1 Kings 20:31

And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel [are] merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

Ver. 31. We have heard that the kings, &c.] Merciful to those that they have beaten in battle. Julius Caesar had got such a name; a and our Queen Elizabeth, who for her merciful returning home certain Italians taken here in the 1588 invasion, was termed St Elizabeth by some at Venice.

Let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins.] Let us address ourselves to king Ahab, Lugubri sontium habitu misericordiam implorantium, in the most submissive manner, begging mercy. Thus the Britons, in the time of Valentinian III, being oppressed by their northern enemies, sent their ambassadors in torn garments, with sand on their heads, to Aetius, the Roman Prefect of Gaul; who thereupon was moved to send them help. b So the inhabitants of Cremona, in Italy, sought pardon of their rebellion, with halters about their necks, at the hands of Henry VII, emperor of Germany, and got off for a great sum of money, c So when our King Edward III laid siege to Calais, the townsmen desired parley, and had this final sentence, that six of the chief of them should be sent to the king bareheaded, barefooted, in their shirts, with halters about their necks, the keys of the town and castle in their hands, and submit themselves to the king's will. d So in King Henry VI's days, the multitude that had followed Cade the rebel, came naked in their shirts to the king on Blackheath, humbly praying mercy, which they obtained. e

a Cic. pro Ligar, et pro M. Marcel.

b Daniel's Chro.

c Paraei Medul.

d Dan, 240.

e Speed.