A pox-ridden soldier, fond of whoring. He longs to marry a rich wife, and is jealous of Leon for marrying Margarita (q.q.v.).
ALTEA
Margarita's witty waiting-woman. She recommends Leon (q.v.) to Margarita because she believes that a fool is the best husband.
BOY
Sings a song about wantonness to Margarita and Altea (q.q.v.).
CACAFOGO
A clown-like character: coarse, vulgar and stupid. Cacafogo is the wealthy son of a usurer, skilled in exploiting his clients. He is hot-tempered, violent and lecherous, which makes him easily gulled by Estifania (q.v.) who tricks him into paying her for Michael's (q.v.) false jewels. Leon and Margarita (q.q.v.) then use him to gull Duke Medina (q.v.) by locking him in the wine cellar where his drunken roaring sounds like a devil. After this, he is removed from the house.
CAMPUSANO
Does not appear in the play. Don Campusano is a captain of carbines to whom Clara (q.v.) asks Juan de Castro (q.v.) to deliver a letter.
CLARA
Donna Clara is a friend of Estifania. She visits the soldiers with a message, and allows her friend to accompany her, so that she can meet Michael Perez (q.v.).
DEGO
Does not appear in the play. Fellow servant of Lorenzo (q.v.).
DUKE MEDINA
An admirer of Margarita, who knows her to have a reputation for wantonness in the court. Appalled by her marriage, he tries to have Leon (q.v.) sent to the wars so that he can gain access to Margarita. When Leon foils his plot, he then pretends to be wounded, so that he can be given a bed in the house. But Leon and Margarita discover this plot too, and gull the Duke into thinking that the drunken Cacafogo (q.v.) is a devil come for his soul. The frightened Duke repents of his lust; afterwards he forgives his antagonists, and promotes Leon to captain.
ESTIFANIA
One of Margarita's maids, who uses her mistress' absence to seduce Michael Perez (q.v.) by pretending that Margarita's house belongs to her. A quick-thinking criminal, she continually gulls Michael into believing that she is honest despite her mistress' unexpected return. Her plans are dashed when she steals Michael's jewels and finds them to be fake. But the two are reconciled when she gulls Cacafogo (q.v.) into paying her for the jewels, and when Leon (q.v.) offers the couple lodgings in his household.
JUAN DE CASTRO
An honest, wise colonel. Although displeased with Leon (q.v.) when he interviews him, he is later impressed by his ability to rule his wife, and informs him of the Duke's plan to gain access to Margarita.
JULIA
Does not appear in the play. Lady Julia is the "bawd-major to the army", whom Margarita is known to visit.
KING OF SPAIN
Does not appear in the play. Duke Medina (q.v.) fakes a letter from the King ordering Leon (q.v.) to the wars.
LADIES
Two ladies-in-waiting who attend on Margarita (q.v.), and introduce her guests.
LEON
A well-built, low-ranking soldier with a taciturn demeanor. His pragmatic cowardice angers his commander, Juan de Castro. But these qualities attract Margarita (q.v.), who marries him in the belief that she will be able to rule him. Leon, once married, becomes assertive, and orders Margarita to obey him. He foils the plans of Duke Medina (q.v.) and other officers to remove him from Margarita's presence, and once he has demonstrated his superiority over them all, they respect him and he is promoted to the rank of captain.
LORENZO
A servant of Margarita (q.v.). Leon (q.v.) orders Lorenzo to pack his mistress's belongings when he learns that he has been sent to the wars.
MAID
A resident of the poor lodgings where Michael Perez stays. She tells him the truth about Estifania (q.v.).
MARGARITA
Donna Margarita is a proud heiress with a reputation for wanton behavior. She desires to marry a 'lusty' husband whom she can easily rule, and chooses Leon (q.v.). When Leon turns out to be a domineering husband, she is initially furious and demands that he learn his place. But she eventually decides that she prefers to be ruled, and resolves to be obedient in the future. She redeems herself when she helps Leon gull the lecherous Duke Medina (q.v.) into repentance.
MICHAEL PEREZ
Don Michael Perez is a 'copper Captain': although he claims to be rich, his jewelry is fake. He is in fact poor, as well as lecherous, and longs for a rich, obedient wife. He marries Estifania when she promises obedience to him. But she has tricked him into believing that she is rich, and 'rules' Michael by continually gulling him. Estifania is also disappointed when she steals Michael's jewels and discovers them to be fake. They are reconciled when Estifania gulls money from Cacafogo (q.v.), and when Leon and Margarita (q.q.v.) offer them lodgings in their house.
OLD LADY 1
An old, wise lady to whom Margarita turns for advice on marriage. Recommends she marry a grave governor.
OLD LADY 2
An old, wise lady to whom Margarita turns for advice on marriage. Recommends she marry a lawyer.
OLD LADY 3
An old lady who accompanies the other two (q.v.). Does not reappear after speaking two lines in the first act.
OLD WOMAN
A resident of the poor lodgings where Michael Perez stays. She tells him the truth about Estifania (q.v.).
PEDRO
Does not appear in the play. Fellow servant of Lorenzo (q.v.).
SANCHIO
A captain, and an admirer of Margarita, who associates with the other soldiers. He has little function in the play beyond plot exposition.
SERVANT OF MICHAEL PEREZ
Sent by Michael to follow Estifania (q.v.) and ascertain her wealth.
SERVANT OF MARGARITA
Tells Leon about Margarita's lifestyle (q.v.).
VASCO
Does not appear in the play. Fellow servant of Lorenzo (q.v.).