scene. Possibly the same lady appears with the Queen and others in IV.ii.
LA FIN
A ruined French noble. He supports Byron and serves as his envoy to Henry early in the play, ostensibly to assuage Henry's concerns about anti-French activity on the part of the Italians, the Spanish, and the Duke of Savoy. He betrays Byron's plans to Henry, and testifies against Byron at his trial.
MADEMOISELLE D'ENTRAGUES
Non-speaking character. The King's mistress. She appears in the second act Masque of the Virtues, along with the King's wife, Marie de Medici.
MARIE DE MEDICI
Queen of France. She appears in the second act masque, along with the King's mistress, Mademoiselle D'Entragues; she has no lines. In act four, she enters with Byron and others. She plays cards with Byron, Epernon, and Montigny until the King stops the game, at which point all but Byron and Henry leave the room.
MESSENGER
He announces the arrival of President Janin in Byron's camp at Dijon in act three.
MONTIGNY
A French nobleman.
NURSE
Non-speaking character. Nurse to the Dauphin. She brings him to the King in the opening scene and helps the King to put his sword in the infant's hand.
POTIER
A judge. He is one of the four judges in Byron's trial. 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.
PRALIN
The Captain of the guard; supporter of the King. Following the arrest of Byron, he arrests D'Auvergne.
SOISSONS
A French nobleman. He warns Byron at the beginning of act four that the King may yet forgive his treachery if he will ask his mercy.
SOLDIER
A nameless soldier appears and speaks at Byron's execution, extolling his merits.
SOLDIERS
Non-speaking characters. They appear in V.iv.
SPANISH AMBASSADOR
The Spanish ambassador appears in act five to ask Henry's leave for their forces to cross his kingdom in their (putative) campaign against Flanders. Despite his knowledge of Byron's conspiracy with the Spanish, Henry grants them leave.
TORCHBEARERS
Non-speaking characters. They are part of the Masque of the Virtues in act two.
USHERS
Non-speaking characters. They appear in V.iv.
VARENNES
Lieutenant of Byron's guard. In act four, he warns Byron that he is undone.
VIDAME OF CHARTRES
Nephew of La Fin. He attends the King in the opening scene and reports that his uncle will soon arrive back at the court. He also appears in IV.ii and V.iii.
VITRY
The Captain of the guard; supporter of the King. Following Byron's refusal to acknowledge his treachery after the King's final request, he enters with others and arrests Byron. Following Byron's confrontation with King Henry, Vitry escorts him to prison, and is present at his execution.