Philip Massinger,
The Parliament of Love

I.iv: A room in Bellisant's house . Chamont, a nobleman once a guardian to Bellisant, is attempting to convince Bellisant to marry. Beaupre, the wife of Clarindore, enters disguised as a Moorish slave named Calista. Chamont informs Bellisant that this slave is to be her new waiting woman.

I.v: A state room in the palace . Charles VIII, the King of France announces that he is creating a court to be called the "Parliament of Love" to deal with disputes between lovers.

II.i: A room in Clarindore's house . Clarindore tells Montrose, Perigot and Novall that despite the King's edict, he will still attempt to seduce Bellisant. Montrose, in love with Bellisant himself, declares that it will be impossible for Clarindore to take Bellisant's virginity. They all place bets on Clarindore's proposal.

II.ii: A room in Leonora's house . Cleremond has come to see Leonora to inquire once again why she will not marry him. He claims that she looks on him "In a false glass." Leonora is steadfast in her dislike. Cleremond vows he will not give up.

II.iii: A room in Bellisant's house . Clarindore is pleading with Beaupre, his wife in disguise, so that he may gain access to her mistress, Bellisant. Bellisant notices the two, and tells her servants to "Be within call" before interrupting the secret conversation. Left alone with Clarindore, Bellisant comments on his persistence in comparison with her other suitors. Clarindore is too brazen in his actions, forcing Bellisant to call for her waiting servants to remove the man. Upon leaving, Clarindore decides he must decide upon an alternate approach.

III.i: A room in Chamont's house . Perigot and Novall are consulting the physician to the court, Dinant, to see what he can do to interfere with Clarimonde's plans of seducing Bellisant. Left alone, Perigot reveals to Novall that he desires Chamont's wife, Lamira, and means to have her. Clarindore enters and proceeds to question how Clarindore is faring with Bellisant. Clarindore remains enigmatic.

III.ii: A street . Cleremond and Montrose are both in a state of rapture for their ladies, Leonora and Bellisant, respectively. For reasons that are unclear, Cleremond is on his way to a duel, and Montrose insists that, as a true friend, he will forego his pursuit of Bellisant to act as Cleremond's second.

III.iii: A room in Bellisant's house . Bellisant and Beaupre speak of Clarindore's tireless pursuits. There is a knock at the door. Clarindore enters in disguise. Bellisant is not fooled, but decides to give him a kiss as a "pardon" for his actions. This only serves to inflame Clarindore, who draws his sword in a suicidal attempt to end his suffering. To stop him, Bellisant agrees to be his, but only for that night, on the condition that she remain untouched for a full year, culminating in their marriage. Delighted, Clarindore leaves to wait in Bellisant's chambers. Beaupre is alarmed by this public declaration, but Bellisant insists this is part of her plan.

IV.i: A room in Dinant's house . Novall visits the physician, Dinant, concerning an illness he cannot describe. Halfway through their meeting, Dinant's wife Clarinda enters. Upon Novall's reaction, Dinant believes he knows what the problem is, and offers the service of his wife.

IV.ii: An open part of the country near Paris . Cleremonde and Montrose are preparing to fight, when Cleremonde suddenly turns on Montrose and tells him that he is the man he was planning to fight. Cleremonde believes that Leonora will marry him if he kills Montrose. They fight and Cleremonde is wounded, though not to the death. Montrose makes no attempt to stop Cleremonde, who limps off, promising to commit suicidal, but then follows his friend to keep him "From doing sudden violence on himself."

IV.iii: An outer room in Chamont's house . Chamont and Dinant are discussing a trick that they have devised to play on the unsuspecting Novall and Perigot, both of whom "make it their profession to dishonour/Grave citizens' wives." Perigot arrives and is informed by Chamont that his wife is waiting for his company at the house of the good doctor, Dinant.

IV.iv: A room in Bellisant's house . Bellisant speaks with Clarimonde, informing him that she expects their bargain to be kept secret. Telling him that she must prepare for their night of passion, he leaves with the intent to fill the time bragging to Novall and Perigot. Beaupre doesn't doubt he will boast of her mistress' incontinence to all the world, but Bellisant assures her maid that she is "arm'd for't."

IV.v: A room in Dinant's house . Chamont is giddy over the success of his plan of fooling Perigot that he will enjoy Lamira. Dinant waits for the arrival of Novall, and informs him that he has decided that his wife will be the cure for his problems. Novall's conscience begins to trouble him, but before he can resolve his plans one way or the other, Chamont and Lamira enter, followed by Perigot, wrapped in a blanket. Chamont and Dinant now reveal that they have worked together to fool in near identical plots both Novall and Perigot. Clarindore arrives and begins to mock Novall and Perigot. Chamont calls an end to the bragging, explaining that the King has called a meeting at the Parliament of Love.

V.i: A court of justice . Chamont informs Philamour and Lafort, counselors for the court, that Cleremond, in a second duel, has killed Montrose. Cleremond means argue that before the court that his inexcusable offense is mitigated by his lust Leonora, who must also bare some responsibility in the crime. Lafort explains that the King will hear three other cases besides Cleremond's-Novall's case against Dinant, Bellisant's against Clarindore, and Perigot against Chamont.

Everyone arrives at the court. The body of Montrose is carried in on a bier. Charles VIII will hear Cleremond first. He tells a tale of his love for Leonora and of her hatred of Montrose; of his arrival at her home, and how this pushed him into his murderous act. The King remains unimpressed. Leonora, who believes herself to be guiltless, explains the circumstances of Cleremond's carnal needs, which he wished to fulfill without any ceremony. Charles is astounded and proclaims that he needs more time to make a ruling. He will rule on that case tomorrow.

Perigot and Novall are next, both claiming that they simply wished to help Chamont and Dinant. Charles does not believe their story. Before the King can punish them, Dinant steps in and states that he and Chamont have been satisfied by their little game. Charles agrees, and moves on to Bellisant's case.

She tells of her grievances against Clarindore. Clarindore admits that after he enjoyed the virginity of Bellisant, he bragged about his conquest. Bellisant steps up and reveals that it was not she that Clarindore supposedly enjoyed, but rather Beaupre, who is really his wife Calista. Bellisant explains that no wrong has been done to her by Clarindore, although she is still in mourning over her loss of Montrouse, who was killed by Cleremond.

Charles has heard enough, and demands that Cleremond marry Leonora. Upon this remark, Montrose rises from the bier, alive. All are shocked, but Charles is quick to demand that he and Bellisant will also marry. Charles makes one final announcement: that the Parliament will now be disbanded "Being for mirth intended" only.

Duke of Orleans and Duke of Nemours, are present but have no lines in the play.

Chamont, a nobleman and former guardian to Bellisant, schemes with Dinant to fool Perigot and Novall into attempting a seduction of Lamira and Clarinda.

Philamour and Lafort, counselors on the court, aid Charles in his running of the Parliament of Love.

Montrose, a noble gentleman in love with Bellisant, is seemingly slain by Cleremond, until he rises in the final scene to be joined with Bellisant.

Cleremond, a noble, is in love with Leonora. He supposedly slays his best friend in an attempt to win Leonora's heart. At the close of the play, he marries Leonora.

Clarindore, a wild courtier, attempts to seduce Bellisant, however ends up in bed with his wife, Calista. The King reunites them at the end.

Perigot, another wild courtier, is fooled by Chamont and Dinant into attempting a seduction of Lamira. The servants wrap him in a blanket and beat him for his behavior. He takes Chamont to court, but the King rules against him.

Novall, another wild courtier, is fooled by Chamont and Dinant into attempting a seduction of Clarinda. He takes Dinant to court, but the King rules against him.

Dinant, physician to the court, is married to Clarinda. He traps Novall in a plan devised in conjunction with Chamont. Novall takes him to court, but the King sides with Dinant.

Bellisant, a noble lady, tricks Clarindore into believing he has seduced her. But she places her servant Beaupre, who is really Calista, in her place. She is really in love with Montrose, who comes back to life in the last scene. The King orders that they be married.

Lamira, wife of Chamont, aids in her husband's plan against Perigot by pretending to be interested in his sexual advances. He takes Chamont to court, but the King rules against him.

Beaupre, Calista in disguise, the wife of Clarindore, serves as the waiting woman to Bellisant. She sleeps with Clarindore, but he thinks it is Bellisant. At the end of the play, she and her husband are reunited.

Leonora, a woman, at first in love with Cleremond, who supposedly kills Montrose for her. She presents evidence against him in a court case, but, at the play's close, the King will force her to marry Cleremond.

Clarinda, the wife of Dinant, aids in her husband's attempts to trick Novall by pretending to be interested in his sexual advances. He takes Dinant to court, but the King rules against him.

Courtiers, Priest, Officers, and Servants.