Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

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tilings that illustrate the domestic manners of the time, and some
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anecdotes of Dr. Bentley and the proceedings at Cambridge, not
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without interest.'
Thondinson l>egins the diary with the statement that ' I kept a
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journal at Cand)ridge, but in loose papers, and thought to tran-
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scribe it here, but found it not woi-th the labour, so only took an
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extract of most material things.' etc. Although it has been decided,
after much consideration, not to print in this volume the entries
—occupying almost a third part of the MS.—^made before he took
orders, originally written between 1715 and the 10th of June, 1717,
a few extracts shall be given.
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1717. April 1. Uncle John is against my going into orders at
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London, and my having a new Master of Arts gown. He prefaces
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his letter with "Frugality is a virtue in the richest persons," etc.
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1717. April 8. A young spark being a great gamester was
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called to an account, etc. He said they were his almanac, the
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four suits put him in mind of the four seasons of the year, there
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are as many cards as weeks in the year, as many court cards as
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months and as many spots as days. ^Vlien he looked upon the
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king and queen they putt him in mind of his allegiance, the ten
of the Ten Commandments, the nine of the Nine Muses, the eight
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of the Eight Altitudes, the seven of the Seven Liberal Sciences,
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the six of the six days he ought to wox-k, the five of the Five
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Senses, the four of the Four Evangelists, the three of the Trinity,
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the two of the Two Sacraments, the ace of One God. His master
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said, " but you have forgotten the knave " ; he said that put him
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in mind of his worship's infonner.
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1717. April 20. Heard that Jno. Crow with several others
were taken up at Newcastle, and the conventicle was dispersed.
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The newspaper called him one of the deacons. John never discovered
that he went to a conventicle. . . . An order from the
government to enlarge Mr. Crow, etc. People about Newcastle
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complain lamentably of their grievances suffered from the soldiers
they say they must he ruined if they continue long.
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1717. April 24. . . . Charles told me a story of a strange
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young gent, in Northumberland that courted and mamed a lady
' near Hexham, and was afterwards found to l)e a woman.
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