Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

90
living that have been witnesses of his actions—when one had killed
A soldier of his, and run to a convent for sanctuar}", he complained to
the emperour and desired justice, the emperour told him he was
fled to sanctuary ; nay, says my lord, and you keep sanctuarys for
murtherers, I have no more to say—and so went with 40 or 50
granadiers and entered the convent, and jDulled the criminal from
the altar, which he was embracing, by cutting his hands and fingers,
etc., had a gallows erected just before the palace, and (I beleive,
himself) hanged him in the emperour's sight.
1717. Nov. 8th. Lord Peterborough^o^ reduced Arragon, Valentia
and Catalonia in one year, and yet the ministry instead of thanking
him, the ministry called him to an account, etc.—and yet could
thank the French refugee (as he called him). He took Barcelona
with 7,000 men, when there were 8,000 in the town. When they
came to attack the citadel, that has communication Avith Barcelona
(where the prince of Hesse Cassel "was killed), coming to their
entrenchments and not being able to gett over, he bid the granadiers
throw him over, and being over he bid them follow him, and he
would engage they should demolish them. There were 1,400 men
killed in a quarter of an hour at the taking that citadel. He would
•say to the common soldiers, come, my ' lads, you shall all be generals
—and the devil take the hindmost,' etc.
1717. Nov. 9th. A bagnio in Edinburgh, marble floor, and the
walls and arch with square tile after the Dutch fashion in chimneys
kept warm in a wood thing held together by a thing called ' cratch,'
the refuse of the salt-pitts, the wetter the harder it is, very good for
tiles of houses, etc. Much stung with the reflection of being suspected
guilt}^ of a lye, about the bowel of puiich Mr. Dulap made us.
Uncle said they would fain have Mrs. Dolly and me acquainted, but
uncle Robert will not hear of it, he will not allow that she can dress
a dish of meat well—indeed, I must confess (says uncle John) they
have not had the best education ; but your uncle Robert has one in
view that has both a greater fortune and a genteeler woman ; tho
she (Dolly) is a frugal woman.
1717. Nov. 10th. Mr. Colingwood and his two daughters came
to Warton on Friday, they (Mrs. Park said) would have had me if
uncle had been away, or come to see me. We should have gone
yesterday, but it was such a bad day that Mr. Dulap did not come
up to ask, etc. This day Mrs. D. came to church with Mr. Park,
her father and sister went home this morning. Talking of Mr.
Douglas, 1*^^ uncle said that uncle Robert had rather I should have
""*
Charles Mordaunt, third Earl of Peterborough (1658-17;^5). His conduct
as Commander in Chief of the British Forces in Hpain was the subject of a
Parliamentarj' inquiry ; he was exonerated and, 10 Feb., 1710 1, received a vote
of thanks for his services.
""
Mr John Douglas, of Scottish origin, made a large fortune as an attorney
in Newcastle, and purchased Matfen circa 16S0. By his wife Alicia, daughter
of Michael Hutchinson of Leeds, he had issue (at least) seven daughters as well
as a similar number of sons, and died about 1727.