Year 1600

June 10th, I set out from London. Jun. 18th, I, my wife, Arthur Rowland, Mistress Marie Nicols, and Mr. Richard Arnold came to Manchester.

July 3rd, the Commission sat in the Chapter House.

July 7th, this morning, as I lay in my bed, the thought came to me to write a book, "Of Certain Differences of Bodies and Spirits."

July 8th, I wrote to the Lord Bishop of Chester by Mr. Withenstalls.

July 10th, Mr. Nicols and Bartholomew Hikman came.

July 14th, Francis Nicols and Bartholomew Hikman started for home.

July 17th, I told the fellows to come to me by nine the next day.

July 18th, it is to be noted of the great unexpected reconciliations that happened this Friday; for in the forenoon (between nine and ten), when the fellows were in great doubt of my heavy displeasure because of their manifold misuse of themselves toward me, I received them with all mildness, and showed them most of the things that I had brought to pass in London for the good of the college, and told Mr. Carter, going away, that I must speak with him alone. Robert Leigh and Charles Legh were by. Secondly, the great suit between Redishmer and me was stayed by Mr. Richard Holland's wisdom. Thirdly, the organs were admitted upon condition. And fourthly, Mr. Williamson's resignation was granted, for a preacher to be gotten from Cambridge.

July 19th, I lent Randall Kemp my second part of Holinshed's Great Chronicle for two or three weeks. He restored it at Newton.

July 31st, we held our audit, I and the fellows, for the two years last past in my absence: Oliver Carter, Thomas Williamson, and Robert Birch, Charles Legh the elder being receiver. I read and gave to Mistress Mary Nicolls her prayer.

Aug. 5th, I visited the grammar school and found great imperfection in all and every one of the scholars, to my great grief.

Aug. 6th, I had a dream after midnight of my working the philosopher's stone with others. The dream was after midnight, toward day.

Aug. 10th, I, my wife, daughter Katharine, and Mary Nicolls received the Eucharist.

Aug. 30th, a great tempest of strong wind S.W. from 2 till 6, with rain.

Sept. 11th, Mr. Holland of Denby, Mr. Gerard of Stopford, and Mr. Langley, commissioners from the Bishop of Chester, authorized by the Bishop of Chester, called me before them in the church at about three of the clock in the afternoon, and delivered to me certain petitions put up by the fellows against me, to answer before the 18th of this month. I answered them all at the same time, and yet they gave me leave to write at leisure.

Sept. 16th, Mr. Harmer and Mr. Davis, gentlemen of Flintshire, within four or five miles of Hurden Castle, visited me.

Sept. 29th, I burned, before Mr. Nicols, his brother, and Mr. Wortley, all of Bartholomew Hikman's untrue acts.

Sept. 30th, after the departing of Mr. Francis Nicolls, his daughter Mistress Mary, his brother Mr. William, and Mr. Wortley, at my return from Deansgate, to the end of which I brought them on foot, Mr. Roger Kooke offered and promised his faithful and diligent care and help, to the best of his skill and power, in the chemical processes, and that he would rather do so than be with anyone in England; which promise of his may the Lord bless and confirm! He told me that Mr. Anthony had treated him very liberally and kindly, but he told him that he had given his word to me. In this he valued the faithfulness of keeping such a promise.

Oct. 13th, let it be remembered that Sir Georg Both came to Manchester to visit Mr. Humfrey Damport, counselor of Gray's Inn, and so came to the college to me; and after a few words of discourse we agreed as concerning two or three tenements in Durham Massy in his occupation: that he and I, with the fellows, would stand to the arbitration of the said Mr. Damport after his next return here from London. John Radclyf, Mr. Damport's man, was with him here, and Mr. Dumbell, but they did not hear our agreement; we were in my dining room.

Oct. 22nd, I received a kind letter from the Lord Bishop of Chester on behalf of Thomas Billings for a curacy.

Nov. 1st, Mr. Roger Coke began to distill.

Nov. 4th, the commission and jury found the titles of Nuthurst due to Manchester against Mr. James Ashton of Chaterdon.

Nov. 7th, Oliver Carter his...... before Mr. Birch, Richard Legh, and Charles Legh, in the college house.

Dec. 2nd, college audit. Allowed my due of £7 yearly for my house rent till Michaelmas last. Arthur Dee a grant of the chapter clerkship from Owen Hodges, to be had if £6 were paid to him for his patent.

Dec. 20th, I borrowed of Mr. Edmund Chetam, the schoolmaster, £10 for one year upon plate: two bowls, two cups with handles, all silver, weighing together 32 oz. Item, two pots with cover and handles, double gilt within and without, weighing 16 oz.

June 10th, set out from London. Jun. 18th, I, my wife, Arthur Rowland, Mistress Marie Nicols, and Mr. Richard Arnold came to Manchester.

July 3rd, the Commission met in the Chapter House. July 7th, this morning, as I lay in my bed, it came into my mind to write a book, "On Certain Differences of Bodies and Spirits." July 8th, I wrote to the Lord Bishop of Chester by Mr. Withenstalls. July 10th, Mr. Nicols and Bartholomew Hickman came. July 14th, Francys Nicols and Bartholomew Hikman went homeward. July 17th, I told the fellows to come to me by nine the next day. July 18th, it is worth noting the great pacification, beyond what man could expect, that happened this Friday. In the forenoon, between nine and ten, the fellows were greatly in doubt of my heavy displeasure, because of their many wrongs against me, but I received them with all kindness, and showed them most of the things that I had brought to pass in London for the good of the college, and told Mr. Carter (as he was leaving) that I had to speak with him alone. Robert Leigh and Charles Legh were there. Secondly, the great suit between Redishmer and me was stopped, through the wisdom of Mr. Richard Holland. Thirdly, the organs were admitted on condition. And fourthly, Mr. Williamson's resignation was granted, so that a preacher could be brought from Cambridge. July 19th, I lent Randall Kemp my second part of Hollinshed's Great Chronicle for two or three weeks. He gave it back at Newton. July 31st, we held our audit, I and the fellows, for the two years last past in my absence: Olyver Carter, Thomas Williamson, and Robert Birch, with Charles Legh the elder as receiver. I read and gave Mistress Mary Nicols her prayer.

Aug. 5th, I visited the grammar school, and found great imperfection in every one of the scholars, to my great grief. Aug. 6th, I had a dream after midnight of my working the philosopher's stone with someone else. My dream was after midnight, toward day. Aug. 10th, we received the Eucharist, I, my wife, daughter Katharina, and Maria Nicolls. Aug. 30th, a great storm of strong wind S.W. from 2 till 6, with rain.

Sept. 11th, Mr. Holland of Denby, Mr. Gerard of Stopford, Mr. Langley, commissioners from the bishop of Chester, authorized by the bishop of Chester, called me before them in the church about three of the clock in the afternoon, and handed me certain petitions put in by the fellows against me, to answer before the 18th of this month. I answered them all at the same time, yet they gave me leave to write at leisure. Sept. 16th, Mr. Harmer and Mr. Davis, gentlemen of Flyntshire, within four or five miles of Hurden Castell, visited me. Sept. 29th, I burned before Mr. Nicols, his brother, and Mr. Wortley, all the untrue actions of Bartholomew Hikman. Sept. 30th, after Mr. Francis Nicols, his daughter Mistress Mary, his brother Mr. William, and Mr. Wortley had departed, at my return from Deansgate, to the end of which I walked them on foot, Mr. Roger Kooke offered and promised his faithful and diligent care and help, to the best of his skill and power, in the chemical processes, and that he would rather do so than be with anyone in England; may the Lord bless and confirm that promise! He told me that Mr. Anthony treated him very generously and kindly, but he told him that he had promised me. Then he valued in him the faithfulness of keeping to such a promise.

Oct. 13th, it should be remembered that Sir Georg Both came to Manchester to visit Mr. Humfrey Damport, counselor of Gray's Inn, and so came to the college to me; and after a few words of talk, we agreed about two or three tenements in Durham Massy in his occupation. We agreed that he and I, with the fellows, would abide by the arbitration of the said Mr. Damport after his next return here from London. John Radclyf, Mr. Damport's man, was with him here, and Mr. Dumbell, but they did not hear our agreement; we were in my dining room. Oct. 22nd, I received a kind letter from the Lord Bishop of Chester on behalf of Thomas Billings for a curacy. Nov. 1st, Mr. Roger Coke began to distill. Nov. 4th, the commission and jury found the titles of Nuthurst due to Manchester against Mr. James Ashton of Chaterdon. Nov. 7th, Olyver Carter's … before Mr. Birch, Richard Legh and Charles Legh, in the college house. Dec. 2nd, college audit. My yearly £7 for my house rent was allowed up to Michelmas last. Arthur Dee was to have a grant of the chapter clerkship from Owen Hodges, if £6 were paid to him for his patent. Dec. 20th, I borrowed £10 for one year of Mr. Edmund Chetam, the schoolmaster, on plate: two bowls, two cups with handles, all silver, weighing 32 oz. in all. Also two pots with cover and handles, double gilt within and without, weighing 16 oz.