The Thoresby Society

February 24. Drawing the pedigree of the Lord Irwin and Mr. Ingram's family, before I took a walk to Barrowby to the funeral of Mr. Thomas Ingram, the eldest son of Arthur Ingram, Esq. brother to the first Lord Irwin; heartily sympathised with the good old gentleman, and the prudent and pious relict of the gentleman deceased in the prime of his days. Afterwards in return transcribed the monuments in Whitkirk.

March 6. Finished my manuscript extract of the Bishops' register of the ministers' subscriptions; this first volume is from 1606 to 1627, the time that the most excellent Archbishop, Toby Matthew, continued in the see of York, whereby I have discovered what I sought in vain from the registers at Cambridge, viz. the particular colleges where several of our famous writers were educated, together with the dates of their entrance into the ministry and several removes, &c. The contemplation of one generation succeeding another was affecting, and furnished my meditations both with suitable arguments for preparation for approaching death, and of admiration of the goodness of God in raising up a continual supply for the instruction and guidance of his church
and people.

20. Collecting memoirs of the excellent Archbishop Matthew ; with Lords of the Manor; then sent for by the Mayor and some of the Aldermen to consult more particularly concerning the Judges' entertainment.

21. Finished my cursory perusal of George Fox's journal, to find what he says of William Dewsbury, an apprentice at Holbeck, and one of their celebrated mends in the ministry ; was troubled to observe how confidently they ascribe their vain imaginations to God, " The word of the Lord came to me," " I was commanded of the Lord," &c. Rode with the Mayor and rest of corporation in their formalities to meet the Judges, (Tracy and Smith) who with the lawyers, &c. were treated by the corporation, but was pleased to see all grave as judges, without the least intemperance in the whole company.

22. Showing collections to the Judges, favourites, &c. Was especially pleased with the obliging Mr. Stephens, who has published a volume of Letters (from the originals^ of the famous Lord Chancellor Bacon.

29. Riding with the Vicar, Mr. Thornton, Mayor and Aldermen to Temple Newsome, where most kindly received by my Lord, the Lady Dowager, &c. Received an account of some benefactions, &c. relating to that honourable family from Mr. Roads, one of the trustees during his Lordship's minority, to whom his Lordship referred me ; found the ways very bad that I rode as usually in fear, but received no harm, blessed be God !

April 3. Concluded the first volume of the most industrious Mr. Fox's Acts and Monuments of the Church, wherein if there be some things less accurate and nice, I am sure there are many excellent, wherein he shows both the cruelty of the Romish Church and the constancy of such as endeavoured a reformation in all ages, and it is a noble as well as just character that Bishop Burnet gives of this author, that having compared his Acts and Monuments with the records, I have never been able to discover any error or prevarication in them, but the utmost fidelity and exactness.

8. Concluded Mr. Briggs, of Catholic Unity and Church Communion, the reverend author's gift, some part of which is done with that candour and temper that seems wanting in others, close arguments and soft words being most attractive; but his zeal to the public establishment influenced him to what charity must call a pious zeal in a good cause, which suits with Mr. Shaw's motto before his Treatise, " No Reformation of the Established Reformation," " Qui non zelat, non amat,"

12. With Mr. Mortimer, one of the late excellent Lord Wharton's trustees about poor ministers' concerns ; dined with him at Mrs. Hickson's; was rest of the day running over an old trunk, full of papers, for autographs, late Mr. Belton's and Dr. Neal's.

13. About Mrs. Hickson's concerns, to consult Alderman Milner, with whom walked to Giant's Hill, a Danish fortification, upon a precipice on the south side the river Aire, which has a good prospect and command of the river. He discoursed me again concerning his intended benefaction, build a house for the lecturer, and a monthly lecture, or preparation sermon before the Sacrament.

14. Rode with Alderman Barker to Wakefield, upon good Mrs. Hickson's concerns; viewed the
new jMarket Cross, with the convenient archives for the public writings; and after we had done our best with the Normanton gentleman, viewed the church. 16. Concluded Mr. Boyse's Family Hymns, (taken out of the Psalms,) which I take to be the best, in all respects, that are extant, because the pious author observes a due medium betwixt the flatness and obsolete expressions of the old version, and the fanciful strains and conceits of some newer.

19. Heard of the death of Mr. Ferrar, formerly master of our Free-school, at Leeds; whence, for the happiness of Mr. Dwyer's assistance here, he was transmitted to Pocklinton, where he now died, having been a benefactor by recovering a considerable revenue out of the late Sir John Reresby's estate, due to that school.

26. Rose pretty early ; took a walk, designing for Bishopthorp; the Lord grant me his merciful protection and direction. Began my walk about six; when I came upon Bramham Moor, took a ramble upon the right hand to meet with the Roman rig, or military highway; was fit for a bait by that time I got to the Street-houses; got to Bishopthorp in good time. After more general converse, had the favour of private and affectionate discourse with his Grace in his library : the Lord direct to what may be most for my spiritual and eternal interest, as well as my temporal advantage.

27. At the family prayers in the chapel; after, in Mr. Deering's apartment; then, transcribing some
memoranda from Mr. Torre's MSS. After dinner, with Mr. Finch, Mr. Talbot, and rest of ministers ; took leave of his Grace, &c.; went with some of the company by coach to York; was pleased with Mr. Noble, minister of Crux ; had his company at Mr. Gyles's, viewing his curious workmanship; then, to visit Mr. Townleys, of Townley, (the two ingenious brothers;) and, after a little, at the pious precentor's, Dr. Fall's, where met with the Dean and his brother Finch.

28. Ere I was well begun my journey, got a smart shower, that drove me into the church porch at the Dring houses; was troubled to see an alehouse at one end, and tavern at the other, joined close to the edifice; had small showers most of the forenoon, but it afterwards cleared up, that I had more comfortable walking, and finished the perusal of the Historian's Guide, which seems very partial as to the affairs in King James the Second's time, in whose reign it was printed. Got Mr. B.'s good company the latter part of the journey ; returned in time for the church, where my devotions were some, what enlivened in sense of the great goodness of my merciful Protector; found all well at home, blessed be the God of my mercies !

May 4. Drawing pedigree, &c.; rest of day sorting original papers, &c. except when before the Commissioners, to whom in vain appealed for relief in the land-tax, which is advanced by the present assessors, who, with the Justices, little know the circumstances of ray family, else I believe I might have had the redress I could not obtain, though I told them as much as was convenient; the Lord give me a contented heart in all conditions! was rest of day too much dejected in spirit; the Lord support me !

6. Was all day (except at church) ruminating upon, and endeavouring to draw up the arguments for and against a change of my condition ; with prayers and tears besought God for the guidance and direction of his Holy Spirit in a matter of so great moment to my own soul and the souls of others.

8. Began to revise the little Greek I once had ; Lord, succeed my endeavours !

10. Read Mr. Colton's fast sermon, a present received yesterday from its reverend and pious author, to whom and Mr. Hodgson writing; afterwards, sent for by Mr. H. of P. about the late Sir Richard Lloyd's copyhold fine; then at cousin Cookson's about ditto, and with his brother before his voyage for Sweden.

29. Finished the perusal of our famous Vicar, Mr. Alexander Cook's History of Pope Joan, which is a learned tract, and shows the author a man of great reading and industry; that this was generally believed amongst the Papists themselves before the Reformation is evident from my MS. Scala Mundi, where she occurs without interlineation.

June 2. Wrote Memoirs of Dr. Manlove. 4. Finished the perusal of Bertram's learned Treatise concerning the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament, which is a clear evidence that even during those darker ages, near a thousand years ago, there were learned and holy men of contrary sentiments to the Romish Church in that momentous point.

6. Concluded the excellent Bishop Stillingfleet's Origines Sacrse, an incomparable treatise, wherein the learned and pious author shows a truly great genius, and vast reading, which he makes subservient to the best purposes, in asserting the truth and divine authority of the Scriptures. Lord, teach me to profit!

19. Walked to Holbeck to visit good Mr. Denni-son, the minister, take inscriptions in Mr. Fallow-field's house and garden, to enquire farther concerning that author, at his kinsman's, who has presented to me the original MS.; was at the chapel, writing the epitaphs; then, to visit good old Mr. Isles, the benefactor, and to enquire of some old writings.

20. Showing collections to Dr. Bernard, Alderman Barker and brother, with whom rode to Bar-rowby, to visit Madam Ingram, which took up rest of day. Was much concerned to hear of the death of my kind friend Mr. Abraham de La Pryme, Minister of Thorne, who, visiting the sick, caught the new distemper or fever, which seized him on Wednesday, and he died the Monday after, the 12th inst. in the prime of his age ; he was a Fellow of the Royal Society; has several letters in the Transactions ; had made a great collection of MSS. compiled the History of Hull, in three vols. fol. Heard also, lately, of the death of another kind friend, Mrs. Madox, aged sixty-seven, an ingenious and pious gentlewoman, who brought me several curiosities from Conigsberg, Prussia. Lord ! sanctify afflictive providences.

21. To visit Dr. Russel, see his MS. Le Merite Infortune.

24. Concluded my Lord Archbishop of York's excellent volume of Sermons, his Grace's gift; was often much affected in reading them. After, to consult Mr. Thornton about Mr. Ibbetson's concerns, being abominably dealt with, and, instead of receiving my moneys, threatened to be paid with a chancery suit.

27. Begun to read Bishop Stillingfleet's additions to his Origines Sacrae, in the new edition, published by our countryman Dr. Bentley.

29. Within, making an Index to my own collection of epitaphs, &c. where I have travelled. Received a kind visit from Dr. Kirshaw and his Lady, (Sir Griffith Boynton's only sister,) and other relations.

July 3. Writ per post to the obliging Mr. Stephens, in return for his excellent book.

4. Making an Index to ditto, Mr. Stephens's Memoir of Lord Bacon.

5. Perusing Mr. Hopkinson's MS. of the Lancashire Pedigrees, lent me by my kind friend Mr. Thornton.

7. With the corporation and clergy, at the public rejoicing for the Duke of Marlborough's late victory in Germany. Lord, help us to do it in a more spiritual manner ! was displeased at misspence of both time and money.

13. Evening, concluded our famous Vicar, Mr. Alexander Cook's, More Work for a Mass Priest, whereby he appears to have been a very learned man, and extremely versed in those controversies.

24. Was all day within, making cases for the English coins.

29. Ended Mr. Cook's Abaitment of Popish Braggs, in answer to several of their pamphlets refuted by him.

THE REVIEW.
December. All the diversion I had to keep me from melancholy despondency* was in my library, and the happy society of dear Mr. Thornton, Mr. Dwyer, &c. at the Town-end Club once a week: this was so coveted that Mr. Fairtiough gave for his admission a guinea towards our charity-stock, out of which we gave forty shillings towards the erecting the minister's house for Armley Chapel ; but the remembrance of this also is now bitter by surviving every one of them, not only the two excellent persons before-mentioned, with Mr. Dennison and Mr. Pawson, but Mr. Nevile and Mr. Skinner, who paid more for forfeitures than their sixpenny clubs would come to.