Wiliam Byrd • 30 april 1711

• William Byrd II (1674-1744) was een Amerikaanse schrijver, politicus en plantagebezitter. Fragmenten uit zijn dagboeken staan hier online. In de laatste zin van dit fragment meldt hij dat hij zijn vrouw een 'stevige beurt' gaf die haar 'verrukte en verfriste'. Meer over zijn seksleven hier.

April 30, 1711. I rose at 5 o’clock and said a short prayer and then drank two dishes of chocolate. Then I took my leave about 6 o’clock and found it very cold. I met with nothing extraordinary in my journey and got home about 11 o’clock and found all well, only my wife was melancholy. We took a walk in the garden and pasture. We discovered that by the contrivance of Nurse and Anaka Prue got in at the cellar window and stole some strong beer and cider and wine. I turned Nurse away upon it and punished Anaka. I ate some fish for dinner. In the afternoon I caused Jack and John to be whipped for drinking at John [Cross] all last Sunday. In the evening I took a walk about the plantation and found things in good order. At night I ate some bread and butter. I said my prayers and good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thank God Almighty. The weather was very cold for the season. I gave my wife a powerful flourish and gave her great ecstacy and refreshment.