Fair Em

In Short

This play is a lighthearted Elizabethan comedy of errors that follows the romantic entanglements of William the Conqueror and a young woman named Em, who lives in exile as a miller’s daughter. Through elaborate disguises and clever deceptions—including feigned blindness and deafness—the characters maneuver through a series of tests to prove their worthiness and affection. It remains a fascinating artifact of the period, capturing the era’s preoccupation with social hierarchy, the performance of identity, and the dramatic tropes that shaped early English theater, all wrapped in a brisk, episodic structure.

The Story

The story begins with William the Conqueror, who finds his attention distracted from his kingly duties by a portrait of a woman. Intrigued, he departs for the Danish court in disguise to find her. Meanwhile, in Manchester, Sir Thomas Goddard and his daughter, Em, live in hiding as a miller and his daughter to escape the political upheaval of the Conquest. Despite their diminished status, Em remains a person of high character, though she finds herself pursued by two suitors, Mountney and Valingford, and the fickle Manville.

To test her suitors and ward off those she does not love, Em employs a daring ruse: she pretends to be both deaf and blind. This deception allows her to observe how her admirers react when they believe she is physically impaired. Manville, the man she truly loves, abandons her immediately upon discovering her supposed disabilities, opting instead to seek a wealthier marriage in Chester. Meanwhile, at the Danish court, William’s own quest for romance descends into chaos. He becomes embroiled in a mix-up involving the Danish Princess Blanch and a noblewoman named Mariana. William, using the alias "Robert of Windsor," inadvertently creates a diplomatic crisis that threatens to ignite a war between England and Denmark.

The narrative threads converge in the final act as the various characters gather under the watchful eye of the King. The misunderstandings reach a breaking point: Manville is confronted by his rejected suitors and the two women he has courted, forcing him to account for his infidelity. William, weary of the "fooleries" of romance after his own messy experiences with Mariana and Blanch, initially rejects the idea of marriage altogether. However, the integrity of Em—revealed to be the daughter of the noble Sir Thomas Goddard—wins the day. The King, moved by her constancy and the loyalty of Valingford, who stayed by her side despite her supposed afflictions, orchestrates a mass resolution. Manville is left alone, having successfully alienated everyone, while Valingford is united with Em. William finally accepts the hand of Princess Blanch, and the kingdom finds its balance once more as the characters are restored to their proper social and marital standing.

How It Unfolds

The king abandons his station William the Conqueror puts aside his royal duties to pursue a mysterious woman seen in a portrait, leading him into the Danish court under a false name.

The miller’s daughter masks her truth Em, a nobleman’s daughter in exile, adopts the humble life of a miller to protect her family’s safety from the political instability of the realm.

A test of love and integrity Em feigns deafness and blindness to evaluate the true character of her suitors, discovering that Manville values her beauty above her soul.

Diplomatic discord abroad William’s attempt at a romantic adventure results in the kidnapping of a princess and a looming threat of war between the English and Danish forces.

The truth is brought to light The characters gather in England, where the pretenses of the various lovers are stripped away, and the King must reconcile his own past mistakes.

The final sorting of hearts The play concludes as the loyal are rewarded with marriage, the fickle are left to their own devices, and the social order is happily restored.

The People

William the Conqueror begins as a man driven by impulsive, "unarmed thoughts" and lust, but he eventually matures into a ruler who views love with deep skepticism. His journey is one of learning that the burdens of a crown often conflict with the personal desires of the heart.

Em is the moral center of the play. Forced to live as a miller’s daughter, she utilizes her wits to survive a world that would see her family ruined. By feigning physical disability, she proves that her true value lies in her "chaste thoughts and modest conversations," ultimately winning the hand of the faithful Valingford.

Manville serves as the cautionary figure. His inability to see past the surface of things causes him to abandon Em at her moment of perceived weakness. He ends the play alone, having lost both his love and his honor, serving as a foil to the more steadfast characters.

Valingford is the antithesis of Manville. He demonstrates genuine devotion by persisting in his courtship despite Em’s supposed blindness and the social stigma of her "peasant" status, proving that his love is rooted in something deeper than outward appearances.

The Miller (Sir Thomas Goddard) represents the displaced nobility. He is a man of honor who has accepted his "drudging labour" with grace, teaching his daughter that true gentry is found in the mind and heart rather than in rank or material wealth.

In Its Own Voice

"Ah, Marques Lubeck, in thy power it lies / To rid my bosom of these thralled dumps"

William laments the distraction of romantic infatuation, which he feels more keenly than the weight of his entire kingdom.

"Chaste thoughts and modest conversations, / Of proof to keep out all inchaunting vows, / Vain sighs, forst tears, and pitiful aspects, / Are they that make deformed Ladies fair"

The Miller offers this advice to his daughter, emphasizing that virtue holds more transformative power than physical beauty.

What It's Really About

At its core, this play examines the friction between social standing and individual worth. The characters are constantly shifting between their true identities and the masks they wear—whether those masks are literal disguises or the feigned afflictions Em uses to protect herself. The book argues that "true gentry" is an internal state rather than a legal one, and that integrity is only proven when tested by adversity. It also poses a cynical but comedic question about the nature of love: is it a noble pursuit, or merely a "base and vildest slavery"? The resolution suggests that while love can lead to foolishness and war, it is ultimately the foundation of a stable and orderly society when built on mutual loyalty.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the playful, high-stakes romantic comedies of the Elizabethan era will find this a charming, if occasionally challenging, experience. The plot moves with a rapid, almost breathless energy, and the conceit of Em’s double-blindness provides a genuinely clever twist that keeps the stakes high. It is a rewarding read for those interested in the evolution of English drama; you can see the roots of later, more polished comedies in the way these characters navigate their public faces and private desires.

Be prepared for the conventions of the time: the language is early modern, the pacing is quick and sometimes abrupt, and the period attitudes toward women and social rank are central to the plot’s tension. It does not possess the polished psychological depth of later Shakespearean plays, but that is precisely its appeal—it is a raw, energetic, and imaginative piece of theater. Those who appreciate a story where the "miller’s daughter" is the smartest person in the room will find this a particularly satisfying endeavor. It lingers with you not because of its complexity, but because of its warm, classic assertion that character is what remains when all other masks are removed.