safety of Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham when they travelled to Spain in February 1623 for the negotiations, and some feared that Charles would convert to Catholicism. Charles and Buckingham, who travelled in disguise, were unprepared to negotiate effectively with the Spanish, and they agreed to Spanish terms in order to return to England unharmed. The marriage did not go ahead, and the English public largely saw Charles's safe return and the failure of the negotiations as a victory against Spanish Catholics. The play was stopped after nine performances (6–16 August, Sundays omitted), but not before it had become "the greatest box-office hit of early modern London". The Privy Council opened a prosecution against the actors and the author of the play on 18 August, on the grounds that it was then illegal to portray any modern Christian king onstage. The Globe Theatre was shut down by the prosecution, though Middleton was able to acquit himself by showing that the play had been approved by the Master of the Revels, Sir Henry Herbert. After James I's death, the play was printed in multiple editions, but Middleton never wrote another full play. Characters Opening sequence Prologue Ignatius Loyola — Ghost of the founder of the Jesuits Error — An allegorical personification of religious heresy White House White King — Alludes to King James I of England. Protestant leader of the White House. White King's Pawn — A spy for the Black House, most often identified as alluding to Lionel Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex. White Queen — Alludes to Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of King James White Queen's Pawn — A young virgin, former fiancée of the White Bishop's Pawn. White Knight — Alludes to Prince Charles, son of King James White Duke — Alludes to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, favourite of King James and companion of Prince Charles Fat Bishop — Alludes to Marc Antonio de Dominis, Bishop of Spalato, a former bishop of the Black House who has recanted to join the White House. A comic role, written for the actor William Rowley. Fat Bishop's Pawn — A servant. White Bishop — Alludes to the Archbishop of Canterbury. White Bishop's Pawn — A Protestant minister, former fiancée of the White Queen's Pawn who has been castrated by the Black Knights's Pawn White Pawn — A servant pawn of unspecified allegiance. Black House Black King — Alludes