John Trapp on Esther 5:14

Verſe 14. Then ſaid Zereſh his wife] Thra[illegible: 1 letter]o's ſhall never want for Gnatho's. Such as have firſt flattered themſelves, ſhall have enow others to ſooth them, and to ſay with them. Zereſh ſets the motion of revenge on foot, ſhe was a fit helve for ſuch an hatcher, wittily wicked. The wit of women hath wont to be noted, for more ſudden and more ſhrewd.

And all his friends unto him] Indeed no friends, becauſe flatterers and furtherers in evil. Sed divitibus ideò amicus deeſt, quia nihil deeſt. The rich hath many friends, ſaith Solomon, ſeeming friends, but true enemies, paraſites, brokers, cole-carriers. good to ſcoure an hot Oven withal. Such a one was that Adullamite to Judah, Gen. 38.20. Jonadab to Amnon, 2 Sam. 13.2, 3. thoſe green-headed counſellours to Rehoboam, &c. Haman ſhould have made a better choice, and have come more calme to counſel. It is not good ſowing in a tempeſt, nor taking phyſick in a fit. Theſe friends of Haman deſerved to ſpeed as ill as thoſe of Sejanus did, who were executed with him, becauſe they ſerved his luſt, and added [illegible: 1 letter]ewel to his flame.

Let a Gallowes be made of fifty cubits high] A cubit was halfe a yard at leaſt. In thoſe parts they had trees very tall, or they might piece one to another. But why ſo high a Gallowes,Daniels hiſt. fol. 19. but for the greater diſgrace to Mordecai, and terrour to all that ſhould ſlight the Kings Favourite? So Knute. the firſt Danique King of England, cauſed the falſe Edricks head to be ſet upon the higheſt part of the Tower of London. And our Gun-powder Traitours were ſerved in like manner.Daniels hiſt. f. 19.

And to morrow] But why ſo ſoon, ſith in caſe of life, Nulla cunctatio ſatis diuturna eſſe poſſit? were it not fit that he were tried firſt? Hamans malice will bear no delayes, he is in pain till the buſineſſe be diſpatched: he cannot ſleep till he have cauſed this innocent man to fall, Prov. 4.16. though he fall with him; as the dragon doth with the Elephant, whoſe blood he ſucketh out, and periſheth by his falling weight.Plin l. 8 c 12

Speak thou unto the King] It will be but dictum, factum, he will lightly ſay as Zedekiah did to his Princes, requiring Jeremiah to the ſtocks. The King is not he that can deny you any thing. How much better that Romane Emperour, who being to ſubſcribe a warrant for execution of a certain Malefactour, cried out, Non niſi coactus, full ſore againſt my will? and another, Ʋtinam literas neſcirem, I would I could not write my name. So when one Jone Butcher was to be burned for her deſerts, all the Council could not prevail with our Edward the ſixth, of a long time to ſet to his hand.Act & Mon 1177. But theſe wicked friends of Haman, queſtion not the Kings readineſſe to gratifie him, though they could not but know, that Mordecai had once at leaſt ſaved the Kings life, chap. 2. and what could they tell, but the King might now remember it? Sed Deus quem deſtruit dementat, when God has a minde to undoe a man, he firſt infatuateth him.

That Mordecai may be hanged thereon] And that before Haman; door, that he may feed his eyes on that ſweet ſpectacle, and ſay as that bloody Prince Charles the ninth of France did, when he ſaw the noble Admirals carcaſſe hanging and ſtinking upon the Gallowes, Quam ſuavitèr olet cadaver inimici! Ep. hiſt Gall. 150.151. How ſweetly ſmelleth the dead body of an enemy!

Then go thou in merrily with the King, &c.] They knew that he could not be heartily merry till then, and forced ſmiles are but as counterfeit complexion, the hypocriſie of mirth. So Richard the third would not ſit down to dinner till the Lord Haſtings were beheaded: nor Stephen Gardiner, till he had the newes brought him that the Biſhops were burnt at Oxford. Oh that we could be as reſtleſſe,Act & Mon. f. 16[illegible: 1 letter]2. till the hindrances of our true ſpiritual joy were removed; I mean thoſe ſtubborn corruptions that will not ſtoop to the power of grace.

And the thing pleaſed Haman] As being agreeable to his malicious humour, and that which he doubted not to be able to effect. Man purpoſeth, but God diſpoſeth.

And he cauſed the Gallowes to be made] Little thought he for whom. Aequnm eſt ut faber quas fecit compedes ipſe geſtet. So let thine enemies periſh, O Lord.