The Ambassador from Gaul is sent by the Gallian King to ask Leir to forgive Cordella and visit her in France. He first visits Cornwall, after Leir has left, and agrees to stay at Cornwall until Leir returns. After several days, he decides to travel to Cambria. When he arrives there, Ragan accuses him of murdering Leir on Cordella's orders. He maintains his innocence, and exits, presumably to return to Gallia. He states that his king will answer this insult.
CAMBRIA
King of Cambria, husband of Ragan. He travels to Leir's court, meeting Cornwall along the way, and is warmly welcomed by Ragan. After their marriage, Ragan boasts that she rules Cambria as she pleases. Unlike Ragan, Cambria is happy to see Leir, although he does not actually recognize the king, apparently because Leir has arrived in such an "unkingly" manner. He is completely unaware of Ragan's plan to have Leir and Perillus murdered and starts an investigation into their disappearance. When Ragan suggests that Cordella has plotted against Leir, Cambria tells her to trust in the justice of Heaven and not to censure any until the truth is known. When the Ambassador enters and is accused of murder by Ragan, Cambria wants to suspend judgement and proceed only as news of Leir is discovered. He does, however, swear on his kingship to punish Cordella if she is guilty. During the battle, Mumford chases Cambria until the latter feels he can fight no more.
CAPTAIN OF THE WATCH
The Captain of the Watch tells the First and Second Watchmen to keep a lookout for ships and to light the beacon if they sight any.
CHIEF OF DOVER
A mute character. The Chief, or Mayor, of the coastal town (presumably Dover) where the Gallian King's army lands. He is mentioned in the dramatis personae and brought in after the army lands, bound, but does not speak. It is possible that the speech designated for the "Nobles" is his because there is no entrance marked for them.
CORDELLA
Cordella is the youngest daughter of Leir. She refuses to marry according to his wishes, so he plans to trick her into marriage by asking her to declare how much she loves him and then using that declaration to force her to accept his choice. However, she refuses to flatter him, saying only that she loves him as a child should love a father. She is dispossessed and leaves the court to find work to support herself. Out in the countryside, she meets the King of Gaul, disguised as a pilgrim. She describes to him what has happened and, when he claims that he knows the Gallian King has fallen in love with her, she tells him to woo for himself, not another. Despite protests that she is not fit for a pilgrim's life, she insists she wants to be with him. The King reveals himself and promises to marry her that day so that it will be true that all three sisters are married at the same time. In Gaul, Cordella is happy, but misses her father and wishes she could regain his love. To please her, the King sends an Ambassador to ask Leir to visit her in Gaul. While she, the King and Mumford are at the seacoast, disguised as country folk, they find Leir and Perillus, who have escaped Ragan's murder attempt. They are reconciled and mutually forgive each other. After the Gallian army has landed in Dover, Cordella promises to pray for success, since she cannot fight, and Leir promises the same. After the victory, Leir admits that her original words, which he took to be unkind, represented the truth of how a daughter should love a father.
CORNWALL
King of Cambria, husband of Gonorill. He travels to Leir's court, meeting Cambria along the way, and is warmly welcomed by Gonorill. After their marriage, Leir resides with them in their castle, a situation that does not trouble Cornwall. He attempts to make peace between Gonorill and Leir, and, when he cannot, he leaves rather than listen to them argue. When Leir disappears, Cornwall is anxious for his safety and sends a Messenger to Cambria to see if he has traveled there. When the Ambassador from Gaul arrives, Cornwall receives him kindly and asks after Cordella. When the King of Gaul invades, Cornwall fights, but when the battle turns against him, he flees with Gonorill to Cornwall.
COUNTRY COUPLE
The disguise of the King of Gaul and Cordella, when they, with Mumford, travel to the seacoast. There, they meet Leir and Perillus quite by chance.
COUNTRY FOLK
"Ghost characters." When Cordella and the Gallian King travel to the seacoast, she describes how happy she is that they met these country folk, who are both industrious and merry, but also, apparently, full of quirks that have amused her.
DENAPOLL
The name the King of Gaul first gives to Mumford while they are in England disguised as palmers. Mumford objects to the name, claiming he will never remember it, and so it is discarded. The King finally lights on the name Jack for Mumford.
FIRST CAPTAIN
The First Captain enters, with the Second Captain, after the landing of the Gallian army. He swears at the missing Watchmen who allowed the town to be surprised and is ready to stab them, but Mumford arrives and both Captains flee.
FIRST MARINER
The First Mariner demands that Leir switch gowns and caps with him to pay for his passage to Gaul. When Perillus offers his doublet if the Mariner will give Leir back his gown, the First Mariner objects to any attempt to alter the bargain already concluded.
FIRST WATCHMAN
The First Watchman comments that in thirty years of watching the beacon, there has been no need to light it, and he quickly allows the Second Watchman to persuade him to leave his post and go for ale and bacon. Both are almost stabbed by the First Captain when they return, very drunk, after the Gallian army lands, but the Captains flee when Mumford arrives. Both Watchmen are too drunk to be frightened of Mumford when he threatens them.
GONORILL
Gonorill is the eldest daughter of Leir and the wife of Cornwall. She, with Ragan, admits to jealousy of Cordella because of her beauty and haughty nature, and she plots with her sister to have Cordella fail the love test. Gonorill promises that she loves Leir so much that she would happily commit suicide, or let him chose her husband. When Cornwall arrives at Leir's court, Gonorill greets him with great warmth. After their marriage, Gonorill is upset that Leir lives with her and Cornwall because he constantly corrects her or changes her orders. She asks for Skalliger's help, and he advises her to cut his allowance in half so that he will learn to be grateful for what he has. When Leir suggests pregnancy to explain Gonorill's behavior to him, she is angry that he should consider it possible that she should be pregnant so quickly and tells him to find someone else to stay with. When Leir does in fact leave, Gonorill intercepts letters from Cornwall to Cambria about him and replaces those letters with forged ones claiming that Leir has insulted and defamed both her and Ragan. She also suggests to the Messenger that he be prepared to kill Leir. When the Ambassador from Gaul arrives, Gonorill pretends to misunderstand his report of Cordella so that she can speak her true feelings about her. After the Gallian army has invaded England, Gonorill promises Cordella that she will make her life a purgatory, but when Leir's side is victorious, she flees with Cornwall.
GOODMAN JENNINGS
A "ghost character." Apparently the owner of an alehouse. The First and Second Watchman leave their posts and go to him for ale and bacon.
IRISH KING
Another name for the King of Brittany used by Gonorill when speaking of him to Skalliger and Ragan.
JACK
The name the King of Gaul eventually settles on for Mumford (after discarding Denapoll) while they are in England disguised as palmers.
KING OF BRITTANY
A "ghost character." Leir's choice for Cordella's husband. Leir plans to use her protestations of love to force her to accept Brittany, who is also sometimes called the Irish King and the King of Hibernia.
KING OF GAUL OR GALLIA
The King of Gaul decides to travel with Mumford, both disguised as pilgrims, to England to view the beautiful daughters of Leir. In this palmer's disguise, he first suggests Tressilus as a name. When Mumford objects that it is too difficult to remember, the king opts for the name Will. He meets Cordella on the day her sisters are marrying, and she tells him how she was dispossessed. He falls instantly in love with her and pretends to woo her for the Gallian King, but she tells him to woo for himself. After trying to convince her that she cannot live the life of a pilgrim, he reveals himself and promises to marry her that day so that it can truly be said that all three daughters married upon the same day. Back in Gaul, he notices that Cordella is unhappy and sends the Ambassador to England to ask Leir to forgive her and visit them in France. While they are waiting to hear news, they along with Mumford travel to the seacoast disguised as country folk. There they meet Leir and Perillus, who have escaped Ragan's murder attempt and arrived in Gaul with nothing. The King counsels Cordella not to reveal herself until they know what has happened and until Leir and Perillus have had food and are stronger. After they do reveal themselves, and Leir and Cordella are reconciled, the King swears he will return Leir to his throne. After the successful invasion of Dover, the King is quick to assure the people that he comes only to restore Leir. When this is completed, Leir, who promises to spend some time in France, thanks him.
KING OF HIBERNIA
Another name for the King of Brittany used by Skalliger when speaking of him to Gonorill and Ragan.
LEIR
Leir is the king of England, a recent widower who decides, now that he has no wife, to match his three daughters to neighboring kings to ensure stability. However, he knows that his youngest daughter, Cordella, refuses to marry at his command. He decides to trick her with a "love test" and to ask each daughter to express how much she loves him. When Cordella, as he expects, claims she loves him best, he will ask that she prove it by marrying at his command. His two eldest daughters, Gonorill and Ragan, are warned by Skalliger of the nature of the test, and declare that they will do anything he says, but Cordella says only that she loves him as a child should love a father. Enraged, Leir dispossesses her and tells her to leave the court. He then divides his kingdom between Gonorill (now married to the King of Cornwall) and Ragan (now married to the King of Cambria). Leir decides to live with Gonorill, but he manages to enrage her at every turn, and he finally feels that he must leave Cornwall. Perillus, his only loyal companion, suggests traveling to Cambria to live with Ragan, and Leir agrees. They make the journey on foot, arriving exhausted, to be greeted by a welcoming Cambria and a furious but dissembling Ragan. Ragan sends a message to both Leir and Perillus to meet her at a thicket two miles outside of the castle, where they both fall asleep out of weariness. They are awakened by the Messenger, whom Ragan has sent to kill them. At first, Leir believes that the Messenger is a robber, and then he is convinced that Cordella has arranged the murder attempt. When he is shown proof that it is Ragan, he is willing to die because of his daughters' lack of love, However, he attempts to save Perillus from death, and Perillus is equally determined to save Leir. Between the two of them, they convince the Messenger not to kill them. Leir is overcome with grief, but Perillus convinces him that he was wrong about Cordella's anger and that he should travel to Gaul. They arrive in Gaul without money to pay for their passage, and Leir is required to give up his gown and cap to the First Mariner. They are starved and dying when Cordella along with the Gallian King and Mumford, who are all disguised, discover them. At first, Leir does not recognize them, and when they have given him food and drink, he tells them his story and his reluctance to approach Cordella who, he believes, must hate him. Cordella reveals herself and there is an emotional reunion. The King swears to return Leir to the throne and invades England with an army. After taking Dover, Leir meets with the Nobles, and they declare their happiness to have him back (although see the note under "CHIEF OF DOVER"). Leir then meets with his daughters and their husbands and reveals the letters that show Ragan's attempt to have him murdered, but she refuses to admit that she has done wrong. After the battle, Leir is restored to the throne thanks Mumford and the King. He ends by admitting that Cordella's declaration of love was the true one.
LEIR'S WIFE
A "ghost character." The play begins with Leir mourning his recently deceased wife, who is considered to have been "a perfect pattern" and raised her daughters well. She apparently raised them almost alone because Leir expresses great uncertainty about how to provide for them now that she is dead.
MESSENGER
The Messenger is originally sent by Cornwall to Cambria to see if Leir has traveled there. Before the Messenger leaves, Gonorill intercepts him. When she opens the letters, he asks for her protection against Cornwall. She not only promises that but also gives him money, causing the Messenger to swear loyalty to her. He agrees to carry her letters instead of Cornwall's and to affirm the content of the letters to Ragan and Cambria. He also promises Gonorill to help Ragan kill Leir or Cambria if she wants. When he arrives in Cambria, he delivers the letter to Ragan and says (when she cannot bring herself to say out loud) that he will kill either Leir or Cambria at her request. His response to her request to also kill Perillus is to state that he has two hands, one for each murder, at which she gives him two purses, causing him to wish he had ten hands. The Messenger (now also identified in stage directions as the "Murtherer") finds Leir and Perillus asleep in the countryside, where they have traveled to meet Ragan. They at first believe that he is a robber and offer their purses, which he takes. Then Leir is convinced that the Messenger is sent by Cordella, but the Messenger is indignant at the idea that he is French. He shows them Gonorill's letter and swears by heaven, earth and hell that they must die, but Leir's response along with the thunder and lightning that echo his rage frighten the Messenger, and the pleas of both Leir and Perillus move him. In the end, he flees rather than kill them.
MORGAN
The given name of the Duke of Cambria, used only once, when Ragan first greets her future husband and tells him how welcome he is.
MUMFORD
Mumford is the Gallian King's closest companion, who serves sometimes as a comic foil during emotional scenes. When the King decides to travel to England in disguise, Mumford goes with him in order to compare the beauty of British women to French. The king at first suggests that Mumford go in disguise under the name Denapoll. When Mumford complains that it is too difficult to remember, they agree that his name should be Jack. When the King and Cordella decide to travel to England to see Leir, Mumford refers to his oath not to return to Gallia without his "wench," even though he is not sure she is still a maid. Again, after the highly emotional reunion of Cordella and her father, when the King of Gaul swears to return Leir to his throne, Mumford injects a comic note by also kneeling and swearing to bring his wench home or else be gelded. Mumford is the featured fighter in the invasion of England, first scaring off the First and Second Captains, and then fighting and beating Cambria, who flees the battle.
MUMFORD'S WENCH
A "ghost character." When The King of Gaul and Cordella plan to travel to England, Mumford refers to his oath that he would not leave there without his wench. Cordella questions if she is still a maid, and Mumford says it does not matter to him. After the highly emotional scene reuniting Leir and Cordella, when the King swears to return Leir to his throne, Mumford injects a comic note by also kneeling and swearing to bring his wench home or else be gelded.
NOBLES, ENGLISH
The Nobles apparently have a single speaker because he uses the pronoun "I," but Leir's response is to "my lords." They suggest matching Leir's three daughters with neighboring kings, both to provide for them and to guarantee peace for the kingdom. Later, when Leir returns with the Gallian army, the Nobles greet him with happiness (although see note under "CHIEF OF DOVER"). They say that he has been watched for and that, since he gave up the throne, the country has been harshly overtaxed. The Nobles also appear in two other scenes (the marriage scene and when Leir arrives almost alone at Cambria), but in these scenes they do not speak.
NOBLES, FRENCH
Three nobles who have been discussing with the King of Gaul his proposed trip to England. From the King's first words, they apparently have been trying to persuade him not to go, but when he proves determined, they wish him luck.
PERILLUS
Perillus is an advisor to the king, who argues against the love test, and then, when Leir goes ahead with it, argues that Cordella should not be dispossessed for her answer. After Leir has divided his kingdom and is living with Gonorill and Cornwall, Perillus travels to be with him so that he can counsel and protect him. When Gonorill treats Leir shamefully, Perillus suggests going to Ragan, who, he believes, will treat Leir better. Later, when the Messenger/Murtherer threatens to kill Leir, Perillus argues that the Messenger will be damned if he lays a hand on the Lord's anointed, a threat that helps to stop the Messenger. Perillus then persuades Leir that he was wrong about Cordella hating him, and that they should go to Gaul and seek her help. After the trip, Perillus not only hands over his cloak to pay for his passage, but tries to redeem Lear's gown and cap by giving up his doublet, a trade that the First Mariner refuses to accept. When they meet Cordella and the King, who are in disguise and unrecognized, Perillus again attempts to offer his doublet as payment for the food they receive. He travels to England with the Gallian army, although he does not fight, and accuses Ragan to her face of trying to have them murdered. After the victory, Leir thanks him for his love and promises to repay him for his faithful service.
RAGAN
Ragan is the second daughter of Leir and wife of Cambria. She, with Gonorill, admits to jealousy of Cordella because of her beauty and haughty nature, and she plots with her sister to have Cordella fail the love test. Ragan promises that she loves Leir so much that she would happily let him chose her husband, safe in the knowledge provided by Skalliger that Leir's choice is the same as hers. When Cambria arrives at Leir's court, Ragan greets him with great warmth. After their marriage, Ragan rejoices that she rules Cambria and can do whatever she pleases, while Gonorill must put up with Leir. The arrival of Leir makes her unhappy, but she dissembles her feelings. She reads the false letters that Gonorill has sent and decides that both Leir and Perillus must die. She hires the Messenger for that purpose. She lures Leir and Perillus by asking them to meet her in a thicket two miles outside of the castle, and there she also sends the Messenger to kill them. When the Ambassador from Gaul arrives, she accuses him of having been sent by Cordella to kill Leir. Later, when Leir and Perillus confront her with her treachery, she accuses them of lying. After the battle, Leir mentions that both daughters and their husbands have been forced to become fugitives, so it may be assumed that Ragan ends the play alive but on the run.
ROGER
The final disguise that Mumford assumes. He uses it when he, the King of Gallia and Cordella travel to the seacoast. There, they meet Leir and Perillus quite by chance.
SECOND CAPTAIN
The Second Captain enters with the First Captain after the landing of the Gallian army. He is the one who suggests that the Watchmen are probably drinking, and he claims (correctly it would appear) that this is the fault of having the beacon too close to the alehouse. When Mumford arrives, both Captains flee.
SECOND MARINER
The Second Mariner asks that Perillus exchange cloaks in order to pay for his passage to Gaul. Perillus offers to give up his doublet as well if only Leir can keep his gown. When Leir and Perillus argue over this, the Second Mariner believes that they are about to ask for their clothes back and persuades the First Mariner to rush off.
SECOND WATCHMAN
The Second Watchman persuades the First to leave his post and go to the alehouse for ale and bacon. Both are almost stabbed by the First Captain when they return, very drunk, after the Gallian army lands, but the Captains flee when Mumford arrives. Both Watchmen are too drunk to be frightened of Mumford, and he leaves them.
SERVANT TO CAMBRIA
He travels with his master to Leir's court and wishes that he could stay behind since, he says, the journey will tire both himself and Cambria.
SERVANT TO CORNWALL
He travels with his master to Leir's court and comments in an aside that Cornwall is tired of his life, a fact which Cornwall puts down to his love for Gonorill. Back at Cornwall's castle, the Servant announces the arrival of the Ambassador from Gaul.
SKALLIGER
Skalliger is an advisor to King Leir. He first suggests that Leir base the dowries of his daughters on their confessed love for him. When Leir agrees to this love test, Skalliger comments in an aside that he will go to the daughters and betray Leir to them. He tells Gonorill and Ragan of Leir's plans for them and for Cordella. Later, when Leir is living with Gonorill, she consults with Skalliger how to be rid of Leir, his demands, and his attempts to run her household. He suggests cutting Leir's allowance in half so that he will learn to be grateful for what he has. After Gonorill exits, he comments that Gonorill is the shame of her sex, but that he himself is a villain. Nevertheless, he sees that he must flatter to survive.
TRESILLUS
The name the King of Gaul first gives to himself while they are in England disguised as palmers. Mumford objects to the name, claiming he will never remember it, and so it is discarded. He finally chooses the name Will.
WILL
The name the King of Gaul eventually settles on for himself while they are in England disguised as palmers after discarding the name Tressilus.