John Fletcher
(with Ben Jonson? Philip Massinger? Another?
Philip Massinger reviser 1627–1630?)
The first quarto of the play, dated 1639, identifies the author only as B.J.F.

THE BLOODY BROTHER, or,
ROLLO, DUKE OF NORMANDY

1616–1624

Note: This play contains the same lyric as found in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure IV.i. At V.ii. of this play, the boy sings "Take oh take those lips away" and adds a second verse not found in the Shakespeare play.

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ALLAN
Hamond's brother. He is sentenced to die because he buried his master, Gisbert, against Rollo's orders.

AUBREY
Kinsman to Rollo and Otto. He is fifty-seven years of age and works for the general good of the dukedom. He chastises Gisbert and Baldwin for not interceding with the dukes and trying to make peace. When Rollo murders Otto, Aubrey surprises everyone by agreeing to acquiesce in the deed rather than proclaim Rollo a traitor and thereby lose both of the old duke's sons. He tries to be a good counselor to Rollo but Latorch blocks him. Aubrey upbraids Latroch for being a parasite that leads Rollo with false council. He asks Rollo to pardon Allan and so avert filling the people with fear that could turn to hatred. When Latorch sends word from Rome that Aubrey is Rollo's enemy, Aubrey is the one to receive it in Rollo's name. He tests Hamond's loyalty by ordering him to cut off Aubrey's head, for he is the traitor, and Hamond refuses. Aubrey determines that honesty requires him to show the message to Rollo. Sophia warns him of the plot to kill Rollo, but he arrives too late to save him. He sentences Edith to a convent for her part in the murder. He orders Latorch hanged, and since the sycophant hoped for advancement, Aubrey orders the gallows raised ten feet higher as the advancement he has earned. He orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging. The lords declare Aubrey their new duke, and he takes Matilda to wife. He orders a princely funeral for Rollo and for Hamond a funeral with the decency of arms as well as a tear.

BALDWIN
The princes' tutor. 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.

BOY
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.

BOYS, THREE
The boys 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.

BUTLER
The Cook, Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler sing a drinking song. 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.

CHARLEMAGNE
Only mentioned. Grandpree claims he carries Charlemagne's sword.

CITIZENS, THREE
They come to see Otto's body and believe Rollo's lie that Otto was a traitor. They bless Rollo and thank the heavens for delivering him from treachery.

COOKE
He boasts to the Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler of the brave banquet he will prepare before they all sing a drinking song. 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. He asks the Sheriff to ensure he not be printed with a brass pot upon his head.

DeBUBE
One of the five cheating rogues (called mathematicians, they are fraud astrologers) along with Norbrett, LaFiske, Russe, and Pippeau. He is the miser of the group. He and the others take Latorch's money and tell him whatever horoscope he wishes to hear. Aubrey orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging.

DUKE of NORMANDY
A "ghost character." Rollo and Otto's dead father. He divided his dukedom equally between his sons because he loved both equally. He had hoped his equal love and care would have united them, but their ambition has divided the brothers. There are factions now in the dukedom who keep them warring because it enriches them so to do.

DUPRETE
Captain of Otto's faction. When Rollo and Otto pledge mutual amity, Grandpree, Verdon, Trevile, and Duprete realize that their own ambitions will falter and form an unholy alliance to undo the union. He does not appear again after the first act.

EDITH
Baldwin's daughter. She is on hand when Rollo murders Otto. She pleads for her father Baldwin's life and at length wins Rollo's pardon for him, but it arrives too late. She curses Rollo for the death. Latorch is impressed that she was able to move Rollo to clemency and tries to woo her though she tells him the time is not right. In fact, she is plotting to inflame Rollo's lust and then kill Rollo when he calls her to him. She prepares a banquet at which to kill him, but he weeps and confesses his crimes there, melting her resolve. Hamond breaks in to murder Rollo, and though Rollo holds her as a shield before her, she shouts encouragement to Hamond to kill the duke even if he must thrust through her to get to him. Because she was accessory to the murder, Aubrey sentences her to a convent, which she gladly accepts.

GENTLEMAN USHERS
Mute characters. They attend on the party at the banquet for Rollo and Otto.

GISBERT
Chancellor to Rollo and Otto. He stands for Justice and Law, which Rollo and his faction most rail against. 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. An axe is used, and Rollo regrets that his own headsman was not called to use a sword. His body is left for beasts, unburied. Later, Allan is arrested and executed for burying Gisbert's body.

GRANDPREE
Captain of Rollo's faction. He calls his faction the Rollians and claims they are as brave as Romans. He refers to the other faction as Ottoes. He relishes the dissent between Rollo and Otto and hopes it lasts forever as war keeps him in business. He vows to kill Gisbert, who once placed him in prison for brawling. He taunts Baldwin that he shall have the tutor's daughter for his entertainment. He claims he carries Charlemagne's sword when he trades boasting insults with Trevile. When Rollo and Otto pledge mutual amity, Grandpree, Verdon, Trevile, and Duprete realize that their own ambitions will falter and form an unholy alliance to undo the union. Grandpree is especially keen to keep the factions active because Gisbert has promised to hang him if Justice is allowed its power. He does not appear again after the first act.

GUARDS
One attends the banquet of Rollo and Otto. Possibly another later takes Gisbert and then Baldwin off to their executions. Two guards conduct the kitchen staff to their executions. Another guards Allan as Hamond pleads for his life with Rollo. Other guards accompany Hamond when he comes in act five to accost Rollo. One of them arrests Latorch and leads him to execution. The others arrest the five rascally "mathematicians" and lead them to their whipping.

HAMOND
Captain of the Guard to Rollo. He enacts Rollo's order to behead Gisbert. He also obeys the order to behead Baldwin. He pleads with Rollo for his brother Allan's life in vain. Latorch requests him to go along to Rome to be messenger between him and Rollo when Latorch goes to visit his "Mathematicals." He brings news from Latorch in Rome that Aubrey is a threat to Rollo. When Aubrey tests him by ordering him to cut off Aubrey's head because he is named as traitor, Hamond refuses. Instead, Hamond goes to Rollo to murder him. Despite Rollo holding Edith as a shield, Hamond stabs him to death. He has himself been wounded by Rollo's knife, however, and dies.

HEADSMAN
A "ghost character." Rollo regrets that his own headsman was not called to take off Gisbert's head with a sword rather than the axe that was used.

LaFISKE
Spelled L'Fiske in the dramatis personae. One of the five cheating rogues (called mathematicians, they are fraud astrologers) along with Norbrett, Russe, DeBube, and Pippeau. According to him, they represent five of the seven deadly sins: lechery, envy, gluttony, covetousness—their boy, Pippeau, represents sloth. He and the others take Latorch's money and tell him whatever horoscope he wishes to hear. Aubrey orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging.

LASSES, BEVY of YOUNG
Fictitious characters. Latorch tells the butler that he has promised a bevy of young lasses that they might look upon Rollo and Otto's banquet and requests him to make a place for them. The story is only a ruse to get into the kitchen to speak with the people preparing the banquet.

LATORCH
Rollo's earwig. He inflames Rollo against Otto immediately after Sophia has reconciled her sons. He advises stealth in undoing Otto at the banquet. He asks the butler to make a place for a bevy of young lasses that he has promised to look upon the banquet. He bribes the Cook, Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler to poison Otto at supper. Otto will not eat, and Latorch encourages Rollo when he breaks into their mother's room to turn a deaf ear to Sophia's pleas and slay Otto. He stirs up the rumor that Rollo killed Otto defending himself against the younger brother's conspiracy. He is impressed that Edith swayed Rollo's clemency and begins to woo her for himself. Aubrey upbraids him for being a parasite that leads Rollo with false council. He poisons Rollo against Aubrey. He promises to woo Edith in Rollo's name. He asks for blank warrants that he may fill in as he pleases. He goes to his "Mathematicks" in Rome to have them reveal Rollo's destiny for him. The confidence trickster Norbrett tells him that Aubrey poses the greatest threat to Rollo. He arrives back in time to discover Rollo is dead and Aubrey lives. Aubrey sentences him to be hanged from a gallows ten feet higher than usual as the advancement he sought for his machinations.

LORDS, TWO
In the final moments of the play, they declare Aubrey their new duke and suggest that he take Matilda as wife to strengthen his claim upon the throne.

MATHEMATICALS
Latorch's name for Norbrett, LaFiske, Russe, DeBube, and Pippeau.

MATILDA
Sophia' daughter and sister to Rollo and Otto. She appears to side with Otto and advises her mother to meet Rollo's fire with fire. She is on hand when Rollo murders Otto. She agrees to assist Edith in her plan to assassinate Rollo. She arrives with Aubrey and Sophia in time to see that Hamond has killed Rollo. She praises Hamond for the deed and, with Rollo's life paying for his sin, she forgives Rollo. The lords suggest that she marry Aubrey, the new duke, to strengthen his ties to the throne, and she accepts.

MESSENGER
A messenger tells Aubrey that Sophia requests his presence.

NERO
Only mentioned. Allan opines that Rollo is equal to Nero in murdering those close to him save he has not killed his own mother.

NORBRETT
One of the five cheating rogues (called mathematicians, they are fraud astrologers) along with LaFiske, Russe, DeBube, and Pippeau. They call him Doctor. He is the glutton of the group. He poses as a magician and seer and, learning that Latorch most fears Aubrey in court, tells him that Aubrey poses the greatest threat to Rollo. Aubrey orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging.

OTTO
Duke of Normandy, younger brother of Rollo. He was given one half of his father's dukedom and envies the half given to his brother. He is extremely suspicious and wary of his brother. He stands upon he dying wish of his father and will not relinquish the share in the dukedom the old duke gave to him on his deathbed. He is reconciled to his brother through his mother Sophia's strong persuasions. At the banquet, Otto declines to eat or drink, claiming he must fast as he is sickening with a fever. He tells Sophia privately that the kitchen staff confessed to him the food was poisoned. Rollo breaks in and slays Otto while Otto holds his mother before him as a shield.

PAUL
A Pantler. The Cook, Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler sing a drinking song. Although he says that he accepts Latorch's bribe of five hundred crowns and a pardon to poison Otto at the banquet, he resolves to give the treachery away. He tells Otto that the food is poisoned. 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 will be first hanged, which pleases his fellows as they blame him for having told Otto and led them to this. He and the others sing their ballad as they are led along. In his ballad he complains that he "chipt the cursed crust of Treason with a loyal knife" and is thus to be hung unjustly.

PEASANT
A "ghost character." Pippeau hid his ass and had him call in deBube to find it with his "mathematics" and so earn a cardecu.

PIPPEAU
Spelled Pipeau in the dramatis personae. One of the five cheating rogues (called mathematicians, they are fraud astrologers) along with Norbrett, LaFiske, Russe, and DeBube. He is their boy. When LaFiske claims Pippeau is slothful, Pippeau retorts with a litany of the people he's helped them cheat by hiding their property where his masters (for a fee) could find it. He assists his masters, who take Latorch's money and tell him whatever horoscope he wishes to hear. Aubrey orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging.

ROLLO
Duke of Normandy, elder brother of Otto. He was given one half of his father's dukedom and envies the half given to his brother. He is extremely suspicious and wary of his brother. He stands on the rule of primogenitor and will not acknowledge his brother's share in the dukedom. He is reconciled to his brother through his mother Sophia's strong persuasions. Immediately afterwards, Latorch succeeds privately in turning Rollo against his brother again. Rollo is incensed when Otto will not eat or drink, believing Otto suspects him of trying to poison him at the banquet, and leaves with Latorch. He breaks into his mother's room where he slays Otto and has his brother's blood smeared on his shirt. He sends out the rumor that Otto attacked him in his bed and he killed him defending himself. When Gisbert will not speak on his behalf, he as the Chancellor beheaded and his body left unburied. When Baldwin likewise refuses to excuse him, he orders his tutor's death but at Edith's entreaty sends to have him spared. His order arrives too late to save Baldwin, and Rollo orders the old man be given all honorable funerary rites. When the citizens arrive to view Otto's body, he curries favor by promising to execute those men who practiced to poison his brother at the banquet. He tells Latorch that he favors Edith and would have her and is pleased by Latorch's resolution to win the girl for him. He has a banquet with Edith and weeps, confessing his crimes and the guilt he feels for them. Hamond bursts in to murder him, but Rollo grabs the knife Edith intended for him and uses Edith as a shield. In the fight, he wounds Hamond, but Hamond kills him.

RUSSE
Spelled Rufee in the dramatis personae. One of the five cheating rogues (called mathematicians, they are fraud astrologers) along with Norbrett, LaFiske, DeBube, and Pippeau. They call him Friar. He is overly fond of his wine. He and the others take Latorch's money and tell him whatever horoscope he wishes to hear. Aubrey orders the "mathematicians" whipped for their knavery and also orders them to witness Latorch's hanging.

SERVANT
He takes charge of the banquet for Rollo and Otto along with the Sewer.

SEWER
He takes charge of the banquet for Rollo and Otto along with the Servant.

SHERIFF
He and the guards lead the kitchen staff to their execution.

SOPHIA
Mother to Rollo and Otto. In the first scene, she upbraids her warring sons telling them that their fight will despoil the dukedom they seek to rule. When Rollo and Otto suddenly agree to divide Normandy and each rule half, she scolds them again and reminds them that each half would be weaker and apt for conquest from outside. With motherly affection, she reconciles her sons to accepting equal rule over an undivided Normandy. When Otto tells her he has learned the banquet is poisoned, she refuses to hear ill against Rollo until he breaks in armed. When Edith comes to her with a plan to be revenged on Rollo, Sophia will not hear it. She warns Aubrey of Edith's plot against Rollo, but they arrive too late to save him.

TREVILE
Captain of Otto's faction. He trades boasting insults with Grandpree. When Rollo and Otto pledge mutual amity, Grandpree, Verdon, Trevile, and Duprete realize that their own ambitions will falter and form an unholy alliance to undo the union. He does not appear again after the first act.

VERDON
Captain of Rollo's faction. When Rollo and Otto pledge mutual amity, Grandpree, Verdon, Trevile, and Duprete realize that their own ambitions will falter and form an unholy alliance to undo the union. He does not appear again after the first act.

WIFE, ADVOCATE'S
A "ghost character." Russe jests that Norbrett often persuades the advocate's to lie upon his doctoral bed to take the "mathematicall trance."

WIFE, COOK'S
A "ghost character." Pippeau reminds his masters how he stole the cook's wife's pestle and she paid six souz for them to set a figure to find it.

WOMEN, MARKET
"Ghost characters." Norbrett jests that LaFiske lives on lechery with the market women.

YEOMAN of the CELLAR
The Cook, Yeoman of the Cellar, Butler, and Pantler sing a drinking song. 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.