A common bruit or light suspect of ill,
Fame flyeth fast, the worse she is more farr
She goeth, and soone a jealous head will fill;
What most men say is held for Ghospell still.
_Of hir favors._
148. My suit did crave but liberty to liue
Exiled from those at home which sought my bloud;
Hir bounty did extend further to giue,
With lyfe, eache needefull thing with calling stood,
And such repayre of frends as me seemed good;
Which had I used as did a guest beseeme
I had not bin a prisoner, as I deeme.
149. But winged with an over high desyre.
[Sidenote: fo. 94.]
150. Small provocations serue a willing mynd,
Soe prone wee are to clyme against the hill,
If honour or reuenge our sayles [soules?] doe fill,
But woe is me I ever tooke in hand
That to decide I did not understande!
_The cause that moued hir to stir sedition._
151. It was the thirst I had both crownes to weare,
And from a captiues state my selfe to reare.
159. Guyse whoe did lay the egges that I should hatch
Sawe subjects hearts in England would not bend
To treason, nor his force noe hold could catch
To bring to passe the thing wee did entend,
He therefore caused the Pope a pardon send
To such as should by violent stroke procure
Hir death whose fall my rising might procure.
_Tyborne tippets, i. e. halters._[151]
[Footnote 151: Note of Manningham on a phrase in stanza 160.]
163. At length, by full consent of Commonweale,
In Englishe Parliament it was decreed,
By cutting of a withered branche to heale
Theyre body burdened with a fruitles weede,
Which was by hir it touched most indeede
Withstoode by pitty, which could not take place
Because it did concerne a common case.
165. In body yet wee Adams badge doe weare,
And to appeare before Gods throne doe feare.
_Appeald to forrein princes._
167. For of releif I promises had store,
But when, alas! it stoode my lyfe upon
I found them fayle; my life and all was gone.
168. Proofes were produced; it seemed I should confes
A murder purposed, and some treacherousnes
Against a queene, my cosen and my frend,
Whoe from my subiects sword did me defend.
[Sidenote: fo. 94^b.]
170. And soe the cause did seeme to stand with mee,
That ones decay must others safety bee.
172. Thus I convict must satisfy the lawe,
Not of revenge which hatred did deserue,
But of necessity, by which they say [sawe?]
My onely death would hir in lyfe preserve,
Which I reioice soe good a turne did serve,
That haples I might make some recompence
By yielding vp the life bred such offence.
178. I did rather others facts allowe,
Then sett them on to actions soe vnkinde,
Though many tymes myselfe was not behinde
To blowe the fyre which others seemed to make.
174. To doe or to procure, to worke or will,
With God is one, and princes hold the same.
179.[152] What favour should I from my foes expect
If soe vnkindely frends did deale with me?
If that my subiects doe my faults detect,
I cannot looke that straungers should me free;
They should have propt or bent my budding tree
In youth, whilst I as yet was pliant wood
And might have proued a plant of tymber good.
[Footnote 152: 184, Fry.]
180.[153] Howe seldome natures richest soyle doth yeild
A bower where virtue may hir mansion build.
[Footnote 153: 179, Fry.]
182.[154] Tell them that bloud did always vengeance crave
Since Abel's tyme untill this present day,
Tell them they lightly loose that all would haue,
That clymers feete are but in ticle stay,
That strength is lost when men doe oversway,
That treason neuer is soe well contrived
That he that useth it is longest lyved.
[Footnote 154: 181, Fry.]
* * * * *[155]
[Footnote 155: We have omitted here the mottoes in a Lottery, drawn
upon the occasion of a visit paid by Queen Elizabeth to Lord Keeper
Egerton, which have been printed already by the Percy and
Shakespeare Societies and in Nichols's Progresses.]
[Sidenote: fo. 96.
6 Feb. 1602.]
AT THE TEMPLE CHURCHE, DR. ABBOTTES,[156] Deane of [Winchester.[157]]
[Footnote 156: Dr. George Abbot, Dean of Winchester, from 1599-1600
to 1609, when he was appointed Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and
in 1611 translated to the see of Canterbury. (Hardy's Le Neve, i.
26, 556, iii. 22.)]
[Footnote 157: Blank in original.]
His text, 59 of Isay, v. 12: "For our tresspasses are many before thee,
and our synnes testify against us, for our trespasses are with us, and
we knowe our iniquities."
He began with a commendacion of this prophet for the most eloquent and
evangelique, in soe much that St. Jerome said he might rather be placed
amongst the Evangelists then the Prophets.
All men are synners. "Our trespasses." When Christ taught his disciples
to pray, it was one peticion, "Forgive us our trespasses:" to lett them
knowe that they were his chosen disciples, yet they were not without
synn.
Some may say they have liued _sine crimine, sine querela, sed nemo
absque peccato_.
Hence we must learne not to be presumptuous, but to worke out our
salvacion with feare and trembling, since all are synners. 2. Not to
despayre, since the best haue synned.
Our synnes are before God, his eyes are 10,000 tymes brighter then the
sunne, nothing hid from his knowledge. Synne is like a smoke, like fyre,
it mounteth upward, and comes even before God to accuse us; it is like a
serpent in our bosome, still ready to sting us; it is the diuels
daughter. A woman hath hir paynes in travaile and delivery, but
rejoyceth when she seeth a child is borne; but the birth of synn is of a
contrary fashion; for all the pleasure [is] in the bringing forth, but
when it is finished and brought forth, it tormenteth us continually;
they haunt us like the tragicall furies.
[Sidenote: fo. 96^b.
6 Feb. 1602.]
In the afternoone, MR. CLAPHAM; his text, Math. xxiv. 15.
"Lett him that readeth consider it." He said this chapter is not to be
understoode of doomesday, but of the destruction of Jerusalem; and that
the 28 v. "Wheresoever the dead carcase is, thither doe the eagles
resort," cannot be applied to the resurrection and congregacion of the
saints into state of glory with Christ, as some notes interpret, but of
the gathering togither of Christes people in the kingdome of grace: for
Christ in his kingdome of glory cannot be sayd a carcase, but nowe he
may, because he is crucified. And the 29 v. "The sunne shall be
darkened, and the moone shall not give hir light, and the stars shall
fall from heaven," he expounded thus, That the temporall and
ecclesiasticall state of the Jewes in Jerusalem, and the starres, i. e.
their magistrates, shall loose their authority.
He expounded the opening the seven seales in the Revelacion to have
reference to sundry tymes, and the 6. to the destruction of Jerusalem. 7
tymes 7 makes a weeke of yeares, the Jewes true Jubilee, wherein 7
trumpets should be blowne.
The best expositor of the Revelacion a nobleman in Scotland,[158] whoe
hath taken Christian and learned paynes therein, yet fayled in the
computacion of the beginning of the yeares.
[Footnote 158: Napier of Merchiston, the inventor of Logarithms. His
work entitled "A plain Discovery of the whole Revelation of St.
John" was printed at Edinburgh in 1593, by Waldegrave. It went
through many editions and was translated into the principal
languages of Europe.]
The Revelacion might be better understood if men would better studye it;
and that it may be understood, and hath good use, he alledged the word,
1. 3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the wordes of this
prophesy, and keepe those thinges which are written therein;" which were
vayne unles it might be understoode.
[Sidenote: fo. 97.
Feb. 1602.]
Towards the end of his sermon he told his auditory howe it had bin
bruited abroade, as he thought by some Atheists or Papists whose profest
enemy he is, that this last weeke he had hanged himselfe, but some of
his friends, he said, would not believe it, but said some other had done
it; yet others that like him not for some opinion, said it was noe
marvaile yf he hanged himselfe, for he had bin possest of the diuel a
good while, "but I thinke rather," said he, "they were possessed that
said soe, and yet not soe possessed as some hold possession now a dayes,
that is essentially," and here he shewed his opinion that there can be
noe essentiall possession: 1. Because the diuel can effect as much
without entering into the person as yf he were essentially in him, and
then it is more then needes. 2. Because there cannot be assigned anie
proper token or signe to knowe that anie is essentially possessed. Which
signe must be apparent in all such as are soe possessed, and not in anie
others. This opinion of his, he said, he would hold till he sawe better
reason to the contrary.
[Sidenote: fo. 97^b.
6 Feb. 1602.]
In his sermon he told a tale of the Jewes Thalmud, which, he said, was
as true perhaps as anie in the Papists legend of lyes, and it was howe
Rabbi Haley had conference with Elias in a caue, and would knowe of
Elias when Messias should come. Elias told him, Goe aske of the Messias
himselfe. Rabbi Haley required where the Messias might be found. Elias
told him he should find him at Rome gates amongst the poore; a verry
scoffe and a flout, he thought, to the Papists, to shewe that Christ
neuer came within their city, but they kept him out of dores, and that
he was not amongst their Cardinals, but the beggars, &c.
I will not believe it, because I will not, is Tom Sculs argument, as
they say in Cambrige, and a womans reason, as they say here.
(_Clapham._)
Mr. Bodley which hath made the famous library at Oxeford was the sonne
of a merchant of London: was sometymes a factor for the state: after
maried a riche widdowe in Devonshire or Cornewall, whose husband grewe
to a greate quantity of wealth in a short space, specially by trading
for pilchers; nowe himself having noe children lives a pleasing privat
life, somewhile at the City, somewhile at the University; he followed
the Earl of Essex till his fall. (_Mr. Curle._)
[Sidenote: 7.]
One came to the fyre and Mr. South gave him place; "You are as kinde,"
quoth he, "as the South-west winde." (_Da._)
[Sidenote: 8.]
Tom Lancaster met Robbin Snig one day in the Court of Requests. "Howe
nowe, old Robbin," quoth he, "what dost thou here?" "Fayth," said he, "I
came to be heard, if I can." "I thinke soe," said he; "nowe thou canst
be heard in noe other Court thou appealest to Cesar." (_Dr. Cesar,
Master of Requests._)
* * * * *
[Sidenote: fo. 98.
8 Feb. 1602.]
Two poore men being at a verry doubtfull demurrer in the Kings benche,
the Justices moved that they would referr the matter to some indifferent
men that might determine soe chargeable and difficult a controversy, and
one demaunded of one of them yf he could be content to haue the land
parted betweene them; when he shewed himselfe willing, "Doubtles," said
Mr. Cooke, the attorney, "the child is none of his, that would have it
divided," alluding to the judgment of Solomon.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 7.]
Turner and Dun, two famous fencers, playd their prizes this day at the
Banke side, but Turner at last run Dun soe far in the brayne at the eye,
that he fell downe presently stone deade; a goodly sport in a Christian
state, to see on man kill an other!
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 21.]
He that offers to violate the memory of the deade is like a swyne that
rootes up a grave.
The towne of Manitre in Essex holdes by stage playes.[159] And
Rocheford, that they must come at a day unknowne into a field, where the
Steward keepes Court at midnight, and writes with a cole, but the night
he goes he must make knowne where he stays; those that are absent, and
haue none to answer, loose theyr land; grewe upon tenants burn[ing]
Lords evidences.
[Footnote 159: It is stated in Heywood's Apology for Actors, that
"to this day [1612], in divers places of England there be townes
that hold the priviledge of their fairs and other charters by yearly
stage-playes, as at Manningtree in Suffolke, Kendall in the North,
and others." (Shakespeare Soc. ed. p. 61.) The Lawless Court of
Rochford has been described in various places, especially in
Morant's Essex, i. 272, and in Notes and Queries, ix. 11. W. H.
Black, Esq. F.S.A. has made it the subject of a privately printed
ballad entitled "The Court of the Honor of Rayleigh," in which it is
stated that the parties assemble at a post in a close called the
King's Hill, and that whatever is spoken during their proceedings is
whispered to the post.]
[Sidenote: fo. 98^b.
12 Feb. 1602.]
Ben Johnson the poet nowe lives upon one Townesend[160] and scornes the
world. (_Tho: Overbury._)
[Footnote 160: Aurelian Townsend is probably here alluded to. He was
at one time steward in the household of Sir Robert Cecil.]
Sir Christopher Hatton and another knight made challenge whoe should
present the truest picture of hir Majestie to the Queene. One caused a
flattering picture to be drawne; the other presented a glas, wherein the
Queene sawe hir selfe, the truest picture that might be. (_Freewer?_)
[Sidenote: 13.]
I heard by Mr. Hull, that, whereas heretofore the Lord Admiral used to
have the tenthe of all reprisal goods, the State hath nowe thought good,
for the encouragement of men to furnishe ships of war against the enimy,
to forgiue that imposicion of tenth, but it is thought this indulgence
comes too late, the Spaniard hauing growne soe strong in shipping that
fewe dare hazard to venture in small company for incertaine booty.
[Sidenote: 12.]
The Maysters of the Court of Requests take their place aboue a Knight.
(_Whitlock._)
Mr. Hadsor, an Irishe gentleman of our house, was called to the barre,
and tooke his oath to the Supremacy. He is shortly to goe for Ireland,
there to be Chiefe Justice in Ulster, yf the troubles be pacified, as
there is great hope they will bee, for the Rebbell Tyrone hath sent an
absolute submission.
One Weston, a merchant of Dublin, hath bin a great discoverer.[161]
[Footnote 161: Qu. of concealed lands.]
[Sidenote: fo. 99.
15.]
The Papistes relligion is like a beggars cloke, where there are soe many
patches of pollicy sowed on, that none of the first clothe can be seene.
(_B. Rud_[_yerd_].)
"I will doe myne endeavor," quoth he that thrasht in his cloke. (_E.
Curle._)
"_Non sic fuit ab antiquo_" say the Papistes of ours; "_Non sic fuit ab
initio_," say wee of their religion. (_B. Rudyerd._)
[Sidenote: 14.]
Impunity is the mother of contempt and impiety, and both those the
subverters of all governement. (_Lord Keeper._)
_Qui in os laudatur, in corde flagellatur._
I heard that about this last Christmas the Lady Effingham,[162] as shee
was playing at shuttlecocke, upon a suddein felt hir selfe somewhatt,
and presently retiring hir selfe into a chamber was brought to bed of a
child without a midwife, shee never suspecting that shee had bin with
child.
[Footnote 162: The lady pointed at by this anecdote was Anne
daughter and heir of John Lord St. John of Bletsoe, married to
William Lord Howard of Effingham, eldest son of Charles Earl of
Nottingham, on 7th Feb. 1597-8 (Faulkner's Chelsea, ii. 124, where
the lady is inaccurately termed "Agneta"). There is mention in
Faulkner of the baptism of a daughter Anne on 12th October 1605, but
no allusion to the child who is said by our diarist to have come so
unceremoniously into the world.]
The play at shuttlecocke is become soe muche in request at Court, that
the making shuttlecockes is almost growne a trade in London.
_Præstat otiosum esse quam nihil agere._
[Sidenote: fo. 99^b.
13 Feb. 1602.]
AT PAULES,
A yong man made a finicall boysterous exordium, and rann himselfe out
almost dry before he was halfe through; his text; "He humbled himselfe
to the death, even to the death of the crosse, wherefore God hath
glorified him." He spake much of humility. _Melior est peccator humilis,
quam superbus justus. Peccare non potest nisi superbus, nec penitere
nisi humilis._ He first dilated of three meanes to knowe God; by his
greatnes, by the prophets in the old, by his sonne in the newe
Testament. Against pride in beauty; the diuel playes the sophister
whiles he perswades women to paint that they may seeme fayrer than they
are; which painting being discovered, makes them to be thought fouler
than they are. Pride in apparell is pride of our shame, for it was made
to cover it, and as yf one should embroyder a sheete wherein he had done
pennaunce, and shewe it in bragging manner. It is said by some that St.
John Baptist for his humility is rewarded with the place which the diuel
lost for his pride.
He spake against duellisme, or single combat, and said that yf two goe
into the field with purpose to fight an the one be slayne, he is a
murderour of himselfe. He exhorted the judges to severity, telling them
that there is more incouragement taken by one that escapes the
punishment due unto him by the lawe, then there is feare wrought by the
execution of an hundred.
[Sidenote: fo. 100.
13 Feb. 1602.]
In the afternoone MR. CLAPHAM, at his Churche by Paules Wharf.
Text, Gen. iv. 13. "Then Kain said to the Lord or Jehovah, My punishment
is greater then I can beare, &c." but he reade it "My synne is greater
then can be concealed." He noted that translators did very ill to foyst
their inventions into the text and sett the originall in the margent, as
commonly the common translacions have "synne" in the margent for the
word "punishment" in the text, as grosse an absurdity as yf one should
shutt the master out of dores, and give entertainement to his
attendants.
[Sidenote: fo. 100^b.
1 Feb. 1602.]
Nowe Kayne was prest with the horror of his synn he confesseth, but with
a kinde of desperacion and repining, as Judas when he confest and hanged
himselfe. If a man will not confesse his faultes he shall be prest till
he confesse, and when his confession comes to late he may confesse and
be hanged to, well enough. For repentant confession must come while
grace is offered, while it is called to-day. God deales as the debtor
which tenders his money till sunne goe downe. When night is come, up
goes his money and a fig for his creditor. Yf men take not tyme while
grace is offered, but delay till the sunne of grace be gonne downe,
there remaines nothing but horrible desperat reprobacion. A vagabond; an
excommunicate person is a vagabond, turned out of the society of Gods
Churche both here in earth, and in heaven too, yf it were done by the
Spirit of Christ; and therefore lett not men soe lightly esteeme of this
greate censure, nor thinke to excuse themselves by saying it was for
trifles; but lett them take heede they deserve it not, and yf they which
gave the sentence abused their authority, lett them aunswere for it, but
always the censure is to [be] reverently regarded.
Ther be pasport-makers that are as verry rogues as any justice rogues,
noble rogues; all that live out of the communion of the Churche are noe
better than rogues and vagabonds in the eye [?] of God.
[Sidenote: fo. 101.
15 Feb. 1602.]
_Paradox. That paynting is lawefull._ Fowlenes is loathesome; can it be
soe that helpes it? What thou lovest most in hir face is colour, and
this painting gives that; but thou hatest it, not because it is, but
because thou knowest it is. Foole, whom ignorance only maketh happie.
Love hir whoe shewes greate love to the by taking this paynes to seeme
lovely to thee.
_Hee that weepeth is most wise._ Wee come first unwitting, weeping and
crying, into a world of woe, and shall wee not weepe and cry when wee
knowe it?
The Reason of Reasons was seene divers tymes to weepe, but never to
laugh.
Art thou a synner? Wilt thou repent? Weepe. Art thou poore? Wouldst thou
be relieved? Weepe. Hast thou broken the lawes of thy prince? Hast thou
deserued death? Wouldst thou be pittyed? Wouldst thou liue? Weepe. Hast
thou injured thy friend? Wilt thou be reconciled? Weepe.
_Laughinge is the greatest signe of wisdome. Ride, si sapis, O puella,
ride._ Yf thou be wise laugh, for sith the powers of discourse and
reason and laughinge be equally proper to only man, why shall not he be
most wise that hath most use of laughing, as well as he that hath most
use of reasoning and discoursing? I have seene men laugh soe long and
soe ernestly that they have wept at last, because they could weepe
[laugh?] noe more. Laugh at a foolish gallant; soe shall he be knowne a
man, because he laughs; a wise man, for he knowes what he laughs at; and
valiant, that he dares laugh.
[Sidenote: fo. 101^b.
15 Feb. 1602.]
_To keepe sheepe, the best lyfe._ The Lyfe of Man was soe affected to
this lyfe, that he denyed not to crowne his deity with this title: and
by this he directed his especiall charge to his especiall disciple:
giving us men this best name of a beast, of the best nature of beastes.
They are innocent, they are patient, soe would God have man; they love
and live together, soe would God have man. God made thee to behold the
Heaven, and to meditate the wonders thereof; make thyselfe a shepheard,
and thou art still beholding, still meditating. God commaundes thee to
forsake the world: yf thou art a shepheard thou dost soe, thou
withdrawest thyselfe from the world. The private lyfe is the sweetest
lyfe; yf thou livest the lyfe of a shepheard, thou livest the sweetest
private. Wilt thou be a king? Be a shepheard, thou hast subjects, thou
hast obedient subjects, thou hast sheepe, thou hast a scepter, thou hast
a crooke; thy fold is thy counsell chamber, and the greene field thy
flourishing pallace. Thy companions are the sunne, the moone, and the
stars, of whom thou makest continuall use, and from the vieue of their
lights receyvest thy counsell and advise. Thou art more happie then
other kings, thou art freed from hate and soe from feare, thou reignest
quietly, and rulest securely; thou hast but one enemie, and thou hast an
enemy for that enemie, the dog and wolf. He that was Gods second best
beloved was a shepheard and a king; yf thou art a shepheard thou art a
king, thou art happie, nay thou art most happie, thou art a happie king,
thy subiectes living onely to lengthen thy life, and to shorten their
owne, &c.
[Sidenote: fo. 102.
Feb. 1602.]
One fee is too good for a bad lawyer, and two fees too little for a good
one.
Hee that will love a man he knowes not why, will hate him though he
knowe not wherefore.
When Sir Edward Hobby heard of Sir Henry Nevils disaster with the Earl
of Essex, he said that his cosen Nevil was ambling towardes his
preferment, and would needes gallop in all the hast, and soe stumbled
and fell. (_Ch. Davers._)
The Bishop of Bath and Wells,[163] being sent for to the Court and there
offered the Bishopricke of Ely upon some condicions which he thought
inconvenient, he said that Bishopricke was the onely mayden Bishopricke
in England, and he would not be the first should deflour it. (_Hooper._)
[Footnote 163: Dr. John Still, who had been Master of Trinity
College, Cambridge, was Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1592 to
1607-8.]
One being entreated to part a man and his wife that were togither by the
eares, "Nay," quoth he, "I will never part man and wife while I live."
Dr. Rud made a sermon before the Queene upon the text, "I sayd yee are
Gods, but you shall all dy like men;" wherein he made such a discourse
of death that hir Majestie, when his sermon was ended, said unto him,
"Mr. Dr. you have made me a good funerall sermon, I may dye when I
will."
Giue the way to any that you meete; yf he have a better horse it is
duty, yf a worse in pity; yf the way be fayre you are in, commonly it is
foule hard by, and soe you shall haue power to durty him that you giue
the way, not he you. (_Burdett._)
Yf you put a case in the first bookes of the lawe to the auncients, you
may presume they may haue forgotten it; yf in the newe bookes, you may
doubt whether they haue reade it. (_Bur_[_dett._])
[Sidenote: fo. 102^b.
Feb. 1602.]
Sir Henry Unton[164] was soe cunning a bargayner for landes that they
which dealt with him were commonly greate loosers, whereupon Mr. Duns of
Barkshire said that he bought lands with witt and sold them with
rhetorick. (_Chute._)
[Footnote 164: The celebrated ambassador to France. See the
excellent volume of Unton Inventories, edited by Mr. John Gough
Nichols, for the Berkshire Ashmolean Society, 4to. 1841.]