Diary of John Manningham Part 35

6 Feb. 1602.]

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 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 Devons.h.i.+re or Cornewall, whose husband grewe to a greate quant.i.ty of wealth in a short s.p.a.ce, 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 Ess.e.x till his fall. (_Mr. Curle._)

[Sidenote: 7.]

One came to the fyre and Mr. South gave him place; "You are as kinde,"

quoth he, "as the South-west winde." (_Da._)

[Sidenote: 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._)

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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!

[Sidenote: 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 Ess.e.x 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.

[Footnote 159: It is stated in Heywood's Apology for Actors, that "to this day [1612], in divers places of England there be townes that hold the priviledge of their fairs and other charters by yearly stage-playes, as at Manningtree in Suffolke, Kendall in the North, and others." (Shakespeare Soc. ed. p. 61.) The Lawless Court of Rochford has been described in various places, especially in Morant's Ess.e.x, i. 272, and in Notes and Queries, ix. 11. W. H.

Black, Esq. F.S.A. has made it the subject of a privately printed ballad ent.i.tled "The Court of the Honor of Rayleigh," in which it is stated that the parties a.s.semble at a post in a close called the King's Hill, and that whatever is spoken during their proceedings is whispered to the post.]

[Sidenote: fo. 98^b.

12 Feb. 1602.]

Ben Johnson the poet nowe lives upon one Townesend[160] and scornes the world. (_Tho: Overbury._)

[Footnote 160: Aurelian Townsend is probably here alluded to. He was at one time steward in the household of Sir Robert Cecil.]

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?_)

[Sidenote: 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+pping that fewe dare hazard to venture in small company for incertaine booty.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Footnote 161: Qu. of concealed lands.]

[Sidenote: 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._)

[Sidenote: 14.]

Impunity is the mother of contempt and impiety, and both those the subverters of all governement. (_Lord Keeper._)