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…My brother Moses came over (to take up a frock and pair of breeches for my nephew) in the afternoon; he stayed and drank tea with us, as did Master Piper. Rec’d of my brother 8/8 in full for 2 gallons grape brandy, exclusive of carriage. In the evening Mr French and Mr Joseph Fuller, coming into our house accidentally, stayed till about 10 o’clock, at which time Mrs Fuller and her daughter came and called Joseph Fuller, thinking, as I must imagine, that by their superiority of wit they could best judge when it was proper for him to come home. However, to do the good woman justice, she, finding Mr French at our house and her husband sober, did not use much of that volubility of tongue which she is many times so unfortunate as to be afflicted with on such occasions. I would not, by this short digression, be thought to bear ill nature to the last, and therefore the most accomplished, part of the creation (I mean the fair sex), but would have that they should employ themselves in all the soft and endearing ways that their nature seems framed for to delight man with, and not by assuming too much of the obstreperous and masculine behavior render themselves (instead of the greatest happiness, which the contrary behavior must consequently yield to mankind) the greatest misery, trouble and misfortune that can I think accrue to man.

This day delivered to Mr Jeremiah French two bills…together…18.16.8. At home all day. Posted part of my day book and also wrote out part of several bills. Sent Francis Smith 1 bag horse hair, 33 lbs, 1 do. of dock hair of 7 lbs.

In the morning took up a coat for Mr Coates’s servant, a frock for Thomas Fuller and a waistcoat for Thomas Davy, who breakfasted with us… At home all day. In the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons, 4 of which were on the immortality of the soul, proved by the light of nature, by reason and also by the gospel. I find in them several citations from the heathen and Roman philosophers which showed they were not without hopes of a future state.

In the morning Thomas Davy breakfasted with us, and afterwards he, my wife, self and Mr Porter’s cook sent to Chiddingly Church (there being no teaching at our church on account of Mr Porter’s being lame). It was late before we got there, the clergyman being in the litany… We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner with the addition of the whiting sent us by Mrs Roase and also a suet pudding. This day wrote a letter to Mr Stephen Fletcher in order to be by the post tomorrow, to be left at the White Horse, wherein I enclosed a bill payable to his master Mr Sam Ridings or order, on Messrs Margesson and Collison, dated the 14th instant, 30 days’ date, No. 298, value 8.8.0, in full on my account due to Mr Sam Ridings. No churching at our church this afternoon. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening. I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons in the whole day. Yesterday received of Thomas Prall 4/- in full for Gibbs’s certificate, which our parish granted to him.

My brother came over in the forenoon. I received of him in cash 15/6, and 5/6 he paid Mr Davy, which is in full for the guinea I gave him yesterday. We dined on a piece of beef roasted in the oven and a batter pudding under it. In the evening I went down to Mr Porter’s and paid him…in full for the bill I received of him the 29th of November… for which I gave him my note of hand, which I now took up and burnt at Mr Porter’s in his and his wife’s presence. In the evening read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons. I this day received a letter from Mr Sewell wherein he informs me he has given over all thoughts of taking my or my mother’s shop. My brother brought me 6 whiting, which Mrs Roase sent my wife for a present.

In the morning my brother called on us in his way to Lewes, and I sent by him a bill to Mr John Madgwick (in full)… value 11.16.6. I also gave him in cash 1.1.0, part or all of which he was to pay in Lewes for me… I was obliged to send James Marchant to Lewes for 2¼ yds cloth for Mr Coates, and he, like a calf, stays all night. Oh, such fools! By this piece of his folly I shall have the cloth left in my hands. At home all day. In the evening read 3 of Tillotson’s sermons. A remarkable cold frosty day.

At home all day. In the forenoon my wife and I papered up about 70 papers of tobacco… Thomas Fuller coming in the evening to choose a culled dimity frock, he and James Marchant stayed and smoked 2 pipes with us and drank part of 2 bottles of beer. A remarkable cold day, but no frost.

At home all day… My wife and I papered up 91 papers of tobacco, containing 22¾ lbs. Mr and Mrs Burgess and their children drank tea at our house. Mr Burgess and his wife stayed and played at cards (my wife and I lost 6d) and supped at our house on the remains of today’s dinner. This is not that pleasure as if I had spent the evening in reading. In the morning paid Mr Thornton 3/4 for writing a letter to Peter Adams.

At home all day and busy. My brother, coming over in the forenoon, dined with us on the remains of Sunday’s dinner and the addition of a beef pudding, as did Dame Vinal, who was a-washing for us all day. Mrs Vine Sr and her daughter Bab, together with my brother, drank tea with us. In the evening read 5 of Tillotson’s sermons. Mr Elless sat with us in the evening while I read one of Tillotson’s sermons and Bally’s poem on the wisdom of the Supreme Being to him…

At home all day. In the morning went down to Joseph Fuller’s and bought a lot of Mr French’s bull beef. Dame Vinal a-washing for us half the day… In the afternoon Dame Weller and her 2 daughters drank tea with us. In the afternoon Robert Diggens called on us, but did not stay. My brother came over in the evening, but did not stay. I went down to Robert Hook’s and stayed about an hour…

In the morning my wife, self, nephew and maid at church… We dined on a small buttock beef stuffed with parsley and boiled, a piece of bacon, turnips and potatoes. My whole family at church in the afternoon… After churchtime paid the poor as under, and also wrote a letter to Dr Stone for him to go and see Thomas Tester:-

Paid Widow Pilfold	0.6.0
Paid John Streeter for doing for do.	0.3.0
Paid Ann Wood	0.4.0
Paid Ed Badcock	0.4.0
Paid Dame Trill	0.5.0
	1.2.0

In the evening Thomas Davy sat with us an hour or 2, to whom, and in the day, I read 6 of Tillotson’s sermons.