Christs passion a tragedie, with annotations.

THe Tragedie of CHRIST'S PAS∣SION was first written in Greek by Apollinarius of Laodicea,, Bishop of Hie∣ropolis: and after him by Gregory Nazi∣anzen; though this, now extant in his Works, is by some ascribed to the for∣mer: by others accounted supposititi∣ous, as not agreeing with his Strain in the rest of his Poems; which might alter in that particular upon his imitation of Euripides. But Hugo Grotius, of late hath transcended all on this Argument: whose steps afar-off I follow.

ANNOTATIONS VPON THE FIRST ACT.

VErse 23. Ephratian Dames]

Of Ephrata, the same with Bethlehem.

Ver. 33. Magi]

Tradition will have them three, of severall Nations, and honour them with crownes. But the word delivers them for Persians, for so they called their Philosophers; such as were skilfull in the Coelestiall Motions, from whence they drew their predictions: and with whom their Princes con∣sulted in all matters of moment. Some write that they were of the posteritie of Balaam, by his Pro∣phesies informed of the birth of Christ, and appariti∣on of that narrative Starre: but more consonant to the Truth, that they received it from divine inspi∣ration.

Ver. 34. My Starre]

None of those which adorne the Firmament; nor Comet, proceeding from con∣densed Vapors inflamed in the Aire; but above Na∣ture, and meerely miraculous: which, as they write, not onely illuminated the eye, but the understanding; excited thereby to that heavenly inquisition. Some will have it an Angel in that forme. The excellen∣cie whereof is thus described by Prudentius.

Ver. 34. Mithra's flame]

Mithra: the same with the Sunne, adored by the Persians. His Image had the countenance of a Lion, with a Tiara on his head, depressing an Oxe by the hornes. Of this Statius

Come, O remember thy owne Temple; prove Propitious still, and Juno's Citie love: Whether we should thee rosy Titan call; Osyris, Lord of Ceres festivall; Or Mithra shrin'd in Persian rocks, a Bull, Subduing by the horror of his skull.

Thebaid. l. 1. And in a Cave his Rites were solemnized: from

Vers. 39. Pharisees]

A precise Sect among the Iews, separating themselves from others in habit, man∣ners, and conversation: from whence they had their Name; as their Originall from Antigonus Sochaeus, who was contemporary with Alexander the Great. Men full of appearing Sanctitie; observant to Tra∣ditions, and skilfull expositors of the Moysaicall Law: wearing the Precepts thereof in Phylacters (narrow scroules of parchment) bound about their browes, and above their left elbowes: passing tho∣row the streets with a slow motion, their eyes fixed on the ground, as if ever in divine contemplations: and wincking at the approach of women, by meanes whereof they not seldome met with churlish in∣counters. Superstitious in their often washing, keep∣ing their bodies cleaner then their soules. They held that all was governed by God and Fate; yet that man had the power in himselfe to doe good or evill: That his Soule was immortall; that after the death of the body, if good, it returned into an other more excellent; but if evill, condemned to perpetuall tor∣ments.

Vers. 43. Sadduces]

These derived the Sect and name from Sadock, the scholar of Antigonus

• Socaeus: as he his Heresie by misinterpreting the words of his Master; that we should not serve God as servants, in hope of reward: concluding thereupon that in another World there was no reward for Pi∣etie, and consequently no resurrection: holding the Soul to be annihilated after the death of the Body herein agreeing with the Stoicks.

  As smoke from trembling flames ascends, and there, Lost in its liberty, resolves to aire; As empty Clouds, which furious tempests chace, Consume and vanish in their aiery race; So our commanding Souls fleet with our breath: After Death nothing rests; and nothing Death, But of swift Life the Gole. Ambition lay Thy hopes aside; nor Care our peace betray. Inquir'st thou to what place thou shalt return VVhen dead? To that, where lie the yet Vnborn.

  Seneca in Troad. They held that there was neither Spirits nor An∣gels; rejected all Traditions; and onely allowed of the five books of Moses; that there was no such thing as Fate; that no evil proceeded from God; and that Vertue and Vice were in our own Arbitrements. The Pharisees were sociable among themselves: but the Sadduces ever at discord, and as uncivill to their own Sect as to strangers. This Heresie infected not

Vers. 151. Now the full Moon]

In the first full Moon after the Suns ascending into the Equinocti∣all, they celebrated the annuall Passeover, according to the positive Law of Moses; eating the Lambe in the Evening at their private houses, and lying about the table on beds, as the Romanes upon their Trieli∣nium: never fewer then ten together; if they want∣ed of their owne Family, they supplied themselves with their Neighbours; nor above the number of twenty. This Feast was onely to be kept at Ierusa∣lem: but those that came short of the Day by reason of the distance, or were defiled with the Dead, had a second Passeover in the moneth following assigned.

Vers. 161. Our washings past]

It was the Custome as well of all the Eastern Nations, as of the Iewes, to wash the feet of their Guests, though performed by inferior Servants; but here by Christ himself, to give an example of humilitie. They had vessels standing by, ready fill'd with water for that pur∣pose. This, at this Feast, was observed between the first and second lying down, by way of Purification:

Vers. 175. Phosphorus]

The same with Lucifer, which is a bringer in of Light; and therefore the Har∣binger of the Day: said to conduct and withdraw the Starres in that the last that shineth. This is the beautifull Planet of Venus; which when it riseth

Vers. 193. Those Cities, &c.]

The Cities which lie at the foot of Libanus, on the North of Galilee; whereof Cesarea Philippi, the Seat of the Tetrarch, was the principall: where Iordan not farre above descends from Ior and Dan, two neighbouring Fountains.

Vers 198. A Sea-resembling Lake.]

The Lake of Ge∣nesareth called also the Sea of Galilee, and of Tibe∣rias; taking this name from that Citie there built by Antipas in honour of Tiberius. It extendeth forty fur-longs in breadth, and in length an hundred: the shore once inriched with the Cities of Capharnaum, Tiberias, Bethsaida, Bethsan, Gadra, Taricha, and Chorosaim.

Vers. 199. Those VVoods of Palmes.]

In the Plaines adjoyning to Iericho: from theirabundance called the Citie of Palmes.

Vers. 200. Of fragrant Balsamum, which &c.]

As in

Vers. 203. That mount]

Phasga: from whence Moses saw all the land of Promise from Dan to Bersheba; and there died: buried in an un∣known Sepulcher by an Angel, lest that should have drawn the Israelites to Idolatry. Saint Hi∣trome writes, how the Devil, indeavouring to re∣veale the place, was resisted by Michael the Arch∣angel.

Vers 209. Cepheans, whose strong walls, &c,]

Cepheus, the son of Phoenix, reigned in Ioppa: A citie built by Iaphet before the Floud, and rather covered then de∣molisht by that Deluge. The Inhabitants, with their territories, took the name of their King: Who worshipped Dercetis the Goddesse of the Ascalonites their neighbours. She, as they fable, inflamed with the love of a beautifull Youth who sacrific'd unto her, having by him a Daughter (who after, in that nourished by Doves, was called Semiramis) ashamed of her incontinency, put away the Youth, exposed the childe to the mercie of the Deserts; and distra∣cted with sorrow, threw her self into a Lake neare

Vers. 214. Azotus, both the Jamnes]

Maritim townes belonging to the Philistines: the latter so called of the flourishing Soyle.

Vers. 215. Lydda]

A Citie seated in the valley above, and a little to the North of Ioppa: called after, the Citie of Iupiter: famous for the Allegoricall Combat of S^t George, and his Martyrdome.

Vers. 216. Caparorsa]

A Citie of Iudaea according to Ptolomey; rather of Idumea, as here intimated by our Authour.

Vers. 217. Damascus]

The regall Citie of Syria: as pleasant as great; here said to have commanded ten Nations. It lieth on the North of Galiee, in a valley beyond Antelibanus: six short dayes journey from Ierusalem.

Vers. 219. Sabaste]

Samaria, the soveraigne Citie of those ten Tribes which fell from the House of Iu∣dah: not much above a dayes journey from Ierusa∣lem. Built by Amri on the top of a Hill, presenting an admirable Prospect, which he bought of Samarus, of whom it was called Samaria. The Inhabitants in∣famous for their frequent falling from God to Ido∣latry.

Vers. 221. Phoenicians, who]

The Inhabitants be∣tween the great Sea and Galilee (so called of Phoe∣nix their king, the fifth in descent from Iupiter) ho∣nour'd for the invention of Letters.

Phoenicians first exprest (if Fame be true) The fixt voice in rude figures. Memphis knew Not yet how streame-lov'd Biblus to prepare: But birds and beasts, carv'd out in stone, declare Their Hieroglyphick Wisdomes.

Lucan. l. 3. These Cadmus the sonne of Agenor communicated to the Grecians.

Vers. 223. Tyrus, full of Luxury]

The Metropolis of Phoenicia; once soveraigne of the Sea, and of all the World: the greatest Emporium: whose beauty, commerce, and riches, the parent of luxury, is by the Prophet Ezekiel most gloriously described.

Vers. 224. Mother Sidon]

The ancientest Citie of Phoenicia built by Sida, the daughter of Belus, or ra∣ther

Vers. 226. Among the Syrians, those, &c.]

The Syri∣ans would eat no fish; not onely in regard of the fa∣bulous transformation of their Goddesse Dercetis; but that they held it injustice to kill those Creatures which did them no harm, and were fed on, rather for luxury then necessity: Withall, conceiving the Sea to be the originall and father of all that had life, and that man was ingendred of a liquid substance, they adored fishes as being of their own generation and Subsistence. So did they a Dove; not onely because their glorious Empresse Semiramis carried that name, and was after, as they fable, transformed into that creature: but expressing the Aire by the Dove, as by a fish the water; reverencing both, as comprising the Nature of all things.

V. 229 From Belus, whose &c.]

From certain marishes in the valley of Acre runs the River of Belus with a tardy pace, and exonerates it self into the Sea hard by Ptolemais: whose sand affordeth matter for glasse, becomming fusible in the furnace. Strabo reports the like of divers places there about: and Iosephus, speaking of this, that there is an adjoyning Pit, an hundred cubits in circuit, covered with sand that gli∣stered like glasse; and when carried away (for there∣with they accustomed to ballast their ships) it forth-with was filled again, borne thither by windes

Vers. 231. From Arnons bankes; those, &c.]

Arnon riseth in the mountaines of Arabia; and dividing the Countrey of the Moabites from the Ammonites, fals into the Dead Sea. By those ancient Warres is meant the Overthrow which Moses gave unto Og and Sehon.

Vers. 234. Asphaltis]

The Dead Sea, or Lake of Sodome and Gomorrah; having no egresse, unlesse un∣der the Earth; Seventy miles in length, and sixteen broad: here at large described by our Author.

Vers. 237. VVhat over flies, &c.]

The like is written of Avernus: whereof the poeticall Philosopher

Avernus cald: a name impos'd of right, In that so fatall to all Birds of flight. VVhich when those aiery Passengers o' re-fly, Forgetfull of their wings, they fall from high With stretcht out necks: on Earth, where Earth partakes That killing propertie; where Lakes, on Lakes.

Lucr. l. 6.

Vers. 215. VVhen she, &c.]

Lots wife. Iosephus writes that he himselfe had seene that Statue of Salt: yet extant, if Brocardus and Saligniacus, professed Eye∣witnesses, be to be beleeved.

Vers. 255. Devout Esseans]

A Sect among the Iews; strictly preserving the worship of God, the rules of Religion and Iustice: living on the common stock; never eating of flesh, and wholly abstaining from Wine and Women. They wore their apparell white and cleanly: pray'd before the rising of the Sunne; laboured all day long for the publike utilitie; fed in the evening with a generall silence; and had their Sobriety rewarded with a life long and healthfull. Their chiefe study was the Bible; and next to that, Physick, taking their name from the cure of diseases. All were servants one to an other. They never sware an oath, nor offered any thing that had life in their sacrifice: ascribing all unto Fate, and nothing to free Will. They preserved their Society by the adoption of children, inured to piety and labour. Their Sect, though ancient, hath no known Originall; yet much agreeing with the discipline of the Pytha∣goreans.

Vers. 274. The first unleaven'd Bread]

Eaten with the Paschal Lambe at the Israelites departing out of Aegypt: the Ceremonies used therein are at large delivered by Moses.

Vers. 275. She never would retaine]

The Libertie they lost in the Babylonian Captivitie, was never ab∣solutely recovered: for the most part under the Per∣sians, Grecians, Aegyptians, or Syrians (although in the reigne of the Asmones they had the face of a Kingdome, yet maintained with perpetuall bloud∣shed)

Ver. 278. Horned Hammons Temple]

Iupiter Hammon, which signifies Sand; because his Temple stood in the Lybian Desarts: with such difficultie visited by Alexander. Or rather being the same with Ham the sonne of Noah; from whom Idolatry had her O∣riginall: who usually wore the carved head of a Ram on his Helmet; whereupon his Idol was so fa∣shioned. But Iupiter Hammon is also taken for the Sunne; Hammah signifying Heate in the Hebrew. And because the Yeere beginneth at his entrance into Aries, he therefore was carved with Rams hornes.

Ver. 281. Built his proud City]

Alexandria in Ae∣gypt; built by Alexander the Great upon a Promen∣tory neer the Isle of Pharos: so directed, as they write, by Homer in a Vision.

Vers. 282. To their old prison, Babylon]

Not all the Iews returned with Zorobbabel, but remained at Ba∣bylon, and by the favour of succeeding Princes plant∣ed thereabout their Colonies; grew a great Nation, observing their ancient Rites and Religion. These were called Babylonian Iews: to whom not a few of their Countrey men fled from the troubles of their Countrey.

Vers. 283. To freezing Taurus, &c.]

The greatest Mountaine of the World, which changeth its name

Vers. 284. And Tiber now, &c.]

Rome, the Empresse of Cities adorning the bankes of Tiber, to which the Ocean then yeelded Obedience.

ANNOTATIONS VPON THE SECOND ACT.

VErse 1. Bloud-thirsty Romulus]

The Originall of the Race and Name of the Romanes: who laide the Wals of Rome in the bloud of his brother Re∣mus.

Vers. 15. To such a Guide, &c.]

It was a Custome among the Easterne Nations, and not relinquished by many at this Day, for men to kisse one another in their salutations. So did the Romanes, untill inter∣dicted by Tiberius. With the Iews it was a pledge of peace and amitie: used also to their Lords and Prin∣ces by way of homage and acknowledged subjecti∣on: as perfidious Iudas did here to his Master.

Vers. 55. Memphis]

By this is meant the Aegypti∣an Servitude; Memphis of old the chiefe Citie in Aegypt.

Vers. 55. Devouring Desarts]

All the Israelites, that came out of Aegypt, perished in the Desarts, but Io∣shuah and Caleb.

Vers. 55. Civill warres]

As between the Tribe of Benjamin, and the rest of the Tribes; the Iews and Is∣raelites; Israelites against Israelites, and Iews against Iews. Discord threw her Snakes among the As∣mones, nor had Herods Posteritie better successe.

Vers. 56. Oft forreign yokes]

Often subdued by their Neighbours, and delivered by their Iudges and Princes.

Vers. 56. Assyrian Conquerers]

Who sackt Ierusa∣lem, destroyed the Temple which was built by So∣lomon, led their King captive, and their whole Nation, unto Babylon.

Vers. 57. Great Pompeys Eagles]

Pompey, who bore the Romane Eagle on his Standard, took Ierusalem and the Temple by force (yet would not meddle with the Treasure, nor sacred Vtensils) subdued the Iews, and made them tributaries to the Romanes.

Vers. 57. Sacred Rites Profan'd]

Who entred the Sanctum Sanctorum with his followers, and prophan∣ed the Religion of the place by beholding that which was to be seene but by the High Priest onely.

Vers. 58. The Temple sackt, with bloud, &c.]

He slew twelve thousand Iews within the wals of the Tem∣ple.

Vers. 66. Cedron]

This Brook, or Torrent, runnes thorough the Vale of Iehosaphat, between Mount Olivet and the City, close by the Garden of Gethse∣mane, where Christ was betrayed.

Vers. 103. Not Jordan with two, &c.]

See the Note upon vers. 195. Act. 1.

Vers. 105. Callithoe]

A Citie in the Tribe of Ru∣ben, so called of her beautifull Springs: where from a Rock two neighbour Fountaines gush out as from the brests of a woman: the one of hot, but sweet

Vers. 105. That ample Lake]

The Sea of Galilee, by which Peter was borne.

Vers. 107. Blew Nereus, &c.]

Nereus is taken for the Sea in generall, but here for the Aegyptian; into which Nilus dischargeth his waters by seven cur∣rents; the fresh water keeping together, and changing the colour of the Salt, far further into the Sea, then the shore from thence can be discerned.

Vers. 128. Lethe]

A River of Africa, passing by Bernice, and running into the Mediterranian Sea neere the Promontory of the Syrtes. It hath that name from Oblivion, because those, who drunk thereof, forgot whatsoever they had formerly done. Of this Lucan.

Where silent Lethe glides: this (as they tell) Draws her Oblivion from the veines of Hell.

So feigned, because of the oblivion which is in Death; as allegorically for that of Sleep.

Vers. 139. Tarpean Jove]

Tarpeus is a Mountaine in Rome, taking that name from the Vestall Virgin Tarpea, who betrayed her Fathers Fort to the Sa∣bines,

Vers. 139. Mars, great Quirinus Sire]

Romulus was called Quirinus of his Speare; or for his uniting the two Nations of the Cures and Romanes: as the sonne of Mars, in that so strenuous a Souldier. Plutarch writes that he was begotten by his Vncle Aemulius, who counterfeiting Mars, disguised in Armour, ra∣vished his mother Ilia: not onely to satisfie his Lust, but to procure her destruction, as the heire to his el∣der brother, the law condemning a defiled Vestall to be buried alive.

Vers. 140. You Houshold Gods, snatcht, &c.]

Penates: which Aeneas saved from burning at the sack of Troy, and brought them with him into Italy: sup∣posing that from them they received their flesh, their life, and understanding.

Vers 151. Caprae]

A little Iland in the Tyrrhen Sea, and in the sight of Naples, naturally walled a∣bout with up-right Cliffs, and having but one passage into it. Infamous for the Cruelties and Lusts of Ti∣berius; who retiring thither from the affairs of the Common-wealth, sent from thence his Mandates of death; polluting the place with all varietie of un∣cleannesse;

Ver. 152. The long-gown.]

The gowne was a gar∣ment peculiar to the Romanes, by which they were distinguished from other Nations; as of what qua∣litie among themselves by the wooll and colour, fa∣shion, and trimming. In so much as they were cal∣led Togati: Whereof Virgil in the person of Iu∣piter

Curst Juno, who Sea, Earth, and Heaven above, With her distemper tires, shall friendly prove; And joyne with us in gracing the Long-gownd And Lordly Romanes, still with conquest crown'd.

Aen. l. 1.

Vers. 157. Their hate to all &c]

The Iews with the hate of an enemy detested all other Nations: would neither eat with them, nor lodge in their houses; but avoided the stranger as a pollution. Proud in their greatest poverty: calling themselves the elect of God: boasting of their Countrey, their Religion,

Vers. 159. Abjure for one, &c.]

Pilat accuseth them here for their piety: who after the Captivity, as much detested Idolatry as they affected it before: who could not be compelled by their Conquerours to worship the Images of Tiberius Caesar, which Pi∣lat brought into the Citie, but was forced to carry them away upon their refusall. Caius not long after commanded that the Statues of the Gods should be erected in their Temple; menacing, if they should re∣fuse it, their utter subversion. But his death prevent∣ed their ruine: who before had made their protesta∣tion, that they would rather suffer the generall de∣struction of themselves, and their City, then suf∣fer such an abomination, so repugnant to their Law and Religion.

Vers. 168. With how much grief our swords &c.]

Iose∣phus mentions one slaughter onely, which Pilat, as then, had made of the Iews; and that about the draw∣ing of water by conduits into the sacred Treasury;

Vers. 234. Rods and Axes]

Borne before the Ro∣mane Consuls, Pretors, and Governours of Provin∣ces: bound together in bundles, to informe the Ma∣gistrate that he should not be too swift in execution, nor unlimited: but that in the unbinding thereof he might have time to deliberate, and perhaps to alter his sentence: that some are to be corrected with Rods, and others cut off with Axes, according to the quality of their offences.

Vers. 254. Since one must die, &c.]

Caiaphas prophe∣sied; being then the High Priest, though not of the House of Aaron. He was thrown out of his Office by Lucius Vitellius, who succeeded Pilat, and Ionathan the sonne of Annas placed in his room: when distra∣cted with melancholy and desperation, he received his death from his own hands.

Vers. 242. Stygian]

Styx is a Fountain of Arcadia, whose waters are so deadly, that they presently kill whatsoever drinks thereof: so corrodiating that they can onely be contained in the hoof of a mule. This in regard of the dire effects, was feigned by the Poets to be a river in Hell.

Vers. 361. Solyma]

So called by the Grecians; as by the Hebrews Salem; and when David had taken

Vers. 264. From th' Isthmos]

This Isthmos lies be∣tween Aegypt, and the bottom of the Red Sea, from whence to Euphrates David extended his conquests: inforcing all the Arabians to become his Tributaries. Who also overthrew the King of Sophona hard by the eruption of Tygris, overcame the Mesopotamians, the King of Damascus, and drew that City, with all Syria, under his obedience: having before subdued the neighbouring Nations.

Vers. 267. Th'admiring Queen, &c.]

Josephus makes her Queen of Aethiopia; and to have bestowed on Solomon that pretious Plant of Balsamum, which he after planted in Engaddi: but this grew in Canaan in the dayes of Jacob, who sent a Present thereof, among other fruits of that Countrey, into Aegypt. The Aethiopian Emperours glory in their descent from Solomon by this Queen; in regard whereof they greatly favour the Jewish nation. They have a Citie called Saba, which lies on the West side of the Ara∣bian Gulf. But by the presents which she brought, and vicinitie of the Countrey, it is more probable that she came from Saba, the principall Citie of A∣rabia the Happy.

Vers. 271. Canopus Scepter &c.]

Kings of Aegypt, of

Vers. 272. Those Monarchs &c.]

Chaldean Monarchs: Babylon, the seat of their Empire; who, as the Persians, adored the Sun under the name of Mithra.

Vers. 274. Sarrana]

Tyrus: so called in that it was built on a rock: the Arabians pronouncing Scar for Sar, from whence the Tyrian purple takes the name of Scarlet.

He Cities sacks, and houses fills with grones; To lie on scarlet, drink in pretious stones.

Virg. Geor. l. c. Not onely Iosephus, but the Scriptures, make often mention of the ancient amitie between the Iews and Tyrians.

Vers. 277. Ths land &c.]

See the Note upon V. 275. Act. 1.

Vers. 283. Antiochus guilt]

Antiochus Epiphanes; who abrogated their Law, and by threatnings and tortures enforced the Iews to Idolatry: polluting their Altar with sacrificed Swine.

Vers. 291. Iönian Gods]

The Gods of Greece: An∣tiochus being of a Grecian Family, and zealous in their Superstitions.

Vers. 293. Their brothers slew, &c.]

Aristobulus, the

Vers. 297. Twice vanquished &c]

Pompey was the first of the Romanes that subdued the Iews: neither were the Romanes expulsed by any forrein Prince; but un∣till this time maintained their Government. It must then be meant by their expulsion of one another in their Civill warres: Inlius Coesar vanquishing Pom∣pey: Mark Anthony being his Lieutenant in Syria (who gave a great part of the Territories of the Iews to Cleopatra) after absolute Lord of the Eastern parts of the Romane Empire; in the end overthrown and deprived of all by Augustus.

Vers. 303. One part by Romane &c.]

Iudea reduced in∣to a Romane Province by Pompey, and then governed by Pontius Pilat.

Vers. 304. The other two by brothers &c.]

Philip and Antipas (called also Herod) sons to Herod the Great: the one Tetrarch of Iturea, a Countrey which lies at

Vers 305. From savage Idumaeans]

Antipater, the fa∣ther of Herod, was an Idumoean; who in the conten∣tion between the two brethren Hircanus and Aristo∣bulus, about the Kingdome, took part with Hircanus; and grew so powerfull, that he made a way for his son to the Soveraigntie, though he himself was pre∣vented by poyson.

Vers. 327. That Name]

Iehova.

ANNOTATIONS VPON THE THIRD ACT.

VErse 47. Brutish Thunder]

The Philosophers will have two sorts of Lightning: calling the one fatall, that is, pre-appointed and mortall; the other Brutish, that is, accidentall, and flying at random.

Vers. 119. He, whom &c.]

Herod Antipas; then Te∣trarch of Galilee: whose father Herod the Great so magnificently reedified the Temple, that the glory of the latter exceeded that of the former.

Verse 122. The land &c.]

Phoenicia; the ancient king∣dome of Agenor, son to Belus Priscus: who was re∣puted a God after his death, and honoured with Temples; called Bel by the Assyrians, and Baal by the Hebrews.

Verse 142. Whose flouds in Summer swell]

Nilus, which constantly begins to rise with the rising Sunne on the seventeenth of Iune, increasing by degrees, untill it make all the Land a Lake.

Not ty'd to laws of other Streams; the Sun When furthest off, thy streams then poorest run: Intemperate heaven to temper, midst of heat, Vnder the burning Zone, bid to grow great.

Ver. 187. The free born]

It was the custome of the Romanes to punish slaves onely with whips, but their children and the free, with rods.

Verse 195. The wreathed Thorns]

in reverence of this crown of Thorns, which was platted about the brows of our Saviour, the Christians forbare to wear any garlands on their heads in their Festivalls; al∣though it were the custome of those Nations, among whom they lived.

Vers. 221. Thou liquid chrystall, &c.]

Pilat washt not his hands to expresse his innocencie, as a Romane Cu∣stome; but therein observing the Iewish Ceremony: which was, that he who would professe himself guiltlesse of a suspected Man slaughter should wash his hands over a Heifer, with her head cut off.

Verse 338. Let it fall &c.]

This imprecation soon af∣ter fell upon them in all the fulnesse of horrour; and throughout the world at this day pursues them.

Verse 233. Drag him to the Crosse, &c.]

Pilat not onely out of fear, and against his conscience; but therein infringed a Law lately made by Tiberius, in the sudden execution: for by the same no offen∣dour was to suffer within ten dayes after his con∣demnation. But he met with a Nemesis; soon after

Vers. 238. If thou be he, &c.]

By this place taken out of the Gospel, it appeares that divers of the Iews were of the opinion of the Pythagoreans, or the Py∣thagoreans of theirs, concerning the transmigration of Soules into other bodies.

All alter, nothing finally decayes: Hither and thither still the Spirit strayes; Guest to all Bodies: out of beasts it flies To men, from men to beasts, and never dies. As pliant wax each new impression takes; Fixt to no forme, but still the old forsakes; Yet it the same: so Soules the same abide, 'Though various figures their reception hide.

Ovid. Met. l. 15. Herod conceived that the Soule of Iohn the Baptist, by him wickedly murdered, was entered into the body of our blessed Saviour: And Iosephus in his O∣ration to his desperate Companions in the Cave of Iotopata: Those poore Soules which depart from this

Vers. 249. Slaine for a dancer]

This daughter of He∣rodias, as Nicephorus writes, going over a River that was frozen, fell in all but the head, which was cut off with the yce, as her body waved up and downe underneath.

Vers. 331. Sadock]

The Author of the Sect of the Sadduces. See the Note upon Vers. 43. Act. 1.

ANNOTATIONS VPON THE FOVRTH ACT.

VErse 35. To Warre the fatall way]

The City of Ie∣rusalem is onely on that side assailable: there forced and entred by the Babylonians, and after by Pompey.

Vers. 36. Golgotha]

Mount Calvary: a rocky hill, neither high, nor ample, lying then without the North-West wall of the City: the publique place of execution. Here they say that Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac; in memory whereof there now stand∣eth a Chappell: as an Altar, where the Head of A∣dam was found, which gave the name to that Mount: buried in that place that his bones might be sprinkl∣ed with the reall bloud of our Saviour, which he knew would be there shed by a propheticall fore∣knowledge. It is said to stand in the midst of the Earth; which must needs be meant by the then ha∣bitable: for what middle can there be in a Sphericall Body?

V. 49. The Nazarite]

Not as Sampson by vow, nor of that Sect: but so called of that City, wherein he was conceived, and where he inhabited after his returne out of Aegypt.

Vers. 52. Mixt with the bitter tears of Myrrh]

Some suppose that this was proffered him by his friends, being of a stupifying qualitie, to make him lesse sen∣sible of his torments. But it appeares by Petronius and Pliny, that it was a mixture much used in their delights: Whereof Martial

The teares of Myrrh in hot Falernum thaw: From this the Wine a better taste will draw.

Epig. l. 14. Strengthning the body, and refreshing the Spirits; and therefore more likely proffered by his enemies to prolong his sufferings.

Vers. 81. His inward Robe]

There be, who write that this was woven by the Virgin Mary: and we reade in the Scriptures, as frequently in Homer and other Authors, that women, and those of the highest qualitie, usually wrought garments for their Chil∣dren and Husbands.

Vers. 203. The Center pants, &c.]

This Earth-quake proceeded not from the Windes imprisoned in the bowels of the Earth, strugling to break forth, or from any other naturall cause, but by the immediate singer of God.

Vers. 205. The Sunne affrighted hides, &c.]

Miracu∣lous; without the interposition of the Moone, or palpable Vapours, was that defect of the Sunne, and unnaturall Darknesse, in the sixth houre of the Day:

Vers. 240. The greedy hollowes of a Spunge, &c]

Phy∣sicians agree that Vineger being drunk, or held to the nose, hath in it a naturall Vertue for the stench∣ing of bloud. Pliny attributes the like to Hyssop, and the better if joyned. Neither is it to be thought that the Iews offered this unto IESUS in humanity, but rather out of their hatred, that by prolonging his Life untill the Evening, his legges might have been broken to the increase of his torments.

Vers. 256. Pale troopes of wandring Ghosts]

These were the reall bodies of the dead, which entred the City from their graves (for it was, as now, their Cu∣stome to bury in the fields) and seen by day. Where∣as deluding Spirits assume an Aery, thinne and fluxa∣tive Body, condensed by cold, but dissipated by heate, and therefore onely appeare in the Night time. Which Virgil intimates in the Ghost of Anchises:

And now farewell: the humid Night descends; I sent Day's breath in his too-swift repaire. This said, like smoak, he vanisneth to aire.

Aen. l. 12.

Ver. 259 The cleaving Rocks]

The Rock of Mount Calvary was rent by that Earth-quake from the top to the bottome, which at this day is to be seene: the rupture such as Art could have no hand in; each side answerable ragged, and there where unaccessible to the workman.

Vers 263. Old Chaos now returnes]

That confused Masse, out of which God created the beautifull World: into which it was imagined that it should be againe reduced.

The aged World, dissolved by the Last And fatall Houre, shall to Old Chaos hast. Stars, justling Stars, shall in the Deepe confound Their radiant fires: the Land shall give no bound To swallowing Seas: the Moone shall crosse the Sun, With scorne that her swift wheeles obliquely run, Dayes throne aspiring. Discord then shall rend The Worlds crackt Frame, and Natures Concord end.

Lucan. l. 4. But many of our Divines are of opinion, that the World shall neither be dislolved nor anihilated: strengthning their assertion out of the eighth of the Romanes, and other places of Scripture.

Ver. 238. Th'amaz'd Centurion]

To this Centu∣rion, who professed CHRIST to be the Sonne of God, they give the name of Longinus, and honour him with the crowne of Martyrdome.

Vers. 296. The Temples Veile]

Described by Iose∣phus to consist of Violet, Purple, and Scarlet Silke, cunningly mixt & wrought by Babylonian Needles: the colours containing a mysticall sense. Such was that of Solomons, and of the travelling Tabernacle; but that they were powdred with Cherubins. This, it should seeme, was renewed by Herod, when he so magnificently repaired the Temple. It hung be∣fore the Sanctum Sanctorum; into which none but the High Priest, and that but once in the yeer, was to enter: violated by Pompey, pursued by a miserable Destiny. There was an out-ward Veile, not unlike the other, which separated the Priests from the People: this, contrary to the Opinion of our Au∣thour, Baronius conceives to be that which then rent asunder: interpreted to signifie the finall abolishing of the Law Ceremoniall. They write that at the tearing thereof a Dove was seene to flye out of the Temple.

Vers. 319. Or God doth this abhorr'd &c.]

Eusebius, S^t. Ierome, and others report, that with this Earth∣quake at the Passion, the Doores of the Temple flew open, and that the Tutular Angels were heard to cry, Let us remove from this place: though Iosephus referre it to the destruction of the Temple.

Vers. 362. Tyrian Gades]

Gades, now called Cales, an Iland lying on the South of Spaine without Her∣cules Pillars, held to be the uttermost Confines of the Western World, was planted by a Colony of the Tyrians.

Vers. 363. As yet sees not thy panting Horses, &c.]

A Charriot and Horses were attributed to the Sunne, in regard of the swiftnesse of his Motion; and to ex∣presse what is beyond the object of the sense by that which is subject unto it. These also by the Idolatrous Iews were consecrated unto him. The Sunne was feined to descend into the Sea, because it so appear∣eth to the eye; the Horizon being there most per∣spicuous.

Vers. 371. Hath some Thessalian Witch, &c.]

The Thessalian women were infamous for their inchant∣ments: said to have the power to darken the Sunne, and draw the Moone from her Spheare. Such Lu∣cans Erictho:

Her words to poyson the bright Moone aspire; First pale, then red, with darke and terrene fire: As when deprived of her Brothers sight, Earth interposing his Coelestiall Light: Perplext with tedious Charmes, and held below, Till she on under Hearbs her gelly throw.

Pha••. l. 6. The Author of this opinion was Aglonice the daugh∣ter of Hegaemon: who being skilfull in Astronomy, boasted to the Thessalian women (foreknowing the time of her Eclips) that she would performe it at such a season: which hapning accordingly, and they beholding the distemper'd Moone, gave credit to her

Vers. 372. What new Phaëton]

The fable of Phaëton, the sonne of Phoebus, as the Allegory, is notorious; who by misguiding the Charriot of the Sunne set all the World on a conflagration.

Vers. 377. As when sterne Atreus &c.]

Atreus, ha∣ving had his bed dishonored by his brother Thyestes, slew his children, and gave them for food to their father: when the Sunne, to avoid so horrid a sight, fled back to the Orient. So fained in that Atreus first discovered the Annuall Course of the Sun, which is contrary to his Diurnall.

Vers. 379. Ilia's god-like sonne, &c.]

Romulus: cut into a hundred pieces by the hundred Lords of the Senate, for being so rigorous to them, and so indul∣gent to the People; every one carrying a piece away with him under his long Gowne to conceale the murder: when Iulius Proculus, to appease the Peo∣ple, swore that he saw him ascend into Heaven: whereupon they consecrated Temples unto him, and gave him divine honours; changing his Name into Quirinus.

Vers. 383. Or hath that Day, &c.]

The Great Yeere: when all the Planets (here called Gods because they carry their Names) shall returne to that position which they were in at the beginning: Comprising, according to Cicero's Hortensius, the revolution of twelve thousand nine hundreth and fifty yeers.

Vers. 390. If the World perish by licentious fire]

The Romanes could not then have this from S^t. Peter; but rather from the Prophesies of the Sibyls:

These Signes the Worlds combustion shall fore-run: Armes clashing, Trumpets, from the rising Sun Horrible fragors, heard by all: this Frame Of Nature then shall feed the greedy flame. Men, Cities, Floods, and Seas, by rav'nous lust Of Fire devour'd, all shall resolve to dust.

Orac. l. 4. From hence perhaps the Ancient Philosophers deri∣ved their opinions; as Seneca a Latter, The Stars shall incounter one another, and what now shines so orderly, shall burne in one Fire.

Vers. 395. Either the groaning world, &c.

 

Vers. 397. Do proud Titanians &c]

The Poets feigne that the angry Earth, to be revenged of the Gods, brought forth the Titans, as after the Gyants; who by throwing mountains upon mountains attempted to scale the Heavens, and disinthrone Iupiter; who overthrew them with his Lightning, and cast those conjested Mountains upon them. Pherecydes the Sy∣rian writes, how the Devils were cast out of Heaven by Iupiter (this fall of the Giants perhaps alluding to that of the Angels:) The chief called Ophionius, which signifies Serpentine: having after made use of that Creature to poyson Eve with a false ambition.

Vers. 400. Dire Python]

A prodigious Serpent, which after Deucalions Floud lay upon the Earth like a Mountain, and slain by Apollo: the sense of the Fa∣ble being meerely Physicall; for Python born after the deluge of the humid Earth, was that great Exha∣lation, which rose from the late drowned world; at length dissipated by the fervour of the Sunne, or Apollo.

The Earth then soak'd in showres, yet hardly dry, Threw up thick clouds, which darkned all the Sky: This was that Python.

Pont. Meteor. The word signifies putrefaction: and because the Sun consumes the putrefaction of Earth, his beams dart∣ing from his Orb like arrows, with his arrows he is said to have slain Python.

Vers. 400. Lerna's Fen]

In this lay that venemous Serpent Hydra; which is said to have many Heads, whereof one being cut off, two rose in the room more terrible then the former, and with her poysnous breath to have infected all the Territories adjoyn∣ing. This Fable had a relation to that place, which through the eruption of waters annoyed the neigh∣bouring Cities; when one being stopt many rose in the room: this Hercules perceiving, burnt them with fire.

Vers. 404. Lyaeus gave to man lesse precious wine]

Lyaeus is a name of Bacchus, because wine re∣fresheth the Heart, and freeth it from sorrow. Noah was he who immediately after the Floud first planted a Vineyard and shewed the use of wine unto man: wherefore some write that of Noachus he was called Boachus, and after Bacchus by the Ethnicks, either by contraction, or through ignorance of the etymologie. This comparison hath relation to Christ's conversion of water into such excellent wine at Cana in Galilee.

Vers. 405. Not Hercules so many Monsters slew]

Hercules, saith Seneca, travelled over the world, not to oppresse it, but to free it from Oppres∣sours; and by killing of Tyrants and Mon∣sters to preserve it in tranquillitie. But how much more glorious were the victories of Christ; who by suffering for Sinne, subdued it; led Captivity captive, was the death of

Vers. 406. Vnshorn Apollo desse in Physick knew]

Apollo; to whom they attribute long yellow haire, in regard of his beautifull Beams, is said to have invented the Art of Physick (his name importing a preservation from evil) be∣cause the Sunne is so powerfull in producing physicall Simples, and so salubrious to our bodies: when Christ by his own Vertue cured all diseases; gave sight to the blinde by birth, which surpasleth the power of art; threw out wicked Spirits from the tortured bodies of the possessed; and called the Dead from their beds of death to converse again with the Living.

Verse 419. With the Religion of the Samean]

Of Pythagoras of Samos; who by his doctrine and example withdrew the Crotonians from luxury and idlenesse to temperance and industry; cal∣ming the perturbations of the Minde with the musick of his Harp: for he held that Vertue, Strength, all Good, and even God himself, con∣sisted of Harmony: That God was the Soul of the World; from whence each creature received his life; & dying, restored it. And lest it might be doubted that the Souls of all had not one Origi∣nall, in regard of their different understandings, he alleadged how that proceeded from the na∣turall

Vers. 420. Nor Thracian Harp, wilde Beasts in∣structing, can]

Orpheus of Thrace; who with the musick of his Harp and voice attracted even beasts and sencelesse stones to heare him. The morall of which Fable may parallell with that of Amphion.

• ...

  Orpheus the Gods Interpreter, from blood Rude men at first deterr'd, and savage food: Hence said to have Tygers and fell Lions tam'd. Amphion so, who Theban bulwarks fram'd, T'have led the stones with musick of his lute, And milde requests. Of old in high repute: Publick from Private, Sacred from Prophane, To separate; and wandring Lust restrain With matrimoniall ties; faire Cities raise, Laws stamp in brasse. This gave the honour'd Bayes To sacred Poets, and to verse their praise.

  Horat. de Art. Poet. It is apparent by his Testament to his Scholar Musaeus (whereof certain verses are recited by Iustin Martyr) that his opinion in divinitie was in the main agreeable with the sacred Scri∣ptures: As of one God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Authour of all good, and punish∣er of all evil; exhorting him to the hearing and understanding of that knowledge which was revealed from Heaven: meaning nothing else by those various Names which he gives to the Gods, but divine and naturall Vertues: sha∣dowing God himself under the Name of Iupi∣ter to avoid the envy and danger of those times; as is almost evident by these attributes.

Vers. 421. Nor that prophetick Boy, &c.]

Of whom Ovid.

The Nymphs and Amazonian this amaz'd, No lesse then when the Tyrrhen Plow-man gaz'd Vpon the fatall clod, that mov'd alone; And, for a humane shape, exchang'd his own. With infant lips, that were but earth of late, Reveal'd the Mysteries of future Fate: Whom Natives Tages call'd. He, first of all, Th'Hetrurians taught to tell what would befall.

Met. l. 15. And Cicero, in his second book of Divination: Tages, when the Earth was turned up, and the Plow had made a deeper impression, ascended (as they say) in the Tarquinian fields, and spake to

• ... the Tiller. It is written in the Hetrurian Records that he was seen in the form of a Boy, although old in wisdome. The Husband-man amazed, and ex∣alting his voice, drew thither a great concourse of People; and with-in awhile all Thuscany: who spake many things in that populous audience; by them remembred, and committed to writing. His oration onely contained the discipline of Divination by the entrails of beasts: which after increased by experience, but is referred to this Originall. A de∣lusion of the Devils to introduce that Superstition.

ANNOTATIONS VPON THE FIFTH ACT.

VErse 30. O may they perish, &c.]

This impre∣cation comprehends those following cala∣mities which the Divine Vengeance inflicted on the Iews: more, and more horrid, then ever be∣fell any other Nation.

Vers. 35. Let the great in Warre, &c.]

Titus Ve∣spasian: who besieged Ierusalem when almost all the Iewish Nation was within the Walles, there met to celebrate the Passeover: who took it by force, consumed the Temple with fire, (which fell on that day in which it was former∣ly burnt by the Chaldeans) and levelled the City with the ground: eleven hundred thousand Iewes there perishing by famine, pestilence, and the sword: another hundred thousand Captives were publikely sold, for a Romane penny a Iew; and sixteene thousand sent to Alexandria for ser∣vill imployments: two thousand of the most beautifull and personable young men reserved to attend on his Triumph, who after, to delight the Spectators, were torne in pieces by wild beasts in the Amphitheater.

Vers. 26. Let Diseases sow, &c.]

During the siege the Pestilence violently raged, proceeding from the stench of dead bodies, to whom they afforded no buriall, but piled them up in their houses, or threw them over the Wall of the City.

Vers. 41. Famine, in their dry entrailes, &c.]

Vn∣expressible was the Famine they indured; and pittifull, if they themselves had had any pitty: enforced to seeth their Girdles and Shooes, and fighting fiercely with one another for so course a diet. Driven in the end to that exigent, that they were faine to rake the sincks and privies, and to feede on that which was loathsome to be∣hold; neither could they keep what they found from the rapine of others.

Vers. 44. The Babe re-enter her, &c.]

Hunger had so overcome Nature, that a Woman of riches and honour, named Mary, being daily rob'd of her provision by the Seditious, slew her owne childe which suckt at her brest, and having sod∣den one halfe thereof, eat it. When at the sent of flesh, they broke in upon her; who presented them with the rest; the theeves then hardly re∣fraining, though they trembled at so horrid a Spectacle.

Vers. 45. While yet the eager Foe, &c.]

The ene∣my assailed them without, and the Seditious

Vers. 47. Let th'Enemy, &c.]

See the Notes up∣on the 35. Verse.

Verse. 50. The Reliques of their slaughter,]

In the dayes of Adrian, the Iewes raised a new Com∣motion: of whom his Lieutenant, Iulius Seve∣rus, slew five hundred and foure score thousand; transporting the rest into Spaine by the com∣mand of the Emperour: so that Iewry was then without Iews, as it continues to this present.

Vers. 52. Despis'd, and wretched, wander, &c.]

Out of Spaine they were banished in the yeer 1500. by Ferdinand and Emanuel. Now scattred throughout the whole World, and hated by those among whom they live; yet suffered as a necessary mischiefe: subject to all wrongs and contumelies; who can patiently submit them∣selves to the times, and to whatsoever may ad∣vance their profit.

Vers. 53. Abolish'd by their Law, &c]

This they lost in the destruction of their City. Yet daily expect that Messias who is already come: and, as they beleeve, shall restore them to their tem∣porall Kingdome.

Vers. 55. This infected soyle, &c.]

The Eccle∣siasticall Histories report, how Ioseph of Ari∣mathea, after he had suffered imprisonment by the envy of the Iews, and was delivered by an Angel, left his Countrey, and sailed to Marcel∣lis in France: from thence passing over into this Iland, he preached the Gospell to the Brittaines and Scots: who there exchanged this life for a better.

Vers. 95. Who knows but soone a holier Age, &c.]

Helena the Mother of Constantine, throwing downe the Fane of Venus, which Adrian had erected on Calvary, covered both the Mount and Sepulchre with a magnificent Temple, which yet hath resisted the injuries of Insolence and Time: and what was before without, in reverence to the place, is now in the heart of the City. To recover this from the Saracens, divers of the Westerne Princes have unfortunately ventured their Persons and People: though Godfry of Bullein, with an Army of three hun∣dred thousand, made of the City and Country an absolute Conquest: Whose Successours held it

Vers. 109. Of his Royall Bloud, &c]

Of Davids: See the Notes upon the 264. Verse of the se∣cond Act.

Vers. 139. Not that fierce Prince, &c.]

Herod the Great, the murderer of the Infants: who put three of his sonnes to death; with his wife Mari∣amme, whom he frantickly affected.

Vers. 140. Nor his Successour, &c.]

Herod An∣tipas, who cut off the Head of Iohn the Baptist.

Vers. 189. You neighbours to the Sunnes up-rise]

The Persian Magi.

FINIS.