Family of Love

The Family of Love is a Jacobean city comedy written by Lording Barry and first published in 1608. The play satirizes the sexual libertinism of the Familists, a religious sect founded by Henry Nicholis. The plot centers on Maria, who loves Gerardine, while her uncle Glister opposes their union, leading to comedic misunderstandings and a mock trial designed to teach lessons about love and morality. Initially attributed to Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker, recent scholarship credits Barry as the sole author.