Elifæus Hudrochoos, 2 Reg. 3. Hudro phantes, Aquator. Elifæus Adorodocétas. The maffacre of the Britons by Hengift in Elifæus Menutes, five in Dothaimis, 2 Reg. 6. the faith, and reclaim'd by Jarumang. Achabæi Cunoborwmeni, 2 Reg. 9. The Amaziah Doryalotus, 2 Reg. 14. 2 Chron. 25. Hezechias πολιορκούμλνος, 2 Reg. 18, 19. Hefechia befieg'd. The wicked hypocrify of Shebna, spoken of in the 11, or thereabout of Ifaiah, and the commendation of Eliakim will afford apopuas hoyou, together with a faction, that fought help from Egypt. Jofiah Ala omenos, 2 Reg. 23. Zedechiah vorspil, 2 Reg. but the story is larger in Jeremiah. Solyma Halofis; which may begin from a meffage brought to the city, of the judgment upon Zedechiah and his children in Ribla, and fo feconded with the burning and deftruction of city and temple by Nebuzaradan; lamented by Jeremiah. Afa or Æthiopes, 2 Chron. 14, with the depofing his Mother, and burning her idol. The three Children, Dan. 3. British. Trag. 5. Ethelbert of the Eaft-Angles flain by Offa the Mercian. See Holinfh. L. 6. c. 5. Speed in the Life of Offa and Ethelbert. 6. Sebert flain by Penda after he had left his kingdom. See Holinfhed, 116. p. 7. Wulfer flaying his two fons, for being Chriftians. 8. Osbert of Northumberland flain for ravishing the wife of Bernbocard, and the Danes brought in. See Stow. Holinsh. L. 6. c. 12. and efpecially Speed, L. 8. c. 2. 9. Edmund last king of the Eaft-Angles martyr'd by Hinguar the Dane. See Speed, L. 8. c. 2. 10. Sigebert, tyrant of the Weft-Saxons flain by a Swineherd. 11. Edmund brother of Athelstan flain by a thief at his own table. Malmefb. 12. Edwin, fon to Edward the younger, for luft depriv'd of his kingdom, or rather by faction of Monks, whom he hated; together with the impoftor Dunstan. 13. Edward fon of Edgar murder'd by his step-mother. To which may be inferted the tragedy stirr'd up betwixt the Monks and Prielis about marriage. 14. Etheldred, fon of Edgar, a slothful king, the ruin of his land by the Danes. 15. Ceaulin, king of Weft-Saxons, for tyranny depos'd, and banish'd, and dying. 16. The flaughter of the Monks of Bangor 1. The cloister king Conftans fet up by Vor- by Edelfride ftirr'd up, as is faid, by Etheltiger. 2. Vortiger poifon'd by Roena. 3. Vortiger immur'd. bert, and he by Austin the Monk, because the Britons would not receive the rites of the Roman Church. See Bede, Geffrey Monmouth, and Holinfhed, p. 104. which must begin The three following were added afterwards in with the Convocation of British Clergy by the margin. Venutius husband to Cartifmandua. Vortiger marrying Roena. See Speed. reprov'd by Vordin archbishop of London. Speed. Austin to determin fuperfluous points, which by them was refused. 17. Edwin by vision promis'd the kingdom of Northumberland on promife of his conver fion, and therein establish'd by Rodoald king Norman. The firft fcene may begin with the of Eaft-Angles. 18. Ofwin king of Deira flain by Ofwie his friend king of Bernitia, through inftigation of flatterers. See Holinfhed, p. 115. 19. Sigibert of the Eaft-Angles keeping company with a perfon excommunicated, flain by the fame man in his house, according as the bishop Cedda had foretold. 20. Egfride king of the Northumbers flain in battel against the Picts, having before wafted Ireland, and made war for no reafon on men that ever lov'd the English; forewarn'd alfo by Cuthbert not to fight with the Picts. 21. Kinewulf, king of Weft-faxons, flain by Kineard in the house of one of his concubines. 22. Gunthildis, the Danish lady, with her husband Palingus, and her fon, flain by appoint ment of the traitor Edrick in king Ethelred's days. Holinshed, 7. L. c. 5. together with the maffacre of the Danes at Oxford. Speed. 23. Brightrick of Weft-Saxons poifon'd by his wife Ethelburge Offa's daughter, who dies miferably alfo in beggery after adultery in a nunnery. Speed in Bithrick. 24. Alfred in difguife of a miniftrel difcovers the Danes negligence, fets on with a mighty flaughter; about the fame time the Devonshire men rout Hubba and slay him. A Heroical poem may be founded fomewhere in Alfred's reign, especially at his iffuing out of Edelingfey on the Danes, whofe actions are well like thofe of Ulyffes. 25. Altheftan expofing his brother Edwin to the fea, and repenting. ghoft of Alfred, the fecond fon of Ethelred, flain in cruel manner by Godwin Harold's father, his mother and brother diffuading him. 29. Edmond Ironfide defeating the Danes at Brentford, with his combat with Canute. 30. Edmund Ironfide murder'd by Edrick the traitor, and reveng'd by Canute. 31. Gunilda, daughter to king Canute and Emma, Wife to Henry the third Emperor, accus'd of inchastity, is defended by her English page in combat against a giant-like adversary ; who by him at two blows is flain, &c. Speed in the Life of Canute. 32. Hardiknute dying in his cups, an example to riot. 33. Edward Confeffor's divorcing and imprisoning his noble wife Editha, Godwin's daughter; wherein is showed his over-affection to strangers the cause of Godwin's infurrection, wherein Godwin's forbearance of battel prais'd, and the English moderation on both fides magnified. His flackness to redress the corrupt Clergy, and fuperftitious pretence of chastity. ABRAM from Morea, or ISAAC redeem'd. The Oeconomy may be thus. The fifth or fixth day after Abraham's departure, Eleazer Abram's fteward, firft alone, and then with the Chorus, difcourfe of Abraham's ftrange voyage, their mistress forrow and perplexity accompanied with frightful dreams; and tell the manner of his rifing by night, taking his fervants and his fon with him. Next may come forth Sarah herself; after the Chorus, or Ifmael, or Agar; next fome fhepherd or company of merchants paffing through the mount in the time that Abram was in the midwork, relate to Sarah what they faw. Hence lamentation, fears, wonders; the matter in the mean while divulg'd. Aner or Efchcol, or Mamre 26. Edgar flaying Ethelwold for falfe play in wooing, wherein may be fet out his pride, luft, which he thought to clofe by favoring Monks and building Monafteries: alfo the difpofition of woman in Elfrida toward her husband. 27. Swane befieging London, and Ethelred Abram's confederates come to the house of repuls'd by the Londoners. Abram to be more certain, or to bring news; 28. Harold flain in battel by William the in the mean while difcourfing as the world would, would, of fuch an action divers ways, bewailing the fate of fo noble a man faln from his reputation, either through divine juftice, or fuperftition, or coveting to do fome notable act through zeal. At length a fervant fent from Abram relates the truth; and last he himself comes with a great train of Melchizedec, whose shepherds being fecret eye-witneffes of all paffages had related to their mafter, and he conducted his friend Abraham home with joy. BAPTISTE S. The Scene, the Court. Beginning from the morning of Herod's birth-day. on Herod by fome Counsellor perfuaded his birth-day to release John Baptift, purposes it, causes him to be fent for to the court from prifon. The Queen hears of it, takes occafion to pass where he is, on purpose, that under pretence of reconciling to him, or feeking to draw a kind retraction from him of his cenfure on the marriage; to which end fhe fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his fentence, which not finding, she herself craftily affays, and on his conftancy founds an accufation to Herod of a contumacious affront on fuch a day before many peers, prepares the King to fome pafsion, 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 bedew'd himself with wine, which made him grant the easier to his wives daughter. Some of his difciples alfo, as to congratulate his liberty, may be brought in, with whom after certain command of his death many compaffioning words of his difciples, bewailing his youth cut off in his glorious courfe, he telling them his work is 1 done, and wishing them to follow Chrift his mafter. SODOM. The title Cupid's funeral pile. Sodom burning. The Chorus confifts of Lot's fhepherds comn to the city about fome 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 difcourfes prepares for their entertainment. By then fupper is ended, the gallantry of the town pass by in proceffion with music and song to the temple of Venus Urania or Peor, and understanding of two noble strangers arriv'd, they send two of their choiceft youth with the priest to invite them to their city folemnities, it being an honor that their city had decreed to all fair perfonages, as being facred to their Goddess. The Angels being askt by the priest whence they are, fay they are of Salem; the priest inveighs against the strict reign of Melchizedec. Lot, that knows their drift, answers thwartly at laft, of which notice given to the whole affembly, they haften thither, tax him of prefumption, fingularity, breach of city-customs; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of fhepherds prepare refiftance in their master's defense, calling the rest of the ferviture; but being forc'd to give back, the Angels open the door, rescue Lot, discover themselves, warn him to gather his friends and fons in law out of the city. He goes and returns, as having met with fome incredulous. Some other friend or fon in law out of the way, when Lot came to his house, overtakes him to know his business. Here is difputed of incredulity of divine judgments, and fuch like matter: at last is described the parting from the city; the Chorus depart with their mafter; the Angels do the deed with all dreadful execution; the King and Nobles of the city may come forth, and ferve to fet out the terror; a Chorus of Angels * Or elfe the Queen may plot under pretence of begging for his liberty, to feek to draw him into a fnare by his freedom of fpeech. 4 F concluding, concluding, and the Angels relating the event of Lot's journey and of his wife. The firft Chorus beginning, may relate the courfe of the city each evening every one with mistress or Ganymed, gitterning along the streets, or folacing on the banks of Jordan, or down the ftream. At the priest's inviting the Angels to the folemnity, the Angels pitying their beauty may difpute of love, and how it differs from luft, feeking 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 faith are the flames of true love, and tells the King, who falls down with terror, his just suffering, as alfo Athane's, i. e. Gener, Lot's fon in law, for defpifing 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 godlefs nation: he brings them down with some short warning to other nations to take heed. Chrift born. and marriage. After this Lucifer appears af Herod maffacring, or Rachel weeping, The Chorus admonisheth Adam, and bids Matt. II. Chrift bound. Chrift crucifi'd. Chrift rifen. Lazarus. Joan. XI. ADAM UN PARADIS'D. The Angel Gabriel either defcending or entring, showing fince this globe was created, his frequency as much on Earth, as in Heaven defcribes Paradise. Next the Chorus fhewing the reafon of his coming to keep his watch in Paradife after Lucifer's rebellion, by command from God, and withal expreffing his defire to fee and know more concerning this excellent new creature, Man. The Angel Gabriel, as by his name fignifying a prince of power, tracing Paradife with a more free office, paffes by the station of the Chorus, and, defired by them relates what he knew of Man, as the creation of Eve, with their love him beware Lucifer's example of impenitence. Scotch Stories, or rather British of the ATHIRCO flain by Natholochus, whofe daughter he had ravisht, and this Natholochus ufurping thereon the kingdom, feeks to flay the kindred of Athirco, who fcape him and conspire against him. He fends to a witch to know the event. The witch tells the meffenger, that he is the man fhall flay Natho lochus : lochus he detefts it, but in his journey home changes his mind, and performs it. Scotch Chron. English, p. 68, 69. DUFFE and DONWALD, a strange story of witchcraft, and murder discover'd and reveng'd. Scotch Story, 149, &c. HAIE, the Plowman, who with his two fons that were at plough running to the battel that was between the Scots and Danes in the next field, ftaid the flight of his countrymen, renew'd the battel, and caus'd the victory, &c. Scotch Story, p. 155. KENNETH, who having privily poifon'd Malcolm Duffe, that his own fon might fucceed, is flain by Fenella. Scotch Hift. p. 157, 158, &c. MACBETH, beginning at the arrival of Malcolm at Mackduffe. The matter of Duncan may be express'd by the appearing of his ghoft. MOABITIDES or PHINEAS. The Epitafis whereof may lie in the contention, first between the father of Zimri and Eleazer, whether he [ought] to have slain his fon without law. Next, the embaffadors of the Moabites expoftulating about Cosbi a ftranger and a noble woman slain by Phineas. It may be argued about reformation and punishment illegal, and, as it were by tumult: after all arguments driv'n home, then the word of the Lord may be brought acquitting and approving Phineas. CHRISTUS PATIENS. The scene in the garden beginning from the coming thither till Judas betrays, and the officers lead him away. The reft by message and Chorus. His agony may receive noble expreffions. 4 F 2 |