Beggars Bush: A Comedy From the Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher (Volume 2 of 10)

Beggars Bush is a comedic play by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher set in Flanders. The story centers on usurpation, identity, and redemption. Wolfort has seized the Earldom of Flanders while the rightful heir, Florez, is a minor. Florez goes into hiding under the assumed identity of Goswin, a wealthy merchant in Bruges, where he conducts business and pursues a relationship with Bertha, daughter of the Duke of Brabant. A group of beggars led by Gerrard—who is secretly Florez's father-in-law—becomes central to the plot. Operating under the alias Clause, the King of the Beggars, Gerrard orchestrates a plan to restore Florez to his rightful position. The beggars operate with their own hierarchy and rules, offering commentary on society and governance. Hubert, an honest lord and friend to Gerrard, helps expose Wolfort's treachery. The play unfolds through disguises, mistaken identities, and strategic alliances, culminating in revelations and confrontations that restore Florez's title and bring about Wolfort's downfall. The resolution emphasizes the triumph of justice and the restoration of rightful order.