The play is a satire on the Familia Caritatis or "Family of Love," the religious sect founded by Henry Nicholis in the 16th century.
"[1] David Lake cites evidence for Middleton and also Dekker, though he suggests a third hand, that of Lording Barry.
[2] More recent scholarship suggests that Middleton had no hand in the play and that it was probably penned by Lording Barry.
[3] A recent edition of the collected works of Thomas Middleton omits the play, naming Lording Barry as the author.
[5] Nicholas's sect was well-known and controversial in England at the time: they unsuccessfully petitioned King James I for tolerance in 1604, and were the subject of many sermons and pamphlets, most of them hostile, as a result.
References to the sect recur in the stage plays of the era – in George Chapman's Sir Giles Goosecap, John Marston's The Dutch Courtesan, Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters, and in Every Woman in Her Humour (perhaps by Lewis Machin).
On a third level, the dim-witted gallants Gudgeon and Lipsalve plot to seduce Maria, Mrs. Purge, and Mrs. Glister too, but completely without success.
-GLISTER, a doctor -(Peter) PURGE, a jealous apothecary -DRYFAT, a merchant, a convert to the Family -GERARDINE, Maria's lover; cousin to Mrs. Purge -(Laurence) LIPSALVE and (Gregory) GUDGEON, two gallants who only pursue city lechery -CLUB, an apprentice -VIAL, a servant to Glister -SHRIMP and PERIWINKLE, pages to the gallants
Act 1, Scene 2: A street before Glister's house; just below Maria's bedroom window Lipsalve and Gudgeon warn Gerardine against taking a wife.
Lipsalve and Gudgeon warn him not to be fooled by the "outward appearances" of women, which are often at odds with their "inward desires."
Gerardine invites the gallants to attend his farewell feast at Purge's home that evening.
Gudgeon notes that Purge's wife is a member of "The Family of Love," and looks forward to seeing her at the feast.
Purge informs him of the details of Gerardine's will and notes that all of the materials bequeathed to Maria have been locked in a trunk and will be delivered to Glister's home on the following day.
Gerardine reports that the trio have just come from the theatre, where they saw "Sampson" (a now-lost play that was performed by a boy's company in 1602).
Speaking aside, Gudgeon plans to procure a love potion from Glister so he can seduce Mrs. Purge before Lipsalve gets to her.
Purge tells her that the members of the Family truly "love their neighbors better than themselves"—a sly joke hinting at the Familists' sexual promiscuity.
After sending his servant to fetch two whips, he tells Gudgeon that he should go to Lipsalve's chamber between the hours of four and five on the following day.
Glister gives Gudgeon a whip and tells him that he will be able to have his way with Mrs. Purge after he has given the "spirit Lipsalve" a sound beating.
Standing over the trunk, she laments Gerardine's absence and worries that their love will be destroyed by the passage of time.
But before he can make any progress, Lipsalve enters beneath Maria's balcony, accompanied by his page, Shrimp.
Mrs. Purge and Dryfat knock at the door of the meeting-house, provide their passwords, and are admitted inside.
Lipsalve and Gudgeon eventually realise that they have been tricked and pledge to get their revenge on Glister by seducing his wife.
He meets Dryfat in the street, reveals his true identity, and lays out the details of a scheme to force Glister to relinquish his hold on Maria.
Act 4, Scene 4: A street Lipsalve and Gudgeon are disappointed because they were unable to have sex with Mrs. Purge during the Family meeting.
He believes that this ring will provide some proof of his wife's guilt, but he still requires witnesses to make his case against her solid.
The "apparitor" tells Purge that he works for a commission that will try Glister at Dryfat's house on the following day.
Act 5, Scene 2: A street before Glister's house Gerardine comes to Maria's balcony and tells her he has arranged a "comedy" that will bring about their marriage.
Maria tells Gerardine that Glister is subjecting his "patients," Lipsalve and Gudgeon, to a tortuous "treatment."
The "judge" hears Glister's case next and decides that the evidence—including the phony letter from 4.3 and Maria's pregnancy—is sufficient to warrant a heavy punishment.
In lieu of more severe measures, the "judge" offers to drop all charges if Glister will seal a bond avowing his permission to allow Maria and Gerardine to marry.