Anonymous
(Thomas Randolph?)
THE FAIRY KNIGHT, or
OBERON THE SECOND

1637(?)–1658(?)
(based perhaps on Thomas Randolph's
lost 1623–1624 play for Westminster School)

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

BARRISTERS
Disguises assumed by Snap and Swift. They pose as fairies to carry out their deception of their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello).

COVET
Covet is a usurer, a lender who employs Craft to devise a plan to keep his gold and steal Spendall's land. He has Oliver tell Spendall that his house is haunted and thus he cannot pay Spendall for his land. Craft and his men fool him into leaving his home while Spendall and Politico fight. When his home is pillaged, he wants to kill himself. Swift convinces him to seek justice for his pillaged gold. Covet appears before "King Oberon" and is made Chief Justice of Fairyland and is promised all of the riches that the title implies. He realizes the cheat only when Craft reveals his true self.

CRAFT
Craft is a cheater with two assistants in his employ: Snap and Swift. He poses as both a servant to "King Oberon" and later, as "King Oberon" himself. Both he and his assistants mask themselves as witches, devils and fairies in order to carry out their plan of cheating Politico, Covet, Spendall and Losarello out of their land and money. He uses Covet in his plan, convincing him to say that a "giant" haunts his house. Craft convinces Losarello that he is a servant to Oberon and that Losarello is a prince and employs Losarello to kill a "terrible giant" at Covet's home. Craft also convinces Politico that he is the rightful heir to Fairyland and all of its wealth and that Losarello wants his crown.

DEVILS
Disguises assumed by Craft, Snap, and Swift in order to astonish and impress their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello). Snap poses as the Devil to enchant Losarello with a spell that will help him beat the "giant" at Covet's home.

DRUMMER
A servant to Spendall.

ELVES
Little children that Craft, Snap, and Swift use to convince Losarello, Politico and Covet that they are indeed in Fairy Land.

FAIRIES
Disguises assumed by Snap and Swift. They pose as fairies to carry out their deception of their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello) that they are indeed in Fairyland.

JUDGES
Disguises assumed by Snap and Swift. They pose as fairies to carry out their deception of their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello) that they are indeed in Fairyland.

KING OBERON
An alias adopted by Craft to carry out his cheat. As King Oberon, he convinces Covet and Politico to give him all their money and Spendall and Losarello to give over their land and money.

LANSPROSADE
A servant to Spendall.

LOSARELLO
Losarello, yearns for the days of King Arthur's Court and is therefore easy prey for Craft and his band of cheaters, Snap and Swift. He knows Politico and his evil ways. Craft convinces him to become "enchanted" by a witch and a devil in order to fight the evil giant at Covet's house. Upon arriving to fight the giant, Losarello takes Spendall and his servants prisoner at Covet's house. Believing that he will forever serve King Oberon, he gives over all his land to the "fairy witch" who enchanted him (Swift in disguise).

OLIVER
A servant to Spendall.

POLITICO
Politico, a foolish politician who wants to be King of Fairyland. He has been in debt for twelve years to various lenders, but is rich. He is convinced by Craft to fight with Losarello to defend his title as "King" and rightful successor to Oberon in Fairyland. Losarello beats him and takes him prisoner. He then pays "King Oberon" (Craft in disguise) all of his money to spare his life.

SNAP
A servant to Craft. He poses as the Devil to enchant Losarello with a spell that will help him beat the "giant" at Covet's home. He also plays the part of various fairies, barristers and judges in Fairyland.

SPENDALL
Spendall is a spendthrift who wants to sell his land to Covet. He is fooled by Craft to fight a giant that is haunting Covet's house. Losarello takes him and his servants prisoner at Covet's house. "King Oberon" (Craft in disguise) later fools him into deeding over all his land in order to live out his life drinking in Fairyland.

SWIFT
A servant to Craft. He poses as a witch to enchant Losarello with a spell that will help him beat the "giant" at Covet's home. He convinces Politico to seek justice from King Oberon in Fairyland after his land has been pillaged. He also plays the part of various fairies, barristers and judges in Fairyland.

WITCHES
Disguises assumed by Snap and Swift. They pose as fairies to carry out their deception of their various gulls (Politico, Covet, Spendall, and Losarello) that they are enchanted and indeed transported in Fairyland.