John Bale
GOD'S PROMISES, or THE CHIEF PROMISES OF GOD UNTO MAN DE MAGNIS DEI PROMISSIONIBUS
1538
a synoptic, alphabetical character list
AARON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
ABDIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
ABEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness, because of his murder by his brother.
ABIJAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
ABIMELECH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
ABIRON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as a sinful man punished by God.
ABRAHAM
Abraham is the third human to request God's mercy. He asks God to remember his promises to Adam and Noah. When God declares his intention to destroy Sodom and Gomor, Abraham bargains him down from fifty men to ten. He is then given the covenant of circumcision and sings praises to God.
ACHAB
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
ACHEN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
ADAM
Adam is the first human to request God's mercy, and faces God at perhaps his angriest. When Adam suggests that he fell when left to his own choices, God immediately demands to know if that means he is to blame. Adam apologizes for such a suggestion, and repeatedly admits his sin, asking only for mercy. When God grants him mercy, Adam promises never to sin again, and sings praises to God.
AHAZ
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah and John Baptist as an example of a wicked king.
AHITHOPEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of sinful man who should nevertheless not sway God away from his love of the Israelites.
AIATH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
AMALECH
A "ghost character." A devil God gave man victory over.
AMOS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
ANTIOCHUS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
AMMON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
ASA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
ASHTEROTH
A "ghost character." Worshipped by man, and a reason of God's anger.
ATHALIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
BAAL
A "ghost character." Worshipped by man, and a reason of God's anger.
BAALAM
A "ghost character." Moses reminds God of his mercy in saving man from this devil.
BAAL'S PRIESTS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of sinful men.
BAASHA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
BALE (PROLOGUE)
Bale introduces the play by promising that it will contain nothing fantastical, but only matter that will cheer and instruct: the fall and rise of humanity through God's love and mercy. At the end of the play, Bale describes how all that has been shown culminates in the Jesus Christ.
BARUCH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
BERSABE
A "ghost character." The wife of Uriah, seduced by David. God confronts David with his sinfulness with her.
BERSABE'S SON
A "ghost character." God swears that the son of Bersabe and David will die because of David's sinfulness.
CAIN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
CALEB
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David and God as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
CHRIST
A "ghost character." Mentioned multiple times by Bale and God as the ultimate example of goodness and mercy, and foretold to Moses, David, Isaiah and John Baptist by God. God also tells John that he will be the one to baptize Christ, and that he will recognize him in the flesh because the Holy Spirit will appear in the form of a dove when Christ arrives to be baptized.
DANIEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
DATHAN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as a sinful man punished by God.
DAVID
David is the fifth human to request God's mercy. He reminds God not only of Moses, but other righteous men. He also lists those who were sinful, but asks that Israel not be judged by them, since God's mercy is so great. God then lists David's sins, sleeping with the wife of Uriah and numbering the people of Israel. David repents sincerely, and when God offers him a choice of famine, exile or plague, David leaves it up to God to decide. God chooses to inflict a plague on Israel, and when David protests that he alone should suffer, God is moved and foretells the coming of Christ. David rejoices and sings praises to God.
DINAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
ELEAZAR
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David and John Baptist as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
ELIAS
A "ghost character." God reminds John Baptist that he has been filled with the spirit of Elias.
ELISHA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
ESAU
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
ESDRAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
ETAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
ESTHER
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous woman.
EVE
A "ghost character." Mentioned as falling with Adam and suffering the penalty of pain in childbirth. Several other characters mention her (with Adam) as a prime example of God's mercy.
EZEKIEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
GIDEON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
GOLIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of God's aid to him.
HABAKKUK
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
HAGGAI
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
HAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
HEAVENLY FATHER
God or Pater Caelestis, appears seven separate times, complaining about the sinfulness of man. His first complaint is about Adam, who ate the apple. God's second and third complaints are against the sinfulness of humanity in general, and his third, fourth and fifth are against the sinfulness and ungratefulness of the Israelites. In each case, after threatening to destroy humanity all together, a human comes forward to beg for mercy. In each case, God eventually grants that mercy, and establishes a new promise, or covenant. With Adam, God establishes hatred between man and the serpent, and the pain of woman in childbirth. With Noah, he establishes the rainbow as a sign he will never again destroy humanity. With Abraham, he establishes the covenant of circumcision. With Moses, David and Isaiah, God foretells the coming of Christ. Finally over his anger, God appears, now amiable, before John Baptist and tells him of the coming of Christ, and that he has chosen John to prepare the way for Christ and to baptize him.
HELIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
HOLY SPIRIT
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God to John Baptist as the sign by which the latter will recognize Christ in human form. The Holy Spirit will appear at Christ's shoulder in the form of a dove.
ISAAC
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
ISAIAH
Isaiah is the sixth human to request God's mercy. He describes humanity as hard-hearted, and asks God to convert them. When God describes the number of people he has slain for idol worship, Isaiah asks again that those remaining be relieved and consoled. God says he cannot turn from his children any more than a mother could forget her own child, and he foretells the coming of Christ. Isaiah rejoices and sings praises to God.
ISHMAEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
JACOB
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
JAIR
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
JECHONIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
JEHORAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
JEHOSOPHAT
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
JEHU
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
JEPTHA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
JEREMIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
JEROBOAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
JESSE
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God and Isaiah as an ancestor of Christ.
JESUS JOSEDEC
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
JETHRO
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
JOANNES HIRCANUS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
JOAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
JOB
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
JOEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
JOHN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Bale as the one who wrote about Christ and salvation.
JOHN BAPTIST
John Baptist is the seventh and last human to plead for God's mercy. He offers God two lists of men, one good and one bad, and asks that God let the latter fall from his memory. God promises to do so, and tells John that he was predestined to show the coming of God's son, Christ. John protests that he is unworthy, but God insists that he is ready because he, God, has made him so. He tells John that he will know Christ because the Holy Ghost will descend in the shape of a dove when Christ comes to be baptized. John rejoices and sings praises to God.
JOSEPH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
JOSUE
A "ghost character." Described by God as a righteous man who will enter the Promised Land.
JOTHAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
JUDAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
JUDAS MACABEUS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
JUDITH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous woman.
KING EZECHIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
KING of EGYPT
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as a punishment he inflicted on the Israelites for a return to idolatry.
LABAN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
LOT
A "ghost character." God promises Abraham that Lot will be saved.
MALACHI
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
MANASSES
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
MATHIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
MELCHISEDEC
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
MICAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
MORDECAI
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
MOSES
Moses is the fourth human to request God's mercy. He asks that God be merciful as he has been in the past. God asks if he should so quickly change his decree about idol worship, and Moses agrees that idols are an abomination, but asks that the worshippers be forgiven, or that Moses be removed from the book of the righteous. God still swears to punish idol worship, but to pacify Moses, he foretells the coming of Christ. Moses rejoices and sings praises to God.
NAAMAN SYRUS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a God's mercy and power.
NADAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
NAHUM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
NATHAN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
NEHEMIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
NIMROD
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
NINUS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
NOAH
Noah is the second human to request God's mercy. When God intends to destroy humanity all together, Noah reminds him of his mercy to Adam and Eve, and asks that he correct humanity, not destroy it. God admits to being moved by Noah's righteousness, and agrees to spare Noah and his family, and to establish the covenant of the rainbow. Noah rejoices and sings praises to God.
NOAH'S WIFE
A "ghost character." Part of Noah's family that God promises will be saved from the great flood.
NOAH'S THREE SONS
"Ghost characters." Part of Noah's family that God promises will be saved from the great flood.
NOAH'S THREE SONS' WIVES
"Ghost characters." Part of Noah's family that God promises will be saved from the great flood.
OBADIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
OLDA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
ONAN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
OTHNIEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
PHARAOH
A "ghost character." Moses reminds God of his power in visiting the ten plagues on the Pharaoh.
PHASSUR
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
PHINEAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
RACHEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
REBECCA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
RECHAB
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
REHOBOAM
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
REUBEN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
SAMSON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
SAMUEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
SARA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.
SATAN
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as overcome by God.
SAUL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of sinful man who should nevertheless not sway God away from his love of the Israelites.
SERPENT
A "ghost character." Mentioned as the tempter of Adam. Hatred of the Serpent is part of the covenant between God and Adam.
SHAMGAR
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
SHEMIAS
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
SHIMEI
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of sinful man who should nevertheless not sway God away from his love of the Israelites.
SOLOMON
A "ghost character." God mentions that Solomon, the son of David, will complete the building of the temple, as a sign of God's love and the coming of Christ.
SONS OF JACOB
"Ghost characters." Mentioned by God as an example of man's sinfulness.
TOBIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
TOLA
A "ghost character." Mentioned by David as an example of an upright, virtuous man.
TRIPHON
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a sinful man.
URIAH
A "ghost character." The husband of Bersabe, he is killed by David so that the latter can sleep with Bersabe.
ZACHARIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
ZEDEKIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a good king.
ZEPHANIAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a prophet.
ZERUBABEL
A "ghost character." Mentioned by John Baptist as an example of a virtuous man.
ZIMRI
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Isaiah as an example of a wicked king.
ZIPPORAH
A "ghost character." Mentioned by Moses as an example of God's mercy and guidance.