Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

120
1718. May 13th. Esquire Coverley^o^ cutt down a seat Sir John
Ballantine-o** had made in Broomlield church—asked uncle's advice
he gott him a citation of Chancellour Nicholls, and they made Sir
John take it jjatiently and jDay 5^. l^esides.
1718. May 14th. " Chancellour Nicholls, I think, built a house of
brick, but did not quite finish it—A wagg writt on the front—' Thishouse
of brick, Was begun by old Xic '—in such a year—who, being
discovered, and asked to explain himself, said that would be time
enough when he had finished the house.
1718. May 15th. King Charles II. told bishop Wilkins,209 upon
his inventing a method to sail to the moon, that if he found any
crown-lands there, he desired he would seize them for him—and the
dutchess of Newcastle^io saying his invention was very ingenious, but
he had not contrived a place to inn at or lodge—he replyed, he left
that to her ladyshii?, who had built castles in the air all her life-time.
1718. May 16th. Aunt Eeed called me 'an idle fellow-—following
his hussys,' etc., and said she would tell my uncle when I came to-
Rothbury—staying something (sic) in town, etc., told by N. Fay.
Lettice and spinage will be fitt to be cutt in a week—cresses ready
now—sown a few turnips.
1718. May 17th R. Snowdon a little behind with the world,
since the building of this house—owes 201. to Tom, borrowed 20/. of
Christopher Little, out of his wife's portion. He, and indeed all here
abouts, had two bad years last for corn, etc. This Fenwick's mother
fell into the river, riding near it about Thropton haugh, and singing
—and was drowned.
1718. May. 18th. There used to be a horse-way to Thropton
from here straight through the meadows—a man stopt it up and
gave them a way by Newtown, almost as we go now ; but uncle,
considering that in a few years' time they might pretend that was no
high-way till of late, and so take that from them, so he made them
sign a Avriting, which uncle has to this daj.
1718. May 19th. H. Park owes uncle money—he says he never
expects the principle, he only desires the interest. Jon. Robson
owes him money too— yet he disputes paying tythe. Uncle has tythe
of Franc. Anderson^n the first year of improvement. Mrs. Isabel's
-"' The family of Calverley of Calverley, in Yorkshire, were considerable
and-owners in the parish of Bromfield. The diarist's grandfather, Richard
Thonilinson of Blencogo, was a trustee under the M'ill of Walter Calverlej-, in
1691. Cf. Yorkshire Diaries, vol. ii. pp. 46-47. Surt. Soc. Publ. No. 77.
-"'*
Sir John Balantine, physician, a native of Carres in Clydesdale, married
Anne, daugiiter and coheir of William Musgrave of Crookdake in the parish
of Bromfield, of which estate he purchased the grain tithes (and apparently twoseats
in Bromfield chancel) from the Calverleys in 1679- Cf- Hutchinson,
Cumhtrland, vol. ii. p. 303.
-"'
John Wilkins, D.D. , bishop of Chester, author of an Esfiay towards a real
Character and a P/ri/osopJncal Laiiyvuye, 1668, and of other curious works.
-'"
Margaret Cavendish, Ducliess of Newcastle.
''" Francis Anderson of Alnwick, gent., 9 Feb., 1715 6, took a lease for 21
years, from tlie Duke of Somerset, of a parcel of moor ground in Rothbury
Forest, near a place called (xilbourne.