licensed 30 October 1639 (for Queen's Men, probably an earlier play written for Ogilby's)
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
BELLAURA
Bellaura is the duke's niece and is greatly admired by Giovanni. She enjoys her conversations in the garden with Giovanni, and she sympathizes with him when he explains his reasons for becoming a soldier: he states that he is in love with a woman who is far above him socially. Bellaura is happy to furnish Giovanni's equipment for war, but of course she feels that she could never wed him. By the play's end, however, when Giovanni is discovered to be the true son of the duke, Bellaura is more than pleased at Giovanni's social advancement.
BERNARDO
Bernardo is one of Malipiero's companions. Along with Malipiero and Marcello, Bernardo plots to murder Florelli. Ha also visits the home of Rosabella the courtesan.
CANDIANO
Candiano is an honorable courtier. He has a reputation for success at the Academy.
CLAUDIANA
Claudiana is Cornari's wife. Her husband, desperate to produce an heir other than his nephew Malipiero, hired the Englishman Florelli to impregnate Claudiana. When she and Florelli are thrust together, however, they simply pray about their awkward situation and do not become intimate; Claudiana remains a faithful wife.
CORNARI
As a gentleman of Venice, Cornari has great wealth, but he and his wife Claudiana have no children to inherit that wealth. Because Cornari does not want his fortune to go to his profligate nephew Malipiero, Cornari kidnaps the visiting English gentleman Florelli and would force him to have intimate relations with Claudiana. Cornari's wife remains faithful, however, and Cornari sends Florelli away. Because Malipiero evidences a great change of heart and attitude by the plays end, Cornari asks and receives pardon for Malipiero in hope that this nephew might, in due time, become a suitable heir.
DUKE CONTARINI
As the Duke of Venice, Contarini deplores the lack of nobility evidences by his son Thomazo. He is also impressed with the noble actions and attitudes of Giovanni, the gardener's son, who has distinguished himself during military service. Near the play's end, Ursula, the gardener's wife, proves to the duke that it is Giovanni who is really the duke's son, and Thomazo who is the son of the gardener.
FLORELLI
Florelli is a noble English gentleman who visits Venice with three companions. He wins several athletic events at the Academy; Florelli's prowess and nobility are characteristics that convince Cornari to kidnap the Englishman. Taken to Cornari's home, Florelli is presented with a paper that supposedly gives him permission to become intimate with Cornari's wife Claudiana. Though Cornari later threatens Florelli, the Englishman verifies that he and Claudiana did nothing together but pray. Florelli receives money from Cornari and is returned to his English companions.
GENTLEMAN, FIRST, SECOND and THIRD
The Gentlemen are friends and companions of Florelli. When Florelli returns from his forced stay at Cornari's, they plan to share Florelli's gold at a tavern before leaving Venice together.
GEORGIO
Georgio serves Roberto the gardener. He offers opinions about and examples of the gentlemanly behavior of Giovanni, and he accompanies Giovanni to the wars.
GIOVANNI
Giovanni is first introduced as the son of the duke's gardener, Roberto, and the gardener's wife, Ursula. Giovanni's thoughts and actions reflect nobility and grace, in contrast to the behavior of the duke's son, Thomazo. In love with Bellaura and recognizing the great social distance separating her from him, Giovanni goes off to war, where he distinguishes himself before his return home. Before the duke, Giovanni learns from Ursula that Thomazo is not truly the duke's son. Thomazo and Giovanni were exchanged in infancy by Ursula, and Giovanni is really the duke's heir and the one now to use the name of Thomazo.
MALIPIERO
Malipiero is the nasty-tempered and profligate nephew of Cornari. He is extraordinarily vain, rude in speech and manner, and irresponsible. With his companions Bernardo and Marcello, Malipiero plots to kill the English gentleman Florelli, fearing that Florelli might be favored by Thomazo. His plot discovered, Malipiero ends up imprisoned. He writes to his uncle Cornari, asking only that Cornari pray for him and try to forgive his waywardness. Thanks to Cornari's pleas, Malipiero receives a pardon and is sent abroad for several years to work toward penance.
MARCELLO
Marcello is one of Malipiero's companions. Along with Malipiero and Bernardo, Marcello plots to murder Florelli. He also visits the home of Rosabella the courtezan.
MARINO
Marino is an honorable courtier. He is commissioned by the duke to accompany the duke's son Thomazo and report on the young man's behavior. Receiving jewels that Thomazo has stolen from the duke, Marino reports the theft, and Thomazo is taken to prison.
ROBERTO
Roberto is the duke's gardener and husband of Ursula. He has always believed Giovanni to be his son; he learns near the play's end that his wife had exchanged her son for the duke's son in the children's infancy. Thomazo, then, is really Giovanni, Roberto's son.
ROSABELLA
Rosabella is a Venetian courtesan whose establishment becomes the meeting place for thieves and would-be murderers Malipiero, Thomazo, Bernardo, and Marcello.
SERVANT
The Servant is treated rudely by Malipiero, who comes seeking Cornari.
THOMAZO
Thomazo is the supposed son of Duke Contarini of Venice. Thomazo is mean-spirited and without honor -- so much so that the duke secretly commissions the courtier Marino to keep an eye on Thomazo and make reports. Thomazo steals the royal jewels, intending to sell them and use the proceeds to buy alcohol. Marino is entrusted with this task, and reports it to the Duke. Marino's report results in Thomazo's arrest for high treason. Thomazo is saved because Ursula, in pleading for Thomazo, admits that he is in fact her own son, exchanged with the duke's son during the boys; infancy. Thomazo, therefore, becomes Giovanni and is placed in the home of his true father, Roberto the gardener.
URSULA
Ursula is Roberto the gardener's wife. She nursed the duke's son Thomazo in his youth and continues to dote upon him, often denigrating her own son Giovanni in the process. When Thomazo is condemned for high treason, Ursula provides a paper proving that Thomazo is in fact her own son, exchanged by Ursula for the duke's child during the boys' infancy. She obtains pardon for both herself and Thomazo.