Longden An Eighteenth Century Squire, His Journals and Letters THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES Hn eidbteentl) Centurp Squire, l)i$ Journals and Cetters: BY The Rev. H. ISHAM LONGDEN, M.A. Bust of Sir Justinian Isham, fifth baronet, on his monument in Lamport Church. NORTHAMPTON & OAKHAM ARCHITECTURAL & ARCHiEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. An Eighteenth Ce?iivry Squire, his Jovrnah and Letters. — By the Rev. H. IsHAM \LoNGDEX, M.A' A Paper read at the Meeting held at Northampton on the 7th March, 1907. IN telling the story of this early 18th century squire, it may be that there are no events out of the common to chronicle. The picture is just that of a country gentleman of cr 7n -2>- ' /^^AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE. the period of Queen Anne and King George I. But that pic- ture is a very complete one, on account of his diaries and manuscript volumes. These, together with the many care- fully kept family letters, contain ample material for our pur- pose, and show us something of the social history of the coun- try side in his day. Sir Justinian Isham, the fifth baronet, the diarist, third of a name so frequent in the family, was fifth m descent from •John Isham who with his brother Robert made joint purchase ■of Lamport in 1559, and traced the origin of his house to the manorial family of Isham, of Isham. Sir Justinian was born 20 July, and christened 3 August, 1687, at Lamport. ■One of a family of fourteen, and the eldest of eight sons, it is ■curious to note that only one of the sons, and that the seventh, left any descendants. The letters of this large family circle, with their quaint diction, bring the writers clearly before us with all their interests, anxieties and pleasantries. John and Edmund, the brothers next to Justinian, were Rugby school- boys, and delicious is the story of their running away from school and subsequent re-capture. John became Fellow of All Souls, was for one short year rector of Lamport to please his father, then, unknown to him, threw it up, and returned to live, and die soon after, at his College. Edmund became the sixth baronet, and, besides other monies, gave £1,000 to help pay a chaplain at the Northampton Infirmary. Other Tarothers were Thomas, the sailor, always called 'the Captain' by his brothers and sisters, to whom learning was always a diflaculty, whose long voyages and hardships at sea are des- cribed, who returned to live and die in a decline in Gold Street, Northampton ; Euseby, the rector of Lincoln College, ■Oxford, who held the Lamport living with one other, from whom the present family descend ; Charles who lived in the present Inland Revenue Ojffice at Northampton, the giant of the family, who thought nothing of tramping the eight miles to Lamport and beyond, to shoot. The sisters were Mrs. Hester Raynsford, wife of Francis, who lived a near neigh- bour at Brixworth Hall, during a long widowhood; Susanna, who died at Bath whither she had been taken in search of liealth ; Edmunda, who interested herself in the Northampton Infirmary and is buried at S. Giles, Northampton; and Vere, the eldest sister who was her brother Justinian's special com- panion. When pursuing his studies in London or abroad, the brother and sister corresponded regularly ; frequently, too, in French and Italian at their father's special wish. 13128T0 Sir Justinian Isham, fifth baronet. AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE. 3- It was decided that Justinian, now nearly seventeen, should have a foreign education, including a period at a. German university. Setting out 2 May, 1704, in company with his cousin, Edmund Turnor, and his tutor M. Masson, they encounter several delays at Harwich, but at length the wind being fair, they sail on 15 May, M. Masson writing to Sir Justinian, "Mr. Isham is very well and hopes to be so a shipboard." Journals were kept for each period of his travels. A tour among the Dutch cities ends at Utrecht 2. July, 1704, where he stays the greater part of a year. This was but the first of many tours in Holland, Belgium, Den- mark, France, Germany, and Italy. Two years at the Ducal Academy at Wolfenbiittel in the Duchy of Brunswick follow. A famous library had been founded there in 1644. At the- Academy were the sons of many distinguished people, both foreign and English. By letter Sir Justinian constantly gives his son advice: "Consider what a despicable figure anyone- makes that returns from abroad as great a fool as he went." "I am satisfy'd with the reasons you give me for cutting off your hair, but you might have writ to me about it, before you had done it, and ask't my leave. If you have any in- clination to play upon the flute, I am willing you shou'd learn, or anything else you have a genius for, but believe me, with- out pains and application nothing is to be learnt, and 'tis only flinging one's money away. Consider how many years you have learnt to dance, and I doubt because you ne'ere minded it as you ought, you perform it but very indifferently." "I am very pleased you seem to be so delighted with languages, to be master of 'em is certainly the finest accomplishment a gentleman can have." "I am very ready," adds his father, "to allow you a servant or anything else which may make you keep the best company." Thereupon an allowance of £200 a year is made. Nor is he to be forgetful of his Church. "I am not a little pleas'd that the English Liturgy is us'd some- times, for above all things remember to be firm to the Church of England." Impatient to leave in 1706, his father- has occasion to write, "As to your continuing longer at Wol- fenbiittel I must tell you my opinion is clearly that you shou'd stay one year more at the Academic, for this is the only time you have to learn anything in your whole life. You are young enough yet, and have time before you." So he stays at his studies. In 1707 plans for the much talked of tour are being completed. "If you make the tour you talk of I shall give orders you shall be provided with what moneys is convenient" ; but at the same time a warning is necessary,. 4 AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE, so it is added, "I must confess I have discoursed with several gentlemen that have been at your Academie, who have told me that the allowance I have given you is as much or more than anyone can well spend there, unless play is in the case but I daresay you are never guilty nor ever will be of so destructive- a folly \Yhich has been the ruin of so many familys." Justinian left AVolfenbiittel 20 June, 1707, and did not return to Lamport till 30 November. The time was spent in visiting Germany and Denmark. In Saxony he saw the King of Sweden, and on 1 July, 1707, records, "I went towards the evening to Herrenhaus, where I had the honour to kiss the Electresses hand, and walk with her in the garden, she asked me several questions about the King of Sweden, &c. I saw there the Princess of Hohenzollern and her daughter." In Denmark he joins in the entertainments of the court. The position of the Electress Sophia was becoming more and more important. It was evidently wise to stand well with the lady who might become Queen Sophia of England. "I am glad," says Justinian's father, "to hear that you have been at Brunswick and kissed the Electress's hand," and again, "I wou'd have you go to Hanover for some time to make your court there, which I believe may be kindly taken." Early in 1708 he was again received by the Electress, who said pleasant things to him. His friend, Gwynne, who knew both the Electress and her son the Elector (afterwards King George I.) well, writes, "The Elector seems a cold reserved Prince at first sight, but when you are acquainted with him, you will find him a very wise man, very affable and a very good friend." So Justinian returns home by way of Flanders and Holland with some officers of the army. One of his brothers, duly im- pressed, expresses the opinion that he is now "a fine gentle- man," but a "man of very few words." For the next two or three years Justinian is at Lamport. It is at this point that the most important of his home jour- nals begins. The volume is well and clearly written, and entries were made in it, more or less regularly as time went on, the last entry being 14 November, 1736. There are frequent references both in diaries and letters to the journeys to and from London, and the dangers of the road. The coach was generally joined at Dunstable. On re- turning from London, there are instructions that the chaise is to meet the writer at Dunstable, "If there can't be six Mares the Coachman must drive with four." Another time the coach- AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE. 5 man ia to be at the same place "with the six Mares, and only the harness without the chaise, for I have made a machine to carry me down." Often the roads are very bad, and the coach is overturned. This was a common occurrence on the North- amptonshire roads, and in one of the letters, it is remarked that things had been reported as worse than they really were, since on one journey they had only been overturned twice! In January, 1710, the ways were so bad that the Northamp- ton coach made the journey to town in three days. In 1720 Justinian's father was robbed on the road, being set upon by three highwaymen near Dunstable. Luckily he had only £3 ■or £4 with him. His portmanteau was opened and they took out, he says, all his linen, nightgown, &c., but his gold watch was the greatest loss "on account of whose it was." They sent him again his tablebook and keys. Young Justinian, who had heard of it, writes from Rome, "it were to be wished some effectual way could be found to clear the nation of those rogues, and make travelling in England as safe as in these parts, where 'tis a very rare thing to hear of a robbery upon the highway." In Mai'ch, 17^1}, he was present at Dr. Sacheverell's trial, the Queen being present one of the days. "There was so much company that though I got there not long after seven, I had no extraordinary jDlace." On March 9, "All the conversation in town runs upon this frial, the ladys get up by 4 a clock in the morning to go to it, and all foreign or home news are quite laid aside." On 27 May, 1711, Sir Thomas Mansell acquaints him that he is made a Commissioner of the leather tax. He accordingly sets out the next day for London, and pays visits to Sir Thomas and the Earl of Oxford, and promptly takes his seat at the board. He was often at court, and notes the presence of per- sonages such as Prince Eugene of Saxony, whom the Queen presented with a sword set with diamonds on her birthday. After the Queen's death, the diarist records, 19 Sept., 1714, "I went to Greenwich, where ye King and Prince landed the evening before, and had the Honor of kissing his Majesty's Hand, being introduced by ye Earl of Dorset," and the next day he saw the King make his entry. In November Lord Halifax told him in very obliging terms "that he was to be continued in his office." A few days later, however, Lord Halifax informs him with a good deal of concern that a certain person not then proper to name has b AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE. insisted that his name be struck out. Sir Justinian, not over well pleased at this, writes to his son, "Such a piece of good nature can come from nobody but a neighbouring Ld." The- King when he understands the matter promises preferment on the first opportunity. And so Justinian returns to country life. In 1712 Justinian had written to his father, " This morn- ing a fatal duel was fought in Hide Park between Duke Ham- ilton & Ld. Mohun. The latter was kill'd on the spot, and the Duke, who received three wounds, died as they were bringing him home. Lt. General Mackartney and one Col. Hamilton were seconds, the first to the Ld., the other to the- Duke ; 'tis said they also fought, and the Colonel is much, wounded." Whilst in London the writer of the diary notes regularly his attendance at various churches and at S. James's Chapel, where he hears the best preachers of the day. On week days he notices the production of various plays or operas, possibly an interesting list, amongst them Richard the Third in the " Hay Market House." In 1712, "I was at ye play where there was great disturbance concerning Cibbar, whom they hissed & catcall'd off ye stage" ; a month later "I looked in at ye Play house, it being Mrs. Oldfield's benefit night, which quickly after was put in a confusion by a Party who espoused Mrs. Rogers' cause, and declared against Plays by subscription, and what by catcalls and hissing there was such a disturbance that ye Curtain was forced to be let down, and ye audience, which was very numerous, to retire." Backgammon had its votaries. Under date 26 April, 1712, "About 10 a clock in ye evening I was at Toms Coffee house, Covent Garden, where in the little room I saw playing at Back Gammon one Mr. Glanville and Mr. Swiney. They begun about 10 or 11 the night before, and had continued playing ever since, and one, Mr. Pentlow, sat by air ye while." When at Lamport, hunting, both fox and hare, was the favourite sport in the season, and occupied much time. The Ishams had held their lands at Pytchley from a very early period by grand serjeantry, on the condition of finding hounds to destroy wolves, foxes, polecats, and other vermin. In the early family letters there are references to hounds. One of the earliest is the letter of Mr. Anthony Luther from Miles to Sir John Isham, dated 2 Oct, 1608, in which he says. AN EIGHTEENTH CENTUEY SQUIEE. 7 that he has ready for him "some two or three couple of good hounds (as I take them). Butt because I know nott whither yo"^ hunting reynard shall continue or nott I have not sent them unto you Butt if you either send for them or wright unto me that I shold send the same unto you they shale accordingly as spedely as may be conveyed unto you." In the diaries of Sir Justinian there are many notes with regard to hunting. On 6 Sept., 1710, "We hunted for the 2^ time this year in the fields, Saturday having been the first." On 30 Sept., 1710, "Mr. Allicock hunted and dined with us. Mrs. Nel. Stratford and my sister were also out." 12 Oct., 1710, "The Ladys hunted with us, we breakfasted with them at Overston. Mrs. Betty Stratford fell from her horse, and hurt herself." 16 Oct., 1710, "We called at Overston as we hunted. Mrs. Betty had by her fall put out her wrist and cut her hand." 24 Oct., 1710, "I hunted with Mr. Andrews hounds ; we had very good sport, a fox having carried us from Blewberries to Gumbley Woods in Leicestershire." 6 Nov., 1710, "I hunted in Clipson field, where j was to meet Sr. Tho. Cave, but he came not, Mr. Wikes and several others were with me." 2 Dec, 1710, "M. [Messrs.] Robinson, Allicock, and Hayes hunted with me, we had extraordinary sport," 18 Dec. 1710, "From Hare hunting we fell in with the Foxhounds." 1 March, 17if, " M. [Messrs.] Allicock and Stratford breakfasted at Liamport, the rain having driven them in from Fox hunting. I met them near Mawsley Wood, as j was going with the Beagles to Loddington. When it cleared up, we tried all the covers about, but could find nothing." 19 March, 17|f, " Mr. Andrews turn'd up a bag Fox in Brixworth field, which showed but little sport." 13 April, 1711, I dined at the Ale house at Siwell with several of the Fox Hunters, who in the morning had hunted a bag Fox. 4 August, 1718, "This year being remarkable for an early Harvest, we were a Hunting in ye open field." One of Justinian's hunters is named "Creeper," his sister's is "Punch"; and his brother, the Rector of Lincoln College, thanks him "for the tise of the best Hunter yt came into ye Field." More than one parson, we find, joined in the chase. On 30 Sept., 1734, Lord GriflSn writes from Dingly "Let one of your servants speak to the earth stoper to stop on Tuesday night, and to lett Mr. Charles know I shall be at Sywell Wood on Wednesday betwixt eight and nine." In 1730 Charles Isham writes to his brother, "I sold 7 couple of my beagles to a German for 21 guineas, and ye rest of 'em I 8 AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SQUIRE. expect to sell every day for as much if not more." On 11 December, 1731, the diarist (now Sir Justinian) writes to his brother Edmund in London, "I return'd yesterday from poor Mrs. Kni