The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

thought and experience. He was also dexterous in chro-
nology, antiquities, mathematics. In sum, an intellectus
unimrsails, beyond all that we read of Picus Mirandula,
and other precocious wits, and yet withal a very humble

child.

i4th July, 1679. I went to see how things stood at
Parson's Green, my Lady Viscountess Mordaunt (now
sick in Paris, whither she went for health) having1 made
me a trustee for her children, an office I could not refuse
to this most excellent, pious, and virtuous lady, my long
acquaintance.

15th July, 1679. I dined with Mr. Sidney Godolphin,
now one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury.

18th July, 1679. I went early to the Old Bailey Ses-
sions House, to the famous trial of Sir George Wakeman,
one of the Queen's physicians, and three Benedictine
monks; the first (whom I was well acquainted with, and
take to be a worthy gentleman abhorring such a fact),
for intending to poison the King; the others as accom-
plices to carry on the plot, to subvert the government,
and introduce Popery. ' The bench was crowded with
the judges, Lord Mayor justices, and innumerable spec-
tators. The chief accusers, Dr. Gates (as he called him-
self), and one Bedlow, a man of inferior note. Their tes-
timonies were not so pregnant, and I fear much of it from
hearsay, but swearing positively to some particulars,
which drew suspicion upon their truth; nor did circum-
stances so agree, as to give either the bench or jury so
entire satisfaction as was expected. After, therefore, a
long and tedious trial of nine hours, the jury brought
them in not guilty, to the extraordinary triumph of the
Papists, and without sufficient disadvantage and reflec-
tions on witnesses, especially Gates and Bedlow.

This was a happy day for the lords in the Tower,
who, expecting their trial, had this gone against the pris-
oners at the bar, would all have been in the utmost
hazard. For my part, I look on Gates as a vain, inso-
lent man, puffed up with the favor of the Commons for
having discovered something really true, more especially
as detecting the dangerous intrigue of Coleman, proved
out of his own letters, and of a general design which the
Jesuited party of the Papists ever, had and still have, to
ruin the Church of England; but that he was trusted