The beautiful, educated sister of Sir Francis Acton, and wife of Frankford. Anne has an adulterous affair with her husband's friend, Wendoll. When Frankford finds out, he banishes her. Anne is overwhelmed with repentant grief and starves herself to death.
CHILDREN
The Frankford's two children. Non-speaking roles, but important for their pathos during Anne's repentance.
CRANWELL
A friend of Frankford (q.v.). He is present throughout much of Frankford's story, but is little more than a device for plot exposition.
FALCONER OF SIR CHARLES MOUNTFORD
Non-speaking role. Involved in the fight between Sir Francis and Sir Charles (q.q.v.).
FALCONER OF SIR FRANCIS ACTON
Non-speaking role. Killed in the fight between Sir Francis and Sir Charles (q.q.v.).
FRANKFORD
John Frankford is a wealthy Yorkshire gentleman, who marries Anne. Although the marriage begins happily, Frankford is devastated when he discovers Anne's adulterous affair with his friend Wendoll (q.v.). His first impulse is to kill Anne, but he resolves instead to 'kill her with kindness'. He banishes her to one of his estates, where she is so stricken with guilt that she starves herself to death. When he is certain that she is dying, Frankford forgives her, and erects a marble tomb to remember her by.
HUNTSMAN OF SIR FRANCIS ACTON
Non-speaking role. Killed in the fight between Sir Francis Acton and Sir Charles Mountford (q.q.v.).
HUNTSMAN OF SIR CHARLES MOUNTFORD
Non-speaking role. Involved in the fight between Sir Francis Acton and Sir Charles Mountford (q.q.v.).
ISBEL MOTLEY
A country wench in the dancing scene.
JACK SLIME
A country fellow in the dancing scene.
JANE TRUBKIN
A country wench in the dancing scene.
JENKIN
A chief servant in Frankford's (q.v.) household. Jenkin is a clown-like figure, who utters cheeky asides to the audience, and comically deflates Wendoll's anguished soliloquy. He accompanies Anne in her banishment.
JOAN MINIVER
A country wench in the dancing scene.
KEEPER
Keeper of the prison where Sir Charles (q.v.) is incarcerated.
MAID
A non-speaking, but significant role: she stays Frankford's hand when he is about to stab Wendoll and Anne, and therefore saves his soul from damnation.
MALBY
A friend of Sir Francis Acton (q.v.). He tries to dampen Sir Francis's desire for Susan (q.v.), but also assists him in attempting to bribe her.
NICHOLAS
Frankford's loyal servant. Nicholas is suspicious of Wendoll (q.v.), and informs Frankford of his affair with Anne. He assists Frankford in catching the adulterers in flagrante delicto. Later, he is moved by Anne's repentance.
OLD MOUNTFORD
Uncle of Sir Charles Mountford, who refuses Susan's plea for financial help.
RODER
A former tenant of Sir Charles Mountford, who refuses Susan's plea for financial help.
ROGER BRICKBAT
A country fellow in the dancing scene.
SANDY
A former tenant of Sir Charles Mountford, who refuses Susan's plea for financial help.
SHAFTON
A false friend of Sir Charles Mountford, who tricks him out of his last remaining wealth.
SHERIFF
Arrests Sir Charles Mountford after the fight with Sir Francis Acton (q.q.v.).
SISLY MILKPAIL
A country wench, maid to Anne (q.v.). She appears in the country dancing scene, and accompanies Anne in her banishment.
SIR CHARLES MOUNTFORD
A Yorkshire gentleman, imprisoned after a quarrel with Sir Francis Acton (q.v.), in which two of Sir Francis' servants (his huntsman and falconer, q.q.v.)are killed. Almost destitute on release, his last remaining wealth is swindled away by Shafton, and he is returned to prison, this time for his debts. When released by Sir Francis, he voluntarily offers him his sister Susan, "as a rape or lustful prey". He is moved when Sir Francis offers to marry Susan instead, and the two men are reconciled.
SIR FRANCIS ACTON
A Yorkshire gentleman. After a bloody quarrel with Sir Charles Mountford (q.v.), he gets his revenge by reducing his enemy to penury. In order to destroy Sir Charles's last remaining pride, he tries to persuade Charles' sister, Susan, to sacrifice her virginity in return for money. But when Sir Charles independently decides to offer her to him, Sir Francis is sufficiently moved that he lowers himself to marry Susan, despite her poverty. Sir Francis is a structural link between the play's two plots: he is the brother of Anne Frankford, and is present at both her wedding and her death.
SPIGGOT THE BUTLER
Frankford's butler. A minor character whose function is merely plot exposition and stage-clearance.
SUSAN MOUNTFORD
Sister of Sir Charles. She supports him emotionally during their period of poverty, and tirelessly pleads with his former friends for financial aid. She is horrified when Sir Charles decides to sell her to Sir Francis Acton as a whore. She resolves that she will do the deed, but maintain the family's pride by committing suicide after Sir Francis has raped her. In the event, Sir Francis offers to marry her instead, and Susan obeys, deciding that she will "learn to love" him.
TYDY
A cousin of Sir Charles Mountford, who refuses Susan's plea for financial help.
WENDOLL
A gentleman whom Frankford (q.v.) admires, and invites to become a member of his household. Wendoll is overwhelmed with lust for Frankford's wife, Anne, and they have an adulterous affair. When Frankford discovers them in flagrante delicto, Wendoll runs away. Consumed with repentant grief, he escapes to the Continent.