A scourge of God. Adversyte is sent from God to punish Magnyfycence for his folly and to test his patience and his strength.
CLOAKED COLLUSION or "CLOKYD COLUSYON"
A court vice. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
CONCEIT or "CONSAYTE"
The disguise assumed by Foly to mislead Magnyfycence.
COUNTERFEIT COUNTENTANCE or "COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE"
A court vice. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
COURTLY ABUSION
A court vice. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
CRAFTY CONVEYANCE or "CONVEYAUNCE"
A court vice. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
CIRCUMSPECTION or "CYRCUMSPECCYON"
A moral abstraction. After having ascertained Magnyfycence's moral regeneration, together with Perseveraunce and Redresse, Cyrcumspeccyon restores him to his previous condition.
DESPAIR or "DYSPARE"
Dyspare comes with Myschefe to prompt Magnyfycence to suicide after his ruin.
FANCY or "FANSY"
A fool. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
FELICITY or "FELYCYTE"
It stands for wealth. At the beginning of the play, Felycyte and Lyberte are put under the control of Measure by Magnyfycence, but when the king falls under the influence of the evil counselors, Measure is expelled from court and Felycyte is placed under the rule of Largesse (i.e. Fansy) and Lyberte. As a consequence, Felycyte deserts Magnyfycence. Thanks to the intervention of Good Hope, Redresse, Cyrcumspeccyon and Perseveraunce, Felycyte is restored.
FOLLY or "FOLY"
A fool. One of the evil counselors who mislead Magnyfycence and bring him to ruin and despair.
GOOD DEMEANOR or "DEMEYNAUNCE"
The disguise assumed by Counterfet Countenaunce to mislead Magnyfycence.
GOOD HOPE
A moral abstraction. Good Hope brings the grace of God and saves Magnyfycence from suicide.
LARGESSE
The disguise assumed by Fansy to mislead Magnyfycence.
LUSTY PLEASURE
The disguise assumed by Courtly Abusyon to mislead Magnyfycence.
LIBERTY or "LYBERTE"
At the beginning of the play, Lyberte is placed with Felycyte under the control of Measure by Magnyfycence, but when the king falls under the influence of the court vices, Lyberte is released and Measure is expelled from court. This is the beginning of Magnyfycence's ruin.
MAGNIFICENCE or "MAGNYFYCENCE"
The king. Misled by six evil counsellors (Fansy, Counterfet Countenaunce, Crafty Conveyaunce, Clokyd Colusyon, Courtly Abusyon and Foly), he becomes prey to lust and anger and is economically ruined. He is saved in extremis (when he is on the point of stabbing himself) thanks to the intervention of Good Hope, Redresse, Cyrcumspeccyon and Perseveraunce.
MEASURE
At the beginning of the play, Measure is appointed by Magnyfycence to control Felycyte and Lyberte, but when the king falls under the influence of the evil counselors, Measure is expelled from court.
MISCHIEF or "MYSCHEFE"
Myschefe comes with Dyspare to prompt Magnyfycence to suicide after his ruin.
PERSERVERANCE or "PERSEVERAUNCE"
A moral abstraction. After having ascertained Magnyfycence's moral regeneration, together with Cyrcumspeccyon and Redresse, Perseveraunce restores him to his previous condition.
POVERTY or "POVERTE"
Poverty is sent to Magnyfycence to punish him for his foolishness.
REDRESSE
A moral abstraction. Redresse, on seeing that Magnyfycence is sincerely repentant, gives him a new garment signifying his moral regeneration and restores him to his previous condition.
SOBER SADNESSE
The disguise assumed by Clokyd Colusyon to mislead Magnyfycence.
SURE SURVEILLANCE or "SURVEYAUNCE"
The disguise assumed by Crafty Conveyaunce to mislead Magnyfycence.