15. Ceaulin, king of Weft-Saxons, for tyranny de- 16. The flaughter of the Monks of Bangor by 17. Edwin by vifion promis'd the kingdom of 18. Ofwin king of Deira flain by Ofwie, his friend, 19. Sigibert of the Eaft-Angles keeping company 20. Egfride king of the Northumbers flain in battel with the Picts. 21. Kinewulf, King of Weft-Saxons, flain by Ki- 22. Gunthildis, the Danish lady, with her husband 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 alfo in beggary after adultery in a nunnery. Speed in Bithrick. 24. Alfred in difguife of a miniftrel difcovers the Danes negligence, sets 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 issuing out of Edelingfey on the Danes, whofe actions are well like those 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 close by favoring Monks and building Monasteries : alfo 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 Confessor'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 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 steward, first 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 rising by night, taking his fervants and his fon with him. Next may come forth Sarah herself; 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 such an action divers ways, bewailing the fate of so noble a man fain 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 laft he himself comes with a great train of Melchizedec, whofe fhepherds being fecret eye-witnefies 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 birthday to release John Baptift, purpofes 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 fhe fends a courtier before to found whether he might be perfuaded to mitigate his Or elfe the Queen may plot und begging for his liberty, to feek to dr fnare by his freedom of speech, fentence, which not finding, the 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 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 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 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 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 understanding of two noble strangers arriv'd, they fend two of their choiceft youth with the priest to invite them to their city folemnities, it being an honour that |