John Trapp on Esther 1:14

Verſe 14. And the next unto him was Carſhena, &c.] Theſe were his truſty and welbeloved Couſins, and Counſèllours, primi & proximi, firſt in the Kingdome, and next unto the King, without whom he was to have done no buſineſſe of importance. But it is recorded in ſtory that they had no freedome nor liberty of Councel. For every one of them had a plate or tile of gold to ſtand upon in the Councel-houſe: And if he gave counſel that the King thought well of, the plate of gold was given him for a reward: but if he delivered any thing contrary to the Kings minde, flagris caedebatur, he was beaten with ſtripes. Keckerm. Polit. Lo this was the manner of the Perſian Monarchs.

The ſeven Princes] See Ezra 7.14.

Which ſaw the Kings face] That came at pleaſure into the preſence, as they call it. It was a piece of the ſilly glory of theſe Kings of Perſia to ſecret themſelves from their ſubjects. No man might ſee the King (uncalled for) on paine of death, cùm ejus perſona ſub ſpecie majeſtatis occuleretur, Lib. 1. hiſt. ſaith Juſtin. Only theſe ſeven might ordinarily take the boldneſſe to ſee his face: which leſt Haman ſhould do, they covered his face.

And which ſate the firſt in the Kingdome] Xenophon telleth us that Cyrus the firſt Perſian Monarch ordained that the Nobles ſhould ſit before the King every man according to his degree,Cyrop. lib. 8. and dignity. Aben Ezra upon this text ſaith the ſame.