The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

i8o DIARY OP

Howard of Escrick, and others. A proclamation was is-
sued against my Lord Grey, the Duke of Monmouth, Sir
Thomas Armstrong, and one Ferguson, who had escaped
beyond sea; of these some were said to be for killing the
King, others for only seizing on him, and persuading him
to new counsels, on the pretense of the danger of Popery,
should the Duke live to succeed, who was now again ad-
mitted to the councils and cabinet secrets* The Lords
Essex and Russell were much deplored, for believing
they had any evil intention against the King, or the
Church j some thought they were cunningly drawn in by
their enemies for not approving some late counsels and
management relating to Prance, to Popery, to the per-
secution of the Dissenters, etc. They were discovered by
the Lord Howard of Escrick and some false brethren of
the club, and the design happily broken; had it taken
effect, it would, to all appearance, have exposed the
Government to unknown and dangerous events; which
God avert!

Was born my granddaughter at Sayes Court, and chris-
tened by the name of Martha Maria, our Vicar officiat-
ing, I pray God bless her, and may she choose the better
part!

13th July, 1683* As I was visiting Sir Thomas Yar-
borough and his Lady, in Covent Garden, the astonishing
news was brought to us of the Earl of Essex having cut
his throat, having been but three days a prisoner in the
Tower, and this happened on the very day and instant
that Lord Russell was on his trial, and had sentence of
death. This accident exceedingly amazed me, my Lord
Essex being so well known by me to be a person of such
sober and religious deportment, so well at his ease, and
so much obliged to the King. It is certain the King and
Duke were at the Tower, and passed by his window about
the same time this morning, when my Lord asking for a
razor, shut himself into a closet, and perpetrated the hor-
rid act. Yet it was wondered by some how it was pos-
sible he should do it in the manner he was found, for
the wound was so deep and wide, that being cut through
the gullet, windpipe, and both the jugulars, it reached
to the very vertebrae of the neck, so that the head held
to it by a very little skin as it were; the gapping too of
the razor, and cutting his own fingers, was a littley, son to the