CAPTAIN THOMAS STUKELEY

11 [10] December 1596
Revised 1599?

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ABDELMALECK Also known as Molocco, the king and general of the combined African armies at the Battle of Alcazar, despite a doubtful beginning, emerges victorious, killing Don Sebastian, King of Portugal. Although he does not slay his nephew Mahamet, he subdues him, dispersing his forces.

ALEXANDER McSURLY A Scot in league with the Irish forces. He fights with O'Neal for command of the force; O'Neal eventually retreats.

ALVA Attendant of King Phillip of Spain, he, along with Sancto Dalia, advises his sovereign to pursue the Portuguese throne "either by force or corrupting gold."

ANTONIO A duplicitous representative of King Phillip of Spain at the court of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal. He brings military assistance to the Portuguese King for the Battle of Alcazar; for this munificence, Sebastian makes him his heir. He never does ascend the throne of Portugal, even when the king is slain in battle because, while observing the campaign and its aftermath while disguised as a priest, he is captured by Turkish soldiers who spare his life but sell him into slavery.

ARTHUR CROSSE A mercer. 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.

BESS Wife of the wealthy alderman Sir Thomas Curtis. 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.

BLUNT Also know as Thomas Thumpe, 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.

BOTELLIO The Portuguese Ambassador. 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.

BRYAN McPHELAN This "ghost character" is mentioned as an Irish soldier defending Dundalk.

CALIPOLIS Wife of Muly Mahamet, she tearfully bids him farewell on the eve of the Battle of Alcazar.

CASHER Servant of London alderman Sir Thomas Curtis. He vainly attempts to recoup some of his master's money after Stukeley marries Nell, Curtis' daughter and uses the proceeds to finance his various overseas adventures.

CHORUS The chorus provides substantial narration for the last act of the play that depicts the Battle of Alcazar, most of which is staged in a dumb show.

CURTIS Family name of Thomas and his daughter Nell.

DICK BLACKSTONE A "ghost character" mentioned as Stukeley's armourer.

DON HERNANDO The cardinal is the pope's representative at the court of Don Sebastian, King of Portugal. The cardinal is in league with Antonio's duplicitous plan to have himself installed as the Portuguese King. He arrests Stukeley upon his arrival at the papal court, but soon releases him, recognizing his political utility.

DON SEBASTIAN The King of Portugal, he enlists the aid of Stukeley and King Phillip of Spain at the Battle of Alcazar. Phillip and his advisor, Don Antonio agree, but use the alliance as an opportunity to gain power in Portugal. Sebastian view this alliance as a "second life" and adopts Don Antonio as his heir in gratitude. Sebastian is slain during the battle, but Antonio is unable to claim the throne since he is captured and sold into slavery while disguised as a priest at the battle.

DRUMMER A non-speaking character under the command of Stukeley.

DUKE of AVERO Part of the Spanish contingent at the Battle of Alcazar. He is involved with the duplicitous plot of King Phillip to control the Portuguese throne by having Antonio adopted Sebastian's heir, but their defeat by Abdelmeleck during that battle ends the plot, and the Duke flees along with the rest of the combined European forces.

ENSIGN A low-ranking officer serving under Stukelely who attests to his bravery during the captain's Irish campaign.

GAINSFORD A captain in the English army and companion of Stukeley during the Irish campaign. Along with Vernon, he is dismayed when Stukeley receives all the credit for the victory at Dundalk. It is he who gives the captain the moniker "lusty Stukeley."

GALLINGLASSE A "ghost character" mentioned as one of many hoped-for reinforcements for the Irish army.

GILLAM BUSKE A Scot in league with the Irish forces. He fights with O'Neal for command of the force; O'Neal eventually retreats. He eventually kills O' Neal's secretary, Neal Mackener.

GEORGE HAZZARD A tennis-keeper. 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.

GOVERNOR'S WIFE Wife of Jack Harbart, governor of the English Garrison in Dundalk. She suggests to her husband that Stukeley's valiant acts should be recognized as such, rather than interpreted as crass opportunism, as Harbart believes.

HAMDON Friend of Vernon, encourages him not to act so complacently when Stukeley marries Nell, Vernon's intended wife. It is this kind of pragmatic advice that Vernon refuses to follow throughout the play.

HENRY CRACKE A fencer. 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.

HERNANDO The governor of Cales for King Phillip of Spain. He attacks Stukeley's ships, capturing him, and conspires with Lady Curtis to bring him down. He goes too far, however, and loses her support when he seeks to have the captain executed.

IRISH LORDS Unindividuated "ghost character"s involved in defending their land from Stukeley and the rest of the English invasion force.

JACK DUDLEY A "ghost character" allegedly involved with Stukeley in various gambling exploits throughout London.

JACK HARBART Captain of the English Garrison in Dundalk. Troubled by Stukeley's overweening ambition, he considers the captain "some desperate pirate, that thinks to domineer on the land as he is used among his mates at sea." Against his wife's better judgement, he expels Stukeley from Ireland.

JEFFREY BLURT The bailiff of Finsbury. 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.

JOHN SPARING or JOHN SPRING Known alternately as John Sparing/Spring, a vintner. 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.

KING IMMANUEL A "ghost character", mentioned once by King Phillip of Spain and the Portugese ambassador as having interests on the Barbary coast.

KING PHILLIP The notorious King of Spain uses Stukeley in his duplicitous plot to have his countryman Don Antonio accede the throne of Portugal. He sends Stukeley as his emissary to the pope to ask his advice in this endeavor, for which the captain is appointed Marquis of Ireland. To enact his plan, he enters the Battle of Alcazar on the side of Sebastian and after initial success, his armies are utterly destroyed and his deputy Antonio is captured and sold into slavery.

KING'S NUCIO King Philip's fool advises dissimulation as the best policy in the king's dealings with Captain Stukeley and the English in general.

LANTADO Saves Vernon and the ship's master from the shipwrecked Pelican only to turn him over to King Phillip of Spain.

LIEUTENANTS Various non-speaking characters serving the play's numerous military leaders.

LORD ABERGANNY A "ghost character" mentioned as a London companion of Sir Thomas Stukeley.

LORD WINDSOR A "ghost character" mentioned as a London companion of Sir Thomas Stukeley.

MARSHALL Escorts Stukeley in chains for an audience with Don Herando, his captor.

MASTER Shipmaster of the Pelican, a merchant vessel bearing cloth from London to Spain. After happening on Vernon, he agrees to give him passage to Spain, but the ship sinks and all souls are lost with the exception of Vernon and himself who are conveyed by Lantado to King Phillip of Spain.

MOTHER BRIDE Wife of Old Thomas Stukeley and mother of the title character, Captain Thomas Stukeley. She disagrees with her husband's displeasure over the urban antics and overseas adventures of their son.

MULLY HAMET Often confused with Mully Mohamet, Hamet joins the alliance led by Don Sebastian, King of Portugal in the Battle of Alcazar against Abdelmeleck. His forces, despite initial success, are eventually defeated.

MULLY MOHAMET The Ottoman ruler is enlisted by King Phillip of Spain and his attendants as a potential ally against the King of Fez at the battle of Alcazar in exchange for assistance in his own wars in Turkey. When the tide of battle turns against the allies, Mohamet, his son, and his armies, flee, leading to the utter destruction of the combined European forces and the death of their leaders, including Stukeley.

NEAL MacKENER An Irish soldier, secretary of Shane O'Neil. He flees after his master is attacked and eventually killed by Gilam Buske.

NELL CURTIS Daughter of the immensely wealthy London alderman Sir Thomas Curtis, she rejects the suit of Vernon in favor of her true love, Captain Thomas Stukeley. After convincing her parents that Stukeley's youthful habits will mellow with age, the couple are married. Soon after, however, she begins to question her husband's singular drive to honor and quickly realizes that their marriage was simply a means for Stukeley to finance his various overseas adventures.

NEWTON A citizen of London, Stukeley's page assists Old Stukeley in discovering his wayward son's various adventures, both at home and abroad.

OFFICERS Non-speaking characters attending Vernon at the Spanish court.

OLD THOMAS STUKELEY Father of the adventurer, Captain Thomas Stukeley. He disapproves of his son's youthful antics, both in London and abroad. After gaining entrance to his son's study and learning of his nuptial plans, he accuses his son of being a "changeling" for engaging in such a self-serving marriage and for not following in his footsteps in pursuit of a legal career.

O'KANE A "ghost character" mentioned as one of many hoped-for reinforcements for the Irish army.

PAGE This non-speaking character serves Captain Jack Harabart.

POPE The Roman Pontiff is sought after by Stukely as the representative of King Phillip of Spain concerning a possible alliance with Portugal. For his services, Stukeley is appointed the Marquis of Ireland.

PROVOST Arrests Stukeley at the behest of Jack Harbart, Captain of the English garrison at Dundalk.

RIDLEY Friend of Vernon, encourages him not to act so complacently when Stukeley marries Nell, Vernon's wife. It is pragmatic advice like this that Vernon refuses to follow throughout the play.

RORY O'HANLON An Irish soldier defending Dundalk, apprehended by Stukeley for treason. He quarrels with McSurly over command of the force and is eventually killed by him in hand-to-hand combat.

SANCTO DALIA Attendant of King Phillip of Spain, he, along with Alva, advises his sovereign to pursue the Portuguese throne "either by force or corrupting gold."

SHANE O'NEAL An Irish soldier defending Dundalk, apprehended by Stukeley for treason. He quarrels with Buske over command of the force and is eventually killed by him in hand-to-hand combat.

SOLDIERS These unindividuated characters have functional uses befitting their names.

SOLDIERS, TURKISH These two unnamed soldiers apprehend Don Antonio at the Battle of Alcazar while disguised as a priest. After he pleads for mercy, they spare his life, but sell the Spanish nobleman into slavery.

STUKELEY, THOMAS The title character is an adventurer, involved in various commercial, political, and especially military exploits. At the beginning of the play, he outwits his perennial rival Vernon and marries the daughter of the immensely wealthy Sir Thomas Curtis, a Spanish gentleman. After the marriage he walks on stage with bags of money, part of which he disperses to various creditors and tradesmen for various goods and services rendered in the past. Unbeknownst to his new wife and her family, and against the wishes of his own father, Old Stukeley, who wishes him to pursue a legal career, he uses his newfound wealth to finance his global adventures. Stukeley sets off for Ireland where he subdues the Irish forces at Dundalk and is credited as "lusty Stukeley," the conquering hero despite the substantial assistance of Vernon and others. His overbearing demeanor soon leads him to quarrel with Harbart, Captain of the English Garrison who expels him from the country. Stukeley then travels to the court of King Phillip of Spain where he quickly becomes involved in that monarch's plans to accede the throne of Portugal through a duplicitous alliance with its king, Don Sebastian. Phillip sends Stukeley as his emissary to the pope to request his advice in the proceedings. After being taken prisoner by Hernando, he is quickly released; for his services, the pope appoints him Marquis of Ireland. He joins the combined European force at the Battle of Alcazar and although he fights valiantly, is eventually subdued when the conflict turns against the European powers. He meets his final end fighting alongside his old nemesis, Vernon.

THOMAS CURTIS A wealthy alderman of London, married to Bess, known in the play for his trademark oath, "bones of a dead man." Despite being favorably disposed to Vernon, he marries his daughter Nell to her beloved, the English Captain Stukeley. For Stukeley, however, the marriage merely is a means to finance his campaign in Ireland and various other foreign expeditions.

THOMAS THUMPE Also know as Blunt, 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.

VALDES A messenger for King Phillip of Spain.

VERNON As the play opens, Vernon is the favored suitor of Nell, daughter of Sir Thomas Curtis, a wealthy London alderman. Beginning a pattern that will be repeated again and again throughout the play, he is outwitted by Stukeley who, despite his reputation as a gallant, wins Nell's hand. Vernon then travels to Ireland to participate in the Irish campaign, and contributes significantly to the English victory at Dundalk, but Stukeley, who arrives later, wins the glory. Following Stukeley, he entreats the master of the Pelican, a merchant ship, to take him to Spain. When that ship is wrecked he and the master are the only survivors and are taken prisoner by the Spanish officer Lantado, but are released when the are greeted by Stukeley. He meets his final end at the Battle of Alcazar fighting alongside his old nemesis, Vernon.

WEDDING GUESTS These non-speaking characters are present at the wedding of Stukeley and Nell, daughter of London aldermen, Sir. Thomas Curtis.

WILL MALLORY A "ghost character" who allegedly spreads rumors concerning Stukeley and his wife.

WILLIAM SHARP A cutler of Fleet St. 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.

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