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In the morning sent Thomas Durrant and Richard Fuller to the Wells for my brother’s daughter to come and be with my wife. Myself and servant at church in the morning… The banns between John Inman and Elizabeth Akehurst were published today for the first time. We dined on part of a sparerib roasted, a raisin batter pudding and applesauce. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… In the evening read one of Tillotson’s sermons, and in the evening T. Durrant and R. Fuller brought my brother’s daughter. Rec’d of John Mott 2/- on account of the widow Virgoe.

In the forenoon my brother came over and brought my horse but did not stay… We dined on some boiled tripe and pork bones broiled… At home all day and busy a-marking up goods that came by the carrier. My wife rather better, but really very bad.

In the morning delivered to a servant of Richard Vine’s, weaver at Laughton, in cash 3.10.0 in order for him to carry to Mr Gilmore, powder-maker in Battle, which when paid is in full on my account to Mr Gilmore.

This being the day appointed by proclamation for a general fast and humiliation, my servant and myself at church in the morning, the text in Jonah 3:5: “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.” Myself and servant at church in the afternoon, where we had nothing but prayers.

After we came home we dined on some boiled tripe. Paid Mr Ben Shelley in cash 4.8.6 in full for the same sum he paid for me in London this week… In the evening Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to whom I read one of Young’s Night Thoughts. My wife, poor creature, very bad.

Paid an apprentice of Mr Thomas Freeman’s of Mayfield 14/- in full for 1 dozen of women’s pattens and 1 doz of women’s clogs received by him today… A very hard frost in the morning and in the afternoon s pretty deal of snow fell. At home all day. My wife, poor creature, very ill. In the evening wrote out part of the parish bill and wrote some letters. Thank God pretty busy today…

…In the evening our late servant went away. I gave her 1 guinea for her attending upon my wife, who is, poor creature, quite ill again. At home all day. In the evening wrote out some bills…

Sent Mr Will Margesson enclosed in a letter by Ben Shelley (delivered to himself) the bank post bill I received of Mr Porter the 13th ult… At home all day; posted my day book. My wife, poor creature, quite ill. Mr Thornton smoked a pipe with me in the evening.

About 12:30 set out for Lewes, where I dined with Mr Madgwick on a piece of pork boiled, a knuckle of veal and greens (my family at home dining on the remains of yesterday’s dinner). Came home about 6:20. Paid Mr Ed Relfe 14/- in full; viz.,

For a hand whip for myself	0.5.6
for mending a surcingle for myself	0.2.8
To two girths and a surcingle for Mr Thornton	0.6.0

Spent upon myself, horse, ostler and turnpike, 5d. I drank tea with Mr George Verral. My brother came over in my absence and stayed till I came home, when I lent him my horse.

In the evening wrote my London letters. My wife rather easier today. I wish I could say I came home thoroughly sober, though in reality I was not much the worse for drinking, for I drank but a very small quantity and wrote 8 letters after I came home, but still my conscience tells me I had in some measure impaired the use of my reason (which I believe is not right so to do). Oh, the frailty of human resolution! But yet I hope through God’s grace to become more firm and settled in my resolutions and to act uniformly in all my sections. My wife very ill.

…Myself and late servant at church in the morning… We dined on a leg of mutton roasted, a raisin batter pudding and potatoes. No service at our church in the afternoon, Mr Porter preaching at Laughton. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening, to him and in the day I read 2 of Tillotson’s sermons, and part of Young’s Night Thoughts. My wife somewhat easier.

…We dined on some rashers of pork boiled. In the afternoon my mother Slater came to be with my wife a short time. My wife, poor creature, very ill. At home all day and thank God pretty busy.

After breakfast my father Slater went home. We dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, with the addition of an apple pudding, greens and an eel fried. In the afternoon my brother came over and stayed and drank tea with us, as did also Mrs Virgoe and Mrs Atkins. At home all day. My wife, thank God, somewhat better today.