The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

1696 JOHN EVELYN

master. This produced much altercation as to the ca-
nonicalness of the action.

2ist April, 1696. We had a meeting at Guildhall of the
grand committee about settling the draught of Green-
wich hospital.

23d April, 1696. I went to Eton, and dined with Dr.
Godolphin, the provost. The schoolmaster assured me
there had not been for twenty years a more pregnant
youth in that place than my grandson. I went to see the
King's House at Kensington. It is very noble, though
not great. The gallery furnished with the best pictures
[from] all the houses, of Titian, Raphael, Correggio, Hol-
bein, Julio Romano, Bassan, Vandyke, Tintoretto, and
others; a great collection of porcelain; and a pretty pri-
vate library. The gardens about it very delicious.

26th April, 1696. Dr. Sharp preached at the Temple.
His prayer before the sermon was one of the most ex-
cellent compositions I ever heard.

28th April, 1696. The Venetian Ambassador made a
stately entry with fifty footmen, many on horseback, four
rich coaches, and a numerous train of gallants. More
executions this week of the assassins. Gates dedicated a
most villainous, reviling book against King James, which
he presumed to present to King William, who could not
but abhor it, speaking so infamously and untruly of his
late beloved Queen's own father.

2d May, 1696. I dined at Lambeth, being summoned
to meet my co-trustees, the Archbishop, Sir Henry As-
hurst, and Mr. Serjeant Rotheram, to consult about
settling Mr Boyle's lecture for a perpetuity; which we
concluded upon, by buying a rent charge of ^50 per
annum, with the stock in our hands.

6th May, 1696. I went to Lambeth, to meet at din-
ner the Countess of Sunderland and divers ladies. We
dined in the Archbishop's wife's apartment with his
Grace, and stayed late; yet I returned to Deptford at
night.

13th May, 1696. I went to London to meet my son,
newly come from Ireland, indisposed. Money still con-
tinuing exceedingly scarce, so that none was paid or
received, but all was on trust, the mint not supplying
for common necessities. The Association with an oath
required of all lawyers and officers, on pain of proemunire,

22wn country, 1684. See p. 198. but so it