456 
LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY. 
sent out this year, the nests are found by means of Dogs. Qy. 
Since in mowing fields of Clover many nests of Pheasants are 
spoiled, would it not he right to turn a Pointer into such fields 
before mowing who might discover the nests so that the eggs might 
be preserved.” 
The original entry looks like 2 gs. (two guineas) per dozen, but 
I have ventured to interpret it two shillings. I have no idea what 
is paid for “ poached eggs ” in the present day, but 3s. 6d. an egg 
seems too high a price, not including the cost of collection which 
must have been considerable, and they would surely at a time 
when game was not so eagerly cultivated as it now is, be of less 
value than at present. The Mr. A. S. referred to was the 
Rev. Armine Styleman, Rector of Ringstead, and great-grandfather 
of Mr. le Strange of Hunstanton. He continued to reside at his 
Rectory after he came into the Hunstanton and Snettisham 
estates, and died there in 1803. Arthur Young mentions that 
“Mr. Styleman” farmed some 2000 acres of his own land in 
Snettisham, and speaks with approval of his enterprise, adding 
that he was the first in Norfolk to use the drill in sowing corn. 
On the 11th of August Dr. Sutton writes: “Mr. Styleman 
told me he had an account somewhere of the havoc done at sea in 
the memorable storm in 1703, when the coast was covered with 
wreck from Snettisham to Cromer.” 
Mr. le Strange was good enough to look through the note-book 
of Sir Nicholas le Strange, who lived in the early years of the 
18th century, but can find no mention of this storm; he has, 
however, some recollection of a small sketch in the margin of some 
diary or note-book, showing the sea dashing over Hunstanton Cliff, 
which must have been the result of a considerable storm. He 
sends me the following extract from Sir Nicholas le Strange’s 
Note-book (part ii. , p. 46) descriptive of a still earlier storm which 
occurred on the 2nd September, 1695 : 
“ There rose up in the night a very dreadfull Storme & Tempest 
w ch drove ashore the greatest p n of y e Southerne Collier Fleet 
then rideing over the Burnham Flatts & in the next morning the 
whole shore from Blakeney to Lynn was full of vessels aground & 
wreck. 3 disabled shipps were driven upon Holme Sands 1 large 
Yarmouth vessell upon the black rocks under y e Cliffe 3 upon 
Heacham Beach at y e greeve 3 more at y e entrance into y e Haven. 
