fo. 96 b . 6 Feb. 1602. In the afternoone, Mr. Clapham ; his text, Math. xxiv. 15.
"Lett him that readeth consider it." He said this chapter is not to be understoode of doomesday, but of the destruction of Jerusalem; and that the 28 v. "Wheresoever the dead carcase is, thither doe the eagles resort," cannot be applied to the resurrection and congregacion of the saints into state of glory with Christ, as some notes interpret, but of the gathering togither of Christes people in the kingdome of grace: for Christ in his kingdome of glory cannot be sayd a carcase, but nowe he may, because he is crucified. And the 29 v. "The sunne shall be darkened, and the moone shall not give hir light, and the stars shall fall from heaven," he expounded thus, That the temporall and ecclesiasticall state of the Jewes in Jerusalem, and the starres, i. e. their magistrates, shall loose their authority.
He expounded the opening the seven seales in the Revelacion to have reference to sundry tymes, and the 6. to the destruction of Jerusalem. 7 tymes 7 makes a weeke of yeares, the Jewes true Jubilee, wherein 7 trumpets should be blowne.
The best expositor of the Revelacion a nobleman in Scotland,158 whoe hath taken Christian and learned paynes therein, yet fayled in the computacion of the beginning of the yeares.
The Revelacion might be better understood if men would better studye it; and that it may be understood, and hath good use, he alledged the word, 1. 3. "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the wordes of this prophesy, and keepe those thinges which are written therein;" which were vayne unles it might be understoode.
fo. 97.
Feb. 1602.
Towards the end of his sermon he told his auditory howe it had bin bruited abroade, as he thought by some Atheists or Papists whose profest enemy he is, that this last weeke he had hanged himselfe, but some of his friends, he said, would not believe it, but said some other had done it; yet others that like him not for some opinion, said it was noe marvaile yf he hanged himselfe, for he had bin possest of the diuel a good while, "but I thinke rather," said he, "they were possessed that said soe, and yet not soe possessed as some hold possession now a dayes, that is essentially," and here he shewed his opinion that there can be noe essentiall possession: 1. Because the diuel can effect as much without entering into the person as yf he were essentially in him, and then it is more then needes. 2. Because there cannot be assigned anie proper token or signe to knowe that anie is essentially possessed. Which signe must be apparent in all such as are soe possessed, and not in anie others. This opinion of his, he said, he would hold till he sawe better reason to the contrary.
In his sermon he told a tale of the Jewes Thalmud, which, he said, was as true perhaps as anie in the Papists legend of lyes, and it was howe Rabbi Haley had conference with Elias in a caue, and would knowe of Elias when Messias should come. Elias told him, Goe aske of the Messias himselfe. Rabbi Haley required where the Messias might be found. Elias told him he should find him at Rome gates amongst the poore; a verry scoffe and a flout, he thought, to the Papists, to shewe that fo. 97b.
6 Feb. 1602.Christ neuer came within their city, but they kept him out of dores, and that he was not amongst their Cardinals, but the beggars, &c.
I will not believe it, because I will not, is Tom Sculs argument, as they say in Cambrige, and a womans reason, as they say here. (Clapham.)
Mr. Bodley which hath made the famous library at Oxeford was the sonne of a merchant of London: was sometymes a factor for the state: after maried a riche widdowe in Devonshire or Cornewall, whose husband grewe to a greate quantity of wealth in a short space, specially by trading for pilchers; nowe himself having noe children lives a pleasing privat life, somewhile at the City, somewhile at the University; he followed the Earl of Essex till his fall. (Mr. Curle.)
7.One came to the fyre and Mr. South gave him place; "You are as kinde," quoth he, "as the South-west winde." (Da.)
8.Tom Lancaster met Robbin Snig one day in the Court of Requests. "Howe nowe, old Robbin," quoth he, "what dost thou here?" "Fayth," said he, "I came to be heard, if I can." "I thinke soe," said he; "nowe thou canst be heard in noe other Court thou appealest to Cesar." (Dr. Cesar, Master of Requests.)
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fo. 98.
8 Feb. 1602.
Two poore men being at a verry doubtfull demurrer in the Kings benche, the Justices moved that they would referr the matter to some indifferent men that might determine soe chargeable and difficult a controversy, and one demaunded of one of them yf he could be content to haue the land parted betweene them; when he shewed himselfe willing, "Doubtles," said Mr. Cooke, the attorney, "the child is none of his, that would have it divided," alluding to the judgment of Solomon.
* * * * *
7.
Turner and Dun, two famous fencers, playd their prizes this day at the Banke side, but Turner at last run Dun soe far in the brayne at the eye, that he fell downe presently stone deade; a goodly sport in a Christian state, to see on man kill an other!
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21.
He that offers to violate the memory of the deade is like a swyne that rootes up a grave.
The towne of Manitre in Essex holdes by stage playes.159 And Rocheford, that they must come at a day unknowne into a field, where the Steward keepes Court at midnight, and writes with a cole, but the night he goes he must make knowne where he stays; those that are absent, and haue none to answer, loose theyr land; grewe upon tenants burn[ing] Lords evidences.
fo. 98b.
12 Feb. 1602.Ben Johnson the poet nowe lives upon one Townesend160 and scornes the world. (Tho: Overbury.)
Sir Christopher Hatton and another knight made challenge whoe should present the truest picture of hir Majestie to the Queene. One caused a flattering picture to be drawne; the other presented a glas, wherein the Queene sawe hir selfe, the truest picture that might be. (Freewer?)
13.I heard by Mr. Hull, that, whereas heretofore the Lord Admiral used to have the tenthe of all reprisal goods, the State hath nowe thought good, for the encouragement of men to furnishe ships of war against the enimy, to forgiue that imposicion of tenth, but it is thought this indulgence comes too late, the Spaniard hauing growne soe strong in shipping that fewe dare hazard to venture in small company for incertaine booty.
12.The Maysters of the Court of Requests take their place aboue a Knight. (Whitlock.)
Mr. Hadsor, an Irishe gentleman of our house, was called to the barre, and tooke his oath to the Supremacy. He is shortly to goe for Ireland, there to be Chiefe Justice in Ulster, yf the troubles be pacified, as there is great hope they will bee, for the Rebbell Tyrone hath sent an absolute submission.
One Weston, a merchant of Dublin, hath bin a great discoverer.161
fo. 99.
15.The Papistes relligion is like a beggars cloke, where there are soe many patches of pollicy sowed on, that none of the first clothe can be seene. (B. Rud[yerd].)
"I will doe myne endeavor," quoth he that thrasht in his cloke. (E. Curle.)
"Non sic fuit ab antiquo" say the Papistes of ours; "Non sic fuit ab initio," say wee of their religion. (B. Rudyerd.)
14.Impunity is the mother of contempt and impiety, and both those the subverters of all governement. (Lord Keeper.)
Qui in os laudatur, in corde flagellatur.
I heard that about this last Christmas the Lady Effingham,162 as shee was playing at shuttlecocke, upon a suddein felt hir selfe somewhatt, and presently retiring hir selfe into a chamber was brought to bed of a child without a midwife, shee never suspecting that shee had bin with child.
The play at shuttlecocke is become soe muche in request at Court, that the making shuttlecockes is almost growne a trade in London.
Præstat otiosum esse quam nihil agere.