The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

2d September, 1676. I paid ^1,700 to the Marquis de
Sissac, which lie had lent to my Lord Berkeley, and which
I heard the Marquis lost at play in a night or two.

The Dean of Chichester preached before the King, on
Acts xxiv. 16; and Dr. Crichton preached the second
sermon before him on Psalm xc. 12, of wisely numbering
our days, and well employing our time.

3d September, 1676. Dined at Captain Graham's, where
I became acquainted with Dr. Compton (brother to the
Earl of Northampton), now Bishop of London, and Mr.
North, son to the Lord North, brother to the Lord Chief-
Justice and Clerk of the Closet, a most hopeful young
man. The Bishop had once been a soldier, had also
traveled in Italy, and became a most sober, grave, and ex-
cellent prelate.

6th September, 1676. Supped at the Lord Chamber-
lain's, where also supped the famous beauty and errant
lady, the Duchess of Mazarine (all the world knows her
story), the Duke of Monmouth, Countess of Sussex (both
natural children of the King by the Duchess of Cleve-
^land*), and the Countess of Derby, a virtuous lady,
daughter to my best friend, the Earl of Ossory.

loth September, 1676. Dined with me Mr. Flamsted,
the learned astrologer and mathematician, whom his Maj-
esty had established in the new Observatory in Greenwich
Park, furnished with the choicest instruments. An hon-
est, sincere man.

lath September, 1676. To London, to take order about
the building of a house, or rather an apartment, which
had all the conveniences of a house, for my dear friend,
Mr. Godolphin and lady, which I undertook to contrive
and survey, and employ workmen until it should be quite
finished; it being just over against his Majesty's wood-
yard by the Thames side, leading to Scotland Yard.

September, 1676. To Lambeth, to that rare mag-

* Evelyn makes a slip here. The Duke of Monmouth's mother was,
it is well known, Lucy Walters, sometimes called Mrs. Barlow, and
heretofore mentioned in the <( Diary. J> Nor is he more correct as to the
Countess of Sussex. Lady Anne Fitzroy, as she is called in the Peerage
books, was married to Lennard Dacre, Earl of Sussex, by whom she left
a daughter only, who succeeded on her father's death to the Barony of
Dacre. On the other hand, the Duke of Southampton, the Duke of
Grafton, and the Duke of Northumberland, were all of them children
of Charles II. by the Duchess of Cleveland.ssador to Denmark, where he shortly after died, leaving no