A. D. 1703.
February 1. Finished the perusal of Mr. De la Pryme's* MS. Catalogue of the Manuscripts he has collected, which are many and valuable, particularly his History of the Antiquities, &c. of the town and county of Kingston-upon-Hull, in four volumes, in folio, which the author left with Mr. Thornton, for my perusal, being then in Lancashire.
8. Visited cousin Whitaker, who told me of the death of my kind friend and benefactor to my collection of natural curiosities, Dr. Cay, of Newcastle;* sense and seriousness filled his last hours, as Mr. Bradbury'sf expression was. He died 32d January, Lord sanctify all mementos of mortality !
9. Finished the perusal of the excellent Dr. Gib-son's, now Bishop of Lincoln, Answer to the Pretended Independence of the Lower House of Convocation upon the Upper; am sorry to observe that such contempt should be poured upon such excellent Bishops, as the good providence of God has bestowed upon us, than whom I think this nation never enjoyed more learned and pious prelates, nor more of them, yet strangely affronted by the high-flown party who pretend a veneration for that order, their practices seem to undermine.
10. Finished the transcript of Mr. Hopkinson's MS. folio of the pedigrees
of the Yorkshire nobility and gentry of the West Riding, with additions
and continuations, in many places, by the excellent Mr. Thornton, who
favoured me with the loan of it, wherein are many things absolutely
necessary to be inserted in my designed History of Leeds, which may
be admitted as an apology for the expense of so much of my time, (the
original containing above
eight hundred, pages, in folio) and my circumstances will not allow
me an amanuensis.
14. Begun Mr. Clark of Communion with God, at the end of his Analytical Survey of the Bible, which I concluded yesterday, in the usual course of family duty, together with the old translation of the Bible and the marginal notes, of which I have neither so towering an opinion as some, nor so mean as others, who depreciate them too much because of some secret and supposed reflections, which had, indisputably, been much better omitted ; but there are certainly many useful and plain notes, for the assistance of poor families, which want better, with which this age abounds (blessed be our good God!) but nothing symbolizing with the Arians or Jews, touching the divinity of Christ and his Messiahship, as they were causelessly traduced by a Hyper-conformist. They were printed with a general approbation above thirty times over, and were certainly the best that our nation and language then afforded. Read worthy Mr. dark's Annotations upon second chapter of Genesis, whose memory I honour for his excellent works, and am in love with an expression I find in an original letter 1 have of his to Mr. John Humfrey : " the truth is, I find little savour or relish in dry, crabbed notions, which have no influence upon practice. Now I grow old, such discourses as may prepare me for eternity, help me to further acquaintance and communion with God, and stir up my sluggish desires after him, are more suitable both to ray necessities and inclination." This suits my own temper so much, that I could not forbear transcribing it from the original, given me by ditto Mr. Humfrey.
16. Abroad about poor ministers' concerns, most of day (except usual walks to the church) ; within, transcribing Dr. Woodward's directions about keeping a register of fossils, &c,
23. Heard the melancholy tidings of the death of my good old friend, the Rev. Mr. Milner, late vicar of Leeds, and author of several learned tracts, who died at St. John's College, in Cambridge, about the 19th of this month. Lord prepare me to follow him !
March 12. Sent for by Monsieur Permentier, who obliged
me to sit for my picture.
13. Preparing for a journey with my dear friend, Mr. Kirk. Lord preserve from sin and all dangers, at home and abroad, for thy great mercy sake ! Rode by Halghton and Whitkirk to Preston-super-le-hill, where most courteously received by Sir William Lowther, a native of Leeds, and noble benefactor to the library, whose house is pleasantly, but very strangely, situated ; they go up stairs to the cellars, and down stairs to the garrets: from a tower he has built there, York Minster may be seen, and a pleasant prospect of this country round about. After dinner I transcribed the twenty-eight families they have matched into, and had the perusal of some original letters to himself, from eminent hands.
From thence we rode through Allerton, "juxta aquam de Eyre" (Aire), over Castleford-bridge ; viewed the new lock lately made by the undertakers for the navigation ; thence not far from the glass-house at Houghton ; after, upon the ascent, had a fair view of the ruins of the once celebrated castle, at Ponte-fract, with the high church, and Dr. Johnston's house, and a little after of Newhall, which belongs to the Pierrepoints. Thence by Darrington and Stapleton Lees to Wentbrig, beyond which, upon the heights, may be seen York Minster, and it is said, also, that of Lincoln, but it was too duskish for us to do it; what I was more intent upon wag the famous Roman highway, which is not only visible for several miles, but its complete dimensions, near which we drank at a curious spring, which receives its denomination from Robin Hood, the noted outlaw ; after which we left the common road to Doncaster, and followed the old one, as is evident from the said Roman rig, which we followed for some time, in our road to Sprotburgh, the noble seat of the Honourable Sir Godfrey Copley, who received us kindly, • but having left his lady and family at London, whither he is obliged to return in a very few days, being a chief commissioner for taking the public accounts, we lodged and dieted with him at Mr. Lamplugh's, the parson's, where he had also his uncle, Mr. Arthington's company. Evening, entertained with the relation of some remarkable transactions as to the public account, but, as is too common upon journeys, had not a conveniency of retirement for prayer : Lord pity and pardon !
14. Having quitted my bed-fellow and fellow-traveller, got an opportunity for prayer. Afterwards walked to the hall; had Sir Godfrey's company to the church, where Mr. Larnplugh preached very well, but had not the conveniency of writing the heads of the sermon ; was sorry to observe so slender an appearance (scarce to be called a congregation). In the afternoon, after prayers, I viewed the monuments of the Fitz Williams, whose arms are painted - in several of the windows; and there are two ancient statues, to the full proportion, in the south wall of the church ; there is a tomb in the choir for one of the present family of the Copleys, of which Sir William Copley married Dorothy, daughter and co-heir of Sir William Fitz William, the last heir male of that ancient family of which William Fitz William came in with, and was Marshal to William the Conqueror. Afterwards, walked with Sir Godfrey and the other gentlemen to his new canal; then inevitably engaged in company, Mr. Copley, of Doncaster, and Mr. Battie of Warmsworth, making a visit to Sir Godfrey, with whom till evening; again prevented of privacy.
15. Reading some remarkable papers relating to the public accounts of the nation ; afterwards viewing the most pleasant gardens and curious fountains, statues, &c. ; then assisting Mr. Kirk and Mr. Arthington in taking a level for the new canal that is now making from the water-engine (which is very curious, and conveys water to a large lead cistern upon the roof of the hall, a vast height from the foot of the hill) to the corn-mill, whence he can go by water to Coningsburgh Castle on one hand, or Don-caster on the other ; then viewed the salmon-heck ; then received a visit from the ingenious Robert Molesworth, Esq. (since Lord Molesworth,) his late Majesty's Envoy at the Court of Denmark, so that | all the five members of the Royal Society, in this [ county, were met at Sprotburgh. After dinner, walked to Warmsworth, to visit Mr. Battie and his brother Copley; got a sample of some fine spar, or selenites, found in a bed of plaster, as they were digging near his new house, which is very pretty for the size, but scarcely finished; he gave me samples of very curious Derbyshire marble, well polished. Spent evening with Sir Godfrey, &c. at Sprotburgh ; had a remarkable account from Mr. Barrowby, of Burrowbridge, of a little image, and other Roman monuments himself found under the walls of Aldburgh, &c. which Sir Godfrey has promised me.
16. Perusing the Register for town and parish of Sprotburgh; then rode
with Mr. Kirk to meet Mr. Molesworth at his wood, where is making a
curious walk, formerly set out by my said friend, Mr. Kirk, which we
now marked through another wood, &c. within his lordship, which,
when finished, will, perhaps, be the noblest in England, being near
two miles long, in a direct line, and, for the most part,
stately high trees on each side. After this was finished, we were conducted
to his house at Edling-ton, which is an ancient fabric, lately the seat
of Sir Thomas Wharton, but stands conveniently, and has a good prospect;
he entertained us with a variety of choice wines and delicates, but
I was most taken with his own conversation ; he presented me with his
account of Denmark, as it was in the year 1692, when he was Envoy at
that Court from the late King; his Lady also, who is the Lord Coote's
daughter, sister to the Earl of Bellamont, gave me an Indian fan, with
a gilded inscription in the native characters and language, being said
to be a hymn or prayer to their reputed gods. Spent the evening at Sprotburgh,
with Sir Godfrey Copley, who entertained us with some memorable passages
relating to the public affairs of the nation, as also of the Royal Society,
and our friends there.
17. To wait of Sir Godfrey, who showed us the several apartments of his noble and spacious house ; the stair-case is curiously painted by a good hand, the gallery adorned with some original pictures of Sir Anthony Van Dyke's, and other great masters; his closets with choice curiosities, amongst which I took notice of a Pope's bull, a large snake, a deiicate unicorn's horn, a speaking trumpet and other mathematical instruments, wherein he is well versed: showed me also some things of his own painting and drawing, in crayons, casting, &c. with heads also and busts seemingly of stone, but really pasteboard.
He presented me with his own picture, the prospect of his noble seat
at Sprotburgh, with the fountains, canals, woods, and gardens, wherein
I forgot to take notice of one natural, as well as many artificial,
curiosities, statues very well performed, viz. the jaw of an unknown
but prodigious large fish, . . . yards long, much higher than the walls,
&c. Afterwards, took leave of this obliging Baronet, some of whose
speeches are in Sir John Fenwick's Case, which he presented me with,
and a coin of Antoninus Pius, which proves a different reverse from
all I had before. In our return, we rode by another seat of Sir Godfrey
Copley's, formerly Sir Thomas Adams's, and after, had a distant prospect
of Mr. Washington's at Adwick, of which family was Mr. Robert Washington,
merchant in Leeds, where he died, and where his son Joseph was educated,
and I think born, though registered at Tinglaw, the old gentleman being
an eminent member of that Society; this Joseph Washington, Esq. published
the most correct and exact abridgment of the statutes and other tracts
hereafter to be mentioned amongst our Leeds authors (Deo volente); then
along the famous Roman rig we had the view of Skelbrough, lately a seat
of one of the Copleys, and Elmsall, now of Sir John Wentworth, and other
towns, at a little distance to Wentbrig, where saw the ruins of a house
lately burnt down by lightning, as a gentleman in our company (Mr. Parker,
of Roch Abbey) informed me, who was travelling in the same storm, and
saw it
burning; at Ferry-bridge parted with my dear friend Mr. Kirk, and the
other gentleman who went to the Assizes. I took up at Brotherton to
visit sister Rayner, being near her hour of travel. After dinner, rode
with brother about his concerns, almost to Knottingley; took a particular
view of Sir William Ramsden's Hall, at Byram ; afterwards, perusing
some old papers of father Sykes', found some remarkable letters, &c.
in the late times. Evening, visited Parson Daubuz,* who gave some original
papers subscribed by eminent statesmen of the French nation, and one
by Lewis le Grand himself, &c.
18. Again engaged in ditto old chest for autographs, till called for
by the obliging Mr. Daubuz, with whom till near noon; retired. After,
took leave of relations, and returned through Fair burn, (or water,)
by Ledston Hall to Kippax, but missed of honest Parson Baynbrigg; crossed
the Roman rig, or Via Vicinalis not far from Barrowby, which, perhaps,
received its name from some of the Roman tumuli, or barrows. Betwixt
Hawton and Wike-bridge is a remarkable bank that points towards Leeds;
which, though upon the top of the hill is called Slack Bank, therefore
not from its situation in a bottom, or slack, but rather from the Saxon
j-la^, bellicum, c and 5 being often used for each other, as poncer,
ponjaj-, cogitationes. The situation of the place, and the convenient
distance from Ossinthorp, the regiam villam, or cymnjer bocl, as King
Alfred renders it in Regime Loidis, argue it to have been a convenient
place for a signal or warning in time of danger or war, as the name
signifies; and this village being written in ancient MSS. four or five
hundred years ago, Halghton, or Holy Town, (for hal^a is holy, whence
the tabernacle is called haljan j-fcop, or sacer locus,} why may not
this be the place which was in Sylva Elmeta:, which Bede refers to,
(lib. ii. chap. 14,) where the altar was preserved even to his time,
that was brought from the ruins of Almanbury, when the King's palace
and church there were destroyed by the Pagans, which is the
more probable, because so near Ossinthorp, where the succeeding Kings
bofcl pojihton on ^am lanhe iSe Loibij-haten, Regione Loidis as Bede
has; and, therefore, rather there than in the very town of Leeds. Enquiring
after the name of this Slack Bank, &c. I heard of another, not far
from Wykebeck, called Deyns, which I had not time now to view, but suppose
it some Danish work.
19. Transcribing Sir Godfrey Copley's pedigree, which I promised to send him.
20. Writing to Sir Godfrey Copley ; then, entering benefactions to my collections, which was also augmented by some Roman antiquities and MSS. from Chester, now arrived, which kept me employed the rest of day, except usual walks to the church.
30. With honest J. R. of Adle Mill, who brought me the old Roman head, mentioned in the Phil. Trans. number.... and some fragments of Roman pots, &c.; received also from Mr. Pollard, the Abbot of Kirkstal's very antique stirrup. Sent for by Mrs. Morris about Mr. Morris's MS. designed for the press.
31. Received a kind visit from Sir William Low-ther, with whom I dined at Mr. B.'s ; had discourse concerning that ancient family, of which have been, he says, thirty-one knights successively. His father married Mr. Busfield's daughter, of this town, (where this Sir William was born,) was a merchant here, and afterwards, Parliament man for sixteen years, till his death, and one of the council in the north.
Sir William designs to oblige me with original letters to him from several persons of honour.
April 5. Retired to private prayer, but, alas! had not time to read, being the great court day ; sent for by Alderman D. about the manor concerns, only obliged to steal so much time as to show collections to Mr. Boulter, of Gawthorp, and his friend, and to write to Sir William Lowther, to make an acknowledgment for the fifty autographa sent me per post; but rest of day and till too late at night with the Mayor, &c. (invited to the court dinner.)
7. Rode with my neighbour, Mr. Br. to the General Quarter Sessions at Pontefract, to vindicate his reputation, that is attacked by a villain, who, upon better consideration, durst not bring it before the Justices, with whom in the evening walked to view the remains of the famous castle and ruins of the church, which is a piteous sight. Afterwards, went to see a remarkable grotto in Mr. English's garden, hewn out of an entire rock, out of which solid rock are cut a pair of winding stairs, the roof, sides, and steps, all of a piece, at the bottom of which is a little fountain, or well: we counted sixty-nine steps up again into the garden, formerly called Fryer's Wood.
8. Went to view Dr. Johnston's collection of natural curiosities, which has been very considerable: there yet remain some things that are remarkable, but in very ill condition, exposed to injuries in more respects than one. Afterwards, with Sir Walter Hawksworth, Sir William Lowther, who came to the end of the bench to tell me he had some other autographa for me; but missed of Mr. Molesworth. Afterwards, had Mr. Harwood's company, (an ingenious schoolmaster,) who gave me the printed effigies and autograph of Monsieur Beverland, his acquaintance, who published the famous Isaac Vos-sius's Observations upon Catullus, and wrote a piece De Peccato Originali, and another De Fornicatione Cavenda. Afternoon, returned home, had a pleasant journey, and found all well, blessed be God.
14. Finished the perusal of Dr. Hicks'Devotions, in the ancient way of Offices, with psalms, hymns, and prayers, originally written by Mr. Austin, a Romanist, but reformed by a person of quality, and published by Dr. Hicks; and in this dress is not only useful and edifying, but very affecting, as I have found by experience in the perusal of it. Lord! help to improve all advantages.
28. Finished the second perusal and the excerpta taken from Dr. Grew's
Cosmologia Sacra; wherein the learned and pious author does admirably
and most ingeniously demonstrate the truth and excellency of the Bible,
evincing it beyond all the objections of pretended critics and supposed
wits; and makes so useful and pious reflections upon natural curiosities
as was mighty pleasing to me, such as relate to any in my collections
I have transcribed. Afterwards, in my walks to the garden, ended Mr.
Molesworth's, now Lord, most instructive account of
the Court of Denmark, as it was anno 1692, when his Honour was Envoy
at that Court from King William ; it was the most obliging author's
present, and is the most impartial (if not too severe in some passages)
and excellent account of those northern parts of Europe that ever I
read; and argues the author to be an excellent statesman, as well as
accomplished gentleman and virtuoso. Was rest of day making additions
to Mr. Ray's local words, at that ingenious gentleman's request.
May 13. Perusing a MS. of our late Town-clerk, Mr.
Castilion Morris, wherein are both historical notes of his own time,
and the History of Ponte-fract Castle, which his father, Colonel Morris,
held out for King Charles the latest of any in England. This part was
designed for the press, only prevented by the author's death. After,
with Mr. Arthington, Mr. Kirk, and other justices, who visited me to
see an ingenious young man (from Lynn) who rung all our eight bells,
(two of which were, in a great measure, the gift of my late cousin Lodge,
the ingenious traveller and painter,) and played very artificially the
several changes upon them, with Lilly-bul-lero, and several tunes very
distinctly, as if there had been a man to each bell. Mr. Kirk and I
went aloft to the height of the steeple, to see how he had fixed the
ropes to the clappers of each bell, whence they were brought into the
ringing-loft, where he screwed them down in a semi-circle and sat upon
the floor in the midst of them, touching some with his hands, others
with his arms, and the great bell generally with his elbow, but varied
very dexterously according to the several tunes.
15. Evening, finished the perusal of Mr. J. H. (perhaps Mr. John Hurnfrey's) View of Antiquity, presented in an account of the fathers within the three first centuries after Christ, wherein he gives a very judicious and learned account of those famous men, well distinguishing their genuine works from such as are falsely ascribed to them ; with which I collated our learned Vicar, Robert Cooke's Censura quorun-dam Scriptorum, wherein he most accurately distin-guisheth the doubtful and supposititious from the genuine works of these venerable authors, a book, never to be named without honour, of that pious and learned person, the glory of our Leeds writers, of whom vide plura in my MS. Essay to the history of this town and parish.
17. Began my journey to Newcastle, in company of my honoured and pious friend Alderman Milner: the first place out of our own parish worthy of note was Harwood, which I presume may have received its denomination from some eminent battle from Hepe exerdtus icgio ; thus Hereford is exercitus va-dum, and our Harelow-hill, or the Battle-hill, &c. This, I am the rather induced to believe, the true etymon of the name, because of a remarkable camp, that Mr. Boulter showed me (of which vide a former Diary,) who is the Lord of Harwood, where he has lately erected a stately column in the midst of the market, which is one of the most remarkable for calves in these parts; we met several scores for Leeds alone, but this worthy gentleman, John Boulter, Esq. has been a grand benefactor to the public in other respects, having endowed that vicarage with 50/. per annum, and given 121. or 14/. yearly to a school; and I lately saw my neighbour Atkinson engraving two pieces of plate that he had bought for the service of the communion in that church, and in gratitude I am obliged to add, he has been a kind benefactor to my collection of curiosities by the addition of several ancient Roman coins and others of modern times. We passed by the remains of the castle which Camden justly notes for its frequent change of owners, and passed the river Wharf to Kirby Overblows, or rather as I find it in some ancient writings, Ore-blowers, for the neighbouring forest of Knaresborough did abound with minera ferri, vide my excerpta from my dear friend Mr. Thornton's manuscripts. Here we were kindly received by parson Rogers, whose furious dog I was the less concerned for, because of his master's art, who when a young spark at the University has frequently boxed the fiercest mastiffs they could set upon him, and can even yet by a peculiar cast of his eye make the stoutest turn tails, or if by chance one madder than ordinary venture to encounter him, a few cuffs make him retreat yelling, &c. We had a distant prospect of another fat living, Spaw-forth (said to be worth near 500/. per annum) both which are in the Duke of Somerset's gift. This forest was once so woody, that I have heard of an old writing, said to be reserved in the chest at Knaresborough church, which obliged them to cut down so much yearly as to make a convenient passage for the wool-carriers from Newcastle to Leeds, &c. Now, it is so naked that there is not so much as one left for a way-mark, such a consumption did the blasts make, of which I have seen great heaps of slag or cinders, overgrown with moss, &c. now often dug into for mending the highways. Upon the forest we had the prospect of the Spa at Har-rowgate (lately much improved in convenient buildings for reception of strangers): of the name of the place, vide my manuscript papers, and of the four so different springs, viz, the spa and sulphur-well at this Gate through the heajv$, lucus, &c. the petrifying well at Knaresborough and St. Monga's at Copgrave, vide the additions in the new edition of the Britannia. Upon the road, we had the prospect of Plumpton tower and tree, Mr. Stockdale's seat, (late Parliament-man for Knaresborough), and Scriven of the Slingsbys, for which ancient family there are several stately monuments in the church here. But we passed through the town without the least stay, as we after did through Feronsby and Myn-skip to Burrowbridge, pans burgi in old fines, where we dined. There is now a good stone bridge, where in Edward II.'s time was one of wood, through a chink of which Bohun, Earl of Hereford, was thrust through with a spear by a soldier, who lay in ambush under the bridge. After a comfortable refreshment, we passed in view of several country villages by Dishforth to Topcliffe, of old the seat of the ancient family of the Percies. I saw nothing remarkable in our hasty passage through the town, but the church and bridge over the river Swale, except Mr. Newsome, the minister, (who married Mr. Garnet's daughter of Leeds,) be the author of the Defence of the Gentlemen's undertaking at York at the Revolution 1688, which piece was then much in vogue, and by some ascribed to Judge Rokeby, by others to Mr. Newsom. Along the banks of Swale, are the very pleasant gardens of Sir William Robinson, lately Lord Mayor of York, but a few miles after a more doleful object of Mr. Busby hanging in chains, for the murder of his father-in-law, Daniel Anty, formerly a Leeds clothier, who having too little honesty to balance his skill in engraving, &c. was generally suspected for coining, and other indirect ways of attaining that estate which was the occasion of his death, even within sight of his own house. Thence through Sand Hutton, and both the Otteringtons to North Alverton, where we lodged. Upon the road we had a distant prospect of Ouns-berry or Rosemary Toppin, a remarkable height, being a mark for the mariners, and a nigher for the growing market town of Thresk, which sends burgesses to Parliament, as also does North Allerton— witness " Parliatnentarins" upon a tomb in the church, for the inscriptions whereof vide the later book of my collections. Was pretty much out of order by the excessive heat, and too unadvisedly drinking a hasty draught of new milk; but after prayer and a tolerable night's rest, was better in the morning' blessed be the God of my mercies !
18. Went to view the town ; found an hospital, called the Earl of Carlisle's,
but was the benefaction of another family they matched into, and is
only paid by them : it is for four persons, who have each fifty shillings
per annum : transcribed some epitaphs in the church, of which Mr. Francis
Kaye was thirty-two years vicar, who left 10/. per annum to four widows.
I inquired after Mr. George Meriton, an attorney of North Alverton,
who writ Anglorum Gesta, Landlord's Law, Nomenclature Clericalis, and
somewhat of the northern dialect, &c., but could not hear any thing
further, than that he removed into Ireland, where he was said to be
made a Judge, but whether alive or dead, unknown. From North Allerton,
we passed by several country villages, but of no great consideration,
till we passed the river Tees, in a fruitful country, which produces
very large sheep; we stayed little in Darlington, hasting to Durham,
where I found myself under a great disappointment, the ingenious Sir
George Wheeler being at London, and also the Bishop ; but, after the
prayers, we were very kindly received by the most obliging Dr. Smith,
one of the prebends of that church, who was concerned for the Bishopric,
in the late edition of the Britannia, who showed me some original MSS.
of that great benefactor, Bishop Co-sins ; but we had not time to view
the famous collection of the charters of the Scots' kings, which the
Bishop of Carlisle wrote me were the fairest that ever he saw, the seals
very entire, &c. At Chester-in-the-Street we called to visit our
good old aunt Thoresby, (Alderman Paul Thoresby's widow,) who is about
ninety years of age, yet her memory and other senses very perfect, and
she discoursed piously and prudently, though at present with difficulty,
because of her present weakness. In this church, I formerly saw the
monuments of the Lords Lumley, of Lumley Castle, in this neighbourhood,
but had not time now ; they are descended from Liulphus, a nobleman
temp. H. Edwardi Confessoris : the present heir was, by King William
III., made Earl of Scarborough. From Chester, over the Fells, which
were so high, and the clouds so low, (an ugly Scotch thick fog,) that
we seemed to be enveloped therewith ; but, blessed be God, we got well
to our journey's end, but too late to do any business that night.
19. To inquire for Mr. John Cay, brother to my late ingenious friend and kind benefactor, Dr. Jabez Cay, whose death was a public loss, as well as to me in particular. Then to visit good Mrs. Manlove, (who gave me some original papers of the late Doctor's,) to her brother Bennet; and after, to visit the widows of Dr. Gilpin, (the pious author of Deemono-logia Sacra, &c.), and his son-in-law, Dr. Cay ; then visited Madam Clavering, daughter and co-heir of the late Esquire Hardwick, of Potter Newton Hall, parochia de Leeds; she was very obliging and ingenious, but the pedigree which I designed to transcribe was at their country seat. Afterwards, cousin Milner and I went to see the town-house upon the Sandhill, to the building of which Mr. Warmouth gave 1,200l. ; took an account of some other benefactions there and at St. Nicholas's Church; transcribed some epitaphs there and at another church; went to visit Mr. Hutchinson, Parliament-man for Berwick, almost purposely that I might once again see the house where my honoured uncle, George Thoresby, and his virtuous consort, lived exem-plarily, and died piously. Cousin Milner went with me to Mr. Ord's, to pay rent for poor brother Jerry's house ; we walked upon the quay to see the ships laded with corn and other merchandize, the life of the town; after, to see the house built for the Mayors of Newcastle, to keep the mayoralty in ; saw the remains of a noble statue of King James II. part of which is already used for bell-metal, &c. After, walked to the very curious bowling-green, built at a public charge, and where are the best orders kept, as well as made, that ever I observed. Evening, with Alderman Fenwick, at whose house we lodged, and Mr. Banson, an ingenious writing-master, who has lately printed the Merchant's Penman, or a new copy-book, &c., who went along with me to Mr. Rudd, who teaches the Grammar school, an ingenious, modest, and obliging person, (see Dr. Gibson's Preface to the New Britannia) ; rest of evening with ditto Alderman Milner till bed-time.
20. Sent for by Madam Clavering, to see a curious pedigree of the Dudleys, her husband's relations ; took leave of Mr. John Cay and Mrs. Man-love ; took leave also of the place in a sad rainy day, the people as morose at the loss of so many horse-loads of money, (the old Earl's of Northumberland, now Duke of Somerset's, rents,) as my cousin Milner returns twice a year, with which we made the best of our way, (without coming at Durham); was mightily pleased with some remarkable providences that have attended this worthy magistrate, who is of a good family; his grandfather was chief magistrate of Leeds, yet begun the world with little, being the youngest son ; but as the Earl of Cork, who was a younger brother [son] of a younger brother, used to inscribe on the palaces he built, " God's Providence, mine inheritance;" so may this worthy and pious person, who, with a thankful heart to God, recounted to me (with which my heart was much affected,) the various steps of his growth ; the first year he had commissions for 5,000/.; the second for 10,000/.; the third for 15,000/.; the fourth for 20 or 25,000/. ; and has now dealt for 80,000/. per annum ; and as an acknowledgment of his gratitude to the grand Benefactor, he designs to leave a considerable sum to pious uses, &c. ; of his carriage during his mayoralty, and extraordinary activity in procuring the Act of Parliament for making the rivers Aire and Calder navigable, see my notes elsewhere. We passed by Sunderland-bridge ; from whence, to another bridge, at a little distance two persons rode a course, which was so near run that both jumped with that force upon the bridge, that one of the horses and his rider tumbled down the battlement of the bridge, and fell both down together with the stones, yet received no damage. It is yet discernible how much of the bridge fell, by the difference of the lime, in memory of which, there is engraven upon the cope-stone, Sockeld's Leap, 1694. We baited at Ferry upon the Hill, which answers Kirk Merington (in the other road,) as to its lofty situation, and got in good time to Darlington ; viewed the town, where, by the encouragement of the late Queen Mary, is settled the linen manufacture ; they make excellent huckaback and diaper, and some damask, &c. Went to transcribe what monuments I could find in the church ; was pleased to find there several young persons met to sing psalms, which they performed very well, with great variety of tunes, &c., but was concerned to see the adjoining house of the Bishop of Durham converted into a Quaker's workhouse. There being a funeral, we had the happy opportunity of public prayers, which was comfortable.
21. The river Tees not being fordable by reason of the late rains, we went about by Croft bridge, where Sir William Chater has a seat, by which means we had the convenience of seeing the Hell-kettles, the best account of which, is in my late kind friend Dr. Jabez Cay's letter, inserted by Dr. Gibson in the new edition of the Britannia, p. 782. We baited at North Alverton ; thence we rode by Sand Hutton, Topcliffe, &c. to Burrowbridge; had wet weather and one smart thunder shower, but blessed be God, without any prejudice. After supper we walked to Aldborough, the ancient Isurium Brigan-tum, where Mr. Morris, the minister, showed us a cornelian signet lately found (for which he gave 3*. 6f/.) with a ball of stone found in the Roman wall, part of a white wrought glass vessel, which he kindly presented to me. Mr. Gilberts, related to the late master of the free-school at Leeds, and one of our authors (whose father was vicar of Aldburgh) showed us a tesselated pavement of small stones not an inch square; this is composed of dark coloured chequered stones, partly circular; there have been found of these wrought in flowers, &c. eight yards long. I met with one old Mr. Thoresby, who gave me two of the red chequered stones, some of the town brought of the old coins and one signet, but meanly engraved and preserved, yet at excessive rates, that I bought none. After return to Burrowbridge looking for the inscription Dr. Lister mentions, Phil. Col. No. 4, p. 91, which I read somewhat differently, but whether way soever we read it, it seems to be the remains of a funeral monument: it is now laid sideways in the garden wall; there are also at the same place different sort of bricks or pavements, rather more than three inches square, exactly like those I had from Kirkstal Abbey, save that these are a quarter of an inch thicker and a hollow in the lower side to fix more tightly in the cement or plaster in which they were laid.
22. Walked into the fields at Burrow-bridge to see the celebrated Roman Obelisks, commonly called the Devil's arrows; that which I measured was about three fathoms round, rather more, and perhaps eight or nine yards high: a second is about the same dimensions ; the third not so tall but much thicker: the fourth is broke, and removed for a foot bridge, somewhere about the town : the greatness of the stones might surprise Mr. Camden, and make him conclude them artificial, yet upon the strictest observations I was able to make, they seem to me to be natural, and such as the far greatest part of the Roman monuments in these parts are evidently; to those mentioned by Dr. Lister in the place before-mentioned, may be added the funeral monuments lately discovered at our Adellocum, amongst the ruins near the Roman camp, by Adle mill, now in my possession, and I was told by Mr. . . . ., a sober and intelligent person, that at Bracasty Wood, near Ripley, within eight miles of Burrowbridge, there is a delf of stone that will produce as long obelisks as these, (which is but half the way to Ilkley,) and I have seen some coins found in ruins there, which evidence the Romans were particularly resident in those parts. From Burrowbridge, we returned through Knaresborough town and forest, by Kirkby-Ore-Blowers, and Swinden, the seat of Madam Bethell, to Harewood-bridge, (the river Wharf not being rideable) over the edge of which the present parson Cheldrey and a boy fell, in a dark night, and were wonderfully preserved upon the piers that the bridge is built upon, till help got to their relief ; the relation whereof I had not from common fame only, but the persons that were eye-witnesses, and assisted in drawing them out of the water. We got home in great time and found our families well; blessed be our good God for all his mercies, both to us upon our journeys, and our families and habitations in our absence! I got in time enough to the prayers at church, and was, I hope, truly affected with the goodness of God. Was afterwards concerned at the indiscretion, or malice rather, of two neighbours, who having, to use their own expressions, fished it out that it was on my account that Mr. Peters prayed for one going a journey, made it their full employ from the cloth-market in the morning to the shambles, corn-market, taverns, ale-houses and coffeehouse, (though one of them scarce appears there in twelve months but upon this occasion) in all companies to whom it would be ungrateful, to ridicule it with such unworthy taunts, and also bitter and intolerable reflections upon the public prayers as has been extremely to my disadvantage, that I cannot pass the streets, or come into any company, without taunts from younger, and frowns and reproofs from graver persons, for giving occasion for such reflections upon the public worship; whereas the Lord knows I did it in simplicity of heart, because there is no particular prayer for the like occasion appointed by authority; and if I had put in a ticket (as is not unusual in the churches at London,) to the curate, I have reason to believe it would have been rejected, as my request was, to return thanks for my dear wife's recovery from the fever; and how piteous a case are we in, who being exposed to continual dangers, and have so many instances of such as never return home, one merchant of this town lately cast away, and another (the father to one of these scoffers) within a mile of the town fell sick and was brought home dead, and yet cannot desire the prayers for the merciful protection of God, but must be ridiculed, not by the commonalty only, but even by such as pretend to be zealots in religion, who yet rather than not gratify their little private grudges, will strike at religion itself. Lord, pity and pardon mine and their sins, for thy mercy's sake !
31. Evening, sent for per parson Plaxton, presented by the Lord Gower
(as Chancellor of the Duchy) to the great living at Berwick in Elmete;
he showed me a piece of British gold, and a noble
statue of Hercules in bass-relief upon an onyx stone.
June 1. To the ingenious Mr. Plaxton, who has promised
to procure me one of the ancient clogs, or perpetual almanacks, described
by Dr. Plot in his History of Staffordshire. "Sent for by Mr. Thornton
to Dr. Richardson, with whom till evening at the Club; where again baited
by my friends for what my unkind neighbours have ridiculed me, if not
religion through my side.
5. Visited by the famous artist, Mr. Henry Gyles, of York, who has been setting up for my Lord Fairfax, at Denton Chapel, the noblest painted glass window in the north of England; he painted the celebrated window at University College in Oxford, and is now for making one for Katherine Hall, in Cambridge.
9. At cousin J. Sympson's, making trials upon the stones voided by
siege, with spirit of nitre and oil of vitriol.
10. A little with the ingenious Dr. Richardson ; then perusing a MS.
Mr. Rockley brought me, and transcribing the pedigree of that ancient
family, some of which resided at Rockley Hall, in Leeds, and had a quire
in the old Church, in old writings called Rockley Whear, of which family
this gentleman, now a retainer of Sir John Kaye, is the last heir male.
12. Visited by three descendants of the famous Archbishop Toby Mathew : viz. Mr. Mauleverer, his sister Dyneley, (who presented me with some of the needlework of that excellent Archbishop's lady,) and cousin Robinson, to whom showing collections.
July 1. Rode with nephew Wilson and Mr. Hick-son to
visit Dr. Sharp, of Horton, and his uncle Abraham, the famous mathematician,
who showed us some curious instruments and most ingenious contrivances
of his own invention ; was pleased with the sight of some original letters
of Mr. Flamsted and Mr. Halley to him, &c.
12. Afternoon at the Court, where some things were proposed for the
benefit of the Corporation, to be consulted about at the Assizes; then
showing collections to cousin Thoresby, of Chester-in-the-Street, and
his wife, of the ancient family of the Lumleys; the second match into
that family, John Thoresby (the younger brother of Christopher, from
whom we are descended,) marrying Margaret, daughter to the Lord Lumley,
in Henry the Seventh's time.
13. Drank but little, the Spa-well having been flooded yesternight
with the thunder-shower, which yet reached not so far as Alderman Ivison's,
where they made hay in their shirts all day, yet was so violent here
that in less than an hour's time Sheeps-car-beck rose a yard and a half
in perpendicular height.
This thunder-shower was ordered by Providence, for the detection of
a murderer, John Brown, alias Clement Foster, who had fled from the
North, where he had slain an exciseman, and skulked at Runder's upon
the Moor, into whose house the violence of the storm forced Mr. Routh,
the stapler, who overheard the fellow say he was brother to such-a-one,
Mrs. Brown, in the North ; he came the next morning to read the Gazette
at Leeds, where Mr. Routh got him apprehended, for that such-a-one's
brother had slain a man, and was fled; he denied all, but being sent
to Newcastle Assizes, it was proved upon him, and he was executed for
it: it is said he died penitent.
14. Sent for by Mr. Edmondson, of St. John's College, Cambridge, who brought me an obliging letter from Dr. Gower, the master, concerning the learned and pious Mr. Milner, one of the most famous of our Leeds authors.
15. Received a visit from Mr. Kirk and Monsieur Corbiere, of Geneva, to whom showing collections. After, sent for per Mr. Monckton, Parliament-man for Aldborough, who brought me a kind salutation from the Bishop of Norwich, &c., with whom and Mr. Benson, of Wrenthorp, &c.
20. Rode with Alderman Barker, &c. to York, where met with my kind friend, Dr. Barwick Fairfax, with whom went to the Minster. Evening, with Mr. Kirk, Mr. Arthington, Mr. Thompson, and other ingenious gentlemen, late enough, and, which was worse, prevented of an opportunity of retirement.
21. Left my dear friend (Mr. Kirk) in bed; retired ; then went to meet
cousin Johnson about the poor orphans' concerns; was disappointed. Then
visited worthy Mr. Hodgson, the charitable Lady Hewley's chaplain ;
then at the prayers at the Minster ; and after rode to Bishopthorp,
where (it being a private day,) I had the opportunity (after prayers)
of private discourse with my Lord Archbishop in his walks in the garden,
and made known my circumstances in several respects, and had the comfort
and happiness of his Grace's advice and consolation, with the tender
of some kindnesses I thought not convenient to accept of, but was much
comforted by his Lordship's application of some Scriptures; as when
I objected my deep concern for that of the wisest of mere mortals, "
when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at
peace with him," whereas even my relations, &c. are at enmity
with rne, which has caused me much thought of heart: but his Lordship
reminded me of that of David, " my own familiar friend, in whom
I trusted, has lift up his heel against me;" and that of Job, "my
brethren are far from me, and mine acquaintance are estranged from me,
my familiar friends have forgotten me," &c. After a more than
usually importunate and kind invitation to stay all night, which the
poor orphans' business would not permit of, I returned to York, where
I met with an uncomfortable couple, cousin Johnson and his wife, at
suit together, and as untoward dealings with the poor orphans, they
having opened the locks of a trunk and all the four boxes, taken out
the best linen, six gold rings, (whereof one or two had precious stones
in,) a silver box, with some gold in it, &c., of which I had three
voluntary witnesses, who were present at the opening of the boxing,
either not knowing, or being pretendedly ignorant, that my poor brother
and his children were as much interested therein as these relations,
friends I cannot call them, who have not left so much as will quit the
charges of my
journey.
22, At cousin Sympson's, to desire her assistance in dividing the linen, but had little need of it, the boxes being not half full, and nothing but refuse left. After, visited good Dr. Colton, who made me a present of his Ships of Tarshish, &c. ; then at the prayers at the Minster; took leave of the pious Dr. Fall and other good friends, but, being full late, was prevailed with to stay till to-morrow. After dinner, waited of old Esquire Hutton, at his son-in-law's, the Lord Mayor of York; took the inscriptions upon all the swords of state used upon different occasions ; was much pleased with the obliging Mr. Banks, of Hull. Was at Mounty Gyles', to inquire what has been lately found as digging for clay in the Roman bury ing-place, and he gave me a brass key, fixed to a ring, to be worn upon the finger, and other curiosities, lately dug up there. Made a visit with Alderman Rookes to Dr. Ashendon ; looked at his Phil. Trans., but found none of the five I want; supped at the Chancellor's^ with excellent company, his son Pearson, Drs. Fall, Deering, our Vicar, &c. After, went to the Hall, where the Judge and Court were sitting, with candles, almost at midnight, to inquire of my dear Mr. Thornton's health, which, alas ! is nothing to boast of. Lord, spare such as are useful!
23. With Mr. Kirk to visit Mr. Sturdy, the quondam famous schoolmaster of Bradford, whose account of the Hoematites wrought into iron, is registered Phil. Trans, 199 ; but alas ! he was seduced to the Romish church. Then with ditto Mr. Kirk, at a venison feast at Mr. Thompson's, who yet treated me more agreeably with some autographs of King James II. and above twenty judges, &c. Then at the Minster, transcribing the epitaphs of the Earl of Strafford, from his most noble monument lately erected, and that of my useful and kind friend, the excellent Dr. Gale; then to visit the ingenious Mr. Lumley, (brother-in-law to my cousin Thoresby, of Chester,) an excellent artist in many respects, paints excellently, japans incomparably, and, what I was most pleased with, works mezzotinto plates very fine ; he made me a kind present of the lady Fen-wick's, Dean Comber's, and Czar of Muscovy's, pictures of his own doing. After dinner returned with the courteous Dr. Barwick Fairfax, to Tadcaster, and thence, in tolerable time, to Leeds: found all well, blessed be God!
24. To visit Mrs. Boyse, from Dublin, who brought me her husband's
kind present, of his " Vin-
dication of the True Deity of our blessed Saviour," in answer to
his quondam colleague, Mr. Emlyn's pernicious pamphlet, which was a
great affliction to this good man.
August 14. With Mr. Robinson, of Rokeby, who had kindly
searched the register at Bernard Castle, for some of our family ; he
told me of the benefaction of Mr. Robinson, since Bishop of London,
her Majesty's resident at the court of Sweden, who being a boy of pregnant
parts, though of a private house, was educated by Mr. Robinson, minister
of ... . .; this worthy person has either built from the ground, or
considerably repaired a ruinous church, at the place of his nativity,
near the river Tees, but on the Yorkshire side; for he was " Ebora-censis
nat.," and allowed ten shillings a sermon, for many years, till
he could find a convenient purchase
to endow it with.
18. Afternoon, with cousin Cookson, collecting for Mr. Dwyer; was pleased with the sight of some very curious flutes, flageolets, &c. made by Mr. Dickens, an attorney, who took them up of himself. Evening, read Dr. Colton's serious sermon ; was especially pleased with his notion, that Cadiz was of old called Tartessus, with reference to which, we so frequently, in Scripture, find mention of the ships of Tarshish ; vide also Mr. Hirst, in his Annotations upon Ezekiel, in continuation of Pool.
23. Rode with cousin Cookson, to meet Mr. B. of B., at Kirkstal-bridge
; walked to view the ruins of
the once famous Abbey, and after dispatch of the accounts and business,
walked with Mr. T. Dinsdale to his farm, beyond the bridge, to see some
old works in the Fall, which seem, by the roundness and smallness to
have been Danish, but by the vast quantities of leaves from the wood
which yearly fall and turn to earth, are much filled up, that they cannot
be so distinctly discerned, except the highest camp, which is circular;
there is also a noted well in the said Fall, near which they say lead-pipes
have been found, whence they conclude that this fine water was conveyed
beyond the river, for the use of the Abbey, which stands directly opposite
to it.
27. Invited by, or rather in the name of the Marquis of Hartington
to a treat; but some of the company were so offensive to me by their
oaths and bumpers, that I stayed not a quarter of an hour; this is not
designed in derogation of his Lordship, who has the repute of a sober
and excellent person, but in commiseration of our piteous circumstances,
that a person must either be rude (at least so reputed,) or run the
hazard of wounding his own spirit, by sinful compliance, in most public
treats.
28. Received an unseasonable visit from Mr. B. D. which prevented my
going to church; was reading his surrenders from the Prior and Convent
of Trinity, in York, concerning an estate in this street, which court,
after the Reformation, is in the name of the Darcys, then of Queen Elizabeth,
and then of the Ingrains, Sir Arthur purchasing Kirkgate-cum-Holbeck
of King James the First; it is now Edward Machel, Lord Ingram's, Viscount
Irwin, the fifth in a lineal descent.
Sept. 4. Perusing a MS. relating to the town about
one hundred years ago ; wherein pleased with the punishment of offenders
in time of divine service ; order of sessions (from the Justices at
large, for the town was not then incorporated,) for suppressing disorders
on the Sabbath, the encouragement of exercises ; then were the churches
so full that they were constrained to build new seats and lofts, "
because they had no room any where in the church to sit in," as
are the express words of the famous Mr. Robert Cook, Vicar of Leeds.
Oh, thrice happy days!
9. Walked with the Lords of the Manor to Sheeps-car, to cousin Walker's,
whence begun our survey of the manor of Leeds, which contains the Main
Riding, viz. from Great Wildikes by Sheepscar and Buslin-thorp by the
top of Lorybank to Scot Mill; thence including the Car, &c. all
along Sheepscar-beck to the Ridge Mill (old Thomas Vaux's) which is
within the Manor, which beck divides the Manor of Leeds from that of
Esquire Savile's, of Methley. At the end of a pasture beyond the said
mill, we mounted Pykeman ridge, where a noted hedge, that carries us
to Wreghorn stile at Woodhouse, is a boundary - betwixt this Manor and
the Earl of Cardigan's (formerly the Earl of Sussex's) Manor of Hedingley,
to which belong also Burley and Kirkstal, all with-
in the parish of Leeds. Having refreshed ourselves at J. W.'s, our bailiff's,
who run the measuring-wheel during this perambulation, we went along
the west side of Woodhouse Moor to the south-west corner; thence, including
the new church land, to a small lane that leads to Greystone, in the
highway to Bradford ; thence, including North-hall wood, &c. down
Mr. Banister's ground to the river Aire, against Giants-hill, which,
with the ground beyond the river, is in Armley Manor, formerly Sir Ingram
Hop-ton's, now Sir John Ingleby's; thence along the river by Spring-garden
and Mr. Lowther's house, (olim, Dronylath) to Bene Ing, or Prayer Ing,
(probably given to pray for the soul of the donor,) which is 3^ furlongs
long, and Monckpits, to sister W.'s, where we dined. Afterwards, by
the Highdarn closes, which part this from my Lord Irwin's Manor of Holbeck
; thence, crossing Water-lane, we passed by the side of Holbeck-beck
beyond Austrop-hall, the Hall Ings, &c. to Meadow-lane, and thence
over the enclosures to Hunslet-lane; thence, by a long dike which is
oddly indented, (running under the present Mayor's kitchen,) to Woodersome
deep in the river Aire, which same dike divides not only this manor
from that of Hunslet, but this wapentake of Shire-ake from that of Ake-bridge
and Morley. Having walked about seven miles, we left the residue to
a further opportunity, Russell (commonly called Admiral Russell) conveying
us over the river. Oct. 2. Received a kind and acceptable visit from
my honoured friend, Dr. Bryan Fairfax, Secretary to the Lord Archbishop
of Canterbury, who told me good news in reference to our common friend,
Dr. Gibson, upon whom the Archbishop has bestowed the living at Lambeth,
worth three or four hundred pounds per annum, besides other preferments,
as an encouragement to, and reward for the great services he has done
the public by his writings, &c. Spent the evening with my Lord Fairfax,
the Dr., and his ingenious son, Mr. Kirk, &c.; was pleased and instructed
by ditto excellent Dr.'s converse, who in discourse concerning the present
Scots' affairs, told me somewhat of his private message from the old
Lord Fairfax to General Monk, to whom he went in such privacy, that
he never saw Scotland, though he dispatched that great concern with
him there.
Nov. 1, Walked to Cookridge, and thence (after Mr.
Kirk) to Adle; took the draught of a very ancient history in bas-relief
upon the capitals of the pillars in the church, representing most rudely
the baptism of our Saviour by John the Baptist; the opposite seems to
be of the Crucifixion. Over the great door is the figure of the Holy
Lamb, and below it four figures designed to represent the Evangelists.
The door has been richly adorned with brass,
the heads of the nails covered with large bosses, &c. Dined at the
ingenious parson's, Mr. Jackson's. Afterwards, had Mr. Arthington's
company till towards evening; returned to my dear friend's at Cookridge,
read him my manuscript notes relating thereto ; but before we could
proceed therein, and compare them with his writings, &c., ditto
Mr. Arthington called there, and staying all night prevented further
progress therein.
2. Writing an account of the benefactions of the late Mr. Kirk, of London. Afterwards returned, read Historian's Guide, in walks, till came to Hedingley Moor, when turned aside to take a more particular view of Harelaw, which is to this day a suitable place for the occasion that gave it the name of Battle Hill; it has an ascent upon three sides, and is well fortified on that towards Monkbridge and Bentley, or the field of prayer or supplication, which was the miraculous occasion of the wonderful victory, as is expressly mentioned by Bede, and all historians who treat of that admirable victory. My heart was truly affected in remembrance of so signal a deliverance as the divine providence vouchsafed to our forefathers, his poor distressed Christian servants from the insulting Pagans. That side of the hill towards Bentley, and consequently to Winmoor, &c. seems to have had a triple fortification. I measured a place in the highest to be yet about five yards deep to the middle of the trench ; there are other two lower upon the hill nearer Monkbridge, which is over Sheepscar-beck, which is shaded with trees, and fronted with a steep craggy ground.
4. At the Lord Mayor's [at York] to take a more particular notice of the inscriptions upon the swords. After to visit Mr. Harrison, who showed me some very fine artificial curiosities of his father's own handy work, who appears to have been a most ingenious artist, by the very curious pictures in miniature as well as oil-colours, several things of turned or thrown work admirably fine, in ivory transparent, and some MSS. in heraldry (one of which was sold for 20/.) and in physic.
5. With cousin Milner to visit Major Wyvil, (son to Sir Christopher, the author of some learned tracts against Popery.) The Major being concerned in the late Mint at York when the old monies were called in, I desired an account of what monies were coined at the Mint, which by his books he showed me was 312,520/. Os. 6d.
10. Writing to the learned Dr. Hicks, about Saxon coins for Sir Andrew Fountain, to be inserted in his great work.
12. Perusing Saxon coins to be lent Sir-Andrew Fountain. Taking Constables' accounts, and took notice of the mittimus to send John Brown alias Clement Foster, to York Castle (20th July) for suspicion of murder : this was the fellow that was providentially discovered near Leeds, was convicted and executed at Newcastle the last assizes.
14. Finished the perusal of Mr. Bradbury's pious and ingenious sermons, some whereof were preached at Leeds, when he was in my cousin Whitaker's family, to whom they were dedicated. I ought to make one remark in his commendation, that when here he used once a week to instruct the youth to sing in their chapel, which succeeds so well, that that congregation perform that the best of most, if not any, in these parts, which is the more remarkable, because some of that denomination are too scrupulous in singing in what they call a mixed congregation. He had afterwards a call to Manchester, subscribed by the Lord Willoughby and the chief of that church; was courted for his known moderation by a party at Mill-hill to succeed Dr. Manlove ; had calls to several other places ; was for a time at Beverley, and after at Newcastle, whence he lately removed to London.
Dec. 20. With the other feoffees, went to Great Woodhouse,
distributed part of great-grandfather Jenkinson's dole to poor housekeepers
there, and at Leeds town and Quarry-hill, Mabgate and Marsh-lane.
22. Was all day with the feoffees, distributing the rest of the pious benefaction (ten pounds per annum) to poor housekeepers, &c. as the donor himself had used to do in his lifetime.