Roger Whitley's Diary: March 1685

March 1685

1st Sonday, went twice to church, dined at home; Howseman's uncle with me; in the evening came Humfreys, stayd but awhile; then Jones & Saladine; I went first to Mr Martyn's but stayd not; then to take leave with Williams then with Brandon; then to Sir Edward Wood, his lady & daughter at home; after a while he & I went to the Cellar; dranck a bottle of wine, soe home.

2. Monday, I went to Lord Cheife Baron's chamber with Humfreys; then to Ward; walked awhile within the court; then to Mr Vernon; then to Sir Thomas Player; I discoursed awhile with Mr Winstanley; one Mr Knightly & another came in but stayd not; I went home to dinner; Sir Edward Wood & Zouche dined with me; Baskervile came after dinner; they presently parted; I went at 5 to Humfreys chamber where was Sir Robert Holmes; I stayd not; went with Humfreys & Wood to the Cheife Baron; there was Froude, Graham, Bernard, Hall &c; after the hearing, I went to Sir Robert Cotton; he was abroad; 3 daughters at home; then I went to Jones, there was Sir Edward Wood, Rogers & Maxwell; we parted at 9; went home.

3 Tuesday, yong cosen Whitley of Shotton came to me with another man (a stranger) with a letter from his father about his ants death to enquire after her will, estate &c. & to assist him; I advised him to informe himselfe by his ants & others about it, let me know what he could learne; till then I could not advise &c; I dined at home; went in the evening to Lord Maxfeilds, he was abroad; went to Duncombes, he was abroad; went to Garroways; saw Sir William Gulson; thence to the Swan, Mr Scotto, Millington, Sir G.G. & his sonne came to us; stayd till past 10; parted & went home 4 Wednesday, went to church in the morning, dined at home, went to church in afternoone, then to Aber. Chandlers with him; drank a glasse of wine; then to Mr Gerards at the Castle, he came downe to me; apointed to meete him at 8 clock; went to Lord Maxfields, stayd with him an houer; brought him in my coach to Lord Angleseys; called on Gerard & Adams; went to the Bull Head in Wood Streete; stayd till past 10, soe home.

5. Thursday, went about 11 to Humfreys, he was abroad; dined at home; after dinner came cosen Whitley of Shotton to give account of his ants businesse; also Mr Jones about Vosse; they stayd not; I went in the evening to Mr Winstalley, afterwards to the Swan to meete one Mr Fenwick about cosen Whitley's businesse; he brought another stranger with him (both unknowne to me) we stayd till neare 7; they left me. I sent for Mr Parsons to discourse about my suite in the Exchequer about defalcasons; he stayd above an houer; we parted; I went to Duncombe, stayd with him till about10, soe home.

6. Friday, I went to Auditor Dones; stayd above ½ houer with him; then came to the Temple; met Mr Ward in the court; he went with me in my coach to Cheapside; I dined at home; Mrs Jones with us; I went at 5 to Humfreys, he was abroad; thence to the Sunne Taverne where was Sir G.G.; his 2 sons, sonne=in--law & Mr Swinborne; I talked awhile with Sir G. in the outward roome; did not drink, left them; went to the 3 Tunns where was Mr John Chandler & Baskervile; the first stayd but a glasse or 2; Baskervile parted at 9, went home.

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7 Satorday, I went about 10 to Humfreys, stayd till neare 12; he came in my coach to Cheapside; dined at home; cosen Morgan with us; went past 3 to the auditors; there was Humfreys, Froude, Bernard & Graham; they gave me a fortnight to bring in a further account; I went about 6 to Mr Cook for the paper I left with him; then to Sir Edward Wood, saw his daughter; then to Jones spoke with Sir John Hanover in his by roome, there came in Sir Edward Wood, Maxfeild, Rogers & Coling. stayd till past 9; went home. soone 8 Sonday, went twice to Parish Church, dined at home; Jones & Saladine came to me past 4 stayd awhile; I went to Sir Robert Cotton; there was Sir William Craven; he presently went away; I stayd till neare 8; went to Jones, there was Wood, Coling, Roger, Maxfield & Watkins; stayd till neare 10; left them went home.

9 Monday, I dined at home; Mr Lee with us; went to meete Lord Maxfield before 4 at Mr Euens chamber in Lincolns Inne; met Sir G.G. & his sonne in the court below; Lord Maxfield & we walked there ½ houer; Sir William Cooper came to us, stayd not long, I left them there; went to Humfreys; stayd with him ½ houer; then to Grays Inne; met Owens in the court & stayd with him awhile talking; then met Mr Adams there; talked awhile with him; then went to the 3 Tunns Taverne where was Sam Gerard; then came Lord Maxfield, Sir G., his eldest sonne, sonne in law, a yong lawyer unknowne to me; we had oysters & a flasque of wine; stayd till neare 9; I went to Trawton's; he gave me a letter from Roger; went home.

10. Tuesday, Mr Page let me blood, 2 of my daughters & several of the servants, Forster came to me about Rogers money; dined at home; went in the evening to Kents; then to the Cellar; there was Wood, Rogers, Maxfield & Duppa; stayd till past 9; went home .

11 Wednesday, went to Humfreys; then to the Post Office to search, &c. dined at home; Humfreys with us; after dinner came Mr Warburtons brother of Dublin to give me account of what I wrote to his brother about Irish franck letters; also Grise about the money Roger owed him; they stayd not long; I went to Garroways, talked with Gulston, Polexn & 2 other strangers; sate with them; met Saladine at the doore; went with him to Cosens shop to reade the lists of the members newly chosen; came home; Morgan Whitley came to me; after him his brother John; they soone away, went to bed.

12. Thursday, Foster came about Marbery's businesse & Mr Warings clarke for a bill for 30 li. on Rogers account for Phinsly; I dined at home; Mrs Clara Wood with us & Mr Zouch, he stayd till past 3; then came Gerard, stayd till past 4; then Mr Bird (our lecturer) stayd about ½ houer; then Browne (the cook) about Rogers money; I stayd at home all day, the Lady Guilliams came about 7, stayd ½ houer with my daughter..

13. Friday, dined at home; Browne came about Roger's businesse; went in the evening to Humfreys then to Lord Maxfield; Sir G.G. was there but stayd not; I called at Troughton's for a letter; went to the 3 Tuns in Lad lane; there was Gold, both Chandlers, Tims, Page, Baskervile & 2 other strangers; soone went away; past 9; Sir G. stayed with Tims, Page, Baskervile & another till past 10.

14. Satorday, dined at home, cosen Whitley of Shotton & brother Peter with us; they went away after dinner; in the evening I went to Sir Edward Wood, stayd 1/2 houer with him & his lady & daughter; went thence to Jones where was Roger & Maxwell; Coling came to us; I spoke with Sir John Hanmer in the next roome about election at Flint; I stayd with Coling, Rogers & Maxwell till past 9; then home 15. Sonday, twice tat Parish church; dined at home, Mrs Wood & Tovey with us; in the evening Baskervile & Saladine came, dranck a glasse of wine; past 5 I went with Jones & Mrs Wood to the other end of towne; left Tovey at home; went to Sir Edward Wood; stayd with him, his Lady & daughter till past 7; went to Jones; there was Maxwell, Coling & Duppa; stayd till past 9; so home.

16. Monday, Humfreys came about our accounts; went away past 9; I dined at home; went in the evening to meete cosen Whitley & Fenick at the Swan; another .man came with them; we dranck a bottle of wine; I went thence to Jonathan's, afterwards Dashwood, Lane & Vanham there; took a dish of tey; went with them to the Sunne; stayd till past 9; parted & went home.

17. Tuesday, dined at home; Mr Turton came & stayd an houer then cosen Baskervile about Sarah; I went to Humfreys then to Sir Edward Wood; there was his Lady, daughter & another lady at tables; stayd ½ houer went home.

(28v March 1685 18. Wednesday, Humfreys came about accounts; stayd till past 11; yong Turton called but stayd not; I went with Humfreys to Graham's chamber about the certificates, he was in bed; apointed 4 in the afternoone; went with Humfreys to Philips, he was abroad; thence I went to Done; he was also abroad; spoke with his man then home; Mrs Rachell Biddolph came to us at dinner then Mrs Tovey; after dinner came Turton, stayd awhile; then Abney about Rogers businesse, stayd not; then Browne about Rogers money; stayd not; Lady Wood & her daughter came in the afternoone; I went in the evening to theire lodgings, stayd awhile with Sir Edward then to Jones, Rogers & Maxwell came to me; stayd till past 9; then home.

19. Thursday, Wrigley came & stayd about ½ houer, dined at home; went in the evening to Duncombe; found Philip Howard with him; he stayd not; I stayd an ½ houer; found John Saladine at Cosen's shop; he gave me 3 French Gazettes; walked awhile in the passage; parted with him; met Mr Steele; he told me Sir Charles Gerard & Hawtrey were chose at Branford; I went to Mr Page; Langham the apothecary came in; gave account of Mrs Page being better; he left us & I went presently after him; went home..

20 Friday, Mr Kynds came about Rogers money & Troughton with a message from Minshall that he had writ twice but had no answer &c;. I dined at home; in the evening Lady Wood & daughters came; about 7 I went to the 3 Tunns; there was 2 Chandlers, Page, Oneby & Baskervile; Sir G.G. & another gentleman (a lawyer) came to another roome, we drank a pinte of wine; they went presently away; I went to the other company againe; Chandlers & Baskervile left us; then came Richardson; after him Mr Lewes & Morgan Whitley; we stayd till 11 then home.

21. Satorday, Humfreys came about accounts; but stayd not; then came Cosens & trimmed me; I went to both the Auditors to aquainte them that we could not get the Certificates from Mr Graham &c; dined at home; went att 4 to Auditor Philips there was Done, Froude, Graham, Bernard, another man, Humfreys & myselfe stayd till 6 ; went to Lord Maxfeild, went to Jones about 7; met there Coling & Bebington stayd with me about ½ houer, then came Rogers, Maxfeild & Duppa; we stayd till neare 10; then home.

22. Sonday, twice at church; dined at home; Morgan Whitley with us; after evening sermon Sir Thomas Gold, Mr Bird & Baskervile came & drank a bottle of wine; about 6 I went out with my daughters; at 7 went to the Sunne Taverne to meete Mr Lewes; there came with him Thelwell & MorganWhitley; Thelwell went away; about 9 came in Mr Cook, drank a glasses of wine; we parted before 10.

23. Monday, Mr Kent came to me about Roger; Mr Humfreys about drawing my accompts; I called at Mr Kents but he was abroad; I spoke with his wife; I dined at home; my Lady Wood & her daughters & Mr Lewes with us; after dinner came Mr Dashwood; he & Lewes stayd till 7, Mr Jones came did not stay; I stayd at home all night.

24. Tuesday, Mr Duncomb came to give me Lord Rochester's answer then Pickmore from his master; I dined at home, was trimmed by the next barber, went in the evening with daughters to Mrs Booth, saw her & her daughter; retorned before 8.

25.Wednesday, Humfreys came about the accounts; then Mr Jones to settle our accounts; Mrs Tovey to the child; she dined with us & brother Peter; about 4 I went to visit Mr Whitley a marchant; stayd but a while; thence to Sir Thomas Player; where was his Lady, sister & a man reading a parchment writing. they went out; we talked of disbanding businesse; there came in another man; I left the roome; the man stayd not; then came in a widdow (I know not her name); I left her, Sir Thomas & his lady in discourse; I came home & soone after to Jones Cellar; found Roger there; had much discourse with him; then came Coling (Roger went away) then Maxwell, Duppa, Progers, Rogers & Mr Coling's sonne; we parted past 10; went home..

26. Thursday, Sir G.G. his sonne & Swinborne came to me; stayd but a while; then Mrs Norman with a letter to get a suite of clothes for her husband; I went to the Lord Chiefe Justices his servant told me he was in physick; went to Baskervile, he was abroad, spoke to his wife in the shop. dined at home; Tovey & Mr Zouche with us; he went away about 4 Mr Vausse of Shotton came to see me; I went to Humfreys about 5.

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1685 March 26. I went from Humfreys & walked about 1/2 houer under the trees with Morgan Whitley to aquainte him with the abuses his brother Roger had bin guilty off &c; I went thence to the Swan in Cornhill to the Spanish Club; there was Millington, Bowey, Goodyeare, Canon, Scotto, yong Sitwell & Parrot, we parted about 10.

27. Friday, Humfreys was with me an houer; then Tuttle came to know how I was after my phisick; then came Norman to get a suite of old clothes; I excused myselfe that I was in physick; could not discourse long with him; we dined at home; after dinner came Mr Ben Gerard to shew me a letter from Chester about the election for the county & to receive the money I owed him; then came Alderman Lewes, stayd but a while; then Barnes the bit maker for money Roger owed him; I told him I would discourse my sonne & tell him more the next week; then came Mr Kynde for Roger's money but I did not see him; then Mr Page to let my daughter Biddolph blood; Lady Wood & her daughter came in the evening & supt with us; Mr Humfreys man came with a message from his master; stayd at home all night.

28. Satorday, Humfreys called on me, did not stay; I dined at home; after dinner came Tuttle then Lee; drank a glasse of wine; went away before 4; I stayd at home all day; Cosens came & trimmed me.

29. Sonday, I dined at home; stayd within all day; after supper Baskervile came to me; then Lewes & Morgan Whitley; stayd till 11; then parted..

30 Monday; Vausse of Chester came to see me; stayd not; then I went to Humfreys & Ward; retorned to dinner; cosen Brereton & Tovey dined with us; Lady Wood & daughter came to us; I went to Auditor Philips past 4; there was Done, Ward, Humfreys, Froude, Graham & Bernard; we parted before 6; I called on Sir P. Neale; there was Lady Marleborough & Shephard; we drank 2 or 3 glasses of wine; thence I called on Tuttle; soe to the Cellar; there came Kent, stayd not long. then Maxwell & Rogers; we parted before 10.

31. Tuesday, I went about one to Mr Jones, there was Roger & both Kents; we dined together about 4, there came an attorney (stranger to me) about money Roger owes a bit maker, I called for a pinte of wine; went away to Lord  Maxfield; stayd with him an houer then to Sir G.G.; found him in Grays Inne walkes; stayd with him till past 7; then home; after supper Oneby, Baskervile & Barroby came to me; then Richardson; they parted neare 11.