John Trapp on Esther 1:8

Verſe 8. And the drinking was according to the Law] Preſcribed by the King, and it was but needful, leſt men ſhould make his houſe a ſchoole of intemperancy: and leſt ſhameful ſpewing ſhould be on his glory, Habac. 2.16. And, inaſmuch as of evil manners come good Lawes, it appeareth by this Edict of the King, that the Perſians were now degenerated from their ancient ſobriety and moderation in meats and drinks. So likewiſe were the Cretians when Minos made a Law that men ſhould not drink one to another, [non-Latin text not transcribed], unto drunkenneſſe: And the ſame we may well think of the inhabitants of this Land, when King Edgar made an ordinance for putting pins in cups, to ſtint men how farre they ſhould drink, and that none ſhould quaffe whole ones.

Quinetiam Spartae mos eſt laudabilis ille, Ʋt bibat arbitrio pocula quiſque ſuo.

None did compell] Domitius the father of Nero ſlew Liberius an honeſt Roman, becauſe he refuſed to drink ſo much as he commanded him.Sue[illegible: 1 letter]on. Tiberius for his drunkenneſſe called Caldius Biberius Mero, inſtead of Claudius Tiberius Nero) made Novellus Tricongius Proconſul, for that he could drink three pottles of wine together with one breath. He preferred alſo L. Piſo to the government of the City of Rome, becauſe he could ſit drinking with him continually for two whole dayes and nights together. Lyra upon this text declaimeth againſt this deteſtable healthing and carowſing too too common in all parts of Chriſtendome; and ſaith that it was brought up firſt by the Barbarians in Normandy, who came and depopulated that Countrey. And what a lamentable thing is it that at this day, in ſuch a State as ours, the civil, ſober, and temperate man ſhall be urged, and it may be forced to ſwallow down needleſſe draughts, as a horſe doth a drench, by domineering drunkards. The late good Act againſt drunkenneſſe, if well executed, will be ſome curb to our Roaring-boyes; ſo they will needs be called by a woful Prolepſis, Here for hereafter. Oh that we could perſwade ſuch, as Mahomet did his followers, that in every grape there dwelt a Devil; or, that fire and brimſtone, ſtorme and tempeſt, this ſhall be the portion of the Drunkards cup.

For the King had appointed to all the officers of his houſe] He had appointed, Heb. he had founded or ſtabliſhed it for an inviolable Decree; and officers on purpoſe (Controulers of his houſe) to ſee it executed. John 2.8. we read of a governour of the feaſt. The Jewes had ſuch Officers or Moderatours at their merry-meetings (called the Eyes and Overſeers of the feaſt,) that took care that none ſhould over drink himſelf. The Latines alſo had ſuch, Praeſecti morum. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Gaudentius. Caſaubon. Plautut. calling them Dictatours. The Greeks had their Sympoſiarchs; but among theſe, their power extended no further then to ſee that the feaſters drank ſmall draughts onely at firſt, which by degrees they increaſed till they came to the height of intemperancy. But theſe ſhould have conſidered that which Anacharſis had told them, that the Vine beareth three grapes: The firſt, of pleaſure, the ſecond of drunkenneſſe,Laert. and the third of miſery and miſchief.

That they ſhould do according to every mans pleaſure] Drink what they thought good without ſtint, or force. It is reported of Romulus, that being once invited to ſupper, he drank not much, becauſe he had weighty buſineſſe to do on the morrow after. And when one ſaid unto him, Sir, If all men ſhould drink as you do, wine would be far cheaper: Nay, Nam ego bibi quantum volut. Gell. lib. 11. cap. 14. it would be dearer, ſaid he, if every man ſhould drink as I have done; that is, as much as he pleaſeth to drink.