The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

144 DIARY OF WINDSOR

much satisfaction. He was pleased in conversation to
impart to me divers particulars of state, relating to the

present times. He being no great friend to the D------

was now laid aside, his integrity and abilities being not
so suitable in this conjuncture. 2ist. I returned to
London.

3oth April, 1680. To a meeting of the executors of
late Viscountess Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale
of Parson's Green, being in treaty with Mr. Loftus, and
to settle the half year's account.

i.st May, 1680. Was a meeting of the feoffees of the
poor of our parish. This year I would stand one of the
collectors of their rents, to give example to others. My
son was added to the feoffees.

This afternoon came to visit me Sir Edward Deering,
of Surrendon, in Kent, one of the Lords of the Treasury,
with his daughter, married to my worthy friend, Sir Rob-
ert Southwell, Clerk of the Council, now Extraordinary-
Envoy to the Duke of Brandenburgh, and other Princes
in Germany, as before he had been in Portugal, being a
sober, wise, and virtuous gentleman.

13th May, 1680. I was at the funeral of old Mr. Shish,
master-shipwright of his Majesty's Yard here, an honest
and remarkable man, and his death a public loss, for his
excellent success in building ships (though altogether
illiterate), and for breeding up so many of his children
to be able artists. I held up the pall with three knights,
who did him that honor, and he was worthy of it. It
was the custom of this good man to rise in the night,
and to pray, kneeling in his own coffin, which he had lying
by him for many years. He was born that famous year,
the Gunpowder-plot, 1605,

i4th June, 1680. Came to dine with us the Countess
of Clarendon, Dr. Lloyd, Dean of Bangor (since Bishop
of St. Asaph), Dr. Burnet, author of the « History of the
Reformation, * and my old friend, Mr. Henshaw. After
dinner we all went to see the Observatory, and Mr.
Plamsted, who showed us divers rare instruments, espe-
cially the great quadrant.

24th July, 1680. Went with my wife and daughter to
Windsor, to see that stately court, now near finished.
There was erected in the court the King on horseback,
lately cast in copper, and set on a rich pedestal of white. that he seemed to say the Church in the commission ofh, and had endeavored to render them