Albion Knight (fragment)

DATE, AUTHORSHIP AND AUSPICES

1537–66 (SR 1565 c. Aug.); anonymous; auspices unknown; Greg 38

TEXT AND EDITIONS

Extant originals

1566? printing by Thomas Colwell: Huntington (fragment: six leaves); STC 275

Editions

1994 CHD (CD-Rom and online transcription of Colwell printing, l.l., OS)

1907 Greg (1907b) (OS)*

1906 Farmer (4) (n.l., NS)

1844 Collier (n.l., OS)

SOURCES

No sources have been identified.

CHARACTERS

Injury Justice Albion Division The following are also mentioned but do not appear in the fragment of the play that is extant:

Principality Maintenance Old Debate Dame Plenty Peace Rest Double Device

PLOT SUMMARY

The fragment begins (not the start of the play) with Injury(as Manhood) arguing that one cannot judge a person by appearance, whereas Justice says that frivolous apparel betokens want of discretion. Albion Knight, representing England, intervenes to reconcile them. Injury then argues that the law favours the monarchy rather than the subjects, and the temporal lords rather than the lords spiritual. Albion is alarmed by this and Justice agrees that if this is the case, it should be reformed. Once Albion and Justice have departed, however, Injury in a ‘boasting’ speech reveals his true identity as a Vice. He declares that his intention is not peace in the kingdom, but rather discord, and that he intends to enlist the help of his friend Division. He goes off in search of Division, who duly arrives with a vaunting speech and heavily armed.