Diary of John Manningham Part 6

[Footnote 36: This marriage is not mentioned by Dugdale (Bar. ii.

445) nor in Collins (iii. 382, ed. Brydges). Both of them mention only one marriage of Sir Moyle, which was the source of all the importance of his family, namely, with Elizabeth sole daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Heneage. After Sir Moyle's death this lady was created Countess of Winchelsea.]

8. Dyned at Mr. Gellibrands, a physician, at Maidstone.

11. Mr. Fr. Vane, a yong gent, of great hope and forwardnes, verry well affected in the country already, in soe much that the last parliament the country gave him the place of knight before S^r. H.(?) Nevell; his possibilitie of living by his wife verry much, shee beinge daughter and co-heire to S^r. Antony Mildmay; and thought hir mother will give hir all hir inheritance alsoe; the father worth 3,000_l._ per annum, the mother's 1,200_l._[37] (_Mr. Tutsham._)

[Footnote 37: These expectations of the growing importance of Mr.

Francis Vane were not altogether disappointed. At the coronation of James I. he was made K.B. and on 19th December 1624 was created Baron Burghersh and Earl of Westmoreland. He died in 1628. The Sir Anthony Mildmay here alluded to was of the Mildmays of Apethorp, co.

Northampton.]

The Duke of Albues [Alva's] negligence in not fortifying Flushinge before other places in the Netherlands was the cause he lost the country, for, when he thought to have come and fortified, the towne suddenly resisted his Spanish souldiers, and forced them to returne.

(_Cosen._)

18. I rode with my cosen's wife to Maidstone; dyned at Gellibrands.

[Sidenote: fo. 10^b.

Jan. 1601.]

As we were viewinge a scull in his studye, he shewed the seame in the middle over the heade, and said that was the place which the midwife useth shutt in women children before the wit can enter, and that is a reason that women be such fooles ever after.

My cosen shee said that the Gellibrands two wives[38] lived like a couple of whelpes togither, meaninge sporting, but I sayd like[39] a payre of turtles, or a couple of connies[40], sweetely and lovingly.

[Footnote 38: It appears in an omitted pa.s.sage that, besides the physician Gellibrand, there was another of the same family, who is mentioned as Th. Gellibrand.]

[Footnote 39: Live, MS.]

[Footnote 40: _i. e._ rabbits.]

Mr. Alane, a minister, was very sicke. Gellibrand gave him a glyster, and lett him bloud the same day, for a feuer; his reason was, that not to have lett him bloud had bin verry dangerous; but to lett bloud is doubtfull, it may doe good as well as harme.

My cosen shee told me, that when shee was first married to hir husband Marche, as shee rode behinde him, shee slipt downe, and he left hir behinde, never lookt back to take hir up; soe shee went soe long a foote that shee tooke it soe unkindly that shee thought neuer to have come againe to him, but to haue sought a service in some vnknowne place; but he tooke hir at last.

Wee were at Mrs. Cavils, when she practised some wit upon my cosen[41].

Cosen she called double anemonies double enimies. Mrs. Cavill desired some rootes, and she referd hir to hir man Thomas Smith.

[Footnote 41: My cosen, shee, MS.]

[Sidenote: fo. 11.

Jan. 1601.]

My cose she Speaking lavishly in commendacions of one Lovell of Cranebrooke (a good honest poore silly puritane,) "O," said shee, "he goes to the ground when he talkes in Divinitie with a preacher." "True,"

said I, "verry likely a man shall goe to the ground when he will either venture to take vpon him a matter that is to waightie for him, or meddle with such as are more then his matche." "I put him downe yfaith," said one, "when he had out talked a wiser then himselfe." "Just," said I, "as a drumme putes downe sweete still musicke, not as better, but mor soundinge."

22. AT LONDON.--_In a booke of Newes from Ostend._

Touchinge the parly which Sir Fr. Vere held with the Archduke there, till he had reenforced himself, Sir Franc. said that the banes must be thrice askt, and yf at the last tyme anie lawefull cause can be showen, the marriage may be hindred. The Duke answered, he knewe that was true, yet, he said, it was but a wh.o.r.e that offered hir selfe.

Divers merchants arrested by Leake for shipping ouer cloth aboue the rate of their licence. (_Theroles_ [?] _nar._)

The Companie of Peweterers much greived at a licence graunted to one Atmore to cast tynne, and therefore called him perjured knaue; whereupon he complayned to the Counsell, and some of them were clapt vp for it. "I will be even with him for it yfaith," said one that thought he had bin disgraced by his credit; "Then you will pay him surely," quoth I.

[Sidenote: fo. 11^b.

Jan. 1601.]

Nature doth check the first offence with loathing, But vse of synn doth make it seeme as nothing.

The spending of the afternoones on Sundayes either idly or about temporall affayres, is like clipping the Q. coyne; this treason to the Prince, that prophanacion, and robbing G.o.d of his owne,--(_Archdall._)

Hide to Tanfeild;[42] "It is but a matter of forme you stand so much upon." "But it is such a forme," said Tanfeild, "as you may chaunce to breake your shins at, unless you be the nimbler."

[Footnote 42: The "Hide" here mentioned was probably the future Sir Lawrence, elder brother of Sir Nicholas the future Lord Chief Justice, and uncle to Lord Chancellor Clarendon. (Foss's Judges, vi.

335.) Tanfield was the future Lord Chief Baron, whose only daughter was mother to Lucius Lord Falkland. (Ibid. 365.)]

Certaine in the country this last Christmas chose a jury to finde the churle of their parishe, and, when they came to give their verd.i.c.k, they named one whose frende, being present, began to be verry collerick with the boys for abusing him. "Hold you content, gaffer," said one of them, "if your boy had not bin one of the jury you had bin found to have bin the churle." The game of vntimely reprehension and the verry course of common Inquests, all led by some frend.

[Sidenote: fo. 12.

Jan. 26.]

The L. Paget upon a tyme thinkinge to have G.o.ded Sir Tho. White (an alderman of London) in a great a.s.sembly, askt him, what he thought of that clothe, shewing him a garment in present. "Truly, my Lord," said he, "it seemes to be a verry good cloth, but I remember when I was a yong beginner I sold your father a far better to make him a gowne, when he was Sergeant to the L. Maior; truly he was a very honest sergeant!"[43] None so ready to carpe at other mens mean beginnings as such as were themselves noe better. (_Reeves._)

[Footnote 43: Dugdale remarks that the first Paget who "arrived to the dignity of Peerage" was son to "---- Paget, one of the Serjeants at Mace in the City of London." (Bar. ii. 390.) Sir Thomas White was of course the founder of St. John's college, Oxford.]

Tarlton[44] called Burley house gate in the Strand towardes the Savoy, the Lord Treasurers Almes gate, because it was seldom or never opened.

(_Ch. Dauers._)