At a Spittle Sermon.
Yf our synnes come out with a newe addicion, Gods punishments will come out with a newe edition.
Ambrose sayd of Theodosius: "Fides Theodosij vestra fuit victoria:" soe he of Queene Elizabeth.
fo. 110.
23 Mar. 1602.
* * * * *
I was at the Court at Richemond, to heare Dr. Parry one of hir Majesties chaplens preache, and to be assured whether the Queene were living or dead. I heard him, and was assured shee was then living. His text was out of the Psalme [cxvi. 18, 19] "Nowe will I pay my vowes unto the Lord in the middest of the congregacion," &c. It was a verry learned, eloquent, relligious, and moving sermon: his prayer, both in the beginning and conclusion, was soe fervent and effectuall for hir Majestie that he left few eyes drye.
The doctrine was concerning vowes, which were growne in contempt and hatred, because the Jews of old and the Papists of later tymes have used them, whereas the thing itselfe, in its owne nature, is reasonable and commendable. Wee owe all that wee have, that wee are, vnto God; and all that wee can doe is but our bounden duty, yet those offices may seeme to please him best, and be most gratefull, [in] which even besydes those dutyes which he requires; wee doe enter of our owne will as it were into a newe, a neere[r] bond. And he defined it to be a promise made unto God, to performe some service in such manner as we are not otherwise bound by duty to performe. It must be made to God, soe differs from other promises; it must be voluntary, and soe it differs from required dutyes; it must be deliberate, which takes away rashnes; it must be of thinges possible within our power, of things that are good, and tending to Gods glory and our bettering. And they are generally either penitentiæ, of a fo. 110b.
23 Mar.
1602.strict course of life, in punishing our synfull bodies by sparer dyet, &c.; gratitudinis, for benefits received; amicitiæ, testimonyes of our love, dona.
Vowes of perpetuall chastity and solitude exculed[exculcated?] because of a generall impossibility. Noe merit to be hoped by them, soe the papisticall abolished. Certaine impediments which being removed any man may walke the way without stumbling.
1. Wee cannot performe what wee are commaunded; howe can wee then add anie thing of our owne?
2. The danger of breaking them should stay us from making them.
3. They were ceremonious with the Jewes, and supersticious amongst the Papists, therefore not to be reteyned.
These were present at his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury [Bancroft]; the Lord Keeper [Egerton]; the Lord Treasurer [Buckhurst]; Lord Admirall [Howard]; Earl of Shrewsbury; Earl of Worster; Lord Gray; Sir William Knollys; Sir Edward Wootten, &c.
fo. 111.
23 Marche.
I dyned with Dr. Parry in the Priuy Chamber, and understood by him, the Bishop of Chichester, the Deane of Canterbury, the Deane of Windsore, &c. that hir Majestie hath bin by fitts troubled with melancholy some three or four monethes, but for this fortnight extreame oppressed with it, in soe much that shee refused to eate anie thing, to receive any phisike, or admit any rest in bedd, till within these two or three dayes. Shee hath bin in a manner speacheles for two dayes, verry pensive and silent; since Shrovetide sitting sometymes with hir eye fixed upon one obiect many howres togither, yet shee alwayes had hir perfect senses and memory, and yesterday signified by the lifting up of hir hand and eyes to heaven, a signe which Dr. Parry entreated of hir, that shee beleeved that fayth which shee hath caused to be professed, and looked faythfully to be saved by Christes merits and mercy only, and noe other meanes. She tooke great delight in hearing prayers, would often at the name of Jesus lift up hir handes and eyes to Heaven. Shee would not heare the Arch[bishop] speake of hope of hir longer lyfe, but when he prayed or spake of Heaven, and those ioyes, shee would hug his hand, &c. It seemes shee might have lived yf she would have used meanes; but shee would not be persuaded, and princes must not be forced. Hir physicians said shee had a body of a firme and perfect constitucion, likely to have liued many yeares. A royall Maiesty is noe priviledge against death.
fo. 111b.
24 Mar. 1602.This morning about three at clocke hir Majestic departed this lyfe, mildly like a lambe, easily like a ripe apple from the tree, cum leue quadam febre, absque gemitu. Dr. Parry told me that he was present, and sent his prayers before hir soule; and I doubt not but shee is amongst the royall saints in Heaven in eternall joyes.
About ten at clocke the Counsel and diverse noblemen having bin a while in consultacion, proclaymed James the 6, King of Scots, the King of England, Fraunce, and Irland, beginning at Whitehall gates; where Sir Robert Cecile reade the proclamacion which he carries in his hand, and after reade againe in Cheapside. Many noblemen, lords spirituell and temporell, knights, five trumpets, many heraulds. The gates at Ludgate and portcullis were shutt and downe, by the Lord Maiors commaund, who was there present, with the Aldermen, &c. and untill he had a token besyde promise, the Lord Treasurers George, that they would proclayme the King of Scots King of England, he would not open.
Upon the death of a King or Queene in England the Lord Maior of London is the greatest magistrate in England. All corporacions and their governors continue, most of the other officers authority is expired with the princes breath. There was a diligent watch and ward kept at every gate and street, day and night, by housholders, to prevent garboiles: which God be thanked were more feared then perceived.
fo. 112.
24 Mar. 1602.
The proclamacion was heard with greate expectacion and silent joye, noe great shouting. I thinke the sorrowe for hir Majesties departure was soe deep in many hearts they could not soe suddenly showe anie great joy, though it could not be lesse then exceeding greate for the succession of soe worthy a king. And at night they shewed it by bonefires, and ringing. Noe tumult, noe contradicion, noe disorder in the city; every man went about his busines, as readylie, as peaceably, as securely, as though there had bin noe change, nor any newes ever heard of competitors. God be thanked, our king hath his right! Magna veritas et prevalet.
Doubtles there was grave wise counsell and deliberacion in fact; sed factum est hoc a Domino, we must needes confessse, and I hope wee may truly say, nobis parta quies. The people is full of expectacion, and great with hope of his worthines, of our nations future greatnes; every one promises himselfe a share in some famous action to be hereafter performed for his prince and country. They assure themselves of the continuance of our Church goverment and doctrine. Their talke is of advauncement of the nobility, of the subsidies and fifteenes taxed in the Queenes tyme; howe much fo. 112b.
Marche, 1602.indebted shee died to the Commons, notwithstanding all those charges layed upon them. They halfe despayre of payment of their privey seales, sent in Sir William Ceciles tyme; they will not assure themselves of the lone. One wishes the Earl of Southampton and others were pardoned and at liberty; others could be content some men of great place might pay the Queenes debts, because they beleeve they gathered enough under hir. But all long to see our newe king.
This evening prayer at Paules the King was publikely prayed for in forme as our Queene used to be.
The Lord Hunsdon was in his coache at Paules Hill beyond Ludgate, to attend the proclamacion.
It is observed that one Lee was Maior of London at hir Majesties comming to the crowne, an[d] nowe another Lee at hir decease.[171]
25.This day the Proclamacions were published in print, with names of many noblemen, and late counsellors.[172]
26.The feares of wise men are the hopes of the malitious.
Mr. Francis Curle told me howe one Dr. Bullein, the Queenes kinsman, had a dog which he doted one, soe much that the Queene understanding of it requested he would graunt hir one desyre, and he should have what soever he would aske. Shee demaunded his dogge; he gave it, and "Nowe, Madame," quoth he, "you promised to give me my desyre." "I will," quothe she. "Then I pray you give me my dog againe."
A foole will not loose his bable for a [imperfect].
fo. 113.
26 Mar. 1603.Quod taceri vis, prior ipse taceas. Arcanum quid aut celandum maxime amico quum committis, cave ne jocum admisceas, ne ille jocum ut referat occultum retegat. (Ludovic. Vives; Ad Sapient. Introd. 487.)
29.Corrumpitur atque dissolvitur officium imperantis, si quis ad id quod facere jussus est, non obsequio debito, sed consilio non desiderato respondeat. (Agellij.)[173]
He that corrupts a Prince and perverts his government is like one that poisons the head of a conduit; all inquire after him to have him punished.
30.Three things which make others poore make Alderman Lee, nowe Maior,—riche, wine, women, and dice; he was fortunat in marrying riche wives, lucky in great gaming at dice, and prosperous in sale of his wines. (Pemberton.)
fo. 113b.
27.At White Hall;
Dr. Thompson, Deane of Windsore, whoe at thys tyme attendes still with Dr. Parry as Chaplein, was by course to have preached this day, but Dr. King was appointed and performed that duty.
His text was the Gospell for this day, the xi. of Luke and the 14. verse, and soe forward. He prayed for the King, that as God had given him an head of gold, soe hee would give him a golden brest, golden legs and feet alsoe; that as he had a peaceable and quiet entrance, soe he would graunt him a wise and happie goverment, and a blessed ending, whensoever he should take him from us. That it would please God to laye his roote soe deepe that he may flourishe a long tyme, and his braunches never fayle. The summe of his text in these parts; 1. A diuel cast out. 2. The dumb speake. 3. The multitude wonder. 4. The Scribes and Pharisees slander. 5. Christ confuteth. 6. A woman confesseth. The ende of Christs comming was to dissolve the workes of the diuel, whereof possession was not the meanest. Can there be a greater then to take the temple of the Holy Ghost, and make it the sell and shrine of the diuels image?
Non requiritur intelligendi vivacitas, sed credendi simplicitas.
Indocti cœlum rapiunt, dum nos cum doctrina nostra trudimur in infernum.
The workes of Christ, his miracles, were manifest, posuit in sole tabernaculum: he cast out a diuel, they sawe it, they could not deny it, but then, what malice could, they deprave the fact or diminishe and eclipse his glory.
Judei signum quærunt. Julian cals it the rusticity of fayth, as though none but the simple rude multitude beleeve.
fo. 114.
27 Mar. 1603.
Invidia non quærit quid dicat, sed tantum ut dicat.
The envious and malitious live onely in contradiction, like the bettle in dung and filthines. They said not that Christ could not cast out a diuel, and soe denyed his power, which is a synn against the Holy Ghost, but they said himselfe was possessed, nay more that he was Belzeebub.
Beelzebub signifies an idoll of flyes: because there was soe much bloud spilt in sacrifice before it that many flyes bred and lived upon it.
Christ confuted them by four reasons: 1. From autority; a maxime and rule in all policy, that a kingdome divided against itselfe cannot stand. 2. From example. By whom doe your children, his apostles and disciples he meanes, cast them out? Yf they doe it by the finger of God, then must I, except the same thing be not the same, yf other persons doe it. Atticus and Ru ... (idem non idem si non per eundem) unles they will allowe the thing and condemne the person. But he said, testes mei judices vestri. 3. From a similitude of a stronge and a stronger man, two warlike men, yf one keepe possession, he must be stronger that puts him out: soe he must be greater than the diuel that can cast him out. 4. From the contrary; the repugnancy betwixt Christ and the diuel.
He insisted most upon his first reason, of intestine discord: which he said is like a consumption; as yf the head should pull out the eye, or the mouth refuse to eate because the belly receives it, &c. This is that plague that Aegypt shall fight against Aegypt, brother against brother. In the fo. 114b.
27 Mar. 1603.11 of Zacharia there are two staves mentioned, the one of beauty, the other of bonds; it is a grevous plague which is there threatened, dissolvam germanitatem eorum, their brotherhood of Judah and Israel. Ephraim against Manasse and Manasse against Ephraim, two tribes of the same family: the incomparable miseryes of Jerusalem by intestine sedicion. Auxilia humana firma consensus facit. Agesilaus shewed his armed men, a mind in consent for defence of the city, and said, Hij sunt muri Spartæ, scutum hærens scuto, galeæ galea, atque viro vir. Friends at discord are most deadly enimyes, and those thinges which before were ligamenta amoris became then incitamenta furoris. The greatest wrongs are most eagerly pursued; such are commonly the causes for which frends fall out. Quasi musto inebrientur sanguine.
Even the diuel must have his due; it was commendable that a legion of them could dwell togither in one man without discord amongst themselves; scarse a few in one house but some jar betwixt them. Yet their concord was not ex amicitia, sed ex communi malitia, like Herod and Pilat. Aliquod bonum absque malo, sed nullum malum absque aliquo bono, even in the diuels their essence and their order is good.
There is a tyme to gather, said he, and a tyme to scatter, but he had scattered what he had scarce any tyme to gather; his comming up to this place being tanquam fungus e terra, an evening and a morning being the whole tyme allotted for meditacion, and disposicion.
Wee may not be unmindefull of our late Soverayne whom God hath called to his mercy, nor ought wee be unthankefull for our newe fo. 115.
27 Mar. 1603. suffected joy, by the suddein peaceable succession of our worthy king.
The finger of the Spirit directed the Churche, and the order of [the] Church leads me (said he) to the choise of this text, being the Gospell for this day. There are that have slandered, but they are Scribes and Pharisees; and that being the worst part of this text, he would passe over it. There were feares and foretellinges of miseries like to fall upon us at these times, but blessed be the God of peace, that hath settled peace amongst us. Blessed be the God of truth that his kingdome came unto us long since, and I hope shall continue even till the comming of Christ; and blessed be the father of lights, that wee see the truth, and be not scattered.
The miracle of dispossession. Wee have seene the exile of the diuel out of our country, his legends, his false miracles, exorcismes, superstitions, &c. and lett him goe walking through dry places, wee are watered with heavenly deawe, and wee hope he shall never returne againe; but the favour of God towards us shall be like the kindenes of Ruth, more at the latter end than it was at the beginning.
Our State hath sustayned some division of late. "I meane not," sayd he, "of the myndes of great nobles and counsellors, wherein to our good and comfort wee have found idem velle et idem nolle, but such a division as of the body and soule, of the vine and the branches, of the husband fo. 115b.
27 Mar. 1603.and the wife, of the head and the body. The prince and the land hath bin divided by hir death, a division without violence. This applying the axe to the roote made the tree bleed at the verry heart."
This Gospell makes mention of an excellent woman that sang not to hir selfe and hir muses, but went amongst the multitude, and blessed an other woman more excellent then hirselfe; yet soe blessed hir as a mother for hir babes sake. Soe there are two excellent women, one that bare Christ and an other that blessed Christ; to these may wee joyne a thrid that bare and blessed him both. Shee bare him in hir heart as a wombe, shee conceived him in fayth, shee brought him forth in aboundaunce of good workes, and nurst him with favors and protection: shee blessed him in the middest of a froward and wicked generacion, when the bulls of Bazan roared, and the unholie league, and bound themselves with oathes and cursings against the Lord and his annoynted. "And am I entred into hir prayses," said he; "and nowe is the tyme of prayse, for prayse none before their death; and then gratissima laudis actio cum nullus fingendi aut assentandi locus relinguitur. Yet such prayses are but like a messe of meate sett upon a dead mans grave which he cannot tast, or like a light behind a mans back which cannot him direct." He would say little, non quod ingratus, sed quod oppressus multitudine et magnitudine rerum dicendarum. Onely he would say that fo. 116.
27 Mar. 1603. hir government had bin soe clement, temperat and godly, that he may say sic imbuti sumus, non possumus nisi optimum ferre. Those which in Theodosius the Emperours tyme went to Rome called their travel felix peregrinatio, because they had seen Rome, they had seen Theodosius, they had seene Rome and Theodosius togither; soe have and may strangers that have bin to visit our kingdome thinke them selves happie that [they] had seene England and Queen Elizabeth, and England and Queene Elizabeth togither. But there are panegyricks provided for hir, faythfully registred, and as she merited. Shee was preteritis melior, better then those which went before hir, and may be a precedent to those that shall followe hir; the taking hir from us was a great division, but God hath sowed it up againe; it was a grevious sore, but God hath healed it; he hath given us a worthy successor, a sonne of the nobles; one that is fleshe of our fleshe. God seemes to say unto us, "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it with aboundant blessing;" he may say as he did to his vine, "what should I have done that I have not done unto thee, O England?" Noe vacancy, noe interregnum, noe interruption of goverment, as in Rome an[d] other places, where in such tymes the prisons fly open, &c. but a quiet, a peaceable, and present succession of such a King, quem populus et proceres voce petebant; the best wished and the onely agreed upon. The Lord from his holy sanctuary blesse him in his throne! fo. 116b.
27 Mar. 1603.It was noe shame for Solomon to walke in the wayes of his father David; neither can it be a dishonour for our King to walke in the steps of his mother and predecessor. Lett the foster-sonne and sonnes sonne continue their glory, grace, and dignity, and never lett him want one of his seede to sit upon his seate.
Then to the nobles for their wise menaging those greate affayres, "Utinam retribuat Dominus," said he, "and, as Nehemias prayed for himselfe, 'Remember them, O God! in goodnes.' Your peace," said he, "continued ours, and long may you continue in firme alledgeance to doe your prince and country service in wisdome, honour, and piety." And this is noe detractio, sed attractio; impius in tenebris latet, he holds his peace, but Lord open thou our lips, and our mouth shall shewe forth thy prayse; Paratum est cor meum, My heart is ready, my heart is ready, &c.
fo. 117.
27 Marche.It was bruited that the Lord Beauchamp, the Earl of Hartfords sonne, is up in armes,[174] and some say 10,000 strong. Mr. Hadsor 28.told me the Lords sate about it upon Satterday night, and have dispatcht a messenger to entreat him to come unto them, or els to be in danger of proclamacion of treason. An other bruit, that Portsmout is holden for him, that the Frenche purpose against us, that the Papists are like to rise with Beauchamp; they may trouble us, but I hope shall not prevaile.
"He is up," said one. "He is risen," said an other. "True, I thinke," said I, "he rose in the morning, and meanes to goe to bed at night."
Ch. Davers said he could tell the King what he were best to doe; not to chaunge his officers. "Nay then, it were best to choose you first for a counsellor," said I.
I sawe this afternoone a Scottishe Lady at Mr. Fleetes in Loathebury; shee was sister to Earl Gowre, a gallant tale
gent, somewhat long visage, a lisping fumbling language. Peter Saltingstone came to visit hir.
29.I askt Mr. Leydall whether he argued a case according to his opinion. He said, noe! but he sett a good colour upon it. I told him, he might well doe soe, for he never wants a good colour; he is Rufus.
Mr. Rudyerd tels that to muster men in these tymes is as good a colour for sedicion, as a maske to robbe a house, which is excellent for that purpose.
fo. 117b.
29 Mar. 1603.Mr. Rous said that the Queene began hir raigne in the fall, and ended in the spring of the leafe. "Soe shee did but turne over a leafe," said B. Rudyerd.
30. Was reported that the King had sent for some 5,000l. to bring him into England; it is said the Queenes jewes [jewels] shee left were worth 4 millions [?], i. e. 400,000l.; in treasury present 50,000l., noe soe much this long tyme.
The Kings booke Basi[li]con Doron came forth with an Epistle to the reader apologeticell.
A man may do another a good turne though he cannot performe it for himselfe, as the barber cannot trimme himselfe though he can others. (Pim.)
It was sayd our King is proclaymed nowe Duke of Gelderland.
29.Jo. Grant told me that the King useth in walking amongst his nobles often tymes to leane upon their shoulders in a speciall favour, and in disgrace to neglect some in that kindenes.
30. It is sayd Sir Robert Cary, that went against the Counsells directions in post toward the King to bring the first newes of the Queenes death, made more haste then speede, he was soe hurt with a fall from his horse that an other prevented his purpose, and was with the King before him; this Cary had an office in the Jewell house.[175]
31.This night there came a messenger from the Kinges Majestie with letters directed to the Nobles and Counsellors of his late sister the deceased Queen, all to continue their places and keepe house and order matters according to their discretion till he came. (Isam.)
A puritane is such a one as loves God with all his soule, but hates his neighbour with all his heart. (Mr. Wa. Curle.)
fo. 118.
31 Mar. 1603.Of a beggar that lay on the ground drunk.
He cannot goe, nor sitt, nor stand, the beggar cryes;
Then, though he speake the truth, yet still he lyes.
I was in Mr. Nich. Hares companie at the Kings Head. A gallant young gentleman, like to be heir to much land: he is of a sweet behaviour, a good spirit, and a pleasing witty discourse.
It was soe darke a storme, that a man could never looke for day, unles God would have said againe Fiat lux.
* * * * *
A gentlemans nose fell a bleeding verry late in a night, and soe causing his boy to light him downe to a pumpe to washe the bloud away, he spied written upon the pump, that it was built at the proper cost and charges of a physician which lay nere the place, whom he presently sent for, to come to a lady that was dangerously sicke; but when he came he shewed that his nose was bloudy, that he went downe to have washt at the pompe, but espying it to be built at his proper costs and charges, he thought good manners to aske leave of him, before he would washe it. (Mr. N. Hare.)
fo. 118b.
1 Aprill, 1603.Dr. Some,[176] upon a tyme speaking of the Popes in a sermon, said that Pius V. sent out his bulles against the Queene like a calfe as he was. (Mr. Isam.)
I heard that one Griffin, Queene Marys Attorney, purchased some 24 mannors togither; his sonne hath sold 10 of them, and yet is in debt; male parta male dilabuntur.
One Mr. Marrow, late Sherife of [Warwickshire], useth his wife verry hardly, would not allow hir mony nor clothes fit for hir, nor trust hir with any thing, but made hir daughter sole factres. (Mr. Wagstaffe.)
A covetous fellowe had hangd himselfe, and was angry with him that cutt the rope to save his life. A covetous man rather will loose his lyfe then his goods.
One when the house was on fyre, and himselfe ready to be burnt, fell a seeking for his girdle, amidst the fyre.
Homo impius quid aliud quam immortale pecus. (Ludovicus Vives.)
Felices essent artes, si nulli de eis judicarent nisi artifices. (Mr. Maynard.)
He thinks the statut of wills will be as greate a nurse of controversies as the statut of tayles and uses in common. The eggs are layd, and are nowe in hatching. (Idem.)
fo. 119.
1 Aprill.Wee are purged from our corruption, non per gratiam naturæ, sed per naturam gratiæ. (Dr. Dod.)
Wee worshipt noe Saints, but wee prayd to Ladyes, in the Queenes tyme. (Mr. Curle.) This superstition shall be abolished we hope in our Kings raigne.
One reading Horace happened upon that verse:
Virtus est vitium fugere, et sapientia prima
Stultitia caruisse.[177]
"Here is strange matter," said he, "Virtus est vitium." "Read on," said another. "Nay first lett us examine this;" and would not goe a word further. "Nay," said the other, "yf you gather such notes, I will find another as strange as that in the same verse, 'Et sapientia prima stultitia.'" (T. Cranmer.)
Natura brevium. (Fitch.) The nature of pigmies (said B. Rudyerd).
3. Dr. Spenser upon the 1 Mark, v. 29 to the 36.
Christs Sabboths dayes work, to cure the diseased; a miracle, a work of his mercy, that he would of his power that he could.
A man must take the tyme that Christ offereth himselfe: yf he was with Simon and Andrew at night, he parted into the wildernes in the morning. The feuer left hir, and shee ministred, v. 31, hence he collected the conveniency of church-going for women to give publique thanks for safe deliverance.
fo. 119b.
3 Aprill, 1603.
In the afternoone Clapham. He prayed for the King and his sonne Henry Frederick and Frederick Henry; prayed for a further reformacion in our Churche.
Note: the 7 moneth amongst the Jewes, according to their civil computacion, was but the first in their ecclesiasticall.
Close fisted, that will give nothing to the ministers and musty doctors that lett learning mould and rust in them for want of use.
4.Gluttony and lechery dwell togither, Venter et genitalia sunt membra vicina. (Mr. Key.) As they are placed in that prayer, Ecclesiasticus xxiii. v. 6. "Lett not the gredines of the belly, nor the lust of the flesh, hold me." A great spender in leachery must be a great ravenor in glutony, to repayre what he looseth.
Dr. Parry told me the Countess Kildare assured him that the Queene caused the ring wherewith shee was wedded to the crowne, to be cutt from hir finger some 6 weekes before hir death, but wore a ring which the Earl of Essex gave hir unto the day of hir death.
* * * * *
fo. 120.
5 Aprill.
I heard that Sir Robert Carewe lay in the Kinges chamber the first night he brought the newes of hir Majesties death, and there related the whole discourse; whereupon he was made one of his chamber, a place of confidence and means to preferment.[178]
It is certaine the Queene was not embowelled, but wrapt up in cere cloth, and that verry il to, through the covetousnes of them that defrauded hir of the allowance of cloth was given them for that purpose.
6 April.There was a proclamacion published in the Kinges name conteining his thankefullnes to the people for continuance in their duty, in acknowledging him and receiving him as their rightfull successor, and a restraint of concurse unto him, especially such as were in office and had great place in their countryes, with a clause for continuing officers of justice in their place.[179]
4 Aprill.A letter gratulatory to the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Citizens, was read in their court, which letter came from his Majestie, dated at Halliroode House, 28 Martij, 1603; it conteined a promise of his favour, with an admonission to continue their course of government for matters of justice.[180]
fo. 120b.
6 Aprill.Dr. Overall, Deane of Paules, made a sermon at Whitehall this day, his text, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." He discoursed very scholastically upon the nature of temptations, their division, &c., fit for these tymes in this change, least wee be tempted to desyre innovacion, &c. He held that God permits many thinges to worke according to their nature, not forcing their actions by his decre, soe wee enter into temptacions unforced, of our owne accord, by his permission.
fo. 121.
7 Aprill 1603.Mr. Timothy Wagstaffe and my self brought in a moote whereat Mr. Stevens, the next reader, and Mr. Curle sate.
I heard there had bin a foule jarr betwixt Sir Robert Cecile and the Lord Cobham, upon this occasion, because the Lords and late Counsell, upon the Queenes death, had thought good to appoint an other Captaine of the gard, because Sir Walter Rhaley was then absent, which the Lord Cobham tooke in foule dudgeon, as yf it had bin the devise of Sir Robert, and would have bin himselfe deputy to Sir Walter rather [than] any other. The Lord Cobham likewise at subscribing to the proclamacion tooke exception against the Earl of Clanricard, inepte, intempestive, but he is nowe gone to the King, they say.
The occasion of the bruite that was raysed of the Lord Beauchamps rising was but this; he had assembled divers of his followers and other gent. to goe with him to proclayme the King, which a good lady not understanding gave intelligence that he assembled his followers, but upon the effect hirself contradicted hir owne letter.
fo. 121b.
8 Aprill 1603.At White Hall.
Dr. Montague, Master of Sydney Colledge in Cambridge, made a sermon; his text Matt xviii. 11. "The Sonne of Man came to save that which was lost."
In his prayer: "Wee give ourselves to synn, without restraint in our conscience before, or remorse after." He considered 3 points: 1. The stile of Christ; the Sonne of Man. 2. To whom he came; to the lost. 3. The end of his coming; to save. Where men come of an honourable parentage, or beare an office of dignity, it is their use to stile themselves in the name of their auncesters, as Solomon the sonne of David, &c. But where they have none, the Jewes call them Ben Adam, the sonne of man. Howe happens it then that Christ which is Salvator mundi, Σωτἡρ, the best word that the Greekes have, that he takes upon him this stile of basenes? For two reasons: 1. Because the nearer he came to our nature, the neerer he came to our name; first before the lawe he was called Semen mulieris, then Shilo, after Messias, and nowe himselfe gives himselfe this name, the Sonne of Man, by speciall effect changing his name; when he was Silo wee were but servants, &c.
He layd downe his name to take up ours, that wee might for his sake lay downe our lives to take up his glory.
fo. 122.
8 Aprill 1603.
He would not have his glory upon earth: he would never suffer himselfe to be called God upon earth, nor suffer his miracles to be blazoned, he would have his fame spread by the inward persuasion of the spirit not the outward applause of the mouth. And hence he noted the difference betwixt the fame of a magistrat and of a minister; for from the outward action of the magistrat we come to an inward approbacion of his virtue; but contrary in a minister, from our inward perswasion of his virtue to the outward approbacion of his actions.
Exinanition [Exaninition] of Christs glory on earth typified in the auncient Jewish manner of coronacion, and enthronizing their kings, when they powred a horne of oyle upon his head, to shewe that as the horne was emptied to annoint him, soe out of his fullnes he should enrich others. Oyle is taken for grace.
Second point; to those that were lost. The Rabbins devide all the people into three sorts, Sapientes, such were the Scribes and Pharises; 2. Sapientum filij, such as held nothing for opinion, nor did any thing for action, but that which was approved by the Pharisees; 3. Terræ filij, the children of the world, publicans and synners, reputed as lost sheepe: to these Christ came, and for conversing with these he fo. 122b.
8 Aprill 1603.was obrayded; to teache men what a different course there is in the managing of heavenly and earthly things. The greate affayres of the world begin at the Prince, and soe are derived by a long course to the people, but the matters of heaven begin in the people, and soe rise up to the Prince. The first newes of Christs birth was brought but to a company of silly shepheards, from them to a poore city, Bethleem, from thence to Jerusalem, and soe by calculacion it was neere two yeares before it came to the Kings eare.
There are two Kingdomes in this world, a temporall and a spirituall or mysticall, eache needing other. Where the rich feeling their poverty in spirituell, come to the minister to be furnished in that commodity, and the minister feeling his wants in the riches of this lyfe, followeth great men, to be relieved in that necessity. Communis indigentia est societatis vinculum, mutuall necesity is the surcingle of the world.
Second reason; Christ came to these, as the fittest to receive his doctrine, and yet it is clapt in amongst his miracles that the poor beleeved. The promises of a kingdome in heaven is a greate matter which greate men according to their course in earth will hardly beleeve can be effected without greate meanes, and therefore a miracle yf princes receive Christ. Our fo. 123.
8 Aprill 1603.Prince did, and our King doth continue this miracle; for shee did, and he doth, hold and will maintaine the truth of the Gospell, "and this hath king'd him," said he.
Two conclusions; better to be a lost sheepe in the wild field, then put up safe in the fold of the Pharisees.
There have bin three great monarchies in the world, the first of Synn, the second of the Lawe, the third of Grace, and these had severall ends; the first was death, the next Christ, and the last is lyfe; and these were attained by severall meanes, for synn brought us to death by concealment of our faults, the lawe brought us to Christ by knowing our syn, by revealing our syn, and Christ by his grace leads us to everlasting lyfe. In each soule those three kingdomes have their succession yf it be saved. Though the lawe was delivered with thunder, yet there insued comfort in the first word, "I am thy God." The lawe like a bason of water with a glas by it, serves to discover, and scower away the filthines.
Second conclusion. Noe syn soe greate that should discourage us from comminge to Christ. Aesculapius, as the poets faine, dewised more remedys against poison out of a serpent than any other creature, yet the serpent more poisonous in it selfe then anie man. Soe from syn. Our confidence, i. e. from the nature of God, whoe regards not soe muche what a man hath bin, but what he is, and will bee. Whereas the judgment of man, on the contrary, is ground[ed] upon vita anteacta, and forepassed actions; soe fol. 123b.
Aprill 1603.Ananias made conjecture of Paule. God more delights to pardon the synner, then to punish the synne.
2. From the nature of Christ; more mild and mercyfull than Moses: for Christ never executed any point of judgment. He is an intercessor, and shall be our judge: but that tyme is not come, soe our creede notes, "From thence He shall come to judge." And this seemes to be the reason, that under the lawe, yf anie strang syn had escaped the hand of the magistrat, yet it was usually punished by the hand of God: whereas nowe, yf offences slip the magistrat, they are seldome or neuer revenged from heaven.
Christ is not soe muche a remedy for easy synns, but even for such synners as even beginn to stink and rott in them, as Lazarus did in the grave. Shee that had hir issue 12 yeares was healed with the touch of his garment, &c. He is more ready to pardon a synner upon repentance then to punishe him upon perseverance.
3. The end: To save. Chrîstus salvat; solutione debiti et applicatione remedij. Debitum nostrum 2x; Obedientiæ; Pœnæ.
Wee must obey the lawe or indure the punishment. Christ by his lyfe hath payd the dett of our obedience, and by his death had cleered the debt of our punishment. Both were necessary to our plenary redemption: his life to ripe age to accomplishe our righteousnes; his passion by death to meritt of [sic] our salvacion. Righteousnes of his lyfe. Merit of his passion.
fo. 124.
Aprill 1603.
The applicacion; by taking upon him our syns, and imputing unto us his righteousnes. In all synn, three things, culpas, reatus, pœna, and the remedy must have something contrary to the malignant quality of the disease: soe Christ cureth the fault by his obedience, the guilt by his innocency, and the punishment by his passion; soe by applicacion all our synns are his. All his righteousnes is become ours. But heere surges
a doubt, howe it comes to passe that synce the imputacion of his merits makes us righteous, the imputacion of our synn cannot make him synfull. Ferrum candens absorbet aquam, and the drop of our synn cannot infect the ocean of his innocency; finiti ad infinitum nulla proportio. The applicacion of our syn to him is but a mere imputacion, but his merits, beside an imputacion, worke in us alsoe an inherent righteousnes. For applicacion; the commaundments are given in the second person; and the bible written in fashion of a story, not precepts and rules, because it is more for practise then speculacion, and God would have us rather good Christians then good schollers. Without particular applicacion all is nothinge but like the rude chaos, for before the incubacion of the Spirit of God, there was noe separacion, noe vilificacion, noe animacion. In the sacrifice in the old lawe it was noe idle thing that they were to sprinkle the right eare, the fo. 124b.
Aprill 1603.right thombe, and the right foote too, to shewe the inward affection must be moved by the eare, and the action by the thomb and the toe.
The Virgin liked the newes well which was brought hir, "but howe shall this come to passe," quoth shee; soe it is welcome to every one to heere that he shall be the Sonne of God, but howe shall he knowe that? There is but thre wa[y]s of knowing himselfe to be the Sonne of God: 1. Scientia unionis, and soe Christ onely knowes himselfe to be the Sonne of God. 2. Scientia visionis, and soe the Saints. 3. Scientia revelationis, and soe every Christian. And this last is twofold, either by a descendant course, whereby Gods spirit comes downe to us, and this those knowe which have it. Philosophie sayth every lambe knowes his owne dame, non per eundem sonum sed per eundem Spiritum: as the uniting of the Father and the Sonne in the Trinity is per communionem Spiritus. "My sheepe heare my voyce," by inward perception. "Did not our harts glowe within us?" The difference is knowne to them that have it. Samuel, before he was acquainted with it, thought it had bin the voyce of a man, but Ely could discerne it. 2. Wee knowe by our Spirit ascending to God: the Spirit like fyre, still ascendeth, like a steele toucht with the magnet turnes northward, fo. 125.soe this heavenward. Wee are placed twixt heaven and earth; like an iron betwixt two loadstones wee incline still to one of them.
8 Aprill 1603.I heard the Queene left behinde hir in money, plate, and jewels, the value of 12,000,000l. whereof in gold is said, 400,000l.
It was said for a truth that the Countes of Essex is married to the Earl of Clanricard, a goodly personable gentleman something resembling the late Earl of Essex.
The Lord Keeper Sir Thomas Egerton hath married his sonne, before the Queene dyed, to the Countes of Darbys daughter, his Ladys daughter; bloud-royall. Superbe satis.
This afternoone a servingman, one of the Earl of Northumberland, fought with swaggering Eps, and ran him through the eare.
I heard that the King hath or will restore the Lord Latimer to the Earldome of Westmerland; some 3 or 4000l. per annum.
fo. 125b.
9 Aprill 1603.There came forth a proclamacion for making certaine Scottish coyne currant in England; as a peice of gold for 10s., and the sylver at 12d. ob. and this for the menaging of commerce betwixt these nations.[181]
Mr. Barrowes called Seminaryes, Semmimaries.
10.I heard that my Cosen Wingat is married to a riche widdowe in Kent.