The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

252

DIARY OF LONDON

mon hangman, a translation of a book written by the
famous Monsieur Claude, relating only matters of fact
concerning the horrid massacres and barbarous proceed-
ings of the French King against his Protestant subjects,
without any refutation of any facts therein; so mighty a
power and ascendant here had the French Ambassador,
who was doubtless in great indignation at the pious and
truly generous charity of all the nation, for the re-
lief of those miserable sufferers who came over for shel-
ter.

About this time also, the Duke of Savoy, instigated by
the French King to extirpate the Protestants of Piedmont,
slew many thousands of those innocent people, so that
there seemed to be an universal design to destroy all
that would not go to mass, throughout Europe. Quod
Avertat D. O. M.I. No faith in Princes !

12th May, 1686. I refused to put the Privy Seal to
Doctor Walker's license for printing and publishing divers
Popish books, of which I complained both to my Lord
of Canterbury (with whom I went to advise in the Coun-
cil Chamber), and to my Lord Treasurer that evening-at
his lodgings. My Lord of Canterbury's advice was, that
I should follow my own conscience therein; Mr. Treas-
urer's, that if in conscience I could dispense with it, for
any other hazard he believed there was none. Notwith-
standing this, I persisted in my refusal.

29th May, 1686. There was no sermon on this anni-
versary, as there usually had been ever since the reign
of the present King.

2d June, 1686. Such storms, rain, and foul weather,
seldom known at this time of the year. The camp at
Hounslow Heath, from sickness and other inconveniences
of weather, forced to retire to quarters; the storms being-
succeeded by excessive hot weather, many grew sick.
Great feasting there, especially in Lord Dunbarton's
quarters. There were many jealousies and discourses of
what was the meaning of this encampment.

A seal this day; mostly pardons and discharges of
Knight Baronets' fees, which having been passed over for
so many years, did greatly disoblige several families who
had served his Majesty. Lord Tyrconnel gone to Ireland,
with great powers and commissions, giving as much cause
of talk a§ the Qamp, especially nineteen new Privy-Coun-hop of Londonhe orthodox in all