John Ford? John Fletcher generally discounted [Revised by another hand?]
Although first published in the Beaumont and Fletcher First Folio of 1647 and long believed to be largely by John Fletcher, recent authorship studies have found little evidence that Fletcher participated in any way in its production. Cyrus Hoy, the editor for The Dramatic Works in the Beaumont and Fletcher Canon text of The Laws of Candy, believes John Ford as a young dramatist may have been asked to write this play in the style of Fletcher, thus explaining some general resemblances of style and subject matter to Fletcher's plays.
THE LAWS OF CANDY
1619–1623 published 1647
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ADMIRAL of VENICE
A "ghost character." An unspecified Admiral of Venice performed a massacre at sea against a merchant ship from Candy while they were at peace. Gonzalo is believed to have called for the admiral's death instead of a fine; this action is one of the events that precipitated the recent war between Venice and Candy.
ANNOPHIL
Sister to Antinous and daughter to Cassilane, Annophil is an attendant of Erota's until Cassilane decides to retire to the country and asks his daughter to accompany him. Annophil reassures Antinous that she will attempt to reconcile him to Cassilane. Despite her commitment to being an obedient daughter, she supports Arcanes when he protests Cassilane's threatening Decius simply for bringing a letter from Antinous. Annophil comes to love Fernando while he is staying at Cassilane's. After Cassilane accuses Antinous of ingratitude, Antinous accuses Erota, and Erota accuses Cassilane, Annophil accuses the entire Senate of ingratitude for not paying Cassilane's debts after he mortgaged his property to pay the soldiers to help protect the city. She forgives them and asks their forgiveness when the accusations are withdrawn. She is betrothed to Fernando at the end.
ANTINOUS
Antinous, son to Cassilane, the general of Candy, returns with his father to Candy at the beginning. Each believes himself to deserve recognition as the greatest champion of the country; according to Candy's laws, the man who gains that title, through recognition of the soldiers and Senate, earns the right to ask one boon of the government. Antinous eventually proves the winner but chooses to ask the Senate to recognize his father's fifty years of service as a soldier by erecting a statue to his father. By doing so, he also hopes to convince his father that he is not being ungrateful; according to a different law, ingratitude is a capital offense. With the ransom money he receives from capturing Fernando, Antinous uses half to pay the soldiers and contributes half to fund the statue. Disinherited by Cassilane, Antinous wishes to go into self-imposed exile, but Erota commands him to stay. Antinous accedes, but he continues to be depressed. His sister, Annophil, wishes to reconcile Antinous and Cassilane, but Antinous worries that she will only succeed in antagonizing Cassilane herself. He sends a letter via Decius, but Cassilane continues to refuse him. When Decius returns not only with Cassilane's rejection but with the news that Fernando revealed a plot against Candy by Gonzalo, Antinous finally capitulates to Erota's wooing on the condition that she save Cassilane from being impoverished but conceal that Antinous had asked her to do so. In the final scene of judgment, accused by Cassilane of ingratitude for his role in making Cassilane indebted to Erota, Antinous agrees that he is guilty and accuses Erota of ingratitude because he saved her life by agreeing to love her. After Cassilane forgives Antinous, Antinous forgives Erota. Finally, Erota releases Antinous from his promise to marry her because compelled romance will not generate love.
ARCANES
Cassilane's best friend, Arcanes continually tries to repair the breach between Cassilane and Antinous. He accompanies Cassilane into his retirement in the country, where he urges Cassilane to be temperate and not to kill Decius when Decius brings a letter from Antinous.
ATTENDANT
One of Erota's unnamed attendants announces Cassilane's arrival to see Annophil.
BALDWIN
A "ghost character." Baldwin is described as tyrannical emperor of the Greek islands who made Mountferato Governor of Candy.
CASSILANE
A soldier for fifty years and general of the forces of Candy. Cassilane returns triumphant from battle at the beginning of the play and contends with his son Antinous for recognition as the country's champion; according to Candy's laws, the man who gains that title, through recognition of the soldiers and Senate, earns the right to ask one boon of the government. Antinous eventually proves the winner but chooses to ask the Senate to recognize his father's fifty years of service as a soldier by erecting a statue to his father. Instead of being flattered, Cassilane believes that Antinous is simply gloating because nobody could see the statue without knowing that it was erected by Antinous after Antinous captured Cassilane's glory. Cassilane then casts off his son completely and determines to retire to the country, accompanied by his friend Arcanes and his daughter Annophil. Once settled in the country, the Senate sends Fernando to lodge there at Fernando's request; Cassilane at first believes that Fernando is mocking him but comes to believe that Fernando truly acknowledges Cassilane's excellence as a military leader and wishes to honor him. When Decius arrives bringing a letter from Antinous, Cassilane responds angrily, threatening to kill Decius; Arcanes and Annophil urge him not to, but he continues to be irate at his son. Cassilane is amazed at first when Gonzalo brings him money and says that Cassilane's mortgage is repaid, but when he realizes that Erota paid Gonzalo on Cassilane's behalf, Cassilane goes to the Senate and accuses his son formally of ingratitude, a capital crime according to the laws of Candy. Erota in turn accuses Cassilane of ingratitude because she paid his debts and asked only that he favor Antinous again, at which time Antinous accuses Erota of ingratitude. Cassilane only recants when Philander points out to Cassilane that he has single-handedly brought his country to the brink of ruin rather than saving it because the entire government is under sentence of death. He forgives his son and is forgiven by Erota. He supports the union between Fernando and Annophil.
DECIUS
Antinous's best friend. Decius tries to help heal the breach between Antinous and Cassilane by carrying a letter from Antinous to Cassilane, who threatens to kill him. He return to Antinous with the important news that Fernando, due to his love for Annophil, has revealed Gonzalo's plots against Candy.
EROTA
Erota is the proud princess of Candy. She is second in line for the throne behind her nephew, the son of her deceased brother. She has a reputation for encouraging princes' suits and then scorning them as unworthy of her. She despises Philander and treats Gonzalo with contempt but falls in love with Antinous. Unsuccessful in her pursuit of Antinous, Erota asks Philander to woo Antinous on her behalf; utterly in love with her, Philander agrees. In order to help Antinous defeat Gonzalo's plot against Candy, Erota agrees to pretend to entertain Gonzalo's suit and feigns the ambition to be queen of Candy, even if it means killing her nephew, but Erota urges Gonzalo not to speak his plans out loud for fear they might be overheard; instead, she has him write down the plot to preserve its secrecy. She tells Gonzalo that Cassilane is in their way but that she has a plan to eliminate him; she then sends Gonzalo to Cassilane with money and the news that she has paid off his mortgage to Gonzalo. When Cassilane accuses Antinous of ingratitude for his part in asking Erota to help his father financially, Erota accuses Cassilane of ingratitude to her after she paid his debts; Antinous then accuses Erota of being ungrateful after he gave her his love. Once Cassilane forgives Antinous, she forgives Cassilane and is forgiven by Antinous. She further reveals to Gonzalo that she is the cause of his arrest for treason, having submitted his written plots to Gaspero as proof of Gonzalo's treachery; finally, she releases Antinous from his promises to her and asks (successfully) for Philander's forgiveness and love.
FERNANDO
A Venetian captain captured by Antinous. Fernando will be ransomed, a sum Gonzalo offers to pay. Fernando's ransom is used by Antinous to pay the soldiers and to commission the statue of Cassilane. Gonzalo reassures Fernando that Venice has not actually lost to Candy and says that he has already plotted Candy's downfall and outlines his plot, although he accuses Fernando of not being devious enough to understand it. Fernando requests to stay with Cassilane in his country retirement in order to learn from him; Cassilane at first believes Fernando is mocking him, and then he accepts that Fernando wishes to honor him. Fernando falls in love with Annophil and reveals Gonzalo's plot against Candy in a letter which Decius carries to Antinous. He wins Annophil's love and is accepted by her family.
FIRST ATTENDANT
One of Erota's attendants tells Erota who Gonzalo is.
GASPERO
The Secretary of State of Candy, Gaspero helps preside over the debate between Cassilane and Antinous over the right to be recognized as champion. Gaspero also warns Gonzalo against Erota and describes her habitual prideful rejection of princes. He later brings Fernando to Cassilane's country house with the Senate's consent. Finally, Gaspero arrests Gonzalo for treason, based on the written proof obtained by Erota from Gonzalo.
GENERAL of the VENETIANS
A "ghost character." In his description of the battle, Cassilane says that the General of the Venetians had unhorsed Antinous; Cassilane then rescued Antinous by fighting the General until Antinous, having recovered adequately, jumped in front of Cassilane and killed the General.
GONZALO
A conniving Venetian, Gonzalo is widely respected in Candy at the beginning for having protested against Venice's attacks against Candy in a time of peace and having funded Candy's defense against Venice's aggression. He offers to pay Fernando's ransom, however much they ask. He attempts to woo Erota by acting exaggeratedly proud; he believes that he will be able to gain the throne of Candy through Erota once his suit is successful. Gonzalo tells Fernando that, far from being victorious in war, Candy is doomed, and he explains his scheme to divide Cassilane and Antinous by urging on their animosity toward each other and to condemn the country through its law that ingratitude is a capital offense. Gonzalo, believing he has finally won over Erota, shares his plans for gaining the thrones of Candy and Venice with her, writing them down at her behest in order not to be overheard. He also cancels Cassilane's debts to him and takes Erota's money to Cassilane under the impression that Erota is helping him to defeat Cassilane by making him further indebted to them. To Gonzalo's surprise, Gaspero arrests him for treason and reveals that Paolo Michael, the Venetian ambassador, likewise accuses him of treason. Gonzalo realizes his error in having trusted Erota and having committed his plans to writing; he surrenders.
HYPARCHA
One of Erota's attendants, Hyparcha mocks Mochingo for adopting Gonzalo's assumed exaggeratedly proud demeanor.
MARQUESSE MOUNTFERATO
A "ghost character." The "Marquesse" Mountferato, named Governor of Candy by Baldwin, was accepted by Candy, who made him General in hopes that Baldwin would send assistance against the Turks. After the Turkish danger passed, Mountferato accepted money from Venice in return for Candy, then absconded.
MELITUS
A gentleman from Cyprus, Melitus complains to Gaspero about Erota's treatment of Philander and suggests that Candy's problems arise from harboring a monster like Erota.
MESSENGER
Brings the news that Candy has defeated Venice in war and that Cassilane and Antinous are returning in triumph.
MOCHINGO
A foolish courtier, Mochingo sees Gonzalo's exaggerated pride in his wooing of Erota and decides to adopt this demeanor himself, for which he loses Erota's support.
MUSICIANS
Mute characters who play offstage; their quality is complimented by Erota. Philander takes the credit for sending them.
PAOLO MICHAEL
The Venetian ambassador. Paolo Michael arrests Gonzalo for treason and asks Candy either to punish him or to extradite him to Venice for punishment.
PHILANDER
The prince of Cyprus. Philander is passionately in love with Erota, who scorns him. When Erota falls in love with Antinous and asks Philander to woo Antinous on her behalf, he agrees and does his best, proving his devotion. When Cassilane, Antinous, Erota, and the entire Senate have been condemned to death for ingratitude, Philander is given control of the proceedings as the only ranking male adult left unimpeached. He resolves the problem by pointing out to Cassilane that instead of saving Candy, Cassilane has condemned it by bringing the entire government to the point of death; Cassilane then repents and forgives his son, beginning the chain of retractions that saves them all. Philander joyously accepts Erota's admission of guilt and her hand when she apologizes for her past treatment of him.
PORPHICIO
One of the Senators. He and the others declare Antinous as champion over Cassilane in the opening act and condemn Cassilane, Antinous, and Erota as ungrateful and then, in justice, acknowledge their own guilt when Annophil accuses them of ingratitude to Cassilane, who is in debt on their behalf, even though they were not aware of this fact. The Senators are saved when Philander brings about Cassilane's forgiveness of Antinous, leading, ultimately, to Annophil's forgiveness of the Senators.
POSSENNE
One of the Senators. He and the others declare Antinous as champion over Cassilane in the opening act and condemn Cassilane, Antinous, and Erota as ungrateful and then, in justice, acknowledge their own guilt when Annophil accuses them of ingratitude to Cassilane, who is in debt on their behalf, even though they were not aware of this fact. The Senators are saved when Philander brings about Cassilane's forgiveness of Antinous, leading, ultimately, to Annophil's forgiveness of the Senators.
PRINCE of CANDY, FORMER
A "ghost character." The former Prince of Candy, apparently recently deceased, is known in part for having humored Erota in her belief that she is superior to other women.
PRINCE of CANDY, PRESENT
Non-speaking character or (more likely) a "ghost character." He is the son of the previous (now deceased) prince, Erota's brother; his youth is given as one of the reasons for Candy's current troubles. Gonzalo refers to "this young one" in II.i as though the prince is present, but no stage directions confirm his presence.
SENATORS
Mute characters, unless they serve an unmarked choral role as do the soldiers in the same scene. A stage direction calls for three Senators in addition to Porphicio and Possenne to judge the contest between Cassilane and Antinous.
SERVANT
One of Cassilane's servants announces Fernando's arrival.
SOLDIERS
The soldiers support Cassilane and Antinous in their respective bids for recognition as champion; Antinous sends all of the soldiers to stand by their general, Cassilane, while Antinous speaks. They act as a chorus to support claims brought by Cassilane and Antinous. They also bring in Fernando as a captive.