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Being Christmas day my wife and I both at church in the morning, the text Hebrews 9:26: “but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” My wife and I stayed the communion; gave, each of us, 6d. At home all day. On reading Derham’s notes on Boyle’s lectures I find he says that Mr Boyle demonstrates that so slender a wire may be drawn from gold that from one ounce of gold a wire may be drawn 777,600 feet in length or 155 miles and a half [!]. In the evening Thomas Davy here and supped with us and stayed till 11 o’clock but drank nothing, only 1 pint of mild beer. We read Smart’s poems on immensity, conscience and power.

At home all day. Rec’d of Joseph Fuller 1 leg mutton, 6½ lbs at 3d, 0.1.7½. Rec’d of butcher Bonwick 1 lot of beef; the weight I do not know. Paid Will Harvey 18d for making 3 cotton waistcoats… Paid John Jenner of Hailsham… 21/- in full for hats rec’d of him today as under:

3 hats at 3/6                 0.10.6

3 ditto at 2/-                0.6.0

1 ditto at                   0.4.6

Dr Snelling called on us in his journey to Ticehurst, but did not get off his horse. In the evening wrote out Peter Adams’s bill amounting to 8.16.1½, Mr Thomas Reeve’s bill amounting to l.17.10¼. Gave a carter 2 oz tobacco for bringing 2 cheeses from Lewes for me. Gave Jenner’s boy 6d for his box.

At home all day; it being St Thomas’s day I gave to the poor of this parish about 2/6, being about 30 in number (giving to each 1d and a draft of beer). Paid John Dulake… 15/- in full for bringing of salt etc. from Lewes for me and everything else to this day. Paid Francis Smith in cash 1.1.4, which with the 9.10.0 I gave him the 16th instant makes in all 10.11.4 and is in full for money he paid for me in London… I gave him also in cash 10.2.6 which he is to pay for me in London; see the next time we balance. Mrs Virgoe and children drank tea here. I Paid for milk ½d; paid for a peck of potatoes 6d.

My wife and I at church in the morning; the text Matthew 26:24: … “it had been better [good] for that man if he had not been born.” There being no churching here this afternoon (Mr Porter preaching at Laughton), my wife and I went over to Framfield to see my mother and stayed until 9:20. We had Mr John Vine Sr’s horse; I gave the man for bringing and coming for him 6d,…

At home all day; very busy. In the evening my wife and I papered up about 90 parcels of tobacco. Paid Dame Streeter 18d for laying Mr Thompsett forth.

At home all day. My boys [i.e., school] broke up. Rec’d of Edward Russell 3.11.10½ in full to this day for himself and his servant Richard Braizer. Rec’d of Mary Braizer 12d for breaking up; ditto of Joseph Hutson 6d for breaking up. Nothing more of moment. Paid John French 6d for 1 pack of playing cards…

At home all day. Gave the post boy 3d for a letter he brought for me from Mr Wilson. Molly Braizer here in the evening. I sent my maid to Framfield; she stayed all night. Rec’d of Robert Hook the guinea I lent him the 16th instant.

At home all day… Paid Robert Hook in goods 3/- for a rule he bought for me at Lewes.

Paid Francis Smith 12d, which with 9.19.0 I sent him the 9th instant makes £10 and is in full for the same sum paid to Messrs Margesson and Collison for me. I gave him 9.10.0 which he is to pay for me in town this week (see the next time I balance with him). This day Mr William Piper and his servant Mary Denmall were married at this church. At home all day. Rec’d of William Sinden ½ bushel wheat and ½ bushel bran. In the evening Robert Hook at our house 3 hours. I lent him in cash 1 guinea.