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Petro, Cashier to Antonio. Captain of a Gally. Two Seamen. Lopez, Servant to Baltazer. Several disguis'd like Turks. Julia, Wife to Francisco, young and handsom, in love with Carlos, Mrs. Davis. Clara, Sister to Julia, in love with Antonio, Mrs. Petty. Isabella, Daughter to Francisco; proud, vain and foolish, despising all Men under the degree of Quality, and falls in love with Guiliom, Mrs.
Hold, my Honour's concerned. Fran. Not at all, Father mine, she's my Wife, my Lumber now, and, I hope, I may dispose of my Goods and Chattels if he takes her we are upon equal terms, for he makes himself my Cuckold, as he has already made me his; for, if my memory fail me not, we did once upon a time consummate, as my Daughter has it. Enter Guiliom in his own dress; crying Chimney-Sweep. Guil.
I have, Antonio, besides your particular Revenge, one of my own to act by this deceit, since all my Industry to see the charming Julia has hitherto been vain, I have resolv'd upon a new project, if this False Count pass upon 'em, as I doubt not but he will, and that he gets admittance into the House, I'll pass for one of his Domesticks. Enter Guzman and Guiliom. Guz. Here's the Fellow, Sir. Ant.
Enter Guiliom, Pet. and Antonio, driven in fighting by Guzman and other Turks. Ant. Ah, Sir, the Turks have boarded us, we're lost, we're lost. Fran. Guil. Hold, hold, I say, you are now in the presence of Ladies, and 'tis uncivil to fight before Ladies. Guz. Yield then, you are our Slaves. Guil. Isa. Oh, hold, rude man, d'ye know whom you encounter? Guz. Fran. Oh, Lord! Guz.
Hum, so, so, like Fire conceal'd in a Tinderbox, I shall run mad. Car. Is she witty? Fran. Enter Guzman, bringing in Julia, Clara, Isabella, Jacinta, Guiliom, Antonio, &c. Women veil'd. Car. Isa. Dost think, Jacinta, he'll chuse me? Jac. I'll warrant you, Madam, if he looks with my Eyes. Guz. Guil.
Don Carlos, however, claims his mistress by reason of his former contract, which is perforce allowed. Guiliom, masquerading as a Count, is of course directly derived from Les Precieuses Ridicules, first performed 18 November, 1659, and Isabella is a close copy of Cathos and Magdelon. Behn, Shadwell, in his fine comedy, Bury Fair , drew largely from the same source.
An excellent rattling farce, it seems to have kept the stage at intervals for some twenty years. On 11 August, 1715, there was a revival at Lincoln's Inn Fields. It is billed as 'not acted ten years'. Spiller played Guiliom, Mrs. Moor Isabella, and Mrs. Thurmond Julia. There is no further record of its performance. THE FALSE COUNT: or, A New Way to play an old Game. Spoken by Mr. Smith.
She forthwith strikes up a match with the False Count, leaving Antonio free to marry Clara, Julia's sister, whom he loves. No sooner, however, has the knot been securely tied than Guiliom, appearing in his sooty rags and with smutched face, publicly demands and humiliates his haughty bride. The trick of the feigned Turks is discovered by the arrival at the villa of Baltazer, Julia's father.
Here Carlos appears, dressed as the Sultan, with much pomp, and Francisco, overwhelmed with terror, speedily relinquishes Julia to his captor. In order to punish her for her intolerable arrogance, Isabella, Francisco's daughter by his former wife, who is designed to wed Antonio, is introduced to a chimney-sweep, Guiliom, masquerading as a noble of high degree.
Smith Antonio, a Merchant, young and rich. Friend to Carlos, in love with Clara, but promis'd to Isabella, Mr. Wiltshire Francisco, old and rich, Husband to Julia, and Father to Isabella, Mr. Nokes. Baltazer, Father to Julia and Clara, Mr. Bright. Sebastian, Father to Antonio, Mr. Freeman. Guzman, Gentlemen to Carlos, Mr. Underhill. Guiliom, a Chimney-Sweeper; the False Count, Mr. Lee.
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