Miscellanies upon Various Subjects | Page 6

left me in Kent, of which between thirty and forty acres

was marsh-land, very conveniently flanking its up-land; and in those
days this marsh-land was usually let for four nobles an acre. My father
died, 1643. Within a year and half after his decease, such charges and
water-schots came upon this marsh-land, by the influence of the sea,
that it was never worth one farthing to me, but very often eat into the
rents of the up-land: so that I often think, this day being my birth-day,
hath the same influence upon me, that it had 580 years since upon Earl
Godwin, and others concerned in low-lands.
The Parliament, so fatal to Rome's concerns here, in Henry VIII's. time,
began the third of November (26 of his reign;) in which the Pope, with
all his authority, was clean banished the realm; he no more to be called
otherwise than Bishop of Rome; the King to be taken and reputed as
supreme head of the church of England, having full authority to reform
all errors, heresies and abuses of the same: also the first-fruits and
tenths of all spiritual promotions and dignities were granted to the King.
See Stow's Annals, and Weever, page 80.
Not long after which, followed the visitation of abbies, priories, and
nunneries; and after that, their final suppression: this Parliament being
the door, or entrance thereto.
The third of November 1640, began that Parliament so direfully fatal to
England, in its peace, its wealth, its religion, its gentry, its nobility; nay,
its King. So verifying the former verse of the calendar.
"Scorpius est quintus, & tertius e nece cinctus, "
A killing day to some or other.
On the third of November 1703, was the remarkable storm. The third of
September was a remarkable day to the English Attila, Oliver, 1650. He
obtained a memorable victory at Dunbar; another at Worcester, 1651,
and that day he died, 1658.
The first two occurrences wonderfully accord to the preceding verses.
"Tertia Septembris, & denus fert mala membris."

Being fatal to the two members of great Britain, Scotland and England.
The third, as happy to them both, as the same day, 1666, was dismal
and unhappy to the city of London, and consequently to the whole
kingdom, with its immediate preceding and two succeeding days, viz.
the second, fourth, and fifth of September.
I come now to the days of the week.
Tuesday ("Dies Martis") was a most remarkable day with Thomas
Becket, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, as Weever, 201, observes from
Mat. Paris: "Mars Secundum Poetas, Deus Belli nuncupatur. Vita
Sancti Thomae (secundum illud Job, Vita hominis militia est super
terram) tota fuit contra hostem bellicosa, &c". The life of St. Thomas
(according to that of Job, the life of a man is a warfare upon earth) was
a continual conflict against the enemy. Upon a Tuesday he suffered;
upon Tuesday he was translated; upon Tuesday the Peers of the land sat
against him at Northampton; upon Tuesday he was banished; upon
Tuesday the Lord appeared to him at Pontiniac, saying, Thomas,
Thomas, my church shall be glorified in thy blood; upon Tuesday he
returned from exile, upon Tuesday he got the palm or reward of
martyrdom; upon Tuesday 1220, his venerable body received the glory
and renown of translation, fifty years after his passion. Thus my author.
One thing I make bold to gloss upon. His translation is here mentioned
twice.
Note, this is no tautology of the historian; but the latter paragraph is a
mere recitation of the first, viz. reference to the time when he was
translated into the number of Saints and Martyrs: "quando in divorum
numerum relatus", as Camden.
Wednesday is said to have been the fortunate day of Sixtus Quintus,
that Pope of renowned merit, that did so great and excellent things in
the time of his government. See the just weight of the scarlet robe,
(page 101, his desired praises.) On a Wednesday he was born; on that
day he was made Monk; on the same he was made General of his order;
on that also, was he successively created Cardinal, elected Pope, and
also inaugurated. See Heylin, speaking of the Temple of Jerusalem.

Friday was observed to be very fortunate to the great renowned Captain
Gonsalvo, he having on that day given the French many memorable
defeats. Saturday was a lucky day to Henry VII. upon that day he
atchieved the victory upon Richard III. being August 22, 1485. On that
day he entered the city, being August 29 (correct Stow, who mistakes
the day) and he himself always acknowledged, he had experienced it
fortunate. See Bacon in his Life.
Thursday was a fatal day to Henry VIII. (as Stow, 812); and so also to
his posterity. He died on Thursday, Jan. 28. King