Ignatius Loyola
The ghost of the founder of the Jesuit Order who is determined to make every corner of the world Catholic. His realization that there was a corner of the world named England where Catholicism had not taken hold is the catalyst for the story that unfolds through the play
Error
Error is an allegory and represents religious heresy.
White King
The White King is meant to represent King James I of England. He is respected by the white pieces. He is also fair and honorable: he believes the White Virgin when she tells him that she was almost raped, but also views the evidence against her claim, sadly agreeing with the black pieces and handing her over for punishment. This shows that as a King he is more of a peacemaker than a warmonger and that he is able to navigate politics adeptly.
White King's Pawn
The White King's Pawn is actually a spy for the black pieces. He meets his end when he is called back from his assignment, and voices an expectation that his undercover services should be rewarded. He is believed to be an allegorical representation of the Earl of Middlesex, Lionel Cranfield.
White Queen
The White Queen is believed to be based on the daughter of King James, Elizabeth of Bohemia.
White Queen's Pawn
Also known as the White Virgin, the White Queen's Pawn is a moral young woman who is determined to maintain her virginity until after she is married. She is one of the play's key characters. She is the object of desire of both the Black King and the Black Bishop's Pawn. After her attempted rape she is courageous in reporting the incident and when she is believed to have made the whole thing up is resolute in bearing her punishment. She believes the best in others and for this reason is seen as easy to deceive. She is a former fiancée of the White Bishop's Pawn.
White Knight
The White Knight is based on Prince Charles (AKA Bonnie Prince Charlie), the son of King James.
White Duke
The White Duke is one of the White King's favorites at Court. He is based on King James' favorite duke, the Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers.
Fat Bishop
The Fat Bishop is a caricature of the way the people viewed the over-fed Catholic church elders. He feels that he should be both treated better than other people and generally pampered with rich foods and as much sex as he wants. He is narcissistic and easily manipulated: by sending a fake letter supposedly from the Catholic Church that suggests he might become Pope if he returns to the House of the Black Pieces, the black pieces are able to manipulate him into returning, and writing books denigrating the House of the White Pieces. He has no loyalty to anyone other than himself and wants to be universally revered.
White Bishop
The White Bishop represents the Archbishop of Canterbury.
White Bishop's Pawn
The White Bishop's Pawn is a Protestant minister. He was once engaged to be married to the White Queen's Pawn, but was castrated by the Black Bishop's Pawn. This ends the engagement.
Black King
The Black King, a Catholic, is determined to corrupt the White Queen's Pawn, but is also tiring of his underlings trying to get to all of the women he wants to sleep with before he does. He writes a strongly-worded letter to the Black Bishop's Pawn thanking him for his help in corrupting the White Virgin but telling him in no uncertain terms that he will corrupt her himself. He is based on Phillip IV of Spain, longtime rival of the British monarchy.
Black Queen
The Black Queen is based on Maria Anna of Spain. She is supposed to become the wife of the White Knight, which would unite the houses of black and white pieces—that is, unite the real-life English and Spanish monarchy. It was also part of the House of Black Pieces' plan to convert Britain to Catholicism.
Black Bishop's Pawn
The Black Bishop's Pawn is a Jesuit who is one of the main characters in the play. He is conniving and lacks any visible moral compass. He attempts to trick the White Virgin into sleeping with him, and when this does not work, he attempts to rape her. He then tries to pretend that he was not even in the area at the time and thereby causes her to be found guilty of slander against the House of Black Pieces. He is loyal to himself and this makes him loyal to whichever of his masters can best help him achieve his own ambitions.
Black Knight
The Black Knight is based on Diego Sarmiento de Acuna, conde de Gondomar. He was the real-life Spanish Ambassador in London who was at the forefront of the efforts to convert England to Catholicism.
Black Knight's Pawn
The Black Knight's Pawn is the Jesuit who castrates the White Bishop's Pawn.
