L. 7. 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 also in beggary after adultery in a nunnery. Speed in Bithrick.

24. Alfred in difguife of a miniftrel discovers the Danes negligence, fets on with a mighty flaughter; about the fame time the Devonshire men rout Hubba and flay 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 those of U. lyffes.

25. Athelstan exposing 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 close by favoring Monks and building Monafteries: also the difpofition of woman in Elfrida towards her husband.

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

28. Harold flain in battel by William the Norman. The first scene may begin with the 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. Edmond

30. Edmond 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 inchaftity, 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 cause of Godwin's infurrection, wherein Godwin's forbearance of battel prais'd, and the English moderation on both fides magnified. His flackness to redrefs 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 steward, first alone, and then with the Chorus, discourse 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 herfelf; after the Chorus, or Ifmael, or Agar; next some shepherd 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 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 juftice, or fuperftition, or coveting to do some notable act 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-witnesses 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 Counfellor perfuaded * on his birthday to release John Baptift, purposes it, caufes him to be fent for to the court from prison. The Queen hears of it, takes occafion 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 cenfure on the marriage; to which end fhe fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his

* 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 speech.

fentence,

fentence, which not finding, the herfelf 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 some paffion, and at last 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 also, 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 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 confifts of Lot's fhepherds come to the city about fome affairs await in the evening their master'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 music and fong 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 honour that

their city had decreed to all fair perfonages, as being facred to their Goddess. The Angels being askt bý the priest whence they are, fay they are of Salem; the prieft inveighs against the strict reign of Melchizedec. Lot, that knows their drift, answers thwartly at last, of which notice given to the whole affembly, they haften thither, tax him of presumption, fingularity, breach of city-customs; in fine, after violence, the Chorus of fhepherds prepare resistance in their master's defense, calling the reft of the ferviture; but being forc'd to give back, the Angels open the door, rescue Lot, difcover 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 defcribed 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 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 miftrefs 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 dispute of love, and how it differs from luft, feeking to win

them.