Page:Sussex archaeological collections, volume 9.djvu/235

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

of a handsome entertainment. The text was 2d Sam. 22d chap. 40th verse. The minister divided his discourse into three heads:- 1st, he spoke of the benefits vouchsafed to this nation by Divine Providence; 2d, the thanks we ought to give for so great blessings; 3dly, he expatiated on the wily intrigues of the Church of Rome, whose constant endeavour it was to extinguish the whole community of Protestants, who are the true followers of the doctrines of Christ and his Apostles; and, in conclusion, he admired and wondered at the incorrigibleness of the Jacobites, their aptness to rebel, and their blind zeal in adhering, to the principles of Popery and superstition.

"April 10th.- My mother, to my great unhappiness, died in the 83rd year of her age, agreeable to the testimony I had of a death in our family on the 10th of May last.

"13th.- Having by the assistance of Master Weston, got 24 men together to carry my mother to Frantfield, we set out and passed through the town, and came to Luff's about noon. I spent 1s. on them, and we reached my brother Stone's about 2 o'clock. We put the coffin into the parlour, and went to Cripps', at the Greyhound, where I treated them with bread, beer, and tobacco, 8s. 6d., and with cheese, 2s. 6d. After paying them 2s. 6d. each, they returned to Mayfield.

"14th.- I went to Mr Whately's and paid him 8s. 6d. for reading the service and breaking the ground."

Master Gale, having reason to believe that his enemy old Kent intended to inform against him as being an unlicensed teacher, having gone round the parish and called upon his neighbours to certify to his good qualities, "his attachment to church and state, his sober life and conversation" the last of whom was old Mr. Diplock of the Moat, with whom be took part in a bottle of strong beer, in due time received his license, which, omitting the preamble, ran as followeth:

"To our beloved in Christ Walter Gaile, of the parish of Mayfield, in the Deanery of South Malling aforesaid, greeting.

"Whereas you have been recommended to us by the testimony of the ministers and churchwardens and many of the principal inhabitants of the parish of Mayfield, as a person of a sober and virtuous life, and of sound morals, and well qualified