John Fletcher [possibly an early Fletcher play completed or revised by another hand suspicion arises from the play's style and posthumous licensing]
THE NOBLE GENTLEMAN
licensed 3 February 1626
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
BEWFORD
One of Madam Marine's gallants. He assists her in her deception of her husband. He mistakes the disguised Jaques for a whore and arranges a tryst in his rooms, but is interrupted by Maria, who claims to be pregnant by him. He agrees to a private wedding witnessed by Longaville and proclaims himself a reformed man. He halts the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine)'s journey home by pretending to remove, in the King's name, his title. He learns Maria is not really pregnant, but resigns himself to marriage.
CLEREMONT
Monsieur Marine's cousin, Cleremont (also spelled "Cleremon") is referred to as "Cozen" in the speech headings and dramatis personae. He advises Marine not to waste his estate by becoming a courtier. However, he believes the gallants' story that the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine) is to be made a Duke, and resolves to use his family connection to become one as well. He flees with his Wife upon learning that the Duke's title has been rescinded.
COZEN
Cleremont (also spelled "Cleremon") is the given name of Monsieur Marine's cousin, referred to as "Cozen" in the play text and dramatis personae.
DOCTOR
A non-speaking role: an attendant on the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine)'s Lady.
GENTLEMAN
The title character, The Noble Gentleman, Monsieur Godfrey Marine, is referred to as "Gentleman" in the play text.
GENTLEMEN
Disguised as citizens, four courtiers who assist the gallants in pretending that the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine) has been made a Duke; they become part of his retinue.
GROOM
A non-speaking role: an attendant on the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine).
GALLANT
One of Madam Marine's gallants, referred to as her servant in the text. He assists her in gulling her husband.
JAQUES
The Gentleman (Godfrey Marine)'s elderly servant. He disapproves of the Gentleman's plan to become a courtier by selling land and urges Cleremont to tell him that his wife is giving the money to her lovers. However, he believes the gallants' story that the Gentleman is to be made a Duke, and plans to become Secretary to the Gentleman. Convinced by Shattillion that he is being pursued by the authorities, he dresses as a woman and is mistaken for a whore by Bewford. Dressed in armor, he ceremonially defends the Gentleman's title, but refuses to fight Shattillion, who he claims saved his life.
LADY
The Noble Gentleman's wife, "Madam Marine, a witty wanton." She is referred to as "Lady" in the play's text.
LONGAVILLE
He is one of Madam Marine's gallants. He assists her in her deception of her husband. He offers to help Maria trap Bewford into marriage in return for sexual favors, and witnesses their private marriage.
LOVE
"A virtuous virgin," beloved of Shattillion but unable to marry him because the King wishes to control her title. She attempts to cure his insanity even though he doesn't recognize her, and asks the Lady to keep him safe at her house. Her presence heals him at the end of the play.
MARIA
Lady Marine's servant. She entraps Bewford into marriage by pretending to be pregnant by him.
MADAM MARINE
Monsieur Godfrey Marine, the Noble Gentleman's wife. She is referred to as "Lady" in the play text. She wheedles money from the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine) and spends it on clothes and lovers. In order to remain in the City, she and her gallants conspire to make the Gentleman believe that the King has made him a Duke. She assists Shattillion's Love in making Shattillion believe he is under arrest in her house, and arranges an interview between the Gentleman and Shattillion for the entertainment of her gallants, after which he escapes. She advises Cleremont's Wife in fashionable behavior. Dismayed to learn that her husband plans to return to the country to announce his preferment to his tenants, she has her gallants bring word that the King has rescinded his title. She convinces him that he will escape charges of treason by keeping his "title" a secret shared only by herself and Jaques; she exacts his promise that he will let her make all household decision henceforth.
MONSIEUR GODFREY MARINE
The title character, the Noble Gentleman, referred to as "Gentleman" in the play text. He resolves to become a courtier despite his steward's (Jaques) and his cousin's (Cozen/Cleremont) warnings against it. Learning from Cleremont that his wife is spending his money on lovers, he resolves to retire to the country, but is convinced by Madam Marine's gallants that the King wishes to make him a Duke. He invites his wife's gallants to be his retinue, and his Lady arranges an interview for him with Shattillion, during which the madman insists that he's the heir apparent to the throne. Alarmed, the Gentleman has him confined. He intends to travel to the country to announce his preferment to his tenants, but is interrupted when Longaville brings word that his title has been rescinded. Frightened by Shattillion's chivalric challenge on the King's behalf, he agrees to keep his Dukedom secret from all except his wife and Jaques.
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Madam Marine's serving-boy.
SHATTILLION
A lord who is "mad for love"; his beloved is named Love. Denied Love's hand in marriage by the King, he has become insanely paranoid and doesn't recognize Love when she attempts to comfort him. The Lady arranges an interview for him with the Gentleman, during which Shattillion insists that he's the heir apparent to the throne and the Gentleman has him confined. He escapes, warns Jaques of a plot against his life, and is convinced to fight to prove the King's right to rescind the Gentleman's title. Finally feeling he is reconciled with the King, he recognizes Love and is healed.
WHORE
Bewford mistakes the disguised Jaques for a whore and arranges a tryst in his rooms with "her."
WIFE, COZEN'S
Cozen/Cleremont's wife, "a simple country gentlewoman." Brought by her husband to attend the Gentleman (Godfrey Marine), she is delighted by the attentions of the gallants and the advice of the Lady.