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Achitophel, 2 Sam. xv. xvi. xvii. xviii.

Adoniah, 1 Kings ii. Solomon Gynæcocratumenus, or Idolomargus, aut Thysiazusa. 1 Kings xi.

Rehoboam, 1 Kings xii. where is disputed of a politic religion. Abias Thersæus, 1 Kings xiv. The queen after much dispute, as the last refuge sent to the prophet Ahias of Shilo, receives the message. The Epitasis in that she hearing the child shall die as she comes home, refuses to return, thinking thereby to elude the oracle. The former part is spent in bringing the sick prince forth as it were desirous to shift his chamber and couch as dying men use, his father telling him what sacrifice he had sent for his health to Bethel and Dan; his fearlessness of death, and putting his father in mind to set [send] to Ahiah. The Chorus of the elders of Israel, bemoaning his virtues bereft them, and at another time wondering why Jeroboam being bad himself should so grieve for his son that was good, &c. Imbres, or the Showers, 1 Kings xviii. xix.

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Naboth ruxoQavтovμevos, 1 Kings xxi.

Ahab, 1 Kings xxii. beginning at the synod of false prophets; ending with relation of Ahab's death; his body brought; Zedechiah slain by Ahab's friends for his seducing. (See Lavater, 2 Chron. xviii.)

Elias in the mount, 2 Kings i. 'Oeubarns, or better, Elias Pole

mistes.

Eliseus Hudrochoos, 2 Kings iii. Hudrophantes, Aquator. Elisæus Adorodocétas.

Elisæus Menutes, sive in Dothaimis, 2 Kings vi.

Samaria Liberata, 2 Kings vii. Achabæi Cunobor meni, 2 Kings ix. The scene Jezreel: beginning from the watchman's discovery of Jehu till he go out: in the mean while, message of things passing brought to Jezebel, &c. Lastly the seventy heads of Ahab's sons brought in, and message brought of Ahaziah's brethren slain on the way, c. x, Jehu Belicola, 2 Kings x. Athaliah, 2 Kings xi. Amaziah Doryalotus, 2 Kings xiv. 2 Chron. xxv.

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Hezechias πολιορκούμενος, Kings xviii. xix. Hezechia besieged. The wicked hypocrisy of Shebna, spoken of in c. xi. or thereabout, of Isaiah, and the commendation of Eliakim will afford apoguas you, together with a faction, that sought help from Egypt.

Josiah Aomenos, 2 Kings xxiii.

Zedechiah vorsen, 2 Kings, but the story is larger in Jeremiah.

Solyma Halosis; which may begin from a message brought to the city, of the judgment upon Zedechiah and his children in Ribla, and so seconded with the burning and destruction of city and temple by Nebuzaradan; lamented by Jeremiah.

Asa or Ethiopes, 2 Chron. xiv. with the deposing his mother, and burning her idol.

The three Children, Dan. iii. BRITISH TRAGEDIES. 1. The cloister king Constans set up by Vortiger.

na.

2. Vortiger poisoned by Roe

3. Vortiger immured. The three following were added afterwards in the margin. Venutius husband to Cartismandua.

Vortiger marrying Roena. See Speed. Reproved by Vordin, Archbishop of London. Speed.

The massacre of the Britons by Hengist in their cups at Salisbury plain. Malmsbury.

4. Sigher of the East-Saxons revolted from the faith, and reclaimed by Jarumang.

5. Ethelbert of the East-Angles slain by Offa the Mercian. See Holinsh. 1. vi. c. 5. Speed in the Life of Offa and Ethel

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Monks and Priests about marriage.

14. Etheldred, son of Edgar, a slothful king, the ruin of his land by the Danes.

15. Ceaulin, king of WestSaxons, for tyranny deposed, and banished, and dying.

16. The slaughter of the Monks of Bangor by Edelfride stirred up, as is said, by Ethelbert, and he by Austin the Monk, because the Britons would not receive the rites of the Roman Church. See Bede, Geffrey Monmouth, and Holinshed, p. 104. which must begin with the Convocation of British Clergy by Austin to determine superfluous points, which by them was refused.

17. Edwin by vision promised the kingdom of Northumberland on promise of his conversion, and therein established by Rodoald king of East-Angles.

18. Oswin king of Deira slain by Oswie his friend king of Bernitia, through instigation of flatterers. See Holinshed, p. 115.

19. Sigibert of the East-Angles keeping company with a person excommunicated, slain by the same man in his house, according as the Bishop Cedda had foretold.

20. Egfride king of the Northumbers slain in battle against the Picts, having before wasted Ireland, and made war for no reason on men that ever loved the English: forewarned also by Cuthbert not to fight with the Picts.

21. Kinewulf, king of WestSaxons, slain by Kineard in the house of one of his concubines.

22. Gunthildis, the Danish lady, with her husband Palingus, and her son, slain by appoint

ment of the traitor Edrick in king Ethelred's days. Holinshed; 1. vii. c. 5. together with the massacre of the Danes at Oxford. Speed.

23. Brightrick of West-Saxons poisoned by his wife Ethelburge, Offa's daughter, who dies miserably also in beggary after adultery in a nunnery. Speed in Bithrick.

24. Alfred in disguise of a minstrel discovers the Danes' negligence, sets on with a mighty slaughter; about the same time the Devonshire men rout Hubba, and slay him.

A Heroical poem may be founded somewhere in Alfred's reign, especially at his issuing out of Edelingsey on the Danes, whose actions are well like those of Ulysses.

25. Althestan exposing his brother Edwin to the sea, and repenting.

26. Edgar slaying Ethelwold for false play in wooing, wherein may be set out his pride, lust, which he thought to close by favouring Monks and building Monasteries: also the disposition of woman in Elfrida toward her husband.

27. Swane besieging London, and Ethelred repulsed by the Londoners.

28. Harold slain in battle by William the Norman. The first scene may begin with the ghost of Alfred, the second son of Ethelred, slain in cruel manner by Godwin, Harold's father, his mother and brother dissuading him.

29. Edmund Ironside defeating the Danes at Brentford, with his combat with Canute.

30. Edmund Ironside murdered by Edrick the traitor, and revenged by Canute.

31. Gunilda, daughter to king Canute and Emma, wife to Henry the third Emperor, accused of inchastity, is defended by her English page in combat against a giant-like adversary; who by him at two blows is slain, &c. Speed in the Life of Canute.

32. Hardiknute dying in his cups, an example to riot.

33. Edward Confessor's divorcing and imprisoning his noble wife Editha, Godwin's daughter; wherein is shewed his over-affection to strangers, the cause of Godwin's insurrection, wherein Godwin's forbearance of battle praised, and the English moderation on both sides magnified. His slackness to redress the corrupt clergy, and superstitious pretence of chastity.

ABRAM FROM MOREA, OR ISAAC

REDEEMED.

The economy may be thus. The fifth or sixth day after Abraham's departure, Eleazer, Abram's steward, first alone, and then with the Chorus, discourse of Abraham's strange voyage, their mistress' sorrow and perplexity accompanied with frightful dreams; and tell the manner of his rising by night, taking his servants and his son with him. Next may come forth Sarah herself; after the Chorus, or Ismael, or Agar; next some shepherd or company of merchants passing through the mount in the time that Abram was in the mid-work, relate to Sarah what they saw. Hence lamentation, fears, wonders: the matter in the mean

while divulged. Aner, or Eschcol, or Mamre, Abram's confederates, come to the house of Abram to be more certain, or to bring news; in the mean while discoursing as the world would of such an action divers ways, be wailing the fate of so noble a man fallen from his reputation, either through divine justice, or superstition, or coveting to do some notable act through zeal. At length a servant sent from Abram relates the truth; and last he himself comes with a great train of Melchizedeck, whose shepherds being secret eye-witnesses of all passages had related to their master, and he conducted his friend Abraham home with joy.

BAPTISTES.

The Scene, the Court. Beginning from the morning of

Herod's birth-day. Herod by some counsellor persuaded on his birth-day to release John Baptist, purposes it, causes him to be sent for to the court from prison. The Queen hears of it, takes occasion to pass where he is, on purpose, that under pretence of reconciling to him, or seeking to draw a kind retraction from him of his censure on the marriage; to which end she sends a courtier before to sound whether he might be persuaded to mitigate his sentence, which not finding, she herself craftily assays, and on his constancy founds an accusation to Herod of a contumacious affront on such a day before

many peers, prepares the king to some passion, and at last by her daughter's dancing effects it. There may prologize the Spirit of Philip, Herod's brother. It may also be thought, that Herod had well bedewed himself with wine, which made him grant the easier to his wife's daughter. Some of his disciples also, as to congratulate his liberty, may be brought in, with whom after certain command of his death many compassioning words of his disciples, bewailing his youth cut off in his glorious course, he telling them his work is done, and wishing them to follow Christ his master.

SODOM.

The title, Cupid's funeral pile. Sodom burning.

The Scene before Lot's gate. The Chorus consists of Lot's shepherds, coming to the city about some affairs, await in the evening their master's return from his evening walk toward the city gates. He brings with him two young men or youths of noble form. After likely discourses prepares for their entertainment. By then supper is ended, the gallantry of the town pass by in procession with music and song to the temple of Venus Urania or Peor, and understanding of two noble strangers arrived, they send two of their choicest youth with the priest to. invite them to their city solemnities, it being an honour that their city had decreed to all fair personages, as being sacred to

• Or else the Queen may plot under pretence of begging for his liberty, to seek to draw him into a snare by his freedom of speech.

their Goddess. The angels being asked by the priest whence they are, say they are of Salem; the priest inveighs against the strict reign of Melchizedeck. Lot, that knows their drift, answers thwartly at last, of which notice given to the whole assembly, they hasten thither, tax him of presumption, singularity, breach of city customs; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of shepherds prepare resistance in their master's defence, calling the rest of the serviture; but being forced to give back, the angels open the door, rescue Lot, discover themselves, warn him to gather his friends and sons-inlaw out of the city. He goes and returns, as having met with some incredulous. Some other friend or son-in-law out of the way, when Lot came to his house, overtakes him to know his business. Here is disputed of incredulity of divine judgments, and such like matter: at last is described the parting from the city; the Chorus depart with their master; the angels do the deed with all dreadful execution; the king and nobles of the city may come forth, and serve to set out the terror; a Chorus of angels concluding, and the angels relating the event of Lot's journey and of his wife. The first Chorus beginning, may relate the course of the city each evening every one with mistress or Ganymede, gitterning along the streets, or solacing on the banks of Jordan, or down the stream. At the priest's inviting the angels to the solemnity, the angels pitying their beauty may dispute of love, and how it differs from lust,

seeking to win them. In the last scene, to the king and nobles, when the fierce thunders begin aloft, the angel appears all girt with flames, which he saith are the flames of true love, and tells the king, who falls down with terror, his just suffering, as also Athane's, i. e. Gener, Lot's son-in-law, for despising the continual admonitions of Lot: then calling to the thunders, lightnings, and fires, he bids them hear the call and command of God to come and destroy a godless nation: he brings them down with some short warning to other nations to take heed.

Christ born.

Herod massacreing, or Rachel weeping, Matt. ii.

Christ bound.
Christ crucified.
Christ risen.
Lazarus. John xi.

ADAM UNPARADISED. The angel Gabriel either descending or entering, shewing, since this globe was created, his frequency as much on earth, as in heaven: describes Paradise. Next the Chorus shewing the reason of his coming to keep his watch in Paradise after Lucifer's rebellion, by command from God, and withal expressing his desire to see and know more concerning this excellent new creature, Man. The angel Gabriel, as by his name signifying a prince of power, tracing Paradise with a more free office, passes by the station of the Chorus, and desired by them relates what he knew of Man, as the creation of Eve, with their love and marriage. After this Lucifer ap

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