Epitaphe in the Churche at Hythe in Kent.
Whiles he did live which here doth lye
Three suites [he] gott of the Crowne,
The Mortmaine, fayre, and Mayralty,
For Heith this auncient Towne;
And was himselfe the Baylif last,
And Mayor first by name;
Though he be gon, tyme is not past
To prayse God for the same.
(Of John Bridgman; obijt 1591.)
fo. 35b.
May.W. Wats, Antagonista. Summum jus non est summa injuria jure positivo, sed equitate.
* * * *
14.
Mr. Curle, my chamber-fellowe, was called alone by parliament to the barr.
* * * *
29.
Those which goe to churche onely to heare musicke, goe thither more for fa then soule. (B. Reid.)
One said, yong Mr. Leake was verry rich, and fatt, "True," said B. Reid, "pursy men are fatt for the most part."
"He takes the stronger part still," of one that would be sure to drinke stronge beare yf he could come to it.
fo. 36b.
April, 1602.A medicine for the windines in the stomach.
℞. A quarter of a pint of lavanda spike water, half as much balme water, a fewe cloues, and a little long pepper beaten together; drinke this at twise. (Mrs. Cordell's expert.)
For the haymeroyds.
℞. Two ounces of shoemacke brayed, and put it to halfe a pint of red rose water; warme them over the fyre, and bath the place with it. (My Cosen expert.)
The covetous man rides in a coache which runnes upon 4 wheeles. The 1. Pusillanimity. 2. Inhumanity. 3. Contempt of God. 4. Forgetfulnes of death. (Dr. Chamberlayne.) It is drawne with two horses. 1. Rapacitas. 2. Tenacitas. The divel the coachman, and he hath two whippes. 1. Libido acquirendi. 2. Metus amittendi.
6.This day there was a race at Sapley neere Huntingdon, invented by the gentlemen of that country: at this Mr. Oliuer Cromwell's[82] horse won the syluer bell: and Mr. Cromwell had the glory of the day. Mr. Hynd came behinde.
fo. 37.
Aprill, 1602.While I was at Hemmingford Dr. Chamberlayne told me that Dr. Bilson was made Bishop of Winchester[83] by the meanes of the Earl of Essex. Nowe the Bishop, being visitor of Trinity Colledge in Oxeford by his place, promised to the Lady Walsingham,[84] that he would make him that nowe is President after Dr. Yeilder's[85] decease, and for this purpose expelled such fellowes as he thought would be opposite, and placed such in their roomes as he knewe would be sure vnto him. By this meanes Dr. Chamberlaine was defeated of his right, being an Oxefordshire man, whom by their statutes they are bound to preferr before anie other.
The fellowes of that Colledge are to nominat two, and the visitor within six weekes must elect the one of them to be President.
Upon marriage with the Lady Poliuizena,[86] Sir Henry Cromwell conueyed his lands vnto his sonne Mr. Oliuer in marriage. Soe Mr. Oliuer with his owne and his ladyes living is the greatest esquire living in those partes, thought to be worth neere 5000l. per annum. There liues a housefull at Hinchingbrooke, like a kennell.
Mrs. Mary Androes, daughter and heir to Mr. Androes of Sandey, was married to one Mr. Mayne of Grayes In; had 1000l. present, and yf Androes have issue, to have an other. Mayne had but 150l. per annum.
fo. 37b.
Aprill, 1602.I hear that the yong Lord North was married to Mrs. Brocket, Sir Jo. Cutts his Ladies sister, being constrayned in a manner through want of money while he liued in Cambridge; he had some 800l. with hir. Shee is not yong nor well fauoured, noe maruaile yf he loue hir not.[87]
On Easter day Dr. Chamberlaine was at Sir Henry Cromwells, and ministered the communion, but without booke.
15.I was with my cosen in Kent, and he told me that there is one[88]
, a rich broker in London, whose first wife had such a running strong conceit in hir head that the sherifes sought still to apprehend hir, that noe perswasion to the contrary preuayling with hir, first shee cutt hir owne throate, and that being cured, she brake hir necke by leaping out at hir garret windowe.
Jo. Vermeren a Dutchman, of kin to my cosens first wifes sisters husband, had issue a daughter married to one Niepson. Their daughter was married to one Hoofman, a notable rich man, whoe in his beginning was but a pedler of pottes, yet after, by his good fortune and industry, he proued soe wealthie that he gave 10,000l. with his daughter in marriage to Sir Horatio Poliuizena, now deceased, and the widdowe married to Mr. Oliuer Cromewell, the sonne and heir of Sir Henry Cromwell. This marriage, and certaine land he had from his Uncle Warrein,[89] cleared him out of debt.
fo. 38.
18 Aprill, 1602.My cosen concluded with William Tunbridge of Ditton to give him 115l. for a leas of Ditton ruffe for 25 yeares.
16.Dr. Parry told howe Dr. Barlowe, nowe one of hir Majesties chapleins, received a checke at hir Majesties, because he presumed to come in hir presence when shee had given speciall charge to the contrary, because shee would not haue the memory of the late Earl of Essex renewed by him, who had preached against him at Paules. "O, Sir," said shee, "wee heare you are an honest man! you are an honest man, &c."
Hir Majestic merrily told Dr. Parry that shee would not heare him on Good Friday; "Thou wilt speake against me, I am sure," quoth shee; yet shee heard him.
18.Duke de Neveurs a Frenchman departed for France this day.
19.My cosen told me that Vicars, King Henry the 8. his Sergeant Surgeon, was at first but a meane practiser in Maidstone, such a one as Bennett there, that had gayned his knowledge by experience, untill the King advanced him for curing his sore legge.
A light hand makes a heauy wound.
20.I rode to Dr. Parryes. Shee[90] said there was noe greater evidence to proue a man foole then yf he leaue the University to marry a wife.
fo. 38b.
21 Aprill.Dr. Parry told howe his father was Deane[91] of Salisbury, kept a sumptuous house, spent aboue his reuenewe, was carefull to preferr such as were men of hope, vsed to haue showes at his house, wherein he would have his sonne an actor to embolden him.
He shewed me the sermon he made at Court last Good Fryday; his text was, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" It was right eloquent and full of sound doctrine, grave exhortacions, and heavenly meditacions. Vox horrentis, forsaken; Vox sperantis, My God; Vox admirantis, Why hast thou, &c. Mee! There was in Christ Esse naturæ, Esse gratiæ, Esse gloriæ. God's presence 2x [duplex?] by essence, by assistance; dereliction, withdrawing, and retyring.
I returned to Bradborne.
Shee[92] would have sent a part of a gammen of bacon to the servants; my cosen said he loued it well, &c.; and, because he wold not send that she would, shee would not that he would, and grewe to strange hott contradiction with him. After, when shee sawe him moued (and not without cause) shee fell a kissing his hand at table, with an extreeme kinde of flattery, but neuer confest shee was to violently opposite.
fo. 39.
22 Aprill.The fleur de luce, as we call it, takes his name, I thinke, as Fleur de Lis, which Lis is a river in Flanders neere Artoys.
26.I came from my cosens to London.
27.Perpetuityes are so much impugned because they would be preiudiciall to the Queenes proffit, which is raysed dayly from[93] fines and recoueryes.
One Parkins of the Inner house a very complementall gentleman; a barrester but noe lawyer.
28.In the Star Chamber the benche on that part of the roome where the Queenes armes are placed is alwayes vacant; noe man may sitt on it, as I take it, because it is reserued as a seate for the Prince, and therefore before the same are layed the purse and the mace as notes of autority.
* * * *
30.
Those which name such as they ought not, and such as they knowe to be vnfitt, to be Sheriues of London, doe but goe a woll-gathering, purposing to fleece such men. (Cosen Onsloe.) And they goe a fishinge for some 100l. or 2, as they nominated my cosen this yeare.
fo. 39b.
October, 1602.One Mr. Ousley of the Middle Temple, a yong gallant, but of a short cutt, ouertaking a tall stately stalking caualier in the streetes, made noe more a doe but slipt into an ironmongers shop, threwe of his cloke and rapier, fitted himselfe with bells, and presently cam skipping, whistling, and dauncing the morris about that long swaggerer, whoe, staringly demaunding what he ment; "I cry you mercy," said the gent., "I tooke you for a May pole." (Ch. Da. nar.)
9.Sniges nose looked downe to see howe many of his teethe were lost, and could neuer get up againe. (Th. Ouerbury of Sniges crooked nose.)
Sir Frauncis Englefields house ouerthrowne by the practice of Mr. Blundell of the Middle Temple, whoe, being put in speciall trust, tooke a spleen vpon a small occasion against the heir, and presently in his heate informed the Earl of Essex, that such a conveyaunce was made of soe goodly an inheritaunce in defraud of the Queen, and soe animated him to begg it, to the vtter ruine of that house. (Mr. Curle nar.)
One told a jest, and added, that all good wittes applauded it; a way to bring one to a dilemma, either of arrogance in arriding, as though he had a good witt too, or of ignoraunce, as thoughe he could not conceiue of it as well as others.
fo. 40.
10 Oct. 1602.At Paules Crosse.
Dr. Spenser[94] preached. He remembred in his prayer the Companie of the Fishmongers, as his speciall benefactors while he lived in Oxford; his text the 5 of Isay, v. 4.
We are soe blind and peruerse by nature, that wee are soe farre from the sence of our owne imperfections and the terror of our synn, that either not seing or not acknowledging our owne weaknesses, wee runne headlong into all wickednes, and hate soe much to be reformed, that God is fayne to deale pollitikely with vs, propounding our state vnto vs in parables, as it were an others case, that thereby drawing man from conceit of himselfe, which would make him partiall, he might draw an uncorrupt iudgment of him self from him selfe. Soe dealt the Lord with David by the parable of the poore mans sheepe, and soe here he taketh up a comparison of the vine, to shewe Israell their ingratitude.
Parables are proportionable resemblances of things not well understoode; they be vayles indeed, which couer things, but being remoued give a kinde of light to them which before was insensible, and makes them seeme as though they were sensible.
The things considerable in the text are, first, The churche, resembled by the vine. 2. Gods benefits towards the Churche expressed in the manner of his dressing the vine. 3. The fruit expected, grapes, iudgment and righteousnes. 4. The fayling and ingratitude, by bringing forth sower and wylde grapes; oppression and crying. 5. God's judgment, vers. 6.
fo. 40b.
In the Church he considered, what it is, and where it is.
The Churche is compared most aptly to the vyne, for neither of them spring naturally. Non sumus de carne, nec voluntate hominis, sed bene-placito Dei. 2. Both spring, and growe, first in weakenes, yet then they claspe their little hands and take hold on of an other, and soe going on crescunt sine modo, the increase without measure, as Pliny sayth. 3. Noe plant more flourishing in the summer, none more poore and bare[95] in winter. All followe the Church in prosperitie, and the rich, the mighty, the wise, in persequution fall away like leaves. 4. Bring forth fruit in clusters, which cheres the hart. God and men and angels reioyce when the Church aboundes in workes of righteousnes and true holines. 5. Both have but one roote, though manie branches; Christ is the true foundacion, other then this can no man lay. 6. The branches are ingrafted, and as in planting all are tyed alike with the outward bond, yet all proue not alike, soe all haue the same profession and outward meanes, yet all growe not nor fructifie alike: but it is the inward grace that maketh the true branche; as he is a Jewe that is one within. Rom. ii. 28, 29.
2. The Lord's vineyard is not to be knowne by the fruit (for we reade here that it bringeth forth wyld grapes), but where the roote is fo. 41.planted, where Christ is professed, there the Church is; it is nowe universall, not yed to anie place; we reade of 7 Churches in the Reuelacions, though all not alike pure, yet all churches: Israell is his eldest sonne, though a prodigall: as betwixt man and woman after a publique contract celebrated, though the woman play the harlot and bring forth children of fornicacion unto hir husband, yet continues shee his wife whose name shee beares vntill a publique divorce be sued. Some churches are soare, some sicke, some soe leprous that noe communion ought to [be] continued with them, yet churches still. Yf anie aske, as manie papists use to doe, where our church was before Martin Luther was borne, we aunswer that it is the same churche that was from the beginninge, and noe newe on as they terme it, for the weeding of a vyneyard is noe destroyinge, nor the pruning any planting; for we have remoued but idolatrie and a privat masse of ceremonies, which with the burying the author[?] of life in a hidden and unknowne language had almost put the heavenly light out of our candlesticke; and when the trashe of humaine inventions had raysed themselues to soe high esteeme, it was tyme to say, "Yf Ephraim play the harlot, yet lett not Israell synn."
fo. 41b.
Jerusalem litterally is the mother Churche of all.
The Churche, like the vine that hath many branches but one roote, may haue severall members, but all knit together with the vnity of three bonds—one Lord, one fayth, one baptisme. But nowe Rome, usurping over his fellowes, speakes like Babilon in the 18 Reuel. "I cannot erre," and have encroched an article vpon the Creede, that must be beeleeved upon payne of damnation, that there is one visible heade of the Churche (which must be the Pope). And yet in an œcumenical Counsell of 330 Catholike Bishops it was decreed that Constantinople should have equall authority with Rome; which plainely confuted their usurped universall supremacy. Yet the Popes, by the assistaunce of the Emperours, haue, like ivy, risen higher then the oke by which it climed: soe much that our countriman Stapleton doubts not to call his Holines Supremum in terris numen.
3. The benefites and manner of dressing the vine: Genesis is but the nurse of it; Exodus, the removing; Leviticus, the ordering and manner of keeping it; Josua, the weeding, &c. God soe loued it that he gave his onely Sonne to redeeme it, and when he gave him, what gave he not with him?
Might not the Church use the wordes of the leeper in the Ghospell: "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane;" and why then complaynest thou?
fo. 42.
True it is, yf we consider his power: for he that is able to rayse vp children to Abraham of stones, to make the iron sweate, &c. can purifie our corruptions yf wee regard his power, and that without our meanes; but God hath tyed himself to ordinary meanes, by his eternall decree: and he that will not heare Moses and the prophets neither will he beleeve though one should rise from the dead. Many were foule with the leprosie in Nathans [Elishas?] tyme, yet none cured but Naman.
4. The fruit. All things, euen the meanest, imitate the Creator in doing something in their kind for the common good, not themselves alone; the olive doth not anoint itself with its owne oyle; the trees and plants which spend themselues in bringing forth some fruit or berry holds it noe longer then till it be ripe, and then letts it fall at his masters feete; the grape is not made drunke with its owne iuyce.
"He that receiveth a benefit hath lost his liberty," saith Seneca; and, since we have received such benefits of God as we can not, we would not renounce, lett us glorifie him in our bodies whose we are, not our owne.
Aeternitie cometh before we worke, therefore our workes merit not eternall life: and infants incorporat into the mysticall vyne are saued though they dy before they are able to bring forth anie good worke.
Our good workes growe as it were in a cold region; the best of them, even our prayers, scarce come to perfection throughe the imperfection of our nature.
Good workes to be performed for mutuall helpe, and though we holde ourselves sufficient, yet they are to be done, even as every thing fo. 42b.bringeth forth something yf for noe other purpose yet to continue in its owne state; like the spring, which, because it yeildeth water, is therefore continually fed with water.
Bona opera sunt via regni, non causa regnandi. (Bernard.)
The fruits brought forth; wyld grapes: an heavy sight to a carefull husbandman, to haue noe better reward of his paynes.
I pray God the Church of England may not justifie the synns of Sodome and Judas. Couetousnes, the roote of all wickednes, maketh men desyre to be greate rather then good, and this desyre causes them to sucke even the lyfe from one another. There is a synn amongst us which hath not bin heard of amongst the Gentiles, that wee should robb God, and that is in tithing. Howe manie desyrous that the labouring man, the minister, might be put out, that themselues might haue the inheritaunce. It is the corruption of the ministery that all the dores of entraunce are shut up but the dore of symony, soe that the most and best places are for the most possessed by the worst; and, yf anie of the better be forced to come in, they are constrayned to make shipwracke of a good conscience.
If it be true which is published in the names of the popish faction, the Pope hath sent a dispensation that the popish patrons may sell their presentations, soe be it the money come to the maintenance of the Jesuites. And will Peters successor thinke it lawefull to sell the guifts of the Holie Ghost? Will Simon Peter become Simon Magus? But he will nowe become a fisher for men; because he findes in their mouthes greater peices then fo. 43.twenty pence. The ministers are like the hart and liver, from whence are derived lyfe and nourishment by sound doctrine and good example into the members of the Church, and yf these be corrupt it is much to be feared the whole body is like to languishe in a dangerous consumption.
In defrauding the ministery, we pull downe the pillers of the house wee dwell in.
fo. 43b.
11 October, 1602.The Lord Zouche, Lord President of the Marches of Wales, begins to knowe and use his authoritie soe muche that his iurisdiction is allready brought in question in the Common place, and the Cheif Justice of that bench[96] thinkes that Glostershire, Herefordshire, &c., are not within his circuit.
When he came to sitt on the benche at Ludlowe, there were, as it was wont, two cushions layd, one for the Cheife Justice Leukenour, another for the President, but he tooke the on, and casting it downe said, one was enough for that place. (Tho: Overbury.)
Sir Walter Rhaleighs sollicitor, on Sheborough, was verry malapert and saucy in speache to Justice Walmesley[97] at the bench in the Common place; soe far that, after words past hotly betwixt them, he said he thought it fitt to commit him for his contemptuous behauiour, but the other iudges were mum. Quantus ille! His wordes, "Before God, you do not well to lay their practises vpon us. You knowe me well enough. If you list, &c."
* * * *
fo. 44.
10 October, 1602.
I heard that Sir Robert Cecile is fallen in dislike with one of his Secretaries of greatest confidence (Mr.[98]
,) and hath discarded him, which moues manie coniectures and much discourse in the Court. This Secretary was a sutour to be on of the clerkes of the signet, as a place of more ease and lesse attendaunce then a clarke of the counsell, which it is though[t] he might haue.
The Irish Earle of Clanrichard[99] is well esteemed of by hir Maiestie, and in speciall grace at this tyme; hath spent lavishly since he came ouer, yet payes honestly. (Mr. Hadsor.)
The Earl of Ormond[100] is purposed, and hath licence, to marry his daughter to one of his cosens, not to the Lord Mountioy as was thought. (Idem.)
Evill companie cuttes to the bone before the fleshe smart. It is like a fray in the night, when a man knowes not howe to ward. (Ch. Dauers booke.)
The libertines from the rose of Sola fides, sucke the poyson of security. (Idem.)
A souldier being challenged for flying from the camp said, Homo fugiens denuo pugnabit.
Booth being indited of felony for forgery the second time, desyred a day to aunswere till Easter terme; "Oh!" said the Attorny, "you would haue a spring; you shall, but in a halter," (Ch. Da.)
* * * * *
25.
I heard that Sir Richard Basset is much seduced, indeed gulled, by one Nic. Hill, a great profest philosopher, and nowe abuseth this yong knight by imagined alchymie.[101] (Jo. Chap.)
fo. 44b.
12 October, 1602.The Earle of Sussex keepes Mrs. Syluester Morgan (sometyme his ladies gentlewoman) at Dr. Daylies house as his mistress, calls hir his Countesse, hyres Captain Whitlocke,[102] with monie and cast suites, to braue his Countes, with telling of hir howe he buyes his wench a wascote of 10l., and puts hir in hir veluet gowne, &c.: thus, not content to abuse hir by keeping a common wench, he striues to invent meanes of more greife to his lady, whoe is of a verry goodly and comely personage, of an excellent presence, and a rare witt. Shee hath brought the Earle to allowe hir 1700l. a yeare for the maintenaunce of hir selfe and hir children while she lives apart. It is coniectured that Captain Whitlocke, like a base pander, hath incited the Earl to followe this sensuall humour, * * * as he did the Earl of Rutland. (J. Bramstone nar.) The Countesse is daughter to the Lady Morrison in Hartfordshire,[103] with whom it is like she purposeth to liue. * * * A practise to bring the nobilitie into contempt and beggery, by nourishing such as may prouoke them to spend all vpon lechery and such base pleasures.
When there came one which presented a supplicacion for his master to the Counsell, that vpon sufficient bond he might be released out of Wisbishe Castle, where he lay for recusancy, that he might looke to his busines in haruest, the Lord Admirall[104] thought the petition reasonable, but the old Lord Treasurour, Sir W. Cecil, said he would not assent, "for," said he, "I knowe howe such men would vse vs yf they had vs at the like aduantage, and therefore while we haue the staffe in our handes lett us hold it, and when they gett it lett them vse it." (Mr. Hadsor nar.)
fo. 45.
October, 1602.Out of a Poeme called "It is merry when Gossips meete" S. R.[105]
Such a one is clarret proofe, i. e. a good wine-bibber.
There's many deale vpon the score for wyne,
When they should pay forgett the Vintner's syne.
* * * *
A man whose beard seemes scard with sprites to have bin,
And hath noe difference twixt his nose and chin,
But all his hayres have got the falling sicknes,
Whose forefront lookes like jack an apes behind.
A gossips round, thats every on a cup.
fo. 45b.
October 12, 1602.Mr. Steuen Beckingham of Hartfordshire was brought into the Kings benche at the suit of two poore ioyners whom he hath undone; they seeled his house, which came to a matter of some 80l. and they could hardly obtain anie thing by suit. A man of a hott collerick disposicion, a creaking loud voyce, a greasy whitish head, a reddish beard, of long staring mouchetons; wore an outworne muff with two old gold laces, a playne falling band, his cuffs wrought with coloured silk and gold, a sattin doublet, a wrought wastcote, &c. vt facile quis cognoscat haud facile si cum alijs convenire posset, qui voce, facie, vestitu ita secum dissidet. One of his witnesses would not aunswere any thing for him vntill he were payd his charges in the face of the court. Soe little confidence had he in his credit, whoe had dealt soe hardly with his ioyners.
On Fossar, an old ioyner dwelling [in] Paules Churchyard, a common and a good measurer of ioyners work.
Mr. Prideaux, a great practiser in the Eschequer, and one that usurpes vpon a place certaine at the barr, left his man one day to keepe his place for him, but Lancaster of Grayes In comming in the meane tyme, would needes haue the place, though the man would haue kept it. "For," said L. "knowes thou not that I beeleue nothing but the reall presence?" meaning that he was a Papist; and besydes, "could not thinke it to be corpus meum except Mr. Prideux himselfe were there." (Mr. Hackwell nar.)
When Mr. Dodridge,[106] in his argument of Mr. Darsies patentes, and soe of the prerogatiue in generall, he began his speache from fo. 46.
16 October, 1602.Gods gouernment. "It is done like a good archer," quoth Fr. Bacon, "he shootes a fayre compasse."
There was an action brought to trie the title of one Rooke an infant for a house and certaine land. "All this controversye," said the attorny, "is but for a little rookes nest."
An Epitaphe upon a bellowes maker.
Here lyes Jo. Potterell, a maker of bellowes,
Maister of his trade, and king of good fellowes;
Yet for all this, att the houre of his death,
He that made bellowes could not make breath. (B. J.)[107]
24.Mr. Bodly, the author, promoter, [and] the perfecter, of a goodly library in Oxford, wan a riche widdowe by this meanes. Comming to the place where the widdowe was with one whoe is reported to haue bin sure of hir, as occasion happened the widdowe was absent; while he was in game, he, finding this opportunity, entreated the surmised assured gent. to hold his cardes till he returned. In which tyme he found the widdowe in a garden, courted, and obteined his desyre; soe he played his game, while an other held his cardes.[108] He was at first but the sonne of a merchant, vntill he gave some intelligence of moment to the counsell, whereupon he was thought worthie employment, whereby he rose. (Mr. Curle.)
fo. 46b.
24 October.Mr. Dr. King,[109] preacher at St. Andrews in Holborn, at Paules Crosse, this daye.
His text 2 Peter ii. v. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The length of his text might make some tedious semblance of a long discourse, but the matter shortly cutt itself into two parts, example and rule; one particular, the other generall; the one experiment, the other science; the one of more force to proue, the other to instruct. The argument is not a posse ad esse, but ab esse ad posse; it hath bin, and therefore may be; nay by this place it shalbe, for lege mortali quod vnquam fuit, et hodie fieri potest; but lege æterna, that which hath bin shalbe agayne. Here is an acted performaunce, a demonstracion, το ὁτι, which are most forceable to persuade, being of all thinges sauing the thinges themselves neerest our apprehension, leading from the sense to the vnderstanding, which is our certaynest meane of acquiring knowledge, since philosophie teacheth quod nihil est intellectu, quod non prius fuit in sensu; sicut audiuimus, et fecerunt patres nostri. Hystory and example the strongest motives to imitation. Rules are but sleeping and seeming admonitions. Thomas would not beleeue vnles he thrust his fingers into Christes sydes, and felt the print of his nayles; and we are so obstinat, wee will hardly beeleue except Godes judgments thrust fingers and nayles into our sydes.
fo. 47.
Oct. 1602.
The examples are bipartite: each containing contrary doctrines, like the language of them in the last chapter of Nehemias, half Jewishe, half Ashdoch; like the bands of the Levites, that parted themselves one companie to one mount to blesse, the other to an other to curse, the people; soe the one part denounceth judgment, the other declareth mercy: they may be compared to the cleane beastes, Deut. xiv., which had parted hoofes, and chewed the cudd; soe here on the one syde is the old world drowned, on the other Noach saved; on the one Sodom burned, on the other Lott preserved. They are three of the strangest and fearefullest examples in nature; the fall of the Angells, the drowning of the world, the burning of Sodome; they stretch from one end to an other, alpha and omega, heaven and earth, men and angels, the most excellent payre of God's creatures, and the deluge œcumenicall and universall. But God in his punishment, like a wise prince, will begin at his owne sanctuary, at his owne house, non habitabit mecum iniquus, I will not suffer a wicked person to dwell in my house, and therefore first turned the angels from his habitacion. Angels in their creacion, vere δεὑτερον, the second light, the eyes and eares of the great king, continuall attendantes in his court and assistauntes of his throne; they are farr above the greatest saint, for wee shalbe but like them, and they are next to the Sonne of God, otherwise he had said nothing when he said, to which of the angells sayd he at anie tyme, &c. Heb.: they were fo. 47b.
Oct. 1602.in summo non in tuto, or rather non in summo sed in tuto, untill they synned. But what their synne was, I may safely say I knowe not. One sayth non seruarunt principatum, and St. Jo. sayth, non steterunt in veritate, their synn was treason, [they] continued not in their allegeaunce and fidelity; an other, et in angelis vacuitatem, prauitatem, infamiam reperiit; an other, though an absurd opinion, that it was fleshly lust, and concupiscence, by carnall copulacion with women upon earth, and this they would lay upon these wordes, and the Sonnes of God tooke the daughters of men; but of this it was sayd, perquam noxium audire et credere. And yet it became as common as it was absurd, because men thereby thought they might sooth themselves in that synn, and thinke it tollerable when angells had done the like before them.
An other opinion more probable, that it was noe carnall, but spirituall luxury that overthrewe them, a kinde of selfe love, when they overvalued their owne excellency, and forgat their Creator; and this opinion that their synn was pride is the most receiued and most like, because after his fall the first temptation that he made was of pride to Adam in paradise, enim similis altissimo.
fo. 48.
October, 1602.
The Diuel neuer desyred to be like God in his essence, for that being impossible he could never conceiue it, and that is neuer in appeticion which was not first in apprehension. Yet he may be sayd to affect it desyderio complacentiæ, non efficaciæ, because he might please himself with such conceits, not conceaue howe he might attaine to those pleasures, and to this purpose some there be that write as though they had been taken up into the third heaven, and heard and seene the conflict betwixt Michael and the diuel: and will not stick to affirme that Michael had his name because when the diuel like a great giant bellowed out blasphemie against the most highest, denying that he had any creator or superior, Michael should resist and tell him, Quis ut Deus, which is the interpretacion of Michael; soe though it be incertaine what was the synn of angells, yet is it most certayne that they fell from the highest happines to the lowest wretchednes; the fall was like lightning suddein, and the place of it not possible to be found; it passeth the capacitie of man to expresse it by comparison soe perfectly that he may say hoc impetu; and for their payne it is transcendens, et transcendentia transcendit, it is invaluable, incomprehensible, passeth all hyperbole; there was a present amission of place, grace, glory, the fruition of Godes presence, &c. which is the greatest of fo. 48b.
October, 1602.miseries, felicem fuisse: but there remaines a fearefull expectation of future miseries, et Nihil magis adversarium quam expectatio; et Quo me vindicta reservas?
It was the opinion of Origen long since condemned for erronius, that the diuels might be saued, and his reason was because they had liberum voluntatis arbitrium, which might perhaps change and encline to the desyre of good, and soe through repentaunce obteyne mercy; but the diuels are soe obdurate in their malice that though they may have stimulum conscienciæ, yet they can neuer come ad correptionem gratiæ, and in that opinion Origen is said Πλατονιζειν non Χριστιανιζειν. Another prop to his opinion was Jacobs ladder, where he imagined the descending and ascending of angels could meane nothing but the fall and restitution of angels.
The second example is the drowning of the world, a descent from heaven to earth in judgments. The world is termed κοσμοϛ of the Grecians, from the excellent beauty thereof, and of the Lattynes mundus, quia nihil mundius, but here it is used to expresse the universalitie of the destruction, as the hystorie declares it Gen. vi. 7, etc. vii. 21, 22, 23, 24: God destroyed euery thing that was vpon the earth from man to beast, to the creeping thing, and to the foule of the heaven, onely the fishes escaped, and the reason one rendreth was because the sea onely was undefiled at that tyme; there was then noe sayling upon that element, noe pyracie and murder committed upon it, noe forrein invasion intended over it, noe trafficque with the nations for straunge comodities, nor for one an others synnes and vices; all the other creatures were polluted by man, and were [to] be purged with
that floud. The ayre as farr as our eyes could looke and fascinate, even the foules as far as our breath could move, were infected with the contagion thereof; all were uncleane, all were to be clensed or punished. fo. 49.
October
1602. The greatnes of their number cannot excuse, but aggrauates the offence. A multitude may synn and their synn is more grievous, qui cum multitudine peccat, cum multitudine periet; and for the most part, the most are the worst. It is noe sound argument, it is well done because many doe so. The fox brings forth many cubbes, and the lyon hath but one whelpe at once, yet that is a lyon, and more then manie foxes. The harlot boasts that shee had manie moe resorted to hir house then Socrates to his schole, but hir followers went the way of darknes.
"And brought in the floud:" and therefor a miracle supernatural wrought by the finger of God, not as some imagine by the conjunction of waterishe planets, soe atributinge all to and confirming all by naturall meanes, they say the world shalbe destroyed by fire, as it was by water, when there shall happen the like conjunction of firy, as there was of watery planets; but beleeve God, whoe sayth Ego pluam. And this was against nature to destroy hir owne workes. The length of the rayne, forty dayes, the continuaunce of the waters for twelve monethes, the dissolucion of soe muche ayre with water as should make a generall deluge. These are directly against the rules of naturall philosophie, besydes the influence of a planet never stretcheth beyond his hemisphere, all which shewe plainely, that it was the miraculous worke of God, not effected by the course of nature. This was not imber in furore missus, to destroy or famishe some particular city or country, of which kinde of baptismes our land hath within fewe yeares felt many, but this made the sea, which before made but one spheare with the earth, as man and wife make but one flesh, breake the boundes of modesty and overflowe the whole; that which before was the girdle of the earth, nowe girt it, but in such a fashion, that it stiffled all. It was such a dropsie in the world, that our simples having lost their former virtue, we were permitted to eat flesh for the preseruacion of our liues, which before were prolonged with the naturall fo.
49b.
October, 1602.herbes and fruits of the earth, more hundreds then nowe they can bee scores with our best helpes of art or nature.
But it may be said, What, will God punishe the goode with the wicked? Will he drownd, all together, the righteous and the bad? Will he say Pereant amici, modo pereant inimici? Will he command stragem tam amicorum quam hostium? Shall his judgments be like the nett in the Gospell, that catcheth good and bad togither? Noe, for he punished the old world. This floud was his sope and nitar to scoure of the filth, to seuer the good from the euill, the wheat from the chaffe. He brought the floud upon the ungodly, but he "saued Noah, the eighth person;" a small number, a child may tell them, a poore number, pauperi est numerare, but eight persons saved. Those tymes were evil, but there are worse dayes not instant but extant, wherein iniquitie prescribes hypocrisie, settes hir hand to manie false bills, settes downe one hundred for ten, the whole is overflowne with all wickednes, &c. The second part is God's mercy, but he "saued Noah" like a ring on his finger, he kept him as writing in the palme of his hand, as the apple of his eye, and as a seale on his heart. He built him a castle stronger then brasse, and lockt him up in the arke like a jewell in casket. He preserved him safe in a wodden vessell amongst the toppes of mountains, in a world of waters, without card, tacleing, or pilot. He was saued between judgment and judgment, like Susanna betwixt the twoe elders, like the Children of Israell betweene two walles of water in the Red Sea, like Christ betweene the two theiues; soe that it may be truly sayd, it was noe meaner a miracle in sauing Noah, then in drowning the whole world.
fo. 50.
October, 1602.
But "saued Noah, the eight person, a preacher of righteousnes." Here is a banner of hope to all that feare God. When Justice was running hir course like a strong giant to haue destroyed the whole world, Mercy mett, encountered, and told hir that she must not touch Gods anoynted, nor doe his prophetes anie harme. There was Noah, "a preacher of righteousnes," and he must be spared, he was a preacher, not a whisperer in corners, singing to himselfe and his muses. This Noah was the hemme of the world, the remnant of the old, and the element of the newe: he was communis terminus, the first shipwright, and yet "a preacher of righteousnes." Nowe concerninge the estimacion of preachers in auncient tymes, and the contempt of that calling in these dayes, their high account with God, and their neglect with men, from hence he said he could paradox manie conclusions which tyme forced him to ouer slip. But in this age lett a preacher be as aunciently discended and of as good a parentage, bee as well qualified, as soundly learned, of as comely personage, as sweete a conversation, have a mother witt, and perhaps a fathers blessing to, lett him be equall in all the giftes and ornamentes of nature, art, and fortune to a man of an other profession, yet he shall be scorned, derided, and pointed at like a bird of diuers strange colours, and all because he beares the name of a preacher.
fo. 50b.
October, 1602.
Tymes past were so liberall to the clergy that for feare all would have runne into their handes there were statutes of mortmaine enacted to restrayne that current: but devotion at this day is grown soe cold, that the harts and hands of all are a verry mortmaine it self; they hold soe fast they will part from nothing; noe, not from that which hath bin of auncient given to holie uses. There are in England aboue 3000 impropriacions, where the minister hath a poore stipend; their bread is broken amongst strangers, the foxes and their cubbes liue in their ruines, the swallowe builds hir nest and the satyres daunce and revill where the Leuites were wont to sing, the Church liuings are seised vpon and possessed by the secular; it was the old lawe, that none should eate the bread of the aultar but those that wayted at the altar, those things which were provided for the pastors of our soules, with what conscience can they receive, which are not able to feede them. O miseram sponsam talibus creditam paranymphis.
It is strange that that abhominable synn of Symony should be so common, that it is no strang thing for a learned man to purchase his promotion; but the honest must say to their patron, as Paule to the lame, aurum et argentum non habeo, quod habeo dabo. I will liue honestly, I will preach diligently, I will pray for you deuoutly, but that quid dabitis liveth still with those of Judas his humor. They thinke all to much for the preacher, nothing to much for themselves; it must be enacted that they may not haue to much for feare of surfetting; they would haue them, according to the newe dyet, brought downe to the skin and bone, to cure them. "All their speaches and actions tend to our impouerishment," saith he, "as though fo. 51.
October, 1602.wee were onely droanes and they the bees of the State. The Lord commaunded to bring into his tabernacle, but these strive whoe may carry out fastest, and blesse themselves in the spoile, saying with that Churche robber, Videtis quam prospera nauigatio ab ipsis dijs immortalibus sacrilegis detur, but the hier of these labourers, this field of Naboth, &c., will cry out against them. Christ, when he was vpon the earth, wipped those out the Church which bought and sold in the Church, what will he doe with those which buy and sell his church itselfe? I speake not this, because I would perswade you to give your goodes unto ns; non vestra, sed vos, nay, non nostra sed vos, quero. I doe but advertise you to consider whether the withholding the tenth may not depriue you of the whole, the spoiling the Churche of hir clothes may not strip you of your living, the impropriating hir benefices may not dispropriat the Kingdome of Heaven to
you."
"A preacher of righteousnes" or a righteous preacher, such a one as Jo. Baptist was; he preached, as all ought to doe, by his lyfe, by his hands. By his lyfe; vel non omnino vel moribus doceto. He preached amendement from synn, he preached the lawes of nature and the judgments imminent, and as some thinke he preached Christ alsoe. And wee preache the lawe of nature: doth not nature teache you, &c. Wee preache faythe: then being justified by faythe. Wee preache the lawe of fo. 51b.
October, 1602.Moses: Christ came not to breake but to fulfill the lawe. We preach righteousnes, semen et germen, embued, endued, active, and contemplative, justificacion and sanctificacion, primitiue and imputed, the one in Christ absolute, the other in us. Righteousnes acted by Christ and accepted by us, which is the true justifying righteousnes, and aboue all the others.
The third example of Sodome and Gomorrhe. They were not condemned onely, but condemned to be ouerthrowne, and soe ouerthrowne that they should be turned, not into stones which might come togither againe, but into ashes; neither soe onely, for there had bin some mitigacion, yf they might soe have perished that they should not haue bin remembred, but they must be an example to all posteritie. Their remembraunce must not dye.
The cuntry is said to have bin a verry pleasaunt and fruitfull soyle, but terra bona, gens mala fuit, and therefore it was destroyed with fyre from a seven tymes hotter myne then that seven times heated ouen. It was hell-fyre out of heaven, fire from coales that were neuer blowne, it rayned fyre. As Kayne was sett as a marke to take heede of bloudshed, soe are those places an example to the ungodly; there remaines untill this day such a noysom water that some call it the Diuels Sea; others the Sea of Brimstone, for the ill savour; the Dead Sea, for noe fishe can liue in it, soe foule that noe uncleane thing can he clensed in it, soe thicke a water that nothing can sinke into it. fo. 52.
October, 1602.There are certaine apples fayre to the eye which being touched in fumum abeunt, tanquam ardent adhuc, et olet adhuc incendio terra. There is seen a cloud of pitche and heapes of ashes at this daye, their woundes are not skinned ouer, they appeare for ever.
"And deliuered just Lott." The word signified a kinde of force, as though he had pulled him out; here is Lottes commendacion that he liued amongst the wicked, and was not infected with them; bonum esse cum bonis non admodum laudabile; nihil est in Asia non fuisse, sed in Asia continenter vixisse, eximium. Soe was Abraham in Chaldea, Moses in the Court of Pharao, and yet noe partakers of the synnes of those places, "vexed with the uncleane conversacion." Non veniat anima mea in consilium eorum! The justice of Lott was professed enmity with the wicked. When Martiall asked Nazianzeene but a question, Nazianzeene told him he would not answere nisi purgatus fuerit. Wee must not say soe much as "God saue them!" to the wicked. But our stomakes are to strong; wee can digest to be drunke for companie, to rend the ayre with prodigious oathes in a brauery, but not rend our garmentes in contrition of heart; wee can telle howe to take 10 in the 100, nay 100 for 10, with a secure conscience; this synne of usury is a synn against nature, like the synn of Sodome. Wee will dissemble with the hyppocrite, temporise with the politician, deride with the atheist. Men thinke nowe a dayes that Arrianisme, Atheisme, Papisme, Libertinisme, may stand togither, and like salt, oyle, and meale be put togither in a sacrifice. Their conscience is sett in bonde, like Thamar when shee went to play the harlott. fo. 52b.
October, 1602.They had rather haue the shrift of a popishe priest then heare the holsome admonicion of a preacher; they have Metian, Suffetian myndes; Vertumni, Protei; any relligion, every relligion will serve their turne. Rome, that second Sodome, which still battlith our Church and relligion, lett it charge hir wheirein the Gospel hath offended this 44 yeares, and at last it will appeare all hir fault wilbe noe more but innocence and true godlines. Est mihi supplicii causa fuisse piam, &c.
God's mercy in particuler to our nation, in prosperity, in trade, auoydaunce of forrein attempts, appeasing of inbred treasons and dissensions, &c. soe that wee may say these 44 yeares of hir Majesties happie government is the kalender of earthly felicity wherein the Gospell hath growne old, yf not to old to some which begin to fall out of love with it, but were it as newe as it was the first day of hir Majesties entraunce, wee should hear them cry "Oh, howe beautifull are the feete of those that bring glad tydyngs of salvacion!" Eamus in domum Domini, &c. And lett us pray to Christ that, as the Evangelist writes he did, soe the Gospell may crescere ætate et gratia.
"The rule followeth," saith he, "which I promised, but tyme and order must rule me. It is but the summe of the examples, it is the same liquor that ranne from those spouts and is nowe in this cysterne. It runnes like that violl in the Gospell with wyne and oyle, wherewith Christ cured the wounded travailer; it runnes like Christes syde, with water and bloud, judgment and mercy; punishment and comfort," &c.
Consciencia est coluber in domo, immo in sinu.
fo. 53.
28 October, 1602.In the Chequer, Mr. Crooke,[110] the Recorder of London, standing at the barr betweene the twoe Maiors, the succeeding on his right hand, and the resigning on his left, made a speache after his fashion, wherin first he exhorted the magistrates to good deserts in regard of the prayse or shame that attends such men for their tyme well or ill imployed; then he remembered manie hir Majesties fauours to the Citie, their greate and beneficiall priviledges, their ornaments and ensignes of autoritie, their choise out of their owne Companies, &c. "Great, and exceeding great," said hee, "is hir Majesties goodnes to this City," for which he remembred their humble due thankefulnes; next he briefly commended the resigning Sir Jo. Jarrett,[111] saying that his owne performances were speaking wittnesses for him, and the succeeding, for the good hope, &c.: and then, showing howe this maior, Mr. Lee, had bin chosen by the free and generall assent of the Citye, he presented him to that honourable Court, praying their accustomable allowaunce.
The Lord Chief Baron Periam comended the Recorders speache, and recommended hir Majesties singular benefits to their thankefull consideracions, admonished that their might be some monethly strict searche be made in the Cytie for idle persons and maisterles men, whereof there were, as he said, at this tyme 30,000 in London; theise ought to be found out and well punished, for they are the very scumme of England, and the sinke of iniquitie, &c.
The Lord Treasurer, L. Buckhurst,[112] spake sharpely and earnestly, that of his certaine knowledge there were two thinges hir fo. 53b.
28 October 1602.Majestie is desyrous should be amended. There hath bin warning given often tymes, yet the commaundement still neglected. They are both matters of importaunce, and yf they be not better looked vnto the blame wilbe insupportable, and their answere inexcusable. The former is, nowe in this time of plenty to make prouision of corne to fill the magazines of the Citie, as well for suddein occasions as for prouision for the poore in tyme of dearth: this he aduised the maior to have speciall care of, and to amend their neglect by diligence, while their fault sleepes in the bosome of hir Majesties clemency. The other matter was the erecting and furnishing hospitals. Theise were thinges must be better regarded then they have bin: otherwise, howesoever he honour the Cytie in his priuat person, yet it is his dutie in regard of his place to call them to accompt for it.
fo. 54.
27 Oct. 1602.Thou carest not for me, thou scornest and spurnest me, but yet, like those which play at footeball, spurne that which they runne after. (Hoste to his wife.)
Wee call an hippocrite a puritan, in briefe, as by an ironized terme a good fellow meanes a thiefe. (Albions England.)
He lives by throwing a payre of dice, and breathing a horse 28.sometyme, i. e. by cheatinge and robbinge. (Towse nar. [?]).
In Patres Jesuitas.
Tute mares vitias, non uxor, non tibi scortum,
Dic Jesuita mihi, quî potes esse pater?
When there was a speach concerning a peace to be made with Spayne, a lusty cauallier at an ordinary swore he would be hangd yf there were a peace with Spaine, for which words he was sent for to the Court, and chargd as a busie medler, and a seditious fellowe; he aunswered, he meant noe such matter as they imagined; but he ment plainely that because himselfe was a man of armes, yf wee should haue a peace he should want employment, and then must take a purse, and soe he was sure he should be hanged yf there were a peace with Spaine. (Mr. Gorson.)
One said the Recorder was the mouth of the Cytie; then the City hath a black mouth, said Harwell, for he is a verry blacke man.
fo. 54b.October 31. At Paules
Dr. Dene [?] made a Sermon against the excessiue pride and vanitie of women in apparraile, &c., which vice he said was in their husbands power to correct. This man the last tyme he was in this place taught that a man could not be divorced from his wife, though she should commit adultery.
He reprehended Mr. Egerton, and such an other popular preacher, that their auditory, being most of women, abounded in that superfluous vanity of appa[raile].