VOXv 
 
 ‘ VX 
 
 . • ,V V i.v 
 
 
 . I; ' . 
 
 x'--' x; 
 
 
 •• ' 
 
 - 
 
 'mm 
 
 
 mgM- 
 
 $$•!'$*? / ■ ■■ 
 
 ■ii:? $**$ •; 
 
 ’, : : : : : ;v:v ■ • '••. ■• . 
 
 mm % 
 
 ■ : 
 
 j 1 ; p :|r 
 :f s f s ' : XJ: 
 
 X;v 
 
 y'-n mm,. ,■;[/ 
 
•* 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2019 with funding from 
 Getty Research Institute 
 
 https://archive.org/details/diaryofwalteryon41yong 
 
DIARY 
 
 OF 
 
 WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, AND M.P. FOR HONITON, 
 
 WRITTEN AT COLYTON AND AXMINSTER, CO. DEVON, 
 
 from 1604 to 1628. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 GEORGE ROBERTS, 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 “ THE HISTORY OF LYME REGIS,” “ THE LIFE OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH,” &C. 
 
 LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY, 
 
 BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. 
 
 M.DCCC.XL.VIII. 
 

 
 
 
 [no. XL1.] 
 
 Tt-SLGEnY CtNTEfc 
 
 u&i ary 
 
COUNCIL 
 
 OF 
 
 THE CAMDEN SOCIETY 
 
 FOR THE YEAR 1847 - 8 . 
 
 President , 
 
 THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A. 
 
 THOMAS AMYOT, ESQ. F.R.S., F.S.A. Director. 
 BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ. M.P., F.R.S., F.S.A. 
 
 JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. Treas. S.A. Treasurer. 
 
 C. PURTON COOPER, ESQ. Q.C., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A. 
 WILLIAM DURRANT COOPER, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 BOLTON CORNEY, ESQ. M.R.S.L. 
 
 SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S., Sec. S.A. 
 
 THE REY. JOSEPH HUNTER, F.S.A. 
 
 PETER LEVESQUE, ESQ. F.S.A. 
 
 THE REV. HENRY HART MILMAN, M.A. 
 
 THOMAS JOSEPH PETTIGREW, ESQ. F.R.S., F.S.A. 
 THOMAS STAPLETON, ESQ. Y.P.S.A. 
 
 WILLIAM J. THOMS, ESQ. F.S.A., Secretary. 
 
 SIR HARRY VERNEY, BART. 
 
The Council of the Camden Society desire it to be under¬ 
 stood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observa¬ 
 tions that may appear in the Society’s publications ; the Editors of 
 the several works being alone responsible for the same. 
 
TO THE VERY REVEREND 
 
 WILLIAM BUCKLAND, D. D., 
 
 DEAN OF WESTMINSTER, 
 
 F.R.S., F.G.S., AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. 
 
 Mr. Dean, 
 
 To whom could I more appropriately dedicate than 
 to You a Diary containing matter illustrative of Western and 
 National Manners, and Natural Phenomena, of more than Two 
 Centuries ago, the scene of which is principally laid in that ancient 
 town of Axminster, which is proud to have given You birth ? 
 
 Allow me to inscribe to You this contribution to General and 
 County History; and 
 
 Believe me to be, Mr. Dean, 
 
 Your humble and obliged Servant, 
 
 George Roberts. 
 
 Lyme Regis , March 1st, 1848 . 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .:. i''. t*M k * 
 
 • - I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The beautiful valley of the Axe lies in south-east Devonshire, 
 about four miles west of Dorset. The red marl and brown and 
 sterile summits of the green sand-hills mark the situation with 
 unmistakable signs. A real Devonshire valley cannot be confounded 
 with any other; nor can its climate. Mild in whiter, when southern 
 Italy has frost and snow, and when Greece is not to be traversed 
 from the same causes, its curative influence at length begins to be 
 appreciated. 
 
 Within four miles of Dorset stands the ancient town of Axminster, 
 five miles above the mouth of the Axe; and Colyton, another 
 ancient town, lies at a distance of three miles from the sea, at the 
 opening of the beautiful valley of the Axe. The old commercial 
 borough of Lyme Regis lies at a distance of five miles to the east, 
 and one mile inside Dorsetshire. British and Danish earthworks, 
 a battle-field between the Saxons and Danes, and the site of a 
 famous Abbey, render the tract we have described truly classic 
 ground. 
 
 London, when coaches were unknown, was too distant to be visited 
 by more than a few from this remote part of the country. Exeter 
 was the metropolis of the West. Great men and abbots had their 
 inns or town residences in this city. An almost magic power has 
 virtually brought this city within five hours of London instead of a 
 
Vlll 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 week. Centralization and the constant intercourse now maintained 
 with other counties are rapidly causing peculiarities and distinctions 
 to disappear. 
 
 The Yonge Diary, the property of the Editor, was kept by Walter 
 Yonge, Esq., Barrister-at-Law, a Justice of the Peace, Sheriff for 
 Devon, and Member of Parliament for Honiton, at his mansion- 
 houses in Colyton and Axminster, from A.D. 1604 to 1628. 
 
 The Diary in Manuscript is in small writing, excepting the part 
 detailing the Gunpowder Plot, which is in Roman characters. It 
 measures six inches in length by four in breadth. It was purchased 
 in a lot of old books at a sale at Taunton by Mr. Marsingal, a retired 
 registrar of the Savings Bank of that town. Soon after, this worthy 
 plain person, who loved antiquity for its own sake, came to Lyme 
 Regis for the benefit of his health, parted with his MS. to the pre¬ 
 sent possessor, and soon afterwards deceased. 
 
 Brief must have been any mention of the Yonge family without 
 access to the very extensive and invaluable stores of Devonshire 
 antiquarian matters, particularly of pedigrees, collected by James 
 Davidson, Esq. of Secktor House, in the parish of Axminster. These 
 have been liberally offered, and that gentleman is here assured that 
 no written history could have conveyed more than a small part of 
 the information embodied from his collections. 
 
 William Yonge is mentioned by Betham in his Baronetage as 
 Member for Dorchester, in the reign of Edward III. Thomas 
 Yonge was Mayor of Bristol, 12 Henry IY. John his son rose to 
 the dignity of Lord Mayor of London, and was afterwards Member 
 for London; while another of the family became a Justice of the 
 Common Pleas in the reign of Henry YI. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IX 
 
 The Yonge family was of repute in south-east Devon. Walter 
 Yonge of Berkshire, a younger son whose ancestor had represented 
 Bristol in Parliament in the fourteenth century, settled in Devon¬ 
 shire in the reign of Henry VII. 
 
 John Yonge, of Colyton, the father of the writer of this Diary, 
 was an eminent merchant, and was associated with several others in 
 a patent granted by Queen Elizabeth, 3 May, 1588, for “ a trade to 
 the river Senegal and Gambia, in Guinea.” In the Cobb Receivers’ 
 Accompts, at this time in the archives of Lyme, appears an entry of 
 the sailing of the “ bark Yonge,” for Barbary. 
 
 Some of the Merchant Adventurers were settled at Lyme. We 
 need not be surprised that several of them, the Hassards, Ellesdons, 
 Roses, &c. who traded after the discoveries of the fifteenth century, 
 realised fortunes and founded county families. Some adventures 
 returned what would now appear to be enormous profit, and lands 
 were then to be bought by these fortunate merchants at 12 years’ 
 purchase.* 
 
 In Queen Mary’s reign, the shipping of Lyme was a fifty-third 
 part of that of all England; and the seamen of the town and a few 
 parishes round a sixty-ninth part of the same. London had not six 
 times as many vessels as Lyme. By the year 1640, the number 
 of seamen in England was tripled. In the voyage of Richard 
 Rainolds and John Dassel to the rivers Senegal and Gambia in 1591, 
 the Cherubim of Lyme is spoken of. 
 
 The arms granted to John Yonge in 1583 are. Ermine, on a bend 
 cotised sable, three griffin’s heads erased or. Crest, on a wreath 
 argent and sable, a boar’s head erased, bristled or, mantled gules, 
 doubled argent. 
 
 * See the Pictorial History of England, vol. III. p. 330, for statements of profits derived 
 from East India voyages of 150 and 200 per cent. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 b 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 John Yonge, the great merchant’s eldest son, lived at Axminster, 
 and died there in 1608, without issue. The merchant himself died 
 in 1612, when Walter Yonge the second son succeeded him. 
 
 Walter Yonge, Esq., the writer of the Diary, was a Barrister- 
 at-Law. He was seated during his father John Yonge’s lifetime at 
 Upton Helions, near Crediton, in Devonshire, and at his death in 
 1612 succeeded to the considerable estates of the family in Devon 
 and elsewhere. He had a mansion-house at Colyton, called to this 
 day the “ Great House,” and another at Axminster, but resided 
 chiefly at the former.* Walter Yonge married Jane, daughter and 
 coheir of Sir John Peryam, of Exeter, Knt. brother of Sir William 
 Peryam, Chief Baron of the Exchequer 1592 (by Elizabeth, daugh¬ 
 ter of Roger Prideaux, of Seldon, co. Devon, Esq.), by whom he 
 had two sons, John his heir, the first Baronet of the family, and 
 Walter; and one daughter, Jane, who died unmarried. 
 
 Walter Yonge was one of the justices in commission for the county 
 of Devon, and of the Puritan party. He published a little treatise 
 entitled “ A Manual, or a Justice of the Peace his Vade Mecum,” 
 12 m °., 1642 ; which was enlarged and republished by Samuel Black- 
 ersby, of Gray’s Inn, Esq., in 1711, with the title “The Justice of 
 the Peace his Companion, &c.” He had the honour to be Sheriff of 
 Devon in 1628. A Committee of the House of Commons having 
 been appointed to ascertain what boroughs had formerly sent bur¬ 
 gesses to Parliament and had discontinued to do so, reported in 
 1640: Honiton, among others, was in consequence ordered to be 
 
 * The mansion at Axminster was on the eastern side of the market-place, and after¬ 
 wards became an inn, with the sign of the Dolphin. It has been taken down, and several 
 buildings now occupy its site. Yonge’s aisle in the church was constructed by that family 
 about the year 1500, when they resided at Axminster. Several members of it lie buried 
 in the vaults beneath. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XI 
 
 restored. Walter Yonge, Esq., and William Pole, Esq., his neigh- 
 bom 1 , were the two members first returned for that borough, which 
 Mr. Yonge continued to represent till his death.* He was buried at 
 Colyton, 26 Dec. 1649. 
 
 His eldest son, John Yonge, horn in 1603, knighted 1625, was 
 elected M.P. for Plymouth in 1640, and was one of the hundred 
 members secluded by Cromwell, who denied them entrance into the 
 House of Commons, on which they had the courage to publish a 
 remonstrance, asserting the legality of their right to sit in Parlia¬ 
 ment; which remonstrance was signed by him, with Sir Anthony 
 Ashley Cooper and 115 others.f On the Restoration, Sir John 
 Yonge was created a Baronet 26 Sept. 1661. He resided occa¬ 
 sionally at Stedcombe in the parish of Axmouth, and married Eliza¬ 
 beth, daughter of Sir William Strode, of Newenham, in the parish 
 of Plympton, co. Devon, Knt., by whom he had five sons and four 
 daughters. 
 
 Walter Yonge, Esq. M.P. for Lyme Regis in 1661, became the 
 second Baronet. He married Isabel, daughter of Sir John Davie, of 
 
 * By the following entry in the book of burials of Colyton Church made by the Puritan 
 minister, we not only learn the state of health of this knight, but the practice of keeping 
 Lent during the commonwealth, and the form of licence used when a departure from the 
 custom was rendered necessary. 
 
 “ Having been certified by two approved physicians of the necessity of Sir John Yonge’s 
 eating flesh, upon which having granted him a former licence (so far as in me was), the same 
 distemper still continuing, as is certified by one of the said physicians, and Sir John 
 Yonge’s having the same, I do (as much as in me is) give the said Sir John Yonge licence 
 to eat flesh during the said necessity. In witness whereof, I have subscribed my name 
 the 9th of March, 1660. 
 
 “ Jno. Wilkins, Vicar. 
 
 “ John yonger sone of John Wilkins, one of y e Churchwardens.” 
 
 f It is a vulgar error that seats in Parliament were not much sought after in the reigns 
 of James I. and Charles I. See a letter of the Earl of Salisbury to Roger Kirkham. 
 Lodge’s Illustrations of History, vol. III. p. 299. 
 
Xll 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Greedy. William Yonge, liis brother, married Jane, daughter of 
 Sir John Drake, of Ash, and resided at Castleton, near Sherborne, 
 where the family arms lately existed, handsomely carved in stone in 
 front of the “ Great House.” This gentleman made some entries 
 upon an interleaved copy of Lilly’s Merlini Anglici Epliemeris for 
 the year 1657, now in the possession of John Bruce, Esq. F.S.A., of 
 Hyde House, near Stroud, a trustee of and learned contributor to 
 the publications of the Camden Society. See Gent. Mag. for 1830, 
 vol. c. part ii. p. 604, where the entries appear. 
 
 Sir Walter Yonge, the third Baronet, was one of the country party 
 who entertained the Duke of Monmouth in the course of his cele¬ 
 brated Western Progress in 1680. He disappointed the expectations 
 of the duke’s followers in the rebellion of 1685, which commenced at 
 Lyme Regis, who looked forward (probably without any warrant) 
 to his joining them. Sir W. Yonge was M.P. for Honiton in several 
 parliaments, in the reigns of Charles II., William, and Queen Aime. 
 He was one of the Commissioners of the Customs, till the Act passed 
 in the reign of William III. for disqualifying those who were in that 
 commission from sitting in the House of Commons, when he relin¬ 
 quished liis post and its emolument, rather than desert the house in 
 which he had so long and faithfully served. He died 18 July, 
 1731. 
 
 Sir William Yonge, the fourth Baronet, was M.P. for Honiton, 
 one of the Lords of the Treasury, was created K.B. on the re-institu¬ 
 tion of the order in 1725, Secretary at War, and a Privy Councillor, 
 LL.D. and F.R.S. He was the personal friend of Sir Robert Wal¬ 
 pole, who could speak from notes taken by him, and from those taken 
 by no other. Sir William Yonge was a very trifling character out 
 of the House, but spoke as if by inspiration in it; possessed great 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Xlll 
 
 abilities, with a peculiar melody of voice; so that his support was of 
 incalculable value to the minister. He died 10 Aug;. 1755. 
 
 Sir George Yonge, the fifth and last Baronet, son of the preceding, 
 became Secretary at War. He completed his studies, began at 
 Eton, at Leipsig. He, like others of his family, sat for Honiton 
 from 1754 to 1796. Besides the office of Secretary at War, he was 
 Commissioner of the Admiralty, and Vice-Treasurer of Ireland, 
 was made K.B. in 1786, and resigned the office of Master of the 
 Mint in 1799, upon his embarking as Governor of the Cape of Good 
 Hope. He endeavoured to establish the woollen factory at Ottery 
 St. Mary. This last in the line of the Baronets of this family died 
 at Hampton Court Sep. 26, 1812, aged 80 years. He had fallen 
 under a cloud owing to some defalcation at the Cape of Good Hope. 
 When possessed of nothing he has been heard to say, that he began 
 life with 80,000/. of family property; received a like sum with his 
 lady; and had been paid by the government for his public services 
 80,000/. “ Honiton,” he exclaimed, “has swallowed all! ”* 
 
 This had concluded my brief memoir of the Yonge family. Since 
 these lines were written, the parishioners of Colyton, beginning to 
 assemble at a vestry meeting in the chancel of the parish church, a 
 heavy member who was foremost disappeared amidst great dust into 
 the vault of the Yonges near the communion table. The coffin 
 plates of the two secretaries at war, and those of other departed wor¬ 
 thies of the family, have been preserved. 
 
 A great distinction could be drawn between the former state of 
 parts of the kingdom which now bear general features of resemblance, 
 as intercourse is more and more encouraged by the increased facili- 
 
 * The mansion house in Colyton, a part of which still remains, and is called the “ Great 
 House,” was conveyed by the last baronet to Sir John de la Pole, Bart, of Sliute House, 
 in exchange for lands in Tallaton. 
 
XIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ties of communication. The four western counties, Dorset, Somer¬ 
 set, Devon, and Cornwall, were distinguished in the important par¬ 
 ticulars of language, obstinacy in religion, climate, and remoteness 
 from the metropolis. 
 
 Many interesting changes had only recently been effected. The 
 Reformation was not introduced in the quiet maimer that obtained 
 in other counties. Our west country spumed the Book of Com¬ 
 mon Prayer as being in New English, which so many could not 
 understand, as they could neither read nor follow the service in 
 English; Cornish, a dialect of the Celtic, being their language. 
 The Rebellion of 1549, third year of Edward VI., aptly styled in 
 archives “ Commocion Time,” was one of violence and great blood¬ 
 shed, as our annals confirm. The insurgents grew more daring in 
 proportion as mercy was offered them; and in their 10th Article 
 expressed their determination to have nothing to do with the 
 English tongue, as follows : 
 
 “ We will have the Bible and all books of Scripture in English 
 to be called in again. For we are informed that otherwise the clergy 
 shall not of long time confound the heretics.” 
 
 The habitual wearing of arms was discontinued. The effects of 
 this upon society can hardly be sufficiently estimated. Armed citi¬ 
 zens upon an affront at a church-ale or bull-baiting drew upon each 
 other as readily as men would now resent any personal indignity or 
 insult by a blow with the fist.* This great reform was not always 
 
 * Constables made such characters the subject of their presentments at the Court Leets. 
 A furious, passionate man ran a risk of being described, like Nicholas Hassard, by the 
 constables as, Periculosum et irregulatum et pronum homines ad eos ledend’ et nocend’. 
 These officers were generally pithy in their entries, e. g. “John Guppy killing Henry 
 Seymour,” “Williams killing a soldier,” “John Way drawing blood of a stranger.” 
 Two men had fought respectively “ with sword and staff, and intended to prosecute their 
 lewd purpose.” 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XV 
 
 quietly submitted to. Nicholas Hassard, a member of the corpora¬ 
 tion of Lyme Regis, forfeited his freedom in 1584, for refusing to 
 lay down his weapons, and not to wear them in the street, when 
 commanded to do so. His indignation at such an order led him 
 “ to shoulder the mayor.” Robert Yonge, uncle of the writer of the 
 diary, married a Hassard. Persons going to a fair wore their arms 
 on the way thither, but were ordered to leave them at their inn 
 before going into the fair, and every innkeeper was bidden to give 
 warning to his customers to do so.* 
 
 The coast of the South-west of England was for many years, at the 
 close of Elizabeth’s reign, a frontier country towards an enemy greater 
 by comparison than Napoleon in modern times. Directly opposite Lyme 
 Regis lay St. Maloes, full of shipping, and Britany, in the hands of 
 the Spaniards. Philip of Spain had a navy of one hundred and forty 
 galleys, which interrupted the wine trade between England and 
 Gascony. While England had not one single battalion in constant 
 pay, Philip had a standing army of 50,000 excellent troops. With 
 these he had usurped Portugal, made conquests in the East Indies, 
 and was a dangerous neighbour to Guernsey and Jersey. Hence 
 the great alarm felt by the writer of this Diary, and his dislike of 
 the Spaniards. The worthy justice’s father, and he also, had as¬ 
 sisted in the musters of the time along the coast. 
 
 Great importance was attached to these musters, and view of 
 armour and weapons. The archives of Lyme abound with 
 matters, and visits of great men for that purpose. 
 
 Lord Viscount Bindon, William Lord St. John, with other jus¬ 
 tices of the peace, among whom probably Mr. John Yonge, visited 
 
 * See Clutch’s Collectanea Curiosa. 
 
XVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Lyme in 1573, when 186 men of all arms mustered. The fol¬ 
 lowing abstract of the weapons has been made from a paper six 
 feet long. 
 
 Men and their weapons :— 
 
 11 had bows and sheaf of arrows, steel cap and a bill, and a sword 
 and dagger. Some of these had either a corslett, a currion, and a 
 murrion, more a callyver and murrion, some a currion, a murrion, 
 and a skull. 
 
 3 bows and 12 arrows each. 
 
 14 bills.* 
 
 9 pikes. 
 
 1 bill and pike. 
 
 1 bill and steel cap. 
 
 5 sword and dagger. 
 
 3 sword, dagger, and pike. 
 
 3 curryons. 
 
 1 skulls and a pike. 
 
 6 harquebus and murrion. 
 
 2 liarqs (liarquebusses). 
 
 Two callyvers and 9 corslets were supplementary arms. 
 
 Prices of armour:— 
 
 s. cl. s. d. 
 
 Corslet . . 30 0 A harquebus . 8 0 
 
 Callyver . . 20 0 A currion . 16 0 
 
 A pike . . 2 0 A murrion . 8 0 
 
 Bow and sheaf of arrows Head piece and lining 
 
 in 1545 . 5 4 2s. . ,70 
 
 * The very beadsmen learn to bend their bows 
 Of double fatal yew against thy state ; 
 
 Yea distaff women manage rusty bills. —Shakspeare’s Richard III. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XVII 
 
 £ s. d. £ s . d. 
 
 Sword Girdle . 0 12 Pair of drum heads 0 4 0 
 
 Barrel of powder 6 19 0 
 
 The classification of the 186 men who mustered, was not deter¬ 
 mined by the weapons any man brought, for among the pikemen 
 were men who had only a bill, &c. 
 
 30 pikemen. 
 
 16 archers. 
 
 49 harquebussers. 
 
 4 gunners for great ordnance. 
 
 I the drome. 
 
 17 billmen. 
 
 8 old men not serviceable. 
 
 Sojourners, journeymen, and apprentices who had no arms, though 
 classed as follows :— 
 
 II pikemen. 
 
 27 harquebussers. 
 
 4 archers.* 
 
 18 billmen. 
 
 In 1599, the bows and arrows finally disappeared from the muster 
 rolls, and that surprising weapon, the musket, had gained ground in 
 opinion, as will appear from the following abstracts of musters. 
 
 Corslets 
 Callivers . 
 Pikes 
 
 Halberds . 
 
 a. d. 1591. 
 
 Musqueteers 
 
 26 
 
 6 
 
 10 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 A. d. 1599. 
 65 
 49 
 42 
 6 
 
 * John Crosse, weaver, an archer, who had no weapon, mustered with one other 
 archer in 1590, having bows and arrows. 
 
 C AMD. SOC. c 
 
XV111 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A.D. 159. A.D. 1599. 
 
 Bills 
 
 8 
 
 Musqueteers 7 
 
 Bows 
 
 2 
 
 
 Sword and dagger 
 
 CO 
 
 1 
 
 
 Able men without arms 
 
 . 49 
 
 
 
 107 
 
 168 
 
 Though bows and arrows appear no more in the muster papers 
 after the year 1599, there is an entry of a presentment of a jury at 
 Lyme in 1648, which will be judged to he more extraordinary as 
 that town stood a dreadful siege in 1644 for seven weeks, and was 
 defended by Admiral Blake against Prince Maurice. 
 
 “ Item, we present that the generalitie of the town is without hoes 
 and arroes .” 
 
 We must deem this jury to have been behind their age. A few 
 years before they presented the mayor for not repairing the “ butts,” 
 and “ the town faultie for not using artillery,” i. e. bows and arrows. 
 
 Half a century often effects a remarkable change in manners and 
 opinions; still few instances can be adduced which exhibit a more 
 striking contrast than that which our fair Devonshire presents. From 
 insurrection and bloodshed, caused by hatred of the Bible and affec¬ 
 tion for the service in Latin, many of our west countrymen rushed 
 into the opposite extreme. The cross, surplice, mitre, cope, and 
 rochet, came to be regarded by them as marks of the beast. When 
 Sir Simonds D’Ewes read Laud’s speech of his allowance of, and 
 practice of, adoring or bowing to and towards the altar, he recorded 
 that it made him even tremble. 
 
 The players of the Queen, Lord Montjoy, and of so many other 
 great persons that came through Dorset and Devon, in the reigns of 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XIX 
 
 Mary and Elizabeth, and who were wont to perform to the mayors 
 of towns, received their usual receipts from the Mayor of Lyme to 
 pass on without any performance. This altered feeling prevented 
 the puritanical corporations from tolerating even those who had a 
 license to “ exhibit feats of activity,” though they were cautious of 
 molesting these perambulatory retainers of great persons. 
 
 Our worthy justice was a puritan, a term used so vaguely that 
 some explanation of it is required. To many the word is offensive; 
 while Carlyle fires up at the sound of English puritanism, which he 
 calls in his peculiar style the last of all our heroisms. This writer 
 would probably refuse to admit Walter Yonge amongst his choice 
 spirits. He was not a wild fanatic; one who rejected church 
 government; and emigrated to the Low Countries or America. 
 He remained within the pale of the Church of England: as a British 
 mariner may stand by his ship, exhaust his energies to save her, 
 shape her course upon the most approved chart, and outwardly ap¬ 
 pear full of hope though inwardly despairing of effecting any escape 
 from destruction, so our writer staid by the church, though he con¬ 
 cluded that the King, the supreme head, bishops, doctors, nearly the 
 whole were settling down into sheer popery. His earnest vow, 
 shared with his party, was the putting the penal laws in force against 
 jesuits, seminary priests, and recusants of the Romanist persuasion. 
 He never fails to note remarkable instances of the expression by 
 lecturers in their discourses, or in published treatises, of doctrines 
 that the Puritans viewed as “ points of popery.” 
 
 The Puritans began to question other things besides matters of 
 religious belief. Many popular wants remained unsatisfied at the 
 great reformation of religion, which was a revolution effected by the 
 monarch and the aristocracy, who shared the benefit. James I. 
 
XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 carried the pretensions of royalty further than any of his predeces¬ 
 sors. In opposing the court the Puritans often appear according to 
 modern views sticklers for liberty in its strictest sense. 
 
 How truly Walter Yonge marked the gross errors in the church, 
 and the most flagrant instances of the violation of the laws and 
 liberties of the realm, will fall within the province of the reader to 
 determine. 
 
 When this Diary was being written, most of the landholders, the 
 gentry, lived upon their estates, a residence in London being greatly 
 discouraged and even disallowed by the King.* A hind or bailiff 
 attended to the land the gentleman kept in hand. 
 
 Houses are to be seen in all directions wdiich the gentry occupied 
 at this period that have become the residence of tenant farmers, 
 while the descendants reside in great cities, and frequent watering 
 places. No sea-side towns were the resort of visitors till towards 
 the latter half of the last century. The ancient towns had no ac¬ 
 commodation for visitors; there was no class of persons equivalent 
 to those who live on the coast in furnished lodgings all the year 
 round or spend their autumn there. Many of the western watering 
 
 * In 1617, a proclamation strictly commanded all noblemen, knights, and gentlemen 
 who had mansion-houses in the country to depart within twenty days with their wives and 
 families out of the city and suburbs of London, and to return to their several habitations 
 in the country, “ to perform the duties and charge of their several places and service ; and 
 likewise by housekeeping to be a comfort unto their neighbours, in order to renew and 
 revive the laudable custom of hospitality in their respective countries.” None were to be 
 allowed to remain except those having urgent business, to be signified to and approved 
 by the Privy Council. King James in a speech at the Star Chamber referred to the 
 “ swarms of gentry that through the instigation of their wives or to new model and fashion 
 their daughters (who if they were unmarried, marred their marriages, if married, lost their 
 reputations and robbed their husbands’ purses) did neglect their country hospitality, and 
 cumbered the city, a general nuisance to the kingdom, being as the spleen to the body, 
 which as in measure it overgrows the body wastes.” 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXI 
 
 places have sprung up entirely within the last century, and old 
 towns have been increased to treble their former size. 
 
 Individuals below the gentry in rank had not the title of Mister 
 01 their wives Mistress assigned to them. Goodman and goodwife 
 were the words in use. Even now-a-day a yeoman speaks of an 
 equal as “ this good man,” when others would say “ this person.” 
 In Shakespere’s Henry IV. we read, “ Did not goodwife Keech, the 
 butcher’s wife, come hi then and call me gossip Quickly?” 
 
 Though no post office had been established hi England before the 
 year 1635, I have discovered in my researches among the archives 
 of Lyme this last winter certain fore-shadowings of a post. The 
 entries are not very intelligible, from the smallness of the sum paid. 
 
 “ Item, the 11th June, 1588, paid the foot post for one month’s 
 wages at 6d. per week 2s.” 
 
 This may have been some arrangement connected with the watch¬ 
 ing for the Spanish Armada. The same year 10s. 8 d. are charged 
 for a post horse at Is. 4 d. per week. 
 
 In 1621 the corporation of Lyme paid 5s. per week for the portage 
 of letters to London, doubtless by the drivers of the pack horses, with 
 fish or other commodities. 
 
 It is interesting to read the very great charges incurred for send¬ 
 ing letters from Lyme to Salisbury, London, Exeter, and the resi¬ 
 dences of great men by a messenger. Sometimes a messenger was 
 dispatched to Chard, a distance of twelve miles, to find some one who 
 would convey the letter to the metropolis. By one entry it appears 
 the vicar had one pound given him to take charge of a letter, the 
 sending of which would otherwise have occasioned great cost. 
 
 The first post or running post between London, Exeter, and 
 Plymouth was established in 1635. 
 
xxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The judges rode the circuit on horseback, and we shall find one 
 of them censured for being so attired that he looked more like a 
 clothier than a judge. The Devonshire gentry and tradesmen rode 
 and walked in company for protection to the metropolis. Still an 
 instance may be adduced at the period at which this Diary com¬ 
 mences of a journey to London in a coach, of whatever kind that may 
 have been. Mrs. D’Ewes set out from Coxden Hall, near Axmin- 
 ster, on the road to London, and arrived in one day at Dorchester. 
 The shocks sustained owing to the road and the particular build of 
 the vehicle were so great that the infant son and heir, afterwards 
 Sir Simonds D’Ewes, cried so violently all the way that he ruptured 
 himself, and was left behind at that town under the care of Mrs. 
 Margaret Waltham, a female practitioner. Mrs. D’Ewes’s prema¬ 
 ture confinement was afterwards occasioned by a shock in a coach in 
 Bury streets. Sir Simonds D’Ewes himself rode to London from 
 Coxden in 1613, and attributes his safe arrival in the metropolis to 
 God’s goodness, for he had one servant only with him. The remote¬ 
 ness of this part from London, and his fare at school at Wambrook 
 having been very short and hard, a customary fault at a much later 
 period, prevented his return into the West. 
 
 Sir John Haring ton had a neighbour who, being sheriff of Somer- 
 set, listened to the complaint of a judge who spoke of the stony roads 
 and his fears at the danger of our “ western travelling.” The sheriff' 
 was fond of a gibe, so he appealed to the judge in these words. 
 “ In goode soothe, Sir, it be but fair playeth at you, who so often 
 make others feare for their neckes, should in some sorte beginne to 
 thinke of saving your owne.” This made the judge angry, who re¬ 
 plied, “ Good Maister Sheriffe, leave alone my necke, and looke to 
 your owne heeles, for you may one day be laide by them.” The 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XX111 
 
 judge upon some occasion soon after took an opportunity to fine the 
 witty sheriff five pounds.* A principal member of the corporation 
 of Lyme was allowed 6s. 8 d. a day when travelling; 4s. a day when 
 in London. A member of parliament had about 1 01. for his 
 residence and travelling. 
 
 A previous allusion to a female practitioner in medicine and 
 surgery at Dorchester suggests my adding a few particulars. Mrs. 
 D’Ewes was attended in her confinement by a midwife whose head 
 being on one side from deformity, her appearance greatly terrified 
 the lady. Sir Simonds D’Ewes suffered in his right eye all his life 
 from her want of skill. When physicians were called in upon 
 emergencies, their charges were, considering the value of money at 
 that time, much higher than at the present day. Dr. Giffard and 
 Dr. Baskervill attended Paul D’Ewes, Esq. in Chancery Lane twice 
 a day, and received at every visit twenty shillings each. 
 
 Wine was sold by the mercers for physic. It was generally be¬ 
 lieved that the wounds of a murdered person would reco mm ence 
 bleeding at the touch of the murderer. A dreadful murder was 
 committed in 1613, near Taunton, by one Babb, who lived not far 
 from Axminster, upon a widow who had refused to marry him . She 
 died stabbed in sixteen places. The body having been disinterred, 
 Mr. Warre the magistrate summoned the people who lived within 
 three miles to come and touch the corpse. They did so; and Babb’s 
 absconding at that time drew suspicion upon him. He afterwards 
 delivered himself up to justice. 
 
 Twenty-five fishing boats went to sea from Lyme at this time. 
 Horses with paniers called clorsers were brought to the beach tied 
 one to the other ready to receive the fish; when the dorsers were 
 
 * Nugse Antiquse. 
 
XXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 filled, the driver mounted the foremost horse of the train and gal¬ 
 loped off towards London. In the present day, such is the change 
 that the rich at Lyme and the neighbourhood ensure a supply of fish 
 for a dinner party by ordering it from the metropolis. Beer in 
 Seaton parish has been for many years a place noted for its fishing 
 luggers, called Beer boats. It is not known if such was the case in 
 the reign of James I. The buildings of this period that remain 
 show that Baltic timber was not hi use; but oak, the growth of the 
 neighbourhood. The Dutch had five or six hundred ships in the 
 Baltic trade. Particulars of the state of the western coast and the 
 ravages of pirates appear among the notes. 
 
 One interesting feature of the time was the introduction of tobacco, 
 and its use for smoking, a practice now first adopted in this country. 
 Smokers passed their lives in the consumption of this new plant, and 
 enjoyed their pipe at church while they listened to the sermon. 
 Divines preached in a cloud at St. Mary’s Church, Oxford, till smoking 
 during the time of service was forbidden by the authorities of the 
 university. Some mention of the new plant tobacco and its use is 
 appropriate to these pages from the remarkable circumstance of King 
 James I. the author of the “ Counterblast to Tobacco ” having sent 
 for Sir Amias Poulett, the head of one of the west comitry families, 
 living not far from our locality, to consult him respecting “ the new 
 weed.” His Majesty said it would by its use infuse ill qualities on 
 the brain, and that no learned man ought to taste it. 
 
 In spite of this, two hundred and fifty years after, tobacco is 
 smuggled into England from the coast near Colyton to be manufac¬ 
 tured into cigars and snuff. 
 
 The Diary is a fair specimen of the information possessed by a 
 Puritan (not become a separatist) justice of the peace of south-east 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV 
 
 Devon, one hundred and fifty miles west of London ;—of a gentle¬ 
 man of good family, who had a large connection around him and in 
 the metropolis. From these, by letter and personal communication, 
 the writer gathered matters of fact and report some thirty years 
 before newspapers were introduced. The first newspaper was en¬ 
 titled “ The Diurnal Occurrences, or Daily proceedings of both 
 Houses hi this great and happy Parliament, from the 3 Nov. 1640, 
 to the 3d Nov. 1641.” In the Diary are to be found parliamentary, 
 scientific, foreign, and theological information, together with county 
 intelligence. Mr. Walter Yonge gleaned as much of the world’s affairs 
 as many an editor of a newspaper a century after this day; and must 
 have been considered a highly informed gentleman. It was dan¬ 
 gerous to communicate to him any political intelligence, as he care¬ 
 fully noted the name of his informant, and whether the news came 
 by letter or verbally. 
 
 Commenced one year after Queen Elizabeth’s decease, the Diary 
 quite destroys the impression of the happiness that prevailed during 
 “ The bonny days of good Queen Bess.” There is much of deep 
 discontent in various ways, not at evils engendered by the incompe¬ 
 tence of statesmen, or by the stern necessity of the times, but by 
 the glaring wickedness of the court which created them, fostered 
 and perpetuated them. Let a genuine praiser of by-gone days read 
 and contemplate the subjects that are complained of, and contrast 
 the reign of James the First with the present time. An age of vice, 
 sensuality, and injustice, will appear to have been supplanted at pre¬ 
 sent by a second golden age, so far as the court, the nobility, and 
 legislature are concerned. Stowe, the chronicler, describes his age 
 as “ the most scoffing, carping, respectless, and unthankful that ever 
 was.” These times however have been called industrious ones. 
 
 d 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
XXVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Eminent individuals who had an opportunity of obtaining extensive 
 intelligence committed almost every thing to writing. 
 
 The writer makes no allusion to his neighbour, Lord Cobham, 
 who lost his castellated mansion at Weycroft, in Axminster, and the 
 parish and much of the borough of Lyme Regis, by attainder the 
 year before the Diary Avas begun. Lord Cobham was implicated in 
 the conspiracy with Sir Walter Raleigh, to place upon the throne 
 the Lady Arabella Stuart, or the Infanta of Spain; and had plotted 
 with the Flemish Ambassador for an invasion to change the order of 
 succession to the CroAvn. 
 
 Silence is maintained with respect to Sir Thomas Gates, a great 
 navigator, a native of Colyford, adjoining Colyton; as Avell as Sir 
 George Summers, Knt. another Avortliy and illustrious naval com¬ 
 mander, who represented Lyme Regis hi parliament, and was a 
 native of that borough. These tAvo heroes were the first possessors 
 of the Bermudas, upon which they were wrecked on their voyage to 
 Virginia in 1609. The story of Shakespeare’s “ Tempest” was de¬ 
 rived from the incidents of the storm and shipwreck. 
 
 Arthur Gregory, a native of Lyme, had come to reside at and 
 Avas chosen mayor of that borough in 1620. He had been rewarded, 
 though certainly not by the King, with the situation of Searcher of the 
 Customs, an office hoav incorporated Avith that of Comptroller. He was 
 a remarkable character, and exercised the sister arts of letter-open¬ 
 ing, seal-forging, and deciphering. Gregory had been a protege of 
 Sir Francis Walsingham, member for Lyme; and Avas located at the 
 same time Avith the celebrated Philips under the same roof at Chart- 
 ley as Mary Queen of Scots, Avhere their joint labours were such as 
 Avill hardly obtain credit.* 
 
 * See his Life in the History of Lyme, 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXV11 
 
 Next to the interest excited for the writer himself must be that 
 felt towards his neighbours and cotemporaries. A recital of his 
 friends, a goocllj circle of county worthies, will not tend to lower our 
 estimation of him. 
 
 First in our page must stand Sir William Pole, Kt. of Colcombe 
 House, in the parish of Colyton. This mansion, now in ruins, was 
 commenced by the last Earl of Devon of that period, and was com¬ 
 pleted by Sir William Pole, who made it his residence. The child 
 of a daughter of Edward IV. married to one of the Courtenays, died 
 there from a fish bone sticking in her throat; and the aisle in Coly¬ 
 ton Church in which was an effigy of the young lady was called 
 “ Little Choke-a-bone Alley.” 
 
 Sir William Pole, Kt. married Mary, eldest daughter and co¬ 
 heiress of Sir William Peryam, Kt. Lord Chief Baron of the Ex¬ 
 chequer, and was the noted antiquary who made a large collection 
 towards a History of Devon. His eldest son William died a child, 
 and he was succeeded at his death, in 1635, by his second son Sir 
 John Pole, M.P. for Devon, who had been created a Baronet in 
 1628. 
 
 The Pole family has been at Pole, in the parish of Tiverton, since 
 the Conquest, and at Pole, in Cheshire, from ancient time. Arthur 
 Pole of the latter county, grandson of Sir John Pole, Vice-Admiral 
 of the West of England, married the heiress of John Pole, Esq. of 
 Devonshire. Sir John de la Pole, Bart, of Shute House, near Coly¬ 
 ton, is the eighth Baronet. The ancient mansion of the Bonvilles 
 and Poles in Shute Park still remains. 
 
 John Drake, Esq. of Ash House, in the adjoining parish of Mus- 
 burv, was the eldest son of Sir Bernard Drake, Kt. one of an ancient 
 family, who raged at the assumption of his coat of arms by Sir 
 
xxvni 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Francis Drake, the illustrious circumnavigator. Meeting the latter 
 within the verge of the court, a quarrel ensued, which duly engaged 
 the attention of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 Mr. Drake, both a justice and knight for the county of Devon, 
 received illustrious guests at his house at Ash. Like Sir William 
 Pole, he gave 10/. to a benevolence, when the other justices of south¬ 
 east Devon gave 4/. only. He was father of Sir John Drake, Kt. 
 whose daughter Elizabeth married Sir Winston Churchill, who was 
 sojourning at Ash during the interregnum, when on Midsummer- 
 day, 1650, his lady gave birth to the great Duke of Marlborough.* 
 Sir John Pole, the sixth Baronet, resided at Ash House during the 
 erection of the present mansion, Shute House ; when in 1778, owing 
 to the carelessness of a stable boy, a small part was consumed by 
 fire, and a stud of thirteen coach-horses and hunters perished. Ash 
 House exists as a farm-house. The bedstead upon which the mother 
 of the Duke of Marlborough was delivered is at Shute House. 
 
 Francis Drake, Esq. of Yardbury, in Colyton, Minister at 
 Munich, who narrowly escaped from the vengeance of Buonaparte, 
 was a descendant of the Drakes of Ash. His grandson, Bernard 
 William Francis Drake, was Captain of Eton College at the last 
 Eton Mon tern in 1844. 
 
 The Erle family, originally of Somersetshire, was settled at Bin- 
 don House, in the parish of Axmouth, a well-known locality from 
 the circumstance of a part of the estate being included in the famous 
 landslip of Dowlands and Bindon, Deer. 1839. The family bestowed 
 at different times much cost in making a harbour at the mouth of 
 the Axe. See Collinson and Hutchins, the historians of Somerset 
 
 * Ash House is supposed to have been principally constructed from the materials of 
 Newenham Abbey, between it and Axminster. It was burnt down during the civil wars. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXIX 
 
 and Dorset, for the pedigree of the family. Sir Walter Erie, 
 knighted in 1616, M.P. for Lyme in 1625 and in 1650, lived at 
 Bindon. He is said to have married a daughter of Sir William 
 Waller, the parliamentarian general, as well as the heiress of 
 Dymock, co. Warwick. His imprisonment for refusing to lend was 
 revenged upon Charles I. by his seizing Lyme Regis for the parlia¬ 
 ment in 1642. His brother Christopher Erie was recorder of Lyme. 
 Mr. Justice Erie is a lineal descendant of this family. A daughter 
 and heiress of Erie married Thomas Erie Drax, Esq. of Char- 
 borough House. John Samuel Wanley Sawhridge Erie Drax 
 Grosvenor, Esq. M.P. is the representative of this line. 
 
 The family of Mallack or Mallock were resident at Axmouth 
 in the reign of Hen. VII. One of them represented Lyme in parlia¬ 
 ment in the reign of Edward VI.; another in the following reign. 
 The farm of Roosdon, east of the landslip, belonged to them in 1562, 
 and continued to be their property till some time in the last century. 
 “ Steps House,” in the village of Axmouth, now an interesting rum, 
 was their residence till after 1617, when they removed to Roosdon. 
 Richard Mallock, Esq. lived and died at Roosdon in 1724. The 
 Cockington family were believed to have descended from the Ax¬ 
 mouth family. They were of Exeter, and Cockington Court was 
 purchased by them in 1654. 
 
 Richard Mallock married Joan Yonge, the elder sister of the 
 writer of the Diary. 
 
 The Prideaux family sprang from Paganus de Prideaux lord 
 of Prideaux Castle, Cornwall, in the time of the Conqueror. Ed¬ 
 mund Prideaux, a lawyer, was created a Baronet in 1622. A 
 younger branch was of Ford Abbey. Edmund Prideaux of that 
 seat was Attorney-General to Cromwell; his son was an earnest 
 
XXX 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 supporter of the country party and the non-conformists in the reign 
 of Charles II. and was given to Judge Jeffreys, who made him pay 
 15,000/. for his ransom. Sir Edmund Sanderson Prideaux, Bart, 
 of Nether ton Hall, in the parish of Farway, is now the representative 
 of the family, and is the ninth Baronet. 
 
 The Strodes were of Strode in the parish of Ermington so early 
 as the reign of Henry III.; afterwards of Newenham Park, now an 
 old farm house, at Plympton St. Mary. In the church there is the 
 monument of Sir William Strode, Ivt. who died in 1637. This 
 gentleman’s daughter Elizabeth married the eldest son of the writer 
 of the Diary, and first Baronet, Sir John Yonge. Joan, another 
 daughter of Sir W. Strode, married Francis Drake, Esq. This 
 family was at this time advocates for liberty. William Strode, M.P. 
 for Beer Alstone, was sentenced to imprisonment in 1629, for oppo¬ 
 sition to the measures of the court; and was, in 1641, one of the 
 five members demanded by the King. 
 
 The family of Fry, descended from John Fry, of Fenniton, co. 
 Devon, by Jane, daughter of Edmund, Duke of Somerset, resided 
 at Yartie House, in the parish of Membury. Dovileshays, Dowle- 
 shays, now Dulcis, was only held on lease by a junior branch of the 
 family. Nicholas Fry, Esq. Sheriff of Devon in 1626, an honor 
 purposely conferred by the King to keep him out of parliament, was 
 of the country party, like most of the neighbouring justices his 
 friends. 
 
 Gideon Walrond, Esq. of Bovey House, near Beer, in the 
 parish of Seaton, was a younger branch of the Walronds of Brad- 
 field House, in Uffculme. The late Lord Rolle married the heiress 
 of Walrond of Bovey House, which still exists as a genteel resi¬ 
 dence. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 XXXI 
 
 Robert Hassard held a moiety of the manor of Seaton. He was 
 one of a family settled as merchants at Lyme in the reign of 
 Henry Till. The first prepositus of Bristol in the reign of 
 Henry III. was Rainold Hassard. Several of the family represented 
 Lyme in parliament. The family removed about 1650 to the county 
 of Fermanagh, in Ireland, where they have a seat, called Garden Hill. 
 One gentleman of the name lately fell by the hands of an assassin. 
 
 Robert Hassard was a great supporter of the Puritan minister, 
 and vicar of Lyme Regis, named Geare, whose licence to preach had 
 been withdrawn. This caused great divisions in the borough, 
 eno-ao-ino- in which Mr. Robert Hassard was Star-Chambered, and 
 expelled from the corporation. 
 
 The Harveys were Merchant Adventurers at Lyme in the reign 
 of Elizabeth. Richard Harvey gave the pulpit in Lyme church in 
 1613 to aid the great cause of his party, preaching, with this inscrip¬ 
 tion, “ Faith is by hearing.” 
 
 R, Wright, gent, was of the Customs, and Mayor of Lyme 1617. 
 
 R. Bragge, gent, was one of the Lyme corporation in 1613. He 
 was probably a member of the Bragge family of Sadborrow House, 
 nine miles from Lyme, still existing. The representative is Col. 
 Bragge. 
 
 Richard Simonds, Esq. lived in good style at Coxden Hall, near 
 Axminster, between that town and Chard. He was an active ma¬ 
 gistrate, and learned in the law. His daughter Sissilia married, 
 when scarce fourteen years of age, Paul D’Ewes, Esq. one of the Six 
 Clerks of Chancery, having purchased the office. The celebrated 
 Puritan and antiquary, Sir Simonds D’Ewes, was born at Coxden 
 Hall 18 Dec. 1602, and had that property bequeathed to him by 
 his maternal grandfather, who kept him at his seat to the time of his 
 
XXX11 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 decease, when the former was still young. His account of himself, 
 and education, his journeys, and many particulars of the times, are 
 very interesting. They are to be found at length in the Life of Sir 
 Simonds D’Ewes, written with his own hand, in the Harleian Library? 
 British Museum, MS. 646. 
 
 GEORGE ROBERTS. 
 
 Grammar School , Lyme Regis , Dorset , 
 March 1, 1848. 
 
DIARY 
 
 OF 
 
 WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 Anno Domini 1604 was the greatest pestilence in London that 
 ever was heard of or known by any man living. There died above 
 3000 weekly.* 
 
 We had such exceeding drought in all parts of England, that all 
 grass in all places, yea the best meadows by the river sides, were all 
 burnt up, in such sort that all men thought it impossible that we 
 should have any grass grow before the spring following. The very 
 roots of the grass were generally withered away and dry; yet, 
 through the great goodness of God, never a better after-spring seen 
 in any man’s memory, at the end of June; and most plenty of grass 
 when people did most despair thereof. 
 
 Nov. 5, 1605. This day there was a horrible treason intended to 
 be put in practice against the King (James the First), the queen, the 
 prince, all the nobility, the bishops, and chiefest clergy of this land, 
 which were to be assembled at this day in Parliament. The design 
 was to blow up the parliament house with gunpowder. The chief 
 
 * The pestilence reached Exeter. In the collection of papers referring to the history 
 of Lyme in the possession of the writer of these notes is an entry in a Mayor’s book of 
 expenses for 1590, which is not very intelligible:—“Paid those that did watch by day 
 for fear of the sickness for 4 days, L«t. 6cL” This watching was probably to prevent inter¬ 
 course with some infected house or one suspected. The plague raged many weeks at 
 Axminster in 1613, and consumed a great number of the inhabitants. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. B 
 
2 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YQNGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1605 - 6 . 
 
 actors were Johnson, alias Fawkes, alias Forster, alias Browne, who 
 should have set the powder on fire; Thomas Percy, a pensioner, 
 Catesbie, Robert Winter, Graunt, Ruckwood, Thomas Winter, 
 Cajs, Bates, Sir Everard Digby. There were also of the nobility (ut 
 fama est) privy thereunto, the Earl of Northumberland, Lord Stourton, 
 Lord Mordaunt, Lord Lumley, Lord Vaux. It was discovered by a 
 letter written to the Lord Mounteagle (and as though by Sir Francis 
 Tresliam, one of the conspirators), but without any name to it. 
 Upon the discovery Percy, Catesbie, Robert and Thomas Winter, 
 fled from London into Wanvickshire; where they raised the county, 
 took certain great horses, to the number of fourteen, out of the town 
 of Warwick; from thence went into Staffordshire, being in all 
 sixty or eighty horse; where, being pursued by the sheriff of War¬ 
 wickshire, and seeing that the country stuck not to them as they 
 thought, they took one Littleton’s house, which being by the sheriff 
 aforesaid beset, after some small resistance, were all taken, Percy 
 and Catesbie being then slain, the rest brought up to London and 
 committed to prison. Afterwards, upon examination of these cap¬ 
 tives, were apprehended the Earl of Northumberland, Lord Vaux, 
 Lord Stourton, Lord Lumley, and the Lord Mordaunt, and com¬ 
 mitted to the Tower. 
 
 On Thursday, being the 30th of January, Sir Everard Digby, 
 Robert Winter, Grant, and Bates, Avere, for the facts aforesaid, 
 hanged, drawn, and quartered, at London, in Paul’s Churchyard. 
 
 The next day, being Friday, Thomas Winter, the younger bro¬ 
 ther, Ruckwood, Caies, and Faulkes, Avere likewise executed in the 
 Old Palace in Westminster. 
 
 Not long after was taken a provincial seminary called Garnet.* 
 
 While these things Avere handling there Avere divers pasquils and 
 libels cast abroad in London by a certain papist against the Earl of 
 Sarum, Sir Robert Cicell, charging him to be the only match Avliich 
 
 * In the reign of Elizabeth two famous seminaries were instituted for the education of 
 English priests in the Roman Catholic religion ; one at Valladolid, the other at Douay. 
 Hence priests educated in these were called Seminary Priests, or Seminaries. 
 
1605-6.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 3 
 
 kindled the King’s displeasure against the Roman Catholics, wishing 
 him to desist if he tendered his own life and safety. One of which 
 he himself answered, and is extant in print. 
 
 February 28 th. It is said that there is a book in the press, enti- 
 tuled, The Rebellion of the Scottish, which is printed by the King’s 
 printer. 
 
 * It was lately reported by letter from Mr. Tocker, one of the 
 king’s chaplains, that they judge at court to free the Earl ot North¬ 
 umberland, and by proclamation to make known his guiltlessness of 
 the said treason.* [All between the asterisks was cancelled by the writer.'] 
 
 February 26tli. The silenced ministers of Lincolnshire exhibited 
 a petition to the Parliament, now sitting since the 21st of January 
 last, being prorogued to that day by reason of the treason. 
 
 About this time there was a pestilent libel in many men’s hands, 
 which challenged promises of the King in the behalf of the Papists, 
 which no subject can believe. 
 
 About the same time were seven sent from London into Stafford¬ 
 shire, seven into Worcestershire, and seven others into shire, 
 
 to be tried by the judges, &c. amongst which was Abbington, and 
 two seminaries taken in his house. 
 
 Near about the same time that this act of the 5t,h of November 
 last should be put in practice, the French King Henry IV. was like 
 to be murdered on Paris bridge, coming from hunting, by a Jesuit, 
 who would have run him through with a rapier.* 
 
 In January last, 1605, Mr. Beza, preacher at Geneva, died as it is 
 said for very age and weakness, f 
 
 * Jean d’lsle, a maniac, was the criminal alluded to. Attempts had been made upon 
 this King’s life in 1593 and in 1597. 
 
 + Theodore de Beze, or according to his Latinized name Beza, the head of the Genevese 
 church after Calvin, was born at Vezelay, in Nivernois, in 1519. He took an active part 
 in the important events of the civil and religious wars of France. This should not be viewed 
 as a mere obituary entry. It is greatly expressive of the feeling of the Puritan writer. 
 All of that party looked with the deepest interest to Geneva—the cradle and seat of Cal¬ 
 vinism, the theology of Calvin, and of the Calvinistic or Presbyterian system. The writer’s 
 family continued attached to these opinions ; which, after they were avowed by separatists 
 
4 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1605-6. 
 
 The seven Princes Electors were like to be blown up with gun¬ 
 powder, being assembled together at Minden, in Westphalia, to 
 intreat of matters of the empire. Presently after they were set 
 smelt a sulphury savour; whereupon, misdoubting what would 
 ensue, forthwith prorogued their sitting, and departed; who were 
 no sooner gone out of danger, but the house wherein they sat was 
 blown up, and many slam. 
 
 This parliament was put in a Bill for Conformity under great 
 pains, being so cunningly penned, that the drift thereof could not 
 long be seen, which would very much have galled the ministry, and 
 like to pass had not Mr. Snape* descried the intents of it. 
 
 Upon the free grant of two subsidies by the parliament house, the 
 King promised them two requests, which they should make to him: 
 whereupon they desired that the country near about London and 
 Essex might have relief in the parliament house of the oppressions 
 offered them by purveyors, f which was not so well listened unto of 
 the higher house, because of the m ann er of the seeking relief; to 
 which was answered by the lower house, that the country could not, 
 neither would, endure so great wrong without redress. 
 
 Their second demand was against pluralities of benefices and non¬ 
 residents. 
 
 It is reported that there is a bill passed the lower house against 
 
 from the Church of England, were the object of severe legislative enactments in the reign 
 of Charles II. It was the writer’s great-grandson who received the Duke of Monmouth, 
 the Protestant champion or friend of the Dissenters or Non-conformists, at Colyton, in his 
 Western progress in 1680, and who was expected to join the Duke in his dissenting 
 rebellion as it has been styled, commenced at Lyme Regis in 1685. 
 
 Collections for Geneva were made at Lyme, and the country round, in 1582. Mr. 
 Yonge’s friends gave some 10s. each. 
 
 * Edmund Snape was a puritan who had suffered imprisonment in Elizabeth’s reign 
 for “ setting up a new discipline and a new form of worship,” &c. 
 
 *(* The Commons asserted that, notwithstanding the six-and-thirty statutes which had 
 been made to check the monstrous abuses of Purveyance , the practice was enforced by the 
 Board of Green Cloth, who punished and imprisoned on their own warrant ; that the 
 royal purveyors did what they liked in the country, seizing carts, carriages, horses and 
 provisions, felling trees without the owner’s consent, and exacting labour from the people 
 which they paid for very badly or not at all. 
 
1606.] 
 
 DIARY OF AV ALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 5 
 
 Recusants, containing many strait articles: 1. Imprisonment; women 
 to liave no jointures; shall not plead nor wage law; their children 
 taken from them, and at their costs kept with protestants; the King 
 to have two-thirds of their lands, &c.—to the number of 13 articles. 
 
 March 1606. It is said that this Garnet was examined twenty- 
 three several times, and confessed very much. He was first accused 
 by Sir Francis Tresham, who, a little before he died (which was in 
 the Tower, where he poisoned himself), denied the same accusation, 
 and that he had falsely accused him, being thereunto drawn by two 
 priests or jesuits, which his wife brought mito him, who persuaded 
 him that if he accused this Garnet it was impossible for him to be 
 saved. 
 
 This Garnet came into England anno 1586 ; since which time he 
 confessed, that every fourth year the priests and jesuits had con¬ 
 sultations about new treasons against the late Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 It is said that in Judge Anderson’s time he came this circuit with 
 the judge as a gentleman, having three men to attend him, and con¬ 
 ferred with all the recusants in the country. 
 
 It was enjoyned him by the pope, that, after the Queen Elizabeth’s 
 death, he should as much as in him lay hinder that none should be 
 proclaimed King unless he would first swear to restore the Catholic 
 religion; which, when it was demanded what hindered that it was 
 not done, said, the suddenness of the King’s proclaiming; and there¬ 
 fore seeing they were prevented of that, they thought forthwith to 
 put in practice this plot of the fifth of November first before men¬ 
 tioned. 
 
 Garnet was condemned, and found guilty of these and divers other 
 capital offences ; and to be hanged, drawn, and quartered, the third 
 of May 1606.* 
 
 There was a sudden speech all about London, and also over all 
 England about this time, that the King was slain. 
 
 * Henry Garnet was the superior of the Jesuits in England, and is sometimes called 
 Saint Garnet. 
 
6 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1606. 
 
 The 4tli April there came clown a commission from London, 
 directed to Sir William Stroude, Sir Richard Champernowne, Sir 
 Warwick Heale, Sir Amys Bonvile, Sir John Aclande, knights; 
 Mr. Seamor, High Sheriff of Devon, Mr. Pole, Mr. Wm. Walrond, 
 Dr. Ed. Prideaux, Mr. Richard Reyn ell, &c. esquires, and to any 
 two of them, to inquire what lands the recusants in Devon stood 
 seized of; and also for the levying of the arrearages of all such fines 
 as are behind and unpaid in the late Queen Elizabeth’s time. 
 
 The same time. Sir Charles Blunt, Lord Mountjoy, and Earl of 
 Devon died; who not long before, as was generally reported, mar¬ 
 ried the Lady Rich, sister to the late Sir Robert Devereux, Earl of 
 Essex, the Lord Rich, her husband, being living.* 
 
 In this parliament the archbishop Bancroft moved the higher 
 house that the papists might have a toleration for four years; wliere- 
 unto the bishop of Worcester f replied, that it was pity they should 
 be tolerated for seven days.—Mr. Crew, of Exon, reported it, 13th 
 April, 1606. 
 
 Harswell, the Friday lecturer, seemed to maintain in his sermon 
 the Friday before, in the cathedral church at Exon, non-residency 
 out of Gal. ii. 1, by the example of Titus, who had a pastoral charge, 
 and yet Paul took him thence; reading to be preaching as a means 
 ordinary for the begetting of faith; praising God for the dead. “And 
 they glorified God in me,” Gal. i. 23. 
 
 Garnet, the provincial seminary, executed the 3rd of May, 1606. 
 
 The 22nd April, 1606, being Easter Tuesday, there came down 
 from London a proclamation, the effect whereof was, that all such 
 
 * Charles Blount, a highly honoured courtier and favourite of Elizabeth, had been an 
 adversary of the Earl of Essex. The Earl’s beautiful sister, Penelope, had engaged in 
 mutual affection with Blount before she entei’ed into a joyless wedlock with Robert Lord 
 Rich. After engaging in illicit passion, Lady Rich was divorced and married Blount, 
 who died after succeeding to his brother’s title of the sorrow which his self-indulgence had 
 sown for him. This courtier had Weycroft, the castle and park of the attainted Lord 
 Cobham, in the parish of Axminster, given him. 
 
 + Gervase Babington. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 7 
 
 1606.] 
 
 ships as were of South Britain should carry a red cross ; the North 
 part a white cross.* 
 
 22nd April. About this time there came into England eight 
 Jesuits, or seminaries, from France; whereof three were taken in 
 the Lord Montague his house in Southwark, as it was reported by 
 letter from London to Mr. Peryamf 25. of April. 
 
 A little before the breaking up of this parliament (which was sit¬ 
 ting before Easter and set over until after Easter) the lower house 
 determined to complain to the King of certain abuses in the clergy, 
 naming four principal: viz. 1. the great abuse of Excommunication 
 by them in their courts; 2. the abuse of the High Commission other 
 than to the right end; 3. the restoring the ministers of the Gospel; 
 the 4. was the citations of Ecclesiastical Courts. But before they 
 should complain to the King, they were advised to acquaint the 
 bishops therewith, and whether they would promise redress in the 
 premises or not; if not, then to complain. Which grievances being 
 propounded unto them, four bishops of them stood up and promised 
 to answer them and approve the same; who have since, ’twixt this 
 and the next session of parliament. 
 
 Before this time this same year there was summoned a synod in 
 Scotland, of which the King having intelligence, sent a proclamation 
 
 * The red cross was St. George’s Cross, and the white, St. Andrew’s Cross. These 
 were to be respectively displayed in the fore top. These two crosses united were to be 
 borne in the main top by the subjects of Great Britain. Could we but personify the Union 
 Jack, what feelings of degradation must we ascribe to it at this period,—pirates and 
 Algerine corsairs in the Channel, and our tars kept out of their pay and poisoned with 
 bad victuals ! The poursuivants who brought a proclamation to Lyme received from Mr. 
 Mayor 2s. 6d. “by consent.” 
 
 f The Peryams were numerous at this time in Devonshire. Bodley, ancestor of the 
 founder of the Bodleian library, and Peryam, merchants of Exeter, lent money to Lord 
 Russel, in 1549, when he was sent to suppress the Cornish and Devon rebellion about 
 the change of religion, and had not received his expected remittances from the court. 
 A branch of the Peryams settled at Butleigh Wooton, co. Somersetshire. An heiress 
 married the late Captain Alexander Hood, R.N., who fell in command of the Mars 
 when engaging L’Hercule, a French line-of-battle ship. His son is the present Sir 
 Alexander Hood, Bart. M.P. 
 
8 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1606. 
 
 to forbid the same. Whereupon the council of Scotland wished the 
 ministers not to sit: whereupon most came not forth; divers returned 
 (being come) without doing any thing. Nineteen went and conferred 
 between themselves, of which nineteen thirteen were imprisoned, six 
 of those thirteen, as I remember, condemned of treason. Against 
 which convention the King himself (as the fame goeth) hath written 
 a book, wherein he declareth that his mind is not, nor never was, 
 to alter the form of their Church government, knowing how dangerous 
 a thing innovation is ; as he hath not, neither doth he mind to alter 
 anything in the Church of England, which far differeth from that 
 wherein he was always brought up. 
 
 April 25, 1606. The Friday after Easter, in the Easter week, 
 the parliament set again.* 
 
 April the 25th, 1606. The King of Denmarkf is looked for at 
 court daily. 
 
 In this same month came the Marquis of St. Germyn, a Spaniard, 
 to the court, being sent by his majesty the King of Spam, to declare 
 his joy conceived by his deliverance from the great conspiracy in 
 November last. 
 
 The 2nd of May, Mrs. Mary Pole, eldest daughter to Sir William 
 Peryam, late Lord Chief Baron, died at Sliute. J 
 
 About this time, the Earl of Salisbury and Viscount Byndon 
 were made Knights of the Garter. 
 
 * Aggrieved spirits looked to a parliament as their only hope against the great evils of 
 the time. 
 
 *f* Christian IV., the Queen’s brother, did arrive, and the scenes of riot and intoxication 
 attendant upon his entertainment (of which a sad picture is drawn by Sir John Har¬ 
 rington) must have added to the writer’s previous hatred of masques and court banquets. 
 Full particulars of the King’s entertainment in England are collected in Nichols’s 
 “ Progresses, &c., of King James the First.” 
 
 J This lady was married at fifteen, and died aged thirty-eight, having borne nine 
 children, of whom three sons were at a birth. The four daughters of Sir William Peryam, 
 co-heiresses, married Sir William Pole, Sir Robert Basset, Sir Robert Pointz, and William 
 Williams, Esq. Sir John Peryam, brother of the Lord Chief Justice, left three daughters, 
 co-heiresses, who married Reynell, Speccot, and Walter Yonge, the writer of this Diary. 
 
1606.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 9 
 
 The"3rd of May, 1606, Garnet, the provincial seminary before 
 mentioned, was executed at the west end of the Rolls in London. 
 
 It is reported that, a young man being persuaded by a priest to 
 kill the Earl of Salisbury, both of them be apprehended. 
 
 2nd of May, 1606, the lower house of parliament hath passed 
 these hills following :— 
 
 1. For the better keeping of the Sabbath; 
 
 2. For a learned ministry [those able to preach] ; 
 
 3. Against non-residency; 
 
 4. To give the ministers deprived or suspended the benefit of 
 appeal, notwithstanding the canon to the contrary. 
 
 Six of the foresaid Scottish ministers were executed for the fact of 
 assembling together agamst the King’s proclamation as aforesaid. 
 
 June, 1606, the Earl of Northumberland was fined in Star Cham¬ 
 ber at 30,000/., and his body to perpetual prison if it be the King’s 
 pleasure, for the fact of the 5tli of November. 
 
 July, about the 4th, the King was like to be slain by a Spaniard, 
 being a hunting. The same time, it was reported by some which 
 came from London, the Spanish ambassador was banished the 
 court. The Commons all about London do cry out for war with 
 Spain, being so treacherous a nation.'* 
 
 Sir Edward Coke the King’s Attorney is made Chief Justice of 
 the Common Pleas. 
 
 July. No minister whatsoever may preach before he get a new 
 licence from his ordinary of the diocese wherein he is, albeit he hath 
 been a preacher these 20 years, f 
 
 * Cecil, if not the King himself, is supposed to have been no stranger to this report, 
 which may have been intended to quicken the generosity of the Commons. 
 
 + There is a great deal of meaning in this brief entry. It serves to introduce an ex¬ 
 planation that will be useful to the understanding many allusions in this Diary. 
 
 At this date ministers and preachers were distinct characters. The ordinary minister, 
 beneficed or not, was not allowed to take the higher office of preaching without a licence 
 from the bishop of the diocese, that he was “ a sufficient or convenient preacher.” With¬ 
 out a licence the minister was only allowed to read plainly and aptly (without glossing or 
 adding) the Homilies (49 Canon). If beneficed, when the living allowed it, he had to 
 
 CAMD. SOC. c 
 
10 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1606. 
 
 September. There were to the number of 18 articles draw np by 
 the Privy Council proving the Spanish ambassador guilty of treason. 
 
 Our English shipping is stayed (has an embargo laid upon it) in 
 Spain ; and some of our men put to the sword. 
 
 This year there fell out a great dissention between the state of 
 Venice and the Pope;* the cause was for that the magistrates 
 punished two ecclesiastical persons for notorious adultery, by reason 
 that the ecclesiastical officers neglected the same. Whereupon the 
 priests’ faction complained to the pope, and procured him to excom¬ 
 municate the state. The state justified what they had done. The 
 Pope forbad any priests to say mass at them, or to exercise eccle¬ 
 siastical functions amongst them until they were restored. They 
 commanded the contrary, justified their doing, and made open decla¬ 
 ration of the invalidity of the pope’s excommunication for so just a 
 cause. All seminaries and jesuits were banished. Near at their 
 departure they left a great vessel like a furnace, which was judged 
 to be to melt them treasure, also a certain thing full of boxes full of 
 
 procure, once a month, the services of a licensed preacher (46 Canon). The people not 
 respecting the “ unpreaching ministers,” as inferiors in ability, refused to have their 
 children baptized by them, or to receive the sacrament at their hands. The 57th Canon 
 threatens such with excommunication, and ministers who baptized children belonging to 
 another parish, with suspension. 
 
 The 54th Canon, sent forth a.d. 1603, menaced all licensed ministers with loss of 
 licence if they did not conform to the laws, ordinances, &c. of the Church. So soon as 
 1606 ministers had their licences recalled for the purpose of having new ones issued, 
 which would be withdrawn from those who were deemed to have been imbued with 
 Geneva doctrine. Hence the lament of the writer. The opinions of his party as to 
 preaching are reserved for a future note. 
 
 A recent proposed plan for creating an inferior order of clergy in the Church of 
 England will have conferred interest upon this note ; and especially as to the reception 
 and treatment of an inferior clergy. 
 
 * King James dispatched Sir Henry Wotton as ambassador to Venice, where there 
 appeared, in consequence of a quarrel between Pope Paul V. and the Venetians, a disposition 
 to commence a Reformation in the Church. Spain declared for the pope : James sent 
 a “ Premonition to all Christian princes and states” to the senate. The presentation of 
 this paper was deferred till St. James’s day, then not distant. When this day arrived, the 
 Venetians thanked the ambassador, but declined making any alteration in their religion, 
 as their differences with the Pope had been adjusted. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 11 
 
 1606.] 
 
 ashes, as it is thought of the ashes of letters, which they received out 
 of divers countries. Contentions increased, and war is prepared, only 
 a truce taken for a time until after their harvest. The French king 
 hath promised to aid the Venetians ; the Spaniard aideth the pope. 
 But it is thought that peace will be concluded before any battle. 
 
 There are divers tilings daily proved against the Spaniards for their 
 treachery to the state of England ;* and (it is) thought the peace 
 ’twixt us will not long hold. 
 
 Nov. 1606. The foresaid Scottish ministers, for the cause of 
 Aberdeen, were banished into Orcades, which are isles adjoining to 
 Scotland. 
 
 It was reported that the barbarian people of that country, hearing 
 one of the banished persons (I take it one Mr. Forbes), would follow 
 him in great troops the space of many miles, as very desirous to hear 
 him. I 
 
 An. D. 1605-1606. Divers of the clergymen of this realm, to the 
 number of 260, deprived for non-conformity and [non-] subscription 
 to the books of Common Prayer, and other books set forth by 
 authority 4 
 
 * The West of England had the Spaniards too long for a frontier enemy to be soon 
 reconciled. 
 
 + The Orcades or Orkneys and Shetlands, though pawned to the crown of Scotland by 
 Denmark a century before, were only yielded to Scotland as a dowry upon the marriage 
 of Anne of Denmark to James VI. of Scotland, our James I. Mr. John Forbes, minister 
 of Awford, was Moderator. The banishment was for life. 
 
 + See a preceding entry respecting the prevention of “ preaching ministers'” from 
 preaching, though preachers for twenty years, without a new licence. 
 
 The neighbouring borough of Lyme Regis, seven miles from the town of Colyton, 
 was at this time torn by religious feuds; and some mention of these may tend to illus¬ 
 trate the state of society and the operation of religious differences upon it. The important 
 body in every borough was the corporation. The members of this body at Lyme espoused 
 different sides in religious matters, though all were within the pale of the Church of Eng¬ 
 land. John Geare is a name of frequent mention at this date as the personification of all 
 disturbing causes, broils, and contentions. He is sometimes described as “ an unbene¬ 
 ficed preacher,’’ and had probably lost his licence to preach. The views he entertained 
 of religious matters and observances were adopted by some zealous followers. Too 
 earnest to rest in the quiet enjoyment of his own views, he attempted to compel others 
 
12 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1606. 
 
 This year there was a gentlewoman and near kinswoman to Doctor 
 Holland’s wife. Rector of Exon College in Oxford,* strangely pos¬ 
 sessed and bewitched, so that in her fits she cast ont of her nose and 
 mouth pins hi great abundance, and did divers other things very 
 strange to be reported. 
 
 This year also there was one Mr. Haddock of New College in 
 Oxford, who being a bachelor of physic did usually preach in his 
 sleep two or three times a week by the space of a quarter of a year ; 
 and could not by pinching or cramping be awaked, neither by put¬ 
 ting candles near his eyes look abroad. He had a stuttering and 
 imperfect kind of speech naturally, as such affirmed who know 
 him; in his sleeping sermons eloquent and pleasing, his sermons 
 being one hour long; he would never swallow spittle; but at length, 
 being sent for to the court, he was found to be a counterfeit.* 
 
 A papistical young man, being a Cornish man born, and divers 
 times persuaded by his parents to go to the church, did for that, and 
 because he could not procure his father to assure him his lands after 
 his decease, kill his own natural father, and afterwards himself, with 
 
 to conform to his notions. He proceeded at law against the mayor and his brethren 
 and the cobb-wardens (cobb, the ancient harbour) for the “ using of profane and 
 religious abuses.” Robert Hassard, gent, who possessed the manor of Seaton, a friend 
 of the writer of this diary, greatly favoured the puritan minister. Others of the court 
 party in the corporation charged him with misdemeanors wilfully committed in his 
 mayoralty, and laid the matter before the Star Chamber, and he was accordingly dismissed 
 from his rule and place of magistrate. For being a professed favourer of John Geare, 
 and not having cleared himself by a judicial hearing before the Star Chamber, Hassard 
 was expelled. John Viney was likewise suspended, and “ was deemed unworthy of his 
 place till by some worthy fruits of his conformity and amendment the mayor, &c. be 
 moved to alter or change the order.” Lyme was a type of other boroughs. The puritan 
 party gained the ascendant at the time of the civil war, and held it till the Restoration. 
 At the passing of the Bartholomew Act in 1662 the ejected vicar formed a dissenting 
 congregation. 
 
 * Thomas Holland, fellow of Balliol college, made Divinity Professor in 1589, and 
 Rector of Exeter college 1592. 
 
 f Of Richard Haydock, M.D., the “ sleeping preacher,” a full account will be seen in 
 a letter of Edward Lascelles in Lodge’s Illustrations of History. See also Wood’s Athena; 
 Oxonienses, (by Bliss,) vol. i. col. 678. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 13 
 
 1606-7.] 
 
 a knife which he thrust into his own belly, but lived some three or 
 four days after that he had hurt himself, and seemed somewhat to be 
 sorry for these wicked and desperate facts, as he delivered a little 
 before his death unto my uncle, Sir Richard Prideaux,* being then 
 high sheriff of Cornwall, who dwelled very near to the foresaid 
 place. As soon as he had murthered his father, he ran to a chapel 
 near adjoining, where he himself thought to die. 
 
 In January, 1606-7, it is reported from London by credible let¬ 
 ters, that a child, being the seventh son of Iris mother, and no 
 woman child born between, healeth deaf, blind, and lame; but the 
 parents of the child are popish, as so many say as are healed by it. 
 The Bishop of London, Doctor Vaughan, caused divers to be brought 
 to the child as aforesaid, who said a short prayer as (he) imposed his 
 hands upon, as ’tis said he did unto others; but no miracle followeth 
 any, so that it appearetli to be a plain lie invented to win grace to 
 the popish faction, f 
 
 The 20th of Jan 1606-7, by reason of a great tempest, the sea 
 brake in at divers places on the north side of this country, as at 
 Barnstaple, where was much hurt done. At Bridgwater two vil¬ 
 lages near thereabouts and one market town overflown, and report of 
 
 * Sir Richard Prideaux was the writer’s wife’s great-uncle. (Authority of I. David¬ 
 son, esq. of Secktor House.) 
 
 f This entry does not clearly set forth the precise meaning of the writer. The object he 
 had in view was probably to expose the attempted fraud of a religious body he detested, in 
 pretending that a seventh son, without a woman child born between, exercised great 
 powers of healing. The writer would perhaps have never doubted the ability of the 
 seventh son of a seventh son, and no woman child lorn between, to effect miraculous cures 
 by touch alone. 
 
 It is now believed that a seventh son can cure diseases, but that a seventh son of a 
 seventh son can cure the king’s evil. In the History of Lyme Regis appears an anecdote 
 of my being at Newenham Abbey farmhouse, in the parish of Axminster, where one 
 child was allowed to touch my pencils, though the other children were made to stand 
 back. I perceived there was something remarkable connected with the little boy, when 
 the mother told me the child was a seventh son. Having expressed myself to be very 
 desirous to know what a seventh son could do, the civil parent told me that “ She did think 
 to cure all diseases it should be the seventh son of a seventh son ; but that many folic did 
 come to touch her son 1" So much for the boasted nineteenth century. 
 
14 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1607. 
 
 500 persons drowned, besides many sheep, and other cattle. At 
 Bristol it flowed so high that divers packs, which were brought 
 thither against Paul’s fair, standing together in a common hall of the 
 city, for such purposes, stood three foot deep in water.* 
 
 May, 1607. About the twelfth of this month there were earth¬ 
 quakes felt in divers parts of this realm, and namely, at Barnstaple, 
 Tiverton, and Devonshire; also I heard it by one of Bamton credi¬ 
 bly reported that there it was felt also, and at Bamton, being four 
 miles from Tiverton, there was a little lake which ran by the space 
 of certain hours, the water whereof was as blue as azure, yet not¬ 
 withstanding as clear as possible might be; it was seen and testified 
 by many who were eye-witnesses of the same, and reported to me 
 by Mr. Twistred, one of the Earl of Bath’sf surveyors, who dwelleth 
 in the same parish, and felt the earthquake. 
 
 June 11th, 1607. This day fell in Colyton, not far from the 
 town, rain, being as it seemed a thunder shower, and some thunder 
 heard withall, among which were certain drops fell like blood, which 
 stained those things as it fell on.| I saw a partlet slam therewith, 
 and it seemed as it had been blood; my mother’s maid, viz. Scar’s 
 wife, and one Joan Milles, showed the same coming home from 
 milking. 
 
 * Fuller in his “ Mixt Contemplations on these Times ” speaks of the sad overflowing 
 of the Severn sea on both sides ; of which John Stowe, the industrious chronicler, wrote 
 an account from the communications of Dr. Still, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and three 
 other gentlemen. Fuller moralises the mention of dogs, cats, foxes, hares, conies, moles, 
 mice, and rats having saved themselves upon some eminences—an unhappy family, still 
 peaceably disposed towards each other. At Barnstaple, the water rose five or six feet 
 higher than was ever remembered. This was doubtless a terrific storm in the British 
 channel. One hundred persons lost their lives. The damage was estimated at <£'1000. 
 
 f Edward Bourchier, Earl of Bath, died in 1636. He resided at Tawstock, now the 
 seat of his descendant, Sir Bourchier Wrey, Bart. 
 
 J Baker, in his Chronicle, couples an account of its raining blood with the appearance 
 of a monstrous cock that came out of the sea at Portland, in the reign of Henry VI. So 
 long as an opinion existed that great events were foreshadowed by preternatural appear¬ 
 ances, individuals were to be found who boldly asserted they had witnessed the strangest 
 sights. 
 
1607.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 15 
 
 October, 1607. At Lyons in France was showed publicly a de¬ 
 scription of the last judgment day, made with engines, and showed 
 publicly in an open theatre; where, as soon as the same was begun 
 to be acted, there came such a mighty and terrible thunder that it 
 threw down the house wherein they were assembled, and killed the 
 greatest part of the people that came to behold and see the same.* 
 This is diversely reported both from Lyme, by some which came out 
 from France, and also by letters from London. 
 
 It is confidently reported, and also there are extant books in print, 
 the one by an eye-witness, to the sequent (following) event, that is 
 the French king being in danger of his life by two Jesuits, which 
 assaulted him about the time the devilish device of gmipowder, the 
 5th of November 1605, in England. The two Jesuits were banished 
 from the court of France, who fled and were entertained in the col¬ 
 lege of Jesuits in Lyons, where they invented a play or interlude of 
 100 actors, which did resemble the last judgment day, where papists 
 of great note, all principal men, resembled the Trinity; an abbess 
 resembled the Virgin Mary, all which above saw in heaven and 
 came by engines in resemblance to judgment of the world. There 
 were all popes brought in and placed in heaven, and all kings and 
 emperors which have any way been favourites and benefactors to 
 uphold them. Calvin, Bayes, f Luther, and the rest, with our late 
 good Queen Elizabeth, condemned; with many other things and me¬ 
 morable accidents from time to tune; the commending of the friar 
 that killed Henry III. King of France, and for so meritorious a deed 
 placed by them in their heaven; the meritorious deed intended of 
 
 * The writer’s abhorrence of all scenic exhibitions, stage-plays, interludes, masques, 
 mixt-dancing, &c. was so great as to lead him to believe that “they tended to the high 
 provocation of God’s wrath.” During the reign of the long parliament, the order pre¬ 
 scribed for demolishing the stage, galleries, seats, &c. of theatres, would exactly answer 
 to that for the destruction of the interiors of dissenting meeting-houses in the reign of 
 Charles II. Players were to be whipped and dealt with for the second offence as incor¬ 
 rigible rogues. 
 
 ■j- Beza. 
 
16 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1607 . 
 
 gunpowder; the conspiracy of Babington,* and others, against Queen 
 Elizabeth; all which were rewarded with the joys of paradise. As 
 soon as all these things were ended, it being a very fair and clear 
 day, there suddenly came such great darkness, with thunder and 
 lightning, that the three resembling the Trinity, and the abbess, 
 were stricken with the hand of the Lord, and it was never known 
 what became of them. These books are every where to be had. 
 This play lasted two days: one book (was) pemied by an eye-witness 
 and factor to a London merchant. 
 
 March, 1607. This winter last past hath been such an extreme 
 winter for frosts as no man living ever doth remember or can speak 
 of the like. 
 
 May, 1607. An extreme dearth of corn. Hay was sold this 
 present whiter in some places 2s. 6d. per 32lb. Mr. Southcote, of 
 Moeurs Oterry, (Ottery St. Mary’s, or St. Mary’s at Ottery,) paid 
 so, as he told me, being low within the same time.f 
 
 May 6, 1608. News came from Ireland of divers Englishmen 
 and Scots, with their wives and families, are slain in Ireland by the 
 Irish, who did invade a town called Derry, and slew to the number 
 
 * Anthony Babington, of Dethick, in Derbyshire, a young gentleman of good family, 
 who, though he at first objected to any attempt upon the life of Queen Elizabeth, at 
 length proposed that six persons should be associated for the assasination of her Majesty. 
 Babington was arraigned 13 Sep. 1586, and the whole of the conspirators were executed. 
 
 j- Whether the vicissitudes of the seasons were greater in former centuries than our own 
 is a question that would demand to be treated of separately. Particular seasons that now 
 produce no very serious inconvenience to the agriculturist beyond the greater consumption 
 of hay were at this date attended with great loss to the farmer, who was exposed to the 
 greatest trial in order to subsist his cattle, when long-continued frosts and a late spring 
 had produced an unusual backwardness of vegetation. It was not till just half a century 
 after this that Bligh in his “ Improver Improved ” pointed out the advantage of growing 
 clover, and Sir Richard Weston enlightened our countrymen by an account of the culti¬ 
 vation of Turnips in Flanders, by which cattle and sheep might be fattened in winter. 
 
 The price of hay, taking into account the value of money, was extremely high, 8 1. 14s. 
 per ton, or nearly the value of three fat bullocks, in 1643. 
 
 In the archives of Sir William Pole, Bart., at Shute House, is a note or bill of the 
 supplies furnished the parliamentary garrison of Lyme, 15 fat bullocks, some whereof 
 oxen, 73 L, or 41. 17s. 4 d. each ; two fat bullocks 61. or 3/. each ; 104 score truss of hay, 
 36Z., being a “ very small value” at 4s. the truss. 
 
1608 .] 
 
 DIARY OR WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 17 
 
 of 500 and more; amongst which was bishop Montgomery’s wife, 
 and he himself escaped by reason he was then at the council in Ire- 
 
 While on the subject of prices, it has appeared appropriate to insert some extracts from 
 several sources, and also from an old journal kept by a town clerk of Barnstaple, quoted 
 by Lysons. 
 
 Ann. Dom. 
 
 Wheat. 
 
 Rye. 
 
 Barley. 
 
 Oats. 
 
 
 
 *. 
 
 d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 
 1586 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 6 0 
 
 5 4 
 
 _ 
 
 
 August 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 2 8 
 
 2 3 
 
 _ 
 
 
 1587 ) 
 at Xmas. ) 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 — 
 
 2 2 
 
 1 6 
 
 
 1588 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 
 — 
 
 1 8 
 
 0 11 
 
 
 before ) 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 1 6 
 
 1 6 
 
 — 
 
 Best beef, Id. per lb. 
 
 the end. ^ 
 
 3 
 
 0 
 
 — 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 1590 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 — 
 
 _ . 
 
 _ 
 
 
 1591 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Provisions very dear. Pease and 
 
 1594 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 beans in their cods, 12s. a 
 bushel. At Whit Sunday, for 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 3 0 
 
 3 0 
 
 1 6 
 
 a heifer that had newly calved, 
 
 1595 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 61. 6s. 8 d., i. e. 19 nobles. 
 
 1596 ) 
 
 10 
 
 0 
 
 7 6 
 
 6 0 
 
 2 4 
 
 The Earl of Bath, by order from 
 
 12 
 
 0 
 
 — 
 
 8 0 
 
 — 
 
 the Council, fixed at Barnstaple 
 
 
 15 
 
 0 
 
 
 12 6 
 
 3 8 
 
 a standard price. Any one 
 selling above this price to suffer 
 duress. 
 
 Standard. 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 6 0 
 
 5 0 
 
 5 0 
 
 Earl of Bath’sstandard.-N.B. This 
 
 1597 ) 
 
 18 
 
 0 
 
 14 0 
 
 13 0 
 
 4 10 
 
 being considered inadequate, 
 
 in July, j 
 
 20 
 
 0 
 
 — 
 
 15 0 
 
 — 
 
 no one of course brought corn 
 
 1598 
 
 8 
 
 0 
 
 6 0 
 
 6 0 
 
 1 10 
 
 to market: it could not be 
 
 1599 j 
 
 4 
 
 0 
 
 — 
 
 2 6 
 
 — 
 
 procured for money. Cora was 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 2 7 
 
 2 4 
 
 -- 
 
 ordered from Dantzic. See the 
 
 1601 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 4 4 
 
 3 8 
 
 — 
 
 price in 1597, the next year. 
 
 1602 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 
 6 4 
 
 5 0 
 
 1 10 
 
 1604 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 5 0 
 
 3 8 
 
 — 
 
 The deputy of the king’s clerk of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 the market came about the 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 county, and caused all corn to be 
 sold bythe Winchestermeasure. 
 This was approved of by the 
 magistrates ; but people won¬ 
 dered they should have done so, 
 and they took it as a grievance. 
 
 1621 J 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 l\ 
 0 ) 
 
 1 4 
 
 1 3 
 
 1 4 
 
 1 3 
 
 = 1 
 
 Farmers murmured at these low 
 prices. Land fell from 20 
 
 1622 j 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 
 3 8 
 
 5 4 
 
 
 years’ purchase to 16 or 17. 
 
 8 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 The poor, who would have been 
 
 1630 
 
 5 
 
 0 
 
 4 6 
 
 4 6 
 
 
 glad a few years before of the 
 
 1637 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 4 0 
 
 5 0 
 
 
 coarse rye bread, traversed the 
 market to find out the finer 
 wheats.—Sir SimondsD’Ewes’ 
 Journal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CAMD. SOC. D 
 
18 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [ 1608 - 9 . 
 
 land. Sir George Panlett and liis wife and children were then also 
 slain, and divers others. 
 
 1608. About the 1st of August, being Sunday, there was a priest 
 taken at Gabriel’s, (at the west side of Golden Cap Hill, in sight of 
 Lyme), at one Mr. Flear’s house. His apprehension was on this 
 manner: There were sent from the council two pursuivants into the 
 country, whereof one, in former time, had been a recusant, and lately 
 revolted. These two pursuivants, riding between Axminster and 
 Chideock, fell in company with one Austen, then schoolmaster of 
 Chideock; and, after diverse conference between the said pursuivants 
 and Austin, he confessed that there was a priest at Flear’s house, 
 but did think they would scarce see him if they came thither. Being 
 come to Axminster, the pursuivant committed Austen and one other 
 with him to Hassell, being constable, and rode to Gabriel’s ; where, 
 after search made, they found the priest hidden in a little room at 
 the top of the house, being thatched, and under the thatch a door to 
 go into the same. At last, having apprehended the priest, Flear’s 
 wife offered one of them one hundred angeletts * to let him escape, 
 who received the money and promised her fair. At last, liis com¬ 
 panion being in sight, (for he was gone to the next justice when this 
 proffer was made for a warrant to commit the priest, for Flear would 
 not let him depart without some order from a justice of peace,) he 
 told her plainly he could not by any means let him escape without 
 great danger to himself; and so took hold on the priest and carried 
 him away with his hundred angeletts, which she could by no means 
 get of him again. 
 
 Nov. 1608. An extreme dearth of corn happened this year, by 
 reason of extreme frosts (as the like were never seen), the winter 
 going before, which caused much corn to fall away; so that many 
 did sow barley where their wheat was sown before, thinking their 
 wheat would never come to good. This year were very many tem¬ 
 pestuous winds. 
 
 August, 1609. Extreme wet causeth the price of all kinds of 
 
 * 
 
 Five shillings each, or twenty-five pounds* 
 
1609 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 19 
 
 corn to be somewhat high, although great plenty—the like seldom 
 seen—in ground, which by reason of much wet weather was much 
 hurt. Scarce any corn saved this year without great hurt. All 
 kind of corn did grow in stook, and much cast away and spoiled. I 
 myself was forced to turn oats some four, some five times, before 1 
 could save it.* 
 
 Feb. 1609. 1. It’s reported that the King of France hath banished 
 all Jesuits out of his country, whereat the Pope being wroth hath 
 sent forth an excommunication against him which the King of France 
 
 o o 
 
 his privy council would have burned if the King would have per¬ 
 mitted. He hath now resolved to write unto the Pope showing his 
 reasons which made him so to do; and thereupon, if the Pope will 
 not call in his bull, he shall bait or burn it. 
 
 2. At this present there is a motion for the putting down of the 
 Court of Wards.* There is offered 100,000/. yearly to be charged 
 upon all lands held in ccipite to be yearly paid into the exchequer, 
 besides 30,000/. to be paid to the officers of that court, whereof 
 20,000/. to the Earl of Salisbury, being Master of that Court, and 
 10,000/. to the other officers during their lives, which the Earl of 
 Salisbury doth embrace, ’tis thought because the Prince is persuaded 
 that that office doth belong unto him, but the King will not give way 
 thereunto. 
 
 3. It is said that all monopolies shall be put down now this pre¬ 
 sent Parliament,! quod vix credo. 
 
 4. Also, the report is that the Venetians and the Pope are lately 
 fallen out again, and there is like of war between them.—Hasc 4 or 
 ex relatione M ri Drake arm ri de Aishe. 
 
 At this parliament, there was demanded 600,000/. to be paid pre¬ 
 sently in hand to the King, for which he offereth a penny worth for a 
 
 * He farmed some land. This last remark proves that this country gentleman had 
 land in hand. Sir John Harington writes of his oves and boves. 
 
 f The Court of Wards, instituted by statute 32 Hen. VIII. was not abolished until the 
 restoration of Charles II. 
 
 J Monopolies were not abolished by statute until the 21st of this reign, 1623. 
 
20 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1609 - 10 . 
 
 penny, viz., in consideration thereof he will remit all old debts, recog¬ 
 nizances, and penal laws. There was also demanded by the Lord of 
 Salisbury 200,000/. yearly, to the King and his successors for ever; 
 whereupon they demanded the foresaid release of all tenures in capite, 
 which, ’tis thought, will not be granted. 
 
 Feb. 1609. There is a hill past the lower house against plurali¬ 
 ties and non-residency, as Mr. Drake’s letter imported, which he 
 received from Mr. Wm. Pole, which letter he read to me. 
 
 (Written in Anglo-Saxon characters.*) 
 
 Privy Councillors. 
 
 Earl of Northampton, H. Howard recon. & r. 
 
 The Earl of Shrewsbury his wife. 
 
 Earl of Worcester’s wife. 
 
 L. Knol’s wife. 
 
 L. Suffolkes wife. 
 
 Ex dictu M ri Drake. 
 
 The 4th of May, 1610, Henry the Fourth, King of France, was 
 stabbed about the short ribs by a priest or jesuit, who died thereof 
 within one hour after it was done, in Paris, being in his coach. He 
 requested that the wretch might not die for it. 
 
 The day before, his wife was crowned Queen at Paris, and the day 
 after the Dolphen proclaimed King of France, and the Queen of 
 France regent. 
 
 The 4th of June next, being Trinity Sunday, the Prince shall he 
 installed for his style of Great Britain.* 
 
 Thus much Mr. Stile’s letter from London importeth to me, which 
 I received 19th May. 
 
 * Well might this be written in strange characters, for the first on the list, the Earl of 
 Northampton, proceeded in the Star Chamber in 1613 against several persons who had 
 defamed him as a papist. 
 
 f James I. adopted the name of Great Britain for his title, which Queen Elizabeth had 
 first used as a collective appellation. A proclamation Oct. 23, 1604 set forth that the 
 King had changed his title. His eldest son Henry was created Prince of Wales on the 
 4th June 1610. 
 
 Recusants Catlio- 
 likes. 
 
 The Earl Salis¬ 
 bury standeth. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 21 
 
 1610 .] 
 
 The 2 8 tli of May, 1610, Mr. Aislie * told me that the last assizes at 
 Exon, there being but one judge which came the circuit, he put over 
 divers recognizances to be called by the justices, amongst which there 
 was one bound to the good behaviour by my Lord of Bath ;f and 
 being asked of Mr. Drake wherefore he was bound over, he said for 
 a private grudge borne him by the bishop ; and being asked where¬ 
 fore, he said he would tell it more privately. Anthony Lareer, of 
 Plymtree, stood up, being at the bench, or near, and told Mr. Aishe, 
 that it was because he affirmed that the Bishop of Exoni did lie with 
 one Anne Denys, and Potter being not far off it was told him that 
 the bishop’s name was in question for such a matter. Potter seemed 
 to be earnest that it might be publicly heard, which the other thought 
 not fit; and willed him to acquaint the bishop therewith, who after¬ 
 wards made request that it might not be heard publicly, but that he 
 might take his means against him otherways to right his wrong. 
 
 The same time he told me that Mrs. Cotton, the bishop’s wife, 
 took 10/. fee of Mr. Birdall for to speak for him. 
 
 4th May, 1610. A miserable assassin, and a damnable parricide, 
 born at Angouleme, named Francis Ravaillac, hath bereaved the 
 French nation of the father of their patrimony. This villain, who 
 having been prevented of the violence of his fatal blow and the fury 
 of his attempt in four several attempts by the execution of the height 
 and vigilance of his guards, the Friday the 13. May, after the out¬ 
 landish account [foreign mode of dating], being the 4th of our May, 
 waiting his opportunity, found the King in his carosse [coach] in the 
 end of the street of Ferronerie, who seeing the carosse stayed by the 
 meeting of a carosse and a cart as the King should pass, he came out 
 of a shop where he had kept himself against the King’s coming, al¬ 
 though somewhat distracted in shew of fear before the attempt; and 
 so came to the carosse where his majesty was, and as he was then in 
 earnest talk with other peers who were then present in company 
 with him, and dreadless of such an imminent danger. Leaning on 
 
 * Ash was the name of an ancient family settled at Sowton, now extinct. 
 
 f James Montagu, Bishop of Bath and Wells. J William Cotton. 
 
22 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1610 . 
 
 the column, he gave his majesty two blows with a knife, with so 
 sudden an execution, that the murther was sooner found than the 
 murtherer: yet, in the end, by diligent search was taken, and the 
 King carried back to the Louvre.—As in Mr. Style’s forenamed letter. 
 
 13 June, 1610. About the beginning of this month the King kept 
 himself very private by reason that he had very perfect intelligence 
 that there were four seminaries or jesuits which lately did arrive in 
 England to destroy both his Majesty and the Prince. John Harvey 
 wrote his father hereof from London; and therefore there was very 
 strait search made in London both by the lord mayor and aldermen 
 in proper person. 
 
 There was also proclamation sent forth into London that all 
 recusants should, by a certain day, depart London and retire them¬ 
 selves into the country into their own houses within one month; and 
 that no recusant should come within ten miles of the court; and 
 also that all seminary priests and jesuits should by a certain day 
 avoid the realm. Being found in England after the said day 
 appointed, should be adjudged felons or traitors. Bishop Montgo¬ 
 mery sent Mr. John Willoughby one of the said proclamations. 
 [ Written subsequently in paler ink. I have now one of these procla¬ 
 mations myself.] 
 
 August 1610. In this parliament were divers bills put in : some for 
 disannulling of pluralities, non-residence, and dumb ministers; that 
 all double-beneficed ministers should resign one of their benefices to 
 such as are able to preach. 
 
 Hereupon Archbishop Bancroft, bishop of Canterbury, sent forth 
 letters to all bishops of his province to make a voluntary contribu¬ 
 tion by them (of at least five pounds every double-beneficed minister 
 of the clergy, towards the setting up of a library for him the primate.) 
 —Dictu Magistri Knowles, ex relacione Episcopi Bath et Wells, 
 Sept. 11th, 1610. \_The words in italics afterwards added .] 
 
 About the time of the death of the French King, Grave Morris* 
 
 * Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, was stadtliolder and captain general of Holland 
 and Zealand. 
 
1611 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 23 
 
 was in danger to have been slain by a priest, as the report 
 goeth. 
 
 April 1611. The Duke of Savoy made an offer to besiege Geneva, 
 against which there was great aid sent by the Protestants from all 
 parts of France, and divers gallant Protestants came to assist them ; 
 amongst whom was Mounsier de Noiie, whom they made their 
 captain. 
 
 It is said that Leopoldus, by a secret practice, invaded the town 
 of Prague, in Bohemia, and put forty then found to the sword. 
 This Leopoldus is a noble German, that married the late duke of 
 Cleve’s sister; in whose right he strove for the dukedom, the late 
 duke dying without issue; but the Marquis of Brandenburgli carried 
 the same from him by reason that he married another of the sisters 
 which was older. 
 
 April 1611. Monsier de Royne, in France, being lord treasurer, 
 put himself from the place for fear lest he should be put by; and to 
 prevent the disgrace. It is said, that besides the excessive gifts 
 given by the Queen mother, regent of France, he left in ready coin 
 in the King’s treasure 5,000,000/., fifty hundred thousand pounds. 
 
 April 1611. There is an offer made the King of England by the 
 farmers of the customs, that if they may rent the same for five 
 years more (from December next, at which time their time is ex¬ 
 pired, and their seven years ended,) they will give 70,000/. per ann. 
 for the same, which is 10,000/. more than they paid before. There 
 are others which offer to give the same rent—viz. 60,000/.; and one 
 to give 100,000/. fine. 
 
 15 May, 1611. There was such a dry spring this year as never 
 was before seen or heard of. Yet corn proved reasonably good this 
 year. 
 
 1612. The duke of Bouillon, a great protestant in France. 
 
 About the begiiming of this year the Pope [Paul V.] sent an in¬ 
 hibition to all his Catholics in England that they should not take the 
 oath of supremacy; whereupon all were sworn anew, and many 
 refused. 
 
24 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1612 . 
 
 July 1612. No prohibitions are to be granted in the five points: 
 viz. 1. incest; 2. heresy; 3. schism; 4. open and horrible adul¬ 
 tery; [the 5 th point is not mentioned .] 
 
 The High Commissioners have power both to fine and imprison. 
 
 The commission is granted ex merd prorogation. All the judges, 
 privy councillors, the archbishop of Canterbury, and bishop of 
 London are of the quorum. There is no appealing, except a man 
 do by petition inform the privy council sitting, when the King is 
 suggested to be still present, of great wrong; and thereupon they 
 will reverse things done in the commission. 
 
 The King of Denmark [the Queen’s brother] like to be slam. 
 
 13 March, 1612. It is reported that the King’s house at Royston 
 did sink four foot, and part thereof fell,* the King himself being 
 therein; but I hear of no hurt done. 
 
 Feb. 1612. Frederick the Fifth, Coirnt Palatine of [the] Rhine, 
 was married to Elizabeth daughter to James. King of England. 
 
 The said Frederick was born the 16th Aug. 1596. 
 
 The lady Elizabeth, 19 Aug. 1596, being three days younger. 
 
 March 1613. About the end of March there was a bull set up in 
 the court gate; whereby the King and Count Palatine were excom¬ 
 municate, as the report goeth. 
 
 2 Dec. 1614. It is said that the King of France hath proclaimed 
 himself supreme head of tilings ecclesiastical as well as in temporal 
 things in France. False, f 
 
 16 December 1614. This day the ministers of this diocese were 
 called before the bishop of Exon, who read letters from the arch¬ 
 bishop, the effect of which were that every minister should exhort 
 his parishioners to continue together the Sabbath day, and not to 
 wander to other preachers who have better gifts than their own 
 pastors, but should content themselves with the word of God read, 
 
 * This happened at Newmarket, according to a letter printed in Nichols’s Progresses, 
 &c. of King James I. vol. ii. p. 607. 
 
 f The writer, as here appears, carefully corrects the entries made by him when correct 
 information enables him to do so. He sometimes added the word “ True.” 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 25 
 
 1611 .] 
 
 and Homilies. (2.) That all should kneel at the receiving of the 
 sacrament. (3.) To declare unto their parishioners that it is not 
 necessary to have the word preached at the sacraments.—Dictu 
 magistri Knowles, Yicarii de Axmingter, at that time present. 
 
 21 keb. 1611. Bartholomew Legatt, an Arian,* was convicted 
 before 
 
 I London. Doctor Edwards. 
 
 Ely. Doctor Saunderson. 
 
 Coventry and Doctor Morton, Dean of 
 Lichfield. Winchester, 
 v Rochester. Doctor Leyfield. 
 
 Dean of Pauls. Sir John Blount. 
 
 Sir Tlios. Fowler. 
 
 Legates opinions. 
 
 1. Touching the three creeds, viz. the Apostles’, Nicene, and Atha¬ 
 nasius, he allowed the Apostles’ Creed, but not the two others. 
 
 2. He held that Christ was begotten and made; we say begotten, 
 and not made. 
 
 3. That there are no persons in the Godhead. 
 
 4. That Christ was not God from everlasting. 
 
 O 
 
 5. That the world was not made by Christ. 
 
 * Legatt before being sent to the bishops had been questioned by the royal schoolman. 
 Another Arian, or as it is now termed Unitarian or Socinian, named Wightman, who 
 was crazed, wa3 burned at Lichfield about the same time. These executions have an his¬ 
 toric interest that must increase from year to year. Legatt and Wightman were the last 
 victims at the stake of religious persecution ! The age had advanced to this point of 
 humanity, that it evinced such signs of horror, that rulers and ecclesiastics refrained from 
 any persecution of erring mortals in matters of mere faith, without reference to politics, 
 beyond harassing them by exclusion and imprisonment. No fire has been since lighted 
 in our happy realm. The writer of the diary, like Stowe the chronicler, coolly records 
 their fate without an expression of pity for the sufferers. The intolerance of the Puritans 
 was remarkable. They banished settlers from Massachusetts because they were of the 
 Church of England. The true principles of religious toleration were utterly repudiated 
 by them. “ God forbid,” said Dudley, one of their most esteemed leaders, “ our love 
 for the truth should be grown so cold that we should tolerate errors !” 
 
 CAMD. SOC. E 
 
26 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1615 . 
 
 6. That the Apostles taught Christ to he man only. 
 
 7. That there is no generation of God, but of his creation only. 
 
 8. That it was monstrous blasphemy to say that God was man. 
 
 9. That before the fullness of time Christ was but by promise. 
 
 10. He doubted whether Christ was God otherwise than God. 
 
 11. That Christ was not equal with God in the form of God, but 
 in righteousness. 
 
 12. That Christ did work no miracles by his godhead but from his 
 Father. 
 
 13. That Christ was not to be prayed unto. 
 
 Being divers times admonished to recant these errors, and refusing, 
 he was censured, excommunicated, and delivered to the secular 
 power in the custody of the sheriff Smith, to remain untill the King’s 
 pleasure were known. The 14th of March, 1611, a writ was sealed 
 for burning of him in Smitlifield. 
 
 The 26 of August 1615 the town of Tiverton received their char- 
 ter of incorporation,* and made choice of Mr. Giflfard to be mayor 
 this year; Mr. Humfry Ware being recorder; and Henry Nate 
 town-clerk. They have three justices of peace in their town. 
 
 December 1613. The Queen-mother of France [Mary de’ Me¬ 
 dici] surpriseth and imprisoneth the Duke of Vendosme, who in 
 April afore escaped and fortified in Brytayne (Britany). 
 
 June 1611. A commission was made to diverse noblemen to 
 compound with gentlemen of the country for a new dignity, which 
 is called Knights Baronets, to have to them and their heirs males for 
 ever. They shall have precedency in commissions, offices, &c. be¬ 
 fore knights of the bath, bachelor knights, and knights bannerets,f 
 
 * This was a memorable occurrence. The importance of that town was greatly 
 increased in the face of the country at large. Honiton may be cited as an instance in 
 modern times of a town in Devonshire receiving, upon application, a charter of incorpora¬ 
 tion. The altered system and state of things forbid any comparison between the effect to 
 be produced by a charter in the two cases. Some flourishing towns will not procure a 
 charter ; and this without reference to the expense, which amounts to about 300(R. 
 
 *f* This is incorrectly stated. The Baronets had precedency given them before knights 
 bachelors, but not before knights of the bath, or knights bannerets, which were those made 
 in the field under the King’s banner displayed. 
 
1615 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 27 
 
 except such as shall wait under the King’s banner in the field, in the 
 King s presence. The number of which Knights Baronets should not 
 exceed 200 in all. For wnich the’re now to pay the King, imder 
 
 pretence ot succouring the plantation in Ulster in Ireland, about 
 1100Z. a piece. 
 
 1615. John Ogilvie, a jesuit, was executed in Glasgow, in Scot¬ 
 land, for affirming the Pope to have power to excommunicate the 
 King, and depose him from his throne, and to slay his majesty, being 
 excommunicate, and assoil his subjects from obedience. See his 
 book. 
 
 Great mischief like to fall out in Cleveland about the dukedom, 
 between the Marquis of Brandenburg and the Duke of Newburg. 
 New burg poured a great army from Spain, under the conduct of 
 Marquis Spinola,* whose intendment Grave Maurice prevented with 
 an army of greater strength. See afore in Leopoklus. 
 
 May. The farmers take the customs of the King for seven years 
 from Xmas last, at 120,000/. per annum. 
 
 7 August 1615, an’o 13 Jacobi. Edmund Pecham f was arraigned 
 and found guilty of high treason, before Sir Christopher Tanfield 
 
 * Ambrose, Marquis Spinola, one of the most celebrated generals of his time, originally 
 of Genoa, was born 1569. He brought a body of 9000 Italian and Spanish veterans into 
 Flanders for the service of Spain against the famous prince Maurice. After a life of great 
 military achievements he died in 1630. 
 
 I f‘ This old Somersetshire minister had attracted attention by preaching puritanically, 
 with some intemperance perhaps. His study having been broken into, a sermon or trea¬ 
 tise in MS. was found which had never been preached nor probably was ever intended to 
 be preached. The King’s fondness for dogs, dances, banquets, and costly dresses, and the 
 frauds and oppressions practised by his government and officers, found a place in it. 
 There was likewise a passage about “ the King being stricken with death on the sudden, or 
 within eight days, as Ananias or Nabal.” James insisted that the offence amounted to 
 high treason. Coke took it to be a criminal slander, but not treason. Sir Francis Bacon 
 drew up certain questions, which were put to our aged West-countryman before torture, 
 during torture, between torture, and after torture t! Within twelve years from this date, 
 torture was abolished. Edmund Peacham’s case was one of the worst of this reign. 
 Judge Hobart being about to ride the western circuit, (judges did not use coaches at this 
 time,) Peacham was sent into Somersetshire to be tried. He was condemned, but died in 
 prison. 
 
28 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1615 - 6 . 
 
 and Serjeant Montague,* at Taunton assizes, for divers tilings con¬ 
 tained in a book of his against the Kin g’s person, and the privy 
 counsellors. Sir Randall Crewe, the King’s serjeant, and Sir 
 Henry Yelverton, the King’s solicitor, came purposely down from 
 London to give evidence in the behalf of the King against him. It 
 is said that Pecham wrote a book against abuses in the Ecclesiastical 
 Court by Doctor James, and against the Bishop of Bath and Wells, 
 Doctor Montague, brother to the serjeant. 
 
 1615. Mrs. Turner, Sir Jervis Elways the lieutenant of the 
 Tower, Franklyn, and Weston some time servant to Doctor Turner, 
 were executed for poisoning Sir Thomas Overbury, being hired 
 thereunto by the Countess of Suffolk’s daughter, some time Earl of 
 Essex’s wife, and after divorced and married to the Earl of 
 Somerset, f 
 
 1615. The Protestants and Papists in France withstand the King’s 
 marriage, labored by the Queen Regent, with the King of Spain’s 
 daughter. The Queen Regent opposes her eagerly against the 
 Duke of Savoy and Duke of Bouillon, who were against the mar¬ 
 riage. 
 
 After which stirs the French in Normandy and Paris were all up 
 in arms, the princes of the blood joining together to have justice to 
 proceed upon such as are found out to be cause of the late King of 
 France his death, viz. Henry 4. 
 
 1616. The Earl of Somerset obtained his pardon for the murther 
 of Sir Thomas Overbury, and also the Countess of Somerset, being 
 both arraigned and found guilty of the murther. This murther was 
 discovered by the means of Sir Edward Coke, lord chief justice of 
 England. 
 
 O 
 
 The 12th November, 1616. Sir John Tyndall, one of the mas¬ 
 ters of the Chancery, was shot with a dagge [a pistol], by one Mr. 
 Bartram, an old gentleman of seventy years of age, for making 
 
 * The latter was soon after Lord Chief Justice ; see p. 29. 
 
 f See “ The Great Oyer of Poisoning. The trial of the Earl and Countess of Somerset 
 for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. By Andrew Amos, Esq. 1846.” 8vo. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 29 
 
 1616 .] 
 
 divers reports against him in Chancery, to the overthrow of Bartram, 
 his wife and children, which Bartram, being committed to the King’s 
 Bench, hanged himself in prison the 18th Nov. following. 
 
 This year arose great contention between the lord chancellor, /Sir 
 Thomas Egerton, and the lord chief justice of England, Sir Edward 
 Coke, about the jurisdiction of their courts.* But at last the lord 
 chancellor prevailed; and about the 18th Nov. 1616 the lord chief 
 justice displaced by the King, and serjeant Montague, recorder of 
 London, chosen lord chief justice in his room, as it is reported gave 
 15,000/. to obtain the place. 
 
 Matters objected against the lord chief justice were: 1. For in¬ 
 stalment of a debt of Sir Christopher Hatton’s of 60,000/. to a small 
 value in Queen Elizabeth’s time; to which he answered that he did 
 it with the assent of the late Queen, the lands of Sir Christopher 
 Hatton being not able to answer so great a sum. 2. Setting up Sir 
 Thomas Monson at the Guildhall in London, who was also accessary 
 to the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury. He affirmed that England 
 had great cause now to thank God as for their delivery from the 
 gunpowder treason, therby persuading men of some great plot in 
 hand, and divers of the nobility to be disloyal, which sounded to 
 their dishonour. That the hight of the Chancery would be an over¬ 
 throw to the laws of the realm, and prejudicial to men’s estate. 
 
 1616. The Prince of Conde, after truce taken and reconciliation 
 between the Queen Regent of France and himself, afterwards upon re¬ 
 quest repairing to the court, was suddenly taken and committed to the 
 Bastille, a common prison, the Marquis de l’Ancre being his keeper, 
 being the Queen’s minion and greatest enemy to the Prince of Conde. 
 Upon whose commitment divers of the French nobility betook them 
 to their castles and stood upon their own guard. 
 
 * The lord chancellor repealed a judgment at common law, and committed the 
 defendants, who refused to obey his orders. The matter was referred to the King’s 
 attorney, solicitor, and serjeant, who decided for the lord chancellor. Lord Campbell in 
 his “ Lives of the Chancellors” states that the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery to stay 
 by injunction execution on judgment at law was thus finally established. 
 
30 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1616 - 7 . 
 
 The 11th November, 1616 the Prince Charles was installed at 
 Whitehall; at which time the lord chancellor was made Viscount 
 Brackley. The Lord Knowles, who married the Earl of Suffolk’s 
 daughter, was made Viscount Wallingford; Sir Thomas Edwards 
 treasurer of the king’s household; Sir Philip Stanhope made Lord 
 Stanhope. The same time were made divers knights of the Bath, 
 viz. the Earl of Arundel’s eldest son, the Earl of Northumberland’s 
 eldest son, the Lord Mounteagle’s eldest son, five sons of the Earl of 
 Suffolk, with divers others, as the Lord Stour ton’s sons, and others 
 which I remember not. 
 
 October, 1616. There was a man of Littleham, in Devonshire, 
 murdered in his house by four of his neighbours coming to rob him. 
 They having killed him, set his house on fire and burned him in his 
 house. All his body was consumed and burned, except that side 
 where he was wounded, which was neither burnt nor his clothes 
 scorched with any fire, a wonderful judgment of God against 
 murder. 
 
 22nd Nov. 1616. Being Friday at night, about eight of the clock, 
 being a very dark and misty night, the waves of the sea seemed to 
 be flames of fire near about the Cobbe of Lyme, which in the fall 
 and breaking thereof gave such a light that they might see the coast 
 all alone; as far as Charmouth, as if it had been lightning.* It was 
 seen of an hundred people of Lyme, and confidently affirmed by Lar- 
 come, an honest man who saw the same. Among which a boy of 
 the town being present went to the sea side and took up some of 
 the water in a frying pan, and brought it to the Company, who 
 pouring the same on the ground in falling seemed like to sparks of 
 fire.—Dictu Joli’is Gyles de Axminster apud Lyme. 
 
 5th Jan, 1616-7. Sir George Villiers made Earl of Buckingham. 
 
 Jan. 31. The Duke of Bouillon expectetli to be besieged by the 
 
 * The same effect precisely has been witnessed by the writer of this note after a con¬ 
 tinuance of easterly wind and frost in early November, when the wind suddenly shifts 
 to the south-west, and blows gently from that quarter. I do not doubt but that the same 
 effect is always similarly produced at this season. The phosphorescence is surprising. 
 
31 
 
 1616 - 7 .] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 King of Spam’s army, conducted by Spinola. The kingdom of 
 France are grown into arms and expectation of bloody wars, as is 
 now in Savoy, from whence our King’s agent writeth to a friend, 
 that there is neither sparing of age nor sex. The Queene-mother of 
 France hath proclaimed the princes traitors, and hath drawn down 
 into France 6000 Switzers, and purposes to go into the field on both 
 sides as soon as the weather is fair. There arrived in London an 
 ambassador, called the Baron of Tom's, who came from the King 
 and his mother; there is daily expectation of the coming of arnbas- 
 sadois from the Hollanders, who wait at the sea side for a wind 
 these three months. Sir Walter Raleigh purposeth to be gone the 
 fiist of March. The King’s journey holdeth for Scotland the 15 of 
 March next, and borroweth of the city one hundred thousand pounds, 
 and carrieth with him much more.—Out of a letter sent Mr. Every 
 from London, brought me by John Bragge, the first of Feb. 1616-7.* 
 
 Jan. 1616-7. The archbishop of Spalatro, and metropolitan of 
 Croatia and Dalmatia, revolted from the Pope, and came mto Eng¬ 
 land, and is entertained with great grace. 
 
 The 13th of February 1616-7, there was seen in the air like the 
 appearance of a fire-brand wrapped in a red cloak, and s hin ing at 
 
 * There was no post yet established. Letters were dispatched by private hands. The 
 driver of the horses that carried the fish to London from Lyme probably conveyed many 
 letters. 
 
 f Antonius de Dominis, archbishop of Spalatro, had quarrelled with the Pope and made 
 common cause with the Venetians, renounced popery, and visited the United Provinces, 
 but eventually came to England. He was made Master of the Savoy and Dean of Windsor, 
 and had the honour of frequently preaching before the lords of the Council. After a 
 residence of some time in England, distinguished in various ways, the Spanish ambassador 
 offered to negotiate his return to Rome, with a prospect of his being made a cardinal by 
 Gregory XV. It is uncertain whether this was in good faith, or to prove to James I. the 
 insincerity of De Dominis’ conversion. This remarkable man now retracted all he had 
 said and written ; was ordered by James to leave England in three days, and went to 
 Rome, where Gregory XV. received him well ; but his successor Urban VIII. threw him 
 into the Inquisition. “ He suffered,” writes Baker, “ the death of a heretic, though not 
 the shame ; had the punishment of a martyr, but not the honour ; and was publicly burnt, 
 yet not burnt alive, but, dying in prison, and then buried, his body was afterwards taken 
 up and burnt,” while his ashes were scattered to the winds. 
 
32 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1616 - 7 . 
 
 both the ends, as John Harvy wrote (Francis Haies) from London, 
 and that he the said Jo. Harry and many other saw it.—Dictu Fran- 
 cisci Hayes. 
 
 About the same time was seen at Wellington the like sight; viz. 
 the likeness of fire in bigness as big as a child of seven or eight 
 years old, which fell out of the air, making a very great noise, and 
 to the seeing of those who saw it fell on a house, but did no harm. 
 It was seen by one Mr. Prouse’s man, and divers other, being then 
 going with the constable in a search about nine of the clock at night. 
 —Dictu Francisci Hayes. 
 
 1616-7. John Harvey writeth also that the Bishop of Winchester* 
 is to be made Lord Chancellor of England, and Sir Francis Bacon 
 Lord Keeper, and that Sir Thomas Egerton, Viscount Brackley, will 
 give over his place of chancellorship to them, as the report goeth 
 about London. 
 
 The Baron of Tours (ambassador to the French King and queen 
 regent) his coming into England is to pray aid of our King for 
 soldiers to suppress the nobility of France, who are proclaimed 
 traitors as aforesaid. John Harvey’s letter.—Ex relatione Francisci 
 Hayes. 
 
 The names of the chief commanders and greatest soldiers in 
 France: The Duke of Bouillon, D’Esquires (revolted 1621 from the 
 Protestants), Du Plessis, De Rhone, De Rohan. All Protestants. 
 
 De Lewen (De Luisnes) the French King’s favorite. 
 
 De Larme (Lerma) the Spanish King’s favorite. 
 
 1619. The Protestants in France assembled, and put up diverse 
 grievances to the King, who gave them answer that they should have 
 redress if they would disassemble themselves ; but they replied they 
 would not before their grievances were redressed. 
 
 8000 soldiers were sent to the Rhine, out of England, under the 
 conduct of Sir Horatio Vere, to defend the Palsgrave’s country 
 against the Emperor Ferdinand. There went with him the earls of 
 
 * James Montague, who had been translated from Bath and Wells, 26 June, 1616. Sir 
 Francis Bacon was made Lord Keeper 7 March, 1616-17 : there was then no Chancellor. 
 
1619 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 33 
 
 Oxford, Essex, Sir Edward Sackville tlie Earl of Dorset his 
 brother, and Colonel Cicel; and four companies of drums are every 
 day beaten about the city of London for soldiers.—By letter, 1 July, 
 1620. 
 
 The King’s Attorney-General, Sir Henry Yelverton, was put out 
 of his place, and Sir Thos. Coventry, of the Inner Temple, chosen in 
 his place. By the same letter, 1620. 
 
 Before this time the Lord Chief Justice, viz. (anno 1616) Sir 
 Edward Coke, was put from his place, and Serjeant Montague put 
 in his place. 
 
 The same year Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor, died of 
 conceit, fearing to be displaced.* Sir Francis Bacon was chosen 
 Lord Keeper in his life time; so that Sir Thomas Egerton was Lord 
 Chancellor, and Sir Francis Bacon Lord Keeper, both at one time. 
 
 1616. This year were extreme rains and tempestuous winds from 
 the end of November till after Candlemas, and scarce any one day 
 fair in all that time. Corn proved this year to be very good generally. 
 
 1619. The Count Palatine elected King of Bohemia. 
 
 1. As the Palsgrave was going to Bohemia there follows his army 
 in September a swarm of bees by many days together. 
 
 2. There being a great pestilence in the town of Prague, the chief 
 city of Bohemia, it was observed, that the day that the Palsgrave 
 came to Bohemia it staid, and not one died of the plague after. 
 
 3. The 25th of December stilo novo, which with us is the loth of 
 December, being Christmas day with them, the Lady Elizabeth was 
 delivered of a young son in Prague. The Palsgrave and she being 
 both at dinner, she arose, and before he had dined she was delivered.! 
 
 * Long before he finally retired he had solicited his release from the toils and cares of 
 office. It was only with reluctance James consented to accept his resignation. See his 
 letter in Lord Campbell’s Lives of the Chancellors, vol. ii. 254. 
 
 + The intestine divisions of Bohemia between the Romanists, Lutherans, and Calvinists 
 belong to the page of general history. After a revolt from Austria the Calvinistic insur¬ 
 gents declared their crown to have been elective, and offered it to the Elector of Saxony, 
 who declined the honour, and then to the Elector Palatine Frederick, who had married the 
 princess Elizabeth, the King of England’s daughter. Without making a proper estimate 
 
 CAMD. SOC. F 
 
34 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1620 . 
 
 August 1620. The Prince of Orange intercepted a post which 
 the King of Spain sent to Spinola to massacre the people in Heidel¬ 
 berg before our English forces came thither. 
 
 The Emperor is besieged in Vienna, and pretended that Spinola 
 with 40,000 going to raise the siege, but after went into the palatinate. 
 
 Sir Richard Hawkins is going to sea with twenty sail of ships; 
 viz., six of the King’s ships, and fourteen ships of the merchants of 
 London. It is reported they go against the Turks at Algiers.* 
 [A fterwards written, They lay thereabout all the winter and next 
 spring; and concluded a truce for English merchants.] 
 
 Sept. 1620. There is a firm peace concluded between the Duke 
 of Bavaria and the Princes of the Union, so that there is no danger 
 of the Saxon or Bavarian; they are about to licentiate their armies 
 to what part they will go. \Aftemvards written, Proved not true.] 
 The Turk’s ambassador is come to Prague, and offers all love and 
 friendship to the King of Bohemia, desiring there may be a general 
 peace between Iris Majesty and the King, with the rest of the incor¬ 
 porated provinces. 
 
 The Count Mansfeldt f hath taken Theyn, and hath besieged Cra- 
 
 of his means to resist the house of Austria and the Catholics, Frederick consented to be 
 crowned at Prague, 4 Nov. 1619. James I. foretold the unhappy termination of the 
 affair ; though he sent a small force eventually to meddle with the affairs of Germany, as 
 the British have since done on account of Hanover, it was only because he could not 
 resist the cry of indignation raised at home. The excited English viewed this, which 
 eventually ran into the Thirty Years’ War, as a war of religion. The writer of this diary 
 records the Palsgrave of the Rhine as the champion of Protestantism, as led by God. He 
 could not have been made to believe that, when his friend Sir Walter Erie and party 
 seized and held Lyme for the cause of the Parliament and religion, the Palsgrave's son. 
 Prince Maurice, would advance against this neighbouring borough with an army of Irish 
 Catholics. 
 
 * James I. proposed that the different Christian powers should unite to destroy the 
 great piratical haunt, Algiers, and burn the ships there. 
 
 -f- Count Mansfeldt was Ernest, natural son of Count Peter Ernest, Count of Mansfeldt. 
 He served the Emperor and the King of Spain, but eventually entered the service of the 
 Duke of Savoy against Spain. After a life of great military fame he died in 1626. From 
 his want of regular authority and resources, the house of Austria named him the “ Attila 
 of Christendom.” 
 
1620 .] 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 35 
 
 mond, and fortifietli Pilsen, against the coining of Leopold, being 
 ready to welcome him. 
 
 Colonel Francis liis regiment, especially the soldiers called the 
 Dragons,* do continually make incursions upon the enemy, so that 
 they dare not come out of their trenches. 
 
 Light miles about Vienna is altogether ruinate, and that there is 
 is no man dwelling there. The suburbs are pulled down, which 
 causeth a multitude of poor people. 
 
 The Landgrave of Hesse and the Duke of Brunswick are in arms 
 to resist Spinola, if he come that way. 
 
 They have taken the strong cloister of Torway, belonging to the 
 bishoprick of Paderborn. 
 
 Bethlehem Gaborf is at Newensall in Hungary: the Turkish am¬ 
 bassador came thither, and made his oration in that assembly, desiring 
 that Bethlehem may be made King of Hungary. 
 
 The Venetians are at the assembly to renew their confederations 
 with the Hmigarians. 
 
 Of 4000 Cossacks that came from Polonia, there are not 1100 
 which came to the Emperor. 
 
 In Vienna they are afraid of a siege; for certain Bethlehem will 
 fall in upon them of Austria, except the Emperor will make peace 
 with the Bohemians. The Emperor’s ambassador is princely enter¬ 
 tained at Polonia. About Crewbs and Vienna is extreme necessity 
 of victuals. Archduke Leopold is passed towards Bohemia with 21 
 companies of footmen, and 20 cornets of horsemen; but daily his 
 men deceive him for want of pay. Our arms also march night and 
 day to see their behaviour: they will not go to Bohemia, seeing they 
 turn back by whole troops. The plague is also sore among them. 
 
 The King of Sweden hath been in person at Heidelberg, to see 
 the King of Bohemia’s sister; and afterwards married hcr.l 
 
 * Dragons, afterwards styled dragoons, from a short sword so called which they wore, 
 first raised in the year 1600 by Marshal de Brisac. 
 
 ■f* Waivode of Transylvania, that made himself master of Hungary. 
 
 J This was a false report. Gustavus Adolphus married Eleonora of Brandenburg. 
 
36 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1620 - 1 . 
 
 January, 1620-1. About the end of this month the Earl of Ox¬ 
 ford, the Earl of Essex, and the Lord Chichester, with Sir Horatio 
 Vere, were chosen to be of the King’s Council of War; which was 
 the first Council of War in England. 
 
 This spring, 1620 and 1621, upon the discord of the Christian 
 princes in Germany about the kingdom of Bohemia, the Turk raised 
 a great army of 100,000 men, and came towards Polonia. 
 
 About the beginning of April, Spinola got the palatinate from the 
 Palsgrave of Rhine. 
 
 In April, the King sent the Lord Digby to the Emperor Ferdi¬ 
 nand, and from thence to the King of Spain, Pliilip IV., to render 
 the palatinate again, which Spinola had taken from his son-in-law. 
 
 The lltli of May about eight of the clock in the forenoon there 
 was a very great eclipse of the sun, being a very bright shining day, 
 and yet, nevertheless, it was exceeding dark, insomuch I could hardly 
 see to write this. The sun was eclipsed full 11 parts of 12, as our 
 almanacks affirm. The north wind also blew very cold, as at any 
 time in March. 
 
 At the parliament 1621, Sir Francis Bacon, then Lord Chancellor 
 of England, was questioned for taking many bribes ;* and about the 
 
 * An opinion hastily set up, that bribery was customary and therefore somewhat excu¬ 
 sable, is now exploded. Latimer preached against the corruption of receiving bribes. 
 Justice Hale carried his scruples regarding presents to an extent which exposed him to 
 ridicule from some, and to the imputation of pharisaical uprightness from others. Thus the 
 Dean and Chapter of Salisbury having a case to try before him on the western circuit, he 
 insisted on being allowed to pay for the six sugar-loaves which according to long established 
 custom they presented to him. The acceptance of bribes was common, says the Edin¬ 
 burgh Reviewer, but never otherwise than as a thing which was disapproved and discoun¬ 
 tenanced by all good men. The practice of etrennes is abolished in France. 
 
 The Mayors of Lyme Regis made presents whenever they became suitors, as a few 
 extracts from the archives of that borough attest. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 A. D. 1590. Paid for wine we carried with us to Mr. Poulett . . .036 
 
 Wine and sugar given Mr. Poulett . . . . . .034 
 
 Horse-hire and for the Serjeant to ride to Mr. Walrond’s of Bovey, 
 and for a loaf of sugar and for conserves given there to Mr. 
 
 Poppel . .. . . . . . . .110 
 
1620 - 1 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 37 
 
 middle of May came to be censured, whose censure was that he 
 should pay forty thousand pounds to the King, be banished the 
 court, and not come within twenty miles thereof, and be imprisoned 
 during the King’s pleasure. And presently after the parliament, the 
 King set him at liberty. The same parliament Sir John Bennett,* 
 one of the High Commissioner Court, and doctor and judge of the 
 audience (I take it), was censured for bribery and corruption; his 
 censure was, as it is reported, to be hanged. There was found in 
 his custody two hundred thousand pounds in coin. He was as cor¬ 
 rupt a judge as any in England, for he would not only take bribes of 
 both parties, plaintiff and defendant, but many times shamefully 
 begged them. 
 
 About the end of October, Ano. Dni. 1620 , the Duke of Bavaria 
 and Burgoyne, general of the Emperor’s army in Bohemia, took 
 Prague, and almost all Bohemia, Silesia, and Moravia. 
 
 The next sprmg Silesia and Moravia revolted from the Emperor 
 to the Palsgrave. 
 
 Sir Henry Yelverton was censured this parliament in May, 1621 , 
 for a dormant warrant which he drew concerning the execution of 
 the patent to Sir Giles Mompesson about gold and silver lace.f 
 
 a. D. 1590. £. dm 
 
 Wine and sugar given to Judge Anderson . . . .034 
 
 A bottle wine and sugar given Mr. Gibbs (a lawyer) 
 
 1320. Mr. Mayor to ride to the assizes, and there invite Mr. Serjeant 
 Aslilie to come hither, and to entertain him at the town charge, 
 that his advice may be had touching the charter. It is left to 
 the Mayor’s discretion what gratuity he will give to the Lord 
 Chief Baron and his men. 
 
 See “ Madagascar,” a poem by Sir William Davenant, quoted by Lord Campbell in his 
 Life of Lord Keeper Coventry. 
 
 ‘ ‘ Then reconcile the rich for gold-fring’d gloves, 
 
 The poor for God’s sake, or for sugar-loaves.” 
 
 * Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury ; died 1627. See the peerage, tit. 
 Earl of Tankerville. 
 
 1" Of all patent monopolists Sir Giles Mompesson was the most notorious and abhorred. 
 He and Sir h rancis Michell had two patents : one for making gold and silver thread, and 
 another for licensing inns and alehouses. They had used other than foreign gold, con- 
 
38 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1620 - 1 . 
 
 The same time the chancellor to the Bishop of Peterborough was 
 questioned in the parliament for forty bribes proved against them, 
 and also the chancellor of the Bishop of Durham. 
 
 The Spanish ambassador, Sir Gondamar, is upon departing hence 
 out of England. And the King of Spain hath lately beheaded three 
 of the last King’s favourites, and discharged most of his father’s 
 council, for taking part with his brother, upon whom the late King 
 of Spain conferred by his will the kingdom of Portugal. 
 
 Gondomar hath his patent of embassy renewed, and doth continue 
 lieger [resident or ordinary] ambassador in England. 
 
 A prophecy found under the foundation of the church of St. 
 Denis, in France, written in Hebrew, and graven in brass:— 
 
 In the year 
 
 1621. Shall be great wars in Italy; 
 
 1622. There shall be no shepherd; 
 
 1623. God’s anger throughout all the world; 
 
 1624. Africa shall be on fire ; the moon shall be blood ; 
 
 1625. Africa, Eiuopia, and Asia shall tremble; 
 
 1626. God shall be known but of a few; 
 
 1627. A great man shall rise again; 
 
 1628. Infidels shall acknowledge God in their persons; 
 
 1629. A great earthquake over all the world ; 
 
 1630. Bivers shall be dried up; then shall be one shepherd and 
 one sheepfold. 
 
 Aimo 995 the pope ordained and established the seven Princes 
 Electors of the empire. 
 
 May, 1621. The King of France went to the siege of Rochelle, 
 and in his way sacked the house of the Lord Du Plessis.—True. 
 
 trary to the law ; and their other monopoly had heen the cause of great hardship. The 
 King abandoned Mompesson and the prerogative to the Commons. The offender escaped : 
 Michell was fined 1,000£. and imprisoned. Yelverton, who owed his rise to Somerset, 
 was implicated through the malice of Buckingham. He was sentenced to he fined and 
 imprisoned for life ; but released two months after, “ with hope that his fine shall be re¬ 
 mitted.” He was afterwards a judge. See Nichols’s Progresses, &c. of King James I. 
 vol. ii. p. 703; vol. iii. p. 610. 
 
1621.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 39 
 
 The French King disarms all the Protestants in France, many of 
 which came to Rochelle, some to Jersey, Guernsey; and many fled 
 out of France, for fear of persecution, into England. 
 
 || It is reported that the Turk hath landed an army in Spain. ||_A 
 
 false report. 
 
 Also that the King of Spain’s ships are at sea, being 100 sail, 
 armadoes and others. And the Flemings have 300 sail at sea. 
 
 The Flemings take three rich ships of the Spaniards, which were 
 going with money and munition to aid Spinola; in one of which they 
 had one hundred thousand pomids, which they bestowed upon the 
 
 Count Palatine, to be paid him ten thousand pounds a month._ 
 
 True. 
 
 The King of France came before St. Angelo, a little from Rochelle, 
 and lodged 4000 soldiers in the suburbs of the town. The next 
 morning the garrison of St. Angelo sallied out and slew 300 men of 
 the French King’s army, and put them to the worst. 
 
 Monsieur de Rohan,* being governor of the town, hath levied 
 forces to withstand the King of France, and hath left Monsieur 
 Soubize to keep the town. 
 
 After [wards] the King of France, by De d’Esquiere,f a revolting 
 Protestant nobleman, took St. Angelo and razed the town. 
 
 Bills past this Parliament, 1621 :— 
 
 1. The bill of the Sabbath. 
 
 A declaration of the Commons house of parliament, made the 4th 
 day of June, 1621:— 
 
 The Commons assembled in parliament, taking into their serious 
 consideration the present estate of the King’s children abroad, and 
 the general afflicted state of the true professors of the same Christian 
 
 * The Due de Rohan was the son-in-law of Sully, and brother of the Count de Soubise. 
 
 + Francis de Bonne, Duke of Lesdiquieres of Daupliine, born in 1543, was chosen 
 their chief by the Calvinists of that province, and took Grenoble in 1590. After the 
 death of De Luynes nothing but his religion prevented him from succeeding as Constable 
 of France. This obstacle was removed by his abjuration of Calvinism in 1622. His great 
 merits were sullied by several vices. He died in 1626. 
 
40 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1621 . 
 
 religion professed by the Church of England in foreign parts, and 
 being touched with a true sense and fellow-feeling of their distresses, 
 as members of the same body, do with one unanimous consent, in 
 the name of themselves and the whole body of the kingdom whom 
 they represent, declare unto the King’s most excellent Majesty, to all 
 the world, their hearty grief and sorrow for the same. And do not 
 only join with them in their humble and devout prayers unto 
 Almighty God, to protect his true church, and to avert the dangers 
 now threatened; but also, with one heart and voice, do solemnly 
 protest that (as his Majesty’s pious endeavours by treaty to procure 
 their peace and safety shall not take that good effect which is desired, 
 in the treaty whereof they humbly beseech his Majesty not to suffer 
 any long delay), that then, upon signification of his Majesty in parlia¬ 
 ment, they shall be ready to the utmost of their powers, both with 
 their lives and fortunes, to assist him, so as that, by the divine help 
 of Almighty God (who is never wanting to those who in his fear 
 shall undertake the defence of this his own cause), he may be able 
 to do that by the sword which by peaceable courses shall not be effected. 
 
 To this declaration the King testified his approbation, and is entred 
 of record. 
 
 Sir Henry Montague, Lord Chief Justice of England, made Lord 
 Treasurer .—[.Afterwards added, 20,000 1. to the Duke] [of Buck¬ 
 ingham]. 
 
 || 14 ships are provided; 26 more providing; and 1500 mariners 
 prest in London: for what service it’s unknown. It’s thought for 
 F ranee. ||—F alse. 
 
 The Lord Arundel shall be Lord Marshal of England.— \_Sid>$e- 
 quently appended, He is Marshal.] 
 
 The Protestants in France have an ambassador in London, who 
 hath audience at Whitehall on Tuesday, 12 th June, 1621.—Ex re¬ 
 latione M ri Drake, by letter from Mr. Portis’ man of the court. 
 
 Sir James Lee,* Lord Chief Justice of England, an aged man, is 
 
 * Sir James Ley, afterwards Lord Treasurer, and Earl of Marlborough. See his epi¬ 
 taph in Hoare's Modern Wiltshire, Hundred of Westbury, p. 15. 
 
1621 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 41 
 
 married Sir John Butler’s daughter, a gentlewoman of seventeen 
 years old, and near allied to the Lord Marquis Buckingham. 
 
 Presently, within one week after the parliament was adjourned, 
 the Earl of Southampton, Sir Edward Coke, Sir Edwyn Sands, and 
 Wright the clerk of the parliament house, were committed, and also 
 Dr. Bayly: for what cause it is not known. 
 
 The Prince of Orange, Grave Maurice, and Marquis Spinola are 
 in the field, in the Low Countries, each of them with 30,000 men. 
 
 This last parliament, the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Spencer 
 fell out; for which the Earl of Arundel was committed by the higher 
 house; but presently after the parliament delivered them out of prison. 
 
 July? 1621. Mr. Hall reporteth that there is leave granted to any 
 that will serve the King of Spain in his wars may do so. [Sh&se- 
 quently added, against the Netherlanders.] 
 
 || Also it is reported, that our shipping is staid in France (i.e. has 
 an embargo laid upon it). ||—False; but they were like to be staid. 
 
 There is a report that Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, shall 
 be made denizen. 
 
 The Earl of Oxford, the Earl of Southampton, were imprisoned 
 shortly after the parliament: the Earl of Oxford for saying we should 
 all shortly turn papists; the Earl of Southampton for encouraging 
 the Palsgrave in his wars,—as is reported. 
 
 Doctor Sutclif, dean of Exon, was sent for also, for speaking 
 against the Spanish match; and saying the King showed no natural 
 affection to leave his daughter in distress. 
 
 The Rochellers have warned out divers ships of war, which now 
 lie upon the sea. 
 
 || It is reported that Spinola is distracted. Also that the navy 
 which the King sent out of England against Algiers [Argier in the 
 original] had a fight at sea with the Hollanders at Carthagena, in 
 which fight they lost one of the King’s ships and six other merchant 
 ships. ||—False. 
 
 * Though this fleet did not encounter the Dutch, it approached Algiers, without, how¬ 
 ever, the promised supply of ships from Spain. Sir Robert Mansell attacked the Algerines, 
 
 CAMD. SOC. G 
 
42 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [ 1621 . 
 
 Doctor Williams, clean of Westminster, was made Lord Keeper 
 of England. 
 
 Doctor Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury, as he was shooting at a 
 deer, killed the keeper of the park.* 
 
 It is reported that the Emperor put twenty-four nobles of Bohemia 
 to death.—True. 
 
 August, 1621. The first of August there passed through Exon 
 six horses and mares which the marquis of Buckingham sent for 
 into Barbary. f 
 
 Monsieur de Desaquieres revolted from the Protestants of Rochelle 
 to the King. 
 
 This summer was very cold and wet: corn beaten down with 
 much rain, and like to prove very ill. Yet hi regard of the last year 
 plenty. It was sold all this last summer, 1621, for 3s. 4 d. the bushell 
 of wheat; barley at 20 d ,; and oats 14c?. This year harvest was not 
 ended before Allhallowtide (Nov. 1). 
 
 It is reported that the Marquis of Buckingham shall be Lord 
 High Constable of England. 
 
 William Cotton, Bishop of Exeter, died at his parsonage at Sil- 
 verton. He had seventeen stones in his bladder, and twenty-nine at 
 the neck of his bladder. 
 
 27. of August, 1621. || It is reported that there are twelve great 
 
 and set fire to their ships ; hut a tremendous fall of rain extinguished the flames, and with the 
 exception of two all were preserved from the British, and booms thrown across prevented 
 another attack. 
 
 * This unfortunate accident occurred at Bramshill, the seat of Lord Zouch, where the 
 archbishop shot the keeper with his cross-bow, both being on horseback at the time. The 
 King’s reception of the news, the result of the coroner’s inquest, and the subsequent con¬ 
 duct of the special commission of trial, will be found in Nichols’s Progresses, &c. of King 
 James the First, vol. iii. p. 709. After nearly five months, the proceedings were closed 
 by a royal pardon, which is printed in Rymer’s Foedera, vol. xvii. p. 337. 
 
 ■f The first attempt to introduce the pure Arabian blood into this country was made in 
 this reign. The experiment does not appear to have met with the support it deserved. 
 After a lapse of many years the Arabian was again resorted to, as lately as the reign of 
 Queen Anne. See Bell’s History of British Quadrupeds. 
 
1621 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 43 
 
 sliips suddenly sent to the sea; for what service it is unknown.|| — 
 False. 
 
 The Spaniard armadoes, being twelve in number, of the King’s 
 principal ships, well provided, set on twenty-five Flemish ships, and 
 took nine of them; and did much hurt to the rest. 
 
 Sir Davey Murray put from the Prince’s service. 
 
 xxvii. Aug. 1621. Dr. George Abbot, Lord Archbishop of 
 Canterbury, after he had slain the keeper, at supra, betook himself 
 more often than in former times to preaching, for which he was like 
 to be in trouble; for a man in his case may not preach, say some 
 civilians, before he have the King’s pardon for his offence. 
 
 Bethlehem Gabor, with 50,000 soldiers, did overrun a great part 
 of Germany, and burnt many towns, as the Lord Digby’s letters 
 import by relation of Sir Edward Sackville; and is let into Moravia 
 by [Marquis] Jegersdorp. 
 
 The emperor is in that quer case, that he is not able to bid battle 
 to Bethlehem Gabor, now in Germany. 
 
 Comit Mansfeldt is strong in Germany. 
 
 September, 1621. A note of those that were slain at Montauban, 
 in France, beside all that were blown up by disaster of gunpowder, 
 which were many. 
 
 The Marquis de Famines, 
 The Marquis of Villiers, 
 The Earl of Francus, 
 
 The Earl of Ribberack, 
 Monsieur de Corbau, 
 Monsieur de la Feretta, 
 Viscount de Seurs. 
 
 Monsieur de Villancy 3 brothers. 
 Monsieur de Tours 3 brothers. 
 
 Mes. de Laima 2 brothers. 
 
 The Captain of the reg. (?) light horse. 
 La Fera de la Fenesse de la Courte. 
 The Earl of Lee. 
 
 All the Caravurs (Vavasours?) and 
 divers gentlemen. 
 
 This was done by them of the city of Montauban in a scout, 
 under the command of the Earl de Dorvale, the Duke of Roue’s son. 
 Since that the Duke of Main, Governor of Bordeaux, and Lieute¬ 
 nant-General for the King in Guienne, was shot in the eye and slain 
 
44 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1621 . 
 
 before Montauban at the siege of the ,* called Villa Bour- 
 
 bone, with 500 nobles and gentlemen. On which day three suburbs 
 were taken by the King’s army; yet at length by them of the town. 
 
 The match concluded between Prince Charles and Mary, the 
 daughter of Philip, late King of Spain. [It was concluded with the 
 Emperor in Germany. These lines erased, and false written under. ] 
 Sir John Digby being ambassador thither. 
 
 It is reported the Marquis of Buckingham shall be Duke of Buck¬ 
 ingham ; the Lord Arundel, Duke of : upon which the Lord 
 
 Digby shall go into Spam very shortly for the Infanta. 
 
 The Rochellers dispersed the King of Trance’s navy, lying before 
 the town of Rochelle ; took the vice-admiral, and four other ships. 
 
 It is reported that the muscles and sea fish are now come again to 
 Rochelle; which is a great relief to the town in their distress, being 
 barred of relief by sea and land. 
 
 October, 1621. It is reported that the King of France hath raised 
 his siege from Montauban, and is gone with his army from thence. 
 
 The Rochellers took a ship of the French King, laden with 
 powder, and seven other ships. 
 
 October, 1621. A commission is granted unto Doctor Williams, 
 now Lord Keeper, (who took his place this 10th day of October in 
 Chancery,) the Bishop of London, Dr. Mountain; the Bishop of Win¬ 
 chester, Dr. Andrews; the Bishop of Rochester, Dr. [Buckeridge] ; 
 the Bishop of Exeter, Dr. Cary; the Bishop of St. David’s, Dr. 
 [Milbourne] ; Sir Henry Hobart, Chief Justice of the Common 
 Pleas; Sir John Doddridge, Justice of the King’s Bench; Sir H. 
 Martyn, the King’s Advocate; and Dr. Stewart, a civilian; to argue 
 and resolve of the archbishop’s regidarity to instal the bishops newly 
 elected.f 
 
 A report flies that the Marquis of Buckingham, the Marquis of 
 
 * Blank in the MS. 
 
 *)* Williams, Laud, Davenant, and Cary, the bishops elect, scrupled to be consecrated by 
 Archbishop Abbott, whom they disliked, as being of the Low Church or Puritan party, 
 owing to his accident. 
 
1621 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 45 
 
 Hamilton, the Earls of Arundel and Northumberland, shall be 
 shortly created dukes, and the Duke of Lennox naturalized an English 
 duke. 
 
 The 9th of October, 1621, there came an ambassador into London 
 from the Emperor of Russia, brought in with 120 citizens on horse¬ 
 back, very rich in trains and apparel. 
 
 The parliament is adjourned mitil the 8th of Feb. 
 
 The city of Geneva is besieged by the Duke of Savoy. 
 
 It is reported that the Earl of Southampton, the Lord Coke, Sir 
 Edwin Sands, and Mr. Noy, shall go into Ireland, and by commis¬ 
 sion shall examine the matters objected against the deputy. 
 
 The parliament is suddenly resummoned for the 20th of November, 
 upon the arrival of the Lord Digby from the Emperor. • 
 
 In September there were an infinite company of birds, like unto 
 stares,* which came flying over Corke, a town in Ireland, which 
 fought in so terrible a manner, as many thousands fell down dead 
 into the town; so that the inhabitants were enforced to gather and 
 carry them away in carts, to free the town of the noisome smell 
 which came by the putrefaction of the dead birds. 
 
 November, 1621. The King of France sent another fleet of ships 
 to stop the sea passages from Rochelle: the Rochellers manned out a 
 few ships, and took the admiral and vice-admiral, and carried them 
 into Rochelle. 
 
 Bethlehem Gabor, King of Hungary, and Marquis Jergersdorp, 
 had a great victory in Moravia, and slew more than 10,000 men. 
 The emperor’s brother (Charles, Archduke of Austria) was their 
 leader, and was slain among them. They say Bethlehem and Jer¬ 
 gersdorp have taken certain towns, and their ordinance; and have 
 driven the rest of their forces out of Moravia. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt is come into the Lower Palatinate with 14,000, 
 and the siege is removed from Franckendall. 
 
 The Duke of Bavaria is coming towards the Lower Palatinate 
 with 20,000 men against Count Mansfeldt and Sir Horatio Yere. 
 
 7 o 
 
 * The Devonshire word for starlings. 
 
46 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1621. 
 
 The Marquis of Brunswick is gone into the Palatinate with 
 12,000 foot and 4000 horse. 
 
 The King of Denmark, his son, is in the Lower Palatinate with 
 10,000 men ; whereof 2000 are horsemen. It is said that the King 
 of Bohemia (the Count Palatine) is also going thither with 8000 
 foot and 2000 horse. 
 
 Spinola hath blocked up the town of Gulick, and doth intend to 
 lie with his camp in the field all this winter. [Afterwards added ., 
 at last he took it.] 
 
 The Prince of Orange hath sent for 30,000 deal boards, and doth 
 purpose to lie in camp all this winter. He hath built two strong- 
 forts upon the Rhine. 
 
 They die much in both camps of the bloody flux and other 
 diseases. 
 
 Montauban holdeth out and wanteth nothing. Monsieur de Tilly, 
 with 66 companies of foot, and 44 troops of horse, 9 pieces of ord¬ 
 nance, and 5000 horsemen, is going towards Furtli, a town hi 
 Bavaria, and joining to Bohemia.* 
 
 The Lord of Dorna is come to Jegersdorp with 3 companies of 
 foot, and from thence is going to Trappau. 
 
 Concerning Poland and the Turk there have been many battles 
 fought, and a great number slain of both sides; and it is not yet 
 known who hath the best. 
 
 Jo. Sweet, a Jesuit, was apprehended in Exon and committed. 
 
 The Earl of Oxford is to go to sea the 20th of this month with 
 20 of the King’s ships, to apprehend some Flemish ships from India. 
 Was after once stopped this voyage, but upon a new commission 
 sent forth. 
 
 The first day of Parliament, being the 21st of November, there 
 
 * John Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly, descended from a noble family of Brussels, was at first 
 a jesuit, afterwards a celebrated general. He commanded the troops of Bavaria ; opposed 
 and expelled the Duke of Brunswick from the Palatinate, and had the chief command 
 against the Protestant forces led by the King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus. His name 
 is infamous from his cruelties at the sack of Magdeburg. He died from a shot after a 
 battle with Gustavus in 1632. 
 
1621 .] 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 47 
 
 was one taken at the parliament stairs, near the higher 
 
 house, with a pistol charged with 3 bullets, besides divers others 
 about London. He was apprehended by Sir Samuel Sands. 
 
 The Lord Keeper made a speech to the house of parliament, that 
 the King is informed by Ins council of war that the charge of 20,000 
 soldiers in the Palatinate will amount to 900,000/. for one year, 
 which is demanded of the house. 
 
 The Lord Digby made a speech at the same time, in which he 
 seemed somewhat to clear the Emperor and the Duchess of Austria, 
 concerning the affairs in the Palatinate, and layetli the fault upon 
 the Duke of Bavaria.—Sir Win. Pole’s letter from Anthony Batt. 
 
 There is a speech that civilians shall practise in all courts of equity, 
 viz. the Chancery and others. 
 
 December 19, 1621. The Parliament was prorogued until the 
 viii. of February next. 
 
 The Duke of Brunswick, with 1400 horse, came before Mentz, 
 and espying a certain privy which came out of the castle wall, 
 after that he feasted the governor of the town, and after called his 
 chief followers to counsell, and departed with 700 of his company, 
 leaving the rest behind, to whom he gave order that as soon as they 
 thought him to come about the other farthest part of the town, they 
 should make an assault, which they did; for defence of which all 
 those in the town went to resist the assailants, and in the mean time 
 the duke put up certain soldiers into the privy, who entered the 
 town and opened the gates, there being very small resistance in that 
 part, for all were gone to the alarm in defence of the other part of 
 the town, and so took it with small resistance. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt hath also given some overthrow to the Duke of 
 Bavaria; and Sir Horatio Vere is expected home very shortly. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt intercepted a letter from the Emperor to the 
 King of Spain, in which he much blamed him for soliciting him to 
 deliver up the Palatinate, and to trust the King of England with it, 
 being a heretick; seeing it is a place of great importance for them, 
 and being in a Catholick hand it may be advantageous to them upon 
 all occasions. 
 
48 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1621 - 2 . 
 
 Lewen the French favourite is dead,* who was a means to pro¬ 
 voke the Kins of France in his wars against the Protestants in 
 France, and the establishing of the Jesuits. 
 
 The xix. Dec. 1621. A fire kindled in Chancery Lane, in Lon¬ 
 don, and burned six houses of the clerks of the Six Clerks’ Office, in 
 Chancery, with many rolls of that court. 
 
 Upon the breaking up of this parliament Sir Edward Coke was 
 committed to the Tower, being a chief speaker in the parliament 
 house. 
 
 The 21 of December it was concluded by the Lords of the Privy 
 Council, that 8000 foot and 1600 horse should be sent into some 
 part of Germany out of England.—Quoth Sir Walter Erie. 
 
 At the siege of Montauban there were slam (by report) 60 noble 
 men, 300 gentlemen of note, and 100 thousand men. And yet the 
 King of France continueth his siege to it. 
 
 It is said the Lord Digby shall be created Earl of Bristol, and 
 shall go shortly into Spain in ambassage. 
 
 The 10 Jan. 1621-2, the King being at Theobalds adventured to 
 ride over a water in his park,f and being in the midst the ice brake 
 and his horse began to sink, but with much ado recovered the bank, 
 and being landing the King reined his horse so hard that he came 
 back upon him and cast off the King, who fell backward into the 
 water with his head downwards, and was hi great peril of drowning, 
 had not his footmen been near, who through their diligence adven¬ 
 tured and recovered him again out of the water. He had much 
 water in his body before they could recover him, but is now well 
 again .f 
 
 The same day there were seen by the minister of Plymouth in 
 
 * De Luynes died of grief at the failure before Montauban. 
 
 f See several accounts of this accident in Nichols’s Progresses, &c. of King James I. 
 vol. iii. pp. 749, 750. The water was the New River. 
 
 J The erroneous impression that death by drowning proceeds from the quantity of water 
 swallowed is not yet wholly exploded, nor the consequent illtreatment of the sufferer, not¬ 
 withstanding the admirable directions for such cases issued by the Royal Humane Society. 
 
1621 - 2 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 49 
 
 Devon, and a French minister, then walking upon the Hoe at 
 Plymouth, three clouds in the air, which clouds seemed to come and 
 meet together. At their meeting one of them brake, and gave a 
 great noise, as if it had been a cannon. After the second brake, and 
 gave two sounds, as of two cannons. Then the third brake and 
 gave the noise as if it had been the noise of cannons in a set battle, 
 with a whistling in the air, as if bullets had been shot out of a piece. 
 There was a thunderbolt seen at Plympton to fall from thence into 
 the ground, which weighed by report viii. lb. Sir Wm. Strode gave 
 my wife a piece of the thunderbolt.* 
 
 Feb. 1621-2. Benevolence. The better sort of ability about 
 London are called before the Lords to know what they will give 
 towards the recovery of the Palatinate. Some give 200/., some 100/., 
 some 50/., and none under 20 marks [13/. 6s. 8c/.]. Also it is said 
 commissions shall go into all shires for the like. 
 
 The last of January, 1621-2 the judges were sent for before the 
 Lords of the Council, to know their opinions in what case the laws 
 do stand that be upon continuance, f 
 
 Sir Edward Coke, Sir Robert Philips,]; and Mr. Mallory, are 
 close prisoners in the Tower for words as is thought spoke by them 
 the last parliament. 
 
 Sir Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, committed to the Tower 1615, 
 
 * This piece of the “ thunderbolt ” was most probably a nodule of sulphuret of iron, 
 or iron pyrites. The former appellation of this substance was thunderbolt, which from its 
 smell and appearance was popularly judged to have been formed in the sky by the action 
 of the electric fluid. Sulphuret of iron is found upon the shore near the landslip of Dow- 
 lands and Eastward of Lyme, where the poor collect it for parties who procure the extrac¬ 
 tion of sulphur, &c. at Plymouth. Sulphuric acid used to be made from these nodules. 
 Sir 'William Strode lived at Newenham Plympton, near Plymouth. His daughter Eliza¬ 
 beth married the writer’s son, John Yonge, who became the first baronet, by whom he had 
 five sons and four daughters. 
 
 ■f The writer means laws passed that were intended to be in operation not permanently, 
 but only for a certain definite period, and then to cease unless renewed. 
 
 I Sir Robert Phelips of Montacute House, near Yeovil, Somerset, the son of Sir Edward 
 Phelips, a serjeant at law, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1603, was the nephew of 
 Sir Thomas Phelips, Bart. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 H 
 
50 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1621-2. 
 
 for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, is now freed of his impri¬ 
 sonment, as it is reported.* 
 
 The Lord Norris, Earl of Berkshire, killed himself with a cross-bow. 
 
 The Earl of Oxford is to go with a company of eleven ships at sea 
 to apprehend two rich ships of the Flemings, which came from the 
 East Indies; to repair and satisfy certain losses our English mer¬ 
 chants have there sustained by them. 
 
 The Earl of Argyle, a Scottish man, hath a commission to go 
 into the Low Countries, and to carry 5000 men, such as shall be 
 voluntaries, to serve with the Archduchess auainst the States. 
 
 The King hath given leave to the Rochellers to hire six English 
 ships for then’ defence against the King of France. And hath given 
 leave to the Spanish ambassador to hire eight English ships to go 
 against the Hollanders. 
 
 The Marquis of Buckingham and his wife were both bishopped or 
 confirmed by the Bishop of London [afterwards added , Dr. Mon- 
 tagne]. 
 
 It is reported that those who persuaded the King to break off the 
 parliament have gotten their pardons under the great seal.—Mr. 
 Wright’s relation to Mr. Mallock. All co[ntained?] in this page. 
 
 There is a speech that all puritan justices of peace shall be put off 
 the commission, f 
 
 There are letters come down from the Lords of the Council about 
 the setting on work of poor tradesmen j: and weavers. 
 
 It is said that such as refuse to give towards this benevolence 
 either shall be sent into Ireland, or shall go as soldiers into the pala¬ 
 tinate. 
 
 * James I. dared not execute Somerset. There was some guilty secret—a mystery into 
 which Dr. Taylor leaves others to penetrate.—Bentley’s Miscellany, Dec. 1846. Lord 
 Ellesmere resolutely refused to affix the great seal to the extraordinary pardon of Somerset 
 and his wife. 
 
 ■f This news greatly interested the writer, who marked the same with a rose in the 
 margin. 
 
 J By tradesmen is meant those workmen or operatives who followed some particular 
 manufacture called a trade, as clothing, linen trade, &c. 
 
1621 - 2 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 51 
 
 It is reported that the Lord Vaux goeth with 5000 voluntaries 
 to aid the Archduchess against the Low Countries, which he seems 
 to refuse, affirming that he will not fight against Sir Horatio Vere, 
 who is with the States.—Dictu Anthonii Batt. 
 
 The Bishop of Exon, Dr. Valentine Car j, is expected to come into 
 his diocese this spring, and doth bring with him an high commission 
 for causes ecclesiastical.—Dictu Anthonii Batt. 
 
 It is reported that the States have sent ten ships, double manned, 
 to aid home their two Indian ships, being very rich, to the value of 
 eight millions. 
 
 The Earl of Oxford, being very badly manned, required the 
 Mayor of Dover to provide him forty mariners for him, who denied 
 it; and told him that he had no commission to do it. 
 
 There is a bill put into the Star Chamber against Sir Edward 
 Coke.—Relatio Anthonii Batt, 16 Feb. 1621. 
 
 Feb. 1621-2. The Earl of Oxford returned from sea, and did 
 nothing. 
 
 The Marquis of Buckingham went from the court in discontent, 
 the cause is unknown, and was afterwards sent for; it is said ’twas 
 for that one Sidnom was in favor with the Kino-. 
 
 There is a great navy reported in Spain, as being as big as in 
 aimo 1588 ; for what cause is not known, except it be for the Low 
 Countries. 
 
 Justice Jones of the Common Pleas, Sir Nathaniel Rich, Mr. Tho. 
 Crewe, and others, who were agents hi the last parliament, are sent 
 commissioners into Ireland.* 
 
 It was reported that the King was married to Sir Jolm Croste’s 
 daughter: which speech grew upon crossing of Valentines, as is 
 reported. 
 
 This last parliament there were seventy laws which stood upon 
 discontynuance expired, for that the parliament broke up suddenly 
 
 * t 1 or having been “ agents ” or active members, they were sent upon forced commis¬ 
 sions into Ireland, in order to punish and get rid of them. 
 
52 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1621-2. 
 
 in discontent, as the law for the poor, rogues, stealing, &c., as you 
 may see in Stat. 1 Jacob, cap. 25.* 
 
 About this time there were assembled about 400 poor people in 
 Wiltshire, complaining in peaceable manner to the justices that they 
 could get no work to relieve themselves, and therefore did desire 
 that order might be taken for their relief; all trades are grown so 
 bad that there is not any employment. It is said also that the like 
 insurrection was in Gloucestershire, and thereupon the Lords of the 
 Council sent forth letters into divers shires for the setting of poor 
 people on work. 
 
 It is said that merchants are enjoyned to buy a quantity of clothes 
 weekly at Blackwel Hall in London, or otherwise they shall be dis¬ 
 franchised of their liberties and freedom of merchants in London.f 
 
 There is a great scarcity of money within all this kingdom, so that 
 any man cannot depend upon any payment or receat any money due 
 to him, and generally all the country is impoverished. And good 
 livers cannot make any shift for money.} The price of all things 
 except corn is at a very low rate. Tradesmen complain they can¬ 
 not get work to employ themselves ; so that many do offer to work 
 for meat and drink only. 
 
 Sir Horatio Yere lost 500 men by a stratagem of Spinola sur¬ 
 prising his company by coming over to Gulicke to them over the ice, 
 whereof there were many officers, as captains, lieutenants, serjeants. 
 He lost more commanders at this time than they lost in twelve years 
 before. 
 
 There is a speech Sir Henry Montague, President of the Council, 
 shall be Lord Chancellor of England. 
 
 March, 1621-2. The Rochellers took fifteen ships of war of the 
 
 * These laws had been passed not permanently, but only for a definite period, at the 
 expiration of which they required to be renewed. The writer complains of the neglect in 
 allowing them to expire. A proper officer now keeps a register of such laws. 
 
 ■f- The ancient remedies applied to the diseased body politic are interesting. One class 
 of traders alone appears to have had the cure assigned to them. 
 
 t Payments were all this reign for the most part in gold. In 1614 the price of gold 
 was raised two shillings in the pound, or ten per cent.— Wilson. 
 
1621 - 2 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 53 
 
 French King, besides many other small merchant ships, and a town 
 called Oultre le Barges, which they sacked and burnt. 
 
 There was a benevolence granted the King by the bishops of all 
 spiritual men’s lands, after the rate of 3s. 10<£ the pomid, which 
 many ministers refused; and said they could not pay it. Yet most 
 paid the same, not without a kind of muttering, for as many as paid 
 not were threatened to have their names returned. 
 
 There is expected a benevolence for the laity, and it’s said they 
 shall give so much as they are set at subsidy: and as many as will 
 not pay it shall be sent for by the council, and committed or be sent 
 in messages into Ireland or the Palatinate; which will be a bene¬ 
 volence by compulsion.* 
 
 There is an impost set upon wine at 31. the tun more than hereto¬ 
 fore in London, and in other places 10/. upon every tun. 
 
 It is said now in Exon there are 300 poor weavers, which go 
 about the streets to crave relief by begging, because they can get no 
 work, for trades are so bad that merchants cannot sell their cloths 
 when they have bought them.f 
 
 The justices met tins assizes, 12th March, to consider of some 
 course to set people on work, and to prevent insurrection. 
 
 The King of France is levying of an army of two hundred thou¬ 
 sand men to suppress the Protestants. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt is expected into France hi aid of the Protestants. 
 
 It is reported that the King of Spain is providing of an army of 
 eighty thousand men. 
 
 || The Emperor went into Italy to see the King of Spain his 
 sister, as it is reported; and the match with our prince and her is like 
 to break off.||—Not true. 
 
 Spinola beseiged the town of Sluys in the Low Countries ; where¬ 
 upon the States turned in the main sea, drowned a great part of the 
 
 * The writer’s alarm on account of a system of punishing reluctant parties by sending 
 them on forced missions was a just one. The plan was adopted to the letter. 
 
 t The factory system had not yet obtained. Weavers took the yarn to their own homes 
 and there wove it. 
 
54 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1622, 
 
 country, and caused Spinola, with his forces, to pack away for fear 
 of drowning.—True. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt continuetli in the Upper Palatinate, and is 
 25,000 foot strong. All this winter he hath relieved himself 
 upon the archbishop of Mentz his country, and is growen rich with 
 spoils. 
 
 It is reported that this late assizes, being 11th of March, 1621, 
 there was arraigned one Pym, at Exon, for murder, a notorious cruel 
 fellow, who afterwards was hanged at Heavitree. He professed that 
 he died a catholic, and had in his pocket a confession of his faith; 
 but made not confession by word at all. And in his confession it 
 was written, that the motive which did persuade him to popery was 
 that the clergy of England were men of unsanctified lives. He was 
 dealt withal in person by Sweet, a priest, or jesuit, and made an 
 instrument to disgrace our religion. A zealous catholic, no doubt, 
 condemned for murder ! 
 
 The Rochellers surprised a strong fort of the King of France, 
 between Montauban and Rochelle, Oleron de Berges. By this 
 exploit, De Rohan made show to victual the town of Montauban; 
 and sent certain with 100 cattle towards the town, laying 1,500 men 
 in ambush, and secretly gave notice to the King of France his sol¬ 
 diers how that Montauban was like to be relieved. They of the 
 cattle sent forth almost all their men, and brought back the cattle; 
 and as they returned, the ambusment arose and put them all to the 
 sword, being about 1,500, and after recovered the castle. 
 
 In April, 1622, the Lord Digby went into Spain in ambassage 
 from his Majesty, and after he was gone to sea returned back and 
 dispatched a post or two towards London; and after ten days went 
 again to sea, and so for Spain. It may be conceived that his coming 
 back was to be better instructed upon some doubt which he had upon 
 the part of his commission; but the cause is not known. 
 
 April, 1622. The Emperor’s ambassador came to London, and 
 was received and entertained in Westminster Hall with great pomp, 
 and had audience in the parliament house. It is said that the King 
 
1622 .] 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 55 
 
 is (at) 200 l. charge every day for his entertainment. He lieth in 
 Denmark House, or Somerset House. 
 
 It’s reported that a beggar about London, named Dandy, came to 
 Gondamar, the Spanish ambassador, to beg his alms; at which time 
 Gondamar was busy in talk with an English gentleman about the 
 landing of an army in Ireland. 
 
 The King of Spain hath provided an exceeding great army, bigger 
 than that of ’88. 
 
 1622. Com is grown very dear : barley is at 3s. 8 d. the bushel; 
 wheat 6s. 8 d .; by means whereof the poor greatly complain, and for 
 that all wares are grown so dear as they can get no work whereby 
 to relieve themselves. 
 
 [The ink of a different colour.'] Barley was this year at 5s. 4 d. 
 the bushel; wheat at 8 s. the bushel. 
 
 There was a Scottish captain- who lived long in Spain came to the 
 King, and told him that he himself was employed by the Spaniards 
 to sound the coast of Ireland; and if the Spaniard do not invade Ire¬ 
 land, or some part of the King’s dominions this summer, he offers to 
 lose his head. It is said he was committed for so saying. 
 
 [| There are seventeen ships of Flemings gone to receive into them 
 Turks, to invade the King of Spain. ||—False. 
 
 Benevolence. There are letters come down from the council to 
 the justices of peace of this county to deal with all men of sufficiency 
 within their divisions, one by one, to draw them to a benevolence 
 towards the Palatinate, for the regaining thereof.—True. 
 
 It’s said that Marquis Jegersdorf hath wasted much of the Duke 
 of Saxony’s country, and that the Silesians are revolted from the 
 Emperor. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt is gone into Germany toward Austria, having 
 before driven away the Duke of Bavaria out of the Higher Palatinate. 
 
 The King of France being in the field with 10,000 men, and Sou- 
 bise in the field on the part of the Protestants with 5,000 men, the 
 King summoned a treaty, and offered good conditions of peace. Sou- 
 bise employed the lieutenant-general to treat with the King, who. 
 
56 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1622 . 
 
 being corrupted, revolted; and the King’s army suddenly assailing 
 Soubise, the said lieutenants turned head and slew 500 of Soubise’s 
 men : took captives all the rest. 
 
 Benevolence. Two letters came down this month of April, directed 
 to the sheriff of Devon (Howe?), for a benevolence of the laity 
 towards the wars of the Palatinate, with command to deal with the 
 substantial men one by one privately, and to return the names of 
 such as obstinately refuse to give any thing. 
 
 Th’other letter was, that the justices shall call before them all 
 clothiers, out of which two of the most sufficient of every comity 
 should be sent to London before certain commissioners appointed to 
 inquire the cause of the deadness of trade,* and to settle a course to 
 revive the trade of clothing beyond the seas; which two clothiers so 
 sent should deliver their opinions of the causes and reasons of the 
 deadness of trade before the said commissioners, so that some course 
 may be taken for some redress therein. These letters Sir Wm. Pole 
 shewed me the 24th of April, 1622.f 
 
 * The West of England had been the seat of the cloth manufacture for a considerable 
 time. The Norman peasantry wore our kerseys. The work-people took their master’s 
 materials to be manufactured at their own homes, and not in great buildings, as under the 
 factory system. The cloths were exported in an undyed and undressed state, to be finished 
 by the foreigner, who made 500,000L by doing so. Much of this work was done at 
 Amsterdam: the goods were then sold in Spain and Portugal as Flemish bays. James 
 I. in 1608, prohibited the export of undyed cloths, and granted an exclusive right to 
 Alderman Cockayne of dying and dressing cloths. The states of Holland and the Ger¬ 
 man cities upon this prohibited the importation of all English-dyed cloths. Cockayne 
 could only sell his cloths at home ; they were dearer and not so good as the cloths 
 finished in Holland. The offensive patent was annulled in 1615. The English clothiers 
 had adopted a new method, that of dying wool before weaving it. The commissioners 
 appointed to inquire into the causes of the decline of trade, the fall in the price of wool, 
 &c. were to consider if it was not behoveful to put in execution the laws still in force 
 which obliged merchant-strangers to lay out the proceeds of the merchandize imported by 
 them on the native commodities of the realm. The method of producing a fine scarlet 
 dye was taught by a Dutchman twenty years from this date ; and, the art of fixing the 
 colours made of logwood being acquired, the act for prohibiting the use of logwood was 
 repealed in 1660. The West of England has now ceased to be a great manufacturing 
 district, and the trade has gone to the North. 
 
 + Pilots used to be sent up to London to be examined, as these clothiers were. Com- 
 
1622.] 
 
 57 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 1622. This year there were wars in the Low Countries, in Ger¬ 
 many, Hungary, France, part of Italy, in Polonia, Bohemia, Silesia, 
 Moravia, Austria, Switzerland, in the archbishoprick of Mentz, 
 Treves, and Cologne, the bishoprick of Spire, Turkey, Naples, and 
 many other kingdoms. 
 
 Benevolence. There was granted a benevolence by the justices of 
 peace of this comity, the 3d of May, at Exon sessions. Mr. Parker, 
 High Sherif, gave 40/.; Sir Henry Poles, 40/.; Sir Wm. Pole, 10/.; 
 Sir r. Drewe, 10/.; Mr. Drake, 10/.; all the rest of the justices 
 gave 4/. a piece, except Mr. Geo. Chandler, who gave 405 . 
 
 May, 1622. It is reported that there is another ambassador, 
 Columbus,* about twenty-one years of age, come out of Spain, and is 
 now at London, and that Gondamar is called home into Spain. This 
 new ambassador is as great a soldier as any in Spain. 
 
 Also that the Marquis of Buckingham sueth to be High Constable 
 of England. That the King is sick, and that there is a sad court. 
 
 Also that the Spanish ambassador made suit to the King that he 
 might land 10,000 men in England, which they may convey over 
 into the Low Countries upon all occasions, to be employed against 
 the States. Order is taken by the Earl of Bath, by order from the 
 council, that all trained soldiers shall be ready at an hour’s warning; 
 and Mr. Drake’s companies and regiment are appointed for Exon; Sir 
 Edw. Seymour for Plymouth; Sir Wm. Courtenay and Sir Richard 
 Champernown for Dartmouth and Totnes; Sir Richard Chichester 
 for Ilfracomb. 
 
 The Lord Chichester is sent ambassador to the Palatinate. 
 
 May, 1622. Sir Richard Hawkes, being denied certain monies 
 due to him out of the Exchequer by Sir Lionel Cranfield, Lord 
 Treasurer, gave three great groans, and within two days after died. 
 It was said his heart was broke, f 
 
 missioners now collect evidence upon the spot ancl view the locality, a mode much more 
 efficient in eliciting the truth. 
 
 * Don Carlos de Coloma : see Finetti Philoxenis, pp. 103, et seq. 
 
 t The worthy writer appears to treat the “ breaking of the heart ” literally. Who 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 I 
 
58 DIARY OF WALTER YOISGE, ESQ. [1622. 
 
 All the speech is of the Spanish fleet; and doubted it is for 
 England, and jet we make no preparation to resist them. 
 
 It is reported that Count Mansfeldt hath given a great over¬ 
 throw to Monsieur de Tilly, general to the duke of Bavaria in the 
 Palatinate. 
 
 And that Du Rohan hath given the King of France an overthrow. 
 
 It is reported also that the Spanish navy in Lichbogue is un¬ 
 rigged, and their intended army by sea called back, pretending the 
 scarcity of corn in Spain as being not able to provide them of victuals. 
 
 Sir Horace Yere and Palsgrave of the Rhine gave Monsieur Tilly 
 an overthrow in the Palatinate, and slew 6000 of his men. 
 
 Du Rohan gave the King of France, Lewis XIII. an overthrow, 
 and took Montmorency prisoner. 
 
 Also it is reported that Gondamar, the Spanish ambassador, got 
 divers sums of money from the papists about London, promising 
 them to procure a toleration of the King for them within this realm; 
 and is gone, and hath not effected it—(God be blessed!)—whereupon 
 the papists about London do much exclaim against him. 
 
 It is said also that the King of England doth countenance the 
 States much; and it is said he will take them into his protection 
 against the Spaniard. Others say that the States are about to con¬ 
 clude a truce with Spain for sixteen years; but very unlikely, 
 because they have at this instant 120 sail of ships at sea, as it is 
 reported, against Spain. 
 
 Rochelle is in distress for want of men, and have called home all 
 such as fled into England and other countries the last year. 
 
 The Prince of Orange hath taken Wesel, a town of importance in 
 Guelderland. 
 
 The Marquis of Baden, or Landgrave of Hassia, is in the field 
 with 20,000 men ; the Duke of Mittenburgh with 20,000 men; and 
 
 does not know in the present day that the expression before quoted is a figurative one ? 
 In the intimate connection between mind and body, great and sudden grief often affects 
 the stomach and interrupts the due exercise of the functions of the body, when death 
 
 ensues. 
 
1622.] 
 
 DIARY OF AV ALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 59 
 
 have both declared themselves to be for the King of Bohemia, viz. 
 the Count Palatine of Rhine. 
 
 The King of England hath given order that the statute against 
 recusants shall be put into execution.—This was not true.. 
 
 And it is said that proclamations are in the press for the summon¬ 
 ing of a parliament.—False. 
 
 May, 1622. Captain Billingsley had a commission from his Ma¬ 
 jesty for carrying of 1,500 men for Rochelle, such as will go volun- 
 tarily, and are offered six shillings pay per week. Gideon Walrond, 
 of Bovy, hath order from Colonel Billingsley to admit of such here¬ 
 about as will go for that service. And this much was proclaimed 
 in our parish church at Colyton the 26th of this May, 1622. 
 They are to go hence about the beginning of June 1622. 
 
 I he Marquis of Baden received an overthrow by the companies 
 of the Duke of Bavaria. 
 
 It is reported that the Prince of Conde hath put to the sword 
 diverse Flemings, which he took in the river of Bourdeaux, and 
 detainetli our English factors there. 
 
 The Hollanders sent forth 120 sail of ships into the straights, 
 v hicli are to ship certain Moors and Jews which were landed in 
 Barbary, (and banished Spain divers years since,) which Moors they 
 intend to land in Andalusia in Spain, and will give them victuals 
 and armour, whereby they may endamage the Spaniard in his own 
 country, and find him doings at home.—Dictu Mr. fFright of Lyme. 
 
 There is a great famine in Spain, as it is reported, so that the 
 King of Spain is not able to set forth his great navy for want of vic¬ 
 tuals. Thus God fighteth for his church when others neglect it. 
 
 Leopoldus is a bishop: he is brother to the Emperor Ferdinand, 
 and Prince of Alsatia. 
 
 It is reported that there hath been sent into England and Ireland 
 of late 12,000 jesuits and seminaries. 
 
 The Lord Chancellor, Doctor Williams, hath set all priests and 
 papists free out of prison, as Mr. Wright of Lyme told me. 
 
 There are letters come down to the sheriff and justices of every 
 
60 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1622. 
 
 county to be vigilant to repress insurrections in regard of deadness 
 of trade and hard living of poor tradesmen and husbandmen, as there 
 were in Wiltshire. 
 
 May, 1622. Gondamar, the Spanish Ambassador, lieth at Ports¬ 
 mouth, and will embark the last of this month. 
 
 The 9th of May there went from that road 120 Flemish men of 
 war; and eight or nine days before from the coast, a league from 
 Portsmouth, sixty sail bound for the straights and other places. 
 
 There are seventy Turks, men-of-war, upon the coast of Spain, 
 who mean to join with the Flemings against Spain. 
 
 There are eighty Spanish ships at sea. 
 
 That there is ten of the Ki ng; of France’s gullies coming to Graved, 
 the harbour at Rochelle, and thought that the Spanish ships join 
 with them to beleaguer Rochelle by sea. 
 
 That the plague is hot in St. Mallieus (Malo’s) and in the French 
 fleet. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt hath given another overthrow unto the Duke 
 Leopoldus, slain 4,000 of his men, and hath taken all his waggons 
 and ordnance.—A letter from Mr. Drake of Aish, 3 May, 1622. 
 
 Count Frederick of Orange, with certain companies, went into 
 Brabant, and sacked and burnt thirty towns and villages, whilst 
 the Emperor, the King of Spain, and English Ambassador lay at 
 Brussels in conference about the affairs of Bohemia. 
 
 June, 1622. Doctor Wright, and a great jesuit, (Archbishop of 
 , Toby Matthew, they say,) disputed before the King, at the 
 instance of the Marquis of Buckingham’s mother.* 
 
 The Pope’s nuncio, as it’s said, shall come into England. 
 
 * Tobias, eldest son of Tobias Matthew, Bishop of Durham and afterwards Archbishop 
 of York. He was a man of singular character, and, in his travels having met with the 
 jesuit Parsons, changed his religion and became a jesuit. lie was banished by an Order 
 in Council, and the House of Commons acquiesced, though he was a member. He retired 
 to Spain till 1617, when he returned through the intercession of the Duke of Buckingham, 
 but was obliged again to abscond, and he finally returned from Spain with the Prince of 
 Wales, was knighted Oct. 10, 1623, and devoted himself to poetry and the welfare of the 
 Romish Church in England. 
 
1622.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 61 
 
 The Marquis of Buckingham is Lieutenant of Middlesex, where 
 there was never any before, other than the Lord Mayor of London. 
 
 The Prince, Marquis Buckingham, Marquis Hamilton, Earl of 
 Arundel, Sir George Calvarde, Sir LI. Montague, Lord President, 
 Sir Lionel Cranfield, Lord Treasurer, and 
 
 have a commission granted to them from the King, 
 and shall sit weekly at St. James’, and begin after the end of this 
 Easter term. What is the substance of the commission is not yet 
 known. Neither the archbishop nor chancellor are commissioners. 
 
 Toby Mathew and Gondamar openly embraced and kissed each 
 other at Gondamar s, taking of his leave of the King at his departure. 
 
 The States’ ships in the Low Countries took a great ship of Ham¬ 
 burg, laden with treasure, which the King of Spain sent unto 
 Spinola, all in pieces of eight. 
 
 The Earl of Southampton is put from his lieutenancy of the Isle 
 of Wight, and the Lord Arundel placed in his room. 
 
 Benevolence. The Lord Say (father-in-law to the Earl of Lincoln) 
 was sent for by the council for not giving to the benevolence, and 
 dissuading others to give. He answered, it was true, and he did it 
 that he might not give a president to enthrall his posterity: but it 
 was well known that he affected the good of the Palatine as much as 
 any man, and would give in a legal course by parliament, if it were 
 half his estate, or as much as any other of his rank, towards the 
 regaining thereof. He was afterwards committed to the Eleet. 
 
 The Prince, the 26th of May last, received the sacrament, and 
 commanded all his servants to do the like: four of whom refused, 
 which he dismissed out of his service. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt was created Duke of Mentz; Duke of Bruns¬ 
 wick [subsequently added ] created Duke of Spire. 
 
 Sir Jerome Horsey and other gents of Buckinghamshire were 
 sent for by the lords of the council, for not carrying themselves well 
 in the matter of the benevolences towards the retr aining of the Pala- 
 tinate. 
 
 June, 1622. Mr. Knight, a public lecturer at Carfois in Oxford, 
 
62 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1622. 
 
 taught that people might withstand their prince, in case he should 
 compel them to idolatry, or offer to attempt violence against them in 
 that case, as Rochelle doth. And being called in question thereof, 
 he vouched Paraeus upon Romans 13 ; whereupon he was committed, 
 and M. Parseus’s book upon the Romans burned by spiritual com¬ 
 mand at Oxford, and others at London.* 
 
 July, 1622. The great cause concerning the Lord Coke, for 
 50,000/. followed in the King’s behalf, in the Court of Wards, is ad¬ 
 judged for my Lord Coke by the three chief judges and justice 
 Doddridge. 
 
 Sir Oliver St. John, late Deputy of Ireland, made Viscount 
 Brandeslow,f and of the Privy Council. Sir Edward Conway made 
 a privy councillor. 
 
 The French King wounded in the shoulder with a musquet. 
 
 The Great Turk strangled by his bashaws in his 
 
 | The French King, being wounded, did never spit blood or 
 sweat. ||—False. 
 
 The 12th of July, 1622, there was a great fish came ashore at 
 Seaton, which was 23 feet and 3 inches in length. The fork of his 
 tail, from end to end, was 5 foot 1 inch and {- over. The compass 
 about the middle of the fish was 9 foot and 9 niches. The said fish 
 had no gills, but put out his water at his pole. His fins were like 
 the leather which keeps the dirt from a coach wheel, without any 
 gristles. His skin very smooth as an eel, but exceeding black, 
 except under the belly, which was as white. His tail stood not as 
 
 * The Vice-Chancellor sent the sermon to the King ; who in argument with the 
 preacher found him ready to be refuted, and so spared him for his reasonableness. The 
 young preacher said he had imbibed these sentiments from the works of Parseus, a Cal- 
 vinistic divine of Heidelberg. The King now compelled all graduates to sign a declaration 
 of the doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance, the contrary opinion to that now 
 advanced, and which was always dwelt upon at the execution of Dissenters after Mon¬ 
 mouth’s rebellion by the clergy of the Church of England. The court now stood committed 
 against the Calvinists. 
 
 f Viscount Grandison, with remainder to Sir Edward Villiers, the Favourite’s half- 
 brother, in whose family the dignity has descended to the present Earl of Jersey. 
 
1622.] 
 
 63 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 other fishes, at the ridge bone of his back, but from side to side. 
 
 e had not any scales. His teeth were big, round, and sharp. His 
 Hesh was very white, and felt like fat of pork.* 
 
 There be five principal towns of France proclaimed traitors, viz. 
 Rochelle, Montauban, Nismes, Chartres, and Montpelier. 
 
 July, 1622. The Duke of Hespernon [Epernon] and Monsieur 
 de Soissons he about Rochelle; Memorancy and La Force about 
 Montauban ; and the King’s running army passing forward to other 
 places, as Montpellier. 
 
 August, 1622. Count Mansfeldt is come into France, by means 
 whereof the French King hath removed his siege from Montpellier, 
 anc is going towards Paris, to prevent the destruction of his kingdom. 
 
 Sweet the jesuit, being in prison, wrote to Doctor Featly, chap¬ 
 lain to the Archbishop, Doctor Abbot, that if he would send him a 
 confession of Ins faith. Sweet would send him a confession of his 
 faith; which Doctor Featly first required, seeing he made the first 
 offer. Sweet wrote him that he believed as the church believed; to 
 whom Doctor Featly replied that the church was 
 
 Terra incognita, 
 
 Fundamenta arenosa, 
 
 Et qumstio litigiosa, 
 
 and therefore should write him more certain what church he means. 
 
 The 19th of August, 1622, being Monday, about one of the 
 clock in the morning, the wind arose and blew so vehemently for six 
 hours, that it brake down divers strong trees. It quealedf all hedges 
 towards the south that they davered f as if they had been scorched 
 with lightning. It spoiled standing corn so, as hi many places it 
 
 * There can be no mistake as t0 the secies of fish. It was the phoccena melas or 
 Caaing whale of Bell’s cetacea. Several hundreds of these fish run ashore or are driven 
 ashore upon the Shetland isles at one time. Whether the blowing at the pole is that of 
 air or water is still a disputed matter. In the year 1845 no less than 2,500 of these fish 
 came ashore in the British isles. 
 
 f Quealed, curled up ; davered, withered. A real Devonshire person will excuse any 
 explanation of these words: to him this is quite unnecessary. 
 
64 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1622. 
 
 seemed that all the corn (especially barley and oats) had been 
 threshed or beaten out of the husks. By report there is 200/. loss 
 and hurt done to corn in Axmouth only by the said wind. 
 
 There is a report that Papists shall have a toleration here in 
 England, and that the Protestant ministers shall preach but once a 
 Sabbath. 
 
 The Lord of Castlehaven is turned Papist Catholic. Colonel 
 Cicell and the Lord Mountjoy were slain in the Low Countries as 
 they were passing towards the States.—False. 
 
 Sir Horace Vere and Lord Belfast remain in the Palatinate, 
 without men, money, or victuals. 
 
 August 25, 1622. Mr. Hull, our vicar, told me that the Lord 
 Keeper, Doctor Williams, wrote to the judges of assize, so that they 
 should deliver out of prison all such as were in prison for popery, 
 and that there are orders come forth, under the great seal of England, 
 that no man shall be molested or troubled for professing the popish 
 religion; quod Deus avertat. —True. 
 
 Note. —1. First, exceptions were taken to the translations of the 
 Bible, and thereupon was a command given for a new translation, 
 which is now very excellent. But a restraint that there should be 
 no marginal notes upon any place of it, or any quotations. 
 
 2. Liberty was given for recreations upon the Sabbath, as for 
 churcli-ales, dancing, &c.; but this seemed to be restrained to Lin¬ 
 colnshire or Leicestershire as a means to draw recusants to church; 
 but practised throughout the kingdom without restraint and with 
 applause. 
 
 3. That no lectures should be permitted other than such as were 
 performed by ministers within their own cure. 
 
 4. No lectures or sermons by ministers in the afternoon on the 
 Sabbath in their own cure, but only catechising upon some part of 
 the Commandments, Lord’s Prayer, or Belief. 
 
 5. That none should be imprisoned for holding any points of 
 Popery, or denying to take the oath of supremacy. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt, passing through the army of Gonzalo in Bra- 
 
65 
 
 1622-3.] BIART OF AY ALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 bant, went into the Low Countries, the Duke of Brunswick being i n 
 company with him. 
 
 The Palsgrave yet continueth with the Duke of Bouillon in 
 France. 
 
 Articles of the peace between Lewis King of France and Mon¬ 
 sieur de Bohan in the behalf of the Protestants, 1622 :_ 
 
 1. Rochelle and Montauban shall still keep their fortifications for 
 the security of those of the religion. 
 
 2. The fortifications of Chasteau d’Usez and Nismes shall be 
 rased and rendered into the obedience of the King. 
 
 3. The fortifications of Montpelier shall be rased, and the ditches 
 filled up; and three regiments shall stay there in garrison until this 
 be done. 
 
 4. The fortifications of Milleane shall be rased, and the place 
 rendered up to the obedience of the King. 
 
 5. Monsieur de Roliau shall still continue governor of Nismes, 
 Montpellier, and Milleane, but to keep no power of men in garrison 
 in them. And all other places and towns are to be rendered to the 
 obedience of the King. 
 
 6. There are 4000 men and six pieces of cannon left under the 
 command of Monsieur Montmorency, which are to stay in Lan¬ 
 guedoc to reduce that province also to the King’s obedience. 
 
 7. All edicts shall be well kept and observed. 
 
 Jan. 1622-3. Lord Chichester sworn of the Privy Council. 
 
 A new church by Aldgate, called the Duke’s Place, consecrated 
 on Thursday the 2d January, 1622.* 
 
 In Lincolnshire the poor people have made head to the number of 
 
 2000. f 
 
 * This extraordinary occurrence is recorded by Baker in his Chronicle. 
 
 + The discontents between the gentry and commonalty in some counties respecting 
 inclosures grew to a petty rebellion in this reign. Sanderson gives a story of James I. 
 being about, when on a hunting excursion in Berkshire, to dine with a man of title, when 
 he came to a fellow in the stocks. The King asked him what was the cause of his 
 restraint. The man of title said it was for stealing a goose from the common. The 
 fellow in the stocks appealed to the King as to who was the greater thief, he for stealing 
 CAMD. SOC. k 
 
66 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1622 - 3 . 
 
 A strict proclamation coming forth.* 
 
 Sir R. Buller’s son f of Cornwall [is] Lieutenant of the Middle 
 Temple, and [there is] a Lord Lieutenant at Lincoln’s Inn for the 
 revels. 
 
 None must come into the presence or privy chamber with boots. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt is retiring for Venice, but the Duke of Bruns¬ 
 wick dissuades him. Mansfeldt will deliver over his forces to the 
 Duke of Brunswick. 
 
 When the King received the letters from Endymion Porter he 
 commanded all out of the chamber, and was extraordinary angry; 
 and seemed to tear the letters, and the next day was sick and kept 
 his bed.—Edmund Prideaux, letter dated 4th January. 
 
 Porter, of the Prince’s bedchamber, after he had delivered letters 
 out of Spain to the King, the King was exceedingly discontented; 
 and in four days after dispatched away Mr. Digby, one of the clerks 
 of the council (newly arrived from the Emperor) to Spain with 
 special letters written with liis own hand. The King is advised 
 from Spain that they are now levying of an army of 100,000 men 
 wholely to be dispatched for the Low Coiuitries. 
 
 The States’ Ambassador still calls upon the King for his resolu¬ 
 tion, giving further advertisement of divers other preparations by 
 sea,, and yet we cannot learn what his Majesty will conclude upon. 
 
 geese from the common, or his worship for robbing the eommon from the geese ? “ By 
 
 my saule, sir,” said the King, “ I’se not dine to-day on your dishes till you restore the 
 common for the poor to feed their flocks.” The man was set free, and the restoration 
 of the common quieted the country. 
 
 * Proclamations were current coin, which the people took for good payment a great 
 while, till the multitude of them lessened their value.—Wilson. 
 
 + This West-countryman, like the writer of our diary, felt deeply for the distressed Lady 
 Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia. “ The Lieutenant of Middle Temple played a game this 
 Christmas time whereat his Majestie was highly displeased, He made choise of some thirty 
 of the civillest and best-fashioned gentlemen of the house to sup with him, and, being at 
 supper, took a cup of wine in one hand and held his sword drawn in the other, and so 
 began a health to the distressed Lady Elizabeth, and, having drunk, kissed his sword, 
 and, laying his hand upon it, took an oath to live and die in her service ; then delivered 
 the cup and sword to the next, and so the health and eeremonie went round,”—Rev. 
 Joseph Meade, in Sir H. Ellis’s Original Letters. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 67 
 
 1622 - 3 .] 
 
 We give the Palatinate as wholly lost; for, after his Majesty’s 
 many messages both to the Emperor, Spain, and Pope himself, they 
 shift it one upon the other. They have wholly ruinated the castle 
 and palace at Heidelberg, and as for the famous library there, so 
 much celebrated for the antiquity thereof, they have wholly removed 
 it to Rome. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt is up in Westphalia with 20,000 men, where he 
 hath taken the Grave of Embden prisoner, offering for his ransom 
 T'C'iij. This last week Colonel Gray came to court, being sent to 
 his Majesty from Mansfeldt, offering the King that if he will give 
 him three months’ pay he will deliver up the Palatinate, purposing 
 with his army to overrun Bavaria, and with fire and sword to con¬ 
 sume them. The King hath been out of tune all these holydays. 
 
 Sir Robert Naunton, the late Secretary, is now displaced; and Sir 
 Edward Conway, an ancient commander in the war, in his place 
 sworn Secretary of State; and had the seals given him on Sunday last. 
 
 The 19th of Feb. 1622-3. The Prince Charles, accompanied only 
 with the Marquis of Buckingham, Cottington, Endymion Porter, 
 and three others, went as it is reported into Spain.—True. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt this last winter took Embden and all that country 
 of East Friesland and a great part of Westphalia. 
 
 Sir Oliver St. John is made Master of the Wards. 
 
 Sir Christopher Villars made Earl of Anglesea. 
 
 Sir Edward Villiars Baron of .* 
 
 March, 1622-3. The King of Spain hath forbidden any of his 
 subjects in Spain to wear any woollen cloths made in England. 
 
 The Prince of Orange, the Count Palatine, &c. like to be mur¬ 
 dered by the Arminians in Holland. 
 
 A discovery of a plot to betray Sluys. 
 
 Sn. Olivares the King of Spain’s favorite. 
 
 May 6th, 1623. It is reported that the King of Spain hath pro¬ 
 vided an exceeding great navy of ships, the like whereof was never 
 
 * Sir Edward Villiers was named in remainder to the dignity of viscount Grandison, 
 conferred on his wife’s uncle Sir Oliver St. John, but he never became a peer himself. 
 
68 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1622 - 3 , 
 
 heard of in Christendom, viz.:—200 sail of galliasses and gallies, 
 120 sail of ships built upon English bottoms, 20 sail of hulks, 20 sail 
 of other ships; in all 360 sail. 
 
 There are of prest mariners 23,000; of souldiers 60,000; of 
 voluntaries, nobles and gentlemen, 8000. Camions, powder, poisoned 
 shot, shovels, spades, engines, musquets, pikes, wheelbarrows shod 
 with iron, beef, pease, corn, wine, oil, and other provision hi par¬ 
 ticular set down, an exceeding great quantity, as 9000 double 
 cannons, field pieces an exceeding great number, as appearetli upon 
 a note of the particulars delivered unto Sir Edmund Prideaux at 
 Honiton this week. Tyrone, Argyle, Northumberland and other 
 English and Irish have great commands in this army.—False. 
 
 It is reported that the Infanta Maria of Spain hath retired herself 
 into a monastery, the same day that Prince Charles was promised 
 by the King of Spain to see her. The Prince was entertained in 
 Spain with extraordinary pomp and courtesies, the King always 
 giving him the right hand, lodging him in his own court, opening 
 all prison doors and manumitted many slaves and prisoners, pro¬ 
 mising that all offices which should be vacant during his being in 
 Spain should be at his disposing. 
 
 May, 1623. After the arrival of Prince Charles in Spain, the 
 King of Spain demands two or three port-towns in England to be at 
 his disposing, for the safety of such ships as he might have occasion 
 to employ against the Low Countries. 
 
 It is said also that few Englishmen can have access to the Prince 
 at his now being in Spain, and that Iris own chaplains caimot come 
 near him. 
 
 Also, that the King of Spain requestetli the Lady Elizabeth and 
 her children may be with the Archduchess in Brussels, as hostage for 
 the safety of the Infanta Maria if she come into England. It was 
 reported that she went into a monastery the same time the Prince 
 was first to see her, which I think was not so. 
 
 June, 1623. || In June the Earl of Rutland, Admiral, the Lord 
 
 Morley, the Vice-Admiral, the Lord Wynsor, &c. went into Spain 
 
69 
 
 1^23.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 to bring home Prince Charles. At their going to sea, the Earl of 
 Rutland forbad the company to say prayers in their ships at evening, 
 or to sing a psalm (as their manner ever was) at the setting of the 
 watch. Captain Wright told him it was ever the order; and there- 
 foi e it must be continued, and so fell at difference; whereupon, it’s 
 said, a messenger was sent to the King to know his pleasure, by whom 
 answer was returned, that he had made the Earl of Rutland his 
 admiral for his time, and he should order what he thought fit. 
 Whereupon they in the admiral and vice-admiral have no power* 
 noi as many as are popisldy affected: the other ships, which have 
 Protestant governors, keep their ancient custom. ||—This is false. 
 
 The Viceroy of Naples is now Ambassador into England from the 
 King of Spain ; to what purpose is not known. 
 
 August, 1623. Mr. Drake told me that Justice Doddridge,* 
 being at his house of late, reported to him, that the King sent "the 
 judges a warrant under the great seal, and thereby commanded 
 them not to bind any to the behaviour which were presented for not 
 coming to church, nor to deal against recusants. And that Justice 
 Doddridge, saith he thought they should find out a way by law to 
 dispense with the statute against recusancy. 
 
 The Marquis of Buckingham f made Duke of Buckingham, and 
 has his patent sent him into Spain. 
 
 The Duke of Lennox made Duke of Richmond the same time. 
 September, 1623. Mr. Style told me that, meeting one of the 
 Crown Office as he came from London into Devon, he told him that 
 the King purposeth to grant general pardons to all recusants, but 
 not to any other; for these pardons do only concerns matters of 
 recusancy. | 
 
 ^ * Mr. Justice Doddridge, whose tomb as Sir John Doddridge is to be seen in Exeter 
 Cathedral, died in 1628. He was a considerable antiquary, and a native of Devonshire, 
 which from early times has been distinguished as the nursing mother of eminent lawyers ; 
 so that Fuller deemed this county “ innated with a genius to study law.” 
 
 + Buckingham was the first subject made a duke who was unconnected with the royal 
 blood. 
 
 + Chancellor Williams said recusants were pardoned and leniently dealt with to secure 
 better treatment for Protestants abroad. 
 
70 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [ 1623 . 
 
 The 5th of October, 1623, Prince Charles arrived out of Spain, 
 and landed at Portsmouth, in Hampshire. 
 
 26 October, 1623. Divers being at an invective sermon at the 
 French ambassador’s lodging in the Blackfriars, in London, part of 
 the room wherein they were fell down, and killed about 80 or 92 
 persons, as it is reported.* 
 
 The preacher was one Drury, a converted Protestant. He 
 inveighed bitterly against Luther, Calvin, and Doctor Sutton, a 
 reverent preacher sometime of St. Mary Overy’s, in London, who, 
 travelling beyond the seas, was drowned. Tins preacher said that 
 the sea swallowed him because he was not worthy the earth should 
 receive him. At which words the house sank. The report is strong 
 that they have drawn out of the house 92 persons ; and divers more 
 are slain, with very many more grievously hurt. 
 
 The beginning of December, 1623, there was a great number in 
 London, haunting taverns and other debauched places, who swore 
 themselves in a brotherhood, and named themselves Tytere tues. [The 
 first words of Virgil’s first Eclogue, Tityre tu .] The oath they gave 
 in this manner: he that was to be sworn, did put his dagger into a 
 pottle of wine, and held his hand upon the pommel thereof, and then 
 was to make oath that he would aid and assist all other of his fellow¬ 
 ship, and not disclose their council. There were divers knights, some 
 young noblemen, and gentlemen of this brotherhood, and they were 
 to know one the other by a black bugle which they wore, and their 
 followers to be known by a blue ribbond. There are discovered of 
 them about 80 or 100 persons, and have been examined by the Privy 
 Council, but nothing discovered of any intent they had. It is said. 
 
 * A rare pamphlet by Samuel Clark, pastor of Benet Finck, entitled “ The Fatal 
 Vespers,” contains a “ true and full narrative of the signal judgment of God upon the 
 papists.” On the Lord’s day, Oct. 26, according to the English account ; but Nov. 5, 
 according to the g>opish account or style. The congregation was a mixed one of Protes¬ 
 tants and Roman Catholics. Lady Web and Lady Blackstone’s daughter were amongst 
 the slain. Drury, a man of great parts, and Redyates, another priest, were both killed. 
 Two floors gave way. Upon the under floor were many who could not find room above, 
 where the preacher was pressing the sacrament of penance. 
 
1623.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE. ESQ. 
 
 71 
 
 that the King hath given commandment that they shall he re- 
 examined.* 
 
 It is said also that recusants do flock much together in Dorset and 
 Hampshire, and live near the sea coast. 
 
 The match was of that forwardness in Spain, that the day of 
 solemnity was published, all the chief nobility of Spam assembled, 
 scaffolds erected, when three days before the appointed day Mr. Kil- 
 ligrew (one of the four persons dispatched for that errand) arrived; 
 His Majesty’s demands being forthwith delivered to the King of 
 Spain by Sir Walter Aston (lieger ambassador), which was the 
 delivery of the Palatinate, according to former agreement, or else a 
 cessation of all other proceedings. Whereat the King of Spam was 
 wonderfully incensed; and we are all persuaded that without rede¬ 
 livery up of the Palatinate no match. The Prince protesteth as 
 much. My Lord of Buckingham is highly honoured, who mainly 
 insisteth against it. The King this week dispatched Sir George 
 Goring to the States; another to the King of Denmark. My Lords 
 of Buckingham and Doncaster are observed to be very often with 
 the French ambassador, and most men will conclude a match from 
 thence. The jesuits and papists do wonderfully swarm in the city ; 
 and rumours lately have been given out for firing the navy and 
 house of munition, on which are set a double guard. A treason 
 likewise against the King, the Prince, the Lady Elizabeth, and all 
 her children, was this last week discovered by one Mrs. Read, a 
 gentlewoman in the Strand, who, having four or five priests in her 
 house, overheard them. Her examination hath been taken before 
 the Lords.—Rob. Llassard’s letter, 20 December, 1623. 
 
 A proclamation we hear is coming forth to bring again the general 
 statutes in force against recusants.—Rob. Hassard’s letter to his 
 father. 
 
 January, 1623-4. A parliament was summoned to be held the 
 12th of Feb. following, at which parliament Sir Edward Coke, Ivt., 
 
 * During this reign were the roaring hoys, bravadoes, roysters, &e. The streets of 
 London swarmed day and night with drunken quarrels. 
 
72 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1623-4. 
 
 was cliosen burgess for Coventry; Sir Robert Phillips, and Mr. 
 Symes, for Somersetshire, being three of them such as were com¬ 
 mitted for their speeches the last parliament. 
 
 There was, before this parliament was sworn, of speech that Sir 
 Edward Coke, Sir Edwyn Sands, and Sir Robert Phillips should be 
 sent into Ireland on commission, and Justice Jones.* 
 
 Feb. 1623-4. There was a proclamation for the banishment of 
 all jesuits and priests out of Ireland; that they avoid within 40 days, 
 upon pain to be proceeded with according to law. 
 
 This parliament, by means of the Lord Lennox being Duke of 
 Richmond his death, who dying suddenly, was put over unto the 
 19th of Feb. being Thursday. 
 
 Tuesday, the 14th Feb. 1623-4, the Prince, assembling the houses 
 of parliament at Whitehall, did liimself in person relate to them the 
 sum of his entertainment in Spain, which being ended, the Duke of 
 Buckingham enlarged the same in a speech of almost two hours, 
 producing divers letters, by which it was conceived the match could 
 not hold. 
 
 1. One was written by the King of Spain to Count Olivares, im¬ 
 porting that his father, Philip the Third of Spain, had charged him, 
 lying on his death-bed, that he should match the Lady Mary Infanta 
 with some of the House of Austria. 
 
 2. Another which the King received lately from Sir Walter 
 Aston, lieger ambassador in Spain, advising his Majesty to look well 
 to his towns, and guarding well the sea coast; for that he observed 
 very great preparations in Spain, and doubted least it might be for 
 some part of his Majesty’s dominions. There was also related the 
 particulars of Sir Richard Weston’s business with the Archduchess 
 for restoring of the Palatinate, and Porter’s business in Spain, both 
 concerning the Prince’s match, and the restoring of the Palatinate 
 unto the Elector’s house, and of the many frustratory delays by 
 which his Majesty and the Prince have been put off from time to 
 time, and how they laboured to draw our Prince Charles to the 
 
 * On a forced mission, as a punishment for their objectionable speeches and actions. 
 
1623-4.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 73 
 
 Romish religion, being all but pretences to gain time to make out 
 their own designs.* 
 
 The day after this speech the Spanish ambassador went to the 
 King and complained how deeply the Duke of Buckingham had 
 in his speech abused his master the King of Spain ; and told the 
 King that he could not any way make him satisfaction but by the 
 Duke’s head, which when both houses understood they justified the 
 Marquis [Duke], and approving what he had spoken said he had 
 said no more than a good subject ought both to say and do. 
 
 About the beginning of this parliament the Earl of Rutland, the 
 Count Arundel,f the Lord Morley, and Lord Montacute, were ex¬ 
 pelled the higher house of Parliament, for refusing the oath of supre¬ 
 macy. And divers burgesses expelled the lower house; but at last 
 these all conformed, and took the oath of allegiance, and were ad¬ 
 mitted. In this parliament were 3 subsidies granted and 3 fifteenths. 
 
 Also in this parliament the Prince Charles made a declaration of 
 his entertainment in Spain, and the Duke of Buckingham related 
 the treacherous dealing of the Spaniard with him, by putting off the 
 match by delays and evasions, and that they never intended any 
 match but for their own ends. 
 
 The States sent their ambassadors into England, who were re¬ 
 ceived with great joy of all the commons. 
 
 This parliament Sir Lionel Cranfield, lord treasurer, was arrested 
 for taking bribes and raising of new fees in the Court of Wards: for 
 receiving two bribes of 500/. a-piece, one for the small customs and 
 another for the great customs, and both proved in the lower house. 
 Also for oppressing the merchants of imposition upon imposition, 
 wherein he made the King both break his word and covenant. He 
 was also accused for deceiving the King of 4,000/. per annum out of 
 
 * Sir Walter Aston, Kt. of Tixall, Staffordshire, was made a Baronet in 1611, and was 
 sent ambassador to Spain in 1620 to propose the match between the Prince and the 
 Infanta. He was created a Scotch peer by the title of Baron Aston, of Forfar in 1627 ; 
 was the patron of Drayton the poet, and died in 1627. 
 
 + Thomas first Lord Arundell of Wardour, so created 1605, had been previously, in 
 1595, made a Count of the Holy Roman Empire by the Emperor Rodolph. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. L 
 
74 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1623-4. 
 
 his sugar customs. He carried himself in the higher house very high 
 towards the lords, and especially towards the Duke of Buckingham, 
 calling all his accusers conspirators against him.—I received this 
 intelligence from Mr. Drake, being one of the Devonshire knights. 
 
 The Lord Digby arrived out of Spain about the beginning of May 
 1624, and at his coming home was confined to his house, for that ’tis 
 said he is accused to deal very unfaithfully with his embassage, con¬ 
 cerning the Prince’s match with the Infanta Maria of Spain. He is 
 under the custody of the knight marshall. Presently upon the dis¬ 
 solving of the parliament he was set at liberty. The Spanish am¬ 
 bassador, it is said, [is also confined to his house— erased , “not so,”] 
 thought to dissolve the parliament by suggesting to the King, that if 
 he gave not nay to what was propounded unto him in parliament, 
 then the Prince, the Duke of Buckingham, and the parliament-house, 
 had an intend to depose him from the kingdom, and to set up the 
 Prince In his room. 
 
 It was said that there were proclamations printed for the quickening 
 of the laws against papists, recusants, and banishment of priests and 
 Jesuits; but that they are stopped upon reasons of state [afterwards 
 added, but afterwards proclaimed and sent abroad before the par¬ 
 liament ended.] 
 
 The sixth of May the King by proclamation (at the instance of 
 the parliament house by petition) willed all priests and jesuits to 
 depart this realm and Wales before the 16 th of July next, upon pain 
 that all laws should be put in execution against them. And that 
 no person after that time shovdd harbour any jesuit or priest, upon 
 such pains as are contained in the laws against them.* 
 
 The Duke of Buckingham, as it is reported, is poisoned, and its 
 thought because he was earnest against the match with Spain and 
 divers corruptions in the commonwealth, which were questioned this 
 parliament. \_Afterwards added, He was only sick.] 
 
 * The writer lived to hear of a priest being arrested on the cobb of Lyme Regis in 1635, 
 who from a contrary wind could not sail within the time prescribed. He was executed 
 at Dorchester. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 75 
 
 1624.] 
 
 Sir Simon Harvey, one of the Clerks of the Green Cloth, is cen¬ 
 sured for many offences to the subject. 
 
 The Bishop of Norwich, Doctor Harsnett, complained of in the par¬ 
 liament house; there being twelve churches in Norwich, and 3000 
 communicants, he would have them all receive hi one church, w hicli 
 would not hold 2000 ; and silenced all the preachers that preached 
 in the forenoon, and caused images to be set up in churches, and the 
 picture of the Holy Ghost over the font; and excommunicated many, 
 and would not absolve them under 20/. a piece. The King com¬ 
 mended him for it [Afterwards added, in his speech at the dissolving 
 of the house, and willed all the bishops to do the like.] 
 
 May, 1624. Sir Robert Nanton, late Secretary, is made Master 
 of the Court of Wards and Liveries. 
 
 Sir Richard Weston hath a commission to execute the place of 
 the Lord Treasurer. 
 
 The parliament broke up the 29th of May, 1624, and was pro¬ 
 rogued to the second of Nov. 1624. 
 
 In this parliament there was a good bill past both houses against 
 revels, and for the sanctifying of the Sabbath ; but the King would 
 not pass it, nor consent to any grievance, for which the lower house 
 was much discontented. 
 
 It is said there is a great mutiny in Amsterdam by reason of the 
 imposition upon butter and cheese laid on them by the States of Holland. 
 
 The first of June the King appointed to make choice of colonels 
 and captains to go into the Low Countries: but, understanding of 
 some violence that the Llollanders offered the English in the East 
 Indies, he stayed his hand. They have hanged in the East Indies 
 one Captain Towerson and 8 others, for that they purposed to 
 surprise a fort of the Hollanders in the East Indies. 
 
 * This refers to what is known in history as the Massacre of Amboyna. The Dutch 
 had captured this island from the Portuguese. The East India Company formed a little 
 settlement in the island, which excited the jealousy of the Dutch to such a degree that, 
 pretending a conspiracy, they tortured and put to death ten Englishmen and nine 
 Japanese. 
 
76 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1624 . 
 
 In this parliament there was not any one publick bill sent to the 
 lower house by them. See what care they have for the common¬ 
 wealth, w T ho were w r ont to be the chief statesmen, and should be 
 pillars of the commonwealth. 
 
 || Sir Lionel Cranfield, late Treasurer, released out of the Tower, 
 and made one of the King’s bedchamber. ||—False. 
 
 Doctor Rudon, of Oxford, detected of Sodomitry, and complained 
 of (to the house, I take it), but had no punishment. 
 
 || Presently after the parliament the King granted a commission to 
 the Lord Yaux, to take up men for the Archduchess against the 
 States of Holland. ||—A false rumour. 
 
 July, 1624. The attorney-general committed to the Fleet one 
 Mr. Arthur Brett, who expected to be a favorite of the King.* 
 
 The colonels for the Low Countries are very shortly to go over: 
 viz. the Earls of Oxford, Southampton, Essex, and the Lord Wil¬ 
 loughby. And it’s thought that the Spaniard purposes to lay siege 
 to seven or eight towns in Holland at one time.f 
 
 My Lord of Kensington (Sir Robert Rich) is gone into France 
 with speed. 
 
 The French King w r as in danger to have been killed W'itli a pistol 
 by a jesuit. 
 
 There is great troubles in Turkey, and great divisions in that 
 country. The Persian, taking advantage of the time, hath made a 
 great inroad into Turkey with a high army.—Sir Edmund Pri- 
 deaux’s letter from London. 
 
 5 July, 1624. The Lord Saye made Viscount Say and Sele. 
 
 August, 1624. The lords are shipped for the Low' Countries. The 
 States and Spinola are both in the field. Sir Henry Rich, Baron of 
 Kensington, is created Earl of Holland, in Lincolnshire, and is em- 
 
 * Brother to the Countess of Middlesex, the wife of the late Lord Treasurer (Cran¬ 
 field) : see further of this aspirant in the Progresses of King James I. vol. iii. pp. 970, 
 984. 
 
 -f The Low Countries were the school in which the younger sons of our gentry learned 
 the art of war. Many came home a few years from this time to practise that art against 
 their fellow countrymen at the beginning of the civil commotions. 
 
1624.] DIARY OF AV ALTER YONGE, ESQ. 77 
 
 ployed for the match with France. The Duke of Lennox is dead: 
 he married my Lord Clifford’s [jClifton s] daughter. 
 
 It is reported that the States of Holland have gotten fiom the 
 Spaniard Brazil, with much treasure, besides lo,000 slaves. 
 
 Spinola lay siege a long time before Breda, with an army of 
 30,000 men. The Prince of Orange, Grave Maurice, marched 
 towards him, hoping to have retained the town; but, having little 
 comfort to remove the force, he pitched within a league of Spinola, 
 and entrenched himself by him, hoping thereby to intercept and 
 debar him of victuals and their supplies for his armies. 
 
 November, 1624. There came a press into the country, at which 
 time Avere taken up in Devon about three hundred men; but foi 
 what service it is not known, but thought either to succoui the estate 
 of Holland, or to secure Ireland, or both. 
 
 There was a great pestilence in Grave Maurice his camp, and 
 Bergem op Zoom and other towns adjoining; of which pestilence, 
 among others, there died the Lord Wischesley, eldest son to the Earl 
 of Southampton, and shortly after the Earl himself died in the Low 
 Countries. It is reported that Spinola hath vowed either to take 
 Breda, or to die in the siege. 
 
 The 21 of November, being Sunday, were divers bonfires made 
 in London, upon notice given that the match between our Prince 
 Charles and Henrietta, sister to the King of France, was concluded. 
 
 The King of France levieth many soldiers, and, as it is thought, for 
 the revolters of the \ r altolina, or to join with our forces in some attempt 
 to be made by the Count Mansfeldt in aid of the States of Holland. 
 
 || The great army of Spinola before Breda, after his and 
 
 execrations, was removed by God himself, who sent a great Avater 
 and drowned his trenches, by means whereof he was enforced to 
 remove, with the loss of many of his ordnance.|| \_The lines between 
 the upright lines had cl pen drawn across them, and the matter which fol¬ 
 lows teas then added. ] It drowned two of his principal forts, and was 
 not able to stay in the rest. No hand of man removed him, but God 
 himself. 
 
78 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1624. 
 
 The like miraculous delivery we had in the Prince Charles. He 
 coming out of Spain, they having closeted to detain him, but being 
 persuaded that the King’s ships would not come for him, and the 
 wind being long time contrary, they permitted him to go to St. 
 Ambraes [St. Andero] ; and it so fell out that our ships, departing 
 a few days before out of England, had such a fortunate wind that 
 they were speedily sent into Spain, and arrived at St. Andero’s: 
 within a few hours the Prince came; and so they brought him home 
 by God’s own sending. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt having received 12,000 English men from the 
 King, they were delivered unto him the 20th day of December, 1624, 
 at Dover; where he daily exercisetli them, and will not transport 
 them untill the 14th of February next, and in the mean time 
 intendeth to discipline them there. 
 
 The States of Holland have now in Plymouth twelve ships of 600 
 or 800 tun a piece, and thirteen lesser ships, in all twenty-five, which 
 are bomid for the Brazil. They carry with them munition, victuals, 
 and women and children to furnish those with victuals and men which 
 took Brazil. There is great preparation in Portugal also, to go for 
 the recovery thereof again; and divers of the nobility go in person. 
 
 It is said that there is a stay [embargo] of ships come down to 
 Dartmouth; and merchants prohibited to carry away any fish out 
 of the realm, for that it is to be reserved to furnish our navy, there 
 being sixty sail of ships now preparing; and thus much also I saw 
 written from London by Mr. Drake. 
 
 About the beginning of January, 1624, Soubize took the isle of St. 
 Martyn before Rochelle and six of the French King’s ships. And it’s 
 reported that the Duke of Yendome hath raised an army in France, 
 by means of which it is doubted that the French King will withdraw 
 his soldiers which were appointed to go with Count Mansfeldt, and 
 employ them at home against the Rochellers and Yendome. 
 
 It is reported that the Desguieres, the constable of France, is 
 gone into the Yalteline to recover it again from the Spaniard; in 
 which enterprise he hath good success. 
 
1624-5.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 79 
 
 Feb. 1, 1624-5. || It’s reported that there is a. general stay of 
 
 our shipping in Franeeand that they are m a genei al combustion 
 there among themselves. And that the Count Soissons pretends a 
 pre-contract with the Lady Henrietta Maria, the Ivings sistei. || 
 False. 
 
 In the Low Countries the armies of Grave Maurice and Spinola 
 are both much weakened by reason of sickness, whereof many have 
 died in both armies, and that there is scarce either of them hath 30 
 men of a company living. And, besides, the sickness is very hot hi 
 Breda. 
 
 That Count Mansfeldt is going out of England with his compa¬ 
 nies, and that there lie between England and Calais a good navy of 
 ships of the King of Denmark to attend his coming, and to conduct 
 him over into the Low Countries. And that there is a press come 
 into Devonshire for 300 men to be pressed for Ireland. 
 
 It is also said that there are letters of mark granted against the 
 Dunkerkers; * and that any English man make prize of them. The 
 cause is, as I conceive, for that they of late took Sir John Went¬ 
 worth, with much treasure of the King, to the value of 60,000/., 
 coming towards England out of the Low Countries, or from Den¬ 
 mark, and refused to deliver him or to make restitution at such time 
 as our King required it, and owned it for his. 
 
 In November there went out of Portugal 18 sail of ships, being 
 bound for Brazil. They carried with them 10,000 soldiers for the 
 recovery thereof again from the Hollander, and 40 sail more were 
 provided and ready to set at sea for about Xmas 1624, which were 
 to transport 18,000 more. The most of them were gentlemen and 
 voluntaries out of Portugal and Spain, all which are foi the recovery 
 again of Brazil, which if they can’t get, the kingdom of Portugal is 
 like to be impoverished and Spain much damaged. For they have 
 
 * At this period of our history the men of the West of England were ever complaining 
 of the “ Dunkirk frigates,” which certainly carried great alarm to their coast. The city 
 and port of Dunkirk was the stronghold of the Spaniards ; but many of the ships that 
 sailed thence were rovers. 
 
80 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1624 - 5 . 
 
 not had anv kind of trade in Portugal since the Fleming first took 
 it, as Robert Garland, who now liveth in Lisbon, wrote unto my 
 brother Mallock. 
 
 Sir Randall Crewe made Lord Chief Justice of England in 
 Hilary term 1624. 
 
 Sir James Ley a little before was made Lord Treasurer of Eng¬ 
 land. 
 
 It is reported that, the Llollanders have taken 20 sail of Spanish 
 ships, laden with victuals bound for some part of Flanders. 
 
 Sir Charles Morgan, one of our chief captains, lietli with his regi¬ 
 ment in Breda. 
 
 Monsieur Soubise surprised 6 ships of the King of France ready 
 provided to go to the seas, and withal took 60 tun of powder, 50 
 brass ordnance, and 150 ordnances of iron. He is at this present, 
 March, 1625, 40 sail strong by sea; he took certain ships of salt 
 from French papists, and sold the same, and with the money bought 
 6 ships of Hollanders, between 150 and 400 tun. He fortifieth the 
 island D’Oleron and St. Martyn’s, and is very strong. 
 
 It is reported the cause of his taking of arms is for that the King 
 of France hath not performed any promise of his made unto the 
 Protestants at the late cessation of war in France. For he promised 
 to demolish the forts near Rochelle, to restore Montpellier, and to 
 deliver it up in as good sort as he found it, and to grant them many 
 other things, whereof he hath performed none, and hath in Mont¬ 
 pellier 6000 soldiers, and detaineth the same from them. 
 
 King Charles I. 
 
 King James died 27th of March,* 1625, and Charles his son pro¬ 
 claimed King the same day in London. Fie reigned 22 years over 
 England. 
 
 * This is according to the old style ; the new style would be April 8. The Puritans 
 made a point of not using the new style, as emanating from what they took to be the 
 
81 
 
 1625.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 March, 1625. It is reported that of 12,000 soldiers who were 
 sent with Count Mansfeldt out of England into the Low Countries 
 there are not 3000 living. 
 
 It is said that the Nassau fleet in the south sea of America hath 
 taken a town near Lyma, with 4 sail of Spanish ships, and hath 
 spoiled 11 sail more. 
 
 || And have taken 1,400,000 crowns, or the value thereof, in gold 
 and treasure. || —False. 
 
 That the Duke of Savoy his son, and Monsieur D’Esguieres, 
 have besieged the city of Genoa. 
 
 || Spinola is sent to Genoa, and hath left his command of men in 
 the Low Countries to Henry Yanderberge, who continueth the siege 
 against Breda. ||—False. 
 
 A parliament is smnmoned at Westminster the 17tli of May, 1625, 
 but ’tis thought it shall be kept at Winchester, by reason of the sick¬ 
 ness increasing now in London. 
 
 There are 500 oxen sent to Plymouth for the victualling of our 
 navy, and many mariners pressed, which are to be at Chatham the 
 26 th of April. 
 
 16th of May, 1625. Robert Fry’s daughter, of Axminster, want¬ 
 ing water for the use of his house, she went to the shoot after a pail 
 full, and brought it home; and, having set the same down, it seemed 
 to be all in a flame of fire. Whereupon she called her father and 
 mother, and divers of their neighbours, who all saw it. At length 
 one of them put his hand into the pail, and stirred the same about; 
 and it seemed to be full of stars, sparkling a pretty good while, and 
 so vanished. But the flaming fireness being gone the water after 
 remained white almost as milk. [Afterwards added, If they poured 
 it from one vessel to another it seemed to be all a flame of fire.] 
 
 The 17 th the Parliament began. 
 
 Sir John Walter made Lord Chief Baron. 
 
 Sir Thomas Trevor a Baron of Exchequer. 
 
 modern Babylon, Rome. To do so was considered eminently papistical until the legal 
 alteration of the style. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. M 
 
82 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1625. 
 
 Sir Hen. Yelverton, a Justice of the Common Pleas: so that there 
 was now five justices of that court, and five barons of the exchequer. 
 
 The Duke and Earl Montgomery sent into France for the French 
 lady. 
 
 There was pressed for the furnishing of the King’s navy 10,000 
 men, whereof there were 400 in Devon and Exon. 
 
 The King Charles married by proxy in France the 8th of May. 
 
 Sir George Trenchard (in May, 1625) was put out of Ins lieute¬ 
 nancy for Dorsetshire, and Sir Nathaniel Napper put in. 
 
 The town of Breda was taken by Spinola, by means of famine, 
 he having blocked up all passages for hindrance of relief. 
 
 The Pope’s nuncio in France hath much withstood the coming of 
 the Lady Henrietta Maria into England, in regard that she is not to 
 come with her attendants of priests and jesuits in such number as 
 was expected. 
 
 It is said there was a plot laid in Ireland to cut off all the English 
 there. 
 
 It is said that the Kino- of England is to set forth in his fleet 100 
 sail of ships; the King of France, 40 sail; the Duke of Savoy, 20 
 sail; the States of Venice, 30 sail. Beside some others which shall 
 he joined unto them of Hollanders and the King of Denmark, 
 amounting in the whole to 180 sail. 
 
 There came down to Plymouth, out of divers parts of the realm, 
 about the end of May and the beginning of June, 1625, 10,000 sol¬ 
 diers.* 
 
 There was one Gaych his wife, of Axminster, and daughter to 
 John Stephens sometime hundred-bailiff, who had an apron of her 
 
 * At the beginning of the Diary is this note : “ Plagues of England noted by figures in 
 the margin.” Against the present paragraph the author has drawn a rose, marking out 
 soldiers as one of the greatest plagues of the country. During their stay all kinds of 
 violence abounded. Under modern discipline, the people of an invaded country suffer 
 less than did the counties formerly at the hands of their own countrymen in arms. 
 Hence the gratuities to officers to march further, that no demands might be made during 
 the halt for hose, shoes, shirts, and conduct money. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 83 
 
 1625.] 
 
 child’s stolen from the hedge. Within few days after there was one 
 Bartlett, alias Journeman’s, child seen wearing the same apron. 
 Gaych his wife, hearing thereof, made claim to the apron, and made 
 White, one of the constables of the town, acquainted therewith. 
 White told her, that unless she would charge Journeman’s wife with 
 felony, he would not meddle therewith, and so dismissed them. As 
 they went from him Journeman’s wife (standing still in denying the 
 apron) wished that if it were not her own apron, that she might 
 never be able to open her mouth or speak more; and since that time, 
 being three days since, she was never heard to utter any word, or to 
 open her mouth. This fell out the 9th of June, 1625, as Tristram 
 Andrew, of Axininster, affirmed to me the 12th of June 1625. 
 
 June, 1625. The King made choice of six of the nobility for his 
 Council of the Cabinet , viz. The 1. Duke of Buckingham; 2. the 
 Earl of Pembroke ; 3. the Earl of Montgomery; 4. Sir Edward Con¬ 
 way ; 5. the Archbishop; and [blank in the J1*S.] 
 
 This month Henrica, sister to Lewis 13 t!l , the French King, 
 came into England, and was married at Dover by the Archbishop 
 of Canterbury to Charles, King of England. 
 
 A priest being taken at mass in Mr. Gifford’s house, near South- 
 gate, in Exon, was committed to prison; and very shortly after 
 (upon special command) delivered. 
 
 It is said that since the Queen came into England the priests do 
 swarm very much in London. 
 
 July, 1625. The sickness increaseth much in London. There 
 died the last week in June, 1092, persons of all diseases.* 
 
 The French have received an overthrow in the Valteline. 
 
 || The Prince Henry of Orange is professed an Arminian, and the 
 States have turned him off*. ||—False. 
 
 * From July 2 to July 
 „ Aug. 4 to Aug. 
 „ Aug. 11 to Aug. 
 „ Nov. 17 to Nov. 
 
 27 there died of the plague in London 
 
 11 
 
 18 
 
 24 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 99 
 
 2,491 persons. 
 4,115 „ 
 
 4,463 „ 
 
 Life of Sir Simonds D’Ewes. 
 
 99 
 
84 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1625. 
 
 The Hollanders have lost 8 ships about Brazil in the West 
 Indies. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt’s soldiers are most gone away from him, and 
 follow Spinola, who entertains them with good effect. 
 
 Doctor Montagu, Canon of Windsor,* was questioned in the par¬ 
 liament house concerning a book made by him containing many 
 points of popery, and other dangerous affections.—Dictu Will’mi 
 Strode, burgess parlianf. 
 
 A good bill passed the house for observation of the Sabbath. 
 
 July, 1625. The King sent forth a great fleet of 100 ships, who 
 carried in them 10,000 soldiers; for what place it is not known. 
 Colonel Cecil w r ent general; and with him the Earl of Essex, Capt. 
 Poore, Capt. Burrows, and other gent, of special note and quality. 
 [The Earl of Essex was at first set down as general, and Sir J. 
 Ogle, as captain; but their names had a pen drawn through them.] 
 
 || It is said that the French forces which were levied are diverted 
 upon the Protestants; and that there hath been a middle fight [a 
 drawn battle] at Montauban, and many slain on both sides. That 
 the King of France hath burnt and destroyed all the corn and vine¬ 
 yards about Montauban, to the end that the people of that place 
 shall not be furnished with relief and victuals. ||—False. 
 
 Divers ships of the Hollanders, to the number of 25, were hired 
 by the King of France, and nine English ships; pretending some 
 attempt against some of the Spaniards. When they came to take in 
 the French soldiers, they put in so many as mastered the Flemings; 
 and bestowed them mider hatches. Whereupon they fell fold, and 
 went together by the ears in the ships. There being a fleet of seven 
 or nine Hollanders not far from, provising some disturbance in their 
 ships, drew near; and, having gotten the better, slew most of the 
 French, and our English ships returned home to England. The 
 
 * Dr. Montague was the author of a Treatise of Invocation of Saints, 1624, and other 
 works of controversial divinity, the titles of which will be found in Lowndes’s Bibliogra¬ 
 pher’s Manual. The Commons took him into custody ; and, though the King interfered, 
 would not let him go till he had given bail in 2,000^. The doctor was made bishop of 
 Chichester 1623, and translated to Norwich 1638. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 85 
 
 1625.] 
 
 intent of the French was, it seemed, to have taken Soubize, who lay 
 about Blewet with 60 sail of ships, which he had taken from the 
 French half a year before.* 
 
 Spinola continueth in his trenches before Breda, and victualeth 
 and strengtheneth Breda, which being done, it is thought he will 
 besiege Bergen op Zoom. 
 
 After the coming home of our ships from France, ut supra, they 
 were sent back again, and commanded to admit of French com¬ 
 manders in their ships. 
 
 The 2nd of July, being Saturday, there was a solemn fast cele¬ 
 brated by the parliament. The King, and Lords of the upper house 
 of parliament, had their exercise in the cathedral church of West¬ 
 minster, which continued six hours with the sermons; viz., one in 
 the forenoon, and th’other in the afternoon. The lower house had 
 tlrree sermons; the first sermon being three hours, and each of the 
 others two hours a-piece. Their exercise was performed in the 
 church near adjoining to the cathedral church of Westminster [St. 
 
 * The French Protestant fleet at sea, sent out from Rochelle by Soubise and his party, 
 was too powerful for the Catholic fleet. Richelieu applied to Charles for assistance. The 
 King and Buckingham agreed to aid the French Catholics against the Protestants, but 
 under pretence of joining France against Genoa. So neglected was the navy, that only 
 one man of war, the Vanguard, was ready for sea. Seven merchant vessels of the largest 
 size were pressed into the service. A warrant under the great seal was issued to call the 
 ships’ companies aboard, with orders to repair to such port as the French ambassador 
 might direct. Off Dieppe, the Lord Admiral of France, the Duke of Montmorency, 
 communicated the intelligence that French sailors and soldiers were to be taken on board, 
 and that the expedition was against the Protestants of Rochelle ! Captains and 
 men refused, and forced the Admiral Pennington to sail back to the Downs. 
 
 The French Protestants implored King Charles not to employ his forces against his 
 Protestant brethren, and had good words and hopes from the King. Buckingham with a 
 manliness above paltry insincerity said the ships must and should go. Historians inform 
 us how infamously the sailors were again tricked to go against Genoa, reached Dieppe, 
 and tried to sail away; but were fired upon by Pennington by Charles’s express orders, and 
 forced to remain, except Sir Ferdinand Gorge, in the Neptune. The gallant sailors 
 compelled to sail to Rochelle either joined the Huguenots or returned home. Their 
 treatment formed one of the charges against Buckingham. Eternal infamy rests upon 
 Charles I. for his conduct throughout this affair. 
 
86 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1625. 
 
 Margaret’s], and continued full nine hours, during all which time 
 it was observed that not any one man of their company fainted. 
 And afterwards special order was [issued by] his Majesty Charles the 
 First that it should he publicly celebrated in every parish church 
 throughout the realm every Wednesday, and to begin the Wednes¬ 
 day being the 20th of July, and to be continued for so long time as 
 the plague shall continue. 
 
 About the end of July, 1625, there died of the plague in London 
 within one week, 9000 persons ; and great mortality continued there, 
 and in many places of the country, a long time after. 
 
 The plague reigneth much also in the Low Countries, and besides 
 in Brabant, in France, and divers other places. 
 
 The 14th of September, 1625, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl 
 of Holland, the Earl of Derby, Sir Robert Killigrew, and divers 
 other gentlemen lay at Ash,* * * § and passed through Colyton. The 
 King lay at Mr. Poulett’s at George Henton,f in Somerset. 
 
 The same time the Earl of Essex passed through Colyton, a little 
 after the King.]: 
 
 The day before the Lord Marshal, viz. the Earl of Arundel,§ 
 came from Chideock, and passed through Colyford. All which went 
 towards Plymouth to view the soldiers, army and fleet, which were 
 then bound to the seas, and, as it is conceived, for some attempt 
 against the dominion of Spain. 
 
 The 15th of September, 1625, the King, lying at Sir Richard 
 
 * Ash House, the seat of the Drake family in the parish of Musbury. 
 
 4 Hinton House, the seat of Mr. Poulett, soon after created Baron Poulett, the ancestor 
 of the present Earl Poulett, in the parish of Hinton St. George, near Crewkerne, called 
 by the people George Hinton, to distinguish it from Bower Hinton, &c. 
 
 J In 1644 this nobleman marched to the relief of Lyme Regis, then being besieged by 
 Prince Maurice, at the head of “ Christ’s Army Royal.” 
 
 § Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, who died at Padua in 1644. It was to his house 
 that old Parr went in his visit to London. The Arundels had a seat at Chideock, five 
 miles east of Lyme, in the parish of Whitchurch Canonicorum, for many years. Colyford 
 is a small village, once a borough, one mile south of Colyton, situated on the road from 
 London to Exeter. 
 
1625.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 87 
 
 Reynell’s at Ford, lie installed three knights, viz. Sir Thomas Reyn ell 
 his cup-hearer, the second brother, of Ogwell House; 2, my 
 cousin Richard Reynell, his elder brother; and 3, John Yonge, my 
 gon.* 
 
 * Ford House is in the parish of Woolborough, one mile from Newton Abbot, near 
 Teignmouth. 
 
 Sir Richard Reynell was a learned and eminent lawyer of the Middle Temple and 
 autumn reader of that house 12 James I. He held an office in the Exchequer, and 
 obtained great wealth, which enabled him to purchase the estate and to build the mansion 
 yet standing there. 
 
 Thursday, Sept. 15, after dinner his Majesty conferred the honour of knighthood in the 
 dining room on Sir Richard Reynell, of West Ogwell, near Ford House, where the 
 ancient mansion of the Reynells stood, which has been supplanted by a modern house; 
 on Thomas Reynell, his brother, who at that time was his majesty’s servant and sewer in 
 ordinary to his person ; and on John Yonge, in presence of their wives and divers lords 
 and ladies, saying to them “ God give you joy.” After that the King went on to Plymouth, 
 and returned to Ford the 24th of the same month, and the Sunday following went to 
 Woolborough church. 
 
 Lysons’s Devon contains, from Chappie’s collections, a copy of the steward’s account of 
 the provisions sent in for his Majesty’s entertainment ; with the expense of the same that 
 were purchased. A great proportion consisted of presents ; so that the cost of the recep¬ 
 tion of royalty is not accurately estimated. 
 
 The provision for the first visit consisted of a buck and a side of venison, sent by Mr. 
 Reynell, of Ogwell, and a buck from Mr. Poulett. of Hinton. Amongst the fish, three 
 dories, two mullets, two gurnets, twenty-five peels, two salmons, and eight pair and a half 
 of soles. Of game and fowls, 140 partridges, seven pheasants, sixty-one chickens, forty- 
 six capons, ten ducks, fourteen pullets, six geese, seventy-one turkeys, twenty-eight 
 pigeons, one pea-hen, two mallards, two green plovers, eight plovers, one gull, three dozen 
 of larks, thirty-eight rabbits, and one hare ; besides mutton, veal, lamb, &c. ; six artichokes 
 were among the vegetables ; the whole expense of the first entertainment was 28 1. 13s. 5 d. 
 
 For the second entertainment, Sir Amias Poulett gave a buck ; Mr. Luff, of Torre, a 
 doe ; Dr. Clifford, a hunted teage (a doe of a year old) ; Mr. Beard gave a mutton, 
 killed and dressed. The fish consisted of eight score mullets, three dozen and a half 
 whitings, four salmons, seven peels, seven dories, twenty-one plaice, twenty-six soles, forty- 
 eight lobsters, 550 pilchards, &c. Among the fowls and game, sixty-nine partridges, 
 five pheasants, twelve pullets, fourteen capons, 112 chickens, four ducks, six geese, thirty- 
 seven turkeys, sixty-nine pigeons, ninety-two rabbits, one barnacle, one hernshaw, twelve 
 sea larks, eleven curlews, twenty-one and a half dozen of larks, one heath-pult, two 
 nynnets, six sea-pyes, one stone curlew, four teals, three pea-hens, and two gulls. Among 
 the more substantial provisions, were six oxen and kine, five muttons, two veals and a 
 half ; besides several entries of ribs of beef, quarters of mutton, chines, tongues, a side of 
 
88 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1625. 
 
 The same day 30 sail of the King’s ships brought into Ply¬ 
 mouth 2 English ships laden with Spanish goods, and 5 Dun- 
 kerks of good worth; amongst which one had five chests of silver, 
 every chest containing about 500/., and some 700/. 
 
 About the end of September our fleet went to sea, in which went 
 General Colonel Cicel, Viscount Wimelton [Wimbledon*], the Earls 
 of Essex, Denby, Mr. Glanvile, secretary of the army, and others. 
 
 October. The Duke of Buckingham went mto the Low Coun- 
 tries. The Bishop of Lincoln, being Lord Keeper, was removed 
 from his place, and Sir Thomas Coventry, the King’s Attorney- 
 General, put in his room. 
 
 November. Certain ships of Dunkirk, to the number of 29, 
 scoured the narrow seas, and took 80 Flemish fisher boats fishing 
 about Yarmouth, and drowned the men and sunk the boats; and 
 from thence took their course northward. 
 
 Order being given by letters from the Privy Council for disarming 
 of recusants, a fixed day appointed for the execution of this service 
 in Devon, the 16tli of this month. 
 
 Sir Robert Heath made the King’s Attorney-General, and 
 Selden [Richard Shelton] Solicitor in his place. 
 
 Sir Thomas Gerard committed to the Tower for treason.f 
 
 Sir Edward Coke chosen Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Sir Thomas 
 Wentworth of [Yorkshire], Sir Robert Phillips of Somerset, Sir 
 Francis Seymour of Wiltshire ; all principal parliament men.]; Sir 
 
 lamb, and a Westphalia gammon. The liquors enumerated, are, two hogsheads of beer, 
 a barrel of canary wine, and thirty-five quarts of white wine. The whole expense of the 
 second entertainment was 55 1. 5s. 
 
 The writer calls Sir Richard Reynell, of Ogwell, his codsin, (using the word in the 
 general sense of kinsman,') though he was in fact only the husband of his wife’s niece. 
 
 * Thus the command of the greatest joint-naval power that had ever spread sail upon 
 salt water—the Dutch contributing sixteen sail and the English eighty sail—was given to 
 a very unsuccessful general, a landsman whom the sailors, vexed at his appointment, 
 viewed with contempt. 
 
 •f To raise money by pawning the crown jewels and plate. He raised 300,000Z. 
 
 J These principal parliament-men were especially obnoxious to the King, who, because 
 sheriffs could not sit in the House, made the appointments on purpose to exclude them. 
 
1625-6.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 89 
 
 Joseph Cooper of Hampshire, Mr. Tubervile of Dorset, Mr. Fry of 
 Devon, and Mr. Trevanyon of Cornwall. 
 
 This Michaelmas term was kept at Reading, where was a commis¬ 
 sion read in the court of Chancery, King’s Bench, and Exchequer, 
 directed to the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Treasurer, Sir Robert 
 Weston, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and to all the judges and barons 
 of Exchequer, to put the law in execution against papist recusants; and 
 command to the King’s council to examine all grants of recusancy- 
 lands, whether they may be by law avoided; and that all profits of 
 lands of recusants which may grow due to the King shall be reserved 
 for the fortifying of sea coasts, castles, and provision of powder, arms, 
 and ammunition, for the defence of the realm. But never put in 
 execution. 
 
 December, 1625. Our fleet returned home from Cadiz, and did 
 nothing. They lost many soldiers and mariners by sickness. They 
 are to be billetted in places near Plymouth, and subsisted till em¬ 
 ployed in some other expedition. Their victuals were very ill saved 
 and spoiled; by reason whereof they not only felt want, but much 
 sickness in the fleet, their victuals being corrupted and stinking. 
 
 Sir Allen Aston and Sir James Bagge were principal men em¬ 
 ployed for providing of these victuals. If they did it to save charge, 
 or their private gain, they are worthy to be punished. If it were 
 out of evil affection, they are worthy the halter. Llowsoever, [they 
 are] unfit to be employed in the same again. 
 
 Feb. 1625-6. There was a great massacre in France, com¬ 
 mitted by the papists upon the Protestants in Brittany. 
 
 The parliament began at Westminster, the 6th of February, Sir 
 Henry Fynch, Speaker, 1625, anno 1 Caroli. The King was 
 crowned the 2nd of February, 1625. 
 
 About the 25th of January, there came to the Sheriff a writ to 
 summon all freeholders having 40/. per annum to appear at London 
 the 31st of January, to receive the order of knighthood.* 
 
 * By a feudal law this was obligatory. About 100,00(U. were raised by this harass- 
 CAMD. SOC. N 
 
90 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1625 - 6 . 
 
 || Soubize hath 30 sliips victualled, and purposeth to return into 
 France very shortly, having lain at Hyenton this winter quarter since 
 he was beaten hither by the King of France’s shipping. ||—No such 
 matter. 
 
 Sir Henry Hubbard, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, died in 
 January, 1625. 
 
 There is a peace concluded between Spain and France, to continue 
 for nine years ; and it is both offensive and defensive. 
 
 Earls created at the coronation of King Charles :— 
 Sir James Lee to be Earl of Marlbarrow. 
 
 Lord President Montague — 
 
 Lord Willoughby — 
 
 Lord Danvers 
 Lord Sheffield 
 Lord Leppington 
 Lord Wentworth 
 Lord Carew 
 L. Viscount Andover 
 
 Earl of Manchester. 
 
 Earl of [Lindsey]. 
 
 Earl of [Danby]. 
 
 Earl of [Mulgrave]. 
 
 Earl of [Monmouth]. 
 
 Earl of [Strafford], 
 
 Earl of Totnes. 
 
 Earl of Andover [read Berkshire]. 
 
 Mr. Stawell and Mr. Hopton of Somerset Knights of the Bath. 
 
 Feb. 1625-6. There were divers serjeants, being sent for out of 
 the Low Countries, sent into all counties of this realm; and namely 
 six into Devonshire, who exercised and disciplined the captains and 
 officers of every company and band in martial discipline. One of 
 whom was at Colyton, the 16th of March, 1625 [afterwards added, 
 viz. Paynter, and had allowance of vi. sli. weekly by the King]. 
 
 March, 1625. The King having a pinnace lying at Calais in 
 France, the sails were taken away by the French, and she staid. 
 
 Also the ships which our King sent to the King of France to aid 
 him against Soubize and Rochelle were detained and kept by the 
 French. 
 
 ing proceeding from compositions. Sir David Fowlis was fined 5,000L for dissuading a 
 friend from compounding. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 91 
 
 1625 - 6 .] 
 
 All our English merchants had their goods stayed in France to 
 the value of 800,000/. and upwards. The cause which was pre¬ 
 tended was for that Sir Henry Martyn having given sentence that 
 the Peter of Newhaven and other ships taken the last year by our 
 fleet before their going to Cadiz, in Spain, belonged to the French, 
 the Duke of Buckingham caused them to be stayed, and no restitu¬ 
 tion to be made, for that it was thought they were pretended to be 
 French goods, being Spanish goods. For which fact the Duke was 
 questioned in parliament. 
 
 27th March, 1626. The parliament drew the Duke of Bucking¬ 
 ham into question, whereupon this present day was assigned him to 
 answer. 
 
 1. Whether the Duke, being admiral, be not the cause of the loss 
 of the King’s regality on the narrow seas. 
 
 2. Whether the universal gifts and land bestowed upon the Duke 
 and his kindred be not the cause of the impairing of the King’s 
 revenues. 
 
 3. Whether the multiplicity of offices upon the Duke, others de¬ 
 pending upon him, wherof they are not capable, be not the cause of 
 the evil government of this kingdom. 
 
 4. Whether recusants be not borne out and increased by reason 
 of the Duke’s mother and father-in-law (the Earl of Rutland) being 
 known papists. 
 
 5. Whether the sale of favours, offices, and places of judicature, 
 and ecclesiastical livings and promotions (a scandal and hurt to the 
 kingdom) be not through the Duke. 
 
 These tilings were first propounded hi the house by one Doctor 
 Turner, a physician; and, as Mr. Drake’s letter doth import, many 
 others are to be objected against him. 
 
 || The Bishop of Winchester committed to the Tower for that he 
 had much armour found in his house.|| \This was carefully can¬ 
 celled .] 
 
 May, 1626. At the parliament articles were put into the house 
 against the Duke of Buckingham by the Earl of Bristol, to the 
 
92 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 1626 .] 
 
 number of 12 : upon which and other in the house before against him 
 the house found him guilty of many crimes, and referred it to the lords. 
 
 Sir John Elliot and Sir Dudley Digges, being sent to the higher 
 house hi a message against the Duke, were both committed by the 
 Kmg; at the which the house much murmured. 
 
 It is said our merchants’ goods were released in France, and the 
 ships sent home; and it is said are now stayed again, for that the 
 French have not full restitution of the goods seized on by the King’s 
 ships before. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt received an overthrow by Tilly. 
 
 || The King of Denmark is arrived in England. ||—False. 
 
 || This parliament, there being much ado in the higher and lower 
 house against him, the Duke, to strengthening of his party, procured 
 the King to create six Barons : viz. Sir Oliver St. John, Sir Dudley 
 Carleton, Sir Richard Weston, Sir John Savile, Sir Humphrey 
 May, and Sir George Goring; but the lords of the higher house 
 questioned whether they had a voice, being created since the parlia¬ 
 ment began. || [Afterwards added, None of these were, but Sir 
 Dudley Carleton.] 
 
 Notwithstanding the Duke was questioned in the house of parlia¬ 
 ment for having many honours and offices, yet sitting the parliament 
 he was chosen Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and by 
 the King made President of the Council of War. 
 
 On Thursday the 15th of June, 1626, the King dissolved the 
 parliament, because they would not treat of subsidies, and give over 
 their presenting of the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 The same day that the parliament was dissolved the Earl of 
 Bristol was committed close prisoner to the Tower. 
 
 The Earl of Arundel was confined again to his house, being a 
 little before enlarged and permitted to sit in the parliament at the 
 instance of the lords of the higher house. 
 
 The sickness increasetli much in Plymouth.* There died the last 
 
 * The judges did not venture to hold the assizes at Exeter ; but rode to Tiverton and 
 sat in the great school-room at Blundell’s Grammar school. See Lysons’s Devon. 
 
1626.] DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 93 
 
 week, from the lltli to the 17th of June, 80 persons in Ply¬ 
 mouth. 
 
 The 16th of July, 1626, the Duke of Buckingham made a feast 
 for the Doctors of Cambridge, which cost him '20001. 
 
 Letters came to all the port towns of this kingdom for the fur¬ 
 nishing and sending forth of ships, which were to guard the seas 
 when our fleet should be gone. Exon with his members was en¬ 
 joined to set forth two ships; each of the burthen of 200 tun, 
 having twelve pieces of ordnance in each, and two men at every 
 three tun [_i. e. 132 men each ship] and to be provided with three 
 months’ victualls. Letters also were directed to the justices of peace 
 adjoining to Exon, to furnish them with a third part of men, if they 
 wanted men, and to supply them with victuals. And in case they had 
 no ships of that burthen, they should have ships provided at London, 
 with powder, &c. at a reasonable rate, so that it’s considered they are 
 to pay in so much money, and the ships shall be set forth by others. 
 
 There is also a demand made for those four subsidies and three 
 fifteenths which w r ere propounded in parliament, but not agreed on, 
 but upon conditions. 
 
 The city of London, since the parliament, refused to lend the King 
 money; but offered that they would set forth sixty ships at their 
 own charge, so as they might appoint commanders in them, and have 
 the benefit of what they took ; which was refused. And afterward 
 the city gave the King 20,000/. freely. 
 
 The country for the most part did generally refuse to contribute 
 towards the setting forth these ships; as being unable by reason of 
 many taxes and burthens upon them. 
 
 Arminianism and Pelagianism do much speed abroad in divers 
 parts of this realm, and many bishops infected therewith.* 
 
 * Arminianism or the doctrine taught by Arminius in the university of Leyden in this 
 reign—the very opposite of Calvinism, then established in Holland, on an important point. 
 The follower of Arminius believes the salvation of every man to depend not on the absolute 
 predestination and irresistible grace of God ; but on each individual’s use of his own free 
 will to accept or reject the grace purchased by Christ’s blood. The Pelagians followed 
 
94 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1626 . 
 
 July 28. Baronet Chudleigh * was sent by the deputy-lieute¬ 
 nants towards London to intreat the council that the county of 
 Devon might be discharged of those soldiers which have been kept 
 here ever since their coming from Cales [Cadiz] in Spain the last 
 year upon charge of the country, and without pay or clothes, and 
 live disorderly. 
 
 July, 1626. || It’s reported that Colonel Ogle is entered into the 
 
 ministry. ||—F alse. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick put from his lieutenancy of Essex, and the 
 Earl of Suffolk in his room and place. 
 
 There are new privy coimcellors made: viz. the Earl of Holland, 
 Bridgwater, and Dorset. 
 
 The Kin g sent into France for 120,000/. of the Queen’s marriage 
 portion, which is denied mi til her jointure be confirmed by parlia¬ 
 ment. 
 
 July, 1626. This year, 1626, fell out to be extreme wet and un¬ 
 seasonable, that for six weeks’ space together we had not one day 
 without ram. Much hay was spoilt and rotten on the ground, be¬ 
 cause men forbore to cut it, doubting to save it. Corn much beaten 
 down, for which and the increase of the plague and the Spanish in¬ 
 vasion, noised for England, there was proclaimed a general fast to 
 be observed throughout the whole kingdom, on Wednesday, the 
 second of August; and the day following, being Thursday, the air 
 cleared and fair weather thenceforth. Note it. 
 
 Pelagius, a native of Britain of the fifth century, in maintaining that we derive no cor¬ 
 ruption from the fall of our first parents, but that, in general terms, we have powers suffi¬ 
 cient to work out our own salvation. The Ninth Article of the Church of England 
 condemns the Pelagian heresy. 
 
 Both these doctrines were directly opposed to Calvinism, the sheet-anchor of the Puritan 
 party ; and as such are here placed in juxta-position. Arminian sentiments in theology 
 were held to be inclinations towards Popery and absolute monarchy. The Commons 
 assailed Neile and Laud as addicted to Arminianism, “ a damnable and slave-making 
 heresy.” Sir Simonds D’Ewes writes of Arminius and his followers as “ a rabble of jesuited 
 Anabaptists.” 
 
 * George Chudleigh, Esq. of an ancient family settled at Ashton, co. Devon, was 
 created a Baronet in 1622. 
 
1626 .] 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 95 
 
 The Duchess of Buckingham, and the old Countess of Bucking¬ 
 ham, the Countess of Denbigh, and Sir [Edward] Villers president 
 of Munster’s wife in Ireland, are sworn of the Queen’s bedchamber. 
 
 August. There came other letters from the lords of the council 
 to the mayor of Exon, pressing the setting forth of two ships, which 
 they formerly refused. 
 
 There are 140,000 husbandmen in Germany up in arms for the 
 point of religion, unto whom Count Mansfeldt was sent to join, and 
 received aid from the King of Denmark. After he was gone the 
 King of Denmark was in some straights for want of men, and Tilly 
 had almost hemmed him in at Menninge. || It’s reported that Spi- 
 nola is lately gone up into Germany to join with Tilly against Den¬ 
 mark. ||—False. 
 
 At Midsummer Sessions, 1626, there was 40/. to be charged 
 weekly upon these 10 hundreds of the east division, towards the 
 relief of Plymouth, and to continue until the next Sessions at 
 Michaelmas. 
 
 There was a contract of marriage between the daughter of the 
 Duke of Buckingham, being about four years of age, and the Earl 
 of Montgomery’s son, about seven years old.* And thereupon, 
 
 The Earl of Pembroke made Lord Steward of the King’s household. 
 
 The Earl of Montgomery, his brother, made Lord Chamberlain. 
 
 || It’s reported the Earl of Middlesex hath his pardon for his fine 
 in parliament, and shall be Lord Treasurer. ||—False. 
 
 All the Queen’s servants are commanded to depart anon; and 
 there shall not be any French to attend her. 
 
 The Earl of Salisbury shall be Master of the Horse. 
 
 The Earl of Dorset the Queen’s Master of the Horse. 
 
 The Earl of Rutland shall be Lord Chamberlain to the Queen. 
 
 The Earl of Bridgwater Warden of the Cinque Ports. 
 
 The Lord Willoughby goes Admiral of the Navy. 
 
 The 2d of August 1626, anno 2 Caroli Primi, there was a 
 
 * This marriage was afterwards concluded at Christmas, 1634 ; but the young Lord 
 Herbert, being sent on his travels, died of the small-pox at Florence, in Jan. 1635. 
 
96 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1626 . 
 
 general fast commanded by proclamation, that all people should as¬ 
 semble to their parish church and humble themselves before the 
 Lord, desiring him to avert his punishment of the plague, which lietli 
 heavy upon many parts of the kingdom, and to defend us from the 
 swelling pride of Spain. This day some of Newmarket beyond London 
 going to church, met with eight of their neighbours which were 
 going to reap, whom they demanded what they meant, and whether 
 they would not turn back with them to the church to join with the 
 congregation in prayer and fasting, that God’s wrath might be averted 
 from the land. These eight answered that they could not live by 
 fasting and prayer, and went on in their intended course. The 4th 
 of August, being the Friday, these eight went into the field to reap, 
 and being there (it being a champaign country, not enclosed) there 
 suddenly came a great storm of thunder and lightning. These 
 having no shelter, seven of them covered themselves with sheaves; 
 the eighth stood it out, and was smitten dead. Fire seized on the 
 sheaves where the others lay, and burnt them, and so scorched three 
 of them that they died also; the other four were so affrighted that 
 they all ran mad and distracted. See here God’s hand upon the 
 contemners of his ordinances ! 
 
 Further it’s to be observed how troublesome and wet a harvest we 
 had before that time, in so much that people were scarce able to 
 save them hay, and some were not able to take up their grass 14 
 days after it was cut. Presently the day of the fast the weather 
 waxed clear, and from that day fair weather came in and continued 
 all the time of corn harvest, as all people generally in the realm 
 know, and many have observed. 
 
 The lady Elizabeth had a daughter born at the Hague. 
 
 Presently after the assizes in Somerset Mr. Jo. Symes, Mr. Hugh 
 Pyne the lawyer, and some other of that comity, were put out of the 
 commission of the peace, as ’twas thought by Mr. Poulett’s means.* 
 
 * Some county gentleman generally managed a county for the King. This ancestor of 
 the present Earl Poulett had been visited by his Majesty, and was created Lord Poulett. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 97 
 
 1626 .] 
 
 The King of Denmark received a great overthrow by Monsieur 
 Tilly in or near the Palatinate. 
 
 A Benevolence. There was a demand made of four times so much 
 as every man is set the piece, to be given to the King by way of 
 benevolence; and to pay a third part in hand: for refusing of 
 which there were many in London committed; and 4 presses for 
 soldiers. 
 
 Afterwards these benevolences, which were required throughout 
 the realm, which in regard many refused to pay and others gave 
 very little, they were remitted by proclamation 27th of September 
 1626. 
 
 And shortly after came forth another proclamation requiring five 
 subsidies to be paid according to such rates as every man is assessed 
 at the subsidies, according to divers instructions given the commis¬ 
 sioners, which (the speech is) they are to conceal upon their allegiance. 
 
 In October Sir Francis Barrington, knt. and baronet, with Sir 
 William Massam his son-in-law, were committed to the Fleet for 
 refusing to give accordingly and speaking against it. 
 
 In October also, 1626, our fleet, consisting of thirty sail, put to 
 sea, and returned presently again without doing of any thing, and 
 thought by means their victuals were very ill. There were three or 
 four of the ships which were very leaky. They met with twenty 
 sail of Dunkirk and Hamburgh; but had no commission to meddle, 
 and so let them pass. 
 
 November, 1626. Sir Randall Crewe put from his place of Lord 
 Chief Justice of England, for refusing to subscribe to the loans. After 
 which example all the rest of the judges refused to subscribe like¬ 
 wise. 
 
 Sir John Richardson,* serjeant-at-law, was made Lord Chief 
 
 Under Charles II. the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Mew, was all powerful in that county, 
 and was a correspondent of the court. 
 
 * Sir John Richardson had been Speaker of the last Parliament of James I. He was 
 very unpopular, as may be seen by the stories related in the Society’s volume of Anecdotes 
 and Traditions, pp. xxi. 19, 53. His wife abovementioned was Elizabeth, daughter of 
 
 CAMD. SOC. O 
 
98 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1626 . 
 
 Justice of the Common Pleas. It is reported lie gave for the place 
 17,000/.: and also took in marriage the lady Ashburnham, a kins¬ 
 woman of the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 The Marquis Spinola made an attempt upon Sluys, hi the Low 
 Countries : hut was prevented, and lost 600 men. Since which time 
 he attempted to make a trench to bring in the sea upon some part 
 of the Low Countries, but what success it will have time will dis¬ 
 cover. 
 
 The Duke of Buckingham feasted the King, Queen, and French 
 Ambassador, and bestowed 4000/. in a banquet. The sweet water, 
 which cost him 200/. came down the room as a shower from heaven. 
 The banquet let down in a sheet upon the table, no man seeing how 
 it came; with other pompous vanities, to waste away and consume 
 money, the country being in poverty, and more necessary occasions 
 calling for it. 
 
 December, 1626. The King having determined heretofore to 
 demand of all his subjects so much money by way of loan as they 
 are set in subsidy, viz. he that’s set at 20/. in subsidy to lend unto 
 the King 20/., the judges were urged to subscribe. They paid their 
 money, but refused to subscribe the same as a legal course: for 
 which Sir Randall Crewe, Chief Justice of England, had his patent 
 taken from him, and he was displaced Ter. Michael. 1626, anno 
 2 Caroli. The privy council subscribed; the lords and peers sub¬ 
 scribed, all except 14, whereof six were earls: viz. Earl of Essex, 
 Earl of Warwick, Earl of Clare, Earl of Huntington, Earl of Lin¬ 
 coln, and the Earl of Bolingbroke, being Lord St. John. 
 
 The Fleet Royal, consisting of 30 sail, set to sea in November, 
 1626, and met with a fleet of Hamburgh and Dunkirk. Some of 
 
 Sir Thomas Beaumont, of Stoughton Grange, co. Leicester, and widow of Sir John Ash¬ 
 burnham, of Ashburnham, Sussex. In 1628, she was created a Baroness of the kingdom 
 of Scotland, with remainder, not to her own children (she had a family by Ashburnham, 
 but none by Richardson), but to those of her husband by his former marriage, and Sir 
 John Richardson’s grandson consequently succeeded on her death in 1651. It was the 
 first creation of a peerage to a female in Scotland. See Douglas’s Peerage, by Wood, vol. i. 
 p. 363. 
 
1626 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 99 
 
 our English company began to provide themselves for fight, and 
 came to the Lord Willoughby for directions. He then told them 
 that he had no commission; and so they shortly returned home, 
 doing nothing. But one of our English of the company straggled, 
 and had taken one of the enemy’s ships and brought it into Ply¬ 
 mouth, and presently there came a discharge from the Duke of 
 Buckingham to free it, although their ships acknowledged them fleet 
 was bound for Spam, aiid laden with munition. 
 
 About the end of November, 1626, there came a company of 250 
 mariners to London to demand pay for their service, being kept under 
 press for the King’s ships; and assaulted the Lord Treasurer’s house: 
 but after he acquainted the council thereof they had their pay, and 
 were sent back again. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick had a man-of-war which returned from sea 
 in December, 1626, and met with 27 sail of frigates, being Spanish, 
 which encompassed him in manner of a lialf-moonA He sunk 
 two of them and took one, in which were two Spanish Dons, and 
 told him thev were for the Low Countries, and that Spinola had a 
 design to land his army in Norfolk, as is reported about London, 
 and that the Duke knew of it a week before. 
 
 January, 1626-7. It is reported that Sir John Digby, Earl of 
 Bristol, hath poisoned himself, because he will not come to his 
 answer. All his hair and nails are fallen off, and some say he is 
 dead: but many think he poisoned not himself, but some others gave 
 it him.f 
 
 Count Mansfeldt died of a burning fever, and his army is in part 
 with Saxon Weymar and part with Bethlehem Gabor. 
 
 A commission was sent down into Devon, dated the 11th of 
 October last past, 1626, and sat upon at Tiverton, for the county of 
 Devon, 24th of January, 1626-7, for expediting of which the Lord 
 Russel, lord lieutenant of this county, was sent down, being a com- 
 
 * Moon, through the inadvertence of the writer, was spelt as he perhaps pronounced it, 
 and as those who still retain the Devonshire dialect pronounce it, viz. mune. 
 
 ■)* This report was perhaps altogether unfounded ; the Earl of Bristol lived to 1653. 
 
100 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1626 - 7 . 
 
 missioner, and all justices of peace of this comity. The commission 
 was to require a loan to the King by all subsidy-men, after the rate 
 of five subsidies, to be paid within 24 days, of such as are able, and 
 all others to pay the one-half within 14 days, and the rest within 
 three months after. 
 
 All English merchants’ goods in France were staid, together with 
 all their ships, the sails taken away, and mariners unshipped. The 
 like was done with the French which were in England. And it is 
 reported that with divers of our English ships they have blocked up 
 Rochelle. 
 
 Feb. 6, 1626-7, anno 2 Caroli. Sir Nicholas Hyde made the 
 King’s Serjeant, and this day was first to sit in the King’s Bench as 
 Lord Chief Justice of England. Within a week after this honor was 
 conferred upon him 2 of his children died. 
 
 In Norfolk such as subscribed to the loan do refuse to pay the 
 same. So Cumberland refuse. 
 
 Lincolnshire also refuse; and the Earls of Lincoln comity, and 
 Bolingbroke, two commissioners, are sent for, and a new commission 
 granted for that comity. 
 
 Mr. Attorney was sent for in the midst of an argument as he was 
 pleading of a cause in the Exchequer; and it was to have 4 mari¬ 
 ners hanged who were then abroad, and the city of London up in 
 arms. The mariners began to deface the Duke’s gate for want of 
 pay, which they had not since Cales (Cadiz). It is thought that the 
 mariners and apprentices will join. 
 
 1626-7, Feb. There were cast away upon the coast of France 
 about 30 sail, off Biscay, with soldiers and munition, and sent by the 
 King of Spain towards the Low Countries, or England. 
 
 Chief Justices displaced: 
 
 Renowned Cooke, proud Montague, 
 
 Grave Sir Janies Leigh, and honest Crewe. 
 
 Two were preferred, two set aside. 
 
 And in their room upstart Nicke Hyde.* 
 
 * Dru Drury, Esq. repeated some lines of which these are a version at Bury Lent 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 101 
 
 1626 - 7 .] 
 
 It is reported in London that 13,000 Scots are in arms: some say 
 to aid the King of Denmark, others fear otherwise. 
 
 The end of the summer this year, viz. about Michaelmas, 1626, 
 all such soldiers as came out ol the fleet from Cadiz, and had lain 
 upon the charge of the counties of Devon and Cornwall, were, by 
 order of the lords of the council, removed thence, some into the 
 counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, and Kent, and some removed 
 into Berkshire, viz., 14 companies into Kent; 17 companies into 
 Sussex; 17 companies into Hampshire and Berkshire; and 23 com¬ 
 panies into Dorset; where they committed many disorders. 
 
 Feb. 1626-7. The mariners which were pressed for Cadiz, and 
 others retained in the King’s ships, for that they never received them 
 pay, came in troops to London at divers several times, and threat¬ 
 ened the Duke of Buckingham, and once they made an attempt 
 against his gate to pull it down, but at last were pacified, and had 
 their pay out of the loan of the subsidy money, and discharged. 
 
 March, 1626. About the beginning of March, a commission came 
 into the country to sell all the French merchants’ goods, which were 
 detaining in England (to the King’s use] ; the merchants of Exon, and 
 other places, sent to London to the lords of the council, and deshed 
 that out of these goods they might have restitution for such goods 
 of theirs as were detained in France. Whereunto the lords of the 
 council assented; but the day following, the Duke of Buckingham, 
 sitting in council, denied it, and said that they were detained to the 
 King’s use, in lieu of 120,000/. portion which he was to have from 
 
 Assizes, 1627, so near Sir Nicholas Hyde, then sitting on the bench, that some thought 
 he must have heard. 
 
 Learned Coke, curt Montague, 
 
 The aged Lea, and honest Crew. 
 
 Two prefer’d, two set aside, 
 
 And then starts up Sir Nicholas Hide. 
 
 They were the five successive Chief Justices of the King’s Bench. Sir Edward Coke was 
 removed in 1616 ; Sir Henry Montagu and Sir James Ley were each promoted to be Lord 
 Treasurer in 1620 and 1624 ; Sir Ranulph Crewe resigned in 1626, when Sir Nicholas 
 Hyde succeeded. 
 
 Sir N. Hyde died in 1631, of fever, taken in riding fifty miles one hot day on the circuit, 
 
102 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ, 
 
 [ 1626 - 7 . 
 
 the French King in marriage with his wife, and therefore would 
 reserve the same unto himself in lieu of his portion. But it was 
 said that after that Buley Mac, a Dutch merchant, offered to lay 
 down so much as the King’s portion came to, if the goods might be 
 restored to the merchants. But this was refused; for that some think 
 the King hath given the goods to the Duke of Buckingham. And so 
 upon the matter the King receiveth his portion from his own subjects. 
 
 There is great preparation in France to besiege Rochelle; the 
 King hath bought 8 ships of war of the Hollanders, and 6 good ships 
 he hath out of the river of Rouen, besides some of our English ships 
 were detained in the river of Bordeaux, all which, with as many 
 more as he can make, he intends to block up Rochelle by sea. He 
 hath spoiled the corn and all the country about Rochelle, to bar them 
 of victuals, and hath sent garrisons into the fort which he erected 
 against Rochelle. 
 
 And it’s reported further, that our King will send 10,000 soldiers 
 to assist the Rochellers, and 10 ships. 
 
 March, 1627. Sir Dudley Carleton, Baron of Embercourt, made 
 secretary to the Lord Conway. 
 
 Bassau Pier (Bassompierre)* is expected Ambassador out of France 
 to withstand the King aiding of the subjects of the King of France; 
 and in case of refusal to denounce war. 
 
 Friday, the 30th of March. Such as refuse to subscribe to the 
 loan are to be censured in the Star Chamber. 
 
 A commission is granted to the Duke of Buckingham and Earl of 
 Dorset to use martial laws upon such mariners as shall be found out 
 of their quarters. 
 
 A proclamation for the apprehending of one Jo. Holland and Rob. 
 Blow, the one steward, the other clerk of the kitchen, to the Earl of 
 
 in a whitish blue cloak, to which objection was taken, as it made him look more like a 
 clothier than a judge. 
 
 * The gallant and witty Marshal de Bassompierre was the first who exhibited a coach 
 with glass windows. Born in 1579, he died in 1646. He was the friend of Henry IV. 
 and exercised great power over Mary de Medicis and Louis XIII. Richelieu caused him 
 to be imprisoned in the Bastille in 1631, where he remained twelve years. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 103 
 
 1627 .] 
 
 Lincoln, for dispersing some abridgments of Statutes concerning tlie 
 freedom of the subject from loans and impositions. 
 
 About the end of March, 1627, Sir William Courtenay his house 
 of IIton,* near Salcomb, in Devon, was robbed; and much of his 
 pewter plate f and household stuff carried away. It was done by 
 certain pirates,| which came up in boats from Salcomb, and fled the 
 same way they came, without apprehension. 
 
 * There are now but small remains of this castellated mansion. Ilton Castle was built by 
 Sir John Chiverston, in 1335, who had a grant from the Crown for that purpose. It 
 came to the Courtenays by marriage, and is now the property of the Earl of Devon. 
 
 y Pewter plate was in great demand when silver did not so much abound, and when 
 china dinner-services were unknown. The poor used wooden trenchers. Boroughs had 
 their town-pewter for their civic feasts. This at Lyme Regis was sold in 1704 during the 
 mayoralty of Nathaniel Butler. It consisted of 22 platters ; 4 pye plates ; 2 pasty plates ; 
 72 trencher plates, all weighing 411 lbs. at 7 cl. per lb.—Ilf. 19s. 8 d. Private collection 
 of the Editor. 
 
 + Lest pirates might be confounded with privateers or even with enemies , as mentioned 
 in an entry for June of this year, 1627, a short picture of the state of our channel may be 
 introduced, which must dispel all ideas of the grandeur and true power of the British at 
 sea as compared with what they now lay claim to and really possess beyond any other 
 nation. The ships, however small, were often manned by men not mariners, and by 
 officers not bred to a seafaring life—the greater part of whom were useless from sickness 
 when a second reef was taken in, like the crews of some French and Spanish ships in the 
 present day. There are many entries in this diary illustrative of the state of the navy, the 
 bad provisions, the failure to pay the mariners, their lawlessness in consequence, and other 
 memorable proofs of the effects of bad government. There was a nucleus for the forma¬ 
 tion of a great navy in the true mariners and officers, strictly speaking, sailors, and the 
 pirates that abounded. 
 
 It was a Scotish freebooter or pirate that gave notice of the approach of the Spanish 
 armada. Such pirates abounded. A letter was sent in 1557 by the Lords of the Privy 
 Council to the Mayor of Poole and his brethren, desiring them to use vigilance for defence 
 of the towns and coasts against the enemy. Again in 1577 against the pirates, and furthei 
 in 1584 the Lords of the Council ordered the Mayor of Poole to fit out a ship against the 
 pirates infesting the coast. No wonder that pirates continued if their suppiession 
 depended upon the exertions of a corporate body. We are reminded of the town of Palos 
 being commanded to set out Columbus upon his memorable voyage. 
 
 Pirates must not be confounded with the privateers of later wars: these had letters of 
 marque granted by the executive, and went forth openly to cruize against the most 
 defenceless of the enemy’s vessels. The pirates of this earlier date were genuine sea- 
 robbers, and thorough-going seamen, though we recoil from their personal character. 
 
104 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1627 . 
 
 About the same time the Castle of Portsmouth, in Hampshire, was 
 burnt, whether by Frenchmen or casually it is reported diver sly.* 
 Divers Protestants of Paris, in France, having been at a sermon 
 two miles off, at their return were set upon by divers lacqueys, and 
 one or two of them slain. 
 
 The King of France, Lewis XIII., about the end of March, sent 
 divers muskets and 400 barrels of gunpowder towards Angers; and 
 he himself went thither, for what intent it is not known; but doubted 
 that it is either for Rochelle or some part of England or Ireland. 
 
 Some of the most noted Englishmen who earned that infamous appellation, Ward, Bishop, 
 Sir Francis Verney, and Glanville, turned Turks and lived at Tunis. Assisted by English¬ 
 men, the Barbary corsairs not only scoured the English and St. George’s channels, but 
 even disembarked, pillaged the villages, and carried the inhabitants into slavery, to the 
 number of several thousands.—(Strafford’s Letters). Scaliger had affirmed of our coun¬ 
 trymen Nulli melius piraticavi exercent quam Angli. One vessel the Algerines cap¬ 
 tured was worth 260,000Z. The Dutch resumed their fishing without a licence, and 
 captured two rich East Indiamen. France, Spain, and Holland violated the neutrality, 
 and insulted the English flag. The French scoured the Severn in 1628 ; but the dreaded 
 Spaniards did not land in the West after 1595, when they disembarked at Mousehole, 
 near Penzance. Towns on the coast had scarcely any houses visible from the sea, and 
 were on that side well surrounded with walls and little forts. “ Pirates and other 
 enemies” were sometimes repulsed, as at Lyme, a. d. 1513. The collections in the West 
 for redeeming prisoners from captivity in Algiers were possessed of a local interest, as 
 were bequests of money for the “ nminteynance of the towne gonnes.” Gunpowder, 
 however, began to be manufactured by Englishmen in the time of James I. In 1597, 
 France and England were mutually complaining and quarrelling about the violence and 
 injury committed by the pirates of either nation. Lawless men when on the seas, before 
 civilization had advanced, were ever prone to robbery to furnish means for vicious enjoy¬ 
 ment. In the reign of Henry III. there was quite a petty warfare at sea carried on by the 
 towns of Lyme and Dartmouth in the same bay, though the men of the latter place then 
 spoke Cornish. So late as the year 1633, Lord Wentworth, appointed lord-deputy of 
 Ireland, names noted pirate vessels off the coast of Ireland, and their captures. The 
 Turks carried off a hundred captives from Baltimore, in Ireland, in 1631. They landed 
 their poor captives at Rochelle and marched them in chains to Marseilles. And in 
 1645, the Turks carried off twenty-six children at one time from Cornwall. The Editor 
 has a curious bill of expenses for sending pirates with their hands tied behind them on 
 horseback to Dorchester gaol. 
 
 * To the present day every fire in in the dockyards is attributed to the agency of 
 foreigners by perhaps the majority of our countrymen, who reject “ spontaneous com¬ 
 bustion,” the assigned cause in many instances. 
 
1627 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 105 
 
 The Cardinal Richelieu and the Queen mother do lead and sway 
 the state of Franee. 
 
 Many are daily imprisoned for refusing to lend the King, so that 
 the prisons in London are full; and it’s thought they shall be sent 
 and imprisoned in clivers gaols in the country remote from their own 
 dwellings. 
 
 The beginning of April, 1627, there came other letters to the 
 justices of Devon and mayors of port towns, for the setting forth of 
 8 ships: viz. two for Exon; 2 for Dartmouth and Totnes; 2 for 
 Plymouth ; and 2 for Barnstaple. The towns are to provide the 
 ships, and the country men and victuals, and are to be ready against 
 the 20th of May next. For which cause there is a meeting of all 
 the justices of peace at Exon the 20th of this instant April, when 
 they are to resolve either to join with them or to answer the lords’ 
 letters. || Viscount Wymelton [Wimbledon] viz. Col. Cecil, was dis¬ 
 charged of his marshalsy of the army that went to Cales [Cadiz] the 
 last year, and all his captains cashiered. ||—April, 1627. Not so ; 
 they have commands appointed them again. 
 
 Captain Pennyngton, with one of the King’s ships and certain 
 merchant ships, took about the number of 19 French ships out of the 
 harbour at Couquett in France, and brought them into England. 
 
 May, 1627. The English fleet lying now at Portsmouth in 
 Hampshire are to go to sea by the 20th of May, 1627, in which the 
 Duke of Buckingham (as it is reported) goeth admiral and general 
 by land. The fleet consisted of about 200 sail, and went not to sea 
 before the end of June, 1627.* 
 
 Reasons of our breach of amity with Franee are said to be these: 
 
 1. That the fort against Rochelle is not demolished, according to 
 the French King’s promise. 
 
 2. For not confirming his father’s edict for the Protestants, as was 
 promised. 
 
 3. For satisfaction for 12,000 men which Count Mansfeldt had, 
 
 * The Duke of Buckingham now recovers his popularity with the Puritans by leading 
 a force to the support of the Protestants at Rochelle. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 P 
 
106 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1627. 
 
 and were lost by the French King’s means in not permitting them 
 to pass. 
 
 4. For not paying 1 ()/)()()/. for the merchant ships which were 
 lent anno 1625, when Rochelle was besieged. 
 
 5. For stopping of our ships at Bordeaux. 
 
 6. For taking away of the order, compelling our merchants to 
 land their ordnance ere they may trade. 
 
 There was one Dr. Cosins,* who set forth a book of meditations 
 allowed by the Bishop of Durham, Doctor Neyle, and the Bishop of 
 Wells, viz. Doctor Laud; and an epistle, written by Doctor Mon¬ 
 tague Bishop of London, in commendation of the book. It con- 
 taineth many points of popery and 7 sacraments, which he termeth 
 Sacramentals. 
 
 June, 1627. About the end of this month the King sent a fleet of 
 80 sail of ships to sea, wdio carried about 8000 soldiers. The Duke 
 of Buckingham went general both by sea and land: it is thought for 
 some part of Franee. 
 
 There being difference between this state and France, we began a 
 fortification at Seaton for the defence of that place against pirates 
 and other enemies. There were, by consent of Sir Edmund Pri- 
 deaux baronet, Sir William Pole, Mr. John Drake, Mr. Fry, and 
 myself [Mr. Yonge] warrants granted out for assistance in the said 
 fortification : viz. the first week Colyton hundred to send 30 men for 
 every day; the next week Axminster hundred were to send 30 men 
 for every day; the third week Hemyock hundred 20 men for every 
 day; the fourth week Halbertou hundred were to send 20 men for 
 every day; and the fifth week Bampton hundred to send 20 men for 
 
 * Dr. John Cosin was a high churchman, afterwards Bishop of Durham. A member of 
 the House charged Dr. John Cosin with having changed the word minister in the Common 
 Prayer into that of priest, and had put out the word elect. Dr. Cosin had written a book 
 to bring odium upon the Puritans, and especially to represent Cartwright, their leader, as 
 privy to designs of sedition and treason. He became an exile during the Civil War and 
 Protectorate. After his death in 1672, it was pretended he had left a black box con¬ 
 taining a contract of marriage between Charles II. and the mother of the Duke of Mon¬ 
 mouth. See Life of the Duke of Monmouth, vol. i. 82, by G. Roberts. 
 
1627 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 107 
 
 every day; but for those which would not or could not come con¬ 
 veniently, being far distant, that they send after the rate of 8 d. for 
 every man per diem; and we of these parts would procure men in 
 their places.*' 
 
 July, 1627. There came into the country a proclamation that all 
 recusants of 10 comities of the North may compound for their lands 
 at a fine. The commissioners are the Lord Zouch, Earl of Cum¬ 
 berland, Sir John Savile, &c. who sit at York for execution of the 
 commission. 
 
 The archbishop was confined to his house. The cause was for 
 that, a minister in his sermon much condemning such as stand out to 
 lend the King, and that it was contrary to the word of God, the 
 archbishop, afterwards meeting with the minister, demanded him 
 what place of the word did condemn them; and upon the minister’s 
 information, he was confined to an house of his in the country, f 
 
 * The great mound of earth thrown up on this occasion in order to the erection of a fort 
 on the summit, stands on the broad shingle beach, a little to the eastward of the sea front, 
 if front it can be said to possess, of Seaton. By a corruption it is called The Burrow, 
 instead of its correct appellation The Barrow. No one knew in 1845 how it came there, 
 which proves how tradition often fails to perpetuate the recollection of really important 
 transactions. The Barrow cost 24 l. 
 
 Nothing whatever is said of orders from the Council ; the worthy magistrates proceeded 
 at once to tax the country by issuing out warrants, feeling the ancient precept to be 
 binding on them, Ne quid detrimenti respublica caperet. The country responded to their 
 call ; and perhaps discriminated correctly between the genuine interest felt by a Prideaux, 
 Pole, Drake, and Yonge, and the heartlessness of a debauched court. A beacon on 
 Trinity-hill, near Axminster, was erected by warrants from magistrates in this county in 
 1678. Axminster and adjoining parishes bore the expense, viz. 28 1. as appears in the 
 collection of James Davidson, Esq. Secktor House. 
 
 ■)* The minister alluded to was the famous Dr. Sibthorp, vicar of Brackley, who was a 
 preacher of the doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance. On one occasion he 
 chose the text Rom. xiii. 7, “ Render, therefore, to all their dues.” He likewise told 
 the people that even if the prince, the anointed of the Lord, should command a thing 
 contrary to the laws of God or of Nature, still the subjects were bound to submit to the 
 punishment, only praying secretly that Heaven might turn the prince from the error of his 
 ways, but offering no resistance, no railing—nothing but a passive obedience. His great 
 proof for all this was a verse in Ecclesiastes, viii. 4. “ Where the word of a king is, there 
 
 is power ; and w r ho may say unto him, What doest thou ?” See the Life of the Duke of 
 
108 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [ 1627 . 
 
 There are many Londoners committed daily for refusing to lend. 
 
 The money lent in Cornwall was remitted, and paid them again 
 for billeting of soldiers, and fortifying their coast. There was 1200/. 
 bestowed for the fortifying of the castle of St. Mary, Isle in Scilly; 
 and 800/. upon a castle lying at the western point of Falmouth 
 haven, for the better furnishing of which Sir Robert Killigrew pro¬ 
 cured 50 pieces of ordnance from the King. 
 
 It is said that the Archbishop, George Abbot, was confined for 
 prohibiting a sermon to be printed, (which was preached before him 
 at Croydon,) which maintained the lawfulness of the loan now 
 granted to the King, and that it is lawful for princes to impose taxes 
 on their subjects. His faculties and ecclesiastical privileges are 
 taken from him. 
 
 July 21, 1627. About two months since the Lord Petre’s two 
 sons were taken, going to the university in Spain; and were this 
 week, together with the Lord Harbert’s son, committed to the custody 
 of the Bishop of London.* 
 
 The Bishop of Lincoln f is confined to his house. 
 
 The gentlemen who were imprisoned for withstanding the loan are 
 appointed to be sent abroad into divers countries, on W ednesday, the 
 25th of this month, and committed to the custody of some in the 
 country. And the like course is taken for such citizens as refuse.:}: 
 
 || The isle of Rhe, before Rochelle, was taken by our English fleet, 
 the Duke of Buckingham being there in person. In taking whereof 
 
 Monmouth by George Roberts, vol. ii. 289. The Dissenters, the representatives of the 
 Puritans, were much pestered respecting this doctrine when at the gallows after Mon¬ 
 mouth’s rebellion in the reign of James II. The sermon is said to have been purposely 
 sent to try the archbishop. Laud licensed it. 
 
 * The manor of Axminster, and that of Shute adjoining Colyton, belonged at this time 
 to Lord Petre, whose residence was at Ingatestone, and afterwards at Horndon Hall, in 
 Essex. 
 
 d" Dr. Williams, late Lord Keeper. 
 
 1 The meaning evidently is, that the offending parties were to be sent upon “ forced 
 missions.” Sir Dudley Digges, Sir Thomas Crew, Sir Nathaniel Rich, and Sir James 
 Parott had been sent on a commission into Ireland as a sort of cover for banishment, on 
 account of their free conduct in the House of Commons. 
 
1627 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 109 
 
 were slain of tlie English 50 men only, of which 5 were captains, 
 viz. Thomas Goring, Joseph Glyime, Sir John Haydouke, Babing- 
 ton, and Grenfield: and of the French 125 men of special note, be¬ 
 sides common soldiers. ||—False. 
 
 || Sir Jolm Haydouke, Babington, and Grienfield; and of the 
 French 125 men of special note, beside common soldiers. ||—False. 
 
 || It is reported also that our men have beaten down the fort near 
 Rochelle, which the French Kang erected some years since. ||—Not 
 true. 
 
 A post reported that there are 12 of our captains slain, and 70 
 men of our side, besides 70 which were drowned. The rest of the 
 names of the captains which were slain were Sir Thomas York, Sir 
 Thomas Thorney, Captain Comity, 2 Powels, Captain Blundle, Cap¬ 
 tain Hardy, and a French gentleman of Soubiza. Besides there were 
 drowned Sir Wm. Hay don, and Johnson, the engineer. Hurt, Sir 
 Geo. Blundle, Sir Charles Rich, Capt. Sydenham. 
 
 Sept. 1627. The French erected another fort at the other side of 
 Rochelle, and from the fort doth batter the town. 
 
 The King of Denmark had a defeat by Tilly in Holstein, and lost 
 the town and castle of Pinningburg. And to prevent Tilly doth 
 now burn and spoil his own country to disable him of victuals and 
 provision. 
 
 October, 1627. George Abbott, Archbishop of Canterbury, is 
 divested of all his faculties, and a commission granted to the Bishops 
 of London, Durham, Bath and Wells, and St. David’s, to execute 
 his office, viz. Dr. Mountain, Dr. Neyle, Dr. Laud, [and Dr. Field.] 
 
 November, 1627, Ter. Mich. Sir Walter Erie,* and others, being 
 committed about the loan, had an habeas corpas to render them into 
 the King’s Bench, that cause might be shown why they were com¬ 
 mitted [the continuation between || || was cancelled ] ; || but a command 
 was given by the King and coimcil to the warden of the Fleet not 
 
 * See further entries respecting the imprisonment of the writer’s friend and neighbour 
 Sir Walter Erie, of Bindon, the site of the famed landslip. Mr. Justice Erie is the 
 descendant of this ancient family. 
 
110 DIARY or WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1627. 
 
 to deliver them, and the day of hearing was put off. || [ The follow¬ 
 
 ing correction was made in an ink of different colour ] and after upon 
 judgment that the writ would not lie the King delivered them out of 
 grace. 
 
 November, 1627. Our army in the isle of Rhe, being distressed 
 for victuals, supplies, and with sick men, were assaulted by the 
 French and put to the route; and having lost 52 commanders with 
 many soldiers, in tight and drowned, were put off the island and 
 returned. 
 
 Ter. Mich. Anno 3 Caroli, 1627. Sir Walter Erie and divers 
 others imprisoned for refusing the loan brought their habeas corpus* 
 into the King’s Bench; and upon solemn argument, and debating of 
 the cause of their imprisonment, it was found for the King against 
 them; and they remanded to prison. 
 
 The end of this term Hugh Pyne,f the lawyer, was committed to 
 prison, some say to the Tower, for saying the King was stript and 
 governed by a company of upstarts. 
 
 Sir Walter ErieJ and the rest which were imprisoned for not lend¬ 
 ing were of the King’s grace delivered in January, 1627-8, having- 
 been imprisoned about a year for refusing to lend. 
 
 * The reason must be expressed upon every commitment for which it is made, that the 
 court upon an habeas corjms may examine into its validity ; and according to the cir¬ 
 cumstances of the case may discharge, admit to bail, or remand the prisoner. This remark 
 is deemed necessary to prevent any mistake as to the statute 16 Charles I. and the famous 
 Habeas Corpus Act, another Magna Charta of the kingdom. See Blackstone’s Com¬ 
 mentaries. 
 
 f The family mansion at Curry Malet is not kept up. Capt. Pyne and the Rev. W. 
 Pyne are the representatives of this ancient family, who were zealous advocates of liberty 
 as set forth by the country party. The return of these country gentlemen after imprison¬ 
 ment at the hands of the court was a kind of triumph. 
 
 + Sir Walter Erie took possession of Lyme Regis for the Parliament fourteen years 
 after this date, in 1642. An army commanded by Prince Maurice, son of the Palsgrave 
 of the Rhine and King of Bohemia, the idol of the Puritans, advanced against the town 
 and was unable to take it after that “ unfortunate siege ” whose effects upon the fate of 
 King Charles I. belong to the page of history. See the History of Lyme Regis, by G. 
 Roberts. 
 
1627-8.] 
 
 DIARY OP WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 Ill 
 
 January, 1627-8. || It is reported that Rochelle is strongly be¬ 
 
 sieged both by land and sea, there lying before it 60 sail of French 
 and 20 sail of Spanish gallies. Also that the Protestants in France 
 are generally up in arms to defend themselves against the King and 
 their enemies. ||—False. 
 
 Note, that at the time our fleet and army were at the isle of Rhe 
 we had continued tempests, and few days passed without some ex¬ 
 traordinary storms; and after their coming home divers ships were 
 much shaken and broken in our harbours. Many of our mariners 
 and soldiers died of sickness. But during the time the French and 
 Spaniards besieged Rochelle, they had continual fair weather, and 
 were never beaten with any storm at sea. 
 
 Feb. 1627-8. || The sickness fell so sore among the Spaniards 
 
 lying before Rochelle that they were compelled to forsake the siege 
 and refresh their men, God preserving them, as in former time, by 
 sending them fish in extremity, and England having resolved to leave 
 them, as hath been reported. ||—False. 
 
 A parliament was summoned at Westminster the 17th of March 
 1627. And about a month before there were sent letters into 
 Devon, both by his majesty King Charles and the council, for the 
 raising of 17,400/. out of this comity, to set a fleet at sea, which 
 was appointed to be at sea the first of March, we having but 6 or 7 
 days to raise the money and return it to London; but our comity 
 refused to meddle therein. 
 
 The 7th of March, 1627-8. The Duke of Buckingham lay at 
 Ash,* and thence rode to Plymouth, to take order for sending some 
 ships to Rochelle with provisions and victuals. 
 
 Not long since there were privy seals to be granted; and every 
 officer about the Exchequer had a privy seal, not any one under 50/. 
 and some not nearly so much themselves. 
 
 This money (if it had been collected, for they were afterwards re- 
 
 * Ash House, in the adjoining parish of Musbury, the seat of the writer’s friend, Mr. 
 Drake. 
 
112 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 [1627-8. 
 
 called again,) was to be received by the Lord President’s man, and 
 not by the Lord Treasurer, and so never any record to charge him, 
 and the money to go a wrong way.—Dictu Josephus Dynham milt. 
 Baron of the Exchequer. 
 
 King James gave away an infinite mass of his jewels and ward¬ 
 robe, and after he had so done the records of them were burnt; 
 whereas Queen Elizabeth, if she had at any time given any, it was 
 solemnly delivered by indenture, and so accompted for who had it, 
 and upon what occasion.—Dictu ejusdem. 
 
 March, 1627-8. Divers ships and mariners were provided to 
 carry victuals to the Rochellers, now straitly besieged by Lewis 13, 
 King of France; but the mariners being at Plymouth, and almost 
 ready to set to sea, being unpaid for nine months, and seeing their 
 best victuals sold away, they began to mutiny, in which mutiny 
 there were three slain, and after the tumult was somewhat ap¬ 
 peased many of them ran away. By means whereof the voyage is 
 staid, and a new press for the raising of mariners for the voyage. 
 
 It is reported that about 200 mariners are gone from Portsmouth 
 to the Archduchess in Brabant, and 400 more would have gone if 
 they could have gotten to the sea. 
 
 This parliament Mr. Hugh Pyne was chosen burgess for Wey¬ 
 mouth in Dorset, and was delivered out of prison by warrant of the 
 King’s privy signet. 
 
 Mr. John Drake, of Ash, died the 11th of April 1628, and was 
 buried privately the same night, being Good Friday.* 
 
 * John Drake, Esq. eldest son and heir of Sir Bernard Drake. He married, writes 
 Mr. Davidson, Dorothy, daughter of William Bitton, of Alton, co. Wilts, and was buried 
 at Musbury, 2 April 1628. It is surprising that Prince, who is very circumstantial about 
 such matters, did not note the death and private interment of this gentleman. Though 
 the plague was not rife this year, there may have been suspicious circumstances attending 
 the death, which occasioned the hastened funeral. This gentleman sold Netherton to Sir 
 Edmond Prideaux, Bart. (Mr. Davidson.) 
 
 I find that Sir Simonds D’Ewes kept his grandfather’s corpse at Coxden for fourteen 
 days ; but his own father’s body was despatched from London towards Suffolk the third 
 day after his decease. Mr. Boldero, his friend, a lawyer, was buried the day after his 
 
1628.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 113 
 
 April, 1628. There was a woman apprehended at Plymouth in 
 the habit of a man, by the mayor of Plymouth, at the time the Lord 
 Denbigh and Sir Henry Martin went to sea. About the apprehen¬ 
 sion of which woman there was a great quarrel between Sir Henry 
 Martin’s men and some of the town about her commitment, of which 
 it is reported the mayor will complain to the parliament. 
 
 There was such hiding and flying away of mariners for want of 
 pay, and for bad victuals, this voyage, that the report is that they 
 were fain to man their ships, being but 16 sail, with lame and un¬ 
 trained soldiers, being very unfit for such a service. 
 
 April 12, 1628. Divers soldiers passed through Honiton towards 
 Plymouth, being such as came out of Dorset, Somerset, and other 
 eastern parts. 
 
 The King has sent for 1000 German horse, whereof 500 are 
 coming. 
 
 Those soldiers that went for Plymouth, before mentioned, were 
 most of them discharged and returned home again within three or 
 four days after they came to Plymouth; and such as were taken of 
 them were shipped to serve instead of mariners, the mariners being 
 many run away, the ships being ready to set to sea for the aid of 
 Rochelle. 
 
 The King’s fleet lying at Plymouth in the Somid, the General, viz. 
 Lord Denbigh, Sir James Cogg, and others, daily drank healths a 
 shipboard,* and the Lord Denbigh scarce fresh any day after the 
 morning. And it’s reported they shot away so much powder in one 
 
 death, as was an old servant of the family. Of two children, each was interred the day 
 after his decease. Mr. Willoughby of Pehembury, Devon, who died at the age of 86, was 
 buried one week after. 
 
 * Actually afloat, and surrounded by men armed for conflict with foreign foes, these 
 commanders might, one would imagine, have engaged in convivial intercourse with their 
 friends without being obnoxious to much censure. But their offence was not a venial 
 one in the eyes of the Puritan party. Hugh Peters, a few years from this time, expressed 
 his abhorrence of the “ idolatrous drinking of healths,” and “ that too upon unsanctified 
 knees.” The offence was the posture used in honour of a human creature, which the 
 censuring parties deemed worthy alone of the Supreme Being. 
 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 Q 
 
114 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. [1628. 
 
 day, drinking of healths, as is worth 100/., beside what powder is 
 consumed other days. 
 
 April 1627-28. The Emperor hath besieged a frontier town of 
 France and took it, called 
 
 The Rochellers sent out 6 drums in the night time without any 
 company, which caused an astonishment in the French King’s army 
 lying before it. The next day were 400 of them found slain, by 
 whom unknown. A commander of Rochelle went to the French 
 King’s army and promised to deliver up the town such a day. At 
 which time the French King’s soldiers approached before the town, 
 and seeing the gates open entered. But the Protestants having let 
 in some slew them, and having planted their ordnance before hand 
 for slaughter killed many more. 
 
 The 26th of April our fleet went out of Plymouth Sound towards 
 Rochelle to relieve them, the Earl of Denbigh being Admiral. God 
 grant them good success. [Afterwards added, Being about 37 sail, 
 besides victuallers, all about 60 sail.] 
 
 Four French ships took about 26 sail of ships in Severn and 
 other parts of the coast, and took also the Isle of Lundy and rifled 
 it, and so left the shore.* 
 
 Hugh Pyne, esq. of Cathanger, in Somerset, was Michael, term 
 last accused to have said that the King was as unfit to rule as his 
 shepherd, being an innocent [a natural or born fool], for which he 
 lay committed until the parliament. Flis accusers, as ’twas said, the 
 Lord Poulett, William Walrond, esq.f Sir John Stawell; and having 
 answered before the council, letters were sent down to examine far¬ 
 ther matter against him, and his adversaries, Sir John Stawell, Wil¬ 
 liam Walrond, and others, to examine the business. 
 
 Not long since the soldiers being billeted in Taunton, Sir John 
 
 * The success of this French squadron justifies the foresight of the worthy writer, and 
 other justices who were so prompt in fortifying Seaton. 
 
 f This must have been Waldron of Bradfield House, in the parish of Uffculm, in East 
 Devon. 
 
1628.] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 115 
 
 Stawell * laboured to have all their voices to the choosing of bur¬ 
 gesses. They returned answer they had reserved their first voice 
 for Sir Robert Phelipps, but he should have the other. Whereat 
 Sir John Stawell took offence, and removed some soldiers that were 
 settled, and billeted them upon the mayor and others. The town 
 complained to the council and after to the parliament. \_The follow¬ 
 ing was cancelled : The parliament sent for Sir John Stawell, but 
 before he was questioned he was called to the higher house by writ.] 
 
 The like Mr. Jo. Mohun, of Cornwall, for combining against Cur- 
 ringham, and labouring by letters to hinder his election, being sent 
 for by the parliament, for such a wrong done to the country was 
 made Baron of Okehampton. 
 
 The last parliament before, anno 1 Caroli, Montague, being ques¬ 
 tioned in the parliament for his seditious book, to avoid the censure 
 of the house, he was (sitting the house, and after he was questioned) 
 called to the Convocation house. 
 
 Doctor Neyle also first got Durham by opposing the house in 
 King James’s time. 
 
 May, 1628. Our fleet coming to Rochelle found it blocked up by 
 sea, divers ships being sunk in the passage, and 18 French warlike 
 ships in the road to defend or bar their relief. Our fleet bare in 
 valiantly, the admiral going before, and as soon as he came within 
 shot one of the French ships gave him a broadside. Our admiral 
 tacked about and went his way without doing any thing, and it’s now 
 reported they are now coming home again. The Rochellers made 
 signs unto them they had but one month’s victuals. And they pre¬ 
 ferred them, that if they would permit them to have our old ships, 
 which we sent to set fire in them and to open the passage, they 
 
 * Sir John Stawell lived at Cothelston Lodge, near Taunton, and was a great sup¬ 
 porter of the court. His insolent interference with the right of election is interesting. 
 Taunton took part against the King, and was for many years considered as the “ hot-bed of 
 sedition of the West.” Lord Stawell was busy in the destruction of the interior fittings- 
 up of meeting-houses in the reign of Charles II. ; but could not sanction the enormities 
 of Judge Jeffreys, who caused a rebel to be executed opposite his house, to annoy his 
 lordship. 
 
DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 116 
 
 [ 1628 . 
 
 would do it of themselves, and not require one English man’s help. 
 But answer was returned they had no such commission. There is a 
 Rocheller now ridden to London to acquaint the King with the state 
 of the town.* 
 
 May, 1628. || Colonel Morgan slain and 2000 English and Scot¬ 
 tish, and Tilly hath taken the . ||—False. 
 
 It’s reported that Spain and France have fallen out, and have pro¬ 
 vided each of them 30,000 soldiers. But yet they trade. Note it. 
 Pray God it be not a plot against us, if it be true. 
 
 The mariners troop after the Duke for pay again, as at the begin¬ 
 ning of this term. 
 
 Here follows a list of officers slain at the retreat of the English in 
 St. Martin’s, in the Isle of Rhe, 1627. 
 
 4 colonels, 3 lieutenant-colonels, 2 captains, 3 serjeant-inajors, 26 
 captains. 
 
 Prisoners; 4 officers, 6 captains, 8 lieutenants, 12 ensigns. 
 
 * This last mention of Rochelle, the fate of which the writer of the Diary had close at 
 heart, as many entries fully attest, calls for a note as to the final result of that dreadful siege 
 of fourteen months, when Cardinal Richelieu commanded in person, who caused a dyke 
 of 1640 yards to be thrown up to block up the harbours. The garrison were reduced to 
 such a state of fearful famine that the Duchess of Rohan and her daughter, as a noble ex¬ 
 ample, confined themselves to a portion of horseflesh and five ounces of bread daily be¬ 
 tween both. They still continued to resist, expecting the arrival of the fleet from England, 
 when the news of Buckingham’s assassination at the hands of Felton reached them, and 
 destroyed their last glimmer of hope. After a siege of eleven months, during which time 
 the numbers had dwindled from twenty-seven thousand to five thousand, the city surren¬ 
 dered, 28th Oct. 1628. 
 
1620 .] 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER Y'OXGE, ESQ. 
 
 117 
 
 A. D. 
 
 Princes holding with the King 
 tine of the Rhine :— 
 
 The Count of Thurn. 
 
 Count Mansfeldt, dead. 
 
 Prince of Anholt, revolted. 
 
 Duke of Weimar. 
 
 Bethlehem Gabor, King of Hun¬ 
 gary and Prince of Transylvania. 
 Count of Shlick. 
 
 Marquis of Jegersdorffe. 
 
 Count Hohenlohe. 
 
 With the Emperor:— 
 
 Duke of Bavaria. 
 
 Duke of Saxony. 
 
 Marquis Spinola. 
 
 Bishop of Saltzburgh. 
 
 Bishop of Mentz. 
 
 Bishop of Trier. 
 
 Bishop of Cologne. 
 
 Duke Bucquoy, his general, 
 slain. 
 
 (A List of Catholics 
 
 Lord Petre. 
 
 Earl of Worcester. 
 
 Earl of Northampton. 
 
 The Lady Knowles. 
 
 The Countess of Suffolk. 
 Earl of Shaftesbury. 
 
 Earl of Northumberland. 
 
 1620 . 
 
 of Bohemia, viz. Frederick Pala- 
 
 Landgrave of Hessen. 
 
 Marquis of Baden. 
 
 Prince of Orange. 
 
 Baron of Gerstoffe. 
 
 Duke of Wittenberge. 
 
 The King of Denmark, over¬ 
 thrown. 
 
 The King of Sweden. 
 
 Lord Breuner. 
 
 Prince of Spinoy. 
 
 Marques of Malespina. 
 Archbishop of Clostergabren. 
 Count of Bucheim. 
 
 Comit Dampier. 
 
 Prince Lawenberg. 
 
 Seigneur de Tilly Lorraiu. 
 King of Spain. 
 
 any remarks.) 
 
 Lord Stourton. 
 
 Lord Yaux. 
 
 Lord Mordaunt. 
 
 Lord Lumley. 
 
 Lord Montague. 
 
 Lord Mounteagle. 
 
 of Eminence, without 
 
118 
 
 DIARY OF WALTER YONGE, ESQ. 
 
 Observations of the inclinations of certain noble personages out of 
 the Dedications of some good books. 
 
 The Lady Wayntworth, Protestant.—Mr. Dod’s Sermons on 2 
 Sam. 24, 10, 11, 12, dedicated to her 1610. 
 
 Countesses of Cumberland and Huntingdon, Prot.—Mr. Green- 
 ham’s Works* * * § dedicated to them by Mr. Holland, 1607. 
 
 The Countess of Warwick, Prot.—The third part of Mr. Green- 
 ham’s Works dedicated to her, 1607. 
 
 The Lady Dacres, Prot.—Mr. Topsell his Works upon Ruth,f 
 1605. 
 
 Lord Chancellor, Prot. —Doctor Sutlife’s answer to Parsons ’ 3d 
 conversion of England, 16074 
 
 Earl of LIuntington, Lord Hastings, Prot.—The True Watch and 
 Rule of Life, 1606. 
 
 Earl of Bedford, Prot.—Mr. Perkins on the Lord’s Prayer. § 
 
 Lord Rich, Prot. 
 
 * The Works of Richard Greenham, Minister and Preacher of the Word of God : 
 edited by Henry Holland. 
 
 •f* This is not mentioned by Wats or Lowndes. “ Time’s Lamentation, or an Exposi¬ 
 tion of the Prophet Joel, by Edward Topsell, 1599,” 4to. was dedicated to Sir Charles 
 Blount, Lord Mountjoy. 
 
 J Subversion of Robert Parsons his Treatise of three Conversions of England. By 
 Matthew Sutcliffe. London, 1606, 4to. 
 
 § An Exposition on the Lordes Prayer, by way of Catechising. By William Perkins, 
 a very eminent Puritan divine. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abbot, Archbishop, 42, 43, 44, 100, 108, 
 109 
 
 Algiers, 41 
 
 Amboyna, massacre of, 75 
 Andrewes, Bishop, 91 
 Arabian horses, 42 
 Argyle, Earl of, 50, 68 
 Arminianism, 93 
 
 Arundel, Earl of, 40, 41, 44, 45, 61, 
 86, 92 
 
 Arundell, Count, 73 
 Ash House, xxviii. 86, 111 
 
 -family, 21 
 
 Aston, Sir Allen, 89 
 -Sir Walter, 71, 72, 73 
 
 Babington, Bishop, 6 
 Babington’s Conspiracy, 16 
 Bacon, Sir Francis, 36 
 Baden, Marquis of, 58 
 Bagge, Sir James, 89 
 Bancroft, Archbishop, 6, 22 
 Baronets, institution of, 26 
 Barons created, 93 
 Barrington, Sir Francis, 97 
 Bassompierre, 102 
 
 Bath, Earl of, 14, 21 [not the Bishop ], 
 57 
 
 Bavaria, Duke of, 37, 45 
 
 Bedford, Earl of, 118 
 
 Benevolence, 49,50,53, 55,56,57, 61,97 
 
 Bennett, Sir John, 37 
 
 Bergem op Zoom, 77 
 
 Berkshire, Earl of, 50 
 Beza, 3,15 
 
 Billingsley, Captain, 59 
 Bindon, Viscount, 8 
 Blundell, Sir George, 109 
 Bohemia, 33 
 
 Bolingbroke, Earl of, 98, 100 
 Bouillon, Duke of, 23, 28, 32 
 Bragge, R. xxxi 
 Brandenburg, Duke of, 27 
 Breda taken, 82 
 Brett, Arthur, 76 
 Bridgwater, Earl of, 94, 95 
 Bristol, see Digby 
 Britanny, massacre in, 89 
 Brunswick, Marquis of, 46, 47, 65 
 Buckingham, Marquis and Duke of, 42, 
 50, 69, 74, 82, 91, 92, 95, 98, 105, 
 111 
 
 Buller, Sir R., his son, 66 
 Cabinet Council, 82 
 
 Cambridge, Duke of Buckingham elected 
 Chancellor, 92; feasts the doctors, 93 
 Carey, Bp. Valentine, 44, 51 
 Carleton, Sir Dudley, 92, 102 
 Castlehaven, Lord, 64 
 Cecill, Col. 33, 64, 84, 88, 105 
 Champernoun, Sir R. 57 
 Chancery lane, fire in, 48 
 Chandler, Qeorge, 57 
 Charles I. installed Prince of Wales, 30 ; 
 accession of, 82 
 
120 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chichester, Sir R. 57. 
 
 -- Lord, 36, 57, G4, 65 
 
 Chudleigh, Baronet, 94 
 Church, a new one, 65 
 Clare, Earl of, 98 
 Clergy, abuses of, 7 
 Clothiers to be sent to London, 56 
 Cogg, Sir James, 113 
 Coke, Sir Edw. 9, 29, 33, 41, 45, 48, 
 49, 51 ; Lord Coke, 62, 72, 88, 101 
 Coloma, Don Carlos, 57 
 Cond£, Prince of, 29 
 Continuance, Laws upon, 49, 51 
 Conway, Sir Edw. 67, 83; Lord, 102 
 Cooper, Sir Joseph, 89 
 Corn, prices of, 17, 18, 42, 55 
 Cossacks, 35 
 Cosin, Bishop, 106 
 Cottington, 67 
 
 Cotton, Bishop, 21 ; death, 42. Mrs. 
 C. takes a fee, 21 
 
 Council of War, establishment of, 36 
 Courtenay, Sir Wm., 57 ; his house 
 plundered, 103 
 Coventry, Sir Thos. 88 
 Cranfield, Sir Lionel, 57,61,73, 76, 95 
 Crewe, Sir Randal, 28, 97, 98, 101 
 Crew, Mr. Thomas, 51, 80 
 Cumberland, Earl of, 107. Countess of, 
 118 
 
 Customs, farming of, 23, 27 
 
 Dacre, Lady, 118 
 Dandy, a beggar, 55 
 Dearth of corn, 16 
 Denbigh, Lord, 88, 113, 114 
 Denmark, King of, 8, 92, 109 
 Desertion of Mariners, 112, 113 
 Desguieres, 29, 32, 39 note, 42, 81 
 Devon, Earl of, 6, 118 
 
 Digby, Lord, 36, 45, 47, 48, 54, 74, 99 
 
 -Mr. 66 
 
 Digges, Sir Dudley, 92 
 Doddridge, Sir John, 44, 69 
 Dorset, Earl of, 94, 95, 102 
 Double-beneficed ministers, 22 
 Dragoons, 35 
 
 Drake, John, xxvii. 57, 106, 112 
 Drewe, Sir T. 57 
 Drought, 1 
 
 Duke’s Place, church consecrated, 65 
 Dunkirkers, 79, 88 
 
 Earls created, 89 
 
 Earthquakes, 14 
 
 Egerton, Sir Thomas, 29, 32, 33 
 
 Election, interference with, 115 
 
 Electors like to be blown up, 4 
 
 Elizabeth marries the Palatine, 24,33, 68 
 
 Elliot, Sir John, 92 
 
 Elways, Sir Jervis, 28 
 
 Embargo, 91, 100 
 
 Erie, Sir Walter, 109, 110 
 
 -family, xxviii. 
 
 Essex, Earl of, 36, 76, 84, 86, 88, 98 
 Exeter, distress in, 53 
 
 Farmers of customs, 23, 27 
 Fast, 85, 95 
 Featley, Doctor, 63 
 Fish ashore, 62 
 Flag of Great Britain, 6 
 Fleet, great, 82 
 
 -French, 84, 85 
 
 -Royal, 89, 98 
 
 Ford House, feast at, 87 
 Frederick Count Palatine, made King 
 of Bohemia, 24, 33, 65 ; list of the 
 princes favouring him, 107 
 
INDEX. 
 
 121 
 
 Frosts, 16 
 
 Fry, Nicholas, xxviii. 59, 106 
 
 Gabor, Bethlehem, 35, 43, 45, 117 
 Garnet, 2, 5, 6, 9 
 Gerard, Sir Thomas, 88 
 Gondomar, 38, 41, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 
 Goring, Sir George, 92 
 Grandison, Viscount, 62 
 Gray, Colonel, 67 
 Greenham, Richard, 118 
 Gregory, Arthur, xxvi. 
 
 Gunpowder plot, 1 
 Gustavus Adolphus, 35 
 
 Haddock, the sleeping preacher, 12 
 Hamilton, Duke of, 45 
 Harsnett, Bishop, 75 
 Harswell, maintains non-residency, 6 
 Harvey, Richard, xxxi. 
 
 Hassard, Robert, xv. xxxi. 
 
 Hatton, Sir Christopher, 29 
 Hawkes, Sir R. 57 
 Hawkins, Sir R. 34 
 Hay, Dean, 16 
 
 Haydon, Sir William, drowned, 109 
 Healths, drinking of, 66 note, 113 
 Heath, Sir Rob. 88 
 Heidelberg castle, 67 
 Henrietta-Maria, Queen, 79, 82, 83 
 Henry IV. of France, 3, 15, 20, 21 
 Herbert, Lord, his son committed to 
 custody, 108 
 
 High Commissioners’ power, 24 
 Hinton House, 86 
 Hobart, Sir Henry, 44, 90 
 Holland, Earl of, 76. 94 
 Holland, Doctor, his wife banished, 12 
 Horsey, Sir Jerome, 61 
 CAMD. SOC. 
 
 Huntingdon, Earl of, 98, 118 
 
 -Countess of, 118 
 
 Hyde, Sir Nicholas, 100, 101 
 
 Ilton castle, 103 
 Impost upon wine, 53 
 Infanta, 68 
 Installation, 30 
 
 James I. 9, 24, 48, 80, 112 
 Jegersdorf, 43, 45, 55 
 Jesuits, 7, 19, 72 
 Judgment day represented, 15 
 
 Killegrew, Sir Robert, 108 
 Knigbt, the lecturer, 62 
 Knighthood enforced, 89 
 
 Laud, Bishop, 44, 106, 109 
 Legatt, 25 
 
 Lennox, Duke of, 45, 69, 72, 77 
 Leopoldus, 23, 59 
 Lerma, 32 
 
 Ley, Sir James, 40, 41, 101 
 Licences required, 9 
 Lincoln, Earl of, 100 
 Loans, forced, 98, 100, 103, 105 
 Lundy, Isle of, 114 
 Luynes, 32, 48 
 
 Mallock family, xxix, 80 
 Mallory, Mr. 49 
 
 Mansfeldt, Count, 34, 43, 45, 47, 53 
 55, 61, 64, 66, 67, 77, 81, 83, 92 
 93 ; death, 99 ; biog. note, 34 
 Mariners riot, 100, 101 
 
 -desert 113, 114 
 
 Martin, Sir Henry, 91, 113 
 Mary de’ Medici, 26 
 
 R 
 
122 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Masham, Sir William, 97 
 Matthew, Toby, 60, 61 
 Maurice, the Grave, 22, 77, 79 
 May, Sir Humphrey, 92 
 Mentz taken, 47 
 
 Middlesex, Earl of, see Cranfield 
 
 - Marquess of Buckingham 
 
 first Lord Lieutenant of, 61 
 Milan, 65 
 
 Ministers to keep their flock at home, 24 
 
 Missions, forced, 51, 72, 108 
 
 Mohun, Lord, 115 
 
 Mompesson, Sir Giles, 37 
 
 Monopolies, 19, 37 
 
 Monson, Sir T. 29 
 
 Montagu, Bishop James, 32, 52, 84 
 
 -Bishop Richard, 84, 115 
 
 -Lord, 7, 73 
 
 -Sir Henry, 28, 33, 40, 52, 101 
 
 Montauban, the siege of, 43, 46, 48 
 Montgomery, Earl of, 82, 83, 95 
 
 -Bishop, 22; wife murdered, 
 
 17 
 
 Montmorency, 65 
 Morgan, Colonel Sir C. 80, 116 
 Morley, Lord, 68, 73 
 Mountaigne, Bishop, 44, 50, 109 
 Mountjoy, Lord, 6, 64 
 Murray, Sir David, 43 
 
 Napper, Sir Nathaniel, 82 
 
 Nassau fleet, 81 
 
 Naunton, Sir Robert, 67 
 
 Neile, Bishop, 106, 109, 115 
 
 Newburg, Duke of, 27 
 
 Newmarket, accident to James I. at, 24 
 
 Nismes, 65 
 
 Nonconformity, 11 
 
 Northumberland, Earl of, 1, 9, 45, 68 
 
 Noy, 45 
 Nuncio, 82 
 
 Ogilvie, John, 27 
 
 Ogle, Colonel Sir J. 84, 94 
 
 Orange, Prince of, 46, 58, 77 
 
 Overbury, Sir Thomas, 28 
 
 Oxen sent to Plymouth, 81 
 
 Oxford, Earl of, 36, 41, 46, 50, 51, 76 
 
 Parker, Mr. 57 
 
 Pecham, 27 
 
 Pelagianism, 93 
 
 Pembroke, Earl of, 83, 95 
 
 Pennyngton, Capt. 85, 105 
 
 Peryam, family of, 7 
 
 Pestilence, 1, 33, 93 
 
 Petre, Lord, sons taken, 108 
 
 Pewter plate, 103 
 
 Phelips, Sir Robert, 49, 88, 115 
 
 Phosphorescence of the sea, 30 
 
 Pirates, 103 
 
 Plague, 60, 86 
 
 Plymouth, 49, 81, 92, 113 
 
 Pole family, 6, 8, 23 
 
 -Sir William, xxvii, 57, 106 
 
 Poore, Capt. 84 
 
 Pope quarrels with Venice, 10, 19 
 Porter, Endymion, 66 
 Portsmouth castle burnt, 103 
 Post of letters, xxi 
 Poulett, Lord, 86, 96, 114 
 Prague taken, 37 
 Prideaux family, xxix 
 
 -■=— Sir Edmond, 68, 106 
 
 •-- Sir Richard, 13 
 
 Priests, one taken, 18 ; they swarm, 83 
 Privy Seals, 111 
 Prophecy, 38 
 
INDEX. 
 
 123 
 
 Protestants, French, disarmed, 39 ; mas¬ 
 sacred in Britany, 89 
 Puritans, xix 
 
 Puritan justices, 50; nobility, 118 
 
 Purveyors, 4 
 
 Pym, a murderer, 54 
 
 Pyne, Mr. Hugh, 96, 110, 112, 114 
 
 Raleigh, Sir Walter, 31 
 
 Reading, term kept at, 89 
 
 Recusants, 6, 20, 22, 69, 88, 89, 106 
 
 Revels, 66, 75 
 
 Reynell family, 87 
 
 Rich, Lord, 6, 76, 118 
 
 -Sir Nathaniel, 51 
 
 Richardson, Sir John, 97 
 Richelieu, 105 
 Rhe, 108, 110 
 
 Rochelle, siege of, 38, 39, 44, 45, 50, 
 52, 54, 58, 59, 78, 102, 108, 111, 
 113, 115 
 
 de Rohan, Duke of, 39, 65 
 Rolls, Sir Henry, 57 
 Royston, house at, sinks, 24 
 Rudon, Dr., charge against, 76 
 Russell, Lord, 99 
 Russian ambassador, 45 
 Rutland, Earl of, 68, 95, 97 
 
 Sabbath, 39, 75 
 Sacramentals, 106 
 St. John, Sir Oliver, 62, 67, 92 
 Salisbury, Earl of, 2, 8, 9, 20, 95 
 Sandys, Sir Edwyn, 41, 45, 72 
 
 -Sir Samuel, 47 
 
 Saville, Sir John, 92, 107 
 Savoy, Duke of, 23, 28, 45 
 Say, Lord, 61, 76 
 Scottish ministers banished, 11 
 
 Season, wet, 94 
 Seaton fortified, 106 
 Sermon, an invective one, 70 
 Serjeants sent to train, 90 
 Seventh-son cures, 13 
 Seymour, Sir Edward, 57 
 
 -Sir Francis, 88 
 
 Ship money, 93, 95, 105, 111 
 
 Shower of blood, 14 
 
 Sibthorp, Doctor, 107 
 
 Sidnom in favour with the King, 51 
 
 Sights in the air, 32 
 
 Simonds, Richard, xxxi 
 
 Sluys, 53 
 
 Snape the puritan, 4 
 Somerset, Earl of, 49 
 
 -Countess of, 28 
 
 Soubise, 55, 78, 80, 90 
 Southampton, Earl of, 41, 45, 61, 76 
 Spalatro, Archbishop of, 31 
 Spanish ships, 39 
 Spencer, lord, 41 
 
 Spinola, 31, 35, 36, 41, 53, 76, 77, 81, 
 95, 98 
 Starlings, 45 
 Stawell, Sir John, 115 
 Strode, Sir William, 49 
 
 - family, xxx. 
 
 Suffolk, Earl of, 94 
 Sutcliff, Dr. 41, 118 
 Swedish King, 35 
 Sweet, a jesuit, 46, 54, 63 
 Symes, John, 96 
 
 Tanfield, Sir Christopher, 28 
 Tempest in the Severn, 13 
 Thorney, Sir Thomas, 109 
 Thunderbolt, 49 
 Tilly, 58, 92, 97, 109 ; note, 46 
 
124 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Tityre tues, 70 
 
 Tiverton, a charter given to it, 26 ; as¬ 
 sizes at, 92 note ; commission at, 99 
 Toby, Matthew, 60, 61 
 Toleration of papists, 6 
 Topsell, Edward, 118 
 Tours, Baron of, 31, 32 
 Towerson, Capt. massacred, 75 
 Trained soldiers to be ready, 57, 90 
 Trenchard, Sir George, 82 
 Tresham, Sir Francis, 5 
 Trevanyon, Mr. 89 
 Trevor, Sir Thomas, 81 
 Tubervile, Mr. 89 
 Turkish Ambassador, 34 
 Turner, Mrs. 28 
 
 -Dr. 91 
 
 Tyndall, Sir John, shot, 28 
 Tyrone, Earl of, 68 
 
 Valentines, 51 
 Valteline, 77, 83 
 Vaux, Lord, 51, 76 
 Venice quarrels with the Pope, 10, 19 
 Vere, Sir Horatio, 32, 36, 45, 47, 52, 58, 
 64 
 
 Victuals of the Fleet, 89 
 Villiers, Sir Edward, 62, 67, 95 
 
 Walrond, Gideon, xxx, 59 
 Walrond, William, 114 
 Walter, Sir John, 81 
 Wards, Court of, 19 
 Wars in 1622, enumerated, 57 
 Warwick, Earl of, 94, 98, 99 
 
 -Countess of, 118 
 
 Water, phosphorescent, 81 
 Wellington, 32 
 Wentworth, Sir John, 79 
 
 -Sir Thomas, 88 
 
 - Lady,117 
 
 Weston, Sir It. 72, 75, 89, 92 
 Williams, Lord Keeper, 42, 44, 59, 64, 
 69, 88, 108 
 
 Willoughby, Lord, 76, 95, 99 
 Wimbledon, Lord, see Cecill 
 Woollen cloth, 67 
 Wooton, Sir H. note, 10 
 Wright, R. 30 
 -Capt. 69 
 
 -Clerk of the parliament, 41 
 
 Wriothesley, Lord, death of, 17 
 
 Yelverton, Sir FI., 28, 33, 37, 81, 82 
 Yonge family, memoirs of, viii—xiii. 
 York, Sir Thomas, 109 
 
 Zouch, Lord, 107 
 
 London; J. B. Nichols and Son, Printers, 25, Parliament Street. 
 


 
 , 
 
■.v/.t: 
 
 . fa ■. 
 
 , r:, 
 
 ■• . V . <•*., 
 
 W's. & >v v - 
 
 P .. *%. 
 
 5< i / < ' 
 
 •;/*; Tf «‘> c- r,*< 
 
 . " ; *S 
 
 - ' : «: : . 
 
 . : ,V.:. - 
 
 
 •'•<WX*Xv 
 
 I * 
 
 • • ' . 
 
 fa' 
 
 
 
 31 
 
 m ■ ■