Anonymous
Richard Tarlton? Samuel Rowley?
(Shakespeare Aprocrypha)
THE FAMOUS VICTORIES OF HENRY V
circa 1583–1588
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
AMBO
The neighbor of Robin Pewterer and John Cobbler, his role is not essential to the plot.
ARCHBISHOP of BOURGES
He is also known as the Duke of Burgundy and Monsieur Le Cole. See "LE COLE."
ARCHBISHOP of CANTURBURY
Appearing once, he advises King Henry V to attack Scotland prior to undertaking his campaign in France.
BOY
The Vintner's boy, 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.
CHARLES VII
King of France. Finding Henry's claim to the French crown "unreasonable," he offers him an alternative of fifty thousand crowns a year and the hand of his daughter, Katherine, in marriage. When Henry V refuses, Charles is defeated at Agincourt. The French king sends his daughter to negotiate with Henry, but the English king does not relent: he claims the throne of France for himself and his heirs. Charles responds by making Henry V regent of France and promising his heirs the throne in perpetuity, an offer that Harry accepts.
CLERK
He accompanies the Judge and the Jailor and reads Cuthbert Cutter's indictment.
CUTHBERT CUTTER
A thief, Cutter robs Derrick, but is apprehended by John Cobbler, Lawrence Costermonger, Derrick, and Robin Pewterer and taken to Newgate where he is found guilty by a judge despite the entreaties of Prince Henry. The thief tries to meet Henry during his coronation, but is stopped by Tom, Jockey, and Ned, who also seek an audience with the king. The English Captain presses him into service when Henry V initiates his campaign in France.
DAUPHIN
Son of Charles VII, king of France. When Henry V of England claims the French crown, the dauphin sends him a mocking gift of tennis balls. The dauphin is prohibited from participating in the battle of Agincourt by his father who is fearful for his son's life. At the end of the play, he swears fealty to Henry V and kisses his sword.
DERRICK
An apprentice to the shoemaker John Cobbler, he appears at the beginning of the play, where he complains to his master and Lawrence Costermonger that he has been robbed and asks for their help. He is pressed into service by the English Captain and joins Henry V's campaign in France. While there, he tricks a French soldier who is about to kill him by telling him to lay down his sword so he can give him as many crowns as will lie on his sword. In order to escape the battlefield, Derrick would injure his nose every day with a straw, so that the Captain would think he is "a bloody soldier" and therefore exempt from service. Along with John Cobbler, Derrick escapes to England by joining the Duke of York's funeral train.
DRUMMER
A French drummer. He plays dice with three French soldiers, mocking Henry V.
DUKE of BURGUNDY
He is also known as the Archbishop of Bourges and Monsieur Le Cole. See "LE COLE."
DUKE of YORK
He is first sent as an English ambassador who delivers Henry V's claim to the French crown to the French King. Upon his request, Henry V gives him the vanguard in the battle of Agincourt where he is slain.
EARL of EXETER
A councilor to Henry IV. When the latter laments his son's wildness, the Earl advises that he be patient with the young prince.
EDWARD III
A "ghost character," mentioned by the Archbishop of Bourges as husband to Isabel, great grandmother of Henry V.
ENGLISH CAPTAIN
He impresses John Cobbler, Derrick, and Cuthbert Cutter into military service during Henry V's campaign in France.
FRENCH CAPTAIN
He converses with three French soldiers, mocking the English king and his inadequate and depleted army, referring to him as "that womanly king of England."
FRENCHMAN
He follows Derrick and takes him prisoner. However, Derrick tricks him by telling him to lay down his sword so he can give him as many crowns as will lie it. When the Frenchman gives up his sword, Derrick takes hold of it and threatens the soldier, who narrowly escapes.
HENRY V
Son of Henry IV, and later crowned Henry V, King of England. At the beginning of the play, Harry is a wild trickster, frequently carousing with a band of rowdy men including Ned, Tom, John Oldcastle, and Jockey. He assists his friend in robbing carriers–including those of his father–and causes riot outside taverns. When the Judge wants to put Cuthbert Cutter the thief in jail, Prince Henry protects him and orders the Lord Chief Justice to release him. He appears unmindful of his status and the system of social rank generally. He also seems unconcerned about the anxiety this attitude causes his father. When the prince visits his sick father in a "cloak full of needles" and a dagger in his hand, he is moved by his father's lamentation and asks forgiveness for his former life, claiming to be "born new again." After his coronation, Henry V claims the crown of France and prosecutes a military campaign in France culminating in the English victory at Agincourt. After his defeat, Charles VII of France makes Harry regent and promises the French throne to his heirs in perpetuity. He is married to the French King's daughter, Katherine.
HENRY IV
King of England, father of Henry V. The king laments his son's wild character and complains about the unsavory companions with whom he associates. He wishes for his son's correction. To this end, he supports his son's temporary imprisonment for taking part in a robbery. However, when the prince visits his sick father in a "cloak full of needles" (as a sign that he "stands upon thorns, 'til the crown be on [his] head") and a dagger in his hand, he is moved by his father's lamentation and asks forgiveness for his former life, claiming to be "born new again." Thus, father and son are reconciled. The king dies shortly thereafter.
HERALD
A messenger serving various French nobles, including Charles VII and the Dauphin.
ISABEL
A "ghost character." She is mentioned by the Archbishop of Bourges as the wife of Edward III, great grandmother of Henry V.
JAILOR
Imprisons Prince Harry at the Fleet prison at a judge's behest.
JOCKEY
One of Prince Harry's rowdy companions who rob in jest and fight in taverns. They laugh with the prince at the king's illness, wishing him dead so that they would all be kings through their close friendship with the Prince of Wales. He and his companions are ultimately rejected by Harry after he is crowned Henry V of England.
JOHN COBBLER
A poor shoemaker, neighbor to Lawrence Costermonger and Robin Pewterer. He is impressed by the English captain and joins Henry V's military campaign in France. During the war, both he and Derrick constantly try to escape the battlefield, rob the shoes of the dead French soldiers, and eventually return to England disguised as members of the Duke of York's funeral procession.
JOHN OLDCASTLE
One of Prince Harry's rowdy companions who rob in jest and fight in taverns. They laugh with the prince at the king's illness, wishing him dead so that they would all be kings through their close friendship with the Prince of Wales. He and his companions are ultimately rejected by Harry after he is crowned Henry V of England.
JUDGE
He refuses to release Cuthbert Cutter the thief despite Prince Henry's intervention on his behalf. When the rash prince strikes him, he orders him to be taken away to the Fleet prison. After his coronation, Henry V appoints him protector of the realm in his absence.
KATHERINE
Daughter of King Charles of France, she is sent by her father to negotiate with Henry V and rebut his "unreasonable" demands. She eventually marries Henry V as part of the political settlement after the decisive English victory at Agincourt.
LAWRENCE COSTERMONGER
He appears at the beginning of the play with Robin Pewterer and John Cobbler. The three of them are neighbors and assist Derrick in apprehending Cuthbert Cutter the thief.
LE COLE, MONSIEUR
He is also known as the Duke of Burgundy and the Archbishop of Bourges. As a French messenger from Charles VII, he offers Henry V fifty thousand crowns a year and the French Lady Katherine in marriage if Harry is willing to forego his "unreasonable" claim to the French crown. Later, he delivers a mocking gift of tennis balls from the French Dauphin. Returning to France, the Archbishop conveys Henry V's refusal to settle for anything less than the crown. At the end of the play, the Duke of Burgundy swears fealty to Henry V.
LORD HIGH CONSTABLE
Appointed commander-in-chief of Charles VII's French army. He is defeated at Agincourt by an English army that is drastically outnumbered.
LORD of OXFORD
At the beginning of the play, he accompanies King Henry IV and asks him to be lenient with his son. When Henry V becomes king, he fights with him against the French and advises him to attack the French prior to the Scots, contrary to the Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion. During the war, he asks for the king's permission to lead the army, but the king has already appointed the Duke of York for that task.
MAJOR
Officer of the law and brother to the sheriff. When Prince Henry and his wild companions cause a riot outside one of the taverns, he orders the prince to be taken away to prison, an action which is reprimanded by Henry IV.
MESSENGER, FRENCH
A Frenchmen who conveys to King Charles the news of Henry V's successful siege on the "distressed town of Harfleur."
NED
One of Prince Harry's rowdy companions who rob in jest and fight in taverns. They laugh with the prince at the king's illness, wishing him dead so that they would all be kings through their close friendship with the Prince of Wales. He and his companions are ultimately rejected by Harry after he is crowned Henry V of England.
PORTER
This character, in the service of Henry V, has a functional use befitting his name.
RECEIVERS
Harry and his unruly company rob these employees of Henry IV in jest. Thus, when the two receivers reach the young prince, they dare not accuse the real perpetrators of the robbery for fear of the prince's reaction.
ROBIN PEWTERER
He appears at the beginning of the play with Lawrence Costermonger and John Cobbler. The three of them are neighbors and they help Derrick apprehend Cuthbert Cutter the thief.
SECRETARY
These two functional characters are employed by the Kings of England and France, respectively.
SHERIFF
A "non-speaking" character, brother to the Major. He appears with the Major when they are both summoned by Henry IV who asks them why they have jailed his son, disregarding his rank.
TOM
One of Prince Harry's rowdy companions who rob in jest and fight in taverns. They laugh with the prince at the king's illness, wishing him dead so that they would all be kings through their close friendship with the Prince of Wales. He and his companions are ultimately rejected by Harry after he is crowned Henry V of England.
WIFE, JOHN COBBLER'S
Wife of John Cobbler, she begs the Captain not to impress her husband into military service to no avail. When Derrick mocks the Wife by asking her whom she will berate when they are gone to war, she strikes him with a pot lid.