About 4:20 in the morning Master Durrant and I set out on foot for Lewes (today being the visitation at Lewes) where I arrived about 6:30, Master Durrant going to Ashcombe. I breakfasted with my brother at his lodgings.
About 11 o’clock we went to St Michael’s church, the visitation sermon being preached there. The service was read by the Rev Mr Bristed, clergyman at Slaugham, and the sermon was preached by the Rev Mr Jeffries, vicar of Ditchling. The text in Matthew 11:5: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.” After churchtime and the clergy were all called over, I was sworn into my office of churchwarden (with a great many more), for which I paid 4/6.
I dined at the White Horse with 16 persons more on a knuckle of veal, bacon and greens boiled, a leg of lamb boiled and spinach, a rib of beef roasted and green salad and two pond currant puddings (my family at home dining on the best end of the shoulder of veal roasted in the oven with a batter pudding under it).
After dinner we sat and smoked one pipe, and then I met with Mr Harraden with whom I smoked another at the White Horse. I drank tea with my brother in company with Mr Tucker and Will Bennett. I came home about 9:10, thank God very safe and sober. Mr Thomas Scrase brought me going on my road home as far as Ringmer Green, and my brother and Mr Tucker as far as the Broyle gate. I spent today as under, half a crown of which I am to be allowed by the parish:
| In the morning before breakfast 1 pt of beer | 0.0.1½ |
| At the White Horse with Mr French and Mrs Stemp | 0.0.9 |
| To my dinner | 0.1.0 |
| After dinner | 0.0.7 |
| With Mr Harraden and Mr Tanner | 0.0.6 |
| With my brother and Mr Tucker at the White Horse | 0.0.1½ |
| To mending a pair of buttons | 0.0.3 |
| 0.3.4 | |
| Allowed | 0.2.6 |
| Spent on my own account | 0.0.10 |
I called to see Thomas Scrase and Will Bennett. This visitation was held by the Rev Dr D’Oyly, archdeacon of this diocese, who tendered the oath to the churchwardens.