Matthew Poole and continuators on Esther 4:11

11 All the kings servants, and the people of the kings provinces do know , that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court , who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death m, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king, these thirty days .

By common [illegible: 1+ letters]ame of this received custom and law.

Within which, the Kings residence and throne was in. This was decreed, partly to maintain both the Majesty, and the safety of the Kings person: and partly by the contrivance of the greater officers of state, that few or none might have access to the King but themselves and their friends. And many such severe laws there were in the Persian Court, which profane Historians relate, as that if any person looked upon one of the Kings Concubines, or wore any of his own clothes, or drunk of that water which he had appropriated to himself, and other such like things, he was punished with death.

Which gives me just cause to suspect and fear that the kings affections are alienated from me, and therefore that neither my person nor petition will be acceptable to him.