At Paules Crosse
fo. 67.
21 Nov. 1602.Mr. Fenton, reader of Gray's Inn. His text, Luke xix. 9, "This day is salvacion come unto this house: insoemuch as this man also is become the sonne of Abraham." This is an absolution, and a rule of it, 1. He that pronounceth the absolution is Christ; 2. The person absolued is Zachee. An example that may most move this auditorie to followe Christ; since this man was rich and a ruler of the people, whereas the most of them that followed Christ had nothing to loose; 3. The ground of his absolucion, that he was the sonne of Abraham, which he proved to Christ by his fayth, to the world by his works. He observed 5 parts: 1. The nature of the absolution, that it is a declaracion of saluacion. 2. By whom it is declared, viz. by Christ. 3. How far it extended, to Zachee and his family. 4. Upon what ground, that is, his fayth and repentaunce. 5. Howe soone, "This day."
Saluacion is come; wee are not able to seeke it; therefore Christ sayd, "Enter into thy fathers joy;" for wee are not capable that it should enter into us; but enter into that joy as the bucket into the fountayne. Yf he should endeauour to prefix a preface for attention, he could not finde a better then to tell them he must tell them of saluation. None under the degree of an angell was thought worthie to publishe the first tydinges of it to a fewe shepheards.
fo. 67b.
21 Nov. 1602.
Noe preacher able to giue his auditorie a tast of saluacion. It is one thing to forgive, another thing to declare forgivenes of synnes; the former is personall, and that Christ carried to heaven with him, the other ministeriall, and that he left behinde to his disciples and apostles; "Whose synnes you binde shallbe bound, whose synnes you remitt shalbe loosed."
The raysing of Lazarus, a resemblaunce of absolucion. Lazarus had layen three dayes when Christ came to rayse him; he bad him come out; here is his voyce, which being seconded by divine power restored him to lyfe; soe the word of God preached to a synner, being seconded with divine grace, rayseth the synner.
Popishe priests and Jesuites play fast and loose with mens consciences.
Jesuites come into riche mens houses, not to bring them salvacion, but because there is something to be fisht for. Jesus and the Church wee knowe; but whoe are these? Soe they are sent away naked and torne, like those presumptuous fellowes that would have cast out diuels in Christs name without his leaue, and the God of heaven will laugh them to scorne.
Not all poore blessed, but the poore in spirit onely; nor all rich cursed, but the riche in this world onely; for here is Zache blessed. Howsoever Christs words import a greate difficulty for rich men to enter into heauen, when, after he had compared heauen gate to a needles eye, and the rich man to a cammel, hee aunswered his disciples words, that all things are possible with God, and as though it were a miracle with men. Hardly can he runne after Christ when his hart is lockt vp in his coffer. fo. 68.
21 Nov. 1602.But the scripture tells us there is a rich Abraham in heaven, as well as a Dives in hell. Yf anie have inriched themselves by forged cauillacion lett them not despayre, for soe did Zache. Yf anie have a place that he must have vnder him as many officers as Briareus had hands, through whose hands many things may be ill carried, lett him not be discouraged, for soe had Zache. Yf anie be branded with infamie lett him yet be comforted by the example of Zache, for soe was hee, and yet became a true Christian.
Saluacion came unto Zache by a threefold conveyaunce: 1. By his riches, which to the good are sacramentes of His favor. 2. That himself being conuert, his whole family was soe; the servants and attendants are the shaddowes of their master; they moue at his motion. 3. That all his househould was blessed for his sake; such are the braunches as the roote; the whole lumpe was made holie by the first fruits.
Thrice happie land, whose prince is the daughter of Abraham, crowning it with the sacraments of temporall blessings. Add, O Lord! this blessing, that hir dayes may be multiplied as the starres of heaven.
To become the sonne of Abraham is to receive the image of Abraham. He hath two images, his fayth, and his workes. Imitate him: 1. In rejoycing in God, as Simeon did when he had Christ in his armes, and this joy made the burden seeme light to the lame man when he carried his bed, after Christ had cured him. fo. 68b.
21. Nov. 1602.2. In hospitallitie he received angels, and amongst them God, for one was called Jehoua. 3. In despising to growe rich by ill meanes. Sodome could not make him rich, because he would not have it said that the diuel had made him riche.
There is none but would spend the best bloud in his body, and stretch his verry hart strings, to be made sure of his salvacion; but the matter is easier, you must stretch your purse-strings, and restore what you have gotten wrongefully, otherwise noe security of saluacion.
A peremptory to conclude before his premisses.
What motives to restitution. Should I propound the rigor of the lawe, you will say that is taken away by the gospell. Should I sett before you the commendable examples of such as professed restitution, you will alledge your owne imperfection—they were perfect and rare men, wee must not look for such perfection. Shall I tell you there are but four crying synnes, and this is one of them—"The syn of them that have taken from others by fraud or violence cryeth before the Lord of Hosts," as though nothing could appease but vengeance. Yet, you will say, though the syn be heynous, yet the mercy of God is over all his workes, and there is more virtue in the seede of the woman to heale then there can be poison in the serpent to hurt us. And God forgiueth all upon repentaunce. 'Tis true God absolueth the penitent, but upon condicion that he restore the pledge that he withheld, and that which he hath robbed. But may not this be dispensed withall by the fo. 69.
21 Nov. 1602.gospell? The shaddowe points at the truthe. In the v. of Numbers, 7 [v.] besides the ransom for the attonement, the goods that were deteyned must be restored. Christ resembleth the ram, &c. Ob. Hath not Christ paid all our debts for us? Yes, but such as thou couldst not pay thyselfe; he hath satisfied God for thy syn, and thou must satisfie thy brother for the wrong thou hast done him yf thou beest able, otherwise thou must look for noe absolucion, for without repentaunce and amendment noe absolucion, and without restitution no true repentaunce. It may be you will say you are sorry for that you have gayned wrongfully, and meane to doe soe noe more. This is noe true sorrowe nor sufficient repentaunce, for soe long as you reteine the thing, there is a continuaunce of the syn, for thou holdest that willingly which was gotten wrongfully. Surely yf a theife had taken your purse, and should tell you he were sorry, but could not finde in his heart to give you it againe, you would thinke he did but mocke you. But be not deceived, God will not be mocked. Glaunces make noe impression. There is a worldly sorrowe, and there is a godly sorrowe. Soe long as the goods are retained pœitentia non agitur sed fingitur. But pænitentia vera non est pænitenda. But you will say, yf I should make restitution I should empty manie of my bags, and make a greate hole in my lands, and this would make me sorry againe; but this is worldly. Soe there would followe a certaine kinde of shame upon restitucion; but the point is to resolve first to restore, and then doubt not but the wisdome of God will cause you to restore without shame, as the cunning of the diuel made you gett without shame.
fo. 69.
21 Nov. 1602.
This day. When God came to reprehend and denounce judgment against Adam in Paradise, it is sayd he walked; but when he comes with saluacion he comes with hindes feet swiftly. This day. Against procrastinacion and deferring repentaunce. It is a fearefull saying, they shall striue to enter in and cannot, because they came not soone enough; too many think they have the Spirit of God in a string, and are able to dispatch all while the bell is tolling. But God sayth, they shall cry, but I will not hear them; then they shall seeke me earely, but they shall not finde me, because they cry and seeke too late. The example of the theife on the crosse is noe example. It was a miracle, that Christ might shewe the power of his diuinity in his greatest humiliacion: besides, the theife had moe and greater graces then manie of the disciples at that time, for some had forsaken and none durst confesse him. And besydes, he were but a desperat theife that would presume because the prince had graunted one pardon.
Outward actions of Christ point at inward and spirituall matters; the raysing of Lazarus that had bin dead three dayes was with great difficulty. Christ was fayne to cry out and grone ere he could get him up. And the disciples could not cast out the diuel that had possessed the man from his infancy. And when Christ cast him out it was with wonderfull tormentinges to the possessed; soe dangerous delay, for the difficulty to repent, syn growing as deare as old, &c.
fo. 70.
22 Nov. 1602.I heard that one Daniel, an Italian, having appeached one Mowbray, a Scott, of treason against his King, Mowbray challenged the combat, and it was appointed to be foughten.
25.Lord Cheife Baron Manwood[126] understanding that his sonne had sold his chayne to a goldsmith, sent for the goldsmith, willed him to bring the chayne, enquired where he bought it. He told, in his house. The Baron desyred to see it, and put it in his pocket, telling him it was not lawefully bought. The goldsmith sued the Lord, and, fearing the issue would proue against him, obtained the counsels letters to the Lord, whoe answered, "Malas causas habentes semper fugiunt ad potentes. Ubi non valet veritas, prevalet authoritas. Currat lex, Vivat Rex, and soe fare you well, my Lords;" but he was committ. (Curle.)
Take heed of your frend;
You are in the right——
Your foe strikes by day,
Your freind in the night.
Mr. Nichols, of Eastwell in Kent, wrote a booke which he called the Plea of Innocents;[127] wherin it seemes he hath taken vpon him the defense of Puritans more then he ought, for I heard that he is deprived, and must be degraded for it, besides imprisonment and perpetuall silence, before the High Commissioners at Lambeth.
Women, because they cannot have their wills when they dye, they will have their wills while they live.
27.Dum spero pereo. (J. Couper's motto.)
* * * * *
John Sweete: wee shine to:—a companie of stars about the moone. (His devise.)
fo. 70b.
27 Nov. 1602.There were called to the bar by parliament, Shurland, Branstone, Bradnum, Bennet, Gibbes, Jeanor, Rivers, Paget, Horton, and Crue.
The diuine, the lawyer, and the physicion must all have these three things, reason, experience, and autority, but eache in a severall degree; the diuine must begin with the autoritie of scripture, the lawyer rely upon reason, and the physicion trust to experience.
The happiest lyfe that I can fynd,
Is sweete content in a setled mynd.
* * * * *
Serjeant Harris, standing on day at the common place barr with the other sergeants, and hauing scarce clients enough to hold motion,—"They talke of a call of sergeants," said he, "but for ought I can see wee had more neede of a call of clients."
When one said that Vennar the graund connicatcher had golden spurres and a brasen face, "It seemes," said R. R., "he hath some mettall in him."
A proud man is like a rotten egge, which swymmes above his betters.
fo. 71.
28 Nov. 1602.At Paules,
Mr. Tolson of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge; his text in Ephes. v. 25: "As Christ alsoe hath loved the Church, and hath given himself for hir, that he might sanctifie it."
The blessinges of God to man are infinit and exceeding gracious; many being giuen which we knowe not of, many before wee aske them, manie which wee are unthankefull for; but of all this gift is most admirable, most inestimable, Christ gave himselfe.
He considered the person giving, the party receiving.
There is noe creature soe base and little but if it be considered with reason it may shewe, as were written in greate caractars, that there is a God.
God is infinit and eternall, therefore can be but one in essence. One person doth not differ from another really in the essence of deity. Yet each person differeth really from other, and haue their proper personall operacions not common to all. Soe here Christ is said to have giuen himselfe, that is, the person of the sonne of God, perfect God and perfect man; he gave not his body, nor his soule, nor his whole humanitie onely,—for if all the creatures in the world were heaped up togither to be giuen, they were noe sufficient sacrifice to satisffie the justice of God,—but he gave himselfe, his whole person.
But two deaths of the soule, synn and eternall damnacion; to affirme that the soule of Christ suffered either were horrible blasphemie.
fo. 71b.
28 Nov. 1602.
Wee must soe worship God as a trinity in vnity, and an vnity in trynity, otherwise we worship but our owne fastasie.
Christ was et sacerdos et sacrificium, he gave himselfe.
Christus totus mortuus est, non totum Christi, the whole person of Christ and both his natures suffered; his deity and soule being mortall could not, but his whole person, wherein both natures are indissolubly united. Christus homo in terra, deus in cœlo, Christus in utroque.
Christ not made in nor by the Virgin, but of the Virgin; therefore perfect man, not an essence of a nature above the angels but inferior to the Godhead: but the splendor or brightnes of Gods glory, the engraven forme of his person, (Hebr. i. cap.) therefore perfect God.
He gave himselfe not for all men, but for his Church; he died for all sufficienter non efficienter; he would have all men saued, revelata non occulta voluntate, or rather, as a Father sayth, Deus vult omnes salvos fieri, non quod nullus hominum sit quem non velit salvum fieri, sed quia nemo salvus fit nisi quem velit; he saveth whom he pleaseth, and they are saved because he will.
Christ gave himselfe for the Church, and hence growes the greate quarrell betwixt Papists and us Protestants, for, this gift being soe precious that none can be saved without it, every one is ready to intitle himselfe thereunto, and challeng his part therin; noe heretike so damnable, but would hold he was of the Churche, but the point is whether they bee what they pretend, or haue what they arrogate. And here, because, as he said, the text gaue him occasion, and he had direction from the superuisor of this sea, he spake some thinge against the common enimye.
Ecclesia dicitur απο του εκκαλειν, ab evocando, because it is a people called from the rest to be sanctified by Christ.
fo. 72.
28 Nov. 1602.
The Church is compared unto the moone for fayrenes and to the sonne for brightnes, therefore the church is not a companie of reprobates, and idolatrous hereticks, as Rome is. Christ is not the head of such a body. Those which give him such a body doe, as the poet sayth, humano capiti cervicem adjungere equinam, but if they define the Church such a congregacion, the[y] may easily mainteane theirs to be one.
The Papists have a trick of appropriatinge the name of the Church to themselves onely; as they reade the Church, it is theirs dead sure; but this is but the fashion of Cresilaus of Athens, a franticke fellowe, that would board all ships that arrived, searche and take account of all things as they were his owne, when poore fellowe he was scarse worth the clothes on his backe.
The Papists call their masse a bloudles sacrifice, but yf wee look backe but [to] the late tymes before hir Majesties happie entraunce, wee may see tokens and wittnes enough, that it is the most bloudy kind that ever was invented.
Christ gave himselfe: noe virtue that is not voluntary: he gave himselfe willingly, soe saith he, "I lay downe my life, and noe man taketh it from me," though the Jewes layd violent hands upon him, which made them inexcusable; yet because yf he would have resisted, they could not have effected their malice, therefore his subjection to their violence was voluntary.
fo. 72b.
28 Nov. 1602.
Nowe from informing your understandings, give me leave, said he, to proceede to the reforming your wills and affections.
Vses. Since Christ hath giuen himselfe for vs, such worthles creatures, such nothings indeed, let us dedicate our soules, ourselves, our thoughts, and actions to his service for a reasonable sacrifice. Christ gaue his whole person for vs, wee must give our whole selues to him; not as some which are content to be present at his seruice, but haue their myndes about other matters; or as others which will say they haue given their mynds to God, and serue him in their soule, though their bodies be present where he is most dishonored, as the yong degenerat trauayler that can be content, be present, and perhaps partaker at a masse, and yet thinke he can be sound at the hart for all that. But wee must apply both body and soule to Christs seruice. Most trauaylers returne, either worse men or worse subjects; caveat in permitting to many trauailers. Some can be content to be feruent and zealous in the halcion dayes of the gospell, as Peter, but lett the sword, persecution, be once drawne out the[y] strait withdrawe them selves and leaue their maister. Yf the[y] think they spie a tempest but comming a farr of, strait they runn under hatches. Yf Judas come with a kisse, and a companie with swordes and staues, they are gone. All were hott and zealous against the Papist in the beginning of hir Majesties raigne; all cold, as it were asleepe, nay dead, in these tymes.
Some slaunder the Court as though they were neuters, some the universities as yf inclining to Popery, many looking for a tolleracion; but whither shall wee goe? here is the word of lyfe.
fo. 73.
5 Dec. 1602.Mr. Layfeild at St. Clements.
His text, 2 Cor. iii. 7: "Whoe hath alsoe made us fitt ministers of the Newe Testament, not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth."
He had preached heretofore of this text, and had in that sermon obserued out of this place that the duty of a Christian and a fitt minister are severall and distinct. Nowe he considered the object whereabout the office of a minister is imployed, which is the Newe Testament, and to this purpose he shewed the difference betwixt the Old and Newe Testament, the old lawe and the newe, which consisted not onely in this (which the Papists make to all), that the newe is more plaine then the old, and that Moses was the writer of the first and Christ of the latter; but this the true essentiall difference, the old was a covenant; a mutuall sponsion and stipulacion; a promise upon condicion; something to be performed on either part. Fac hoc, sayth God to man, this is the lawe to be observed by man, et vives, and I will give thee lyfe; trust me with that. But the gospell, the Newe Testament, is a covenant absolute, like that "I have made a covenant with myne eyes," and that "I have made a covenant with David that I will not fayle:" a promise on Gods part onely, like a testament in this, that it is a free donacion without condicion precedent, all meerely of grace and favour from God. Noe merit from us. When he assended he gave gifts unto men.
When man had entered into covenant with God, and by breaking of it became soe farre his debtor that he had forfayted body and soule for his synn, God dealt mercifully with him, and tooke a sacrifice of some living beast as a bond which deferred, not satisfied, the debt, and this to continue till Christs comming, whose death should be a discharge of that obligacion, and the whole debt alsoe for soe manie as could obtaine Christs favour.
fo. 73b.
5 Dec. 1602.In the afternoone, the same man at the same place. After a briefe recapitulacion of what he had deliuered in the forenoone, he proceeded to shewe the office of a minister of the Newe Testament, with the difference betweene the preists of the Old and the ministers of the Newe Testament. The office of those was to teache the covenant, to denounce the curse, and to take sacrifices of synners as obligacions and testimonies against the synner that he had soe often forfayted his soule and body; the office of the minister of the New Testament is to preache both the lawe to deject and humble the synner by the operacion of the spirit; and the gospell to rayse and comfort him, that he may not despayre and dye, but beeleeve and be saved; their office is alsoe as executors of Christs testament to dispose of his legacyes, his promises; that is, to remitt synnes to every penitent beleeving synner; and lastly, to impart and confirme the graces by ministring his blessed sacraments.
The letter killeth, for that sayth in the lawe, Thou must doe this, thou must not doe that, otherwise God must be satisfied; thou must be punished, or els thou must have pardon. Man could not obserue them; man was not able to abide the punishment—was like a man in prison, could not gett forth to sue for pardon; was like a poor man deepely indebted, had noe meanes to make satisfaction. The gospell likewise in the letter sayth, Thou must repent, thou must beleeue, or els thou canst not be saued; and yet none of them is in our power. But the spirit quickeneth; that shewes vs Christ hath satisfied, and giues vs grace to beleeve it, &c.
fo. 74.
5 Dec. 1602.
The lawe of the Old Testament is not abolished by the Newe, but the old covenant, the condicion of the lawe, is taken awaye; for the lawe continues and hath a singular vse in the ministry of the Newe Testament, to make a synner knowe and confesse himselfe such a one, for before he finde his synnes greuous he hath noe neede of a sauiour; as Christ sayd, "I came not to call the righteous but synners to repentaunce," and "Come vnto me, all ye that are weary, and I will easye you," and "The whole neede not the physitian."
Yf the minister dispense Christs legacyes to a counterfayt and dissemblinge penitent, yet they haue done their duty. And as Christ sayd to his disciples, "When you enter into anie place, say peace be with you, and yf the Sonne of peace be not there, your peace shall returne againe vnto you."
Christ made his testament, bequeathed legacyes, made his executors the disposers of them: therefore there must be certaine markes and notes, as certaine as the names of persons to knowe the persons to whom the legacyes are bequeathed, otherwise the executors cannot knowe howe [to] dispose of them. And these markes are fayth and repentaunce, for to euery one that repenteth and beleeueth remission of syn is giuen: and therefore it followeth, against the doctrine of the Church of Rome, that a man must beleeue, and knowe that he beleeueth, hath fayth and repentaunce, for that generall fayth of that church in generall is noe more but to beleeue noe [more?] but this, that all that is in the Scripture is true, that all that beleeue shall be saued, and that noe man knoweth whether he beleeue or repent. But, on the contrarie, we hold that beleeue and fayth must be in particuler, and then such a person is become a legatary certaine in Christs testament, and capable of the disposicion of the promise.
fo. 74b.
7 Dec. 1602. In Justice Catlines[128] tyme one Burchely brought a Replegiar "quare averia cepit et injuste detinuit", et declare "quod cepit et detinuit unam vaccam", and soe it was recorded. After, when Meade came to argue, he pleaded this in abatement; and Burchely, perceuing the recorde was faulty, entred the words et vitulum, and then said there was a calfe in the case in the roll (an Essex case). Justice Catline demaunded to see the record, and, the wordes being written soe newely that they were not dry, "It is true," sayd he, "your cowe hath newly calved, for shee hath not lickt the calfe dry yet." (Colebrand.)
The abuse of the Statute for reforming errors in the Kings Bench, &c. hath frayed the clients from their suites, when they see they can haue noe judgment certaine or speedy.
* * * * *
Three men's opinions preferred before five, yf not all togither; as in a writt of error in the Kings Benche to reverse a judgment in the Common place. Yf there be three of one opinion to reverse, and the fourth would haue it affirmed; nowe regarding the judgment in the Common place, with this mans opinion there are five on the on syde, and but three on the other, yet those three shall prevaile.
fo. 75.
Dec. 7, 1602.
Out of a little book intituled Buccina Capelli in laudem Juris:[129]
Lawe hath God for the author, and was from the beginning.
Jurisprudentia est naturæ effigies, ut Demosthenes; humanitatis initium, ut Isocrates; libertatis fundamentum, ut Anaxagoras; recte viuendi norma, ut Diodorus; æqui bonique ars, ut Ulpianus. Confert divitias, quibus egenos fulciant, amicos sublevent, patriam vel labentem sustineant, vel precipitantem erigant, vel florentem augeant; honores, quibus illustrati familiam suam obscuram illustrent, novam exornent, insignem decorent, facultatem qua inquinatam improborum vitam retundant et comprimant, et optimorum optimè traductam muncribus et mercede digna et laudabili ornent et illustrent, ut majores dicantur.
Quid aliud vult sibi legis nomen quam hoc, ut velit quicquid sit insolutum ligare, quicquid dissolutum legis severitate devincire, quicquid corruptum, quicquid inquinatum, illud resecare vel resarcire. Cuidam percontanti quomodo respublica florere, et statu fælicissimo quam diutissimè permanere possit, respondet Solon, "Si illi quos fortuna ad infimam plebis sortem depresserat penderent a præscripto magistratuum, et quos fortuna ad altiorem dignitatis gradum erexerat penderent a præscripto legum."
Literis incumbunt juuenes ut fiant judices.
Scio qualis fuerim, immo qualis fuisse non deberem; cognosco qualis sum, timeo qualis futurus sim, et magis timeo quo minus doleo; utinam magis dolerem, ut minus timerem.
Doleo quia semper dolens dolere nescio.
Quo modo nisi per dolores sanabitur, qui per delectationes infirmatur? Doce me salutarem dolorem.
fo. 75b.
Dec. 1602.Dunne[130] is undonne; he was lately secretary to the Lord Keeper, and cast of because he would match him selfe to a gentlewoman against his Lords pleasure.
On Munday last the Queene dyned at Sir Robert Secils [sic] newe house in the Stran. Shee was verry royally entertained, richely presented, and marvelous well contented, but at hir departure shee strayned hir foote. His hall was well furnished with choise weapons, which hir Majestie tooke speciall notice of. Sundry deuises; at hir entraunce, three women, a maid, a widdowe, and a wife, eache commending their owne states, but the Virgin preferred;[131] an other, on attired in habit of a Turke desyrous to see hir Majestie, but as a straunger without hope of such grace, in regard of the retired manner of hir Lord, complained; answere made, howe gracious hir Majestie in admitting to presence, and howe able to discourse in anie language; which the Turke admired, and, admitted, presents hir with a riche mantle, &c.
fo. 76.
12 Dec. 1602.At St. Clements.
A plaine plodding fellowe, sometimes of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge, his text Heb. cap. xi. v. 8. He noted the fayth of Abraham, and the fruit thereof, his obedience; he shewed the kindes of fayth, and sayd this fayth of Abraham was not hystoricall, not miraculous, not a momentary fayth; such lasts noe longer then prosperitee, &c. but it was the true justifieng fayth, which was a firme beleife of Christs comminge, with the application of his merits. He named fayth to be the gift of God, because Abraham is said to be called. God performeth his promises in his due tyme, or in a better kind. He promiseth long lyfe to the godly: yet oftentymes he takes them away in the floure of their age, but he gives them a better lyfe for it.
Abraham went into a straunge country; therefore trauailing lawefull, soe it be either specially warranted by Gods call, or to profitt the country, not to see and bring home ill fashions, and worse consciences.
He was called, therefore euery one must [take] upon him some calling and profession, and this calling must be allowed of God; therefore the trade of stageplayers vnlawefull.
The land of promise given to Abraham for the syn of the people; lett vs leave synning least our land be given into the hand of a strange people againe, as it was sometyme to the Romans, and lastly to the Normans, for a conquest.
fo. 76b.
12 Dec. 1602.At the Black Friars.
Mr. Egerton, a little church or chappell up stayres, but a great congregacion, specially of women. After "God be mercifull," reade after the second lesson; having sat a good tyme before in the pulpit, willed them to sing to the glorie of God and theire owne edifying, the 66 Psal. 2 part; after he made a good prayer, then turnd the glas, and to his text, Acts vii. 23, &c. Here he made a recapitulacion of that he had deliuered the last Sabboth, and soe he came to deliuer doctrines out of this text. When he had said what he thought good of it, he went to catachise; it seemes an order which he hath but newely begun, for he was but in his exordium questions; then he prayed, sung a plasme [psalm], gave the blessing, and soe an end.
He remembred out of his former text these notes, v. 17: That God performes his promises not in our tyme, but in his tyme, which is best, because he is wisest. 2. The pollicy of man folishnes with God. They may maliciously oppose themselves therein, but cannot alter his decree. 3. God makes our enimies become our frends, and causeth them to doe good vnwittingly. 4. Parents ought to giue their children educacion, as well as foode and rayment, and rather bring them up in learning and trades, then proud inheritances with wronge. 5. Moses a good orator and a good warrior, mighty in wordes and in deedes, yet modest in all.
Then in his text: Not dispaire of calling, for Moses was 40 yeares old before he thought of this busines. 2. God put the motion in his heart. 3. Lawefull to protect the wronged and reproue them that doe ill, though a man be hated for his labour. 4. The good rejoyce and are glad to see the magistrate, and euery good Cristian and true subiect glad to see the principall magistrat with a gard about, as well to reward and protect the good, as to reuenge the wronged, glad like[132] one that in a fo. 77.
12 Dec. 1602.hott sunshine sees a fayre leauy tree, which promiseth a shaddowe yf he be sunburnt; such is the prince to the good subject.
Those which come to sermons and goe away vnreformed are like those which looke in a glas, spie the spott in their face, but will not take the pains to wipe it off.
He defined catechising to be a breife and familiar kinde of teaching the principles of relligion, in a plaine manner by way of question and aunswere, either publiquely by the minister, or privately by the maister or mistres of the family. Herein noted the difference betwixt preaching and catechising, that that is a large continued course of speache, and may be performed onely by the minister.
It is the custome (not the lawe) in Fraunce and Italy, that yf anie notorious professed strumpet will begg for a husband a man which is going to execution, he shal be reprieved, and she may obteine a pardon, and marry him, that both their ill lives may be bettered by soe holie an action. Hence grewe a jeast, when a scoffing gentlewoman told a gentleman shee heard that he was in some danger to haue bin hangd for some villanie, he answered, "Truely, madame, I was a feard of nothing soe much as you would have begd me." * * *
In England it hath bin vsed that yf a woman will beg a condemned person for hir husband, shee must come in hir smocke onely, and a white rod in hir hand: as Sterrill said he had seen.
fo. 77b.
12 Dec. 1602.
Montagne tells of a Piccard that was going to execution, and when he sawe a limping wenche coming to begg him, "Oh, shee limps! she limps!" sayd hee, "dispatch me quickly," preferring death before a limping wife.
J. Cooper demaunded of Nic. Girlington, whoe is lately returned from Fraunce, what thing he tooke most delight in, in all his travail. He told him to see a masse in their churches, it was performed with such magnificent pomp and ceremonie, in soe goodly a place, as would make a man admire it. The Hugonots are coupt up in barnes, as it were, in regard of the Papists churches.
I heard that Geneva is beseiged by the Duke of Savoy.
Mr. Hadsor told me that the Earl of Ormonds daughter is come 16.to our Court, and that shee shall be married to yong Ormond, cosen german to the old Earle, which yong man was in prison here in Engl[and,] but is nowe to be released.
Mr. Girlington told me there was on Blackewell brought ouer as 17.apprehended and sent over by Sir Thomas Parry, Embassador in Fraunce, because he had confessed under his hand that he came from the Spanyard to murder hir Majestie or burne the Navy.
18.Heard that certaine in ragged apparrell, offring their seruice in the Navy, were apprehended as suspected, and found worthy suspicion.
fo. 78.
16 Dec. 1602.I brought in a moote with Jo. Bramstone.
18.I was with Stowe the antiquary. He told me that a modell of his picture was found in the Recorder Fleetewoods study, with this inscription or circumscription, Johannes Stowe, Antiquarius Angliæ, which nowe is cutt in brasse and prefixed in print to his Survey of London.[133] He sayth of it, as Pilat sayd, "What I have written, I have written," and thinkes himselfe worthie of that title for his paynes, for he hath noe gaines by his trauaile. He gaue me this good reason why in his Survey he omittes manie newe monuments: because those men have bin the defacers of the monuments of others, and soe thinks them worthy to be depriued of that memory whereof they have injuriously robbed others. He told me that the Cheife Citizens of London in auncient tymes were called Barons, and soe divers kinges wrote unto them "Portegrevio et Baronibus suis London.," and the auncient seale had this circumscription, "Sigillum Baronum Londoniarum."
fo. 78b.
18 Dec. 1602.I heard that Dr. Smith, Master of Clare Hall,[134] is Vice Chauncellor of Cambridge this yeare. It was told me by one of St. Johns Colledge that Dr. Playfare[135] hath bin halfe frantike againe, and strangely doted for one Mrs. Hammond, a gentlewoman in Kent, is nowe well reclaimed, and hath reade some lectures since. A mad reader for divinity! proh pudor, et dolor!
Mr. Perkins was buried verry neere with as great sollemnity as Dr. Whitaker.[136]
The Lord Mountjoy in Ireland will never discourse at table; eates in silence. Sir Robert Gardner mislikes him for it, as an unsosiable quality (Hadsor); but great wisdome in soe captious a presence, especially being such a man as desyres to speake wisely.
Mr. Bramstone told howe he sold his bed in Cambridge. Mr. Pym[137] sayd he did wisely, for he knewe those that kept their beds longe seldome prove riche.
One Merredeth, a notable coward, when he was in field, and 21.demaunded why he did not fight and strive to kill his enemies? He, good man, told them, he could not finde in his heart to kill them whom he never sawe before, nor had ever any quarrell with them.
fo. 79.
19 Dec. 1602.At Paules.
One with a long browne beard, a hanging looke, a gloting eye, and a tossing learing jeasture; his text "Take heede of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothinge, but within are rauening wolves; you shall know them by their fruits."
False prophets qui veritatem laudant sed amant mendacia preache truely but liue wickedly. He ran over manie heresies, and concluded still to take heede of them; false prophets which soothe up in synn by pardons for past, and dispensacions for synn to come.
The sheepes clothing, pretended innocency, simplicity, and profitt; they come onely to teache us the auncient universall, and that relligion which our fathers lived and dyed in; that ours is scarse an hundred yeares old, received but in a corner or twoe as it were of the world.
But ours is auncient, theirs newe, all since 600 yeares after Christ, as their universall vicarage. 2. Their singing by note in the churche. 3. Their lifting up of the breade. 4. Auricular confession and universall pardon, &c.
fo. 79b.
19.
The multitude noe signe of the churche, for Noah and his family in the old world, Lott in Sodome, &c.
And a true note of the true church, that it hath bin allways persecuted, and the false the persecutor. Abel slayne, &c. This cruelty the property of wolves.
His whole sermon was a stronge continued invectiue against the papists and jesuites. Not a notable villanous practise committed but a pope, a cardinall, a bishop, or a priest had a hand in it; they were still at the worst ende.
They come, they are neuer sent, they come without sending for.
In the afternoone, at a church in Foster Lane end, one Clappam, a fo. 80.
19 Dec. 1602.blacke fellowe, with a sower looke, but a good spirit, bold, and sometymes bluntly witty; his text Salomon's Song, iv. ca. 3 v.: "Thy lips are like a thred of skarlett." For the exposicion of this text he said he would not doe as many would after the fancy of their owne braine, but according to the Scripture, expound it by some other place, and that was ii. of Josua, where he findeth the same words, a skarlet thred, v. 21, "Shee bound the skarlet threed in the windowe." He told a long story of Rahab before he came to the threed; and after almost all his sermon was some allusion to that story. Rabby Shulamo makes this comparison, that the lips are said to be like a threed of skarlett, to signifie such person in the churche whose promises are performaunces, whose wordes are workes, as the red threed was a simbole and a signe unto Rahab. Rahab was a tauernes, and it signifies alsoe an harlot, because such kinde of fo. 80b.
19 Dec. 1602.people in that country used to sell their honesty with their meate. Like scarlett; the colour sheweth life within, as palenes death.
Joshua a type of Jesus, and the wordes the same in seuerall languages. Moses could not bring the children of Israel into the land of promise, but that was the office of Joshua; the lawe could not be our saviour, but Christ is he that must bring us to heaven. Joshua sent two spies; Christ obserued the same number, and alwayes sent two disciples togither. 3. What the spies undertooke and promised according to their commission was firme and ratified by Joshua; whose synnes the disciples, and nowe the ministers, according to their power, remitt or binde on earth, shalbe remitted or bound in heaven.
There are enough of Rahab's profession in euery place; a man may finde a greate many more then a good sorte. "I would not give a penny for an 100 of them," said he.
Rahab beleeved and shewed it by hir workes. Every one will say he beleeues, but except he can showe it to me by his workes, I will not give two strawes for it; lett him carry it to the exchange and see what he can gett for it.
fo. 81.
19 Dec. 1602.
An harlot is like a pantofle or slipper at an inne, which is ready to serve for every foote that comes.
Paule, like the spies, was lett downe out at a windowe, and ouer a city wall too. Wee promise in babtisme to fight against Sathan; but, alas, will some say, I finde that I haue often stroue with him, and still I finde I goe away with some wound or other. "Be therefore comforted" sayd he, "for these woundes are signes of your fighting."
When God deliuered his people from the Aegiptians he led them with a pillar of light, but caste a darke cloud betwixt, "and soe the blinde buzards," said he, "ran up and downe, they knewe not about what."
When he shewed that Salmon was the husband of Rahab, he said "Yf anie nowe, after 44 yeares preaching, and the bible being in English were ignorant of that, it were a horrible shame." And here he sett downe a posicion that none could soundly interpret or vnderstand the Scripture without genealogy, which he commended verry highly.
Of love; they wilbe at your commaundement. But you may doe it yourselfe. You shall commaund and goe without.
fo. 81b.
22 Dec. 1602.When Dr. Colpeper, warden of New Colledge in Oxford,[138] expelled one Payne of that house for some slight offence, this Payne recited that verse alluding to their name.
Pæna potest demi, Culpa perennis erit. (Rous.)
24.I tooke my journey and came to Bradborne.
John Kent told me of a pretty cosenning connycatching trick of late used in London. On that was in execution for debt at the suit of a gent. that dwelt in a far country, procured one of his acquaintaunce to surmise that his creditor was deade, dyed intestate, and he the next of kin, and thereupon to procure letters of administracion, by coulour whereof he might have good opportunity to discharge the party, which was effected accordingly.
My cosen told me that the county of Kent hath compounded, by the mediacion of the justices of peace, with the Greene clothe to be discharged of the purueyors for the Queenes house for all victualls, &c. except timber and carriage, with the price of wheate raised to 20d. the bushell, which before was but 10d., and for this to pay 2100l. per annum, for which the parishes rated, and East Malling at 5l.
27.We have good cardes to shew for it, said a lawyer to the old Recorder Fleetewood: "Well," said he, "I am sure wee have kings and queenes for us, and then you can have but a company of knaues on your syde."
fo. 82.
29 Dec. 1602.I tooke my journey about my cosens busines, to have a sight of certaine bondes in Mrs. Aldriche handes, as executrix to hir husband, wherein my cosen G. Mannyngham, deceased, and his executors, &c. with William Sumner, stoode bound; which bonds, by the meanes of my cosen Mr. Watts, I had a sight of, and finde that eache of them is in 500l. The condicion of one of them is to pay to Mr. Aldriche during his lyfe 100l. yearely at severall feasts. And yf William Sumner fayle in payment, or not put in nue suretyes upon the death of anie, then to stand in force. Nowe Sumner sayth he did not pay allwayes at the day, and it is apparent that noe sureties are put in since the death of my cosen, nor since the death of one Savil an other obligor. The condicion of the other was, whereas Mr. Aldriche had deputed William Sumner to exercise his office, that he should not comitt any thing which might amount to a forfayture of the letters patents whereby Mr. Aldriche held his office, and alsoe that William Sumner should performe all covenants conteyned in a payre of Indentures bearing the same date with the obligacion, all dated the 20 of June Ao Reginæ 37, Ao Dni. 1595. These I was to have a sight of, that yf the legataries sue my cosen, as executor in the right of his wife, he might pleade these obligacions in barr.
fo. 82b.
29 Dec. 1602.I lay at my cosen Chapmans at Godmerrsham.
I dined at my cosen Cranmers at Canterbury, and by him understoode howe Mr. Sumner had submitted himselfe to the arbitrement of Mr. Rauens and another, but the arbitrators, not regarding their authority, shuffled it vp vpon a sudden betweene Mrs. Aldriche and Sumner, whereas the submission and obligacion was betweene one of Mr. Aldriches sonnes and Sumner; and soe, by their negligent mistaking, all
was voyd. The cause of controversy was, Mr. Aldriche dyed some 2 or 3 dayes before the day of payment, his widdowe executrix desyred the whole, Sumner denied all, yet, in regard that Mrs. Aldriche should cancell his bondes and make him a generall acquittaunce, he offred 20 markes, and the arbitrators gaue but 20l., which Sumner refuseth to pay, and therefore the widdowe threatenes either to sue the bondes or bring an accion of accompt against Sumner for all the monies he receiued as deputy; but Sumner told me he hath generall acquittances for all accompts, except the last quarter.
This night I lay at my Cosen Watts, by Sandwich, and he rode with me the next morning to Canterbury.
fo. 83.
30 Dec. 1602.Sir Wa. Rawley made this rime upon the name of a gallant, one Mr. Noel,
The word of deniall, and the letter of fifty,
Makes the gent. name that will never be thrifty. (Noe. L.)
and Noels answere,
The foe to the stommacke, and the word of disgrace,
Shewes the gent. name with the bold face. (Raw. Ly.)
My cosen Watts told me that the Bishop of Yorke, Dr. Hutton,[139] was esteemed by Campion the onely man of all our divines for the fathers.
That opinion which some hold that Paule did not publishe his writings till he and they were confirmed by Peter, as the head of the Apostles, is plainely everted by the 1 and 2 chapters to the Ga[lla]thians, where it is apparant that Paule withstoode and contradicted Peter, &c.
31.Dyned with my cosen Watts, at my cosen Cranmers in Canterbury. In discourse howe obstinate some are, that they will not confesse a fact, wherefore they were justly condemned, my cosen Cranmer remembred this story. Not long since one Keyt a Kentishe man had made [his] will, whereby he bequeathed a great legacy to one Harris, but after, being displeased, he gave out that he would revoke his will, and Harris should have nothing, whereupon Harris, fo. 83b.
Dec. 1602.thinking to prevent his purpose, hired a thrasher to murther him. This poore knave having effected this villany began to grow resty, could not endure to worke any more, but would be maynteyned by Harris for this feate, otherwise most desperatly he threatened to reveall the matter. Thus the fellowe fedd soe long, and spent soe lavishly upon himselfe and his queanes, out of Harris's purse, that Harris, growing weary of the charge, began to thinke howe he might conceale the first by practising a second murther; which he plotted in this manner, he would invite the knave to a dynner at Maidstone, and procure some to murther him as he should come through the woodes. But the fellowe, fearing the worst (because they had bin at some hott words before) imparted his feare to his whore whome he kept, told hir that yf he were murthered shee should accuse the Harrisses, and wisht hir to looke in the bottome of his deske, and there shee should finde that would be sufficient to hang them. As he feared it happened, for he was murthered; the queane brought all to light, and those papers in his deske shewed the whole manner of the former murther of Keyt, whereupon the Harrises were indited, found gilty, and adjudged to be hanged. The former tooke it upon his death that he was guiltles of the latter fo. 84.
Dec. 1602.murder, but the other confest it as he was tumbling from the ladder.
When certaine schollers returning from Italy were at the Bishops of Canterbury, amongst other they came about my cosen Cranmer with their new fashioned salutacions belowe the knee. He, like a good plaine honest man, stoode still, and told them he had not learned to dissemble soe deepely.
Hee told mee what dissembling hyppocrites these Puritanes be, and howe slightly they regard an oath: Rauens having a booke brought unto him by a puritane to have his opinion of it, the booke being written by B. Bilson, Rauens as he had reade it would needes be shewing his foolishe witt in the margent, in scoffing at the booke. When the fellowe that had but borrowed it was to carry it home again, he swore it neuer went out of his hands. After, when it was shewed him what had bin written in it when himselfe could not write, he confessed that Ravens had it; then Rauens forswore his owne hand.
fo. 84b.
7 Jan, 1602.I came from Canterbury to Godmersham.
Cosen Jo. Chapman takes the upper hand and place of his elder brother Drue.
Mr. Jo. Cutts, Sir John Cutts sonne and heire, was married some two yeares since to Mr. Kemp of Wye his daughter; keepes foure horses, foure men, his wife a gentleman and a mayde, and hath but 200l. per annum in present; mary his meate and drinke and horse meate is frank with Mr. Kemps. He shall be heir to Sir Henry Cutts of Kent; is like to be worthe some 1,500l. per annum, after his father and mother and Sir Henry Cutts and his ladyes death.
Stafford, that married Sir John Cutts daughter hath brought his yonger brother to this composicion, that there is 300l. per annum for his children, 200l. of it for his wife during hir life, and 100l. for hir husband, shee to keepe hir selfe and children, he to be soe limited because too prodigall.