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.