A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2

In Short

This volume presents four previously unpublished early modern plays, offering a vivid window into seventeenth-century drama. Ranging from high political tragedy to rowdy domestic farce and dark romance, the collection depicts characters caught in moments of crisis: a woman seeking justice for sexual assault, a disgraced Dutch statesman facing execution, lovers trapped by family deceit, and foolish pretenders pursuing military glory. Unifying these diverse pieces is a shared preoccupation with honor, the limits of authority, and the tragic or comic consequences of hubris across both public halls and private chambers.

The Story

The anthology opens with Dick of Devonshire, set during a time of international conflict. Inside a fortified, maze-like mansion, Henrico Gusman reassures the vulnerable Eleonora that she is safe from the invading soldiers outside. However, once left alone with her, Henrico turns predator and ravishes her. Seeking redress, Eleonora brings her case before the local judges. Henrico falsely denies the accusation, claiming she is slandering him out of spite after a personal quarrel. To avoid the gallows, Henrico is ordered to either face the rack or fulfill his original contract of marriage. Meanwhile, Henrico’s scheme to frame his innocent brother, Manuel, for murder falls apart during judicial questioning, forcing Henrico to confront his misdeeds before the court.

In The Lady Mother, emotional manipulation and filial strife take center stage. A domineering mother disrupts her children's romantic ambitions, driving her daughter and her suitor into desperation. After a violent clash results in the apparent murder of a rival named Thurstone, young Marlowe flees from the law. Overcome by guilt and despair, the mother confesses that her own harshness provoked the tragic deed, offering herself up to the officers alongside her son.

Political high stakes dominate The Tragedy of Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt. The aging, ambitious statesman Barnavelt fiercely defends his thirty years of supreme authority in the Dutch Republic. He refuses to yield power or compromise with the rising influence of the Prince of Orange. Blinded by pride, Barnavelt miscalculates his political leverage, ignoring the warnings of his peers that his actions threaten to tear the state apart. The Prince moves decisively, mobilizing loyal troops to secure the city and arresting Barnavelt. Abandoned by his political allies and facing an unyielding court, the fallen statesman is condemned. On the scaffold, as guards prepare the platform and executioners roll dice for his belongings, Barnavelt meets his fate, serving as a bleak cautionary tale on the impermanence of power.

Lightening the tone, Captain Underwit follows a foolish country gentleman who buys a military commission and attempts to adopt the speech and mannerisms of a seasoned commander. Guided by a scheming captain and accompanied by a colorful retinue, Underwit navigates romantic rivalries, drunken tavern brawls, and absurd financial schemes before his vanity is exposed. The collection concludes with scholarly appendices analyzing the original manuscript folios and related dramatic fragments.

How It Unfolds

The sanctuary breached Eleonora seeks refuge from an invading army in Henrico's house, but Henrico exploits her isolation and violates her honor.

The court's ultimatum Eleonora accuses Henrico before the judges, who demand he either marry her or suffer execution for his crime.

A mother's remorse A bitter family dispute turns deadly, prompting a remorseful mother to confess her role in driving her son to murder.

The statesman's challenge Barnavelt refuses to yield his absolute power, openly defying his political rivals and the Prince of Orange.

The downfall of Barnavelt The Prince mobilizes military forces, arresting Barnavelt and condemning him to the scaffold despite public outcry.

The captain's folly Underwit foolishly spends his fortune on a military rank, attempting to court ladies and act the bravado in local taverns.

The People

Henrico Gusman A selfish nobleman who uses promises of safety to prey upon Eleonora. He repeatedly lies under oath to protect his standing, only backing down when faced with the rack and the gallows.

Eleonora A resolute young woman who values her honor above her life. After being betrayed by Henrico, she courageously seeks legal justice rather than suffering in silence.

Sir John Van Olden Barnavelt A proud, veteran statesman who has ruled the republic for three decades. His inability to share power or recognize his own waning influence ultimately leads to his public execution.

The Prince of Orange A calculating military ruler who moves swiftly against political subversion. He uses tactical discipline to neutralize Barnavelt's supporters without sparking a civil war.

Captain Underwit A naive, wealthy country gentleman who longs for social status. He falls prey to flatterers who mock his pretensions while taking his money.

The Lady Mother An overbearing parent whose rigid control nearly destroys her family, driving her children to desperate acts before she realizes her errors.

In Its Own Voice

"The Bullets make no noyse here: if the Towne / Should yield her strength up to th'invader, thou / Art lockd up like a spirit in a Christall"

Henrico falsely promises Eleonora complete protection inside his home while foreign cannons roar outside.

"I have a soul, as she & you have soules, / I doe not know, nor can, nor will confesse / Any such thing"

Facing formal charges of rape before the magistrates, Henrico brazenly denies his actions under oath.

"The fire of honour, which is dead in you, / Burnes hotly in me, and I will preserve / Each glory I have got"

Barnavelt rejects his colleague's advice to compromise, holding fast to his dangerous political ambition.

What It's Really About

The collection explores the fragility of power and the destructive nature of unchecked authority, whether wielded in statecraft or within the domestic sphere. Barnavelt's political execution mirrors Henrico's domestic tyranny; both men believe their standing places them above the law, only to find that institutional justice eventually catches up with them. The plays repeatedly probe the concept of honor—distinguishing between the superficial vanity claimed by pretenders like Captain Underwit and the genuine moral integrity defended by victims like Eleonora. Beneath the dramatic shifts from tragic gloom to satirical farce, the text continually questions whether human law can effectively restrain private greed, political hubris, and violent compulsion.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to enthusiasts of Renaissance drama, textual scholarship, and obscure literary history. Reading these plays offers the thrill of discovering forgotten works by major dramatists like John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, and James Shirley. The language shifts fluidly between poetic rhetoric and sharp, colloquial dialogue, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of early seventeenth-century theater.

Readers must navigate several historical hurdles, including archaic spelling, early modern legal terminology, and complex political contexts like the religious and civic disputes of the 17th-century Dutch Republic. The inclusion of sudden violence and forced marriages reflects period attitudes that may disturb modern readers. Nevertheless, the plays remain engaging due to their tight pacing, memorable character dynamics, and timeless commentary on corruption and justice. The collection leaves a lasting impression of a theatrical era rich in invention, where personal morality and public power were under constant, intense scrutiny.