Thomas Middleton? and William Rowley? (Thomas Dekker and John Ford sometimes suggested as a co-authors)
THE SPANISH GYPSY
licensed 9 July 1623
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
ALVAREZ
Alvarez is an old lord. He has been banished from Madrill for killing another lord, De Castro, in a feud. He does not leave Madrill but instead poses as a leader of a gypsy band, which includes his wife, Guyamara, and his niece, Constanza. After staging entertainments at Francisco's house, he casts off his disguise and reveals himself to Lewys, De Castro's son, who forgives him.
ANDREW
Andrew is Don John's gypsy identity.
ANTONIO
Antonio is a gentleman disguised as a gypsy.
AVERO
He is played by Alvarez. Avero is the father of the prodigal in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
CARLO
Carlo (spelled "Claro" in the Dramatis Personae) is a gentleman disguised as a gypsy.
CARDOCHIA
Cardochia, also known as Juanna, is a young woman who serves as host to the gypsies. She falls in love with Don John but accuses him of making obscene advances and stealing a jewel when he, being in love with Pretiosa, rejects her advances. She retracts her accusations at the end of the play and marries Diego.
CHRISTIANA
Christiana is gentlewoman who is disguised as a gypsy.
CLARA
Clara is the daughter of Pedro and Maria de Cortes. She is abducted and raped by Roderigo. Afterwards, she extracts from him a promise to amend his life and be faithful to whomever he marries. She reveals Roderigo's crimes to his father, Fernando, the Corigidor of Madrill. He resolves that his son must die, but Clara offers to marry Roderigo, an arrangement to which their parents consent.
CONSTANZA
Constanza is the daughter of Fernando, the Corigidor of Madrill and the niece of Guyamara and Alvarez. When Alvarez is banished, he and Guyamara take Constanza with them and raise her as a gypsy, naming her Pretiosa. She is renowned for her beauty and wit. She agrees to marry Don John, the most ardent of her admirers, on the condition that he becomes a gypsy for two years. At the end of the play, her true identity is revealed and she is reunited with her father.
de CASTRO
A "ghost character." De Castro is the deceased father of Don John. He was involved in a petty dispute with Alvarez that developed into a feud and resulted in his own death and Alvarez's banishment.
DIEGO
Diego is a friend to Lewys. Roderigo enlists his help, along with Lewys's, in abducting Clara. He is wounded in a fight with Don John, which he undertakes to defend the honor of Cardochia. He and Cardochia announce their engagement at the end of the play.
DON JOHN
Don John is the son of Francisco de Carcomo and a suitor to Pretiosa
(Constanza). She consents to marry him on the condition that he becomes a gypsy for two years. He agrees to the proposition, posing as a gypsy named Andrew. Don John rejects the advances of Cardochia, who gives him a jewel and then accuses him of stealing it. At Cardochia's request, Diego challenges Don John, who, in turn, wounds him. Don John is arrested for theft and condemned to death but later acquitted.
EUGENIA
Eugenia is the assumed identity of Guyamara.
FERNANDO
Fernando is the Corigidor of Madrill. When the band of gypsies appears, he
recognizes his son, Roderigo, among them. Clara tells Fernando that Roderigo has raped her, and Fernando insists on putting his son to death. He is only dissuaded when Clara expresses her willingness to marry Roderigo. Fernando requests an extemporary play from the gypsies, in which Roderigo plays the prodigal. He threatens to marry Roderigo to an unattractive woman but relents when Roderigo expresses a wish to marry Clara. In the end Fernando is reunited with his sister Guyamara and his daughter Constanza, who have been posing as gypsies. He acquits Don John of theft and welcomes Alvarez home after twelve years of banishment.
FRANCISCO de CARCOMO
Francisco de Carcomo is an old don and father to Don John.
GUYAMARA
Guyamara, also known as Eugenia, is the sister of Fernando and wife of
Alvarez. With Fernando's daughter Constanza, she follows her husband into banishment and with him assumes the identity of a gypsy. In the end she reveals herself and Constanza to Fernando.
HIALDO
He is played by Soto. Hialdo is Lorenzo's "man" in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
JUANNA
Another name for Cardochia, a young woman who serves as host to the gypsies. She falls in love with Don John but accuses him of making obscene advances and stealing a jewel when he, being in love with Pretiosa, rejects her advances. She retracts her accusations at the end of the play and marries Diego.
LEWYS
Lewys is a suitor to Clara and the son of De Castro, who was killed by
Alvarez. He unwittingly aids Roderigo in Clara's abduction. When Fernando expresses the wish to revoke Alvarez's banishment, Lewys secretly plans to avenge his father's death, but he forgives Alvarez when the old man reveals himself.
LOLLIO
He is played by Sancho. Lollio is a servant of Avero in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
LORENZO
He is played by Roderigo. Lorenzo is the prodigal figure in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
MARIA
Maria is the wife of Don Pedro de Cortez and mother of Clara.
PEDRO de CORTES
Pedro de Cortes is an old don. He is father to Clara, husband to Maria, and the guardian of Sancho.
PRETIOSA
Pretiosa is the assumed gypsy identity of Constanza.
RODERIGO
Roderigo is the rakish son of Fernando. He abducts and rapes Clara and in contrition vows to conceal the act. He also promises that he will be true to whomever he marries. When Roderigo discovers that Lewys hopes to marry Clara, he vows to leave Madrill to avoid sight of her, but then, claiming to be an Italian gypsy poet, he joins the band of supposed gypsies led by Alvarez. The gypsies arrive at Fernando's house; Fernando instantly recognizes his son and is apprised of Roderigo's deeds by Clara. Roderigo's father insists that the gypsies stage a play in which Roderigo plays the prodigal Lorenzo, confronted by an irate father. Calling Roderigo's bluff, Fernando threatens to marry Roderigo to a rich but unattractive woman. When Roderigo expresses his desire to marry Clara, Fernando consents to the arrangement.
SANCHO
Sancho, also known as Don Tomazo Portacareco, is a foolish gentleman. He gives his clothes to the band of supposed gypsies and later joins them. He is a ward of Don Pedro, who has matched him to Clara. Sancho plays Lollio in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
SOTO
Soto is Sancho's "man." With his master he joins the gypsy band and plays
Hialdo in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.
TOMAZO PORTACARECO, DON
Sancho, also known as Don Tomazo Portacareco, is a foolish gentleman. He gives his clothes to the band of supposed gypsies and later joins them. He is a ward of Don Pedro, who has matched him to Clara. Sancho plays Lollio in the prodigal son play staged by the gypsies.