The Thoresby Society

Sept. 27 Die Dom. Morning, read Dr. Ham-mond's Paraphrase before family prayer, and his Annotations, before secret, till church time; M". Cookson, the vicar, preached very well from 1 Cor. ii. 6. Afternoon, Mr. Pollard preached well from 1 Cor. viii. 6. I had afterwards two rooms full of poor children that repeated the appointed psalms memoriter, in hopes of Bibles, the charitable bequest company, with other gentlemen ; stayed too late for evening prayers, being about business.

14. Morning, read and wrote; then at the new-church, as high as the bells, but durst not venture up the ladder to take bearings with Mr. P. Smith. Rest of day copying Survey till dark.

16. Read Dr. Hammond ; then with Mr. War-burton and Mr. Buck, to take a new prospect of the town from Priest-cliff, near Cavalier hill; had the two school-masters, Mr. Barnard! and Mr. Sump-ster to dine with them at my house. Afternoon, at the new garden-house upon the hill, but could make little proficiency in the prospect because of the rain.

17. Read Hammond; then at the hill-top, taking the rest of the town, and drawing a view of the new vicarage till noon ; dined with them at P. S.'s ; after had their company in my library; Mr. Buck took a prospect of it. Spent the evening with them.

18 Much concerned for the foreseen unavoidable mispence with my guests of this holy day, yet got them to church, both forenoon, when Mr. Brearey preached, and afternoon, when Mr. Day, and also to the evening prayers. Had their ingenious conversation, (which would have been more acceptable another day,) till bed-time ; then read Dr Hammond.

19. Morning, read Dr. Hammond, then set forwards with Mr. Warburton and my little son Richard for York ; when we were out of town, he drove the chaise himself, that we might have more enjoyment of each other's company. Upon Bramham-moor we traced the grand Roman military way, and he conducted me to a certain place, where three of their ways part, one goes by St. Helen's ford to the north, another grand road through Tadcaster to York, and a third towards Thorner, confirming my apprehensions of a Via Vicinalis, Ducatus Lead: p. 140. We saw the remains of the grand road in several places in our journey to York; the causeway over the moor beyond Tadcaster is laid upon the Roman Rig; the Street-houses, (or hows rather,) are doubtless so denominated from their stratum. Here we baited, and after escaped danger from the unruliness of the horse, that ran the chaise backward up a steep bank. Mr. Warburton himself conducted me to York, whence his servant to the Minster. We lighted at Mr. Bulman's, whither Justice Robinson came to us, and received us most kindly, and conducted me and my son Richard, (who performed
his journey bravely,) to his own house, where we lodged.

20. After morning prayer we went to the coffeehouse, and then Manor, to visit two ingenious artists, Mr. Place and cousin Lumley, who presented me with some curiosities, (of which see the new catalogue,) dined at my kind friend's Mr. Robinson's, who went with me to his aunt's, to show me the remains of her husband's, the late excellent Mr. Ter-rick'sf noble library, where we stayed till the prayers at the Minster, whither I carried my son Richard, but he liked not the singing service, because, he said, he understood not what they said ; a reason that might come from an older head. After had the company of several gentlemen, my Lord Downe's chaplain, and Mr. Wyn, Mr. Jubb, and our friends from the Manor, at my kind Gaius's, which kept us up too late.

21. At the Register's office; had the assistance of Mr. Robinson in collating the copy, I took many years before, with the original register of Archbishop Thoresby, containing his excellent treatise upon the Lord's Prayer, Decalogue, &c.; this kept us fully employed till dinner: afternoon, we visited the ingenious Lawyer Johnson ; I consulted the third volume of Monasticon Anglicanum (which I have not in my own library) and after visited Dr. Colton, who told me of a treatise against Transubstantiation, published by Sir John Hewley, and some remarks of his pious Lady, the benefactress. Evening, with Mr. Robinson, Lawyer Johnson, and Mr. Warburton, at the Coffee-house.

22. Morning, walked with my son, to show him the castle, and to Micklegate-bar, but missed both of Alderman Fairfax, Mr. Selby and Mr. Smith, so that returned re infectd', called at two or three booksellers, but bought nothing ; after dinner took leave of Mr. Robinson, and returned with my son, by the Street-houses, to Tadcaster, where we lodged.

25. Die Dom. Morning, read Dr. Hammond. Mr. Maud preached well, from Acts iv. 12; Mr. Blanshard, curate at Bramhope, preached from Prov. xxvii. 1. I afterwards heard a great number of poor children the Psalms appointed.

26. Morning, read; then wrote to the Lord Wharton's trustees, about the Bibles for poor orphans; rest of day proceeding in remarks upon Camden's Britannia, for the Bishop of Lincoln, in order to a more correct edition, till evening prayers, when surprised with a voice (in the clerk's absence) at the low end of the church, which I took for a distracted person, that sometimes gets in and makes disturbance, but after perceived it was a woman, (one Alice Milner) that led out a Psalm, which was followed by most of the congregation.

Nov. 1. Die Dom. Morning, read Vines of the Sacrament in secret, and Dr. Hammond in family. The vicar* preached from Mat. xviii. 26, 27. showing first, the nature and extent of the duty of forgiving injuries, answering objections, being traduced and taking no notice, which, though seemingly hard, is our duty: if he puts on the brute, shall we put off the Christian ? Secondly, the obligation we are under to it, in respect of the community, to preserve the unity of the whole, from the consideration of God Almighty, who is continually showing acts of mercy to us. Lastly, from the advantages of a forgiving temper: 1st. it is the most easy; 2d. an inlet to all other graces, even faith and hope; 3d. the pardon and remission of our sins. At noon, walking to Holbeck chapel; Mr. Forster preached from 1 Peter v. 5, 6. Clothed with humility, what have we to be proud of? our bodies are naturally running to decay, riches and honour transient and uncertain; 2d. the absurdity of pride, never at peace with God or man. The ingenious and pious minister being somewhat indisposed, I stayed a little with him at a neighbour's house, but returned against evening prayers, at six.

3. Morning, read Dr. Hammond; then, the visitation being at this town, some of the country clergy and others came to see the museum, that I got not to church : afternoon, abroad about business, and at cousin Wilson's about Camden, before I transcribe it for the Bishop of Lincoln.

5. Dr. Brooke preached excellently from 1 James i. 20 ; premising 1st. that such as undermine the civil power, and 2d. the public peace of the church, ought to be restrained; else, none ought, in his opinion, to suffer for conscience sake, the main substance of his sermon being against passion and persecution. I was after upon the manor affairs, till seven, at evening prayers.

Nov. 6. Morning, read Hammond ; wrote additions and corrections about Camden, till eleven; at church ; and after, till three, to visit parson Robinson upon invitation by letter; he showed me that part of his Will which related to his designed benefactions to twelve churches and chapels, each 10£. per annum, and 70£. per annum to the Charity Schools: Holbeck, Beeston, Chapel-town, and ——— in this parish were four of them, and he designed to expunge two of the extra-parochians, and insert in their place the lecturers of the old and new churches in this town.

7. Morning, read ; then wrote upon a charitable account to Mr. Secretary New man, and to John Chamberlayne, Esq. upon the death of his wife, that missed church; lost most of the afternoon in fruitless visits ; after evening prayers read as usual.

12. Concluded the perusal and extracts from the English edition of the Monasticon Anglicanum, an useful book in its kind, though there are both typographical errors and others, besides some reflections upon the Reformation, which the Spanish priest,* who is said to be the translator and abridger of the three Latin volumes, would not omit. Afternoon, transcribing Archbishop Thoresby's manuscript for the press, till dark ; then sent for by Mr. Robinson, of Rokeby ; unhappily prevented of public prayers.

13. Morning, read Hammond ; then transcribing that venerable manuscript till eleven, at church ; then importuned to dine with Mr. Robinson and Mr. D.; then transcribing ditto till dark ; was with Mr. Samuel Totty, at my tenant's (was glad to understand that he keeps a diary) till seven, &c.

15. Die Dom. Morning, the vicar preached from Psalm xvii. 3. Afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached from Mark viii. 36, 37.

16. Morning, writing in library, till eleven; at church, and after, till dark, read Caesar's Commentaries, Dr. Hammond's Paraphrase and Annotations.

18. Morning, read and wrote till church-time ; the vicar came to my pew to acquaint me, that the last post brought him the commission for the Queen's bounty to Hunslet chapel, and he had lately received those for Holbeck and Bramley. Blessed be God for encouragement to his service !

26. Morning, as usually; but most of forenoon assisting an afflicted family, to keep an old man out of the gaol, that prevented my attendance at church. Afternoon proceeding in a catalogue of books relating to the Antiquities of England, for the Bishop of Lincoln, to be prefixed to the new edition of Camden's Britannia, till evening, &c.

27. Morning, read and wrote; then earnestly solicited by his sons and daughters to treat with the Recorder's brother, to prevent sending old Mr. Stack-house to the gaol, spent much time, but at length prevailed, and had the thanks of both parties for accommodating the business. Afternoon, wrote a little till dark ; seven at church ; after, sent for by Mr. Warburton, of Sheffield, that read little in family.

28. Morning, read Dr. Hammond, and Caesar's Commentaries, till light; then upon ditto Catalogue of Writers, till eleven ; and after, till evening, &c.

29. Die Dom. Morning, Mr. Fairfax preached excellently from Matt. vi. 34; showing, 1st. what is meant by taking no thought for the morrow: there are two contrary extremes in this case ; a presumptuous reliance upon Providence, without any care, and a sinful distrust and anxiety, which makes us miserable beforehand, for fear of being so hereafter. First, the morrow will take thought for itself, that is, we shall be better able to judge of matters then than at a distance, when all is uncertain. Secondly, sufficient for the day is the evil thereof; the cares and toils of each day will so far employ our thoughts and strength, that there is no need to increase them by fear of future troubles. Afternoon, Mr. Blanshard preached from 1 Tim. i. 15, displaying the greatness of our Saviour's mercy, in coming to save sinners : the time, an age of the grossest ignorance, not of the Gentiles only, but the Jews ; the Sadducees denying the Resurrection, and the Pharisees equalling traditions with the Scriptures.

30. Proceeding in the Catalogue of the county writers, for the Bishop of Lincoln.

Dec. 7. After evening prayer, concluded Mr. Ec-ton's agreeable account of Queen Ann's royal bounty, worth 17,000£. per annum, communibus annis, to the poor clergy; took extracts of what relates to this county, or particular acquaintance.

8. Morning, read Mr. Hassel's excellent sermon before the Judges (he is a native of this town); then transcribing what I wrote for the Bishop of Lincoln, when unseasonably visited by two gentlemen, that got not to church. Afternoon, abroad about various concerns till three ; wrote till near dark ; then visited cousin Wilson, where had Dr. Brooke's company and cousin Kirkshaw's, till at evening prayers.

10. Forenoon read and wrote as usually. Afternoon walked to Beeston about Hebrew books for my son at Cambridge; in return, called for a Hebrew Bible at Holbeck ; stayed too long with the ingenious minister, that missed church.

11. Morning, read and wrote till eleven. After dinner walked with the other feoffees to Great Wood-house, about an encroachment upon Madam Leigh-ton's farm for the poor; with difficulty got the aggressor to acknowledge it under his hand, and pay a yearly rent; this kept us till past seven, &c.

13. Die Dom. Morning, Dr. Brooke preached excellently from Luke iii. 3, 4. Afternoon, Mr. Paley preached very well (for Mr. Blanshard) from 1 Peter v. 5. " Be clothed with humility:" have a low opinion of yourselves ; but degrading expressions of ourselves, and commendations of others, are no infallible signs thereof. Innocent to men, our demerit to God may sufficiently humble us. Observe how you are affected with the advancement of others, and so with their poverty ; for if the one occasion envy, and the other disdain, we are not truly humble,

15. Morning, read and wrote ; most of the afternoon abroad at parson Robinson's, and after with Dr. Tomlinson and Mr. Midgeley, from whom received a generous present from my noble friend John Boulter, Esq.

21. Morning, rose pretty early. Then walked to Woodhouse and Car, and distributed grandfather Jenkinson's dole (12/. per annum) to the poor there, and of the town of Leeds, till night.

23. Read Hammond and manuscript till eleven ; at prayers. Afternoon, distributing rest of the dole to his almshouses; then to do the like at Holbeck, where found a general complaint, that what had been yearly allotted to Mr. H. had not been faithfully distributed.

28. Morning, read and wrote till eleven; and after, till dark, concluded Caesar's Commentaries, with Clement Edmunds' observations; which evince him as well a learned as valiant man, and of almost inexpressible expedition in his exploits, (building a bridge over the Rhine in ten days;) but as Alexander and other celebrated heroes, raised up by Providence for the chastisement of mankind, though the result was happy, civilizing the nations and preparing them for the reception of Christianity.

29. Morning, read Hammond ; then running over library to see what books wanting, till eleven; and after, till diverted by Mr. Mitton, with whom at P. S.'s till evening.