Thomas Dekker
The Noble Spanish Soldier
"The Noble Spanish Soldier" by Thomas Dekker is a Jacobean tragedy written in 1622. When the Spanish King abandons Onaelia and their son to marry a Florentine princess, the noble soldier Balthazar champions her cause. Political factions form, civil war threatens, and the new Queen schemes with her advisor to eliminate her rival through poison and murder. Caught between loyalty and royal command, Balthazar must navigate deadly court intrigue where disguises deceive and a poisoned cup determines who will wear the crown.