Diary of John Manningham Part 16

Pusillanimity. 2. Inhumanity. 3. Contempt of G.o.d. 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._

[Sidenote: 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.

[Footnote 82: This "Mr. Oliver Cromwell" was in truth, according to other writers who have mentioned him, Sir Oliver Cromwell, stated to have been knighted by Queen Elizabeth074 in 1598, created K.B. at the coronation of King James, and uncle to his namesake the future Protector. An ancestor of his in the reign of Henry VIII. is described by Mr. Carlyle as "a vehement, swift-riding man."

(Cromwell's Letters and Speeches, i. 42, ed. 1846.) Sir Oliver seems to have inherited some of the ancestral qualities.]

[Sidenote: 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 Ess.e.x. 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 Oxefords.h.i.+re man, whom by their statutes they are bound to preferr before anie other.

[Footnote 83: Translated from Worcester 1597; died 1616.]

[Footnote 84: Widow of Secretary Walsingham.]

[Footnote 85: Dr. Arthur Yildard died 1st Feb. 1598. Dr. Ralph Kettell "was nominated and admitted by Thomas Bilson, Bishop of Winchester, 12th Feb. 1598." (Hardy's Le Neve, iii. 572.)]

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 5000_l._ per annum. There liues a housefull at Hinchingbrooke, like a kennell.

[Footnote 86: "Lady Poliuizena" was Anne dau. of Giles Hoofman or Hooftman, of Antwerp, mentioned in p. 51, and widow of Sir Horatio Palavicini, a well known native of Genoa settled at Baberham, in co.

Cambridge. Sir Horatio died 6th July 1600: his lady, fulfilling the customary obligations of her widowhood to the very letter, was married to Sir Oliver on the 7th July 1601. Sir Henry Cromwell who is mentioned in this paragraph was the Golden Knight; father of Sir Oliver and grandfather of the Protector. He died in January 1603-4.

In the April before his death, Sir Oliver, being in possession of his father's lands under the arrangement mentioned in this paragraph, received King James at Hinchinbrooke on his way from Scotland to take possession of the throne. There is no mention of Sir Henry having been present on that occasion.]

Mrs. Mary Androes, daughter and heir to Mr. Androes of Sandey, was married to one Mr. Mayne of Grayes In; had 1000_l._ present, and yf Androes have issue, to have an other. Mayne had but 150_l._ per annum.

[Sidenote: fo. 37^b.

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 800_l._ with hir. Shee is not yong nor well fauoured, noe maruaile yf he loue hir not.[87]

[Footnote 87: The young gentleman here alluded to, who was just twenty years of age, was Dudley the third Lord North, who succeeded to that t.i.tle on the death of his grandfather, the second Baron, on 3rd Dec. 1600. Dugdale informs us that the lady alluded to was Frances daughter of Sir John Brockett of Brockett Hall, co.

Hertford, and that there was issue of the marriage four sons and two daughters. Lord North himself died on the 6th Jan. 1666-7, being then 85 years of age. (Baronage, ii. 394.)]

On Easter day Dr. Chamberlaine was at Sir Henry Cromwells, and ministered the communion, but without booke.

[Sidenote: 15.]

I was with my cosen in Kent, and he told me that there is one[88]

[Transcriber's Note: Blank s.p.a.ce was in original text and is maintained here] , 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.

[Footnote 88: Blank in orig.]

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 10,000_l._ 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.

[Footnote 89: Sir Henry Cromwell's first wife was Jane daughter of Sir Ralph Warren, Lord Mayor of London in 1536 and 1544. Sir Ralph had an only son named Richard, who was seated at Claybury, Ess.e.x.

This was the uncle Warren here alluded to. On his death Lady Cromwell was his heir, and upon her decease uncle Warren's lands would descend to Sir Oliver.]

[Sidenote: fo. 38.

18 Aprill, 1602.]

My cosen concluded with William Tunbridge of Ditton to give him 115_l._ for a leas of Ditton ruffe for 25 yeares.

[Sidenote: 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 Ess.e.x 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.

[Sidenote: 18.]

Duke de Neveurs a Frenchman departed for France this day.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Footnote 90: So in MS.]