Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

80
Dr. Bainbridge was sent from Cambridge,—to read lectures de
Palis et Axis ; but lett them that brought him hither, return him
thither, and teach him his rules of syntaxis.
1717. Sept. 18th. Physicians say, a child born in tlie seventh
month will live, but not in the eighth. Mr. Hall knew a woman in
Scotland that never went more. Some say that the Israelites when in
Egypt and their children were slain (I think), it was when they were
commanded to increase and multiply, went but seven months with
child. Medea's restoring youth to Jason's old father CEson, was
nothing but making his grey hairs black. And from such hints most
of the fictions of the poets were taken.
1717. Sept. 19th. Virgil says women went ten weeks (sic) with
child, Matri longa decein tulerunt fastidia menses, speaking of
[space left]. Mr. Dulap says they had Burgundy wine at Burgundy
for 3d. and 5d. a quart, the finest sort of it cannot be transported,
but it will turn ; when a. gent, does but remove from one house to
another, he setts up a bush at the old house and sells it of.
1717. Sept. 20th. King William used to eat bacon and eggs at
ten of clock in the night, his physicians would dissuade him—he
replyed it agreed with him, he was a better judge of his constitution
than they—in some passion. He used to draw out great budgets of
bread and cheese in the field or camp—was a great lover of it.
1717. Sept. 21st. Shannon's regiment almost all cutt to pieces
and so was [space Ieff'\, Evans's regiment had forty men drop the first
jDcel of shot. Argyle had many men killed, but we do not love to
multiply our number of slain. Marr's men opened to the right and
left for the grey horse—Mr. Dulap. And there were 4,000 men that
were to flank or intercept Argyle on the side of Sterling,^'^ i^^^^ could
not gett over the morass. All this Mr. Dulap confirms.
1717. Sept. 22nd. Argyle full of waggish tricks—Marlborough
had some jealousy of his growing fame that year of the battle of
Oudenard—and opened all the letters came to him—he went once
into Walpole his secretary's camjD, and asked him the reason, and
threatened him—Walpole said it was by the duke's order. He said
both he and his master were scoundrels.
1717. Sept. 23rd. Cameron^'' is for having rewards equal in
another state, and so is Spanhemious,^^ tho a very learned man.
They say since there is not any merit in our actions, he that does
the most can deserve no more happiness or reward, than he that
does the least ; our Saviour's merits save us and we cannot suppose
any unequal distribution of them.
*"
This may refer to an engagement near Stirling in October, 1715. Cf.
Lang, Hixtorn of Scotlavd, vol. iv. pp. 199, 200. Political History of England,
Leadar, p. 251.
'^'
Qnery, David Camerarius, author of De Statu Hominis veteris simul ac
no)Jae Ecclesiae et Infdeliitm Conversiont, 1527.
""
Spanheim was one of the ablest classical scholars of his age, whose knowledge
of medals was unmatched. Cf. Macaulay, England, cap. xvii.