Jump to content

Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/20

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

20

brewhouse; for at this time only was the beverage of our Saxon forefathers to be found within his walls. Notwithstanding the miserable aspect of the house and its inhabitants, both brother and sister (the former especially, who was nearly naked) yet on Daniel's death not only plate, table linen, and twenty four pair good sheets, but clothes of every description, were found locked up in chests. The female attire, of which there was a correct inventory, in the brother's own hand writing, was valued at seventeen pounds. He also, among other apparel, had some excellent boots; but he preferred to case his legs with the still warmer covering of lay bands.

 Although he possessed two ancient but tolerably good bedsteads, with the proper 

furniture, originally belonging, as well as the house, to the Edlins, a family of some property, yet they were carefully secluded from the light of heaven, and both he and his sister slept on sacks stuffed with hay, and covered with a horse rug.

 During the last twenty years, Daniel's house is said to have been entered at least fourteen times lay thieves, and the amount of his losses is calculated at 2,500l. As the lower part was in such a ruinous state as to admit a person with case, it was recommended to him to get it repaired; but he replied, "that this would be only throwing away more money