John Trapp on Matthew 14:9

Verse 9. And the King was sorry] Iohns innocency might [illegible: 1 word] so triumph in Herods conscience, as to force some grief upon him at the thought of so soule a fact. But I rather think otherwise, that all was but in hypocrisie. For laciviousnesse usually sears up the conscience (till the time of reckoning for all comes)Luk. 13. 23. and brings men to that dead and dedolent disposition, Ephes. 4. 19. Only this fox fains himself sorry for Iohn, as his father [illegible: 1 word] Commiserabatur [illegible: 1 word] in [illegible: 3 words]. [illegible: 1 word]. himself willing to worship the Lord Christ, Matth. 2. as Tiberius (Herods Lord and [illegible: 1 word]) would seem very sorry for those, whom, for his pleasures sake only, he put to death, [illegible: 1 word] Germanicus, Drusus, &c. And as Andronicus the Greek Emperour, that deep dissembler, would [illegible: 1 word] over those whom [illegible: 1 word] had for no cause caused to be executed, as if he [illegible: 1 word] been the most sorrowfull man alive. Dissimulat mentis suae malitiam [illegible: 1 word] homicida. Turk. Hist. fol. 50. This cunning murtherer craftily hides his malice, saith St Hierom, and seeming sad in the face, is glad at heart to be [illegible: 1 word] of the importunate Baptist, that he may sin uncontrolled. For the oaths sake and them which sate] All this was but pretended to his villany, and that he might have somewhat to say to the people, whom he feared, in excuse for himself. As that he beheaded the Baptist indeed, but his guests would needs have it so, because he had promised the damosell her whole desire, and [illegible: 1 word] would not otherwise be satisfied. Besides, it was his birth-day wherein it was not fit he should deny his Nobles any thing, who [illegible: 3 words] bonos mores [illegible: 4 words]: Est regula in [illegible: 2 words]. minded him of his oath, &c. But the oath was wicked, and therefore not obligatory. He should have broken it as David in like case did, 1 Sam. 25. when he swore a great oath what [illegible: 1 word] would do to Nabal. But Herod, for the avoyding of the sands, rusheth upon the [illegible: 1 word], prevents perjury by murther, not considering the rule that no man is held so perplexed between two vices, [illegible: 5 words] duo [illegible: 1 word] quin exitus pateat [illegible: 1 word] ter [illegible: 1 word] but that he may finde an issue without falling into a third. And them which sate with him at meat] These he had more respect to, then to God. An hypocrites care is all for the worlds approof and applause. They should have shew'd him his sinne, and oppose his sentence. But that is not the guise of godlesse parasites, [illegible: 2 words] nullum [illegible: 2 words] Attico. [illegible: 1 word]. Buchol those Aiones & Negones aulici, qui omnia loquuntur ad gratiam, nihil ad [illegible: 1 word]. These Court parasites and Parrots know no other tune or tone, but what will please their masters quorum etiam sputum [illegible: 1 word], as one saith: soothing andApud [illegible: 1 word] pes [non-Latin text not transcribed] ut [illegible: 2 words] Craesi [illegible: 1 word]. smoothing, and smothering up many of their foul facts, that they thereby may the better ingratiate. Principibus ideo amicus deest quia nihil deest: there is a wounderfull sympathy between Princes and Parasites. But David would none of them, In vita Alphon. Psal. 101. and Sigismund the Emperour cuffed them out of his presence. And surely if wishing were any thing (said Henricus Stephanus) like as the Thessalians once utterly overthrew the City called Flattery, so I could desire, that above all other Malefactors,H. Steph Apol. pro Herodoto. Court-Parasites were [illegible: 1 word] rooted out, as the most pestilent persons in the world.