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At home all day. William Burrage and his boy at work for me today about ¾ of a day a-mowing of my orchard and gardening. We dined on 1 carp boiled, a piece of bacon and greens, with the remains of yesterday’s dinner, William Burrage dined with us. Very busy all the day. Sent Francis Smith by his boy in cash £11… which he is to pay in London for me. In the afternoon my brother was at our house. This day put the water to the raisins in order to make raisin wine.

In the morning I went up to Mr John Vine Sr’s on an invitation from himself. There I saw two ponds emptied and the fish taken out. Mr Vine, according to his promise on his invitation, made me a present of a brace of fine carp and 9 eels. Came home about 10:45. In my absence Mr and Mrs French were at our house and took up a coat etc. for John. My wife also delivered my horse to Mr Clinch, who paid her 50/-for him as agreed for on Saturday. Mr French and I talked of Tester’s affair, and he desired I would come to the cricketing in the afternoon, where, if any more of the parish were there, he would come to a resolution concerning the affair and agree to something for the support of Tester.

We dined on a loin of pork roasted in the oven. Just as we had dined, the post came along. He ate a piece with us. About 3:25 I went down into the park where our boys played with Framfield and were beaten near 100 runs, there being none of the parishioners there except Mr French, Thomas Fuller and myself; so nothing more was done in Tester’s affair. We came home by Mr French’s, where I stayed about 30 minutes and read the newspaper. Came home about 8:30. Read Torriano’s preparative sermon for the fast on the 6th of Feb. This day Francis Smith brought some goods from Lewes for me. Spent 3d.

Myself and maid at church in the morning… After churchtime Mr Stone let my wife and me blood. We dined on the remains of Thursday’s dinner with the addition of a bread pudding. My wife, myself and maid at church in the afternoon; the text in Matthew 6:24: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” After churchtime my wife and I went up to Mr Burgess’s, but Mrs Burgess being not at home, we did not stay but came home and drank tea. In the remaining part of the day read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. In the forenoon there was a brief read for fire to which I gave 3d. In the afternoon we called a vestry about Tester’s affair, but came to no resolution.

In the morning went down to Mr Adams’s with a suit of clothes for his son. A-going along I met with Mr Clinch, to whom I sold my horse for 50/- to be paid on delivery. Came home and sent our maid over to Framfield with my mother’s horse… This day paid Mrs Rebecca Fuller £8 in full for 1 year’s rent due the 5^th April. Also paid her £4 for one year’s interest due the same day. William Burrage at work a-gardening for me half the day. My brother drank tea with us. At home all day except as before mentioned…

In the morning my sister Sally and Molly Dine came over. Molly Dine altered 2 gowns for my wife and took another home to make. About 12 o’clock Charles Nebuchar came in, who also dined with us, as did my sister and Molly Dine, on the remains of yesterday’s dinner. Miss Day and Molly Fuller, with the above that dined with us, drank tea with us. After tea my wife, Miss Day, Mrs Fuller, Molly and Elizabeth Fuller and Frances Cole went for Whitesmith Fair. But as soon as they were gone, I received a letter from my brother Moses to acquaint me that my cousin Charles Hill was at their house and asking that I would come over immediately. I then sent for my wife, who came back directly, they not being got more than ¼ of a mile, and proposed to ride over to Framfield. But I was no sooner astride on my horse than dismounted, he throwing me off in the court, on which I made a resolution never to get on his back again. So my sister and I walked over to Framfield, and Molly Dine walked with us as far as Eason’s Green. Charles Nebuchar set out for Lewes when we did for Framfield.

I got to my mother’s about 7 o’clock where I found Dr Hill. He was to set out tomorrow for Portsmouth in his way directly for Plymouth where he is to go on board of H.M.S. MONARCH, a third-rater, 74 guns, in the capacity of Surgeon’s First Mate. He stayed about 4O minutes after I came in, and my brother and I went to bring him on his way to Little Horsted so far as half across Tealing’s Common. We came back to my mother’s, who lent me her horse to ride home upon, I hurting my hip a little in my fall. Came home about 11 o’clock. This day received of Mrs Akins 1 hind quarter of pork, 17¼ lbs.

At home all day. We dined on the bullock’s heart baked and stuffed, with a pudding under it. Catherine Trill drank tea with us. This day I completed reading the Freeholder, which I think an extreme: good thing… George Richardson called and breakfasted with us. He informed me that war was declared against France on Monday last [the beginning of the Seven Years’ War].

At home all the morning and busy. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and the remainder of the neck of mutton boiled, with a green salad. After dinner rode over to Framfield to carry over some buttons to my brother Moses. Drank tea there and came home about 6 o’clock. Paid to Joseph Fuller 12d for a bullock’s heart.

At home all the morning. We dined on cold bacon and a piece of neck of mutton boiled and green salad. After dinner I rode over to Framfield to borrow 2 cheeses of my mother until Friday; drank tea there. Came home about 6 o’clock. Dame Merricks drank tea with my wife. I paid Dame Trill 6/- in full for keeping Ann Braizer to yesterday. I also gave them 2/6 towards their own maintenance. In the evening read part of the Freeholder.

At home all the morning and busy. Paid Joseph Fuller 15½ d for 1 neck of mutton, 4½ lbs at 3½d. In the afternoon went down in the park to a cricket match; to wit, the Street against the Nursery quarter [now the hamlet of Halland]. I played and we beat them, having 6 wickets to go up the last hand. Came home about 10 o’clock. Spent no more than my shilling for the game. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and a little piece of the scrag end of the neck of mutton boiled. Bishop Stillingfleet’s motto: “Serve God and be Cheerful.”

My wife and I neither at church in the morning on account we stayed at home to be bleeded, but we were disappointed, Dr Stone not coming. We dined on a piece of cold bacon and the remains of Wednesday’s dinner with a bread pudding. My wife, self and maid at church in the afternoon… After churchtime my wife and I walked up to Mr Piper’s. We stayed and smoked 2 pipes and drank tea and nothing else.