For background information about the diaries and their transcribers see Introduction
April 1
Bellingham entry
Aprill ye 1st. A very wett day. Sr H. Ponsonby went very early. I had an account of ye sad defeat in ye N of Ireland, and yt honest Will Ponsonby was kill’d. I was wth ye Mayor and Mr. Barton and others, and after we were late att Mr. Hodgkinson’s.
Rawstorne entry
i at Preston & at prayers
Comment
For the Ponsonbys, see 31 March 1689 entry
April 2
Bellingham entry
Ye 2d. A very wett day. Great shooting att butts. Ye Yorkshire man lost. Here came an order for ye companyes to march to Liverpoole and Ormskirke. Tomlinson, Bolton, and Whitehead [possibly Thomas Whitehead, soon to become the town’s schoolmaster] came hither. We were up late.
Rawstorne entry
2 at Preston & at prayers, & after dinner went to Spitle moss to a shooting was at the gard on house wth Bro: ffleet Capt Withers Mr Langton & Mr Lemon and at Tom Bostocks & Tirlers.
April 3
Bellingham entry
Ye 3d. A fayr day, only some few showers. Ye companys march’d away, and return’d againe by a counter order. Dean Pullein and Alderman Singleton [not identified] came hither. I sup’t wth them att ye anchor and stayd till it was very late.
Rawstorne entry
3 at Preston & at prayers & at Walton Cop & returned to dinner went afyer to Walton to Wid. Andertos [hostelry, location unknown] wth. Capt Bellingham Mr Barton Mr Bland and 3 Irish ministers more
April 4
Bellingham entry
Ye 4th. A very fayr day. Sr John Coghill came here. I treated my friends att my Lodgings. Dined wth them att ye anchor. They went away after dinner. Barton, Whitehead [possibly Thomas Whitehead, soon to become the town’s schoolmaster], and I diverted ourselves att play, and att night I was wth Capt Davis [not identified], sonne to Hercules, who is going to Berwicke. Capt Stoughton [not identified] came from Liverpoole. He saw ye forces embarque, who went off wth very great alacrity.
Rawstorne entry
4 went to Penwortham [Priory] wth Dr Leigh & Mr lemon dyned there & came home
April 5
Bellingham entry
[No entry for 5th in Hewitson transcription, no explanation.]
Rawstorne entry
5 at Preston & at prayers, this day Sr. John Mollineux went from Preston I was ‘ith evening wth Capt. Bellingham to take leave wth ‘m goeing for Land [?London] at Will Atkinsons, 3 troopes of horse came in of Coll Langtons’ Regiemt.
April 6
Bellingham entry
Ye 6th. A fayr day; some raine in ye evening. Here came 3 troops of Collonell Langton’s regiment, who suppress’d the mutineers of Ipswich [see comment 19 March 1689]. I payd my way to ye mayor and severall others. Between this and ye 6th of May I was att London. Ye weather generally very fayr. On ye 6th of May I return’d wth my sister and neice.
Rawstorne entry
6 at Preston & at prayers 3 more of Langtone’s regiemt came in. was wth my brother at Tom Bostockes, one Leuietent. Gomey [not identified] quartered wth mee.
April 7
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
7 at Preston & at Church heard a stranger one Harrison [not identified]
April 8
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
8 at Preston & at prayers, the troops above menioned went away, & i’th evening came 3 others of Q [ueen] Dowagers Rgt: under Sr. Heorge [?George] Howet, in number about 30 a peice besides officers
Comment
Sir George Howett was one of the officers of James II who deserted the king shortly after the invasion of William of Orange. [1] Sir George may at one time have kept an actress as mistress who lampoons of the period suggest was a prostitute and a procurer for her daughter:
Proud Curtizan Marshall tis time to give o’re
Since now your Daughter, shee is turn’d whore
But be not discourag’d it was in Cambridge she fell
And her London Maidenhead you have still to sell. [2]
[1] D. Jones, The Life of James II.: Late King of England (J. Knapton, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; J. Nicholson, J. Sprint, and T. Ballard, in Little-Britain, 1703), 208, https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=aiSO4ZSTPpkC.
[2] John O. Rosenbalm, ‘The Restoration Players: Their Performances and Personalities’ (North Texas State University, 1974), 171, https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjhw5OgnvnUAhVII8AKHWi5CD4QFggoMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigital.library.unt.edu%2Fark%3A%2F67531%2Fmetadc500466%2Fm2%2F1%2Fhigh_res_d%2F1002777548-Rosenbalm.pdf&usg=AFQjCNH_cQlADWXcHoALt9vmWwTURzNXjw.
April 9
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
9 at Preston & at prayers, they march’d away by 8 & 3 more came in duned [?dined] at Ancor wth. Mr Sherriff and others Comssners: for the monthly assessment. layed it being i006l.13s-6d-per [mens]. was after at George Ratcliffs wth Capt Longworth & at Monsieurs [hostelry, location unknown] wth the officers & at Margret Wildings [hostelry, location unknown] wth Leuitent: Coll Bryarly: [not identified]
Comment
The reference to the visit of the commissioners and the monthly assessment is obscure.
April 10
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i0 at Preston. The Troops march’d a 8 went to Swansey’s dyned there my brother, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Standley [unclear which Stanley this is} Mr. Chaddocke, Mr. Lemon Mr. Chroyckly [not identified]
April 11
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
ii at Preston & at prayers & at White horse wth. Mr. Mayore & others to drinke K: & Q:’s health Will & M [King William and Queen Mary]
.
April 12
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
12 at Preston & at prayers & at Roger Haydock’s & the Ancor & Coffe hous
April 13
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i3 at Preston & at prayers & at Will AdKinsons wth my brother & Coz: Brooke who had dyned wth mee, to see the Souldiers come in ’twas the Ld fferrars regiemt. now Coll Beamond’s 5 or 6 foot Companies not yet arm’d, but otherwise indfferent – well.
April 14
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i4 at Preston Church heard Mr. Bland twice.
April 15
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i5 at Preston & at prayers, the ‘ souldiers march’d at 7 ‘ith’ morning
i5 at Preston & at prayers [double entry?]
April 16
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i6 at Preston & at prayers the souldiers that came in the day before the later brigade or mayety of Voll Beamond’s regiemt, march’d for Lancaster, was ‘ith’ weend [Mainsprit Weind] wth: Alderman Lemon & Sydall [?Sudell] & Mr Nowell
April 17
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i7 at Preston & went to Swansey’s [on the Marsh] toth’ bowles dyned there, Mr mayor Mr. [Alexander] Rigby oth’ towne Mr [Edward] Rigby of Gose [Goosnargh], Mr Lemon, Mr Chaddock Mr Chrockly [not identified] & my Bro
April 18
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i8 at Preston & at prayers & ith’ weend at Birchalls [hostelry, location unknown] wth Mr Mayor & Cousin Lomax Mr Lemon Mr Hobson &c
April 19
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
i9 at Preston & at prayers at Ancor & at Coffeehouse
April 20
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
20 at Preston & at prayers, there came in ith’ afternoone i3 companies of foot Coll: Beverage’s regiemt. Capt Dunken quartd wth mee, Capt. & adjutant
April 21
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
2i at Preston Church heard the Coll’s Chaplaine & Mr. Walmsley of Layland
April 22
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
22 at Preston, they marched before 7 & Mr. lemon & I went to Penwortham [Priory] dyned there & was at Boathouse wth my Bro: in our returne; the Newes of LondonDerry being left to the Irish, came to town.
Comment
The news of the fall of Londonderry was mistaken.
April 23
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
23 at Preston & at prayers & at Margret Wildings [hostelry location unknown] for 3 onely Mr Mayor sent for mee
April 24
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
24 at Preston & at prayers & at Ancor the Commssrs: for the royall Aid met and appoynted to meet againe the 7th: of may, was after at Margret Wilding [hostelry, location unknown] wth Mr. Mayor, Mr Holden Mr Norris [not identified] and Mr. Addyson [not identified] ’till 12 [Harrison inserts ‘care’? [1]] future
Comment
Shortly after the accession of William and Mary the hearth tax, disliked by Whigs and manufacturers and favoured by land-owning Tories, was abolished to be replaced later in the year by a land tax which ‘quickly became the bogeyman of the Tories’. [2] Would the Royal Aid have been an interim measure?
[1] Richard D. Harrison, ‘The Rawstorne Diary, 1687-89’ (typescript, nd), 113, Search Room, Lancashire Archives.
[2] Steve Pincus, 1688: The First Modern Revolution (Yale University, 2009), 384.
April 25
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
25 at Preston & at prayers forenoon and after, being St. Marks day, & at Coops [hostelry location unknown] for 3 onely wth Mr Mayor & others.
April 26
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
26 at Preston & at prayers & at the Leet Court, Mr. Gregson Gave the Charge to’th’ Jury
April 27
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
27 at Preston & at prayers my brother & Sister dyned wth us ‘ith’ evening came into Towne part of Mayoe Generall Kirks regiemt. 7 Companies Leuietent: Mortimer his sonne & sent to get mee
April 28
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
28 at preston church heard a stranger came out of Ireland 2.
April 29
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
29 at Preston & at prayers & at Ancor wth. Capt Withers, Capt Bury Capt Collier [latter two officers not identified] & others.
April 30
Bellingham entry
[no entry]
Rawstorne entry
30 at Preston & at prayers, after dinner went to Walton wth Dr Leigh & Mr Bancks [possibly Tim Banks], was at Nans [hostelry location unknown].
