LOCRINE
[Collier calls this play Elstrid, but likely this ascription is a forgery]
1591–1595
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
AETHIOPIANS
They appear in the dumb show in II.i. They follow Phineus, drive Perseus away, and take Andromeda. Atey compares them to the Scythians.
ALBANACT
Brutus' youngest son, Locrine's and Camden's brother. After Brutus' death he becomes King of the northern part of Britain, the part that Humber with his Scythians first attacks. Because Albanact is severely wounded and his army defeated, he kills himself.
ALBANACT'S GHOST
He appears when Humber and Hubba celebrate their victory over Albanact's army and re-name the river (Humber). The ghost swears revenge, but they seem not hear him. He appears again when the battle against Locrine is lost, and they now see, hear and fear him. After the battle, he follows Humber and makes sure that he does not eat—he frightens Strumbo away who might have given him food. After having lived in a cave for seven years, Humber kills himself. The Ghost then rejoices and goes back to hell to tell these good news to his father, Brutus.
ALBION
A "ghost character", father of a race of giants whose crew (lead by Gogmagog) Brutus defeated.
ANDROMEDA
Appears in the dumb show in II.i, hand in hand with Perseus, and is taken away by the Aethiopians. Atey compares her to Gwendoline.
ANTIGONUS
A "ghost character", fought against Brutus in Greece.
ARCHER
Kills a Lion running after a Bear or "any other beast" in the dumb show to I. Ate compares the Lion to Brute, the Archer to Death.
ASSARACHUS
Brother of Corineius and Brutus; Locrine's, Albanact's and Camden's uncle.
ASSARACHUS
"Old Assarachus" is a "ghost character", Brutus' old uncle who went with Brutus into exile from Italy.
ATE (ALSO SPELLED ATEY)
Every act starts with a dumb show followed by Ate's commentary. Ate comes with thunder and lightning, all in black, with a burning torch and a bloody sword.
In the introduction to the first act a bear or "any other beast" is followed by a lion, which is killed by an archer. Ate compares the Lion to Brute, the Archer to Death.
The dumb show that introduces the second act shows Perseus and Andromeda being attacked by Phineus and Aethiopians, and Andromeda is kidnapped. Andromeda is likened to Gwendoline, Phieus and the Aethiopians to Humber and the Scythians.
In the dumb show to III, a crocodile is sitting on a riverbank, and a little snake stings it. Then both of them fall into the water. "So Humber having conquered Albanact, Doth yield his glory unto Locrine's sword" is Ate's commentary.
In the dumb show to IV, Omphale, the Daughter of the King of Lydia, has a club in her hand and a lion's skin on her back. Hercules follows her, Omphale turns and strikes Hercules on his head with her pantoffel. Like Hercules for Omphale did Locrine fall in love with Estrild, Ate comments.
In the dumb show introducing V, Jason enters with Creon's daughter (Creusa). Medea follows with a garland, puts it on her head, sets it on fire, kills her and Jason, and leaves. Creon's Daughter, according to Ate's commentary, stands for Estrild, Medea for Gwendoline, Jason for Locrine.
Ate's final comment to the whole play is that private amours of rulers harm the land, and she praises Queen Elizabeth who swayed her sceptre for 38 years "in quiet peace and sweet elicity".
BRUTUS
Father of Locrine, Albanact and Camber. 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).
CAMBER
Son of Brutus and Junoger, Brutus gives him the south of England.
CAPTAIN
A recruiting officer who fetches Strumbo for Albanact's army.
CEPHEUS
Father of Andromeda, a character in the dumb show introducing II. According to Ate he corresponds to Corineus.
CORINEUS
Brutus' brother, he fought with Brutus against Gothelius, Goffarius and Gogmagog and became King of Cornwall. He is Gwendoline's and Thrasimachos' father. When Humber invades Britain, he is eighty years old. He lives another seven years, during which time Locrine does not dare to leave Gwendoline. Estrild must live in a cave where Locrine secretly meets her.
CORINEUS' GHOST
He curses Locrine and predicts his end, and he haunts Gwendoline to revenge Locrine's unfaithfulness.
CREUSA OR "CREON'S DAUGHTER"
In the dumb show introducing V, Jason enters with Creon's daughter (Creusa). Medea follows with a garland, puts it on her head, sets it on fire, kills Creusa and Jason, and leaves. According to Ate's commentary, she stands for Estrild, Medea for Gwendoline, Jason for Locrine.
DEBON
One of Brutus' peers, killed by Hubba in II.vi.
DINA
A "ghost character". Dina with the Asse Tom is seen by Strumbo in I.iii.
DOROTHY OR DOROTHIE
The cobbler Strumbo writes her a love letter. When she receives it, she comes straight to see him and immediately accepts his marriage proposal. Together with Strumbo's boy Trompart they form a happy team until Humber's Scythians destroy the city. Dorothie dies in Strumbo's house that the Scythians have set on fire.
ESTRILD (ALSO SPELLED ELSTRID, ESTRILO)
Humber's wife or concubine. Humber wants her to become Queen of Albion. When two soldiers bring her to Locrine, he immediately falls in love with her. She reluctantly accepts his proposal of marriage. But Locrine does not dare to leave or to divorce his wife, Gwendoline, as long as her father Corineus lives, and Corineus seems to live eternally. Estrild has to live in a cave covered with precious stones. After seven years, when Corineus has died and Gwendoline goes to her father's funeral in Cornwall, she can at last come to the palace together with Sabren, their daughter. But Gwendoline and her brother Thrasimachus have sworn revenge, they attack Locrine with their army, and Locrine loses the battle. He kills himself and Estrild follows him, using the same sword.
GATHELUS
A "ghost character," Brutus and Corineus had to fight against Gathelus and his brother Goffarius in Aquitain.
GOFFARIUS
A "ghost character," King of Gaules, Brutus and Corineus fight against him and his brother Gathelus in Aquitain.
GOGMAGOG
A "ghost character," son to Samatheus, captain of a crew of Giants of Albion's race, defeated by Brutus and his people.
GWENDOLINE (ALSO SPELLED GUENDELIN, GUENDOLINE)
Corineus' daughter and Thrasimacus' sister. She marries her cousin Locrine because this is the wish of her father Corineus and of her uncle Brutus. Together with Locrine she has a son, Madan. But then Locrine falls in love with Estrild and builds her a hidden palace in a cave. He does not dare to divorce or leave Gwendoline as long as her father still lives. When Corineus finally dies, Guendoline goes to his funeral in Cornwall, and Locrine takes Estrild and their daughter Sabren to his palace. Gwendoline and her brother Thrasimacus swear revenge and attack Locrine with their army. Locrine loses the battle and commits suicide, Estrild follows him. Gwendoline then wants to revenge herself on Sabren, but Sabren drowns herself in the river. Gwendoline decides that the river shall henceforth carry Sabren's name (Severn), and that Locrine should be buried honorably in a tomb next to his father's, but Estrild should remain unburied.
HERCULES
In the dumb show to IV, Omphale, the Daughter of the King of Lydia, has a club in her hand and a lion's skin on her back. Hercules follows her, Omphale turns and strikes Hercules on his head. Like Hercules for Omphale did Locrine fall in love with Estrild, is Ate's commentary.
HUBBA
Scythian, Humber's son. He kills Debon in II.vi.
HUMBER
Scythian Emperor, Hubba's father. He wants to invade Albion. He wins the battle against Albanact, but loses against Locrine. After the battle his wife Estrild believes him dead and is led by two soldiers to Locrine's camp. She agrees to marry Locrine. Humber is all alone and hungry. He hears Strumbo eating and wants to force him to give him some meat, but Albanact's Ghost frightens Strumbo away. Humber, it comments, has no right to eat because he invaded a country that was not his. For seven years Humber lives in a cave, hungry and fearful that Locrine might come and kill him. He drowns himself in the river that will bear his name. Albanact's Ghost rejoices and goes back to hell to tell his father, Brutus, the good news.
JASON
In the dumb show introducing V, Jason enters with Creon's daughter (Creusa). Medea follows with a garland, puts it on her head, sets it on fire, kills Creusa and Jason, and leaves. Creon's Daughter, according to Ate's commentary, stands for Estrild, Medea for Gwendoline, Jason for Locrine.
JUNOGER
A "ghost character", Brutus' wife.
LOCRINE
Son of Brutus, brother of Camden and Albanact. According to his father's and his uncle Corineus' wish he must marry his cousin, Gwendoline, and he wins the crown. When he has won the battle against Humber, he meets Estrild and falls in love immediately. He promises her marriage, although he is already married to Gwendoline. Although she is married to Humber (whom she believes dead), she accepts his proposal. His uncle (Gwendoline's father) Corineus and his brother Camden warn him against the marriage. He builds for Estrild a subterranean palace in a cave, with walls of precious stones, where he visits her as long as Corineus lives. After seven years, when Corineus has died and Gwendoline goes to her father's funeral in Cornwall, he takes Estrild together with Sabren, their daughter, to his palace. But Gwendoline and her brother Thrasimachus swear revenge. They attack Locrine with their army, and Locrine loses the battle. He kills himself and Estrild follows him, using the same sword.
MADAN
Son of Gwendoline and Locrine.
MARGERIE
Oliver's daughter, William's sister. When Strumbo does not want to marry her, she beats him until he agrees. He fears she will be even stronger than his former wife Dorothie, who died when the Scythians burnt down their house.
MEDEA
In the dumb show introducing V, Jason enters with Creon's daughter (Creusa). Medea follows with a garland, puts it on her head, sets it on fire, kills Creusa and Jason, and leaves. Creon's Daughter, according to Ate's commentary, stands for Estrild, Medea for Gwendoline, Jason for Locrine.
MOLOSSIANS
A "ghost people", defeated by Brutus and his peers.
OLIVER
William's and Margerie's father, Strumbo's neighbour. He speaks with a strong accent (German ?) and wants Strumbo to marry his daughter Margerie. Strumbo declines but is beaten by Margerie till he agrees.
OMPHALE
In the dumb show to IV, Omphale, the Daughter of the King of Lydia, has a club in her hand and a lion's skin on her back. Hercules follows her, Omphale turns and strikes Hercules on his head. Like Hercules for Omphale did Locrine fall in love with Estrild, is Ate's commentary.
PAGE
A page fetches Estrild and Sabren from their cave to take them to Locrine.
PANDRASSUS
A "ghost character." He was a Greek monarch defeated by Brutus and his peers. Brutus took him as prisoner.
PERSEUS
Appears in the dumb show to II, hand in hand with Andromeda. Aethiopians attack them and take away Andromeda.
PHINEUS
Appears in the dumb show in II.i He is clad in black armour and followed by Aethiopians. Ate compares him to Humber.
POSTHUMIUS' SON
Name used by Humber for Brutus or Locrine.
SABREN
Estrild's and Locrine's daughter. She finds her mother and father dead and wants to kill herself too, but she is too weak. Gwendoline finds her and wants to kill her, but Sabren drowns herself in the river that now bears her name (Severn).
SAMATHEUS
A "ghost character," father of Gogmagog.
SEGAR
Scythian military leader and Humber's counselor. He knows that Albanact approaches with "millions of men", and he warns Humber in III that the "Britains" come.
SOLDIER, FIRST AND SECOND
Two soldiers struggle over a reward:
The First Soldier is from Locrine's army and finds Elstrid after the battle. He brings her to Locrine, who then falls in love with Elstrid.
The Second Soldier claims to be the one who found her.
They fight for their prize, and Locrine has them both put to jail.
STRUMBO
A cobbler and comic character. In I.iii, a comic interlude, he enters "above" in a gown, with ink and paper in his hand. He writes a love letter to his beloved Mistress Dorothie and sends it to her by his boy. Dorothie comes straight to him after receiving his letter. She agrees to marry him. In II he is recruited and must join Albanact's army. When Humber's Scythians burn down his house, his wife Dorothie dies, and Strumbo complains at Albanact's court. Albanact promises to have his house rebuilt at the palace door, but Strumbo would prefer it next to the Tavern. In II.v he drives Humber out in a comic fight, but after the real battle he lies "dead" until Trompart makes him get up again with the warning "Thieves, thieves." Oliver and William come to ask him to marry Margerie, but Strumbo declines. Margerie then beats him till he agrees. When he appears next, his new wife has already borne a baby, and he has gained her goodwill by fulfilling his marital duties (though in an intoxicated state). He wants to eat his breakfast, when he hears Humber, crying for food. Humber tries to force Strumbo to share his victuals with him, but Albanact's Ghost prevents this and drives Strumbo away.
THRASIMACUS
Son of Corineus, Brutus' nephew, general of Albanact's army. After Corineus's death Locrine says that he intends to leave Gwendoline and live with Elstrid. When Thrasimacus then reminds him of Brutus' and his father's exhortations and reproaches his behaviour, Locrine banishes him from his court. Thrasimacus swears revenge. He returns with Gwendoline and an army, and together they defeat Locrine.
TROMPART
Strumbo's boy. In I.iii, a comic interlude, he has to take Strumbo's letter to Mistress Dorothie. When later it seems his master lies dead on the battlefield, the boy cries, "Thieves, thieves," and thus tricks Strumbo into leaping up.
TRUSSIER
A Scythian Lord.
TURNUS
A "ghost character," one of Brutus' followers who slew six hundred men at arms in an hour and died in the battle against Goffarius and Gathelius.
TOM
A "ghost character," Strumbo sees "Dina and the Ass Tom" in I.iii.
WILLIAM
Oliver's son. He wants Strumbo to marry his sister Margerie, because he "tumbled her upon the hay." Strumbo declines, but he is made to consent after a sound beating by Margerie.