[April] 26. - This morn my wife went to her mother . . . I sent by my wife to her father to see if he will give me £350, and I will make Hazlehead to her for jointure and release all his land but Oliver's farm. . .
[May] 20. - This morn I told my wife that if she would furnish me with £200 would secure her all Hazlehead [his estate] for her life, and she should have the half of it for the present, if Edward Mitchell1 would part with it; and she refused, unless I would release her land in Scholes, which I refused; and then I cast up my accounts since Christmas last . .
Sunday 23. - This day my wife, Edward Mitchell and I went to Holmfirth and heard Gamaliel Apleyard preach a very malicefull sermon, and dined at Godfrey Cuttill's; for which Godrey Mathewman paid for us 20d. And then we called on William Savile at Scholes Moor, and so came home; and after supper my wife and I walked into the Dickroyd.
Fast, 26. -. . . after dinner, I blooded my wife in her sore foot, which bled very well; then, after supper, at night, came two soldiers which had been quartered here, and Ed. Hawksworth, and kept a great stir about a bridle which was out of the way the last time they quartered here, and my wife was very extravagant in her old humorous way.
29. - This day I went with my wife to her mother, and by the way we laid our mare fast, and stayed there till 4 at clock, and then home again; here was nothing remarkable done this day....
June] 8. - This morn my wife began, after her old manner, to brawl and revile me for wishing her only to wear such apparel as was decent and comely, and accused me for treading on her sore foot, with curses and oaths; which to my knowledge I touched not. Nevertheless, she continued in that ecstasy till noon, and at dinner I told her I purposed never to come in bed with her till she took more notice of what I formerly had said to her, which I pray God give me grace to observe, that the folly of mine own corrupt nature deceive me not to mine own damnation... .
14. - This morn I rid to Edentree Head to borrow a pan for my wife to brew in; and so home again, six mile....
23. - This morn I went to Bull House, and thence with Captain Rich to Bolsterstone, to bowls, where I lost 6s and spent 6d, and so came home again at night, eight miles. This night my wife was worse in words than ever.
July 10. - This morn I made my wife a place for chickens . . .
23. - . . . My wife sold twenty-one strokes of meal and gave me for it £3 4s 2d.
29. - This day I stayed within till noon, and cast up my accompts since May Day, and find that my charges have been in these three months £10 5s 6d, which is more than my allowance will extend to by half, and still I owe Woodcock for meat....
30. - This day I stayed at home all day, by reason my wife was not willing to let me go to bowls to Bolsterstone . . .
[August] 6.-. . . This night my wife had a painful night of her foot, which troubled me so that sleep went from me. Whereupon sundry wicked worldly thoughts came in my head, and, namely, a question whether I should live with my wife or no, if she continued so wicked as she is; whereupon I ris and prayed to God to direct me aright....
11. - This morn I went with Edward Mitchell to Barnsley, and called at Jo. Shirt's by the way, where I had my hair cut, and paid for nails 12d; to Woodcock, for meat, which we had three weeks ago, 6s 6d; for tobacco for my wife, 10d; for thread, 2d; and spent ls 6d; and came by Coyts home with Jo. Ellisson. This morn I gave my wife 10s; who at night kept the gates shut, and said she would be master of the house for that night....