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In the morning got up, and I with Thomas Durrant went up to Master Piper’s for some butter. Paid 6d for a pound. Called at John Vine’s for a 1d milk. Just before churchtime my mother and brother and Mr Beard and his wife came in, and they with myself and nephew went to church… They all dined at our house on 2 roasted ducks (of our own breed), a piece of bacon, a leg of mutton, cauliflowers and carrots, with a currant pond pudding boiled. They stayed and drank tea at our house, as did John Vine Jr and his wife, and all went away about 7 o’clock. Our maid at church in the afternoon.

After they were gone, read one of Tillotson’s sermons wherein he shows the method and instructions for keeping a truly religious fast, and which I think an excellent sermon. I also read the Bishop of London’s letter to the clergy and inhabitants of the cities of London and Westminster, written in the year 1750 on occasion of the 2 shocks of an earthquake felt in the two cities in the same year. He exhorts all degrees and ages of mankind to amend their lives and return unto the Lord their God. I think it a very good thing. It seems to be written with that earnestness of spirit as becomes one who has the care of so many souls committed to his charge…

At home all the morning. My brother dined at our house on beans and pork. After dinner he and I set out for Lewes, both on one horse. My business was to borrow £40 of Mr Rideout on my mother’s account, but could not. Drank tea at Mr Hook’s. I was in company with my uncle Hill at the White Horse where he informed me that Mr George Beard and his wife intended to come and dine with me tomorrow. As Mr Hill, Mr John Fuller, Mr Atkins and myself sat a-drinking, Mr Hill and John Fuller laid the following bet: provided John Fuller is not married before Xmas next, he is to give Mr Hill a fore-quarter of beef weighing 20 stone. And if he is married before Xmas next, then Mr Hill is to give Mr Fuller £4 [twice the price] for a fore-quarter of beef of 20 stone. I called on Mr Hutchins, William Ditch and T. Peckham for some money, but could not get a farthing. Spent 10½ for horse, turnpike and all. Came home about 9 o’clock.

At home all the morning. About 11 o’clock walked over to Framfield. Dined at my mother’s on bread and butter and biscuit… After dinner Moses and I walked down to Mr John Smith’s of Hempstead in order to look at his wool, but he not being at home, we looked at it but did not buy it. Came back and drank tea at my mother’s, and my brother and I came home together on horseback about 7 o’clock. My brother stayed about 30 minutes and carried home Peter Adams’ clothes.

At home all day. This day the wife of William Bristow was buried; our maid at the funeral. Paid Mr Derwas, Messrs William and Cluer Dicey’s rider, 36/- in full by my account, though by his there is 10/6 more due. But I can swear to the payment of the same. (See the 8th of March, 1755.) We dined on pork and beans. Mrs Vine the younger drank tea with us.

Mr Collison went away immediately as soon as he got up. My brother stayed and breakfasted with us and went home immediately. William Burrage at work again today. About 12 o’clock Peter Adams called on me to go with him to Ringmer in order to see the people who were eye-witnesses of his abuse on Whitsun Tuesday, which I accordingly did. We found James Carter, John Mitchel, David Tippings and Dorothy Presnal, all eyewitnesses of his and my abuse, which they say was very great and in their opinion insufferable. We called at John Martin’s, William Dicker’s, T. Peckham’s and Francis Turner’s. I spent 12d. Mr Adams (though I went in a manner purely to oblige him) could not agree very well for going out in a hurry. I went without any money in my pockets and upon that account got him to pay 3d for me, upon which he very tauntingly asked me whether my wife would not let me carry any money in my pockets for fear I should either lend him some or pay some for him. So one word rose to another until I fairly brought him under. After we came home, I went down with his horse in company with Mr Elless. Came home about 10 o’clock. My family dined on peas and bacon.

At home all days William Burrage Jr here all day a-helping me garden. Dame Vinal all day a-washing. Both dined with us on bacon and beans. In the evening Mr Collison and my brother came. Both stayed all night… Paid Dame Vinal 9d for 1½ days’ washing. This day drew out a barrel of beer containing 8 doz.

At home all the morning. Wrote my London letters. Drew on Messrs Margesson and Collison for £10 payable to Mr John Crouch or order… Also advised Dawson of my drawing on him. Dame Vinal a-washing, ½ the day for us. She dined with us on a piece of bacon and beans. After dinner went over to Framfield in order to meet Mr John Collison. Called as I went at Mr Peckham’s and bought his wool at 7½d per lb for my mother. Drank tea at my mother’s in company with cousin Elizabeth Langridge (that was) and the wife of cousin Samuel Langridge. About 8 o’clock Mr Collison came along, but wet to the skin; so he did not get off his horse, but appointed to lie at my house tomorrow night. My brother came home behind me, stayed supper and rode my horse back. Rec’d of my mother the 12/- paid Lambert on Saturday.

In the morning sent Roger Vallow over to Framfield with my mother’s flax etc. James Marchant breakfasted with us. My wife, self and nephew at church in the morning; the text in 1 Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” We dined on a piece of bacon, cauliflower and pond plum pudding. After dinner my maid went to Laughton to inquire after a dozen of scythes sent me from Mr Roase’s the 22nd of June and which I never heard of until that day. Mr Roase called at my house. Just before churchtime in the afternoon Mr John Collison came in, and he, my wife, self and nephew went to church. The text in Romans 8:13: “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” After church I called a vestry concerning allowing of Trill’s people more than a crown. The majority of the vestry agreed that 5/- was a sufficient allowance; so I paid them it this month and am to continue it. I payed the poor as under;

To Trill	0.5.0
To Wood	0.4.0
To Dame Pilfold	0.6.0
To John Streeter for doing for do.	0.3.0
To Babcock	0.4.0
	1.2.0

I balanced the cash account with Mr John Collison and paid him 7.1.3 in full of that account. I also balanced the goods account and paid him in cash 31.7.9, which…leaves due to balance £16 besides that of Samuel Virgoe’s. Mr Collison stayed and drank tea with us. I went and brought him going on his road to Chiddingly. My servant found the scythes at Wickerson’s at Laughton where they had lain ever since they were sent, they having no directions. Gave Mr Collison my draft on Mr Robert Dawson for 2.19.10 …payable to Messrs Margesson and Collison or order, which, if he gets, is to be placed to the new cash account.

Mr French and I in the morning, hearing that Richard Hope’s servant was with child, went up and talked to her about it, and also to her master and mistress concerning her being a parishioner by living in their service. To the first the poor ignorant creature answered she hoped she was not with child, though ’twas true, she said, she had deserved for it more than once or twice. But however I am very doubtful there is reason to suspect she is with child.

We then talked to her mistress (her master not being at home) about her settlement, who says they agreed with her from about July the first, 1755 to new Lady Day, 1756 after the rate of 35/- per year. At the expiration of this time they agreed with her from Lady Day, 1756 to Lady Day, 1757 after the rate of 30/- per year. As we came home, we met with Richard Hope, who confirmed all his wife had told us before.

About 12 o’clock Mr French and I went to Lewes in order to meet Peter Adams according to his summons, but he never came, and the justices John Bridger and William Poole told us the order was made invalid by accepting of his bond and we must sue him on the bond at common law. Mr Verral, Mr Plumer and Mr Aldersey told us the same, the last of whom wrote us a letter to Peter Adams. We also asked of their worships (as Mr French called them) concerning where the poor girl belonged; they all assured us to our parish.

Mr French and I dined at the White Hart on a piece of boiled beef and greens, a breast of veal roasted and a butter pudding cake. I balanced accounts with Mr T. Scrase as under and paid him 2/3 in full:

Myself Dr.
2 wigs	2.2.0
To a wager lost	0.3.0
To 2 lbs ran thread, paid for but never had	0.2.0
	2.7.0
Per Contra Cr.
To sundry goods at several times	1.14.9
To 1 old wig	0.10.0
Today in cash	0.2.3
	2.7.0

I drank tea at Mr Davy’s and came home about 9 o’clock, but not quite sober. Spent 3/6, all on the parish account… Paid Mr Aldersey for writing the letter, Paid Mr Davy 18d for pills for my wife. Paid John Lambert 12/- for flax and hemp bought for my mother.

In the morning Mr Jeremiah French came to call me in order to go and execute our summons and went to call Joseph Fuller in order to get him to go as a witness for us that we actually did serve him with the summons. As we were a-going to Peter Adams, we were so fortunate as to meet him not far from Master Potter’s, where after some talk and persuasions for him to consider and not give us trouble and put himself to an unnecessary expense, I served the summons on him. He seemed a little surprised at the sight of it and actually did behave better than I expected and promised to see us again tonight or tomorrow morning.

I came home and found Mr Roase at our house, who stayed and breakfasted with us, put went away directly afterward. I then rode over to Framfield to borrow some more sugar of my mother and also carried her walnuts. I received for them 2d and ½ gallon of black currants. Came home and dined on a piece of bacon and beans. At home all the afternoon. In reading Hervey’s Theron and Aspasio I find the following most fine and delightful passage quoted from out of one of our homilies:

The true understanding of this doctrine, we be justified freely by faith without works, is not, that this our act to believe, or this our faith in Christ, doth justify us: for that were to count ourselves to be justified by some act or virtue, that is within ourselves. But the true meaning thereof, is, that although we hear God’s word, and believe it; although we have hope and faith, charity and repentance, and do never so many good works: yet we must renounce the merit of all our virtues and good deeds, as things that be far too weak and insufficient, to deserve remission of sin, and our justification. We must trust only in God’s mercy, and that sacrifice which our High Priest and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, offered for us upon the cross.