!6o DIARY OF WOTTON

his eldest son having no child and growing very cor-
pulent.

12th June, i6Si. It still continued so great a drought as
had never been known in England, and it was said to be
universal.

i4th August, 1681. No sermon this afternoon, which I
think did not happen twice in this parish these thirty
years; so gracious has God been to it, and indeed to the
whole nation: God grant that we abuse not this great
privilege either by our wantonness, schism, or unfaithful-
ness, under such means as he has not favored any other
nation under Heaven besides!

23d August, 1681. I went to Wotton, and, on the fol-
lowing day, was invited to Mr. Denzil Onslow's at his
seat at Purford, where was much company, and such an
extraordinary feast, as I had hardly seen at any country
gentleman's table. What made it more remarkable was,
that there was not anything save what his estate about
it did afford; as venison, rabbits, hares, pheasants, par-
tridges, pigeons, quails, poultry, all sorts of fowl in season
from his own decoy near his house, and all sorts of fresh
fish, After dinner we went to see sport at the decoy,
where I never saw so many herons.

The seat stands on a flat, the ground pasture, rarely
watered, and exceedingly improved since Mr. Onslow
bought it of Sir Robert Parkhurst, who spent a fair
estate. The house is timber, but commodious, and with
one ample dining-room, the hall adorned with paintings
of fowl and huntings, etc., the work of Mr. Barlow, who
is excellent in this kind from the life,

3oth August, 1681. From Wotton I went to see Mr.
Hussey (at Button in Shere), who has a very pretty seat
well watered, near my brother's. He is the neatest hus-
band for curious ordering his domestic and field accom-
modations, and what pertains to husbandry, that I have
ever seen, as to his granaries, taeklings, tools, and utensils,
plows, carts, stables, wood piles, wood houses, even to
henroosts and hog troughs. Methought, I saw old Cato,
orVarro,inhim; all substantial, all in exact order. The
sole inconvenience he lies under, is the great quantity of
sand which the stream brings along with it, and fills his
canals and receptacles for fish too soon. The rest of my
of stay at Wotton was spsnt m w^liin^ abqut the000, though to