THE ENGLISH MOOR, or
THE MOCK–MARRIAGE

1637

a synoptic, alphabetical character list

ACTORS
Appear "in the habit of Blackamoors" at Quicksands' masque. They report witnessing the assignation between Nathaniel and the "Queen of Ethiopia."

AMBROSE
Referred to as "Drawer" in the playtext; also known as Host. He alone knows that Meanly and Rashwell counterfeited their feud and deaths.

ARNOLD
Rashly's old serving man and Theophilus' confidant. Fired by Theophilus for laughing at the tale of Millicent's disappearance, he is enlisted by Nathaniel to aid in the ruse of Quicksands' bastard son. He accompanies Buzzard to Quicksands' feast, disguised as "John Hulverhead," an old country-man, and is happily reunited with his old master in Testy's court.

ARTHUR
(Originally spelled "Arthure".) Meanwell's son and Dionisia's brother. As the play begins, he is paralyzed with grief over his father's murder by Rashly. Dionisia urges him to seek revenge, but he is distracted by his servant, Rafe, who invites him to put on a disguise and observe the attempts by Nathanial, Vincent, and Edmond to cuckold Quicksands. After inadvertently saving Theophilus from the rakes, he plots to use his disguise to become closer to Theophilus, the better to be revenged on him. However, he is in love with Lucy, and faces his sister's anger when the fact is revealed. He attends Quicksands' feast, where, discovering Millicent un-disguised, he promises, in honor of her true love and despite his hatred for Theophilus, to convey her safely to him. He delivers Millicent to Theophilus and then slips away, but re-enters with his father and Rashly. The families are re-united, and he and Lucy are betrothed in Testy's court.

BOY
Serving-boy at the tavern.

CATELYNA
The name given by Quicksands to Millicent in her disguise as a blackamoor servant.

DIONISIA
Meanwell's daughter and Arthur's sister, a woman of "violent spirit." She urges Arthur to revenge their father's death by murdering Theophilus. Upon learning from Rafe that her brother loves Lucy, she pretends to Arthur that she is in love with Theophilus, and angrily charges him with hypocrisy when he chides her. She leaves home, attended by the besotted Rafe, disguised as a soldier and Millicent's kinsman, and gains access to Theophilus' house. Touched by Theophilus' grief and his warm welcome of his beloved's "kinsman," she abandons her plan to kill him. However at Millicent's appearance, Dionisia realizes that Theophilus loves another, and attempts to murder him; she is prevented by the timely arrival of her father. The families are re-united, and she apologizes for transgressing against "mayden modestie" in Testy's court, agreeing to wait patiently for a husband.

EDMOND
A young rake who plots with Nathaniel and Vincent to cuckold Quicksands. Disguised as a mummer, he appears with Nathaniel, Vincent, and others at Quicksands' house in a profane marriage-masque. Invited to Quicksands' feast "celebrating" the death of Millicent, he and the others plan to bring Buzzard, disguised as Quicksands' idiot bastard, to disrupt the event. During the masque, he is exposed as penniless; however, in Testy's court, he and Vincent get Quicksands to forgive their debts in return for freeing him of his "bastard."

JOHN HULVERHEAD
The country disguise assumed by Arnold at Quicksands' feast, fictional brother of the guardian with whom Quicksands placed his idiot bastard.

JONATHAN BUZZARD
Quicksands' servant, fired as part of the cover-up of Millicent's "disappearance." The rakes get him drunk and press him for details; he reveals that Quicksands has an idiot bastard son, kept secretly in Norfolk, whom he can imitate accurately. Passing out, he is shaved by the rakes and disguised as Quicksands' son. He arrives at Quicksands' feast accompanied by Arnold, also disguised, and sings madly. He unmasks in Testy's court and delights in his revenge on Quicksands.

LUCY
Rashly's daughter and Theophilus' sister. Her new maidservant, Phyllis, encourages her to declare her love for Arthur and heal the breach between the families, but she hesitates, fearing her brother's moods. Along with her brother, she welcomes the disguised Dionisia as Millicent's "kinsman;" when the families are re-united, she is delighted to recognize Arthur as Theophilus' disguised benefactor. She and Arthur are betrothed in Testy's court.

MADGE
Quicksands' maidservant, fired as part of the cover-up of Millicent's "disappearance."

MANDEVILLE QUICKSANDS
A Jewish moneylender who, at the play's beginning, has married Millicent. When she exhibits an apparent sexual voraciousness, he is frightened into postponing the consummation of their marriage. This causes gossip, and Millicent then proposes to him that, in return for his promise to let her remain celibate for a month, he might claim she has run away while she remains in his house in disguise. He chooses for her the disguise of a Blackamoor. A month passes, during which he has declared Millicent dead; he plans to hold a great feast to which he will invite the rakes (in order to expose their malice) and at which he will unmask and re-possess Millicent. He welcomes his guests to the feast, presenting the disguised Millicent as a blackamoor servant, Catalyna. He presents a masque of blackamoors, unaware that Phyllis has assumed Millicent's disguise and appears in the masque as the "Queen of Ethiopia." In the masque, he is named as the "Queen's" white bridegroom, but the ceremony is interrupted when Buzzard appears disguised as his idiot bastard. Quicksands is forced to acknowledge him. Learning that the "Queen of Ethiopia" has been caught with Nathaniel, he laments that it is his wife who has been debauched. In Testy's court the next morning, he publicly divorces the "Moor," supposed his wife. In quick succession, he loses Millicent, her jewels, and the debts of Nathaniel, Vincent, and Edmond.

MATTHEW HULVERHEAD
A "ghost character": the guardian with whom Quicksands placed his idiot bastard. Arnold pretends to be his fictional brother, John.

MEANWELL
(Originally spelled "Meanewell".) Father of Arthur and Dionisia, he has been missing (and presumed dead) for a year at the beginning of the play, apparently having ridden away to France with Rashly to fight him in a duel over a game of bowls. They appear in Act Five to reveal that their duel and disappearance were counterfeited. Having redeemed Winloss (Phyllis' father) from debtors' prison to atone for having ruined him in a lawsuit, they have returned to London. He arrives with Rashly just in time to prevent Dionisia from murdering Theophilus. The families are re-united and he gives his blessing to the marriages of the various children.

MERCURY
Masque character, prologue to the wedding mummers, who offers a speech critical of loveless marriage.

MILLICENT
Testy's niece, originally betrothed to Theophilus. At the play's beginning, she has been forced by her uncle Testy to marry the usurer Quicksands. She counterfeits sexual voraciousness, frightening Quicksands into impotence, in order to postpone consummation of their marriage. This causes gossip, and she then proposes to Quicksand that, in return for his promise to let her remain celibate for a moth, he might claim she has run away while she remains in his house in disguise. This will silence the gossip, she tells him; her intention, however, is to buy time to escape her marriage. She is dismayed to learn that the disguise Quicksands chooses is that of a Blackamoor, but demands in return a private maidservant (Phyllis) in spite of her disguise. She and Phyllis plot to escape during Quicksands' feast, at which her disguise inspires love in Nathaniel. Sent by Quicksands to remove her disguise and put on her jewels, she throws herself on the mercy of Arthur and secures his promise, in spite of his hatred for Theophilus, to convey her safely to him. Arthur delivers her to Theophilus, who welcomes her joyfully. When the families are re-united, Rashly promises to help her resolve her situation with Quicksands. After he publicly divorces her, she and Theophilus are betrothed in Testy's court.

NATHANIEL BANELASSE
(Originally spelled "Nathaniell".) A young rake who plots with Edmond and Vincent to cuckold Quicksands. He has debauched Phyllis and refuses to marry her. Hoping to cheer Theophilus with his plan to cuckold to Quicksands, he is attacked by him instead and flees with Edmond and Vincent. Disguised as a mummer, he appears with Edmond, Vincent, and others at Quicksands' house in a profane marriage-masque. He, Edmond, and Vincent have Buzzard pose as Quicksands' idiot bastard and Arnold as his keeper, to disrupt Quicksands' feast. When Quicksands presents the disguised Millicent as his blackamoor servant, Catalyna, Nathaniel is instantly attracted to her. During Quicksands' masque, he is exposed as penniless; however, he spirits the "Queen of Ethiopia" away during the dance and has sex with her, unaware that she's really Phyllis. When Quicksands laments that it is his wife who has been debauched, Nathaniel is overjoyed; he swears to marry the "Moor" in Testy's court the next morning, in spite of Testy's warning that she will have no dowry. He is angered to discover that his bride is Phyllis, but contents himself with the jewels that Quicksand has promised to bestow on her.

PAGE
Theophilus' boy, who sings an air in IV.ii.

QUEEN of ETHIOPIA
The blackface masquing role meant to be performed by a disguised Millicent, but actually by the doubly-disguised Phyllis.

PHYLLIS
(Originally spelled "Phillis".) Winloss' witty daughter and lover of Nathaniel. She begs him to marry her, but he refuses and suggests she become a prostitute. Instead, she enters service as Lucy's chambermaid where, learning of Lucy's love for Theophilus, she encourages her to declare it and heal the breach between the families. Dismissed by Theophilus, she presents herself as maidservant to Millicent, and reveals her sad history with Nathaniel to Millicent, as well as the fact that her father, ruined in a suit against Rashly and Meanwell, has been missing for six years. Disguised as a blackamoor, she substitutes herself for Millicent in the masque at Quicksands' feast, and has a tryst with Nathaniel, who does not recognize her. She triumphantly reveals herself in Testy's court after securing Nathaniel's promise to marry her and Quicksands' jewels, and is forgiven by her father.

RAFE
Arthur's serving-man, in love with his mistress, Dionisia. He follows her when she leaves home, and finds her male disguise (and abusiveness) alluring. He arrives at the Host's Tavern to find his old Master, Meanwell, and Rashly, and urges them to reveal themselves in time to prevent a tragedy. He brings them to Theophilus' house just in time.

RASHLY
Father to Theophilus and Lucy, he has been missing (and presumed dead) for a year at the beginning of the play, apparently having ridden away to France with Meanwell to fight him in a duel over a game of bowls. They appear in Act Five to reveal that their duel and disappearance were counterfeited. Having redeemed Winloss (Phyllis' father) from debtors' prison to atone for having ruined him in a lawsuit, they have returned to London. He arrives with Meanwell just in time to prevent Dionisia from murdering Theophilus. The families are re-united and he gives his blessing to the marriages of the various children.

TESTY
Justice of the peace, uncle and guardian to Millicent. He has forced her to marry Quicksands but, dismayed by her apparent wantonness, he advises Quicksands not to consummate the marriage until she can "bride it modestly." At Quicksands' feast, he learns privately that Millicent is not really dead, and regrets giving Millicent to Quicksand; he regrets it even more upon the appearance of Quicksands' idiot bastard. When Quicksands learns that his wife has apparently been debauched in the guise of the "Queen of Ethiopia," Testy orders all the participants confined until the mess can be sorted out. The next day, with the help of Rashly and Meanwell, Testy orders Quicksands to make restitution, orders Nathaniel to marry Phyllis, and gives his blessing to the betrothal of Millicent and Theophilus.

THEOPHILUS
Rashly's son and Lucy's brother, an impulsive man of extreme moods. He was betrothed to Millicent, but her uncle married her to Quicksands. Angered by the rakes' plan to cuckold Quicksands, he fights them, and is rescued by the disguised Arthur. He makes up with Nathaniel, only to become enraged again upon learning of their mock wedding masque, fearing Quicksands will blame him for the prank. Hearing of Millicent's disappearance, he worries that Quicksands has murdered her and vows to kill him. Distraught at the later word of Millicent's supposed death, he welcomes her "kinsman" (Dionisia in disguise) warmly. He swoons with joy when the disguised Arthur delivers Millicent, and again when his father arrives, unaware that he has survived Dionisia's murder attempt. He and Millicent are betrothed in Testy's court.

VINCENT
A young rake who plots with Nathaniel and Edmond to cuckold Quicksands. Disguised as a mummer, he appears with Nathaniel, Edmond, and others at Quicksands' house in a profane marriage-masque. Invited to Quicksands' feast "celebrating" the death of Millicent, he and the others plan to bring Buzzard, disguised as Quicksands' idiot bastard, to disrupt the event. During the masque, he is exposed as penniless; however, in Testy's court, he and Edmond get Quicksands to forgive their debts in return for freeing him of his "bastard."

WINLOSS
(Originally spelled "Winlosse".) Phyllis' elderly father, imprisoned for debt for six years after being ruined in a lawsuit against Rashly and Meanwell. They ransom him, and he accompanies them back to London, a wealthy man again. In Testy's court, he initially repudiates his ruined daughter, Phyllis, but is convinced to forgive her and give his blessing to her marriage to Nathaniel.

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