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i68s JOHN EVELYN 187

old angel-gold, and that of such he had once to the value
of ;£ioo stamped with the agnus dei> and coined at the
time of the holy war; which had been found in a ruined
wall somewhere in the North, near to Scotland, some of
which he beat into leaves, and the rest sold to the curi-
osi in antiquities and medals.

23d September, 1683. We had now the welcome tidings
of the King of Poland raising the siege of Vienna, which
had given terror to all Europe, and utmost reproach to
the French, who it is believed brought in the Turks for
diversion, that the French King might the more easily
swallow Flanders, and pursue his unjust conquest on
the empire, while we sat unconcerned and under a deadly
charm from somebody.

There was this day a collection for rebuilding New-
vnarket, consumed by an accidental fire, which removing
his Majesty thence sooner than was intended, put by the
assassins, who were disappointed of their rendezvous and
expectation by a wonderful providence. This made the
King more earnest to render Winchester the seat of his
autumnal field diversions for the future, designing a pal-
ace there, where the ancient castle stood; infinitely in-
deed preferable to Newmarket for prospects, air, pleasure,
and provisions. The surveyor has already begun the
foundation for a palace, estimated to cost ;£35,ooo, and
his Majesty is purchasing ground about it to make a
park, etc.

4th October, 1683. I went to London, on receiving a
note from the Countess of Arlington, of some considera-
ble charge or advantage I might obtain by applying my-
self to his Majesty on this signal conjuncture of his
Majesty entering up judgment against the city charter;
the proposal made me I wholly declined, not being well
satisfied with these violent transactions, and not a little
sorry that his Majesty was so often put upon things of
this nature against so great a city, the consequence
whereof may be so much to his prejudice; so I returned
home. At this time, the Lord Chief-Justice Pemberton
was displaced. He was held to be the most learned of
the judges, and an honest man. Sir George Jeffreys was
advanced, reputed to be most ignorant, but most daring.
Sir George Treby, Recorder of London, was also put by,
and one Genner, an obscure lawyer, set in his place.



	i68s JOHN EVELYN 187 old angel-gold, and that of such he had once to the value of ;£ioo stamped with the agnus dei> and coined at the time of the holy war; which had been found in a ruined wall somewhere in the North, near to Scotland, some of which he beat into leaves, and the rest sold to the curi- osi in antiquities and medals. 23d September, 1683. We had now the welcome tidings of the King of Poland raising the siege of Vienna, which had given terror to all Europe, and utmost reproach to the French, who it is believed brought in the Turks for diversion, that the French King might the more easily swallow Flanders, and pursue his unjust conquest on the empire, while we sat unconcerned and under a deadly charm from somebody. There was this day a collection for rebuilding New- vnarket, consumed by an accidental fire, which removing his Majesty thence sooner than was intended, put by the assassins, who were disappointed of their rendezvous and expectation by a wonderful providence. This made the King more earnest to render Winchester the seat of his autumnal field diversions for the future, designing a pal- ace there, where the ancient castle stood; infinitely in- deed preferable to Newmarket for prospects, air, pleasure, and provisions. The surveyor has already begun the foundation for a palace, estimated to cost ;£35,ooo, and his Majesty is purchasing ground about it to make a park, etc. 4th October, 1683. I went to London, on receiving a note from the Countess of Arlington, of some considera- ble charge or advantage I might obtain by applying my- self to his Majesty on this signal conjuncture of his Majesty entering up judgment against the city charter; the proposal made me I wholly declined, not being well satisfied with these violent transactions, and not a little sorry that his Majesty was so often put upon things of this nature against so great a city, the consequence whereof may be so much to his prejudice; so I returned home. At this time, the Lord Chief-Justice Pemberton was displaced. He was held to be the most learned of the judges, and an honest man. Sir George Jeffreys was advanced, reputed to be most ignorant, but most daring. Sir George Treby, Recorder of London, was also put by, and one Genner, an obscure lawyer, set in his place.