Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

216
Holland. Asked uncle if my sister must go home, he replyed yes—and
backed it with ' she'll do no great good where e're she go, and she's
as thick as long,' etc. He did not find fault with this sermon, tho
he did with the last, for not telling what the things above were.
1718. April 21st. The reason he found fault often with my
sermons, was because I did not consult him—for he says if I had
asked him, he would have told me, etc. Workmen came the 19th
they agreed not well whether they or uncle should hire the labourers
for this day. Uncle said, he warranted Mr. Rook designed to have
him for Wigton school. He could manage him as he pleased,—this
was to bring him down to a less bargain, etc.
1718. April 22nd. Sent gloves to be washed and a pair to be
changed by Robin—he had a. horse of Nan. Barnes' and another of
Tom's—would not give two shillings for him, etc. Contrived to
gett every one almost that came from Morpeth to bring a little load
of hair for the lime, so that it cost him nothing—neither will the
laths bringing.
1718. April 23rd. Went to G. Hummell's and visited a man in
a hectic fea,ver, recommended the Bath or Scarborough wells to him,
or at least CornhilP^^ jj^ \\^q ;Xorth—he liad a mixture of scun^y too,
sharp salts in the Ijlood, which nothing but those Avaters would wash
away. Physick or Ijleeding carryed away the good as well as the
bad. Had cake with butter, ver^- delicious.
1718. April 2 -1th. Secker^^^ jjreached a marriage sermon—some
call 'em evils, plague of man, etc.—But we should not play the
butcher upon that naked sex who have no arms, but for eml^races.
Some think any wives good enough, who have but goods enough
But take heed, for sometimes the bag and baggage go together.
Marriages are stiled matches—^yet amongst those many that are
married, how few are there matched. Husbands and Avives are like
locks and keys, that rather break than open, except the wards be
answerable.
1718. April 25th. Went to J. Storey's to dinner, very bad:—
wonder uncle will go to such places, but any Avhere to save a dinner
Had wine to make amends, has taken it for a desperate debt, and
cannot gett it of. Was at the race, mean diversion. G. Brown said
Mr. Dunlap said he had been often tired with men's i^reaching. but
should never Avith mine, he thought. Mr. Flower complemented me
upon the same 'score.
1718. April 26th. A man ridden over yesterday and almost
killed. Mr. Carnaby swoi-e away Mr. Hall's^^^ life, and Colonel
'°'
A sanative spring between Cornhill-on-Tweed and Learmouth, now
ahnost forgotten, was in high repute in the eighteenth century. Cf. Wallis,
Northiimherland, vol. i. p. 1.5.
'^^ Sermon on A Wedding Ring ' fit for the Finger, or the Salve of Divinity,
etc.,' 1658, by William Seeker. The autlior died circa 1681. Cf. Dictionary of
National Bio'jiriph y.
John Hall of Otterburn, was out in the '15, was tried, found guilty of
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high treason, and was executed at Tyburn on the 13th July, 1716.