The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

DIARY OF LONDON

9th August, 1692. A fast. Came the sad news of the
hurricane and earthquake, which has destroyed almost
the whole Island of Jamaica, many thousands having
perished.

nth August, 1692. My son, his wife, and little daugh-
ter, went for Ireland, there to reside as one of the Com-
missioners of the Revenue.

14th August, 1692. Still an exceedingly wet season.

15th September, 1692. There happened an earthquake,
which, though not so great as to do any harm in Eng-
land, was universal in all these parts of Europe. It
shook the house at Wotton, but was not perceived by any
save a servant or two, who were making my bed, and an-
other in a garret. I and the rest being at dinner below
in the parlor, were not sensible of it. The dreadful one
in Jamaica this summer was profanely and ludicrously
represented in a puppet play, or some such lewd pastime,
in the fair of Southwark, which caused the Queen to put
down that idle and vicious mock show.

ist October, 1692. This season -was so exceedingly
cold, by reason of a long and tempestuous northeast wind,
that this usually pleasant month was very uncomfortable.
No fruit ripened kindly. Harbord dies at Belgrade;
Lord Paget sent Ambassador in his room.

6th November, 1692. There was a vestry called about
repairing or new building of the church [at Deptford],
which I thought unseasonable in regard of heavy, taxes,
and other improper circumstances, which I there de-
clared.

loth November, 1692. A solemn Thanksgiving for our
victory at sea, safe return of the King, etc.

2oth November, 1692. Dr. Lancaster, the new Vicar of
St. Martin's, preached.

A signal robbery in Hertfordshire of the tax money
bringing out* of the north toward London. They were
set upon by several desperate persons, who dismounted
and stopped all travelers on the road, and guarding them
in a field, when the exploit was done, and the treasure
taken, they killed all the horses of those whom they
stayed, to hinder pursuit, being sixteen horses. They then
dismissed those that they had dismounted.

i4th December, 1692. With much reluctance we grati-
fied Sir J. Rotherham, one of Mr/Boyle's trustees, bybut would never