A Florentine apothecary working in England. Setting off to visit his
homeland, he is happy to turn over the operation of his shop temporarily to
Antifront who poses as Iacomo, an another apothecary of Florence.
ANTIFRONT
The former Duke of Florence and father of Felecia and Florida, Antifront
has been deposed by a rival. Fleeing Florence, Antifront disguises himself
as Fleire (the name by which he is usually known throughout the play). He
travels to England and, still in disguise, enters his daughters' service.
There, he conceives a plan whereby Florida would marry Piso, the son of the
usurping Duke of Florence and Felecia would marry Sir John Havelittle;
Antifront believes the marriages would both correct his daughters' wayward
morals and help restore his family to their rightful place in Florence.
Learning that Piso and Havelittle have been persuaded by his daughters to
murder Ruffel and Sparke, Antifront recruits Nan and Susan to help him
prevent the killings. Disguised as an apothecary, Antifront pretends to
sell poison to Piso and Havelittle, but sells them a non-lethal sleeping
potion instead. After reviving Ruffel and Sparke, Antifront poses as a
judge and presides at the trial of Piso and Havelittle. At the trial, he
produces a letter showing that Felecia and Florida planned the murders,
motivating their repentance. Then, he reveals that Ruffel and Sparke are
not dead, clearing the way for the marriages he had planned.
BLADE
A "ghost character." A cutler named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
CAIUS
A judge in the trial of Piso and Havelittle.
FELECIA
Daughter of Antifront and sister of Florida. Having lost their birthright,
the sisters flee to England and become courtesans. In love with Ruffel but
rejected by him, Felecia plans revenge and asks the knight Havelittle, who
is in love with her, to murder Ruffel as a demonstration of his affection.
Thinking the murder done, she testifies against Havelittle in court. Her
role revealed in court, Felecia repents her crime and begs forgiveness of
Havelittle. When Ruffel and Sparke are shown to be alive, she and
Havelittle are happily united.
FERRIO
A "ghost character." A high-ranking judge who, due to illness, does not
preside at the trial of Havelittle and Piso. Antifront, posing as a judge,
takes his place.
FLEIRE
A name taken by Antifront while in disguise and not otherwise disguised as someone else.
FLORIDA
Daughter of Antifront and sister of Felecia. Having lost their birthright,
the sisters flee to England and become courtesans. In love with Sparke, but
rejected by him, she plans revenge. She asks Piso, who is in love with her,
to murder Sparke as a sign of his affection. Thinking the crime
accomplished she testifies against Piso at the trial. When her part in the
crime is revealed, she repents and begs forgiveness of Piso. Then, when
Sparke is shown to be alive, she is united with Piso.
FROMAGA
The waiting gentlewoman to Felecia and Florida. When Petoune makes romantic
advances towards her, she rejects him, but then relents when she learns he
intends marriage. They are happily united.
FUMANDA
A "ghost character." A Spanish gallant named by Antifront as one of the
many customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
GALLANT
A "ghost character." An English gallant named by Antifront as one of the
many customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
GENTLEMAN
The gentleman comes seeking the position of Gentleman Usher to Felecia and
Florida. After some discussion of wages, he eventually enters their
service.
IACOMO
The name Antifront takes when he poses as an apothecary. Thus disguised, he
pretends to sell poison to Piso and Havelittle, but sells them a sleeping
potion instead.
JAILER
A jailer who attends the trial of Havelittle and Piso.
JUDGES
Two judges figure in the play.
One judge presides over the trial alongside the disguised Antifront (also a judge).
After reviving Ruffel and Sparke, Antifront poses as a judge and presides at the trial of Piso and Havelittle. At the trial, he produces a letter showing that Felecia and Florida planned the murders, motivating their repentance. Then, he reveals that Ruffel and Sparke are not dead, clearing the way for the marriages he had planned.
LORD
A friend to Antifront.
MATCH
A "ghost character." A gunner named by Antifront as a frequent customer of
Felecia and Florida.
MESSENGER
A messenger who announces that the usurping Duke of Florence is dead.
METHEGLINS
A "ghost character." A Welsh gallant named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
MITTIMUS
A clerk in the service of Justice Ferrio.
MUSTROOME
A "ghost character." A French gallant named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
NAN
Sister of Susan and in love with Sparke. Along with her sister, Nan
disguises herself as a boy in the hope of entering Sparke's service and
winning his love. By happenstance, she enters the service of Piso instead.
Later, after her disguise is penetrated by Antifront, Nan, Susan, and
Antifront work together to prevent the murders of Ruffel and Sparke. When
the murders are prevented, she and Sparke are united.
OSCABATH
A "ghost character." An Irish gallant named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
PETOUNE
A foolish tobacconist. Petoune, the object of much ridicule, seeks the love
of Fromaga, a woman attending Felecia and Florida. When he promises
marriage, he wins her consent and, in the end, the two are happily united.
PISO
The son of the usurping Duke of Florence, Piso lives among his friends in
England. He falls in love with Florida, but is tortured by the fact that
she is a whore. Overcoming this objection, he protests his love for her and
is persuaded to, along with Havelittle, to poison Sparke and Ruffel.
Knowing that an Italian apothecary does business nearby, he goes to buy
poison but is given a sleeping potion by the disguised Antifront instead.
When Ruffel and Sparke seem to have been murdered, he and Havelittle are
jailed. Although Florida testifies against him in court, he forgives her
and promises to marry her before he is executed, when she herself is
implicated and repents. When word arrives that his father has died, he
renounces his claim to the Dukedom and publicly announces that Antifront is
the rightful Duke of Florence. When Sparke and Ruffel are shown to be
alive, he is happily united with Florida.
RAPH SHAVE
A "ghost character" mentioned by Antifront as a man who sent his mistress
an oat cake.
ROWELL
A "ghost character." A spurrier named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
RUFFEL
A young gentleman. He rejects Felecia and consequently is the target of a
murderous attack by the gullible Havelittle and Piso. Fortunately for him,
he is given only a sleeping potion and, thought to be dead, he later awakes
having experienced a vision of hell. In the end, he is united with Susan
who has helped save his life.
SALUBERRIUM
A "ghost character." A physician named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
SERVINGMAN
A servant in the household of Felecia and Florida.
SHAMROUGH
A "ghost character." An Irish gallant, the lackey of Oscabath, named by
Antifront as one of the many customers of the prostitutes Felecia and
Florida.
SIR JOHN HAVELITTLE
A poor knight. He falls in love with Felecia who insists that he and Piso
murder Ruffel and Sparke. He agrees and plots with Piso to poison the two
men. Although Felecia testifies against him, he forgives her and promises
to marry her before their executions, after she is implicated and repents.
When Sparke and Ruffel are shown to be alive, he is happily united with
Felecia.
SLOPDRAGON
A "ghost character." A Dutch gallant named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
SMOOTH
A "ghost character." A silk merchant named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.
SPARKE
A young gentleman. He rejects Florida and consequently is the target of a
murderous attack by the gullible Piso and Havelittle. Fortunately for
Sparke, the poison that is intended for him is only a sleeping potion.
Thought to be dead, he later awakes having experienced a vision of hell. In
the end, he is united with Nan, who has helped save his life.
SUSAN
Sister of Nan and in love with Ruffel. Along with Nan, Susan disguises
herself as a boy in the hope of entering Ruffel's service and winning his
love. Unfortunately she is prevented and enters into the service of
Havelittle instead. Later, when her disguise is penetrated by Antifront,
Susan, Nan, and Antifront work together to prevent the murders of Ruffel
and Sparke. When the crime is prevented, she and Ruffel are happily united.
THIMBLE
A "ghost character." A tailor named by Antifront as one of the many
customers of the prostitutes Felecia and Florida.