Diary of John Manningham Part 13

[Footnote 69: There is a chronological confusion, either of the writer or the bookbinder, in this and subsequent entries. Having in vain endeavoured to unravel it, we have thought it better to follow the ma.n.u.script as it stands.]

DR. BUCKRIDGE,[70] AT THE TEMPLE CHURCHE.

[Footnote 70: Subsequently President of St. John's, Oxford, and occupant in succession of several episcopal sees. He died Bishop of Ely in 1631.]

Compared the lawe of nature to the night, reason to the starres, the written lawe to the morning or dawning of the day, and the lawe of grace to the sunnshine of the day; the first to the blade, the second to the eare, the third to the seede of corne.

Synn must be like an hedge of thornes sett about, not within, our garden to keepe us in goodnes. In tymes past men were afeard[71] to committ synn, but ready to make confession; nowe the world is changed, for nowe every one dares comitt anie synne, but is ashamed to make confession.

[Footnote 71: "ashamed" is interlined in the MS. above "afeard."]

[Sidenote: 25 June, 1602.

fo. 29.]

Mr. Foster of Lyncolnes Inn told these jeastes of Sir Thomas Moore as we went to Westminster. One which had bin a familiar acquaintaunce of Sir Th. Moores in his meaner fortunes, came to visit him when he was in the height of his prosperitie. Sir Th. amongst other parts of entertaynement shewed him a gallery which he had furnished with good variety of excellent pictures, and desyred his frendes iudgment which he liked best; but he making difficulty to prefer anie Sir Tho. shewed him the picture of a deathes head with the word _Memento morieris_, which he commended as most excellent for the deuise and conceit. The gent. being desyrous to knowe what he conceiued extraordinary in soe common a sentence, he told him, "Sir, you remember sometymes you borrowed some monie of me, but I cannot remember that you have remembred to repaye it: it is not much, and though I be chauncellor I have vse for as little, and nowe me thinkes this picture speakes vnto you _Memento Mori aeris_, remember to pay Moore his money."

After he was deprived of his place and dignity, whereas his gentlemen were wont after he was gone forth of church to signifie to their lady that his lordship was gone before, himselfe upon a Sunday came from his seate when prayer was ended, opened his ladyes pue dore, saying, "Madame, his lordship is gone before" (alluding to the losse of his place); and then, "Come wife, nowe wee may goe togither and talke."

[Sidenote: 13 March, 1601.

fo. 29^b.]

Mr. Watts and Mr. Danvers had fiery wordes.

Commonly those which speake most against Tullie are like a dog which comming into a roome where he espies a shoulder of mutton lying upon some high place, fells to barking at it, because he cannot reache it.

(_Watts._)

Vpon a tyme when Burbidge played Richard III. there was a citizen grone soe farr in liking with him, that before shee went from the play shee appointed him to come that night vnto hir by the name of Richard the Third. Shakespeare ouerhearing their conclusion went before, was intertained and at his game ere Burbidge came. Then message being brought that Richard the Third was at the dore, Shakespeare caused returne to be made that William the Conqueror was before Richard the Third. Shakespeare's name William. (_Mr. Touse?_)

[Sidenote: 14.]

Mr. Fleetewood the Recorder[72] sitting in judgment when a prisoner was to have his clergy and could not read, he saued him with this ieast, "What, will not that obstinat knave reade indeede? Goe take him away and whip him." (_Mr. Bramstone.[73]_)

[Footnote 72: Fleetwood, like the Diarist, was of the Middle Temple.

Many of his curious letters were published by Sir Henry Ellis (Orig.

Letters, 1st Ser. vol. ii.)]

[Footnote 73: The Lord Chief Justice from 1685 to 1642, whose Autobiography was published by the Camden Society.]

He imprisoned one for saying he had supt as well as the Lord Maior, when he had nothing but bread and cheese.

[Sidenote: fo. 30.

2 Marche, 1601.]

This day there was a great Court of Merchant Adventurers; two were sent from the Counsell to sitt and see their proceedings at their Courtes, and to make relacion. At this Court two questions were moved. 1. Whether their Companie were able to vent all the clothes made in England yf they might choose their place in the Lowe Countries, and be ayded by hir Majestie for the execution of their orders? Resolved that they are able.

2. Whether they can continue a Companie to trade yf the Earle of c.u.mberlandes licence take effect, whereby he hath liberty to ship over what cloth he pleaseth, contrary to hir Majesties patents and graunts to the merchaunts? Resolved by handes that they cannot. (_Mr. Hull nar._)

Their Courts consist of one Gouernor, one Deputy, a Secretary, and these sitt at a table raysed a little, and 24 a.s.sistants sitt about; the autority of these continues but six moneths; these speake, heare, and iudge of other mens speaches in Court. The greater part of the present at any Court carries the iudgment. (_Idem._)

[Sidenote: fo. 30^b.

3 May, 1602.]

Mr. Touse told that in the last cirquit into Yorkeshire the Vice President of Yorke would have had the upper hand of Justice Yeluerton, but he would not yeld. (_Mr. Touse._)

Long since, when Justice Manwood[74] roode Somersetshire circuit with Lorde Anderson, there happened a great quarrell between the Lord Sturton and Sir Jo. Clifton, in which affray the Lord Anderson himselfe, onely with his cap in his hand, tooke a sword from a very l.u.s.tie tall fellowe.

Of such a courage is Anderson. (_Idem._)

[Footnote 74: Sir Roger Manwood was a Justice of the Common Pleas 1572 to 1578, and Lord Chief Baron from 1578 to 1593. Sir Edmund Anderson was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1582 to 1603. (Foss's Judges, v. 516; vi. 51.)]

My chamberfellow[75] told me of Mr. Long's opposition against him, and howe he had ouermatcht him; told me of his owne preferment to Sir Robert Cecile by the Lord Cheif Baron Periams and Lord Cheif Justice Pophams meanes, almost without his owne suite. By Sir Roberts fauour he obtayned the cancelling of an obligacion wherein his father[76] stoode bound to Auditor Tucke not to vse that office or receive the profits for a certaine tyme.

[Footnote 75: Edward Curle, who is so frequently mentioned in other parts of the Diary. At this time he was keeping his terms in the Middle Temple preparatory to being called to the bar. He had been admitted of the Inn, _specialiter_, on the 29th Nov. 1594. The Diarist subsequently married Curle's sister Anne.]

[Footnote 76: William Curle of Hatfield, one of the Auditors of the Court of Wards.]

[Sidenote: 4.]

Those which presume upon repentaunce at the last gaspe by [the] theeves example on the crosse, doe as yf a man should spurr his horse till he speake because wee reade that Balams a.s.se did soe when his maister beate him.

This day Serjeant Harris was retayned for the plaintife, and he argued for the defendant; soe negligent that he knowes not for whom he speakes.

Soe many accions of _Quare impedit_ in the Common Place, that it were well a _Quare impedit_ were brought against the _Quare impedit_ for hindering other accions.

[Sidenote: fo. 31.

28 June, 1602.]

One that would needes be married in all the [_sic_] hast, though he were soe verry a beggar that the preist told him he would not marry him because he had not money sufficient to pay him his duty for that service, "Why then," said he, "I pray you, Sir, marry me as far as that will goe. Nowe I am here I must needes have something ere I goe."