66 XXIV. "Deep dissimulation and flattery are counted courtly be- CHAP. "haviour. Might overcomes right, and truth is trodden "underfoot. Idleness and pride bring daily infinite num- Anno 1580, "bers to that point, that they had rather rob, and be "shamefully hanged, than labour, and live with honesty. "Usury, the consumer of private estates, and the con> "founder of commonweals, is become a common (and in some men's opinions commendable) trade to live by. "Faithfulness is fled in exile, and falsehood vaunteth him"self in his place, till he have gotten great sums of money "into his hand, that he may pay the bankrout, to the undoing "of such as trust him. The sabbath days and holydays, or"dained for the hearing of God's word to the reformation "of our lives, for the administration and receiving of the "sacraments to our comfort, for the seeking of all things "behooful for body and soul at God's hand by prayer, for "the being mindful of his benefits, and to yield praise and "thanks to him for the same, and, finally, for the special "occupying of ourselves in all spiritual exercises, is spent "full heathenishly in taverning, tippling, gaming, playing, "and beholding of bear-baiting and stage-plays; to the "utter dishonour of God, impeachment of all godliness, "and unnecessary consuming of men's substances, which "ought to be better employed. The want of orderly disci"pline and catechising hath either sent great numbers, "both old and young, back again into papistry, or let "them run loose into godless atheism." This is a period of that homily, composed upon the foresaid earthquake. Kent, p. 1 In Hith, one of the cinque ports, above three miles and Kilburn's an half from Folkestone, this earthquake was so great, that Survey of the bells in the church sounded. And the first of May fol- 143. 149. lowing was another earthquake in Great-Chart, in the same county of Kent; which so affrighted the inhabitants, that they arose out of their beds. The appointment of prayer upon this earthquake by the archbishop of Canterbury, and confirmed by strict order of the privy-council, is more at Grind. large taken notice of in that archbishop's Life. And how c.11. p. 248. the bishop of London speedily appointed prayers through Bp. Elm. his diocese may be seen in that bishop's Life. Life, b. ii. Life, ch. v. . p. 78. BOOK dies. Wylson's Log. This year died Henry earl of Arundel; being an old courII. tier, and a very princely man in all his actions. Among other Anno 1580. things that were remarked of him this was one, that he always Henry earl of Arundel spake his own natural language in foreign courts. Concerning which custom of his, Dr. Wylson tells this passage: that on a time, passing from England towards Italy by her majesty's licence, he was very honourably entertained in the court at Brussels by the lady duchess of Parma, regent there. And sitting at a banquet with her, where also was the prince of Orange, with all the greatest princes of the state, the earl, 670 though he could reasonably well speak French, would not speak one French word, but all English, whether he asked any question or answered it. But all was done with truchmen, [interpreters.] Insomuch as the prince of Orange, marvelling at it, looked aside on that part where Dr. Wylson himself stood, a beholder of the feast, and said, "I marvel " your noblemen of England do not desire to be better languaged in foreign languages." This word was by and by reported to the earl. Quoth the earl again, “Tell my lord "the prince, that I like to speak in that language in which "I can best utter my mind, and not mistake.” Berty, his title of Eresby. 66 I have a note here to make of the very ancient and noble claim to the family of the Berties: to which the barony of Eresby pertained before the conquest, as was asserted by Peregrine Bertie, son and heir of the duchess of Suffolk, upon occasion of a controversy happening this year, 1580, for the title of lord Willughby and Eresby: which, it seems, was not allowed by the queen. There is a paper among the Burghleian MSS. which at large endeavours to prove this lord's title to it; shewing how this barony, before the conquest, belonged to the see of Durham. And that at the conquest by the conqueror, with the bishop's consent, it was given to Pinzon; who thereby became lord of Eresby. His tenure. And his tenure was, to serve the said bishop of Duresm, at MSS. Burg. the day of his consecration, in the office of shewer: which service, by special words in the grant, might not be done by any other deputy than his eldest son, being a knight, or by some other knight. Therefore it argued in himself a higher degree, as to be a baron. And the same style to be ïncident to the head manor of that barony, by name Eresby: CHAP. which ever had, and hath divers manors, as members be- XXIV. longing to the same. For otherwise the bishop might take Anno 1580. lack of so honourable tenure. For if it would descend to an esquire, and convey to him no higher degree, the right tenant should be unable to do the service belonging to his tenure which should be a great absurdity and inconveni ence. his style This above is part of a paper thus entitled, Allegations His allegaand Proofs; proposed by Richard Bertie, esq. for his claim tions for and interest to the name and style of lord Willughby, of and title. Willughby and Eresby, in the right of the lady Katharine, duchess of Suffolk, his wife, daughter and heir to William lord Willughby and Eresby, deceased. This controversy, which happened about this time, was heard by some whom the queen especially deputed for that purpose: who made a decree for granting him his style. But the paper, containing the said decree, is indeed but a draught of it. Whether it passed at this time, I find nots But I find Peregrine Bertie styling himself lord Willughby and Eresby, was not allowed yet by the queen: which occasioned him in great discontent to apply himself to the lord treasurer by way of letter; wherein he writeth thus: "That he found his senses so overcome with just pen- His letter "siveness, that he could not presently write so fully as the to the lord "treasurer's person and his own cause required, by com 66 treasurer. mending it to his honourable and friendly defence, &c. "And his chiefest care was, that her majesty might not be "induced sincerely to interpret worse of his claim than the "matter ministered occasion, because he took the title and "claim of Willughby and Eresby." He added, "That the question was handled in king Henry the Eighth's reign. "And the right upon claim made by sir Christopher Wil-671 lughby, younger brother and heir male to the lord Wil"lughby, my grandfather, was adjudged to the duchess, "my dear mother. 66 "Now if my right, after sentence given; after so long II. ho BOOK "seizin, and a dying seized of the duchess, shall be called " in question, I must needs think myself an abortive, and Anno 1580. born in a most unfortunate hour; that her majesty had "rather spoil her crown of a barony, than I should be "the should do that service. But in case your person "nour shall, of your friendly disposition towards me, and "justice, safely pilot me over this tempestuous sea, you "shall confidently account, that thereby you have erected "a pillar in your own building, which shall never shrink or "fail you for any stone whatsoever. And thus reposing my"self wholly on your honourable goodness, with hearty prayer for your so good estate, I humbly take my leave. "From Willoughby House. His early 66 "Your lordship's humbly and assuredly at commandment, "Peregrine Bertie." To add a remark or two of this gentleman; who made proficiency a considerable figure in queen Elizabeth's reign. When in learning, by secretary young, he was chiefly under the eye of secretary Cecil, by Cecil's care. the earnest desire of his pious mother the duchess: and by his means and care he profited in good learning, as well as other courtly accomplishments. So that in the year 1568, being not above fifteen or sixteen years of age, he wrote a handsome Latin epistle to the secretary. Wherein he expressed his thankfulness to him for his fatherly love, which he had always shewn towards him: mentioning, how desirous he had been of his proficiency in good learning; and promising him to use diligence to attain it. The duchess sends for her son So that he was bred at court, and had learned there to be somewhat wild; insomuch that his gracious, good mother from court. desired his tarrying no longer there: and in the year 1577, writ to the said Cecil, (now lord Burghley,) " entreating "him, for God's sake, to give the young man, her son, good "counsel; to bridle his youth, and to help him to despatch "him the court: that he might go down to his father; "while, she trusted, all was well." Goes to the wars. He was warlike and militarily disposed; and went into the Low Countries with the earl of Leicester. And at Zut XXIV. His cha phen he unhorsed a great captain, and took him prisoner, CHAP. as Camden writes. He assisted the protestants in France. And in the year 1585 he was in Crounenburgh in Ger- Anno 1580. many: sent thither to raise succours for the king of Navar, racter of the either by men or money. But he received a marvellous cold Germans. answer. Thus expressing his success in a letter to the lord Burghley: "That they understood better, proximus sum "egomet mihi, than they had learned humanum nihil a me "alienum puto. And that the state of the German princes "continued still in their deep security and lethargy; care"less of the state of others; dreaming of their ubiquity. "And some of them, as it was thought, inclining to be Spa"nish and popish, more than heretofore." These are some historical passages among a great many more that I could relate of this right noble gentleman. CHAP. XXV. Books published this year. A Discourse of God's Judgments against great Sins. A Description of the Earthquake. Dr. Fulke's Retentive. His Challenge. Forty popish books in English set forth by this time. What they were. All answered. The Genealogy of Queen Mary, queen of Scots: set forth by bishop Rosse. Glover, Somerset herald, writes against the bishop of Rosse's book. Dr. Dee's Instructions for the North-east Passage. Everard Digby's dialogue against a book of P. Ramus. Answered. The holy Exercise of a true Fast. The occasion of the writing thereof. THESE books following I find came out this year among others. 672 of God's in A discourse, containing many wonderful examples of A discourse God's indignation, poured forth upon divers people for dignation. their intolerable sins, &c. Printed by the queen's printer, Christopher Barker. In the title-page was added, that a part of it might be read instead of some part of the homily. D d VOL. II. PART II. |