A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 19. For Herodias his brother Philips wife]

Whom it was not lawfull for Herod to have, though Philip were dead, as Josephus saith he was. This was the case so much controverted* 1.1 here and beyond Seas in Henry the eighths time, touching his mar∣riage with his brother Arthurs widow, by Papall dispensation. The King had first a scruple cast into his mind about it by the Bishop of Baion the French Embassadour, who came to him to consult of a Marriage between the Lady Mary, and the Duke of Orleans, whe∣ther Mary were legitimate, &c. This gave occasion to the ca∣sting the Popes authority out of England. Mary was forced, for fear of death, to renounce the Bishop of Rome, and to acknow∣ledge* 1.2 her Mothers marriage to have bin incestuous and unjust, &c. Though afterwards, she set up the Pope here again: and it was her policy, so to get, and keep the Crown upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 head.

And for all the evills, which Herod, &c.]

John reproved him with the same liberty that Herod committed them. So did John Chry∣sostome,* 1.3 the great ones of his time. Ità quidem ut etiam Ducum, Eutropii & Gainae, imò ipsius Imperatoris errata reprehenderet: He spared not Dukes, Princes, nay not the Emperour him∣self.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Joseph. Antiq. lib. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. cap. 7.
• * 1.2

  Camdens Eli∣sab. Introd.
• * 1.3

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hist. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cent. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1. cap. 6.