THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LEONARD WHEATCROFT. 53 



harp; Euterpe, over wind music; Polyhymnia, of music; and 

 Urania, of astronomy. (Vide N. Bailey's Dictionary, 17 36 J] 



" My next jorney was to the Earl of Rutlands. The hearing 

 of my poetry there caused them to desire that I would come to 

 Haddon on my Lordes Birthday, and withall give his Honour 

 sum verses upon y" same, which I did, it being May 29, 1696, 

 his age being then 58. His Honnour being no little pleased 

 with them (and all the nobility besides), gave us rare enter- 

 tainment, and sumthing besides. 



"Sep. 12, 1696, my son Leonardus came from London to 

 see me and all his Relations, and I at his retourne went 

 agatered* with him as far as Howbrooke [Holbrook, near 

 Horsley] , and there we parted Sep. 28. 



" Then coming hom, I did little stir abroad, no further than what 

 concerned my clerkes business till June 17, 1697. Then did my 

 daughter Sarah and I take a jorney into Yorkshire on foot [he at 

 the age of 70, and "Madam" Sarah at the age of 22], to 

 see my tow doughters Anna and Elizabeth at a towne called 

 Barwicke, above 50 miles from Ashover. We was 3 days in 

 going thither, and 3 dayes in coming home again, but blessed 

 be God, we found them all in good health and prosperity ; and 

 for 6 days we were very merry together, and the Lord make us 

 all thankfull. We found all well on our Retourne, which was 

 June 28, 1697. 



" But we had not long rested at hom, but we were both invited 

 a welcoming unto my cuzen, Samuell Billings, who had married 

 my sister Sarah's dough ter, by whom he had one child called 

 John. He was borne May 21, 1697. The welkuming was not 

 till July I. There was we all very merry for 2 dayes, and 

 we did safe retourne. 



"After that I went to Matlocke with 12 staves, to get them 

 dyed blacke against my buriall, intending them for those who 

 carried me to my grave: this was July 9, 1697. 



[CofiSns were not usually provided at that time for common 



* Ai^atcred, on the :^alc or way with, a word still in use. 



