25 Martii 1603. Ab anno primo Regni Regis Jacobi primi.

On thursday the 24th of Marche Queene Elizabeth died at Richemonde of the age of lxix yeres vj monethes and blank dayes.

The same daye was James the vjth Kinge of Scotts proclaymed at London, Kinge of England, France and Irelande.

The iiijth of Aprill Dr. Thomas Nevill1 Master of Trinitie College in Cambrige and Deane of Canterbury went towarde Scotlande to the Kinge, as sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury,2 in the name of the Clergie.

The xvjth of Aprill being Saturday the Kinges Maiesty came to the Citty of Yorke.

The xviij of Aprill Mr. William Clopton toulde me that the Kinge had sworne the Erles of Northumberland and Cumberland of his privy Counsell, and also the Lord Thomas Howard and the Lord Mountioye, and that the lord Howarde should be Lord Chamberlayne.3

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The xth of Aprill the Erle of Southanton4 and Sir Henry Nevill5 were deliuered out of the Tower by a lettre or warrant sent from the Kinge out of Scotlande, Dated 5° Aprilis.

The blank of Aprill Sir Robert Cicill6 and Diuers others went to meete the Kinge at Yorke.

The 21 the Kinge did come to Shrewsbery, the 22 to Nuewarcke, the 23 to Bever Castle.7

The xxiijth of Aprill the Justices of the peace were sworne to the Kinge, and appointed Justices by force of a nue Commission.

The 28th day was the funeralles kept at Westminster for our late Queene Elizabethe.

The blank day the Kinges maiesty was at Cambrige.

The third of May the King came to Teboldes Theobalds 8 to Sir Robert Cicilles howse.

The first daye of May being Sondaye there were iiij howses burned at Leigham Layham.9

The iij and iiij day Coky drowned my medowe at Edwardston.

The xth Day of Maye Nicholas Coky the yonger was maried to Elizabeth Cooke.

Memorandum that the Kings maiestie sett forthe a proclamation giuen at Theobaldes the vijth of May against licenses granted by the late Queen to private persons of all monopolies, and against prophaning of the Saboth by interludes, Bulbaytings and all other games.10

The xi of May I sent to Hacwell and writt lettres to my Lord Bisshop of Bathe.

The xvjth of May John Coe11 of Tomblyns distreined my beastes in Stone meadowe and would haue driven them to Waldingfilde,12 but I tooke them from him beyond Parkefielde.

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The 22 of Maye a Subpena was served uppon me at the suite of my cosen Adam Winthrop and Johane his wife in my howse at Groton.

On Munday the seconde of Maye, one Keitley a blackesmythe dwellinge in Lynton in Cambridgeshire had a poore man to his Father whom he kepte. A gentleman of the same Towne sent a horse to shoe, the father helde vp the horses legge whilest his soonne did shoe him. The horse struggled and stroke the father on the belly with his foote and ouerthrewe him. The soonne laughed therat and woulde not helpe his father vppe, for the which somme that were their present reproved him greatlye. The soonne went forwarde in shoinge of the horse, and when he had donne he went vppon his backe, mynding to goe home with him. The horse presently did throughe him of his backe against aposte and clave his hed in sonder. Mris. Mannocke did knowe the man, for his mother was her nurse. Graue judicium Dei in irrisorem patris sui. 28

1.

D. N. B. , XL. 302.

2.

John Whitgift (1530?–1604).

3.

Henry Percy (1564–1632), ninth Earl of Northumberland; George Clifford (1558–1605), third Earl of Cumberland; Thomas Howard (1561–1626), first Earl of Suffolk, who held the office of lord chamberlain of the household until 1614; and Charles Blount (1563–1606), eighth Lord Mountjoy. D. N. B. , V. 240; XI. 59; XXVII. 71; XLIV. 411.

4.

Henry Wriothesley (1573–1624), third Earl of Southampton, had been in prison since February, 1601, for participation in the conspiracy of Essex. D. N. B. , LXIII. 143.

5.

Sir Henry Neville (1564?–1615), also imprisoned for a supposed connection with Essex’s attempt, D. N. B. , XL. 258.

6.

Sir Robert Cecil, later Earl of Salisbury (1563?–1612). D. N. B. , IX. 400. The King reached York on the 16th of April.

7.

Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, seat of the Earls of Rutland.

8.

In Hertfordshire. It was taken in 1607 by the King in exchange for Hatfield, since that time the seat of the Cecil family.

9.

Layham is a parish in the hundred of Cosford, co. Suffolk.

10.

“Desiring to recompense the affection of his people, all monopolies of Elizabeth, except those granted to any Corporation or Company, are suspended. No assignments of debts to be made to the King in Satisfaction of other liabilities; Saltpetre men, Purveyors, and Takers to use due moderation; all complaints will be investigated, but frivolous ones will receive due punishment: Sunday is to be kept, and no Bear or Bull-baiting, Interludes, Common Plays, &c., are to be frequented on any Sabbath day.” Summary in Bibliography of Royal Proclamations of the Tudor and Stuart Sovereigns, I (Bibliotheca Lindesiana, v), 108. See the text in John Strype’s Annals of the Reformation (1824), IV. 528–531.

11.

December 1, 1600, John Coo, Sr., and John Coo, Jr., gents, of Groton, sued John Winthrop, lord of the manor of Groton, concerning lands there to which John Coo, Sr., was admitted on the death of his father, Thomas Coo. John Winthrop replied that the lands in dispute had been conveyed to his brother Adam Winthrop (the diarist). Note supplied by Mr. Redstone.

12.

Great or Little Waldingfield, parishes in the hundred of Babergh, about four miles east of Sudbury.

Folio 28

Winthrop, Adam (1548-1623)

The xxviijth day of May Mr. Philip Goslinge and I fell out in bitter woordes about the setting vp a cottage in Howoodde.

The last day of May Mr. William Mannocke lent me a Bull.

The same daye of May the Bishop of Norwich1 came ryding throughe Boxforde towards Norwich.

The 28 day of May Nicholas Reeve was lett downe into a well of goodman Joseph Coles at Holton by a ladder, and the ladder being pulled vp did fall downe into the well, and bruised him sore on his backe, he being benethe in the well.

The vijth Day of June olde Doare of thage of lxv yeres maried Margarett Coe2 the pedders daughter. The xjth her sister died, and the same day I sawe a grey conye in my woode yarde.

The 14 my cosen Bulwers wife came to my house and toulde me that my cosen T. M. childe was borne at Wetherden,3 and named Honor.

The 17 of June I rid with Mr. Paul Powle to Colchester to sit vppon a Commission with Sir William Aylofe4 to inquire of the Wardshippe of William Ayletts5 daughters, but the Jury founde no tenure in Capite for the Kinge. Mr. Powle was in danger to haue bin killed by Gilbert Vintener his wifes brother.

The xxiiijth of June being midsommer day I went from Springfield to London and the blank daye being St. Peters day6 I returned to Groton.

The last of June Mr. Alyston7 vicar of Acton borrowed of me the Remes Testament in Englishe.

The vth of July I sent for a geldinge to my Cosin William Firmyn of Bockinge in Essex.

The xvijth Day of July Alcockes beastes were in my barley. The same day my wife lent Mistres Sands xxj s. vppon a siluer and gilt salt seller, and I lent 1 s. to William Coe the day before.

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The 23th daye of July my brother Thomas Mildmay was made Knight at Whight­hall. my soonne John came from Cambrige.

The 25 daye the kinges majestie was crowned at Westminster.

The same daie Robert Surrey was maried to John Dogetts maide, Thomasin Hub­bard.

The 26 Daye Mr. Benjamin Bronde kept his Court at Edwardston, and William Daye and his wyfe made a Surrender to me, etc.

The vth of August Alcockes beastes were in my barley.

The vj of Aug. my Cosen Nathaniel Still8 ridde to Cambrige.

August. The first I dated my lettre which I sent to Welles.

The seconde Mr. Newton9 came to my house.

The vth day was celebrated for the kings Deliuerance in Scotland the same Day of the moneth Anno 1600 from being murdered by the Erle of Gowry.10 Mr. Joseph Birde preached at Boxforde vppon the 124 psalme, pie et docte.11

The vth of August William Wymarkes only soonne was killed at Cambridge with a peece of a gunne which brake and killed iij more. He was scholler of Trinitie College: and about xiiij yeres olde.

The xvjth Day Mres. Waldgrave died.

The xxixth of August Bridgett the wife of G. Fitche, and before of John French and John Gosse,12 died of a consumption.

The xvijth daye the generall fast was kept at Boxford, and the xxiiijth at Groton, by the Kinges commandement.

The 28 and 29 the pondes in Peryfieldes were cast by Adam Podde and Eustace Whale and in Hewoodde.

The same day Henry Surrey fynisshed the pale in the Barne close.

The first of August I beganne to cast the great ponde in the Barne close, and tooke out of it 7 great carpes.

From the 25 of August vntill the first of Sept. there died of the plauge in London and without in the Subvrbes mmmxxxv persons.

The iiijth of Sept. my cosen Humphrey Munnyng came to Groton, and I gaue him v books of Lewes Granatensis.13

The vjth of Sept. the fast was kept the 2 tyme at Groton, and Mr. Thomas Newton preached his first Sermon vppon the 4 of Amos, 12.

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The xvth of September I sett vp a house for Adam Podde my godsoonne by the Ponde in neithe Peryfilde.

The xixth of Sept. Mr. John Coe of Tomblyns was arrested and caryed to pryson.

The xxjth my cosen William Alibaster came to my howse and shewed me his pardon Dated the xth of Septembre.14

The 28 Mr. Thomas Newton departed towardes Camebridge, my brother Roger Alibaster Received vij li. for his sonne and Timothy Coe came to dwell with me.

The same day Jo: Maslyn15 came and Reconde with me. 29

1.

John Jegon (1550–1618). D. N. B. , XXIX. 286–287.

2.

Margaret, daughter of Thomas Coe, peddler (who died at Newton and was buried there, November 17, 1611, aged eighty years), was baptized at Groton, June 18, 1579, and married Thomas Dore.

3.

Wetherden, a parish in the hundred of Stow, co. Suffolk.

4.

Sir William Ayloffe of Bretons and of Great Braxted, co. Essex, knighted May 11, 1603. Morant, Essex, I. 70; II. 139.

5.

William Aylett of Stisted, co. Essex, died March 31, 1583. Morant, II. 393. There were several branches of the family.

6.

June 29.

7.

Edward Elliston alias Alliston, of Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1584–91, was ordained probably in 1595 and inducted to Acton vicarage, December 19, 1597. He came from Wetherden. Venn, A. C. , II. 99; Sudbury Archdeaconry, Register.

8.

Nathaniel Still, grandson of Thomas Alabaster and son of Dr. Still and Anne (Alabaster) Still. D. N. B. , LIV. 371.

9.

Thomas Newton, rector of Stratford St. Mary, co. Suffolk, 1606 to 1619—the year of his death. His wife’s name was Anne. Venn, A. C. , III. 253; Stratford Register.

10.

John Ruthven, third Earl of Gowrie (1578?–1600), and his younger brother, Alexander Ruthven (1580?–1600), lost their lives on August 5, 1600, when the King was at their seat of Ruthven, but the circumstances of the encounter have never satisfactorily been explained. On his arrival in England, as Francis Osborne tells us, King James “brought a new Holy­day into the Church of England, wherein God had publick thanks given him for his Majesties deliverance out of the hands of Earle Goury.” Traditionall Memoyres on the Raigne of King Iames (1658), 129.

11.

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side.”

12.

John Gosse of Edwardstone, clothier, died in 1591, and John French, died January 22, 1601–02. Sudbury Archdeaconry, Wills, bk. 38, fo. 135; supra, p. 75.

13.

Possibly The Flowers of Lodowicke of Granado gathered out of his spirituall Workes, in whiche is handled the conuersion of a sinner, &c., entered at Stationers’ Hall, April 23, 1601. Another part, The Paradise of Prayers gathered out of the spirituall Workes of Lewis of Granado and Englyshed by T. L., was entered May 22, but by another printer. T. L. was a doctor of physic. Registers of the Company of Stationers (ed. Arber), III. 183, 184, 262.

14.

This item, although published in 1864 ( L. and L. , I. 418), was overlooked by A. H. Bullen in his article on Alabaster, D. N. B. , I. 212.

15.

Of Hadleigh, a tenant. Cf. pp. 41, 85.