The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

of Christians to their persecutors, in which were some
passages indiscreet enough, considering the time, and the
rage of the inhuman French tyrant against the poor
Protestants.

22d December, 1685. ®UT patent for executing the
office of Privy Seal during the absence of the Lord Lieu-
tenant of Ireland, being this day sealed by the Lord
Chancellor, we went afterward to St. James, where the
Court then was on occasion of building at Whitehall; his
Majesty delivered the seal to my Lord Tiviot and myself,
the other Commissioners not being come, and then gave
us his hand to kiss. There were the two Venetian Am-
bassadors and a world of company; among the rest the
first Popish Nuncio that had been in England since the
Reformation; so wonderfully were things changed, to the
universal jealousy.

24th December, 1685. We were all three Commissioners
sworn on our knees by the Clerk of the Crown, before
my Lord Chancellor, three several oaths: allegiance,
supremacy, and the oath belonging to the Lord Privy
Seal, which last we took standing. After this, the Lord
Chancellor invited us all to dinner, but it being Christ-
mas eve we desired to be excused, intending at three in
the afternoon to seal divers things which lay ready at
the office; so attended by three of the Clerks of the Sig-
net, we met and sealed. Among other things was a par-
don to West, who being privy to the late conspiracy, had
revealed the accomplices to save his own neck. There
were also another pardon and two indenizations; and so
agreeing to a fortnight's vacation, I returned home,

3ist December, 1685. Recollecting the passages of the
year past, and having made up accounts, humbly be-
sought Almighty God to pardon those my sins which had
provoked him to discompose my sorrowful family; that
he would accept of our humiliation, and in his good time
restore comfort to it. I also blessed God for all his unde-
served mercies and preservations, begging the continuance
of his grace and preservation. The winter had hitherto
been extraordinarily wet and mild.

ist January, -1685-6. Imploring the continuance of
God's providential care for the year now entered, I
went to the public devotions. The Dean of the Chapel
and Clerk of the Closet put out, viz, Bishop of Londonhe orthodox in all