A. D. 1686.
This summer I accompanied Father Sykes to visit relations in Derbyshire.
The first night we lodged at cousin Rodes's, at Great Houghton; was
pleased with the pictures of some eminent statesmen in Queen Elizabeth's
time, and family pieces, originals, of the Earl of Strafford, Sir Edward
Rodes, and was glad of some letters from that nobleman to the Countess*
(Sir Edward's sister, daughter of Sir Godfrey). Visited Dr. Ellis, another
relation, who has built two or three alms-houses at Brampton, but by
will bequeathed to ten villages in neighnourhood, each 10l. per annum
to pious
The next night we lodged at uncle Storr's, at Chesterfield, where, as
at Rotherham, I took an account of the benefactors,, of whom the Foljambes
have been chief here. The next morning, I left my relations, and rode
through many country towns in Scarsdale, (which gives the title of an
earldom to the family of Leke,) to Derby ; where, at All-hallows, I
transcribed the epitaph of the celebrated memorable Countess of Shrewsbury,
who built the two great houses at Chatsworth and Hardwick, of which
I had a distant prospect on the road ; and returned at night to Chesterfield.
The next day we returned to cousin Rodes's; only calling to visit Dr.
Eaton at Darfield, and Squire Wombwell of Wombwell, in whose ancient
house one of the kings, during the Heptarchy, is said to have been imprisoned.
Yet could not all this so far divert me, but that upon the annual return
of the day of my dearest father's death,! was,as usual, overwhelmed
with sorrow; but got my cousin, Richard Idle, (then part of my family)
to read the sermon preached upon the mournful occasion. I was troubled
also to consider how many years I have spent, and how few I have lived.
The resolutions taken then how to spend my time for the future are registered
in my Diary upon New-Year's-day 1686-7; but upon review, I am apt to
think them such as are not easy to be kept strictly by one that has
commerce in the world, but in general I hope that I was more cautious
in the expense of time.