Thomas Turner

…Dame Durrant and her niece Gift Durrant drank tea at our house. In the evening I went down to Joseph Fuller’s, where I stayed till about 7:20. This day that shadow of a man Mr Will Piper come to inform me that his boy was to be made a Christian of [i.e., christened] tomorrow and that he expected I should stand godfather for it, I having in some measure before promised him; that is, so far as if he could get nobody else. But however the poor old wretch told my wife that he would [not] have she should come up tomorrow night, for he did not invite any to dinner with him but them only that stand sponsors. For if he were to invite his neighbors to dinner with him (as in gratitude he ought), they would not come half. And he could not or would not have the plague and trouble of getting a dinner for so many people, though I believe had not niggardliness been the only motive to prevent his asking his neighbors, there would have been no fear of their coming.

We dined on part of the root of a bullock’s tongue boiled, a rice pudding and potatoes. In the afternoon Mr Thomas Clarke, Mr Robert Nixon’s rider, called on me, and I paid him by one bill on Messrs Margesson and Collison, dated today, 30 days’ date, No. 368, payable to Mr Robert Nixon or order, value 3.11.0, which bill is in full on account of Messrs Bancroft and Nixon to this day. At home all day. Thomas Fuller called at our house in the evening and stayed some time, be being in liquor.

Took physic today… In the afternoon my wife went down to Mrs Atkins’s. Thomas Davy at our house in the evening.

Myself and servant at church in the morning… We had a brief read for the parish church of Edgar in the county of Middlesex, the expense of rebuilding which amounted to the sun of £1220 and upwards, exclusive of the old materials, to which brief I gave one penny. We dined on a plain suet pudding and turnips and potatoes. Myself and servant at church in the afternoon… In the first part of the evening in at Master Durrant’s. Came home about 7:10. In the evening and the day read 4 of Tillotson’s sermons.

…At home all day; it very sharp windy day. In the evening Thomas Davy at our house, to whom I read the sentence of the Court of Judicature at Lisbon in Portugal on the Duke Aveiro and Marquis Tavors with several more, who conspired and made an attempt against the life of his Most Faithful Majesty on the night of the 3rd of Sept last.

We dined on a light pudding, part of the root of a bullock’s tongue and potatoes boiled. At home all day. Very little to do. A most melancholy time.

Took physic today. We dined on a plain suet pudding and Savoy greens. At home all day. In the afternoon posted some London accounts.

After dinner walked down to Edmund Elphick’s to get in his debt, but could not. From thence I went to Framfield where I just stayed a few minutes, and then my brother and I walked to Uckfield in order to get a debt of Thomas Osborne, but when I came there, I found him absconded. I came back to my mother’s, where I drank tea. I came home about 6:50.

In the evening Master Hook and I walked down to Whitesmith to talk with Mr Osborne concerning his son’s debt; he promised me he would pay me by the 4th of March. We came home about 8:20. Master Hook supped with us.

We dined on the remains of Sunday’s dinner with the addition of some boiled tripe. Mrs Virgoe drank tea with my wife. At home all day. My brother went away in the morning. In the evening Joseph Fuller Jr smoked a pipe or two with me. A very sharp cold day, but no frost; the dust flies as much as in May sometimes.

After breakfast walked to Lewes… Gave Mr Sam Durrant in cash £63, for which he gave me a bill… Called on Mr Thomas Scrase and Mr Madgwick. I met at Lewes with my brother Sam Slater, who came home along with me. My family at home dined on the remains of yesterday’s dinner, as did I when I came home about 5:50, having neither eaten nor drunk anything in the time I was out except a bit of bread and 2 small glasses wine. My brother Slater stayed at our house all night. In the evening wrote my London letters.