Anthony Brewer "T.B." on title page: Anthony (Tony) Brewer or Thomas?
THE COUNTRY GIRL
1632–circa 1633
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ABRAHAM TRASHARD
Abraham is Oliver Trashard's son and Margaret and Gillian's brother. He is given a ring by Sir Robert as a present for Margaret. He betrays her telling her suitor that she is to be at home. Later, in Act Two, Abraham comes back home telling Gillian that there is to be a dance, and there he dances with his sister.
ALEXANDER
Only mentioned. Historical king of Macedonia and one of the greatest generals in history. He conquered much of what was then civilized world. Alexander brought Greek ideas and the Greek way of doing things to all the countries he conquered. The great general and king made possible the broadly developed culture of the Hellenistic Age.
ALEXANDER'S HORSE
Only mentioned. It is compared with the lady by Mister Gregory when he says that he wants to be the only one that rides her. Historically, this horse was named Bucephalas.
BARBARA
Barbara is Lady Mosely's chambermaid. She really wants to get married soon and Mr. William tells her that he will find a husband for her. Meanwhile, she will disguise herself as her lady when she does not want to see the suitors. Together with Mr. William, she plays with the suitors, who think that she is theirs. She has appointment with them in three different parts of Lymestreet. She promises that she will meet the three of them again in an hour. In these dates, she gets to know Mr. Rash, whom she fancies. Later, she marries him and goes to a church dressed as a Puritan. She discovers the whole game at the end.
BASON
A "silent character." He comes with the Constable and Whip to arrest the bawd.
BASON'S WIFE
Only mentioned. She is thought to have a tooth drawn above.
BAWD
Disguise that Lady Malory uses to catch her husband red-handed. She visits Margaret to whom she lies when she tells her that Sir Roberts has good intentions. She discovers herself when she realizes that the country girl will not accept Sir Robert's proposals. Having proved the virtues of the girl, she gives money to Margaret.
CAPTAIN GEORGE MULLYMAX
George Mullymax is a captain that competed for the love of the lady three years ago. Not being chosen, he went on board when the Lady preferred her former husband. Knowing that he is now dead, George comes back looking for his beloved lady. He meets her suitors, whom he kicks out of the house. Later, he defies Sir Oliver to fight with him next day on a field. There, he realizes that he has no second to help him in the fight. In spite of being a brave soldier, he wounds himself trying to hurt Sir Oliver. Later, in the hospital, being told that Sir Oliver has taken care of him and that he has disappeared, George wants to send a ring to him to thank him. He is visited by Sir Oliver and they go to Sir Robert's house where he gets to know Margaret in whom he is now interested.
CHAIR
Silent character in Act Five. He comes with the doctor.
CONSTABLE
Minor character that the three suitors bring in Act Three to arrest the beggar whom they think is a bawd.
CUTBERT
Cutbert is Lady Mosely's servingman. He tells Lady Malory about Sir Robert's affair with Margaret. Later, he will help Mr. William in his project to fool the suitors.
DOCTOR
Minor character in Act Five who takes care of Captain George when he is wounded.
FIDDLER
He is a silent character who plays the fiddle in the dance.
GILLIAN
Gillian is Old Trashard's daughter. She complains to her father about having to do everything at home while Margaret does not help her. Later, she will enjoy dancing with her brother Abraham in the dance. Finally, she dresses as the Lady getting the attention of Mr. Plush whom she is to marry.
HUGH
Hugh is Sir Oliver's servingman and he tells his master that there is nothing to do to get Lady Mosely's love. Later, he helps Mr. William and Cutbert in their plan.
JAMES MOSELY
A "ghost character." James is Lady Mosely's dead husband. He was an honest gentleman. He competed with Captain George for the love of Lady Mosely, whom he married.
LADY MALORY
Lady Malory is Sir Robert's wife. She tries to convince Lady Mosely to marry again to honor the memory of her dead husband. Later, when she is told about her husband's infidelity, she decides to find it out by disguising herself as a beggar. After discovering herself, she pretends to be Old Trashard's wife and kisses him in front of her real husband, who stops flattering with Margaret. In Act Five, she goes to the hospital with her husband to visit the Captain.
LADY MOSELY
Lady Mosely is Sir Robert's sister. She has just become a widow and rejects the idea of marrying again in spite of still being young and beautiful. She is visited by three suitors who wait to see her. She does not go to meet them as she only wants to be alone by herself, what is thought to be a sinful social status. Being flattered by Sir Oliver, she promises him that she will marry him in case that she marries somebody in the future although it is not very likely to happen. Finally, in Act Five, she goes to see Captain George in the hospital. There, she realizes that she misses Sir Oliver.
MARGARET
Margaret is a country girl, daughter of Old Trashard. She tells her father that she has been flattered by Sir Robert with words, letters and gifts. Knowing that Sir Robert is coming, she wants to hide herself and that her father tells the nobleman that she is gone for London. However, she has to stay because her brother has told him the truth. She rejects Sir Robert's advances because Margaret hates the person he has made of her. Being visited by a beggar, she confesses that she distrusts Sir Robert because he is old and rich. She thinks that he is mischievous and that her honor is in danger. Thus, when she is harassed by the nobleman, Margaret calls "her mother," causing Lady Malory to come and embarrass Sir Robert. Finally, she visits the Lady and meets Captain George, who fancies her.
MEZENTIUS
Only mentioned. Historical king of the Etruscan Caere with whom Lady Mosely is compared when she refuses to marry any of her suitors. Mezentius was the father of Lausus. Because of Mezentius's cruelty, he was exiled from Caere and he fled to Turnus whom he helped in his resistance against the Trojans when they were invading Latium. He was killed in battle by Aeneas.
MISTER GREGORY DWINDLE
Mister Gregory is a country gentleman that pretends the Lady. He always remembers to mention the fact that his father will die one day soon in his waiting. Mr. Gregory is to fight with Mr. Rash in a duel to show his bravery in front of the Lady, but at the end they do not fight. He meets Barbara in the lower end of the street. He confesses that he wants to be the only one to have the lady. As he loses his chance, he now pretends the Old Gentlewoman to be his wife.
MISTER GREGORY DWINDLE'S FATHER
A "ghost character." His son remembers his future death all along the play.
MISTER OLIVER TRASHARD
Old Trashard is Sir Robert's tenant. He has two daughters and a son. His daughter Margaret tells him about Sir Robert's intentions, which do not annoy the father in spite of their big social differences. However, he is worried about such a match. In Act Three, he will read a letter that the gentleman has sent to Margaret. In Act Four, he pretends to be Lady Malory's husband and kisses her to make her landlord give up.
MISTER RASH
Mr. Rash is a mercer who comes to visit the Lady to propose marriage to her. Due to that, he will have to fight with Mr. Gregory, but he does not have more weapons than the law. Having a date with Barbara as the lady, he meets her in the upper end of Lymestreet and, having lost the love of the real lady, he pretends the chambermaid whom he marries.
MISTER TIMOTHY PLUSH
Mr. Plush is a humorous gallant who has also come to see Lady Mosely. He meets Barbara as the lady in the middle end of Lymestreet.
MISTER WILLIAM
Mr. William is Lady Mosely's servingman. At the beginning of Act One, he tells Sir Oliver that his Lady does not want to marry anybody after losing his former husband. Later, he will announce her that there are some suitors waiting for her. He helps Barbara in their trick. With Hugh and Cutbert, he plans to make the suitors meet Barbara as the Lady in three different parts of Lymestreet.
OLD GENTLEWOMAN
Together with Lady Malory, she asks Lady Mosely to remarry. She is Captain George's sister.
PRIEST
Minor character in Act Four that seems to come for a wedding but there is no marriage in the play.
SERVANT
Silent character in Act Five. He comes with the doctor.
SIR OLIVER BELLINGHAM
Sir Oliver is a knight who is in love with Sir Robert's sister. Sir Robert fancies him and will help him by offering 1,000 a year as a dowry. But, the Lady has made up her mind. In Act Four, he is to fight Captain George whom he asks whether he has a second to help him in the duel. He tries to avoid Captain George whom he finally takes to a doctor when he gets wounded. However, he feels bad and flees thinking that he has killed his opponent. He is also sad because he loves Lady Mosely. He comes back to the hospital and meets his friend with whom he goes disguised as a doctor to the final scene.
SIR ROBERT MALORY
Sir Robert is Lady Mosely's brother. At the arrival of the suitors, he welcomes his guests. He tries to convince them to leave their beloved rest. He is in favor of Sir Oliver to whom he offers 1,000 a year if he marries his sister. Thus, he is angry with Mr. William for talking to the other three gentlemen. Sir Robert is married with Lady Malory. That does not deter him, however, from flirting with Margaret, a country girl. In his attempt to flatter her, he gives a ring to Abraham for her. Later, he will go to see the country girl asking for her love but she rejects the tutor that has taken care of her since she was young. He leaves the dance angry for not having dance with Margaret. He wants to have her as his mistress, which annoys the country girl that brings Lady Malory to embarrass the nobleman. Later, when the Captain is in the hospital, he visits him with the two ladies.
SIR ROBERT'S SERVANT
Minor character whom Sir Robert asks to bring the lady in Act Five.
STOOLES
Silent characters in Act Five. They come with the Doctor and the Chair.
TAILOR
A "ghost character." Mr. Plush talks about the high bill that he owes to his tailor when he comes to visit the Lady.
WENCHES
These six wenches are silent characters that come in the Second Act for the dance.
WHIP
A "silent character." He comes with the Constable to arrest the bawd.