The maffacre of the Britons by Hengift in their cups at Salisbury plain. Malmesbury.

4. Sigher of the Eaft Saxons revolted from the faith, and reclaim'd by Jarumang.

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. Ofbert of Northumberland flain for ravishing the wife of Bernbocard, and the Danes brought in. See Stow. Holinfh. L. 6. c. 12. and especially Speed, L. 8. c. 2.

9. Edmund laft king of the EaftAngles martyr'd by Hinguar the Dane. See Speed, L. 8. c. 2. 10. Sigebert, tyrant of the WeftSaxons flain by a Swineherd.

11. Edmund brother of Athelftan 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 Dunftan.

# 13. Edward fon of Edgar murder'd by his step-mother. To which be inferted the tragedy ftirr'd up betwixt the Monks and Priests about marriage.

may

14. Ethelred, fon of Edgar, a flothful king, the ruin of his land by the Danes.

15. Ceaulin, king of WeftSaxons, for tyranny depos'd, and banish'd, and dying.

16. The flaughter of the Monks of Bangor by Edelfride ftirr'd up,

as is faid, by Ethelbert, and he by Auftin the Monk, because the Britons would not receive the rites of the Roman Church. See Bede, Geffrey Monmouth, and Holinfhed, p. 104. which muft begin with the Convocation of British Clergy by Auftin to determin fuperfluous points, which by them was refused.

17. Edwin by vifion promis'd the kingdom of Northumberland on promise of his converfion, and therein establish'd by Rodoald king of Eaft-Angles.

18. Ofwin king of Deira flain by Ofwie his friend king of Bernitia, through infligation 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 houfe, according as the bishop Cedda had foretold.

20. Egfride king of the Northumbers flain in battle against the Picts, having before wafted Ireland, and made war for no reason on men that ever lov'd the English ; forewarn'd alfo by Cuthbert not to fight with the Picts.

21. Kinewulf, king of WeftSaxons, flain by Kineard in the houfe of one of his concubines.

22. Gunthildis, the Danish lady, with her husband Palingus, and her fon, flain by appointment of the traitor Edrick in king Ethelred's days. Holinfhed, 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

24. Alfred in disguise of a miniftrel difcovers the Danes negligence, fets on with a mighty laughter; about the fame time the Devonshire men rout Hubba and flay him.

A Heroical poem may be founded fomewhere in Alfred's reign, efpecially at his iffuing out of Edelingfey on the Danes, whofe actions are well like thofe of Ulyffes.

25. Athelstan expofing his brother Edwin to the fea, and repenting.

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 towards her husband.

27. Swane befieging London, and Ethelred repuls'd by the Lon

doners.

28. Harold flain in battel by William the Norman. The first fcene may begin with the ghoft of Alfred, the fecond son of Ethelred, flain in cruel manner by Godwin Harold's father, his mother and brother diffuading him.

29. Edmond Iron fide defeating the Danes at Brentford, with his combat with Canute.

30. Edmond Ironfide murder'd by Edric 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 adverfary; 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 divorceing and imprisoning his noble wife Editha, Godwin's daughter; wherein is fhowed his over-affection to ftrangers the caufe of Godwin's infurrection, wherein Godwin's forbearance of battel prais'd, and the English moderation on both fides magnified. His flacknefs to redress the corrupt Clergy, and fuperftitious pretence of chaftity.

ABRAM from MOREA, or ISAAC redeem'd.

The Oeconomy may be thus. The fifth or fixth day after Abraham's departure, Eleazer Abram's steward, firft alone, and then with the Chorus, difcourfe of Abraham's strange 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 lamentations, fears, wonders; the matter in the mean while divulg'd. Aner or Efchcol, or Mamre Abram's confederates come to the houfe of Abram to be more certain, or to bring news; in the mean while difcourfing as the world would, of fuch an action divers ways, bewailing the fate of fo noble a man faln from his reputation, either through divine justice, or fuperftition, or coveting

to

to do fome notable at through zeal. At length a fervant fent from Abram relates the truth; and laft he himself comes with a great train of Melchizedec, whofe fhepherds being fecret eye-witneffes of all paffages had related to their mafter, 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 fome Counsellor perfuaded on his birth-day to releafe John Baptift, purposes it, caufes him to be fent for to the court from prifon. The Queen hears of it, takes occafion to pafs 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 the fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his fentence, which not finding, the herfelf craftily affays, and on his conftancy founds an accufation to Herod of a contumacious afront on fuch a day be fore many peers, prepares the king to fome paffion, and at laft by her daughter's dancing effects it. There may prologize the Spirit of Philip, Herod's brother. It may alfo be thought, that Herod had well bedew'd himself with wine, which made him grant the easier to his

wife's 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 done, and wishing them to follow Chrift his matter,

SODOM,

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

The Scene before Lot's gate.

The Chorus confifts of Lot's fhepherds come to the city about fome affairs await in the evening their mafter's return from his evening walk toward the citygates. 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 pafs by in proceffion with mufic and fong to the temple of Venus Urania or Peor, and underftanding of two noble ftrangers arriv'd, they send two of their choiceft youth with the priest to. invite them to their city folemnities, it being an honour that their city had decreed to all fair perfonages, as being facred to their Goddefs. The Angels being afkt by the priest whence they are, fay they are of Salem; the priest inveighs against the ftrict reign of Melchizedec. Lot, that knows their

drift,

as

drift, anfwers thwartly at laft, of which notice given to the whole affembly, they haften thither, tax him of prefumption, fingularity, breach of city-cuftoms; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of fhepherds prepare refiftance in their mafter's defenfe, calling the rest of the ferviture; but being forc'd to give back, the Angels open the door, refcue Lot, difcover themfelves, warn him to gather his friends and fons in law out of the city. He goes and returns, having met with fome incredulous. Some other friend or fon in law out of the way, when Lot came to his houfe, overtakes him to know his bufinefs. Here is difputed of incredulity of divine judgments, and fuch like matter: at laft is defcribed 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 concluding, and the Angels relating the event of Lot's journey and of his wife. The first Chorus beginning, may relate the courfe of the city each evening every one with mistress or Ganymed, gitterning along the ftreets, or folacing on the banks of Jordan, or down the stream. 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 juft fuffering, 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 deftroy a godlefs nation: he brings them down with some short warning to other nations to take heed.

Chrift born.

Herod maffacring, or Rachel weeping, Matt. II. Christ bound. Chrift crucifi'd. Christ risen. Lazarus. Joan. XI.

ADAM UN PARADIS'D.

The Angel Gabriel either defcending or entring, fhowing 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. Angel Gabriel, as by his name fignifying a prince of power, tracing Paradife with a more free office, paffes by the ftation of the Chorus, and defired by them relates what he knew of Man, as the creation of Eve, with their love and marriage. After this Lucifer appears after his overthrow, bemoans

The

himself,

himself, feeks revenge on Man. The Chorus prepare resistance at his first approach. At last, after difcourfe of enmity on either fide, he departs; whereat the Chorus fings of the battle, and victory in Heaven against him and his accomplices; as before, after the first Act, was fung a hymn of the creation. Here again may appear Lucifer relating and infulting in what he had done to the deftruction of Man. Man next, and Eve having by this time been feduc'd by the ferpent appears confufedly cover'd with leaves. Confcience in a fhape accufes him, Juftice cites him to the place, whither Jehovah call'd for him. In the mean while the Chorus entertains the ftage, and is informed by fome Angel the manner of his fall. Here the Chorus bewails Adam's fall. Adam then and Eve return, accufe one another, but especially Adam lays the blame to his wife, is ftubborn in his offenfe. Juftice appears; reafons with him, convinces him. The Chorus admonifheth Adam, and bids him beware Lucifer's example of impenitence. The Angel is fent to banifh them out of Paradife; but before causes to pass before his eyes in fhapes a Mask of all the evils of this life and world. He is humbled, relents, despairs; at last appears Mercy, comforts him, promifes the Meffiah; then calls in Faith, Hope, and Charity; inftructs him; he repents, gives God the glory, fubmits to his penalty. The Chorus briefly concludes. Compare this with the former draught.

Scotch ftories, or rather British of the North parts.

ATHRICO flain by Natholochus, whofe daughter he had ravifht, and this Natholochus ufurping thereon the kingdom, feeks to flay the kindred of Athrico, 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 shall flay Natholochus: he detests it, but in his journey home changes his mind, and performs it. Scotch Chron. English, p. 68, 69.

DUFFE and DONWALD, a ftrange ftory of witchcraft, and murder difcover'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 exprefs'd by the appearing of his ghoft.