The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

JOHN EVELYN

cillors and Judges "being now made, among which, but
three Protestants, and Tyrconnel made General.

New judges also here, among which was Milton, a
Papist (brother to that Milton who wrote for the Regi-
cides), who presumed to take his place without passing
the Test. Scotland refused to grant liberty of mass to
the Papists there.

The French persecution more inhuman than ever. The
Protestants in Savoy successfully resist the French dra-
goons sent to murder them.

The King's chief physician in Scotland apostatizing
from the Protestant religion, does of his own accord
publish his recantation at Edinburg.

nth June, 1686. I went to see Middleton's receptacle
of water at the New River, and the New Spa Wells near.

soth June, 1686. An extraordinary season of violent
and sudden rain. The camp still in tents.

24th June, 1686. My Lord Treasurer settled my great
business with Mr. Pretyman, to which I hope God will at
last give a prosperous issue.

25th June, 1686. Now his Majesty, beginning with
Dr. Sharp and Tully, proceeded to silence and suspend
divers excellent divines for preaching against Popery.

27th June, 1686. I had this day been married thirty-
nine years—blessed be God for all his mercies!

The new very. young Lord Chief-Justice Herbert de-
clared on the bench, that the government of England
was entirely in the King; that the Crown was abso-
lute; that penal laws were powers lodged in the Crown
to enable the King to force the execution of the law,
but were not bars to bind the King's power; that he
could pardon all offenses against the law, and forgive the
penalties, and why could he not dispense with them; by
which the Test was abolished ? Everyone was aston-
ished. Great jealousies as to what would be the end of
these proceedings.

6th July, 1686. I supped with the Countess of Roches-
ter, where was also the Duchess of Buckingham and
Madame de Govern^, whose 'daughter was married to
the Marquis of Halifax's son. She made me a character
of the French King and Dauphin, and of the persecu-
tion ; that they kept much of the cruelties from the
King's knowledge; that the Dauphin was so afraid ofgone to Ireland,