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VALUABLE  AND  INTERESTING  WORKS. 

LATELY  PUBLISHED  BY  MR.  COLBURN. 


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VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS. 

Sir  J.  E.  Alexander's  L'Acadie,  2  v 1  1 

Warbnrton's  Crescent  and  the  Cross,  2  V 1  1 

"Warburton's  Hochelaga,  or  England  in  the  New  World,  2  v.  1  1 

Sir  G.  Simpson's  Overland  Journey  Round  the  World,  2  v. ...  1  11 

Fitzroy's  Voyage  Round  the  World,  3  V 1  11 

Ross'  Yacht  Voyage  to  Denmark,  &c.,  1  V 0  10 

Mrs.  Ward's  Five  Years  in  KaSirland,  2  v 1  1 

Lord  Lindsay's  Letters  on  the  Holy  Land,  1  v. 0  7 

Vigne's  Travels  in  Kashmere,  2  V 1  1 

Revelations  of  Russia,  2  V 1  1 

Viscount  Feilding  and  Capt.  Kennedy's  Algeria,  2  V 1  1 

Lord  Castlereagh's  Journey  to  Damascus,  2  V 0  15 

Lady  Londonderry's  Visit  to  the  Courts  of  Vienna,  &c.,  1  v.  0  10 

White's  Three  Years' in  Constantinople,  2  V 1  1 

Lady  Hester  Stanhope's  Travels  in  the  East,  3  v 0  18 

Col.  Cameron's  Georgia,  Circassia,  and  Russia,  2  v I  1 

A  Summer  in  Germany,  2  V I  1 


POPULAR  WORKS  IN  ONE  VOLUME. 

Sir  E.  Bulwer  Lytton's  King  Arthur     0  10 

Sir  E.  Bulwer  Lytton's  New  Timon      0    6 

Mr.  Disraeli's  Coningsby   0     6 

Lord  Lindsay's  Letters  on  the  Holy  Land 0    7 

Mr.  Broderip's  Zoological  Recreations  0     7 

Story  of  the  Peninsular  War 0     7 

Mr.  Ross'  Yacht  Voyage  to  Denmark,  &c.    0  10 

Capt.  Hall's  Nemesis  in  China  0  10 

Chateaubriand's  Memoirs  firom  1768  to  1800  0     5 

The  Duke  of  Wellington's  Maxims  and  Opiuioos 0  12 

Miss  Bremer's  Midnight  Sun     0  10 

The  Dean  of  York's  New  System  of  Geology  0     3 

Lady  Blessington's  Conversations  with  Byron  0     7 

Cobbold's  History  of  Margaret  Catchpole 0  10 

Cobbold's  Mary  Anne  Wellington 0  10 

One  Day  in  the  Life  of  a  Stag  0    6 


HENRY  COLBURN,  Publishek,  13,  Gr.  Mablboeough  St. 


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Icndorv:  Seniy  Cblium. . 


DIARY 


COKRESPONDENCE 


JOHN    EYELYN,    F.RS., 


AUTHOR   OF   THE   " SYLVA. 


TO  WHICH   IS   SUBJOINED 

Ejje  ^rtbate  Corrcspontience 

BETWEEN 

KING  CHARLES  I.  AND  SIR  EDWARD  NICHOLAS, 

AJ,T>  BETWEEN 

SIR  EDWARD  HYDE,  AFTERWARDS  EARL  OF  CLARENDON, 
AND  SIR  RICHARD  BROWNE. 


EDITED    FROM    THE    ORIGINAL   MSS.    AT   WOTTOX. 

BY  WILLIAM   BKAY,  ESQ.,  F.A.S. 

A    NEW    EDITION,    IN    FOUR   VOLUMES. 

CORRECTED,   REVISED,   AND    ENLARGED, 

Y'OL.   II. 

LONDON : 
HENRY  COLBURN,   PUBLISHEE, 

GREAT  MARLBOROUGH  STREET. 
1850. 


LONDON  : 
BRADBURY   AND   EVANS,  PRINTBBS,  WHITKFRIAM. 


CONTENTS. 

PAQR 

DiAEY  ;  FROM  1665  TO  1706 1 

Additional  Notes 377 

Appendix 390 

Pedigkee  of  the  Evelyn  Family 396 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arcliive 

in  2007  witli  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcli  ive.org/details/diarycorresponde02eveliala 


DIARY 


OF 


JOHN    EVELYN 


1665-6.  3rd  January.  I  supped  in  Nonesuch  House,* 
■whither  the  office  of  the  Exchequer  was  transferred  during 
the  plague,  at  my  good  friend^s  Mr.  Packer's,  and  took  an 
exact  view  of  the  plaster  statues  and  hass-relievos  inserted 
hetwixt  the  timbers  and  puncheons  of  the  outside  walls  of 
the  Court ;  which  must  needs  have  been  the  work  of  some 
celebrated  Italian.  I  much  admired  how  they  had  lasted  so 
well  and  entire  since  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  exposed  as 
they  are  to  the  air ;  and  pity  it  is  they  are  not  taken  out 
and  preserved  in  some  dry  place ;  a  gallery  would  become 
them.  There  are  some  mezzo-relievos  as  big  as  the  life ; 
the  story  is  of  the  Heathen  Gods,  emblems,  compartments, 
&c.  The  palace  consists  of  two  courts,  of  which  the  first 
is  of  stone,  castle-like,  by  the  Lord  Lumleys  (of  whom 
it  was  purchased),  the  other  of  timber,  a  Gothic  fabric,  but 
these  walls  incomparably  beautified.  I  observed  that  the 
appearing  timber-puncheons,  entrelices,  &c.  were  all  so 
covered  with  scales  of  slate,  that  it  seemed  carved  in  the 
wood  and  painted,  the  slate  fastened  on  the  timber  in 
pretty  fi  gures,  that  has,  hke  a  coat  of  armour,  preserved  it 

*  There  is  a  small  print  of  it  in  Speed's  Map  of  Suit  ey,  but  a  larger  one  by 
Hoefnagle  in  a  Collection  of  Views,  some  in  England,  but  chiefly  abroad. 
Mr.  Lysons  has  copied  this  in  his  "  Environs  of  Lond  on,"  edit.  1 796,  vol.  I., 
p.  153.  It  is  also  copied  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  Progresses,  2nd  edit.  182^, 
vol.  I.,  p.  74. 

VOL.  II.  P 


2  DIARY  OP  [hampton-court, 

from  rotting.  There  stand  in  the  garden  two  handsome 
stone  pyramids,  and  the  avenue  planted  with  rows  of  fair 
elms,  but  the  rest  of  these  goodly  trees,  both  of  this  and  of 
Worcester  Park  adjoining,  were  felled  by  those  destruc- 
tive and  avaricious  rebels  in  the  late  war,  which  defaced 
one  of  the  stateliest  seats  his  Majesty  had. 

12th.  After  much,  and  indeed  extraordinary  mirth  and 
cheer,  all  my  brothers,  our  wives,  and  children  being 
together,  and  after  much  sorrow  and  trouble  during  this 
contagion,  which  separated  our  families  as  well  as  others^ 
I  returned  to  my  house,  but  my  wife  went  back  to  Wotton, 
I  not  as  yet  willing  to  adventure  her,  the  contagion, 
though  exceedingly  abated,  not  as  yet  wholly  extinguished 
amongst  us. 

29th.  I  went  to  wait  on  his  Majesty,  now  returned  from 
Oxford  to  Hampton-Court,  where  the  Duke  of  Albemarle 
presented  me  to  him ;  he  ran  towards  me,  and  in  a  most 
gracious  manner  gave  me  his  hand  to  kiss,  with  many 
thanks  for  my  care  and  faithfulness  in  his  service  in  a  time 
of  such  great  danger,  when  everybody  fled  their  employ- 
ments ;  he  told  me  he  was  much  obliged  to  me,  and  said 
he  was  several  times  concerned  for  me,  and  the  peril  I 
underwent,  and  did  receive  my  service  most  acceptably 
(though  in  truth  I  did  but  do  my  duty,  and  O  that  I  had 
performed  it  as  I  ought  !)  After  this,  his  Majesty  was 
pleased  to  talk  with  me  alone,  near  an  hour,  of  several 
particulars  of  my  employment,  and  ordered  me  to  attend 
him  again  on  the  Thursday  following  at  Whitehall.  Then 
the  Duke  came  towards  me,  and  embraced  me  with  much 
kindness,  telling  me  if  he  had  thought  my  danger  would 
have  been  so  great,  he  would  not  have  suffered  his  Majesty 
to  employ  me  in  that  station.  Then  came  to  salute  me 
my  Lord  of  St.  Albans,  Lord  Arlington,  Sir  Wilham 
Coventry,  and  several  great  persons;  after  which,  I  got 
home,  not  being  very  well  in  health. 

The  Court  was  now  in  deep  mourning  for  the  French 
Queen-Mother. 

2nd  February.  To  London ;  his  Majesty  now  come  to 
Whitehall,  where  I  heard  and  saw  my  Lord  Mayor  (and 
brethren)  make  his  speech  of  welcome,  and  the  two 
Sheriffs  were  knighted. 

6th.  My  wife  and  family  returned  to  me  from  the 
country,  where  they  had  been  since  August,  by  reason  of 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3 

the  contagion^  now  almost  universally  ceasing.  Blessed 
be  God  for  His  infinite  mercy  in  preserving  us  !  I,  having 
gone  through  so  much  danger,  and  lost  so  many  of  my 
poor  officers,  escaping  still  myself,  that  I  might  live  to 
recount  and  magnify  His  goodness  to  me. 

8th.  I  had  another  gracious  reception  by  his  Majesty, 
who  called  me  into  his  bed-chamber,  to  lay  before  and 
describe  to  him  my  project  of  an  Infirmary,  which  I  read 
to  him,  who,  with  great  approbation,  recommended  it  to 
his  Royal  Highness. 

20th.  To  the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy  who,  having 
seen  the  project  of  the  Infirmary,  encouraged  the  work, 
and  were  very  earnest  it  should  be  set  about  immediately ; 
but  I  saw  no  money,  though  a  very  moderate  expense 
would  have  saved  thousands  to  his  Majesty,  and  been 
much  more  commodious  for  the  cure  and  quartering  of 
our  sick  and  wounded,  than  the  dispersing  them  into  pri- 
vate houses,  where  many  more  chirurgeons  and  attendants 
were  necessary,  and  the  people  tempted  to  debauchery. 

21st.  Went  to  my  Lord  Treasurer  for  an  assignment  of 
40,000/.  upon  the  two  last  quarters  for  support  of  the  next 
yearns  charge.  Next  day,  to  Duke  of  Albemarle  and  Secre- 
tary of  State,  to  desire  them  to  propose  it  to  the  Council. 

1st  March.  To  London,  and  presented  his  Majesty  my 
book,  intituled,  "  The  pernicious  Consequences  of  the  new 
Heresy  of  the  Jesuits  against  Kings  and  States."* 

7th.  Dr.  Sancroft,  since  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
preached  before  the  King  about  the  identity  and  immuta- 
bility of  God,  on  Psalm  cii.  27. 

13th.  To  Chatham,  to  view  a  place  designed  for  an 
Infirmary. 

15th.  My  charge  now  amounted  to  near  7000/.  [weekly] . 

22nd.  The  Royal  Society  re-assembled,  after  the  dis- 
persion from  the  contagion. 

24th.  Sent  £2000  to  Chatham. 

1st  April.  To  London,  to  consult  about  ordering  the 
natural  rarities  belonging  to  the  repository  of  the  Royal 
Society ;  referred  to  a  Committee. 

loth.  Visited  Sir  William  D'Oyly,  surprised  with  a  fit 
of  apoplexy,  and  in  extreme  danger. 

*  See  Volume  I.,  page  387. 
B  2 


4  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

11th.  Dr.  Bathurst  preached  before  the  King,  from  ''I 
say  unto  you  all,  watch" — a  seasonable  and  most  excellent 
discourse.  When  his  Majesty  came  from  chapel,  he  called 
to  me  in  the  lobby,  and  told  me  he  must  now  have  me 
sworn  for  a  Justice  of  Peace  (having  long  since  made  me 
of  the  Commission),  which  I  declined  as  inconsistent  with 
the  other  service  I  was  engaged  in,  and  humbly  desired  to 
be  excused.  After  dinner,  waiting  on  him,  I  gave  him  the 
first  notice  of  the  Spaniards  referring  the  umpirage  of  the 
peace  betwixt  them  and  Portugal  to  the  French  King,  which 
came  to  me  in  a  letter  from  France  before  the  Secretaries 
of  State  had  any  news  of  it.  After  this,  his  Majesty  again 
asked  me  if  I  had  found  out  any  able  person  about  our 
parts  that  might  supply  my  place  of  Justice  of  Peace  (the 
office  in  the  world  I  had  most  industriously  avoided,  in 
regard  of  the  perpetual  trouble  thereof  in  these  numerous 
parishes) ;  on  which  I  nominated  one,  whom  the  King  com- 
manded me  to  give  immediate  notice  of  to  my  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, and  I  should  be  excused ;  for  which  I  rendered  his 
Majesty  many  thanks. — From  thence,  I  went  to  the  Royal 
Society,  where  I  was  chosen  by  twenty-seven  voices  to  be 
one  of  their  Council  for  the  ensuing  year ;  but,  upon  my 
earnest  suit,  in  respect  of  my  other  affairs,  I  got  to  be 
excused  ; — and  so  home. 

15th.  Our  parish  was  now  more  infected  with  the  plague 
than  ever,  and  so  was  all  the  country  about,  though  almost 
quite  ceased  at  London. 

24th.  To  London,  about  our  Mint-Commission,  and  sat 
in  the  inner  Court  of  Wards. 

8th  May.  To  Oueenborough,  where,  finding  the  Rich- 
mond frigate,  I  sailed  to  the  Buoy  of  the  Nore  to  my 
Lord-General  and  Prince  Rupert,  where  was  the  rendez- 
vous of  the  most  glorious  fleet  in  the  world,  now  preparing 
to  meet  the  Hollander. — Went  to  visit  my  cousin.  Hales,  at 
a  sweetly-watered  place  at  Chilston,  near  Bockton.  The 
next  morning,  to  Leeds  Castle,  once  a  famous  hold,  now 
hired  by  me  of  my  Lord  Culpeper  for  a  prison.  Here  I 
flowed  the  dry  moat,  made  a  new  drawbridge,  brought 
spring  water  into  the  court  of  the  castle  to  an  old  foun- 
tain, and  took  order  for  the  repairs. 

22nd.  Waited  on  my  Lord  Chancellor  at  his  new  palace ; 
and  Lord  Berkele/s  bmlt  next  to  it. 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  5 

24th.  Dined  with  Lord  Cornbury,  now  made  Lord  Cham- 
berlain to  the  Queen ;  who  kept  a  very  honourable  table. 

1st  June.  Being  in  my  garden  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  and  hearing  the  great  guns  go  thick  off,  I  took 
horse,  and  rode  that  night  to  Eochester;  thence,  next  day 
towards  the  Downs  and  sea-coast,  but  meeting  the  Lieute- 
nant of  the  Hampshire  frigate,  who  told  me  what  passed, 
or  rather  what  had  not  passed,  I  returned  to  London, 
there  being  no  noise,  or  appearance,  at  Deal,  or  on  that 
coast,  of  any  engagement.  Recounting  this  to  his  Majesty, 
whom  I  found  at  St.  James's  Park,  impatiently  expecting, 
and  knowing  that  Prince  Rupert  was  loose  about  three  at 
St.  Helen's  Point  at  N.  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  it  greatly 
rejoiced  him ;  but  he  was  astonished  when  I  assured  him 
they  heard  nothing  of  the  guns  in  the  Downs,  nor  did  the 
Lieutenant  who  landed  there  by  five  that  morning. 

3rd.  Whit- Sunday.  After  sermon,  came  news  that  th& 
Duke  of  Albemarle  was  still  in  fight,  and  had  been  all 
Saturday,  and  that  Captain  Harman's  ship  (the  Henry) 
was  like  to  be  burnt.  Then  a  letter  from  Mr.  Bertie  that 
Prince  Rupert  was  come  up  with  his  squadron,  (according 
to  my  former  advice  of  his  being  loose  and  in  the  way), 
and  put  new  courage  into  our  fleet,  now  in  a  manner- 
yielding  ground,  so  that  now  we  were  chasing  the  chasers; 
that  the  Duke  of  Albemarle  was  slightly  wounded,  and  the 
rest  still  in  great  danger.  So,  having  been  much  wearied 
with  my  journey,  I  slipped  home,  the  guns  still  roaring 
very  fiercely. 

5th.  I  went  this  morning  to  London,  where  came 
several  particulars  of  the  fight. 

6th.  Came  Sir  Daniel  Harvey  from  the  General,  and 
related  the  dreadful  encounter,  on  which  his  Majesty  com- 
manded me  to  despatch  an  extraordinary  physician  and 
more  chirurgeons.  It  was  on  the  solemn  Fast-day  when 
the  news  came ;  his  Majesty  being  in  the  chapel,  made  a 
sudden  stop  to  hear  the  relation,  which  being  with  much 
advantage  on  our  side,  his  Majesty  commanded  that  public 
thanks  should  immediately  be  given  as  for  a  victory.  The 
Dean  of  the  chapel  going  down  to  give  notice  of  it  to  the 
other  Dean  officiating;  and  notice  was  likewise  sent  to 
St.  Paul's  and  Westminster-Abbey.  But,  this  was  no 
sooner  over,  than  news  came  that  our  loss  was  very  great 


g  DIARY    OP  [CHATHAM, 

both  in  ships  and  men ;  that  the  Prince  frigate  was  burnt, 
and  as  noble  a  vessel  of  90  brass  guns  lost,  and  the  taking 
of  Sir  George  Ayscue,  and  exceeding  shattering  of  both 
fleets,  so  as  both  being  obstinate,  both  parted  rather  for 
want  of  ammunition  and  tackle  than  courage,  our  General 
retreating  like  a  lion;  which  exceedingly  abated  of  our 
former  joy.  There  was,  however,  order  given  for  bonfires 
and  bells;  but,  God  knows,  it  was  rather  a  dehverance 
than  a  triumph.  So  much  it  pleased  God  to  humble  our 
late  over-confidence  that  nothing  could  withstand  the  Duke 
of  Albemarle,  who,  in  good  truth,  made  too  forward  a 
reckoning  of  his  success  now,  because  he  had  once  beaten 
the  Dutch  in  another  quarrel,  and,  being  ambitious  to 
outdo  the  Earl  of  Sandwich,  whom  he  had  prejurlicated  as 
deficient  in  courage. 

7th.  I  sent  more  chirurgeons,  linen,  medicaments,  &c. 
to  the  several  ports  in  my  district. 

8th.  Dined  with  me  Sir  Alexander  Eraser,  prime  physi- 
cian to  his  Majesty;  afterwards,  went  on  board  his  Majesty's 
pleasure-boat,  when  I  saw  the  London  frigate  launched,  a 
most  stately  ship,  built  by  the  City  to  supply  that  which 
was  burnt  by  accident  some  time  since;  the  King,  Lord 
Mayor  and  Sheriffs,  being  there  with  great  banquet. 

11th.  Trinity-Monday,  after  a  sermon,  applied  to  the 
re-meeting  of  the  Corporation  of  the  Trinity-House,  after 
the  late  raging  and  wasting  pestilence  :  I  dined  with  them 
in  their  new  room  in  Deptford,  the  first  time  since  it  was 
rebuilt. 

15th.  I  went  to  Chatham. — 16th.  In  the  Jemmy  yacht 
(an  incomparable  sailer)  to  sea,  arrived  by  noon  at  the 
fleet  at  the  Buoy  of  the  Nore,  dined  with  Prince  Rupert 
and  the  General. 

17th.  Came  his  Majesty,  the  Duke,  and  many  Noble- 
men. After  Council,  we  went  to  prayers.  My  business 
being  despatched,  I  returned  to  Chatham,  having  lain  but 
one  night  in  the  Royal  Charles ;  we  had  a  tempestuous 
sea.  I  went  on  shore  at  Sheerness,  where  they  were  build- 
ing an  arsenal  for  the  fleet,  and  designing  a  royal  fort  with 
a  receptacle  for  great  ships  to  ride  at  anchor ;  but  here  I 
beheld  the  sad  spectacle,  more  than  half  that  gallant  bul- 
wark of  the  kingdom  miserably  shattered,  hardly  a  vessel 
entire,  but  appearing  rather  so  many  wrecks  and  hulls,  so 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  7 

cruelly  had  the  Dutch  mangled  us.  The  loss  of  the  Prince, 
that  gallant  vessel,  had  been  a  loss  to  be  universally  de- 
plored, none  knowing  for  what  reason  we  first  engaged  in 
this  ungrateful  war ;  we  lost  besides  nine  or  ten  more,  and 
near  600  men  slain  and  1100  wounded,  2000  prisoners; 
to  balance  which,  perhaps  we  might  destroy  eighteen  or 
twenty  of  the  enemy's  ships,  and  700  or  800  poor  men. 

18th.  Weary  of  this  sad  sight,  I  returned  home. 

2nd  July.  Came  Sir  John  Buncomb*  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Chicheley,  both  Privy  Councillors  and  Commissioners  of 
His  Majesty's  Ordnance,  to  visit  me,  and  let  me  know  that 
his  Majesty  had  in  Council  nominated  me  to  be  one  of  the 
Commissioners  for  regulating  the  farming  and  making  of 
saltpetre  through  the  whole  kingdom,  and  that  we  were  to 
sit  in  the  Tower  the  next  day.  When  they  were  gone, 
came  to  see  me  Sir  John  Cotton,  heir  to  the  famous  an- 
tiquary. Sir  Robert  Cotton  :  a  pretended  great  Grecian,  but 
had  by  no  means  the  parts,  or  genius,  of  his  grandfather. 

3rd.  I  went  to  sit  with  the  Commissioners  at  the  Tower, 
where  our  commission  being  read,  we  made  some  progress 
in  business,  our  Secretary  being  Sir  George  Wharton,  that 
famous  mathematician  who  wrote  the  yearly  Almanack 
during  his  Majesty's  troubles.  Thence,  to  Painters'  Hall, 
to  our  other  commission,  and  dined  at  my  Lord  Mayor's. 

4th.  The  solemn  Fast-day.  Dr.  Meggot  preached  an 
excellent  discourse  before  the  King  on  the  terrors  of  God's 
judgments.  After  sermon,  I  waited  on  my  Lord  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  and  Bishop  of  Winchester,  where 
the  Dean  of  Westminster  spoke  to  me  about  putting  into 
my  hands  the  disposal  of  fifty  pounds,  which  the  charitable 
people  of  Oxford  had  sent  to  be  distributed  among  the  sick 
and  wounded  seamen  since  the  battle.  Hence,  I  went  to 
the  Lord  Chancellor's  to  joy  him  of  his  Royal  Highness's 
second  son,  now  born  at  St.  James's,  and  to  desire  the  use 
of  the  Star-chamber  for  our  Commissioners  to  meet  in, 
Painters'  Hall  not  being  so  convenient. 

12th.  We  sat  the  first  time  in  the  Star-chamber.  There 

*  "  Duncomb  was  a  judicious  man,  but  very  haughty,  and  apt  to  raise  ene- 
mies against  himself.  He  was  an  able  Parliament-man,  but  could  not  go 
into  all  the  designs  of  the  Court ;  for  he  had  a  sense  of  religion,  and  a  zeal 
for  the  liberty  of  his  country."  Bishop  Burnet's  Hist,  of  his  own  Times 
folio,  vol.  I.,  p.  2C5. 


8  DIARY  OP  [lomdon, 

was  now  added  to  our  commission  Sir  George  Downing, 
(one  that  had  been  a  great  .  .  .  against  his  Majesty,  but 
now  insinuated  into  his  favour ;  and,  from  a  pedagogue  and 
fanatic  preacher,  not  worth  a  groat,  had  become  excessively 
rich)  to  inspect  the  hospitals  and  treat  about  prisons. 

l4th.  Sat  at  the  Tower  with  Sir  J.  Duncomb  and  Lord 
Berkeley,  to  sign  deputations  for  undertakers  to  furnish 
their  proportions  of  saltpetre. 

17th.  To  London,  to  prepare  for  the  next  engagement 
of  the  fleets,  now  gotten  to  sea  again. 

22nd.  Our  parish  still  infected  with  the  contagion. 

25th.  The  fleets  engaged.  I  dined  at  Lord  Berkeley's, 
at  St.  James's,  where  dined  my  Lady  Harrietta  Hyde, 
Lord  Arlington,  and  Sir  John  Duncomb. 

29th.  The  pestilence  now  afresh  increasing  in  our  parish, 
I  forbore  going  to  church.  In  the  afternoon,  came  tidings 
of  our  victory  over  the  Dutch,  sinking  some  and  driving- 
others  aground,  and  into  their  ports. 

1st  August.  I  went  to  Dr.  Keffler,  who  married  the 
daughter  of  the  famous  chymist,  Drebbell,  inventor  of  the 
bodied  scarlet.  I  went  to  see  his  iron  ovens,  made  port- 
able (formerly)  for  the  Prince  of  Orange's  army :  supped 
at  the  Rhenish  Wine-House  with  divers  Scots  gentlemen. 

6th.  Dined  with  Mr.  Povey,  and  then  went  with  him  ta 
see  a  country-house  he  had  bought  near  Brentford  ;  return- 
ing by  Kensington ;  which  house  stands  to  a  very  graceful 
avenue  of  trees,  but  it  is  an  ordinary  building,  especially 
one  part. 

8th.  Dined  at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's  with  several  friends, 
and,  on  the  10th,  with  Mr.  Odart,  Secretary  of  the  Latin 
tongue. 

17th.  Dined  with  the  Lord  Chancellor,  whom  I  intreated 
to  visit  the  Hospital  of  the  Savoy,  and  reduce  it  (after  the 
great  abuse  that  had  been  continued)  to  its  original  insti- 
tution for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  which  he  promised 
to  do. 

25th.  Waited  on  Sir  William  D'Oyly,  now  recovered, 
as  it  were,  miraculously.  In  the  afternoon,  visited  the 
Savoy  Hospital,  where  I  stayed  to  see  the  miserably  dis- 
membered and  wounded  men  dressed,  and  gave  some 
necessary  orders.  Then,  to  my  Lord  Chancellor,  who  had, 
with  the  Bishop  of  London  and  others  in  the  coinmission,. 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  9 

chosen  me  one  of  the  three  surveyors  of  the  repairs  of  Paul's, 
and  to  consider  of  a  model  for  the  new  building,  or,  if  it 
might  be,  repairing  of  the  steeple,  which  was  most  decayed. 

26th.  The  contagion  still  continuing,  we  had  the  Church- 
service  at  home. 

27th.  I  went  to  St.  Paul's  church,  where,  with  Dr. 
Wren,  Mr.  Pratt,  Mr.  May,  Mr.  Thomas  Chicheley,  Mr. 
Slingsby,  the  Bishop  of  London,  the  Dean*  of  St.  Paul's, 
and  several  expert  workmen,  we  went  about  to  survey  the 
general  decays  of  that  ancient  and  venerable  church,  and 
to  set  down  in  writing  the  particulars  of  what  was  fit  to  be 
done,  with  the  charge  thereof,  giving  our  opinion  from 
article  to  article.  Finding  the  main  building  to  recede 
outwards,  it  was  the  opinion  of  Chicheley  and  Mr.  Pratt 
that  it  had  been  so  built  ab  origine  for  an  effect  in 
perspective,  in  regard  of  the  height;  but  I  was,  with 
Dr.  Wren,  quite  of  another  j  udgment,  and  so  we  entered 
it ;  we  plumbed  the  uprights  in  several  places.  When  we 
came  to  the  steeple,  it  was  deliberated  whether  it  were  not 
well  enough  to  repair  it  only  on  its  old  foundation,  with 
reservation  to  the  four  pillars;  this  Mr.  Chicheley  and 
Mr.  Pratt  were  also  for,  but  we  totally  rejected  it,  and 
persisted  that  it  required  a  new  foundation,  not  only 
in  regard  of  the  necessity,  but  for  that  the  shape  of  what 
stood  was  very  mean,  and  we  had  a  mind  to  build  it  with  a 
noble  cupola,  a  form  of  church-building  not  as  yet  known 
in  England,  but  of  wonderful  grace :  for  this  purpose,  w& 
offered  to  bring  in  a  plan  and  estimate,  which,  after  much 
contest,  was  at  last  assented  to,  and  that  we  should  nomi- 
nate a  committee  of  able  workmen  to  examine  the  present 
foundation.  This  concluded,  we  drew  all  up  in  writing,, 
and  so  went  with  my  Lord  Bishop  to  the  Dean's. 

28th.  Sat  at  the  Star-chamber.  Next  day,  to  the 
E/Oyal  Society,  where  one  Mercator,  an  excellent  mathema- 
tician, produced  his  rare  clock  and  new  motion  to  perform 
the  equations,  and  Mr.  Rooke,  his  new  pendulum. 

2nd  September.  This  fatal  night,  about  ten,  began  the 
deplorable  fire  near  Pish-street,  in  London. 

3rd.  I  had  public  prayers  at  home.  The  fire  continuing, 
after  dinner,  I  took  coach  with  my  wife  and  son,  and  went 

*  Dr.  Sancroft. 


10  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

to  the  Bankside  in  Southwark,  where  we  beheld  that 
dismal  spectacle,  the  whole  City  in  dreadful  flames  near  the 
water-side;  all  the  houses  from  the  Bridge,  all  Thames- 
street,  and  upwards  towards  Cheapside,  down  to  the  Three 
Cranes,  were  now  consumed :  and  so  returned  exceeding 
astonished  what  would  .become  of  the  rest. 

The  fire  having  continued  all  this  night  (if  I  may  call 
that  night  which  was  light  as  day  for  ten  miles  round 
about,  after  a  dreadful  manner)  when  conspiring  with  a 
fierce  eastern  wind  in  a  very  dry  season;  I  went  on  foot  to 
the  same  place,  and  saw  the  whole  south  part  of  the  City 
burning  from  Cheapside  to  the  Thames,  and  all  along 
Comhill  (for  it  likewise  kindled  back  against  the  wind  as 
well  as  forward).  Tower-street,  Fenchurch-street,  Gracious- 
street,*  and  so  along  to  Baynard^s  Castle,  and  was  now 
taking  hold  of  St.  Paulas  church,  to  which  the  scaffolds 
contributed  exceedingly.  The  conflagration  was  so  uni- 
versal, and  the  people  so  astonished  that,  from  the  begin- 
ning, I  know  not  by  what  despondency,  or  fate,  they  hardly 
stirred  to  quench  it;  so  that  there  was  nothing  heard, 
or  seen,  but  crying  out  and  lamentation,  running  about 
like  distracted  creatures,  without  at  all  attempting  to  save 
even  their  goods  ;  such  a  strange  consternation  there  was 
upon  them,  so  as  it  burned  both  in  breadth  and  length,  the 
churches,  public  halls.  Exchange,  hospitals,  monuments, 
and  ornaments,  leaping  after  a  prodigious  manner,  from 
house  to  house,  and  street  to  street,  at  great  distances 
one  from  the  other ;  for  the  heat  with  a  long  set  of  fair 
and  warm  weather  had  even  ignited  the  air,  and  prepared 
the  materials  to  conceive  the  fire,  which  devoured,  after  an 
incredible  manner,  houses,  furniture,  and  every  thing. 
Here,  we  saw  the  Thames  covered  with  goods  floating,  all 
the  barges  and  boats  laden  with  what  some  had  time  and 
courage  to  save,  as,  on  the  other  side,  the  carts,  &c.,  carrying 
out  to  the  fields,  which  for  many  miles  were  strewed  with 
moveables  of  all  sorts,  and  tents  erecting  to  shelter  both 
people  and  what  goods  they  could  get  away.  Oh,  the 
miserable  and  calamitous  spectacle !  such  as  haply  the 
world  had  not  seen  since  the  foundation  of  it,  nor  can  be 
outdone  till  the  universal  conflagration  thereof.    All  the  sky 

*  Now  Gracechurch-street. 


1666.1  JOHN  EVELYN.  21 

was  of  a  fiery  aspect,  like  the  top  of  a  burning  ovenj  and 
the  light  seen  above  forty  miles  round-about  for  many 
nights.  God  grant  mine  eyes  may  never  behold  the  like, 
who  now  saw  above  10,000  houses  all  in  one  flame  !  The 
noise  and  cracking  and  thunder  of  the  impetuous  flames, 
the  shrieking  of  women  and  children,  the  hurry  of  people, 
the  fall  of  towers,  houses,  and  churches,  was  like  a  hideous 
storm,  and  the  air  all  about  so  hot  and  inflamed,  that  at 
the  last  one  was  not  able  to  approach  it,  so  that  they  were 
forced  to  stand  still,  and  let  the  flames  burn  on,  which  they 
did,  for  near  two  miles  in  length  and  one  in  breadth.  The 
clouds,  also,  of  smoke  were  dismal,  and  reached,  upon  com- 
putation, near  fifty  miles  in  length.  Thus,  I  left  it  this 
afternoon  burning,  a  resemblance  of  Sodom,  or  the  last 
day.  It  forcibly  called  to  my  mind  that  passage — non  enim 
hie  habemus  stabilem  civitatem  :  the  ruins  resembling  the 
picture  of  Troy.  London  was,  but  is  no  more  !  Thus,  I 
returned. 

4th.  The  burning  still  rages,  and  it  was  now  gotten  as 
far  as  the  Inner  Temple ;  all  Fleet-street,  the  Old  Bailey, 
Ludgate-hill,  Warwick-lane,  Newgate,  PauFs-chain,  Wat- 
ling-street,  now  flaming,  and  most  of  it  reduced  to  ashes  ; 
the  stones  of  Paul's  flew  like  grenados,  the  melting 
lead  running  down  the  streets  in  a  stream,  and  the  very 
pavements  glowing  with  fiery  redness,  so  as  no  horse,  nor 
man,  was  able  to  tread  on  them,  and  the  demolition  had 
stopped  all  the  passages,  so  that  no  help  could  be  applied. 
The  eastern  wind  still  more  impetuously  driving  the  flames 
forward.  Nothing  but  the  Almighty  power  of  God  was 
able  to  stop  them ;  for  vain  was  the  help  of  man. 

5th.  It  crossed  towards  Whitehall ;  but  oh  !  the  confu- 
sion there  was  then  at  that  Court !  It  pleased  his  Majesty 
to  command  me  among  the  rest  to  look  after  the  quenching 
of  Fetter-lane  end,  to  preserve  (if  possible)  that  part  of 
Holborn,  whilst  the  rest  of  the  gentlemen  took  their 
several  posts,  some  at  one  part,  and  some  at  another,  (for 
now  they  began  to  bestir  themselves,  and  not  till  now,  who 
hitherto  had  stood  as  men  intoxicated,  with  their  hands 
across)  and  began  to  consider  that  nothing  was  likely  to 
put  a  stop  but  the  blowing  up  of  so  ntauy  houses  as  might 
make  a  wider  gap  than  any  had  yet  been  made  by  the 
ordinary  method  of  pulHng  them  down  with  engines.  This 


12.  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

some  stout  seamen  proposed  early  enough  to  have  saved 
near  the  whole  City,  but  this  some  tenacious  and  avaricious 
men,  aldermen,  &c.,  would  not  permit,  because  their  houses 
must  have  been  of  the  first.  It  was,  therefore,  now  com- 
manded to  be  practised,  and  my  concern  being  particularly 
for  the  Hospital  of  St.  Bartholomew,  near  Smithfield, 
where  I  had  many  wounded  and  sick  men,  made  me 
the  more  diligent  to  promote  it ;  nor  was  my  care  for  the 
Savoy  less.  It  now  pleased  God,  by  abating  the  wind, 
and  by  the  industry  of  the  people,  when  almost  all  was  lost, 
infusing  a  new  spirit  into  them,  that  the  fury  of  it  began 
sensibly  to  abate  about  noon,  so  as  it  came  no  farther  than 
the  Temple  westward,  nor  than  the  entrance  of  Smithfield, 
north  :  but  continued  all  this  day  and  night  so  impetuous 
toward  Cripplegate  and  the  Tower,  as  made  us  all  despair ; 
it  also  brake  out  again  in  the  Temple;  but  the  courage  of 
the  multitude  persisting,  and  many  houses  being  blown 
up,  such  gaps  and  desolations  were  soon  made,  as  with  the 
former  three  days'  consumption,  the  back  fire  did  not 
so  vehemently  urge  upon  the  rest  as  formerly.  There  was 
yet  no  standing  near  the  burning  and  glowing  ruins  by  near 
a  furlong's  space. 

The  coal  and  wood-wharfs,  and  magazines  of  oil,  rosin, 
&c.,  did  infinite  mischief,  so  as  the  invective  which  a  little 
before  I  had  dedicated  to  his  Majesty  and  published,*  giving 
warning  what  might  probably  be  the  issue  of  suflering^ 
those  shops  to  be  in  the  City,  was  looked  on  as  a  prophecy. 

The  poor  inhabitants  were  dispersed  about  St.  George's 
Fields,  and  Moorfields,  as  far  as  Highgate,  and  several 
miles  in  circle,  some  under  tents,  some  under  miserable 
huts  and  hovels,  many  without  a  rag,  or  any  necessary 
utensils,  bed  or  board,  who  from  dehcateness,  riches,  and 
easy  accommodations  in  stately  and  well-furnished  houses, 
were  now  reduced  to  extremest  misery  and  poverty. 

In  this  calamitous  condition,  I  returned  with  a  sad 
heart  to  my  house,  blessing  and  adoring  the  distinguishing 
mercy  of  God  to  me  and  mine  who,  in  the  midst  of  all 
this  ruin,  was  like  Lot,  in  my  little  Zoar,  safe  and  sound. 

6th.  Thursday.  I  represented  to  his  Majesty  the  case  of 
the  French  prisoners  at  war  in  my  custody,  and  besought 
him  that  there  might  be  still  the  same  care  of  watching  at 

*  «  The  Fumifugium."    See  Volume  I.,  p.  354. 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  13 

all  places  contiguous  to  unseized  houses.  It  is  not  indeed 
imaginable  how  extraordinary  the  vigilance  and  activity 
of  the  King  and  the  Duke  was,  even  labouring  in  person, 
and  being  present  to  command,  order,  reward,  or  encourage, 
workmen ;  by  which  he  showed  his  affection  to  his  people, 
and  gained  theirs.  Having,  then,  disposed  of  some  under 
cure  at  the  Savoy,  I  returned  to  Whitehall,  where  I  dined 
at  Mr.  Offley's,*  the  groom-porter,  who  was  my  relation. 

7th.  I  went  this  morning  on  foot  from  Whitehall  as  far  as 
London  Bridge,  through  the  late  Fleet-street,  Ludgate-hill, 
by  St.  PauFs,  Cheapside,  Exchange,  Bishopsgate,  Aldersgate, 
and  out  to  Moorfields,  thence  through  Cornhill,  &c.,  with 
extraordinary  difficulty,  clambering  over  heaps  of  yet 
smoking  rubbish,  and  frequently  mistaking  where  I  was  : 
the  ground  uuder  my  feet  so  hot,  that  it  even  burnt  the 
soles  of  my  shoes.  In  the  meantime,  his  Majesty  got  to 
the  Tower  by  water,  to  demolish  the  houses  about  the 
graff,  which  being  built  entirely  about  it,  had  they  taken 
fire  and  attacked  the  White  Tower,  where  the  magazine  of 
powder  lay,  would  undoubtedly  not  only  have  beaten  down 
and  destroyed  all  the  bridge,  but  sunk  and  torn  the 
vessels  in  the  river,  and  rendered  the  demolition  beyond 
all  expression  for  several  miles  about  the  country. 

At  my  return,  I  was  infinitely  concerned  to  find  that 
goodly  Church,  St.  PauFs — now  a  sad  ruin,  and  that 
beautiful  portico  (for  structure  comparable  to  any  in 
Europe,  as  not  long  before  repaired  by  the  late  King)  now 
rent  in  pieces,  flakes  of  vast  stone  split  asunder,  and 
nothing  remaining  entire  but  the  inscription  in  the  archi- 
trave, showing  by  whom  it  was  built,  which  had  not  one 
letter  of  it  defaced  !  It  was  astonishing  to  see  what 
immense  stones  the  heat  had  in  a  manner  calcined,  so 
that  all  the  ornaments,  columns,  friezes,  capitals,  and  pro- 
jectures  of  massy  Portland  stone,  flew  off,  even  to  the 
very  roof,  where  a  sheet  of  lead  covering  a  great  space 
(no  less  than  six  acres  by  measure)  was  totally  melted ; 
the  ruins  of  the  vaulted  roof  falling,  broke  into  St.  FaitVs, 
which,  being  filled  with  the  magazines  of  books  belonging 
to  the  Stationers,  and  carried  thither  for  safety,  they  were 
all  consumed,  burning  for  a  week  following.     It  is  also 

*  Dr.  Offley  was  rector  of  Abinger,  and  donor  of  farms  to  Okewood  Chapel, 
in  the  pai-ish  of  Wotton,  in  the  patronage  of  the  Evelyn  family. 


14  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

observable  that  the  lead  over  the  altar  at  the  east  end  was 
untouched,  and  among  the  divers  monuments,  the  body 
of  one  Bishop  remained  entire.  Thus  lay  in  ashes  that 
most  venerable  church,  one  of  the  most  ancient  pieces  of 
early  piety  in  the  Christian  world,  besides  near  100  more. 
The  lead,  iron-work,  bells,  plate,  &c.  melted ;  the  exqui- 
sitely wrought  Mercers'  Chapel,  the  sumptuous  Exchange, 
the  august  fabric  of  Christ  Church,  all  the  rest  oT  the 
Companies'  Halls,  splendid  buildings,  arches,  entries,  all 
in  dust ;  the  fountains  dried  up  and  ruined,  whilst  the 
very  waters  remained  boiling ;  the  voragos  of  subterranean 
cellars,  wells,  and  dungeons,  formerly  warehouses,  still 
burning  in  stench  and  dark  clouds  of  smoke,  so  that  in 
five  or  six  miles  traversing  about,  I  did  not  see  one  load 
of  timber  unconsumed,  nor  many  stones  but  what  were 
calcined  white  as  snow. 

The  people,  who  now  walked  about  the  ruins,  appeared 
like  men  in  some  dismal  desert,  or  rather,  in  some  great 
city  laid  waste  by  a  cruel  enemy ;  to  which  was  added  the 
stench  that  came  from  some  poor  creatures'  bodies,  beds, 
and  other  combustible  goods.  Sir  Thomas  Gresham's 
statue,  though  fallen  from  its  niche  in  the  Royal  Ex- 
change, remained  entire,  when  all  those  of  the  Kings, 
since  the  Conquest,  were  broken  to  pieces  ;  also  the  stand- 
ard in  Cornhill,  and  Queen  Elizabeth's  effigies,  with  some 
arms  on  Ludgate,  continued  with  but  little  detriment, 
whilst  the  vast  iron  chains  of  the  City-streets,  hinges, 
bars,  and  gates  of  prisons,  were  many  of  them  melted  and 
reduced  to  cinders  by  the  vehement  heat.  Nor  was  I  yet 
able  to  pass  through  any  of  the  narrower  streets,  but 
kept  the  widest;  the  ground  and  air,  smoke  and  fiery 
vapour,  continued  so  intense,  that  my  hair  was  almost 
singed,  and  my  feet  unsuflferably  surbated.  The  bye-lanes 
and  narrower  streets,  were  quite  filled  up  with  rubbish,  nor 
could  one  have  possibly  known  where  he  was,  but  by  the 
ruins  of  some  Church,  or  Hall,  that  had  some  remarkable 
tower,  or  pinnacle,  remaining. 

I  then  went  towards  Islington  and  Highgate,  where  one 
might  have  seen  200,000  people  of  all  ranks  and  degrees 
dispersed  and  lying  along  by  their  heaps  of  what  they 
could  save  from  the  fire,  deploring  their  loss ;  and,  though 
ready  to  perish  for  hunger  and  destitution,  yet  not  asking 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I5 

one  penny  for  relief,  which  to  me  appeared  a  stranger 
sight  than  any  I  had  yet  beheld.  His  Majesty  and  Council 
indeed  took  all  imaginable  care  for  their  relief,  by  pro- 
clamation for  the  country  to  come  in,  and  refresh  them 
with  provisions. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  calamity  and  confusion,  there 
was,  I  know  not  how,  an  alarm  begun  that  the  French 
and  Dutch,  with  whom  we  were  now  in  hostility,  were  not 
only  landed,  but  even  entering  the  City.  There  was,  in 
truth,  some  days  before,  great  suspicion  of  those  two 
nations  joining ;  and  now,  that  they  had  been  the  occasion 
of  firing  the  town.  This  report  did  so  terrify,  that  on  a 
sudden  there  was  such  an  uproar  and  tumult  that  they 
ran  from  their  goods,  .and,  taking  what  weapons  they 
could  come  at,  they  could  not  be  stopped  from  falling  on 
some  of  those  nations  whom  they  casually  met,  without 
sense,  or  reason.  The  clamour  and  peril  grew  so  excessive, 
that  it  made  the  whole  Court  amazed,  and  they  did  with 
infinite  pains  and  great  diificulty,  reduce  and  appease  the 
people,  sending  troops  of  soldiers  and  guards,  to  cause 
them  to  retire  into  the  fields  again,  where  they  were 
watched  all  this  night.  I  left  them  pretty  quiet,  and  came 
home  sufficiently  weary  and  broken.  Their  spirits  thus  a 
little  calmed,  and  the  affright  abated,  they  now  began  to 
repair  into  the  suburbs  about  the  City,  where  such  as  had 
friends,  or  opportunity,  got  shelter  for  the  present ;  to 
which  his  Majesty^s  proclamation  also  invited  them,* 

*  The  following  is  the  Ordinance  to  which  he  alludes,  reprinted  from  the 
original  half-sheet  in  black  letter  : 
Charles  R. 

His  Majesty,  in  his  princely  compassion  and  very  tender  care,  taking  into 
consideration  the  distressed  condition  of  many  of  his  good  subjects,  whom 
the  late  dreadful  and  dismal  fire  hath  made  destitute  of  habitations,  and 
exposed  to  many  exigencies  and  necessities ;  for  present  remedy  and 
redress  whereof,  his  Majesty  intending  to  give  further  testimony  and 
evidences  of  his  grace  and  favour  towards  them,  as  occasion  shall  arise,  hath 
thought  fit  to  declare  and  publish  his  Royal  pleasure  :  That,  as  great  propor- 
tions of  bread,  and  all  other  provisions  as  can  possibly  be  furnislied,  shall  be 
daily  and  constantly  brought,  not  only  to  the  markets  formerly  in  use,  but 
also  to  such  markets  as  by  his  Majesty's  late  order  and  declaration  to  the 
Lord  Mayor  and  Sheriffs  of  London  and  Middlesex  have  been  appointed  and 
ordained,  viz.,  Clerkenwell,  Ishngton,  Finsbury-fields,  Mile-end  Green,  and 
Ratcliff ;  his  Majesty  being  sensible  that  this  will  be  for  the  benefit  also  of 
the  towns  and  places  adjoining,  as  being  the  best  expedient  to  prevent  the 


IQ  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

Still,  the  plague  continuing  in  our  parish,  I  could  not, 
without  danger,  adventure  to  our  church. 

10th.  I  went  again  to  the  ruins;  for  it  was  now  no 
longer  a  city. 

13th.  I  presented  his  Majesty  with  a  survey  of  the 
ruins,  and  a  plot  for  a  new  City,*  with  a  discourse  on  it ; 
whereupon,  after  dinner,  his  Majesty  sent  for  me  into  the 
Queen's  bed-chamber,  her  Majesty  and  the  Duke  only 
being  present;  they  examined  each  particular,  and  dis- 
coursed on  them  for  near  an  hour,  seeming  to  be  extremely 

resort  of  such  persons  thereunto  as  may  pilfer  and  disturb  them.  And 
whereas,  also,  divers  of  the  said  distressed  persons  have  saved  and  preserved 
their  goods,  which  nevertheless  they  know  not  how  to  dispose  of,  it  is  his 
Majesty's  pleasure,  that  all  Churches,  Chapels,  Schools,  and  other  like  public 
places,  shall  be  free  and  open  to  receive  the  said  goods,  when  they  shall  be 
brought  to  be  there  laid.  And  all  Justices  of  the  Peace  within  the  several 
Counties  of  Middlesex,  Essex,  and  Surrey,  are  to  see  the  same  to  be  done, 
accordingly.  And  likewise  that  all  cities  and  towns  whatsoever  shall,  without 
any  contradiction,  receive  the  said  distressed  persons,  and  permit  them  to  the 
free  exercise  of  their  manual  trades  ;  his  Majesty  resolving  and  promising 
that,  when  the  present  exigence  shall  be  passed  over,  he  will  take  such  care 
and  order,  that  the  said  persons  shall  be  no  burthen  to  their  towns,  or 
parishes.  And  it  is  his  Majesty's  pleasure,  that  this  his  declaration  be  forth- 
with published,  not  only  by  the  Sheriffs  of  London  and  Middlesex,  but  also 
by  all  other  Sheriffs,  Mayors,  and  other  chief  officers,  in  their  respective  pre- 
cincts and  limits,  and  by  the  constables  in  every  parish.  And  of  this  his 
Majesty's  pleasure  all  persons  concerned  are  to  take  notice,  and  thereunto  to 
give  due  obedience  to  the  utmost  of  their  power,  as  they  will  answer  the  con- 
trary at  their  peril.  Given  at  our  Court  at  Whitehall,  the  fifth  day  of 
September,  in  tlie  eighteenth  year  of  our  reign,  one  thousand  six  hundred 
sixty-six. 

God  save  the  King. 

*  Mr.  Evelyn  sent  a  letter  to  Sir  Samuel  Tuke,  on  the  subject  of  the  fire, 
iind  his  plan  for  re-building  the  City.  Part  of  this  plan  was  to  lessen  the 
declivities,  and  to  employ  the  rubbish  in  filUng  up  the  shore  of  the  Thames 
to  low  water-mark,  so  as  to  keep  the  basin  always  full. — In  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Oldenburg,  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Society,  22nd  December,  1666,  he  says, 
after  mentioning  the  presenting  his  reflections  on  re-building  the  City  to  his 
Majesty,  that  "  the  want  of  a  more  exact  plot,  wherein  I  might  have  marked 
what  the  fire  had  spared,  and  accommodated  my  design  to  the  remaining 
parts,  made  me  take  it  as  a  rasa  tabula,  and  to  form  mine  idea  thereof,  accord- 
ingly :  I  have  since  lighted  upon  Mr.  Hollar's  late  plan,  which  looking  upon  as 
tlie  most  accurate  hitherto  extant,  has  caused  me  something  to  alter  what  I  had 
so  crudely  done,  though,  for  the  most  part,  I  still  persist  in  my  foi-mer  discourse, 
and  which  I  here  send  you  as  complete  as  an  imperfect  copy  will  give  me 
leave,  and  the  supplement  of  an  ill  memory,  for  since  that  time  I  hardly  ever 
looked  on  it,  and  it  was  finished  within  two  or  three  days  after  the  Incendium," 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  17 

pleased  with  what  I  had  so  early  thought  on.  The  Queen 
was  now  in  her  cavalier  riding-habit,  hat  and  feather,  and 
horseman's  coat,  going  to  take  the  air. 

16th.  I  went  to  Greenwich  Church,  where  Mr.  Plume 
preached  very  well  from  this  text :  "  Seeing,  then,  all  these 
things  shall  be  dissolved,"  &c.,  taking  occasion  from  the 
late  unparalleled  conflagration  to  mind  us  how  we  ought  to 
walk  more  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation. 

27th.  Dined  at  Sir  William  D'Oyly's,  with  that  worthy 
gentleman.  Sir  John  Holland,  of  Sufi'olk. 

10th  October.  This  day  was  ordered  a  general  Fast 
through  the  Nation,  to  humble  us  on  the  late  dreadful 
conflagration,  added  to  the  plague  and  war,  the  most 
dismal  judgments  that  could  be  inflicted ;  but  which 
indeed  we  highly  deserved  for  our  prodigious  ingratitude, 
burning  lusts,  dissolute  Court,  profane  and  abominable 
lives,  under  such  dispensations  of  God's  continued  favour 
in  restoring  Church,  Prince,  and  People  from  our  late 
intestine  calamities,  of  which  we  were  altogether  unmind- 
ful, even  to  astonishment.  This  made  me  resolve  to  go 
to  our  parish  assembly,  where  our  Doctor  preached  on 
Luke,  xix.  41  :  piously  applying  it  to  the  occasion.  After 
which,  was  a  collection  for  the  distressed  losers  in  the  late 
fire. 

18th.  To  Court.  It  being  the  first  time  his  Majesty 
put  himself  solemnly  into  the  Eastern  fashion  of  vest, 
changing  doublet,  stiff"  collar,  bands  and  cloak,  into  a 
comely  dress,  after  the  Persian  mode,  with  girdles  or 
straps,  and  shoe-strings  and  garters  into  buckles,  of  which 
some  were  set  with  precious  stones,*  resolving  never  to 
alter  it,  and  to  leave  the  French  mode,  which  had  hitherto 
obtained  to  our  great  expense  and  reproach.  Upon  which, 
divers  courtiers  and  gentlemen  gave  his  Majesty  gold  by 
way  of  wager  that  he  would  not  persist  in  this  resolution. 
I  had  sometime  before  presented  an  invective  against  that 
unconstancy,  and  our  so  much  affecting  the  French  fashion, 
to  his  Majesty;  in  which  I  took  occasion  to  describe  the 
comeliness  and  usefulness  of  the  Persian  clothing,  in  the 
very  same  manner  his  Majesty  now  clad  himself.  This 
pamphlet  I  entitled  "  Tyrannus,  or  the  Mode,"  and  gave 

*  It  would  be  curious  to  see  a  portrait  of  the  King  in  this  costume  ;  which 
was,  however,  shortly  after  abandoned,  and  laid  aside. 
VOL.    II.  C 


^8  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

it  to  the  King  to  read.  I  do  not  impute  to  this  discourse  the 
change  which  soon  happened,  but  it  was  an  identity  that 
I  could  not  but  take  notice  of. 

This  night  was  acted  my  Lord  BroghiU's  *  tragedy, 
called  "Mustapha,"  before  their  Majesties  at  Court,  at 
which  I  was  present,  very  seldom  going  to  the  pubhc 
theatres  for  many  reasons,  now  as  they  were  abused  to  an 
atheistical  liberty,  foul  and  undecent  women  now  (and 
never  till  now)  permitted  to  appear  and  act,  who  inflaming 
several  young  noblemen  and  gallants,  became  their  misses, 
and  to  some,  their  wives ;  t  witness  the  Earl  of  Oxford, 
Sir  R.  Howard,  Prince  Rupert,  the  Earl  of  Dorset,  and 
another  greater  person  than  any  of  them,  who  fell  into 
their  snares,  to  the  reproach  of  their  noble  families,  and 
ruin  of  both  body  and  soul.  I  was  invited  by  my  Lord 
Chamberlain  to  see  this  tragedy,  exceedingly  well  written, 
though  in  my  mind  I  did  not  approve  of  any  such  pastime 
in  a  time  of  such  judgments  and  calamities. 

21st.  This  season,  after  so  long  and  extraordinary  a 
drought  in  August  and  September,  as  if  preparatory  for 
the  dreadful  fire,  was  so  very  wet  and  rainy  as  many  feared 
an  ensuing  famine. 

28th.  The  pestilence,  through  God^s  mercy,  began  now 
to  abate  considerably  in  our  town. 

30th.  To  London  to  our  office,  and  now  had  I  on  the 
vest  and  surcoat,  or  tunic,  as  it  was  called,  after  his  Majesty 
had  brought  the  whole  Court  to  it.  It  was  a  comely  and 
manly  habit,  too  good  to  hold,  it  being  impossible  for  us 
in  good  earnest  to  leave  the  Monsieurs'  vanities  long. 

31st.  I  heard  the  signal  cause  of  my  Lord  Cleveland 
pleaded  before  the  House  of  Lords ;  and  was  this  day  forty- 
six  years  of  age,  wonderfully  protected  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  for  which  I  render  him  immortal  thanks. 

I4th  November.  I  went  my  winter-circle  through  my 
district,  Rochester  and  other  places,  where  I  had  men 
quartered,  and  in  custody. — 15th.  To  Leeds  Castle. 

16th.  I  mustered  the  prisoners,  being  about  600  Dutch 
and  French,  ordered  their  proportion  of  bread  to  be  aug- 

*  Richard,  Lord  Broghill,  created,  shortly  after  this,  Earl  of  Orrery  ;  he 
wrote  several  other  plays,  besides  tliat  here  noticed. 

+  Mrs.  Margaret  Hughes,  Nell  Gwynne,  who  left  the  Earl  for  his  Majesty, 
to  whom  were  added  Mrs.  Davia  and  Mrs  Knight. 


1666.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  jg 

raented,  and  provided  clothes  and  fuel.  Monsieur  Colbert, 
Ambassador  at  the  Court  of  England,  this  day  sent  money 
from  his  master,  the  French  King,  to  every  prisoner  of 
that  nation  under  my  guard. 

17th.  I  returned  to  Chatham,  my  chariot  overturning 
on  the  steep  of  Bexley-Hill,  wounded  me  in  two  places 
on  the  head ;  my  son.  Jack,  being  with  me,  was  like  to 
have  been  worse  cut  by  the  glass ;  but  I  thank  God  we 
both  escaped  without  much  hurt,  though  not  without 
exceeding  danger. — 1 8th.  At  Rochester. — 19th.  Returned 
home. 

23rd.  At  London,  I  heard  an  extraordinary  case  before 
a  Committee  of  the  whole  House  of  Commons,  in  the 
Commons^  House  of  Parliament,  between  one  Captain 
Taylor  and  my  Lord  Viscount  Mordaunt,*  where,  after 
the  lawyers  had  pleaded,  and  the  witnesses  been  exa- 
mined, such  foul  and  dishonourable  things  were  produced 
against  his  Lordship,  of  tyranny  during  his  government  of 
Windsor  Castle,  of  which  he  was  Constable,  incontinence, 
and  suborning  witnesses  (of  which  last,  one  Sir  Richard 
Breames  was  most  concerned),  that  I  was  exceedingly 
interested  for  his  Lordship,  who  was  my  special  friend, 
and  husband  of  the  most  virtuous  lady  in  the  world.  "We 
sat  till  near  ten  at  night,  and  yet  but  half  the  Counsel  had 
done  on  behalf  of  the  Plaintiff.  The  question  then  was  put 
for  bringing-in  of  lights  to  sit  longer.  This  lasted  so 
long  before  it  was  determined,  and  raised  such  a  confused 
noise  among  the  Members,  that  a  stranger  would  have  been 
astonished  at  it.  I  admire  that  there  is  not  a  rationale  to 
regulate  such  trifling  accidents,  which  consume  much  time, 
and  is  a  reproach  to  the  gravity  of  so  great  an  assembly  of 
sober  men. 

27th.  Sir  Hugh  Pollard,  Comptroller  of  the  Household, 
died  at  Whitehall,  and  his  Majesty  conferred  the  white 
staff  on  my  brother  Commissioner  for  sick  and  wounded. 
Sir  Thomas  Chfford,  a  bold  young  gentleman,  of  a  small 
fortune  in  Devon,  but  advanced  by  Lord  Arlington,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  all  the  Court. 
This  gentleman  was  somewhat  related  to  me  by  the  marriage 

*  See  the  whole  proceedings  in  this  affair,  in  the  Journals  of  Lords  and 
Commons,  under  this  year. 

c2 


2Q  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

of  his  mother  to  my  nearest  kinsman,  Gregory  Coale,*  and 
was  ever  my  noble  friend,  a  valiant  and  daring  person,  but 
by  no  means  fit  for  a  supple  and  flattering  courtier. 

28th.  Went  to  see  Clarendon  House,t  now  almost 
finished,  a  goodly  pile  to  see  to,  but  had  many  defects  as  to 
the  architecture,  yet  placed  most  gracefully.  After  this, 
I  waited  on  the  Lord  Chancellor,  who  Avas  now  at  Berkshire 
House,  J  since  the  burning  of  London. 

2nd  December.  Dined  with  me  Monsieur  Kiviet,  a  Dutch 
gentleman-pensioner  of  Rotterdam,  who  came  over  for  pro- 
tection, being  of  the  Prince  of  Orange's  party,  now  not 
welcome  in  Holland.  The  King  knighted  him  for  some 
merit  in  the  Prince's  behalf.  He  should,  if  caught,  have 
been  beheaded  with  Monsieur  Buat,  and  was  brother-in- 
law  to  Van  Tromp,  the  sea-general.  With  him,  came 
Mr.  Gabriel  Sylvius,  and  Mr.  Williamson,  §  secretary  ta 
Lord  Arlington ;  M.  Kiviet  came  to  examine  whether  the 
soil  about  the  river  of  Thames  would  be  proper  to  make 
clinker-bricks,  and  to  treat  with  me  about  some  accommo- 
dation in  order  to  it.  || 

1666-7.  9th  January.  To  the  Royal  Society,  which 
since  the  sad  conflagration  were  invited  by  Mr.  Howard  to 
sit  at  Arundel-House  in  the  Strand,  who,  at  my  instigation, 
likewise  bestowed  on  the  Society  that  noble  library  which 
his  grandfather  especially,  and  his  ancestors  had  collected. 
This  gentleman  had  so  httle  inclination  to  books,  that  it 
was  the  preservation  of  them  from  embezzlement. 

24th.  Visited  my  Lord  Clarendon,  and  presented  my  son, 
John,  to  him,  now  preparing  to  go  to  Oxford,  of  which  his 

•  Of  this  gentleman  and  his  family,  seated  at  Petersham,  in  Surrey,  see 
History  of  that  County,  vol.  I.,  pp.  439,  441,  but  his  connection  with  the 
Evelyns  does  not  appear. 

f  Since  quite  demolished;  see  hereafter.  It  was  situated  where  Albemarle 
Street  now  is.  After  Lord  Clarendon's  exile,  the  Duke  of  Albemarle  occupied 
this  noble  mansion,  of  which  there  are  two  engraved  views  at  least,  one 
a  small  one  by  John  Dunstall,  and  another  upon, a  very  large  scale,  by 
J.  Spilbergh. 

X  Berkshire,  or  Cleveland-House,  belonged  to  the  Howards,  Earls  of  Berk- 
shii'e,  and  stood  very  near  the  royal  residence.  It  was  purchased,  and  pre- 
sented by  Charles  II.  to  Barbara,  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  and  was  then  of  great 
extent ;  she,  however,  afterwards  sold  part,  which  was  divided  into  various 
houses. 

§  More  is  said  of  these  gentlemen  afterwards.  |1  See  pp.  21,  29. 


U67.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  21 

Lordship  was  Chancellor.  This  evening,  I  heard  rare 
Italian  voices^two  eunuchs  and  one  woman,  in  his  Majesty's 
green  chamber,  next  his  cabinet. 

29th.  To  London,  in  order  to  my  son's  Oxford  journey, 
who,  being  very  early  entered  both  in  Latin  and  Greek, 
and  prompt  to  learn  beyond  most  of  his  age,  I  was  persuaded 
to  trust  him  under  the  tutorage  of  Mr.  Bohun,  Fellow  of 
New  College,  who  had  been  his  preceptor  in  my  house 
some  years  before ;  but,  at  Oxford,  under  the  inspection 
of  Dr.  Bathurst,  President  of  Trinity  College,  where  I 
placed  him,  not  as  yet  thirteen  years  old.  He  was  newly 
out  of  long  coats.* 

15th  February.  My  little  book,  in  answer  to  Sir  George 
Mackenzie  on  Solitude,  was  now  published,  entitled, 
*'  Public  Employment,  and  an  active  Life  with  its  Appan- 
ages, preferred  to  Solitude.'^t 

18th.  I  was  present  at  a  magnificent  ball,  or  masque,  in 
the  theatre  at  Court,  where  their  Majesties  and  all  the 
great  lords  and  ladies  danced,  infinitely  gallant,  the  men 
in  their  richly  embroidered  most  becoming  vests. 

19th.  I  saw  a  comedy  acted  at  Court.  In  the  afternoon, 
I  witnessed  a  wrestling-match  for  1000/.  in  St.  James's 
Park,  before  his  Majesty,  a  vast  assemblage  of  lords  and 
other  spectators,  betwixt  the  western  and  northern  men, 
Mr.  Secretary  Morice  and  Lord  Gerard  being  the  judges. 
The  western  men  won.     Many  great  sums  were  betted. 

Cth  March.  I  proposed  to  my  Lord  Chancellor,  Monsieur 
Kiviet's  undertaking  to  wharf  the  whole  river  of  Thames, 
or  quay,  from  the  Temple  to  the  Tower,  as  far  as  the  fire 
destroyed,  with  brick,  without  piles,  both  lasting  and  orna- 
mental. J — Great  frosts,  snow,  and  winds,  prodigious  at  the 
vernal  equinox ;  indeed  it  had  been  a  year  of  prodigies  in 
this  nation,  plague,  war,  fire,  rains,  tempest,  and  comet.    - 

14th.  Saw  "  The  Virgin-Queen,'^  a  play  written  by 
Mr.  Dry  den. 

*  At  the  Swan  Inn,  at  Leatlierhead,  in  Surrey,  is  a  picture  of  four  children, 
•dates  of  birtli  between  1640  and  1650  :  one  of  them  is  a  boy  about  this  age, 
in  a  coat,  or  vest,  reaching  almost  to  his  ankles. 

f  Re-priuted  in  his  "Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  501 — 509. 
In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Cowley,  12  March,  1666,  he  apologises  for  having  written 
•against  that  life,  which  he  had  joined  with  Mr.  Cowley  in  so  much  admiring, 
iissuring  him  he  neither  was  nor  could  be,  serious.         J  See  pp.  20,  29. 


22  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

22nd.  Dined  at  Mr.  Secretary  Morice's,  who  showed 
me  his  library,  which  was  a  well-chosen  collection.  This 
afternoon,  I  had  audience  of  his  Majesty,  concerning  the 
proposal  I  had  made  of  building  the  Quay. 

26th.  Sir  John  Kiviet  dined  with  me.  We  went  to 
siearch  for  brick-earth,  in  order  to  a  great  undertaking. 

4th  April.  The  cold  so  intense,  that  there  was  hardly  a 
leaf  on  a  tree. 

18th.  I  went  to  make  court  to  the  Duke  and  Duchess 
of  Newcastle,  at  their  house  in  Clerkenwell,*  being  newly 
come  out  of  the  north.  They  received  me  with  great 
kindness,  and  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  extraordinary 
fanciful  habit,  garb,  and  discourse  of  the  Duchess. 

22nd.  Saw  the  sumptuous  supper  in  the  banqueting- 
house  at  "Whitehall,  on  the  eve  of  St.  George's  day,  where 
were  all  the  companions  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 

23rd.  In  the  morning,  his  Majesty  went  to  chapel  with 
the  Knights  of  the  Garter,  all  in  their  habits  and  robes, 
ushered  by  the  heralds ;  after  the  first  service,  they  went 
in  procession,  the  youngest  first,  the  Sovereign  last,  with 
the  Prelate  of  the  Order  and  Dean,  who  had  about  his 
neck  the  book  of  the  Statutes  of  the  Order ;  and  then  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Order  (old  Sir  Henry  de  Vic)  who  wore 
the  purse  about  his  neck ;  then  the  Heralds  and  Garter- 
King-at-Arms,  Clarencieux,  Black  Rod.  But  before  the 
Prelate  and  Dean  of  Windsor  went  the  gentlemen  of  the 
chapel,  and  choristers,  singing  as  they  marched ;  behind 
them,  two  doctors  of  music  in  damask  robes ;  this  proces- 
sion was  about  the  courts  at  Whitehall.  Then,  returning 
to  their  stalls  and  seats  in  the  chapel,  placed  under  each 
knight's  coat-armour  and  titles,  the  second  service  began. 
Then,  the  King  offered  at  the  altar,  an  anthem  was  sung, 
then,  the  rest  of  the  Knights  offered,  and  lastly  proceeded 
to  the  banqueting-house  to  a  great  feast.  The  King  sat 
on  an  elevated  throne  at  the  upper  end  at  a  table  alone; 
the  Knights  at  a  table  on  the  right  hand,  reaching  all  the 
length  of  the  room ;  over-against  them  a  cupboard  of  rich 
gilded  plate ;  at  the  lower  end,  the  music ;  on  the  balusters 
above,  wind  music,  trumpets,   and  kettle-drums.      The 

*  The  Duke  spent  a  princely  fortune  in  the  service  of  Charles  I.  and  II. 
He  wrote  on  Horsemanship  a  curious  and  splendid  volume. 


lGG7.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  23 

King  was  served  by  the  lords  and  pensioners  who  brought 
up  the  dishes.  About  the  middle  of  the  dinner,  the  Knights 
drank  the  King^s  health,  then  the  King,  theirs,  when  the 
trumpets  and  music  played  and  sounded,  the  guns  going 
off  at  the  Tower.  At  the  Banquet,  came  in  the  Queen, 
and  stood  by  the  King^s  left  hand,  but  did  not  sit.  Then 
was  the  banqueting-stuff  flung  about  the  room  profusely. 
In  truth,  the  crowd  was  so  great,  that  though  I  stayed  all 
the  supper  the  day  before,  I  now  stayed  no  longer  than 
this  sport  began,  for  fear  of  disorder.  The  cheer  was 
extraordinary,  each  Knight  having  forty  dishes  to  his  mess, 
piled  up  five  or  six  high ;  the  room  hung  with  the  richest 
tapestry. 

25th.  Visited  again  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  with  whom 
I  had  been  acquainted  long  before  in  France,  where  the 
Duchess  had  obligation  to  my  wife^s  mother  for  her 
marriage  there ;  she  was  sister  to  Lord  Lucas,  and  maid 
of  honour  then  to  the  Queen-Mother;  married  in  our 
chapel  at  Paris.  My  wife  being  with  me,  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  both  would  need^  bring  her  to  the  very  Court. 

26th.  My  Lord  Chancellor  showed  me  all  his  ncAvly- 
finished  and  furnished  palace  and  library ;  then,  we  went 
to  take  the  air  in  Hyde-Park. 

27th.  I  had  a  great  deal  of  discourse  with  his  Majesty 
at  dinner.  Li  the  afternoon,  I  went  again  with  my  wife 
to  the  Duchess  of  Newcastle,  who  received  her  in  a  kind  of 
transport,  suitable  to  her  extravagant  humour  and  dress, 
Avhich  was  very  singular. 

8th  May.  Made  up  accounts  with  our  Keceiver,  which 
amounted  to  38,986/.  1*.  4id.  Dined  at  Lord  Cornbury's, 
with  Don  Francisco  de  Melos,  Portugal  Ambassador,  and 
kindred  to  the  Queen:  of  the  party  were  Mr.  Henry 
Jermyn,  and  Sir  Henry  Capel.  Afterwards,  I  went  to 
Arundel-House,  to  salute  Mr.  Howard's  sons,  newly  re- 
turned out  of  France. 

11th.  To  London;  dined  with  the  Duke  of  Newcastle, 
and  sat  discoursing  with  her  Grace  in  her  bed-chamber 
after  dinner,  till  my  Lord  Marquis  of  Dorchester  with  other 
company  came  in,  when  I  went  away. 

30th.  To  London,  to  wait  on  the  Duchess  of  Newcastle 
(who  was  a  mighty  pretender  to  learning,  poetry,  and 
philosophy,  and  had  in  both  published  divers  books)  to  the 


24  DIARY    OF  [LONDON, 

Royal  Society,*  whither  she  came  in  great  pomp,  and  being 
received  by  our  Lord  President  at  the  door  of  our  meeting- 
room,  the  mace,  &c.,  carried  before  him,  had  several  experi- 
ments showed  to  her.  I  conducted  her  Grace  to  her  coach, 
and  returned  home. 

1st  June.  I  went  to  Greenwich,  where  his  Majesty  was 
trying  divers  grenadoes  shot  out  of  cannon  at  the  Castle- 
hill,  from  the  house  in  the  Park ;  they  brake  not  till  they 
hit  the  mark,  the  forged  ones  brake  not  at  all,  but  the  cast 
ones  very  well.  The  inventor  was  a  German,  there  present. 
At  the  same  time,  a  ring  was  showed  to  the  King,  pretended 
to  be  a  projection  of  mercury,  and  malleable,  and  said  by 
the  gentlemen  to  be  fixed  by  the  juice  of  a  plant. 

8th.  To  London,  alarmed  by  the  Dutch,  who  were  fallen 
on  our  fleet  at  Chatham,  by  a  most  audacious  enterprise 
entering  the  very  river  with  part  of  their  fleet,  doing  us 
not  only  disgrace,  but  incredible  mischief  in  burning 
several  of  our  best  men-of-war  lying  at  anchor  and  moored 
there,  and  all  this  through  our  unaccountable  negligence  in 
not  setting  out  our  fleet  in  due  time.  This  alarm  caused 
me,  fearing  the  enemy  might  venture  up  the  Thames  even 
to  London,  (which  they  might  have  done  with  ease,  and 
fired  all  the  vessels  in  the  River,  too),  to  send  away  my  best 
goods,  plate,  &c.,  from  my  house  to  another  place.  The 
alarm  was  so  great  that  it  put  both  Country  and  City  into 
fear,  a  panic,  and  consternation,  such  as  I  hope  I  shall  never 
see  more;  everybody  was  flying,  none  knew  why,  or  whither. 
Now,  there  were  land-forces  despatched  with  the  Duke 
of  Albemarle,  Lord  Middleton,  Prince  Rupert,  and  the 
Duke,  to  hinder  the  Dutch  coming  to  Chatham,  fortifying 
Upnor  Castle,  and  laying  chains  and  booms ;  but  the 
resolute  enemy  brake  through  all,  and  set  fire  on  our 
ships,  and  retreated  in  spite,  stopping  up  the  Thames,  the 
rest  of  their  fleet  lying  before  the  mouth  of  it. 

14th.  I  went  to  see  the  work  at  Woolwich,  a  bat- 
tery to  prevent  them  coming  up  to  London,  which 
Prince  Rupert  commanded,  and  sunk  some  ships  in  the 
river. 

*  This  reminds  us  of  the  visit  of  another  great  lady,  Queen  Christina,  to 
the  French  Academy,  at  one  of  theii'  sittings,  recorded  by  Monsieur  Pellisson 
in  his  History  of  that  learned  body.  Queen  Caroline,  wife  of  King  George  II., 
also  affected  the  company  of  deep  divines,  scholars,  and  philosophers. 


1G67.]  JOHN  EVELYN.    '  25 

17th.  This  night,  about  two  o'clock,  some  chips  and 
combustible  matter  prepared  for  some  fire-ships  taking 
flame  in  Deptford-yard,  made  such  a  blaze,  and  caused 
such  an  uproar  in  the  Tower,  (it  being  given  out  that  the 
Dutch  fleet  was  come  up,  and  had  landed  their  men  and 
fired  the  Tower),  as  had  like  to  have  done  more  mischief 
before  people  would  be  persuaded  to  the  contrary  and 
believe  the  accident.  Everybody  went  to  their  arms. 
These  were  sad  and  troublesome  times  ! 

24th.  The  Dutch  fleet  still  continuing  to  stop  up  the 
river,  so  as  nothing  could  stir  out  or  come  in,  I  Avas  before 
the  Council,  and  commanded  by  his  Majesty  to  go  with 
some  others  and  search  about  the  environs  of  the  city,  now 
exceedingly  distressed  for  want  of  fuel,  whether  there 
could  be  any  peat,  or  turf,  found  fit  for  use.  The  next 
day,  I  went  and  discovered  enough,  and  made  my  report 
tliat  there  might  be  found  a  great  deal ;  but  nothing 
further  was  done  in  it. 

28th.  I  went  to  Chatham,  and  thence  to  view  not  only 
what  mischief  the  Dutch  had  done ;  but  how  triumphantly 
their  whole  fleet  lay  within  the  very  mouth  of  the  Thames, 
all  from  the  North  Fore-land,  Margate,  even  to  the  buoy 
of  the  Nore — a  dreadful  spectacle  as  ever  Englishmen  saw, 
and  a  dishonour  never  to  be  wiped  oft' !  Those  who  advised 
his  Majesty  to  prepare  no  fleet  this  spring  deserved — I 
know  Avhat — but  * 

Here  in  the  river  off"  Chatham,  just  before  the  town,  lay 
the  carcase  of  the  London  (now  the  third  time  burnt),  the 
Hoyal  Oak,  the  James,  &c.,  yet  smoking;  and  now,  when 
the  mischief  was  done,  we  were  making  trifling  forts  on 
the  brink  of  the  river.  Here  were  yet  forces  both  of  horse 
and  foot,  with  General  Middleton  continually  expecting 
the  motions  of  the  enemy's  fleet.  I  had  much  discourse 
with  him,  who  Avas  an  experienced  commander.  I  told 
him  I  wondered  the  King  did  not  fortify  Sheerness  t  and 
the  Ferry ;  both  abandoned. 

*  The  Parliament  giving  but  weak  supplies  for  the  war,  the  King,  to  save 
charges,  is  persuaded  by  the  Chancellor,  the  Lord  Treasurer,  Southampton, 
the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  and  the  other  ministers,  to  lay  up  the  first  and  second- 
rate  ships,  and  make  only  a  defensive  war  in  the  next  campaign.  The  Duke 
of  York  opposed  this,  but  was  over-ruled.  Life  of  King  James  II.,  vol.  I., 
p.  425.  f  Since  done. 


26  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

2nd  July.  Called  upon  by  my  Lord  Arlington,  as  from 
his  Majesty,  about  the  new  fuel.  The  occasion  why  I  was 
mentioned,  was  from  what  I  had  said  in  my  "  Sylva  "  three 
years  before,  about  a  sort  of  fuel,  for  a  need,  which 
obstructed  a  patent  of  Lord  Carlingford,  who  had  been 
seeking  for  it  himself;  he  was  endeavouring  to  bring  me 
into  the  project,  and  proffered  me  a  share.  I  met  my 
Lord ;  and,  on  the  9th,  by  an  order  of  council,  went  to  my 
Lord  Mayor,  to  be  assisting.  In  the  mean  time,  they  had 
made  an  experiment  of  my  receipt  of  houllies,  which  I 
mention  in  my  book  to  be  made  at  Maestricht,  with  a 
mixture  of  charcoal  dust  and  loam,  and  which  was  tried 
with  success  at  Gresham  College,  (then  being  the  exchange 
for  meeting  of  the  merchants  since  the  fire)  for  every- 
body to  see.  This  done,  I  went  to  the  Treasury  for  12,00U/. 
for  the  sick  and  wounded  yet  on  my  hands. 

Next  day,  we  met  again  about  the  fuel  at  Sir  J. 
Armourer's  in  the  Mews. 

8th.  My  Lord  Brereton  and  others  dined  at  my  house, 
where  I  showed  them  proof  of  my  new  fuel,  which  was 
very  glowing,  and  without  smoke,  or  ill  smell. 

10th.  I  went  to  see  Sir  SamuelMorland's*  inventions  and 
machines,  arithmetical  wheels,  quench-fires,  and  new  harp. 

1 7th.  The  Master  of  the  Mint  and  his  lady,  Mr.  William- 
son, Sir  Nicholas  Armourer,  Sir  Edward  Bowyer,  Sir 
Anthony  Auger,  and  other  friends,  dined  with  me. 

29th.  I  went  to  Gravesend;   the  Dutch  fleet  still  at 

*  Mr.  Aubrey  says  :  "  Under  the  Equestrian  Statue  of  Charles  II.,  in  the 
great  Court  at  Windsor,  is  an  engine  for  raising  water,  contrived  by  Sir 
Samuel  Morland,  alias  Morley.  He  was  son  of  Sir  Samuel  Morland, 
of  Sulhamsted  Bannister,  Berks,  created  Baronet  by  Charles  II.  in 
consideration  of  services  performed  during  his  exile.  The  son  was 
a  great  mechanic,  and  was  presented  with  a  gold  medal,  and  made 
Magister  Mechanicoi'um  by  the  King,  in  1681.  He  invented  the  drum  cap- 
stands,  for  weighing  heavy  anchors  ;  the  speaking  trumpet,  and  other  useful 
engines.  He  died  and  was  buried  at  Hammersmith,  1696.  There  is  a 
monument  for  the  two  wives  of  Sir  Samuel  Morland  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
There  is  a  print  of  the  son,  by  Lombart,  after  Lely.  This  Sir  Samuel,  the 
son,  built  a  large  room  in  his  garden  at  Vauxhall,  which  was  much  admired 
at  that  time.  On  the  top  was  a  punchinello,  holding  a  dial."  Aubrey's 
Surrey,  vol.  I.,  p.  12.  See  more  of  him  in  Manning  and  Bray's  History  of 
Surrey,  vol.  III.,  489,  490,  491,  and  Appendix,  p.  cv. — He  is  also  noticed 
again  several  times  in  this  Diary;  see  particulai'ly  under  the  yeai-  1681, 
September. 


1667.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £7 

anchor  before  the  river,  where  I  saw  five  of  his  Majesty's 
men-of-war  encounter  above  twenty  of  the  Dutch,  in  the 
bottom  of  the  Hope,  chasing  them  with  many  broadsides 
given  and  returned  towards  the  buoy  of  the  Nore,  where 
the  body  of  their  fleet  lay,  whicli  lasted  till  about  midnight. 
One  of  their  ships  was  fired,  supposed  by  themselves,  she 
being  run  on  ground.  Having  seen  this  bold  action,  and 
their  braving  us  so  far  up  the  river,  I  went  home  the  next 
day,  not  without  indignation  at  our  negligence,  and  the 
nation's  reproach.  It  is  well  known  Avho  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Treasury  gave  advice  that  the  charge  of 
setting  forth  a  fleet  this  year  might  be  spared.  Sir  W.  C. 
(William  Coventry)  by  name. 

1st  August.  I  received  the  sad  news  of  Abraham  Cowley's 
death,  that  incomparable  poet  and  virtuous  man,  my  very 
dear  friend,  and  was  greatly  deplored. 

3rd.  Went  to  Mr.  Cowley's  funeral,  whose  corpse  lay  at 
Wallingford  House,  and  was  thence  conveyed  to  West- 
minster Abbey  in  a  hearse  with  six  horses  and  all  funeral 
decency,  near  a  hundred  coaches  of  noblemen  and  persons 
of  quality  following ;  among  these,  all  the  wits  of  the 
town,  divers  bishops  and  clergymen.  He  was  interred  next 
Geofl'ry  Chaucer,  and  near  Spenser.  A  goodly  monument 
is  since  erected  to  his  memory. 

Now  did  his  Majesty  again  dine  in  the  presence,  in  an- 
cient state,  with  music  and  all  the  court-ceremonies,  which 
had  been  interrupted  since  the  late  war. 

8th.  Visited  Mr.  Oldenburg,  a  close  prisoner  in  the 
Tower,  being  suspected  of  writing  intelligence.  I  had  an 
order  from  Lord  Arlington,  Secretary  of  State,  which 
caused  me  to  be  admitted.  This  gentleman  was  secretary 
to  our  Society,  and  I  am  confident  will  prove  an  innocent 
person.* 

15th.  Finished  my  account,  amounting  to  25,000/. 

17th.  To  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Farringdon,  a  relation  of  my 
wife's. 

There  was  now  a  very  gallant  horse  to  be  baited  to  death 
with  dogs ;  but  he  fought  them  all,  so  as  the  fiercest  of 
them  could  not  fasten  on  him,  till  the  men  run  him  through 
with  their  swords.  This  wicked  and  barbarous  sport 
deserved  to  have  been  punished  in  the  cruel  contrivers  to 

*  He  was  released  soon  aftei'. 


28  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

get  money,  under  pretence  that  the  horse  had  killed  a 
man,  which  was  false.  I  would  not  be  persuaded  to  be  a 
spectator. 

21st.  Saw  the  famous  Italian  puppet-play,  for  it  was  no 
other. 

24th.  I  was  appointed,  with  the  rest  of  my  brother  Com- 
missioners, to  put  in  execution  an  order  of  Council  for 
freeing  the  prisoners-at-war  in  my  custody  at  Leeds  Castle, 
and  taking  off  his  Majesty's  extraordinary  charge,  having 
called  before  us  the  French  and  Dutch  agents.  The  Peace 
was  now  proclaimed,  in  the  usual  form,  by  the  heralds- 
at-arms. 

25th,  After  evening  service,  I  went  to  visit  Mr.  Vaughan,* 
who  lay  at  Greenwich,  a  very  wise  and  learned  person,  one 
of  Mr.  Selden's  executors  and  intimate  friends. 

27th.  Visited  the  Lord  Chancellor,  to  whom  his  Majesty 
had  sent  for  the  seals  a  few  days  before ;  I  found  him  in 
his  bedchamber,  very  sad.  The  Parliament  had  accused 
him,  and  he  had  enemies  at  Court,  especially  the  buffoons 
iind  ladies  of  pleasure,  because  he  thwarted  some  of  them, 
and  stood  in  their  way ;  1  could  name  some  of  the  chief. 
The  truth  is,  he  made  few  friends  during  his  grandeur 
among  the  royal  sufferers,  but  advanced  the  old  rebels. 
He  was,  however,  though  no  considerable  lawyer,  one  who 
kept  up  the  form  and  substance  of  things  in  the  Nation 
with  more  solemnity  than  some  would  have  had.  He  was 
my  particular  kind  friend,  on  all  occasions.  The  Cabal, 
Jiowever,  prevailed,  and  that  party  in  Parliament.  Great 
division  at  Court  concerning  him,  and  divers  great  persons 
interceding  for  him. 

28th.  I  dined  with  my  late  Lord  Chancellor,  where  also 
dined  Mr.  Ashburnhara,  and  Mr.  W.  Legge,  of  the  Bed- 
chamber ;  his  Lordship  pretty  well  in  heart,  though  now 
many  of  his  friends  and  sycophants  abandoned  him. 

In  the  afternoon,  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  for 
money,  and  thence  to  the  audience  of  a  Russian  Envoy  in 
the  Queen's  presence-chamber,  introduced  with  much 
state,  the  soldiers,  pensioners,  and  guards  in  their  order. 
His  letters  of  credence  brought  by  his  secretary  in  a  scarf 
of  sarsenet,  their  vests  sumptuous,  much  embroidered  with 
pearls.     He  delivered  his  speech  in  the  Russ  language, 

*  Afterwards,  Lord  Chief  Justice. 


1667.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  29 

but  without  the  least  action,  or  motion,  of  his  body,  which 
was  immediately  interpreted  aloud  by  a  German  that  spake 
good  English ;  half  of  it  consisted  in  repetition  of  the 
Czar's  Titles,  which  were  very  haughty  and  oriental :  the 
substance  of  the  rest  was,  that  he  was  only  sent  to  see  the 
King  and  Queen,  and  know  how  they  did,  with  much 
compliment  and  frothy  language.  Then,  they  kissed  their 
Majesties  hands,  and  went  as  they  came ;  but  their  real 
errand  was  to  get  money. 

29th.  We  met  at  the  Star-Chamber  about  exchange  and 
release  of  prisoners. 

7th  September.  Came  Sir  John  Kiviet,  to  article  with 
me  about  his  brickwork.* 

13th.  Betwixt  the  hours  of  twelve  and  one,  was  born  my 
second  daughter,  who  was  afterwards  christened  Elizabeth. 

19th.  To  London,  with  Mr.  Henry  Howard,  of  Norfolk, 
of  whom  I  obtained  the  gift  of  his  Arundelian  Marbles, 
those  celebrated  and  famous  inscriptions  Greek  and  Latin, 
gathered  with  so  much  cost  and  industry  from  Greece,  by 
his  illustrious  grandfather,  the  magnificent  Earl  of  Arundel, 
my  noble  friend,  whilst  he  lived.  When  I  saw  these 
precious  monuments  miserably  neglected,  and  scattered  up 
and  down  about  the  garden,  and  other  parts  of  Arundel 
House,  and  how  exceedingly  the  corrosive  air  of  London 
impaired  them,  I  procured  him  to  bestow  them  on  the 
University  of  Oxford.  This  he  was  pleased  to  grant  me, 
and  now  gave  me  the  key  of  the  gallery,  with  leave  to  mark 
all  those  stones,  urns,  altars,  &c.,  and  whatever  I  found  had 
inscriptions  on  them,  that  were  not  statues.  This  I  did, 
and  getting  them  removed  and  piled  together,  Avith  those 
which  were  incrusted  in  the  garden-walls,  I  sent  immedi- 
ately letters  to  the  Vice-Chancellor  of  what  I  had  procured^ 
and  that  if  they  esteemed  it  a  service  to  the  University  (of 
which  I  had  been  a  member)  they  should  take  order  for 
their  transportation. 

This  done,  21st,  I  accompanied  Mr.  Howard  to  his  villa 
at  Albury,  where  I  designed  for  him  the  plot  of  his  canal 
and  garden,  with  a  crypt f  through  the  hill. 

24th.  Returned  to  London,  where  I  had  orders  to  deliver 
the  possession  of  Chelsea  College  (used  as  my  prison  during 

*  Seepp.  20,  21. 

f  Still  in  part  remaining,  but  stopped  up  at  the  further  end.' 


30  DIARY    OP  •  [[LONDON, 

the  war  with  Holland  for  such  as  were  sent  from  the  fleet 
to  London)  to  our  Society,  as  a  gift  of  his  Majesty  our 
founder. 

8th  October.  Came  to  dine  with  me  Dr.  Bathurst,  Dean 
of  Wells,  President  of  Trinity  College^  sent  by  the  Vice- 
Chancellor  of  Oxford,  in  the  name  both  of  him  and  the 
whole  University,  to  thank  me  for  procuring  the  Inscrip- 
tions, and  to  receive  my  directions  what  was  to  be  done  to 
show  their  gratitude  to  Mr.  Howard. 

11th.  I  went  to  see  Lord  Clarendon,  late  Lord  Chancellor 
and  greatest  officer  in  England,  in  continual  apprehension 
what  the  Parliament  would  determine  concerning  him. 

17th.  Came  Dr.  Barlow,  Provost  of  Queen^s  College,  and 
Protobibhothecus  of  the  Bodleian  Library,  to  take  order 
about  the  transportation  of  the  Marbles. 

35th.  There  were  delivered  to  me  two  letters  from  the 
Vice-Chancellor  of  Oxford,  with  the  Decree  of  the  Convo- 
cation, attested  by  the  Public  Notary,  ordering  four  Doctors 
of  Divinity  and  Law  to  acknowledge  the  obligation  the 
University  had  to  me  for  procuring  the  Marmora  Arun- 
deliana,  which  was  solemnly  done  by  Dr.  Barlow,*  Dr. 
Jenkins,t  Judge  of  the  Admiralty,  Dr.  Lloyd,  and  Obadiah 
"Walker,  J  of  University  CoUege,  who  having  made  a  large 
compliment  from  the  University,  delivered  me  the  decree 
fairly  written : 

Gesta  venerabili  domo  Convocationis  Universitatis  Oxon  ;  .  .17. 
1667.  Quo  die  retulit  ad  Senatum  Academicum  Dominus  Vicecan- 
cellarius,  quantum  Universitas  deberet  singular!  benevolentise  Johannis 
Evelini  Armigeri,  qui  pro  ea  pietate  qua  Almam  Matrem  prosequitur 
non  solum  Suasu  et  Consilio  apud  inclytum  Heroem  Henricum  Howard, 
Ducis  Norfolcise  hseredem,  intercessit,  ut  Universitati  pretiosissimum 
eruditae  antiquitatis  thesaurum  Marmora  Arundeliana  largiretur  ;  sed 
egregiam  insuperin  ijscoUigendisasservandisq  ;  navavit  operam :  Qua- 
propter  unanimi  sufFragio  Venerabilis  Domus  decretum  est,  ut  eidem 
publicae  gratise  per  delegatos  ad  Honoratissimum  Dominum  Henricum 
Howard  propediem  mittendos,  solemniter  reddantur. 
Concordant  superscripta  cum  originali  coUatione  facta  per  me  Ben. 
Cooper  Notarium  Publicum  et  Registarium  Universitat.  Oxon. 

•  Bishop  of  Lincoln. 

•f*  Afterwards,  Sir  Leoline  Jenkins,  Secretary  of  State. 
J  Subsequently,  head  of  that  College.    See  vol.  I.  pp.  249, 273  ;  also  under 
1675,  July;  1686,  May. 


16G7.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  31 

"Sir, 
"  We  intend  also  a  noble  inscription,  in  which  also  honourable  men- 
tion shall  be  made  of  yourself;  but  Mr.  Vice  Chancellor  commands  me 
to  tell  you  that  that  was  not  sufficient  for  your  merits  ;  but,  that  if  your 
occasions  would  permit  you  to  come  down  at  the  Act  (when  we  intend 
a  dedication  of  our  new  Theatre)  some  other  testimony  should  be  given 
both  of  your  own  worth  and  aifection  to  this  your  old  Mother ;  for  we 
are  all  very  sensible  that  this  great  addition  of  learning  and  reputation 
to  the  University  is  due  as  well  to  your  industrious  care  for  the  Uni- 
versity, and  interest  with  my  Lord  Howard,  as  to  his  great  nobleness 
and  generosity  of  spirit. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  most  humble  servant, 

"  Obadiah  Walker,  Univ.  Coll." 

The  Vice-Chancellor's  letter  to  the  same  effect  were  too 
vain- glorious  to  insert,  with  divers  copies  of  verses  that 
were  also  sent  me.  Their  mentioning  me  in  the  inscription 
I  totally  declined,  when  I  directed  the  titles  of  Mr.  Howard, 
now  made  Lord,  upon  his  Ambassage  to  Morocco. 

These  four  doctors,  having  made  me  this  compliment, 
desired  me  to  carry  and  introduce  them  to  Mr.  Howard, 
at  Arundel-House  :  which  I  did,  Dr.  Barlow  (Provost  of 
Queen's)  after  a  short  speech,  delivering  a  larger  letter  of 
the  University's  thanks,  which  was  written  in  Latin, 
expressing  the  great  sense  they  had  of  the  honour  done 
them.  After  this  compliment,  handsomely  performed, 
and  as  nobly  received,  Mr.  Howard  accompanied  the 
Doctors  to  their  coach.  That  evening,  I  supped  with  them. 

26th.  My  late  Lord-Chancellor  was  accused  by  Mr. 
Seymour  in  the  House  of  Commons ;  and,  in  the  evening, 
I  returned  home. 

31st.  My  birth-day — blessed  be  God  for  all  his  mercies  ! 
I  made  the  Royal  Society  a  present  of  the  Table  of  Veins, 
Arteries,  and  Nerves,  which  great  curiosity  I  had  caused 
to  be  made  in  Italy,  out  of  the  natural  human  bodies,  by  a 
learned  physician,  and  the  help  of  Veshngius  (professor  at 
Padua),  from  whence  I  brought  them,  in  1646.*  For  this 
I  received  the  public  thanks  of  the  Society ;  and  they  are 
hanging  up  in  their  Repository  with  an  inscription. 

9th  December.  To  visit  the  late  Lord-Chancellor.  I 
found  him  in  his  garden  at  his  new-built  palace,  sitting 
in  his  gout  wheel-chair,  and  seeing  the  gates  setting  up 

*  See  vol  I.,  page  217. 


32  DIARY     OP  [LONDON 

towards  the  north  and  the  fields.  He  looked  and  spake 
very  disconsolately.  After  some  while  deploring  his  con- 
dition to  me,  I  took  my  leave.  Next  morning,  I  heard  he 
was  gone ;  though  I  am  persuaded  that,  had  he  gone 
sooner,  though  but  to  Cornbury,  and  there  lain  quiet,  it 
would  have  satisfied  the  Parliament.  That  which  exaspe- 
rated them  was  his  presuming  to  stay  and  contest  the 
accusation  as  long  as  it  was  possible :  and  they  were  on 
the  point  of  sending  him  to  the  Tower. 

10th.  I  went  to  the  funeral  of  Mrs.  Heath,  wife  of  my 
worthy  friend  and  schoolfellow. 

21st.  I  saw  one  Carr  pilloried  at  Charing-cross  for  a 
libel,  which  was  burnt  before  him  by  the  hangman. 

1667-8.  8th  January.  I  saw  deep  and  prodigious  gaming 
at  the  Groom-Porter's,  vast  heaps  of  gold  squandered  away 
in  a  vain  and  profuse  manner.  This  I  looked  on  as  a 
horrid  vice,  and  unsuitable  in  a  Christian  Court. 

9th.  Went  to  see  the  revels  at  the  Middle  Temple,  which 
is  also  an  old  riotous  custom,  and  has  relation  neither  to 
virtue  nor  policy. 

10th.  To  visit  Mr.  Povey,  where  were  divers  great 
Lords  to  see  his  well-contrived  cellar,  and  other  ele- 
gancies.* 

24th.  We  went  to  stake  out  ground  for  building  a 
college  for  the  Royal  Society  at  Arundel  House,  but  did 
not  finish  it,  which  we  shall  repent  of. 

4th  February.  I  saw  the  tragedy  of  "  Horace  "  (written 
by  the  virtuous  Mrs.  Phillips)  acted  before  their  Majesties. 
Betwixt  each  act  a  masque  and  antique  dance.  The 
excessive  gallantry  of  the  ladies  was  infinite,  those  especially 
on  that  .  .  .  Castlemaine,  esteemed  at  40,000^.  and  more, 
far  outshining  the  Queen. 

15th.  I  saw  the  audience  of  the  Swedish  Ambassador, 
Count  Donna,  in  great  state  in  the  banqueting-house. 

3rd  March.  Was  launched  at  Deptford,  that  goodly 
vessel.  The  Charles.  I  was  near  his  Majesty.  She  is  longer 
than  the  Sovereign,  and  carries  110  brass  cannon;  she  was 
built  by  old  Shish,  a  plain  honest  carpenter,  master- 
builder  of  this  dock,  but  one  who  can  give  very  little 
account  of  his  art  by  discourse,  and  is  hai'dly  capable  of 

*  See  vol.  I.,  p.  380. 


1C68.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  JjS 

reading,*  yet  of  great  ability  in  his  calling.  The  family 
have  been  ship-carpenters  in  this  yard  above  100  years, 

12th.  Went  to  visit  Sir  John  Cotton,  who  had  me  into 
his  library,  full  of  good  MSS.  Greek  and  Latin,  but  most 
famous  for  those  of  the  Saxon  and  English  Antiquities, 
collected  by  his  grandfather. 

2nd  April.  To  the  Royal  Society,  where  I  subscribed 
50,000  bricks,  towards  building  a  college.  Amongst  other 
libertine  libels,  there  Avas  one  now  printed  and  thrown 

about,   a    bold    petition   of   the   poor  w s  to   Lady 

Castlemaine.t 

9th.  To  London,  about  finishing  my  grand  account  of 
the  sick  and  wounded,  and  prisoners  at  war,  amounting  to 
above  £34,000. 

I  heard  Sir  R.  Howard  impeach  Sir  William  Penn,  in 
the  House  of  Lords,  for  breaking  bulk,  and  taking  away 
rich  goods  out  of  the  East  India  prizes,  formerly  taken  by 
Lord  Sandwich. 

28th.  To  London,  about  the  purchase  of  Ravensbourne 
Mills,  and  land  around  it,  in  Upper  Deptford,  of  one  Mr. 
Becher. 

30th.  We  sealed  the  Deeds  in  Sir  Edward  Thurland^s 
chambers  in  the  Inner  Temple.  I  pray  God  bless  it  to  me, 
it  being  a  dear  pennyworth ;  but  the  passion  Sir  R.  Browne 
had  for  it,  and  that  it  was  contiguous  to  our  other  grounds, 
engaged  me ! 

13th  May.  Invited  by  that  expert  commander.  Captain 
Cox,  master  of  the  lately  built  Charles  the  Second,  now  the 
best  vessel  of  the  fleet,  designed  for  the  Duke  of  York,  I 
went  to  Erith,  where  we  had  a  great  dinner. 

16th.  Sir  Richard  Edgecombe,  of  Mount  Edgecombe, 
by  Plymouth,  my  relation,  came  to  visit  me ;  a  very  vu'tuous 
and  worthy  gentleman. 

19th  June.  To  a  new  play  Avith  several  of  my  relations, 
"  The  Evening  Lover," J  a  foolish  plot,  and  very  profane; 

*  This  was  the  case  of  ]\Ir.  Brindley,  who  executed  such  great  works  for 
the  Duke  of  Bridgewatcr,  towards  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

t  Perhaps  Mr.  Evelyn  Imew  the  author. 

+  There  is  no  play  extant  with  this  name  ;  it  may  perhaps  be  a  second 
title  to  one  ;  JVIr.  Evelyn  frequently  mentions  only  one  name  of  a  play  that 
has  two.  Or  it  may  be  Dryden's  comedy  of  "  An  Evening's  Love,  or.  The 
Mock  Astrologer,"  which  is  indeed  sufficiently  licentious. 

■VOL.  II.  D 


34  DIARY  OF  fi-oNDON, 

it  afflicted  me  to  see  how  the  stage  was  degenerated  and 
polluted  by  the  licentious  times. 

2nd  July.  Sir  Samuel  Tuke,  Bart.,  and  the  lady  he  had 
married  this  day,  came  and  bedded  at  night  at  my  house, 
many  friends  accompanying  the  bride. 

23rd.  At  the  Royal  Society,  were  presented  diyers  fflossa 
petra's,  and  other  natural  curiosities,  found  in  digging  to 
build  the  fort  at  Sheemess.  They  were  just  the  same  as 
they  bring  from  Malta,  pretending  them  to  be  viper's  teeth, 
whereas,  in  truth,  they  are  of  a  shark,  as  we  found  by 
comparing  them  with  one  in  our  Repository. 

3rd  August.  Mr.  Bramstone  (son  to  Judge  B.)  my  old 
fellow-traveller,  now  Reader  at  the  Middle  Temple,  invited 
me  to  his  feast,  which  was  so  very  extravagant  and  great 
as  the  like  had  not  been  seen  at  any  time.  There  were 
the  Duke  ofOrraond,  Privy  Seal,  Bedford,  Belasis,  Halifax, 
and  a  world  more  of  Earls  and  Lords. 

14th.  His  Majesty  was  pleased  to  grant  me  a  lease  of  a 
slip  of  ground  out  of  Brick  Close,  to  enlarge  my  fore-court, 
for  which  I  now  gave  him  thanks;  then,  entering  into 
other  discourse,  he  talked  to  me  of  a  new  varnish  for  ships, 
instead  of  pitch,  and  of  the  gilding  with  which  his  new 
yacht  was  beautified,  I  showed  his  Majesty  the  perpetual 
motion  sent  to  me  by  Dr.  Stokes,  from  Cologne ;  and  then 
came  in  Monsieur  Colbert,  the  French  Ambassador. 

19th.  I  saw  the  magnificent  entry  of  the  French 
Ambassador  Colbert,  received  in  the  Banqueting  House.  I 
had  never  seen  a  richer  coach  than  that  Avhich  he  came  in 
to  Whitehall.  Standing  by  his  Majesty  at  dinner  in  the 
presence,  there  was  of  that  rare  fruit  called  the  King-pine, 
growing  in  Barbadoes  and  the  "West  Indies ;  the  first  of 
them  I  had  ever  seen.*  His  Majesty  having  cut  it  up, 
was  pleased  to  give  me  a  piece  oflF  his  own  plate  to  taste 
of;  but,  in  my  opinion,  it  falls  short  of  those  ravishing 
varieties  of  deliciousness  described  in  Captain  Ligon's 
History,  and  others;  but  possibly  it  might,  or  certainly 
was,  much  impaired  in  coming  so  far;  it  has  yet  a  grateful 
acidity,  but  tastes  more  like  the  quince  and  melon  than  of 
any  other  fruit  he  mentions. 

*  See  before,  the  Queen-pine,  volume  I.  p.  353. 


1668.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  35 

28tli.  Published  my  book  of  ''  The  perfection  of  Paint- 
ing/'* dedicated  to  Mr.  Howard. 

17th  September.  I  entertained  Signor  Muccinigo,  the 
Venetian  Ambassador,  of  one  of  the  noblest  families  of 
the  State,  this  being  the  day  of  making  his  public  entry, 
setting  forth  from  my  house  with  several  gentlemen  of 
Venice  and  others  in  a  very  glorious  train.  He  staid 
with  me  till  the  Earl  of  Anglesea  and  Sir  Charles  Cotterell 
(Master  of  the  Ceremonies)  came  with  the  King^s  barge  to 
carry  him  to  the  Tower,  where  the  guns  were  fired  at  his 
landing;  he  then  entered  his  Majesty^s  coach,  followed  by 
many  others  of  the  nobility.  I  accompanied  him  to  his 
house,  where  there  was  a  most  noble  supper  to  all  the 
company,  of  course.  After  the  extraordinary  compliments 
to  me  and  my  wife,  for  the  civilities  he  received  at  my 
house,  I  took  leave  and  returned.  He  is  a  very  accomplished 
person.     He  is  since  Ambassador  at  Rome. 

29th.  I  had  much  discourse  with  Signor  Pietro  Cisij,  a 
Persian  gentleman,  about  the  affairs  of  Turkey,  to  my  great 
satisfaction.  I  went  to  see  Sir  Elias  Leighton's  project  of 
a  cart  with  iron  axle-trees. 

8th  November.  Being  at  dinner,  my  sister  Evelyn,  sent 
for  me  to  come  up  to  London  to  my  continuing  sick 
brother. 

14th.  To  London,  invited  to  the  consecration  of  that 
excellent  person,  the  Dean  of  Ripon,  Dr.  Wilkins,  now 
made  Bishop  of  Chester ;  it  was  at  Ely-House,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  Dr.  Cosin,  Bishop  of  Durham,  the 
Bishops  of  Ely,  Salisbury,  Rochester,  and  others  oificiating. 
Dr.  Tillotson  preached.  Then,  we  went  to  a  sumptuous 
dinner  in  the  hall,  where  were  the  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
Judges,  Secretaries  of  State,  Lord-Keeper,  Council,  Noble- 
men, and  innumerable  other  company,  who  were  honourers 
of  this  incomparable  man,  universally  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

This  being  the  Queen's  birth-day,  great  was  the  gal- 
lantry at  Whitehall,  and  the  night  celebrated  with  very 
fine  fire- works. 

My  poor  brother  continuing  ill,  I  went  not  from  him 

*  Re-printed  in  Evelyn's  "Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  553 
— 5G2. 

D    2 


86  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

till  the  ITth,  when,  dining  at  the  Groom  Porters,  I  heard 
Sir  Edward  Sutton  play  excellently  on  the  Irish  harp ;  he 
performs  genteelly,  but  not  approaching  my  worthy  friend, 
Mr.  Clark,  a  gentleman  of  Northumberland,  who  makes  it 
execute  lute,  viol,  and  all  the  harmony  an  instrument  is 
capable  of;  pity  it  is  that  it  is  not  more  in  use;  but, 
indeed,  to  play  well,  takes  up  the  whole  man,  as  Mr.  Clark 
has  assured  me,  who,  though  a  gentleman  of  quaUty  and 
parts,  was  yet  brought  up  to  that  instrument  from  five 
years  old,  as  I  remember  he  told  me. 

25th.  I  waited  on  Lord  Sandwich,  who  presented  me 
with  a  Sembrador  he  brought  out  of  Spain,  showing  me 
his  two  books  of  observations  made  during  his  embassy 
and  stay  at  Madrid ;  in  which  were  several  rare  things  he 
promised  to  impart  to  me. 

27th.  I  dined  at  my  Lord  Ashley's  (since  Earl  of 
Shaftesbury),  when  the  match  of  my  niece  *  was  proposed 
for  his  only  son,  in  which  my  assistance  was  desired  for 
my  Lord. 

28th.  Dr.  Patrick  preached  at  Covent  Garden,  on 
Acts  xvii.  31,  the  certainty  of  Christ's  coming  to  judg- 
ment, it  being  Advent ;  a  most  suitable  discourse. 

19th  December.  I  went  to  see  the  old  play  of  "Cata- 
line  "  acted,  having  been  now  forgotten  almost  forty 
years. 

20th.  I  dined  with  my  Lord  Cornbury,  at  Clarendon- 
House,  now  bravely  furnished,  especially  with  the  pictures 
of  most  of  our  ancient  and  modern  wits,  poets,  philosophers, 
famous  and  learned  Englishmen ;  which  collection  of  the 
Chancellor's  I  much  commended,  and  gave  his  Lordship  a 
catalogue  of  more  to  be  added,  f 

*  Probably  the  daughter  of  his  Brother,  Richard,  of  Epsom,  but  who  mar- 
ried Mr.  Montagu. 

•}•  In  a  letter  to  the  Lord  Chancellor,  dated  18th  March,  1666-7,  Mr. 
Evelyn  says  : 

"  My  Lord,  your  Lordship  inquires  of  me  what  pictures  might  be  added 
to  the  Assembly  of  the  Learned  and  Heroic  persons  of  England  which  your 
Lordship  has  already  collected  ;  the  design  of  which  I  do  infinitely  more 
magnify  than  the  most  famous  heads  of  foreigners,  which  do  not  concern  the 
glory  of  our  country  ;  and  it  is  in  my  opinion  the  most  honourable  ornament, 
the  most  becoming  and  obhging,  which  your  Lordship  can  think  of  to  adom 
your  palace  withal,  such,  therefore,  as  seem  to  be  wanting,  I  shall  range 
under  these  three  heads  : — 


1G69.] 


JOHN  EVELYN. 


37 


31st.  I  entertained  my  kind  neighbours^  according  to 
custom^  giving  Almighty  God  thanks  for  His  gracious 
mercies  to  me  the  past  year. 

1668-9.  1st  January.   Imploring  His  blessing  for  the 


The  Learned. 


Sir  Hen.  Saville. 
Abp.  of  Ai-magh. 
Dr.  Harvey. 
Sir  H.  Wotton. 
Sir  T.  Bodley. 
G.  Buchanan. 
Jo.  Barclay 
Ed.  Spencer. 
Wm.  Lily. 
Wm.  Hooker. 
Dr.  Sanderson. 
Wm.  Oughtred. 
M.  Philips. 
Rog.  Bacon. 

Sir.  Fra.  Walsingham. 
Earl  of  Leicester. 
Sir  W.  Raleidi, 


Geo.  Ripley. 

Wm.  of  Occam. 

Hadrian  4  th. 

Alex.  Ales, 

Ven.  Bede. 

Jo.  Duns  Scotus, 

Alcuinus. 

Ridley,     T 

,    ,.  y  martyrs. 

Latimer,  J  •' 

Roger  Ascham. 

Sir  J.  Checke. 

r  Eliz.  Joan  Weston,* 


Ladies 


\  Jane  Grey. 


Politicians. 


Card.  Wolsey. 
Sir  T.  Smith. 
Card.  Pole. 


Soldiers. 

Sir  Fra.  Drake.  Earl  of  Essex. 

Sir  J.  Hawkins.  Talbot. 

Sir  Martin  Frobisher,  Sir  F.  Greville. 

Tho.  Cavendish.  Hor.  E.  of  Oxford. 

Sir  Ph.  Sidney. 
"  Some  of  which,  though  difficult  to  procure  originals  of,  yet  haply  copies 
might  be  found  out  upon  diligent  inquiry.     The  rest,  I  think,  your  Lordship 
has  already  in  good  proportion." 

I\lr.  Evelyn,  in  a  letter  to  Mi'.  Pepys,  dated  12th  August,  1689,  tells  him 
that  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Clarendon,  had  collected  Portraits  of  very  many  of 
our  groat  men  ;  and  puts  them  down  promiscuously  as  he  recollected  them. 
Mr.  Evelyn  also  there  gives  a  list  of  Portraits  which  he  recommended  to  be 
added,  a  little  diff'erent  from  the  list  contained  in  the  preceding  letter  to  the 
Lord  Chancellor  ;  and  remarks  that  "  When  Lord  Clarendon's  design  of 
making  this  collection  was  known,  everybody  who  had  any  of  the  portraits, 
or  could  purchase  them  at  any  price,  strove  to  make  their  court  by  present- 
isig  them.  By  this  means,  he  got  many  excellent  pieces  of  Vandyke,  and  other 
originals  by  Lely  and  other  the  best  of  our  modern  masters." 


*  For  an  account  of  her  see  Ballard's  Learned  Ladies.  There  is  a  very 
scarce  volume  of  Latin  Poems  by  her,  printed  at  Prague,  1606.  Mr.  Evelyn 
mentions  her  in  his  Numismata.  She  is  much  celebrated  by  the  writers  of 
her  time. 


38  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

year  entering,  I  went  to  clmrch,  wliere  our  Doctor  preached 
on  Psalm  Ixv.  12,  apposite  to  the  season,  and  beginning 
a  new  year. 

3rd.  About  this  time,  one  of  Sir  William  Penn's  sons 
had  published  a  blasphemous  book  against  the  Deity  of 
our  Blessed  Lord. 

29th.  I  went  to  see  a  tall  gigantic  woman,  who  measured 

6  feet  10  inches  high,*  at  21  years  old,  born  in  the  Low 
Countries. 

13th  February.  I  presented  his  Majesty  with  my  "  His- 
tory of  the  Four  Impostors  ;^'t  be  told  me  of  other  like 
cheats.  I  gave  my  book  to  Lord  Arlington,  to  whom  I 
dedicated  it.  It  was  now  that  he  began  to  tempt  me  about 
writing  "  the  Dutch  War." 

15th.  Saw  Mrs.  Phillips's  "  Horace"  acted  again. 

18th.  To  the  Royal  Society,  when  Signer  Malpighi,  an 
Italian  physician  and  anatomist,  sent  this  learned  body 
the  incomparable  History  of  the  Silkworm. 

1st  March.  Dined  at  Lord  Arlington's  at  Goring  House, 
with  the  Bishop  of  Hereford. 

4th.  To  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Society,  about  disposing 
my  Lord  Howard's  library,  now  given  to  us. 

16th.  To  London,  to  place  Mr.  Christopher  Wase  about 
my  Lord  Arlington. 

1 8th.  I  went  with  Lord  Howard  of  Norfolk,  to  visit  Sir 
William  Ducie  at  Charlton,  where  we  dined ;  the  servants 
made  our  coachmen  so  drunk,  that  they  both  fell  off  their 
boxes  on  the  heath,  where  we  were  fain  to  leave  them,  and 
were  driven  to  London  by  two  servants  of  my  Lord's. 
This  barbarous  custom  of  making  the  masters  welcome  by 
intoxicating  the  servants,  had  now  the  second  time  hap- 
pened to  my  coachman. 

My  son  came  finally  from  Oxford. 

2nd  April.  Dined  at  Mr.  Treasurer's,  where  was  (with 
many  noblemen)  Colonel  Titus  of  the  bed-chamber,  author 
of  the  famous  piece  against  Cromwell,  "Killing  no  Murder.'* 

I  now  placed  Mr.  Wase  with  Mr.  Williamson,  Secretary 
to  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  Clerk  of  the  Papers. 

*  Some  years  back,  there  was  living  in  England  a  gentlewoman,  who  was 

7  feet  5  inches  liigh.     She  died  about  the  age  of  27. 

f  Re-printed  in  Evelyn's  "Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  563 
—620. 


1G69.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  39 

1-lth.  I  dined  witli  tlie  Arclibisliop  of  Canterbury,  at 
Lambeth,  and  saw  tlie  library  v,'hicli  was  not  very  con- 
siderable. 

19th  May.  At  a  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  our  grant 
was  finished,  in  which  his  Majesty  gives  us  Chelsea  College, 
and  some  land  about  it.  It  was  ordered  that  five  should 
be  a  quorum  for  a  Council.  The  Vice-President  was  then 
sworn  for  the  first  time,  and  it  was  proposed  how  we 
should  receive  the  Prince  of  Tuscany,  who  desired  to  visit 
the  Society. 

20th.  This  evening,  at  10  o'clock,  was  born  my  third 
daughter,  who  Avas  baptized  on  the  25th  by  the  name  of 
Susannah. 

3rd  June.  Went  to  take  leave  of  Lord  Howard,  going 
Ambassador  to  Morocco.  Dined  at  Lord  Arlington's, 
where  Avere  the  Earl  of  Berkshire,  Lord  Saint  John,  Sir 
Eobert  Howard,  and  Sir  R.  Holmes. 

10th.  Came  my  Lord  Cornbury,  Sir  William  Pulteney, 
and  others,  to  visit  me.  I  went  this  evening  to  London, 
to  carry  Mr.  Pepys  to  my  Brother  Richard,  now  exceed- 
ingly afflicted  Avith  the  stone,  Avho  had  been  successfully 
cut,  and  carried  the  stone  as  big  as  a  tennis-ball,  to  shoAV 
him  and  encourage  his  resolution  to  go  through  the 
operation. 

30th.  My  Avife  AA^ent  a  journey  of  pleasure  doAvn  the 
river  as  far  as  the  sea,  A\ith  Mrs.  HoAvard,  and  her  daughter, 
the  Maid  of  Honour,  and  others,  amongst  Avhom  that 
excellent  creature,  Mrs.  Blagge. 

7  th  July.  I  Aveut  toAvards  Oxford ;  lay  at  Little  Wycomb. 
8th.  Oxford. 

9th.  In  the  morning,  Avas  celebrated  the  Encaenia  of 
the  NeAV  Theatre,  so  magnificently  built  by  the  munificence 
of  Dr.  Gilbert  Sheldon,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in 
Avhich  Avas  spent  £25,000,  as  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  the 
architect,  (as  I  remember),  told  me ;  and  yet  it  Avas  never 
seen  by  the  benefactor,  my  Lord  Archbishop  having  told  me 
that  he  never  did  nor  ever  would  see  it.  It  is,  in  truth,  a 
fabric  comparable  to  any  of  this  kind  of  former  ages,  and 
doubtless  exceeding  any  of  the  present,  as  this  University 
does  for  colleges,  libraries,  schools,  students  and  order,  all 
the  Universities  in  the  world.  To  the  theatre  is  added 
±he  famous  Sheldonian  printing-house.     This  being  at  the 


40  DIARY  OF  [oxford, 

Act  and  the  first  time  of  opening  the  Theatre  (Acts  being 
formerly  kept  in  St.  Mary's  church,  which  might  be 
thought  indecent,  that  being  a  place  set  apart  for  the  im- 
mediate worship  of  God,  and  was  the  inducement  for 
building  this  noble  pile),  it  was  now  resolved  to  keep  the 
present  Act  in  it,  and  celebrate  its  dedication  with  the 
greatest  splendour  and  formality  that  might  be ;  and, 
therefore,  drew  a  world  of  strangers,  and  other  company, 
to  the  University,  from  all  parts  of  the  nation. 

The  Vice-Chancellor,  Heads  of  Houses,  and  Doctors, 
being  seated  in  magisterial  seats,  the  Vice-Chancellor's 
chair  and  desk,  Proctors,  &c.,  covered  with  brocatelle  (a 
kind  of  brocade)  and  cloth  of  gold ;  the  University  Regis- 
trar read  the  founder's  grant  and  gift  of  it  to  the  University 
for  their  scholastic  exercises  upon  these  solemn  occasions. 
Then  followed  Dr.  South,  the  University's  orator,  in  an 
eloquent  speech,  which  was  very  long,  and  not  v/ithout 
some  malicious  and  indecent  reflections  on  the  Royal 
Society,  as  underminers  of  the  University  ;  which  was  very 
foolish  and  untrue,  as  well  as  unseasonable.  But,  to  let 
that  pass  from  an  ill-natured  man,  the  rest  was  in  praise 
of  the  Archbishop  and  the  ingenious  architect.  This 
ended,  after  loud  music  from  the  corridor  above,  where  an 
organ  was  placed,  there  followed  divers  panegyric  speeches, 
both  in  prose  and  verse,  interchangeably  pronounced  by 
the  young  students  placed  in  the  rostrums,  in  Pindarics, 
Eclogues,  Heroics,  &c.,  mingled  with  excellent  music, 
vocal  and  instrumental,  to  entertain  the  ladies  and  the 
rest  of  the  company.  A  speech  was  then  made  in  praise 
of  academical  learning.  This  lasted  from  eleven  in  the 
morning  till  seven  at  night,  Avhich  was  concluded  with 
ringing  of  bells,  and  universal  joy  and  feasting. 

10th.  The  next  da}^,  began  the  more  solemn  lectures  in 
all  the  faculties,  which  were  performed  in  their  several 
schools,  where  all  the  Inceptor-Doctors  did  their  exercises, 
the  Professors  having  first  ended  their  reading.  The 
assembly  now  returned  to  the  Theatre,  where  the  Terrcs 
filius  (the  University  Bvffoon)  entertained  the  auditory  with 
a  tedious,  .abusive,  sarcastical  rhapsody,  most  unbecoming 
the  gravity  of  the  University,  and  that  so  grossly,  that 
unless  it  be  suppressed,  it  will  be  of  ill  consequence,  as  I 
afterwards  plainly  expressed  my  sense  of  it  both  to  the 


IGGO.]  JOHN   EVELYN.  41 

Vice-Chancellor  and  several  Heads  of  Houses^  who  were 
perfectly  ashamed  of  it,  and  resolved  to  take  care  of  it 
in  future.  The  old  facetious  Avay  of  rallying  upon  the 
questions  was  left  off,  falling  Avholly  upon  persons,  so  that 
it  was  rather  licentious  lying  and  railing  than  genuine 
and  noble  wit.  In  my  life,  I  was  never  witness  of  so 
shameful  entertainment. 

After  this  ribaldry,  the  Proctors  made  their  speeches. 
Then,  began  the  music  art,  vocal  and  instrumental,  above 
in  the  balustrade  corridor  opposite  to  the  Vice-Chancellor^s 
seat.  Then,  Dr.  Wallis,  the  mathematical  Professor,  made 
his  oration,  and  created  one  Doctor  of  music  according  to 
the  usual  ceremonies  of  gown  (which  Avas  of  white  damask), 
cap,  ring,  kiss,  &c.  Next,  followed  the  disputations  of  the 
Inceptor-Doctors  in  Medicine,  the  speech  of  their  Pro- 
fessor, Dr.  Hyde,  and  so  in  course  their  respective  creations. 
Then  disputed  the  Inceptors  of  Law,  the  speech  of  their 
Professor,  and  creation.  Lastly,  Inceptors  of  Theology : 
Dr.  Compton  (brother  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton)  being 
jmiior,  began  with  great  modesty  and  applause ;  so  the 
rest.  After  Avhich,  Dr.  Tillotson,  Dr.  Sprat,  &c.,  and  then 
Dr.  AUestree's  speech,  the  King's  Professor,  and  their 
respective  creations.  Last  of  all,  the  Vice-Chancellor, 
shutting  up  the  Avhole  in  a  panegyrical  oration,  celebrating 
their  benefactor  and  the  rest,  apposite  to  the  occasion. 

Thus  was  the  Theatre  dedicated  by  the  scholastic  exer- 
cises in  all  the  Faculties  with  great  solemnity ;  and  the 
night,  as  the  former,  entertaining  the  new  Doctors^  friends 
in  feasting  and  music.  I  was  invited  by  Dr.  Barlow,  the 
worthy  and  learned  Provost  of  Queen's  College. 

11th.  The  Act  sermon  was  this  forenoon  preached  by 
Dr.  Hall,  in  St.  Mary's,  in  an  honest  practical  discourse 
against  Atheism.  In  the  afternoon,  the  church  was  so 
crowded,  that  not  coming  early  I  could  not  approach  to 
hear. 

12th.  Monday.  Was  held  the  Divinity- Act  in  the 
Theatre  again,  when  proceeded  seventeen  Doctors,  in  all 
Faculties  some. 

13th.  I  dined  at  the  Vice-Chancellor's,  and  spent  the 
afternoon  in  seeing  the  rarities  of  the  public  liliraries,  and 
visiting  the  noljlc  marbles  aiid  inscriptions,  now  inserted 
in  the  Avails  that  compass  the  area  of  the  Theatre,  Avliich 


42  DIARY  OF  [oxford, 

were  150  of  the  most  ancient  and  worthy  treasures  of  that 
kind  in  the  learned  world.  Now,  observing  that  people 
approach  them  too  near,  some  idle  persons  began  to  scratch 
and  injure  them,  I  advised  that  a  hedge  of  holly  should  be 
planted  at  the  foot  of  the  wall,  to  be  kept  breast-high  only 
to  protect  them ;  which  the  A^ice-Chancellor  promised  to 
do  the  next  season. 

14th.  Dr.  Fell,*  Dean  of  Christ-church  and  Vice- 
Chancellor,  with  Dr.  AUestree  Professor,  with  beadles 
and  maces  before  them,  came  to  visit  rae  at  my  lodg- 
ing.— I  went  to  visit  Lord  Howard's  sons  at  Magdalen 
CoUege. 

15th.  Having  two  days  before  had  notice,  that  the 
University  intended  me  the  honour  of  Doctorship,  I  was 
this  morning  attended  by  the  beadles  belonging  to  the 
Law,  who  conducted  me  to  the  Theatre,  where  I  found  the 
Duke  of  Ormond  (now  Chancellor  of  the  University)  with 
the  Earl  of  Chesterfield  and  Mr.  Spencer  (brother  to  the 
late  Earl  of  Sunderland).  Thence,  we  marched  to  the 
Convocation-House,  a  convocation  having  been  called  on 
purpose  j  here,  being  all  of  us  robed  in  the  porch  in  scarlet 
with  caps  and  hoods,  we  were  led  in  by  the  Professor  of 
Laws,  and  presented  respectively  by  name,  with  a  short 
eulogy,  to  the  Vice -Chancellor,  who  sate  in  the  chair,  with 
all  the  Doctors  and  Heads  of  Houses  and  masters  about 
the  room,  which  was  exceeding  full.  Then,  began  the 
Public  Orator  his  speech,  directed  chiefly  to  the  Duke  of 
Ormond,  the  Chancellor;  but  in  which  I  had  my  com- 
pHment,  in  course.  This  ended,  we  were  called  up,  and 
created  Doctors  according  to  the  form,  and  seated  by  the 
Vice-Chancellor  amongst  the  Doctors,  on  his  right  hand ; 
then,  the  Vice-Chancellor  made  a  short  speech,  and  so, 
saluting  our  brother  Doctors,  the  pageantry  concluded, 
and  the  convocation  was  dissolved.  So  formal  a  creation 
of  honorary  Doctors  had  seldom  been  seen,  that  a  con- 
vocation should  be  called  on  purpose,  and  speeches  made 
by  the  Orator ;  but  they  could  do  no  less,  their  Chancellor 
being  to  receive,  or  rather  do  them,  this  honour.  I  should 
have  been  made  Doctor  with  the  rest  at  the  public  Act, 
but  their  expectation  of  their  Chancellor  made  them  defer 

*  Afterwards,  Bisliop  of  Oxford. 


1G69.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  43 

it.  I  was  tlien  led  Avith  my  brother  Doctors  to  an  extra- 
ordinary entertainment  at  Dr.  Mewes',  liead  of  St.  Jolni^s 
College^  andj  after  abundance  of  feasting  and  compliments^ 
having  visited  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  other  Doctors,  and 
given  them  thanks  for  the  honour  done  me,  I  went  towards 
home  the  16th,  and  got  as  far  as  Windsor,  and  so  to  my 
house  the  next  day. 

4th  August.  I  was  invited  by  Sir  Henry  Peckham  to 
his  reading-feast  in  the  Middle  Temple,  a  pompous  enter- 
tainment, where  Avere  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  all 
the  great  Earls  and  Lords,  &c.  I  had  much  discourse 
with  my  Lord  Winchelsea,  a  prodigious  talker ;  and  the 
Venetian  Ambassador. 

17th.  To  London,  spending  almost  the  entire  day  in 
surveying  what  progress  Avas  made  in  re-building  the 
ruinous  City,  which  now  began  a  little  to  revive  after  its 
sad  calamity. 

20th.  I  saw  the  splendid  audience  of  the  Danish 
Ambassador  in  the  Banqueting-House  at  Whitehall. 

23rd.  I  went  to  visit  my  most  excellent  and  Avorthy 
neighbour,  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Rochester,  at  Bromley,  Avhicli 
he  was  noAV  repairing,  after  the  dilapidations  of  the  late 
Rebellion. 

2nd  September.  I  Avas  this  day  very  ill  of  a  pain  in  my 
limbs,  Avhich  continued  most  of  this  Aveek,  and  Avas  increased 
by  a  visit  I  made  to  my  old  acquaintance,  the  Earl  of 
Norwich,  at  his  house  in  Epping  Eorest,  Avhere  are  many 
good  pictures  put  into  the  Avainscot  of  the  rooms,  which 
Mr.  Baker,  his  Lordship's  predecessor  there,  brought  out 
of  Spain ;  especially  the  History  of  Joseph,  a  picture  of  the 
pious  and  learned  Picus  INIirandula,  and  an  incomparable 
one  of  old  Breugel.  The  gardens  Avere  Avell  understood,  I 
mean  the  potager.  I  returned  late  in  the  CA'cning,  ferrying 
over  the  Avater  at  GrcenAvich. 

2Cth.  To  church,  to  give  God  thanks  for  my  recovery. 

3rd  October.  I  received  the  Blessed  Euchai-ist,  to  my 
unspeakable  joy. 

21st.  To  the  Koyal  Society,  meeting  for  the  first  time 
after  a  long  recess,  during  A^acation,  according  to  custom ; 
where  was  read  a  description  of  the  prodigious  eruption  of 
Mount  Etna;  and  our  English  itinerant  presented  an 
account  of  his  autumnal  peregrination  about  England,  for 


44  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

Avhich  we  hired  him,  bringing  dried  fowls,  fish,  plants, 
animals,  &c. 

26th.  My  dear  brother  continued  extremely  full  of  pain, 
the  Lord  be  gracious  to  him  ! 

3rd  November.  This  being  the  day  of  meeting  for  the 
poor,  we  dined  neighbourly  together. 

25th.  I  heard  an  excellent  discourse  by  Dr.  Patrick,  on 
the  Resurrection ;  and,  afterwards,  visited  the  Countess  of 
Kent,  my  kinswoman. 

8th  December.  To  London,  upon  the  second  edition  of 
my  "  Sylva,"  which  I  presented  to  the  Royal  Society. 

1669-70.  6th  February.  Dr.  John  Breton,  Master  of 
Emmanuel  College,  in  Cambridge  (uncle  to  our  vicar), 
preached  on  John  i.  27,  "whose  shoe-latchet  I  am  not 
worthy  to  unloose,^^  &c.,  describing  the  various  fashions  of 
shoes,  or  sandals,  worn  by  the  Jews,  and  other  nations :  of 
the  ornaments  of  the  feet :  how  great  persons  had  servants 
that  took  them  off  when  they  came  to  their  houses,  and 
bare  them  after  them :  by  which  pointing  the  dignity  of 
our  Saviour,  when  such  a  person  as  St.  John  Baptist 
acknowledged  his  unworthiness,  even  of  that  mean  office. 
The  lawfulness,  decentness,  and  necessity,  of  subordinate 
degrees  and  ranks  of  men  and  servants,  as  well  in  the 
Church  as  State :  against  the  late  levellers  and  others  of 
that  dangerous  rabble  who  would  have  all  alike. 

3rd  March.  Finding  my  Brother  [Richard]  in  such 
exceeding  tortiu"e,  and  that  he  now  began  to  fall  into 
convulsion-fits,  I  solemnly  set  the  next  day  apart  to  beg  of 
God  to  mitigate  his  sufferings,  and  prosper  the  only  means 
which  yet  remained  for  his  recovery,  he  being  not  only 
much  wasted,  but  exceedingly  and  all  along  averse  from 
being  cut  (for  the  stone);  but,  when  he  at  last  consented, 
and  it  came  to  the  operation,  and  all  things  prepared,  his 
spirit  and  resolution  failed. 

6th.  Dr.  Patrick  preached  in  Covent  Garden  church. 
I  participated  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  recommending  to 
God  the  deplorable  condition  of  my  dear  brother,  who  was 
almost  in  the  last  agonies  of  death.  I  watched  late  with 
him  this  night.  It  pleased  God  to  deliver  him  out  of  this 
miserable  life,  towards  five  o'clock  this  Monday  morning, 
to  my  unspeakable  grief.     He  yvas  a  brother  whom  I  most 


1<;70.]  I  JOHN  EVELYN.  45 

dearly  loved,  for  his  many  virtues  ;  but  two  years  younger 
than  myself,  a  sober,  prudent,  Avorthy  gentleman.  He  had 
married  a  great  fortune,  and  left  one  only  daughter,  and  a 
noble  seat  at  Woodcot,  near  Epsom.  His  body  Avas  opened, 
and  a  stone  taken  out  of  his  bladder,  not  much  bigger  than 
a  nutmeg.  I  returned  home  on  the  8th,  full  of  sadness, 
and  to  bemoan  my  loss. 

20th.  A  stranger  preached  at  the  Savoy  French  church: 
the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England  being  noAV  used 
altogether,  as  translated  into  French  by  Dr.  Durell. 

21st.  We  all  accompanied  the  corpse  of  my  dear 
brother  to  Epsom  church,  Avhere  he  Avas  decently  interred 
in  the  chapel  belonging  to  Woodcot  House.  A  great 
number  of  friends  and  gentlemen  of  the  country  attended, 
about  tAventy  coaches  and  six  horses,  and  innumerable 
people. 

22nd.  I  AA'cnt  to  Westminster,  Avhere  in  the  House  of 
Lords  I  saAV  his  Majesty  sit  on  his  throne,  but  Avithout  his 
robes,  all  the  peers  sitting  Avith  their  hats  on ;  the  business 
of  the  day  being  the  divorce  of  my  Lord  Ross.  Such  an 
occasion  and  sight  had  not  been  seen  in  England  since  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII. * 

5th  May.  To  London,  concerning  the  office  of  Latin 
Secretary  to  his  Majesty,  a  place  of  more  honour  and 
dignity  than  profit,  the  rcA^ersion  of  which  he  had  promised 
me. 

21st.  Came  to  visit  me  Mr.  Henry  SaA'ille,  and  Sir 
Charles  Scarborough. 

20th.  Receiving  a  letter  from  Mr.  Philip  Howard,  Lord 
Almoner    to    the    Queen,t   that    Monsieur  Evelin,    first 

*  "  When  there  was  a  project,  1669,  for  getting  a  divorce  for  the  King,  to 
facilitate  it,  there  was  brouglit  into  tlie  House  of  Lords  a  Bill  for  dissolving 
tlie  marriage  of  Lord  Ross,  on  account  of  adultery,  and  to  give  him  leave  to 
marry  again.  Tliis  Bill,  after  great  debates,  passed  by  the  plurality  of  only 
two  votes,  and  that  by  the  great  industry  of  the  Lord's  friends,  as  well  as  tiie 
Duke's  enemies,  who  carried  it  on  chiefly  in  hopes  it  might  be  a  precedent, 
and  inducement  for  the  King  to  enter  the  more  easily  into  their  late  proposals  ; 
nor  were  they  a  little  encouraged  therein,  when  they  saw  the  King  counte- 
nance and  drive  on  the  Bill  in  Lord  Ross's  favour.  Of  eighteen  Bishops  that 
were  in  the  House,  only  two  voted  for  the  ImII,  of  which  one  voted  through 
age,  and  one  was  reputed  a  Socinian." — These,  in  a  note,  are  said  to  be  Dr. 
Cosin,  Bishop  of  Durham,  and  Dr.  Wilkins,  Bishop  of  Chestef. 

t  Afterwards,  created  Cardinal. 


46  DIARY   OP  [LONDON, 

physician  to  Madame  (who  was  now  come  to  Dover  to  visit 
the  King  her  brother),  was  come  to  town,  greatly  desirous 
to  see  me ;  but  his  stay  so  short,  that  he  could  not  come 
to  me,  I  went  with  my  brother  to  meet  him  at  the 
Tower,  where  he  was  seeing  the  magazines  and  other 
curiosities,  having  never  before  been  in  England:  we 
renewed  om'  alliance  and  friendship,  with  much  regret  on 
both  sides  that,  he  being  to  return  towards  Dover  that 
evening,  we  could  not  enjoy  one  another  any  longer.  How 
this  French  family,  Ivelin,  of  Evelin,  Normandy,  a  very 
ancient  and  noble  house,  is  grafted  into  our  pedigree,  see 
in  the  collection  brought  from  Paris,  1650. 

16th  June.  I  went  with  some  friends  to  the  Bear 
Garden,  where  was  cock-fighting,  dog-fighting,  bear  and 
bull-baiting,  it  being  a  famous  day  for  aU  these  butcherly 
sports,  or  rather  barbarous  cruelties.  The  bulls  did 
exceeding  well,  but  the  Irish  wolf-dog  exceeded,  which 
was  a  tall  greyhound,  a  stately  creature  indeed,  who  beat 
a  cruel  mastiff.  One  of  the  bulls  tossed  a  dog  full  into  a 
a  lady's  lap,  as  she  sate  in  one  of  the  boxes  at  a  considerable 
height  from  the  arena.  Two  poor  dogs  were  killed,  and 
so  all  ended  mth  the  ape  on  horseback,  and  I  most  heartily 
weary  of  the  rude  and  dirty  pastime,  which  I  had  not  seen, 
I  think,  in  twenty  years  before. 

1 8th.  Dined  at  Goring  House,  whither  my  Lord  Arlington 
carried  me  from  Whitehall  with  the  Marquis  of  Worcester; 
there,  we  found  Lord  Sandwich,  Viscount  Stafford,*  the 
Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  and  others.  After  dinner,  my 
Lord  communicated  to  me  his  Majesty's  desire  that  I 
would  engage  to  write  the  History  of  our  late  War  with 
the  Hollanders,  which  I  had  hitherto  declined;  this  I 
found  was  ill  taken,  and  that  I  should  disoblige  his 
Majesty,  who  had  made  choice  of  me  to  do  him  this 
service,  and,  if  I  would  imdertake  it,  I  should  have  all  the 
assistance  the  Secretary's  office  and  others  could  give  me, 
with  other  encouragements,  which  I  could  not  decently 
refuse. 

Lord  Stafford  rose  from  table,  in  some  disorder,  because 

*  Sir  William  Howard,  created  in  November,  1640,  Viscount  Stafford.  In 
1678,  he  was  accused  of  a  concern  in  the  Popish  Plot,  and,  being  tried  by  his 
Peers  in  Westminster  Hall,  was  found  guilty,  by  a  majority  of  twenty-four  ; 
whereupon,  he  was  beheaded,  Dec.  29,  1680,  upon  Tower  Hill. 


1670.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  47 

there  were  roses  stuck  about  the  fruit  when  the  dessert 
was  set  on  the  table ;  such  an  antipathy,  it  seems,  he  had 
to  them  as  once  Lady  Selenger*  also  had,  and  to  that 
degree,  that,  as  Sir  Kenelm  Digby  tells  us,  laying  but  a 
rose  upon  her  cheek  when  she  was  asleep,  it  raised  a  blister; 
but  Sir  Kenelm  was  a  teller  of  strange  things. 

24th.  Came  the  Earl  of  Huntingdon  and  Countess,  with 
the  Lord  Sherard,  to  visit  us. 

29th.  To  London,  in  order  to  my  niece's  marriage, 
Mary,  daughter  to  my  late  Brother  Richard,  of  Woodcot, 
with  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Attorney  Montague,  which  was 
celebrated  at  Southampton-House  chapel,  after  which  a 
magnificent  entertainment,  feast,  and  dancing,  dinner  and 
supper,  in  the  great  room  there ;  but  the  bride  was  bedded 
at  my  sister's  lodging,  in  Drury-Lane. 

6th  July.  Came  to  visit  me  Mr.  Stanhope,  Gentleman- 
Usher  to  her  Majesty,  and  uncle  to  the  Earl  of  Chesterfield, 
a  very  fine  man,  with  my  Lady  Hutcheson. 

19th.  I  accompanied  my  worthy  friend,  that  excellent 
man.  Sir  Robert  Murray,  with  Mr.  Slingsby,  Master  of 
the  Mint,  to  see  the  latter's  Seat  and  estate  at  Burrow- 
Green,  in  Cambridgeshire,  he  desiring  our  advice  for 
placing  a  new  house,  which  he  was  resolved  to  build. f 
We  set  out  in  a  coach  aud  six  horses  with  him  and  his 
lady,  dined  about  midway  at  one  Mr.  Turner's,  where  we 
found  a  very  noble  dinner,  venison,  music,  and  a  circle  of 
country  ladies  and  their  gallants.  After  dinner,  we 
proceeded,  and  came  to  Burrow-Green  that  night.  This 
had  been  the  ancient  seat  of  the  Cheekes  (whose  daughter 
Mr.  Slingsby  married),  formerly  tutor  to  King  Edward  VI. 
The  old  house  large  and  ample,  and  built  for  ancient 
hospitality,  ready  to  fall  down  with  age,  placed  in  a  dirty 
hole,  a  stiff  clay,  no  water,  next  an  adjoining  church-yarcl, 
and  with  other  inconveniences.  We  pitched  on  a  spot  of 
rising  ground,  adorned  with  venerable  woods,  a  dry  and 
sweet  prospect  east  and  Avest,  and  fit  for  a  park,  but  no 
running  water ;  at  a  mile  distance  from  the  old  house. 

*  St.  Leger. 

f  It  is  probable  that  he  did  not  build,  and  that,  after  his  misfortunes,  which 
will  be  mentioned  hereafter,  it  was  sold.  Mr.  Lysons,  in  his  Magna  Bri- 
tannia, under  Cambridgeshire,  says,  that  what  remains  of  an  old  brick  mansion, 
is  now  a  farm-house. 


4,8  DIAKY    OF  [NEWMARKET, 

20th.  "We  went  to  dine  at  Lord  Allington's,*  who  had 
newly  built  a  house  of  great  cost,  I  believe  little  less  than 
£20,000.t  His  architect  was  Mr.  Pratt.  It  is  seated  in  a 
park,  with  a  sweet  prospect  and  stately  avenue ;  but  water 
still  defective ;  the  house  has  also  its  infirmities.  Went 
back  to  Mr.  Slingsby^s. 

22nd.  We  rode  out  to  see  the  great  mere,  or  level,  of 
recovered  fen  land,  not  far  off.  In  the  way,  we  met  Lord 
Arlington  going  to  his  house  in  Suffolk,  accompanied  with 
Count  Ogniati,  the  Spanish  minister,  and  Sir  Bernard 
Gascoigne ;  he  was  very  importunate  with  me  to  go  with 
him  to  Euston,  being  but  fifteen  miles  distant;  but,  in 
regard  of  my  company,  I  could  not.  So,  passing  through 
Newmarket,  we  alighted  to  see  his  Majesty^s  house  there, 
now  new-building ;  the  arches  of  the  cellars  beneath  are 
well  turned  by  Mr.  Samuel,  the  architect,  the  rest  mean 
enough,  and  hardly  fit  for  a  hunting-house.  Many  of  the 
rooms  above  had  the  chimneys  in  the  angles  and  corners, 
a  mode  now  introduced  by  his  Majesty,  which  I  do  at  no 
hand  approve  of.  I  predict  it  will  spoil  many  noble  houses 
and  rooms,  if  followed.  It  does  only  well  in  very  small 
and  trifling  rooms,  but  takes  from  the  state  of  greater. 
Besides,  this  house  is  placed  in  a  dirty  street,  Avithout  any 
court  or  avenue,  like  a  common  one,  whereas  it  might,  and 
ought  to  have  been  built  at  either  end  of  the  town,  upon 
the  very  carpet  where  the  sports  are  celebrated;  but,  it 
being  the  purchase  of  an  old  wretched  house  of  my  Lord 
Thomond's,  his  Majesty  was  persuaded  to  set  it  on  that 
foundation,  the  most  improper  imaginable  for  a  house  of 
sport  and  pleasure. | 

We  went  to  see  the  stables  and  fine  horses,  of  which 
many  were  here  kept  at  a  vast  expense,  with  all  the  art 
and  tenderness  imaginable. 

Being  arrived  at  some  meres,  we  found  Lord  Wotton 

*  Since  Constable  of  the  Tower. 

f  At  Horseheath.  The  Allingtons  seated  here  before  1239  :  William, 
created  an  Irish  Peer,  by  the  title  of  Lord  Allington,  in  1646,  Mr.  Lysons 
says  the  building  cost  70,000Z.,  and  with  the  estate  was  sold,  in  1687,  to 
John  Bromley,  Esq.,  for  42,000/.  He  expended  30,000/.  more  on  the 
building.  His  grandson  was  created  Lord  Montford,  in  1741.  In  1776,  the 
second  Lord  Montford  sold  the  estate,  the  house  being  sold,  in  1777,  for  the 
materials,  to  be  pulled  down.     Lysons,  Cambridgeshire,  pp.  216,  217. 

J  It  was  sold  by  the  Crown  in  1816. 


1670.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  49 

and  Sir  John  Kiviet*  about  their  draining-engines,  having, 
it  seems,  undertaken  to  do  wonders  on  a  vast  piece  of 
marsh-ground  they  had  hired  of  Sir  Thomas  Chicheley, 
(Master  of  the  Ordnance).  They  much  pleased  themselves 
with  the  hopes  of  a  rich  harvest  of  hemp  and  cole-seed, 
which  was  the  crop  expected. 

Here  we  visited  the  engines  and  mills  both  for  wind 
and  water,  draining  it  through  two  rivers,  or  grafiFs,  cut 
by  hand,  and  capable  of  carrying  considerable  barges, 
which  went  thwart  one  the  other,  discharging  the  water 
into  the  sea.  Such  this  spot  had  been  the  former  winter; 
it  was  astonishing  to  see  it  now  dry,  and  so  rich  that 
weeds  grew  on  the  banks,  almost  as  high  as  a  man  and 
horse.  Here,  my  Lord  and  his  partner  had  built  two  or 
three  rooms,  with  Flanders  Avhite  bricks,  very  hard.  One  of 
the  great  engines  was  in  the  kitchen,  where  I  saw  the  fish 
swim  up,  even  to  the  very  chimney-hearth,  by  a  small  cut 
through  the  room,  and  running  within  a  foot  of  the  very  fire. 

Having,  after  dinner,  ridden  about  that  vast  level,  pes- 
tered with  heat  and  swarms  of  gnats,  we  returned  over 
Newmarket  Heath,  the  way  being  mostly  a  sweet  turf  and 
down,  like  Salisbury  Plain,  the  jockeys  breathing  their  fine 
barbs  and  racers,  and  giving  them  their  heats. 

23rd.  We  returned  from  Burrow-green  to  London, 
staying  some  time  at  Audley  End,  to  see  that  fine  palace. 
It  is  indeed  a  cheerful  piece  of  Gothic  building,  or  rather 
antico  moderno,  but  placed  in  an  obscure  bottom.  The 
cellars  and  galleries  are  very  stately.  It  has  a  river  by  it, 
a  pretty  avenue  of  limes,  and  in  a  park. 

This  is  in  Safiron  Walden  parish,  famous  for  that  useful 
plant,  with  which  all  the  country  is  covered. 

Dining  at  Bishop- Stortford,  we  came  late  to  London. 

5th  August.  There  was  sent  me  by  a  neighbour  a 
servant-maid,  who,  in  the  last  month,  as  she  was  sitting 
before  her  mistress  at  work,  felt  a  stroke  on  her  arm  a 
little  above  the  Avrist  for  some  height,  the  smart  of  which, 
as  if  struck  by  another  hand,  caused  her  to  hold  her  arm. 
awhile  till  somewhat  mitigated ;  but  it  put  her  into  a  kind 
of  convulsion,  or  rather  hysteric  fit.  A  gentleman  coming 
casuaDy  in,  looking  on  her  arm,  found  that  part  powdered 

Of  him  see  before,  pp.  20,  21.  29. 
VOL.  II.  E 


50  DIARY  OF  [deptfoed, 

with  red  crosses,  set  in  most  exact  and  wonderful  order, 
neither  swelled  nor  depressed,  about  this  shape, 

X 

X  X 

XXX 

X  X 

X 

not  seeming  to  be  any  way  made  by  artifice,  of  a  reddish 
colour,  not  so  red  as  blood,  the  skin  over  them  smooth,  the 
rest  of  the  arm  livid  and  of  a  mortified  hue,  with  certain 
prints  as  it  were  of  the  stroke  of  fingers.  This  had  hap- 
pened three  several  times  in  July,  at  about  ten  days' 
interval,  the  crosses  beginning  to  wear  out,  but  the  suc- 
cessive ones  set  in  other  difi'erent,  yet  uniform  order.  The 
maid  seemed  very  modest,  and  came  from  London  to 
Deptford  with  her  mistress,  to  avoid  the  discourse  and 
importunity  of  curious  people.  She  made  no  gain  by  it, 
pretended  no  religious  fancies ;  but  seemed  to  be  a 
plain,  ordinary,  silent,  working  wench,  somewhat  fat,  short, 
and  high-coloured.  She  told  me  diVers  divines  and  phy- 
sicians had  seen  her,  but  were  unsatisfied ;  that  she  had 
taken  some  remedies  against  lier  fits,  but  they  did  her  no 
good ;  she  had  never  before  had  any  fits ;  once  since,  she 
seemed  in  her  sleep  to  hear  one  say  to  her  that  she  should 
tamper  no  more  with  them,  nor  trouble  herself  with 
anything  that  happened,  but  put  her  trust  in  the  merits  of 
Christ  only. 

This  is  the  substance  of  what  she  told  me,  and  what  I 
saw  and  curiously  examined.  I  was  formerly  acquainted 
with  the  impostorious  nuns  of  Loudun,  in  France,  which 
made  such  noise  amongst  the  Papists ;  I  therefore  thought 
this  worth  the  notice.  I  remember  Monsieur  Monconys 
(that  curious  traveller  and  a  Roman  Cathohc)  was  by  no 
means  satisfied  with  the  stigmata  of  those  nuns,  because 
they  were  so  shy  of  letting  him  scrape  the  letters,  which 
were  Jesus,  Maria,  Joseph,  (as  I  think,)  observing  they 
began  to  scale  off  with  it,  whereas  this  poor  wench  was 
willing  to  submit  to  any  trial ;  so  that  I  profess  I  know 


1670.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  51 

not  wliat  to  think  of  it,  nor  dare  I  pronounce  it  anything 
supernatural. 

2Gth,  At  "Windsor,  I  supped  with  the  Duke  of  Mon- 
mouth; and,  the  next  day,  invited  by  Lord  Ai'lington, 
dined  with  the  same  Duke,  and  divers  Lords.  After 
dinner,  my  Lord  and  I  had  a  conference  of  more  than  an 
hour  alone  in  his  bed-chamber,  to  engage  me  in  the 
History.  I  showed  him  something  that  I  had  drawn  up, 
to  his  great  satisfaction,  and  he  desired  me  to  show  it  to 
the  Treasurer. 

28th.  One  of  the  Canons  preached;  then  followed  the 
offering  of  the  Knights  of  the  Order,  according  to  custom ; 
first  the  poor  Knights,  in  procession,  then,  the  Canons  in 
then'  formalities,  the  Dean  and  Chancellor,  then  his 
Majesty  (the  Sovereign),  the  Duke  of  York,  Prince 
Rupert ;  and,  lastly,  the  Earl  of  Oxford,  being  all  the 
Knights  that  were  then  at  Court. 

I  dined  Avith  the  Treasurer,  and  consulted  with  him 
what  pieces  I  was  to  add ;  in  the  afternoon,  the  King  took 
me  aside  into  the  balcony  over  the  terrace,  extremely 
pleased  with  what  had  been  told  him  I  had  begun,  in  order 
to  his  commands,  and  enjoining  me  to  proceed  vigorously 
in  it.  He  told  me  he  had  ordered  the  Secretaries  of  State 
to  give  me  all  necessary  assistance  of  papers  and  particulars 
relating  to  it,  and  enjoining  me  to  make  it  a  little  keen,  for 
that  the  Hollanders  had  very  unhandsomely  abused  him  in 
their  pictures,  books,  and  libels. 

Windsor  was  now  going  to  be  repaired,  being  exceed- 
ingly ragged  and  ruinous.  Prince  Rupert,  the  Constable, 
had  begun  to  trim  up  the  keep,  or  high  round  Tower,  and 
handsomely  adorned  his  hall  with  furniture  of  arms,  which 
was  very  singular,  by  so  disposing  the  pikes,  muskets, 
pistols,  bandoleers,  holsters,  drums,  back,  breast,  and  head- 
pieces, as  was  very  extraordinary.  Thus,  those  huge  steep 
stairs  ascending  to  it  had  the  walls  invested  with  this 
martial  furniture,  all  new  and  bright,  so  disposing  the 
bandoleers,  holsters,  and  drums,  as  to  represent  festoons, 
and  that  without  any  confusion,  trophy-like.  From  the 
hall  we  Avent  into  his  bed-chamber,  and  ample  rooms 
hung  with  tapestry,  curious  and  effeminate  pictures,  so 
extremely  different  from  the  other,  which  presented 
nothing  but  war  and  horror. 

E  2 


5^  DIARY  OP  [londok, 

The  King  passed  most  of  his  time  in  hunting  the  stag, 
and  walking  in  the  x^ark,  which  he  was  now  planting  with 
rows  of  trees. 

13th  September.  To  visit  Sir  Richard  Lashford^  my 
kinsman,  and  Mr.  Charles  Howard,  at  his  extraordinary- 
garden,  at  Deep  den. 

15th.  I  Avent  to  visit  Mr.  Arthur  Onslow,  at  West  Clan- 
don,  a  pretty  dry  seat  on  the  Downs,  where  we  dined  in 
his  great  room. 

17th.  To  visit  Mr.  Hussey,*  who,  being  near  Wotton, 
lives  in  a  sweet  valley,  deliciously  watered. 

£3rd.  To  Albury,  to  see  how  that  garden  proceeded, 
which  I  found  exactly  done  to  the  design  and  plot  I  had 
made,  with  the  crypta  through  the  mountain  in  the  park, 
thirty  perches  in  length.  Such  a  Pausilippe  *  is  no  where 
in  England.  The  canal  was  now  digging,  and  the  vineyard 
planted. 

14th  October.  I  spent  the  whole  afternoon  in  private 
with  the  Treasurer,  who  put  into  my  hands  those,  secret 
pieces  and  transactions  concerning  the  Dutch  war,  and 
particularly  the  expedition  of  Bergen,  in  which  he  had 
himself  the  chief  part,  and  gave  me  instructions,  tiU  the 
King  arriving  from  Newmarket,  we  both  went  up  into  his 
bed-chamber. 

21st.  Dined  with  the  Treasurer ;  and,  after  dinner,  we 
were  shut  up  together.  I  received  other  [further]  advices, 
and  ten  paper-books  of  despatches  and  treaties ;  to  return 
which  again  I  gave  a  note  under  my  hand  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Williamson,  Master  of  the  Paper-office. 

31st.  I  was  this  morning  fifty  years  of  age;  the  Lord 
teach  me  to  number  my  days  so  as  to  apply  them  to  his 
glory !     Amen. 

4th  November.  Saw  the  Prince  of  Orange,  newly  come 
to  see  the  King,  his  uncle ;  he  has  a  manly,  courageous, 
wase  countenance,  resembling  his  mother  and  the  Duke  of 
Gloucester,  both  deceased. 

I  now  also  saw  that  famous  beauty,  but  in  my 
opinion  of  a  childish,  simple,  and  baby  face,  Madenioiselle 

•  At  Sutton  in  Shere. 

f  A  word  adopted  by  Mr.  Evelyn  for  a  subterranean  passage,  from  the 
famous  grot  of  Pausilippo,  at  Naples. 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  53 

Querouaille,*  lately  Maid  of  Honour  to  Madame^  and  now 
to  be  so  to  tlie  Queen. 

2-jrd.  Dined  witli  the  Earl  of  Arlington^,  where  was  the 
Venetian  Ambassador,  of  whom  I  now  took  solemn  leave, 
now  on  his  return.  There  were  also  Lords  Howard,  Wharton, 
Windsor,  and  divers  other  great  persons. 

24th.  I  dined  with  the  Treasurer,  where  was  the  Earl  of 
Rochester,  a  very  profane  wit. 

15th  December.  It  was  the  thickest  and  darkest  fog  on 
the  Thames  that  was  ever  known  in  the  memory  of  man, 
and  I  happened  to  be  in  the  very  midst  of  it.  I  supped 
with  Monsieur  Zulestein,  late  Governor  to  the  late  Prince 
of  Orange. 

1G70-1.  10th  January.  Mr.  Bohun,  my  son's  tutor,  had 
been  five  years  in  my  house,  and  now  Bachelor  of  Laws, 
and  Fellow  of  New  College,  went  from  me  to  Oxford,  to 
reside  there,  having  v/ell  and  faithfully  performed  his 
charge. 

18th.  This  day,  I  first  acquainted  his  Majesty  with  that 
incomparable  young  man,  Gibbon,t  whom  I  had  lately  met 

*  Henrietta,  tlie  King's  sister,  married  to  Philip,  Duke  of  Orleans,  was  then 
on  a  visit  here.  Madame  Quorouaille  came  over  in  her  train,  on  purpose  to 
entice  Charles  into  an  union  with  Louis  XIV.,  which  unhappily  succeeded  but 
too  well.  She  became  the  King's  mistress,  was  made  Duchess  of  Portsmouth, 
and  was  his  favoui'ite  till  his  death.     See  p.  C3. 

-t"  Usually  known  by  the  name  of  Gibbons  ;  celebrated  for  his  exquisite 
carving.  Ilis  principal  performance  is  said  to  be  at  Petworth.  The  follow- 
ing account  of  him  appears  in  Walpole's  Catalogue  of  Painters,  and  incidental 
notes  of  other  Artists,  collected  by  Geo.  Vertue  : — 

"  Gnnllng  Gibbon. — An  original  genius,  a  citizen  of  nature.  There  is  no 
instance  before  him  of  a  man  who  gave  to  wood  the  loose  and  airy  lightness 
of  flowers,  and  chained  together  the  various  productions  of  tlie  elements  with 
the  free  disorder  natural  to  each  species.  It  is  uncertain  whether  he  was 
born  in  Holland,  or  in  England  ;  it  is  said  that  he  lived  in  Bell-Savage 
Coui't,  Ludgate  Hill,  and  was  employed  by  Betterton,  in  decorating  the 
Theatre,  in  Dorset  Gardens.  He  lived  afterwards  at  Deptford,  in  the  same 
house  with  a  musician,  where  the  beneficent  and  curious  Mr.  Evelyn  found 
and  patronized  both.  This  gentleman.  Sir  P.  Lely,  and  Bap.  May,  who  was 
something  of  an  architect  himself,  recommended  Gibbon  to  Charles  II.,  who 
was  too  indolent  to  search  for  genius,  and  too  indiscriminate  in  his  boimty  to 
confine  it  to  merit  ;  but  was  always  pleased  when  it  was  brought  home  to  him. 
He  gave  the  artist  a  place  in  the  Board  of  Works,  and  employed  his  hand  on 
ornaments  of  most  taste  in  his  palaces,  particularly  at  Windsor.  Gibbon,  in 
gj-atitude,  made  a  present  of  his  own  bust  in  wood  to  Mr.  Evelyn,  who  kept  it 
at  his  house  in  Dover-street.     The  piece  tliat  had  struck  so  good  a  judge  was 


54  DIARY  OF  [deptford, 

•with  in  an  obscure  place  by  mere  accident,  as  I  was  walking 
near  a  poor  solitary  thatched  house,  in  a  field  in  our  parish, 
near  Sayes  Court.  I  found  him  shut  in ;  but  looking  in 
at  the  window,  I  perceived  him  carving  that  large  cartoon, 
or  crucifix,  of  Tintoretto,  a  copy  of  which  I  had  myself 
brought  from  Venice,  where  the  original  painting  remains. 
I  asked  if  I  might  enter ;  he  opened  the  door  civilly  to  me, 
and  I  saw  him  about  such  a  work  as  for  the  curiosity  of 
handling,  drawing,  and  studious  exactness,  I  never  had 
before  seen  in  all  my  travels.  I  questioned  him  why  he 
worked  in  such  an  obscure  and  lonesome  place ;  he  told 
me  it  was  that  he  might  apply  himself  to  his  profession 
without  interruption,  and  wondered  not  a  little  how  I 
found  him  out.  I  asked  if  he  was  unwilling  to  be  made 
known  to  some  great  man,  for  that  I  believed  it  might 
turn  to  his  profit ;  he  answered,  he  was  yet  but  a  beginner, 
but  would  not  be  sorry  to  sell  ofi"  that  piece  ;  on  demand- 
ing the  price,  he  said  £100.     In  good  earnest,  the  very 

a  large  carving,  in  wood,  of  St.  Stephen  stoned,  long  preserved  in  the  sculp- 
tor's own  house,  and  afterwards  purchased  and  placed  by  the  Duke  of  Chandos^ 
at  Cannons." 

Mr.  Walpole  is  not  quite  correct  in  this  account.  Gibbon,  when  young, 
was  found  by  Mr.  Evelyn  in  a  small  house  at  Deptford,  working  on  that 
famous  piece  from  Tintoret,  here  said  to  represent  the  stoning  of  St.  Stephen, 
and  which  seems,  from  Mr.  Evelj-n's  account,  to  liave  been  his  first  perform- 
ance of  consequence.  It  must  have  been  afterwards  that  he  lived  in  Belle- 
Sauvage  Yard,  and  that  he  worked  on  the  Theatre,  in  Dorset  Gardens.  Mr. 
Evelyn  does  not  mention  a  musician,  and  says  there  was  only  an  old  woman 
with  him  in  the  house  at  Deptford.  It  was  Mr.  EveljTi  who  recommended 
him  to  the  King,  to  Mr.  May  the  architect,  and  to  Sir  Christopher  Wren. 
Of  the  bust  nothing  is  known  at  Wotton. 

The  following  is  a  copy,  from  an  original  Letter,  addressed  by  Grinling 
Gibbon,  to  Mr.  Evelyn  : 

Honred 
S"'  I  wold  beg  the  faver  wen  you  see  S'  Joseff  Williams  [Williamson]  again 
you  wold  be  pleased  to  speack  to  him  that  hee  wold  get  me  to  Carve  his  Ladis 
sons  hous  my  Lord  Kildare  for  I  onderstand  it  will  [be]  verry  considerabell 
ai'  If  you  haen  Acquantans  wich  my  Lord  to  speack  to  him  his  sealf  and  I 
shall  for  Ev're  be  obliaged  to  You  I  wold  speack  to  S''  Josef  my  sealf  but  I 
knouw  it  would  do  better  from  you 

S'  youre  Most  umbell 
Sarvant 
Lond.  23  Mar.  1682.  G.  Gibbon. 

Mr.  Evelyn  wrote  to  Lord  Kildare,  recommending  Mr.  Gibbon ;  and  to- 
Mr.  Gibbon  with  the  letter. 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYxNT.  55 

frame  was  worth  the  money,  there  being  nothing  in  nature 
so  tender  and  delicate  as  the  flowers  and  festoons  about  it, 
and  yet  the  work  was  very  strong ;  in  the  piece  was  more 
than  one  hundred  figures  of  men,  &c.  I  found  he  was 
hkewise  musical,  and  very  civil,  sober,  and  discreet]  in  his 
discourse.  There  was  only  an  old  woman  in  the  house.  So, 
desiring  leave  to  visit  him  sometimes,  I  went  away. 

Of  this  young  artist,  together  with  my  manner  of  finding 
him  out,  I  acquainted  the  King,  and  begged  that  he  would 
give  me  leave  to  bring  him  and  his  work  to  Whitehall,  for 
that  I  would  adventure  my  reputation  Avith  his  Majesty 
that  he  had  never  seen  anything  approach  it,  and  that  he 
would  be  exceedingly  pleased,  and  employ  him.  The 
King  said  he  would  himself  go  see  him.  This  was  the  first 
notice  his  Majesty  ever  had  of  Mr.  Gibbon. 

20th.  The  King  came  to  me  in  the  Queen's  withdrawing- 
room  from  the  circle  of  ladies,  to  talk  with  me  as  to  what 
advance  I  had  made  in  the  Dutch  History.  I  dined  with 
the  Treasurer,  and  afterv/ards  we  went  to  the  Secretary's 
Ofiice,  where  we  conferred  about  divers  particulars. 

21st.  I  was  directed  to  go  to  Sir  George  Downing,  who 
having  been  a  public  minister  in  Holland,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  war,  was  to  give  me  light  in  some  material  passages. 

This  year  the  weather  was  so  wet,  stormy,  and  unsea- 
sonable, as  had  not  been  known  in  many  years. 

9th  February.  I  saw  the  great  ball  danced  by  the  Queen 
and  distinguished  ladies  at  Whitehall  Theatre.  Next  day, 
was  acted  there  the  famous  play,  called  "The  Siege  of 
Granada,"  *  two  days  acted  successively ;  there  were 
indeed  very  glorious  scenes  and  perspectives,  the  work  of 
Mr.  Streeter,  who  well  understands  it. 

19th.  This  day  dined  with  me  Mr.  Surveyor,  Dr.  Chris- 
topher Wren,  and  Mr.  Pepys,  Clerk  of  the  Acts,  two 
extraordinary,  ingenious,  and  knomng  persons,  and  other 
friends.  I  carried  them  to  see  the  piece  of  carving f  which 
I  had  recommended  to  tlie  King. 

25th.  Came  to  visit  me  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners 
of  Scotland  for  the  Union. 

28th.  The  Treasurer  acquainted  me  that  his  INIajesty 
was  graciously  pleased  to  nominate  me  one  of  the  Council 

*  "  The  Conquest  of  Granada,"  by  Dryden.  t  See  p.  54. 


56  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

of  Foreign  Plantations,  and  give  me  a  salary  of  £500  per 
annum,  to  encourage  me. 

29tli.  I  went  to  thank  the  Treasurer,  who  was  my  great 
friend,  and  loved  me ;  I  dined  with  him  and  much  com- 
pany, and  went  thence  to  my  Lord  Arlington,  Secretary 
of  State,  in  whose  favour  I  likewise  was  upon  many  occa- 
sions, though  I  cultivated  neither  of  their  friendships  by 
any  mean  submissions.  I  kissed  his  Majesty^s  hand,  on 
his  making  me  one  of  that  new-established  Council. 

1st  March.  I  caused  Mr.  Gibbon  to  bring  to  Whitehall 
his  excellent  piece  of  carving,  where  being  come,  I  adver- 
tised his  Majesty,  who  asked  me  where  it  was  ;  I  told  him 
in  Sir  Eichard  Browne's  (my  father-in-law)  chamber,  and 
that  if  it  pleased  his  Majesty  to  appoint  whither  it  should 
be  brought,  being  large  and  though  of  wood  heavy,  I 
would  take  care  for  it.  "  No,''  says  the  King,  "  show  me 
the  way,  I'll  go  to  Sir  Richard's  chamber,"  which  he 
immediately  did,  walking  along  the  entries  after  me ;  as 
far  as  the  ewry,  till  he  came  up  into  the  room,  where  I 
also  lay.  No  sooner  was  he  entered  and  cast  his  eye  on 
the  work,  but  he  was  astonished  at  the  curiosity  of  it ; 
and,  having  considered  it  a  long  time,  and  discoursed  with 
Mr.  Gibbon,  whom  I  brought  to.  kiss  his  hand,  he  com- 
manded it  should  be  immediately  carried  to  the  Queen's 
side  to  show  her.  It  was  carried  up  into  her  bed-chamber, 
where  she  and  the  King  looked  on  and  admired  it  again ; 
the  King,  being  called  away,  left  us  with  the  Queen, 
believing  she  would  have  bought  it,  it  being  a  crucifix ;  but, 
when  his  Majesty  was  gone,  a  French  peddling  woman, 
one  Madame  de  Boord,  who  used  to  bring  petticoats  and 
fans,  and  baubles,  out  of  France  to  the  ladies,  began  to 
find  fault  with  several  things  in  the  work,  which  she 
understood  no  more  than  an  ass,  or  a  monkey,  so  as  in  a 
kind  of  indignation,  I  caused  the  person  who  brought  it 
to  carry  it  back  to  the  chamber,  finding  the  Queen  so 
much  governed  by  an  ignorant  Frenchwoman,  and  this 
incomparable  artist  had  his  labour  only  for  his  pains, 
which  not  a  httle  displeased  me ;  and  he  was  fain  to  send 
it  down  to  his  cottage  again ;  he  not  long  after  sold  it  for 
£80,  though  well  worth  £100,  without  the  frame,  to  Sir 
George  Viner. 

His  Majesty's  Surveyor,  Mr.  Wren,  faithfully  promised 


1G71.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  57 

me  to  employ  liira.*  I  having  also  bespoke  liis  Majesty 
for  Ills  work  at  Windsor,  which  my  friend,  Mr.  May,  the 
architect  there,  Avas  going  to  alter,  and  repair  universally ; 
for,  on  the  next  day,  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  talking 
to  his  Majesty  about  it,  in  the  lobby  next  the  Queen's 
side,  where  I  presented  him  with  some  sheets  of  my  His- 
tory. I  thence  walked  with  him  through  St.  Jameses 
Park  to  the  garden,  where  I  both  saw  and  heard  a  very 

familiar  discourse  between and  Mrs.  Nelly,  f  as 

they  called  an  impudent  comedian,  she  looking  out  of  her 

garden  on  a  terrace  at  the  top  of  the  wall,  and 

standing  on  the  green  walk  under  it.  I  was  heartily  sorry 
at  this  scene.  Thence,  the  King  walked  to  the  Duchess 
of  Cleveland,  another  lady  of  pleasure,  and  curse  of  our 
nation. 

5th.  I  dined  at  Greenwich,  to  take  leave  of  Sir  Thomas 
Linch,  going  Governor  of  Jamaica. 

10th.  To  London,  about  passing  my  patent  as  one  of  the 
standing  Council  for  Plantations,  a  considerable  honour, 
the  others  in  the  Council  being  chiefly  noblemen,  and 
officers  of  state. 

End  April.  To  Sir  Thomas  Clifford,  the  Treasurer,  to 
condole  Avith  him  on  the  loss  of  his  eldest  son,  who  died 
at  Florence. 

2nd  May.  The  Prench  King,  being  noAv  with  a  great 
army  of  28,000  men  about  Dunkirk,  divers  of  the  grandees 
of  that  Court,  and  a  A'ast  number  of  gentlemen  and  cadets, 
in  fantastical  habits,  came  flocking  over  to  see  our  Court, 
and  compliment  his  Majesty.  I  was  present,  Avhen  they 
first  Avere  conducted  into  the  Queen^s  withdraAving-room, 
where  saluted  their  Majesties  the  Dukes  of  Guise,  Longue- 
ville,  and  many  others  of  the  first  rank. 

10th.  Dined  at  Mr.  Treasurer's,  in  company  with  Mon- 
sieur De  Grammont  and  several  Prench  noblemen,  and 
one  Blood,  that  impudent  bold  fellow  who  had  not  long 
before  attempted  to  steal  the  imperial  croAvn  itself  out  of 
the  Tower,  pretending  only  curiosity  of  seeing  the  regalia 
there,  Avhcn  stabbing  the  keeper,  though  not  mortally,  he 

*  The  carviug  in  the  Choir,  &c.,  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  was  executed  by 
Gibbon. 

-t*  Nell  Gwynne  :  there  can  be  no  doubt  with  what  name  to  fill  up  these 
blanks. 


58  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

boldly  went  away  with  it  through  all  the  guards,  taken 
only  by  the  accident  of  his  horse  falling  down.  How  he 
came  to  be  pardoned,  and  even  received  into  favour,  not 
only  after  this,  but  several  other  exploits  almost  as  daring 
both  in  Ireland  and  here,  I  could  never  come  to  under- 
stand. Some  believed  he  became  a  spy  of  several  parties, 
being  well  with  the  Sectaries  and  Enthusiasts,  and  did  his 
Majesty  services  that  way,  which  none  alive  could  do  so 
well  as  he;  but  it  was  certainly  the  boldest  attempt,  so 
the  only  treason  of  this  sort  that  was  ever  pardoned.  This 
man  had  not  only  a  daring  but  a  villanous  unmerciful 
look,  a  false  countenance,  but  very  well-spoken,  and 
dangerously  insinuating. 

11th.  I  went  to  Eltham,  to  sit  as  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners about  the  Subsidy  now  given  by  Parliament  to  his 
Majesty. 

17th.  Dined  at  Mr.  Treasurer's  [Sir  Thomas  Clifford] 
with  the  Earl  of  Arlington,  Carlingford,  Lord  Arundel  of 
Wardour,  Lord  Almoner  to  the  Queen,  a  French  Count, 
and  two  abbots,  with  several  more  of  French  nobility ;  and 
now  by  something  I  had  lately  observed  of  Mr.  Treasurer's 
conversation  on  occasion,  I  suspected  him  a  little  warping 
to  Rome. 

25th.  I  dined  at  a  feast  made  for  me  and  my  wife  by 
the  Trinity  Company,  for  our  passing  a  fine  of  the  land 
which  Sir  R.  Browne,  my  wife's  father,  freely  gave  to  found 
and  build  their  College,  or  Alms-houses  on,  at  Deptford, 
it  being  my  wife's,  after  her  father's  decease.  It  was  a 
good  and  charitable  work  and  gift,  but  would  have  been 
better  bestowed  on  the  poor  of  that  parish,  than  on  the 
seamen's  widows,  the  Trinity  Company  being  very  rich, 
and  the  rest  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  exceedingly  indigent. 

26th.  The  Earl  of  Bristol's  house,  in  Queen  Street 
[Lincoln's  Inn  Fields],  Avas  taken  for  the  Commissioners 
of  Trade  and  Plantations,  and  furnished  with  rich  hangings 
of  the  King's.  It  consisted  of  seven  rooms  on  a  floor, 
with  a  long  gallery,  gardens,  &c.  This  day  we  met  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  Earl  of  Lauderdale,  Lord  Culpeper, 
Sir  George  Carteret,  Vice-Chamberlain,  and  myself,  had 
the  oaths  given  us  by  the  Earl  of  Sandwich,  our  President. 
It  was,  to  advise  and  counsel  his  Majesty,  to  the  best  of 
our  abilities,  for  the  well-governing  of  his  Foreign  Planta- 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  59 

tions,  Sec,  the  form  very  little  differing  from  that  given  to 
the  Privy  Council.  We  then  took  om'  places  at  the  Board 
in  the  Council-Chamber^  a  very  large  room  furnished  with 
atlasses^  maps,  charts,  globes,  &c.  Then  came  the  Lord 
Keeper,  Sir  Orlando  Bridgeman,  Earl  of  Arlington,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  Lord  Ashley^Mr.  Treasurer,  Sir  John  Trevor, 
the  other  Secretary,  Sir  John  Duncomb,  Lord  Allingtcn, 
Mr.  Grey,  son  to  the  Lord  Grey,  Mr.  Henry  Broncher, 
Sir  Humphry  "Winch,  Sir  John  Finch,  Mr.  Waller,  and 
Colonel  Titus,  of  the  Bedchamber,  with  Mr.  Slingsby, 
Secretary  to  the  Council,  and  two  Clerks  of  the  Council, 
who  had  all  been  sworn  some  days  before.  Being  all  set, 
our  Patent  was  read,  and  then  the  additional  Patent,  in 
which  was  recited  this  new  establishment;  then,  was 
delivered  to  each  a  copy  of  the  Patent  and  of  instructions : 
after  which,  atc  proceeded  to  business. 

The  first  thing  we  did  was,  to  settle  the  form  of  a  circu- 
lar letter  to  the  Governors  of  all  his  ]Majesty^s  Plantations 
and  Territories  in  the  West  Indies  and  Islands  thereof,  to 
give  them  notice  to  whom  they  should  apply  themselves 
on  all  occasions,  and  to  render  us  an  account  of  their 
present  state  and  government ;  but,  what  we  most  insisted 
on  was,  to  know  the  condition  of  New  England,  which 
appearing  to  be  very  independent  as  to  their  regard  to 
Old  England,  or  his  Majesty,  rich  and  strong  as  they  now 
were,  there  were  great  debates  in  what  style  to  write  to 
them ;  for  the  condition  of  that  Colony  was  such,  that  they 
were  able  to  contest  with  all  other  Plantations  about  them, 
and  there  was  fear  of  their  breaking  from  all  dependence 
on  this  nation;  his  Majesty,  therefore,  commended  this 
affair  more  expressly.  We,  therefore,  thought  fit,  in  the 
first  place,  to  acquaint  ourselves  as  well  as  we  could  of  the 
state  of  that  place,  by  some  whom  we  heard  of  that  were 
newly  come  from  thence,  and  to  be  informed  of  their 
present  posture  and  condition ;  some  of  our  Council  were 
for  sending  them  a  menacing  letter,  which  those  who  better 
understood  the  peevish  and  touchy  humour  of  that  Colony, 
were  utterly  against. 

A  letter  was  then  read  from  Sir  Thomas  Modiford, 
Governor  of  Jamaica ;  and  then  the  Council  brake  up. 

Having  brought  an  action  against  one  Cocke,  for  money 
which  he  had  received  for  me,  it  had  been  referred  to  an 


60  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

arbitration  by  tlie  recommendatiou  of  that  excellent  good 
man,  the  Chief- Justice  Hales;  but,  this  not  succeeding, 
I  went  to  advise  with  that  famous  lawyer  Mr.  Jones,  of 
Gray's  Inn,  and,  27th  May,  had  a  trial  before  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Hales ;  and,  after  the  lawyers  had  wrangled  suffi- 
ciently, it  was  referred  to  a  new  arbitration.  This  was 
the  very  first  suit  at  law  that  ever  I  had  with  any  creature, 
and  oh,  that  it  might  be  the  last ! 

1st  June.  An  installation  at  Windsor. 

6th.  I  went  to  Council,  where  was  produced  a  most 
exact  and  ample  information  of  the  state  of  Jamaica,  and 
of  the  best  expedients  as  to  New  England,  on  which  there 
was  a  long  debate ;  but  at  length  it  was  concluded  that, 
if  any,  it  should  be  only  a  conciliating  paper  at  first,  or 
civil  letter,  till  we  had  better  information  of  the  present 
face  of  things,  since  we  understood  they  were  a  people 
almost  upon  the  very  brink  of  renouncing  any  dependence 
on  the  Crown. 

19th.  To  a  splendid  dinner  at  the  great  room  in  Dept- 
ford  Trinity  House,  Sir  Thomas  Allen  chosen  Master,  and 
succeeding  the  Earl  of  Craven. 

20th.  To  carry  Colonel  Middleton  to  "Whitehall,  to  my 
Lord  Sandwich,  our  President,  for  some  information  which 
he  was  able  to  give  of  the  state  of  the  Colony  in  New 
England. 

21st.  To  Council  again,  when  one  Colonel  Cartwright, 
a  Nottinghamshire  man,  (formerly  in  commission  with 
Colonel  Nicholls)  gave  us  a  considerable  relation  of  that 
country ;  on  which  the  Council  concluded  that  in  the  first 
place  a  letter  of  amnesty  should  be  despatched. 

24th.  Constantino  Huygens,  Seignor  of  Zuylichem,  that 
excellent  learned  man,  poet,  and  musician,  now  near  eighty 
yeai's  of  age,  a  vigorous  brisk  man,*  came  to  take  leave 
of  me  before  his  return  into  Holland  with  the  Prince, 
whose  Secretary  he  was. 

26th.  To  Council,  where  Lord  Arhngton  acquainted  us, 
that  it  was  his  Majesty's  proposal  we  should,  every  one 
of  us,  contribute  £20  toAvards  building  a  Council-chamber 
and  conveniences  somewhere  in  Whitehall,  that  his  Majesty 
might  come  and  sit  amongst  us,  and  hear  our  debates ;  the 

•  He  died  in  1 687,  aged  90  years  and  six  months. 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  61 

money  we  laid  out  to  be  reimbursed  out  of  the  contingent 
monies  already  set  apart  for  us,  viz.  £1000  yearly.  To 
this,  we  unanimously  consented.  There  came  an  uncertain 
bruit  from  Barbadoes  of  some  disorder  there.  On  my 
return  home,  I  stepped  in  at  the  theatre  to  see  the  new 
machines  for  the  intended  scenes,  which  were  indeed  very 
costly  and  magnificent. 

29th.  To  Council,  where  Avere  letters  from  Sir  Thomas 
Modiford,  of  the  expedition  and  exploit  of  Colonel  Mor- 
gan,* and  others  of  Jamaica,  on  the  Spanish  Continent  at 
Panama. 

4th  July.  To  Council,  where  we  drew  up  and  agreed  to 
a  letter  to  be  sent  to  New  England,  and  made  some  pro- 
posal to  Mr.  Grorges,  for  his  interest  in  a  plantation  there. 
24th.  To  Council.  Mr.  Surveyor  brought  us  a  plot  for 
the  building  of  our  Council- chamber,  to  be  erected  at  the 
end  of  the  Privy-garden,  in  Whitehall. 

3rd  August.  A  full  appearance  at  the  Council.  The 
matter  in  debate  was,  whether  we  should  send  a  Deputy 
to  New  England,  requiring  them  of  the  Massachusets  to 
restore  such  to  their  limits  and  respective  possessions,  as 
had  petitioned  the  Council ;  this  to  be  the  open  com- 
mission only;  but,  in  truth,  with  secret  instructions  to 
inform  us  of  the  condition  of  those  Colonies,  and  whether 
they  were  of  such  power,  as  to  be  able  to  resist  his  Majesty, 
and  declare  for  themselves  as  independent  of  the  Crown, 
which  we  were  told,  and  which  of  late  years  made  them 
refractory.  Colonel  Middleton,  being  called  in,  assured 
us  they  might  be  cm^bed  by  a  few  of  his  Majesty's  first-rate 
frigates,  to  spoil  their  trade  with  the  islands ;  but,  though 
my  Lord  President  was  not  satisfied,  the  rest  were,  and 
we  did  resolve  to  advise  his  Majesty  to  send  Commis- 
sioners with  a  formal  commission  for  adjusting  boun- 
daries, &c.,  with  some  other  instructions. 

19th.  To  Council.  The  letters  of  Sir  Thomas  Modiford 
were  read,  giving  relation  of  the  exploit  at  Panama, 
which  was  very  brave  ;  they  took,  burnt  and  pillaged  the 
town  of  vast  treasures,  but  the  best  of  the  booty  had  been 
shipped  off,  and  lay  at  anchor  in  the  South  Sea,  so  that, 
after  our  men  had  ranged  the  country  sixty  miles  about, 

*  See  more  of  hira  afterwards. 


g2  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

they  went  back  to  Nombre  do  Dios,  and  embarked  for 
Jamaica.  Such  an  action  had  not  been  done  since  the 
famous  Drake. 

I  dined  at  the  Hambiirgh  Resident's,  and,  after  dinner, 
■went  to  the  christening  of  Sir  Samuel  Tuke's  son,  Charles, 
at  Somerset-House,  by  a  Popish  priest,  and  many  odd 
ceremonies.  The  godfathers  were  the  King,  and  Lord 
Arundel  of  Wardour,  and  godmother,  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon. 

29th.  To  London,  with  sr>me  more  papers  of  my  pro- 
gress in  the  Dutch  War,  delivered  to  the  Treasurer. 

September  1st.  Dined  with  the  Treasurer,  in  company 
with  my  Lord  Arlington,  Halifax,  and  Sir  Thomas  Strick- 
land ;  and,  next  day,  went  home,  being  the  anniversary  of 
the  late  dreadful  fire  of  London. 

13th.  This  night  fell  a  dreadful  tempest. 

15th.  In  the  afternoon  at  Council,  where  letters  were 
read  from  Sir  Charles  Wheeler,  concerning  his  resigning 
his  government  of  St  Christopher's. 

21st.  I  dined  in  the  City,  at  the  fraternity  feast  in  Iron- 
mongers' Hall,*  where  the  four  stewards  chose  their  suc- 
cessors for  the  next  year,  with  a  solemn  procession,  gar- 
lands about  their  heads,  and  music  plajdng  before  them ; 
so,  coming  up  to  the  upper  tables  where  the  gentlemen 
sat,  they  drank  to  the  new  stewards ;  and  so  we  parted. 

22nd.  I  dined  at  the  Treasurer's,  where  I  had  discourse 
with  Sir  Henry  Jones  (now  come  over  to  raise  a  regiment 
of  horse),  concerning  the  French  conquests  in  Lorraine; 
he  told  me  the  King  sold  all  things  to  the  soldiers,  even 
to  a  handful  of  hay. 

Lord  Sunderland  was  now  nominated  Ambassador  to 
Spain. 

After  dinner,  the  Treasurer  carried  me  to  Lincoln's  Inn, 
to  one  of  the  Parliament  Clerks,  to  obtain  of  him,  that 
I  might  carry  home  and  peruse,  some  of  the  Journals, 
which  were  accordingly  delivered  to  me  to  examine  about 
the  late  Dutch  war.  Returning  home,  I  went  on  shore 
to  see  the  Custom-House,  now  newly  rebuilt  since  the 
dreadful  conflagration.f 

•  One  of  the  grand  court-days  of  that  opulent  Company,  which  is  one  of 
twelve. 

t  This  new  edifice  was  again  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  month  of  February, 
1814. 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  63 

9tli  and  10th  October.  I  went,  after  evening-service,  to 
London,  in  order  to  a  journey  of  refreshment  with  Mr. 
Treasurer,  to  Newmarket,  where  the  King  then  was,  in 
his  coach  with  six  brave  horses,  which  we  changed  thrice, 
first,  at  Bishop-Stortford,  and  last,  at  Chesterford ;  so,  by- 
night,  we  got  to  jSTewmarket,  Avhere  Mr.  Henry  Jermain, 
(nephew  to  the  Earl  of  St.  Alban^s)  lodged  me  very  civilly. 
We  proceeded  immediately  to  Court,  the  King  and  all  the 
English  gallants  being  there  at  their  autumnal  sports. 
Supped  at  the  Lord  Chamberlain's;  and,  the  next  day, 
after  dinner,  I  was  on  the  heath,  where  I  saw  the  great 
match  run  between  Woodcock  and  Flatfoot,  belonging  to 
the  King,  and  to  Mr.  Eliot  of  the  Bedchamber,  many 
thousands  being  spectators ;  a  more  signal  race  had  not 
been  run  for  many  years. 

This  over,  I  went  that  night  with  Mr.  Treasurer  to 
Euston,  a  palace  of  Lord  Arlington's,  where  we  found 
Monsieur  Colbert,  (the  French  Ambassador),  and  the 
famous  new  French  Maid  of  Honour,  Mademoiselle  Que- 
rouaille,*  now  coming  to  be  in  great  favour  with  the  King. 
Here  was  also  the  Countess  of  Sunderland,  and  several 
lords  and  ladies,  who  lodged  in  the  house. 

During  my  stay  here  with  Lord  Arlington,  near  a  fort- 
night, his  Majesty  came  almost  every  second  day  •nith  the 
Duke,  Avho  commonly  returned  to  Newmarket,  but  the 
King  often  lay  here,  during  which  time  I  had  twice  the 
honour  to  sit  at  dinner  with  him,  with  all  freedom.     It 

was  universally  reported  that  the  fair  lady was  bedded 

one  of  these  nights,  and  the  stocking  flung,  after  the 
manner  of  a  married  bride ;  I  acknowledge  she  was  for  the 
most  part  in  her  undress  all  day,  and  that  there  was  fond- 
ness and  toying  with  that  young  wanton;  nay,  it  was  said, 
I  was  at  the  former  ceremony ;  but  it  is  utterly  false ; 
I  neither  saw  nor  heard  of  any  such  thing  whilst  I  was 
there,  though  I  had  been  in  her  chamber,  and  all  over 
that  apartment  late  enough,  and  was  myself  observing  all 
passages  with  much  curiosity.  However,  it  was  Avith  con- 
fidence believed  she  was  first  made  a  Miss,  as  they  call 
these  unhappy  creatures,  Avith  solemnity  at  this  time. 

On  Sunday,  a  young  Cambridge  Divine  preached  an 

*  See  p.  53. 


64  DIARY  OF  [londok, 

excellent  sermon  in  the  chapel,  the  King  and  the  Duke  of 
York  being  present. 

16th.  Came  all  the  great  men  from  Newmai'ket,  and 
other  parts  both  of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk,  to  make  their 
court,  the  whole  house  filled  from  one  end  to  the  other 
with  lords,  ladies,  and  gallants;  there  was  such  a  furnished 
table,  as  I  had  seldom  seen,  nor  anything  more  splendid 
and  free,  so  that  for  fifteen  days  there  were  entertained  at 
least  200  people,  and  half  as  many  horses,  besides  servants 
and  guards,  at  infinite  expeiuse. 

In  the  morning,  we  went  hunting  and  hawking ;  in  the 
afternoon,  till  almost  morning,  to  cards  and  dice,  yet 
I  must  say  without  noise,  swearing,  quarrel,  or  confusion 
of  any  sort.  I,  who  was  no  gamester,  had  often  discourse 
with  the  French  Ambassador,  Colbert,  and  went  sometimes 
abroad  on  horseback  with  the  ladies  to  take  the  air,  and 
now  and  then  to  hunting;  thus  idly  passing  the  time, 
but  not  Avithout  more  often  recess  to  my  pretty  apartment, 
where  I  was  quite  out  of  all  this  hurry,  and  had  leisure 
when  I  would,  to  converse  with  books,  for  there  is  no 
man  more  hospitably  easy  to  be  withal  than  my  Lord 
Arlington,  of  whose  particular  friendship  and  kindness 
I  had  ever  a  more  than  ordinary  share.  His  house  is  a 
very  noble  pile,  consisting  of  four  pavilions  after  the 
French,  beside  a  body  of  a  large  hovise,  and,  though  not 
built  altogether,  but  formed  of  additions  to  an  old  house 
(purchased  by  his  Lordship  of  one  Sir  T.  Rookwood)  yet 
with  a  vast  expense  made  not  only  capable  and  roomsome, 
but  very  magnificent  and  commodious,  as  Avell  within  as 
without,  nor  less  splendidly  furnished.  The  staircase  is 
very  elegant,  the  garden  handsome,  the  canal  beautiful, 
but  the  soil  dry,  barren,  and  miserably  sandy,  which  flies 
in  drifts  as  the  wind  sits.  Here  my  Lord  was  pleased  to 
advise  with  me  about  ordering  his  plantations  of  firs,  elms, 
limes,  &c.,  up  his  park,  and  in  all  other  places  and 
avenues.  I  persuaded  him  to  bring  his  park  so  near  as  to 
comprehend  his  house  within  it ;  which  he  resolved  upon, 
it  being  now  near  a  mile  to  it.  The  water  furnishing  the 
fountains,  is  raised  by  a  pretty  engine,  or  very  slight  plain 
wheels,  which  likewise  serve  to  grind  his  corn,  from  a 
small  cascade  of  the  canal,  the  invention  of  Sir  Samuel 
Morland.     In  my  Lord's  house,  and  especially  above  the 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  65 

staircase,  in  the  great  hall  and  some  of  the  chambers  and 
rooms  of  state,  are  paintings  in  fresco  by  Signor  Verrio, 
being  the  first  work  which  he  did  in  England. 

17th.  My  Lord  Henry  Howard,  coming  this  night  to 
visit  my  Lord  Chamberlain,  and  staying  a  day,  would 
needs  have  me  go  with  him  to  Norwich,  promising  to 
convey  me  back,  after  a  day  or  two;  this,  as  I  could  not 
refuse,  I  was  not  hard  to  be  persuaded  to,  having  a  desire 
to  see  that  famous  scholar  and  physician.  Dr.  T.  Browne, 
author  of  the  "  Religio  Medici,"  and  "  Vulgar  Errors," 
now  lately  knighted.  Thither,  then,  went  my  Lord,  and 
I  alone  in  his  flying  chariot  with  six  horses ;  and,  by  the 
way,  discoursing  with  me  of  several  of  his  concerns,  he 
acquainted  me  of  his  going  to  marry  his  eldest  son  to  one 
of  the  King's  natural  daughters,  by  the  Duchess  of  Cleve- 
land j  by  which  he  reckoned  he  should  come  into  mighty 
favour.     He  also  told  me  that,  though  he  kept  that  idle 

creature  Mrs.  B ,*  and  would  leave  £200  a  year  to  the 

son  he  had  by  her,  he  would  never  marry  her,  and  that 
the  King  himself  had  cautioned  him  against  it.  All  the 
world  knows  how  he  kept  this  promise,  and  I  was  sorry  at 
heart  to  hear  what  now  he  confessed  to  me ;  and  that  a 
person  and  a  family  which  I  so  much  honoured  for  the 
sake  of  that  noble  and  illustrious  friend  of  mine,  his  grand- 
father, should  dishonour  and  pollute  them  both  with  those 
base  and  vicious  courses  he  of  late  had  taken  since  the 
death  of  Sir  Samuel  Tuke,  and  that  of  his  own  virtuous 
lady  (my  Lady  Anne  Somerset,  sister  to  the  Marquis) ; 
who,  whilst  they  lived,  preserved  this  gentleman  by  their 
example  and  advice  from  those  many  extravagances  that 
impaired  both  his  fortune  and  reputation. 

Being  come  to  the  Ducal  Palace,  my  Lord  made  very 
much  of  me ;  but  I  had  little  rest,  so  exceedingly  desirous 
he  was  to  show  me  the  contrivance  he  had  made  for  the 
entertainment  of  their  jNIajesties,  and  the  whole  Court  not 
long  before,  and  which,  though  much  of  it  was  but  tempo- 
rary, apparently  framed  of  boards  only,  was  yet  standing. 
As  to  the  palace,  it  is  an  old  wretched  building,  and  that 
part  of  it  newly  built  of  brick,  is  very  ill  understood ;  so 
as  I  was  of  opinion  it  had  been   much   better  to  have 

*  Bickerton,  see  afterwards,  under  January  and  August,  1678. 
VOL.  II.  F 


QQ  DIARY  OF  [NORWICH, 

demolished  all,  and  set  it  up  in  a  better  place,  than  to 
proceed  any  farther ;  for  it  stands  in  the  very  market-place, 
and,  though  near  a  river,  yet  a  very  narrow  muddy  one, 
and  without  any  extent. 

Next  morning,  I  went  to  see  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  (with 
whom  I  had  some  time  corresponded  by  letter,  though  I 
had  never  seen  him  before) ;  his  whole  house  and  garden 
being  a  paradise  and  cabinet  of  rarities,  and  that  of  the  best 
collection,  especially  medals,  books,  plants,  and  natural 
things.  Amongst  other  curiosities.  Sir  Thomas  had  a 
collection  of  the  eggs  of  all  the  fowl  and  birds  he  could 
procure,  that  country  (especially  the  promontory  of  Norfolk) 
being  frequented,  as  he  said,  by  several  kinds  which  seldom 
or  never  go  farther  into  the  land,  as  cranes,  storks,  eagles, 
and  variety  of  water-fowl.  He  led  me  to  see  all  the 
remarkable  places  of  this  ancient  city,  being  one  of  the 
largest,  and  certainly,  after  London,  one  of  the  noblest  of 
England,  for  its  venerable  cathedral,  number  of  stately 
churches,  cleanness  of  the  streets,  and  buildings  of  flint  so 
exquisitely  headed  and  squared,  as  I  was  much  astonished 
at  j  but  he  told  me  they  had  lost  the  art  of  squaring  the 
flints,  in  which  they  so  much  excelled,  and  of  which  the 
churches,  best  houses,  and  walls,  are  built.  The  Castle  is 
an  antique  extent  of  ground,  which  now  they  call  Marsfield, 
and  would  have  been  a  fitting  area  to  have  placed  the 
Ducal  palace  in.  The  suburbs  are  large,  the  prospects 
sweet,  with  other  amenities, not  omitting  the  flower-gardens, 
in  which  all  the  inhabitants  excel.  The  fabric  of  stuff's 
brings  a  vast  trade  to  this  populous  town. 

Being  returned  to  my  Lord's  who  had  been  with  me  all 
this  morning,  he  advised  with  me  concerning  a  plot  to 
rebuild  his  house,  having  already,  as  he  said,  erected  a  front 
next  the  street,  and  a  left  wing,  and  now  resolving  to  set 
up  another  wing  and  pavilion  next  the  garden,  and  to 
convert  the  bowHng-green  into  stables.  My  advice  was, 
to  desist  from  all,  and  to  meditate  wholly  on  rebuilding  a 
handsome  palace  at  Arundel  House,  in  the  Strand,  before 
he  proceeded  farther  here,  and  then  to  place  this  in  the 
Castle,  that  ground  belonging  to  his  Lordship. 

I  observed  that  most  of  the  churchyards  (though  some 
of  them  large  enough)  were  filled  up  with  earth,  or  rather 
the  congestion  of  dead  bodies  one  upon  another,  for  want 


1671.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  67 

of  earthy  even  to  the  very  top  of  the  walls^  and  some  above 
the  wallsj  so  as  the  churches  seemed  to  be  built  in  pits. 

18th.  I  returned  to  Euston^  in  Lord  Henry  Howard's 
coach^  leaving  him  at  Norwich^  in  company  with  a  very 
ingenious  gentleman,  Mr.  White,  whose  father  and  mother 
(daughter  to  the  late  Lord  Treasurer  Weston,  Earl  of 
Portland)  I  knew  at  Rome,  where  this  gentleman  was 
born,  and  where  his  parents  lived  and  died  with  much 
reputation,  during  their  banishment  in  our  civil  broils. 

21st.  Quitting  Euston,  I  lodged  this  night  at  Newmarket, 
where  I  found  the  jolly  blades  racing,  dancing,  feasting, 
and  revelling,  more  resembling  a  luxurious  and  abandoned 
rout,  than  a  Christian  Court.  The  Duke  of  Buckingham 
was  now  in  mighty  favour,  and  had  with  him  that  impudent 
woman,  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury,*  with  his  band  of 
fiddlers,  &c. 

Next  morning,  in  company  with  Sir  Bernard  Gascoyne, 
and  Lord  Hawley,  I  came  in  the  Treasurer's  coach  to 
Bishop-Stortford,  where  he  gave  us  a  noble  supper.  The 
following  day,  to  London,  and  so  home. 

14th  November.  To  Council,  where  Sir  Charles  Wheeler, 
late  Governor  of  the  Leeward  Islands,  having  been  com- 
plained of  for  many  indiscreet  managements,  it  was  resolved, 
on  scanning  many  of  the  particulars,  to  advise  his  Majesty 
to  remove  him,  and  consult  what  was  to  be  done,  to  prevent 
these  inconveniences  he  had  brought  things  to.  This 
business  staid  me  in  London  almost  a  week,  being  in 
Council,  or  Committee,  every  morning  till  the  25th. 

27th.  We  ordered  that  a  Proclamation  should  be  pre- 
sented to  his  Majesty  to  sign,  against  what  Sir  Charles 
Wheeler  had  done  in  St.  Christopher's,  since  the  war,  on 
the  articles  of  peace  at  Breda.  He  was  shortly  afterwards 
recalled. 

6th  December.  Came  to  visit  me  Sir  William  Haywood, 
a  great  pretender  to  English  antiquities. 

14th.  Went  to  seethe  Dukeof  Buckingham's  ridiculous 
farce  and  rhapsody,  called  "  The  Recital,"  t  buffooning  all 
plays,  yet  profane  enough. 

*  See  hereafter,  under  July,  1679. 
+  This  must  mean  his  play  of  "  The  Rehearsal." 
F  2 


63  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

23rd.  The  Councillors  of  the  Board  of  Trade  dined 
together  at  the  Cock,  in  Suffolk  Street. 

167 1-2.  1 2th  January.  His  Majesty  renewed  us  our  lease 
of  Sayes  Court  pastures  for  ninety-nine  years,  hut  ought, 
according  to  his  solemn  promise  *  (as  I  hope  he  will  still 
perform)  have  passed  them  to  us  in  fee-farm. 

23rd.  To  London,  in  order  to  Sir  Richard  Browne,  my 
father-in-law,  resigning  his  place  as  Clerk  of  the  Council 
to  Joseph  WilUamson,  Esq.,  who  was  admitted,  and  was 
knighted.  This  place  his  Majesty  had  promised  to  give 
me  many  years  before ;  but,  upon  consideration  of  the 
renewal  of  our  lease  and  other  reasons,  I  chose  to  part  with 
it  to  Sir  Joseph,  who  gave  us  and  the  rest  of  his  brother- 
clerks  a  handsome  supper  at  his  house ;  and,  after  supper,  a 
concert  of  music. 

3rd  February.  An  extraordinary  snow  :  part  of  the  week 
was  taken  up  in  consulting  about  the  commission  of 
prisoners  of  war,  and  instructions  to  our  officers,  in  order 
to  a  second  war  with  the  Hollanders,  his  Majesty  having 
made  choice  of  the  former  Commissioners,  and  myself 
amongst  them. 

11th.  In  the  afternoon,  that  famous  proselyte.  Monsieur 
Brevall,  preached  at  the  Abbey,  in  English,  extremely  well 
and  with  much  eloquence.  He  had  been  a  Capuchin,  but 
much  better  learned  than  most  of  that  Order. 

12th.  At  the  Council,  we  entered  on  inquiries  about 
improving  the  Plantations  by  silks,  galls,  flax,  senna,  &c., 
and  considered  how  nutmegs  and  cinnamon  might  be 
obtained,  and  brought  to  Jamaica,  that  soil  and  climate 
promising  success.  Dr.  Worsley  being  called  in,  spake 
many  considerable  things  to  encourage  it.  We  took  order 
to  send  to  the  Plantations,  that  none  of  their  ships  should 
adventure  homeward  single,  but  stay  for  company  and 
convoys.  We  also  deliberated  on  some  fit  person  to  go  as 
Commissioner  tq  inspect  their  actions  in  New  England, 
and,  from  time  to  time,  report  how  that  people  stood 
affected. — In  future,  to  meet  at  Whitehall. 

20th.  Dr.  Parr,  of  Cambei-well,  preached  a  most  pathetic 
funebral  discourse  and  paneg}'ric  at  the  interment  of  our 
late  pastor,Dr.  Breton,  (who  died  on  the  18th),  on  "  Happy 

•  The  King's  engagement,  under  his  hand,  is  now  at  Wotton. 


1672.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  gg 

is  tlie  servant  whom  when  his  Lord  cometh,"  &c.  This 
good  man,  among  other  expressions,  professed  that  he  had 
never  been  so  touched  and  concerned  at  any  loss  as  at  this, 
unless  at  that  of  King  Charles  our  Martyr,  and  Archbishop 
Usher,  whose  chaplain  he  had  been.  Dr.  Breton  had 
preached  on  the  28th  and  30tli  January  :  on  the  Friday, 
having  fasted  all  day,  making  his  provisionary  sermon  for 
the  Sunday  following,  he  went  well  to  bed ;  but  was  taken 
suddenly  ill,  and  expired  before  help  could  come  to  him. 

Never  had  a  parish  a  greater  loss,  not  only  as  he  was  an 
excellent  preacher,  and  fitted  for  our  great  and  vulgar  audi- 
tory, but  for  his  excellent  life  and  charity,  his  meekness  and 
obliging  nature,  industrious,  helpful,  and  full  of  good  works. 
He  left  near  £400  to  the  poor  in  his  will,  and  that  what 
children  of  his  should  die  in  their  minority,  their  portion 
should  be  so  employed.  I  lost  in  particular  a  special  friend, 
and  one  that  had  an  extraordinary  love  to  me  and  mine. 

25th.  To  London,  to  speak  with  the  Bishop,  and  Sir 
John  Cutler,  our  patron,  to  present  Mr.  Frampton  (after- 
wards Bishop  of  Gloucester). 

1st  March.  A  full  Council  of  Plantations,  on  the  danger 
of  the  Leeward  Islands,  threatened  by  the  French,  who 
had  taken  some  of  our  ships,  and  began  to  interrupt  our 
trade.  Also  in  debate,  whether  the  new  Governor  of  St. 
Christopher's  should  be  subordinate  to  the  Governor  of 
Barbadoes.     The  debate  was  serious  and  long. 

12th.  Now  was  the  first  blow  given  by  us  to  the  Dutch 
convoy  of  the  Smyrna  fleet,  by  Sir  Robert  Holmes  and 
Lord  Ossory,  in  which  we  received  little  save  blows,  and  a 
worthy  reproach  for  attacking  our  neighbours  ^ere  any 
war  was  proclaimed,  and  then  pretending  the  occasion  to 
be,  that  some  time  before,  the  Merlin  yacht  chancing  to 
sail  through  the  whole  Dutch  fleet,  their  Admiral  did  not 
strike  to  that  trifling  vessel.  Surely,  this  was  a  quarrel 
slenderly  grounded,  and  not  becoming  Christian  neigh- 
bours. We  are  like  to  thrive,  accordingly.  Lord  Ossory 
several  times  deplored  to  me  his  being  engaged  in  it ;  he 
had  more  justice  and  honour  than  in  the  least  to  approve 
of  it,  though  he  had  been  over-persuaded  to  the  expedition. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  we  should  have  surprised  this 
exceeding  rich  fleet,  had  not  the  avarice  and  ambition  of 
Holmes  and  Spragge  separated  themselves,  and  wilfully 


70  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

divided  our  fleet,  on  presumption  that  either  of  them  was 
strong  enough  to  deal  with  the  Dutch  convoy  without 
joining  and  mutual  help ;  but  they  so  warmly  plied  our 
divided  fleets,  that  whilst  in  conflict  the  merchants  sailed 
away,  and  got  safe  into  Holland. 

A  few  days  before  this,  the  Treasurer  of  the  Household, 
Sir  Thomas  Clifford,*  hinted  to  me,  as  a  confidant,  that 
his  Majesty  would  shut  up  the  Exchequer  (and,  accordingly, 
his  Majesty  made  use  of  infinite  treasure  there,  to  prepare 
for  an  intended  rupture) ',  but,  says  he,  it  will  soon  be  open 
again,  and  everybody  satisfied;  for  this  bold  man,  who 
had  been  the  sole  adviser  of  the  King,  to  invade  that 
sacred  stock  (though  some  pretend  it  was  Lord  Ashley^s 
counsel,  then  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer),  was  so  over 
confident  of  the  success  of  this  unworthy  design  against  the 
Smyrna  merchants,  as  to  put  his  Majesty  on  an  action 
which  not  only  lost  the  hearts  of  his  subjects,  and  ruined 
many  widows  and  orphans,  whose  stocks  were  lent  him, 

*  The  following  is  taken  from  King  James's  Life  by  himself :  "  On  the 
King's  intention  to  have  a  Lord  Treasurer,  (1672)  instead  of  putting  the 
Seals  into  Commission,  the  Duke  of  York  desired  Lord  Arlington  to  join  with 
Iiim  in  proposing  to  the  King  the  Lord  Clifford  for  that  considerable  employ- 
ment ;  but  he  found  Lord  Arlington  very  cold  in  it,  and  endeavouring  to 
persuade  the  Duke,  that  the  King  did  not  intend  the  alteration  ;  and,  the  next 
day,  he  employed  a  friend  to  press  the  Duke  to  endeavour  to  get  Sir  Robert 
Car  to  be  Commissioner,  in  tlie  room  of  Lord  Shaftesbury  (then  appointed 
Lord  Chancellor). 

"  Some  few  days  after,  the  Duke  proposed  to  his  Majesty  the  Lord  Clifford 
as  Treasurer,  which  was  well  received,  and  he  said  he  would  do  it,  as  thinking 
nobody  fitter  ;  he  also  told  the  Duke  that  Lord  Arlington  had  a  mind  to  have 
that  Staff :  but  he  answered  him  that  he  had  too  much  kindness  for  him  to 
let  him  have  it,  for  he  knew  he  was  not  fit  for  the  office  ;  and  should  he  give 
it  him,  it  would  be  his  ruin,  A  httle  after,  the  King  told  tlie  Duke  that  he 
found  Lord  ^irlington  was  angry  with  Lord  Chfford,  on  knowing  that  he  was 
to  have  the  place  ;  and  desired  the  Duke  to  persuade  Lord  ArUngton  not  to 
let  tlie  world  see  his  discontent,  and  to  endeavour  to  make  them  continue 
friends.  They  promised  the  Duke  to  live  friendly  together;  but  Lord 
Arlmgton  kept  not  his  word,  and  was  ever  after  cold,if  not  worse,  towards  him. 

"Christmas  coming  on,  tlie  King  spake  to  Lord  Clifford  and  Lord  Arundel 
of  Wardour,  to  persuade  the  Duke  to  receive  the  Sacrament  with  him  at  tliat 
time  (which  the  Duke  had  forborne  for  several  months  before).  They  ui-ged 
the  King  not  to  press  it,  and  he  then  seemed  satisfied  ;  but,  the  day  before 
Christmas  Eve,  the  King  spoke  agaui  to  Lord  Clifford  to  represent  to  the 
Duke  what  he  had  before  said,  which  the  Lord  Chfford  did,  but  found  the 
Duke  was  not  to  be  moved  in  his  resolution  of  not  going  against  his  conscience." 


1672.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ijl 

but  the  reputation  of  his  Exchequer  for  ever,  it  being 
before  in  such  credit,  that  he  might  have  commanded  half 
the  wealth  of  the  nation. 

The  credit  of  this  bank  being  thus  broken,  did  exceed- 
ingly discontent  the  people,  and  never  did  his  Majesty's 
affairs  prosper  to  any  purpose  after  it,  for  as  it  did  not 
supply  the  expense  of  the  mediated  war,  so  it  melted  away, 
I  know  not  how. 

To  this  succeeded  the  King's  Declaration  for  an  universal 
toleration;  Papists,  and  swarms  of  Sectaries,  now  boldly 
showing  themselves  in  their  public  meetings.  This  was 
imputed  to  the  same  counsel,  Clifford  warping  to  Rome  as 
was  believed,  nor  was  Lord  Arlington  clear  of  suspicion, 
to  gratify  that  party,  but  as  since  it  has  proved,  and  was 
then  evidently  foreseen,  to  the  extreme  weakening  the 
Church  of  England  and  its  Episcopal  Government,  as  it 
was  projected.  I  speak  not  this  as  my  own  sense,  but 
what  was  the  discourse  and  thoughts  of  others,  who  were 
lookers-on ;  for  I  think  there  might  be  some  relaxations 
without  the  least  prejudice  to  the  present  Establishment, 
discreetly  limited,  but  to  let  go  the  reins  in  this  manner, 
and  then  to  imagine  they  could  take  them  up  again  as 
easily,  was  a  false  policy,  and  greatly  destructive.  The 
truth  is,  our  Bishops  slipped  the  occasion;  for,  had  they 
held  a  steady  hand  upon  his  Majesty's  restoration,  as  they 
mighteasily  have  done,  the  Church  of  England  had  emerged 
and  flourished,  without  interruption ;  but  they  were  then 
remiss,  and  covetous  after  advantages  of  another  kind, 
whilst  his  Majesty  suffered  them  to  come  into  a  harvest, 
with  which,  without  any  injustice,  he  might  have  remune- 
rated innumerable  gallant  gentlemen  for  their  services, 
who  had  ruined  themselves  in  the  late  rebellion.* 

21st.  I  visited  the  coasts  in  my  district  of  Kent,  and 
divers  wounded  and  languishing  poor  men,  that  had  been 
in  the  Smyrna  conflict,  I  went  over  to  see  the  new-begun 
Fort  of  Tilbury ;  a  royal  work,  indeed,  and  such  as  will  one 
day  bridle  a  great  city  to  the  purpose,  before  they  are  aware. 

23rd.  Captain  Cox,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Navy,  furnishing  me  with  a  yacht,  I  sailed  to  Sheerness  to 

*  This  means  the  fines  for  renewals  of  leases  not  filled  up  dui-ing  the  inter- 
regnum, and  now  to  be  immediately  applied  for.  Bishop  Burnet  says  they 
were  much  misapplied.     History  of  his  own  Times,  I.  304. 


IJ2  DIARY    OP  *  "  [ROCHESTER, 

see  that  fort  also,  now  newly  finished ;  several  places  on 
both  sides  tlie  Swale  and  Medway  to  Gillingham  and 
Upnore,  being  also  provided  with  redoubts  and  batteries, 
to  secure  the  station  of  our  men-of-war  at  Chatham,  and 
shut  the  door  when  the  steeds  were  stolen. 

24th.  I  saw  the  chirurgeon  cut  off  the  leg  of  a  wounded 
sailor,  the  stout  and  gallant  man  enduring  it  with  incredible 
patience,  without  being  bound  to  his  chair,  as  usual  on 
such  painful  occasions.  I  had  hardly  courage  enough  to 
be  present.  Not  being  cut  off  high  enough,  the  gangrene 
prevailed,  and  the  second  operation  cost  the  poor  creature 
his  life. 

Lord !  what  miseries  are  mortal  men  subject  to,  and 
what  confusion  and  mischief  do  the  avarice,  anger,  and 
ambition  of  Princes,  cause  in  the  world  ! 

25th.  I  proceeded  to  Canterbury,  Dover,  Deal,  the  Isle 
of  Thanet,  by  Sandwich,  and  so  to  Margate.  Here,  we 
had  abundance  of  miserably  wounded  men,  his  Majesty 
sending  his  chief  chirurgeon.  Sergeant  Knight,  to  meet 
me,  and  Dr.  Waldrond  had  attended  me  all  the  journey. 
Having  taken  order  for  the  accommodation  of  the  wounded, 
I  came  back  through  a  country  the  best  cultivated  of  any 
that  in  my  life  I  had  anywhere  seen,  every  field  lying  as 
even  as  a  bowling-green,  and  the  fences,  plantations,  and 
husbandry,  in  such  admirable  order,  as  infinitely  delighted 
me,  after  the  sad  and  afflicting  spectacles  and  objects  I 
was  come  from.  Observing  almost  every  tall  tree  to  have 
a  weathercock  on  the  top  bough,  and  some  trees  half-a- 
dozen,  I  learned  that,  on  a  certain  holyday,  the  farmers 
feast  their  servants ;  at  which  solemnity,  they  set  up  these 
cocks,  in  a  kind  of  triumph. 

Being  come  back  towards  Rochester,  I  went  to  take 
order  respecting  the  building  a  strong  and  high  wall  about 
a  house  I  had  hired  of  a  gentleman,  at  a  place  called 
Hartlip,  for  a  prison,  paying  £50  yearly  rent.  Here  I 
settled  a  Provost-Marshal  and  other  officers,  returning  by 
Feversham.  .On  the  30th,  heard  a  sermon  in  Rochester 
cathedral,  and  so  got  to  Saves  Court  on  the  first  of  April. 

4th  April.  I  went  to  see  the  fopperies  of  the  Papists  at 
Somerset-House  and  York-House,  where  now  the  French 
Ambassador  had  caused  to  be  represented  our  Blessed 
Saviour  at  the  Paschal  Supper  with  his  Disciples,  in  figures 


1672.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  73 

and  puppets  made  as  big  as  the  life,  of  wax-work,  curiously 
clad  and  sitting  round  a  large  table,  the  room  nobly  hung, 
and  shining  with  innumerable  lamps  and  candles  :  this 
was  exposed  to  all  the  world;  all  the  City  came  to  see 
it :  such  liberty  had  the  Roman  Catholics  at  this  time 
obtained ! 

16th.  Sat  in  Council,  preparing  Lord  Willoughby^s 
commission  and  instructions  as  Governor  of  Barbadoes  and 
the  Caribbee  Islands. 

17th.  Sat  on  business  in  the  Star  Chamber. 

19th.  At  Council,  preparing  instructions  for  Colonel 
Stapleton,  now  to  go  Governor  of  St.  Christopher^s ;  and 
heard  the  complaints  of  the  Jamaica  merchants  against 
the  Spaniards,  for  hindering  them  from  cutting  logwood 
on  the  main  land,  where  they  have  no  pretence. 

21st.  To  my  Lord  of  Canterbury,  to  entreat  him  to 
engage  Sir  John  Cutler,  the  patron,  to  provide  us  a  grave 
and  learned  man,  in  opposition  to  a  novice. 

30th.  Congratulated  Mr.  Treasurer  Clifford's  new  honour, 
being  made  a  Baron. 

2nd  May.  My  son,  John,  was  specially  admitted  of  the 
Middle  Temple  by  Sir  Francis  North,  his  Majesty's 
Solicitor- General,  and  since  Chancellor.  I  pray  God  bless 
this  beginning,  my  intention  being  that  he  should  seriously 
apply  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law  ! 

10th.  I  was  ordered,  by  letter  from  the  Council,  to 
repair  forthwith  to  his  Majesty,  whom  I  found  in  the 
Pall-Mall,  in  St.  James's  Park,  where  his  Majesty  coming 
to  me  from  the  company,  commanded  me  to  go  immediately 
to  the  sea-coast,  and  to  observe  the  motion  of  the  Dutch 
fleet  and  ours,  the  Duke  and  so  many  of  the  flower  of  our 
nation  being  now  under  sail,  coming  from  Portsmouth, 
through  the  Downs,  where  it  was  beheved  there  might  be 
an  encounter. 

11th.  Went  to  Chatham. — 12th.  Heard  a  sermon  in 
Rochester  Cathedral. 

13th.  To  Canterbury;  visited  Dr.  Bargrave,*  my  old 
fellow-traveller  in  Itaty,  and  great  virtuoso. 

14th.  To  Dover;  but  the  fleet  did  not  appear  till  the 

*  Dean  of  Canterbury,  a  great  benefactor  to  the  Cathedral  Library  there. 
See  in  Todd's  "  Life  of  Milton,"  some  curious  particulars  concerning  him. 


7^  DIARY  OF  [marg*tk, 

16th,  when  the  Duke  of  York  with  his  and  the  French 
squadron,  in  all  170  ships  (of  which  above  100  were  men- 
of-war)  sailed  by,  after  the  Dutch,  who  were  newly  with- 
drawn. Such  a  gallant  and  formidable  navy  never,  I 
think,  spread  sail  upon  the  seas.  It  was  a  goodly  yet 
terrible  sight,  to  behold  them  as  I  did,  passing  eastward 
by  the  straits  betwixt  Dover  and  Calais  in  a  glorious  day. 
The  wind  was  yet  so  high,  that  I  could  not  well  go  aboard, 
and  they  were  soon  got  out  of  sight.  The  next  day, 
having  visited  our  prisoners  and  the  Castle,  and  saluted 
the  Governor,  I  took  horse  for  Margate.  Here,  from  the 
North  Foreland  Light-house-top  (which  is  a  Pharos,  built 
of  brick  and  having  on  the  top  a  cradle  of  iron  in  which  a 
man  attends  a  great  sea-coal  fire  all  the  year  long,  when 
the  nights  are  dark,  for  the  safeguard  of  sailors)  we  could 
see  our  fleet  as  they  lay  at  anchor.  The  next  morning, 
they  weighed,  and  sailed  out  of  sight  to  the  N.  E. 

19th.  Went  to  Margate;  and,  the  following  day,  was 
carried  to  see  a  gallant  widow,  brought  up  a  farmeress, 
and  I  think  of  gigantic  race,  rich,  comely,  and  exceedingly 
industrious.  She  put  me  in  mind  of  Deborah  and  Abigail, 
her  house  was  so  plentifully  stored  with  all  manner  of 
country -provisions,  all  of  her  own  growth,  and  all  her  con- 
veniences so  substantial,  neat,  and  well  understood ;  she 
herself  so  jolly  and  hospitable ;  and  her  land  so  trim  and 
rarely  husbanded,  that  it  struck  me  with  admiration  at  her 
economy. 

This  town  much  consists  of  brewers  of  a  certain  heady 
ale,  and  they  deal  much  in  malt,  &c.  For  the  rest,  it  is 
raggedly  built,  and  has  an  ill  haven,  with  a  small  fort  of 
little  concernment,  nor  is  the  island  well  disciplined ;  but, 
as  to  the  husbandry  and  rural  part,  far  exceeding  any  part 
of  England,  for  the  accurate  culture  of  their  ground,  in 
which  they  exceed,  even  to  curiosity  and  emulation. 

We  passed  by  Rickborough,  and  in  sight  of  Reculvers, 
and  so  thi'ough  a  sweet  garden  as  it  were,  to  Canterbury. 

24th.  To  London,  and  gave  his  Majesty  an  account  of 
my  journey,  and  that  I  had  put  all  things  in  readiness 
upon  all  events,  and  so  returned  home  sufficiently  wearied. 

31st.  I  received  another  command  to  repair  to  the 
seaside;  so  I  went  to  Rochester,  where  I  found  many 
wounded,  sick,  and  prisoners,  newly  put  on  shore  after  the 


1672.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  75 

engagement  on  the  28tlij  in  wliicli  tlie  Earl  of  Sandwich, 
that  incomparable  person  and  my  particular  friend,  and 
divers  more  whom  I  loved,  were  lost.  My  Lord  (who  was 
Admiral  of  the  Blue)  was  in  the  Prince,  which  was  burnt, 
one  of  the  best  men-of-war  that  ever  spread  canvass  on 
the  sea.  There  were  lost  with  this  brave  man,  a  son  of 
Sir  Charles  Cotterell  (Master  of  the  Ceremonies),  and  a 
son  of  Sir  Charles  Harbord  (his  Majesty's  Surveyor- 
General),  two  valiant  and  most  accomplished  youths,  full 
of  virtue  and  courage,  who  might  have  saved  themselves ; 
but  chose  to  perish  with  my  Lord,  whom  they  honoured 
and  loved  above  their  own  lives. 

Here,  I  cannot  but  make  some  reflections  on  things 
past.  It  was  not  above  a  day  or  two  that  going  to  White- 
hall to  take  leave  of  his  Lordship,  who  had  his  lodgings 
in  the  Privy-Garden,  shaking  me  by  the  hand  he  bid  me 
good-bye,  and  said  he  thought  he  should  see  me  no  more, 
and  I  saw,  to  my  thinking,  something  boding  in  his 
countenance ;  "  No,''  says  he,  "  they  will  not  have  me 
live.  Had  I  lost  a  fleet,  (meaning  on  his  return  from 
Bergen  when  he  took  the  East  India  prize)  I  should  have 
fared  better ;  but,  be  as  it  pleases  God — I  must  do  some- 
thing, I  know  not  what,  to  save  my  reputation."  Some- 
thing to  this  eftect,  he  had  hinted  to  me;  thus  I  took  my 
leave.  I  well  remember  that  the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  and 
my  now  Lord  Clifford,  had,  I  know  not  why,  no  great 
opinion  of  his  courage,  because,  in  former  conflicts,  being 
an  able  and  experienced  seaman  (which  neither  of  them 
were),  he  always  brought  off"  his  Majesty's  ships  without 
loss,  though  not  without  as  many  marks  of  true  courage 
-as  the  stoutest  of  them ;  and  I  am  a  witness  that,  in  the 
late  war,  his  own  ship  was  pierced  like  a  colander.  But 
the  business  was,  he  was  utterly  against  this  war  from  tlie 
beginning,  and  abhorred  the  attacking  of  the  Smyrna 
fleet ;  he  did  not  favour  the  heady  expedition  of  Cliff"ord 
at  Bergen,  nor  was  he  so  furious  and  confident  as  was  the 
Duke  of  Albemarle,  who  believed  he  could  vanquish  the 
Hollanders  with  one  squadron.  My  Lord  Sandwich  was 
prudent  as  well  as  valiant,  and  always  governed  his  aff'airs 
with  success  and  little  loss ;  he  was  for  deliberation  and 
reason,  they  for  action  and  slaughter  without  either ;  and 
for  this,  whispered  as  if  my  Lord  Sandwich  was  not  so 


76  DIARY    OP  [ROCHESTER, 

gallant,  because  he  was  not  so  rash,  and  knew  how  fatal  it 
was  to  lose  a  fleet,  such  as  was  that  under  his  conduct, 
and  for  which  these  very  persons  would  have  censured  him 
on  the  other  side.  This  it  was,  I  am  confident,  grieved 
him  and  made  him  enter  like  a  lion,  and  fight  hke  one, 
too,  in  the  midst  of  the  hottest  service,  where  the  stoutest 
of  the  rest  seeing  him  engaged,  and  so  many  ships  upon 
him,  durst  not,  or  would  not,  come  to  his  succour,  as  some 
of  them,  whom  I  know,  might  have  done.  Thus,  this 
gallant  person  perished,  to  gratify  the  pride  and  envy  of 
some  I  named. 

Deplorable  was  the  loss  of  one  of  the  best  accomplished 
persons,  not  only  of  this  nation  but  of  any  other.  He 
was  learned  in  sea-afi'airs,  in  politics,  in  mathematics,  and 
in  music ;  he  had  been  on  divers  embassies,  was  of  a  sweet 
and  obliging  temper,  sober,  chaste,  very  ingenious,  a  true 
nobleman,  an  ornament  to  the  Court  and  his  Prince ;  nor 
has  he  left  any  behind  him  who  approach  his  many  virtues. 

He  had,  I  confess,  served  the  tyrant,  Cromwell,  when 
a  young  man,  but  it  was  without  malice,  as  a  soldier  of 
fortune;  and  he  readily  submitted,  and  that  with  joy, 
bringing  an  entire  fleet  with  him  from  the  Sound,  at  the 
first  tidings  of  his  Majesty's  restoration.  I  verily  believe 
him  as  faithful  a  subject,  as  any  that  were  not  his  friends. 
I  am  yet  heartily  grieved  at  this  mighty  loss,  nor  do  I 
call  it  to  my  thoughts  without  emotion. 

2nd  June.  Trinity- Sunday,  I  passed  at  Rochester;  and, 
on  the  5th,  there  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  Monsieur 
E-abiniere,  Rear- Admiral  of  the  French  squadron,  a  gallant 
person,  who  died  of  the  wounds  he  received  in  the  fight. 
This  ceremony  lay  on  me,  which  I  performed  with  all  the 
decency  I  could,  inviting  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  to 
come  in  their  formalities.  Sir  Jonas  Atkins  was  there 
with  his  guards  ;  and  the  Dean  and  Prebendaries :  one  of 
his  countrymen  pronouncing  a  funeral  oration  at  the 
brink  of  his  grave,  which  I  caused  to  be  dug  in  the  choir. 
This  is  more  at  large  described  in  the  Gazette  of  that 
day ;  Colonel  Reymes,  my  colleague  in  commission,  assist- 
ing, who  was  so  kind  as  to  accompany  me  from  London, 
though  it  was  not  his  district ;  for  indeed  the  stress  of 
both  these  wars  lay  more  on  me  by  far  than  on  any  of  my 
brethren,  who  had  little  to  do  in  theirs. — I  went  to  see 


1672.J  JOHN  EVELYN.  77 

Upnore  Castle,  which  I  found  pretty  well  defended,  but  of 
no  great  moment. 

Next  day,  I  sailed  to  the  fleet,  now  riding  at  the  buoy 
of  the  Nore,  where  I  met  his  Majesty,  the  Duke,  Lord 
Arlington,  and  all  the  great  men,  in  the  Charles,  lying 
miserably  shattered ;  but  the  miss  of  Lord  Sandwich 
redoubled  the  loss  to  me,  and  showed  the  folly  of  hazarding 
so  brave  a  fleet,  and  losing  so  many  good  men,  for  no  pro- 
vocation but  that  the  Hollanders  exceeded  us  in  industry, 
and  in  all  things  but  envy. 

At  Sheerness,  I  gave  his  Majesty  and  his  Royal 
Highness  an  account  of  my  charge,  and  returned  to 
Queenborough ;  next  day,  dined  at  Major  DoreFs, 
Governor  of  Sheerness;  thence,  to  Rochester;  and  the 
following  day,  home. 

12th.  To  London  to  his  Majesty,  to  solicit  for  money 
for  the  sick  and  wounded,  which  he  promised  me. 

19th.  To  London  again,  to  solicit  the  same. 

21st.  At  a  Council  of  Plantations.  Most  of  this  week 
busied  with  the  sick  and  wounded. 

Srd  July.  To  Lord  Sandwich's  funeral,  which  was  by 
water  to  Westminster,  in  solemn  pomp. 

31st.  I  entertained  the  Maids  of  Honour  (among  whom 
there  was  one  I  infinitely  esteemed  for  her  many  and 
extraordinary  virtues)  at  a  comedy  this  afternoon,  and  so 
went  home.* 

1st  August.  I  was  at  the  marriage  of  Lord  Arlington's 
only  daughter  (a  sweet  child  if  ever  there  was  any  t)  to 
the  Duke  of  Grafton,  the  King's  natural  son  by  the 
Duchess  of  Cleveland;  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
officiating,  the  King  and  all  the  grandees  being  present. 
I  had  a  favour  given  me  by  my  Lady ;  but  took  no  great 
joy  at  the  thing  for  many  reasons. 

18th.  Sir  James  Hayes,  Secretary  to  Prince  Rupert, 
dined  with  me  :  after  dinner,  I  was  sent  for  to  Gravesend, 
to  dispose  of  no  fewer  than  800  sick  men.  That  night,  I 
got  to  the  fleet  at  the  buoy  of  the  Nore,  where  I  spake 

*  Mrs.  Blagg,  whom  he  afterwards  characterizes  as  a  rare  example  of  piety 
and  virtue  in  so  rare  a  wit,  beauty,  and  perfection,  in  a  licentious  court  and 
depraved  age.     She  was  afterwards  married  to  Mr.  Godolphin. 

,t  She  was  then  only  five  years  old. 


78  DIARY   OP  [LONDON, 

with  the  King  and  the  Duke ;  and,  after  dinner  next  day, 
returned  to  Gravesend. 

Ist  September.  I  spent  this  week  in  soliciting  for 
moneys,  and  in  reading  to  my  Lord  Clifford  my  papers 
relating  to  the  first  Holland  war. — Now,  our  Council  of 
Plantations  met  at  Lord  Shaftesbury's  (Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer)  to  read  and  reform  the  draught  of  our  new 
Patent,  joining  the  Council  of  Trade  to  our  political 
capacities.  After  this,  I  returned  home,  in  order  to 
another  excursion  to  the  sea-side,  to  get  as  many  as 
possible  of  the  men  who  were  recovered  on  board  the 
fleet. 

8th.  I  lay  at  Gravesend,  thence  to  Rochester,  returning 
on  the  11th. 

15th.  Dr.  Duport,  Greek  Professor  of  Cambridge, 
preached  before  the  King  on  1  Timothy,  vi.  6.  No  great 
preacher,  but  a  very  worthy  and  learned  man. 

25th.  I  dined  at  Lord  John  Berkeley's,*  newly  arrived 
out  of  Ireland,  where  he  had  been  Deputy ;  it  was  in  his 
new  house,t  or  rather  palace ;  for  I  am  assured  it  stood 
him  in  near  £30,000.  It  is  very  well  built,  and  has  many 
noble  rooms,  but  they  are  not  very  convenient,  consisting 
but  of  one  Corps  de  Logis ;  they  are  all  rooms  of  state, 
without  closets.  The  staircase  is  of  cedar,  the  furniture 
is  princely :  the  kitchen  and  stables  are  ill-placed,  and  the 
corridor  worse,  having  no  report  to  the  wings  they  join  to. 
For  the  rest,  the  fore-court  is  noble,  so  are  the  stables ; 
and,  above  all,  the  gardens,  which  are  incomparable  by 
reason  of  the  inequality  of  the  ground,  and  a  pretty 
piscina.  The  holly  hedges  on  the  terrace  I  advised  the 
planting  of.  The  porticos  are  in  imitation  of  a  house 
described  by  Palladio ;  but  it  happens  to  be  the  worst  in 
his  book,  though  my  good  friend,  Mr.  Hugh  May,  his 
Lordship's  architect,  effected  it. 

26th.  I  carried  with  me  to  dinner  my  Lord  H.  Howard 
(now  to  be  made  Earl  of  Norwich  and  Earl  Marshal  of 
England)  to  Sir  Robert  Clayton's,  now  Sheriff  of  London, 

*  Lord  Berkeley,  of  Stratton. 

+  Berkeley-House  was  burnt  to  the  groxmd  by  accident.  The  site  was  on 
a  farm  called  Hay-hill  Farm,  the  uames  of  which  are  preserved  in  Hay-street, 
Hill-street,  Farm-street.  Devonshire  House,  Lansdown  House,  Berkeley 
Square,  &c.  are  built  on  part  of  the  ground. 


1672.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  79 

at  his  new  house^*  where  we  had  a  great  feast ;  it  is  built 
indeed  for  a  great  magistrate,  at  excessive  cost.  The  cedar 
dining-room  is  painted  with  the  history  of  the  Giants* 
"War,  incomparably  done  by  Mr.  Streeter,  but  the  figures 
are  too  near  the  eye. 

6th  October.  Dr.  Thistlethwait  preached  at  Whitehall 
on  Rev.  v.  2, — a  young,  but  good  preacher.  I  received 
the  blessed  Communion,  Dr.  Blandford,  Bishop  of  Wor- 
cester, and  Dean  of  the  Chapel,  ofiiciating.  Dined  at  my 
Lord  Clifford's,  with  Lord  Mulgrave,  Sir  Gilbert  Talbot, 
and  Sir  Robert  Holmes. 

8th.  I  took  leave  of  my  Lady  Sunderland,  who  was 
going  to  Paris  to  my  Lord,  now  ambassador  there.  She 
made  me  stay  dinner  at  Leice8ter-House,t  and  afterwards 
sent  for  Richardson,  the  famous  fire-eater.  He  devoured 
brimstone  on  glowing  coals  before  us,  chewing  and 
swallowing  them ;  he  melted  a  beer-glass  and  eat  it  quite 
up ;  then,  taking  a  live  coal  on  his  tongue,  he  put  on  it  a 
raw  oyster,  the  coal  was  blown  on  with  bellows  till  it 
flamed  and  sparkled  in  his  mouth,  and  so  remained  till 
the  oyster  gaped  and  was  quite  boiled.  Then,  he  melted 
pitch  and  wax  with  sulphur,  which  he  drank  down,  as  it 
flamed ;  I  saw  it  flaming  in  his  mouth,  a  good  while ;  he 
also  took  up  a  thick  piece  of  iron,  such  as  laundresses  use 
to  put  in  their  smoothing-boxes,  when  it  was  fiery  hot,, 
held  it  between  his  teeth,  then  in  his  hand,  and  threw  it 
about  like  a  stone ;  but  this  I  observed,  he  cared  not  to 
hold  very  long;  then,  he  stood  on  a  small  pot;  and, 
bending  his  body,  took  a  glowing  iron  with  his  mouth 
from  between  his    feet,   without   touching   the  pot,    or 

*  Situate  in  the  Old  Jewry.  Sir  Robert  built  it  to  keep  his  shrievalty, 
which  he  did  with  great  magnificence.  It  was  for  some  years  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr.  Samuel  Sharp,  an  eminent  surgeon,  and  was  afterwards 
occupied  (viz.  from  1806  to  tlie  close  of  the  year  1811)  by  the  London  Insti- 
tution for  their  library  and  reading-rooms,  previously  to  their  temporary 
removal  to  King's  Arms  Yard,  Coleman-street.  This  Literary  Institution, 
establislied  by  Cliarter,  was  fin.ally  settled  in  a  now  and  splendid  mansion, 
purposely  erected  by  the  proprietors,  from  a  design  by  Mr.  W.  Brooks,  on 
tlie  north  side  of  Mooi-fields,  in  1818. — Streeter's  paintings  have  been  long 
placed  in  the  family  seat  of  the  Claytons,  at  Marden,  near  Godstone,  Surrey. 

f  A  handsome  brick  building,  on  the  north  side  of  Leicester-square.  In 
1708,  it  was  occupied  by  the  Imperial  Ambassador,  let  to  him  by  the  Earl  of 
Leicester. — Ilatton's  New  View  of  London,  vol.  II. 


go  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

ground,  with  his  hands  ;  with  divers  other  prodigious 
feats. 

18th.  After  sermon,  (being  summoned  before)  I  went  to 
my  Lord  Keeper's,  Sir  Orlando  Bridgeman,  at  Essex 
House,*  where  our  new  patent  was  opened  and  read,  con- 
stituting us  that  were  of  the  Council  of  Plantations,  to  be 
now  of  the  Council  of  Trade  also,  both  united.  After  the 
patent  was  read,  we  all  took  our  oaths,  and  departed. 

24th.  Met  in  Council,  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  now  our 
President,  swearing  our  Secretary  and  his  clerks,  which 
was  Mr.  Locke,t  an  excellent  learned  gentleman,  and 
student  of  Christ  Church,  Mr.  Lloyd,  and  Mr.  Frowde. 
We  despatched  a  letter  to  Sir  Thomas  Linch,  Governor  of 
Jamaica,  giving  him  notice  of  a  design  of  the  Dutch  on 
that  island. 

27th.  I  went  to  hear  that  famous  preacher.  Dr.  Framp- 
ton,  at  St.  Giles's,  on  Psalm  xxxix.  6.  This  divine  had 
been  twice  at  Jerusalem,  and  was  not  only  a  very  pious 
and  holy  man,  but  excellent  in  the  pulpit  for  the  moving 
affections. 

8th  November.  At  Council,  we  debated  the  business  of 
the  consulate  of  Leghorn.  I  was  of  the  Committee  with 
Sir  Humphry  Winch,  the  chairman,  to  examine  the  laws 
of  his  Majesty's  several  plantations  and  colonies  in  the 
West  Indies,  &c. 

15th.  Many  merchants  were  summoned  about  the  con- 
sulate of  Venice ;  which  caused  great  disputes ;  the  most 
considerable  thought  it  useless.  This  being  the  Queen- 
Consort's  birth-day,  there  was  an  extraordinary  appearance 
of  gallantry,  and  a  ball  danced  at  Court. 

30th.  I  was  chosen  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Society. 

21st  December.  Settled  the  consulate  of  Venice. 

1672-3.  1st  January.  After  public  prayers  in  the  chapel 
at  Whitehall,  when  I  gave  God  solemn  thanks  for  all  his 
mercies  to  me  the  year  past,  and  my  humble  supplications 
to  him  for  his  blessing  the  year  now  entering,  I  returned 

•  It  stood  near  St.  Clement's  Clmrch,  in  the  Strand,  and  the  site  is  still 
commemorated  in  Essex  Street,  Essex  Place,  Essex  Court,  and  Devereux 
Court. 

+  The  celebrated  John  Locke.  When  Lord  Shaftesbury  withdrew  to  Hol- 
land, Locke  followed  him,  for  which  he  was  deprived  of  his  student's  place,  by 
an  order  from  the  Kin<;. 


1673.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  81 

liome^  having  my  poor  deceased  servant  (Adams)  to  bury, 
who  died  of  a  pleurisy. 

3rd.  My  son  now  published  his  version  of  "  Rapinus 
Hortorum."  * 

28th.  Visited  Don  Francisco  de  Melos,  the  Portugal 
Ambassador,  who  showed  me  his  curious  collection  of 
books  and  pictures.  He  was  a  person  of  good  parts,  and 
a  virtuous  man. 

6th  February.  To  Council  about  reforming  an  abuse  of 
the  dyers  with  saundus,  and  other  false  drugs ;  examined 
divers  of  that  trade. 

23rd.  The  Bishop  of  Chichesterf  preached  before  the 
King  on  Coloss.  ii.  14,  15,  admirably  well,  as  he  can  do 
nothing  but  what  is  well. 

5th  March.  Our  new  vicar,  Mr.  Holden,  preached  in 
"Whitehall  chapel,  on  Psalm  iv.  6,  7.  This  gentleman  is 
a  very  excellent  and  universal  scholar,  a  good  and  wise 
man;  but  he  had  not  the  popular  way  of  preaching,  nor  is 
in  any  measure  fit  for  our  plain  and  vulgar  auditory,  as 
his  predecessor  was.  There  was,  however,  no  comparison 
betwixt  their  parts  for  profound  learning ;  but  time  and 
experience  may  form  him  to  a  more  practical  way  than 
that  he  is  in  of  University  lectures  and  erudition ;  which 
is  now  universally  left  off  for  what  is  much  more  profitable. 

15th.  I  heard  the  speech  made  to  the  Lords  in  their 
House  by  Sir  Samuel  Tuke,  in  behalf  of  the  Papists,  to 
take  ofi"  the  penal  laws ;  and  then  dined  with  Colonel 
Norwood. 

16th.  Dr.  Pearson,  Bishop  of  Chester,!  preached  on 
Hebrews  ix.  14 ;  a  most  incomparable  sermon  from  one 
of  the  most  learned  divines  of  our  nation.  I  dined  at  my 
Lord  Arlington's  with  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  Monmouth; 
she  is  one  of  the  wisest  and  craftiest  of  her  sex,  and  has 
much  wit.     Here  was  also  the  learned  Isaac  Vossius. 

*  Of  Gardens.  Four  Books.  First  written  in  Latin  verse,  by  Renatus 
Rapinus,  and  now  made  English.  By  I.  E.  London,  1673.  Dedicated  to 
Henry,  Earle  of  Arlington,  &c.  &c,  &c.  The  Dedication  is  re-pruited  in 
Evelyn's  «  Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  623,  624. 

f  Dr.  Peter  Gunning,  formerly  Master  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Ely.     Burnet  says  of  him  that  he  was  a  man  of  great 
reading,  a  very  honest,  sincere  man,  but  of  no  sound  judgment.     History  of 
his  own  Times,  I.,  p.  297. 
.J  Well  known  by  his  valuable  Exposition  of  the  Creed. 
VOL.  II.  G 


gg  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

During  Lent,  there  is  constantly  the  most  excellent 
preaching  by  the  most  eminent  bishops  and  divines  of  the 
nation. 

26th.  I  was  sworn  a  younger  brother  of  the  Trinity- 
House,  with  my  most  worthy  and  long-acquainted  noble 
friend,  Lord  Ossory  (eldest  son  to  the  Duke  of  Ormond), 
Sir  Richard  Browne,  my  father-in-law,  being  now  Master 
of  that  Society ;  after  which  there  was  a  great  collation. 

29th.  I  carried  my  son  to  the  Bishop  of  Chichester, 
that  learned  and  pious  man,  Dr.  Peter  Gunning,*  to  be 
instructed  by  him  before  he  received  the  Holy  Sacrament, 
when  he  gave  him  most  excellent  advice,  which  I  pray  God 
may  influence  and  remain  with  him  as  long  as  he  lives; 
and  O  that  I  had  been  so  blessed  and  instructed,  when 
first  I  was  admitted  to  that  sacred  ordinance  ! 

30th.  Easter-Day ;  myself  and  son  received  the  blessed 
Communion,  it  being  his  first  time,  and  with  that  whole 
week^s  more  extraordinary  preparation.  I  beseech  God 
to  make  him  a  sincere  good  Christian,  whilst  I  endeavour 
to  instil  into  him  the  fear  and  love  of  God,  and  discharge 
the  duty  of  a  father. 

At  the  sermon  coram  Rege,  preached  by  Dr.  Sparrow, 
Bishop  of  Exeter,  to  a  most  crowded  auditory;  I  staid 
to  see  whether,  according  to  custom,  the  Duke  of  York 
received  the  Communion  with  the  King ;  but  he  did  not, 
to  the  amazement  of  every  body.  This  being  the  second 
year  he  had  forborne,  and  put  it  off,  and  within  a  day  of 
the  Parliament  sitting,  who  had  lately  made  so  severe  an 
Act  against  the  increase  of  Popery,  gave  exceeding  grief 
and  scandal  to  the  whole  nation,  that  the  heir  of  it,  and 
the  son  of  a  martyr  for  the  Protestant  religion,  should 
apostatize.  What  the  consequence  of  this  will  be,  God 
only  knows,  and  wise  men  dread. 

11th  April.  I  dined  with  the  plenipotentiaries  designed 
for  the  treaty  of  Nimeguen. 

17th.  I  carried  Lady  Tuke  to  thank  the  Countess  of 
Arlington  for  speaking  to  his  Majesty  in  her  behalf,  for 
being  one  of  the  Queen-Consort's  women.  She  carried 
us  up  into  her  new  dressing-room  at  Goring  House,  where 
was  a  bed,  two  glasses,  silver  jars,  and  vases,  cabinets,  and 

^  *  See  note  in  page  81. 


1673.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  gg 

other  so  rich  furniture  as  I  had  seldom  seen;  to  this 
excess  of  superfluity  were  we  now  arrived^  and  that  not 
only  at  Court,  but  almost  universally,  even  to  wantonness 
and  profusion. 

Dr.  Compton,  brother  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton, 
preached  on  1  Corinth,  v.  11 — 16,  showing  the  Church's 
power  in  ordaining  things  indiff'erent ;  this  worthy  person's 
talent  is  not  preaching,  but  he  is  like  to  make  a  grave  and 
serious  good  man.* 

I  saw  her  Majesty's  rich  toilet  in  her  dressing-room, 
being  all  of  massy  gold,  presented  to  her  by  the  King, 
valued  at  £4000. 

26th.  Dr.  Lamplugh  preached  at  St.  Martin's,  the  Holy 
Sacrament  following,  which  I  partook  of,  upon  obligation 
of  the  late  Act  of  Parliament,  enjoining  everybody  in 
oifice,  civil  or  military,  under  penalty  of  £500,  to  receive 
it  within  one  month  before  two  authentic  witnesses ;  being 
engrossed  on  parchment,  to  be  afterwards  produced  in  the 
Court  of  Chancery,  or  some  other  Court  of  Record ;  which 
I  did  at  the  Chancery-bar,  as  being  one  of  the  Council  of 
Plantations  and  Trade;  taking  then  also  the  oath  of 
allegiance  and  supremacy,  signing  the  clause  in  the  said 
Act  against  Transubstantiation. 

25th  May.  My  son  was  made  a  younger  brother  of  the 
Trinity-House.  The  new  Master  was  Sir  J.  Smith,  one 
of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy,  a  stout  seaman,  who 
had  interposed  and  saved  the  Duke  from  perishing  by  a 
fire-ship  in  the  late  war. 

28th.  I  carried  one  Withers,  an  ingenious  shipwright, 
to  the  King,  to  show  him  some  new  method  of  building, 

29th.  I  saw  the  Italian  comedy  at  the  Court,  this 
afternoon. 

10th  June.  Came  to  visit  and  dine  with  me,  my  Lord 
Viscount  Cornbury  and  his  Lady;  Lady  Frances  Hyde, 
sister  to  the  Duchess  of  York  ;  and  Mrs.  Dorothy  Howard, 
Maid  of  Honour.  We  went,  after  dinner,  to  see  the  formal 
and  formidable  camp  on  Blackheath,  raised  to  invade 
Holland;  or,    as   others   suspected,   for   another   design. 

*  Henry,  sixtli  son  of  the  second  Earl  of  Northampton,  educated  at  Oxford, 
was  a  cornet  in  Lord  Oxford's  regiment  of  guards,  took  orders,  and  was  suc- 
cessively Bishop  of  Oxford  and  London  ;  in  which  last  See  he  died,  1713, 
aged  81. 

g2 


34  DIARY    OP        ■  [LONDON, 

Thence,  to  the  Italian  glass-house  at  Greenwich,  where  glass 
was  blown  of  finer  metal  than  that  of  Murano,  at  Venice, 

13th.  Came  to  visit  us,  with  other  ladies  of  rank,  Mrs, 
Sedley,*  daughter  to  Sir  Charles,  who  was  none  of  the 
most  virtuous,  but  a  wit. 

19th.  Congratulated  the  new  Lord  Treasurer,  Sir 
Thomas  Osborne,  a  gentleman  with  whom  I  had  been 
intimately  acquainted  at  Paris,  and  who  was  every  day 
at  my  father-in-law^s  house  and  table  there;  on  which 
account,  I  was  too  confident  of  succeeding  in  his  favour, 
as  I  had  done  in  his  predecessor's ;  but  such  a  friend  shall 
I  never  find,  and  I  neglected  my  time,  far  from  believing- 
that  my  Lord  Clifford  would  have  so  rashly  laid  down  his 
staff,  as  he  did,  to  the  amazement  of  all  the  world,  when 
it  came  to  the  test  of  his  receiving  the  Communion,  which 
I  am  confident  he  forbore  more  from  some  promise  he  had 
entered  into  to  gratify  the  Duke,  than  from  any  prejudice 
to  the  Protestant  religion,  though  I  found  him  wavering  a 
pretty  while. 

23rd.  To  London,  to  accompany  our  Council,  who  went 
in  a  body  to  congratulate  the  new  Lord  Treasurer,  no 
friend  to  it,  because  promoted  by  my  Lord  Arlington, 
whom  he  hated. 

26th.  Came  visitors  from  Court  to  dine  with  me,  and 
see  the  army  still  remaining  encamped  on  Blackheath, 

6th  July.  This  evening,  I  went  to  the  funeral  of  my 
dear  and  excellent  friend,  that  good  man  and  accomplished 
gentleman.  Sir  Robert  Murray,t  Secretary  of  Scotland. 
He  was  buried  by  order  of  his  Majesty  in  Westminster 
Abbey. 

25  th,  I  went  to  Tunbridge  Wells,  to  -vasit  my  Lord 
Clifford,  late  Lord  Treasurer,  who  was  there  to  divert  his 
mind  more  than  his  body ;  it  was  believed  that  he  had  so 
engaged  himself  to  the  Duke,  that  rather  than  take  the 
Test,  without  which  he  was  not  capable  of  holding  any 
office,  he  would  resign  that  great  and  honourable  station. 

*  The  Duke  of  York's  mistress,  and  afterwaa-ds  created  by  him  Coimtessof 
Dorchester. 

f  He  was  universally  beloved  and  esteemed  by  men  of  all  sides  and  sorts — 
the  life  and  soul  of  the  Royal  Society.  He  delighted  in  every  occasion  of 
doing  good.  He  had  a  superiority  of  genius  and  comprehension.  Burnet, 
vol.  I.,  p.  90. 


1673.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  85 

This,  I  am  confident,  grieved  him  to  the  heart,  and  at  last 
broke  it  j  for,  though  he  carried  with  him  music  and  people 
to  divert  him,  and,  when  I  came  to  see  him,  lodged  me  in 
his  own  apartment,  and  would  not  let  me  go  from  him,  I 
found  he  was  struggling  in  his  mind ;  and,  being  of  a 
rough  and  ambitious  nature,  he  could  not  long  brook  the 
necessity  he  had  brought  on  himself,  of  submission  to  this 
conjuncture.  Besides,  he  saw  the  Dutch  war,  which  was 
made  much  by  his  advice,  as  well  as  the  shutting  up  of  the 
Exchequer,*  very  unprosperous.  These  things  his  high 
spirit  could  not  support.  Having  staid  here  two  or  three 
days,  I  obtained  leave  of  my  Lord  to  return. 

In  my  way,  I  saw  my  Lord  of  Dorset's  house  at  Knowle, 
near  Sevenoaks,  a  great  old-fashioned  house. 

30th.  To  Council,  where  the  business  of  transporting 
wool  was  brought  before  us. 

olst.  I  went  to  see  the  pictures  of  all  the  judges  and 
eminent  men  of  the  Long  Eobe,  newly  painted  by  Mr. 
Wright,  and  set  up  in  Guildhall,  costing  the  City  £1000. 
Most  of  them  are  very  like  the  persons  they  represent, 
though  I  never  took  Wright  to  be  any  considerable  artist. 

13th  August.  I  rode  to  Durdans,  where  I  dined  at  my 
Lord  Berkeley's  of  Berkeley-Castle,  my  old  and  noble 
friend,  it  being  his  wedding-anniversary,  where  I  found  the 
Duchess  of  Albemarle,  and  other  company,  and  returned 
home  on  that  evening,  late. 

15th.  Came  to  visit  me  my  Lord  Chancellor,  the  Earl 
of  Shaftesbury. 

18th.  My  Lord  Clifford,  being  about  this  time  returned 
from  Tunbridge,  and  preparing  for  Devonshire,  I  went  to 
take  my  leave  of  him  at  Wallingford-House ;  he  was  pack- 
ing up  pictures,  most  of  which  were  of  hunting  wild  beasts, 
and  vast  pieces  of  bull-baiting,  bear-baiting,  &c.  I  foundhim 
in  his  study,  and  restored  to  him  several  papers  of  state, 
and  others  of  importance,  which  he  had  furnished  me  with, 
on  engaging  me  to  write  the  History  of  the  Holland  War, 
with  other  private  letters  of  his  acknowledgments  to  my  Lord 
Arlington,  who,  from  a  private  gentleman  of  a  very  noble 

*  Burnet  says  the  Earl  of  Shaftesbury  was  the  chief  man  in  this  advice. 
There  is  a  story,  though  I  do  not  recollect  the  author,  that  Shaftesbiiry  formed 
the  plan,  that  Clifford  got  at  it  over  a  bottle  of  wine,  and  carried  it  to  the 
Kins;  as  his  own. 


g^  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

family,  but  inconsiderable  fortune,  had  advanced  him  from 
almost  nothing.  The  first  thing  was  his  being  in  Parlia- 
ment, then  knighted,  then  made  one  of  the  Commissioners 
of  sick  and  wounded,  on  which  occasion,  we  sate  long 
together;  then,  on  the  death  of  Hugh  Pollard,  he  was 
made  Comptroller  of  the  Household  and  Privy  Councillor, 
yet  still  my  brother  Commissioner;  after  the  death  of 
Lord  Fitz-Harding,  Treasurer  of  the  Household,  he,  by 
letters  to  Lord  Arlington,  which  that  Lord  showed  me,^ 
begged  of  his  Lordship  to  obtain  it  for  him  as  the  very 
height  of  his  ambition.  These  were  written  with  such 
submissions  and  professions  of  his  patronage,  as  I  had 
never  seen  any  more  acknowledging.  The  Earl  of  South- 
ampton then  dying,  he  was  made  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Treasury.  His  Majesty  inclining  to  put  it 
into  one  hand,  my  Lord  CliflFord,  under  pretence  of  making 
all  his  interest  for  his  patron,  my  Lord  Arlington,  cut  the 
grass  under  his  feet,  and  procured  it  for  himself,  assuring 
the  King  that  Lord  Arlington  did  not  desire  it.  Indeed, 
my  Lord  Arlington  protested  to  me  that  his  confidence  in 
Lord  Clifi'ord  made  him  so  remiss,  and  his  afl'ection  to  him 
was  so  particular,  that  he  Avas  absolutely  minded  to  devolve 
it  on  Lord  Clifford,  all  the  world  knowing  how  he  himself 
affected  ease  and  quiet,  now  growing  into  years,  yet  little 
thinking  of  this  go-by.  This  was  the  only  great  ingra- 
titude Lord  Clifi'ord  showed,  keeping  my  Lord  Arlington 
in  ignorance,  continually  assuring  him  he  was  pursuing 
his  interest,  which  was  the  Duke's,  into  whose  great 
favour  Lord  Clifi'ord  was  now  gotten  ;  but  which  certainly 
cost  him  the  loss  of  all,  namely,  his  going  so  irrevocably" 
far  in  his  interest. 

For  the  rest,  my  Lord  CliflFord  was  a  valiant  incon'upt 
gentleman,  ambitious,  not  covetous;  generous,  passionate, 
a  most  constant  sincere  friend,  to  me  in  particulai*,  so 
as  when  he  laid  down  his  ofiice,  I  was  at  the  end  of  all  my 
hopes  and  endeavours.  These  were  not  for  high  matters, 
but  to  obtain  what  his  Majesty  was  really  indebted  to  my 
father-in-law,  which  was  the  utmost  of  my  ambition,  and 
which  I  had  undoubtedly  obtained,  if  this  friend  had 
stood.  Sir  Thomas  Osborn,  who  succeeded  him,  though 
much  more  obliged  to  my  father-in-law  and  his  family^ 
and  my  long  and  old  acquaintance,    beiog   of  a  more 


1C73.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ^7 

haughty  and  far  less  obliging  nature,  I  could  hope  for 
little ;  a  man  of  excellent  natural  parts ;  but  nothing  of 
generous  or  grateful. 

Taking  leave  of  my  Lord  Clifford,  he  wrung  me  by  the 
hand,  and,  looking  earnestly  on  me,  bid  me  God-b^e, 
adding,  "  Mr.  E.,  I  shall  never  see  thee  more."  "No  \" 
said  I,  "  my  Lord,  what  ^s  the  meaning  of  this  ?  I  hope 
I  shall  see  you  often,  and  as  great  a  person  again."  "  No, 
Mr.  E.,  do  not  expect  it,  I  will  never  see  this  place,  this 
City,  or  Court  again,"  or  words  of  this  sound.  In  this 
manner,  not  without  almost  mutual  tears,  I  parted  from 
him ;  nor  was  it  long  after,  but  the  news  was  that  he  was 
dead,  and  I  have  heard  from  some  who  I  believe  knew,  he 
made  himself  away,  after  an  extraordinary  melancholy. 
This  is  not  confidently  affirmed,  but  a  servant  who  lived 
in  the  house,  and  afterwards  with  Sir  Robert  Clayton, 
Lord  IMayor,  did,  as  well  as  others,  report  it ;  and,  when 
I  hinted  some  such  thing  to  Mr.  Prideaux,  one  of  his 
trustees,  he  was  not  willing  to  enter  into  that  discourse. 

It  was  reported  with  these  particulars  that,  causing 
his  servant  to  leave  him  unusually  one  morning,  locking 
himself  in,  he  strangled  himself  with  his  cravat  upon  the 
bed-tester;  his  servant,  not  liking  the  manner  of  dis- 
missing him,  and  looking  through  the  key-hole,  (as  I 
remember)  and  seeing  his  master  hanging,  brake  in  before 
he  was  quite  dead,  and  taking  him  down,  vomiting  a  great 
deal  of  blood,  he  was  heard  to  utter  these  words,  "  Well ; 
let  men  say  what  they  will,  there  is  a  God,  a  just  God 
above ; "  after  which  he  spake  no  more.  This,  if  true,  is 
dismal.  Really,  he  was  the  chief  occasion  of  the  Dutch 
war,  and  of  all  that  blood  which  was  lost  at  Bergen  in 
attacking  the  Smyrna  fleet,  and  that  whole  quarrel. 

This  leads  me  to  call  to  mind  what  my  Lord  Chancellor 
Shaftesbury  affirmed,  not  to  me  only,  but  to  all  my  brethren 
the  Council  of  Foreign  Plantations,  when  not  long  after 
this  accident  being  mentioned  as  we  were  one  day  sitting 
in  Council,  his  Lordship  told  us  this  remarkable  passage  ; 
that,  being  one  day  discoursing  with  him  when  he  was 
only  Sir  Thomas  Clifford,  speaking  of  men^s  advancement 
to  great  charges  in  the  nation,  "  Well,"  says  he,  "  my 
Lord,  I  shall  be  one  of  the  greatest  men  in  England.. 


g^  DIARY  OP  [londok, 

Don't  impute  what  I  say  either  to  fancy,  or  vanity ;  I  am 
certain  that  I  shall  be  a  mighty  man ;  but  it  will  not  last 
long;  I  shall  not  hold  it,  but  die  a  bloody  death/* 
"What,"  says  my  Lord,  "  your  horoscope  tells  you  so  ?" 
"  No  matter  for  that,  it  will  be  as  I  tell  you."  "  Well," 
says  my  Lord  Chancellor  Shaftesbury,  "  if  I  were  of  that 
opinion,  I  either  would  not  be  a  great  man,  but  decline 
preferment,  or  prevent  my  danger." 

This  my  Lord  affirmed  in  my  hearing,  before  several 
gentlemen  and  noblemen  sitting  in  council  at  Whitehall. 
And  I  the  rather  am  confident  of  it,  remembering  what 
Sir  Edward  Walker  (Garter  King-at-Arms)  had  likewise 
affirmed  to  me  a  long  time  before,  even  when  he  was  first 
made  a  Lord;  that  carrying  his  pedigree  to  Lord  Clifford  on 
his  being  created  a  peer,  and,  finding  him  busy,  he  bade  him 
go  into  his  study,  and  divert  himself  there  till  he  was  at 
leisure  to  discourse  with  him  about  some  things  relating 
to  his  family;  there  lay,  said  Sir  Edward,  on  his  table, 
his  horoscope  and  nativity  calculated,  with  some  writing 
under  it,  where  he  read  that  he  should  be  advanced  to  the 
highest  degree  in  the  state  that  could  be  conferred  upon 
him,  but  that  he  should  not  long  enjoy  it,  but  should  die, 
or  expressions  to  that  sense;  and  I  think,  (but  cannot 
confidently  say)  a  bloody  death.  This  Sir  Edward  affirmed 
both  to  me  and  Sir  Richard  Browne ;  nor  could  I  forbear 
to  note  this  extraordinary  passage  in  these  memoirs. 

14th  September.  Dr.  Creighton,  son  to  the  late  eloquent 
Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  preached  to  the  Household  on 
Isaiah,  Ivii.  8.  • 

15tli.  I  procured  £4000  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasuiy, 
and  rectified  divers  matters  about  the  sick  and  wounded. 

16th.  To  Council,  about  choosing  a  new  Secretary. 

17th.  I  went  with  some  friends  to  visit  Mr.  Bernard 
Grenville,  at  Abs  Court,  in  Surrey;  an  old  house  in  a 
pretty  park.* 

23rd.  I  went  to  see  Paradise,  a  room  in  Hatton-Garden, 
furnished  with  the  representation  of  all  sorts  of  animals 
handsomely  painted  on  boards,  or  cloth,  and  so  cut  out 
and  made  to  stand,  move,  fly,  crawl,  roar,  and  make  their 

•  At  Walton-on-Thames. 


1673.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  89 

several  cries.     The  man  wlio  showed  it^  made  us  laugh 
heartily  at  his  formal  poetry. 

15th  October.  To  Council^  and  swore  in  Mr.  Locke, 
secretary,  Dr.  Worsley  being  dead. 

27th.  To  Council,  about  sending  succours  to  recover 
New  York:  and  then  we  read  the  commission  and  in- 
structions to  Sir  Jonathan  Atkins,  the  new  Governor  of 
Earbadoes. 

5th  November.  This  night  the  youths  of  the  City  burnt 
the  Pope  in  effigy,  after  they  had  made  procession  with  it 
in  great  triumph,  they  being  displeased  at  the  Duke  for 
altering  his  religion,  and  marrying  an  Italian  lady.* 

30th.  On  St.  Andrew^s  day,  I  first  saw  the  new  Duchess 
of  York,  and  the  Ducliess  of  Modena,  her  mother. 

1st  December.  To  Gresham  College,  whither  the  City 
had  invited  the  Koyal  Society  by  many  of  their  chief 
aldermen  and  magistrates,  who  gave  us  a  collation,  to 
welcome  us  to  our  first  place  of  assembly,  from  whence  we 
had  been  driven  to  give  place  to  the  City,  on  their  making 
it  their  Exchange,  on  the  dreadful  conflagration,  till  their 
new  Exchange  was  finished,  Mdiich  it  now  was.  The 
Society  having  till  now  been  entertained  and  having  met 
at  Arundel  House.f 

2nd.  I  dined  with  some  friends,  and  visited  the  sick : 
thence,  to  an  alms-house  where  was  prayers  and  relief, 
some  very  ill  and  miserable.  It  was  one  of  the  best  days 
I  ever  spent  in  my  life. 

3rd.  There  was  at  dinner  my  Lord  Lockhart,  designed 
ambassador  for  France,  a  gallant  and  a  sober  person. 

9th.  I  saw  again  the  Italian  Duchess  and  her  brother, 
the  Prince  Reynaldo. 

20th.  I  had  some  discourse  with  certain  strangers,  not 
unlearned,  who  had  been  born  not  far  from  Old  Nineveh ; 
they  assured  me  of  the  ruins  being  still  extant,  and  vast 
and  wonderful  were  the  buildings,  vaults,  pillars,  and  mag- 
nificent fragments ;  but  they  could  say  little  of  the  Tower 
of  Babel  that  satisfied  me :    but  the  description  of  the 

»  The  Princess  Mary  Beatrice  D'Este,  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Modena. 

f  Situated  near  tlie  Strand.  It  was  pulled  down  at  the  end  of  the  1 7th 
century,  but  the  family  names,  and  the  titles,  are  retained  in  the  streets 
which  rose  on  its  site,  viz.  that  of  Howard,  Norfolk,  Arundel,  and  Surrey. 


90  DIARY  OF  [WINDSOR, 

amenity  and  fragrancy  of  the  country  for  health  and  cheer- 
fulness, delighted  me ;  so  sensibly  they  spake  of  the 
excellent  air  and  climate  in  respect  of  our  cloudy  and 
splenetic  country. 

24th.  Visited  the  prisoners  at  Ludgate,  taking  orders 
about  the  releasing  of  some. 

30th.  I  gave  Almighty  God  thanks  for  His  infinite  good- 
ness to  me  the  year  past,  and  begged  His  mercy  and 
protection  the  year  following:  afterwards,  invited  my 
neighbours  to  spend  the  day  vrith  me. 

1673-4.  5th  January.  I  saw  an  Italian  opera  in  music, 
the  first  that  had  been  in  England  of  this  kind. 

9th.  Sent  for  by  his  Majesty  to  write  something  against 
the  Hollanders  about  the  duty  of  the  Flag  and  Fishery. 
Returned  with  some  papers. 

25th  March.  I  dined  at  Knightsbridge,  with  the  Bishops 
of  Salisbury,  Chester,  and  Lincoln,  my  old  friends. 

29th  May.  His  Majesty's  birth-day  and  Restoration. 
Mr.  Demalhoy,  Roger  L'Estrange,  and  several  of  my 
friends,  came  to  dine  with  me  on  the  happy  occasion. 

27th  June.  Mr.  Dryden,  the  famous  poet  and  now 
laureate,  came  to  give  me  a  visit.  It  was  the  anniversary 
of  my  marriage,  and  the  first  day  I  went  into  my  new  little 
cell  and  cabinet,  which  I  built  below  towards  the  south 
court,  at  the  east  end  of  the  parlour. 

9th  July.  Paid  £360  for  purchase  of  Dr.  Jacombe's 
son's  share  in  the  mill  and  land  at  Deptford,  which  I 
bought  of  the  Beechers. 

22nd.  I  went  to  Windsor  with  my  wife  and  son  to  see 
my  daughter  Mary,  who  was  there  with  my  Lady  Tuke, 
and  to  do  my  duty  to  his  Majesty.  Next  day,  to  a  great 
entertainment  at  Sir  Robert  Holmes's  at  Cranbourne 
Lodge,  in  the  Forest ;  there  were  his  Majesty,  the  Queen, 
Duke,  Duchess,  and  all  the  Court.  I  returned  in  the 
evening  with  Sir  Joseph  Williamson,  now  declared  Secre- 
tary of  State.  He  was  son  of  a  poor  clergyman  somewhere 
in  Cumberland,  brought  up  at  Queen's  College,  Oxford,  of 

which  he  came  to  be  a  fellow ;  then  travelled  with 

and  returning  when  the  King  was  restored,  was  received 
as  a  Clerk  under  Mr.  Secretary  Nicholas.  Sir  Henry 
Bennett  (now  Lord  Arlington)  succeeding,  WilHamson  is 
transferred  to  him,  who  loving  his  ease  more  than  business 


1674.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  91 

(thoiigli  sufficiently  able  had  he  applied  himself  to  it) 
remitted  all  to  his  man  Williamson ;  and,  in  a  short  time, 
let  him  so  into  the  secret  of  affairs,  that  (as  his  Lordship 
himself  told  me)  there  was  a  kind  of  necessity  to  advance 
him ;  and  so,  by  his  subtlety,  dexterity,  and  insinuation, 
he  got  now  to  be  principal  Secretary;  absolutely  Lord 
Arlington's  creature,  and  ungrateful  enough.  It  has  been 
the  fate  of  this  obliging  favourite  to  advance  those  who 
soon  forgot  their  original.  Sir  Joseph  was  a  musician, 
could  play  at  Jeu  de  Goblets,  exceeding  formal,  a  severe 
master  to  his  servants,  but  so  inward  with  my  Lord 
©""Brien,  that  after  a  few  months  of  that  gentleman's  death, 
he  married  his  widow,*  who,  being  sister  and  heir  of  the 
Duke  of  Richmond,  brought  him  a  noble  fortune.  It  was 
thought  they  lived  not  so  kindly  after  marriage  as  they 
did  before.  She  was  much  censured  for  marrying  so 
meanly,  being  herself  allied  to  the  Royal  family. 

6th  August.  I  went  to  Groombridge,  to  see  my  old 
friend,  Mr.  Packer;  the  house  built  Avithin  a  moat,  in  a 
woody  valley.  The  old  house  had  been  the  place  of  con- 
finement of  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  taken  by  one  Waller 
(whose  house  it  then  was)  at  the  battle  of  Agincourt,  now 
demolished,  and  a  new  one  built  in  its  place,  though  a  far 
better  situation  had  been  on  the  south  of  the  wood,  on  a 
graceful  ascent.  At  some  small  distance,  is  a  large  chapel, 
not  long  since  built  by  Mr.  Packer's  father,  on  a  vow  he 
made  to  do  it  on  the  return  of  King  Charles  I.  out  of 
Spain,  1625,  and  dedicated  to  St.  Charles,  but  what  saint 
there  was  then  of  that  name  I  am  to  seek,  for,  being  a 
Protestant,  I  conceive  it  was  not  Borromeo. 

I  went  to  see  my  farm  at  Ripe,  near  Lewes. 

19th.  His  Majesty  told  me  how  exceedingly  the  Dutch 
were  displeased  at  my  treatise  of  the  "  History  of  Com- 
merce ; "  t  that  the  Holland  Ambassador  had  complained 

*  Lady  Catherine  Stuart,  sister  and  heir  to  Charles  Stuart,  Duke  of  Rich- 
mond and  Lennox,  the  husband  of  tliat  admired  beauty,  Mrs.  Frances  Stuart, 
with  whom  Charles  the  Second  was  so  deeply  in  love,  that  he  never  forgave 
the  Duke  for  marrying  her,  which,  it  is  thought,  he  had  formed  some  inten- 
tion of  doing  himself.  He  took  the  first  opportunity  of  sending  him  into  an 
honourable  exile,  as  Ambassador  to  Denmark,  where  he  shortly  after  died^ 
leaving  no  issue  by  the  Duchess. 

+  Entitled  "  Navigation  and  Commerce,  their  Original  and  Progress,  &c-. 
By  I.  Evelyn,  Esq.,  S.R.S."  8vo,  1674.      Dedicated  to  the  King.     This  was. 


92  DIARY  OF  [WINDSOR, 

to  him  of  what  I  had  touched  of  the  Flags  and  Fishery, 
«^c.,  and  desired  the  book  might  be  called  in ;  whilst^  on 
the  other  side,  he  assured  me  he  was  exceedingly  pleased 
with  what  I  had  done,  and  gave  me  many  thanks.  How- 
ever, it  being  just  upon  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  Breda 
(indeed  it  was  designed  to  have  been  published  some 
months  before  and  when  we  were  at  defiance),  his  Majesty 
told  me  he  must  recall  it  formally;  but  gave  order  that 
what  copies  should  be  publicly  seized  to  pacify  the  Ambas- 
sador, should  immediately  be  restored  to  the  primter,  and 
that  neither  he  nor  the  vender  should  be  molested.  The 
truth  is,  that  which  touched  the  Hollander  was  much 
less  than  what  the  King  himself  furnished  me  with,  and 
obliged  me  to  publish,  having  caused  it  to  be  read  to  him 
before  it  went  to  the  press ;  but  the  error  was,  it  should 
have  been  published  before  the  peace  was  proclaimed. 
The  noise  of  this  book's  suppression  made  it  presently  be 
bought  up,  and  turned  much  to  the  stationer's  advantage. 
It  was  no  other  than  the  Preface  prepared  to  be  prefixedtomy 
History  of  the  whole  War ;  which  I  now  pursued  no  further. 
21st.  In  one  of  the  meadows  at  the  foot  of  the  longTerrace 
below  the  Castle  [Windsor],  works  were  thrown  up  to 
show  the  King  a  representation  of  the  City  of  Maestricht, 
newly  taken  by  the  French.  Bastions,  bulwarks,  ram- 
parts, paHsadoes,  graffs,  horn-Avorks,  counterscarps,  &c., 
were  constructed.  It  was  attacked  by  the  Duke  of  Mon- 
mouth (newly  come  from  the  real  siege)  and  the  Duke  of 
York,  with  a  httle  army,  to  show  their  skill  in  tactics. 
On  Saturday  night,  they  made  their  approaches,  opened 
trenches,  raised  batteries,  took  the  counterscarp  and  rave- 
lin, after  a  stout  defence ;  great  guns  fired  on  both  sides, 
grenadoes  shot,  mines  sprung,  parties  sent  out,  attempts 
of  raising  the  siege,  prisoners  taken,  parleys ;  and,  in  short, 
all  the  circumstances  of  a  formal  siege,  to  appearance,  and, 
what  is  most  strange,  all  without  disorder,  or  ill  accident, 
to  the  great  satisfaction  of  a  thousand  spectators.  Being 
night,  it  made  a  formidable  show.  The  siege  being  over, 
I  went  with  Mr.  Pepys  back  to  London,  where  we  arrived 
about  three  in  the  morning. 

in  fact,  only  the  introduction  to  the  intended  "  History  of  the  Dutch  War," 
and  is  re- printed  in  his  "  Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  625 — 686. 


1674.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  93 

15th  September.  To  Council,  about  fetching  away  the 
English  left  at  Surinam,  &c.,  since  our  reconciliation  with 
Holland. 

21st.  I  went  to  see  the  great  loss  that  Lord  Arlington 
had  sustained  by  fire  at  Goring  House,  this  night  con- 
sumed to  the  ground,  with  exceeding  loss  of  hangings, 
plate,  rare  pictures,  and  cabinets ;  hardly  anything  Avas 
saved  of  the  best  and  most  princely  furniture  that  any 
subject  had  in  England.  My  lord  and  lady  were  both 
absent  at  the  Bath. 

6th  October.  The  Lord  Chief  Baron  Turner,  and  Ser- 
geant Wild,  Recorder  of  London,  came  to  visit  me. 

20th.  At  Lord  Berkeley's,  I  discoursed  with  Sir  Thomas 
Modiford,  late  Governor  of  Jamaica,  and  with  Colonel 
Morgan,  who  undertook  that  gallant  exploit  from  Nombre 
de  Dios  to  Panama,  on  the  Continent  of  America ;  he  told 
me  10,000  men  would  easily  conquer  all  the  Spanish 
Indies,  they  were  so  secure.  They  took  great  booty,  and 
much  greater  had  been  taken,  had  they  not  been  betrayed 
and  so  discovered  before  their  approach,  by  which  the 
Spaniards  had  time  to  carry  their  vast  treasure  on  board 
ships  that  put  off  to  sea  in  sight  of  our  men,  who  had  no 
boats  to  follow.  They  set  fire  to  Panama,  and  ravaged 
the  country  sixty  miles  about.  The  Spaniards  were  so 
supine  and  unexercised,  that  they  were  afraid  to  fire  a 
great  gun. 

31st.  My  birth-day,  54th  year  of  my  life.  Blessed  be 
God  !  It  was  also  preparation-day  for  the  Holy  Sacrament, 
in  which  I  participated  the  next  day,  imploring  God's 
protection  for  the  year  following,  and  confirming  my  reso- 
lutions of  a  more  holy  life,  even  upon  the  Holy  Book. 
The  Lord  assist  and  be  gracious  unto  me  !    Amen. 

15tli  November.  The  anniversary  of  my  baptism  :  I  first 
heard  that  famous  and  excellent  preacher.  Dr.  Burnet 
(author  of  the  History  of  the  Reformation)  on  Colossians 
iii.  10,  with  such  flow  of  eloquence  and  fulness  of  matter,, 
as  showed  him  to  be  a  person  of  extraordinary  parts. 

Being  her  Majesty's  birth-day,  the  Court  was  exceeding 
splendid  in  clothes  and  jewels,  to  the  height  of  excess. 

17th,  To  Council,  on  the  business  of  Surinam,  where 
the  Dutch  had  detained  some  English  in  prison,  ever  since 
the  first  war,  1GG5. 


94  DIARY   OP  [LONDON, 

19th.  I  heard  that  stupendous  violin,  Signor  Nicholao 
(with  other  rare  musicians),  whom  I  never  heard  mortal 
man  exceed  on  that  instrument,  lie  had  a  stroke  so 
sweet,  and  made  it  speak  like  the  voice  of  a  man,  and, 
when  he  pleased,  like  a  concert  of  several  instruments. 
He  did  wonders  upon  a  note,  and  was  an  excellent  com- 
poser. Here  was  also  that  rare  lutanist.  Dr.  Wallgrave ; 
but  nothing  approached  the  violin  in  Nicholao's  hand. 
He  played  such  ravishing  things  as  astonished  us  all. 

2nd  December.  At  Mr.  Slingsby's,  Master  of  the  Mint, 
my  worthy  friend,  a  great  lover  of  music.  Heard  Signor 
Francisco  on  the  harpsichord,  esteemed  one  of  the  most 
excellent  masters  in  Europe  on  that  instrument;  then, 
came  Nicholao  with  his  violin,  and  struck  all  mute,  but 
Mrs.  Knight,  who  sung  incomparably,  and  doubtless  has 
the  greatest  reach  of  any  English  woman ;  she  had  been 
lately  roaming  in  Italy,  and  was  much  improved  in  that 
quality. 

15tli.  Saw  a  comedy  *  at  night,  at  Court,  acted  by  the 
ladies  only,  amongst  them  Lady  Mary  and  Ann,  his  Royal 
Highnesses  two  daughters,  and  my  dear  friend,  Mrs.  Blagg, 
who  having  the  principal  part,  performed  it  to  admiration. 
They  were  all  covered  with  jewels. 

22nd.  Was  at  the  repetition  of  the  Pastoral,  on  which 
occasion  Mrs.  Blagg  had  about  her  near  £20,000  worth  of 
jewels,  of  which  she  lost  one  worth  about  £80,  borrowed 
of  the  Countess  of  Suffolk.  The  press  was  so  great,  that 
it  is  a  wonder  she  lost  no  more.     The  Duke  made  it  good. 

1674-5.  20th  January.  Went  to  see  Mr.  Streeter,  that 
excellent  painter  of  perspective  and  landscape,  to  comfort 
and  encourage  him  to  be  cut  for  the  stone,  with  which 
that  honest  man  was  exceedingly  afflicted.f 

♦  This  was  the  Masque  of  "  Calisto,  or  the  Chaste  Nymph,"  by  John 
Crowne.  The  perfonners  in  the  piece  were,  the  two  daughters  of  the  Duke 
of  York,  Lady  Henrietta  Wentworth  (afterwards  mistress  to  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth),  Countess  of  Sussex,  Lady  Mai-y  Mordaunt,  Mrs.  Blagg,  who  had 
been  Maid  of  Honoiu-  to  the  Queen,  and  Mrs.  Jennings,  then  Maid  of  Honour 
to  the  Duchess  of  York,  and  who  was  afterwards  the  celebrated  Duchess  of 
Marlborough.  The  Duke  of  Monmouth,  Lord  Dumblaine,  Lord  Daincourt, 
and  others,  were  the  dancers  ;  and  Mrs.  Davis,  Mrs.  Knight,  Mrs.  Butler,  and 
others,  Ukewise  acted  and  sung  in  the  performance.  Printed,  London,  1675, 
in  4to. 

+  The  King,  it  is  said,  who  had  a  great  regard  for  this  artist,  sent  for  a 
amous  surgeon  from  Paris,  on  purpose  to  perform  the  operation. 


1675.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  95 

22nd  March.  Supped  at  Sir  William  Petty's,  with  the 
Bishop  of  Salisbury^  and  divers  honourable  persons.  We 
had  a  noble  entertainment  in  a  house  gloriously  furnished ; 
the  master  and  mistress  of  it  were  extraordinary  persons. 
Sir  William  was  the  son  of  a  mean  man  somewhere  in 
Sussex^  and  sent  from  school  to  Oxford,  where  he  studied 
Philosophy,  but  was  most  eminent  in  Mathematics  and 
Mechanics  :  proceeded  Doctor  of  Physic,  and  was  grown 
famous,  as  for  his  learning  so  for  his  recovering  a  poor 
wench  that  had  been  hanged  for  felony;  and  her  body 
having  been  begged  (as  the  custom  is)  for  the  anatomy 
lecture,  he  bled  her,  put  her  to  bed  to  a  warm  woman, 
and,  with  spirits  and  other  means,  restored  her  to  life.  * 
The  young  scholars  joined  and  made  a  little  portion,  and 
married  her  to  a  man  who  had  several  children  by  her,  she 
living  fifteen  years  after,  as  I  have  been  assured.  Sir 
William  came  from  Oxford  to  be  tutor  to  a  neighbour  of 
mine ;  thence,  when  the  rebels  were  dividing  their  con- 
quests in  Ireland,  he  was  employed  by  them  to  measure 
and  set  out  the  land,  which  he  did  on  an  easy  contract,  so 
much  per  acre.  This  he  effected  so  exactly,  that  it  not 
only  furnished  him  with  a  great  sum  of  money;  but 
enabled  him  to  purchase  an  estate  worth  £4000  a  year. 
He  afterwards  married  the  daughter  of  Sir  Hardress 
Waller ;  she  was  an  extraordinary  wit  as  well  as  beauty, 
and  a  prudent  woman. 

Sir  William,  amongst  other  inventions,  was  author  of 
the  double- bottomed  ship,t  which  perished,  and  he  was 
censured  for  rashness,  being  lost  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  in  a 
storm,  when,  I    think,  fifteen  other  vessels  miscarried. 

*  For  a  full  account  of  this  very  remarlcable  event,  see  a  pamphlet,  entitled, 
"  Newes  from  the  Dead,  or  a  true  and  exact  Narration  of  the  miraculous 
Deliverance  of  Anne  Greene,  who  being  executed  at  Oxford,  Dec.  14,  1650, 
afterwards  revived  ;  and  by  the  care  of  certain  Physicians  there,  is  now  per- 
fectly recovered.  Oxford,  the  second  Impression,  with  Additions,  4to,  1651." 
Added  to  the  Narrative  are  several  Copies  of  Verses  in  Latin,  English,  and 
French,"'  by  Gentlemen  of  the  University,  commemorative  of  the  event  ; 
amongst  others,  one  by  Joseph  Williamson,  afterwards  Secretary  of  State, 
another  by  Christopher  Wren,  the  famous  architect,  then  of  Wadham  College, 
Walter  Pope,  Dr.  Ralph  Bathurst  (the  last  under  other  names),  and  many 
more.  This  was  reprinted,  but  very  negligently,  from  the  first  and  worst 
edition,  in  Morgan's  "  Phoenix  Britannicus,"  4to. 

t.  See  vol.  i.  pp.  378.387. 


96  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

This  vessel  was  flat-bottomed,  of  exceeding  use  to  put  into 
shallow  ports,  and  ride  over  small  depths  of  water.  It  con- 
sisted of  two  distinct  keels  cramped  together  with  huge 
timbers,  &c.,  so  as  that  a  violent  stream  ran  between ;  it 
bare  a  monstrous  broad  sail,  and  he  still  persists  that  it  is 
practicable,  and  of  exceeding  use ;  and  he  has  often  told 
me  he  would  adventure  himself  in  such  another,  could  he 
procure  sailors,  and  his  Majesty's  permission  to  make  a 
second  Experiment ;  which  name  the  King  gave  the  vessel 
at  the  launching. 

The  INIap  of  Ireland  made  by  Sir  William  Petty  is 
believed  to  be  the  most  exact  that  ever  yet  was  made  of 
any  country.  He  did  promise  to  publish  it ;  and  I  am  told 
it  has  cost  him  near  £1000  to  have  it  engraved  at  Amster- 
dam. There  is  not  a  better  Latin  poet  living,  when  he 
gives  himself  that  diversion ;  nor  is  his  excellence  less  in 
Council  and  prudent  matters  of  state ;  but  he  is  so  exceed- 
ing nice  in  sifting  and  examining  all  possible  contingencies, 
that  he  adventures  at  nothing  which  is  not  demonstration. 
There  was  not  in  the  whole  world  his  equal  for  a  superin- 
tendent of  manufacture  and  improvement  of  trade,  or  to 
govern  a  plantation.  If  I  were  a  Prince,  I  should  make 
him  my  second  Counsellor,  at  least.  There  is  nothing 
difficult  to  him.  He  is,  besides,  courageous ;  on  which 
account,  I  cannot  but  note  a  true  story  of  him,  that  when 
Sir  Aleyn  Brodrick  sent  him  a  challenge  upon  a  difference 
betwixt  them  in  Ireland,  Sir  William,  though  exceedingly 
purblind,  accepted  the  challenge,  and  it  being  his  part  to 
propound  the  weapon,  desired  his  antagonist  to  meet  him 
with  a  hatchet,  or  axe,  in  a  dark  cellar ;  which  the  other, 
of  course,  refused. 

Sir  William  was,  with  aU  this,  facetious  and  of  easy 
conversation,  friendly  and  courteous,  and  had  such  a  faculty 
of  imitating  others,  that  he  would  take  a  text  and  preach, 
now  like  a  grave  orthodox  divine,  then  falling  into  the 
Presbyterian  way,  then  to  the  fanatical,  the  Quaker,  the 
monk  and  friar,  the  Popish  priest,  with  such  admirable 
action,  and  alteration  of  voice  and  tone,  as  it  was  not 
possible  to  abstain  from  wonder,  and  one  would  swear  to 
hear  several  persons,  or  forbear  to  think  he  was  not  in  good 
earnest  an  enthusiast  and  almost  beside  himself;  then,  he 
would  fall  out  of  it  into  a  serious  discourse ;  but  it  was 


1675.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  97 

very  rarely  lie  would  be  prevailed  on  to  oblige  tlic  company 
with  this  faculty,  and  that  only  amongst  most  intimate 
friends.  My  Lord  Duke  of  Ormond  once  obtained  it  of 
him,  and  was  almost  ravished  with  admiration ;  but  by- 
and-bye,  he  fell  upon  a  serious  reprimand  of  the  faults  and 
miscarriages  of  some  Princes  and  Governors,  which,  though 
he  named  none,  did  so  sensibly  touch  the  Duke,  who  was 
then  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  that  he  began  to  be  very 
uneasy,  and  wished  the  spirit  laid  which  he  had  raised, 
for  he  was  neither  able  to  endure  such  truths,  nor  could 
he  but  be  delighted.  At  last,  he  melted  his  discourse  to  a 
ridiculous  subject,  and  came  down  from  the  joint  stool  on 
which  he  had  stood ;  but  my  lord  would  not  have  him 
preach  any  more.  He  never  could  get  favour  at  Court, 
because  he  outwitted  all  the  projectors  that  came  near  him. 
Having  never  known  such  another  genius,  I  cannot  but 
mention  these  particulars,  amongst  a  multitude  of  others 
which  I  could  produce.  When  I,  who  knew  him  in  mean 
circumstances,  have  been  in  his  splendid  palace,  he  would 
himself  be  in  admiration  how  he  arrived  at  it ;  nor  was  it 
his  value  or  inclination  for  splendid  furniture  and  the 
curiosities  of  the  age,  but  his  elegant  lady  could  endure 
nothing  mean,  or  that  was  not  magnificent.  He  was 
very  negligent  himself,  and  rather  so  of  his  person,  and  of 
a  philosophic  temper.  "  What  a  to-do  is  here  !  "  would  he 
say,  "  I  can  lie  in  straw  with  as  much  satisfaction.^' 

He  is  author  of  the  ingenious  deductions  from  the  bills 
of  mortality,  which  go  under  the  name  of  Mr.  Graunt ; 
also  of  that  useful  discourse  of  the  manufacture  of  wool, 
and  several  others  in  the  register  of  the  Royal  Society. 
He  was  also  author  of  that  paraphrase  on  the  104th 
Psalm  in  Latin  verse,  which  goes  about  in  MS.,  and  is 
inimitable.  In  a  word,  there  is  nothing  impenetrable  to 
him. 

20th.  Dr.  Brideoake,  was  elected  Bishop  of  Chichester, 
on  the  translation  of  Dr.  Gunning,  to  Ely. 

30th.  Dr.  Allestree  preached  on  Romans,  vi.  3,  the 
necessity  of  those  who  are  baptized,  to  die  to  sin;  a  very 
excellent  discourse  from  an  excellent  preacher. 

25th  April.  Dr.  Barrow,*  that  excellent,  pious,  and  most 

*  Master  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge  ;  succeeded  Dr.  John  Pearson, 
made  Bishop  of  Chester, 

VOL.  II.  H 


98  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

learned  man,  divine,  mathematician,  poet,  traveller,  and 
most  humble  person,  preached  at  Whitehall  to  the  house- 
hold, on  Luke,  xx.  27,  of  love  and  charity  to  our 
neighbours. 

29th.  I  read  my  first  discourse  "  Of  Earth  and  Vegeta- 
tion "  before  the  Royal  Society  as  a  lecture  in  course,  after 
Sir  Robert  Southwell  had  read  his  the  week  before  "  On 
Water."  I  was  commanded  by  our  President,  and  the 
suffrage  of  the  Society,  to  print  it. 

16th  May.  This  day  was  my  dear  friend,  Mrs.  Blagg, 
married  at  the  Temple  Church  to  my  friend,  Mr.  Sidney 
Godolphin,  Groom  of  the  Bedchamber  to  his  Majesty. 

18th.  I  went  to  visit  one  Mr.  Bathurst,  a  Spanish 
merchant,  my  neighbour. 

81st.  I  went  with  Lord  Ossory  to  Deptford,  where  we 
chose  him  Master  of  the  Trinity  Company. 

2nd  June.  I  was  at  a  conference  of  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons in  the  Painted  Chamber,  on  a  difference  about 
imprisoning  some  of  their  members ;  and,  on  the  3rd,  at 
another  conference,  when  the  Lords  accused  the  Commons 
for  their  transcendent  misbehaviour,  breach  of  privilege. 
Magna  Charta,  subversion  of  government,  and  other  high, 
provoking,  and  diminishing  expressions,  showing  what 
duties  and*  subjection  they  owed  to  the  Lords  in  Parlia- 
ment, by  record  of  Henry  IV.  This  was  likely  to  create 
a  notable  disturbance. 

15th.  This  afternoon,  came  Monsieur  Querouaille  and 
his  lady,  parents  to  the  famous  beauty  and  ***** 
favourite  at  Court,  to  see  Sir  E.  Browne,  with  whom  they 
were  intimately  acquainted  in  Bretagne,  at  the  time  Sir 
Richard  was  sent  to  Brest  to  supervise  his  Majesty's  sea- 
affairs,  during  the  later  part  of  the  King's  banishment. 
This  gentleman's  house  was  not  a  mile  from  Brest ;  Sir 
Richard  made  an  acquaintance  there,  and,  being  used  very 
civilly,  was  obliged  to  return  it  here,  which  we  did.  He 
seemed  a  soldierly  person  and  a  good  fellow,  as  the  Bretons 
generally  are;  his  lady  had  been  very  handsome,  and 
seemed  a  shrewd  understanding  woman.  Conversing  with 
him  in  our  garden,  I  found  several  words  of  the  Breton 
language  the  same  with  our  Welch.  His  daughter  was 
now  made  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  and  in  the  height  of 
favour ;  but  he  never  made  any  use  of  it. 


1675.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  99 

27th.  At  Ely  House,  I  went  to  the  consecration  of  my 
worthy  friend,  the  learned  Dr.  Barlow,  Warden  of  Queen's 
College,  Oxford,  now  made  Bishop  of  Lincoln.  After  it, 
succeeded  a  magnificent  feast,  where  were  the  Duke  of 
Ormond,  Earl  of  Lauderdale,  the  Lord  Treasurer,  Lord 
Keeper,  &c. 

8th  July.  I  went  with  Mrs.  Howard  and  her  two 
daughters  towards  Northampton  assizes,  about  a  trial  at 
law,  in  which  I  was  concerned  for  them  as  a  trustee.  We 
lay  this  night  at  Henley-on-the-Thames,  at  our  attorney, 
Mr.  Stephens's,  who  entertained  us  very  handsomely. 
Next  day,  dining  at  Shotover,  at  Sir  Timothy  Tjrrill's,  a 
sweet  place,  we  lay  at  Oxford,  where  it  was  the  time  of  the 
Act.  Mr.  Robert  Spencer,  uncle  to  the  Earl  of  Sunder- 
land, and  my  old  acquaintance  in  France,  entertained 
us  at  his  apartment  in  Christ  Church,  with  exceeding 
generosity. 

10th.  The  Vice-Chancellor,  Dr.  Bathurst  (who  had 
formerly  taken  particular  care  of  my  son).  President  of 
Trinity  College,  invited  me  to  dinner,  and  did  me  great 
honour  all  the  time  of  my  stay.  The  next  day,  he  invited 
me  and  all  my  company,  though  strangers  to  him,  to  a 
very  noble  feast.  I  was  at  all  the  academic  exercises. — 
Sunday,  at  St.  Mary's,  preached  a  Fellow  of  Brazen-nose,, 
not  a  little  magnifying  the  dignity  of  Churchmen. 

11th.  We  heard  the  speeches,  and  saw  the  ceremony 
of  creating  Doctors  in  Divinity,  Law,  and  Physic.  I  had^ 
early  in  the  morning,  heard  Dr.  Morison,  Botanic  Pro- 
fessor, read  on  divers  plants  in  the  Physic  Garden :  and 
saw  that  rare  collection  of  natural  curiosities  of  Dr.  Plot's, 
of  Magdalen  Hall,  author  of  "The  Natural  History  of 
Oxfordshire,"  all  of  them  collected  in  that  shire,  and  indeed 
extraordinary,  that  in  one  county  there  should  be  found 
such  variety  of  plants,  shells,  stones,  minerals,  marcasites, 
fowls,  insects,  models  of  works,  crystals,  agates,  and 
marbles.  He  was  now  intending  to  visit  Staffordshire, 
and,  as  he  had  of  Oxfordshire,  to  give  us  the  natural, 
topical,  pohtical,  and  mechanical  history.  Pity  it  is  that 
more  of  this  industrious  man's  genius  were  not  employed 
so  to  describe  every  county  of  England ;  it  would  be  one 
of  the  most  useful  and  illustrious  works  that  was  ever 
.produced  in  any  age,  or  nation. 

h2 


100  DIARY  OF  [althorpe, 

I  visited  also  the  Bodleian  Library,  and  my  old  friend, 
the  learned  Obadiah  Walker,  head  of  University  College, 
which  he  had  now  almost  re-built,  or  repaired.  We  then 
proceeded  to  Northampton,  where  we  arrived  the  next 
day. 

In  this  journey,  went  part  of  the  way  Mr.  James  Graham 
(since  Privy  Purse  to  the  Duke),  a  young  gentleman 
exceedingly  in  love  with  Mrs.  Dorothy  Howard,  one  of  the 
Maids  of  Honour  in  our  company.*  I  could  not  but  pity 
them  both,  the  mother  not  much  favouring  it.  This  lady 
was  not  only  a  great  beauty,  but  a  most  virtuous  and 
excellent  creature,  and  worthy  to  have  been  wife  to  the 
best  of  men.  My  advice  was  required,  and  I  spake  to  the 
advantage  of  the  young  gentleman,  more  out  of  pity  than 
that  she  deserved  no  better  match ;  for,  though  he  was  a 
gentleman  of  good  family,  yet  there  was  great  inequality. 

14th.  I  Avent  to  see  my  Lord  Sunderland's  Seat  at 
Althorpe,  four  miles  from  the  ragged  town  of  Northampton 
(since  burned,  and  well  re-built) .  It  is  placed  in  a  pretty 
open  bottom,  very  finely  watered  and  flanked  with  stately 
woods  and  groves  in  a  park,  with  a  canal,  but  the  water  is 
not  running,  which  is  a  defect.  The  house,  a  kind  of 
modern  building,  of  freestone,  within  most  nobly  furnished ; 
the  apartments  very  commodious,  a  gallery  and  noble  hall ; 
but  the  kitchen  being  in  the  body  of  the  house,  and  chapel 
too  small,  were  defects.  There  is  an  old  yet  honourable 
gate-house  standing  awry,  and  out-housing  mean,  but 
designed  to  be  taken  away.  It  was  moated  round,  after  the 
old  manner,  but  it  is  now  dry,  and  turfed  with  a  beautiful 
carpet.  Above  all,  are  admirable  and  magnificent  the 
several  ample  gardens  furnished  with  the  choicest  fruit, 
and  exquisitely  kept.  Great  plenty  of  oranges,  and  other 
curiosities.  The  park  full  of  fowl,  especially  herns,  and 
from  it  a  prospect  to  Holmby  House,  which  being  demo- 
lished in  the  late  civil  wars,  shows  like  a  Roman  ruin, 
shaded  by  the  trees  about  it,  a  stately,  solemn,  and  pleasing 
view. 

15th.  Om*  cause  was  pleaded  in  behalf  of  the  mother, 
Mrs.  Howard  t  and  her  daughters,  before  Baron  Thurland, 

"  He  afterwards  married  her.     See  p.  101,  note. 

+  Mrs.  Howard  was  widow  of  William,  fourth  son  of  the  first  Earl  of  Berk- 
shire, beuig  the  daughter  of  Lord  Dundas,  of  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland.  They 


1675.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  JQl 

■who  had  formerly  been  steward  of  Courts  for  me ;  we 
carried  our  cause,  as  there  was  reason,  for  here  was  an 
imprudent  as  well  as  disobedient  son  against  his  mother, 
by  instigation,  doubtless,  of  his  wife,  one  Mrs,  Ogle  (an 
ancient  maid),  whom  he  had  clandestinely  married,  and 
who  brought  him  no  fortune,  he  being  heir-apparent  to  the 
Earl  of  Berkshire.  We  lay  at  Brick-hill,  in  Bedfordshire, 
and  came  late  the  next  day  to  our  journey's  end. 

This  was  a  journey  of  adventures  and  knight-errantry. 
One  of  the  lady's  servants  being  as  desperately  in  love 
with  Mrs.  Howard's  woman,  as  Mr.  Graham  was  with  her 
daughter,  and  she  riding  on  horseback  behind  his  rival, 
the  amorous  and  jealous  youth  having  a  little  drink  in  his 
pate,  had  here  killed  himself  had  he  not  been  prevented ; 
for,  alighting  from  his  horse,  and  drawing  his  sword,  he 
endeavoured  twice  or  thrice  to  fall  on  it,  but  was  inter- 
rupted by  our  coachman,  and  a  stranger  passing  by.  After 
this,  running  to  his  rival,  and  snatching  his  sword  from  his 
side  (for  we  had  beaten  his  own  out  of  his  hand),  and  on 
the  sudden  pulling  down  his  mistress,  would  have  run 
both  of  them  through ;  we  parted  them,  not  without  some 
blood.  This  miserable  creature  poisoned  himself  for  her 
nob  many  days  after  they  came  to  London. 

19th.  The.  Lord  Treasurer's  Chaplain  preached  at 
Wallingford-House. 

9th  August.  Dr.  Sprat,  prebend  of  Westminster,  and 
Chaplain  to  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  preached  on  the 
3rd  Epistle  of  Jude,  showing  what  the  primitive  faith  was, 
how  near  it  and  how  excellent  that  of  the  Church  of 
England,  also  the  danger  of  departing  from  it. 

27th.  I  visited  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  at  Bromley,  and 
dined  at  Sir  Philip  Warwick's,  at  Frogpoole  [Frognall] . 

2nd  September.  I  went  to  see  Dulwich  College,  being 

had  one  son,  Craven  Howard,  and  two  daughters,  Dorothy,  who  manned 
Colonel  James  Grehme,  of  Levens,  in  Westmoreland  ;  and  Anne,  who  married 
Sir  Gabriel  Sylvius,  Knt.  Craven  married  two  wives,  the  first  of  whom  was 
Anno,  daughter  of  Thomas  Ogle,  of  Pinchbeck,  co.  Line.  Esq. ;  then  Maid  of 
Honour  to  Queen  Cathei'ine.  Collins's  Peerage,  vol.  II.  pp.  139,  140,  edit. 
17;i). 

These  two  daughters  are  the  ladies  here  mentioned  by  Mr.  Evelyn  ;  but 
ho  is  not  correct  in  calling  Craven  heir-apparent  of  the  Earl  of  Berks,  who, 
besides  the  uncle  then  in  possession  of  the  title,  there  was  another  uncle  before 
him,  who  in  fact  inherited  it,  and  did  not  die  till  many  years  after. 


102  DIARY  OF  [londok, 

the  pious  foundation  of  one  Alleyn,  a  famous  comedian,  in 
King  James's  time.  The  chapel  is  pretty,  the  rest  of  the 
hospital  very  ill-contrived  j  it  yet  maintains  divers  poor  of 
both  sexes.  It  is  in  a  melancholy  part  of  Camberwell 
parish.  I  came  back  by  certain  medicinal  Spa  waters,  at 
a  place  called  Sydenham  Wells,  in  Lewisham  parish,  much 
frequented  in  summer. 

1 0th.  I  was  casually  showed  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth's 
splendid  apartment  at  Whitehall,  luxuriously  furnished, 
and  with  ten  times  the  richness  and  glory  beyond  the 
Queen's;  such  massy  pieces  of  plate,  whole  tables,  and 
stands  of  incredible  value. 

29th.  I  saw  the  Italian  Scaramuccio  act  before  the 
King  at  Whitehall,  people  giving  money  to  come  in,  which 
was  very  scandalous,  and  never  so  before  at  Court-diversions. 
Having  seen  him  act  before  in  Italy,  many  years  past,  I 
was  not  averse  from  seeing  the  most  excellent  of  that  kind 
of  folly. 

14th  October.  Dined  at  Kensington  with  my  old  ac- 
quaintance, Mr.  Henshaw,  newly  returned  from  Denmark, 
where  he  had  been  left  resident  after  the  death  of  the 
Duke  of  Richmond,  who  died  there  Ambassador. 

15th.  I  got  an  extreme  cold,  such  as  was  afterwards  so 
epidemical,  as  not  only  to  afflict  us  in  this  island,  but  was 
rife  over  all  Europe,  like  a  plague.  It  was  after  an 
exceeding  dry  summer  and  autumn. 

I  settled  affairs,  my  Son  being  to  go  into  France  with 
my  Lord  Berkeley,  designed  Ambassador-extraordinary 
for  France  and  Plenipotentiary  for  the  general  treaty  of 
peace  at  Nimeguen. 

24th.  Dined  at  Lord  Chamberlain's  with  the  Holland 
Ambassador  L.  Duras,  a  valiant  gentleman  whom  his 
Majesty  made  an  EngUsli  Baron,  of  a  cadet,  and  gave  him 
his  seat  of  Holmby,  in  Northamptonshire,  [since  Earl  of 
Feversham].* 

27th.  Lord  Berkeley  coming  into  Council,  fell  down  in 
the  gallery  at  Whitehall  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  and,  being 
carried  into  my  Lord  Chamberlain's  lodgings,  several 
famous  doctors  were  employed  all  that  night,  and  with 
much  ado  he  was  at  last  recovered  to  some   sense,  by 

•  See  Baker's  Nortlmmptonsliire,  vol,  I.,  p.  197. 


1675.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  |03 

applying  hot  fire-pans  and  spirit  of  amber  to  his  head; 
hut  nothing  was  found  so  effectual  as  cupping  him  on  the 
shoulder^.  It  was  almost  a  miraculous  restoration.  The 
next  day  he  was  carried  to  Berkeley-House.  This  stopped 
his  journey  for  the  present,  and  caused  my  stay  in  town. 
He  had  put  all  his  affairs  and  his  whole  estate  in  England 
into  my  hands  during  his  intended  absence,  which  though 
I  was  very  unfit  to  undertake,  in  regard  of  many  businesses 
which  then  took  me  up,  yet,  upon  the  great  importunity  of  my 
lady  and  Mr.  Grodolphin  (to  whom  I  could  refuse  nothing) 
I  did  take  it  on  me.  It  seems  when  he  was  Deputy  in 
Ireland,  not  long  before,  he  had  been  much  wronged  by 
one  he  left  in  trust  with  his  affairs,  and  therefore  wished 
for  some  unmercenary  friend  who  would  take  that  trouble 
on  him ;  this  was  to  receive  his  rents,  look  after  his  houses 
and  tenants,  solicit  supplies  from  the  Lord  Treasurer,  and 
correspond  weekly  with  him,  more  than  enough  to  employ 
any  drudge  in  England ;  but  what  will  not  friendship  and 
love  make  one  do  ? 

31st.  Dined  at  my  Lord  Chamberlain^s,  with  my  Son. 
There  were  the  learned  Isaac  Vossius,  and  Spanhemius, 
son  of  the  famous  man  of  Heidelberg,  nor  was  this  gentle- 
man less  learned,  being  a  general  scholar.  Amongst 
other  pieces,  he  was  author  of  an  excellent  treatise  on 
Medals. 

10th  November.  Being  the  day  appointed  for  my  Lord 
Ambassador  to  set  out,  I  met  them  with  my  coach  at  New 
Cross.  There  were  with  him  my  Lady  his  wife,  and  my 
dear  friend,  Mrs.  Godolphin,  who,  out  of  an  extraordinary 
friendship,  would  needs  accompany  my  lady  to  Paris,  and 
stay  with  her  some  time,  which  was  the  chief  inducement 
for  permitting  my  Son  to  travel,  but  I  kncAV  him  safe  under 
her  inspection,  and  in  regard  my  Lord  himself  had  promised 
to  take  him  into  his  special  faA'our,  he  having  intrusted  all 
he  had  to  my  care. 

Thus,  we  set  out,  three  coaches  (besides  mine),  three 
waggons,  and  about  forty  horse.  It  being  late,  and  my 
Lord  as  yet  but  valetudinary,  we  got  but  to  Dartford,  the 
first  day;  the  next,  to  Sittingbourne. 

At  Rochester,  the  major,  Mr.  Cony,  then  an  officer  of 
mine  for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  that  place,  gave  the 
ladies  a  handsome  refreshment  as  we  came  bv  his  house. 


104  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

12tli.  We  came  to  Canterbury ;  and,  next  morning,  to 
Dover. 

There  was  in  my  Lady  Ambassadress's  company  my  Lady 
Hamilton,  a  sprightly  young  lady,  much  in  the  good  graces 
of  the  family,  wife  of  that  valiant  and  worthy  gentleman 
George  Hamilton,  not  long  after  slain  in  the  wars.  She 
had  been  a  maid  of  honour  to  the  Duchess,  and  now  turned 
Papist. 

14th.  Being  Sunday,  my  Lord  having  before  delivered 
to  me  his  letter  of  attorney,  iieys,  seal,  and  his  Will,  we 
took  solemn  leave  of  one  another  upon  the  beach,  the 
coaches  carrying  them  into  the  sea  to  the  boats,  which 
delivered  them  to  Captain  Gunman's  yacht,  the  Mary. 
Being  under  sail,  the  castle  gave  them  seventeen  guns, 
which  Captain  Gunman  answered  with  eleven.  Hence,  I 
went  to  church,  to  beg  a  blessing  on  their  voyage. 

2nd  December.  Being  returned  home,  I  visited  Lady 
Mordaunt,  at  Parson's  Green,  my  Lord  her  son  being  sick. 
This  pious  woman  delivered  to  me  £100  to  bestow  as  I 
thought  fit  for  the  release  of  poor  prisoners,  and  other 
charitable  uses. 

21st.  Visited  her  Ladyship  again,  where  I  found  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  whom  I  had  long  known  in  France ; 
he  invited  me  to  his  house  at  Chelsea. 

23rd.  Lady  Sunderland  gave  me  ten  guineas,  to  bestow 
in  charities. 

1675-6.  20th  February.  Dr.  Gunning,  Bishop  of  Ely, 
preached  before  the  King  from  St.  John,  xx.  21,  22,  23, 
chiefly  against  an  anonymous  book,  called  "  Naked 
Truth,"  a  famous  and  popular  treatise  against  the  cor- 
ruption in  the  Clergy,  but  not  sound  as  to  its  quotations, 
supposed  to  have  been  the  Bishop  of  Hereford's  [Dr. 
Herbert  Croft],  and  was  answered  by  Dr.  Turner,  it  en- 
deavouring to  prove  an  equahty  of  order  of  Bishop  and 
Presbyter. 

27th.  Dr.  Pritchard,  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  preached  at 
Whitehall,  on  Isaiah,  v.  5,  very  allegorically  according  to 
his  manner,  yet  very  gravely  and  wittily. 

29th.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Povey,  one  of  the  Masters  of 
Requests,  a  nice  contriver  of  all  elegances,  and  exceedingly 
formal.  Supped  with  Sir  J.  Williamson,  where  were  of 
our  Society  Mr.  Robert  Boyle,  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  Sir 


1G76.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ]  05 

William  Petty,  Dr.  Holden,  sub-dean  of  his  Majesty^s 
Chapel,  Sir  James  Shaen,  Dr.  Whistler,  and  our  Secretary, 
Mr.  Oldenburg. 

4th  March.  Sir  Thomas  Linch  was  returned  from  his 
government  of  Jamaica. 

ICth.  The  Countess  of  Sunderland  and  I  went  by  water 
to  Parson's-green,  to  visit  my  Lady  Mordaunt,  and  to 
consult  with  her  about  my  Lord's  monument.  We  returned 
by  coach. 

19th.  Dr.  Lloyd,  late  Curate  at  Deptford,  but  now 
Bishop  of  LlandafF,  preached  before  the  King,  on  1  Cor., 
XV.  57,  that,  though  sin  subjects  us  to  death,  yet  through 
Christ  we  become  his  conquerors. 

23rd.  To  Twickenham  Park,  Lord  Berkeley's  country-seat, 
to  examine  how  the  bailiffs  and  servants  ordered  matters. 

24th.  Dr.  Brideoake,*  Bishop  of  Chichester,  preached 
a  mean  discourse  for  a  Bishop.  I  also  heard  Dr.  Fleet- 
wood, Bishop  of  Worcester,  on  Matt.,  xxvi.  38,  of  the  sor- 
rows of  Christ,  a  deadly  sorrow  caused  by  our  sins ;  he 
was  no  great  preacher. 

30th.  Dining  with  my  Lady  Sunderland,  I  saw  a  fellow 
swallow  a  knife,  and  divers  great  pebble  stones,  which 
would  make  a  plain  rattling  one  against  another.  The 
knife  was  in  a  sheath  of  horn. 

Dr.  North,  son  of  my  Lord  North,  preached  before 
the  King,  on  Isaiah,  liii.  57,  a  very  young,  but  learned 
and  excellent  person.  Note.  This  was  the  first  time  the 
Duke  appeared  no  more  in  chapel,  to  the  infinite  grief  and 
threatened  ruin  of  this  poor  nation. 

2nd  April.  I  had  now  notice  that  my  dear  friend,  Mrs. 
Godolphin,  was  returning  from  Paris.  On  the  6th,  she 
arrived  to  my  great  joy,  whom  I  most  heartily  welcomed. 

2Sth.  My  Avife  entertained  her  Majesty  at  Deptford, 
for  which  the  Queen  gave  me  thanks  in  the  withdrawing- 
room  at  Whitehall. 

The  University  of  Oxford  presented  me  with  the  "  Mar- 
mora Oxoniensia  Arundeliana ; "  f  the  Bishop  of  Oxford 
writing  to  desire  that  I  would  introduce  Mr.  Prideaux,  the 
editor  (a  young  man  most  learned  in  antiquities)  to  the 

*  Ralph  Bi'ideoake,  Dean  of  Salisbury,  succeeded  Bishop  Gunning  in  this 
Sep. 

f  This  copy  is  in  the  library,  at  Wotton. 


106  DIARY    OF  [ENFIELD, 

Duke  of  Norfolk,  to  present  another  dedicated  to  his 
Grace,  which  I  did,  and  we  dined  with  the  Duke  at  Arundel 
House,  and  supped  at  the  Bishop  of  Rochester's,  with 
Isaac  Vossius. 

7th  May.  I  spoke  to  the  Duke  of  York,  about  my  Lord 
Berkeley's  going  to  Nimeguen.  Thence,  to  the  Queen's 
Council  at  Somerset  House,  about  Mrs.  Godolphin's  lease 
of  Spalding,  in  Lincolnshire. 

11th.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Charleton,  and  went  to  see 
Mr.  Montague's  new  palace  near  Bloomsbury,  built  by 
Mr.  Hooke,  of  our  Society,  after  the  French  manner.* 

13th.  Returned  home,  and  found  my  son  returned  from 
France ;  praised  be  God  ! 

22nd.  Trinity  Monday.  A  chaplain  of  my  Lord  Ossory^s 
preached,  after  which  we  took  barge  to  Trinity-House  in 
London.  Mr.  Pepys  (Secretary  of  the  Admiralty)  suc- 
ceeded my  Lord  as  Master. 

2nd  June.  I  went  with  my  Lord  Chamberlain  to  see  a 
garden  f  at  Enfield  town ;  thence,  to  Mr.  Secretary  Coven- 
try's lodge  in  the  Chace.  It  is  a  very  pretty  place,  the 
house  commodious,  the  gardens  handsome,  and  our  enter- 
tainment very  free,  there  being  none  but  my  Lord  and 
myself.  That  which  I  most  wondered  at  was,  that,  in  the 
compass  of  twenty-five  miles,  yet  within  fourteen  of 
London,  there  is  not  a  house,  barn,  church,  or  building, 
besides  three  lodges.  J  To  this  Lodge  are  three  great 
ponds,  and  some  few  inclosures,  the  rest  a  solitary  desert, 
yet  stored  with  not  less  than  8,000  deer.  These  are  pretty 
retreats  for  gentlemen,  especially  for  those  who  are 
studious  and  lovers  of  privacy. 

We  returned  in  the  evening  by  Hampstead,  to  see  Lord 
Wotton's  house  and  garden  (Bellsize  House  §),  built  with 
vast  expense  by  Mr.  O'Neale,  an  Irish  gentleman  who 
married  Lord  Wotton's  mother.  Lady  Stanhope.  The 
furniture  is  very  particular  for  Indian  cabinets,  porcelain 
and  other  solid  and  noble  moveables.  The  gallery  very 
fine,  the  gardens  very  large,  but  ill  kept,  yet  woody  and 

*  Now  the  British  Museum. 

t  Probably,  Dr.  Robert  U  vedale's.     See  an  account  of  it  in  «  Archseologia," 
vol.  XII,  p.  188,  and  Robinson's  «  History  of  Enfield,"  vol.  I.,  p.  111. 
X  Enfield  Chase  was  divided  in  1777. 
§  See  Park's  "  History  of  Hampstead." 


1676.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  107 

chargeable.  The  soil  a  cold  weeping  clay,  not  answering 
the  expense. 

12th.  I  went  to  Sir  Thomas  Bond's  new  and  fine  house 
by  Peckham ;  it  is  on  a  flat,  but  has  a  fine  garden  and 
prospect  through  the  meadows  to  London. 

2nd  July.  Dr.  Castillion,  Prebend  of  Canterbury, 
preached  before  the  King,  on  John,  xv.  22,  at  Whitehall. 

19th.  Went  to  the  funeral  of  Sir  William  Sanderson, 
husband  to  the  Mother  of  the  Maids,*  and  author  of  two 
large  but  mean  histories  of  King  James  and  King  Charles 
the  First.     He  was  buried  at  Westminster. 

1st  August.  In  the  afternoon,  after  prayers  at  St. 
James's  Chapel,  was  christened  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Leake's, 
the  Duke's  Chaplain :  godmothers  were  Lady  Mary, 
daughter  of  the  Duke  of  York,  and  the  Duchess  of  Mon- 
mouth; godfather,  the  Earl  of  Bath. 

15th.  Came  to  dine  with  me  my  Lord  Halifax,  Sir  Thomas 
Meeres,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  Sir 
John  Clayton,  Mr.  Slingsby,  Mr.  Henshaw,  and  Mr. 
Bridgeman. 

25th.  Dined  with  Sir  John  Banks  at  his  house  in  Lin- 
coln's Inn  Fields,  on  recommending  Mr.  Upman  to  be  tutor 
to  his  son  going  into  France.  This  Sir  John  Banks  was  a 
merchant  of  small  beginning,  but  had  amassed  £100,000. 

26th.  I  dined  at  the  Admiralty  Avith  Secretary  Pepys, 
and  supped  at  the  Lord  Chamberlain's.  Here  was  Captain 
Baker,  who  had  been  lately  on  the  attempt  of  the  North- 
west passage.  He  reported  prodigious  depth  of  ice,  blue 
as  a  sapphire,  and  as  transparent.  The  thick  mists  were 
their  chief  impediment,  and  cause  of  their  return. 

2nd  September.  I  paid  £1,700  to  the  Marquis  de  Sissac, 
which  he  had  lent  to  my  Lord  Berkeley,  and  which  I  heard 
the  Marquis  lost  at  play  in  a  night  or  two. 

The  Dean  of  Chichester  preached  before  the  King, 
on  Acts,  xxiv.  IG  ;  and  Dr.  Crichton  preached  the  second 
sermon  before  him  on  Psalm,  xc.  12,  of  wisely  numbering 
our  days,  and  well  employing  our  time. 

3rd,  Dined  at  Captain  Graham's,  where  I  became 
acquainted  with  Dr.  Compton,  (brother  to  the  Earl  of 
Northampton)   now  Bishop   of  London,  and  Mr.  North, 

*  See  Volume  I,  p.  363. 


208  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

son  to  the  Lord  North,  brother  to  the  Lord  Chief  Justice 
and  Clerk  of  the  Closet,  a  most  hopeful  young  man.  The 
Bishop  had  once  been  a  soldier,  had  also  travelled  Italy, 
and  became  a  most  sober,  grave,  and  excellent  prelate. 

6th.  Supped  at  the  Lord  Chamberlain^s,  where  also 
supped  the  famous  beauty  and  errant  lady,  the  Duchess  of 
Mazarine  (all  the  world  knows  her  story),  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth,  Countess  of  Sussex  (both  natural  children  of 
the  King  by  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland*),  and  the  Countess 
of  Derby,  a  virtuous  lady,  daughter  to  my  best  friend,  the 
Earl  of  Ossory. 

10th.  Dined  with  me  Mr.  Flamsted,  the  learned  astrolo- 
ger and  mathematician,  whom  his  Majesty  had  established 
in  the  new  Observatory  in  Greenwich  Park,  furnished  with 
the  choicest  instruments.     An  honest,  sincere  man. 

12th.  To  London,  to  take  order  about  the  building  of 
a  house,  or  rather  an  apartment,  which  had  all  the  conve- 
niencies  of  a  house,  for  my  dear  friend,  Mr.  Godolphin  and 
lady,  which  I  undertook  to  contrive  and  survey,  and  employ 
workmen  until  it  should  be  quite  finished ;  it  being  just 
over-against  his  Majesty's  wood-yard  by  the  Thames  side, 
leading  to  Scotland-yard. 

19th.  To  Lambeth,  to  that  rare  magazine  of  marble,  to 
take  order  for  chimney-pieces,  &c.,  for  Mr.  Godolphin's 
house.  The  owner  of  the  works  had  built  for  himself  a 
pretty  dwelling-house ;  this  Dutchman  had  contracted 
with  the  Genoese  for  all  their  marble.  We  also  saw  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham's  glass-work,  where  they  made  huge 
vases  of  metal  as  clear,  ponderous  and  thick  as  crystal; 
also  looking-glasses  far  larger  and  better  than  any  that 
come  from  Venice. 

9th  October.  I  went  with  Mrs.  Godolphin  and  my  wife 
to  Blackwall,  to  see  some  Indian  curiosities ;  the  streets 
being  slippery,  I  fell  against  a  piece  of  timber  with  such 

•  Mr.  Evelj-n  forgot  himself  here.  The  Duke  of  Monmouth's  mother  was, 
it  is  well  known,  Mrs.  Lucy  Walters,  who  was  sometimes  called  Mrs.  Barlow 
(mentioned  before).  Lady  Anne  Fitzroy,  as  she  is  called  in  the  books  of 
Peerage,  was  married  to  Lennard  Dacre,  Earl  of  Sussex,  by  whom  she  left  a 
daughter  only,  who  succeeded,  on  her  father's  death,  to  the  Barony  of  Dacre  : 
Mr,  Evelyn  probably  meant  to  speak  of  either  the  Duke  of  Southampton,  the 
Duke  of  Grafton,  or  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  all  of  whom  Charles  the 
Second  had  by  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland, 


1677.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  l(jg 

violence  that  I  could  not  speak  nor  fetch  my  breatli  for 
some  space  :  being  carried  into  a  house  and  let  blood,  I 
was  removed  to  the  water-side  and  so  home,  where,  after  a 
day's  rest,  I  recovered.  This  being  one  of  my  greatest 
deliverances,  the  Lord  Jesus  make  me  ever  mindful  and 
thankful ! 

31st.  Being  my  birthday,  and  fifty-six  years  old,  I  spent 
the  morning  in  devotion  and  imploring  God's  protection, 
with  solemn  thanksgiving  for  all  his  signal  mercies  to  me, 
especially  for  that  escape  which  concerned  me  this  month 
at  Blackwall.  Dined  with  Mrs.  Godolphin,  and  returned 
home  through  a  prodigious  and  dangerous  mist. 

9th  November.  Finished  the  lease  of  Spalding,  for  Mr. 
Godolphin. 

16th.  My  son  and  I  dining  at  my  Lord  Chamberlain's, 
he  showed  us  amongst  others  that  incomparable  piece  of 
Raphael's,  being  a  Minister  of  State  dictating  to  Guicci- 
ardini,  the  earnestness  of  whose  face  looking  up  in  expecta- 
tion of  what  he  was  next  to  write,  is  so  to  the  life,  and  so 
natural,  as  I  esteem  it  one  of  the  choicest  pieces  of  that 
admirable  artist.  There  was  a  Woman's  head  of  Leonardo 
da  Vinci ;  a  Madonna  of  old  Palma,  and  two  of  Vandyke's, 
of  which  one  was  his  own  picture  at  length,  when  young, 
in  a  leaning  posture ;  the  other  an  eunuch  singing.  Rare 
pieces  indeed ! 

4th  December.  I  saw  the  great  ball  danced  by  all  the 
gallants  and  ladies  at  the  Duchess  of  York's. 

10th.  There  fell  so  deep  a  snow,  as  hindered  us  from 
church. 

12th.  To  London,  in  so  great  a  snow,  as  I  remember  not 
to  have  seen  the  like. 

17th.  More  snow  falling,  I  was  not  able  to  get  to  church. 

1676-7.  8th  February.  I  went  to  Eoehampton,  with  my 
lady  Duchess  of  Ormond.  The  garden  and  perspective  is 
pretty,  the  prospect  most  agreeable. 

15th  May.  Came  the  Earl  of  Peterborough,  to  desire 
me  to  be  a  trustee  for  Lord  Viscount  Mordaunt  and  the 
Countess,  for  the  sale  of  certain  lands  set  out  by  Act  of 
Parliament,  to  pay  debts. 

12th  June.  I  went  to  London,  to  give  the  Lord 
Ambassador  Berkeley  (now  returned  from  the  treaty  at 
N-imeguen)  an  account  of  the  great  trust  reposed  in  me 


WQ  DIARY    OP  [ST.  EDMUNDS  BUKT, 

during  his  absence,  I  having  received  and  remitted  to  him 
no  less  than  £20,000  to  my  no  small  trouble  and  loss  of 
time,  that  during  his  absence  and  when  the  Lord  Treasurer 
was  no  great  friend  [of  his]  I  yet  procured  him  great 
sums,  very  often  soliciting  his  Majesty  in  his  behalf; 
looking  after  the  rest  of  his  estate  and  concerns  entirely, 
without  once  accepting  any  kind  of  acknowledgment,  purely 
upon  the  request  of  my  dear  friend,  Mr.  Godolphin.  I 
returned  with  abundance  of  thanks  and  professions  from 
my  Lord  Berkeley  and  my  Lady. 

29th.  This  business  being  now  at  an  end,  and  myself 
delivered  from  that  intolerable  servitude  and  correspon- 
dence, I  had  leisure  to  be  somewhat  more  at  home  and 
to  myself. 

3rd  July.  I  sealed  the  deeds  of  sale  of  the  manor  of 
Blechingley  to  Sir  Robert  Clayton,  for  payment  of  Lord 
Peterborough's  debts,  according  to  the  trust  of  the  Act  of 
Parliament. 

16th.  I  went  to  Wotton. — 22nd.  Mr.  Evans,  curate  of 
Abinger,  preached  an  excellent  sermon  on  Matt.,  v.  12. 
In  the  afternoon,  Mr.  Higham  at  Wotton  catechised. 

26th.  I  dined  at  Mr.  Duncomb's,  at  Sheere,  whose 
house  stands  environed  with  very  sweet  and  quick  streams. 

29th.  Mr.  Bohun,  my  Son's  late  tutor,  preached  at 
Abinger,  on  Phil.,  iv.  8,  very  elegantly  and  practically. 

5th  August.  I  went  to  visit  my  Lord  Brounker,  now 
taking  the  waters  at  Dulwich. 

9th.  Dined  at  the  Earl  of  Peterborough's  the  day  after 
the  marriage  of  my  Lord  of  Arundel  to  Lady  Mary  Mor- 
daunt,  daughter  to  the  Earl  of  Peterborough. 

28th.  To  visit  my  Lord  Chamberlain,  in  Suffolk;  he 
sent  his  coach  and  six  to  meet  and  bring  me  from  St. 
Edmunds  Bury  to  Euston. 

29th.  We  hunted  in  the  park  and  killed  a*  very  fat 
buck. — 31st.  I  went  a-hawkin^. 

4th  September.  I  went  to  visit  my  Lord  Crofts,  now 
dying  at  St,  Edmunds  Bury,  and  took  the  opportunity  to 
see  this  ancient  town,  and  the  remains  of  that  famous 
monastery  and  abbey.  There  is  little  standing  entire,  save 
the  gatehouse ;  it  has  been  a  vast  and  magnificent  Gothic 
structure,  and  of  great  extent.     The  gates  are  wood,  but 


1G77.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  m 

quite  plated  over  with  iron.  There  are  also  two  stately 
churches,  one  especially. 

5th.  I  went  to  Thetford,  to  the  borough-town,  where 
stand  the  ruins  of  a  religious  house :  there  is  a  round 
mountain  artificially  raised,  either  for  some  castle  or 
monument,  which  makes  a  pretty  landscape.  As  we  went 
and  returned,  a  tumbler  showed  his  extraordinary  address 
in  the  Warren.  I  also  saw  the  Decoy ;  much  pleased  with 
the  stratagem. 

7tli.  There  dined  this  day  at  my  Lord's,  one  Sir  John 
Gaudy,  a  very  handsome  person,  but  quite  dumb,  yet 
very  intelligent  by  signs,  and  a  very  fine  painter;  he 
was  so  civil  and  well  bred,  as  it  was  not  possible  to 
discern  any  imperfection  by  him.  His  lady  and  children 
were  also  there,  and  he  was  at  church  in  the  morning 
with  us. 

9th.  A  stranger  preached  at  Euston  Church,  and  fell 
into  a  handsome  panegyric  on  my  Lord's  new  building 
the  church,  which  indeed  for  its  elegance  and  cheerful- 
ness, is  one  of  the  prettiest  country  churches  in  England. 
My  Lord  told  me  his  heart  smote  him  that,  after  he  had 
bestowed  so  much  on  his  magnificent  palace  there,  he 
should  see  God's  House  in  the  ruin  it  lay  in.  He  has  also 
rebuilt  the  parsonage-house,  all  of  stone,  very  neat  and 
ample. 

10th.  To  divert  me,  my  Lord  would  needs  carry  me  to 
see  Ipswich,  when  we  dined  with  one  Mr.  Mann  by  the  way, 
who  was  Recorder  of  the  town.  There  were  in  our 
company  my  Lord  Huntingtower,  son  to  the  Duchess  of 
Lauderdale,  Sir  Edward  Bacon,  a  learned  gentleman  of 
the  family  of  the  great  Chancellor  Verulam,  and  Sir  John 
Eelton,  with  some  other  Knights  and  Gentlemen.  After 
dinner,  came  the  Bailiff'  and  Magistrates  in  their  formali- 
ties with  their  maces  to  compliment  my  Lord,  and  invite 
him  to  the  town-house,  where  they  presented  us  a  colla- 
tion of  dried  sweetmeats  and  wine,  the  bells  ringing,  &c. 
Then,  we  went  to  see  the  town,  and  first,  the  Lord  Viscount 
Hereford's  house,  which  stands  in  a  park  near  the  town, 
like  that  at  Brussels,  in  Flanders;  the  house  not  great, 
yet  pretty,  especially  the  hall.  The  stews  for  fish  succeed 
one  another,  and  feed  one  the  other,  all  paved  at  bottom. 
There  is  a  good  picture  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  one  of 


112  DIARY  OF  [IPSWICH, 

the  parlours,  seeming  to  be  of  Holbein,  or  some  good 
master.  Then  we  saw  the  Haven,  seven  miles  from 
Harwich.  The  tide  runs  out  every  day,  but  the  bedding 
being  soft  mud,  it  is  safe  for  shipping  and  a  station.  The 
trade  of  Ipswich  is  for  the  most  part  Newcastle  coals,  with 
which  they  supply  London ;  but  it  was  formerly  a  clothing 
town.  There  is  not  any  beggar  asks  alms  in  the  whole 
place,  a  thing  very  extraordinary,  so  ordered  by  the  pru- 
dence of  the  Magistrates.  It  has  in  it  fourteen  or  fifteen 
beautiful  churches :  in  a  word,  it  is  for  building,  cleanness, 
and  good  order,  one  of  the  best  towns  in  England.  Car- 
dinal Wolsey  was  a  butcher's  son  of  Ipswich,  but  there  is 
little  of  that  magnificent  Prelate's  foundation  here,  besides 
a  school  and  I  think  a  library,  which  I  did  not  see.  His 
intentions  were  to  build  some  great  thing.  We  returned 
late  to  Euston,  having  travelled  above  fifty  miles  this 
day. 

Since  first  I  was  at  this  place,  I  found  things  exceed- 
ingly improved.  It  is  seated  in  a  bottom  between  two 
graceful  swellings,  the  main  building  being  now  in  the 
figure  of  a  Greek  IT  with  four  paviUons,  two  at  each 
comer,  and  a  break  in  the  front,  railed  and  balustred  at 
the  top,  where  I  caused  huge  jars  to  be  placed  full  of  earth 
to  keep  them  steady  upon  their  pedestals  between  the 
statues,  which  make  as  good  a  show  as  if  they  were  of 
stone,  and,  though  the  building  be  of  brick,  and  but  two 
stories  besides  cellars,  and  garrets  covered  with  blue  slate, 
yet  there  is  room  enough  for  a  full  court,  the  offices  and 
outhouses  being  so  ample  and  well  disposed.  The  King's 
apartment  is  painted  a  fresco,  and  magnificently  furnished. 
There  are  many  excellent  pictures  of  the  great  masters. 
The  gallery  is  a  pleasant,  noble  room :  in  the  break,  or 
middle,  is  a  billiard-table,  but  the  wainscot,  being  of  fir, 
and  painted,  does  not  please  me  so  well  as  Spanish  oak 
without  paint.  The  chapel  is  pretty,  the  porch  descending 
to  the  gardens.  The  orange-garden  is  very  fine,  and  leads 
into  the  green-house,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a  hall  to  eat 
in,  and  the  conservatory  some  hundred  feet  long,  adorned 
with  maps,  as  the  other  side  is  with  heads  of  the  Csesars, 
ill  cut  in  alabaster  ;  above,  are  several  apartments  for  my 
Lord,  Lady,  and  Duchess,*  with  kitchens  and  other  offices 

♦  His  daughter,  wife  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton. 


1677.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ]23 

below,  in  a  lesser  form ;  lodgings  for  servants,  all  distinct, 
for  them  to  retire  to  when  they  please,  and  would  be  in 
private,  and  have  no  communication  with  the  palace,  which 
he  tells  me  he  will  wholly  resign  to  his  son-in-law  and 
daughter,  that  charming  young  creature. 

The  canal  running  under  my  lady's  dressing-room 
chamber  window,  is  full  of  carps  and  fowl,  which  come 
and  are  fed  there.  The  cascade  at  the  end  of  the  canal 
turns  a  corn-mill,  that  provides  the  family,  and  raises 
water  for  the  fountains  and  offices.  To  pass  this  canal 
into  the  opposite  meadows.  Sir  Samuel  Morland  has 
invented  a  screw-bridge  which,  being  turned  with  a  key, 
lands  you  fifty  feet  distant  at  the  entrance  of  an  ascending 
walk  of  trees,  a  mile  in  length,  as  it  is  also  on  the  front 
into  the  park,  of  four  rows  of  ash-trees,  and  reaches  to  the 
park-pale,  which  is  nine  miles  in  compass,  and  the  best 
for  riding  and  meeting  the  game  that  I  ever  saw.  There 
were  now  of  red  and  fallow  deer  almost  a  thousand,  with 
good  covert,  but  the  soil  barren  and  flying  sand,  in  which 
nothing  will  grow  kindly.  The  tufts  of  fir  and  much  of 
the  other  wood,  were  planted  by  my  direction,  some  years 
before.  This  seat  is  admirably  placed  for  field-sports, 
hawking,  hunting,  or  racing.  The  mutton  is  small,  but 
sweet.  The  stables  hold  thirty  horses  and  four  coaches. 
The  out-offices  make  two  large  quadrangles,  so  as  servants 
never  lived  with  more  ease  and  convenience ;  never  master 
more  civil.  Strangers  are  attended  and  accommodated  as 
at  their  home,  in  pretty  apartments  furnished  with  all 
manner  of  conveniences  and  privacy. 

There  is  a  library  full  of  excellent  books ;  bathing- 
rooms,  elaboratory,  dispensary,  a  decoy,  and  places  to 
keep  and  fat  fowl  in.  He  had  now  in  his  new  church 
(near  the  garden)  built  a  dormitory,  or  vault,  with  several 
repositories,  in  which  to  bury  his  family. 

In  the  expense  of  this  pious  structure,  the  church  is 
most  laudable,  most  of  the  Houses  of  God  in  this  country 
resembling  rather  stables  and  thatched  cottages  than 
temples  in  which  to  serve  the  Most  High.  He  has  built  a 
lodge  in  the  park  for  the  keeper,  which  is  a  neat  dwelling, 
and  might  become  any  gentleman.  The  same  has  he  done 
for  the  parson,  little  deserving  it,  for  murmuring  that  my 
Lord  put  him  some  time  out  of  his  wretched  hovel,  whilst 

VOL.  II.  I 


114,  DIARY  OF  [euston, 

it  was  building.  He  has  also  erected  a  fair  inn  at  some 
distance  from  his  palace,  with  a  bridge  of  stone  over  a 
river  near  it,  and  repaired  all  the  tenants^  houses,  so  as 
there  is  nothing  but  neatness  and  accommodations  about 
his  estate,  which  I  yet  think  is  not  above  £1500  a  year. 
I  believe  he  had  now  in  his  family  one  hundred  domestic 
servants. 

His  lady  (being  one  of  the  Brederode's  daughters,  grand- 
child to  a  natural  son  of  Henry  Frederick,  Prince  of 
Orange),  is  a  good-natured  and  obliging  woman.  They 
love  fine  things,  and  to  live  easily,  pompously,  and  hos- 
pitably; but,  with  so  vast  expense,  as  plunges  my  Lord 
into  debt  exceedingly.  My  Lord  himself  is  given  to  no 
expensive  vice  but  building,  and  to  have  all  things  rich, 
pohte,  and  princely.  He  never  plays,  but  reads  much, 
having  the  Latin,  French,  and  Spanish  tongues  in  perfec- 
tion. He  has  travelled  much,  and  is  the  best-bred  and 
courtly  person  his  Majesty  has  about  him,  so  as  the  public 
Ministers  more  frequent  him  than  any  of  the  rest  of  the 
NobiUty.  Whilst  he  was  Secretary  of  State  and  Prime 
Minister,  he  had  gotten  vastly,  but  spent  it  as  hastily, 
even  before  he  had  established  a  fund  to  maintain  his 
greatness :  and  now  beginning  to  decline  in  favour  (the 
Duke  being  no  great  friend  of  his)  he  knows  not  how 
to  retrench.  He  was  son  of  a  Doctor  of  Laws,  whom  I 
have  seen,  and,  being  sent  from  Westminster  School  to 
Oxford,  with  intention  to  be  a  divine,  and  parson  of 
Arlington,*  a  village  near  Brentford,  when  Master  of 
Arts,  the  Rebellion  falling  out,  he  followed  the  King's 
Army,  and  receiving  an  honourable  wound  in  the  face,f 
grew  into  favour,  and  was  advanced  from  a  mean  fortune, 
at  his  Majesty's  restoration,  to  be  an  Earl  and  Knight  of 
the  Garter,  Lord  Chamberlain  of  the  Household,  and  first 
favourite  for  a  long  time,  during  which  the  King  married 
his  natural  son,  the  Duke  of  Grafton,  to  his  only  daughter 
and  heiress,  as  before  mentioned,  worthy  for  her  beauty 
and  virtue  of  the  greatest  Prince  in  Christendom.     My 

*  See  in  Lord  Clarendon's  Continuation  of  hia  Life,  &c.,  a  curious  circum- 
stance relating  to  Sir  Henry  Bennett's  taking  his  title,  when  first  created  a 
Baron,  from  tliis  place. 

t  A  deep  cut  across  his  nose.  He  was  always  obliged  to  wear  a  black 
patch  upon  it,  and  is  so  represented  in  his  portraits. 


1677.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  115 

Lord  is,  besides  this,  a  prudent  and  understanding  person 
in  business,  and  speaks  well ;  unfortunate  yet  in  those  he 
has  advanced,  most  of  them  proving  ungrateful.  The 
many  obligations  and  civilities  I  have  received  from  this 
noble  gentleman,  extracts  from  me  this  character,  and  I 
am  sorry  he  is  in  no  better  circumstances. 

Having  now  passed  near  three  weeks  at  Euston,  to  my 
great  satisfaction,  with  much  difficulty  he  suffered  me 
to  look  homeward,  being  very  earnest  with  me  to  stay 
longer ;  and,  to  engage  me,  would  himself  have  carried  me 
to  Lynn-Regis,  a  town  of  important  traffic,  about  twenty 
miles  beyond,  which  I  had  never  seen,  as  also  the  Travel- 
ling Sands  about  ten  miles  wide  of  Euston,  that  have  so 
damaged  the  country,  rolling  from  place  to  place,  and, 
like  the  Sands  in  the  Deserts  of  Lybia,  quite  overwhelmed 
some  gentlemens^  whole  estates,  as  the  relation  extant  in 
print,  and  brought  to  our  Society,  describes  at  large. 

13th.  My  Lord's  coach  conveyed  me  to  Bury,  and  thence 
baiting  at  Newmarket,  stepping  in  at  Audley-End  to  see 
that  house  again,  I  slept  at  Bishop- Stortford ;  and,  the 
next  day,  home.  I  was  accompanied  in  my  journey  by 
Major  Fairfax,  of  a  younger  house  of  the  Lord  Fairfax,  a 
soldier,  a  traveller,  an  excellent  musician,  a  good-natured 
well-bred  gentleman. 

18th.  I  preferred  Mr.  PhilHps  (nephew  of  Milton)  to  the 
service  of  my  Lord  Chamberlain,  who  wanted  a  scholar  to 
read  to  and  entertain  him  sometimes. 

12th  October.  With  Sir  Robert  Clayton  to  Marden,  an 
estate  he  had  bought  lately  of  my  kinsman,  Sir  John 
Evelyn,  of  Godstone,  in  Surrey,  which  from  a  despicable 
farm-house  Sir  Robert  had  erected  into  a  seat  with  extra- 
ordinary expense.  It  is  in  such  a  solitude  among  hills, 
as,  being  not  above  sixteen  miles  from  London,  seems 
almost  incredible,  the  ways  up  to  it  are  so  winding  and 
intricate.  The  gardens  are  large,  and  well- walled,  and 
the  husbandry  part  made  very  convenient  and  perfectly 
understood.  The  barns,  the  stacks  of  corn,  the  stalls 
for  cattle,  pigeon-house,  &c.  of  most  laudable  example. 
Innumerable  are  the  plantations  of  trees,  especially  wal- 
nuts. The  orangery  and  gardens  are  very  curious.  In 
the  house  are  large  and  noble  rooms.  He  and  his  lady 
(who  is  very  curious  in  distillery)  entertained  me  three  or 

i2 


■^-^Q  DIARY"  OF  [godstone, 

four  days  very  freely.  I  earnestly  suggested  to  him  the 
repairing  of  an  old  desolate  dilapidated  church,  standing 
on  the  hill  above  the  house,*  which  I  left  him  in  good 
disposition  to  do,  and  endow  it  better ;  there  not  being 
above  four  or  five  houses  in  the  parish,  besides  that  of  this 
prodigious  rich  Scrivener.f  This  place  is  exceeding  sharp 
in  the  winter,  by  reason  of  the  serpentining  of  the  hills  : 
and  it  wants  running  water;  but  the  solitude  much 
pleased  me.  All  the  ground  is  so  full  of  wild  thyme, 
marjoram,  and  other  sweet  plants,  that  it  cannot  be  over- 
stocked with  bees ;  I  think  he  had  near  forty  hives  of  that 
industrious  insect. 

14th.  I  went  to  church  at  Godstone,  and  to  see  old  Sir 
John  Evelyn's  dormitory,  joining  to  the  church,  paved  with 
marble,  where  he  and  his  lady  He  on  a  very  stately  monu- 
ment at  length ;  he  in  armour  of  white  marble. J  The 
inscription  is  only  an  account  of  his  particular  branch  of 
the  family,  on  black  marble. 

15th.  Returned  to  London ;  in  the  evening,  I  saw  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  and  supped  with  Lord  Ossory. 

23rd.  Saw  again  the  Prince  of  Orange ;  his  marriage 
with  the  Lady  Mary,  eldest  daughter  to  the  Duke  of 
York,  by  Mrs.  Hyde,  the  late  Duchess,  was  now  declared. 

11th  November.  I  was  all  this  week  composing  matter* 
between  old  Mrs.  Howard  and  Sir  Gabriel  Sylvius,  upon 

•  Woldingham.  The  Church  consists  of  one  room  about  thirty  feet  long^ 
and  twenty-one  wide,  without  any  tower,  spire,  or  bell.  It  is  considered  as  a 
Donative,  not  subject  to  the  Bishop  ;  service  performed  once  a  month.  No 
churchwarden  ;  two  farm-houses,  four  cottages.  By  the  Population  Return, 
in  1811,  the  number  of  inhabitants  was  fifty-eight.  That  disposition  which 
was  thought  to  have  appeared  subsided  ;  the  church  remains  as  it  then  was. 

+  The  last  member  of  the  Company  called  Scriveners,  named  Ellis,  died 
at  the  age  of  more  than  90.  Dr.  Johnson  speaks  well  of  him.  The  business, 
comprehended  that  of  a  Banker,  and  what  is  now  called  a  Conveyancer ;  they 
had  money  deposited  with  them  for  the  purpose  of  making  purchases,  or 
lending  on  mortgage,  they  preparing  the  deeds.  In  the  time  of  King 
Charles  I.,  during  the  troubles  and  the  interregnum,  a  gentleman  of  the 
name  of  Abbot  in  the  City  had  a  very  great  share  of  this  busmess.  Sir 
Robert  Clayton  and  a  Mr.  Morris  were  his  clerks  at  the  same  time,  and 
jointly  succeeded  to  his  business,  in  which  they  acquired  a  great  estate.  Mr. 
Morris  died  first,  and,  having  no  children,  left  his  property  to  his  friend. 
Sir  Robert.  The  Editor  has  seen  a  deed  attested  by  Mr.  Abbot,  as  Scrivener, 
and  by  Mr,  Morris  and  Mr.  Clayton,  as  his  servants. 

J  It  is  a  very  fine  monument,  in  perfect  preservation. 


1678.]  JOHN  EVELYN.        *  H'J 

his  long  and  earnest  addresses  to  Mrs.  Anne,  lier  second 
daughter,*  Maid  of  Honour  to  the  Queen.  My  friend, 
Mrs.  Godolphin  (who  exceedingly  loved  the  young  lady) 
was  most  industrious  in  it,  out  of  pity  to  the  languishing 
knight ;  so  as  though  there  were  great  differences  in  their 
years,  it  was  at  last  effected,  and  they  were  married  the 
13th,  in  Henry  VII.^s  Chapel,  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,t 
there  being  besides  my  wife  and  Mrs.  Graham,  her  sister, 
Mrs,  Godolphin,  and  very  few  more.  We  dined  at  the  old 
lady^s,  and  supped  at  Mr.  Graham^s  at  St.  James's. 

15th.  The  Queen's  birthday,  a  greatBall  at  Court,  where 
the  Prince  of  Orange  and  his  new  Princess  danced. 

19th.  They  went  away,  and  I  saw  embarked  my  Lady 
Sylvius,  who  went  into  Holland  with  her  husband,  made 
Hoffmaester  to  the  Prince,  a  considerable  employment. 
We  parted  with  great  sorrow,  for  the  great  respect  and 
honour  I  bore  her,  a  most  pious  and  virtuous  lady. 

27th.  Dined  at  the  Lord  Treasurer's  with  Prince  Rupert, 
Viscount  Falkenburg,  Earl  of  Bath,  Lord  O'Brien,  Sir 
John  Lowther,  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  Dr.  Grew,  and  other 
learned  men. 

30th.  Sir  Joseph  Williamson,  Principal  Secretary  of 
State,  was  chosen  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  after  my 
Lord  Viscount  Brounker  had  possessed  the  chair  now 
sixteen  years  successively,  and  therefore  now  thought  fit 
to  change,  that  prescription  might  not  prejudice. 

4th  December.  Being  the  first  day  of  his  taking  the  chair, 
he  gave  us  a  magnificent  supper. 

20th.  Carried  to  my  Lord  Treasurer  an  account  of  the 
Earl  of  Bristol's  Library,  at  Wimbledon,  which  my  Lord 
thought  of  purchasing,  till  I  acquainted  him  that  it  was  a 
very  broken  collection,  consisting  much  in  books  of  judicial 
astrology,  romances,  and  trifles.  J 

25tli.  I  gave  my  Son  an  office,  with  instructions  how  to 
govern  his  youth  ;  I  pray  God  give  him  the  grace  to  make 
a  right  use  of  it ! 

1677-8.  23rd  January.  Dined  with  the  Duke  of  Norfolk, 

*  See  p.  101,  note. 

+  Dr.  John  Dolben,  also  Dean  of  "Westminster,  translated  afterwards  to 
York. 

J:  A  library  of  this  description  would  at  this  day  be  deemed  a  very  curious 
one,  and  an  object  probably  of  much  competition.     Habmt  ma  fata  UbelliJ 


118  DIARY  OP  [londok, 

being  the  first  time  I  had  seen  him  since  the  death  of  his 
elder  brother,  who  died  at  Padua  in  Italy,  where  he  had 
resided  above  thirty  years.  The  Duke  had  now  newly 
declared  his  marriage  to  his  concubine,  whom  he  promised 
me  he  never  woiild  marry.*  I  went  with  him  to  see  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  thence  to  my  Lord  Sunderland, 
now  Secretary  of  State,  to  show  him  that  rare  piece  of 
Vosterman's  (son  of  old  Vosterman),  which  was  a  view,  or 
landscape,  of  my  Lord^s  palace,  &c.,  at  Althorpe,  in 
Northamptonshire. 

8th  February.  Supping  at  my  Lord  Chamberlain^s  I  had 
a  long  discourse  with  the  Count  de  Castel  Mellor,  lately 
Prime  Minister  in  Portugal,  who,  taking  part  with  his 
master.  King  Alphonso,  was  banished  by  his  brother, 
Don  Pedro,  now  Regent;  but  had  behaved  himself  so 
uncorruptly  in  all  his  ministry  that,  though  he  was 
acquitted,  and  his  estate  restored,  yet  would  they  not 
suffer  him  to  return.  He  is  a  very  intelligent  and  worthy 
gentleman. 

18th.  My  Lord  Treasurer  sent  for  me  to  accompany 
him  to  Wimbledon,  which  he  had  lately  purchased  of  the 
Earl  of  Bristol ;  so  breaking  fast  with  him  privately  in  his 
chamber,  I  accompanied  him  with  two  of  his  daughters, 
my  Lord  Conway,  and  Sir  Bernard  Gascoyne;  and, 
having  surveyed  his  gardens  and  alterations,  returned  late 
at  night. 

22nd.  Dr.  Pierce  preached  at  Whitehall,  on  2  Thes- 
salonians,  iii.  6,  against  our  late  schismatics,  in  a  rational 
discourse,  but  a  little  over-sharp,  and  not  at  all  proper 
for  the  auditory  there. 

22nd  March.  Dr.  South  preached  coram  Rege,  an  incom- 
parable discourse  on  this  text,  "  A  wounded  spirit  who  can 
bear ! "  Note :  Now  was  our  Communion-table  placed 
altarwise ;  the  church  steeple,  clock,  and  other  reparations 
finished. 

16th  April.  I  showed  Don  Emmanuel  de  Lyra  (Portugal 
Ambassador)  and  the  Count  de  Castel  Mellor,  the  Repo- 
sitory of  the  Royal  Society,  and  the  College  of  Physicians. 

*  It  appears  by  the  books  of  Peerage  that  his  Grace  married  to  his  second 
wife,  Mrs.  Jane  Bickerton,  daughter  of  a  Scotch  gentleman,  Robert  Bickerton, 
Esq.,  who  was  Gentleman  of  tlie  Wine-Cellar  to  King  Charles  II.  There  are 
engraved  portraits  both  of  this  Duke  and  his  Duchess.    See  pp.  65,  120. 


1678.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  Ug 

18th.  I  went  to  see  New  Bedlam  Hospital,  magnificently 
built,*  and  most  sweetly  placed  in  Moorfields,  since  the 
dreadful  fire  in  London. 

28th  June.  I  went  to  Windsor  with  my  Lord  Chamber- 
lain (the  castle  now  repairing  with  exceeding  cost)  to  see 
the  rare  work  of  Verrio,  and  incomparable  carving  of 
Gibbons. 

29th.  Returned  with  my  Lord  by  Hounslow  Heath, 
where  we  saw  the  new-raised  army  encamped,  designed 
against  France,  in  pretence,  at  least;  but  which  gave 
umbrage  to  the  Parliament.  His  Majesty  and  a  world  of 
company  were  in  the  field,  and  the  whole  army  in  battalia ; 
a  very  glorious  sight.  Now  were  brought  int(J  service  a 
new  sort  of  soldiers,  called  Grenadiers,  who  were  dexterous 
in  flinging  hand  grenados,  every  one  having  a  pouch  full; 
they  had  furred  caps  with  coped  crowns  like  Janizaries, 
which  made  them  look  very  fierce,  and  some  had  long  hoods 
hanging  down  behind,  as  we  picture  fools.  Their  clothing 
being  likewise  piebald,  yellow  and  red. 

8th  July.  Came  to  dine  with  me  my  Lord  Longford, 
Treasurer  of  Ireland,  nephew  to  that  learned  gentleman, 
my  Lord  Aungier,  with  whom  I  was  long  since  acquainted : 
also  the  Lady  Stidolph,  and  other  company. 

19th.  The  Earl  of  Ossory  came  to  take  his  leave  of  me, 
going  into  Holland  to  command  the  English  forces. 

20  th.  I  went  to  the  Tower  to  try  a  metal  at  the  Assay- 
master's,  which  only  proved  sulphur ;  then  saw  Monsieur 
Rotiere,  that  excellent  graver  belonging  to  the  Mint,  who 
emulates  even  the  ancients,  in  both  metal  and  stone ;  he 
was  now  moulding  a  horse  for  the  King's  statue,  to  be 
cast  in  silver,  of  a  yard  high.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Slingsby, 
Master  of  the  Mint. 

23rd.  Went  to  see  Mr.  Elias  Ashmole's  library  and 
curiosities,  at  Lambeth.  He  has  divers  MSS.,  but  most  of 
them  astrological,  to  which  study  he  is  addicted,  though 
I  believe  not  learned,  but  very  industrious,  as  his  History 

*  Taken  down,  being  greatly  decayed,  in  1814,  and  a  new  one  erected  on 
the  Surrey  side  of  the  Thames,  in  the  road  leading  from  St.  George's  Fields 
to  Lambeth.  On  pulling  it  down,  the  foundations  were  found  to  be  very  bad, 
as  it  had  been  built  on  part  of  the  Town-ditch,  and  on  a  soil  very  unfit  for  the 
erection  of  so  large  a  building.  The  Patients  were  removed  to  the  new 
-building  in  August,  lolo. 


120  DIARY    OF  [WEYBRIDGE, 

of  the  Order  of  tlie  Garter  proves.  He  showed  me  a  toad 
included  in  amber.  The  prospect  from  a  turret  is  very 
fine,  it  being  so  near  London,  and  yet  not  discovering  any 
house  about  the  country.  The  famous  John  Tradescant 
bequeathed  his  Repository  to  this  gentleman,  who  has 
given  them  to  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  erected  a 
lecture  on  them,  over  the  laboratory,  in  imitation  of  the 
Royal  Society.* 

Mr.  Godolphin  was  made  Master  of  the  Robes  to  the 
King. 

25th.  There  was  sent  me  £70  ;  from  whom  I  knew  not, 
to  be  by  me  distributed  among  poor  people ;  I  afterwards 
found  it  was  from  that  dear  friend,  (Mrs.  Godolphin,) 
who  had  frequently  given  me  large  sums  to  bestow  on 
charities. 

16th  August.  I  went  to  Lady  Mordaunt,  who  put  £100 
into  my  hand  to  dispose  of  for  pious  uses,  rehef  of  prisoners, 
poor,  &c.  Many  a  sum  had  she  sent  me  on  similar  occa- 
sions ;  a  blessed  creature  she  was,  and  one  that  loved  and 
feared  God  exemplarily. 

23rd.  Upon  Sir  Robert  Reading's  importunity,  I  went 
to  visit  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  at  his  new  palace  at  Wey- 
bridge,t  where  he  has  laid  out  in  building  near  £10,000, 
on  a  copyhold,  and  in  a  miserable,  barren,  sandy  place 
by  the  street-side ;  never  in  my  life  had  I  seen  such  expense 
to  so  small  purpose.  The  rooms  are  wainscotted,  and  some 
of  them  richly  pargeted  with  cedar,  yew,  cypress,  &c. 
There  are  some  good  pictures,  especially  that  incomparable 
painting  of  Holbein's,  where  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Charles 

•  The  donation  took  place  in  1677,  and  a  suitable  building  was  erected  by 
Sir  Christopher  Wren,  bearing  the  name  of  the  "  Ashmolean  Museum."  This 
was  the  first  public  institution  for  the  reception  of  Rarities  in  Art,  or  Nature, 
estabhshed  in  England  ;  and,  in  the  infancy  of  the  study  of  Natural  History 
in  this  country,  possessed  what  was  then  considered  as  a  valuable  and  superior 
collection.  There  are  good  portraits  of  Ashmole,  and  of  the  Tradescant 
family,  by  Dobson,  in  the  Museum,  from  which  engravings  have  been  very 
inaccurately  taken. 

t  This  house  was  the  property  of  Mrs.  Bickerton,  whom  the  Duke  married. 
After  his  death,  she  married  Mr.  Maxwell,  and  they,  together  ^vith  Lord 
George  Howard  (her  eldest  son  by  the  Duke),  sold  it  to  the  Countess  of  Dor- 
chester (misti-ess  to  James  II.).  Her  daughter  married  David  Colyeur,  Earl 
of  Portmore. 


1C78.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  131 

BrandoUj  and  Henry  VIII.,  are  dancing  with  the  three 
ladies,  with  most  amorous  countenances,  and  sprightly- 
motion  exquisitely  expressed.  It  is  a  thousand  pities,  (as 
I  told  my  Lord  of  Arundel  his  son)  that  that  jewel  should 
be  given  away. 

24th.  I  went  to  see  my  Lord  of  St.  Alban's  house, 
at  Byfleet,  an  old  large  building.  Thence,  to  the  paper- 
mills,  where  I  found  them  making  a  coarse  white  paper. 
They  cull  the  rags  which  are  linen  for  white  paper,  woollen 
for  brown ;  then  they  stamp  them  in  troughs  to  a  pap,  with 
pestles,  or  hammers,  like  the  powder-mills,  then  put  it  into 
a  vessel  of  water,  in  which  they  dip  a  frame  closely  wired 
with  wire  as  small  as  a  hair  and  as  close  as  a  weaver^s 
reed ;  on  this  they  take  up  the  pap,  the  superfluous  water 
draining  through  the  wire :  this  they  dexterously  turning, 
shake  out  like  a  pancake  on  a  smooth  board  between  two 
pieces  of  flannel,  then  press  it  between  a  great  press,  the 
flannel  sucking  out  the  moisture ;  then,  taking  it  out,  they 
ply  and  dry  it  on  strings,  as  they  dry  linen  in  the  laundry ; 
then  dip  it  in  alum-water,  lastly,  polish  and  make  it  up  in 
quires.  They  put  some  gum  in  the  water  in  which  they 
macerate  the  rags.  The  mark  we  find  on  the  sheets 
is  formed  in  the  wire. 

25th.  After  evening  prayer,  visited  Mr.  Sheldon, 
(nephew  to  the  late  Archbishop  of  Canterbury)  and  his 
pretty  melancholy  garden;  I  took  notice  of  the  largest 
arbor  thuyris  I  had  ever  seen.  The  place  is  finely  watered, 
and  there  are  many  curiosities  of  India,  shown  in  the 
house. 

There  was  at  Weybridge  the  Duchess  of  Norfolk,  Lord 
Thomas  Howard,  (a  worthy  and  virtuous  gentleman,  with 
whom  my  Son  was  some  time  bred  in  Arundel  House)  who 
was  newly  come  from  Rome,  where  he  had  been  some 
time;  also  one  of  the  Duke^s  daughters,  by  his  first  lady. 
My  Lord  leading  me  about  the  house  made  no  scruple  of 
showing  me  all  the  hiding-places  for  the  Popish  priests,  and 
where  they  said  mass,  for  he  Avas  no  bigoted  Papist.  He 
told  me  he  never  trusted  them  with  any  secret,  and  used 
Protestants  only  in  all  businesses  of  importance. 

I  went  this  evening  with  my  Lord  Duke  to  ^\''indsor, 
where  was  a  magnificent  Court,  it  being  the  first  time  of 
his  Majesty  removing  thither  since  it  was  repaired. 


122  DIARY     OP  [LONDON, 

27th.  I  took  leave  of  the  Duke,  and  dined  at  Mr. 
Henry  Brouncker's,  at  the  Abbey  of  Sheene,  formerly  a 
Monastery  of  Carthusians,  there  yet  remaining  one  of 
their  solitary  cells  with  a  cross.  Within  this  ample  enclo- 
sure are  several  pretty  villas  and  fine  gardens  of  the  most 
excellent  fruits,  especially  Sir  William  Temple's  (lately 
Ambassador  into  Holland),  and  the  Lord  Lisle's,  son 
to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  who  has  divers  rare  pictures, 
above  all,  that  of  Sir  Brian  Tuke's,  by  Holbein. 

After  dinner,  I  walked  to  Ham,  to  see  the  house  and 
garden  of  the  Duke  of  Lauderdale,  which  is  indeed  inferior 
to  few  of  the  best  villas  in  Italy  itself;  the  house  furnished 
like  a  great  Prince's ;  the  parterres,  flower-gardens,  oran- 
geries, groves,  avenues,  courts,  statues,  perspectives,  foun- 
tains, aviaries,  and  all  this  at  the  banks  of  the  sweetest 
river  in  the  world,  must  needs  be  admirable. 

Hence,  I  went  to  my  worthy  friend.  Sir  Henry  Capel, 
[at  Kew]  brother  to  the  Earl  of  Essex  :  it  is  an  old 
timber-house ;  but  his  garden  has  the  choicest  fruit  of  any 
plantation  in  England,  as  he  is  the  most  industrious  and 
understanding  in  it. 

29th.  I  was  called  to  London  to  wait  upon  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  who  having  at  my  sole  request  bestowed  the 
Amndelian  Library  on  the  Royal  Society,  sent  to  me 
to  take  charge  of  the  books,  and  remove  them,  only  stipu- 
lating that  I  would  sufier  the  Herald's  chief  oflBcer,  Sir 
William  Dugdale,  to  have  such  of  them  as  concerned 
Heraldry  and  the  Marshal's  office,  books  of  Armory  and 
Genealogies,  the  Duke  being  Earl  Marshal  of  England. 
I  procured  for  our  Society,  besides  printed  books,  near  one 
hundred  MSS.,  some  in  Greek  of  great  concernment.  The 
printed  books  being  of  the  oldest  impressions,  are  not  the 
less  valuable;  I  esteem  them  almost  equal  to  MSS. 
Amongst  them,  are  most  of  the  Fathers,  printed  at  Basil, 
before  the  Jesuits  abused  them  with  their  expurgatory 
Indexes ;  there  is  a  noble  MS.  of  Vitruvius.  Many  of 
these  books  had  been  presented  by  Popes,  Cardinals,  and 
great  persons,  to  the  Earls  of  Arundel  and  Dukes  of 
Norfolk ;  and  the  late  magnificent  Earl  of  Arundel  bought 
a  noble  library  in  Germany,  which  is  in  this  collection.  I 
should  not,  for  the  honour  I  bear  the  family,  have  per- 
suaded the  Duke  to  part  with  these,   had  I  not  seen 


1678.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I33 

how  negligent  he  was  of  them,  suffering  the  priests 
and  everybody  to  carry  away  and  dispose  of  what  they 
pleased;  so  that  abundance  of  rare  things  are  irrecover- 
ably gone. 

Having  taken  order  here,  I  went  to  the  Royal  Society  to 
give  them  an  account  of  what  I  had  procured,  that  they 
might  call  a  Council  and  appoint  a  day  to  wait  on  the 
Duke  to  thank  him  for  this  munificent  gift. 

3rd  September.  I  went  to  London,  to  dine  with  Mrs. 
Godolphin,  [formerly  Mrs.  Blagg,  who  had  been  Maid  of 
Honour  to  the  Queen],  and  found  her  in  labour ;  she  was 
brought  to  bed  of  a  son,  who  was  baptized  in  the  chamber, 
by  the  name  of  Francis,  the  susceptors  being  Sir  William 
Godolphin  (head  of  the  family),  Mr.  John  Hervey,  Trea- 
surer to  the  Queen,  and  Mrs.  Boscawen,  sister  to  Sir 
William  and  the  father. 

8th.  Whilst  I  was  at  church  came  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Godolphin,  that  my  dear  friend  his  lady  was  exceedingly 
ill,  and  desiring  my  prayers  and  assistance.  My  wife  and 
I  took  boat  immediately,  and  went  to  Whitehall,  where,  to 
my  inexpressible  sorrow,  I  found  she  had  been  attacked 
with  the  new  fever,  then  reigning  this  excessive  hot 
autumn,  and  which  was  so  violent,  that  it  was  not  thought 
she  could  last  many  hours. 

9th.  She  died  in  the  26th  year  of  her  age,  to  the  inex- 
pressible affliction  of  her  dear  husband,  and  all  her  rela- 
tions, but  of  none  in  the  world  more  than  of  myself,  who 
lost  the  most  excellent  and  inestimable  friend  that  ever 
lived.  Never  was  a  more  virtuous  and  inviolable  friend- 
ship ;  never  a  more  religious,  discreet,  and  admirable  crea- 
ture, beloved  of  all,  admired  of  all,  for  all  possible  perfec- 
tions of  her  sex.  She  is  gone  to  receive  the  reward  of 
her  signal  charity,  and  all  other  her  Christian  graces,  too 
blessed  a  creature  to  converse  with  mortals,  fitted  as  she 
was  by  a  most  holy  life,  to  be  received  into  the  mansions 
above.  She  was  for  wit,  beauty,  goodnature,  fidelity,  dis- 
cretion, and  all  accomplishments,  the  most  incomparable 
person.  How  shall  I  ever  repay  the  obligations  to  her  for 
the  infinite  good  offices  she  did  my  soul  by  so  often  engaging 
me  to  make  religion  the  terms  and  tie  of  the  friendship 
there  was  between  us  !  She  was  the  best  wife,  the  best 
mistress,  the  best  friend,  that  ever  husband  had.     But  it  is 


124  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

not  here  that  I  pretend  to  give  her  character,  having 
designed  to  consecrate  her  worthy  life  to  posterity. 

Her  husband,  struck  with  unspeakable  affliction,  fell 
down  as  dead.  The  King  himself,  and  all  the  Court, 
expressed  their  sorrow.  To  the  poor  and  miserable,  her 
loss  was  irreparable;  for  there  was  no  degree  but  had 
some  obhgation  to  her  memory.  So  careful  and  provident 
was  she  to  be  prepared  for  all  possible  accidents,  that  (as  if 
she  foresaw  her  end)  she  received  the  heavenly  viaticum  but 
the  Sunday  before,  after  a  most  solemn  recollection.  She 
put  all  her  domestic  concerns  into  the  exactest  order,  and 
left  a  letter  directed  to  her  husband,  to  be  opened  in  case 
she  died  in  child-bed,  in  which  with  the  most  pathetic  and 
endearing  expressions  of  a  most  loyal  and  virtuous  wife,  she 
begs  his  kindness  to  her  memory  might  be  continued  by  his 
care  and  esteem  of  those  she  left  behind,  even  to  her 
domestic  servants,  to  the  meanest  of  which  she  left  consi- 
derable legacies,  as  well  as  to  the  poor.  It  was  now  seven 
years  since  she  was  Maid  of  Honour  to  the  Queen,  that  she 
regarded  me  as  a  father,  a  brother,  and  what  is  more, 
a  friend.  We  often  prayed,  visited  the  sick  and  miserable, 
received,  read,  discoursed,  and  communicated  in  all  holy 
offices  together.  She  was  most  dear  to  my  wife,  and 
affectionate  to  my  children.  But  she  is  gone  !  This  only 
is  my  comfort,  that  she  is  happy  in  Christ,  and  I  shall 
shortly  behold  her  again  !  *  She  desired  to  be  buried  in 
the  dormitory  of  his  family,  near  three  hundred  miles  from 
all  her  other  friends.  So  afflicted  was  her  husband  at  this 
severe  loss,  that  the  entire  care  of  her  funeral  was  com- 
mitted to  me.  Having  closed  the  eyes,  and  dropped  a  tear 
upon  the  cheek  of  my  dear  departed  friend,  lovely  even  in 
death,  I  caused  her  corpse  to  be  embalmed  and  wrapped  in 
lead,  a  plate  of  brass  soldered  thereon,  with  an  inscription, 
and  other  circumstances  due  to  her  worth,  with  as  much 
dHigence  and  care  as  my  grieved  heart  would  permit  me ; 
I  then  retired  home  for  two  days,  which  were  spent  in 
solitude  and  sad  reflection. 

17th.  She  was,  accordingly,  carried  to  Godolphin,  in 

*  In  the  subsequent  part  of  these  Memoirs,  it  will  appear  that  Mr.  Godolphin 
(afterwards  Lord  Godolphin)  continued  the  steady  friend  of  Mr.  Evelyn, 
whose  grandson  married  mto  the  family.  The  infant  now  mentioned  as  bom, 
carried  on  the  friendship  to  the  family  through  a  long  life. 


1670.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  125 

Cornwall,  in  a  hearse  with  six  horses,  attended  by  two 
coaches  of  as  many,  with  about  thirty  of  her  relations  and 
servants.  There  accompanied  the  hearse  her  husband's 
brother.  Sir  William,  two  more  of  his  brothers,  and  three 
sisters :  her  husband  was  so  overcome  with  grief,  that  he 
was  wholly  unfit  to  travel  so  long  a  journey,  till  he  was 
more  composed.  I  went  as  far  as  Hounslow  with  a  sad 
heart ;  but  was  obliged  to  return  upon  some  indispensable 
affairs.  The  corpse  was  ordered  to  be  taken  out  of  the 
hearse  every  night,  and  decently  placed  in  the  house,  with 
tapers  about  it,  and  her  servants  attending,  to  Cornwall ; 
and  then  was  honourably  interred  in  the  parish  church  of 
Godolphin.      This  funeral  cost  not  much  less  than  £1000. 

With  Mr.  Godolphin,  I  looked  over  and  sorted  his  lady's 
papers,  most  of  which  consisted  of  Prayers,  Meditations, 
Sermon-notes,  Discourses,  and  Collections  on  several  reli- 
gious subjects,  and  many  of  her  own  happy  composing, 
and  so  pertinently  digested,  as  if  she  had  been  all  her  life 
a  student  in  divinity.  We  found  a  diary  of  her  solemn 
resolutions,  tending  to  practical  virtue,  with  letters  from 
select  friends,  all  put  into  exact  method.  It  astonished 
us  to  see  what  she  had  read  and  written,  her  youth 
considered. 

1st  October.  The  Parliament  and  the  whole  Nation  were 
alarmed  about  a  conspiracy  of  some  eminent  Papists  for 
the  destruction  of  the  King  and  introduction  of  Popery, 
discovered  by  one  Gates  and  Dr.  Tongue,*  which  last  I 

*  Ezrael  Tong,  bred  in  University  College,  Oxford,  being  puritanically 
inclined,  quitted  tlie  University  ;  but,  in  1648,  returned,  and  was  made  a 
Fellow.  He  had  tlie  living  of  Pluckley,  in  Kent,  but  quitted  it,  being  vexed 
by  liis  parishioners  and  Quakers.  In  1657,  he  was  made  Fellow  of  the 
newly-erected  College  at  Durham,  and  that  being  dissolved  in  1660,  he  taught 
school  at  Islington.  He  then  went  witli  Colonel  Edward  Harley  to  Dunkirk, 
but,  that  being  given  up,  he  took  a  small  living  in  Herefordshire  (Lentwardine) : 
but  quitted  it  for  St.  Mary  Stayning,  in  London,  which,  after  the  fire  in 
1666,  was  united  to  St.  Micliael,  Wood  Street,  and  he  held  them  till  his  death, 
in  1600.  He  was  a  great  opponent  of  the  Papists.  Wood  mentions  several 
pubHcations  of  his,  amongst  whicli  are,  "Tlie  Jesuits  unmasked,"  1678; 
"Jesuitical  Aphorisms,"  1678  ;  "The  Jesuits'  Morals,"  1680  (1670)  ;  the 
two  last  translated  from  the  French.     Wood's  Athen.  Oxon.  vol.  II.,  p.  502. 

Mr.  Evelyn  speaks  of  Dr.  Tong's  having  translated  the  last  of  these  by  his 
desire. 

Gates  said  that  Thomas  Whitbread,  a  priest,  on  1 3th  June,  1 6  .  .  did  tell 
the  rector  of  St.  Omer's,  that  a  Minister  of  the  Church  of  England  had  scan- 


126  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

knew,  being  the  translator  of  the  "  Jesuits'  Morals ; "  I  went 
to  see  and  converse  with  him  at  Whitehall,  with  Mr.  Gates, 
one  that  was  lately  an  apostate  to  the  church  of  Rome, 
and  now  returned  again  with  this  discovery.  He  seemed 
to  be  a  bold  man,  and,  in  my  thoughts,  furiously  indis- 
creet ;  but  everybody  believed  what  he  said ;  and  it  quite 
changed  the  genius  and  motions  of  the  Parliament,  grow- 
ing now  corrupt  and  interested  with  long  sitting  and 
court-practices ;  but,  with  aU  this.  Popery  would  not  go 
down.  This  discovery  turned  them  all  as  one  man  against 
it,  and  nothing  was  done  but  to  find  out  the  depth  of  this. 
Gates  was  encouraged,  and  every  thing  he  affirmed  taken 
for  gospel; — the  truth  is,  the  Roman  Catholics  were  ex- 
ceeding bold  and  busy  everywhere,  since  the  Duke  forbore 
to  go  any  longer  to  the  chapel. 

16th.  Mr.  Godolphin  requested  me  to  continue  the  trust 
his  wife  had  reposed  in  me,  in  behalf  of  his  little  son,  con- 
juring me  to  transfer  the  friendship  I  had  for  his  dear 
wife,  on  him  and  his. 

2ist.  The  murder  of  Sir  Edmondbury  Godfrey,  found 
strangled  about  this  time,  as  was  manifest,  by  the  Papists, 
he  being  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  one  who  knew  much 
of  their  practices,  as  conversant  with  Coleman  (a  servant  of 
the  ....  now  accused),  put  the  whole  nation  into  a  new 
ferment  against  them. 

31st.  Being  my  58th  of  my  age,  required  my  humble 
addresses  to  Almighty  God,  and  that  he  would  take  off 
His  heavy  hand,  still  on  my  family,  and  restore  comforts 
to  us  after  the  loss  of  my  excellent  friend. 

5th  November.  Dr.  Tillotson  preached  before  the  Com- 
mons at  St.  Margaret's.  He  said  the  Papists  were  now 
arrived  at  that  impudence,  as  to  deny  that  there  ever  was 
any  such  as  the  gunpowder-conspiracy;  but  he  affirmed 
that  he  himself  had  several  letters  written  by  Sir  Everard 

dalonslj  put  out  the  **  Jesuits'  Morals"  in  English,  and  had  endeavoured  to 
render  them  odious,  and  had  asked  the  Rector  whether  he  thought  Gates 
might  know  him  1  and  the  Rector  called  the  deponent,  who  heard  these  words 
as  he  stood  at  the  chamber-door,  and  when  he  went  into  the  chamber  of  the 
Provincial,  he  asked  him  « If  he  knew  the  author  of  the  Jesuits'  Morals  ?  " 
deponent  answered,  "His  person,  but  not  his  name."  Whitbread  then 
demanded,  whether  he  would  undertake  to  poison,  or  assassinate  the  author  ; 
which  deponent  undertook,  having  £50  reward  promised  him,  and  appointed 
to  return  to  England. — From  a  publication  of  Gates. 


1679.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  127 

Digby  (one  of  the  traitors),  in  which  he  gloried  that  he 
was  to  suffer  for  it ;  and  that  it  was  so  contrived,  that  of 
the  Papists  not  above  two  or  three  should  have  been 
blown  up,  and  they,  such  as  were  not  worth  saving. 

15th.  The  Queen's  birthday.  I  never  saw  the  Court 
more  brave,  nor  the  nation  in  more  apprehension  and  con- 
sternation. Coleman  and  one  Staly  had  now  been  tried, 
condemned,  and  executed.  On  this,  Oates  grew  so  pre- 
sumptuous, as  to  accuse  the  Queen  of  intending  to  poison 
the  King ;  which  certainly  that  pious  and  virtuous  lady 
abhorred  the  thoughts  of,  and  Oates's  circumstances  made 
it  utterly  unlikely,  in  my  opinion.  He  probably  thought 
to  gratify  some  who  would  have  been  glad  his  Majesty 
should  have  married  a  fruitful  lady ;  but  the  King  was  too 
kind  a  husband  to  let  any  of  these  make  impression  on 
him.  However,  divers  of  the  Popish  peers  were  sent  to 
the  Tower,  accused  by  Oates ;  and  all  the  Roman  Catholic 
lords  were  by  a  new  Act  for  ever  excluded  the  ParUament ; 
which  was  a  mighty  blow.  The  King's,  Queen's,  and 
Duke's  servants,  were  banished,  and  a  test  to  be  taken  by 
everybody  who  pretended  to  enjoy  any  office  of  public 
trust,  and  who  would  not  be  suspected  of  Popery.  I  went 
with  Sir  William  Godolphin,  a  member  of  the  Commons^ 
House,  to  the  Bishop  of  Ely  (Dr.  Peter  Gunning),  to  be 
resolved  whether  masses  were  idolatry,  as  the  test  ex- 
pressed it,  which  was  so  worded,  that  several  good  Pro- 
testants scrupled,  and  Sir  William,  though  a  learned  man 
and  excellent  divine  himself,  had  some  doubts  about  it. 
The  Bishop's  opinion  was,  that  he  might  take  it,  though 
he  wished  it  had  been  otherwise  worded  in  the  test. 

1678-9.  15th  January.  I  went  with  my  Lady  Sunder- 
land to  Chelsea,  and  dined  with  the  Countess  of  Bristol 
[her  mother]  in  the  great  house,  formerly  the  Duke  of 
Buckingham's,  a  spacious  and  excellent  place  for  the 
extent  of  ground  and  situation  in  a  good  air.*    The  house 

*  This  mansion  stood  at  the  north  end  of  Beaufort  Row,  extending  west- 
wai'd  about  100  yards  from  tl'e  water-side.  It  was  originally  called  Buck- 
ingham-House ;  but,  in  January,  1682,  was  sold  by  Lady  Anne  Russell, 
daughter  of  Francis,  Earl  of  Bedford,  to  Henry,  Marquis  of  Worcester, 
created  Duke  of  Beaufort,  in  the  same  year  ;  after  whom  it  was  known  by 
the  title  of  Beaufort-House.  It  continued  to  be  the  residence  of  tliis  noble 
family  tillabout  the  year  1720,  when,  having  stood  empty  for  several  years, 


128  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

is  large,  but  ill-contrived,  though  my  Lord  of  Bristol  who 
purchased  it  after  he  sold  Wimbledon  to  my  Lord  Trea- 
surer, expended  much  money  on  it.  There  were  divers 
pictures  of  Titian  and  Vandyke,  and  some  of  Bassano, 
very  excellent,  especially  an  Adonis  and  Venus,  a  Duke 
of  Venice,  a  butcher  in  his  shambles  selling  meat  to  a 
Swiss;  and  of  Vandyke,  my  Lord  of  Bristol's  picture, 
with  the  Earl  of  Bedford's  at  length,  in  the  same  table. 
There  was  in  the  garden  a  rare  collection  of  orange-trees, 
of  which  she  was  pleased  to  bestow  some  upon  me. 

16th.  I  supped  this  night  with  Mr.  Secretary  at  one 
Mr.  Houblon's,  a  French  merchant,  who  had  his  house 
famished,  en  Prince,  and  gave  us  a  splendid  entertainment. 

25th.  The  Long  Parliament,  which  had  sat  ever  since 
the  Restoration,  was  dissolved  by  persuasion  of  the  Lord 
Treasurer,  though  divers  of  them  were  believed  to  be  his 
pensioners.  At  this,  all  the  poUticians  were  at  a  stand, 
they  being  very  eager  in  pursuit  of  the  late  plot  of  the 
Papists. 

30th.  Dr.  Cudworth  preached  before  the  King  at  White- 
hall, on  2  Timothy,  iii.  5,  reckoning  up  the  perils  of  the 
last  times,  in  which,  amongst  other  wickedness,  treasons 
should  be  one  of  the  greatest,  applying  it  to  the  occasion, 
as  committed  under  a  form  of  reformation  and  godliness  ; 
concluding  that  the  prophecy  did  intend  more  particularly 
the  present  age,  as  one  of  the  last  times ;  the  sins  there 
enumerated,  more  abundantly  reigning  than  ever. 

2nd  February.  Dr.  Durell,  Dean  of  Windsor,  preached 
to  the  Household  at  Whitehall,  on  1  Cor.  xvi.  22;  he 
read  the  whole  sermon  out  of  his  notes,  which  I  had 
never  before  seen  a  Frenchman  do,  he  being  of  Jersey, 
and  bred  at  Paris. 

4th.  Dr.  Pierce,  Dean  of  Salisbury,  preached  on  1  John, 
iv.  1,  "  Try  the  Spirits,  there  being  so  many  delusory 
ones  gone  forth  of  late  into  the  world;"  he  inveighed 
against  the  pernicious  doctrines  of  Mr.  Hobbes. 

My  Brother,  Evelyn,  was  now  chosen  Knight  for  the 
County  of  Surrey,  carrying  it  against  my  Lord  Longford 
and  Sir  Adam  Brown,  of  Betchworth  Castle.  The  country 
coming  in  to  give  him  their  suffrages  were  so  many,  that 

it  was  purchased  by  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  in  1738,  and  was  pulled  down  in  1740. 
— Faulkner's  History  of  Chelsea. 


1679.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  Jgg 

I  believe  they  eat  and  drank  him  out  near  £3^000,  by  a 
most  abominable  custom. 

1st  April.  My  friend^  Mr.  Godolphin,  was  now  made 
one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Treasury,  and  of 
the  Privy  Council. 

4th.  The  Bishop  of  Gloucester  preached  in  a  manner  very 
like  Bishop  Andrews,  full  of  divisions,  and  scholastical,  and 
that  with  much  quickness.  The  holy  Communion  followed. 

20th.  Easter-day.  Our  vicar  preached  exceeding  well 
on  1  Cor.,  V.  7.  The  holy  Communion  followed,  at  which 
I  and  my  daugliter,  Mary,  (now  about  fom'teen  years  old) 
received  for  the  first  time.  The  Lord  Jesus  continue  his 
grace  unto  her,  and  improve  this  blessed  beginning  ! 

24th.  The  Duke  of  York,  voted  against  by  the  Commons 
for  his  recusancy,  went  over  to  Flanders;  which  made 
much  discourse. 

4th  June.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Pepys  in  the  Tower,  he 
having  been  committed  by  the  House  of  Commons  for 
misdemeanors  in  the  Admiralty  when  he  was  Secretary ; 
I  believe  he  was  unjustly  charged.*  Here  I  saluted  my 
Lords  Stafford  and  Petre,  who  were  committed  for  the 
Popish  plot. 

7th.  I  saw  the  magnificent  cavalcade  and  entry  of  the 
Portugal  Ambassador. 

17th.  I  was  godfather  to  a  son  of  Sir  Christopher  Wren, 
Surveyor  of  his  Majesty^s  buildings,  that  most  excellent 
and  learned  person,  with  Sir  Wilham  Fermor,  and  my 
Lady  Viscountess  Newport,  wife  of  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Household. 

Thence  to  Chelsea,  to  Sir  Stephen  Fox,  and  my  lady, 
in  order  to  the  purchase  of  the  Countess  of  Bristol^s  house 
there,  which  she  desired  me  to  procure  a  chapman  for. 

19th.  I  dined  at  Sir  Robert  Clayton^s  with  Sir  Robert 
Viner,  the  great  banker. 

22nd.  There  were  now  divers  Jesuits  executed  about  the 
plot,  and  a  rebellion  in  Scotland  of  the  fanatics,  so  that 
there  was  a  sad  prospect  of  public  affairs. 

*  Mr.  Popys  was  concerned  in  a  contested  election  in  1684,  and  his  oppo- 
nent accused  him  of  being  a  Papist,  which  the  House  of  Commons  intjuired 
into,  but  without  finding  any  proof.  By  Gray's  Debates,  it  appears  that  he 
was  accused  of  having  sent  information  to  the  French  court  of  the  state  of  tlie 
English  Navy.     Most  incredible  ! 

VOL.    II.  K 


130  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

25th.  The  new  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  came 
to  visit  me,  viz.  Sir  Henry  Capell,  brother  to  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  Mr.  Finch,  eldest  son  to  the  Lord  Chancellor,  Sir 
Humphry  Winch,  Sir  Thomas  Meeres,  Mr.  Hales,  with' 
some  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy.  I  went  with 
them  to  London. 

1st  July.  I  dined  at  Sir  William  Godolphin^s,  and  with 
that  learned  gentleman  went  to  take  the  air  in  Hyde- 
Pai'k,  where  was  a  glorious  cortege. 

3rd.  Sending  a  piece  of  »'enison  to  Mr.  Pepys,  still  a 
prisoner,  I  went  and  dined  with  him. 

6th.  Now  were  there  papers,  speeches,  and  Hbels,  pub- 
licly cried  in  the  streets  against  the  Dukes  of  York  and 
Lauderdale,  &c.  obnoxious  to  the  Parliament,  with  too 
much  and  indeed  too  shameful  a  Hberty;  but  the  people 
and  Parliament  had  gotten  head  by  reason  of  the  vices  of 
the  great  ones. 

There  was  now  brought  up  to  London  a  child,  son  of 
one  Mr.  Wotton,*  formerly  amanuensis  to  Dr.  Andrews, 

*  The  Rev.  Henry  Wotton,  minister  of  Wrentham,  in  Suffolk.  This  son 
was  afterwards  the  celebrated  William  Wotton,  the  friend  and  defender  of 
Dr.  Bentley,  and  the  antagonist  of  Sir  William  Temple,  in  the  great  Contro- 
versy about  Ancient  and  Modem  Learning.  His  early  and  extraordinary 
proficiency  in  letters  and  general  knowledge  of  every  kind,  was  commemorated 
by  his  father  in  a  pamphlet  "  On  the  Education  of  Children,"  addressed  to 
King  Charles  II.,  and  reprinted  in  1753,  with  the  attestations  of  several 
learned  men  who  had  examined  him,  to  the  truth  of  his  uncommon  abihtiea 
and  wonderful  acquisitions  in  the  different  languages,  both  ancient  and 
modern.  Yet  it  is  remarkable  those  eminent  qualifications  did  not  advance 
him  in  the  line  of  his  profession  beyond  a  Fellowship  at  Cambridge,  and  a 
country  parsonage,  viz.  Milton,  in  Buckinghamshire,  which  was  given  him  by 
the  Earl  of  Nottingham,  to  whom  he  had  been  chaplain.  Sir  Philip  Skippon, 
who  lived  at  Wrentham,  in  Suffolk,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jolm  Ray,  Sept.  18, 
1671,  writes  :  "  I  shall  somewhat  surprize  you  with  what  I  have  seen  in  a 
little  boy,  William  Wotton,  five  years  old  last  month,  son  of  Mr.  Wotton, 
minister  of  this  parish,  who  hath  instructed  his  child  within  the  last  three 
quarters  of  a  year  in  the  reading  the  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages, 
which  he  can  read  almost  as  well  as  English,  and  that  tongue  he  could  read 
at  four  years  and  three  months  old,  as  well  as  most  lads  of  twice  his  age." 
Sir  Philip  left  a  draft  of  a  longer  letter  to  Mr.  Ray,  in  which  he  adds,  "  He 
is  not  yet  able  to  parse  any  language,  but  what  he  performs  in  turning  the 
three  learned  tongues  into  English,  is  done  by  strength  of  memory,  so  that  he 
is  ready  to  mistake  when  some  words  of  different  signification  have  near  the 
same  sound.  His  father  hath  taught  him  by  no  mles,  but  only  uses  his 
memory  in  remembering  words." — He  was  admitted  of  Cathai'ine  Hall,  Cam- 
bridge, April,  1676,  some  months  before  he  was  ten  years  old.     He  took  the 


1679.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ]^31 

Bishop  of  Winton,  who  both  read  and  perfectly  understood 
Hebrew,  Greek,  Latin,  Arabic,  Syriac,  and  most  of  the 
modern  languages ;  disputed  in  divinity,  law,  and  all  the 
sciences;  was  skilful  in  history,  both  ecclesiastical  and 
profane ;  in  politics ;  in  a  word,  so  universally  and  solidly 
learned  at  eleven  years  of  age,  that  he  was  looked  on  as  a 
miracle.  Dr.  Lloyd,  one  of  the  most  deep  learned  divines 
of  this  nation  in  all  sorts  of  literature,  with  Dr.  Burnet, 
who  had  severely  examined  him,  came  away  astonished, 
and  they  told  me  they  did  not  believe  there  had  the  like 
appeared  in  the  world.  He  had  only  been  instructed  by 
his  father,  who  being  himself  a  learned  person,  confessed 
that  his  son  knew  all  that  he  himself  knew.  But,  what 
was  more  admirable  than  his  vast  memory,  was  his  judg- 
ment and  invention,  he  being  tried  with  divers  hard 
questions,  which  required  maturity  of  thought  and  expe- 
rience. He  was  also  dexterous  in  chronology,  antiquities, 
mathematics.  In  sum,  an  intellectus  universalis,  beyond 
all  that  we  read  of  Picus  Mirandula,  and  other  precocious 
Avits,  and  yet  withal  a  very  humble  child. 

14th.  I  went  to  see  how  things  stood  at  Parson^s  Green, 
my  Lady  Viscountess  Mordaunt  (now  sick  in  Paris,  whither 
she  went  for  health)  ha\dng  made  me  a  trustee  for  her 
children,  an  office  I  could  not  refuse  to  this  most  excellent, 
pious,  and  virtuous  lady,  my  long  acquaintance. 

15th.  I  dined  with  Mr  Sidney  Godolphin,  now  one  of 
the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Treasury. 

18th.  I  went  early  to  the  Old  Bailey  Sessions-house, 
to  the  famous  trial  of  Sir  George  Wakeman,  one  of  the 
Queen^s  physicians,  and  three  Benedictine  monks;*  the 

degree  of  B.  A.  when  only  twelve  years  and  five  months  old.  Dr.  Burnet, 
Bishop  of  Sarum,  recommended  him  to  Dr.  Lloyd,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  who 
took  hira  as  an  assistant  in  making  a  catalogue  of  his  books,  and  carried  him 
to  St.  Asaph,  and  gave  him  the  sinecure  of  Llandrillo,  in  Denbighshire.  He 
suffered  from  the  satirical  pen  of  Swift  ;  but  this  is  no  wonder,  as  he  had 
spoken  of  the  Tale  of  a  Tub  as  a  profane  piece  of  ribaldry.  He  compiled 
Memoirs  of  the  Cathedral  Churches  of  St.  David  and  St.  Asaph,  which 
Browne  Willis  published.  When  very  young,  he  remembered  almost  the 
whole  of  any  discourse  he  had  heard,  and  repeated  to  Bishop  Lloyd  one  of 
his  own  sermons.  He  died  in  17'2G,  aged  61,  and  was  buried  at  Buxted,  in 
Sussex. 

*  William  ]\Iarshal,   William   Eumley,  and  James  Corker. — Sec  State 
Trials,  fol.  vol.  IL,  p.  918. 

K  2 


132  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

first  (whom  I  was  well  acquainted  with,  and  take  to  be  a 
worthy  gentleman  abhorring  such  a  fact)  for  intending 
to  poison  the  King;  the  other  as  accompHces  to  carry 
on  the  plot,  to  subvert  the  government,  and  introduce 
Popery.  The  Bench  was  crowded  with  the  Judges,  Lord 
Mayor,  Justices,  and  innumerable  spectators.  The  chief 
accusers.  Dr.  Oates  (as  he  called  himself),  and  one  Bedlow, 
a  man  of  inferior  note.  Their  testimonies  were  not  so 
pregnant,  and  I  fear  much  of  it  from  hearsay,  but  swearing 
positively  to  some  particulars,  which  drew  suspicion  upon 
their  truth;  nor  did  circumstances  so  agree,  as  to  give 
either  the  Bench,  or  Jury,  so  entire  satisfaction  as  was 
expected.  After,  therefore,  a  long  and  tedious  trial  of 
nine  hours,  the  Jury  brought  them  in  not  guilty,  to  the 
extraordinary  triumph  of  the  Papists,  and  without  sufficient 
disadvantage  and  reflections  on  witnesses,  especially  Oates 
and  Bedlow. 

This  was  a  happy  day  for  the  Lords  in  the  Tower,  who 
expecting  their  trial,  had  this  gone  against  the  prisoners 
at  the  bar,  would  all  have  been  in  the  utmost  hazard. 
For  my  part,  I  look  on  Oates  as  a  vain  insolent  man, 
puffed  up  with  the  favour  of  the  Commons  for  having 
discovered  something  really  true,  more  especially  as  detect- 
ing the  dangerous  intrigue  of  Coleman,  proved  out  of  his 
own  letters,  and  of  a  general  design  which  the  Jesuited 
party  of  the  Papists  ever  had,  and  still  have,  to  ruin  the 
Church  of  England ;  but  that  he  was  trusted  with  those 
great  secrets  he  pretended,  or  had  any  soUd  ground  for 
what  he  accused  divers  noblemen  of,  I  have  many  reasons 
to  induce  my  contrary  belief.  That  among  so  many  com- 
missions as  he  affirmed  to  have  delivered  to  them  from 
P.  Oliva*  and  the  Pope, — ^he  who  made  no  scruple  of 
opening  all  other  papers,  letters,  and  secrets,  should  not 
only  not  open  any  of  those  pretended  commissions,  but 
not  so  much  as  take  any  copy  or  witness  of  any  one  of 
them,  is  almost  miraculous.  But  the  Commons  (some 
leading  persons  I  mean  of  them)  had  so  exalted  him,  that 
they  took  all  he  said  for  gospel,  and  without  more  ado 
ruined  all  whom  he  named  to  be  conspirators  ;  nor  did  he 
spare  whoever  came  in  his  way.    But  indeed  the  murder  of 

*  Padre  Oliva,  General  of  the  Order  of  Jesuits. 


1G79.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I33 

Sir  Edmundbury  Godfrey,  suspected  to  have  been  com- 
passed by  the  Jesuits'  party  for  his  intimacy  with  Coleman 
(a  busy  person  whom  I  also  knew),  and  the  fear  they  had 
that  he  was  able  to  have  discovered  things  to  their  preju- 
dice, did  so  exasperate  not  only  the  Commons  but  all  the 
nation,  that  much  of  these  sharpnesses  against  the  more 
honest  Roman  Catholics  who  lived  peaceably,  is  to  be 
imputed  to  that  horrid  fact. 

The  Sessions  ended,  I  dined  or  rather  supped  (so  late  it 
was)  with  the  Judges  *  in  the  large  room  annexed  to  the 
place,  and  so  returned  home.  Though  it  was  not  mj'- 
custom  or  delight,  to  be  often  present  at  any  capital  trials, 
we  having  them  commonly  so  exactly  published  by  those 
who  take  them  in  short-hand,  yet  I  was  inclined  to  be  at 
this  signal  one,  that  by  the  ocular  view  of  the  carriages 
and  other  circumstances  of  the  managers  and  parties  con- 
cerned, I  might  inform  myself,  and  regulate  my  opinion 
of  a  cause  that  had  so  alarmed  the  whole  nation. 

22nd.  Dined  at  Clapham,  at  Sir  D.  Gauden's;  went 
thence  with  him  to  Windsor,  to  assist  him  in  a  business 
with  his  Majesty.  I  lay  that  night  at  Eton  College,  the 
Provost's  lodgings  (Dr.  Craddock),  where  I  was  courteously 
entertained. 

23rd.  To  Court :  after  dinner,  I  visited  that  excellent 
painter,  Verrio,  whose  works  in  fresco  in  the  King's  palace, 
at  Windsor,  will  celebrate  his  name  as  long  as  those  walls 
last.  He  showed  us  his  pretty  garden,  choice  flowers,  and 
curiosities,  he  himself  being  a  skilful  gardener. 

I  went  to  Clifden,  that  stupendous  natural  rock,  wood, 
and  prospect,  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham' s,t  buildings  of 
extraordinary  expense.  The  grots  in  the  chalky  rock  are 
pretty :  it  is  a  romantic  object,  and  the  place  altogether 
answers  the  most  poetical  description  that  can  be  made  of 
solitude,  precipice,  prospect,  or  whatever  can  contribute 
to   a  thing  so  very  like  their  imaginations.     The  stand, 

*  The  Judges  were,  Lord  Chief-Justice  North,  Mr.  Justice  Atkins,  Mr. 
Justice  Windham,  Mr.  Justice  Pemberton,  and  Mr.  Justice  Dolben. 

+ Cliefden's  proud  alcove, 

The  bower  of  wanton  Shrewsbury  and  Love.  Pope. 

The  Countess  of  Shrewsbury,  whose  husband  having  challenged  the  Duke, 
she  is  said  to  have  held  the  horse  of  the  latter  in  the  habit  of  a  page,  whilst 
they  fought. 


]^34  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

somewhat  like  Frascati  as  to  its  front,  and,  on  the  platform, 
is  a  circular  view  to  the  utmost  verge  of  the  horizon  which, 
with  the  serpenting  of  the  Thames,  is  admirable.  The 
staircase  is  for  its  materials  singular;  the  cloisters,  des- 
cents, gardens,  and  avenue  through  the  wood,  august  and 
stately;  but  the  land  all  about  wretchedly  barren,  and 
producing  nothing  but  fern.  Indeed,  as  I  told  his  Majesty 
that  evening  (asking  me  how  I  liked  Clifden)  without 
flattery,  that  it  did  not  please  me  so  well  as  Windsor  for 
the  prospect  and  park,  which  is  without  compare;  there 
being  but  one  only  opening,  and  that  narrow,  which  led 
one  to  any  variety,  whereas,  that  of  Windsor  is  every- 
where great  and  unconfined. 

Returning,  I  called  at  my  cousin,  Evelyn^ s,  who  has  a 
very  pretty  seat  in  the  forest,  two  miles  byhither  Clifden, 
on  a  flat,  with  gardens  exquisitely  kept,  though  large,  and 
the  house  a  staunch  good  old  building,  and  what  was 
singular,  some  of  the  rooms  floored  dove-tail-wise  without 
a  nail,  exactly  close.  One  of  the  closets  is  pargetted  with 
plain  deal,  set  in  diamond,  exceeding  staimch  and  pretty. 

7th  August.  Dined  at  the  Sherifi^s,  when,  the  Company 
of  Drapers  and  their  wives  being  invited,  there  was  a 
sumptuous  entertainment,  according  to  the  forms  of  the 
city,  with  music,  &c.,  comparable  to  any  Prince's  service 
in  Europe. 

8th.  I  went  this  morning  to  show  my  Lord  Chamberlain, 
his  Lady,  and  the  Duchess  of  Grafton,  the  incomparable 
work  of  Mr.  Gibbons,  the  carver,  whom  I  first  recom- 
mended to  his  Majesty,  his  house  being  furnished  like  a 
cabinet,  not  only  with  his  own  work,  but  divers  excellent 
paintings  of  the  best  hands.  Thence,  to  Sir  Stephen 
Fox's,  where  we  spent  the  day. 

31st.  After  evening  service,  to  see  a  neighbour,  one 
Mr.  Bohun,  related  to  my  son's  late  tutor  of  that  name, 
a  rich  Spanish  merchant,  hving  in  a  neat  place,  which 
he  has  adorned  with  many  curiosities,  especially  several 
carvings  of  Mr.  Gibbons,  and  some  pictures  by  Streeter. 

13th  September.  To  Windsor,  to  congratulate  his 
Majesty  on  his  recovery ;  I  kissed  the  Duke's  hand  now 
lately  returned  from  Flanders  to  visit  his  brother  the  King, 
on  which  there  were  various  bold  and  foohsh  discourses, 
the  Duke  of  Monmouth  being  sent  away. 


1679.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I35 

19th.  My  Lord  Sunderland^  one  of  the  principal  Secre- 
taries of  State,  invited  me  to  dinner,  where  was  the  King's 
natural  son,  the  Earl  of  Plymouth,  the  Earl  of  Shrews- 
bury, Earl  of  Essex,  Earl  of  Mulgrave,  Mr.  Hyde,  and 
Mr.  Grodolphin.  After  dinner,  I  went  to  prayers  at 
Eton,  and  visited  Mr.  Henry  Grodolphin,  fellow  there,  and 
Dr.  Craddock. 

25th.  Mr.  Slingsby  and  Signor  Verrio  came  to  dine 
with  me,  to  whom  I  gave  China  oranges  off  my  own  trees, 
as  good,  I  think,  as  were  ever  eaten. 

6th  October.  A  very  wet  and  sickly  season. 

23rd.  Dined  at  my  Lord  Chamberlain's,  the  King  being 
now  newly  returned  from  his  Newmarket  recreations. 

4th  November.  Dined  at  the  Lord  Mayor's ;  and,  in 
the  evening,  went  to  the  funeral  of  my  pious,  dear,  and 
ancient  learned  friend.  Dr.  Jasper  Needham,  who  was 
buried  at  St.  Bride's  church.  He  was  a  true  and  holy 
Christian,  and  one  who  loved  me  with  great  affection. 
Dr.  Dove  preached  with  an  eulogy  due  to  his  memory. 
I  lost  in  this  person  one  of  my  dearest  remaining  sincere 
friends. 

5tli.  I  was  invited  to  dine  at  my  Lord  Tiviotdale's,  a 
Scotch  Earl,  a  learned  and  knowing  nobleman.  We 
afterwards  went  to  see  Mr.  Montague's  new  palace  near 
Bloomsbury,  built  by  our  curator,  Mr.  Hooke,  somewhat 
after  the  French ;  it  was  most  nobly  furnished,  and  a  fine, 
but  too  much  exposed  garden.* 

6th.  Dined  at  the  Countess  of  Sunderland's,  and  was 
this  evening  at  the  re-marriage  of  the  Duchess  of 
Grafton  to  the  Duke  (his  Majesty's  natural  son)  she  being 
now  twelve  years  old.  The  ceremony  was  performed  in 
my  Lord  Chamberlain's  (her  father's)  lodgings  at  White- 
hall by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  his  Majesty  being  present. 
A  sudden  and  unexpected  thing,  when  everybody  believed 
the  first  marriage  would  have  come  to  nothing ;  but,  the 
measure  being  determined,  I  was  privately  invited  by 
my  Lady,  her  mother,  to  be  present.  I  confess  I  could 
give  her  little  joy,  and  so  I  plainly  told  her,  but  she  said 
the  King  would  have  it  so,  and  there  was  no  going  back. 
This    sweetest,    hopefullest,   most    beautiful   child,    and 

,*  This  is  now  the  British  Museum.    See  under  the  years  1672,  August, 
and  1683,  October  10th. 


136  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

most  virtuous  too,  was  sacrificed  to  a  boy  that  had  been 
rudely  bred,  without  anything  to  encourage  them  but  his 
Majesty's  pleasure.  I  pray  God  the  sweet  child  find  it  to 
her  advantage,  who,  if  my  augury  deceive  me  not,  will  in 
few  years  be  such  a  paragon,  as  were  fit  to  make  the  wife 
of  the  greatest  Prince  in  Europe !  I  staid  supper,  where 
his  Majesty  sat  between  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland  (the 
mother  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton)  and  the  sweet  Duchess 
the  bride ;  there  were  several  great  persons  and  ladies, 
without  pomp.  My  love  to  my  Lord  Arhngton's  family 
and  the  sweet  child  made  me  behold  all  this  with  regret, 
though  as  the  Duke  of  Grafton  afl'ects  the  sea,  to  which  I 
find  his  father  intends  to  use  him,  he  may  emerge  a  plain, 
useful  and  robust  officer ;  and,  were  he  poHshed,  a  tolerable 
person ;  for  he  is  exceeding  handsome,  by  far  sm'passing 
any  of  the  King's  other  natural  issue. 

8tli.  At  Sir  Stephen  Fox's,  and  was  agreeing  for  the 
Countess   of  Bristol's  house  at  Chelsea,  within  £500. 

18th.  I  dined  at  my  Lord  Mayor's  [Sir  Robert  Clay- 
ton] ,  being  desired  by  the  Countess  of  Sunderland  to  carry 
her  thither  on  a  solemn  day,  that  she  might  see  the  pomp 
and  ceremony  of  this  Prince  of  Citizens,  there  never 
having  been  any,  who,  for  the  stateliness  of  his  palace, 
prodigious  feasting,  and  magnificence,  exceeded  him.  This 
Lord  Mayor's  acquaintance  had  been  from  the  time  of  his 
being  apprentice  to  one  Mr.  Abbot,  his  uncle,*  who  being 
a  scrivener,  and  an  honest  worthy  man,  one  who  was 
condemned  to  die  at  the  beginning  of  the  troubles  forty 
years  past,  as  concerned  in  the  commission  of  array  for 
King  Charles  I.  had  escaped  with  his  life ;  I  often  used 
his  assistance  in  money-matters.  Robert  Clayton,  then  a 
boy,  his  nephew,  became,  after  his  uncle  Abbot's  death, 
so  prodigiously  rich  and  opulent,  that  he  was  reckoned 
one  of  the  wealthiest  citizens.  He  married  a  free-hearted 
woman,  who  became  his  hospitable  disposition;  and, 
ha\ing  no  children,  with  the  accession  of  his  partner  and 
fellow  apprentice,t  who  also  left  him  his  estate,  he  grew 
excessively  rich.  He  was  a  discreet  magistrate,  and  though 
envied,  I  think  without  much  cause.  Some  believed  him 
guilty  of  hard  deahng,  especially  with  the  Duke  of  Buck- 

*  See  under  October  12,  1677.  f  Mr.  Morris. 


1679.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I37 

ingliam,  much  of  Avhose  estate  lie  had  swallowed,  but  I 
never  saw  any  ill  by  him,  considering  the  trade  he  was  of. 
The  reputation  and  known  integrity  of  his  uucle,  Abbot, 
brought  all  the  royal  party  to  him,  by  which  he  got  not 
only  great  credit,  but  vast  wealth,  so  as  he  passed  this 
office  Avith  infinite  magnificence  and  honour. 

20th.  I  dined  with  Mr.  SHngsby,  Master  of  the  Mint, 
with  my  wife,  invited  to  hear  music,  which  was  exquisitely 
performed  by  four  of  the  most  renowned  masters; 
Du  Prue,  a  Frenchman,  on  the  lute ;  Signer  Bartholomeo, 
an  Italian,  on  the  harpsichord ;  Nicholao  on  the  violin ; 
but,  above  all,  for  its  sweetness  and  novelty,  the  viol 
d'amore  of  five  wire  strings  played  on  with  a  bow,  being 
but  an  ordinary  violin,  played  on  lyre-way,  by  a  German. 
There  was  also  a  jiute  douce,  now  in  much  request  for 
accompanying  the  voice.  Mr.  Slingsby,  whose  son  and 
daughter  played  skilfully,  had  these  meetings  frequently 
in  his  house. 

21st.  I  dined  at  my  Lord  Mayor's,  to  accompany  my 
worthiest  and  generous  friend,  the  Earl  of  Ossory ;  it  was 
on  a  Friday,  a  private  day,  but  the  feast  and  entertainment 
miglit  have  become  a  King.  Such  an  hospitable  costume 
and  splendid  magistrature  does  no  city  in  the  world  show, 
as  I  believe. 

23rd.  Dr.  Allestree  preached  before  the  household  on 
St.  Luke,  xi.  2 ;  Dr.  Lloyd  on  Matt.,  xxiii.  20,  before 
the  King,  showing  with  how  little  reason  the  Papists 
applied  those  words  of  our  Blessed  Saviour  to  maintain 
the  pretended  infallibility  they  boast  of.  I  never  heard  a 
more  Christian  and  excellent  discourse :  yet  were  some 
offended  that  he  seemed  to  say  the  Church  of  Rome  was  a 
true  church ;  but  it  was  a  captious  mistake ;  for  he  never 
affirmed  anything  that  could  be  more  to  their  reproach,  and 
that  such  was  the  present  Church  of  Rome,  showing  how 
much  it  had  erred.  There  was  not  in  this  sermon  so  much 
as  a  shadow  for  censure,  no  person  of  all  the  clergy  having 
testified  greater  zeal  against  the  errors  of  the  Papists  than 
this  pious  and  most  learned  person.  I  dined  at  the  Bishop 
of  Rochester's,  and  then  went  to  St.  Paul's  to  hear  that 
great  wit.  Dr.  Sprat,  now  newly  succeeding  Dr.  Outram, 
in  the  cure  of  St.  Margaret's.  His  talent  was,  a  great 
inemory,   never  making    use    of   notes,    a  readiness    of 


138  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

expression  in  a  most  pure  and  plain  style  of  words,  full  of 
matter,  easily  delivered. 

26th,  I  met  the  Earl  of  Clarendon  with  the  rest  of  my 
fellow  executors  of  the  will  of  my  late  Lady  Viscountess 
Mordaunt,  viz.,  Mr.  Laurence  Hyde,  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Treasury,  and  lately  Plenipotentiary-Am- 
bassador at  Nimeguen ;  Andrew  Newport,  and  Sir  Charles 
Wheeler,  to  examine  and  audit  and  dispose  of  this  year's 
account  of  the  estate  of  this  excellent  Lady,  according  to 
the  direction  of  her  Will. 

27th.  I  went  to  see  Sir  John  Stonehouse,  with  whom  I 
was  treating  a  marriage  between  my  son  and  his  daughter- 
in-law. 

28th.  Came  over  the  Duke  of  Monmouth  from  Holland 
unexpectedly  to  his  Majesty,  whilst  the  Duke  of  York  was  on 
his  journey  to  Scotland,  whither  the  King  sent  him  to  reside 
and  govern.  The  bells  and  bonfires  of  the  City  at  this 
arrival  of  the  Duke  of  Monmouth  publishing  their  joy,  to 
the  no  small  regret  of  some  at  Court.  This  Duke,  whom 
for  distinction  they  called  the  Protestant  Duke  (though 
the  son  of  an  abandoned  woman),  the  people  made  their 
idol. 

4th  December.  I  dined,  together  with  Lord  Ossory  and 
the  Earl  of  Chesterfield,  at  the  Portugal  Ambassador's, 
now  newly  come,  at  Cleveland  House,  a  noble  palace,  too 

good  for  that  infamous The  staircase  is  sumptuous, 

and  the  gallery  and  garden;  but,  above  all,  the  costly 
furniture  belonging  to  the  Ambassador,  especially  the 
rich  Japan  cabinets,  of  which  I  think  there  were  a  dozen. 
There  was  a  billiard-table,  with  as  many  more  hazards  as 
ours  commonly  have ;  the  game  being  only  to  prosecute 
the  ball  till  hazarded,  without  passing  the  port,  or  touch- 
ing the  pin ;  if  one  miss  hitting  the  ball  every  time,  the 
game  is  lost,  or  if  hazarded.  It  is  more  difl&cult  to  hazard 
a  ball,  though  so  many,  than  in  our  table,  by  reason  the 
bound  is  made  so  exactly  even,  and  the  edges  not  stuff'ed ; 
the  balls  are  also  bigger,  and  they  for  the  most  part  use 
the  sharp  and  small  end  of  the  billiard-stick,  which  is  shod 
with  brass,  or  silver.  The  entertainment  was  exceeding 
civil;  but,  besides  a  good  olio,  the  dishes  were  trifling, 
hashed  and  condited  after  their  way,  not  at  all  fit  for  an 
English  stomach,  which  is  for  solid  meat.     There  was  yet 


1C80.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  j[39 

good  fowl,  but  roasted  to  coal,  nor  were  the  sweetmeats 
good. 

SOth.  I  went  to  meet  Sir  John  Stonehouse,  and  give 
him  a  particular  of  the  settlement  on  my  son,  who  noAV 
made  his  addresses  to  the  young  lady  his  daughter-in-law, 
daughter  of  Lady  Stonehouse. 

1679-80.  25th  January.  Dr.  Cave,  author  of  "Primitive 
Christianity,^^  &c.,  a  pious  and  learned  man,  preached  at 
Whitehall  to  the  household,  on  James,  iii.  17,  concerning 
the  duty  of  grace  and  charity. 

30th.  I  supped  with  Sii'  Stephen  Fox,  now  made  one  of 
the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Treasury. 

19th  February.  The  writings  for  the  settling  jointure 
and  other  contracts  of  marriage  of  my  son  were  finished 
and  sealed.  The  lady  was  to  bring  £5000,  in  consideration 
of  a  settlement  of  £500  a-year  present  maintenance,  which 
was  likewise  to  be  her  jointure,  and  £500  a-year  after  mine 
and  my  wife^s  decease.  But,  with  God^s  blessing,  it  will 
be  at  the  least  £1000  a-year  more  in  a  few  years.  I  pray 
God  make  him  worthy  of  it,  and  a  comfort  to  his  excellent 
mother,  who  deserves  much  from  him  ! 

21st.  Shrove-Tuesday,  My  son  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Martha  Spencer,  daughter  to  my  Lady  Stonehouse  by  a 
former  gentleman,  at  St.  Andrew^ s,  Holborn,  by  our  Vicar, 
borrowing  the  church  of  Dr.  Stillingfleet,  Dean  of  St. 
PauFs,  the  present  incumbent.  We  afterwards  dined  at  a 
house  in  Holborn ;  and,  after  the  solemnity  and  dancing 
was  done,  they  were  bedded  at  Sir  John  Stonehouse^s 
lodgings  in  Bow  Street,  Covent  Garden. 

26th.  To  the  Royal  Society,  where  I  met  an  Irish  Bishop 
with  his  Lady,  who  was  daughter  to  my  worthy  and  pious 
friend.  Dr.  Jeremy  Taylor,  late  Bishop  of  Down  and 
Connor;  they  came  to  see  the  Repository.  She  seemed 
to  be  a  knowing  woman,  beyond  the  ordinary  talent  of 
her  sex. 

3rd  March.  I  dined  at  my  Lord  Mayor's,  in  order  to 
the  meeting  of  my  Lady  Beckford,  whose  daughter  (a 
rich  heiress)  I  had  recommended  to  my  Brother  of  Wotton 
for  his  only  son,  she  being  the  daughter  of  the  lady  by 
Mr.  Eversfield,  a  Sussex  gentleman. 

16th.  To  London,  to  receive  £3000  of  my  daughter- 
in-law^s  portion,  which  was  paid  in  gold. 


140  DIAIIY    OF  [CASHIOBURY, 

26th.  The  Dean  of  Sarum  preached  on  Jerem.,  xlv.  5, 
an  hour  and  a  half  from  his  common-place  book  of  kings 
and  great  men  retiring  to  private  situations.  Scarce  any- 
thing of  Scripture  in  it. 

18th  April.  On  the  earnest  invitation  of  the  Earl  of 
Essex,  I  went  with  him  to  his  house  at  Cashiobury,  in 
Hertfordshire.  It  was  on  Sunday,  but  going  early  from 
his  house  in  the  square  of  St.  James,  we  arrived  by  ten 
o'clock  ;  this  he  thought  too  late  to  go  to  church,  and  we 
had  prayers  in  his  chapel.  The  house  is  new,  a  plain 
fabric,  built  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Hugh  May.  There  are 
divers  fair  and  good  rooms,  and  excellent  carving  by 
Gibbons,  especially  the  chimney-piece  of  the  library. 
There  is  in  the  porch,  or  entrance,  a  painting  by  Verrio, 
of  Apollo  and  the  Liberal  Arts.  One  room  pargetted 
with  yew,  which  I  liked  well.  Some  of  the  chimney 
mantels  are  of  Irish  marble,  brought  by  my  Lord  from 
Ireland,  when  he  was  Lord  Lieutenant,  and  not  much 
inferior  to  Italian.  The  tympanum,  or  gable,  at  the  front 
is  a  bass-relievo  of  Diana  hunting,  cut  in  Portland  stone, 
handsomely  enough.  I  do  not  approve  of  the  middle 
doors  being  round  ;  but,  when  the  hall  is  finished  as 
designed,  it  being  an  oval  with  a  cupola,  together  with  the 
other  wing,  it  will  be  a  very  noble  palace.  The  library  is 
large,  and  very  nobly  furnished,  and  all  the  books  are 
richly  bound  and  gilded;  but  there  are  no  MSS.,  except 
the  Parliament  Rolls  and  Journals,  the  transcribing  and 
binding  of  which  cost  him,  as  he  assured  me,  £500. 

No  man  has  been  more  industrious  than  this  noble 
Lord  in  planting  about  his  seat,  adorned  with  walks, 
ponds,  and  other  rural  elegancies;  but  the  soil  is  stony, 
churlish,  and  uneven,  nor  is  the  water  near  enough  to  the 
house,  though  a  very  swift  and  clear  stream  run  within  a 
flight-shot  from  it  in  the  valley,  which  may  fitly  be  called 
Coldbrook,  it  being  indeed  excessive  cold,  yet  producing 
fair  trouts.  It  is  pity  the  house  was  not  situated  to  more 
advantage ;  but  it  seems  it  was  built  just  where  the  old  one 
was,  which  I  believe  he  only  meant  to  repair ;  this  leads 
men  into  irremediable  errors,  and  saves  but  a  little. 

The  land  about  is  exceedingly  addicted  to  wood,  but 
the  coldness  of  the  place  hinders  the  growth.  Black 
cherry-trees  prosper  even  to  considerable  timber,   some 


1680.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  141 

being  eighty  feet  long;  they  make  also  very  handsome 
avenues.  There  is  a  pretty  oval  at  the  end  of  a  fair  walk, 
set  about  with  treble  rows  of  Spanish  chestnut-trees. 

The  gardens  are  very  rare,  and  cannot  be  otherwise, 
having  so  skilful  an  artist  to  govern  them  as  Mr.  Cooke, 
who  is,  as  to  the  mechanic  part,  not  ignorant  in  mathe- 
matics, and  pretends  to  astrology.  There  is  an  excellent 
collection  of  the  choicest  fruit. 

As  for  my  Lord,  he  is  a  sober,  wise,  judicious,  and 
pondering  person,  not  illiterate  beyond  the  rate  of  most 
noblemen  in  this  age,  very  well  versed  in  English  Plistory 
and  affairs,  industrious,  frugal,  methodical,  and  every  way 
accomplished.  His  Lady  (being  sister  of  the  late  Earl  of 
Northumberland)  is  a  wise,  yet  somewhat  melancholy 
woman,  setting  her  heart  too  much  on  the  little  lady,  her 
daughter,  of  whom  she  is  over  fond.  They  have  a  hopeful 
son  at  the  Academy. 

My  Lord  was  not  long  since  come  from  his  Lord- 
Lieutenancy  of  Ireland,  where  he  showed  his  abilities  in 
administration  and  government,  as  well  as  prudence  in 
considerably  augmenting  his  estate  without  reproach.  He 
had  been  Ambassador  Extraordinary  in  Denmark,  and,  in 
a  word,  such  a  person  as  became  the  son  of  that  worthy 
hero  his  father  to  be,  the  late  Lord  Capel,  who  lost  his  hfe 
for  King  Charles  I. 

We  spent  our  time  in  the  mornings  in  walking,  or 
riding,  and  contriving  [alterations],  and  the  afternoons  in 
the  library,  so  as  I  passed  my  time  for  three  or  four  days 
with  much  satisfaction.  He  Avas  pleased  in  conversation 
to  impart  to  me  divers  particulars  of  state,  relating  to  the 

present  times.     He  being  no  great  friend  to  the  D • 

was  now  laid  aside,  his  integrity  and  abilities  being 
not  so  suitable  in  this  conjuncture. — 21st.  I  returned  to 
London. 

30th.  To  a  meeting  of  the  executors  of  late  Viscountess 
Mordaunt's  estate,  to  consider  of  the  sale  of  Parson's 
Green,  being  in  treaty  with  Mr.  Loftus,  and  to  settle  the 
half  year's  account. 

1st  May.  Was  a  meeting  of  the  feoffees  of  the  poor  of 
our  parish.  This  year  I  would  stand  one  of  the  collectors 
of  their  rents,  to  give  example  to  others.  My  sou  was 
added  to  the  feoffees. 


142  DIARY  OF  [WINDSOR, 

This  afternoon  came  to  visit  me  Sir  Edward  Deering,  of 
Surrendon,  in  Kent,  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury,  with 
his  daughter,  married  to  my  worthy  friend.  Sir  Robert 
Southwell,  Clerk  of  the  Council,  now  Extraordinary-Envoy 
to  the  Duke  of  Brandenburgh,  and  other  Princes  in 
Germany,  as  before  he  had  been  in  Portugal,  being  a  sober, 
wise,  and  virtuous  gentleman. 

13th.  1  was  at  the  funeral  of  old  Mr.  Shish,  master- 
shipwright  of  his  Majesty's  Yard  here,  an  honest  and 
remarkable  man,  and  his  death  a  public  loss,  for  his 
excellent  success  in  building  ships  (though  altogether 
illiterate),  and  for  breeding  up  so  many  of  his  children  to 
be  able  artists.  I  held  up  the  pall  with  three  knights, 
who  did  him  that  honour,  and  he  was  worthy  of  it.  It 
was  the  custom  of  this  good  man  to  rise  in  the  night,  and 
to  pray,  kneeling  in  his  own  coffin,  which  he  had  lying  by 
him  for  many  years.  He  was  born  that  famous  year,  the 
Gunpowder-plot,  1605. 

14th  June.  Came  to  dine  with  us  the  Countess  of 
Clarendon,  Dr.  Lloyd,  Dean  of  Bangor  (since  Bishop  of 
St.  Asaph),  Dr.  Burnet,  author  of  the  History  of  the 
Reformation,  and  my  old  friend,  Mr.  Henshaw.  After 
dinner,  we  all  went  to  see  the  Observatory,  and  Mr.  Flam- 
sted,  who  showed  us  divers  rare  instruments,  especially  the 
great  quadrant. 

24th  July.  Went  with  my  wife  and  daughter  to 
Windsor,  to  see  that  stately  court,  now  near  finished. 
There  was  erected  in  the  court  the  King  on  horseback, 
lately  cast  in  copper,  and  set  on  a  rich  pedestal  of  white 
mai'ble,  the  work  of  Mr.  Gibbons,  at  the  expense  of  Toby 
Rustate,  a  page*  of  the  back  stairs,  who  by  his  wonderful 
frugality  had  arrived  to  a  great  estate  in  money,  and  did 
many  works  of  charity,  as  well  as  this  of  gratitude  to  his 
master,  which  cost  him  £1000.  He  is  very  simple,  ignorant, 
but  honest  and  loyal  creature. 

We  all  dined  at  the  Countess  of  Sunderland's,  after- 
wards to  see  Signer  Verrio's  garden,  thence  to  Eton 
College,  to  salute  the  Provost,  and  heard  a  Latin  speech  of 

*  Mr.  Tobias  Rustate.  He  was  a  great  benefactor  to  Jesus  College,  Cam- 
bridge, in  particular,  by  an  endowment  of  scholarships  there  for  the  benefit 
of  young  students,  orphan  sons  of  Clergymen. 


1680.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I45 

one  of  the  Alumni  (it  being  at  the  election),  and  were 
invited  to  supper;  but  took  our  leave,  and  got  to  London 
that  night  in  good  time. 

2Gth.  My  most  noble  and  illustrious  friend,  the  Earl  of 
Ossorj^,  espying  me  this  morning  after  sermon  in  the  privy 
gallery,  calling  to  me,  told  me  he  was  now  going  his 
journey  (meaning  to  Tangier,  whither  he  was  designed 
Governor  and  General  of  the  forces,  to  regain  the  losses 
we  had  lately  sustained  from  the  Moors,  when  Inchequin 
was  Governor) .  I  asked  if  he  would  not  call  at  my  house 
(as  he  ahvays  did  whenever  he  went  out  of  England  on  any 
exploit ) ;  he  said  he  must  embark  at  Portsmouth,  "  where- 
fore let  you  and  I  dine  together  to-day ;  I  am  quite  alone, 
and  have  something  to  impart  to  you ;  I  am  not  well,  shall 
be  private,  and  desire  your  company." 

Being  retired  to  his  lodgings  and  set  down  on  a  couch, 
he  sent  to  his  secretary  for  the  copy  of  a  letter  Avliich  he 
had  written  to  Lord  Sunderland,  (Secretary  of  State) 
wishing  me  to  read  it ;  it  was  to  take  notice  how  ill  he 
resented  it,  that  he  should  tell  the  King  before  Lord 
Ossory^s  face,  that  Tangier  was  not  to  be  kept,  but  would 
certainly  be  lost,  and  yet  added  that  it  was  fit  Lord  Ossory 
should  be  sent,  that  they  might  give  some  account  of  it  to 
the  world,  meaning  (as  supposed)  the  next  Parliament, 
when  all  such  miscarriages  would  probably  be  examined ; 
this  Lord  Ossory  took  very  ill  of  Lord  Sunderland,  and 
not  kindly  of  the  King,  who  resolving  to  send  him  with  an 
incompetent  force,  seemed,  as  his  Lordship  took  it,  to  be 
willing  to  cast  him  away,  not  only  on  a  hazardous  adven- 
ture, but  in  most  men^s  opinion,  an  impossibihty,  seeing 
there  was  not  to  be  above  300  or  400  horse,  and  4000  foot 
for  the  garrison  and  all,  both  to  defend  the  town,  form  a 
camp,  repulse  the  enemy,  and  fortify  what  ground  they  should 
get  in.  This  touched  my  Lord  deeply,  that  he  should  be 
so  little  considered  as  to  put  him  on  a  business  in  which 
he  should  probably  not  only  lose  his  reputation,  but  be 
charged  with  all  the  miscarriage  and  ill  success ;  whereas, 
at  first  they  promised  6,000  foot  and  600  horse  effective. 

My  lord,  being  an  exceeding  brave  and  valiant  person, 
and  Avho  had  so  approved  himself  in  divers  signal  battles, 
both  at  sea  and  land ;  so  beloved  and  so  esteemed  by  the 
people,  as  one  they  depended  upon  all  occasions  worthy  of 


244  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

such  a  captain ;  lie  looked  on  this  as  too  great  an  indiffer- 
ence in  his  Majesty,  after  all  his  services,  and  the  merits  of 
his  father,  the  Duke  of  Ormond,  and  a  design  of  some 
who  envied  his  virtue.  It  certainly  took  so  deep  root  in 
his  mind,  that  he  who  was  the  most  void  of  fear  in  the 
world  (and  assured  me  he  would  go  to  Tangier  with  ten 
men  if  his  Majesty  commanded  him)  could  not  bear  up 
against  this  unkmdness.  Having  disburdened  himself  of 
this  to  me  after  dinner,  he  went  with  his  Majesty  to  the 
Sheriffs  at  a  great  supper  in  Fishmongers'  Hall;  but,  find- 
ing himself  ill,  took  his  leave  immediately  of  his  Majesty, 
and  came  back  to  his  lodging.  Not  resting  well  this  night, 
he  was  persuaded  to  remove  to  Arlington  House,  for 
better  accommodation.  His  disorder  turned  to  a  malignant 
fever,  which  increasing  after  all  that  six  of  the  most  able 
physicians  could  do,  he  became  delirious,  with  intervals 
of  sense,  during  which  Dr.  Lloyd  (after  Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph)  administered  the  holy  Sacrament,  of  which  I  also 
participated.  He  died  the  Friday  following,  the  30th  July, 
to  the  universal  grief  of  all  that  knew  or  heard  of  his  great 
worth,  nor  had  any  a  greater  loss  than  myself.  Oft  would 
he  say  I  was  the  oldest  acquaintance  he  had  in  England 
(when  his  father  Avas  in  Ireland),  it  being  now  of  about 
thirty  years,  contracted  abroad,  when  he  rode  in  the 
Academy  in  Paris,  and  when  we  were  seldom  asunder. 

His  Majesty  never  lost  a  Avorthier  subject,  nor  father  a 
better  or  more  dutiful  son;  a  loving,  generous,  good- 
natured,  and  perfectly  obliging  friend ;  one  who  had 
done  innumerable  kindnesses  to  several  before  they  knew 
it ;  nor  did  he  ever  advance  any  that  were  not  worthy ;  no 
one  more  brave,  more  modest :  none  more  humble,  sober, 
and  every  way  virtuous.  Unhappy  England  in  this  illus- 
trious person's  loss  !  Universal  was  the  mourning  for  him, 
and  the  eulogies  on  him;  I  staid  night  and  day  by  his 
bedside  to  his  last  gasp,  to  close  his  dear  eyes  !  O  sad 
father,  mother,  wife,  and  children  !  What  shall  I  add  ?  he 
deserved  all  that  a  sincere  friend,  a  brave  soldier,  a  virtuous 
courtier,  a  loyal  subject,  an  honest  man,  a  bountiful 
master,  and  good  Christian,  could  deserve  of  his  prince 
and  country.  One  thing  more  let  me  note,  that  he  often 
expressed  to  me  the  abhorrence  he  had  of  that  base  and 
unworthy  action  which  he  was  put  upon,  of  engaging  the 


1C80.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  -[45 

Smyrna  fleet  in  time  of  peace,  in  which  though  he  behaved 
himself  hke  a  great  captain,  yet  he  told  me  it  was  the  only 
blot  in  his  life,  and  troubled  him  exceedingly.  Though  he 
was  commanded,  and  never  examined  further  when  he  was 
so,  yet  he  always  spake  of  it  with  regret  and  detestation. 
The  Countess  was  at  the  seat  of  her  daughter,  the  Countess 
of  Derby,  about  200  miles  off". 

30th  August.  I  went  to  visit  a  French  gentleman,  one 
Monsieur  Chardin,  who  having  been  thrice  in  the  East 
Indies,  Persia,  and  other  remote  countries,  came  hither  in 
our  return-ships  from  those  parts,  and  it  being  reported  that 
he  was  a  very  curious  and  knowing  man,  I  was  desired  by 
the  Eoyal  Society  to  salute  him  in  their  name,  and  to 
invite  him  to  honour  them  with  his  company.  Sir  Joseph 
Hoskins  and  Sir  Christopher  Wren  accompanied  me.  We 
found  him  at  his  lodgings  in  his  Eastern  habit,  a  very 
handsome  person,  extremely  affable,  a  modest,  well-bred 
man,  not  inclined  to  talk  wonders.  He  spake  Latin,  and 
understood  Greek,  Arabic,  and  Persian,  from  eleven  years' 
travels  in  those  parts,  whither  he  went  in  search  of  jewels, 
and  was  become  very  rich.  He  seemed  about  36  years  of 
age.  After  the  usual  civilities,  we  asked  some  account  of 
the  extraordinary  things  he  must  have  seen  in  travelling 
over  land  to  those  places  where  few,  if  any,  northern 
Europeans  used  to  go,  as  the  Black  and  Caspian  Sea, 
Mingrelia,  Bagdat,  Nineveh,  Perscpolis,  &c.  He  told  us 
that  the  things  most  worthy  of  our  sight  would  be,  the 
draughts  he  had  caused  to  be  made  of  some  noble  ruins, 
&c. ;  for  that,  besides  his  own  little  talent  that  way,  he  had 
carried  two  good  painters  with  him,  to  draw  landscapes, 
measure  and  design  the  remains  of  the  palace  which 
Alexander  burnt  in  his  frolic  at  Persepolis,  with  divers 
temples,  columns,  relievos,  and  statues,  yet  extant,  which 
he  affirmed  to  be  sculpture  far  exceeding  any  thing  he  had 
observed  either  at  Rome,  in  Greece,  or  in  any  other  part 
of  the  world  where  magnificence  was  in  estimation.  He 
said  there  was  an  inscription  in  letters  not  intelligible, 
though  entire.  He  was  sorry  he  could  not  gratify  the 
curiosity  of  the  Society  at  present,  his  things  not  being  yet 
out  of  the  ship ;  but  would  wait  on  them  with  them  on  his 
return  from  Paris,  whither  he  was  going  the  next  day,  but 
with  intention  to  return  suddenly,  and  stay  longer  here, 

VOL.  ir.  L 


-^^Q  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

the  persecution  in  France  not  suflFering  Protestants,  and 
he  was  one,  to  be  quiet. 

He  told  us  that  Nineveh  was  a  vast  city,  now  all  buried 
in  her  ruins,  the  inhabitants  building  on  the  subterranean 
vaults,  which  were,  as  appeared,  the  first  stories  of  the  old 
city;  that  there  were  frequently  found  huge  vases  of 
fine  earth,  columns,  and  other  antiquities ;  that  the  straw 
which  the  Egyptians  required  of  the  Israelites,  was  not  to 
burn,  or  cover  the  rows  of  bricks  as  we  use,  but  being 
chopped  small  to  mingle  with  the  clay,  which  being  dried 
in  the  sun  (for  they  bake  not  in  the  furnaces)  would  else 
cleave  asunder ;  that  in  Persia  are  yet  a  race  of  Ignicolae, 
who  worship  the  sun  and  the  fire  as  Gods ;  that  the  women 
of  Georgia  and  Mingrelia  were  universally,  and  without 
any  compare,  the  most  beautiful  creatures  for  shape, 
features,  and  figure,  in  the  world,  and  therefore  the  Grand 
Seignior  and  Bashaws  had  had  from  thence  most  of  their 
wives  and  concubines ;  that  there  had  within  these  hun- 
dred years  been  Amazons  amongst  them,  that  is  to  say,  a 
sort  or  race  of  valiant  women,  given  to  war ;  that  Persia 
was  extremely  fertile ;  he  spoke  also  of  Japan  and  China, 
and  of  the  many  great  errors  of  our  late  geographers,  as 
we  suggested  matter  for  discourse.  We  then  took  our 
leaves,  failing  of  seeing  his  papers ;  but  it  was  told  us  by 
others  that  indeed  he  durst  not  open,  or  show  them,  till 
he  had  first  showed  them  to  the  French  King ;  but  of  this 
he  himself  said  nothing. 

2nd  September.  I  had  an  opportunity,  his  Majesty  being 
still  at  Windsor,  of  seeing  his  private  Ubrary  at  White- 
hall, at  my  full  ease.  I  went  with  expectation  of  finding 
some  curiosities,  but,  though  there  were  about  1000 
volumes,  there  were  few  of  importance  which  I  had  not 
perused  before.  They  consisted  chiefly  of  such  books  as 
had  from  time  to  time  been  dedicated,  or  presented  to 
him;  a  few  Histories,  some  Travels  and  French  books, 
abundance  of  maps  and  sea  charts,  entertainments  and 
pomps,  buildings  and  pieces  relating  to  the  Navy,  some 
mathematical  instruments ;  but  what  was  most  rare  were 
three  or  four  Komish  breviaries,  with  a  great  deal  of 
miniature,  and  monkish  painting  and  gilding,  one  of 
which  is  most  exquisitely  done,  both  as  to  the  figures, 
grotesques,  and   compartments,    to   the  utmost   of   that 


1680.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  147 

curious  art.  There  is  another  in  which  I  find  written  by 
the  hand  of  King  Henry  VII.,  his  giving  it  to  his  dear 
daughter,  Margaret,  afterwards  Queen  of  Scots,  in  which 
he  desires  her  to  pray  for  his  soul,  subscribing  his  name 
at  length.  There  is  also  the  process  of  the  philosophers^ 
great  elixir,  represented  in  divers  pieces  of  excellent 
miniature,  but  the  discourse  is  in  high  Dutch,  a  MS. 
There  is  another  MS.  in  quarto,  of  above  300  years  old,  in 
French,  being  an  institution  of  physic,  and  in  the  botanical 
part  the  plants  are  curiously  painted  in  miniature ;  also  a 
folio  MS.  of  good  thickness,  being  the  several  exercises,  as 
Themes,  Orations,  Translations,  &c.  of  King  Edward  VI., 
all  written  and  subscribed  by  his  own  hand,  and  with  his 
name  very  legible,  and  divers  of  the  Greek  interleaved  and 
corrected  after  the  manner  of  school  boys^  exercises,  and 
that  exceedingly  well  and  proper,  with  some  epistles  to 
his  preceptor,  which  show  that  young  Prince  to  have  been 
extraordinarily  advanced  in  learning,  and  as  Cardan,  who 
had  been  in  England  affirmed,  stupendously  knowing  for 
his  age.  There  is  likewise  his  Journal,*  no  less  testifying 
his  early  ripeness  and  care  about  the  affairs  of  state. 

There  are  besides  many  pompous  volumes,  some  em- 
bossed with  gold,  and  intaglios  on  agates,  medals,  &c.  I 
spent  three  or  four  entire  days,  locked  up  and  alone,  among 
these  books  and  curiosities.  In  the  rest  of  the  private 
lodgings  contiguous  to  this,  are  divers  of  the  best  pictures 
of  the  great  masters,  Raphael,  Titian,  &c,,  and,  in  my 
esteem,  above  all,  the  Noli  me  tangere  of  our  Blessed 
Saviour  to  Mary  Magdalen  after  his  Uesurrection,  of 
Hans  Holbein;  than  which  I  never  saw  so  much  reve- 
rence and  kind  of  heavenly  astonishment  expressed  in  a 
picture. 

There  are  also  divers  curious  clocks,  watches,  and  pen- 
dules  of  exquisite  work,  and  other  curiosities.  An  ancient 
woman  who  made  these  lodgings  clean,  and  had  all  the 
keys,  let  me  in  at  pleasure  for  a  small  reward,  by  means  of 
a  friend. 

6th.  I  dined  with  Sir  Stephen  Fox,  now  one  of  the 
Lords   Commissioners   of    the   Treasury.      This    gentle- 

*  A  note  is  added,  that  Dr,  Buniet  has  transcribed  many  x'emarks  out  of 
this  in  liis  History  of  the  Reformation. 

l3 


]^4,8  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

man  came  first  a  poor  boy  from  tlie  choir  of  Salisbury, 
then  he  was  taken  notice  of  by  Bishop  Duppa,  and  after- 
wards waited  on  my  Lord  Percy  (brother  to  Algernon 
Earl  of  Northumberland),  who  procured  for  him  an  inferior 
place  amongst  the  Clerks  of  the  Kitchen  and  Green-Cloth 
side,  where  he  was  found  so  humble,  diligent,  industrious, 
and  prudent  in  his  behaviour,  that  his  Majesty  being  in 
exile,  and  Mr.  Fox  waiting,  both  the  King  and  Lords  about 
him  frequently  employed  him  about  their  affairs ;  trusted 
him  both  with  receiving  and  paying  the  little  money  they 
had.  Returning  with  his  Majesty  to  England,  after  great 
wants  and  great  sufferings,  his  Majesty  found  him  so 
honest  and  industrious,  and  withal  so  capable  and  ready, 
that,  being  advanced  from  Clerk  of  the  Kitchen  to  that  of 
the  Green-Cloth,  he  procured  to  be  Paymaster  to  the 
whole  Army,  and  by  his  dexterity  and  punctual  dealing  he 
obtained  such  credit  among  the  bankers,  that  he  was  in  a 
short  time  able  to  borrow  vast  sums  of  them  upon  any  exi- 
gence. The  continual  turning  thus  of  money,  and  the 
soldiers^  moderate  allowance  to  him  for  keeping  touch 
with  them,  did  so  enrich  him,  that  he  is  believed  to  be 
worth  at  least  £200,000,  honestly  got  and  unenvied;  which 
is  next  to  a  miracle.  With  all  this  he  continues  as  humble 
and  ready  to  do  a  courtesy  as  ever  he  was. 

He  is  generous,  and  lives  very  honourably,  of  a  sweet 
nature,  well-spoken,  well-bred,  and  is  so  highly  in  his 
Majesty^s  esteem,  and  so  useful,  that  being  long  since 
made  a  knight,  he  is  also  advanced  to  be  one  of  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Treasury,  and  has  the  reversion  of  the 
Cofferer's  place  after  Harry  Brouncker.  He  has  married 
his  eldest  daughter  to  my  Lord  Comwallis,  and  gave  her 
£12,000,  and  restored  that  entangled  family  besides.  He 
matched  his  son  to  Mrs.  Trollop,  who  brings  with  her 
(besides  a  great  sum)  near,  if  not  altogether,  £2000  per 
annum.  Sir  Stephen's  lady  (an  excellent  woman)  is  sister 
to  Mr.  Whittle,  one  of  the  King's  chirurgeons.  In  a  word, 
never  was  man  more  fortimate  than  Sir  Stephen ;  he  is  a 
handsome  person,  virtuous,  and  very  religious. 

23rd.  Came  to  my  house  some  German  strangers  and 
Signer  Pietro,  a  famous  musician,  who  had  been  long 
in  Sweden  in  Queen  Christina's  Court ;  he  sung  admirably 
to  a  guitar,  and  had  a  perfect  good  tenor  and  base,  and  had 


1C80.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  249 

set  to  Italian  composure  many  of  Abraliam  Cowley's  pieces 
which  showed  extremely  well.  He  told  me  that  in  Sweden 
the  heat  in  some  part  of  summer  was  as  excessive  as  the 
cold  in  winter ;  so  cold,  he  affirmed,  that  the  streets  of  all 
the  towns  are  desolate,  no  creatures  stirring  in  them  for 
many  months,  all  the  inhabitants  retiring  to  their  stoves. 
He  spake  high  things  of  that  romantic  Queen^s  learning 
and  skill  in  languages,  the  majesty  of  her  behaviour,  her 
exceeding  wit,  and  that  the  histories  she  had  read  of  other 
countries,  especially  of  Italy  and  Rome,  had  made  her 
despise  her  own.  That  the  real  occasion  of  her  resigning 
her  crown  was  the  nobleman^  s  importuning  her  to  marry, 
and  the  promise  which  the  Pope  had  made  her  of  procuring 
her  to  be  Queen  of  Naples,  which  also  caused  her  to  change 
her  religion ;  but  she  was  cheated  by  his  crafty  Holiness,* 
working  on  her  ambition ;  that  the  reason  of  her  killing 
her  secretary  at  Fontainebleau,  was,  his  revealing  that 
intrigue  with  the  Pope.  But,  after  all  this,  I  rather 
believe  it  was  her  mad  prodigality  and  extreme  vanity, 
which  had  consumed  those  vast  treasures  the  great  Adol- 
phus,  her  father,  had  brought  out  of  Germany  during  his 
[campaigns]  there  and  wonderful  successes ;  and  that,  if 
she  had  not  voluntarily  resigned,  as  foreseeing  the  event, 
the  Estates  of  her  kingdom  would  have  compelled  her 
to  do  so. 

30th  October.  I  went  to  London  to  be  private,  my  birth- 
day being  the  next  day,  and  I  now  arrived  at  my  sixtieth 
year ;  on  which  I  began  a  more  solemn  survey  of  my  whole 
life,  in  order  to  the  making  and  confirming  my  peace  with 
God,  by  an  accurate  scrutiny  of  all  my  actions  past,  as  far 
as  I  was  able  to  call  them  to  mind.  How  difficult  and 
uncertain,  yet  how  necessary  a  work !  The  Lord  be 
merciful  to  me,  and  accept  me  !  Who  can  tell  how  oft  he 
oft'endeth  ?  Teach  me,  therefore,  so  to  number  my  days, 
that  I  may  apply  my  heart  unto  wisdom,  and  make  my 
calling  and  election  sure.     Amen,  Lord  Jesus  ! 

31st.  I  spent  this  whole  day  in  exercises.  A  stranger 
preached  at  Whitehall  on  Luke  xvi.  30,  31. f  I  then  went 
to  St.  Martin's,  Avhere  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  preached 

*  Pope  Alexander  VII.  of  the  family  of  Chiglii,  at  Sienua. 

f  This  was  probably  to  the  King's  household  eai'ly  iu  the  morning. 


]^50  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

on  1  Peter  iii.  15  j  the  holy  Communion  followed,  at  which 
I  participated,  humbly  imploring  God's  assistance  in  the 
great  work  I  was  entering  into.  In  the  afternoon,  I  heard 
Dr.  Sprat,  at  St.  Margaret's,  on  Acts  xvii.  11. 

I  began  and  spent  the  whole  week  in  examining  my  life, 
begging  pardon  for  my  faults,  assistance  and  blessing  for 
the  future,  that  I  might,  in  some  sort,  be  prepared  for  the 
time  that  now  drew  near,  and  not  have  the  great  work  to 
begin,  when  one  can  work  no  longer.  The  Lord  Jesus  help 
and  assist  me !  I  therefore  stirred  little  abroad  till  the 
5th  November,  when  I  heard  Dr.  Tenison,  the  now  vicar  of 
St.  Martin's;  Dr.  Lloyd,  the  former  incumbent,  being  made 
Bishop  of  St.  Asaph. 

7th  November.  I  participated  of  the  Blessed  Communion, 
finishing  and  confirming  my  resolutions  of  giving  myself 
up  more  entirely  to  God,  to  whom  I  had  now  most  solemnly 
devoted  the  rest  of  the  poor  remainder  of  life  in  this  world ; 
the  Lord  enabling  me,  who  am  an  unprofitable  servant,  a 
miserable  sinner,  yet  depending  on  his  infinite  goodness 
and  mercy  accepting  my  endeavours. 

15th.  Came  to  dine  with  us  Sir  Richard  Anderson,  his 
lady,  son,  and  wife,  sister  to  my  daughter-in-law. 

30th.  The  anniversary  election  at  the  Royal  Society, 
brought  me  to  London,  where  was  chosen  President  that 
excellent  person  and  great  philosopher,  Mr.  Robert  Boyle, 
who  indeed  ought  to  have  been  the  very  first ;  but  neither 
his  infirmity  nor  his  modesty  could  now  any  longer  excuse 
him.  I  desired  I  might  for  this  year  be  left  out  of  the 
Council,  by  reason  my  dwelling  was  in  the  country.  The 
Society  according  to  custom  dined  together. 

This  signal  day  begun  the  trial  (at  which  I  was  present) 
of  my  Lord  Viscount  Stafi'ord,  for  conspiring  the  death  of 
the  King ;  second  son  to  my  Lord  Thomas  Howard  Earl 
of  Arundel  and  Surrey,  Earl  Marshal  of  England,  and 
grandfather  to  the  present  Duke  of  Norfolk,  whom  I  so 
well  knew,  and  from  which  excellent  person  I  received  so 
many  favours.  It  was  likewise  his  birthday.  The  trial 
was  in  Westminster-Hall,  before  the  King,  Lords,  and 
Commons,  just  in  the  same  manner  as  forty  years  past,  the 
great  and  wise  Earl  of  Straff'ord  (there  being  but  one  letter 
difi^ering  their  names)  received  his  trial  for  pretended  ill 
government  in  Ireland,  in  the  very  same  place,  this  Lord 


1080.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  151 

Stafford's  father  being  then  High- Steward.  The  place  of 
sitting  was  now  exalted  some  considerable  height  from  the 
paved  floor  of  the  Hall^  with  a  stage  of  boards.  The  throne, 
woolpacks  for  the  Judges,  long  forms  for  the  Peers,  chair 
for  the  Lord  Steward,  exactly  ranged,  as  in  the  House  of 
Lords.  The  sides  on  both  hands  scaffolded  to  the  very  roof 
for  the  members  of  the  House  of  Commons.  At  the  upper 
end,  and  on  the  right  side  of  the  King's  state,  was  a  box 
for  his  Majesty,  and,  on  the  left,  others  for  the  great  ladies, 
and  over  head  a  gallery  for  ambassadors  and  public 
ministers.  At  the  lower  end,  or  entrance,  was  a  bar,  and 
place  for  the  prisoner,  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  of 
London,  the  axe-bearer  and  guards,  my  Lord  Stafford's 
two  daughters,  the  Marchioness  of  Winchester  being  one ; 
there  was  likewise  a  box  for  my  Lord  to  retire  into.  At 
the  right  hand,  in  another  box,  somewhat  higher,  stood 
the  witnesses ;  at  the  left,  the  managers,  in  the  name  of 
the  Commons  of  England,  viz..  Sergeant  Maynard  (the 
great  lawyer,  the  same  who  prosecuted  the  cause  against  the 
Earl  of  Strafford  forty  years  before,  being  now  near  eighty 
years  of  age).  Sir.  William  Jones,  late  Attorney-General, 
Sir  Francis  Winnington,  a  famous  pleader,  and  Mr.  Treby, 
now  Recorder  of  London,  not  appearing  in  their  gowns  as 
lawyers,  but  in  their  cloaks  and  swords,  as  representing 
the  Commons  of  England :  to  these  Avere  joined  Mr. 
Hampden,  Mr.  Sacheverell,  Mr.  Poule,  Colonel  Titus, 
Sir  Thomas  Lee,  all  gentlemen  of  quality,  and  noted 
parliamentary  men.  The  two  first  days,  in  which  were 
read  the  commission  and  impeachment,  were  but  a  tedious 
entrance  into  matter  of  fact,  at  which  I  was  but  little 
present.  But,  on  Thursday,  I  was  commodiously  seated 
amongst  the  Commons,  when  the  witnesses  were  sworn  and 
examined.  The  principal  witnesses  were  Mr.  Gates  (who 
called  himself  Dr.)  Mr.  Dugdale,  and  Turberville.  Gates 
swore  that  he  delivered  a  commission  to  Viscount  Stafford 
from  the  Pope,  to  be  Paymaster- General  to  an  army 
intended  to  be  raised.  Dugdale,  that  being  at  Lord 
Aston' s,  the  prisoner  dealt  with  him  plainly  to  murder  his 
Majesty :  and  Turberville,  that  at  Paris  he  also  proposed 
the  same  to  him. 

3rd  December.  The  depositions  of  my  Lord's  witnesses 
were  taken,  to  invalidate  the  King's  witnesses ;  they  were 


152  DIARY  OF  [londBn, 

very  slight  persons,  but,  being  fifteen  or  sixteen,  they  took 
up  all  that  day,  and  in  truth  they  rather  did  my  Lord 
injury  than  service. 

4th.  Came  other  witnesses  of  the  Commons  to  corrobo- 
rate the  King's,  some  being  Peers,  some  Commons,  with 
others  of  good  quality,  who  took  off  all  the  former  day's 
objections,  and  set  the  King's  witnesses  recti  in  Curia. 

6th.  Sir  William  Jones  summoned  up  the  evidence ;  to 
him  succeeded  all  the  rest  of  the  managers,  and  then  Mr. 
Henry  Poule  made  a  vehement  oration.  After  this  my 
Lord,  as  on  all  occasions,  and  often  during  the  trial,  spoke 
in  his  own  defence,  denying  the  charge  altogether,  and 
that  he  had  never  seen  Oates,  or  Turberville,  at  the  time 
and  manner  afl&rmed :  in  truth,  their  testimony  did  little 
weigh  with  me ;  Dugdale's  only  seemed  to  press  hardest, 
to  which  my  Lord  spake  a  great  while,  but  confusedly, 
without  any  method. 

One  thing  my  Lord  said  as  to  Oates,  which  I  confess 
did  exceedingly  affect  me :  that  a  person  who  during  bis 
depositions  should  so  vauntingly  brag  that  though  he  went 
over  to  the  Church  of  Rome,  yet  he  was  never  a  Papist, 
nor  of  their  religion,  all  the  time  that  he  seemed  to  apos- 
tatize from  the  Protestant,  but  only  as  a  spy ;  though  he 
confessed  he  took  their  sacrament,  worshipped  images, 
went  through  all  their  oaths,  and  discipline  of  their  prose- 
lytes, swearing  secrecy  and  to  be  faithful,  but  with  intent 
to  come  over  again  and  betray  them  ;  that  such  an  hypo- 
crite, that  had  so  deeply  prevaricated  as  even  to  turn 
idolater  (for  so  we  of  the  Church  of  England  termed  it), 
attesting  God  so  solemnly  that  he  was  entirely  theirs  and 
devoted  to  their  interest,  and  consequently  (as  he  pre- 
tended) trusted ;  I  say,  that  the  witness  of  such  a  profligate 
wretch  should  be  admitted  against  the  life  of  a  peer, — this 
my  Lord  looked  upon  as  a  monstrous  thing,  and  such  as 
must  needs  redound  to  the  dishonour  of  our  religion  and 
nation.  And  verily  1  am  of  his  Lordship's  opinion ;  such 
a  man's  testimony  should  not  be  taken  against  the  life  of 
a  dog.  But  the  merit  of  something  material  which  he 
discovered  against  Coleman,  put  him  in  such  esteem  with 
the  Parliament,  that  now,  I  fancy,  he  stuck  at  nothing, 
and  thought  everybody  was  to  take  what  he  said  for 
gospel.      The    consideration    of   this,    and    some    other 


ICfSO.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  J 53 

circumstances^  began  to  stagger  me ;  particularly  how  it  was 
possible  that  one  who  went  among  the  Papists  on  such  a 
design,  and  pretended  to  be  intrusted  with  so  many  letters 
and  commissions  from  the  Pope  and  the  party,  nay  and 
dehvered  them  to  so  many  great  persons,  should  not  re- 
serve one  of  them  to  show,  nor  so  much  as  one  copy  of 
any  commission,  which  he  who  had  such  dexterity  in 
opening  letters  might  certainly  have  done,  to  the  unde- 
niable conviction  of  those  whom  he  accused ;  but,  as  I 
said,  he  gained  credit  on  Coleman ;  but,  as  to  others  whom 
he  so  madly  flew  upon,  I  am  little  inclined  to  believe  his 
testimony,  he  being  so  slight  a  person,  so  passionate,  ill- 
bred,  and  of  such  impudent  behaviour ;  nor  is  it  likely  that 
such  piercing  politicians  as  the  Jesuits  should  trust  him 
with  so  high  and  so  dangerous  secrets. 

7th.  On  Tuesday,  I  was  again  at  the  trial,  when  judg- 
ment was  demanded ;  and,  after  my  Lord  had  spoken  what 
he  could  in  denying  the  fact,  the  managers  answering  the 
objections,  the  Peers  adjourned  to  their  House,  and  within 
two  hours  returned  again.  There  was,  in  the  meantime, 
this  question  put  to  the  Judges,  "  whether  there  being  but 
one  witness  to  any  single  crime,  or  act,  it  could  amount  to 
convict  a  man  of  treason.''^  They  gave  an  unanimous 
opinion  that  in  case  of  treason  they  all  were  overt  acts,  for 
though  no  man  should  be  condemned  by  one  witness  for 
any  one  act,  yet  for  several  acts  to  the  same  intent,  it  was 
valid ;  which  was  my  Lord's  case.  This  being  past,  and 
the  Peers  in  their  seats  again,  the  Lord  Chancellor  Pinch 
(this  day  the  Lord  High-Steward)  removing  to  the  wool- 
sack next  his  Majesty's  state,  after  summoning  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Tower  to  bring  forth  his  prisoner,  and 
proclamation  made  for  silence,  demanded  of  every  peer  (who 
were  in  all  eighty-six)  whether  William,  Lord  Viscount 
Stafford,  were  guilty  of  the  treason  laid  to  his  charge,  or 
not  guilty. 

Then  the  Peer  spoken  to,  standing  up,  and  laying  his 
right  hand  upon  his  breast,  said  Guilty,  or  Not  guilty, 
upon  my  honour,  and  then  sat  down,  the  Lord  Steward 
noting  their  suflirages  as  they  answered  upon  a  paper : 
when  all  had  done,  the  number  of  Not  guilty  being  but 
31,  the  Guilty  55  :  and  then,  after  proclamation  for  silence 
again,   the  Lord   Steward   directing    his    speech    to   the 


154  DIARY  OF  [LONiftN, 

prisoner,  against  whom  the  axe  was  turned  edgeways,  and 
not  before,  in  aggravation  of  his  crime,  he  being  ennobled 
by  the  King's  father,  and  since  received  many  favours  from 
his  present  Majesty,  (after  enlarging  on  his  offence)  de- 
ploring first  his  own  unhappiness  that  he  who  had  never 
condemned  any  man  before,  should  now  be  necessitated  to 
begin  with  him ;  he  then  pronounced  sentence  of  death  by 
hanging,  drawing,  and  quartering,  according  to  form,  with 
great  solemnity  and  dreadful  gravity;  and,  after  a  short 
pause,  told  the  prisoner  that  he  believed  the  Lords  would 
intercede  for  the  omission  of  some  circumstances  of  his 
sentence,  beheading  only  excepted ;  and  then  breaking  his 
white  stafl",  the  Court  was  dissolved.  My  Lord  Stafi'ord 
during  all  this  latter  part  spake  but  little,  and  only  gave 
their  Lordships  thanks  after  the  sentence  was  pronounced; 
and  indeed  behaved  himself  modestly,  and  as  became  him. 

It  was  observed  that  all  his  own  relations  of  his  name 
and  family  condemned  him,  except  his  nephew,  the  Earl  of 
Arundel,  son  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk.  And  it  must  be 
acknowledged  that  the  whole  trial  was  carried  on  with 
exceeding  gravity :  so  stately  and  august  an  appearance  I 
had  never  seen  before ;  for,  ])esides  the  innumerable  spec- 
tators of  gentlemen  and  foreign  ministers,  who  saw  and 
heard  all  the  proceedings,  the  prisoner  had  the  consciences 
of  all  the  Commons  of  England  for  his  accusers,  and  all 
the  Peers  to  be  his  Judges  and  Jury.  He  had  hkewise  the 
assistance  of  what  counsel  he  would,  to  direct  him  in  his 
plea,  who  stood  by  him.  And  yet  I  can  hardly  think  that 
a  person  of  his  age  and  experience  should  engage  men 
whom  he  never  saw  before  (and  one  of  them  that  came  to 
visit  him  as  a  stranger  at  Paris)  point  blank  to  murder  the 
King :  God  only  who  searches  hearts,  can  discover  the 
truth.  Lord  Stafford  was  not  a  man  beloved,  especially  of 
his  own  family. 

12th.  This  evening,  looking  out  of  my  chamber- window 
towards  the  west,  I  saw  a  meteor  of  an  obscure  bright 
colour,  very  much  in  shape  like  the  blade  of  a  sword,  the 
rest  of  the  sky  very  serene  and  clear.  What  this  may 
portend,  God  only  knows ;  but  such  another  phenomenon 
I  remember  to  have  seen  in  1640,  about  the  trial  of  the 
great  Earl  of  Strafford,  preceding  our  bloody  Rebellion. 
I  pray  God  avert  his  judgments  !     "We  have  had  of  late 


1681.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I55 

several  comets,  which  though  I  believe  appear  from  natural 
causes,  and  of  themselves  operate  not,  yet  I  cannot  despise 
them.  They  may  be  warnings  from  God,  as  they  com- 
monly are  forerunners  of  his  animadversions.  After  many 
days  and  nights  of  snow,  cloudy  and  dark  weather,  the 
comet  was  very  much  wasted. 

i7th.  My  daughter-in-law  was  brought  to  bed  of  a  son, 
christened  Richard. 

22nd.  A  solemn  public  Fast  that  God  would  prevent  all 
Popish  plots,  avert  his  judgments,  and  give  a  blessing  to 
the  proceedings  of  Parliament  now  assembled,  and  which 
struck  at  the  succession  of  the  Duke  of  York. 

29th.  The  Viscount  Stafford  was  beheaded  on  Tower- 
hill. 

1680-1,  10th  February.  I  was  at  the  wedding  of  my 
nephew,  John  Evelyn  of  Wotton,  married  by  the  Bishop 
of  Rochester  at  Westminster,  in  Henry  VII.^s  chapel,  to 
the  daughter  and  heir  of  Mr,  Eversfield,  of  Sussex,  her 
portion  £8000.  The  solemnity  was  kept  with  a  few  friends 
only  at  Lady  Beckford's,  the  lady^s  mother. 

8th  March.  Visited  and  dined  at  the  Earl  of  Essex's,  with 
whom  I  spent  most  of  the  afternoon  alone.  Thence,  to 
my  (yet  living)  godmother  and  kinswoman,  Mrs.  Keightley, 
sister  to  Sir  Thomas  Evelyn,  and  niece  to  my  father,  being 
now  eighty-six  years  of  age,  sprightly,  and  in  perfect 
health,  her  eyes  serving  her  as  well  as  ever,  and  of  a 
comely  countenance,  that  one  would  not  suppose  her 
above  fifty. 

27th.  The  Parliament  now  convened  at  Oxford'.  Great 
expectation  of  his  Royal  Highnesses  case  as  to  the  succes- 
sion, against  which  the  House  was  set. 

An  extraordinary  sharp  cold  spring,  not  yet  a  leaf  on 
the  trees,  frost  and  snow  lying :  whilst  the  whole  nation 
was  in  the  greatest  ferment. 

11th  April.  I  took  my  leave  of  Dr.  Lloyd  (Bishop  of  St. 
Asaph)  at  his  house  in  Leicester  Fields,  now  going  to 
reside  in  his  diocese, 

12th.    I   dined   at   Mr.    Brisbane's,    Secretary  to   the 

Admiralty,  a  learned  and  industrious  person,  whither  came 

Dr.  Burnet,  to  thank  me  for  some  papers  I  had  contributed 

towards  his  excellent  History  of  the  Reformation. 

,  26th.  I  dined  at  Don  Pietro  Ronquillo's,  the  Spanish 


156  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

Ambassador,  at  Wild  House,*  who  used  me  with  extra- 
ordinary civility.  The  dinner  was  plentiful,  half  after  the 
Spanish,  half  after  the  Enghsh  way.  After  dinner,  he  led 
me  into  his  bedchamber,  where  we  fell  into  a  long 
discourse  concerning  religion.  Though  he  was  a  learned 
man  in  politics,  and  an  advocate,  he  was  very  ignorant  in 
rehgion,  and  unable  to  defend  any  point  of  controversy ; 
he  was,  however,  far  from  being  fierce.  At  parting,  he 
earnestly  wished  me  to  apply  humbly  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin  to  direct  me,  assuring  me  that  he  had  known 
divers  who  had  been  averse  from  the  E-oman  Catholic 
religion,  wonderfully  enlightened  and  convinced  by  her 
intercession.  He  importuned  me  to  come  and  visit  him 
often. 

29th.  But  one  shower  of  rain  all  this  month. 

5th  May.  Came  to  dine  with  me  Sir  Wilham  Termor,  of 
Northamptonshire,  and  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  his  Majesty^s 
Architect  and  Surveyor,  now  building  the  Cathedral  of 
St.  Paul,  and  the  Column  in  memory  of  the  City^s  confla- 
gration, and  was  in  hand  wdth  the  building  of  fifty 
parish  churches.  A  wonderful  genius  had  this  incompar- 
able person. 

16th.  Came  my  Lady  Sunderland,  to  desire  that  I  would 
propose  a  match  to  Sir  Stephen  Fox  for  her  son.  Lord 
Spencer,  to  marry  Mrs.  Jane,  Sir  Stephen's  daughter.  I 
excused  myself  all  I  was  able ;  for  the  truth  is,  I  was 
afraid  he  would  prove  an  extravagant  man :  for,  though  a 
youth  of  extraordinary  parts,  and  had  an  excellent  educa- 
tion to  render  him  a  worthy  man,  yet  his  early  inclinations 
to  extravagance  made  me  apprehensive,  that  I  should  not 
serve  Sir  Stephen  by  proposing  it,  hke  a  friend ;  this  being 
now  his  only  daughter,  well-bred,  and  likely  to  receive  a 
large  share  of  her  father's  opulence.  Lord  Sunderland 
was  much  sunk  in  his  estate  by  gaming  and  other  prodi- 
galities, and  was  now  no  longer  Secretary  of  State,  having 
fallen  into  displeasure  of  the  King  for  siding  with  the 
Commons  about  the  succession ;  but  which,  I  am  assured, 
he  did  not  do  out  of  his  own  inclination,  or  for  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Protestant  religion ;  but  by  mistaking  the 
ability  of  the  party  to  cany  it.     However,  so  earnest  and 

*  Near  Drury  Lane. 


1C81.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ]57 

importunate  was  tlie  Countess^  that  I  did  mention  it  to 
Sir  Stephen,  Avho  said  that  it  was  too  great  an  honour, 
that  his  daughter  was  very  young  as  well  as  my  Lord, 
and  he  was  resolved  never  to  marry  her  without  the 
parties'  mutual  liking;  with  other  objections  which  I 
neither  would  nor  could  contradict.  He  desired  me  to 
express  to  the  Countess  the  great  sense  he  had  of  the 
honour  done  him,  that  his  daughter  and  her  son  were  too 
young ;  that  he  would  do  nothing  without  her  liking, 
which  he  did  not  think  her  capable  of  expressing  judiciously, 
till  she  was  sixteen  or  seventeen  years  of  age,  of  which  she 
now  Avanted  four  years,  and  that  I  would  put  it  off  as 
civilly  as  I  could. 

20th.  Our  new  curate  preached,  a  pretty  hopeful  young 
man,  yet  somewhat  raw,  newly  come  from  college,  full  of 
Latin  sentences,  which  in  time  will  wear  off.  He  read 
praj^ers  very  well. 

25th.  There  came  to  visit  me  Sir  William  Walter 
and  Sir  John  Elowes :  and,  the  next  day,  the  Earl  of 
Kildare,  a  young  gentleman  related  to  my  wife,  and 
other  company.  There  had  scarce  fallen  any  rain  since 
Christmas. 

2nd  June.  I  went  to  Hampton  Court,  when  the  Surrey 
gentlemen  presented  their  addresses  to  his  Majesty,  whose 
hand  I  kissed,  introduced  by  the  Duke  of  Albemarle. 
Being  at  the  Privy  Council,  I  took  another  occasion  of 
discoursing  with  Sir  Stephen  Fox  about  his  daughter  and 
to  revive  that  business,  and  at  last  brought  it  to  this — 
that,  in  case  the  young  people  liked  one  the  other,  after 
four  years,  he  first  desiring  to  see  a  particular  of  my  Lord's 
present  estate  if  I  could  transmit  it  to  him  privately,  he 
would  make  her  portion  £14,000,  though  to  all  appearance 
he  might  likely  make  it  £50,000  as  easily,  his  eldest  son 
having  no  child,  and  growing  very  corpulent. 

12th.  It  still  continued  so  great  a  drought  as  had 
never  been  known  in  England,  and  it  was  said  to  be 
universal. 

14'th  August.  No  sermon  this  afternoon,  which  I  think 

did  not  happen  twice  in  this  parish  these  thirty  years ;  so 

gracious  has  God  been  to  it,  and  indeed  to  the  whole 

nation :  God  grant  that  we  abuse  not  this  great  privilege, 

.either  by  our  M'antonness,  schism,  or  unfaithfulness,  under 


]^58  DIARY  OF  [woTTON, 

such  means  as  he  has  not  favoured  any  other  nation  under 
Heaven  besides  ! 

23rd.  I  went  to  Wotton,  and,  on  the  following  day,  was 
invited  to  Mr.  Denzil  Onslow's  at  his  seat  at  Purford, 
where  was  much  company,  and  such  an  extraordinary  feast, 
as  I  had  hardly  seen  at  any  country  gentleman's  table. 
What  made  it  more  remarkable  was,  that  there  was  not 
anything  save  what  his  estate  about  it  did  afford ;  as 
venison,  rabbits,  hares,  pheasants,  partridges,  pigeons, 
quails,  poultry,  all  sorts  of  fowl  in  season  from  his  own 
decoy  near  his  house,  and  all  sorts  of  fresh  fish.  After 
dinner,  we  went  to  see  sport  at  the  decoy,  where  I  never 
saw  so  many  herons. 

The  seat  stands  on  a  flat,  the  ground  pasture,  rarely 
watered,  and  exceedingly  improved  since  Mr.  Onslow 
bought  it  of  Sir  Robert  Parkhurst,  who  spent  a  fair  estate. 
The  house  is  timber,  but  commodious,  and  with  one  ample 
dining-room,  the  hall  adorned  with  paintings  of  fowl  and 
huntings,  &c.,  the  work  of  Mr.  Barlow,  who  is  excellent  in 
this  kind  from  the  life.* 

30th.  From  Wotton  I  went  to  see  Mr.  Hussey,t  (at 
Sutton  in  Sliere),  who  has  a  very  pretty  seat  well  watered, 
near  my  brother's.  He  is  the  neatest  husband  for  curious 
ordering  his  domestic  and  field  accommodations,  and  what 
pertains  to  husbandry,  that  I  have  ever  seen,  as  to  his 
granaries,  tacklings,  tools,  and  utensils,  ploughs,  carts, 
stables,  wood-piles,  wood-house,  even  to  hen-roosts  and 
hog-troughs.  Methought,  I  saw  old  Cato,  or  Varro,  in 
him  ;  all  substantial,  all  in  exact  order.  The  sole  incon- 
venience he  lies  under,  is  the  great  quantity  of  sand  which 
the  stream  brings  along  with  it,  and  fills  his  canals  and 
receptacles  for  fish  too  soon.  The  rest  of  my  time  of  stay 
at  Wotton  was  spent  in  walking  about  the  grounds  and 
goodly  woods,  where  I  have  in  my  youth  so  often  enter- 
tained my  solitude;  and  so,  on  the  2nd  of  September,  I  once 
more  returned  to  my  home. 

6th  September.  Died  my  pretty  grandchild,  and  was 
interred  on  the  8th  [at  Deptford] . 

*  This  house  has  been  pulled  do\vn  many  years.  The  estate  is  the  property 
of  tlie  Earl  of  Onslow. 
+  See  p.  52. 


1681.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  159 

14tli.  Dined  with  Sir  Stephen  Fox^  who  proposed  to  me 
the  purchasing  of  Chelsea  College,  which  his  Majesty  had 
sometime  since  given  to  our  Society,  and  would  now  pur- 
chase it  again  to  build  an  hospital ;  or  infirmary  for  soldiers 
there,  in  which  he  desired  my  assistance  as  one  of  the 
Council  of  the  Royal  Society. 

15th.  I  had  another  opportunity  of  visiting  his  Majesty's 
private  library,  at  Whitehall. 

To  Sir  Samuel  Morland's,  to  see  his  house  and 
mechanics.* 

17th.  I  went  with  Monsieur  Faubert  about  taking  the 
Countess  of  Bristol's  house  for  an  academy,  he  being 
lately  come  from  Paris  for  his  religion,  and  resolving  to 
settle  here.f 

23rd.  I  went  to  see  Sir  Thomas  Bond's  fine  house  and 
garden,  at  Peckham. 

2nd  October.  I  went  to  Camberwell,  where  that  good 
man  Dr.  Parr  (late  chaplain  to  Archbishop  Usher)  preached 
on  Acts  xvi.  30. 

11th.  To  Fulham,  to  visit  the  Bishop  of  London,  in 
whose  garden  I  first  saw  the  Sedum  arborescens  in  flower, 
which  was  exceedingly  beautiful. 

5th  November.  Dr.  Hooper  preached  on  Mark  xii. 
16,  17,  before  the  King,  of  the  usurpation  of  the  Church 
of  Home.  This  is  one  of  the  first  rank  of  pulpit  men  in 
the  nation. 

15th.  I  dined  with  the  Earl  of  Essex  who,  after  dinner 
in  his  study,  where  we  were  alone,  related  to  me  how  much 
he  had  been  scandalized  and  injured  in  the  report  of  his 
being  privy  to  the  marriage  of  his  Lady's  niece,  the  rich 
young  widow  of  the  late  Lord  Ogle,  sole  daughter  of  the 
Earl  of  Northumberland;  showing  me  a  letter  of  Mr. 

*  In  Lambeth,  at  what  is  now  Vauxhall,  where  Sir  Samuel  Morland  had 
fitted  up  a  house,  and  built  a  lai'ge  room,  which  he  furnished  in  a  sumptuous 
manner,  and  constructed  in  his  garden  some  fountains.  He  was  much  in 
favour  with  the  King  for  services  he  had  rendered  to  him  whilst  abroad,  and 
this  is  probably  the  place  to  which  it  is  said  the  King  and  his  Ladies  used  to 
cross  the  water  to  go  to.  Hist.  Surrey,  III.  489,  490,  491.— See  also  further 
particulars  of  him,  p.  26,  and  liereafter  under  1695  ;  and  some  of  his  inven- 
tions noticed  in  pp.  64,  113,  and  176. 

t  He  had  a  riding-house  between  Swallow  Street  (now  replaced  by  Regent 
Street)  and  King  Street  ;  the  passage  by  it  between  those  streets  is  still 
called  by  his  name. 


160  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

Thynn's  excusing  himself  for  not  communicating  his 
marriage  to  his  Lordship.  He  acquainted  me  also  with 
the  whole  story  of  that  unfortunate  lady  being  betrayed 
by  her  grandmother,  the  Countess  of  Northumberland,  and 
Colonel  Bret,  for  money;  and  that  though,  upon  the 
importunity  of  the  Duke  of  Monmouth,  he  had  delivered 
to  the  grandmother  a  particular  of  the  jointure  which  Mr. 
Thynn  pretended  he  would  settle  on  the  lady,  yet  he  totally 
discouraged  the  proceeding,  as  by  no  means  a  competent 
match  for  one  that  both  by  birth  and  fortune  might  have 
pretended  to  the  greatest  prince  in  Christendom ;  that  he 
also  proposed  the  Earl  of  Kingston,  or  the  Lord  Cranburn, 
but  was  by  no  means  for  Mr.  Thynn, 

19th.  I  dined  with  my  worthy  friend,  Mr.  Erskine, 
Master  of  the  Charter-house,  uncle  to  the  Duchess  of 
Monmouth ;  a  wise  and  learned  gentleman,  fitter  to  have 
been  a  privy  councillor  and  minister  of  state  than  to  have 
been  laid  aside. 

24th.  I  was  at  the  audience  of  the  Russian  Ambassador 
before  both  their  Majesties  in  the  Banqueting-house.  The 
presents  were  carried  before  him,  held  up  by  his  followers 
in  two  ranks  before  the  King^s  State,  and  consisted  of 
tapestry  (one  suite  of  which  was  doubtlessly  brought  from 
France  as  being  of  that  fabric,  the  Ambassador  having 
passed  through  that  kingdom  as  he  came  out  of  Spain),  a 
large  Persian  carpet,  furs  of  sable  and  ermine,  &c. ;  laut 
nothing  was  so  splendid  and  exotic,  as  the  Ambassador 
who  came  soon  after  the  King's  restoration.*  This  present 
Ambassador  was  exceedingly  offended  that  his  coach  was 
not  permitted  to  come  into  the  Court,  till,  being  told  that 
no  King's  Ambassador  did,  he  was  pacified,  yet  requiring 
an  attestation  of  it  under  the  hand  of  Sir  Charles  Cotterell, 
the  Master  of  the  Ceremonies ;  being,  it  seems,  afraid 
he  should  offend  his  Master,  if  he  omitted  the  least 
punctilio.  It  was  reported  he  condemned  his  son  to  lose 
his  head  for  shaving  off  his  beard,  and  putting  himself 
in  the  French  mode  at  Paris,  and  that  he  would  have  exe- 
cuted it,  had  not  the  French  King  interceded — but  qy. 
of  this. 

80th.  Sir  Christopher  Wren  chosen  President  [of  the 

*  See  vol.  I.,  p.  371. 


1682.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ^g]^ 

Eoyal  Society],  Mr.  Austine,  Secretary,  with  Dr.  Plot, 
the  ingenious  author  of  the  History  of  Oxfordshire.  There 
was  a  most  illusti'ious  appearance. 

1681-2.  11th  January.  I  saw  the  audience  of  tlie 
Morocco  Ambassador,*  his  retinue  not  numerous.  He 
was  received  in  the  Banqueting-house,  both  their  Majesties 
being  present.  He  came  up  to  the  throne  without  making 
any  sort  of  reverence,  not  bowing  his  head,  or  body.  He 
spake  by  a  renegado  Enghshman,  for  whose  safe  return 
there  was  a  promise.  They  were  aU  clad  in  the  Moorish 
habit,  cassocks  of  coloured  cloth,  or  silk,  with  buttons  and 
loops,  over  this  an  alhaga,  or  white  woollen  mantle,  so 
large  as  to  wrap  both  head  and  body,  a  sash,  or  small 
turban,  naked  legged  and  armed,  but  with  leather  socks 
like  the  Turks,  rich  scymitar,  and  large  calico  sleeved 
shirts.  The  Ambassador  had  a  string  of  pearls  oddly 
woven  in  his  turban.  I  fancy  the  old  Roman  habit  was 
little  different  as  to  the  mantle  and  naked  limbs.  He 
was  a  handsome  person,  well-featured,  of  a  wise  look, 
subtle,  and  extremely  civil.  Their  presents  were  lions  and 
ostriches  ;  f  their  errand  about  a  peace  at  Tangier.  But 
the  concourse  and  tumult  of  the  people  was  intolerable,  so 
as  the  officers  could  keep  no  order,  which  these  strangers 
were  astonished  at  at  first,  there  being  nothing  so  regular, 
exact,  and  performed  with  such  silence,  as  is  on  all  these 
public  occasions  of  their  country,  and  indeed  over  all  the 
Turkish  dominions. 

14th.  Dined  at  the  Bishop  of  Rochester's,  at  the  Abbey, 
it  being  his  marriage-day,  after  twenty-four  years.  He 
related  to  me  how  he  had  been  treated  by  Sir  William 
Temple,  foreseeing  that  he  might  be  a  delegate  in  the 
concern  of  my  Lady  Ogle,  now  likely  to  come  in  contro- 

*  Named  Hamet.  He  made  his  public  entry  through  London  the  fifth  of 
this  month.  On  the  thirtieth  of  May  following,  he  was  entertained  at  Oxford  ; 
and,  about  the  same  time,  dined  with  Elias  Ashmole,  who  made  him  a  present 
of  a  magnifying  glass.  July  14,  the  Ambassador  took  his  leave  of  the  King  ; 
and,  on  the  23rd  of  the  same  mouth,  he  embarked  for  his  own  country. 
There  are  different  prints  of  him  ;  one  of  which  is  a  large  and  fine  one  by 
Robert  White. 

"Y  Sir  John  Reresby  informs  us  in  his  Memoirs,  "  that  the  Ambassador's 
present  consisted  of  two  lions  and  thirty  ostriches  ;  at  which  his  Majesty 
laughed  :  and  said  he  knew  nothing  more  proper  to  send  by  way  of  return 
than  a  flock  of  geese." 

VOL.  II.  M 


162  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

versy  upon  her  marriage  with  Mr.  Thynn;  also,  how 
earnestly  the  late  Earl  of  Danby,  Lord  Treasurer,  sought 
his  friendship,  and  what  plain  and  sincere  advice  he  gave 
him  from  time  to  time  about  his  miscarriages  and  par- 
tialities ;  particularly  his  outing  Sir  John  Duncomb  from 
being  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  Sir  Stephen  Fox, 
above  all,  from  Paymaster  of  the  Army.  The  Treasurer's 
excuse  and  reason  was,  that  Fox's  credit  was  so  over-great 
with  the  bankers  and  monied  men,  that  he  could  procure 
none  but  by  his  means ;  "  for  that  reason,"  replied  the 
Bishop.  "  I  would  have  made  him  my  friend,  Sir  Stephen 
being  a  person  both  honest  and  of  credit."  He  told  him  like- 
wise of  his  statehness  and  difficulty  of  access,  and  several 
other  miscarriages,  and  which  indeed  made  him  hated. 

24th.  To  the  Royal  Society,  where  at  the  Council  we 
passed  a  new  law  for  the  more  accurate  consideration  of 
candidates,  as  whether  they  would  really  be  useful ;  also, 
concerning  the  honorary  members,  that  none  should  be 
admitted  but  by  diploma. 

This  evening,  I  was  at  the  entertainment  of  the  Morocco 
Ambassador  at  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth's  glorious 
apartments  at  Whitehall,  where  was  a  great  banquet  of 
sweetmeats  and  music ;  but  at  which  both  the  Ambassador 
and  his  retinue  behaved  themselves  with  extraordinary 
moderation  and  modesty,  though  placed  about  a  long 
table,  a  lady  between  two  Moors,  and  amongst  these  were 
the  King's  natural  children,  viz.  Lady  Lichfield  and 
Sussex,  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth,  Nelly,  &c.  concubines, 
and  cattle  of  that  sort,  as  splendid  as  jewels  and  excess 
of  bravery  could  make  them ;  the  Moors  neither  admiring- 
nor  seeming  to  regard  any  thing,  furniture  or  the  hke, 
with  any  earnestness,  and  but  decently  tasting  of  the 
banquet.  They  drank  a  little  milk  and  water,  but  not  a 
drop  of  wine ;  they  also  drank  of  a  sorbet  and  jacolatt  ;* 
did  not  look  about,  or  stare,  on  the  ladies,  or  express  the 
least  surprise,  but  Avith  a  courtly  negligence  in  pace, 
countenance,  and  whole  behaviour,  answering  only  to 
such  questions  as  were  asked  with  a  great  deal  of  wit  and 
gallantry,  and  so  gravely  took  leave  with  this  comphment, 
that  God  would  bless  the  Duchess  of  Portsmouth  and  the 
Prince,  her  son,  meaning  the  little  Duke  of  Richmond. 
The  King  came  in  at  the  latter  end,  just  as  the  Ambas- 

*  Sherbet  and  chocolate. 


1C82.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ^65 

sador  was  going  away.  In  this  manner,  was  this  slave 
(for  he  was  no  more  at  home)  entertained  by  most  of  the 
nobiUty  in  town,  and  went  often  to  Hyde  Park  on  horse- 
back, where  he  and  his  retinue  showed  their  extraordinary 
activity  in  horsemanship,  and  flinging  and  catching  their 
lances  at  full  speed;  they  rode  very  short,  and  could 
stand  upright  at  full  speed,  managing  their  spears  with 
incredible  agility.  He  went  sometimes  to  the  theatres, 
where,  upon  any  foolish  or  fantastical  action,  he  could  not 
forbear  laughing,  but  he  endeavoured  to  hide  it  with 
extraordinary  modesty  and  gravity.  In  a  word,  the 
Russian  Ambassador,  still  at  Court,  behaved  himself  like 
a  clown,  compared  to  this  civil  heathen. 

27th.  This  evening.  Sir  Stephen  Fox  acquainted  me 
again  with  his  Majesty^s  resolution  of  proceeding  in  the 
erection  of  a  Royal  Hospital  for  emerited  soldiers  on  that 
spot  of  ground  which  the  Royal  Society  had  sold  to  his 
Majesty  for  £1300,  and  that  he  would  settle  £5000  per 
annum  on  it,  and  build  to  the  value  of  £30,000,  for  the 
relief  and  reception  of  four  companies,  viz.  400  men,  to 
be  as  in  a  college,  or  monastery.  I  was  therefore  desired 
by  Sir  Stephen  (who  had  not  only  the  whole  managing  of 
this,  but  was,  as  I  perceived,  himself  to  be  a  grand  bene- 
factor, as  well  it  became  him  who  had  gotten  so  vast 
an  estate  by  the  soldiers)  to  assist  him,  and  consult  what 
method  to  cast  it  in,  as  to  the  government.  So,  in  his 
study  we  arranged  the  governor,  chaplain,  steward,  house- 
keeper, chirurgeon,  cook,  butler,  gardener,  porter,  and 
other  officers,  with  their  several  salaries  and  entertain- 
ments. I  would  needs  have  a  library,  and  mentioned 
several  books,  since  some  soldiers  might  possibly  be 
studious,  when  they  Avere  at  leisure  to  recollect.  Thus  we 
made  the  first  calculations,  and  set  down  our  thoughts  to 
be  considered  and  digested  better,  to  show  his  Majesty 
and  the  Archbishop.  He  also  engaged  me  to  consider  of 
what  laws  and  orders  were  fit  for  the  government,  which  was 
to  be  in  every  respect  as  strict  as  in  any  religious  convent. 

After  supper,  came  in  the  famous  treble,  Mr.  Abel, 
newly  returned  from  Italy ;  I  never  heard  a  more  excel- 
lent voice ;  one  would  have  sworn  it  had  been  a  woman^s, 
it  was  so  high,  and  so  well  and  skilfully  managed,  being 
accompanied  by  Signor  Francesco  on  the  harpsichord. 

M  2 


264  DIARY  OF  [saves  court, 

28th.  Mr.  Pepys,  late  Secretary  to  the  Admiralty, 
showed  me  a  large  folio  containing  the  whole  mechanic 
part  and  art  of  building  royal  ships  and  men  of  war,  made 
by  Sir  Anthony  Dean,  being  so  accurate  a  piece  from  the 
very  keel  to  the  lead  block,  rigging,  guns,  victualling, 
manning,  and  even  to  every  individual  pin  and  nail,  in  a 
method  so  astonishing  and  curious,  with  a  draught,  both 
geometrical  and  in  perspective,  and  several  sections,  that 
I  do  not  think  the  world  can  show  the  like.  I  esteem  this 
book  as  an  extraordinary  jewel. 

7th  February.  My  daughter,  Mary,  began  to  learn 
music  of  Signer  Bartholomeo,  and  dancing  of  Monsieur 
Isaac,  reputed  the  best  masters. 

Having  had  several  violent  fits  of  an  ague,  recourse  was 
had  to  bathing  my  legs  in  milk  up  to  the  knees,  made  as 
hot  as  I  could  endure  it ;  and  sitting  so  in  it  in  a  deep 
churn,  or  vessel,  covered  with  blankets,  and  drinking 
carduus  posset,  then  going  to  bed  and  sweating,  I  not 
only  missed  that  expected  fit,  but  had  no  more,  only  con- 
tinued weak,  that  I  could  not  go  to  church  till  Ash- 
Wednesday,  which  I  had  not  missed,  I  think,  so  long  in 
twenty  years,  so  gracious  had  God  been  to  me. 

After  this  warning  and  admonition,  I  now  began  to 
look  over  and  methodise  all  my  writings,  accompts,  letters, 
papers ;  inventoried  the  goods,  and  other  articles  of  the 
house,  and  put  things  into  the  best  order  I  could,  and 
made  my  will ;  that  now  growing  in  years,  I  might  have 
none  of  these  secular  things  and  concerns  to  distract  me, 
when  it  should  please  Almighty  God  to  call  me  from  this 
transitory  life.  With  this,  I  prepared  some  special  medi- 
tations and  devotions  for  the  time  of  sickness.  The  Lord 
Jesus  grant  them  to  be  salutary  for  my  poor  soul  in  that 
day,  that  I  may  obtain  mercy  and  acceptance ! 

1st  March.  My  second  grandchild  was  born,  and  chris- 
tened the  next  day  by  our  vicar  at  Sayes  Court,  by  the 
name  of  John.*     I  beseech  God  to  bless  him  ! 

2nd.  Ash- Wednesday.  I  went  to  church;  our  vicar 
preached  on  Proverbs,  showing  what  care  and  vigilance 
was  required  for  the  keeping  of  the  heart  upright.  The 
Holy  Communion  followed,  on  which  I  gave  God  thanks 
for  his   gracious  dealing  with  me  in  my  late   sickness, 

•  Who  became  his  successor,  and  was  created  a  baronet,  in  1713. 


1682.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  165 

and  affording  me  this  blessed  opportunity  of  praising  him 
in  the  congregation^  and  receiving  the  cup  of  salvation 
Avith  new  and  serious  resolutions. 

Came  to  see  and  congratulate  my  recovery,  Sir  John 
Lowther,  Mr.  Herbert,  Mr.  Pepys,  Sir  Anthony  Deane, 
and  Mr.  Hill. 

1 0th.  This  day  was  executed  Colonel  Vrats,  and  some  of 
his  accomplices,  for  the  execrable  murder  of  Mr.  Thynn,* 
set  on  by  the  principal  Koningsmark ;  he  went  to  execu- 
tion like  an  undaunted  hero,  as  one  that  had  done  a 
friendly  office  for  that  base  coward.  Count  Koningsmark, 
who  had  hopes  to  marry  his  widow,  the  rich  Lady  Ogle, 
and  was  acquitted  by  a  corrupt  jury,  and  so  got  away. 
Vrats  told  a  friend  of  mine  who  accompanied  him  to  the 
gallows,  and  gave  him  some  advice,  that  he  did  not  value 
dying  of  a  rush,  and  hoped  and  believed  God  would 
deal  with  him  like  a  gentleman.  Never  man  went,  so 
unconcerned  for  his  sad  fate. 

24th.  I  went  to  see  the  corpse  of  that  obstinate  creature. 
Colonel  Vrats,  the  King  permitting  that  his  body  should 
be  transported  to  his  own  country,  he  being  of  a  good 
family,  and  one  of  the  first  embalmed  by  a  particular 
art  invented  by  one  William  Russell,  a  coffin-maker, 
which  preserved  the  body  without  disbowelling,  or  to 
appearance  using  any  bituminous  matter.  The  flesh  was 
florid,  soft,  and  full,  as  if  the  person  were  only  sleeping. 
He  had  now  been  dead  near  fifteen  days,  and  lay  exposed 
in  a  very  rich  coffin  lined  with  lead,  too  magnificent  for  so 
daring  and  horrid  a  murderer. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Royal  Society  were  exhibited 
some  pieces  of  amber  sent  by  the  Duke  of  Brandenburg, 
in  one  of  which  was  a  spider,  in  another  a  gnat,  both  very 
entire.  There  was  a  discourse  of  the  tingeing  of  glass, 
especially  with  red,  and  the  difficulty  of  finding  any  red 
colour  effectual  to  penetrate  glass,  among  the  glass- 
painters  ;  that  the  most  diaporous,  as  blue,  yellow,  &c. 
did  not  enter  into  the  substance  of  what  was  ordinarily 
painted,  more  than  very  shallow,  unless  incorporated  in 
the  metal  itself,  other  reds  and  whites  not  at  all  beyond 
the  superfices. 

*  Who  lies  buried  in  Westminster  Abbey  ;  the  manner  of  his  death  being 
represented  on  his  monument. 


2gg  DIARY  OF  [toNDON, 

5th  April.  To  the  Royal  Society,  where  at  a  Council  was 
regulated  what  collections  should  be  published  monthly, 
as  formerly  the  transactions,  which  had  of  late  been 
discontinued,  but  were  now  much  called  for  by  the  curious 
abroad  and  at  home. 

12th.  I  went  this  afternoon  with  several  of  the  E-oyal 
Society  to  a  supper  which  was  all  dressed,  both  fish  and 
flesh,  in  Monsieur  Papin's  digestors,  by  which  the  hardest 
bones  of  beef  itself,  and  mutton,  were  made  as  soft  as 
cheese,  without  water  or  other  liquor,  and  with  less  than 
eight  ounces  of  coals,  producing  an  incredible  quantity  of 
gravy ;  and  for  close  of  all,  a  jelly  made  of  the  bones  of 
beef,  the  best  for  clearness  and  good  relish,  and  the  most 
delicious  that  I  had  ever  seen,  or  tasted.  We  eat  pike 
and  other  fish  bones,  and  all  without  impediment;  but 
nothing  exceeded  the  pigeons,  which  tasted  just  as  if  baked 
in  a  pie,  all  these  being  stewed  in  their  own  juice,  without 
any  addition  of  water  save  what  swam  about  the  digestor, 
as  in  balneo  ;  the  natural  juice  of  all  these  provisions  acting 
on  the  grosser  substances,  reduced  the  hardest  bones  to 
tenderness ;  but  it  is  best  descanted  with  more  particulars 
for  extracting  tinctures,  preserving  and  stewing  fruit, 
and  saving  fuel,  in  Dr.  Papin's  book,  published  and 
dedicated  to  our  Society,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He 
is  since  gone  to  Venice  with  the  late  Resident  here  (and 
also  a  member  of  our  Society),  who  carried  this  excellent 
mechanic,  philosopher,  and  physician,  to  set  up  a  philo- 
sophical meeting  in  that  city.  This  philosophical  supper 
caused  much  mirth  amongst  us,  and  exceedingly  pleased 
all  the  company.  I  sent  a  glass  of  the  jelly  to  my  wife, 
to  the  reproach  of  all  that  the  ladies  ever  made  of  their 
best  hartshorn. 

The  season  was  unusually  wet,  with  rain  and  thunder. 

25th  May.  I  was  desired  by  Sir  Stephen  Fox  and  Sir 
Christopher  Wren  to  accompany  them  to  Lambeth,  with 
the  plot  and  design  of  the  College  to  be  built  at  Chelsea, 
to  have  the  Archbishop's  approbation.  Jt  was  a  quad- 
rangle of  200  feet  square  after  the  dimensions  of  the 
larger  quadrangle  at  Christ- Church,  Oxford,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  440  persons,  Avith  governor  and  officers. 
This  was  agreed  on. 

The  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York  were  just  now  come  to 


1682.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  jgy 

London,  after  his  escape  and  shipwreck,  as  he  went  by  sea 
for  Scotland. 

28th.  At  the  E-olls'  chapel  preached  the  famous  Dr. 
Burnet  on  2  Peter,  i.  10,  describing  excellently  well  what 
was  meant  by  election;  viz.  not  the  effect  of  any  irreversible 
decree,  but  so  called  because  they  embraced  the  Gospel 
readily,  by  which  they  became  elect,  or  precious  to  God. 
It  would  be  very  needless  to  make  our  calling  and  election 
sure,  were  they  irreversible  and  what  the  rigid  Presbyte- 
rians pretend.  In  the  afternoon,  to  St.  Lawrence's  church, 
a  new  and  cheerful  pile. 

29th.  I  gave  notice  to  the  Bishop  of  Rochester  of  what 
Maimburg  had  published  about  the  motives  of  the  late 
Duchess  of  York^s  perversion,  in  his  History  of  Calvinism  ; 
and  did  myself  write  to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  *  about 
it,  who  being  concerned  in  it,  I  urged  him  to  set  forth  his 
vindication. 

31st.  The  Morocco  Ambassador  being  admitted  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  subscribing 
his  name  and  titles  in  Arabic,  I  Avas  deputed  by  the 
Council  to  go  and  compliment  him. 

19th  June.  The  Bantam, t  or  East  India  Ambassadors, 
(at  this  time  we  had  in  London  the  Russian,  Moroccan, 
and  Indian  Ambassadors,)  being  invited  to  dine  at  Lord 
George  Berkeley's  (now  Earl),  I  went  to  the  entertainment 
to  contemplate  the  exotic  guests.  They  were  both  very 
hard-favoured,  and  much  resembling  in  countenance  some 
sort  of  monkeys.  We  eat  at  two  tables,  the  Ambassadors 
and  interpreter  by  themselves.  Their  garments  were  rich 
Indian  silks,  flowered  with  gold,  viz.  a  close  waistcoat 
to  their  knees,  draAvers,  naked  legs,  and  on  their  heads 
caps  made  like  fruit-baskets.  They  wore  poisoned  daggers 
at  their  bosoms,  the  hafts  carved  with  some  ugly  serpents' 
or  devils'  heads,  exceeding  keen,  and  of  Damascus  metal. 
They  wore  no  sword.  The  second  Ambassador  (sent  it 
seems  to  succeed  in  case  the  first  should  die  by  the  way  in 
so  tedious   a  journey),  having  been  at   Mecca,  wore  a 

*  Dr.  Morley. 

f  The  name  of  one  was  Pungearon  Nia  Para,  of  the  other  Kaia  Nebbe,  or 
Keay  Nabee.  There  are  different  prints  of  both,  representing  them  exactly 
as  here  described.  There  were  others  in  the  embassy,  but  probabJy  of 
"  inferior  degree. 


168  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

Turkish  or  Arab  sash,  a  little  part  of  the  linen  hanging 
down  behind  his  neck,  with  some  other  difference  of 
habit,  and  was  half  a  negro,  bare  legged  and  naked  feet, 
and  deemed  a  very  holy  man.  They  sate  cross-legged 
like  Turks,  and  sometimes  in  the  posture  of  apes  and 
monkeys ;  their  nails  and  teeth  as  black  as  jet,  and  shining, 
which  being  the  effect,  as  to  their  teeth,  of  perpetually 
chewing  betel  to  preserve  them  from  the  tooth-ache,  much 
raging  in  their  country,  is  esteemed  beautiful. 

The  first  Ambassador  was  of  an  olive  hue,  a  flat  face, 
narrow  eyes,  squat  nose,  and  Moorish  lips,  no  hair 
appeared;  they  wore  several  rings  of  silver,  gold,  and 
copper,  on  their  fingers,  which  was  a  token  of  knighthood, 
or  nobility.  They  were  of  Java  Major,  whose  princes 
have  been  turned  Mohometans  not  above  fifty  years  since  ; 
the  inhabitants  are  still  pagans  and  idolaters.  They 
seemed  of  a  dull  and  heavy  constitution,  not  wondering 
at  any  thing  they  saw ;  but  exceedingly  astonished  how 
our  law  gave  us  propriety  in  our  estates,  and  so  thinking 
we  were  all  kings,  for  they  could  not  be  made  to  compre- 
hend how  subjects  could  possess  any  thing  but  at  the 
pleasure  of  their  Prince,  they  being  all  slaves ;  they  were 
pleased  with  the  notion,  and  admired  our  happiness.  They 
were  very  sober,  and  I  believe  subtle  in  their  way.  Their 
meat  was  cooked,  carried  up,  and  they  attended  by  several 
fat  slaves,  who  had  no  covering  save  drawers,  which 
appeared  very  uncouth  and  loathsome.  They  eat  their 
pilaw,  and  other  spoon-meat  without  spoons,  taking  up 
their  pottage  in  the  hollow  of  their  fingers,  and  very  dex- 
terously flung  it  into  their  mouths  without  spilling  a  drop. 

17th  July.  Came  to  dine  with  me,  the  Duke  of  Grafton 
and  the  young  Earl  of  Ossory,  son  to  my  most  dear  deceased 
friend. 

30th.  "Went  to  visit  our  good  neighbour,  Mr.  Bohun,* 
whose  whole  house  is  a  cabinet  of  all  elegancies,  especially 
Indian;  in  the  hall  are  contrivances  of  Japan  screens^ 
instead  of  wainscot;  and  there  is  an  excellent  pendule 
clock  enclosed  in  the  curious  flower-work  of  Mr.  Gibbon, 
in  the  middle  of  the  vestibule.  The  landscapes  of  the 
screens  represent  the  manner  of  living,  and  country  of  the 
Chinese.     But,  above  aU,  his  lady^s  cabinet  is  adorned  on 

•  This  was  at  Lee,    See  Hasted'a  History  of  Kent,  vol.  I.  p.  67. 


1G82.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  269 

the  fret,  ceiling,  and  chimney-piece,  Avith  Mr.  Gibbon^s 
best  carving.  There  are  also  some  of  Streeter's  best 
paintings,  and  many  rich  curiosities  of  gold  and  silver  as 
growing  in  the  mines.  The  gardens  are  exactly  kept,  and 
the  whole  place  very  agreeable  and  well  watered.  The 
owners  are  good  neighbours,  and  Mr.  Bolmn  has  also  built 
and  endowed  an  hospital  for  eight  poor  people,  with  a 
pretty  chapel,  and  every  necessary  accommodation. 

1st  August.  To  the  Bishop  of  London  at  Fulham,  to 
review  the  additions  which  Mr.  Marshall  had  made  to  his 
curious  book  of  flowers  in  miniature,  and  collection  of  insects. 

4th.  With  Sir  Stephen  Fox,  to  survey  the  foundations 
of  the  Royal  Hospital  begun  at  Chelsea. 

9th.  The  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  had  it  recom- 
mended to  them  to  be  trustees  and  visitors,  or  supervisors, 
of  the  Academy  which  Monsieur  Faubert  did  hope  to 
procure  to  be  built  by  subscription  of  worthy  gentlemen 
and  noblemen,  for  the  education  of  youth,  and  to  lessen 
the  vast  expense  the  nation  is  at  yearly  by  sending  children 
into  France  to  be  taught  military  exercises.  We  thought 
good  to  give  him  all  the  encouragement  our  recommenda-. 
tion  could  procure. 

15th.  Came  to  visit  me  Dr.  Rogers,  an  acquaintance  of 
mine  long  since  at  Padua.  He  was  then  Consul  of  the 
English  nation,  and  student  in  that  University,  where  he 
proceeded  Doctor  in  Physic ;  presenting  me  now  with  the 
Latin  oration  he  lately  made  upon  the  famous  Dr.  Harvey^s 
anniversary  in  the  College  of  Physicians,  at  London. 

20th.  This  night  I  saw  another  comet,  near  Cancer, 
very  bright,  but  the  stream  not  so  long  as  the  former. 

29th.  Supped  at  Lord  Clarendon's,  with  Lord  Hyde, 
his  brother,  noAv  the  great  favourite,  who  invited  himself 
to  dine  at  my  house  the  Tuesday  following. 

30th  October.  Being  my  birthday,  and  I  now  entering 
my  great  climacterical  of  63,  after  serious  recollections  of 
the  3-ears  past,  giving  Almighty  God  thanks  for  all  his 
merciful  preservations  and  forbearance,  begging  pardon 
for  my  sins  and  unworthiness,  and  his  blessing  on  me  the 
year  entering ;  I  went  with  my  Lady  Fox  to  survey  her 
building,  and  give  some  directions  for  the  garden  at 
Chiswick;*  the   architect   is  Mr.  May;  somewhat  heavy 

*  See  Lysons'  Environs  of  London,  voL  II.,  p.  209. 


170  DIARY  OP  [londov, 

and  thick,  and  not  so  well  understood ;  the  garden  much 
too  narrow,  the  place  without  water,  near  a  highway,  and 
near  another  great  house  of  my  Lord  Burlington,  little 
land  about  it,  so  that  I  wonder  at  the  expense ;  but  women 
will  have  their  will. 

25thNovember.  I  was  invited  to  dinewithMonsieur  Lion- 
berg,  the  Swedish  Resident,  who  made  a  magnificent  enter- 
tainment, it  being  the  birth  day  of  his  King.  There  dined 
the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  Duke  of  Hamilton,  Earl  of  Bath, 
Earl  of  Aylesbury,  Lord  Arran,  Lord  Castlehaven,  the 
son  of  him  who  was  executed  fifty  years  before,  and  several 
great  persons.  I  was  exceeding  afraid  of  drinking  (it 
being  a  Dutch  feast),  but  the  Duke  of  Albemarle  being 
that  night  to  wait  on  his  Majesty,  excess  was  prohibited ; 
and,  to  prevent  all,  I  stole  away  and  left  the  company  as 
soon  as  we  rose  from  table. 

28th.  I  went  to  the  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  for 
the  auditing  the  last  yearns  accompt,  where  I  was  surprised 
with  a  fainting  fit  that  for  a  time  took  away  my  sight ; 
but  God  being  merciful  to  me,  I  recovered  it  after  a  short 
repose. 

30th.  I  was  exceedingly  endangered  and  importuned 
to  stand  the  election  [for  President  of  the  R.  S.], 
having  so  many  voices,  but  by  favour  of  my  friends, 
and  regard  of  my  remote  dwelling,  and  now  frequent 
infirmities,  I  desired  their  sufirages  might  be  transferred 
to  Sir  John  Hoskins,  one  of  the  Masters  of  Chancery ;  a 
most  learned  virtuoso  as  well  as  lawyer,  who  accordingly 
was  elected. 

7th  December.  "Went  to  congratulate  Lord  Hyde  (the 
great  favom-ite),  newly  made  Earl  of  Rochester,*  and 
lately  marrying  his  eldest  daughter  to  the  Earl  of  Ossory. 

18th.  I  sold  my  East  India  adventure  of  £250  principal 
for  £750  to  the  Royal  Society,  after  I  had  been  in  that 
company  twenty-five  years,  being  extraordinary  advanta- 
geous, by  the  blessing  of  God. 

23rd  January,  1682-3.  Sir  Francis  North,  son  to  the 
Lord  North,  and  Lord  Chief  Justice,  being  made  Lord 
Keeper  on  the  death  of  the  Earl  of  Nottingham,  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  I  went  to  congratulate  him.     He  is  a  most 

*  Laurence,  second  eon  of  the  Chancellor. 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  J  7]. 

knowing,  learned,  and  ingenious  man,  and,  beside  being  an 
excellent  person,  of  an  ingenuous  and  sweet  disposition, 
very  skilful  in  music,  painting,  the  new  philosophy,  and 
politer  studies. 

29th.  Supped  at  Sir  Joseph  Williamson's,  where  was  a 
select  company  of  our  Society,  Sir  WilHam  Petty,  Dr. 
Gale  (that  learned  schoolmaster  of  St.  Paul's),  Dr.  Whistler, 
Mr.  Hill,  &c.  The  conversation  was  philosophical  and 
cheerful,  on  divers  considerable  questions  proposed ;  as  of 
the  hereditary  succession  of  the  Roman  Emperors;  the 
Pica  mentioned  in  the  preface  to  our  Common  Prayer, 
which  signifies  only  the  Greek  Kalendarium.  These  were 
mixed  with  lighter  subjects. 

2nd  February.  I  made  my  court  at  St.  James's,  when 
I  saw  the  sea-charts  of  Captain  ColHns,  which  that  indus- 
trious man  now  brought  to  show  the  Duke,  having  taken 
all  the  coasting  from  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  as  far  aa 
Wales,  and  exactly  measuring  every  creek,  island,  rock, 
soundings,  harbours,  sands,  and  tides,  intending  next 
spring  to  proceed  till  he  had  finished  the  Avliole  island, 
and  that  measured  by  chains  and  other  instruments :  a 
most  exact  and  useful  undertaking.  He  afiirmed,  that  of 
all  the  maps  put  out  since,  there  are  none  extant  so  true 
as  those  of  Joseph  Norden,  who  gave  us  the  first  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time ;  all  since  him  are  erroneous. 

12th.  This  morning,  I  received  the  news  of  the  death  of 
my  father-in-law.  Sir  Eichard  Browne,  Knt.  and  Bart., 
who  died  at  my  house  at  Sayes  Court  this  day  at  ten  in 
the  morning,  after  he  had  laboured  under  the  gout  and 
dropsy  for  near  six  months,  in  the  78th  year  of  his  age. 
The  funeral  was  solemnized  on  the  19th  at  Deptford,  with 
as  much  decency  as  the  dignity  of  the  person,  and  our 
relation  to  him,  required ;  there  being  invited  the  Bishop 
of  Rochester,  several  noblemen,  knights,  and  all  the 
fraternity  of  the  Trinity  Company,  of  which  he  had  been 
Master,  and  others  of  the  country.  The  Vicar  preached  a 
short  but  proper  discourse  on  Psalm  xxxix.  10,  on  the 
frailty  of  our  mortal  condition,  concluding  with  an  ample 
and  well-deserved  eulogy  on  the  defunct,  relating  to  his 
honourable  birth  and  ancestors,  education,  learning  in 
Greek  and  Latin,  modern  languages,  travels,  public 
employments,  signal  loyalty,  character  abroad,  and  par- 


]^y2  DIARY  OF  [saves  court, 

ticularly  the  honour  of  supporting  the  church  of  England 
in  its  pubhc  worship  during  its  persecution  by  the  late 
rebel's  usurpation  and  regicide,  by  the  suffrages  of  divers 
Bishops,  Doctors  of  the  church,  and  others,  who  found 
such  an  asylum  in  his  house  and  family  at  Paris,  that  in 
their  disputes  with  the  Papists  (then  triumphing  over  it  as 
utterly  lost)  they  used  to  argue  for  its  visibility  and 
existence  from  Sir  R.  Browne's  chapel  and  assembly 
there.  Then  he  spake  of  his  great  and  loyal  sufferings 
during  thirteen  years'  exile  with  his  present  Majesty,  his 
return  with  him  in  the  signal  year  1660 ;  his  honourable 
employment  at  home,  his  timely  recess  to  recollect  him- 
self, his  great  age,  infirmities,  and  death. 

He  gave  to  the  Trinity-Corporation  that  land  in  Dept- 
ford  on  which  are  built  those  alms-houses  for  twenty-four* 
widows  of  emerited  seamen.  He  was  born  the  famous 
year  of  the  Gunpowder  Treason,  in  1605,  and  being  the 
last  [male]  of  his  family,  left  my  wife,  his  only  daughter, 
heir.  His  grandfather,  Sir  Richard  Browne,  was  the  great 
instrument  under  the  great  Earl  of  Leicester  (favourite  to 
Queen  Elizabeth)  in  his  government  of  the  Netherland. 
He  was  Master  of  the  Household  to  King  James,  and 
Cofferer ;  I  think  was  the  first  who  regulated  the  compo- 
sitions through  England  for  the  King's  Household,  provi- 
sions, progresses,*  &c.,  which  was  so  high  a  service,  and  so 
grateful  to  the  whole  nation,  that  he  had  acknowledgments 
and  public  thanks  sent  him  from  all  the  counties ;  he  died 
by  the  rupture  of  a  vein  in  a  vehement  speech  he  made 
about  the  compositions  in  a  Parliament  of  King  James. 
By  his  mother's  side  he  was  a  Gunson,  Treasurer  of  the 
Navy  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  Queen  Mary,  and 
Queen  Elizabeth,  and,  as  by  his  large  pedigree  appears, 
related  to  divers  of  the  English  nobihty.  Thus  ended  this 
honourable  person,  after  so  many  changes  and  tossings 
to  and  fro,  in  the  same  house  where  he  was  born.  "  Lord 
teach  us  so  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  unto  wisdom  ! " 

By  a  special  clause  in  his  will,  he  ordered  that  his  body 

*  The  different  counties  were  to  find  provisions  of  different  sorts,  which 
were  collected  by  officers  called  purveyors,  whose  extortions  often  excited  the 
attention  of  Parliament.  For  a  particular  account  of  their  practices,  see 
Archaeolo^ia,  vol.  III.,  p.  349. 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  273 

should  be  buried  in  the  cburcli-yard  under  the  south-east 
window  of  the  chancel,  adjoining  to  the  burying  places  of 
his  ancestors,  since  they  came  out  of  Essex  into  Sayes 
Court,  he  being  much  offended  at  the  novel  custom  of 
burying  every  one  within  the  body  of  the  church  and 
chancel ;  that  being  a  favour  heretofore  granted  to  martyrs 
and  great  persons  ;  this  excess  of  making  churches  charnel- 
houses  being  of  ill  and  irreverend  example,  and  prejudicial 
to  the  health  of  the  living,  besides  the  continual  disturb- 
ance of  the  pavement  and  seats,  and  several  other  inde- 
cencies. Dr.  Hall,  the  pious  Bishop  of  Norwich,  would 
also  be  so  interred,*  as  may  be  read  in  his  testament. 

March  16th.  I  went  to  see  Sir  Josiah  Child's  prodigious 
cost  in  planting  walnut-trees  about  his  seat,t  and  making 
fishponds,  many  miles  in  circuit,  in  Epping  Forest,  in  a 
barren  spot,  as  oftentimes  these  suddenly  monied  men  for 
the  most  part  seat  themselves.  He  from  a  merchant's 
apprentice,  and  management  of  the  East  India  Company's 
stock,  being  arrived  to  an  estate  ('tis  said)  of  £200,000  ; 
and  lately  married  his  daughter  to  the  eldest  son  of  the 
Duke  of  Beaufort,  late  Marquis  of  Worcester,  with  £50,000 
portional  present,  and  various  expectations. 

I  dined  at  Mr.  Houblon's,J  a  rich  and  gentle  French 
merchant,  who  was  building  a  house  in  the  Forest,  near 
Sir  J.  Child's,  in  a  place  where  the  late  Earl  of  Norwich 
dwelt  some  time,  and  which  came  from  his  lady,  the  widow 
of  Mr.  Baker.  It  will  be  a  pretty  villa  about  five  miles 
from  Whitechapel. 

18th.  I  went  to  hear  Dr.  Horneck  preach  at  the  Savoy 
Church,  on  Phil.^  ii.,  5.  He  was  a  German  born,  a  most 
pathetic  preacher,  a  person  of  a  saint-like  life,  and  hath 
written  an  excellent  treatise  on  Consideration. § 

20th.  Dined  at  Dr.  Whistler's,  at  the  Physicians'  College, 

*  As  was  afterwards,  at  Fulham,  Dr.  Compton,  Bishop  of  London,  Mho  used 
to  say,  "  The  church-yard  for  the  dead,  the  church  for  the  living." 

+  Where  that  elegant  mansion,  Wanstead  House,  stood. 

J  The  family  were  eminent  merchants  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth. 
Morant's  Essex,  vol.  II.  p.  513. 

§  The  full  title  is  "  The  great  Law  of  Consideration,  or  a  Discourse  wherein 
the  nature,  usefulness,  and  absolute  necessity  of  Consideration,  in  order  to  a 
truly  serious  and  religious  life,  are  laid  open  ; "  it  went  through  several 
editions. 


174!  DIARY  OF  [londos, 

with  Sir  Thomas  iMillington,  both  learned  men ;  Dr.  W. 
the  most  facetious  man  in  nature,  and  now  Censor  of  the 
College.  I  was  here  consulted  where  they  should  build 
their  library ;  it  is  pity  this  College  is  built  so  near  New- 
gate Prison,  and  in  so  obscure  a  hole,*  a  fault  in  placing 
most  of  our  pubUc  buildings  and  churches  in  the  City, 
through  the  avarice  of  some  few  men,  and  his  Majesty  not 
overruling  it,  when  it  was  in  his  power  after  the  dreadful 
conflagration. 

21st.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  at  Whitehall  on  1  Cor., 
vi.  12;  I  esteem  him  to  be  one  of  the  most  profitable 
preachers  in  the  Church  of  England,  being  also  of  a  most 
holy  conversation,  very  learned  and  ingenious.  The  pains 
he  takes  and  care  of  his  parish  will,  I  fear,  wear  him  out, 
which  would  be  an  inexpressible  loss.f 

24th.  I  went  to  hear  Dr.  Charleton^s  lecture  on  the  heart 
in  the  Anatomy  Theatre  at  the  Physicians^  College. 

80th.  To  London,  in  order  to  my  passing  the  following 
week,  for  the  celebration  of  the  Easter  now  approaching, 
there  being  in  the  Holy  Week  so  many  eminent  preachers 
officiating  at  the  Court  and  other  places. 

April  6th.  Good  Friday.  There  was  in  the  afternoon, 
according  to  custom,  a  sermon  before  the  King,  at  White- 
hall ;  Dr.  Sprat  preached  for  the  Bishop  of  Rochester. 

17th.  I  was  at  the  launching  of  the  last  of  the  thirty 
ships  ordered  to  be  new  built  by  Act  of  Parliament,  named 
the  Neptune,  a  second  rate,  one  of  the  goodliest  vessels  of 
the  whole  navy,  built  by  my  kind  neighbour,  young  Mr. 
Shish,  his  Majesty^s  master  shipwright  of  this  dock. 

May  1st.  I  went  to  Blackheath,  to  see  the  new  fair, 
being  the  first  procured  by  the  Lord  Dartmouth.  This  was 
the  first  day,  pretended  for  the  sale  of  cattle,  but  I  think 
in  truth  to  enrich  the  new  tavern  at  the  bowling-green, 
erected  by  Snape,J  his  Majesty's  farrier,  a  man  full  of 

•  This  glaring  defect  determined  that  learned  Body  to  remove  ;  and  their 
new  College  in  Pall  Mall  East  was  opened  by  Sir  Henry  Halford,  President 
in  1825. 

+  Dr.  Thomas  Tenison  succeeded  Tillotson  in  the  arcliiepiscopal  See  of 
Canterbury,  having  before  been  Vicar  of  St.  Martin's  in  the  Fields,  and  Bishop 
of  Lincoln.     He  lived  to  a  great  age. 

J  Mr.  Granger  mentions  a  print  of  this  person  by  White,  and  says  he  was 
father  of  Dr.  Snape,  of  Eton  :  members  of  this  family  had  been  s^rjeant- 
farriers  to  the  Sovereign  for  three  hundred  yeai's. 


1683. J  JOHN  EVELYN.  I75 

projects.  There  appeared  nothing  but  an  innumerable 
assembly  of  drinking  people  from  London,  peddlers,  &c., 
and  I  suppose  it  too  near  London  to  be  of  any  great  use 
to  the  country. 

March  was  unusually  hot  and  dry,  and  all  April  ex- 
cessively wet. 

I  planted  all  the  out-limits  of  the  garden  and  long  walks 
with  holly.* 

9th.  Dined  at  Sir  Gabriel  Sylvius's,  and  thence  to  visit 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  to  ask  whether  he  would  part  with 
any  of  his  cartoons  and  other  drawings  of  Raphael,  and  the 
great  masters  ;  he  told  me  if  he  might  sell  them  all  together 
he  would,  but  that  the  late  Sir  Peter  Lely  (our  famous 
painter)  had  gotten  some  of  his  best.  The  person  who 
desired  me  to  treat  for  them  was  Vander  Douse,  grandson 
to  that  great  scholar,  contemporary  and  friend  of  Joseph 
Scaliger. 

16th.  Came  to  dinner  and  visit  me  Sir  Richard  Anderson, 
of  Pendley,  and  his  lady,  with  whom  I  went  to  London. 

June  8th.  On  my  return  home  from  the  Royal  Society, 
I  found  Mr.  Wilbraham,  a  young  gentleman  of  Cheshire. 

11th.  The  Lord  Dartmouth  was  elected  Master  of  the 
Trinity  House ;  son  to  George  Legge,  late  Master  of  the 
Ordnance,  and  one  of  the  Grooms  of  the  Bedchamber  ;  a 
great  favourite  of  the  Duke's,  an  active  and  understanding 
gentleman  in  sea-affairs. 

13th.  To  our  Society,  where  we  received  the  Count  de 
Zinzendorp,  Ambassador  from  the  Duke  of  Saxony,  a  fine 
young  man :  we  showed  him  divers  experiments  on  the 
Magnet,  on  which  subject  the  Society  were  upon. 

16th.  I  went  to  "Windsor,  dining  by  the  way  at  Chiswick, 
at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's,  where  I  found  Sir  Robert  Howard 
(that  universal  pretender),  and  Signor  Verrio,  who  brought 
his  draught  and  designs  for  the  painting  of  the  staircase 
of  Sir  Stephen's  new  house. 

That  which  was  new  at  Windsor  since  I  was  last  there, 
and  was  surprising  to  me,  was  the  incomparable  fresco 
painting  in  St.  George's  Hall,  representing  the  legend  of 
St.  George,  and  triumph  of  the  Black  Prince,  and  his 

*  400  feet  in  lenj^th,  9  feet  high,  5  in  diameter,  in  my  now  i-uiiied  gai-den 
tlianks  to  the  Czai-  of  Muscovy.     Sylva,  book  II.  chap.  vi. 


176  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

reception  by  Edward  III. ;  the  volto,  or  roof,  not  totally 
finished ;  then  the  Resurrection  in  the  Chapel,  where  the 
figure  of  the  Ascension  is,  in  my  opinion,  comparable  to 
any  paintings  of  the  most  famous  Roman  masters ;  the 
Last  Supper,  also  over  the  altar.  I  liked  the  contrivance 
of  the  unseen  organ  behind  the  altar,  nor  less  the  stupen- 
dous and  beyond  all  description  the  incomparable  carving 
of  our  Gibbon,  who  is,  without  controversy,  the  greatest 
master  both  for  invention  and  rareness  of  work,  that  the 
world  ever  had  in  any  age ;  nor  doubt  I  at  all  that  he  will 
prove  as  great  a  master  in  the  statuary  art. 

Verrio's  invention  is  admirable,  his  ordnance  full  and 
flowing,  antique  and  heroical ;  his  figures  move ;  and,  if 
the  walls  hold,  (which  is  the  only  doubt  by  reason  of  the 
salts  which  in  time  and  in  this  moist  climate  prejudice)  the 
work  will  preserve  his  name  to  ages. 

There  was  now  the  terrace  brought  almost  round  the 
old  Castle;  the  grass  made  clean,  even,  and  curiously 
turfed;  the  avenues  to  the  new  park,  and  other  walks, 
planted  with  elms  and  limes,  and  a  pretty  canal,  and 
receptacle  for  fowl ;  nor  less  observable  and  famous  is  the 
throwing  so  huge  a  quantity  of  excellent  water  to  the 
enormous  height  of  the  Castle,  for  the  use  of  the  whole 
house,  by  an  extraordinary  invention  of  Sir  Samuel 
Morland.* 

17th.  I  dined  at  the  Earl  of  Sunderland's  with  the 
Earls  of  Bath,  Castlehaven,  Lords  Viscounts  Falconberg, 
Falkland,  Bishop  of  London,  the  Grand  Master  of  Malta, 
brother  to  the  Duke  de  Vendome  (a  young  wild  spark),  and 
Mr.  Dryden,  the  poet.  After  evening  prayer,  I  walked  in 
the  park  with  my  Lord  Clarendon,  where  we  fell  into  dis- 
coui'se  of  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury  (Dr.  Seth  Ward),  his 
subtlety,  &c.  Dr.  Durell,  late  Dean  of  Windsor,  being 
dead.  Dr.  Turner,  one  of  the  Duke's  chaplains  was  made 
dean. 

I  visited  my  Lady  Arlington,  Groom  of  the  Stole  to  her 
Majesty,  who  being  hardly  set  down  to  supper,  word  was 
brought  her  that  the  Queen  was  going  into  the  park  to 
walk,  it  being  now  near  eleven  at  night ;  the  alarm  caused 
the  Countess  to  rise  in  all  haste,  and  leave  her  supper  to  us. 

*  See  of  him,  under  September  13,  1681. 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  I77 

By  this  one  may  take  an  estimate  of  the  extreme  slavery 
and  subjection  that  courtiers  live  in,  who  have  not  time  to 
eat  and  drink  at  their  pleasure.  It  put  me  in  mind  of 
Horace's  Mouse,  and  to  bless  God  for  my  own  private 
condition. 

Here  was  Monsieur  de  TAngle,  the  famous  minister  of 
Charenton,  lately  fled  from  the  persecution  in  France,  con- 
cerning the  deplorable  condition  of  the  Protestants  there. 

18th.  I  was  present,  and  saw  and  heard  the  humble 
submission  and  petition  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  Sheriffs,  and 
Aldermen,  on  behalf  of  the  City  of  London,  on  the  quo 
warranto  against  their  charter,  which  they  delivered  to  his 
Majesty  in  the  presence-chamber.  It  was  delivered 
kneeling,  and  then  the  King  and  Council  went  into  the 
council-chamber,  the  Mayor  and  his  brethren  attending 
still  in  the  presence-chamber.  After  a  short  space,  they 
were  called  in,  and  my  Lord  Keeper  made  a  speech  to  them, 
exaggerating  the  disorderly  and  riotous  behaviour  in  the 
late  election,  and  polling  for  Papillon  and  Du  Bois  after 
the  Common-hall  had  been  formally  dissolved ;  with  other 
misdemeanors,  libels  on  the  Government,  &c.,  by  which 
they  had  incurred  his  Majesty's  high  displeasure;  and 
that  but  for  this  submission,  and  under  such  articles  as  the 
King  should  require  their  obedience  to,  he  would  certainly 
enter  judgment  against  them,  which  hitherto  he  had  sus- 
pended. The  things  required  were  as  follows  :  that  they 
should  neither  elect  Mayor,  Sheriff,  Aldermen,  Recorder, 
Common  Serjeant,  Town-Clerk,  Coroner,  nor  Steward  of 
Southwark,  without  his  Majesty's  approbation ;  and  that 
if  they  presented  any  his  Majesty  did  not  like,  they  should 
proceed  in  wonted  manner  to  a  second  choice ;  if  that  was 
disapproved,  his  Majesty  to  nominate  them ;  and  if  within 
five  days  they  thought  good  to  assent  to  this,  all  former 
miscarriages  should  be  forgotten.  And  so  they  tamely 
parted  with  their  so  ancient  privileges  after  they  had  dined 
and  been  treated  by  the  King.  This  was  a  signal  and 
most  remarkable  period.  What  the  consequences  will 
prove,  time  Avill  show.  Divers  of  the  old  and  most  learned 
lawyers  and  judges  were  of  opinion  that  they  could  not 
forfeit  their  charter,  but  might  be  personally  punished  for 
their  misdemeanors ;  but  the  plurality  of  the  younger 
judges  and  rising  men  judged  it  otherwise. 

VOL.  II.  N 


X78  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

The  Popish.  Plot  also^  which  had  hitherto  made  suck  a 
noise,  began,  now  sensibly  to  dwindle,  through  the  folly, 
knavery,  impudence,  and  giddiness  of  Oates,  so  as  the 
Papists  began  to  hold  up  their  heads  higher  than  ever,  and 
those  who  had  fled,  flocked  to  London  from  abroad.  Such 
sudden  changes  and  eager  doings  there  had  been,  Avithout 
anything  steady  or  prudent,  for  these  last  seven  years. 

19th.  I  returned  to  town  in  a  coach  with  the  Earl  of 
Clarendon,*  when  passing  by  the  glorious  palace  of  his 
father,  built  but  few  years  before,  which  they  were  now 
demolishing,  being  sold  to  certain  undertakers,  I  turned 
my  head  the  contrary  way  till  the  coach  had  gone  past  it, 
lest  I  might  minister  occasion  of  speaking  of  it ;  which 
must  needs  have  grieved  him,  that  in  so  short  a  time  their 
pomp  was  fallen. 

28th.  After  the  Popish  Plot,  there  was  now  a  new,  and 
(as  they  called  it)  a  Protestant  Plot  discovered,  that  certain 
Lords  and  others  should  design  the  assassination  of  the 
King  and  the  Duke  as  they  were  to  come  from  Newmarket, 
with  a  general  rising  of  the  nation,  and  especially  of  the 
City  of  London,  disaffected  to  the  present  Govern- 
ment. Upon  which  were  committed  to  the  Tower, 
the  Lord  Russell,  eldest  son  of  the  Earl  of  Bedford, 
the  Earl  of  Essex,  Mr.  Algernon  Sydney,  son  to  the 
old  Earl  of  Leicester,  Mr.  Trenchard,  Hampden,  Lord 
Howard  of  Escrick,  and  others.  A  proclamation  was 
issued  against  my  Lord  Grey,  the  Duke  of  Monmouth, 
Sir  Thomas  Armstrong,  and  one  Ferguson,  who  had 
escaped  beyond  sea;  of  these  some  were  said  to  be  for 
kilHng  the  King,  others  for  only  seizing  on  him,  and  per- 
suading him  to  new  counsels,  on  the  pretence  of  the 
danger  of  Popery,  should  the  Duke  Hve  to  succeed,  who 
was  now  again  admitted  to  the  councils  and  cabinet 
secrets.  The  Lords  Essex  and  Russell  were  much  deplored, 
few  believing  they  had  any  evil  intention  against  the  King, 
or  the  Church ;  some  thought  they  were  cunningly  drawn 
in  by  their  enemies  for  not  approving  some  late  counsels 
and  management  relating  to  France,  to  Popery,  to  the 

*  Henry  Hyde,  the  second  Earl,  appointed  Lord-Lientenant  of  Ireland,  in 
1686,  and  died  October  31,  1709,  a  Governor  of  the  Charter-House,  High 
Steward  of  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  F.R.S. 


1683.]  ■  JOHN  EVELYN.  I79 

persecution  of  the  Dissenters,  &c.  They  were  discovered 
by  the  Lord  Howard  of  Escrick  and  some  false  brethren  of 
the  club,  and  the  design  happily  broken;  had  it  taken 
effect,  it  would,  to  all  appearance,  have  exposed  the 
Government  to  unknown  and  dangerous  events;  which 
God  avert ! 

Was  bom  my  grand-daughter  at  Sayes  Court,  and 
christened  by  the  name  of  Martha  Maria,  our  Vicar 
officiating.  I  pray  God  bless  her,  and  may  she  choose  the 
better  part ! 

13th  July.  As  I  was  visiting  Sir  Thomas  Yarborough 
and  his  Lady  in  Covent  Garden,  the  astonishing  news  was 
brought  to  us  of  the  Earl  of  Essex  having  cut  his  throat, 
having  been  but  three  days  a  prisoner  in  the  Tower,  and 
this  happening  on  the  very  day  and  instant  that  Lord 
Russell  was  on  his  trial,  and  had  sentence  of  death.  This 
accident  exceedingly  amazed  me,  my  Lord  Essex  being  so 
well  known  by  me  to  be  a  person  of  such  sober  and  religious 
deportment,  so  well  at  his  ease,  and  so  much  obliged  to 
the  King.  It  is  certain  the  King  and  Duke  were  at  the 
Tower,  and  passed  by  his  window  about  the  same  time  this 
morning,  when  my  Lord  asking  for  a  razor,  shut  himself 
into  a  closet,  and  perpetrated  the  horrid  act.  Yet  it  was 
wondered  by  some  how  it  was  possible  he  should  do 
it  in  the  manner  he  was  found,  for  the  wound  was  so  deep 
and  wide,  that  being  cut  through  the  gullet,  wind-pipe, 
and  both  the  jugulars,  it  reached  to  the  very  vertebrae  of 
the  neck,  so  that  the  head  held  to  it  by  a  very  little  skin 
as  it  were ;  the  gapping  too  of  the  razor,  and  cutting  his 
own  fingers,  was  a  little  strange ;  but  more,  that  having 
passed  the  jugulars  he  should  have  strength  to  proceed  so 
far,  that  an  executioner  could  hardly  have  done  more  with 
an  axe.     There  were  odd  reflections  upon  it.* 

This  fatal  news  coming  to  Hicks^s  Hall  upon  the  article 
of  my  Lord  Russell^s  trial,  was  said  to  have  had  no  little 
influence  on  the  Jury  and  all  the  Bench  to  his  prejudice. 
Others  said  that  he  had  himself  on  some  occasions  hinted, 
that  in  case  he  should  be  in  danger  of  having  his  life 
taken  from  him  by  any  pubKc  misfortune,   those  who 

*  Bishop  Bumet,  after  making  every  enquiry  by  desire  of  the  Countess, 
does  not  beheve  that  Essex  was  mvu'dered.     Own  Times,  vol.  I.,  p.  569. 

N    2 


180  DIARY    OF  [LONDON, 

thirsted  for  his  estate  should  miss  of  their  aim  ;  and  that 
he  should  speak  favourably  of  that  Earl  of  Northumber- 
land,* and  some  others  who  made  away  with  themselves ; 
but  these  are  discourses  so  unlike  his  sober  and  prudent 
conversation,  that  I  have  no  inclination  to  credit  them. 
What  might  instigate  him  to  this  devihsh  act,  I  am  not 
able  to  conjecture.     My  Lord  Clarendon,  his  brother-in- 
law,  who  was  with  him  but  the  day  before,  assured  me  he 
was  then  very  cheerful,  and  declared  it  to  be  the  effect  of 
his  innocence  and  loyalty;    and  most  believe  that   his 
Majesty  had  no  severe  intentions  against  him,  though  he 
was  altogether  inexorable  as  to  Lord  Russell  and  some  of 
the  rest.     For  my  part,  I  believe  the  crafty  and  ambitious 
Earl  of  Shaftesbury  had  brought  them  into  some  dislike 
of  the  present  carriage  of  matters  at  Court,  not  with  any 
design  of  destroying  the  monarchy  (which  Shaftesbury  had 
in  confidence  and  for  unanswerable  reasons  told  me  he 
would  support  to  his  last  breath,  as  having  seen  and  felt 
the  misery  of  being  under  mechanic  tyranny),  but  perhaps, 
of  setting  up  some  other  whom  he  might  govern,  and 
frame  to  his  own  platonic  fancy,  without  much  regard  to  the 
rehgion  established  under  the  hierarchy,  for  which  he  had 
no  esteem ;  but,  when  he  perceived  those  whom  he  had 
engaged  to  rise,  fail  of  his  expectations,  and  the  day  past, 
reproaching  his   accomplices  that  a  second  day  for   an 
exploit  of  this  nature  was  never  successful,  he  gave  them 
the  slip,  and  got  into  Holland,  where  the  fox  died,  three 
months  before  these  unhappy  Lords  and  others  were  dis- 
covered, or  suspected.      Every  one  deplored  Essex  and 
Russell,  especially  the  last,  as  being  thought  to  have  beeik 
drawn  in  on  pretence  only  of  endeavouring  to  rescue  the 
King  from  his  present  councillors,  and  secure  religion, 
from  Popery,  and  the  nation  from  arbitrary  government^ 
now  so  much  apprehended ;  whilst  the  rest  of  those  who 
were  fled,  especially  Ferguson  and  his  gang,  had  doubtless 
some  bloody  design,  to  set  up  a  Commonwealth,  and  turn 
all  things  topsy-turvy.     Of  the  same  tragical  principles  is 
Sidney. 

I  had  this  day  much  discourse  with  Monsieur  Pontaq, 

*  Henry  Percy,  eighth  Earl  of  Northumberland,  shot  himself  in  the  Tower, 
to  which  he  had  been  committed  on  a  charge  of  high  treason,  in  June,  1585. 


16G3.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  181 

son  to  the  famous  and  wise  prime  President  of  Bourdeaux. 
This  gentleman  was  owner  of  that  excellent  vignoble  of 
Pontaq  and  Obrien,  from  whence  come  the  choicest  of 
our  Bourdeaux  wines ;  and  I  think  I  may  truly  say  of 
him,  what  was  not  so  truly  said  of  St.  Paul,  that  much 
learning  had  made  him  mad.  He  had  studied  well  in 
philosophy,  but  chiefly  the  Eabbins,  and  was  exceedingly 
addicted  to  cabalistical  fancies,  an  eternal  hablador 
{romancer],  and  half  distracted  by  reading  abundance 
of  the  extravagant  Eastern  Jews.  He  spake  all  languages, 
was  very  rich,  had  a  handsome  person,  and  was  well-bred, 
about  forty-five  years  of  age. 

14th.  I  visited  Mr.  Fraser,  a  learned  Scots  gentleman, 
whom  I  had  formerly  recommended  to  Lord  Berkeley  for 
the  instruction  and  government  of  his  son,  since  dead  at  sea. 
He  had  now  been  in  Holland  at  the  sale  of  the  learned 
Heinsius's  library,  and  showed  me  some  very  rare  and 
curious  books,  and  some  MSS.,  which  he  had  purehased 
to  good  value.  There  were  three  or  four  Herbals  in 
miniature,  accurately  done,  divers  Boman  antiquities  of 
Verona,  and  very  many  books  of  Aldus's  impression. 

15th.  A  stranger,  and  old  man,  preached  on  Jerem. 
vi.  8,  the  not  hearkening  to  instruction,  portentous  of 
desolation  to  a  people ;  much  after  Bishop  Andrews's 
method,  full  of  logical  divisions,  in  short  and  broken 
periods,  and  Latin  sentences,  now  quite  out  of  fashion  in 
the  pulpit,  which  is  grown  into  a  far  more  profitable  way, 
of  plain  and  practical  discourses,  of  which  sort  this  nation, 
or  any  other,  never  had  greater  plenty  or  more  profitable 
(I  am  confident) ;  so  much  has  it  to  answer  for  thriving 
no  better  on  it. 

The  public  was  now  in  great  consternation  on  the  late 
plot  and  conspiracy ;  his  Majesty  very  melancholy,  and 
not  stirring  without  double  guards ;  all  the  avenues  and 
private  doors  about  "Whitehall  and  the  Park  shut  up,  few 
admitted  to  walk  in  it.  The  Papists,  in  the  mean  time, 
very  jocund,  and  indeed  with  reason,  seeing  their  own 
plot  brought  to  nothing,  and  turned  to  ridicule,  and  now 
a  conspiracy  of  Protestants  as  they  called  them. 

The  Turks  were  likewise  in  hostility  against  the  German 
Emperor,  almost  masters  of  the  Upper  Hungary,  and 
drawing  towards  Vienna.     On  the  other  side^  the  French 


182  DIARY    OF  [LONDON, 

King  (who  it  is  believed  brought  in  the  infidels)  disturbing 
his  Spanish  and  Dutch  neighbours,  having  swallowed  up 
almost  all  Flanders,  pursuing  his  ambition  of  a  fifth 
universal  monarchy;  and  all  this  blood  and  disorder  in 
Christendom  had  evidently  its  rise  from  our  defections  at 
home,  in  a  wanton  peace,  minding  nothing  but  luxury, 
ambition,  and  to  procure  money  for  our  vices.  To  tlus 
add  our  irreligion  and  atheism,  great  ingratitude,  and 
self-interest ;  the  apostacy  of  some,  and  the  suffering  the 
French  to  grow  so  great,  and  the  Hollanders  so  weak. 
In  a  word,  we  were  wanton,  mad,  and  surfeiting  with 
prosperity ;  every  moment  unsettling  the  old  foundations, 
and  never  constant  to  any  thing.  The  Lord  in  mercy 
avert  the  sad  omen,  and  that  we  do  not  provoke  him  till 
he  bear  it  no  longer ! 

This  summer  did  we  suffer  twenty  French  men-of-war 
to  pass  our  Channel  towards  the  Sound,  to  help  the  Danes 
against  the  Swedes,  who  had  abandoned  the  French 
interest;  we  not  having  ready  sufficient  to  guard  our 
coasts,  or  take  cognizance  of  what  they  did ;  though  the 
nation  never  had  more,  or  a  better  navy,  yet  the  sea  had 
never  so  slender  a  fleet. 

19th.  George,  Prince  of  Denmark,  who  had  landed  thi» 
day,  came  to  marry  the  Lady  Anne,  daughter  to  the  Duke;. 
80  I  returned  home,  have  seen  the  young  gallant  at  dinner 
at  Whitehall. 

20th.  Several  of  the  conspirators  of  the  lower  form  were 
executed  at  Tyburn ;  ^nd  the  next  day, 

21st.  Lord  Russell  was  beheaded  in  Lincoln's-Inn- 
Fields,  the  executioner  giving  him  three  butcherly  strokes. 
The  speech  he  made,  and  paper  which  he  gave  the  Sheriff^ 
declaring  his  innocence,  the  nobleness  of  the  family,  the 
piety  and  worthiness  of  the  unhappy  gentleman,  wrought 
much  pity,  and  occasioned  various  discourses  on  the  plot. 

25th.  I  again  saw  Prince  George  of  Denmark :  he  had 
the  Danish  countenance,  blonde,  of  few  words,  spake 
French  but  ill,  seemed  somewhat  heavy,  but  reported  to 
be  vahant,  and  indeed  he  had  bravely  rescued  and  brought 
off  his  brother,  the  King  of  Denmark,  in  a  battle  against 
the  Swedes,  when  both  these  Kings  were  engaged  very 
smartly. 

28th.  He  was  married  to  the  Lady  Anne,  at  Whitehall 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ^33 

Her  court  and  household  to  be  modelled  as  the  Duke's, 
her  father,  had  been,  and  they  to  continue  in  England. 

1st  August.  Came  to  see  Mr.  Flamsted,  the  famous 
astronomer  from  his  Observatory  at  Greenwich,  to  draw 
the  meridian  for  my  pendule,  &c. 

2nd.  The  Countesses  of  Bristol  and  Sunderland,  aunt 
and  cousin-german  of  the  late  Lord  Russell,  came  to  visit 
me,  and  condole  his  sad  fate.  The  next  day,  came  Colonel 
Russell,  uncle  to  the  late  Lord  Russell,  and  brother  to 
the  Earl  of  Bedford,  and  with  him  Mrs.  Middleton,  that 
famous  and  indeed  incomparable  beauty,  daughter  to  my 
relation.  Sir  Robert  Needham. 

19th.  I  went  to  Bromley  to  visit  our  Bishop,*  and 
excellent  neighbour,  and  to  congratulate  his  now  being 
made  Archbishop  of  York.  On  the  28th,  he  came  to  take 
his  leave  of  us,  now  preparing  for  his  journey  and  residence 
in  his  pro^dnce. 

28th.  My  sweet  little  grandchild,  Martha  Maria,  died, 
and  on  the  29th  was  buried  in  the  parish  church. 

2nd  September.  This  morning,  was  read  in  the  church, 
after  the  office  was  done,  the  Declaration  setting  forth  the 
late  conspiracy  against  the  King's  person. 

3rd.  I  went  to  see  what  had  been  done  by  the  Duke  of 
Beaufort  on  his  late  purchased  house  at  Chelsea,  which 
I  once  had  the  selling  of  for  the  Countess  of  Bristol ;  he 
had  made  great  alterations,  but  might  have  built  a  better 
house  with  the  materials  and  the  cost  he  had  been  at. 

Saw  the  Countess  of  Monte  Feltre,  whose  husband  I 
had  formerly  known ;  he  was  a  subject  of  the  Pope^s,  but 
becoming  a  Protestant,  he  resided  in  England,  and  married 
into  the  family  of  the  Savilles,  of  Yorkshire.  The  Count, 
her  late  husband,  was  a  very  learned  gentleman,  a  great 
politician,  and  a  goodly  man.  She  was  accompanied  by 
her  sister,  exceedingly  skilled  in  painting,  nor  did  they 
spare  for  colour  on  their  own  faces.  They  had  a  great 
deal  of  wit. 

9th.  It  being  the  day  of  public  thanksgiving  for  his 
Majesty's  late  preservation,  the  former  declaration  was 
again  read,  and  there  was  an  office  used,  composed  for  the 
occasion.     A  loyal  sermon  was  preached  on  the  divine  right 

*  Dr.  Jolm  Dolben. 


184  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

of  Kings,  from  Psalm  cxliv.  10.  "Thou  hast  preserved 
David  from  the  peril  of  the  sword." 

15th.  Came  to  visit  me  the  learned  anatomist,  Dr. 
Tyson,*  with  some  other  Fellows  of  our  Society. 

16th.  At  the  elegant  villa  and  garden  of  Mr.  Bohun, 
at  Lee.  He  showed  me  the  zinnar  tree,  or  platanus,  and 
told  me  that  since  they  had  planted  this  kind  of  tree 
about  the  city  of  Ispahan,  in  Persia,  the  plague,  which 
formerly  much  infested  the  place,  had  exceedingly  abated 
of  its  mortal  effects,  and  rendered  it  very  healthy. 

18th.  I  went  to  London,  to  visit  the  Duchess  of  Grafton, 
now  great  with  child,  a  most  -^drtuous  and  beautiful  lady. 
Dining  with  her  at  my  Lord  Chamberlain's,  met  my  Lord 
of  St.  Alban's,  now  grown  so  blind,  that  he  could  not  see 
to  take  his  meat.  He  has  lived  a  most  easy  life,  in  plenty 
even  abroad,  whilst  his  Majesty  was  a  sufferer ;  he  has  lost 
immense  sums  at  play,  which  yet,  at  about  eighty  years 
old,  he  continues,  having  one  that  sits  by  him  to  name  the 
spots  on  the  cards.  He  eat  and  drank  with  extraordinary 
appetite.  He  is  a  prudent  old  courtier,  and  much  enriched 
since  his  Majesty's  return. 

After  dinner,  I  walked  to  survey  the  sad  demolition  of 
Clarendon-House,  that  costly  and  only  sumptuous  palace 
of  the  late  Lord  Chancellor  Hyde,  where  I  have  often  been 
so  cheerful  with  him,  and  sometimes  so  sad:t  happening 
to  make  him  a  visit  but  the  day  before  he  fled  from  the 
angry  Parliament,  accusing  him  of  mal-administration,  and 
being  envious  at  his  grandeur,  who  from  a  private  lawyer 
came  to  be  father-in-law  to  the  Duke  of  York,  and  as  some 
would  suggest,  designing  his  Majesty's  marriage  with  the 
Infanta  of  Portugal,  not  apt  to  breed.  To  this  they 
imputed  much  of  our  unhappiness,  and  that  he  being  sole 

•  Edward  Tyson,  M.D.,  a  learned  physician,  bom  at  Clevedon,  Somerset- 
shire, in  1649,  who  became  reader  of  the  anatomical  lecture  in  Surgeons' 
Hall,  and  physician  to  the  hospitals  of  Bethlehem  and  Bridewell,  in  which 
station  he  died  Aug.  1,  170S.  He  was  an  ingenious  writer,  as  appears  by  liis 
Essays  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions  and  Hook's  Collections.  He 
published  also  «  The  Anatomy  of  a  Porpoise  dissected  at  Gresham  College," 
and  the  "  Anatomy  of  a  Pigmy  compared  with  a  Monkey,  an  Ape,  and  a  Man," 
4to,  1698-9. 

t  An  engraving  of  the  south  or  principal  front  of  this  noble  mansion,  copied 
from  an  extremely  rare  print,  is  given  in  Smith's  Sixty-two  Additional  Plates 
to  his  Antiquities  of  Westminster,  4to,  1807. 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  185 

minister  and  favourite  at  hisMajesty^s  restoration^  neglected 
to  gratify  the  King's  suffering  party,  preferring  those  who 
were  the  cause  of  our  troubles.  But  perhaps  as  many  of 
these  things  were  injuriously  laid  to  his  charge,  so  he  kept 
the  government  far  steadier  than  it  has  proved  since.  I 
could  name  some  who  I  think  contributed  greatly  to  his 
Tuin, — the  buffoons  and  the  misses,  to  whom  he  was  an 
eye-sore.  It  is  true  he  was  of  a  jolly  temper,  after  the  old 
English  fashion ;  but  France  had  now  the  ascendant,  and 
we  were  become  quite  another  nation.  The  Chancellor 
gone,  and  dying  in  exile,  the  Earl  his  successor  sold  that 
which  cost  £50,000  building,  to  the  young  Duke  of 
Albemarle  for  £25,000,  to  pay  debts  which  how  contracted 
remains  yet  a  mystery,  his  son  being  no  way  a  prodigal. 
Some  imagine  the  Duchess  his  daughter  had  been  charge- 
able to  him.  However  it  were,  this  stately  palace  is  decreed 
to  ruin,  to  support  the  prodigious  waste  the  Duke  of 
Albemarle  had  made  of  his  estate,  since  the  old  man  died. 
He  sold  it  to  the  highest  bidder,  and  it  fell  to  certain  rich 
bankers  and  mechanics,  who  gave  for  it  and  the  ground 
about  it  £35,000 ;  they  design  a  new  town,  as  it  were,  and 
a  most  magnificent  piazza  (i.e.  square).  It  is  said  they 
have  already  materials  towards  it  with  what  they  sold  of 
the  house  alone,  more  worth  than  what  they  paid  for  it- 
See  the  vicissitudes  of  earthly  things  !  I  was  astonished  at 
this  demolition,  nor  less  at  the  little  army  of  labourers  and 
artificers  levelling  the  ground,  laying  foundations,  and 
contriving  great  buildings  at  an  expense  of  £200,000,  if 
they  perfect  their  design.* 

*  In  a  letter  to  Lord  Cornbury,  dated  Sayes  Court,  20th  January,  1665-6, 
Mr.  Evelyn  having  been  to  see  Clarendon  House,  says  :  "  I  went  with  pre- 
judice and  a  critical  spirit,  incident  to  those  who  fancy  they  know  anything  in 
art ;  I  acknowledge  that  I  have  never  seen  a  nobler  pile.  My  old  friend  and 
fellow-traveller  (inhabitants  and  contemporaries  at  Rome)  has  perfectly 
acquitted  himself.  It  is,  without  hyperbole,  the  best  contrived,  the  most 
useful,  graceful,  and  magnificent  house  in  England  ;  I  except  not  Audley-End, 
which,  though  larger  and  full  of  gaudy  barbarous  ornaments,  does  not  gratify 
judicious  spectators.  Here  is  state  and  use,  solidity  and  beauty,  most  sym- 
metrically combined  together.  Nothing  abroad  pleases  me  better,  nothing 
at  home  approaches  it.  I  have  no  design  to  gratify  the  architect  beyond  what 
I'am  obliged  as  a  professed  honourcr  of  virtue  wheresoever  it  is  conspicuous  ; 
but  when  I  had  seriously  contemplated  every  room  (for  I  went  into  them  all, 
from  the  cellar  to  the  platform  on  the  roof),  seen  how  well  and  judiciously  the 


186  DIARY  OF  [losdox, 

19th.  In  my  walks  I  stepped  into  a  goldbeater's  work- 
Louse^  where  he  showed  me  the  wonderful  ductility  of  that 
spreading  and  oily  metal.  He  said  it  must  be  finer  than 
the  standard,  such  as  was  old  angel-gold,  and  that  of  such 
he  had  once  to  the  value  of  £100  stamped  with  the  agmis 
dei  ;  and  coined  at  the  time  of  the  holy  war,  which  had 
been  found  in  a  ruined  wall  somewhere  in  the  north,  near 
to  Scotland,  some  of  which  he  beat  into  leaves,  and  the  rest 
sold  to  the  curiosi  in  antiquities  and  medals. 

23rd.  We  had  now  the  welcome  tidings  of  the  King 
of  Poland  raising  the  siege  of  Vienna,  which  had  given 
terror  to  all  Europe,  and  utmost  reproach  to  the  French, 
who  it  is  believed  brought  in  the  Turks  for  diversion, 
that  the  French  King  might  the  more  easily  swallow 
Flanders,  and  pursue  his  unjust  conquests  on  the  empire, 
whilst  we  sat  unconcerned  and  under  a  deadly  charm  from 
somebody. 

There  was  this  day  a  collection  for  re-building  Newmarket, 
consumed  by  an  accidental  fire,  which  removing  his  Majesty 
thence  sooner  than  was  intended,  put  by  the  assassins,  who 
were  disappointed  of  their  rendezvous  and  expectation  by  a 
wonderful  providence.  This  made  the  King  more  earnest 
to  render  Winchester  the  seat  of  his  autumnal  field-diver- 
sions for  the  future,  designing  a  palace  there,  where  the 
ancient  castle  stood  ;  infinitely  indeed  preferable  to  New- 
market for  prospects,  air,  pleasure,  and  provisions.  The 
surveyor  has  already  begun  the  foundation  for  a  palace, 
estimated  to  cost  £35,000,  and  his  Majesty  is  purchasing 
ground  about  it  to  make  a  park,  &c. 

4th  October.  I  went  to  London,  on  receiving  a  note  from 
the  Countess  of  Arlington,  of  some  considerable  charge  or 
advantage  I  might  obtain  by  applying  myself  to  his  Majesty 
on  this  signal  conjuncture  of  his  Majesty  entering-up 
judgment  against  the  City-charter ;  the  proposal  made  me 
I  wholly  declined,  not  being  well  satisfied  with  these  violent 
transactions,  and  not  a  little  sorry  that  his  Majesty  was  so 
often  put  upon  things  of  this  nature  against  so  great  a 
City,   the  consequence  whereof  may  be  so  much  to  his 

walls  were  erected,  the  arches  cut  and  turned,  the  timber  braced,  their  scant- 
lings and  contignations  disposed,  I  was  most  highly  satisfied,  and  do  aclinow- 
ledge  myself  to  have  much  improved  by  what  I  observed." 


1683.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  137 

prejudice ;  so  I  returned  home.  At  this  time^  tlie  Lord 
Chief- Justice  Pemberton  was  displaced.  He  was  held  to  be 
the  most  learned  of  the  judges,  and  an  honest  man.  Sir 
George  Jeffreys  was  advanced,  reputed  to  be  most  ignorant, 
but  most  daring.  Sir  George  Treby,  Recorder  of  London, 
was  also  put  by,  and  one  Genner,  an  obscure  lawyer,  set 
in  his  place.  Eight  of  the  richest  and  chief  aldermen  were 
removed,  and  all  the  rest  made  only  justices  of  the  peace, 
and  no  more  wearing  of  gowns,  or  chains  of  gold;  the 
Lord  ]Mayor  and  two  Sherij3fs  holding  their  places  by  new 
grants  as  custodes,  at  the  King^s  pleasure.  The  pomp  and 
grandeur  of  the  most  august  City  in  the  world  thus  changed 
face  in  a  moment ;  which  gave  great  occasion  of  discourse 
and  thoughts  of  hearts,  what  all  this  would  end  in.  Prudent 
men  were  for  the  old  foundations. 

Following  his  Majesty  this  morning  through  the  gallery, 
I  went,  with  the  few  who  attended  him,  into  the  Duchess 
of  Portsmouth's  dressing-room  within  her  bed-chamber, 
where  she  was  in  her  morning  loose  garment,  her  maids 
combing  her,  newly  out  of  her  bed,  his  Majesty  and  the 
gallants  standing  about  her ;  but  that  which  engaged  my 
curiosity,  was  the  rich  and  splendid  furniture  of  this 
woman's  apartment,  now  twice  or  thrice  pulled  down  and 
rebuilt  to  satisfy  her  prodigal  and  expensive  pleasures,  whilst 
her  Majesty's  does  not  exceed  some  gentlemen's  ladies  in 
furniture  and  accommodation.  Here  I  saw  the  new  fabric 
of  French  tapestry,  for  design,  tenderness  of  work,  and 
incomparable  imitation  of  the  best  paintings,  beyond  any 
thing  I  had  ever  beheld.  Some  pieces  had  Versailles, 
St.  Germains,  and  other  palaces  of  the  French  King,  with 
huntings,  figures,  and  landscapes,  exotic  fowls,  and  all  to 
the  life  rarely  done.  Then  for  Japan  cabinets,  skreens, 
pendule  clocks,  great  vases  of  wrought  plate,  tables,  stands, 
chimney-furniture,  sconces,  branches,  braseras,  &c.,  all  of 
massy  silver,  and  out  of  number,  besides  some  of  her 
Majesty's  best  paintings. 

Surfeiting  of  this,  I  dined  at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's,  and 
went  contented  home  to  my  poor,  but  quiet  villa.  What 
contentment  can  there  be  in  the  riches  and  splendour  of 
this  world,  purchased  with  vice  and  dishonour  ? 

10th,  Visited  the  Duchess  of  Grafton,  not  yet  brought 
to- bed,  and  dining  with  my  Lord  Chamberlain  (her  father), 


lyy  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

went  with  them  to  see  Montagu-House,*  a  palace  lately 
built  by  Lord  Montague,  who  had  married  the  most 
beautiful  Countess  of  Northumberland,  t  It  is  a  stately 
and  ample  palace.  Signer  Verrio's  fresco  paintings, 
especially  the  funeral  pile  of  Dido,  on  the  staircase,  the 
labours  of  Hercules,  fight  with  the  Centaurs,  his  eflPemi- 
nacy  with  Dejanira,  and  Apotheosis  or  reception  among  the 
gods,  on  the  walls  and  roof  of  the  great  room  above, — 
I  think  exceeds  any  thing  he  has  yet  done,  both  for 
design,  colouring,  and  exuberance  of  invention,  comparable 
to  the  greatest  of  the  old  masters,  or  what  they  so  celebrate 
at  Rome.  In  the  rest  of  the  chamber  are  some  excellent 
paintings  of  Holbein,  and  other  masters.  The  garden  is 
large,  and  in  good  air,  but  the  fronts  of  the  house  not 
answerable  to  the  inside.  The  court  at  entry,  and  wings 
for  offices  seem  too  near  the  street,  and  that  so  very  narrow 
and  meanly  built,  that  the  corridor  is  not  in  proportion 
to  the  rest,  to  hide  the  court  from  being  overlooked  by 
neighbours;  all  which  might  have  been  prevented,  had 
they  placed  the  house  further  into  the  ground,  of  which 
there  was  enough  to  spare.  But  on  the  whole  it  is  a  fine 
palace,  built  after  the  French  pavihon-way,  by  Mr.  Hooke, 
the  Curator  of  the  Hoyal  Society.  There  were  with  us 
my  Lady  Scroope,  the  great  wit,  and  Monsieur  Chardine, 
the  celebrated  traveller. 

13th.  Came  to  visit  me  my  old  and  worthy  friend, 
Mr.  Packer,  bringing  with  him  his  nephew  Berkeley, 
grandson  to  the  honest  judge.  A  most  ingenious,  virtuous, 
and  religious  gentleman,  seated  near  Worcester,  and  very 
curious  in  gardening. 

17th.  I  was  at  the  court-leet  of  this  manor,  my  Lord 
Arlington  his  Majesty's  High-Steward.  J 

26th.  Came  to  visit  and  dine  with  me,  Mr.  Brisbane, 
Secretary  to  the  Admiralty,  a  learned  and  agreeable  man. 

30th.  I  went  to  Kew  to  visit  Sir  Henry  Capell,  brother 
to  the  late  Earl  of  Essex ;  but  he  being  gone  to  Cashiobury, 

*  See  under  August,  1672. 

+  He  was  made  Earl  of  Montagu  by  King  William,  and  Duke  by  Queen 
Anne.  His  wife  was  Lady  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Wriothesley,  Earl 
of  Southampton,  widow  of  Joceline  Percy,  the  1 1th  and  last  Earl  of  NorUivun- 
berland  (of  that  family). 

t  The  manor  of  Deptford-le-Strond,  alias  West  Greenwich.    ' 


1C83.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  j^gg 

after  I  had  seen  his  garden  *  and  the  alterations  therein, 
I  returned  home.  He  had  repaired  his  house^  roofed  his 
hall  with  a  kind  of  cupola,  and  in  a  niche  was  an  artificial 
fountain ;  but  the  room  seems  to  me  over-melancholy,  yet 
might  be  much  improved  by  having  the  walls  well  painted 
a  fresco.  The  two  green-houses  for  oranges  and  myrtles 
communicating  with  the  rooms  below,  are  very  well  con- 
trived.f  There  is  a  cupola  made  with  pole-work  between 
two  elms  at  the  end  of  a  walk,  which  being  covered  by 
plashing  the  trees  to  them,  is  very  pretty :  for  the  rest 
there  are  too  many  fir-trees  in  the  garden. 

17th  November.  I  took  a  house  in  ViUiers  Street,  York 
Buildings,  for  the  winter,  having  many  important  concerns 
to  dispatch,  and  for  the  education  of  my  daughters. 

23rd.  The  Duke  of  Monmouth,  till  now  proclaimed 
traitor  on  the  pretended  plot  for  which  Lord  Russell  was 
lately  beheaded,  came  this  evening  to  Whitehall  and  ren- 
dered himself,  on  which  were  various  discourses. 

26th.  I  went  to  compliment  the  Duchess  of  Grafton, 
now  lying-in  of  her  first  child,  a  son,  %  which  she  called 
for,  that  I  might  see  it.  She  was  become  more  beautiful, 
if  it  were  possible,  than  before,  and  full  of  virtue  and 
sweetness.  She  discoursed  with  me  of  many  particulars, 
with  great  prudence  and  gravity  beyond  her  years. 

29th.  Mr.  Forbes  showed  me  the  plot  of  the  garden 
making  at  Burleigh,  at  my  Lord  Exeter^ s,  which  I  looked 
on  as  one  of  the  most  noble  that  I  had  seen. 

The  whole  court  and  town  in  solemn  mourning  for  the 
death  of  the  King  of  Portugal,  her  Majesty's  brother. 

30th.  At  the  anniversary  dinner  of  the  Royal  Society 
the  King  sent  us  two  does.  Sir  Cyril  Wych  was  elected 
President. 

5th  December.  I  was  this  day  invited  to  a  wedding  of 
one  Mrs.  Castle,  to  whom  I  had  some  obligation,  and  it 
was  to  her  fifth  husband,  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the 
City.    She  was  the  daughter  of  one  Burton,  a  broom-man, 

*  Archseologia,  vol.  XII.  p.  185. 

f  Of  late  years  this  plan  has  been  adopted  in  many  gentlemen's  houses. 

:J:  Charles,  who  succeeded  his  father,  killed  in  Ii-eland  in  IG.'lO.  This  son 
was  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  Lord  Chamberlain,  Privy  Counsellor, 
K.  G.,  &c.,  in  the  reigns  of  Anne,  George  I.  and  George  II.  There  is  a  fine 
whole-length  mezzotinto  of  him  by  Faber. 


190  DIARY  OF  [LONDON 

"by  his  wife,  wlio  sold  kitchen-stuff  in  Kent  Street,  whom 
God  so  blessed  that  the  father  became  a  veryrich,  and 
was  a  very  honest  man  ;  he  was  sheriff  of  Surrey,  * 
where  I  have  sat  on  the  bench  with  him.  Another  of  his 
daughters  was  married  to  Sir  John  Bowles;  and  this 
daughter  was  a  jolly  friendly  woman.  There  was  at  the 
wedding  the  Lord  Mayor,  the  Sheriff,  several  Aldermen 
and  persons  of  quality;  above  all.  Sir  George  Jeffreys, 
newly  made  Lord  Cluef  Justice  of  England,  with  Mr. 
Justice  Withings,  danced  with  the  bride,  and  were  exceed- 
ing merry.  These  great  men  spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon, 
till  eleven  at  night,  in  drinking  healths,  taking  tobacco, 
and  talking  much  beneath  the  gravity  of  Judges,  who  had 
but  a  day  or  two  before  condemned  Mr.  Algernon  Sidney, 
who  was  executed  the  7th  on  Tower-Hill,  on  the  single 
witness  of  that  monster  of  a  man,  Lord  Howard  of  Escrick, 
and  some  sheets  of  paper  taken  in  Mr.  Sidney's  study, 
pretended  to  be  written  by  him,  but  not  fully  proved,  nor 
the  time  when,  but  appearing  to  have  been  written  before 
his  Majesty's  restoration,  and  then  pardoned  by  the  Act 
of  Oblivion ;  so  that  though  Mr.  Sidney  was  known  to  be 
a  person  obstinately  averse  to  government  by  a  monarch, 
(the  subject  of  the  paper  was  in  answer  to  one  by  Sir  E, 
Filmer),  yet  it  was  thought  he  had  very  hard  measure. 
There  is  this  yet  observable,  that  he  had  been  an  inveterate 
enemy  to  the  last  King,  and  in  actual  rebellion  against 
him;  a  man  of  great  courage,  great  sense,  great  parts, 
which  he  showed  both  at  his  trial  and  death ;  for,  whea 
he  came  on  the  scaffold,  instead  of  a  speech,  he  told  them 
only  that  he  had  made  his  peace  with  God,  that  he  came 
not  thither  to  talk,  but  to  die  ;  put  a  paper  into  the 
sheriff's  hand,  and  another  into  a  friend's,  said  one  prayer 
as  short  as  a  grace,  laid  down  his  neck,  and  bid  the 
executioner  do  his  office. 

The  Duke  of  Monmouth,  now  having  his  pardon,  refuses 
to  acknowledge  there  was  any  treasonable  plot ;  for  which 
he  is  banished  Whitehall.  This  was  a  great  disappointment 
to  some  who  had  prosecuted  Trenchard,  Hampden,  &c., 
that  for  want  of  a  second  witness  were  come  out  of  the 
Tower  upon  their  habeas  corpits. 

*  In'icrs. 


1684.]  JOHN  EVELYX.  191 

The  King  had  now  augmented  his  guards  with  a  new 
sort  of  dragoons,  who  carried  also  grenadoes,  and  were 
habited  after  the  Polish  manner,  with  long  peaked  caps, 
very  fierce  and  fantastical. 

7th.  I  went  to  the  Tower,  and  visited  the  Earl  of  Danby, 
the  late  Lord  High  Treasurer,  who  had  been  imprisoned 
four  years  :  he  received  me  with  great  kindness.  I  dined 
with  him,  and  staled  till  night.  We  had  discourse  of 
many  things,  his  Lady  railing  sufficiently  at  the  keeping 
her  husband  so  long  in  prison.  Here  I  saluted  the 
Lord  Dumblaine's  wife,*  who  before  had  been  married  to 
Emerton,  and  about  whom  there  was  that  scandalous 
business  before  the  delegates. 

23rd.  The  small-pox  very  prevalent  and  mortal  j  the 
Thames  frozen. 

26th.  I  dined  at  Lord  Clarendon^s,  where  I  was  to 
meet  that  ingenious  and  learned  gentleman.  Sir  George 
Wheeler,  who  has  published  the  excellent  description  of 
Africa  and  Greece,  and  who  being  a  Knight  of  a  very 
fair  estate  and  young,  had  now  newly  entered  into  Holy 
Orders. 

27th.  I  went  to  visit  Sir  John  Chardin,  a  French  gentle- 
man, who  had  travelled  three  times  by  land  into  Persia, 
and  had  made  many  curious  researches  in  his  travels,  of 
which  he  was  now  setting  forth  a  relation.  It  being  in 
England  this  year  one  of  the  severest  frosts  that  had 
happened  of  many  years,  he  told  me  the  cold  in  Persia  was 
much  greater,  the  ice  of  an  incredible  thickness ;  that  they 
had  little  use  of  iron  in  all  that  country,  it  being  so  moist 
(though  the  air  admirably  clear  and  healthy)  that  oil 
would  not  preserve  it  from  rusting,  so  that  they  had  neither 
clocks  nor  watches  ;  some  padlocks  they  had  for  doors  and 
boxes. 

30th.  Dr.  Spratt,  now  made  Dean  of  Westminster, 
preached  to  the  King  at  Whitehall,>on  Matt.  vi.  24. 
Recollecting  the  passages  of  the  past  year,  I  gave  God 
thanks  for  his  mercies,  praying  his  blessing  for  the  future. 

1683-4.  1st  January.  The  weather  continuing  intolerably 

*  Peregrine,  Viscount  Dumblaine,  youngest  son  of  the  Earl  of  Danby,  so 
created  in  his  father's  life-time,  and  who  became  his  successor  iu  title  and 
estate. 


192  DIARY  OF  [londow, 

severe,  streets  of  booths  were  set  upon  the  Thames ;  the 
air  was  so  very  cold  and  thick,  as  of  many  years  there  had 
not  been  the  like.     The  small-pox  was  very  mortal. 

2nd.  I  dined  at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's  :  after  dinner,  came 
a  fellow  who  eat  live  charcoal,  glowingly  ignited,  quenching 
them  in  his  mouth,  and  then  champing  and  swallowing- 
them  down.  There  was  a  dog  also  which  seemed  to  do 
many  rational  actions. 

6th.  The  river  quite  frozen. 

9th.  I  went  across  the  Thames  on  the  ice,  now  become 
so  thick  as  to  bear  not  only  streets  of  booths,  in  which 
they  roasted  meat,  and  had  divers  shops  of  wares,  quite 
across  as  in  a  town,  but  coaches,  carts,  and  horses  passed 
over.  So  I  went  from  Westminster-stairs  to  Lambeth,  and 
dined  with  the  Archbishop ;  where  I  met  my  Lord  Bruce, 
Sir  George  Wheeler,  Colonel  Cooke,  and  several  divines. 
After  dinner  and  discourse  with  his  Grace  till  evening- 
prayers.  Sir  George  Wheeler  and  I  walked  over  the  ice 
from  Lambeth-stairs  to  the  Horse-ferry. 

10th.  I  visited  Sir  Robert  Reading,  where  after  supper 
we  had  music,  but  not  comparable  to  that  which  Mrs. 
Bridgeman  made  us  on  the  guitar  with  such  extraordinary- 
skill  and  dexterity. 

16th.  The  Thames  was  filled  with  people  and  tents, 
selling  all  sorts  of  wares  as  in  the  City.     , 

24th.  The  frost  continuing  more  and  more  severe,  the 
Thames  before  London  was  still  planted  with  booths  in 
formal  streets,  all  sorts  of  trades  and  shops  furnished,  and 
full  of  commodities,  even  to  a  printing-press,  where  the 
people  and  ladies  took  a  fancy  to  have  their  names  printed, 
and  the  day  and  year  set  down  when  printed  on  the 
Thames :  *  this  humour  took  so  universally,  that  it  was 
estimated  the  printer  gained  £5  a  day,  for  printing  a  line 
only,  at  sixpence  a  name,  besides  what  he  got  by  ballads, 
&c.  Coaches  plied  from  Westminster  to  the  Temple,  and 
from  several  other  stairs  to  and  fro,  as  in  the  streets,  sleds, 
sliding  with  skates,  a  bull-baiting,  horse  and  coach-races, 

*  By  favour  of  a  gentleman  possessed  of  innumerable  literary  curiosities,  I 
have  one  of  these  cards  now  before  me.  Within  a  treble  border,  "  Mons'  et 
Mad"  Justel.  Printed  on  the  river  of  Thames  being  frozen.  In  the  36th 
year  of  King  Charles  the  II.,  February  the  5th,  1683."  v.  8.  is  added  with  a 
pen,  probably  by  Mr.  Justell. — Edit. 


1684.]  •  JOHN  EVELYN.  I93 

puppet-plays  and  interludes,  cooks,  tippling,  and  other 
lewd  places,  so  that  it  seemed  to  be  a  bacchanalian  triumph, 
or  carnival  on  the  water,  whilst  it  was  a  severe  judgment 
on  the  land,  the  trees  not  only  splitting  as  if  lightning- 
struck,  but  men  and  cattle  perishing  in  divers  places,  and 
the  very  seas  so  locked  up  with  ice,  that  no  vessels  could 
stir  out  or  come  in.  The  fowls,  fish,  and  birds,  and  all  our 
exotic  plants  and  greens,  universally  perishing.  Many 
parks  of  deer  were  destroyed,  and  all  sorts  of  fuel  so  dear, 
that  there  were  great  contributions  to  preserve  the  poor 
alive.  Nor  was  this  severe  weather  much  less  intense  in 
most  parts  of  Europe,  even  as  far  as  Spain  and  the  most 
southern  tracts.  London,  by  reason  of  the  excessive 
coldness  of  the  air  hindering  the  ascent  of  the  smoke,  Avas 
so  filled  with  the  fuliginous  steam  of  the  sea-coal,  that 
hardly  could  one  see  across  the  streets,  and  this  filling  tlie 
lungs  with  its  gross  particles,  exceedingly  obstructed  the 
breast,  so  as  one  could  scarcely  breathe.  Here  was  no  water 
to  be  had  from  the  pipes  and  engines,  nor  could  the  brewers 
and  divers  other  tradesmen  work,  and  every  moment  was 
full  of  disastrous  accidents. 

4th  February.  I  went  to  Sayes  Court  to  see  how  the  frost 
had  dealt  with  my  garden,  where  I  found  many  of  the 
greens  and  rare  plants  utterly  destroyed.  The  oranges  and 
myrtles  very  sick,  the  rosemary  and  laurels  dead  to  all 
appearance,  but  the  cypress  likely  to  endure  it. 

5th.  It  began  to  thaw,  but  froze  again.  My  coach 
crossed  from  Lambeth  to  the  Horse-ferry  at  Milbank, 
Westminster.  The  booths  were  almost  all  taken  down, 
but  there  was  first  a  map  or  landscape  cut  in  copper 
representing  all  the  manner  of  the  camp,  and  the  several 
actions,  sports,  and  pastimes  thereon,  in  memory  of  so 
signal  a  frost.* 

7th.  I  dined  with  my  Lord  Keeper  [North],  and 
walking  alone  with  him  some  time  in  his  gallery,  we  had 
discourse  of  music.  He  told  me  he  had  been  brought  up 
to  it  from  a  child,  so  as  to  sing  his  part  at  first  sight. 
Then  speaking  of  painting,  of  which  he  was  also  a  great 
lover,  and  other  ingenious  matters,  he  desired  me  to  come 
oftener  to  him. 

^  There  are  different  representations  of  this  curious  scene,  both  in  wood  and 
copper-plate  engravings. 

VOL.    II.  0 


J  94  DIABY  OF  [londom, 

8th.  I  went  this  evening  to  ^isit  that  great  and  knowing 
virtuoso.  Monsieur  Justell.  The  weather  was  set  in  to  an 
absolute  thaw  and  rain ;  but  the  Thames  still  frozen. 

10th.  After  eight  weeks  missing  the  foreign  posts,  there 
came  abundance  of  intelligence  from  abroad. 

12th.  The  Earl  of  Danby,  late  Lord-Treasurer,  together 
with  the  Roman  Cathohc  Lords  impeached  of  high  treason 
in  the  Popish  Plot,  had  now  their  habeas  corpus,  and  came 
out  upon  bail,  after  five  years'  imprisonment  in  the  Tower. 
Then  were  also  tried  and  deeply  fined  Mr.  Hampden  and 
others,  for  being  supposed  of  the  late  plot,  for  which  Lord 
Eussell  and  Colonel  Sidney  suflFered ;  as  also  the  person 
who  went  about  to  prove  that  the  Earl  of  Essex  had  his 
throat  cut  in  the  Tower  by  others ;  likewise  Mr.  Johnson, 
the  author  of  that  famous  piece  called  Julian. 

15th.  News  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  having  accused  the 
Deputies  of  Amsterdam  of  crimen  Icesm  Majestatis,  and 
being  pensioners  to  France. 

Dr.  Tenison  communicated  to  me  his  intention  of  erect- 
ing a  library  in  St.  Martin's  parish,  for  the  public  use,  and 
desired  my  assistance,  with  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  about 
the  placing  and  structure  thereof,  a  worthy  and  laudable 
design.  He  told  me  there  were  thirty  or  forty  young  men 
in  Orders  in  his  parish,  either  governors  to  young  gentle- 
men or  chaplains  to  noblemen,  who  being  reproved  by  him 
on  occasion  for  frequenting  taverns  or  coffee-houses,  told 
him  they  would  study  or  employ  their  time  better,  if  they 
had  books.  This  put  the  pious  Doctor  on  this  design ; 
and  indeed  a  great  reproach  it  is  that  so  great  a  City  as 
London  should  not  have  a  public  library  becoming  it. 
There  ought  to  be  one  at  St.  Paul's :  the  west  end  of  that 
church  (if  ever  finished)  would  be  a  convenient  place. 

23rd,  I  went  to  Sir  John  Chardin,  who  desned  my 
assistance  for  the  engraving  the  plates,  the  translation, 
and  printing  his  History  of  that  wonderful  Persian  Monur 
ment  near  Persepolis,  and  other  rare  antiquities,  which  he 
had  caused  to  be  drawn  from  the  originals  in  his  second 
journey  into  Persia,  which  we  now  concluded  upon.  After- 
wards, I  went  with  Sir  Christopher  Wren  to  Dr.  Tenison, 
where  we  made  the  drawing  and  estimate  of  the  expense  of 
the  library,  to  be  begun  this  next  spring  near  the  Mews.* 

•  There  is  a  spacious  room  well  furnislied  with  books,  nnder  the  care  of 


1684.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  J 95 

Great  expectation  of  the  Prince  of  Grangers  attempts  in 
Holland  to  bring  those  of  Amsterdam  to  consent  to  the 
new  levies^  to  which  we  were  no  friends,  by  a  pseudo-politic 
adherence  to  the  French  interest. 

26th.  Came  to  visit  me  Dr.  Turner,  our  new  Bishop  of 
Rochester. 

28th.  I  dined  at  Lady  Tuke's,  where  I  heard  Dr.  "Wal- 
grave  (physician  to  the  Duke  and  Duchess)  play  excellently 
on  the  lute. 

7th  March.  Dr.  Meggot,  Dean  of  Winchester,  preached 
an  incomparable  sermon  (the  King  being  now  gone  to 
Newmarket),  on  Heb.  xii.  15,  showing  and  pathetically 
pressing  the  care  we  ought  to  have  lest  we  come  short  of 
the  grace  of  God.  Afterwards,  I  went  to  visit  Dr.  Tenison 
at  Kensington,  whither  he  was  retired  to  refresh,  after  he 
had  been  sick  of  the  small-pox. 

15th.  At  Whitehall  preached  Mr.  Henry  Godolphin,  a 
prebend  of  St.  Paulas,  and  brother  to  my  dear  friend 
Sydney,  on  Isaiah  Iv.  7.  I  dined  at  the  Lord  Keeper's, 
and  brought  him  to  Sir  John  Chardin,  who  showed  him  his 
accurate  draughts  of  his  travels  in  Persia. 

28th.  There  was  so  great  a  concourse  of  people  with 
their  children  to  be  touched  for  the  Evil,  that  six  or  seven 
were  crushed  to  death  by  pressing  at  the  chirurgeon's  door 
for  tickets.  The  weather  began  to  be  more  mild  and 
tolerable ;  but  there  was  not  the  least  appearance  of  any 
spring. 

30th.  Easter  day.  The  Bishop  of  Rochester  preached 
before  the  King ;  after  which  his  Majesty,  accompanied 
with  three  of  his  natural  sons,  the  Dukes  of  Northumber- 
land, Richmond,  and  St.  Alban's,  (sons  of  Portsmouth, 
Cleveland,  and  Nelly,)  went  up  to  the  altar ;  the  three 
boys  entering  before  the  King  within  the  rails,  at  the  right 
hand,  and  three  Bishops  on  the  left,  viz. :  London,  (who 
officiated)  Durham,  and  Rochester,  with  the  Sub-dean, 
Dr.  Holder.  The  King,  kneeling  before  the  altar,  making 
his  offering,  the  Bishops  first  received,  and  then  his  Majesty; 
after  which  he  retired  to  a  canopied  seat  on  the  right  hand. 
Note,  there  was  perfume  burnt  before  the  office  began.  I 
had  received  the  sacrament  at  Whitehall  early  with  the 

the  vicar  of  St.  Martin's,  in  Castle  Street,  near  the  Mews-gate.     Sion  College 
is  more  peculiarly  appropriated  to  the  Clergy  in  the  City. 

o  2 


196  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

Lords  and  Household,  the  Bishop  of  London  officiating. 
Then  went  to  St.  Martin's,  where  Dr.  Tenison  preached 
(recovered  from  the  small-pox) ;  then  went  again  to 
"Whitehall  as  above.  In  the  afternoon,  went  to  St.  Martin's 
again. 

4th  April.  I  returned  home  with  my  family  to  my  house 
at  Sayes  Court,  after  five  months'  residence  in  London; 
hardly  the  least  appearance  of  any  spring. 

3()th.  A  letter  of  mine  to  the  Royal  Society  concerning 
the  terrible  effects  of  the  past  winter  being  read,  they 
desired  it  might  be  printed  in  the  next  part  of  their 
Transactions.* 

]  0th  May.  I  went  to  visit  my  brother  in  Surrey.  Called 
by  the  way  at  Ashted,  where  Sir  Robert  Howard  (Auditor 
of  the  Exchequer)  entertained  me  very  civilly  at  his  new- 
built  house,  which  stands  in  a  park  on  the  Down,  the 
avenue  south ;  though  down  hill  to  the  house,  which  is 
not  great,  but  with  the  out-houses  very  convenient.  The 
staircase  is  painted  by  Verrio  with  the  story  of  Astrea ; 
amongst  other  figures  is  the  picture  of  the  Painter  himself, 
and  not  unlike  liim ;  the  rest  is  well  done,  only  the  columns 
did  not  at  all  please  me ;  there  is  also  Sir  Robert's  own 
picture  in  an  oval ;  the  whole  in  fresco.  The  place  has 
this  great  defect,  that  there  is  no  water  but  what  is  drawn 
up  by  horses  from  a  very  deep  well. 

11th.  Visited  Mr.  Higham,  who  was  iU,  and  died  three 
days  after.  His  grandfather  and  father  (who  christened 
me),  with  himself,  had  now  been  rectors  of  this  parish  101 
years,  viz,  from  May,  1583. 

12th.  I  returned  to  London,  where  I  found  the  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty  abolished,  and  the  office  of 
Admiral  restored  to  the  Duke,  as  to  the  disposing  and 
ordering  all  sea  business;  but  his  Majesty  signed  aU 
petitions,  papers,  warrants,  and  commissions,  that  the 
Duke,  not  acting  as  Admiral  by  commission  or  office, 
might  not  incur  the  penalty  of  the  late  Act  against  Papists 
and  Dissenters  holding  offices,  and  refusing  the  oath  and 
test.     Every  one  was  glad  of  this  change,  those  in  the  late 

*  This  was  done  in  No.  158.  See  it  at  length  in  Dr.  Kippis's  new  edition 
of  the  Biog.  Brit.  vol.  V.,  p.  623.  An  Abstract  of  it  is  reprinted  in  Evelyn's 
"^Miscellaneous  Writings,"  4to,  1825,  pp.  692 — 696. 


1684.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  197 

Commission  being  ntterly  ignorant  in  tlieir  duty,  to  the 
great  damage  of  the  Navy. 

The  utter  ruin  of  the  Low  Country  was  threatened  by 
the  siege  of  Luxemburg,  if  not  timely  relieved,  and  by  the 
obstinacy  of  the  Hollanders,  who  refused  to  assist  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  being  corrupted  by  the  French. 

16th.  I  received  £600  of  Sir  Charles  Bickerstaif  for  the 
fee-farm  of  Pilton,  in  Devon. 

26th.  Lord  Dartmouth  Avas  chosen  Master  of  the  Trinity 
Company,  newly  returned  with  the  fleet  from  blowing  up 
and  demolishing  Tangier.  In  the  sermon  preached  on  this 
occasion.  Dr.  Can  observed  that,  in  the  27th  chapter  of 
the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  the  casting  anchor  out  of  the 
fore-ship  had  been  cavilled  at  as  betraying  total  ignorance  : 
that  it  is  very  true  our  seamen  do  not  do  so ;  but  in  the 
Mediterranean  their  ships  were  built  diiFerently  from  ours, 
jind  to  this  day  it  was  the  practice  to  do  so  there. 

Luxemburg  was  surrendered  to  the  French,  which 
makes  them  master  of  all  the  Netherlands,  gives  them 
entrance  into  Germany,  and  a  fair  game  for  universal 
monarchy;  which  that  we  should  suffer,  who  only  and 
easily  might  have  hindered,  astonished  all  the  world.  Thus 
is  the  poor  Prince  of  Orange  ruined,  and  this  nation  and 
all  the  Protestant  interest  in  Europe  following,  unless  God 
in  His  infinite  mercy,  as  by  a  miracle,  interpose,  and  our 
great  ones  alter  their  counsels.  The  French  fleet  were 
now  besieging  Genoa,  but  after  burning  much  of  that 
beautiful  city  with  their  bombs,  went  off  with  disgrace. 

11th  June.  My  cousin,  Verney,  to  whom  a  very  great 
fortune  was  fallen,  came  to  take  leave  of  us,  going  into 
the  country;  a  very  worthy  and  virtuous  young  gentleman. 

12th.  I  went  to  advise  and  give  directions  about  the 
building  tM'O  streets  in  Berkeley  Gardens,  reserving  the 
house  and  as  much  of  the  garden  as  the  breadth  of  the 
house.  In  the  meantime,  I  could  not  but  deplore  that 
sweet  place  (by  far  the  most  noble  gardens,  courts,  and 
^iccommodations,  stately  porticos,  &c.,  any  where  about  the 
town)  should  be  so  much  straitened  and  turned  into 
tenements.  But  that  magnificent  pile  and  gardens  con- 
tiguous to  it,  built  by  the  late  Lord  Chancellor  Clarendon, 
being  all  demolished,  and  designed  for  piazzas  and  build- 
ings, was  some  excuse  for  my  Lady  Berkeley's  resolution 


]^98  DIARY  OP  [greekwich, 

of  letting  out  her  ground  also  for  so  excessive  a  price  as 
Avas  offered,  advancing  near  £1000  per  annum  in  mere 
ground-rents ;  to  such  a  mad  intemperance  was  the  age 
come  of  building  about  a  city,  by  far  too  disproportionate 
already  to  the  nation :  *  I  having  in  my  time  seen  it  almost 
as  large  again  as  it  was  within  my  memory. 

22nd.  Last  Friday,  Sir  Thomas  Armstrong  was  executed 
at  Tyburn  for  treason,  without  trial,  having  been  outlawed 
and  apprehended  in  Holland,  on  the  conspiracy  of  the 
Duke  of  Monmouth,  Lord  Russell,  &c.,  which  gave 
occasion  of  discourse  to  people  and  lawyers,  in  regard 
it  was  on  an  outlawry  that  judgment  was  given  and 
execution,  t 

2nd  July.  I  went  to  the  Observatory  at  Greenwich,  where 
Mr.  Flamsted  took  his  observations  of  the  eclipse  of  the 
sun,  now  almost  three  parts  obscured. 

There  had  been  an  excessive  hot  and  dry  spring,  and 
such  a  drought  still  continued  as  never  was  in  my 
memory. 

13th.  Some  smaU  sprinkUng  of  rain  ;  the  leaves  dropping 
from  the  trees  as  in  autumn. 

25th.  I  dined  at  Lord  Falkland's,  Treasurer  of  the  Navy, 
where  after  dinner  we  had  rare  music,  there  being  amongst 
others.  Signer  Pietro  Reggio,  and  Signer  John  Baptist, 
both  famous,  one  for  his  voice,  the  other  for  playing  on  the 
harpsichord,  few  if  any  in  Europe  exceeding  him.  There 
was  also  a  Frenchman  who  sung  an  admirable  bass. 

26th.  I  returned  home,  where  I  found  my  Lord  Chief 
Justice  [Jefferies],  the  Countess  of  Clarendon,  and  Lady 
Catherine  Fitzgerald,  who  dined  with  me. 

10th  August.  We  had  now  rain  after  such  a  drought  as 
no  man  in  England  had  known. 

24th.  Excessive  hot.  We  had  not  had  above  one  or 
two  considerable  showers,  and  those  storms,  these  eight 

•  What  would  Mr.  Evelyn  think  if  he  saw  what  is  now  called  London  ? 

•f-  When  bi'ought  up  for  judgment,  Armstrong  insisted  on  his  right  to  a 
trial,  the  act  giving  that  right  to  those  who  came  in  within  a  yeai-,  and  the 
year  was  not  expired.  Jeifries  refused  it  ;  and  when  Armstrong  insisted 
that  he  asked  notlimg  but  law,  Jeffries  told  him  he  should  have  it  to  the  full, 
and  ordered  his  execution  in  six  days.  When  Jeffries  went  to  tlie  King  at 
Windsor  soon  after,  the  King  took  a  ring  from  his  finger  and  gave  it  to 
Jeffries.    Burnet,  II.  989. 


1684.]  JOHN  ETELYN.  I99 

or    nine   months.      Many  trees   died    for    the    want    of 
refreshment. 

31st.  Mr.  Sidney  Godolphin  was  made  Baron  Godolphin. 

2Gth  September.  The  King  being  returned  from  Win- 
chesterj  there  was  a  numerous  Court  at  Whitehall. 

At  this  time  the  Earl  of  Rochester  was  removed  from 
the  Treasury  to  the  Presidentship  of  the  Council;  Lord 
Godolphin  was  made  first  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury  in 
his  place;  Lord  Middleton  (a  Scot)  made  Secretary  of 
StatC;,  in  the  room  of  Lord  Godolphin.  These  alterations 
being  very  unexpected  and  mysterious,  gave  great  occasion 
of  discourse. 

There  was  now  an  Ambassador  from  the  King  of  Siam, 
in  the  East  Indies,  to  his  Majesty. 

32nd  October.  I  went  with  Sir  William  Godolphin  to 
see  the  rhinoceros,  or  unicorn,  being  the  first  that  I  sup- 
pose was  ever  brought  into  England.  She  belonged  to 
some  East  India  merchants,  and  was  sold  (as  I  remember) 
for  above  £2000.  At  the  same  time,  I  went  to  see  a  crocodile, 
brought  from  some  of  the  West  India  Islands,  resembHng 
the  Egyptian  crocodile. 

24th,  I  dined  at  Sir  Stephen  Eox's  with  the  Duke  of 
Northumberland.  He  seemed  to  be  a  young  gentleman  of 
good  capacity,  well-bred,  civil,  and  modest :  newly  come 
from  travel,  and  had  made  his  campaign  at  the  siege  of 
Luxemburg.  Of  all  his  INIajesty's  children  (of  which  he 
had  now  six  Dukes)  this  seemed  the  most  accomplished  and 
worth  the  o^vning.  He  is  extraordinary  handsome  and 
well-shaped.  What  the  Dukes  of  Richmond  and  St. 
Alban's  will  prove,  their  youth  does  not  yet  discover ;  they 
are  very  pretty  boys. 

26th.  Dr.  Goodman  preached  before  the  King  on  James 
ii.  12,  concerning  the  law  of  liberty  :  an  excellent  discourse 
and  in  good  method.  He  is  author  of  "  The  Prodigal  Son," 
a  treatise  worth  reading,  and  another  of  the  old  Religion. 

27th.  I  visited  the  Lord  Chamberlain,  where  dined  the 
black  Baron  and  Monsieur  Flamerin,  who  had  so  long  been 
banished  France  for  a  duel. 

28th.  I  carried  Lord  Clarendon  through  the  City,  amidst 
all  the  squibs  and  bacchanalia  of  the  Lord  Mayor's  show, 
to  the  Royal  Society,  where  he  was  proposed  a  member ; 
and  then  treated  him  at  dinner. 


200  DIARY  OF  [LONDON 

I  went  to  St.  Clement's,  that  pretty  built  and  contrived 
church,  where  a  young  divine  gave  us  an  eloquent  sermon 
on  1  Cor.  \i.  20,  inciting  to  gratitude  and  glorifying 
God  for  the  fabric  of  our  bodies  and  the  dignity  of  our 
nature. 

2nd  November.  A  sudden  change  from  temperate  warm 
weather  to  an  excessive  cold  rain,  frost,  snow,  and  storm, 
such  as  had  seldom  been  known.  This  winter  weather 
began  as  early  and  fierce  as  the  past  did  late ;  till  about 
Christmas  there  then  had  bee.^  hardly  any  winter. 

4th.  Dr.  Turner,  now  translated  from  Rochester  to  Ely 
upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Peter  Gunning,  preached  before  the 
King  at  Whitehall  on  Romans  iii.  8,  a  very  excellent 
sermon,  vindicating  the  Church  of  England  against  the 
pernicious  doctrines  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  He  chal- 
lenged the  producing  but  of  five  clergymen  who  forsook 
our  Church  and  went  over  to  that  of  Rome,  during  all  the 
troubles  and  rebellion  in  England,  which  lasted  near 
twenty  years ;  and  this  was  to  my  certain  observation  a 
great  truth. 

15th.  Being  the  Queen's  birth-day,  there  were  fireworks 
on  the  Thames  before  Whitehall,  with  pageants  of  castles, 
forts,  and  other  devices  of  girandolas,  serpents,  the  King 
and  Queen's  arms  and  mottoes,  all  represented  in  fire,  such 
as  had  not  been  seen  here.  But  the  most  remarkable  was 
the  several  fires  and  skirmishes  in  the  very  water,  which 
actually  moved  a  long  way,  burning  under  the  water,  now 
and  then  appearing  above  it,  giving  reports  like  muskets 
and  cannon,  with  grenados  and  innumerable  other  devices. 
It  is  said  it  cost  £1,500.  It  was  concluded  with  a  ball, 
where  all  the  young  ladies  and  gallants  danced  in  the 
great  hall.  The  court  had  not  been  seen  so  brave  and 
rich  in  apparel  since  his  Majesty's  Restoration. 

30th.  In  the  morning.  Dr.  Fiennes,  son  of  the  Lord  Say 
and  Scale,  preached  before  the  King  on  Joshua  xxi.  11. 

3rd  December.  I  carried  Mr.  Justell  and  Mr.  Slingsby 
(Master  of  the  Mint),  to  see  Mr.  Sheldon's  collection  of 
medals.  The  series  of  Popes  was  rare,  and  so  were  several 
amongst  the  moderns,  especially  that  of  John  Huss's  mar- 
tyrdom at  Constance ;  of  the  Roman  Emperors,  Consulars ; 
some  Greek,  &c.,  in  copper,  gold,  and  silver;  not  many 
truly  antique ;    a  medallion  of  Otho  Paulus  ^milius,  &c.. 


1684.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  OQl 

ancient.      They  were  held  at  a  price  of  £1000;    but  not 
worth,  I  judge,  above  £200. 

7th.  I  went  to  see  the  new  church  at  St.  James's,  elegantly- 
built  ;  the  altar  was  especially  adorned,  the  white  marble 
enclosure  curiously  and  richly  carved,  the  flowers  and 
garlands  about  the  walls  by  Mr.  Gibbons,  in  Avood;  a 
pelican  with  her  young  at  her  breast ;  just  over  the  altar 
in  the  carved  compartment  and  border  environing  the 
purple  velvet  fringed  with  I.H.S.  richly  embroidered,  and 
most  noble  plate,  were  given  by  Sir  R,.  Geere,  to  the  value 
(as  was  said)  of  £200.  There  was  no  altar  anywhere  in 
England,  nor  has  there  been  any  abroad,  more  handsomely 
adorned. 

17th.  Early  in  the  morning,  I  went  into  St.  James's 
Park  to  see  three  Turkish,  or  Asian  horses,  newly  brought 
over,  and  now  first  showed  to  his  Majesty.  There  Vr^ere 
four,  but  one  of  them  died  at  sea,  being  three  weeks 
coming  from  Hamburgh.  They  were  taken  from  a  Bashaw 
at  the  siege  of  Vienna,  at  the  late  famous  raising  that 
leaguer.  I  never  beheld  so  delicate  a  creature  as  one 
of  them  was,  of  somewhat  a  bright  bay,  two  white  feet, 
a  blaze ;  such  a  head,  eyes,  ears,  neck,  breast,  belly, 
haunches,  legs,  pasterns,  and  feet,  in  all  regards,  beauti- 
ful and  proportioned  to  admiration ;  spirited,  proud,  nimble, 
making  halt,  turning  with  that  swiftness,  and  in  so  small 
a  compass,  as  was  admirable.  With  all  this  so  gentle  and 
tractable  as  called  to  mind  what  I  remember  J3usbequius 
speaks  of  them,  to  the  reproach  of  our  grooms  in  Europe, 
who  bring  up  their  horses  so  churlishly,  as  makes  most  of 
them  retain  their  ill  habits.  They  trotted  like  does,  as  if 
they  did  not  feel  the  ground.  Five  hundred  guineas  was 
demanded  for  the  first;  300  for  the  second;  and  200  for 
the  third,  which  was  brown.  All  of  them  were  choicely 
shaped,  but  the  two  last  not  altogether  so  perfect  as  the 
first. 

It  was  judged  by  the  spectators,  among  whom  was  the 
King,  Prince  of  Denmark,  Duke  of  York,  and  several 
of  the  Court,  noble  persons  skilled  in  horses,  especially 
Monsieur  Eaubert  and  his  son  (provost  masters  of  the 
Academy,  and  esteemed  of  the  best  in  Europe),  that  there 
were  never  seen  any  horses  in  these  parts  to  be  compared 
with  them.     Add  to  all  this,  the  furniture,  consisting  of 


202  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

embroidery  on  the  saddle,  housings,  quiver,  bow,  arrows, 
scymitar,  sword,  mace,  or  battle-axe  a  la  Turcisq ;  the 
Bashaw's  velvet  mantle  furred  with  the  most  perfect 
ermine  I  ever  beheld;  all  which,  iron-work  in  common 
furniture  being  here  of  silver,  curiously  wrought  and 
double  gilt,  to  an  incredible  value.  Such  and  so  extra- 
ordinary was  the  embroidery,  that  I  never  saw  any  thing 
approaching  it.  The  reins  and  headstall  were  of  crimson 
silk,  covered  with  chains  of  silver  gilt.  There  was  also  a 
Turkish  royal  standard  of  a  horse's  tail,  together  with  all 
sorts  of  other  caparisons  belonging  to  a  general's  horse,  by 
which  one  may  estimate  how  gallantly  and  magnificently 
those  infidels  appear  in  the  field;  for  nothing  could  be 
seen  more  glorious.  The  gentleman  (a  German)  who  rid 
the  horse,  was  in  all  this  garb.  They  were  shod  with  iron 
made  round  and  closed  at  the  heel,  with  a  hole  in  the 
middle  about  as  wide  as  a  shilling.   The  hoofs  most  entire. 

18th.  I  went  with  Lord  Cornwallis  to  see  the  young 
gallants  do  their  exercise,  Mr.  Faubert  having  newly 
railed  in  a  manage,  and  fitted  it  for  the  academy. 
There  were  the  Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Northumberland, 
Lord  Newburgh,  and  a  nephew  of  (Duras)  Earl  of  Fever- 
sham.  The  exercises  were,  1,  running  at  the  ring; 
2,  flinging  a  javelin  at  a  Moor's  head;  3,  discharging  a 
pistol  at  a  mark ;  lastly,  taking  up  a  gauntlet  with  the 
point  of  a  sword ;  all  these  performed  in  fall  speed.  The 
Duke  of  Northumberland  hardly  missed  of  succeeding 
in  every  one,  a  dozen  times,  as  I  think.  The  Duke  of 
Norfolk  did  exceeding  bravely.  Lords  Newburgh  and 
Duras  seemed  nothing  so  dexterous.  Here  I  saw  the 
difference  of  what  the  French  call  "  bel  homme  a  cheval'* 
and  "  bon  homme  a  cheval;"  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  being 
the  first,  that  is  rather  a  fine  person  on  a  horse,  the  Duke 
of  Northumberland  being  both  in  perfection,  namely,  a 
graceful  person  and  an  excellent  rider.  But  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk  told  me  he  had  not  been  at  this  exercise  these 
twelve  years  before.  There  were  in  the  field  the  Prince  of 
Denmark,  and  the  Lord  Lansdowne,  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Bath,  who  had  been  made  a  Count  of  the  Empire  last 
summer  for  his  service  before  Vienna. 

20th.    A  villainous   murder  was   perpetrated   by   Mr. 
St.  John,  eldest  son  to  Sir  Walter  St.  John,  a  worthy 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  2Q3 

gentleman,  on  a  knight  of  quality,*  in  a  tavern.  The 
offender  was  sentenced  and  reprieved.  So  many  horrid 
murders  and  duels  were  committed  about  this  time  as 
were  never  before  heard  of  in  England ;  which  gave  much 
cause  of  complaint  and  murmurings. 

1684-5.  1st  January.  It  proved  so  sharp  weather,  and 
so  long  and  cruel  a  frost,  that  the  Thames  was  frozen 
across,  but  the  frost  was  often  dissolved,  and  then  froze 
again. 

11th.  A  young  man  preached  upon  St.  Luke  xiii.  5, 
after  the  Presbyterian  tedious  method  and  repetition. 

24th.  I  dined  at  Lord  Newport's,  who  has  some  excel- 
lent pictures,  especially  that  of  Sir  Thomas  Hanmer,  by 
Vandyke,  one  of  the  best  he  ever  painted ;  another  of  our 
English  Dobson's  painting ;  but,  above  all,  Christ  in  the 
Virgin's  lap,  by  Poussin,  an  admirable  piece,  with  some- 
thing of  most  other  famous  hands. 

25th.  Dr.  Dove  preached  before  the  King.  I  saw  this 
evening  such  a  scene  of  profuse  gaming,  and  the  King  in 
the  midst  of  his  three  concubines,  as  I  had  never  before 
seen — luxurious  dallying  and  profaneness. 

27th.  I  dined  at  Lord  Sunderland's,  being  invited  to 
hear  that  celebrated  voice  of  Mr.  Pordage,  newly  come 
from  Home  ;  his  singing  was  after  the  Venetian  recitative, 
as  masterly  as  could  be,  and  with  an  excellent  voice  both 
treble  and  bass;  Dr.  Walgrave  accompanied  it  with  his 
theorbo  lute,  on  which  he  performed  beyond  imagination, 
and  is  doubtless  one  of  the  greatest  masters  in  Europe 
on  that  charming  instrument.  Pordage  is  a  priest,  as 
Mr.  Bernard  Howard  told  me  in  private. 

There  was  in  the  room  where  we  dined,  and  in  his 
bed-chamber,  those  incomparable  pieces  of  Columbus,  a 
Flagellation,  the  Grammar-school,  the  Venus  and  Adonis 
of  Titian ;  and  of  Vandyke's  that  picture  of  the  late  Earl 
of  Digby  (father  of  the  Countess  of  Sunderland),  and  Earl 
of  Bedford,  Sir  Kenelm  Digby,  and  two  ladies  of  incom- 

*  Sir  William  Estcourt.  It  was  in  a  sudden  quarrel,  and  there  was  doubt 
whether  it  was  more  than  manslaughter  ;  but  he  was  advised  to  plead 
guilty,  and  then  had  a  pardon,  for  which  he  paid  £1600.  Exactly  100  years 
befoi'e,  one  of  his  family  was  tried  for  a  similar  offence,  acquitted,  but 
obliged  to  go  abroad,  though  he  was  afterwards  employed. — Manning  and 
Bray's  Hist,  of  Suri'cy,  III.  330,  App.  exx. 


2Q4  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

parable  performance;  besides  that  of  Moses  and  the 
burning  bush  of  Bassano,  and  several  other  pieces  of  the 
best  masters.     A  marble  head  of  M.  Brutus,  &c. 

28th.  I  was  invited  to  my  Lord  Arundel  of  Wardour 
(now  newly  released  of  his  six  years'  confinement  in  the 
Tower  on  suspicion  of  the  plot  called  Oates's  Plot),  where 
after  dinner  the  same  Mr.  Pordage  entertained  us  with 
his  voice,  that  excellent  and  stupendous  artist,  Signor 
John  Baptist,  playing  to  it  on  the  harpsichord.  My 
daughter  Mary  being  with  us,  she  also  sung  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  both  the  masters,  and  a  world  of  people  of 
quality  present. 

She  did  so  also  at  my  Lord  Rochester's  the  evening 
following,  where  we  had  the  French  boy  so  famed  for  his 
singing,  and  indeed  he  had  a  delicate  voice,  and  had  been 
well  taught.  I  also  heard  Mrs.  Packer  (daughter  to  my 
old  friend)  sing  before  his  Majesty  and  the  Duke,  privately, 
that  stupendous  bass.  Gosling,  accompanying  her,  but 
hers  was  so  loud  as  took  away  much  of  the  sweetness. 
Certainly  never  woman  had  a  stronger  or  better  ear,  could 
she  possibly  have  governed  it.  She  would  do  rarely  in  a 
large  church  among  the  nuns. 

4th  February.  I  went  to  London,  hearing  his  Majesty 
had  been  the  Monday  before  (2nd  February)  surprised  in 
his  bed  chamber  with  an  apoplectic  fit,  so  that  if,  by  God's 
providence.  Dr.  King  (that  excellent  chirurgeon  as  well  as 
physician)  had  not  been  accidentally  present  to  let  him 
blood  (having  his  lancet  in  his  pocket)  his  Majesty  had 
certainly  died  that  moment ;  which  might  have  been  of 
direful  consequence,  there  being  nobody  else  present  with 
the  King  save  this  Doctor  and  one  more,  as  I  am  assured. 
It  was  a  mark  of  the  extraordinary  dexterity,  resolution, 
and  presence  of  mind  in  the  Doctor,  to  let  him  blood  in 
the  very  paroxysm,  without  staying  the  coming  of  other 
physicians,  which  regularly  should  have  been  done,  and 
lor  want  of  which  he  must  have  a  regular  pardon,  as  they 
tell  me.*     This  rescued  his  Majesty  for  the  instant,  but 

*  The  Privy  Council  approved  of  what  he  had  done,  and  ordered  him 
£1000,  but  which  was  never  paid  him. — Burnet,  II.  1010*.  There  are  two 
fine  portraits  of  Dr.  King  engraved,  and  in  mezzotinto,  in  which  the  above 
instance  of  his  skill  and  promptitude  is  noticed. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  205 

it  was  only  a  short  reprieve.  He  still  complained  and  was 
relapsing,  often  fainting,  with  sometimes  epileptic  symp- 
toms, till  Wednesday,  for  which  he  was  cupped,  let  blood 
in  both  jugulars^  had  both  vomit  and  purges,  which  so 
relieved  him,  that  on  Thursday  hopes  of  recovery  were 
signified  in  the  public  Gazette,  but  that  day  about  noon, 
the  physicians  thought  him  feverish.  This  they  seemed 
glad  of,  as  being  more  easily  allayed  and  methodically 
dealt  with  than  his  former  fits ;  so  as  they  prescribed  the 
famous  Jesuit's  powder;  but  it  made  him  worse,  and  some 
very  able  doctors  who  were  present  did  not  think  it  a  fever, 
but  the  effect  of  his  frequent  bleeding  and  other  sharp 
operations  used  by  them  about  his  head,  so  that  probably 
the  powder  might  stop  the  circulation,  and  renew  his 
former  fits,  which  now  made  him  very  weak.  Thus  he 
passed  Thursday  night  with  great  difficulty,  when  com- 
plaining of  a  pain  in  his  side,  they  drew  twelve  ounces 
more  of  blood  from  him ;  this  was  by  six  in  the  morning 
on  Friday,  and  it  gave  him  relief,  but  it  did  not  continue, 
for  being  now  in  much  pain,  and  strugghng  for  breath, 
he  lay  dozing,  and,  after  some  conflicts,  the  physicians 
despairing  of  him,  he  gave  up  the  ghost  at  half  an  hour 
after  eleven  in  the  morning,  being  the  sixth  of  February, 
1685,  in  the  36th  year  of  his  reign,  and  54th  of  his  age. 

Prayers  were  solemnly  made  in  all  the  churches,  espe- 
cially in  both  the  Court  Chapels,  where  the  chaplains 
relieved  one  another  every  half  quarter  of  an  hour  from 
the  time  he  began  to  be  in  danger  till  he  expired,  according 
to  the  form  prescribed  in  the  Church-offices.  Those  who 
assisted  his  Majesty's  devotions  were,  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  the  Bishops  of  London,  Durham,  and  Ely, 
but  more  especially  Dr.  Ken,  the  Bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells.*      It  is  said  they  exceedingly  urged  the  receiving 

"  The  account  given  of  this  by  King  James  II.  is,  that  when  tlie  King's 
life  was  wholly  despaired  of,  and  it  was  time  to  prepare  for  anotlier  world, 
two  Bishops  came  to  do  their  function,  who  reading  the  prayers  appointed  in 
the  Common  Prayer-Book  on  that  occasion,  when  they  came  to  the  place 
where  usually  they  exhort  a  sick  person  to  make  a  confession  of  his  sins,  the 
Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  who  was  one  of  them,  advertised  him,  Ttwas  not 
of  obligation ;  and  after  a  short  exhortation  asked  him  if  he  was  sorry  for 
his  sins  ?  which  the  King  saying  he  was,  the  Bishop  pronounced  the  absolu- 
tion, and  then  asked  him  if  he  pleased  to  receive  the  Sacrament  ?  to  which 


20g  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

Holy  Sacrament,  but  his  Majesty  told  them  he  would 
consider  of  it,  which  he  did  so  long  till  it  was  too  late. 
Others  whispered  that  the  Bishops  and  Lords,  except  the 
Earls  of  Bath  and  Feversham,  being  ordered  to  withdraw 
the  night  before,  Huddleston,  the  priest,  had  presumed  to 
administer  the  Popish  offices.  He  gave  his  breeches  and 
keys  to  the  Duke,  who  was  almost  continually  kneeling  by 
his  bed  side,  and  in  tears.  He  also  recommended  to  him 
the  care  of  his  natural  children,  all  except  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth,  now  in  Holland,  and  in  his  displeasure.  He 
entreated  the  Queen  to  pardon  him  (not  without  cause) ; 
who  a  little  before  had  sent  a  bishop  to  excuse  her  not 
more  frequently  visiting  him,  in  regard  of  her  excessive 
grief,  and  withal  that  his  Majesty  would  forgive  it  if  at  any 
time  she  had  offended  him.  He  spake  to  the  Duke  to  be 
kind  to  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland,  and  especially  Ports- 
mouth, and  that  Nelly  might  not  starve. 

Thus  died  King  Charles  II.  of  a  vigorous  and  robust 
constitution,  and  in  all  appearance  promising  a  long  life. 
He  was  a  prince  of  many  virtues,  and  many  great  imper- 
fections ;  debonedre,  easy  of  access,  not  bloody  nor  cruel ; 
his  countenance  fierce,  his  voice  great,  proper  of  person, 
every  motion  became  him ;  a  lover  of  the  sea,  and  skilful 
in  shipping ;  not  affecting  other  studies,  yet  he  had  a 
laboratory,  and  knew  of  many  empirical  medicines,  and 
the  easier  mechanical  mathematics  ;  he  loved  planting  and 
building,  and  brought  in  a  politer  way  of  liA^ing,  which 
passed  to  luxury  and  intolerable   expence.       He  had  a 

the  King  made  no  reply,  and  being  pressed  by  the  Bishop  several  times,  gave 
no  other  answer  but  that  it  was  time  enough,  or  that  he  would  think  of  it. 

King  James  says  that  he  stood  all  the  while  by  the  bed-side,  and  seeing 
the  King  would  not  receive  the  sacrament  from  them,  and  luiowing  his 
sentiments,  he  desired  the  company  to  stand  a  little  from  the  bed,  and  then 
asked  the  King  whether  he  should  send  for  a  priest,  to  which  the  King 
rephed, «»  For  God's  sake,  brother,  do,  and  lose  no  time."  The  Duke  said  he 
would  bring  one  to  him  ;  but  none  could  be  found  except  father  Hud- 
dleston, who  had  been  so  assistant  in  the  King's  escape  fi-ora  Worcester; 
he  was  brought  up  a  back  staircase,  and  the  company  were  desired  to  with- 
draw, but  he  (the  Duke  of  York)  not  thinking  fit  that  he  should  be  left  alone 
with  the  King,  desired  the  Earl  of  Bath,  a  Lord  of  the  Bedchamber,  and 
the  Earl  of  Feversham,  Captiiin  of  the  Guard,  should  stay ;  the  rest  being 
gone,  father  Huddleston  was  introduced,  and  administered  the  sacrament. 
— Life  of  James  II.  p.  747. 


1685.J  JOHN  EVELYN.  20T 

particular  talent  in  telling  a  story,  and  facetious  passages, 
of  which  he  had  innumerable ;  this  made  some  buffoons 
and  vicious  wretches  too  presumptuous  and  familiar,  not 
worthy  the  favour  they  abused.  He  took  delight  in  having 
a  number  of  little  spaniels  follow  him  and  lie  in  his  bed- 
chamber, where  he  often  suffered  the  bitches  to  puppy  and 
give  suck,  which  rendered  it  very  offensive,  and  indeed 
made  the  whole  court  nasty  and  stinking.  He  would 
doubtless  have  been  an  excellent  prince,  had  he  been  less 
addicted  to  women,  who  made  him  uneasy,  and  always  in 
want  to  supply  their  unmeasurable  profusion,  to  the  detri- 
ment of  many  indigent  persons  who  had  signally  served 
both  him  and  his  father.  He  frequently  and  easily  changed 
favourites  to  his  great  prejudice. 

As  to  other  public  transactions,  and  unhappy  miscar- 
riages, ^tis  not  here  I  intend  to  number  them ;  but  certainly 
never  had  King  more  glorious  opportunities  to  have  made 
himself,  his  people,  and  all  Europe  happy,  and  prevented 
innumerable  mischiefs,  had  not  his  too  easy  nature  resigned 
him  to  be  managed  by  crafty  men,  and  some  abandoned 
and  profane  wretches  who  corrupted  his  otherwise  sufficient 
parts,  disciplined  as  he  had  been  by  many  afflictions  during 
his  banishment,  which  gave  him  much  experience  and  know- 
ledge of  men  and  things  ;  but  those  wicked  creatures  took 
him  off  from  all  application  becoming  so  great  a  King. 
The  liistory  of  his  reign  will  certainly  be  the  most  wonderful 
for  the  variety  of  matter  and  accidents,  above  any  extant 
in  former  ages  :  the  sad  tragical  death  of  his  father,  his 
banishment  and  hardships,  his  miraculous  restoration, 
conspiracies  against  him,  parliaments,  wars,  plagues,  fires, 
comets,  revolutions  abroad  happening  in  his  time,  with  a 
thousand  other  particulars.  He  was  ever  kind  to  me,  and 
very  gracious  upon  all  occasions,  and  therefore  I  cannot, 
without  ingratitude,  but  deplore  his  loss,  which  for  many 
respects,  as  well  as  duty,  I  do  Avith  all  my  soul. 

His  Majesty  being  dead,  the  Duke,  now  King  James  II., 
went  immediately  to  Council,  and  before  entering  into  any 
business,  passionately  declaring  his  sorrow,  told  their  Lord- 
ships, that  since  the  succession  had  fallen  to  him,  he  Avould 
endeavour  to  follow  the  example  of  his  predecessor  in  his 
clemency  and  tenderness  to  his  people ;  that,  however  he 
had  been  misrepresented  as  affecting  arbitrary  power,  they 


208  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

should  find  the  contrary ;  for  that  the  laws  of  England  had 
made  the  King  as  great  a  monarch  as  he  could  desire ;  that 
he  would  endeavour  to  maintain  the  Government  both  in 
Church  and  State,  as  by  law  estabhshed,  its  principles 
being  so  firm  for  monarchy,  and  the  members  of  it  showing 
themselves  so  good  and  loyal  subjects ;  *  and  that,  as  he 
would  never  depart  from  the  just  rights  and  prerogatives 
of  the  Crown,  so  would  he  never  invade  any  man's  property ; 

*  This  is  the  substance  and  very  nearly  in  the  words  given  by  King 
James  II.  in  his  MS.  printed  in  his  life  ;  but  in  that  MS.  are  some  wox-ds 
which  Mr.  Evelyn  has  omitted,  viz.  after  speaking  of  the  Members  of  the 
Church  of  England  as  good  and  loyal  subjects,  the  King  adds,  mid  therefore 
I  shall  always  take  care  to  defend  and  support  it.  The  King  then  goes  on  to 
say,  that  being  desired  by  some  present  to  allow  copies  to  be  taken,  he  said 
he  had  not  committed  it  to  writing ;  on  which  Mi*.  Finch  (then  Solicitor- 
General,  and  afterwards  Earl  of  Aylesford)  replied,  that  what  his  Majesty 
had  said  had  made  so  deep  an  impression  on  him,  that  he  beheved  he  could 
repeat  tlie  very  words,  and  if  his  Majesty  would  permit  him,  he  would 
write  them  down  ;  which  the  King  agreeing  to,  he  went  to  a  table  and  wrote 
them  down,  and  this,  being  shown  to  the  King,  he  approved  of  it,  and  it  was 
immediately  pubUshed. 

The  King  then  goes  on  to  say  ;  No  one  can  wonder  that  Mr.  Finch  should 
word  the  speech  as  strong  as  he  could  in  favour  of  the  Established  Rehgion, 
nor  that  the  King  in  such  a  hurry  should  pass  it  over  without  reflection  ; 
for  though  his  Majesty  intended  to  promise  both  security  to  their  reUgion 
and  protection  to  their  persons,  he  was  afterwards  convinced  it  had  been 
better  expressed  by  assuring  them  he  never  would  endeavour  to  alter  the 
Established  Religion,  than  that  he  would  endeavour  to  preserve  it,  and  that 
he  would  rather  support  and  defend  the  professors  of  it,  than  the  religion 
itself;  they  could  not  expect  he  should  make  a  conscience  of  supporting 
what  in  his  conscience  he  thought  erroneous  ;  his  engaging  not  to  molest  the 
professors  of  it,  nor  to  deprive  them  or  their  successors  of  any  spiritual 
dignity,  revenue,  or  employment,  but  to  suffer  the  ecclesiastical  affairs  to  go 
on  in  the  track  they  were  in,  was  all  they  could  wish  or  desire  from  a  Prince 
of  a  different  persuasion  ;  but  having  once  approved  that  way  of  expressing 
it  which  Mr.  Finch  had  made  choice  of,  he  thought  it  necessary  not  to  vai-y 
from  it  in  the  declarations  or  speeches  he  made  afterwards,  not  doubting 

but  the  world  would  understand  it  in  the  meaning  he  intended. 'Tis 

true,  afterwards  it  was  pretended  he  kept  not  up  to  this  engagement  ;  but 
had  they  deviated  no  further  from  the  duty  and  allegiance  which  both 
nature  and  repeated  oatlis  obUged  them  to,  than  he  did  from  his  word,*  tliey 
had  still  remained  as  happy  a  people  as  they  really  were  during  his  shoi-t 
reign  in  England. — Vol  II.  435. 


*  The  words  in  italics  were  afterwar  Js  interlined  by  tlie  son  of  King 
James  the  Second. — Edit. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  209 

but  as  he  had  often  adventured  his  life  in  defence  of  the 
nation,  so  he  would  still  proceed,  and  preserve  it  in  all  its 
lawful  rights  and  liberties. 

This  being  the  substance  of  what  he  said,  the  Lords 
desired  it  might  be  published,  as  containing  matter  of  great 
satisfaction  to  a  jealous  people  upon  this  change,  which 
his  Majesty  consented  to.  Then  were  the  Council  sworn, 
and  a  Proclamation  ordered  to  be  published  that  all  officers 
should  continue  in  their  stations,  that  there  might  be  no 
failure  of  public  justice,  till  his  further  pleasure  should  be 
known.  Then  the  King  rose,  the  Lords  accompanying  him 
to  his  bedchamber  where,  whilst  he  reposed  himself,  tired 
indeed  as  he  was  with  grief  and  watching,  they  returned 
again  into  the  Council-chamber  to  take  order  for  the 
proclaiming  his  Majesty,  which  (after  some  debate)  they 
consented  should  be  in  the  very  form  his  grandfather.  King 
James  I.  was,  after  the  death  of  Queen  Elizabeth;  as 
likewise  that  the  Lords,  &c.,  should  proceed  in  their  coaches 
through  the  city  for  the  more  solemnity  of  it.  Upon  this 
was  I,  and  several  other  Gentlemen  waiting  in  the  Privy- 
gallery,  admitted  into  the  Council-chamber  to  be  witness 
of  what  was  resolved  on.  Thence  with  the  Lords,  the 
Lord  Marshal  and  Heralds,  and  other  Crown-officers  being 
ready,  we  first  went  to  Whitehall-gate,  where  the  Lords 
stood  on  foot  bare-headed,  whilst  the  Herald  proclaimed 
his  Majesty^s  title  to  the  Imperial  Crowil  and  succession 
according  to  the  form,  the  trumpets  and  kettle-drums 
having  first  sounded  three  times,  which  ended  with  the 
people^s  acclamations.  Then  a  herald  called  the  Lords' 
coaches  according  to  rank,  myself  accompanying  the 
solemnity  in  my  Lord  Cornwallis's  coach,  first  to  Temple 
Bar,  where  the  Lord  Mayor  and  his  brethren  met  us  on 
horseback,  in  all  their  formalities,  and  proclaimed  the 
King;  hence  to  the  Exchange  in  Cornhill,  and  so  we 
returned  in  the  order  we  set  forth.  Being  come  to  White- 
hall, we  all  went  and  kissed  the  King  and  Queen's  hands. 
He  had  been  on  the  bed,  but  was  now  risen  and  in  his 
undress.  The  Queen  was  in  bed  in  her  apartment,  but 
put  forth  her  hand,  seeming  to  be  much  afflicted,  as  I 
believe  she  was,  having  deported  herself  so  decently  upon 
all  occasions  since  she  came  into  England,  which  made  her 
universally  beloved.     - 

VOL.  II.  p 


210  DIARY  OP  :  [bromiby. 

Thus  concluded  this  sad  and  not  joyful  day. 

I  can  never  forget  the  inexpressible  luxury  and  profane- 
ness,  gaming,  and  aU  dissoluteness,  and  as  it  were  total: 
forgetMness  of  God,  (it  being  Sunday  evening,)  which 
this  day  se'nnight  I  was  witness  of,  the  King  sitting  and 
toying  with  his  concubines,  Portsmouth,  Cleveland,  and 
Mazarine,  &c.,  a  French  boy  singing  love-songs,*  in  that 
glorious  gallery,  whilst  about  twenty  of  the  great  courtiers 
and  other  dissolute  persons  were  at  Basset  round  a  large 
table,  a  bank  of  at  least  2090  in  gold  before  them;  upon 
which  two  gentlemen  who  were  with  me  made  reflections 
with  astonishment.     Six  days  after  was  all  in  the  dust ! 

It  was  enjoined  that  those  who  put  on  mourning  should 
wear  it  as  for  a  father,  in  the  most  solemn  manner. 

10th.  Being  sent  to  by  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  to 
appear  and  assist  in  proclaiming  the  King,  I  went  the 
next  day  to  Bromley,  where  I  met  the  Sheriff  and  the 
Commander  of  the  Kentish  Troop,  with  an  appearance,  I 
suppose,  of  above  500  horse,  and  innumerable  people,  two 
of  his  Majesty's  trumpets,  and  a  Serjeant  with  other 
officers,  who  having  drawn  up  the  horse  in  a  large  field  near 
the  town,  marched  thence,  with  swords  drawn,  to  the 
market-place  where,  making  a  ring,  after  sound  of  trum- 
pets and  silence  made,  the  High  Sheriff  read  the  proclaim- 
ing titles  to  his  bailiff,  who  repeated  them  aloud,  and  then, 
after  many  shouts  of  the  people,  his  Majesty's  health  being 
drunk  in  a  flint  glass  of  a  yard  long,  by  the  Sheriff,  Com- 
mander, Officers,  and  chief  Grentlemen,  they  all  dispersed, 
and  I  returned. 

13th.  I  passed  a  fine  on  selling  of  Honson  Grange 
in  Staffordshire,  being  about  £20  per  annum,  which  lying 
so  great  a  distance,  I  thought  fit  to  part  with  it  to  one 
Burton,  a  farmer  there.  It  came  to  me  as  part  of  my 
daughter-in-law's  portion,  this  being  but  a  fourth  part  of 
what  was  divided  between  the  mother  and  three  sisters. 

14th.  The  King  was  this  night  very  obscurely  buriedf 

;    ♦  See  p.  204. 

+  The  funeral  could  not  be  peifonned  wititt  so  great  solemnity  as  some 
persons  expected,  because  his  late  Majesty  dying  in,  and  his/present 
Majesty  professing,  a  different  religion  from  that  of  his  people,  it  had  been  a 
difficult  matter  to  i-econcile  the  greater  ceremonies  which  must^ave  been 
performed  according  to  the  rites  of  the  Church  of  England,  with  the  obUga- 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  211 

in  a  vault  under  Henry  the  Seventh^s  Chapel  at  West- 
minster^  without  any  manner  of  porap^  and  soon  forgotten 
after  all  this  vanity^  and  the  face  of  the  whole  Court  was 
exceedingly  changed  into  a  more  solemn  and  moral  beha- 
viour; the  new  King  affecting  neither  profaneness  nor 
buffoonery.  All  the  great  officers  broke  their  staves  over 
the  grave,  according  to  form. 

15th.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  to  the  Household.  The 
second  sermon  should  have  been  before  the  King ;  but  he, 
to  the  great  grief  of  his  subjects,  did  now,  for  the  first 
time,  go  to  mass  publicly  in  the  little  Oratory  at  the  Duke's 
lodgings,  the  doors  being  set  wide  open. 

16th.  I  dined  at  Sir  Robert  Howard's,  Auditor  of  the 
Exchequer,  a  gentleman  pretending  to  all  manner  of  arts 
and  sciences,  for  which  he  had  been  the  subject  of  comedy, 
under  the  name  of  Sir  Positive ;  not  ill-natured,  but  insuf- 
ferably boasting.     He  was  son  to  the  late  Earl  of  Berkshire. 

17th.  This  morning  his  Majesty  restored  the  staff  and 
key  to  Lord  Arlington,  Chamberlain ;  to  Mr.  Savell,  Vice- 
chamberlain  ;  to  Ldrds  Ne^vport  and  Maynard,  Treasurer 
and  Comptroller  of  the  Household ;  Lord  Godolphin  made 
Chamberlain  to  the  Queen ;  Lord  Peterborough  Groom  of 
the  Stole,  in  place  of  the  Earl  of  Bath ;  the  Treasurer's 
staff  to  the  Earl  of  Kochester ;  and  his  brother,  the  Earl 
of  Clarendon,  Lord  Privy  Seal,  in  the  place  of  the  Mar- 
quis of  Halifax,  who  was  made  President  of  the  Council ; 
the  Secretaries  of  State  remaining  as  before. 

19th.  The  Lord  Treasurer  and  the  other  new  Officers 
were  sworn  at  the  Chancery  Bar  and  the  Exchequer. 

The  late  King  having  the  revenue  of  excise,  customs, 
and  other  late  duties  granted  for  his  life  only,  they  were 
now  farmed  and  let  to  several  persons,  upon  an  opinion 
that  the  late  King  might  let  them  for  three  years  after  his 
decease ;  some  of  the  old  Commissioners  refused  to  act. 
The  lease  was  made  but  the  day  before  the  King  died ;  * 

tion  of  not  communicating  with  it  in  spiritual  things  ;  to  avoid,  'therefore, 
either  disputes  on  the  one  hand,  or  scandal  on  the  other,  it  was  tliought  more 
prudent  to  do  it  in  a  more  private  manner,  though  at  the  same  time  there 
was  no  circumstance  of  state  and  pomp  omitted,  which  possibly  could  be 
allowed  of.  All  the  Privy  Council,  all  the  household,  and  all  the  Loi-ds  about 
own  attended  at  the  funeral.     Life  of  King  James  II.  vol.  II.  p.  6. 

*  King  James,  iu  Ms  Life,  makes  no  mention  of  this  lease,  but  only  says  he 

p  2 


212  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

the  major  part  of  the  Judges  (but,  as  some  think,  not  the 
best  lawyers,)  pronounced  it  legal,  but  four  dissented. 

The  Clerk  of  the  Closet  had  shut  up  the  late  King's 
private  oratory  next  the  Privy-chamber  above,  but  the 
King  caused  it  to  be  opened  again,  and  that  prayers  should 
be  said  as  formerly. 

22nd.  Several  most  useful  Tracts  against  Dissenters, 
Papists,  and  Fanatics,  and  Resolutions  of  Cases,  were  now 
published  by  the  London  Divines. 

4th  March.  Ash-Wednesday;  after  evening  prayers,  I 
went  to  London. 

5th.  To  my  grief,  I  saw  the  new  pulpit  set  up  in  the 
Popish  Oratory  at  Whitehall  for  the  Lent  preaching,  mass 
being  publicly  said,  and  the  Romanists  swarming  at  Court 
with  greater  confidence  than  had  ever  been  seen  in 
England  since  the  Reformation,  so  that  eveiybody  grew 
jealous  as  to  what  this  would  tend. 

A  Pai'liament  was  now  summoned,  and  great  industry 
used  to  obtain  elections  which  might  promote  the  Court- 
interest,  most  of  the  Corporations  being  now,  by  their  new 
charters,  empowered  to  make  what  returns  of  members 
they  pleased. 

There  came  over  divers  envoys  and  great  persons  to 
condole  the  death  of  the  late  King,  who  were  received  by 
the  Queen-Dowager  on  a  bed  of  mourning,  the  whole 
chamber,  ceiling  and  floor,  hung  with  black,  and  tapers 
were  lighted,  so  as  nothing  could  be  more  lugubrious  and 
solemn.  The  Queen-Consort  sate  under  a  state  on  a  black 
foot-cloth,  to  entertain  the  circle,  (as  the  Queen  used  to 
do),  and  that  very  decently. 

6th.  Lent  Preachers  continued  as  formerly  in  the  Royal 
Chapel. 

7th.  My  daughter,  Mary,  was  taken  with  the  small-pox, 
and  there  soon  was  found  no  hope  of  her  recovery.  A 
great  afiliction  to  me :  but  God's  holy  will  be  done  ! 

10th.  She  received  the  blessed  Sacrament ;  after  which, 
disposing  herself  to  suffer  what  God  should  determine  to 

continued  to  collect  them,  which  conduct  was  not  blamed  ;  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, he  was  thanked  for  it  in  an  address  from  the  Middle  Temple,  penned 
by  Sir  Bartholomew  Shore,  and  presented  by  Sir  Hvmiphrey  Mackworth, 
carrying  great  authority  with  it,  nor  did  the  Parliament  fiind  fault.  Vol.  II. 
pp.  16, 17. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  213 

inflict,  she  bore  the  remainder  of  her  sickness  with  extra- 
ordinary patience  and  piety,  and  more  than  ordinary  resig- 
nation and  blessed  frame  of  mind.  She  died  the  14th,  to 
our  unspeakable  sorrow  and  affliction,  and  not  to  our's 
only,  but  that  of  all  who  knew  her,  who  were  many  of  the 
best  quality,  greatest  and  most  virtuous  persons.  The 
justness  of  her  stature,  person,  comeliness  of  countenance, 
gracefulness  of  motion,  unafii'ected,  though  more  than  ordi- 
nary beautiful,  were  the  least  of  her  ornaments  compared 
with  those  of  her  mind.  Of  early  piety,  singularly  reli- 
gious, spending  a  part  of  every  day  in  private  devotion, 
reading,  and  other  virtuous  exercises;  she  had  collected 
and  written  out  many  of  the  most  useful  and  judicious 
periods  of  the  books  she  read  in  a  kind  of  common-place, 
as  out  of  Dr.  Hammond  on  the  New  Testament,  and  most 
of  the  best  practical  treatises.  She  had  read  and  digested 
a  considerable  deal  of  history,  and  of  places.  The  French 
tongue  was  as  familiar  to  her  as  English ;  she  understood 
Italian,  and  was  able  to  render  a  laudable  account  of  what 
she  read  and  observed,  to  which  assisted  a  most  faithful 
memory  and  discernment ;  and  she  did  make  very  prudent 
and  discreet  reflections  upon  what  she  had  observed  of  the 
conversations  among  which  she  had  at  any  time  been, 
which  being  continually  of  persons  of  the  best  quality,  she 
thereby  improved.  She  had  an  excellent  voice,  to  Avhich 
she  played  a  thorough-bass  on  the  harpsichord,  in  both 
which  she  arrived  to  that  perfection,  that  of  the  scholars  of 
those  two  famous  masters,  Signers  Pietro  and  Bartholo- 
meo,  she  was  esteemed  the  best ;  for  the  sweetness  of  her 
voice  and  management  of  it  added  such  an  agreeableness 
to  her  countenance,  without  any  constraint  or  concern,  that 
when  she  sung,  it  was  as  charming  to  the  eye  as  to  the 
ear ;  this  I  rather  note,  because  it  was  a  universal  remark, 
and  for  which  so  many  noble  and  judicious  persons  in 
music  desired  to  hear  her,  the  last  being  at  Lord  ArundeFs, 
of  Wardour. 

What  shall  I  say,  or  rather  not  say,  of  the  cheerfulness 
and  agreeableness  of  her  humour  ?  condescending  to  the 
meanest  servant  in  the  family,  or  others,  she  still  kept  up 
respect,  without  the  least  pride.  She  would  often  read  to 
them,  examine,  instruct,  and  pray  with  them  if  they  were 
sick,  so  as  she   was  exceedingly  beloved  of  everybody. 


2\4i  DIARY  OF  [saves  codrt, 

Piety  was  so  prevalent  an  ingredient  in  her  constitution  (as 
I  may  say),  that  even  amongst  equals  and  superiors  she  no 
sooner  became  intimately  acquainted,  but  she  would  endea- 
vour to  improve  them,  by  insinuating  something  reli- 
gious, and  that  tended  to  bring  them  to  a  love  of  devotion ; 
she  had  one  or  two  confidants  with  whom  she  used  to 
pass  whole  days  in  fasting,  reading,  and  prayers,  especially 
before  the  monthly  commimion,  and  other  solemu  occasions. 
She  abhorred  flattery,  and,  though  she  had  abundance  of 
wit,  the  raillery  was  so  innocent  and  ingenuous  that  it  was 
most  agreeable ;  she  sometimes  would  see  a  pla}^.,  but  since 
the  stage  grcAV  licentious,  expressed  herself  weary  of  them, 
and  the  time  spent  at  the  theatre  was  an  unaccountable 
vanity.  She  never  played  at  cards  without  extreme  impor- 
tunity and  for  the  company;  but  this  was  so  very  seldom, 
that  I  cannot  number  it  among  anything  «he  could  name 
a  fault. 

No  one  could  read  prose  or  verse  better  or  with  more 
judgment ;  and  as  she  read,  so  she  wrote,  not  only  most 
correct  orthography,  with  that  maturity  of  judgment  and 
exactness  of  the  periods,  choice  of  expressions,  and  fami- 
liarity of  style,  that  some  letters  of  hers  have  astonished  me 
and  others,  to  whom  she  has  occasionally  written.  She  had 
a  talent  of  rehearsing  any  comical  part  or  poem,  as  to  them 
she  might  be  decently  free  with ;  was  more  pleasing  than 
heard  on  the  theatre ;  she  danced  with  the  greatest  grace  I 
had  ever  seen,  and  so  would  her  master  say,  who  was  Mon- 
sieur Isaac  ;  but  she  seldom  showed  that  perfection,  save  in 
the  gracefulness  of  her  carriage,  which  was  with  an  air  of 
sprightly  modesty  not  easily  to  be  described.  Nothing 
affected,  but  natural  and  easy  as  well  in  her  deportment  as 
in  her  discourse,  which  was  always  material,  not  trifling, 
and  to  M^hich  the  extraordinary  sweetness  of  her  tone, 
even  in  familiar  speaking,  was  very  charming.  Nothing 
was  so  pretty  as  her  descending  to  play  with  little  children, 
whom  she  would  caress  and  humour  with  great  delight. 
But  she  most  affected  to  be  with  grave  and  sober  men,  of 
whom  she  might  learn  something,  and  improve  herself. 
I  have  been  assisted  by  her  in  reading  and  praying  by 
me;  comprehensive  of  uncommon  notions,  curious  of 
knowing  everything  to  some  excess,  had  I  not  sometimes 
repressed  it. 


1686.]  JOHN  EVELYN;  gl5 

Notliing  was  so  delightful  to  her  as  to  go  into  my 
Study,  where  she  would  willingly  have  spent  whole  days, 
for  as  I  said  she  had  read  abundance  of  history,  and  all 
the  best  poets,  even  Terence,  ^Plantus,  Homer,  Virgil, 
Horace,  Ovid ;  all  the  best  romances  and  modern  poems ; 
she  could  compose  happily,  and  put  in  pretty  symbols,  as 
in  the  "  Mundus  Muhebris,^^  wherein  is  an  enumeration 
of  the  immense  variety  of  the  modes  and  ornaments 
belonging  to  the  sex.  But  all  these  are  vain  trifles  to 
the  virtues  which  adorned  her  soul;  she  was  sincerely 
religious,  most  dutiful  to  her  parents,  whom  she  loved 
with  an  aflFection  tempered  with  great  esteem,  so  as  we 
were  easy  and  free,  and  never  were  so  well  pleased  as  when 
she  was  with  us,  nor  needed  we  other  conversation ;  she 
was  kind  to  her  sisters,  and  was  still  improving  them  by 
her  constant  course  of  piety.  Oh  dear,  sweet,  and  desirable 
child,  how  shall  I  part  with  all  this  goodness  and  virtue 
without  the  bitterness  of  sorrow  and  reluctancy  of  a 
tender  parent !  Thy  affection,  duty,  and  love  to  me  was 
that  of  a  friend  as  well  as  a  child.  Nor  less  dear  to  thy 
mother,  whose  example  and  tender  care  of  thee  was 
unparalleled,  nor  was  thy  return  to  her  less  conspicuous ; 
Oh  !  how  she  mourns  thy  loss  !  how  desolate  hast  thou 
left  us  !  To  the  grave  shall  we  both  carry  thy  memory ! 
God  alone  (in  whose  bosom  thon  art  at  rest  and  happy  !) 
give  us  to  resign  thee  and  all  our  contentments  (for  thou 
indeed  wert  all  in  this  world)  to  His  blessed  pleasure! 
Let  Him  be  glorified  by  our  submission,  and  give  us 
grace  to  bless  Him  for  the  graces  he  implanted  in  thee, 
thy  virtuous  life,  pious  and  holy  death,  which  is  indeed 
the  only  comfort  of  our  souls,  hastening  through  the 
infinite  love  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  Jesus  to  be  shortly 
with  thee,  dear  child,  and  with  thee  and  those  blessed 
saints  like  thee,  glorify  the  Redeemer  of  the  world  to  all 
eternity !     Amen. 

It  was  in  the  19th  year  of  her  age  that  this  sickness 
happened  to  her.  An  accident  contributed  to  this  disease ; 
she  had  an  apprehension  of  it  in  particular,  which  struck 
her  but  two  days  before  she  came  home,  by  an  imprudent 
gentlewoman  whom  she  went  with  Lady  Falkland  to  visit, 
who  after  they  had  been  a  good  while  in  the  house,  told 
them  she  had  a  servant  sick  of  the  small  pox  (who  indeed 


216  DIARY  OF  [saves  codrt, 

died  the  next  day) ;  this  my  poor  child  acknowledged 
made  an  impression  on  her  spirits.  There  were  four 
gentlemen  of  quality  offering  to  treat  with  me  about 
marriage,  and  I  freely  gave  her  her  own  choice,  knowing 
her  discretion.  She  showed  great  indifference  to  marry- 
ing at  all,  for  truly,  says  she  to  her  mother  (the  other 
day),  were  I  assured  of  your  life  and  my  dear  father's, 
never  would  I  part  from  you ;  I  love  you  and  this  home, 
where  we  serve  God,  above  all  things,  nor  ever  shall  I  be 
so  happy;  I  know  and  consider  the  vicissitudes  of  the 
world,  I  have  some  experience  of  its  vanities,  and  but  for 
decency  more  than  inclination,  and  that  you  judge  it 
expedient  for  me,  I  would  not  change  my  condition,  but 
rather  add  the  fortune  you  design  me  to  my  sisters,  and 
keep  up  the  reputation  of  our  family.  This  was  so  dis- 
creetly and  sincerely  uttered  that  it  could  not  but  proceed 
from  an  extraordinary  child,  and  one  who  loved  her  parents 
beyond  example. 

At  London,  she  took  this  fatal  disease,  and  the  occasion 
of  her  being  there  was  this  :  my  Lord  Viscount  Falkland's 
Lady  having  been  our  neighbour  (as  he  was  Treasurer  of 
the  Navy),  she  took  so  great  an  affection  to  my  daughter, 
that  when  they  went  back  in  the  autumn  to  the  City^ 
nothing  would  satisfy  their  incessant  importunity  but 
letting  her  accompany  my  Lady,  and  staying  sometime 
with  her  ;  it  was  with  the  greatest  reluctance  I  complied. 
Whilst  she  was  there,  my  Lord  being  musical,  when  I  saw 
my  Lady  would  not  part  with  her  till  Christmas,  I  was 
not  unwilling  she  should  improve  the  opportunity  of 
learning  of  Signor  Pietro,  who  had  an  admirable  way 
both  of  composure  and  teaching.  It  was  the  end  of 
February  before  I  could  prevail  with  my  Lady  to  part 
with  her ;  but  my  Lord  going  into  Oxfordshire  to  stand  for 
Knight  of  the  Shire  there,  she  expressed  her  wish  to  come 
home,  being  tired  of  the  vain  and  empty  conversation 
of  the  town,  the  theatres,  the  court,  and  trifling  visits 
which  consumed  so  much  precious  time,  and  made  her 
sometimes  miss  of  that  regular  course  of  piety  that  gave 
her  the  greatest  satisfaction.  She  was  weary  of  this  life, 
and  I  think  went  not  thrice  to  Court  all  this  time,  except 
when  her  mother  or  I  carried  her.  She  did  not  affect 
showing  herself,  she  knew  the  Court  well,  and  passed  one 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £17 

summer  in  it  at  Windsor  with  Lady  Tuke,  one  of  tlie 
Queen's  women  of  the  bed-chamber  (a  most  virtuous 
relation  of  hers) ;  she  was  not  fond  of  that  ghttering 
scene,  now  become  abominably  licentious,  though  there 
was  a  design  of  Lady  Rochester  and  Lady  Clarendon  to 
have  made  her  a  maid  of  honour  to  the  Queen  as  soon  as 
there  was  a  vacancy.  But  this  she  did  not  set  her  heart 
upon,  nor  indeed  on  any  thing  so  much  as  the  service  of 
God,  a  quiet  and  regular  life,  and  how  she  might  improve 
herself  in  the  most  necessary  accomplishments,  and  to 
which  she  was  arrived  at  so  great  a  measure. 

This  is  the  little  history  and  imperfect  character  of  my 
dear  child,  whose  piety,  virtue,  and  incomparable  endow- 
ments deserve  a  monument  more  dural:)le  than  brass  and 
marble.  Precious  is  the  memorial  of  the  just.  Much 
I  could  enlarge  on  every  period  of  this  hasty  account,  but 
that  I  ease  and  discharge  my  overcoming  passion  for  the 
present,  so  many  things  worthy  an  excellent  Christian 
and  dutiful  child  crowding  upon  me.  Never  can  I  say 
enough,  oh  dear,  my  dear  child,  whose  memory  is  so 
precious  to  me ! 

This  dear  child  was  born  at  Wotton,  in  the  same  house 
and  chamber  in  which  I  first  drew  my  breath,  my  wife 
having  retired  to  my  brother  there  in  the  great  sickness 
that  year  upon  the  first  of  that  month,  and  the  very  hour 
that  I  was  born,  upon  the  last :  viz.  October. 

16th.  She  was  interred  in  the  south-east  end  of  the 
church  at  Deptford,  near  her  grandmother  and  several  of 
my  younger  children  and  relations.  My  desire  was  she 
should  have  been  carried  and  laid  among  my  own  parents 
and  relations  at  Wotton,  where  I  desire  to  be  interred 
myself,  when  God  shall  call  me  out  of  this  uncertain 
transitory  life,  but  some  circumstances  did  not  permit  it. 
Our  vicar,  Dr.  Holden,  preached  her  funeral  sermon  on 
Phil.  i.  21.  "  For  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is 
gain,"  upon  which  he  made  an  apposite  discourse,  as  those 
who  heard  it  assured  me  (for  grief  suff'ered  me  not  to  be 
present),  concluding  with  a  modest  recital  of  her  many 
virtues  and  signal  piety,  so  as  to  draw  both  tears  and 
admiration  from  the  hearers.  I  was  not  altogether  unwil- 
ling that  something  of  this  sort  should  be  spoken,  for  the 
edification  and  encouragement  of  other  young  people. 


218  DIARY  OF  [saves  co0iit, 

Divers  noble  persons  honoured  her  funeral,  some  in 
person,  others  sending  their  coaches,  of  which  there  were 
six  or  seven  with  six  horses,  viz.  the  Countess  of  Sunder- 
land, Earl  of  Clarendon,  Lord  Godolphin,  Sir  Stephen 
Fox,  Sir  William  Godolphin,  Viscount  Falkland,  and 
others.  There  were  distributed  amongst  her  friends  about 
sixty  rings. 

Thus  lived,  died,  and  was  buried  the  joy  of  my  life, 
and  ornament  of  her  sex  and  of  my  poor  family !  God 
Almighty  of  His  infinite  mercy  grant  me  the  grace  thank- 
fully to  resign  myself  and  all  I  have,  or  had,  to  His 
divine  pleasure,  and  in  his  good  time,  restoring  health  and 
comfort  to  my  family :  ''  teach  me  so  to  number  my  days, 
that  I  may  apply  my  heart  to  wisdom,"  be  prepared  for 
my  dissolution,  and  that  into  the  hands  of  my  blessed 
Saviour  I  may  recommend  my  spirit !     Amen ! 

On  looking  into  her  closet,  it  is  incredible  what  a 
number  of  collections  she  had  made  from  historians,  poets, 
travellers,  &c.,  but,  above  all,  devotions,  contemplations, 
and  resolutions  on  these  contemplations,  found  under  her 
hand  in  a  book  most  methodically  disposed;  prayers, 
meditations,  -and  devotions  on  particular  occasions,  with 
many  pretty  letters  to  her  confidants ;  one  to  a  divine  (not 
named)  to  whom  she  writes  that  he  would  be  her  ghostly 
father,  and  would  not  despise  her  for  her  many  errors  and 
the  imperfections  of  her  youth,  but  beg  of  God  to  give  her 
courage  to  acquaint  him  with  all  her  faults,  imploring  his 
assistance  and  spiritual  directions.  I  well  remember  she 
had  often  desired  me  to  recommend  her  to  such  a  person; 
but  I  did  not  think  fit  to  do  it  as  yet,  seeing  her  apt  to 
be  scrupulous,  and  knowing  the  great  innocency  and 
integrity  of  her  life. 

It  is  astonishing  how  one  who  had  acquired  such  sub- 
stantial and  practical  knowledge  in  other  ornamental  parts 
of  education,  especially  music,  both  vocal  and  instrumental, 
in  dancing,  paying  and  receiving  visits,  and  necessary 
conversation,  could  accomplish  half  of  what  she  has  left ; 
but,  as  she  never  affected  play  or  cards,  which  consume  a 
world  of  precious  time,  so  she  was  in  continual  exercise, 
which  yet  abated  nothing  of  her  most  agreeable  conver- 
sation. But  she  was  a  little  miracle  while  she  lived,  and 
so  she  died ! 


1685,]  JOHN   EVELYN.  2^9 

26tli.  I  was  invited  to  the  funeral  of  Captain  Gunman, 
that  excellent  pilot  and  seaman^  who  had  behaved  himself 
so  valiantly"  in  the  Dutch  war.  He  died  of  a  gangrene, 
occasioned  by  his  fall  from  the  pier  of  Calais.  This  was 
the  Captain  of  the  yacht  carrjdng  the  Duke  (now  King)  to 
Scotland,  and  was  accused  for  not  giving  timely  warning 
when  she  split  on  the  sands,  where  so  many  perished ;  but 
I  am  most  confident  he  was  no  ways  guHty,  either  of 
negligence,  or  design,  as  he  made  appear  not  only  at  the 
examination  of  the  matter  of  fact,  but  in  the  Vindication 
he  showed  me,  and  which  must  needs  give  any  man  of 
reason  satisfaction.  He  was  a  sober,  frugal,  cheerful,  and 
temperate  man ;  we  have  few  such  seamen  left. 

8th  April.  Being  now  somewhat  composed  after  my 
great  affliction,  I  went  to  London  to  hear  Dr.  Tenison  (it 
being  on  a  Wednesday  in  Lent)  at  Whitehall.  I  observed 
that  though  the  King  was  not  in  his  seat  above  in  the 
chapel,  the  Doctor  made  his  three  congees,  which  they 
were  not  used  to  do  when  the  late  King  was  absent, 
making  then  one  bowing  only.  I  asked  the  reason;  it 
was  said  he  had  a  special  order  so  to  do.  The  Princess  of 
Denmark  was  in  the  King^s  closet,  but  sate  on  the  left  hand 
of  the  chair,  the  Clerk  of  the  Closet  standing  by  his 
Majesty^s  chair,  as  if  he  had  been  present. 

I  met  the  Queen -Dowager  going  now  first  from  White- 
hall to  dwell  at  Somerset-house. 

This  day  my  brother  of  Wotton  and  Mr.  Onslow  were 
candidates  for  Surrey  against  Sir  Adam  Brown  and  my 
cousin  Sir  Edward  Evelyn,  and  were  circumvented  in  their 
election  hy  a  trick  of  the  Sheriff^s,*  taking  advantage 
of  my  brother's  party  going  out  of  the  small  village  of 
Leatherhead  to  seek  shelter  and  lodging,  the  afternoon 
being  tempestuous,  proceeding  to  the  election  when  they 
were  gone;  they  expecting  the  next  morning;  whereas 
before  and  then  they  exceeded  the  other  party  by  many 
hundreds,  as  I  am  assured.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk  led 
Sir  Edward  Evelyn's  and  Sir  Adam  Brown's  party.  For 
this  parhament,  very  mean  and  slight  persons  (some  of 

*  Mr.  Samuel  Lewen.  His  name  does  not  appear  in  the  History  of  Surrey 
amongst  the  land-owners,  but  it  is  there  stated  that  in  1709  Sir  William 
Lewen  purchased  the  rectory  of  Ewell,  and  that  he  was  Lord  Mayor  of  London 
in  1717.    Vol.  L  470. 


220  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

them  gentlemen's  servants,  clerks,  and  persons  neither  of 
reputation  nor  interest)  were  set  up;  but  the  country 
would  choose  my  brother  whether  he  would  or  no,  and  he 
missed  it  by  the  trick  above-mentioned.  Sir  Adam  Brown 
was  so  deaf,  that  he  could  not  hear  one  word.  Sir  Edward 
Evelyn*  was  an  honest  gentleman  much  in  favour  with  his 
Majesty. 

10th.  I  went  early  to  Whitehall  to  hear  Dr.  Tillotson, 
Dean  of  Canterbury,  preaching  on  Eccles.  ix.  18.  I  re- 
turned in  the  evening,  and  visited  Lady  Tuke,  and  found 
with  her  Sir  George  Wakeman,  the  physician,  whom  I 
had  seen  tried  and  acquitted,t  amongst  the  plotters  for 
poisoning  the  late  King,  on  the  accusation  of  the  famous 
Oates ;  and  surely  I  believed  him  guiltless. 

14th.  According  to  my  custom,  I  went  to  London  to 
pass  the  holy  week. 

17th.  Good-Friday.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  at  the  new 
church  at  St.  James's,  on  1  Cor.  xvi.  22,  upon  the  infinite 
love  of  God  to  us,  which  he  illustrated  in  many  instances. 
The  Holy  Sacrament  followed,  at  which  I  participated. 
The  Lord  make  me  thankful !  In  the  afternoon.  Dr.  Sprat, 
Bishop  of  Rochester,  preached  in  Whitehall  chapel,  the 
auditory  very  full  of  Lords,  the  two  Archbishops,  and 
many  others,  now  drawn  to  town  upon  occasion  of  the 
coronation  and  ensuing  parliament.  I  supped  with  the 
Countess  of  Sunderland  and  Lord  Godolphin,  and  returned 
home. 

23rd.  Was  the  coronation  of  the  King  and  Queen.  The 
solemnity  was  magnificent,  as  is  set  forth  in  print,  J  The 
Bishop  of  Ely  preached ;  but,  to  the  sorrow  of  the  people, 
no  Sacrament,  as  ought  to  have  been.  However,  the  King 
begins  his  reign  with  great  expectations,  and  hopes  of 
much  reformation  as  to  the  late  vices  and  profaneness  of 
both  Court  and  country.  Having  been  present  at  the  late 
King's  coronation,  I  was  not  ambitious  of  seeing  this 
ceremony. 

3rd  May.    A   young   man   preached,   going    chaplain 

*  His  Beat  was  at  Long  Ditton,  near  Kingston,  which  town  had  surrendered 
its  charter  to  King  Charles  II.  about  a  month  before  his  death.  KiugJJames 
appointed  Sir  Edward  Evelyn  one  of  the  new  corporation. 

+  P.  131. 

J  By  Francis  Sandford,  and  illustrated  with  engravings,  folio. 


1685.-]  JOHN  EVELYN.  221 

with  Sir  J.  Wiburn,  Governor  of  Bombay,  in  the  East 
Indies. 

7th.  I  was  in  Westminster  Hall  when  Oates,  who  had 
made  such  a  stir  in  the  kingdom,  on  his  revealing  a  plot 
of  the  Papists,  and  alarmed  several  parliaments,  and  had 
occasioned  the  execution  of  divers  priests,  noblemen,*  &c., 
was  tried  for  perjury  at  the  King's  Bench;  but,  being 
very  tedious,  I  did  not  endeavour  to  see  the  issue,  consi- 
dering that  it  would  be  published.  Abundance  of  Roman 
Catholics  were  in  the  Hall  in  expectation  of  the  most 
grateful  conviction  and  ruin  of  a  person  who  had  been  so 
obnoxious  to  them,  and,  as  I  verily  believe,  had  done  much 
mischief  and  great  injury  to  several  by  his  violent  and 
ill-grounded  proceedings ;  whilst  he  was  at  first  so  unrea- 
sonably blown  up  and  encouraged,  that  his  insolence  Avas 
no  longer  sufferable. 

•Mr.  Roger  L'Estrange  (a  gentleman  whom  I  had  long 
known,  and  a  person  of  excellent  parts,  abating  some 
affectations)  appearing  first  against  the  Dissenters  in 
several  Tracts,  had  now  for  some  years  turned  his  style 
against  those  whom  (by  way  of  hateful  distinction)  they 
called  Whigs  and  Trimmers,  under  the  title  of  Observator, 
which  came  out  three  or  four  days  every  week,  in  which 
sheets,  under  pretence  to  serve  the  Church  of  England, 
he  gave  suspicion  of  gratifying  another  party,  by  several 
passages  which  rather  kept  up  animosities  than  appeased 
them,  especially  now  that  nobody  gave  the  least  occasion.f 

10th.  The  Scots  valuing  themselves  exceedingly  to  have 
been  the  first  parliament  called  by  his  Majesty,  gave  the 
excise  and  customs  to  him  and  his  successors  for  ever ; 
the  Duke  of  Queensberry  making  eloquent  speeches,  and 
especially  minding  them  of  a  speedy  suppression  of  those 
late  desperate  Field -Conventiclers  who  had  done  such 
unheard-of  assassinations.  In  the  meantime,  elections  for 
the  ensuing  parliament  in  England  were  thought  to  be 

♦p.  132. 

f  In  the  first  Dutch  war,  whilst  Mr.  Evelyn  was  one  of  the  Commissioners 
for  sick  and  wounded,  Mr.  L'Estrange  in  his  Gazette  mentioned  the  barbarous 
usage  of  the  Dutch  prisoners  of  wai* ;  Mr.  Evelyn  wrote  him  a  very  spirited 
lettei",  desiring  that  the  Dutch  Ambassador  (who  was  then  in  England)  and 
his  friends  would  visit  the  prisoners,  and  examine  their  provisions  ;  and  he 
desired  Mr.  L'Estrange  would  publish  his  vindication  in  his  next  number. 


222  DIARY  OP  [londow, 

very  indirectly  carried  on  in  most  places.  God  grant  a 
better  issue  of  it  than  some  expect! 

16th.  Oates  was  sentenced  to  be  whipped  and  pilloried 
with  the  utmost  severity. 

21st.  I  dined  at  my  Lord  Privy  SeaVs  with  Sir  William 
Dugdale,  Garter  King-at-Arms,  author  of  the  "Monas- 
ticon "  and  other  learned  works ;  he  told  me  he  was  82 
years  of  age,  and  had  his  sight  and  memory  perfect.* 
There  was  shown  a  draught  of  the  exact  shape  and  dimen- 
sions of  the  crown  the  Queen  had  been  crowned  withal, 
together  with  the  jewels  and  pearls,  their  weight  and 
value,  which  amounted  to  £100,658  sterling,  attested  at 
the  foot  of  the  paper  by  the  jeweller  and  goldsmith  who 
set  them. 

22nd.  In  the  morning,  I  went  with  a  French  gentleman, 
and  my  Lord  Privy  Seal,  to  the  House  of  Lords,  where  we 
were  placed  by  his  Lordship  next  the  Bar,  just  below  the 
Bishops,  very  commodiously  both  for  hearing  and  seeing. 
After  a  short  space,  came  in  the  Queen  and  Princess  of 
Denmark,  and  stood  next  above  the  Archbishops,  at  the 
side  of  the  House  on  the  right  hand  of  the  throne.  In 
the  interim,  divers  of  the  Lords,  who  had  not  finished 
before,  took  the  test  and  usual  oaths,  so  that  her  Majesty, 
the  Spanish  and  other  Ambassadors,  who  stood  behind  the 
throne,  heard  the  Pope  and  the  worship  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  &c.  renounced  very  decently,  as  likewise  the  prayers 
which  followed,  standing  all  the  while.  Then  came  in  the 
IQng,  the  crown  on  his  head,  and  being  seated,  the  Com- 
mons were  introduced,  and  the  House  being  full,  he  drew 
forth  a  paper  containing  his  speech,  which  he  read  dis- 
tinctly enough,  to  this  effect :  "  That  he  resolved  to  call  a 
Parhament  from  the  moment  of  his  brother^s  decease,  as 
the  best  means  to  settle  all  the  concerns  of  the  nation,  so 
as  to  be  most  easy  and  happy  to  himself  and  his  subjects ; 
that  he  would  confirm  whatever  he  had  said  in  his  decla- 
ration at  the  first  Council  concerning  his  opinion  of  the 
principles  of  the  Church  of  England,  for  their  loyalty,  and 
would  defend  and  support  it  and  preserve  its  government 
as  by  law  now  established ;  that,,  as  he  would  invade  no 

*  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  Garter  King-at-Arms,  lived,  in  ec^ual  possession  of  his 
faculties,  to  the  great  age  of  92.    He  died  in  1822. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  223 

man's  property,  so  he  would  never  depart  from  his  own 
prerogative ;  and,  as  he  had  ventured  his  life  in  defence  of 
the  nation,  so  he  would  proceed  to  do  still ;  that,  having 
given  this  assurance  of  his  care  of  our  religion  (his  word 
was  your  religion)  and  property  (which  he  had  not  said  by 
chance  but  solemnly),  so  he  doubted  not  of  suitable 
returns  of  his  subjects'  duty  and  kindness,  especially  as  to 
settling  his  revenue  for  life,  for  the  many  weighty  necessi- 
ties of  government,  which  he  would  not  suffer  to  be 
precarious ;  that  some  might  possibly  suggest  that  it  were 
better  to  feed  and  supply  him  from  time  to  time  only,  out 
of  their  inclination  to  frequent  parhaments ;  but  that  that 
would  be  a  very  improper  method  to  take  with  him,  since 
the  best  way  to  engage  him  to  meet  oftener  would  be 
always  to  use  him  well,  and  therefore  he  expected  their 
compliance  speedily,  that  this  session  being  but  short, 
they  might  meet  again  to  satisfaction." 

At  every  period  of  this,  the  House  gave  loud  shouts. 
Then  he  acquainted  them  with  that  morning's  news  of 
Argyle's  being  landed  in  the  West  Highlands  of  Scotland 
from  Holland,  and  the  treasonous  Declaration  he  had 
published,  which  he  would  communicate  to  them,  and  that 
he  should  take  the  best  care  he  could  it  should  meet  with 
the  reward  it  deserved,  not  questioning  the  parliament's 
zeal  and  readiness  to  assist  him  as  he  desired;  at  which 
there  followed  another  Vive  le  Roi,  and  so  his  Majesty 
retired. 

So  soon  as  the  Commons  were  returned  and  had  put 
themselves  into  a  grand  Committee,  they  immediately  put 
the  question,  and  unanimously  voted  the  revenue  to  his 
Majesty  for  life.  Mr.  Seymour  made  a  bold  speech  against 
many  elections,  and  would  have  had  those  members  who 
(he  pretended)  were  obnoxious,  to  withdraw,  till  they  had 
cleared  the  matter  of  their  being  legally  returned ;  but  no 
one  seconded  him.  The  truth  is,  there  were  many  of  the 
new  members  whose  elections  and  returns  were  universally 
censured,  many  of  them  being  persons  of  no  condition,  or 
interest,  in  the  nation,  or  places  for  which  they  served, 
especially  in  Devon,  Cornwall,  Norfolk,  &c.,  said  to  have 
been  recommended  by  the  Court,  and  from  the  effect  of 
the  new  charters  changing  the  electors.  It  was  reported 
that  Lord  Bath  carried  down  with  him   [into  Cornwall] 


224"  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

no  fewer  than  fifteen  charters,  so  that  some  called  him  the 
Prince  Elector :  whence  Seymour  told  the  House  in  his 
speech  that  if  this  was  digested,  they  might  introduce 
what  religion  and  laws  they  pleased,  and  that  though  he 
never  gave  heed  to  the  fears  and  jealousies  of  the  people 
before,  he  was  now  really  apprehensive  of  Popery.  By 
the  printed  list  of  Members  of  505,  there  did  not  appear 
to  be  above  135  who  had  been  in  former  Parhaments, 
especially  that  lately  held  at  Oxford. 

In  the  Lords'  House,  Lord  Newport  made  an  exception 
against  two  or  three  young  Peers,  who  wanted  some 
months,  and  some  only  four  or  five  days  of  being  of  age. 

The  Popish  Lords,  who  had  been  sometime  before 
released  from  their  confinement  about  the  plot,  were  now 
discharged  of  their  impeachment,  of  which  I  gave  Lord 
Arundel  of  Ward  our  joy. 

Gates,  who  had  but  two  days  before  been  pilloried  at 
several  places  and  whipped  at  the  cart's  tail  from  Newgate 
to  Aldgate,  was  this  day  placed  on  a  sledge,  being  not  able 
to  go  by  reason  of  so  late  scourging,  and  dragged  from 
prison  to  Tyburn,  and  whipped  again  all  the  way,  which 
some  thought  to  be  severe  and  extraordinary ;  but,  if  he 
was  guilty  of  the  perjuries,  and  so  of  the  death  of  many 
innocents,  (as  I  fear  he  was,)  his  punishment  was  but 
what  he  deserved.  I  chanced  to  pass  just  as  execution 
was  doing  on  him.     A  strange  revolution  ! 

Note  :  there  was  no  speech  made  by  the  Lord  Keeper 
[Bridgeman]  after  his  Majesty,  as  usual. 

It  was  whispered  he  would  not  be  long  in  that  situation, 
and  many  believe  the  bold  Chief  Justice  Jeff^eries,  who 
was  made  Baron  of  Wem,  in  Shropshire,  and  who  went 
thorough  stitch  in  that  tribunal,  stands  fair  for  that  office. 
I  gave  him  joy  the  morning  before  of  his  new  honour,  he 
having  always  been  very  civil  to  me. 

24th.  We  had  hitherto  not  any  rain  for  many  months, 
so  as  the  caterpillars  had  already  devoured  all  the  winter- 
fruit  through  the  whole  land,  and  even  killed  several 
greater  old  trees.  Such  two  winters  and  summers  I  had 
never  known. 

4th  June.  Came  to  visit  and  take  leave  of  me  Sir 
Gabriel  Sylvius,  now  going  Envoy-extraordinary  into 
Denmark,  with  his  Secretary  and  Chaplain,  a  Frenchman, 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  225 

who  related  the  miserable  persecution  of  the  Protestants 
in  France ;  not  above  ten  churches  left  them,  and  those 
also  threatened  to  be  demolished ;  they  were  commanded 
to  christen  their  children  within  twenty -four  hours  after 
birth,  or  else  a  Popish  priest  was  to  be  called,  and  then 
the  infant  brought  up  in  Popery.  In  some  places,  they 
were  thirty  leagues  from  any  minister,  or  opportunity 
of  worship.  This  persecution  had  displeased  the  most 
industrious  part  of  the  nation,  and  dispersed  those  into 
Switzerland,  Burgundy,  Holland,  Germany,  Denmark, 
England,  and  the  Plantations.  There  were  with  Sir 
Gabriel,  his  lady.  Sir  William  Godolphin  and  sisters,  and 
my  Lord  Godolphin's  httle  son,  my  charge.  I  brought 
them  to  the  water-side  where  Sir  Gabriel  embarked,  and 
the  rest  returned  to  London. 

14tli.  There  was  now  certain  intelligence  of  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth  landing  at  Lyme,  in  Dorsetshire,  and  of  his 
having  set  up  his  standard  as  King  of  England.  I  pray 
God  deliver  us  from  the  confusion  which  these  beginnings 
threaten ! 

Such  a  dearth  for  want  of  rain  was  never  in  my  memory. 

17th.  The  Duke  landed  with  but  150  men;  but  the 
whole  kingdom  was  alarmed,  fearing  that  the  disaffected 
would  join  them,  many  of  the  trained  bands  flocking  to 
him.  At  his  landing,  he  published  a  Declaration,  charging 
his  Majesty  with  usurpation  and  several  horrid  crimes,  on 
pretence  of  his  own  title,  and  offering  to  call  a  free  Parlia- 
ment. This  declaration  was  ordered  to  be  burnt  by  the 
hangman,  the  Duke  proclaimed  a  traitor,  and  a  reward  of 
£5000  to  any  who  should  kill  him. 

At  this  time,  the  words  engraved  on  the  monument  in 
London,  intimating  that  the  Papists  fired  the  City,  were 
erased  and  cut  out. 

The  exceeding  drought  still  continues. 

18th.  I  received  a  warrant  to  send  out  a  horse  with 
twelve  days'  provision,  &c. 

28th.  We  had  now  plentiful  rain  after  two  years' 
excessive  drought  and  severe  Avinters. 

Argyle  taken  in  Scotland,  and  executed,  and  his  party 
dispersed. 

2nd  July.  No  considerable  account  of  the  troops  sent 
against  the  Duke,  though  great  forces  sent.     There  was  a 

yOL.  II.  Q 


226  DIARY  OF  [toNDOK, 

smart  skirmish ;  but  he  would  not  be  provoked  to  come  to 
an  encounter,  but  still  kept  in  the  fastnesses. 

Dangerfield  whipped,  like  Gates,  for  perjury. 

8th.  Came  news  of  Monmouth's  utter  defeat,  and 
the  next  day  of  his  being  taken  by  Sir  William  Portman 
and  Lord  Lumley  with  the  militia  of  their  counties.  It 
seems  the  Horse,  commanded  by  Lord  Grey,  being  newly 
raised  and  undisciplined,  were  not  to  be  brought  in  so 
short  a  time  to  endure  the  fire,  which  exposed  the  Foot  to 
the  King's,  so  as  when  Monmouth  had  led  the  Foot 
in  great  silence  and  order,  thinkiAg  to  surprise  Lieutenant- 
General  Lord  Feversham  newly  encamped,  and  giren  him 
a  smart  charge,  interchanging  both  great  and  small  shot, 
the  horse,  breaking  their  own  ranks,  Monmouth  gave 
it  over,  and  fled  with  Grey,  leaving  their  party  to  be  cut 
in  pieces  to  the  number  of  2000.  The  whole  number 
reported  to  be  above  8000;  the  King's  but  2700.  The 
slain  were  most  of  them  Mendip-miners,  who  did  great 
execution  with  their  tools,  and  sold  their  lives  very  dearly, 
whilst  their  leaders  flying  were  pursued  and  taken  the  next 
morning,  not  far  from  one  another.  Monmouth  had  gone 
sixteen  miles  on  foot,  changing  his  habit  for  a  poor  coat, 
and  was  found  by  Lord  Lumley  in  a  dry  ditch  covered  with 
fern-brakes,  but  without  sword,  pistol,  or  any  weapon,  and 
so  might  have  passed  for  some  countryman,  his  beard 
being  grown  so  long  and  so  gray  as  hardly  to  be  known, 
had  not  his  George  discovered  him,  which  was  found  in  his 
pocket.  It  is  said  he  trembled  exceedingly  all  over,  not 
able-  to  speak.  Grey  was  taken  not  far  from  him.  Most 
of  his  party  were  Anabaptists  and  poor  cloth-workers 
of  the  country,  no  gentlemen  of  account  being  come  in  to 
him.  The  arch-boutefeu,  Ferguson,  Matthews,  &c.,  were 
not  yet  found.  The  £5000  to  be  given  to  whoever  should 
bring  Monmouth  in,  was  to  be  distributed  among  the 
militia  by  agreement  between  Sir  William  Portman  and 
Lord  Lumley.  The  battle  ended,  some  words,  first  in 
jest,  then  in  passion,  passed  between  Sherrington  Talbot 
(a  worthy  gentleman,  son  to  Sir  John  Talbot,  and  who  had 
behaved  himself  very  handsomely)  and  one  Captain  Love, 
both  commanders  of  the  militia,  as  to  whose  soldiers  fought 
best,  both  drawing  their  swords  and  passing  at  one  another. 
Sherrington  was  wounded  to  death  on  the  spot,  to  the 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £27 

great  regret  of  those  who  knew  him.  He  was  Sir  John's 
only  son. 

9th.  Just  as  I  was  coming  into  the  lodgings  at  "White- 
hall, a  little  before  dinner,  my  Lord  of  Devonshire  standing 
very  near  His  Majesty's  bedchamber-door  in  the  lobby, 
came  Colonel  Culpeper,  and  in  a  rude  manner  looking 
at  my  Lord  in  the  face,  asked  whether  this  was  a  time  and 
place  for  excluders  to  appear ;  my  Lord  at  first  took  little 
notice  of  what  he  said,  knowing  him  to  be  a  hot-headed 
fellow,  but  he  reiterating  it,  my  Lord  asked  Culpeper 
whether  he  meant  him ;  he  said  yes,  he  meant  his  Lord- 
ship. My  Lord  told  him  he  was  no  excluder  (as  indeed  he 
was  not) ;  the  other  affirming  it  again,  my  Lord  told  him 
he  lied ;  on  which  Culpeper  struck  him  a  box  on  the  ear, 
which  my  Lord  returned,  and  felled  him.  They  were  soon 
parted,  Culpeper  was  seized,  and  his  Majesty,  who  was  all 
the  while  in  his  bedchamber,  ordered  him  to  be  carried  to 
the  Green-Cloth  Officer,  who  sent  him  to  the  Marshalsea, 
as  he  deserved.  My  Lord  Devon  had  nothing  said 
to.  him. 

I  supped  this  night  at  Lambeth  at  my  old  friend's  Mr. 
Elias  Ashmole's,  with  my  Lady  Clarendon,  the  Bishop  of 
St.  Asaph,  and  Dr.  Tenison,  when  we  were  treated  at 
a  great  feast. 

10th.  The  Count  of  Castel  Mellor,  that  great  favourite 
and  prime  minister  of  Alphonso,  late  King  of  Portugal, 
after  several  years'  banishment,  being,  now  received  to 
grace  and  called  home  by  Don  Pedro,  the  present  King,  as 
having  been  found  a  person  of  the  greatest  integrity  after 
all  his  sufferings,  desired  me  to  spend  part  of  this  day  with 
him,  and  assist  him  in  a  collection  of  books  and  other 
curiosities,  which  he  would  carry  with  him  into  Portugal. 

Mr.  Hussey,*  a  young  gentleman  who  made  love  to  my 
late  dear  child,  but  whom  she  could  not  bring  herself  to 
answer  in  aifection,  died  now  of  the  same  cruel  disease,  for 
which  I  was  extremely  sorry,  because  he  never  enjoyed 
himself  after  my  daughter's  decease,  nor  was  I  averse 
to  the  match,  could  she  have  overcome  her  disinclination. 

15th.  I  went  to  see  Dr.  Teuison's  library  [in  St. 
Martin's] . 

*  Son  of  Peter  Hussey,  Esq.,  of  Sutton  in  Shere,  Surrey.  See  p.  62  and 
30tJi  June,  1681. 

Q  2 


22g  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

Monmouth  was  this  day  brought  to  London  and 
examined  before  the  King,  to  whom  he  made  great 
submission,  acknowledged  his  seduction  by  Ferguson,  the 
Scot,  whom  he  named  the  bloody  villain.  He  was  sent  to 
the  Tower,  had  an  interview  with  his  late  Duchess,  whom 
he  received  coldly,  having  lived  dishonestly  with  the  Lady 
Henrietta  Wentworth  for  two  years.  He  obstinately 
asserted  his  conversation  with  that  debauched  woman 
to  be  no  sin ;  whereupon,  seeing  he  could  not  be  persuaded 
to  his  last  breath,  the  divines  who  were  sent  to  assist  him 
thought  not  fit  to  administer  the  Holy  Communion  to 
him.  For  the  rest  of  his  faults  he  professed  great  sorrow, 
and  so  died  without  any  apparent  fear;  he  would  not 
make  use  of  a  cap  or  other  circumstance,  but  lying  down, 
bid  the  fellow  do  his  office  better  than  to  the  late  Lord 
Russell,  and  gave  him  gold;  but  the  wretch  made  five 
chops  before  he  had  his  head  off;  which  so  incensed 
the  people,  that  had  he  not  been  guarded  and  got  away, 
they  would  have  torn  him  to  pieces. 

The  Duke  made  no  speech  on  the  scaffold,  (which  was 
on  Tower-Hill)  but  gave  a  paper  containing  not  above  five 
or  six  lines,  for  the  King,  in  which  he  disclaims  all  title  to 
the  Crown,  acknowledges  that  the  late  King,  his  father, 
had  indeed  told  him  he  was  but  his  base  son,  and  so 
desired  his  Majesty  to  be  kind  to  his  wife  and  children. 
This  relation  I  had  from  Dr.  Tenison  (Rector  of  St. 
Martin's),  who,  with  the  Bishops  of  Ely  and  Bath  and 
Wells,  were  sent  to  him  by  his  Majesty,  and  were  at  the 
execution. 

Thus  ended  this  quondam  Duke,  darling  of  his  father 
and  the  ladies,  being  extremely  handsome  and  adroit ;  an 
excellent  soldier  and  dancer,  a  favourite  of  the  people,  of  an 
easy  nature,  debauched  by  lust,  seduced  by  crafty  knaves, 
who  would  have  set  him  up  only  to  make  a  property,  and 
taken  the  opportunity  of  the  King  being  of  another  religion, 
to  gather  a  party  of  discontented  men.  He  failed,  and 
perished. 

He  was  a  lovely  person,  had  a  virtuous  and  excellent 
lady  that  brought  him  great  riches,  and  a  second  dukedom 
in  Scotland.  He  was  Master  of  the  Horse,  General 
of  the  King  his  father's  army,  Gentleman  of  the  Bed- 
chamber, Knight  of  the  Garter,  Chancellor  of  Cambridge  j 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  229 

in  a  wordj  had  accumulations  without  end.  See  what 
ambition  and  want  of  principles  brought  him  to !  He 
was  beheaded  on  Tuesday,  14th  July.  His  mother,  whose 
name  was  Barlow,  daughter  of  some  very  mean  creatures, 
was  a  beautiful  strumpet,  whom  I  had  often  seen  at  Paris  ; 
she  died  miserably  without  anything  to  bury  her ;  yet  this 
Perkin  had  been  made  to  beheve  that  the  King  had 
married  her ;  a  monstrous  and  ridiculous  forgery  !  and  to 
satisfy  the  world  of  the  iniquity  of  the  report,  the 
King  his  father  (if  his  father  he  really  was,  for  he  most 
resembled  one  Sidney,*  who  was  familiar  with  his  mother) 
publicly  and  most  solemnly  renounced  it,  to  be  so  entered 
in  the  Council  Book  some  years  since,  with  all  the  Privy 
Councillors'  attestation,  f 

Had  it  not  pleased  God  to  dissipate  this  attempt  in  the 
beginning,  there  would  in  all  appearance  have  gathered 
an  irrestible  force  which  would  have  desperately  proceeded 
to  the  ruin  of  the  Church  and  Government ;  so  general 
was  the  discontent  and  expectation  of  the  opportunity. 
Por  my  own  part,  I  looked  upon  this  deliverance  as  most 
signal.  Such  an  inundation  of  fanatics  and  men  of 
impious  principles  must  needs  have  caused  universal  dis- 
order, cruelty,  injustice,  rapine,  sacrilege,  and  confusion, 
an  unavoidable  civil  war,  and  misery  without  end.   Blessed 

*  Mr.  Robert  Sidney,  commonly  called  handsome  Sidney,  related  to  the 
Earl  of  Leicester  of  that  name. 

"I"  Ross,  tutor  to  the  Duke  of  Monmouth,  proposed  to  Bishop  Cosins  to  sign 
a  certificate  of  the  king's  marriage  to  Mrs.  Barlow,  though  her  own  name 
was  Walters  :  this  the  Bishop  refused.  She  was  bom  of  a  gentleman's  family 
in  Wales,  but  having  little  means  and  less  grace,  came  to  London  to  make 
her  fortune.  Algernon  Sidney,  then  a  Colonel  in  Cromwell's  army,  had 
agreed  to  give  her  fifty  broad  pieces  (as  he  told  the  Duke  of  York)  ;  but,  being 
ordered  hastily  away  with  his  regiment,  he  missed  his  bargain.  She  went 
into  Holland,  where  she  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  brother,  Colonel  Robert 
Sidney,  who  kept  her  for  some  time,  till  the  king  hearing  of  her,  got  her 
from  him.  On  which  the  colonel  was  heard  to  say.  Let  who  will  have  her, 
she  is  already  sped  ;  and,  after  being  with  the  king,  she  was  so  soon  with 
child,  that  the  world  had  no  cause  to  doubt  whose  child  it  was,  and  the  rather 
that  when  he  grew  to  be  a  man,  he  very  much  resembled  the  colonel  both  in 
stature  and  countenance,  even  to  a  wart  on  his  face.  However,  the  king 
owned  the  child.  In  the  king's  absence,  she  behaved  so  loosely,  that  on  his 
return  from  his  escape  at  Worcester,  he  would  have  no  further  commerce  with 
her,  and  she  became  a  common  prostitute  at  Paris.  Life  of  King  Jamea  II., 
vol.  I.  p.  491. 


230  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

be  God,  the  knot  was  happily  broken,  and  a  fair  prospect 
of  tranquillity  for  the  future,  if  we  reform,  be  thankful, 
and  make  a  right  use  of  this  mercy  ! 

18th.  I  went  to  see  the  muster  of  the  six  Scotch  and 
English  regiments  whom  the  Prince  of  Orange  had  lately 
sent  to  his  Majesty  out  of  Holland  upon  this  rebellion, 
but  which  were  now  returning,  there  having  been  no  occa- 
sion for  their  use.  They  were  all  excellently  clad  and  well 
disciplined,  and  were  encamped  on  Blackheath  with  their 
tents:  the  King  and  Queen  came  to  see  them  exercise, 
and  the  manner  of  their  encampment,  which  was  very 
neat  and  magnificent. 

By  a  gross  mistake  of  the  Secretary  of  his  Majesty'-s 
Forces,  it  had  been  ordered  that  they  should  be  quartered 
in  private  houses,  contrary  to  an  Act  of  Parliament,  but, 
on  my  informing  his  Majesty  timely  of  it,  it  was  prevented. 

The  two  horsemen  wliich  my  son  and  myself  sent  into 
the  county-troops,  were  now  come  home,  after  a  month's 
being  out  to  our  great  charge. 

20th.  The  Trinity-Company  met  this  day,  which  should 
have  been  on  the  Monday  after  Trinity,  but  was  put  off 
by  reason  of  the  E-oyal  Charter  being  so  large,  that  it 
could  not  be  ready  before.  Some  immunities  were  super- 
added. Mr.  Pepy«,  Secretary  to  the  Admiralty,  was  ^ 
second  time  chosen  Master.  There  were  present  the  Duke 
of  Grafton,  Lord  Dartmouth,  Master  of  the  Ordnance,  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Navy,  and  Brethren  of  the  Corpo- 
ration. We  went  to  church,  according  to  custom,  and 
then  took  barge  to  the  Trinity-House,  in  London,  where 
we  had  a  great  dinner,  above  eighty  ^t  one  table. 

7th  August.  I  went  to  see  Mr.  Watts,  keeper  of  the 
Apothecaries'  garden  of  simples  at  Chelsea,  where  there 
is  a  collection  of  innumerable  rarities  of  that  sort  parti- 
cularly, besides  many  rare  annuals,  the  tree  bearing 
Jesuits'  bark,  which  had  done  «uch  wonders  in  quartan 
agues.  What  was  very  ingenious  was  the  subterranean 
heat,  conveyed  by  a  stove  under  the  conservatory,  all 
vaulted  witb  brick,  so  as  he  has  the  doors  and  windows 
open  in  the  hardest  frosts,  secluding  only  the  snow. 

1 5th.  Came  to  visit  us  Mr.  Boscawen,  with  my  Lord 
Godolphin's  little  son,  with  whose  education  hitherto  his 
father  had  entrusted  me. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  23J 

27th.  My  daughter  Elizabeth  died  of  the  small-pox, 
soon  after  ha\dng  married  a  young  man,  nephew  of  Sir 
John  Tippett,  Surveyor  of  the  Navy,  and  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners. The  30th,  she  was  buried  in  the  church  at 
Deptford.  Thus,  in  less  than  six  months  were  we  deprived 
of  two  children  for  our  unworthiness  and  causes  best 
known  to  God,  whom  I  beseech  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart  that  He  will  give  us  grace  to  make  that  right  use  of 
all  these  chastisements,  that  we  may  become  better,  and 
entirely  submit  in  all  things  to  his  infinite  wise  disposal. 
Amen ! 

3rd  September.  Lord  Clarendon  (Lord  Privy  Seal)  wrote 
to  let  me  know  that  the  King  being  pleased  to  send  him 
Lord -Lieutenant  into  Ireland,  was  also  pleased  to  nominate 
me  one  of  the  Commissioners  to  execute  the  office  of 
Privy  Seal  during  his  Lieutenancy  there,  it  behoving  me  to 
wait  upon  his  Majesty  to  give  him  thanks  for  this  great 
honour. 

5th.  I  accompanied  his  Lordship  to  Windsor  (dining 
by  the  way  of  Sir  Henry  CapeFs  at  Kew),  where  his 
Majesty  receiving  me  with  extraordinary  kindness,  I  kissed 
his  hand.  I  told  him  how  sensible  I  was  of  his  Majesty^s 
gracious  favour  to  me,  that  I  would  endeavour  to  serve 
him  with  all  sincerity,  diligence,  and  loyalty,  not  more 
out  of  my  duty  than  inclination.  He  said  he  doubted 
not  of  it,  and  was  glad  he  had  the  opportunity  to  show 
me  the  kindness  he  had  for  me.  After  this,  came 
abundance  of  great  men  to  give  me  joy. 

6th.  Sunday.  I  went  to  prayer  in  the  chapel,  and  heard 
Dr.  Standish,  The  second  sermon  was  preached  by  Dr. 
Creighton,  on  1  Thess.  iv.  11,  persuading  to  unity  and 
peace,  and  to  be  mindful  of  our  own  business,  according 
to  the  advice  of  the  apostle.  Then  I  went  to  hear  a 
Frenchman  who  preached  before  the  King  and  Queen  in 
that  splendid  chapel  next  St.  George's  Hall.  Their 
Majesties  going  to  mass,  I  withdrew  to  consider  the 
stupendous  painting  of  the  Hall,  which,  both  for  the  art 
and  invention,  deserve  the  inscription  in  honour  of  the 
painter.  Signer  Verrio.  The  history  is  Edward  the  Third 
receiving  the  Black  Prince,  coming  towards  him  in  a 
Roman  triumph.  The  whole  roof  is  the  history  of  St. 
George.     The  throne,  the  carvings,  &c.  are  incomparable, 


£32  DIARY    OF  [PORTSMOOTB 

and  I  think  equal  to  any,  and  in  many  circumstances 
exceeding  any,  I  have  seen  abroad. 

I  dined  at  Lord  Sunderland's,  with  (amongst  others) 
Sir  William  Soames,  designed  Ambassador  to  Constanti- 
nople. 

About  6  o'clock,  came  Sir  Dudley  and  his  brother 
Roger  North,  and  brought  the  Great  Seal  from  my  Lord 
Keeper,  who  died  the  day  before  at  his  house  in  Oxford- 
shire. The  King  went  immediately  to  council ;  everybody 
guessing  who  was  most  likely  to  succeed  this  great  officer; 
most  believing  it  could  be  no  other  than  my  Lord  Chief 
Justice  Jefferies,  who  had  so  vigorously  prosecuted  the 
late  rebels,  and  was  now  gone  the  Western  Circuit,  to 
punish  the  rest  that  were  secured  in  the  several  counties, 
and  was  now  near  upon  his  return.  I  took  my  leave  of 
his  Majesty,  who  spake  very  graciously  to  me,  and  supping 
that  night  at  Sir  Stephen  Pox's,  I  promised  to  dine  there 
ihe  next  day. 

15th.  I  accompanied  Mr.  Pepys  to  Portsmouth,  whither 
nis  Majesty  was  going  the  first  time  since  his  coming  to 
the  Crown,  to  see  in  what  state  the  fortifications  were. 
We  took  coach  and  six  horses,  late  after  dinner,  yet  got 
to  Bagshot*  that  night.  Whilst  supper  was  making 
ready,  I  went  and  made  a  visit  to  Mrs.  Graham,t  some 
time  Maid  of  Honour  to  the  Queen  Dowager,  now  wife  to 
James  Graham,  Esq.  of  the  privy  purse  to  the  King ;  her 
house  J  being  a  walk  in  the  forest,  within  a  little  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  Bagshot  town.  Very  importunate  she 
was  that  I  would  sup,  and  abide  there  that  night ;  but, 
being  obliged  by  my  companion,  I  returned  to  our  inn, 
after  she  had  showed  me  her  house,  which  was  very  com- 
modious and  well-furnished,  as  she  was  an  excellent 
house-wife,  a  prudent  and  virtuous  lady.  There  is  a  park 
full  of  red  deer  about  it.  Her  eldest  son  was  now  sick 
there  of  the  small-pox,  but  in  a  likely  way  of  recovery,  and 
other  of  her  children  run  about,  and  among  the  infected, 
which  she  said  she  let  them  do  on  purpose  that  they 
might  whilst  young  pass  that  fatal  disease  she  fancied 
they  were  to  undergo  one  time  or  other,  and  that  this 
would  be  the  best :  the  severity  of  this  cruel  distemper  so 

♦  26  miles.  +  Miss  Howard,  see  p.  101.  J  Bagshot  Park. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  233 

lately  in  my  poor  family  confirming  much  of  what  she 
affirmed. 

16th.  The  next  morning,  setting  out  early,  we  arrived 
soon  enough  at  Winchester  to  wait  on  the  King,  who  was 
lodged  at  the  Dean^s  (Dr.  Meggot).  I  found  very  few 
with  him  besides  my  Lords  Feversham^  Arran,  Newport, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells.  His  Majesty  was 
discoursing  with  the  Bishops  concerning  miracles,  and 
what  strange  things  the  Saludadors  *  would  do  in  Spain, 
as  by  creeping  into  heated  ovens  without  hurt,  and  that 
they  had  a  black  cross  in  the  roof  of  their  mouths,  but  yet 
were  commonly  notorious  and  profane  wretches;  upon 
which  his  Majesty  further  said,  that  he  was  so  extremely 
difficult  of  miracles,  for  fear  of  being  imposed  upon,  that 
if  he  should  chance  to  see  one  himself,  without  some 
other  witness,  he  should  apprehend  it  a  delusion  of  his 
senses.  Then  they  spake  of  the  boy  who  was  pretended 
to  have  a  wanting  leg  restored  him,  so  confidently  asserted 
by  Pr.  de  Santa  Clara  and  others.  To  all  which  the 
Bishop  added  a  great  miracle  happening  in  Winchester  to 
his  certain  knowledge,  of  a  poor  miserably  sick  and 
decrepit  child,  (as  I  remember  long  kept  unbaptized)  who, 
immediately  on  his  baptism,  recovered ;  as  also  of  the 
salutary  effect  of  King  Charles  his  Majesty^ s  father^s 
blood,  in  healing  one  that  was  blind. 

There  was  something  said  of  the  second  sightf  happen- 
ing to  some  persons,  especially  Scotch ;  upon  which  his 
Majesty,  and  I  think  Lord  Ai'ran^  told  us  that  Monsieur 

*  As  to  that  of  the  Saludador  (of  which  hkevvise  I  remember  Sir  Arthur 
Hopton,  formerly  Ambassador  at  Madrid,  had  told  me  many  like  wonders) 
Mr.  Pepys  passing  through  Spain,  and  being  extremely  inquisitive  of  the  truth 
of  these  pretended  miracles  of  the  Saludadors,  found  a  very  famous  one  at 
last,  to  whom  he  offered  a  considerable  rewfcrd  if  he  would  make  a  trial  of 
the  oven,  or  any  other  thing  of  that  kind,  before  him  ;  the  fellow  ingenuously 
told  him  that  finding  he  was  a  more  than  ordinary  curious  person,  he  would 
not  deceive  him,  and  so  acknowledged  that  he  could  do  none  of  the  feats 
really,  but  that  what  they  pretended  was  all  a  cheat,  which  he  would  easily 
discover,  though  the  poor  superstitious  people  were  easily  imposed  upon  ;  yet 
have  tliese  impostors  an  allowance  of  the  Bishops  to  practice  their  jugglings. 
This  Mr.  Pepys  affirmed  to  me  ;  but,  said  he,  I  did  not  conceive  it  fit  to 
interrupt  his  Majesty,  who  so  solemnly  told  what  they  pretended  to 
do.  '  J.  E. 

+  Several  very  interesting  letters  on  this  subject  are  printed  in  S.  Pepys' 
"  Memoirs  and  Correspondence,"  edited  by  Lord  Bi'aybrooke. 


234  DIARY    OF  [WINCHISTEB, 

a  French  nobleman,  lately  here  in  England,  seeing 

the  late  Duke  of  Monmouth  come  into  the  playhouse  at 
London,  suddenly  cried  out  to  somebody  sitting  in  the 
same  box,  Voila  Monsieur,  commeilentre  sans  tete  !  After- 
wards, his  Majesty  spoke  of  some  relics  that  had  effected 
strange  cures,  particularly  a  piece  of  our  Blessed  Saviour's 
cross,  that  healed  a  gentleman's  rotten  nose  by  only  touch- 
ing. And  speaking  of  the  golden  cross  and  chain  taken 
out  of  the  coflfin  of  St.  Edwaxd  the  Confessor  at  Westmin- 
ster,* by  one  of  the  singing-men,  who,  as  the  scaffolds 
were  taken  down  after  his  Majesty's  coronation,  espying 
a  hole  in  the  tomb,  and  something  glisten,  put  his 
hand  in,  and  brought  it  to  the  dean,  and  he  to  the  King ; 
his  Majesty  began  to  put  the  Bishop  in  mind  how  earnestly 
the  late  King  (his  brother)  called  upon  him  during  his 
agony,  to  take  out  what  he  had  in  his  pocket.  I  had 
thought,  said  the  King,  it  had  been  for  some  keys,  which 
might  lead  to  some  cabinet  that  his  Majesty  would  have 
me  secure ;  but,  says  he,  you  well  remember  that  I  found 
nothing  in  any  of  his  pockets  but  a  cross  of  gold,  and  a  few 
insignificant  papers ;  and  thereupon  he  showed  us  the 
cross,  and  was  pleased  to  put  it  into  my  hand.  It  was  of 
gold,  about  three  inches  long,  having  on  one  side  a  crucifix 
enamelled  and  embossed,  the  rest  was  graved  and  garnished 
with  goldsmiths'  work,  and  two  pretty  broad  table  ame- 
thysts (as  I  conceived),  and  at  the  bottom  a  pendant  pearl; 
within  was  enchased  a  little  fragment,  as  was  thought,  of 
the  true  cross,  and  a  Latin  inscription  in  gold  and  lloman 
letters. t  More  company  coming  in,  this  discourse  ended. 
I  may  not  forget  a  resolution  which  his  Majesty  made,  and 
had. a  little  before  entered  upon  it  at  the  Council  Board  at 
Windsor  or  Whitehall,  that  the  negroes  in  the  Plantations 
should  all  be  baptized,  exceedingly  declaiming  against  that 
impiety  of  their  masters  prohibiting  it,  out  of  a  mistaken 
opinion  that  they  would  be  ipso  facto  free ;  but  his  Majesty 
persists  in  his  resolution  to  have  them  christened,  which 
piety  the  Bishop  blessed  him  for. 

•  See  a  «  Narrative"  on  tliis  subject  among  the  Illustrations  at  the  end  jef 
he  Biary,  in  this  Volume. 

•f-  There  is  a  pamphlet  giving  an  account  of  this  finding,  and  presenting  to 
the  king,  under  the  name  of  George  Taylour ;  but  his  name  was  Henry 
Keepe.     See  Gough's  Topography. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  235 

I  went  out  to  see  tlie  new  palace  the  late  King  had 
begun,  and  brought  almost  to  the  covering.  It  is  placed 
on  the  side  of  the  hill,  Avhere  formerly  stood  the  old  Castle. 
It  is  a  stately  fabric,  of  three  sides  and  a  corridor,  all  built 
of  brick,  and  cornished,  windows  and  columns  at  the  break 
and  entrance  of  free-stone.*  It  was  intended  for  a  hunt- 
ing-house when  his  Majesty  should  come  to  these  parts, 
and  has  an  incomparable  prospect.  I  believe  there  had 
already  been  £20,000  and  more  expended;  but  his  now 
Majesty  did  not  seem  to  encourage  the  finishing  it,  at  least 
for  a  while. 

Hence  to  see  the  Cathedral,  a  reverend  pile,  and  in  good 
repair.  There  are  still  the  coffins  of  the  six  Saxon  Kings, 
whose  bones  had  been  scattered  by  the  sacrilegious  rebels 
of  1641,  in  expectation,  I  suppose,  of  finding  some  valuable 
relics,  and  afterwards  gathered  up  again  and  put  into  new 
chests,  which  stand  above  the  stalls  of  the  choir. 

17th.  Early  next  morning,  Ave  went  to  Portsmouth, 
something  before  his  Majesty  arrived.  We  found  all 
the  road  full  of  people,  the  women  in  their  best  dress,  in 
expectation  of  seeing  the  King  pass  by,  which  he  did,  riding 
on  horseback  a  good  part  of  the  way.  The  Mayor  and 
Aldermen  with  their  mace,  and  in  their  formalities,  were 
standing  at  the  entrance  of  the  fort,  a  mile  on  this  side  of 
the  town,  where  the  Mayor  made  a  speech  to  the  King,  and 
then  the  guns  of  the  fort  were  fired,  as  were  those  of  the 
garrison,  as  soon  as  the  King  was  come  into  Portsmouth. 
All  the  soldiers  (near  3,000)  were  drawn  up,  and  lining  the 
streets  and  platform  to  God^s-house  (the   name   of  the 

*  The  first  stone  of  this  magnificent  palace  was  laid  March  23, 1 68  3,  by  King 
Charles  in  person,  who,  during  the  remainder  of  his  reign,  spent  most  of  his 
time  at  Winchester,  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  and  forwarding  the  worlc. 
Upon  the  death  of  this  Prince,  an  immediate  stop  was  put  to  tlie  building  by 
James  II.  It  was  equally  neglected  by  King  William  ;  but  Queen  Anne, 
after  surveying  it  herself,  intended  to  complete  it  in  favour  of  her  hus)>andj 
George,  Prince  of  Denmark,  upon  whom  it  was  settled,  had  he  lived  until  she 
could  aff'ord  the  sums  necessary  for  this  purpose.  The  first  public  use  to 
which  this  noble  edifice  appeal's  to .  have  been  applied,  was  that  of  a  place  of 
confinement  for  French  prisoners,  in  the  war  of  1756,  during  which  5,000  of 
them,  at  a  time,  were  sometimes  detained  in  it.  In  the  year  1792,  this  build- 
ing was  occupied  by  a  certain  number  of  French  clergy  banished  from  their 
native  soil;  and,  in  179G,  it  was  fitted  up  as  barracks  for  the  residence  of 
troops,  to  which  purpose  it  is  still  ^)plied. 


236  DIARY   OF  [PORTSMOUTH, 

Governor's  residence),  where,  after  he  had  viewed  the  new 
fortifications  and  ship-yard,  his  Majesty  was  entertained  at 
a  magnificent  dinner  by  Sir Slingsby,  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor, all  the  gentlemen  in  his  train  sitting 
down  at  table  with  him,  which  I  also  had  done  had  I  not 
been  before  engaged  to  Sir  Robert  Holmes,  Governor  of 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  to  dine  with  him  at  a  private  house, 
where  likewise  we  had  a  very  sumptuous  and  plentiful 
repast  of  excellent  venison,  fowl,  fish,  and  fruit. 

After  dinner,  I  went  to  wait  on  his  Majesty  again,  who 
was  pulling  on  his  boots  in  the  Town-hall  adjoining  the 
house  where  he  dined,  and  then  having  saluted  some  ladies, 
who  came  to  kiss  his  hand,  he  took  horse  for  Winchester, 
whither  he  returned  that  night.  This  hall  is  artificially 
hung  round  with  arms  of  all  sorts,  like  the  hall  and  keep  at 
Windsor.  Hence,  to  see  the  ship-yard  and  dock,  the  forti- 
fications, and  other  things. 

Portsmouth,  when  finished,  will  be  very  strong,  and  a 
noble  quay.  There  were  now  thirty-two  men-of-war  in  the 
harbour.  I  was  in^dted  by  Sir  R.  Beach,  the  Commissioner, 
where,  after  a  great  supper,  Mr.  Secretary  and  myself  lay 
that  night,  and  the  next  morning  set  out  for  Guildford, 
where  we  arrived  in  good  hour,  and  so  the  day  after  to 
London. 

I  had  twice  before  been  at  Portsmouth,  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  &c.  many  years  since.  I  found  this  part  of  Hamp- 
shire bravely  wooded,  especially  about  the  house  and  estate 
of  Colonel  Norton,  who  though  now  in  being,  having 
formerly  made  his  peace  by  means  of  Colonel  Legg,  was 
formerly  a  very  fierce  commander  in  the  first  Rebellion. 
His  house  is  large,  and  standing  low,  on  the  road  from 
Winchester  to  Portsmouth. 

By  what  I  observed  in  this  journey,  is  that  infinite 
industry,  sedulity,  gravity,  and  great  understanding  and 
experience  of  afi'airs,  in  his  Majesty,  that  I  cannot  but  pre- 
dict much  happiness  to  the  nation,  as  to  its  political  govern- 
ment ;  and,  if  he  so  persist,  there  could  be  nothing  more 
desired  to  accomplish  our  prosperity,  but  that  he  was  of  the 
national  rehgion. 

30th.  Lord  Clarendon's  commission  for  Lieutenant  of 
Ireland  was  sealed  this  day. 

2nd  October.  Having  a  letter  sent  me  by  Mr.  Pepys  with 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  237 

this  expression  at  the  foot  of  it,  "  I  have  something  to  show 
you  that  I  may  not  have  another  time/^  and  that  I  would  not 
fail  to  dine  with  him,  I  accordingly  went.  After  dinner,  he 
had  me  and  Mr.  Houblon  (a  rich  and  considerable  merchant, 
whose  father  had  fled  out  of  Flanders  on  the  persecution  of 
the  Duke  of  Alva)  into  a  private  room,  and  told  us  that 
being  lately  alone  with  his  Majesty,  and  upon  some  occa- 
sion of  speaking  concerning  my  late  Lord  Arlington  dying 
a  Roman  Catholic,  who  had  all  along  seemed  to  profess 
himself  a  Protestant,  taken  all  the  tests,  &c.  till  the  day  (I 
think)  of  his  death,  his  Majesty  said  that  as  to  his  inclina- 
tions he  had  known  them  long  wavering,  but  from  fear  of 
losing  his  places,  he  did  not  think  it  convenient  to  declare 
himself.  There  are,  says  the  King,  those  who  believe  the 
Church  of  Rome  gives  dispensations  for  going  to  church, 
and  many  like  things,  but  that  is  not  so;  for  if  that  might 
have  been  had,  he  himself  had  most  reason  to  make  use  of 
it.  Indeed,  he  said,  as  to  some  matrimonial  cases,  there  are 
now  and  then  dispensations,  but  hardly  in  any  cases  else. 

This  familiar  discourse  encouraged  Mr.  Pepys  to  beg  of  his 
Majesty,  if  he  might  ask  it  without  offence,  and  for  that  his 
Majesty  could  not  but  observe  how  it  was  whispered  among 
many  whether  his  late  Majesty  had  been  reconciled  to  the 
Church  of  Rome ;  he  again  humbly  besought  his  Majesty 
to  pardon  his  presumption,  if  he  had  touched  upon  a  thing 
which  did  not  befit  him  to  look  into.  The  King  ingenuously 
told  him  that  he  both  was  and  died  a  Roman  Catholic,  and 
that  he  had  not  long  since  declared  it  was  upon  some 
politic  and  state  reasons,  best  known  to  himself  (meaning 
the  King  his  brother)  but  that  he  was  of  that  persuasion : 
he  bid  him  follow  him  into  his  closet  where,  opening  a 
cabinet,  he  showed  him  two  papers,  containing  about  a 
quarter  of  a  sheet,  on  both  sides  written,  in  the  late  King's 
own  hand,  several  arguments  opposite  to  the  doctrine  of 
the  Church  of  England,  charging  her  with  heresy,  novelty, 
and  the  fanaticism  of  other  Protestants,  the  chief  whereof 
was,  as  I  remember,  our  refusing  to  acknowledge  the  pri- 
macy and  infallibility  of  the  Church  of  Rome ;  how  impos- 
sible it  was  that  so  many  ages  should  never  dispute  it,  till 
of  late ;  how  unlikely  our  Saviour  would  leave  his  Church 
without  a  visible  Head  and  guide  to  resort  to,  during  his 
absence ;  with  the  like  usual  topics  ;  so  well  penned  as  to 


238  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

the  discourse  as  did  by  no  means  seem  to  me  to  have  been 
been  put  together  by  the  late  King,  yet  written  all  with  his 
own  hand,  blotted  and  interlined,  so  as,  if  indeed  it  was 
not  given  him  by  some  priest,  they  might  be  such  argu«- 
ments;  and  reasons  as  had  been  inculcated  feom  time  to 
time,  and  here  recollected;  and,  in  the  conclusion,  showing 
his  looking  on  the  Protestant  religion  (and  by  name  the 
Church  of  England)  to  be  without  foundation,  and  conse- 
quently false  and  unsafe.  When  his  Majesty  had- shown 
him  these  originals,  he  was  pleased  to  lend  him.  the  copies 
of  these  two  papers,  attested  at  the  bottom  in:  four  orfirve 
lines,  under  his  own  hand. 

These  were  the  papers  I  saw  and  read.  This  nice  and 
curious  passage  I  thought  fit  to  set  down.  Though  all 
the  arguments  and  objections  were  altogether  weak,  and 
have  a  thousand  times  been  answered  by  our  divines ;  they 
ai'e  such  as  their  priests  insinuate  among  their  proselytes, 
as  if  nothing  were  Catholic  but  the  Church  of  Rome,  no 
salvation  out  of  that,  no  reformation  sufferable,  bottoming 
all  their  errors  on  St.  Peter's  successors'  unerrable  dictator- 
ship, but  proving  nothing  with  any  reason,  or  taking 
notice  of  any  objection  which  could  be  made  against  it. 
Here  all  was  taken  for  granted,  and  upon  it  a  resolution 
and  preference  implied. 

I  was  heartily  sorry  to  see  all  this,  thou^  it  was  no 
other  than  was  to  be  suspected,  by  his  late  Majesty's  too 
great  indifference,  neglect,  and  course  of  life,  that  he  had 
been  perverted,  and  for  secular  respects  only  professed  to 
be  of  another  belief,  and  thereby  giving  great  advantage 
to  our  adversaries,  both  the  Court  and  generally  the  youth 
and  great  persons  of  the  nation  becoming  dissolute  and 
highly  profane.  God  was  incensed  to  make  his  reign  very 
troublesome  and  unprosperous,  by  wars,  plagues,  fires,  loss 
of  reputation  by  an  universal  neglect  of  the  pubhe  for  the 
love  of  a  voluptuous  and  sensual  life,  which  a  vicious  Court 
had  brought  into  credit.  I  think  of  it  with  sorrow  and 
pity,  when  I  consider  of  how  good  and  debonair  a  n^ure 
that  unhappy  Prince  was ;  what  opportunities  he  had  to 
have  made  himself  the  most  renowned  King:  that  ever 
swayed  the  British  sceptre,  had  he  been  firm  to  that 
Church  for  which  his  martyred  and  blessed  father  suffered; 
and    had    he  been  grateful   to  Almighty  God,   who    so 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £39 

miraculously  restored  him,  with  so  excellent  a  religion; 
had  he  endeavoured  to  own  and  propagate  it  as  he  should 
have  done,  not  only  for  the  good  of  his  Kingdom,  but  of 
all  the  Reformed  Churches  in  Christendom,  now  weakened 
and  near  ruined  through  our  remissness  and  suffering 
them  to  be  supplanted,  persecuted,  and  destroyed,  as  in 
France,  which  we  took  no  notice  of.  The  consequence  of 
this,  time  will  show,  and  I  wish  it.  may  proceed  no  further. 
The  emissaries  and  instruments  of  the  Church  of  Rome 
will  never  rest  till  they  have  crushed  the  Church  of 
England,  as  knowing  that  alone  to  be  able  to  cope  with 
them,  and  that  they  can  never  answer  her  fairly,  but  lie 
abundantly  open  to  the  irresistible  force  of  her  arguments, 
antiquity  and  purity  of  her  doctrine,  so  that  albeit  it  may 
move  God,  for  the  punishment  of  a  nation  so  unworthy,  to 
eclipse  again  the  profession  of  her  here,  and  darkness  and 
superstition  prevail,  I  am  most  confident  the  doctrine  of 
the  Church  of  England  vnW  never  be  extinguished,  but 
remain  visible,  if  not  eminent,  to  the  consummation  of  the 
world.  I  have  innumerable  reasons  that  confirm  me  in 
this  opinion,  which  I  forbear  to  mention  here. 

In  the  mean  time,  as  to  the  discourse  of  his  Majesty 
with  Mr.  Pepys,  and  those  papers,  as  I  do  exceedingly 
prefer  his  Majesty^s  free  and  ingenuous  profession  of  what 
Ids  own  religion  is,  beyond  concealment  upon  any  politic 
accounts,  so  I  think  him  of  a  most  sincere  and  honest 
nature,  one  on  whose  word  one  may  rely,  and  that  he 
makes  a  conscience  of  what  he  promises,  to  perform  it. 
In  this  confidence,  I  hope  that  the  Church  of  England 
may  yet  subsist,  and  when  it  shall  please  God  to  open  his 
eyes  and  turn  his  heart  (for  that  is  peculiarly  in  the  Lord's 
hands)  to  flourish  also.  In  all  events,  whatever  do  become 
of  the  Church  of  England,  it  is  certainly,  of  all  the 
Christian  professions  on  the  earth,  the  most  primitive, 
apostolical,  and  excellent. 

8th,  I  had  my  picture  drawn  this  week  by  the  famous 
Kneller.* 

14th.  I  went  to  London  about  finishing  my  lodgings 
at  Whitehall. 

15th.  Being  the  King's  birth-day,  there  was  a  solemn 

*  An  engraving  from  this  portrait,  now  at  Wotton,  forms  the  Frontispiece 
to  the  first  Volume  of  tlicse  Memoirs. 


240  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

ball  at  Court,  and  before  it  music  of  instruments  and 
voices.  I  happened  by  accident  to  stand  the  very  next  to 
the  Queen  and  the  King,  who  talked  with  me  about  the 
music. 

18th.  The  King  was  now  building  all  that  range  from 
east  to  west  by  the  court  and  garden  to  the  street,  and 
making  a  new  chapel  for  the  Queen,  Avhose  lodgings  were 
to  be  in  this  new  building,  as  also  a  new  Council-chamber 
and  offices  next  the  south  end  of  the  Banqueting-house.  I 
returned  home,  next  morning,  to  London. 

2:2nd.  I  accompanied  my  Lady  Clarendon  to  her  house 
at  Swallowfield,*  in  Berks,  dining  by  the  way  at  Mr. 
Graham's  lodge  at  Bagshotjf  the  house,  new  repaired  and 
capacious  enough  for  a  good  family,  stands  in  a  park. 

Hence,  we  went  to  Swallowfield ;  this  house  is  after  the 
ancient  building  of  honourable  gentlemen's  houses,  when 
they  kept  up  ancient  hospitality,  but  the  gardens  and 
waters  as  elegant  as  it  is  possible  to  make  a  flat  by  art  and 
industry,  and  no  mean  expense,  my  lady  being  so  extraor- 
dinarily skilled  in  the  flowery  part,  and  my  lord,  in 
diligence  of  planting ;  so  that  I  have  hardly  seen  a  seat 
which  shows  more  tokens  of  it  than  what  is  to  be  found 
here,  not  only  in  the  delicious  and  rarest  fruits  of  a 
garden,  but  in  those  innumerable  timber  trees  in  the 
ground  about  the  seat,  to  the  greatest  ornament  and  benefit 
of  the  place.  There  is  one  orchard  of  1000  golden,  and 
other  cider  pippins;  walks  and  groves  of  elms,  limes, 
oaks,  and  other  trees.  The  garden  is  so  beset  with  all 
manner  of  sweet  shrubs,  that  it  perfumes  the  air.  The 
distribution  also  of  the  quarters,  walks,  and  parterres,  is 
excellent.  The  nurseries,  kitchen-garden  full  of  the  most 
desirable  plants ;  two  very  noble  orangeries  well  furnished ; 
but,  above  all,  the  canal  and  fishponds,  the  one  fed  with  a 
white,  the  other  with  a  black  running  water,  fed  by  a  quick 
and  swift  river,  so  well  and  plentifully  stored  with  fish, 

•  Sir  William  Backhouse  died  seised  of  the  manor  of  Swallowfield,  in  1 669. 
His  widow,  daughter  and  heiress  of  William  Backhouse,  Esq.,  married  Henry 
Earl  of  Clarendon,  who  became  possessed  of  this  estate.  The  celebrated  Lord 
Chancellor  resided  at  his  son's  house  at  Swallowfield  after  his  retirement  from 
pubhc  life,  and  there  wrote  his  great  work,  "  The  History  of  the  Rebellion." 
Lysons'  Magna  Brit.  Berkshire,  p.  384. 

t  P.  232. 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £4)1 

that  for  pike,  carp,  bream,  and  tench,  I  never  saw  anything 
approaching  it.  We  had  at  every  meal  carp  and  pike  of 
a  size  fit  for  the  table  of  a  Prince,  and  what  added  to  the 
delight  was,  to  see  the  hundreds  taken  by  the  drag,  out  of 
which,  the  cook  standing  by,  we  pointed  out  what  we  had 
most  mind  to,  and  had  carp  that  would  have  been  worth  at 
London  twenty  shillings  a-piece.  The  waters  are  flagged 
about  with  Calamus  aromaticus,  with  which  my  lady 
has  hung  a  closet,  that  retains  the  smell  very  perfectly. 
There  is  also  a  certain  sweet  willow  and  other  exotics : 
also  a  very  fine  bowling-green,  meadow,  pasture,  and  wood ; 
in  a  word,  all  that  can  render  a  country-seat  delightful. 
There  is  besides  a  well-furnished  library  in  the  house. 

26th.  We  returned  to  London,  having  been  treated  with 
all  sorts  of  cheer  and  noble  freedom  by  that  most  religious 
and  virtuous  lady.  She  was  now  preparing  to  go  for 
Ireland  with  her  husband,  made  Lord-Deputy,  and  went  to 
this  country-house  and  ancient  seat  of  her  father  and 
family,  to  set  things  in  order  during  her  absence;  but 
never  were  good  people  and  neighbours  more  concerned 
than  all  the  country  (the  poor  especially)  for  the  departure 
of  this  charitable  woman  ;  every  one  was  in  tears,  and  she 
as  unwilling  to  part  from  them.  There  was  amongst 
them  a  maiden  of  primitive  life,  the  daughter  of  a  poor 
labouring  man,  who  had  sustained  her  parents  (some  time 
since  dead)  by  her  labour,  and  has  for  many  years  refused 
marriage,  or  to  receive  any  assistance  from  the  parish, 
besides  the  little  hermitage  my  lady  gives  her  rent-free ; 
she  lives  on  fourpence  a-day,  which  she  gets  by  spinning ; 
says  she  abounds  and  can  give  alms  to  others,  living 
in  great  humility  and  content,  without  any  apparent  affect- 
ation, or  singularity ;  she  is  continually  working,  praying, 
or  reading,  gives  a  good  account  of  her  knowledge  in 
religion,  visits  the  sick ;  is  not  in  the  least  given  to  talk ; 
very  modest,  of  a  simple  not  unseemly  behaviour ;  of 
a  comely  countenance,  clad  very  plain,  but  clean  and  tight. 
In  sum,  she  appears  a  saint  of  an  extraordinary  sort,, 
in  so  religious  a  life,  as  is  seldom  met  with  in  villages 
now- a- days. 

27th.  I  was  invited  to  dine  at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's  with  my 
Lord  Lieutenant,  where  was  such  a  dinner  for  variety  of 
all  things  as  I  had  seldom  seen,  and  it  was  so  for  the  trial 

VOL.  II.  R 


242  WARY"  OF  [lokdok, 

of  a  master-cook  whom  Sir  Stephen  had  recommended  to 
go  with  his  Lordship  into  Ireland ;  there  were  all  the  dain- 
ties not  only  of  the  season,  but  of  what  art  could  add, 
venison,  plain  solid  meat,  fowl,  baked  and  boiled  meats, 
banquet  [dessert],  in  exceeding  plenty,  and  exquisitely 
dreased.  There  also  dined  my  Lord  Ossory  and  Lady  (the 
Duke  of  Beaufort's  daughter),  my  Lady  Treasurer,  Lord 
Combury,  and  other  visitors. 

28th.  At  the  Royal  Society,  an  urn  full  of  bones  was 
presented,  dug  up  in  a  highway,  whilst  repairing  it,  in 
0.  field  in  Camberwell,  in  Surrey ;  it  was  found  entire  with 
its  cover,  amongst  many  others,  believed  to  be  truly  Roman 
and  ancient. 

Sir  Richard  Bulkeley  described  to  us  a  model  of  a 
chariot  he  had  invented,  which  it  was  not  possible  to  over- 
throw in  whatever  uneven  way  it  was  drawn,  giving  us 
a  wonderful  relation  of  what  it  had  performed  in  that  kind, 
for  ease,  expedition,  and  safety ;  there  were  some  inconve- 
niences yet  to  be  remedied — it  would  not  contain  more  than 
one  person ;  was  ready  to  take  fire  every  ten  miles,  and 
being  placed  and  playing  on  no  fewer  than  ten  rollers,  it 
made  a  most  prodigious  noise,  almost  intolerable.  A 
remedy  was  to  be  sought  for  these  inconveniences. 

31st.  I  dined  at  our  great  Lord  Chancellor  Jefferies,  who 
used  me  with  much  respect.  This  was  the  late  Chief 
Justice  who  had  newly  been  the  Western  Circuit  to  try  the 
Monmouth  conspirators,  and  had  formerly  done  suck 
severe  justice  amongst  the  obnoxious  in  Westminster  Hall, 
for  which  his  Majesty  dignified  him  by  creating  him  first 
a  Baron,  and  now  Lord  Chancellor.  He  had  some  years 
past  been  conversant  in  Deptford;  is  of  an  assured  and 
undaunted  spirit,  and  has  served  the  Court-interest  on 
all  the  hardiest  occasions ;  is  of  nature  cruel,  and  a  slave 
of  the  Court. 

3rd  November.  The  French  persecution  of  the  Pro- 
testants raging  with  the  utmost  barbarity,  exceeded  even 
what  the  very  heathens  used :  innumerable  persons  of  the 
greatest  birth  and  riches  leaving  all  their  earthly  sub- 
stance, and  hardly  escaping  with  their  lives,  dispersed 
through  all  the  countries  of  Europe.  The  French  tyrant 
abrogated  the  Edict  of  Nantes  which  had  been  made  in 
favour  of  them,    and  without  any  cause ;    on  a  sudden 


1685.]  JOHN   EVELYN.  242 

demolishing  all  their  churches,  banishing,  imprisoning, 
and  sending  to  the  galleys  all  the  ministers ;  plundering 
the  common  people,  and  exposing  them  to  all  sorts  of 
barbarous  usage  by  soldiers  sent  to  ruin  and  prey  on 
them  ;  taking  away  their  children ;  forcing  people  to  the 
Mass,  and  then  executing  them  as  relapsers ;  they  burnt 
their  libraries,  pillaged  their  goods,  eat  up  their  fields  and 
substance,  banished  or  sent  the  people  to  the  galleys,  and 
seized  on  their  estates.  There  had  now  been  numbered 
to  pass  through  Geneva  only  (and  that  by  stealth,  for  all 
the  usual  passages  were  strictly  guarded  by  sea  and  land) 
40,000  towards  Switzerland.  In  Holland,  Denmark,  and 
all  about  Germany,  were  dispersed  some  hundred  thou- 
sands ;  besides  those  in  England  where,  though  multitudes 
of  all  degrees  sought  for  shelter  and  welcome  as  distressed 
Christians  and  confessors,  they  found  least  encouragement, 
by  a  fatality  of  the  times  we  were  fallen  into,  and  the 
uncharitable  indifference  of  such  as  should  have  embraced 
them ;  and  I  pray  it  be  not  laid  to  our  charge.  The  famous 
Claude  fled  to  Holland ;  Allix*  and  several  more  came  to 
London,  and  persons  of  great  estates  came  over,  who 
had  forsaken  all.  France  was  almost  dispeopled,  the 
bankers  so  broken,  that  the  tyrant^s  revenue  was  exceed- 
ingly diminished,  manufactures  ceased,  and  everybody 
there,  save  the  Jesuits,  abhorred  what  was  done,  nor 
did  the  Papists  themselves  approve  it.  What  the  further 
intention  is  time  will  show ;  but  doubtless  portending  some 
revolution. 

I  was  showed  the  harangue  which  the  Bishop  of  Valentia 
on  Rhone  made  in  the  name  of  the  Clergy,  celebrating  the 
French  King,  as  if  he  was  a  God,  for  persecuting  the  poor 
Protestants,  with  this  expression  in  it,  ''  That  as  his  victory 
over  heresy  was  greater  than  all  the  conquests  of  Alexander 
and  Caesar,  it  was  but  what  was  wished  in  England  ;  and 
that  God  seemed  to  raise  the  French  King  to  this  power 

*  Mr.  Peter  Allix,  a  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Charenton,  came 
over  with  his  whole  family,  and  met  with  great  encouragement  here.  He  was 
the  author  of  several  learned  discoursea  in  defence  of  the  Christian  religion 
in  general,  and,  of  Protestantism  in  particular.  His  eldest  son,  John  Peter 
Allix,  became  D.  D.,  and,  after  passing  through  diiferent  preferments,  was  in 
1730  made  Dean  of  Ely,  and  died  in  1758,  and  was  buried  in  his  church  of 
Castle-Camps  in  Cambridgeshire. 

R    2 


244  DIARY  OF  IJLONDOM, 

and  magnanimous  action,  that  he  might  be  in  capacity  to 
assist  in  doing  the  same  here."  This  paragraph  is  very 
bold  and  remarkable;  several  reflecting  on  Archbishop 
Usher's  prophecy  as  now  begun  in  France,  and  approach- 
ing the  orthodox  in  all  other  reformed  churches.  One 
thing  was  much  taken  notice  of,  that  the  Gazettes  which 
were  still  constantly  printed  twice  a  week,  informing  us 
what  was  done  all  over  Europe,  never  spake  of  this  won- 
derful proceeding  in  France ;  nor  was  any  relation  of  it 
published  by  any,  save  what  private  letters  and  the  perse- 
cuted fugitives  brought :  whence  this  silence  I  Ust  not  to 
conjecture,  but  it  appeared  very  extraordinary  in  a  Pro- 
testant country,  that  we  should  know  nothing  of  what 
Protestants  suffered,  whilst  great  collections  were  made 
for  them  in  foreign  places,  more  hospitable  and  Christian 
to  appearance. 

5th.  It  being  an  extraordinary  wet  morning,  and  myself 
indisposed  by  a  very  great  rheum,  I  did  not  go  to  church, 
to  my  very  great  sorrow,  it  being  the  first  Gunpowder 
Conspiracy  anniversary  that  had  been  kept  now  these 
eighty  years  under  a  prince  of  the  Roman  religion. 
Bonfires  were  forbidden  on  this  day ;  what  does  this 
portend ! 

9th.  Began  the  Parliament;  the  King  in  his  speech 
required  continuance  of  a  standing  force  instead  of  a 
militia,  and  indemnity  and  dispensation  to  Popish  officers 
from  the  Test ;  demands  very  unexpected  and  unpleasing 
to  the  Commons.  He  also  required  a  supply  of  revenue, 
which  they  granted ;  but  returned  no  thanks  to  the  King 
for  his  speech,  till  farther  consideration. 

12th.  The  Commons  postponed  finishing  the  bill  for  the 
Supply,  to  consider  the  Test,  and  Popish  officers ;  this  was 
carried  but  by  one  voice. 

14th.  I  dined  at  Lambeth,  my  Lord  Archbishop  carrying 
me  with  him  in  his  barge :  there  were  my  Lord  Deputy  of 
Ireland,  the  Bishops  of  Ely,  and  St.  Asaph,  Dr.  Sher- 
lock, and  other  divines ;  Sir  William  Hayward,  Sir  Paul 
Rycaut,  &c. 

20th.  The  Parliament  was  adjourned  to  February, 
several  both  of  Lords  and  Commons  excepting  against 
some  passage  of  his  Majesty's  speech  relating  to  the  Test, 
and  continuance  of  Popish  officers  in  command.     This  was 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  g45 

a  great  surprise  in  a  parliament,  which  people  believed 
would  have  complied  in  all  things. 

Popish  pamphlets  and  pictures  sold  publicly ;  no  books 
nor  answers  to  them  appearing  till  long  after. 

21st.  I  resigned  my  trust  for  composing  a  difference 
between  Mr.  Thynn  and  his  wife. 

22nd.  Hitherto  was  a  very  wet  warm  season. 

4th  December.  Lord  Sunderland  was  declared  President 
of  the  Council,  and  yet  to  hold  his  Secretary's  place.  The 
forces  disposed  into  several  quarters  through  the  kingdom 
are  very  insolent,  on  which  are  great  complaints. 

Lord  Brandon  tried  for  the  late  conspiracy,  was  con- 
demned and  pardoned ;  so  was  Lord  Grey,  his  accuser  and 
witness. 

Persecution  in  France  raging,  the  French  insolently 
visit  our  vessels,  and  take  away  the  fugitive  Protestants ; 
some  escape  in  barrels. 

10th.  To  Greenwich,  being  put  into  the  new  Commission 
of  Sewers. 

1.3th.  Dr.  Patrick,  Dean  of  Peterborough,  preached  at 
Whitehall,  before  the  Princess  of  Denmark ;  who  since  his 
Majesty  came  to  the  Crown,  always  sat  in  the  King's 
closet,  and  had  the  same  bowings  and  ceremonies  applied 
to  the  place  where  she  was,  as  his  Majesty  had  when  there 
in  person. 

Dining  at  Mr.  Pepys's,  Dr.  Slayer  showed  us  an  experi- 
ment of  a  wonderful  nature,  pouring  first  a  very  cold 
liquor  into  a  glass,  and  super-fusing  on  it  another,  to 
appearance  cold  and  clear  liquor,  also ;  it  first  produced  a 
white  cloud,  then  boiling,  divers  coruscations  and  actual 
flames  of  fire  mingled  with  the  liquor,  which  being  a  little 
shaken  together,  fixed  divers  suns  and  stars  of  real  fire, 
perfectly  globular,  on  the  sides  of  the  glass,  and  which 
there  stuck  like  so  many  constellations,  burning  most 
vehemently,  and  resembling  stars  and  heavenly  bodies, 
and  that  for  a  long  space.  It  seemed  to  exhibit  a  theory 
of  the  eduction  of  light  out  of  the  chaos,  and  the  fixing  or 
gathering  of  the  universal  light  into  luminous  bodies. 
This  matter,  or  phosphorus,  was  made  out  of  human 
blood  and  urine,  elucidating  the  vital  flame,  or  heat,  in 
animal  bodies.     A  very  noble  experiment! 

16th.  I   accompanied  my  Lord   Lieutenant   as  far  as 


2^46  DIAKT    OP  [LONDON, 

St.  Alban^s,  there  going  out  of  town  with  him  near  200 
coaches  of  all  the  great  ofl&cers  and  nobility.  The  next 
morning  taking  leave,  I  returned  to  London. 

18th.  I  dined  at  the  great  entertainment  his  Majesty 
gave  the  Venetian  Ambassadors,  Signors  Zenno  and 
Justiniani,  accompanied  with  ten  more  noble  Venetians  of 
their  most  illustrious  families,  Cornaro,  Maccenigo,  &c., 
who  came  to  congratulate  their  Majesties  coming  to  the 
Crown.  The  dinner  was  most  magnificent  and  plentiful, 
at  four  tables,  with  music,  kettle-drums,  and  trumpets, 
which  sounded  upon  a  whistle  at  every  health.  The 
banquet  [dessert]  was  twelve  vast  chargers  piled  up  so  high, 
that  those  who  sat  one  against  another  could  hardly  see 
each  other.  Of  these  sweetmeats,  which  doubtless  were 
some  days  piling  up  in  that  exquisite  manner,  the  Ambas- 
sadors touched  not,  but  leaving  them  to  the  spectators  who 
came  out  of  curiosity  to  see  the  dinner,  were  exceedingly 
pleased  to  see  in  what  a  moment  of  time  all  that  curious 
work  was  demolished,  the  comfitures  voided,  and  the  tables 
cleared.  Thus  his  Majesty  entertained  them  three  days, 
which  (for  the  table  only)  cost  him  £600,  as  the  Clerk  of 
the  Green  Cloth  (Sir  William  Boreman)  assured  me. 
Dinner  ended,  I  saw  their  procession,  or  cavalcade,  to 
Whitehall,  innumerable  coaches  attending.  The  two 
Ambassadors  had  four  coaches  of  their  own,  and  fifty 
footmen  (as  I  remember),  besides  other  equipage  as  splendid 
as  the  occasion  would  permit,  the  Court  being  still  in 
mourning.  Thence,  I  went  to  the  audience  which  they 
had  in  the  Queen^s  presence-chamber,  the  Banqueting- 
house  being  full  of  goods  and  furniture  till  the  galleries 
on  the  garden-side,  council-chamber,  and  new  chapel,  now 
in  building,  were  finished.  They  went  to  their  audience 
in  those  plain  black  gowns  and  caps  which  they  constantly 
wear  in  the  city  of  Venice.  I  Avas  invited  to  have  accom- 
panied the  two  Ambassadors  in  their  coach  to  snpper  that 
night,  returning  now  to  their  own  lodgings,  as  no  longer 
at  the  King's  expence ;  but  being  weary  I  excused  myself. 

19th.  My  Lord  Treasurer  made  me  dine  with  him, 
where  I  became  acquainted  with  Monsieur  Barillon,  the 
French  Ambassador,  a  learned  and  crafty  advocate. 

20th.  Dr.  Turner,  brother  to  the  Bishop  of  Ely,  and 
sometime  tutor  to  my   son,   preached   at   Whitehall  on 


1685.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  247 

Mark  viii.  38,  concerning  the  submission  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. 

22nd.  Our  patent  for  executing  the  office  of  Privy  Seal 
during  the  absence  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland, 
being  this  day  sealed  by  the  Lord  Chancellor,  we  went 
afterwards  to  St.  James's,  where  the  Court  then  was  on 
occasion  of  building  at  Whitehall;  his  Majesty  delivered 
the  seal  to  my  Lord  Tiviot  and  myself,  the  other  Commis- 
sioners not  being  come,  and  then  gave  us  his  hand  to  kiss. 
There  were  the  two  Venetian  Ambassadors  and  a  world  of 
company ;  amongst  the  rest  the  first  Popish  Nuncio  *  that 
had  been  in  England  since  the  Reformation ;  so  wonder- 
fully were  things  changed,  to  the  universal  jealousy. 

24th.  We  were  all  three  Commissioners  sworn  on  our 
knees  by  the  Clerk  of  the  Crown,  before  my  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, 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  Christmas-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  Signet,  we  met  and  sealed.  Amongst  other 
things  was  a  pardon  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  indeniza- 
tions; and  so  agreeing  to  a  fortnight's  vacation,  I  returned 
home. 

31st.  Recollecting  the  passages  of  the  year  past,  and 
having  made  up  accorapts,  humbly  besought  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  undeserved  mercies  and 
preservations,  begging  the  continuance  of  his  grace  and 
preservation. — The  winter  had  hitherto  been  extraordinary 
wet  and  mild. 

1685-6.    1st   January.    Imploring  the   continuance   of 

«  Ferdinand  Count  D'Ada,  made  afterwards  a  Cardinal  for  his  services,  in 
this  embassy.     There  is  a  good  mezzotinto  print  of  him. 


248  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

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  *  and  .  .  .  ., 
and  Rochester  t  and  Durham  J  put  in  their  places ; 
the  former  had  opposed  the  toleration  intended,  and 
shown  a  worthy  zeal  for  the  reformed  religion  as  esta- 
blished. 

6th.  I  dined  with  the  Archbishop  of  York,  where  was 
Peter  Walsh,  that  Romish  priest  so  well  known  for  his 
moderation,  professing  the  Church  of  England  to  be  a 
true  member  of  the  Catholic  Church ;  he  is  used  to  go  to 
our  public  prayers  without  scruple,  and  did  not  acknow- 
ledge the  Pope's  infallibility,  only  primacy  of  order. 

19th.  Passed  the  Privy  Seal,  amongst  others,  the  creation 
of  Mrs.  Sedley  §  (concubine  to )  Countess  of  Dor- 
chester, which  the  Queen  took  very  grievously,  so  as  for 
two  dinners,  standing  near  her,  I  observed  she  hardly  eat 
one  morsel,  nor  spake  one  word  to  the  King,  or  to  any 
about  her,  though  at  other  times  she  used  to  be  extremely 
pleasant,  full  of  discourse  and  good  humour.  The  Roman 
Catholics  were  also  very  angry ;  because  they  had  so  long 
valued  the  sanctity  of  their  religion  and  proselytes. 

Dryden,  the  famous  play-writer,  and  his  two  sons,  and 

Mrs.  Nelly  (miss  to  the  late )  were  said  to  goto  mass  ; 

such  proselytes  were  no  great  loss  to  the  Church. 

This  night  was  burnt  to  the  ground  my  Lord  Monta- 
gue's palace  in  Bloomsbury,  than  which  for  painting  and 
furniture  there  was  nothing  more  glorious  in  England. 
This  happened  by  the  negligence  of  a  servant,  airing,  as 
they  call  it,  some  of  the  goods  by  the  fire  in  a  moist  season ; 
indeed,  so  wet  and  mild  a  season  had  scarce  been  seen 
in  man's  memory. 

At  this  Seal  there  also  passed  the  creation  of  Sir  Henry 

•  Compton.  f  Sprat.  Z  Crewe. 

§  Catharine,  daughter  of  Sir  Charles  Sedley,  Bart.,  one  of  the  famous  knot 
of  wits  and  courtiers  of  ^King  Charles's  time — he  was  also  a  poet,  and  wrote 
some  dramatic  pieces.  The  Countess  had  a  daughter,  by  King  James  II.,  and 
was  afterwards  married  to  David,  Earl  of  Portmore,  by  whom  she  had  two 
sons,  and  died  in  1717.  Lord  Dorset's  well-known  verses,  "  Tell  me,  Doi-inda, 
why  so  gay,"  &c.  are  addressed  to  this  lady.  Her  father's  sarcasm  when  he 
voted  for  filUng  up  the  vacant  throne  with  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange 
is  well  known  ;  "  King  James  made  my  daughter  a  Countess,  and  I  have 
been  helping  to  make  his  daughter  a  Queen." 


1686.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  249 

Waldegrave*  to  be  a  Peer.  He  had  married  one  of  the 
King's  natural  daughters  by  Mrs,  Churchill.  These  two 
Seals  my  brother  Commissioners  passed  in  the  morning 
before  I  came  to  town,  at  which  I  was  not  displeased.  We 
likewise  passed  Privy  Seals  for  £276,000  upon  several 
accounts,  pensions,  guards,  wardrobes,  privy  purse,  &c., 
besides  divers  pardons,  and  one  more  which  I  must  not 
forget  (and  which  by  Providence  I  was  not  present  at) 
one  Mr.  Lytcott  to  be  Secretary  to  the  Ambassador  to 
Rome.  We  being  three  Commissioners,  any  two  were  a 
quorum. 

21st.  I  dined  at  my  Lady  Arlington's,  Groom  of 
the  Stole  to  the  Queen  Dowager,  at  Somerset  House, 
where  dined  the  Countesses  of  Devonshire,  Dover,  &c. ; 
in  all  eleven  ladies  of  quality,  no  man  but  myself  being 
there. 

24th.  Unheard-of  cruelties  to  the  persecuted  Protestants 
of  France,  such  as  hardly  any  age  has  seen  the  like,  even 
among  the  Pagans. 

6th  February.  Being  the  day  on  which  his  Majesty  began 
his  reign,  by  order  of  Council  it  Avas  to  be  solemnized  with 
a  particular  office  and  sermon,  which  the  Bishop  of  Ely  f 
preached  at  Whitehall  on  Numb.  xi.  12 ;  a  Court  oration 
upon  the  Regal  Office.  It  was  much  wondered  at  that 
this  day,  which  was  that  of  his  late  Majesty's  death,  should 
be  kept  as  a  festival,  and  not  [instead  of  it]  the  day  of 
the  present  King's  coronation.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
formerly  the  custom,  though  not  till  now  since  the  reign 
of  King  James  I. 

The  Duchess  of  Monmouth  being  in  the  same  seat  with 
me  at  church,  appeared  Avith  a  very  sad  and  afflicted 
countenance. 

8th.  I  took  the  Test  in  Westminster-Hall,  before  the 
Lord  Chief  Justice.  I  now  came  to  lodge  at  Whitehall, 
in  the  Lord  PriAy  Seal's  lodgings. 

12th.  My  great  Cause  was  heard  by  my  Lord  Chancellor, 
who  granted  me  a  re-hearing.  I  had  six  eminent  laAvyers, 
my  antagonist  three,  whereof  one  was  the  smooth-tongued 

*  He  was  the  fourth  Baronet;  was  created  30th  January,  168G,  Baron 
Waldegrave  ;  being  at  that  time  Comptroller  of  the  King's  Household,  and 
died  at  Paris,  in  1689.  t  Dr.  Francis  Turner. 


250  DIARY  OF  [lo»»o». 

Solicitor,*  whom  my  Lord  Chancellor  reproved  in  great 
passion  for  a  very  small  occasion.  Blessed  be  God  for  His 
great  goodness  to  me  this  day ! 

19th.  Many  bloody  and  notorious  duels  were  fought 
about  this  time.  The  Duke  of  Grafton  killed  Mr.  Stanley, 
brother  to  the  Earl  of  [Derby],  indeed  upon  an  almost  in- 
sufferable provocation.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  his  Majesty 
will  at  last  severely  remedy  this  unchristian  custom. 

Lord  Sunderland  was  now  Secretary  of  State,  President 
of  the  Council,  and  Premier-Minister. 

1st  March.  Came  Sir  Gilbert  Gerrard  to  treat  with  me 
about  his  son's  marrying  my  daughter,  Susanna.  The 
father  being  obnoxious,  and  in  some  suspicion  and  displea- 
sure of  the  King,  I  would  receive  no  proposal  till  his 
Majesty  had  given  me  leave,  which  he  was  pleased  to  do ; 
but,  after  several  meetings  we  brake  off,  on  his  not  being 
willing  to  secure  any  thing  competent  for  my  daughter's 
children ;  besides  that  I  found  most  of  his  estate  was  in 
the  coal-pits  as  far  off  as  Newcastle,  and  on  leases  from 
the  Bishop  of  Durham,  who  had  power  to  make  concurrent 
leases,  with  other  difficulties. 

7th.  Dr.  Prampton,  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  preached  on 
Psalm  xliv.  17,  18,  19,  showing  the  several  afflictions  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  from  the  primitives  to  this  day, 
applying  exceedingly  to  the  present  conjuncture,  when 
many  were  wavering  in  their  minds,  and  great  temptations 
appearing  through  the  favour  now  found  by  the  Papists, 
so  as  the  people  were  full  of  jealousies  and  discouragement. 
The  Bishop  magnified  the  Church  of  England,  exhorting 
to  constancy  and  perseverance. 

10th.  A  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  about  disposing 
of  Dr.  Ray's  book  of  Fishes,  which  was  printed  at  the 
expense  of  the  Society. 

12th.  A  docket  was  to  be  sealed  importing  a  lease  of 
twenty-one  years  to  one  Hall,  who  styled  himself  his 
Majesty's  printer  (he  lately  turned  Papist)  for  the  printing 
Missals,  Offices,  Lives  of  Saints,  Portals,  Primers,  &c., 
books  expressly  forbidden  to  be  printed  or  sold,  by  divers 
Acts  of  Parliament ;  I  refused  to  put  my  seal  to  it,  making 
my  exceptions,  so  it  was  laid  by. 

•  Mr.  Finch,  called  Silver  Tonr/iie,  from  his  maimer  of  speaking. 


1686.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  25^ 

14th.  The  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells*  preached  on 
John  vi.  17,  a  most  excellent  and  pathetic  discourse: 
after  he  had  recommended  the  duty  of  fasting  and  other 
penitential  duties,  he  exhorted  to  constancy  in  the  Protest- 
ant religion,  detestation  of  the  unheard-of  cruelties  of  the 
French,  and  stirring  up  to  a  liberal  contribution.  This 
sermon  was  the  more  acceptable,  as  it  was  unexpected 
from  a  Bishop  who  had  undergone  the  censure  of  being 
inclined  to  Popery,  the  contrary  whereof  no  man  could 
show  more.  This  indeed  did  all  our  Bishops,  to  the 
disabusing  and  reproach  of  all  their  delators ;  for  none 
were  more  zealous  against  Popery  than  they  were. 

16th.  I  was  at  a  review  of  the  army  about  London,  in 
Hyde  Park,  about  6000  horse  and  foot,  in  excellent  order; 
his  Majesty  and  infinity  of  people  being  present. 

17th.  I  went  to  my  house  in  the  country,  refusing  to 
be  present  at  what  was  to  pass  at  the  Privy  Seal  the  next 
day.  In  the  morning,  Dr.  Tenison  preached  an  incom- 
parable discourse  at  Whitehall,  on  Timothy  ii.  3,  4. 

24th.  Dr.  Cradock  (Provost  of  Eaton)  preached  at  the 
same  place  on  Psalm  xlix.  I'd,  showing  the  vanity  of 
earthly  enjoyments. 

28th.  Dr.  White,  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  preached  in 
a  very  eloquent  style,  on  Matthew  xxvi.  29,  submission  to 
the  will  of  God  on  all  accidents,  and  at  all  times. 

29th.  The  Duke  of  Northumberland  (a  natural  son  of 
the  late  King  by  the  Duchess  of  Cleveland)  marrying  very 
meanly,  with  the  help  of  his  brother  Grafton,  attempted 
in  vain  to  spirit  away  his  wife. 

A  Brief  was  read  in  all  churches  for  relieving  the  French 
Protestants,  who  came  here  for  protection  from  the 
unheard-of  cruelties  of  the  King. 

2nd  April.  Sir  Edward  Hales,  a  Papist,  made  Governor 
of  Dover  Castle.t 

*  Thomas  Ken,  D.  D.  the  deprived  Bishop  :  born  at  Berkhamstead,  Herts, 
in  July,  1637,  and  died  at  Longleate,  in  Wiltsliire,  then  tlie  seat  of  Lord 
Viscount  Weymouth,  March  19,  1710-11. 

+  Not  taking  the  Test,  his  coachman  was  set  up  to  inform  against  him, 
and  claim  the  £500  penalty.  When  this  was  to  be  brought  to  trial,  the 
Judges  were  secretly  asked  their  opinions,  and  such  as  were  not  clear  with 
the  Court,  were  turned  out.  Half  of  them  were  dismissed.  Burnet,  vol.  III. 
pp.  1110,  1111. 


252  DIARY    OF  [LONDON, 

15th.  The  Archbishop  of  York  *  now  died  of  the  small- 
pox, aged  62,  a  corpulent  man.  He  was  my  special  loving 
friend,  and  whilst  Bishop  of  Rochester  (from  whence  he 
was  translated)  my  excellent  neighbour.  He  was  an 
inexpressible  loss  to  the  whole  church,  and  that  Province 
especially,  being  a  learned,  wise,  stout,  and  most  worthy 
prelate ;  I  look  on  this  as  a  great  stroke  to  the  poor  Church 
of  England,  now  in  this  defecting  period. 

18th.  In  the  afternoon,  I  went  to  Camberwell,  to  visit 
Dr.  Parr.  After  sermon,  1  accompanied  him  to  his  house, 
where  he  showed  me  the  Life  and  Letters  of  the  late 
learned  Primate  of  Armagh  (Usher),  and  among  them 
that  letter  of  Bishop  Bramhall's  to  the  Primate,  giving 
notice  of  the  Popish  practices  to  pervert  this  nation,  by 
sending  a  hundred  priests  into  England,  who  were  to 
conform  themselves  to  all  sectaries  and  conditions  for  the 
more  easily  dispersing  their  doctrine  amongst  us.  This 
letter  was  the  cause  of  the  whole  impression  being  seized, 
upon  pretence  that  it  was  a  political  or  historical  account 
of  things  not  relating  to  theology,  though  it  had  been 
licensed  by  the  Bishop;  which  plainly  showed  what  an 
interest  the  Papists  now  had, — that  a  Protestant  book, 
containing  the  life  and  letters  of  so  eminent  a  man,  was 
not  to  be  published.  There  were  also  many  letters  to  and 
from  most  of  the  learned  persons  his  correspondents  in 
Europe.  The  book  will,  I  doubt  not,  struggle  through 
this  unjust  impediment. 

Several  Judges  were  put  out,  and  new  complying  ones 
put  in, 

25th.  This  day  was  read  in  our  church  the  Brief  for  a 
collection  for  relief  of  the  Protestant  French,  so  crueUy, 
barbarously,  and  inhumanly  oppressed  without  any  thing 
being  laid  to  their  charge.  It  had  been  long  expected, 
and  at  last  with  difficulty  procured  to  be  published,  the 
interest  of  the  French  Ambassador  obstructing  it. 

5th  May.  There  being  a  seal,  it  was  feared  we  should 
be  required  to  pass  a  docket  dispensing  with  Dr.  Obadiah 
Walker  and  four  more,  whereof  one  was  an  apostate  curate 
of  Putney,t  the   others   officers   of  University   College, 

*  Dr.  John  Dolben. 
+  Edward  Sclater.  From  a  Pi-otestant  he  became  a  Roman  Catholic  ;  and,  in 


1686.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  253 

Oxford,  who  hold  their  masterships,  fellowships,  and  cures, 
and  keep  public  schools,  and  enjoy  all  former  emoluments, 
notwithstanding  they  no  more  frequented  or  used  the 
public  forms  of  prayers,  or  communion,  with  the  Church 
of  England,  or  took  the  Test  or  oaths  of  allegiance  and 
supremacy,  contrary  to  twenty  Acts  of  Parliament ;  which 
dispensation  being  also  contrary  to  his  Majesty's  own 
gracious  declaration  at  the  beginning  of  his  reign,  gave 
umbrage  (as  well  it  might)  to  every  good  Protestant ;  nor 
could  we  safely  have  passed  it  under  the  Privy  Seal, 
wherefore  it  was  done  by  immediate  warrant,  signed  by 
Mr.  Solicitor. 

This  Walker  was  a  learned  person,  of  a  monkish  life, 
to  whose  tuition  I  had  more  than  thirty  years  since  re- 
commended the  sons  of  my  worthy  friend,  Mr.  Hyldyard, 
of  Horsley  in  Surrey,*  believing  him  to  be  far  from  Avhat 
he  proved  a  hypocritical  concealed  Papist,  by  which  he 
perverted  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Hyldyard,  Sir  Edward 
Hale's  eldest  son,  and  several  more,  to  the  great  disturb- 
ance of  the  whole  nation,  as  well  as  of  the  University,  as 
by  his  now  public  defection  appeared.  All  engines  being 
now  at  work  to  bring  in  Popery,  which  God  in  mercy 
prevent ! 

This  day  was  burnt  in  the  old  Exchange,  by  the  com- 
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  j  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  relief  of 
those  miserable  sufferers  who  came  over  for  shelter. 

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. !     No  faith  in  Princes  ! 

1 689,  he  read  his  recantation  from  that  church,  and  again  hecamo  a_ Pro- 
testant.    Manning  and  Bray's  Surrey,  vol.  III.  p.  300. 
*  See  Tol,  1.  p.  273. 


254  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

12th.  I  refused  to  put  the  Privy  Seal  to  Doctor  Walker's 
licence  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  Council-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.  Treasurer's,  that  if  in 
conscience  I  could  dispense  with  it,  for  any  other  hazard 
he  believed  there  was  none.  Notwithstanding  this,  I 
persisted  in  my  refusal. 

29th.  There  was  no  sermon  on  this  anniversary,  as 
there  usually  had  been  ever  since  the  reign  of  the  present 
King. 

2nd  June.  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  as  the  camp,  especially  nineteen  new  Privy-Coun- 
cillors and  Judges  being  now  made,  amongst  which  but 
three  Protestants,  and  Tyrconnel  made  General. 

New  Judges  also  here,  amongst  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.f  Scotland  refuses  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 

•  Dr.  Sancroft.     Burnet  describes  him  as  a  timid  man. 
+  Christopher  Milton,  made  a  Baron  of  the  Exchequer.     He  did  not  hold 
his  situation  long,  and  Dr.  Johnson  admits,  that  from  weakness  of  constitution 
he  retired  before  he  had  done  any  disreputable  act. 


1686.]  JOHN   EVELYN.  255 

from  tlie  Protestant  religion,  does  of  his  own  accord 
publish  his  recantation  at  Edinburgh.* 

11th.  I  went  to  see  Middleton's  receptacle  of  water  at 
the  New  River,  and  the  new  Spa  Wells  near. 

20th.  An  extraordinary  season  of  violent  and  sudden 
rain.     The  camp  still  in  tents. 

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

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

27th.  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  absolute  ;  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 
offences  against  the  law,  and  forgive  the  penalties,  and 
why  could  he  not  dispense  with  them ;  by  which  the  Test 
was  abolished?  Every  one  was  astonished.  Great  jea- 
lousies as  to  what  would  be  the  end  of  these  proceedings. 

6th  July.  I  supped  with  the  Countess  of  Rochester, 
where  was  also  the  Duchess  of  Buckingham  and  Madame 
de  Goveme,  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  persecution;  that  they 
kept  much  of  the  cruelties  from  the  King's  knowledge ; 
that  the  Dauphin  was  so  afraid  of  his  father,  that  he  durst 
not  let  any  thing  appear  of  his  sentiments  ;  that  he  hated 
letters  and  priests,  spent  all  his  time  in  hunting,  and 
seemed  to  take  no  notice  of  what  was  passing. 

•  Sir^Robert  Sibbald,  who  was  the  most  learned  antiquary  in  Scotland,  had 
lived  in  a  course  of  philosophical  virtue,  but  in  great  doubt  as  to  revealed 
religion,  was  prevailed  on  by  the  Earl  of  Perth  to  turn  Papist ;  but  he  soon 
became  ashamed  of  having  done  so,  on  so  little  inquiry.  He  went  to  London 
for  some  months,  retiring  from  all  company,  and  went  into  a  deep  coui-se  of 
study,  by  which  he  came  to  see  into  the  errors  of  Popery.  He  then  returned 
to  Scotland,  and  published  his  recantation  openly  in  a  church.  Bwnefs  Own 
Times.  III.  1128, 


256  DIARY  OF  [londow, 

This  lady  was  of  a  great  family  and  fortune,  and  had 
fled  hither  for  refuge. 

8th.  I  waited  on  the  Archbishop  at  Lambeth,  where  I 
dined  and  met  the  famous  preacher  and  writer,  Dr.  Allix,* 
doubtless  a  most  excellent  and  learned  person.  The 
Archbishop  and  he  spoke  Latin  together,  and  that  very 
readily. 

11th.  Dr.  Meggot,  Dean  of  Winchester,  preached  before 
the  Household  in  St.  George's  Chapel  at  Windsor,  the 
late  King's  glorious  chapel  now  seized  on  by  the  mass- 
priests.  Dr.  Cartwright,  Dean  of  Ripon,  preached  before 
the  great  men  of  the  Court  in  the  same  place. 

We  had  now  the  sad  news  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford's  f 
death,  an  extraordinary  loss  to  the  poor  Church  at  this 
time.  Many  candidates  for  his  Bishopric  and  Deanery, 
Dr.  Parker,  South,  Aldrich,  &c.  Dr.  Walker  (now 
apostatizing)  came  to  Court,  and  was  doubtless  veiy  busy. 

13th.  Note,  that  standing  by  the  Queen  at  basset 
(cards),  I  observed  that  she  was  exceedingly  concerned  for 
the  loss  of  £80 ;  her  outward  affability  much  changed  to 
stateliness,  since  she  has  been  exalted. 

The  season  very  rainy  and  inconvenient  for  the  camps. 
His  Majesty  very  cheerful. 

14th.  Was  sealed  at  our  oflfice  the  Constitution  of 
certain  Commissioners  to  take  upon  them  full  power  of  all 
Ecclesiastical  affairs,  in  as  unlimited  a  manner,  or  rather 
greater,  than  the  late  High  Commission-Court,  abrogated 
by  Parliament ;  for  it  had  not  only  faculty  to  inspect  and 
visit  all  Bishops'  dioceses,  but  to  change  what  laws  and 
statutes  they  should  think  fit  to  alter  among  the  Colleges, 
though  founded  by  private  men ;  to  punish,  suspend, 
fine,  &c.  give  oaths  and  call  witnesses.  The  main  drift 
was  to  suppress  zealous  preachers.  In  sum,  it  was  the 
whole  power  of  a  Vicar- General — note  the  consequence  ! 
Of  the  Clergy  the  Commissioners  ^were  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  [Sancroft],  Bishop  of  Durham  [Crewe]  and 
Rochester  [Sprat]  ;  of  the  Temporals,  the  Lord  Treasurer, 
the  Lord  Chancellor  [Jefferies]  (who  alone  was  ever  to  be 
of  the  quorum),  the  Chief  Justice  [Herbert],  and  Lord 
President  [Earl  of  Sunderland] . 

*  Allix,  of  whom  see  p.  243. 
+  Dr.  John  Fell,  also  Dean  of  Christ  Church. 


1G8C.]  JOHN  EVELYN  257 

IStli.  I  went  to  see  Sir  John  Chardin,  at  Greenwieli. 

4tli  August.  I  dined  at  Signor  Verrio^s,  the  famous 
Italian  painter,  now  settled  in  his  Majesty's  garden  at 
St.  James's,  which  he  had  made  a  very  delicious  Paradise. 

Sth.  Our  vicar  gone  to  dispose  of  his  country  living  in 
Eutlandshire,  having  St.  Dunstan  in  the  East  given  him 
by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

I  Avent  to  visit  the  Marquis  Ravigne,  now  my  neigh- 
bour at  Greenwich,  retired  from  the  persecution  in  France. 
He  was  the  Deputy  of  all  the  Protestants  of  that  kingdom 
in  the  Parliament  of  Paris,  and  several  times  Ambassador 
in  this  and  other  Courts ;  a  person  of  great  learning  and 
experience.* 

Sth  September.  Dr.  Compton,  Bishop  of  London,  was 
on  Monday  suspended,  on  pretence  of  not  silencing  Dr. 
Sharp  of  St.  Giles's,  for  something  of  a  sermon  in  which 
he  zealously  reproved  the  doctrine  of  the  Roman  Catholics. 
The  Bishop  having  consulted  the  civilians,  they  told  him 
he  could  not  by  any  law  proceed  against  Dr.  Sharp 
without  producing  witnesses,  and  impleaded  according  to 
form ;  but  it  was  overruled  by  my  Lord  Chancellor,  and 
the  Bishop,  sentenced  without  so  much  as  being  heard  to 
any  purpose.  This  was  thought  a  very  extraordinary  way 
of  proceeding,  and  was  universally  resented,  and  so  much 
the  rather  for  that  two  Bishops,  Durham  f  and  Rochester,  J 
sitting  in  the  Commission  and  giving  their  suffrages,  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  refused  to  sit  amongst  them. 
He  was  only  suspended  ab  officio,  and  that  was  soon  after 
taken  off.  He  was  brother  to  the  Earl  of  Northampton, 
had  once  been  a  soldier,  had  travelled  in  Italy,  but  became 
a  sober,  grave,  and  excellent  Prelate. 

12th.  Buda  now  taken  from  the  Turks;  a  form  of 
Thanksgiving  Avas  ordered  to  be  used  in  the  (as  yet 
remaining)  Protestant  chapels  and  chm'ch  of  Whitehall 
and  AVindsor. 

The  King  of  Denmark  was  besieging  Hamburgh,  no 
doubt  by  the  French  contrivance,  to  embroil  the  Protestant 
Princes  in  a  new  war,  that  Holland,  &c.  being  engaged, 

*  His  son  was  with  King  William  in  Ireland,  and  wa?  made  Earl  of  Galway  ; 
but  was  dismissed  by  violence  of  party,  being  a  Frenchman,  though  his  con- 
duct had  been  in  every  respect  most  excellent,  as  will  be  mentioned  hereafter. 

t  Crewe.  %  Sprat :  he  afterwards  would  not  sit. 

•VOL.  II.  S 


258  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

matter  for  new  quarrel  might  arise :  the  unheard-of  perse- 
cution of  the  poor  Protestants  still  raging  more  than  ever. 

22nd.  The  Danes  retire  from  Hamburgh,  the  Protestant 
Princes  appearing  for  their  succour,  and  the  Emperor 
sending  his  Minatories  to  the  King  of  Denmark,  and  also 
requiring  the  restoration  of  the  Duke  of  Saxe  Gotha. 
Thus  it  pleased  God  to  defeat  the  French  designs,  which 
were  evidently  to  kindle  a  new  war. 

14th  October.  His  Majesty's  birth-day;  I  was  at  his 
rising  in  his  bedchamber,  afterwards  in  the  park,  where 
four  companies  of  guards  were  drawn  up.  The  officers,  &c. 
wonderfully  rich  and  gallant ;  they  did  not  head  their 
troops,  but  their  next  officers,  the  colonels  being  on  horse- 
back by  the  King  whilst  they  marched.  The  ladies  not 
less  splendid  at  Court,  where  there  was  a  ball  at  night ; 
but  small  appearance  of  quality.  All  the  shops  both  in 
the  City  and  suburbs  were  shut  up,  and  kept  as  solemnly 
as  any  hoUday.  Bonfires  at  night  in  Westminster,  but 
forbidden  in  the  City. 

17th.  Dr.  Patrick,  Dean  of  Peterborough,  preached  at 
Covent  Garden  church  on  Ephes.  v.  18,  19,  showing  the 
custom  of  the  primitive  saints  in  serving  God  Avith 
hymns,  and  their  frequent  use  of  them  upon  all  occasions: 
perstringing  the  profane  way  of  mirth  and  intemperance 
of  this  ungodly  age.  Afterwards,  I  visited  my  Lord 
Chief  Justice  of  Ireland,  with  whom  I  had  long  and 
private  discourse  concerning  the  miserable  condition  that 
kingdom  was  like  to  be  in,  if  TyrconneFs  coimsels  should 
prevail  at  Court. 

23rd.  Went  with  the  Countess  of  Sunderland  to  Cran- 
bourn,  a  lodge  and  walk  of  my  Lord  Godolphin's  in  Windsor 
Park.  There  was  one  room  in  the  house  spared  in  the 
pulling  down  the  old  one,  because  the  late  Duchess  of 
York  was  born  in  it ;  the  rest  was  built  and  added  to  it 
by  Sir  George  Carteret,  Treasurer  of  the  Navy ;  and  since, 
the  whole  was  purchased  by  my  Lord  Godolphin,  who 
spake  to  me  to  go  see  it,  and  advise  what  trees  were  fit  to 
be  cut  down  to  improve  the  dwelling,  being  environed 
with  old  rotten  pollards,  which  corrupt  the  air.  It  stands 
on  a  knoll,  which  though  insensibly  rising,  gives  it  a 
prospect  over  the  Keep  of  Windsor,  about  three  miles 
N.  E.  of  it.     The  ground  is  clayey  and  moist ;  the  water 


1686.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  259 

stark  naught;  the  park  is  pretty;  the  house  tolerable^ 
and  gardens  convenient.  After  dinner,  we  came  back  to 
London,  having  two  coaches  both  going  and  coming,  of 
six  horses  apiece,  which  we  changed  at  Hounslow. 

24'th.  Dr.  Warren  preached  before  the  Princess  at 
Whitehall  on  5th  Matthew,  of  the  blessedness  of  the  pure 
in  heart,  most  elegantly  describing  the  bliss  of  the  beati- 
fical vision.  In  the  afternoon.  Sir  George  Wheeler,  Knight 
and  Baronet,  preached  on  the  4th  Matt,  upon  the  neces- 
sity of  repentance,  at  St.  Margaret^s,  an  honest  and 
devout  discourse,  and  pretty  tolerably  performed.  This 
gentleman  coming  from  his  travels  out  of  Greece,  fell 
in  love  with  the  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Higgins,  his 
Majesty's  resident  at  Venice,  niece  to  the  Earl  of  Bath, 
and  married  her.  When  they  returned  into  England, 
being  honoured  with  knighthood,  he  would  needs  turn 
preacher,  and  took  orders.  He  published  a  learned  and 
ingenious  book  of  his  travels,  and  is  a  very  worthy  person, 
a  little  formal  and  particular,  but  exceedingly  devout.* 

27th.  There  was  a  triumphant  show  of  the  Lord  Mayor 
both  by  land  and  water,  with  much  solemnity,  when  yet 
his  power  has  been  so  much  diminished,  by  the  loss  of  the 
City's  former  charter. 

5th  November.  I  went  to  St.  Martin's  in  the  morning, 
where  Dr.  Birch  preached  very  boldly  against  the  Papists, 
from  John  xvi.  3.  In  the  afternoon,  I  heard  Dr.  Tillotson 
in  Lincoln's  Inn  chapel,  on  the  same  text,  but  more 
cautiously. 

16th.  I  went  with  part  of  my  family  to  pass  the  melan- 
choly winter  in  London  at  my  son's  house  in  Arundel 
Buildings. 

*  Sir  George  Wheeler  was  bom  whilst  his  parents  were  in  exile  at  Breda 
for  their  attachment  to  King  Charles  I.  He  was  of  Luicoln  College,  Oxford. 
On  his  return  from  his  travels  in  Asia  and  Greece,  he  was  knighted.  Having 
presented  several  antiquities  which  he  had  collected  to  the  University  of 
Oxford,  in  1683,  they  gave  him  his  degree  of  A.  M.  He  took  orders  against 
the  advice  of  powerful  friends,  but  from  an  earnest  desire  to  be  useful  as  a 
Parish  Priest  ;  and  he  well  fulfilled  liis  intentions.  He  became  Rector  of 
Houghton-le-Spring,in  Durham,  the  living  which  had  been  so  excmplarily  filled 
by  the  "  Northern  Apostle,"  Bernard  Gilpin,  and  whose  example  he  worthily 
followed.  Bishop  Crewe  also  gave  him  a  stall  in  Durham  Cathedral.  He  died 
18th  January,  1723.  His  descendants  arc  seated  at  Otterden,  in  Kent.  See 
Mr.  Surtees' "  History  of  Durham  "(1816),  where  a  large  account  and  portrait 
are  given  of  him. 

s2 


260  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

5tli  December.  I  dined  at  my  Lady  Arlington's,  Groom 
of  the  Stole  to  the  Queen-Dowager  at  Somerset-House, 
where  dined  divers  French  noblemen,  driven  out  of  their 
country  by  the  persecution. 

16th.  I  carried  the  Countess  of  Sunderland  to  see  the 
rarities  of  one  Mr.  Charlton  in  the  Middle  Temple,  who 
showed  us  such  a  collection  as  I  had  never  seen  in  all  my 
travels  abroad,  either  of  private  gentlemen,  or  princes.  It 
consisted  of  miniatures,  drawings,  shells,  insects,  medals, 
natural  things,  animals  (of  which  divers,  I  think  1 0  0,  were  kept 
in  glasses  of  spirits  of  wine),  minerals,  precious  stones,  vessels, 
curiosities  in  amber,  crystal,  agate,  &c. ;  all  being  very 
perfect  and  rare  of  their  kind,  especially  his  books  of  birds, 
fish,  flowers,  and  shells,  drawn  and  miniatured  to  the  life. 
He  told  us  that  one  book  stood  him  in  £300 ;  it  was 
painted  by  that  excellent  workman,  whom  the  late  Gaston, 
Duke  of  Orleans,  employed.  This  gentleman's  whole  col- 
lection, gathered  by  himself,  travelling  over  most  parts  of 
Europe,  is  estimated  at  £8,000.  He  appeared  to  be  a 
modest  and  obliging  person.* 

29th.  I  went  to  hear  the  music  of  the  Italians  in  the 
new  chapel,  now  first  opened  publicly  at  Whitehall  for  the 
Popish  Service.  Nothing  can  be  finer  than  the  magnifi- 
cent marble  work  and  architecture  at  the  end,  where  are 
four  statues,  representing  St.  John,  St.  Peter,  St.  Paul,  and 
the  Church,  in  white  marble,  the  work  of  Mr.  Gibbon,  with 
all  the  carving  and  pillars  of  exquisite  art  and  great  cost. 
The  altar-piece  is  the  Salutation ;  the  volto  in  fresco,  the 
Assumption  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  according  to  their  tra- 
dition, with  our  Blessed  Saviour,  and  a  world  of  figures 
painted  by  Verrio.  The  throne  where  the  King  and  Queen 
sit  is  very  glorious,  in  a  closet  above,  just  opposite  to  the 
altar.  .  Here  we  saw  the  Bishop  in  his  mitre  and  rich  copes, 
with  six  or  seven  Jesuits  and  others  in  rich  copes,  sump- 
tuously habited,  often  taking  off  and  putting  on  the  Bishop's 
mitre,  who  sat  in  a  chair  with  arms  pontifically,  was  adored 
and  censed  by  three  Jesuits  in  their  copes ;  then  he  went 
to  the  altar  and  made  divers  cringes,  then  censing  the 
images  and  glorious  tabernacle  placed  on  the  altar,  and 

*  This  collection  was  afterwards  purchased  by  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  and  now 
forms  part  of  the  British  Museum.  Gent.  Mag.,  Nov.  1816,  p.  325,  from 
Mr.  Bagford's  papers  in  the  British  Museum. 


1687.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  261 

now  and  then  changing  place :  the  crosier,  which  was  of 
silver,  was  put  into  his  hand  with  a  world  of  mysterious 
ceremony,  the  music  playing,  with  singing.  I  could  not 
have  believed  I  should  ever  have  seen  such  things  in  the 
King  of  England^s  palace,  after  it  had  pleased  God  to 
enlighten  this  nation ;  but  our  great  sin  has,  for  the  present, 
eclipsed  the  blessing,  which  I  hope  He  will  in  mercy  and 
his  good  time  restore  to  its  purity. 

Little  appearance  of  any  winter  as  yet. 

1686-7.  1st  January.  Mr.  Wake  preached  at  St.  Mar- 
tin's on  1  Tim.  iii.  16,  concerning  the  mystery  of  godliness. 
He  wrote  excellent^,  in  answer  to  the  Bishop  of  Meaux. 

3rd.  A  Seal  to  confirm  a  gift  of  £4,000  per  annum  for 
99  years  to  the  Lord  Treasurer  out  of  the  Post-office,  and 
£1,700  per  annum  for  ever  out  of  Lord  Gray's  estate. 

There  was  now  another  change  of  the  great  officers.  The 
Treasury  was  put  into  commission,  two  professed  Papists 
amongst  them,  viz..  Lords  Bellasis  and  Dover,  joined  with 
the  old  ones.  Lord  Godolphin,  Sir  Stephen  Pox,  and  Sir 
John  Ernley. 

17th.  Much  expectation  of  several  grciit  men  declaring 
themselves  Papists.  Lord  Tyrconnel  gone  to  succeed  the 
Lord-Lieutenant  [Clarendon]  in  Ireland,  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  all  sober  men,  and  to  the  evident  ruin  of  the  Pro- 
testants in  that  kingdom,  as  well  as  of  its  great  improvement 
going  on.  Much  discourse  that  all  the  White  Staff  officers 
and  others  should  be  dismissed  for  adhering  to  their 
religion.  Popish  Justices  of  the  Peace  established  in  all 
counties,  of  the  meanest  of  the  people ;  Judges  ignorant  of 
the  law,  and  perverting  it — so  furiously  do  the  Jesuits 
drive,  and  even  compel  Princes  to  violent  courses,  and 
destruction  of  an  excellent  government  both  in  Church  and 
State.  God  of  his  infinite  mercy  open  our  eyes  and  turn 
our  hearts,  and  establish  His  truth  with  peace  !  The  Lord 
Jesus  defend  His  little  flock,  and  preserve  this  threatened 
church  and  nation  ! 

24th.  I  saw  the  Queen's  new  apartment  at  Whitehall, 
with  her  new  bed,  the  embroidery  of  which  cost  £3,000. 
The  carving  about  the  chimney-piece,  by  Gibbon,  is  incom- 
parable. 

30th.  I  heard  the  famous  eunuch,  Cifaccio,  sing  in  the 
new  Popish  chapel  this  afternoon ;  it  Avas  indeed  very  rare. 


262  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

and  with  great  skill.  He  came  over  from  Rome,  esteemed 
one  of  the  best  voices  in  Italy.  Much  cro^yding — little 
devotion. 

27th  February.  Mr.  Clietwin  preached  at  Whitehall  on 
Rom.  i.  18,  a  very  quaint  neat  discourse  of  moral  right- 
eousness. 

2nd  March.  Came  out  a  proclamation  for  universal 
liberty  of  conscience  in  Scotland,  and  dispensation  from 
all  tests  and  laws  to  the  contrary,  as  also  capacitating 
Papists  to  be  chosen  into  all  offices  of  trust.  The  mystery 
operates. 

3rd.  Dr.  Meggot,  Dean  of  Winchester,  preached  before 
the  Princess  of  Denmark,  on  Matt.  xiv.  23.  In  the  after- 
noon, I  went  out  of  town  to  meet  my  Lord  Clarendon, 
returning  from  Ireland. 

10th.  His  Majesty  sent  for  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Privy  Seal  this  morning  into  his  bedchamber,  and  told  us 
that  though  he  had  thought  fit  to  dispose  of  the  Seal  into 
a  single  hand,  yet  he  would  so  provide  for  us,  as  it  should 
appear  how  well  he  accepted  our  faithful  and  loyal  service, 
with  many  gracious  expressions  to  this  effect ;  upon  which 
we  delivered  the  Seal  into  his  hands.  It  was  by  all  the 
world  both  hoped  and  expected,  that  he  would  have  restored 
it  to  my  Lord  Clarendon ;  but  they  were  astonished  to  see 
it  given  to  Lord  Arundel,  of  Wardour,  a  zealous  Roman 
Catholic.  Indeed  it  was  very  hard,  and  looked  very 
unkindly,  his  Majesty  (as  my  Lord  Clarendon  protested  to 
me,  on  my  going  to  visit  him  and  long  discoursing  with 
him  about  the  affairs  of  Ireland)  finding  not  the  least 
failure  of  duty  in  him  during  his  government  of  that  king- 
dom, so  that  his  recall  plainly  appeared  to  be  from  the 
stronger  influence  of  the  Papists,  who  now  got  all  the 
preferments. 

Most  of  the  great  officers,  both  in  the  Court  and  country, 
Lords  and  others,  were  dismissed,  as  they  would  not  pro- 
mise his  Majesty  their  consent  to  the  repeal  of  the  test  and 
penal  statutes  against  Popish  Recusants.  To  this  end, 
most  of  the  Parliament-men  were  spoken  to  in  his  Majesty^s 
closet,  and  such  as  refused,  if  in  any  place,  of  office  or 
trust,  civil  or  military,  were  put  out  of  their  employments. 
This  was  a  time  of  great  trial ;  but  hardly  one  of  them 
assented,  which  put  the  Popish  interest  much  backward. 


1687.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  263 

The  English  clergy  everj^where  preached  boldly  against 
their  superstition  and  errors,  and  Avere  wonderfully  followed 
by  the  people.  Not  one  considerable  proselyte  was  made 
in  all  this  time.  The  party  Avere  exceedingly  put  to  the 
worst  by  the  preaching  and  writing  of  the  Protestants  in 
many  excellent  treatises,  evincing  the  doctrine  and  disci- 
pline of  the  reformed  religion,  to  the  manifest  disadvantage 
of  their  adversaries.  To  this  did  not  a  little  contribute  the 
sermon  preached  at  Whitehall  before  the  Princess  of  Den- 
mark and  a  great  crowd  of  people,  and  at  least  thirty  of  the 
greatest  nobility,  by  Dr.  Ken,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells, 
on  Johnviii.  46  (the  gospel  of  the  day)  describing  through 
his  whole  discourse  the  blasphemies,  perfidy.  Arresting  of 
Scripture,  preference  of  tradition  before  it,  spirit  of  perse- 
cution, superstition,  legends  and  fables  of  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  so  that  all  the  auditory  understood  his  meaning 
of  a  parallel  between  them  and  the  Bomish  priests,  and 
their  new  Trent  religion.  He  exhorted  his  audience  to 
adhere  to  the  written  Word,  and  to  persevere  in  the  Paith 
taught  in  the  Church  of  England,  whose  doctrine  for 
Catholic  and  soundness  he  preferred  to  all  the  communi- 
ties and  churches  of  Christians  in  the  world ;  concluding 
with  a  kind  of  prophecy,  that  Avhatever  it  suffered,  it  should 
after  short  trial  emerge  to  the  confusion  of  her  adversaries, 
and  the  glory  of  God. 

I  Avent  this  evening  to  see  the  order  of  the  boys  and 
children  at  Christ^s  Hospital.  There  Avere  near  800  boys 
and  gii'ls  so  decently  clad,  cleanly  lodged,  so  wholesomely 
fed,  so  admirably  taught,  some  the  mathematics,  especially 
the  forty  of  the  late  King^s  foundation,  that  I  was  delighted 
to  see  the  progress  some  little  youths  of  thirteen  or  four- 
teen years  of  age  had  made.  I  saw  them  at  supper,  visited 
their  dormitories,  and  much  admired  the  order,  economy, 
and  excellent  goAernment  of  this  most  charitable  seminary. 
Some  are  taught  for  the  Universities,  others  designed  for 
seamen,  all  for  trades  and  callings.  The  girls  are  instructed 
in  all  such  Avork  as  becomes  their  sex  and  may  fit  them  for 
good  Avives,  mistresses,  and  to  be  a  blessing  to  their  gene- 
ration. They  sung  a  psalm  before  they  sat  doAvn  to  supper 
in  the  great  Hall,  to  an  organ  Avhich  played  all  the  time, 
with  such  cheerful  harmony,  that  it  seemed  to  me  a  Adsion 
of  angels.     I  came  from  the  place  with  infinite  satisfaction, 


264  DIARY  OF  [lokdok, 

having  never  seen  a  more  noble,  pious,  and  admirable 
charity.  All  these  consisted  of  orphans  only.*  The  foun- 
dation was  of  that  pious  Prince  King  Edward  VI,,  whose 
picture  (held  to  be  an  original  of  Holbein)  is  in  the  court 
where  the  Governors  meet  to  consult  on  the  affairs  of  the 
Hospital,  and  his  statue  in  white  marble  stands  in  a  niche 
of  the  wall  below,  as  you  go  to  the  church,  which  is  a 
modern,  noble  and  ample  fabric.  This  foundation  has  had, 
and  still  has,  many  benefactors. 

16th.  I  saw  a  trial  of  those  devilish,  murdering,  mis- 
chief-doing engines  called  bombs,  shot  out  of  the  mortar- 
piece  on  Blackheath.  The  distance  that  they  are  cast,  the 
destruction  they  make  where  they  fall,  is  prodigious. 

20th.  The  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  (Dr.  Ken)  preached 
at  St.  Martin's  to  a  crowd  of  people  not  to  be  expressed, 
nor  the  wonderful  eloquence  of  this  admirable  preacher ; 
the  text  was  Matt.  xxvi.  36  to  verse  40,  describing  the  bitter- 
ness of  our  Blessed  Saviour's  agony,  the  ardour  of  his  love, 
the  infinite  obligations  we  have  to  imitate  his  patience  and 
resignation ;  the  means  by  watching  against  temptations, 
and  over  ourselves  with  fervent  prayer  to  attain  it,  and  the 
exceeding  reward  in  the  end.  Upon  all  which  he  made 
most  pathetical  discourses.  The  Communion  followed,  at 
which  I  was  participant.  I  afterwards  dined  at  Dr.  Teni- 
son's  with  the  Bishop  and  that  young,  most  learned,  pious, 
and  excellent  preacher,  Mr.  Wake.f  In  the  afternoon,  I 
went  to  hear  Mr.  Wake  at  the  new-built  church  of  St. 
Anne,  on  Mark  viii.  34,  upon  the  subject  of  taking  up  the 
cross,  and  strenuously  behaving  ourselves  in  time  of  perse- 
cution, as  this  now  threatened  to  be. 

His  Majesty  again  prorogued  the  Parliament,  foreseeing 
it  would  not  remit  the  laws  against  Papists,  by  the  extra- 
ordinary zeal  and  bravery  of  its  members,  and  the  free 
renunciation  of  the  great  officers  both  in  court  and  state, 
who  would  not  be  prevailed  with  for  any  temporal  concern. 

25th.  Good  Friday.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  at  St.  Mar- 
tin's, on  1  Peter  ii.  24.  During  the  service,  a  man  came 
into  near  the  middle  of  the  church,  with  his  sword  drawn, 
with  several  others  in  that  posture;  in  this  jealous  time  it 

*  This  is  by  no  means  the  case  now. 
t  Afterwai'ds  Archbisliop  of  Canterbuiy. 


1687.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  265 

put  the  congregation  into  great  confusion ;  but  it  appeared 
to  be  one  who  fled  for  sanctuarj'^j  being  pursued  by  bailiffs. 

8th  April.  I  had  a  re-hearing  of  my  great  cause  at  the 
Chancery  in  Westminster  Hall,  having  seven  of  the  most 
learned  Counsel,  my  adversary  five,  among  which  were  the 
Attorney-General  and  late  Solicitor  Finch,  son  to  the  Lord 
Chancellor  Nottingham.  The  accompt  was  at  last  brought 
to  one  article  of  the  surcharge,  and  referred  to  a  Master. 
The  cause  lasted  two  hours  and  more. 

lOtli.  In  the  last  week,  there  was  issued  a  Dispensation 
from  all  obligations  and  tests,  by  which  Dissenters  and 
Papists  especially  had  public  liberty  of  exercising  their 
several  ways  of  worship,  without  incurring  the  penalty  of 
the  many  Laws  and  Acts  of  Parliament  to  the  contrary. 
This  was  purely  obtained  by  the  Papists,  thinking  thereby 
to  ruin  the  Church  of  England,  being  now  the  only  Church 
which  so  admirably  and  strenuously  opposed  their  super- 
stition. There  was  a  wonderful  concourse  of  people  at  the 
Dissenters'  meeting-house  in  this  parish,  and  the  parish- 
church  [Deptford]  left  exceeding  thin.  What  this  will 
end  in,  God  Almighty  only  knows ;  but  it  looks  like 
confusion,  which  I  pray  God  avert. 

11th.  To  London  about  my  suit,  some  terms  of  accom- 
modation being  proposed. 

19th.  I  heard  the  famous  singer,  Cifaccio,  esteemed  the 
best  in  Europe.  Indeed,  his  holding  out  and  delicateness 
in  extending  and  loosing  a  note  with  incomparable  soft- 
ness and  sweetness  was  admirable ;  for  the  rest  I  found 
him  a  mere  wanton,  effeminate  child,  very  coy,  and  proudly 
conceited,  to  my  apprehension.  He  touched  the  harpsi- 
chord to  his  voice  rarely  well.  This  was  before  a  select 
number  of  particular  persons  whom  Mr.  Pepys  invited  to 
his  house ;  and  this  was  obtained  by  particular  favour  and 
much  difliculty,  the  Signor  much  disdaining  to  show  his- 
talent  to  any  but  princes. 

24th.  At  Greenwich,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  Church- 
service,  there  was  a  French  sermon  preached  after  the  use 
of  the  English  Liturgy  translated  into  French,  to  a  congre- 
gation of  about  100  French  Refugees,  of  whom  Monsieur 
Ruvigny  was  the  chief,  and  had  obtained  the  use  of  the 
church,  after  the  parish-service  was  ended.  The  preacher 
pathetically  exhorted  to  patience,  constancy,  and  reliance 


266  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

on  God  amidst  all  their  sufferings,  and  the  infinite  rewards 
to  come. 

2nd  May.  I  dined  with  Mynheer  Diskvelts,  the  Holland 
Ambassador,  a  prudent  and  worthy  person.  There  dined 
Lord  Middleton,  principal  Secretary  of  State,  Lord  Pem- 
broke, Lord  Lumley,  Lord  Preston,  Colonel  Fitzpatrick, 
and  Sir  John  Chardin.  After  dinner,  the  Ambassador 
discoursed  of  and  deplored  the  stupid  folly  of  om*  politics, 
in  suffering  the  French  to  take  Luxemburg,  it  being 
a  place  of  the  most  concern  to  have  been  defended,  for  the 
interest  not  only  of  the  Netherlands,  but  of  England. 

12th.  To  London.  Lord  Sunderland  being  Lord  Presi- 
dent and  Secretary  of  State,  was  made  Knight  of  the 
Garter  and  prime  favourite. — This  day  there  was  such 
a  storm  of  wind  as  had  seldom  happened,  being  a  sort 
of  hurricane.  It  kept  the  flood  out  of  the  Thames,  so  that 
people  went  on  foot  over  several  places  above  bridge.  Also 
an  earthquake  in  several  places  in  England  about  the  time 
of  the  storm. 

26th.  To  London,  about  my  agreement  with  Mr.  Prety- 
man,  after  my  tedious  suit. 

2nd  June.  I  went  to  London,  it  having  pleased  his 
Majesty  to  grant  me  a  Privy  Seal  for  £6,000,  for  discharge 
of  the  debt  I  had  been  so  many  years  persecuted  for, 
it  being  indeed  for  money  drawn  over  by  my  father-in-law. 
Sir  R.  Browne,  during  his  residence  in  the  Court  of  France, 
and  so  with  a  much  greater  sum  due  to  Sir  Richard  from 
his  Majesty ;  and  now  this  part  of  the  arrear  being  paid, 
there  remains  yet  due  to  me,  as  executor  of  Sir  Richard, 
above  £6,500  more;  but  this  determining  an  expensive 
Chancery  suit  has  been  so  great  a  mercy  and  providence  to 
me,  (through  the  kindness  and  friendship  to  me  of  Lord 
Godolphin,  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Trea- 
sury) that  I  do  acknowledge  it  with  all  imaginable  thanks 
to  my  gracious  God. 

6th.  I  visited  my  Lady  Pierpoint,  daughter  to  Sir  John 
Evelyn  of  Deane  [in  Wilts],  now  widow  of  Mr.  Pierpoint, 
and  mother  of  the  Earl  of  Kingston.  She  was  now  engaged 
in  the  marriage  of  my  cousin,  Evelyn  Pierpoint,  her 
second  son. 

There  was  about  this  time  brought  into  the  Downs 
a  vast  treasure,  which  was  sunk  in  a  Spanish  galleon  about 


1687.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  267 

forty-five  yeara  ago^  somewhere  near  Hispaniola,  or  the 
Bahama  islands,  and  was  now  weighed  up  by  some  gentle- 
men, who  were  at  the  charge  of  divers,  &c.,  to  the  enriching 
them  beyond  all  expectation.  The  Duke  of  Albemarle's 
share  [Governor  of  Jamaica]  came  to,  I  believe,  £50,000.* 
Some  private  gentlemen  who  adventured  £100  gained  from 
£8,000  to  £10,000.     His  Majesty's  tenth  was  £10,000. 

The  Camp  was  now  again  pitched  at  Hounslow,  the 
Commanders  profusely  vying  in  the  expense  and  magnifi- 
cence of  tents. 

12th.  Our  Vicar  preached  on  2  Peter  ii.  21,  upon 
the  danger  of  relapsing  into  sin.  After  this,  I  went  and 
heard  M,  Lamot,  an  eloquent  French  preacher  at  Green- 
wich, on  Prov.  XXX.  8,  9,  a  consolatory  discourse  to  the  poor 
and  religious  refugees  who  escaped  out  of  France  in  the 
cruel  persecution. 

16th.  I  went  to  Hampton-Court  to  give  his  Majesty 
thanks  for  his  late  gracious  favour,  though  it  was  but 
granting  what  was  due.  Whilst  I  was  in  the  Council- 
Chamber,  came  in  some  persons,  at  the  head  of  whom  was 
a  formal  man  with  a  large  roll  of  parchment  in  his  hand, 
being  an  Address  (as  he  said,  for  he  introduced  it  with 
a  speech)  of  the  people  of  Coventry,  giving  his  Majesty 
their  great  acknowledgments  for  his  granting  a  liberty  of 
conscience;  he  added  that  this  was  not  the  application 
of  one  party  only,  but  the  unanimous  address  of  Church  of 
England  men,  Presbyterians,  Independents,  and  Anabap- 
tists, to  show  how  extensive  his  Majesty's  grace  was, 
as  taking  in  all  parties  to  his  indulgence  and  protection, 
which  had  removed  all  dissentions  and  animosities,  which 
would  not  only  unite  them  in  bonds  of  Christian  charity, 
but  exceedingly  encourage  their  future  industry,  to  the 
improvement  of  trade,  and  spreading  his  Majesty's  glory 
throughout  the  world ;  and  that  now  he  had  given  to  God 
his  empire,  God  would  establish  his;  with  expressions 
of  great  loyalty  and  submission ;  and  so  he  gave  the  roll  to 
the  King,  which  being  returned  to  him  again,  his  Majesty 
«aused  him  to  read.  The  Address  was  short,  but  much  to 
the  substance  of  the  speech  of  their  foreman,  to  whom 

*  The  Duke's  share  amounted  to  considerably  more — it  was  said  about 
£90,000.  A  medal  was  struck  on  this  occasion,  which  is  engra^-^d  in  Mr. 
Evelyn's  book  on  that  subject,  No.  lxxxyii.  p.  151. 


268  DIARY  OF  [londok, 

the  King,  pulling  off  his  hat,  said  that  what  he  had  done  in 
giving  liberty  of  conscience,  was,  what  was  ever  his  judg- 
ment ought  to  be  done ;  and  that,  as  he  would  preserve 
them  in  their  enjoyment  of  it  during  his  reign,  so  he 
would  endeavour  to  settle  it  by  law,  that  it  should  never  be 
altered  by  his  successors.  After  this,  he  gave  them  his 
hand  to  kiss.  It  was  reported  the  subscribers  were  above 
1000. 

But  this  is  not  so  remarkable  as  an  Address  of  the  week 
before  (as  I  was  assured  by  one  present)  of  some  of  the 
Family  of  Love.  His  Majesty  asked  them  what  this  wor- 
ship consisted  in,  and  how  many  their  party  might  consist 
of;  they  told  him  their  custom  was  to  read  the  Scripture, 
and  then  to  preach ;  but  did  not  give  any  further  account, 
only  said  that  for  the  rest  they  were  a  sort  of  refined 
Quakers,  but  their  number  very  small,  not  consisting,  as 
they  said,  of  above  threescore  in  all,  and  those  chiefly 
belonging  to  the  Isle  of  Ely. 

18th.  I  dined  at  Mr.  Blathwaite's  (two  miles  from 
Hampton).  This  gentleman  is  Secretary  of  War,  Clerk  of 
the  Council,  &c.,  having  raised  himself  by  his  industry 
from  very  moderate  circumstances.  He  is  a  very  proper, 
handsome  person,  and  very  dexterous  in  business,  and, 
besides  all  this,  has  married  a  great  fortune.  His  income 
by  the  Army,  Council,  and  Secretary  to  the  Committee  of 
Foreign  Plantations,  brings  him  in  above  £2,000  per 
annum. 

23rd.  The  Privy  Seal  for  £6,000  was  passed  to  me, 
so  that  this  tedious  afi'air  was  dispatched. — Hitherto,  a 
very  windy  and  tempestuous  summer. — The  French  ser- 
mons to  the  refugees  were  continued  at  Greenwich  Church. 

19th  July.  I  went  to  Wotton.  In  the  way,  I  dined 
at  Ashted,  with  my  Lady  Mordaunt. 

5th  August.  I  went  to  see  Albury,  now  purchased  by  Mr, 
Finch  (the  King's  Solicitor,  and  son  to  the  late  Lord 
Chancellor) ;  I  found  the  garden  which  I  first  designed  for 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  nothing  improved. 

15th.  I  went  to  visit  Lord  Clarendon  at  Swallowfield, 
where  was  my  Lord  Cornbury  just  arrived  from  Denmark, 
Avhither  he  had  accompanied  the  Prince  of  Denmark  two 
months  before,  and  now  come  back.  The  miserable  tyranny 
under  which  that  nation  lives,   he  related  to  us  ;  the 


1687.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  269 

King  keeps  them  under  an  armj^  of  40,000  men,  all  Ger- 
mans, he  not  daring  to  trust  his  own  subjects.  Notwith- 
standing this,  the  Danes  are  exceeding  proud,  the  country 
very  poor  and  miserable. 

22nd.  Returned  home  to  Saves  (Jourt  from  Wotton, 
having  been  five  weeks  absent  with  my  brother  and  friends, 
who  entertained  us  very  nobly.  God  be  praised  for  His 
goodness,  and  this  refreshment  after  my  many  troubles, 
and  let  His  mercy  and  providence  ever  preserve  me. 
Amen. 

3rd  September.  The  Lord  Mayor  sent  me  an  Officer  with 
a  staif,  to  be  one  of  the  Governors  of  St.  Thomases  Hos- 
pital. 

Persecution  raging  in  France  ;  divers  churches  there  fired 
by  lightning,  priests  struck,  consecrated  hosts,  &c.,  burnt 
and  destroyed,  both  at  St.  Maloes  and  Paris,  at  the  grand 
procession  on  Corpus  Christi-day. 

13th.  I  went  to  Lambeth,  and  dined  with  the  Arch- 
bishop. After  dinner,  I  retired  into  the  library,  which  I 
found  exceedingly  improved;  there  are  also  divers  rare 
manuscripts  in  a  room  apart. 

6th  October.  I  was  godfather  to  Sir  John  Chardin^s  son, 
christened  at  Greenwich  Church,  named  John.  The  Earl 
of  Bath  and  Countess  of  Carlisle,  the  other  sponsors. 

29th.  An  Anabaptist,  a  very  odd  ignorant  person,  a 
mechanic,  I  think,  was  Lord  INIayor.*  The  King  and 
Queen,  and  Dadif,  the  Pope's  Nuncio,  invited  to  feast  at 
Guildhall.  A  strange  turn  of  affairs,  that  those  who  scan- 
dalized the  Church  of  England  as  favourers  of  Popery, 
should  publicly  invite  an  emissary  from  Rome,  one  who 
represented  the  very  person  of  their  Antichrist ! 

loth  December.  My  son  was  returned  out  of  Devon, 
where  he  had  been  on  a  commission  from  the  Lords  of  the 
Treasury  about  a  concealment  of  land. 

20th.  I  went  Avith  my  Lord  Chief  Justice  Herbert, 
to  see  his  house  at  AValton-on-Tliames :  J  it  is  a  barren 
place.     To  a  very  ordinary  house  he   had  built   a  very 

*  Sir  John  Peake. 

•Y  Count  D'Ada.     See  before,  page  247,  note. 

J  This  is  a  mistake  ;  the  house  was  Oatlands  in  Wcybridge.  He  followed 
the  fortunes  of  King  James,  who  gave  him  his  great  Seal.  He  was  attainted, 
and  Oatlands  given  to  his  brother.  Admiral  Herbert.     He  published  an 


270  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

handsome  library,  designing  more  building  to  it  than  the 
place  deserves,  in  my  opinion.  He  desired  my  advice 
about  laying  out  his  gardens,  &c.  The  next  day,  we  went 
to  Weybridge,  to  see  some  pictures  of  the  Duchess  of  Nor- 
folk's, particularly  the  statue,  or  child  in  gremio,  said  to  be 
of  Michael  Angelo;  but  there  are  reasons  to  think  it 
rather  a  copy,  from  some  proportion  in  the  figures  ill 
taken.     It  was  now  exposed  to  sale. 

1687-8.  12th  January.  Mr.  Slingsby,  Master  of  the 
Mint,  being  under  very  deplorable  circumstances  on 
account  of  his  creditors,  and  especially  the  King,  I  did  my 
endeavour  with  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  to  be  favourable 
to  him. 

My  Lord  Arran,  eldest  son  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton, 
being  now  married  to  Lady  Ann  Spencer,  eldest  daughter 
of  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  Lord  President  of  the  Council,  I 
and  my  family  had  most  glorious  favours  sent  us,  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  with  extraordinary  splendour. 

15th.  There  was  a  solemn  and  particular  office  used  at 
our,  and  all  the  churches  of  London  and  ten  miles  round, 
for  a  thanksgiving  to  God,  for  her  Majestv  being  with 
child. 

22nd.  This  afternoon  I  went  not  to  church,  being 
employed  on  a  religious  treatise  I  had  Tindertaken.* 

Post  annum  1588—1660—1688,  Annus  Mirabilis  Ter- 
tius.f 

30th.  Being  the  Martyrdom-day  of  King  Charles  the 
First,  our  curate  made  a  florid  oration  against  the  murder 
of  that  excellent  Prince,  with  an  exhortation  to  obedience 
from  the  example  of  David,  1  Samuel  xx^d.  6. 

12th  February.  My  daughter  Evelyn  going  in  the  coach 
to  visit  in  the  City,  a  jolt  (the  door  being  not  fast  shut) 
flung  her  quite  out  in  such  manner,  as  the  hind  wheels 
passed  over  her  a  httle  above  her  knees.  Yet  it  pleased 
God,  besides  the  bruises  of  the  wheels,  she  had  no  other 
harm.     In  two  days,  she  was  able  to  walk,  and  soon  after 

apology  for  the  judgment  he  had  given  m  favour  of  the  King's  dispensing 
powers,  which  was  answered  by  Mr.  Atwood  and  Sir  Robert  Atkins.  Man- 
ning and  Bray's  Hist,  of  Surrey,  II.  78f). 

•  What  this  was  does  not  appear  ;  but  there  are  several  of  bis  composition, 
remaining  in  MS. 

f  This  seema  added  after  the  page  was  written. 


1688.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  271 

perfectly  well ;  through  God  Almighty's  great  mercy  to 
an  excellent  wife  and  a  most  dutiful  and  discreet  daughter- 
in-law. 

17th.  I  received  the  sad  news  of  my  niece  Montague's 
death  at  Woodcot  on  the  15th. 

15th  March.  I  gave  in  my  account  about  the  Sick  and 
Wounded,  in  order  to  have  my  quietus. 

23rd.  Dr.  Parker,  Bishop  of  Oxford,  who  so  lately  pub- 
lished his  extravagant  treatise  about  transubstantiation, 
and  for  abrogating  the  Test  and  Penal  Laws,  died.  He 
was  esteemed  a  violent,  passionate,  haughty  man,  but  yet 
being  pressed  to  declare  for  the  Church  of  Rome,  he 
utterly  refused  it.     A  remarkable  end ! 

The  French  Tyrant  now  finding  he  could  make  no 
proselytes  amongst  those  Protestants  of  quality,  and  others, 
whom  he  had  caused  to  be  shut  up  in  dungeons,  and  con- 
fined to  nunneries  and  monasteries,  gave  them,  after  so 
long  trial,  a  general  releasement,  and  leave  to  go  out  of 
the  kingdom,  but  utterly  taking  their'  estates  and  their 
children ;  so  that  great  numbers  came  daily  into  England 
and  other  places,  where  they  were  received  and  relieved 
with  very  considerate  Christian  charity.  This  Providence 
and  goodness  of  God  to  those  who  thus  constantly  held 
out,  did  so  work  upon  those  miserable  poor  souls,  who  to 
avoid  the  persecution  signed  their  renunciation,  and  to 
save  theii'  estates  went  to  mass,  that  reflecting  on  what 
they  had  done,  they  grew  so  afi'ected  in  their  conscience, 
that  not  being  able  to  support  it,  they  in  great  numbers 
through  all  the  French  provinces,  acquainted  the  magis- 
trates and  lieutenants  that,  being  sorry  for  their  apostacy, 
they  were  resolved  to  return  to  their  old  religion ;  that 
they  would  go  no  more  to  mass,  but  peaceably  assemble 
when  they  could,  to  beg  pardon  and  worship  God,  but  so 
without  weapons  as  not  to  give  the  least  umbrage  of  rebel- 
lion, or  sedition,  imploring  their  pity  and  commiseration ; 
and,  accordingly,  meeting  so  from  time  to  time,  the  dra- 
goon-missioners.  Popish  officers  and  priests,  fell  upon  them, 
murdered  and  put  them  to  death,  whoever  they  could  lay 
hold  on  ;  they  without  the  least  resistance  embraced  death, 
torture,  or  hanging,  with  singing  psalms  and  praying  for 
their  persecutors  to  the  last  breath,  yet  still  continuing 
the  former  assembling  of  themselves  in  desolate  places. 


272  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

suffering  with  incredible  constancy,  that  through  God's 
mercy  they  might  obtain  pardon  for  this  lapse.  Such 
examples  of  Christian  behaviour  have  not  been  seen  since 
the  primitive  persecutions  ;  and  doubtless  God  will  do  some 
signal  work  in  the  end,  if  we  can  with  patience  and 
resignation  hold  out,  and  depend  on  His  Providence. 

24th.  I  went  with  Sir  Charles  Littleton  to  Sheen, 
a  house  and  estate  given  him  by  Lord  Brouncker ;  one 
who  was  ever  noted  for  a  hard,  covetous,  vicious  man ;  but 
for  his  worldly  craft  and  skill  in  gaming  few  exceeded  him. 
Coming  to  die,  he  bequeathed  all  his  land,  house,  furniture, 
&c.  to  Sir  Charles,  to  whom  he  had  no  manner  of  relation, 
but  an  ancient  friendship  contracted  at  the  famous  siege 
of  Colchester,  forty  years  before.  It  is  a  pretty  place,  with 
fine  gardens,  and  well-planted,  and  given  to  one  worthy  of 
them.  Sir  Charles  being  an  honest  gentleman  and  soldier. 
He  is  brother  to  Sir  Henry  Littleton  of  Worcestershire, 
whose  great  estate  he  is  likely  to  inherit,  his  brother  being 
without  children.  They  are  descendants  of  the  great  lawyer 
of  that  name,  and  give  the  same  Arms  and  motto.  He  is 
married  to  one  Mrs.  Temple,  formerly  Maid  of  Honour  to 
the  late  Queen,  a  beautiful  lady,  and  he  has  many  fine 
children,  so  that  none  envy  his  good  fortune. 

After  dinner,  we  went  to  see  Sir  William  Temple's  near 
to  it;  the  most  remarkable  things  are  his  orangery  and 
gardens,  where  the  wall-fruit-trees  are  most  exquisitely 
nailed  and  trained,  far  better  than  I  ever  noted. 

There  are  many  good  pictures,  especially  of  Vandyke's, 
in  both  these  houses,  and  some  few  statues  and  small  busts 
in  the  latter. 

From  thence  to  Kew,  to  visit  Sir  Henry  Capell's,  whose 
orangery  and  myrtetum  are  most  beautiful  and  perfectly 
well  kept.  He  was  contriving  very  high  palisadoes  of  reeds 
to  shade  his  oranges  during  the  summer,  and  painting 
those  reeds  in  oil. 

1st  April.  In  the  morning,  the  first  sermon  was  by  Dr. 
StiUingfleet,  Dean  of  St.  Paul's  (at  Whitehall),  on  Luke,  x. 
41,  42.  The  holy  Communion  followed,  but  was  so  in- 
terrupted by  the  rude  breaking  in  of  multitudes  zealous 
to  hear  the  second  sermon,  to  be  preached  by  the  Bishop 
of  Bath  and  Wells,  that  the  latter  part  of  that  holy  office 
could  hardly  be  heard,  or  the  sacred  elements  be  distri- 


1688.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  273 

buted  without  great  trouble.  The  Princess  being  come,  he 
preached  on  Mich.  vii.  8,  9,  10,  describing  the  calamity  of 
the  reformed  church  of  Judah  under  the  Babylonian  per- 
secution, for  her  sins,  and  God^s  delivery  of  her  on  her 
repentance;  that  as  Judah  emerged,  so  should  the  now- 
Reformed  Church,  wherever  insulted  and  persecuted.  He 
preached  with  his  accustomed  action,  zeal,  and  energy,  so 
that  people  flocked  from  all  quarters  to  hear  him. 
15th.  A  dry,  cold,  backward  spring;  easterly  winds. 
The  persecution  still  raging  in  France,  multitudes  of 
Protestants,  and  many  very  considerable  and  great  persons 
fl3dng  hither,  produced  a  second  general  contribution,  the 
Papists,  by  God^s  Providence,  as  yet  making  small  progress 
amongst  us. 

29th.  The  weather  was,  till  now,  so  cold  and  sharp,  by 
an  almost  perpetual  east  wind,  which  had  continued  many 
months,  that  there  was  little  appearance  of  any  spring, 
and  yet  the  winter  was  very  favourable  as  to  frost  and  snow. 
2nd  May.  To  London,  about  my  petition  for  allowances 
upon  the  account  of  Commissioner  for  Sick  and  Wounded 
in  the  former  war  with  Holland. 

8th.  His  Majesty,  alarmed  by  the  great  fleet  of  the 
Dutch  (whilst  we  had  a  very  inconsiderable  one),  went 
down  to  Chatham ;  their  fleet  was  well  prepared,  and  out, 
before  we  were  in  any  readiness,  or  had  any  considerable 
number  to  have  encountered  them,  had  there  been  occa- 
sion, to  the  great  reproach  of  the  nation ;  whilst,  being  in 
profound  peace,  there  was  a  mighty  land-army,  which  there 
was  no  need  of,  and  no  force  at  sea,  where  only  was  the 
apprehension ;  but  the  army  was  doubtless  kept  and  in- 
creased, in  order  to  bring  in  and  countenance  Popery,  the 
King  beginning  to  discover  his  intentions,  by  many  in- 
stances pursued  by  the  Jesuits,  against  his  first  reso- 
lution to  alter  nothing  in  the  Church-Establishment, 
so  that  it  appeared  there  can  be  no  reUance  on  Popish 
promises. 

18th.  The  King  enjoining  the  ministers  to  read  his 
Declaration  for  giving  liberty  of  conscience  (as  it  was 
styled)  in  all  the  churches  of  England,  this  evening, 
six  Bishops,  Bath  and  Wells,*  Peterborough,!  Ely,  J  Chi- 

*  Thomas  Ken.         f  Thomas  White,         J  Francis  Turnei*. 
VOL.    II.  T 


274  DIARY  OF  [londok, 

Chester,*  St.  Asaph^f  and  Bristol,t  in  the  name  of  all  the 
rest  of  the  Bishops,  came  to  his  Majesty  to  petition  him, 
that  he  would  not  impose  the  reading  of  it  to  the  several  con- 
gregations within  their  dioceses ;  not  that  they  were  averse 
to  the  publishing  it  for  want  of  due  tenderness  towards 
Dissenters,  in  relation  to  whom  they  should  be  willing  to 
come  to  such  a  temper  as  should  be  thought  fit,  when  that 
matter  might  be  considered  and  settled  in  Parliament  and 
Convocation ;  but  that,  the  Declaration  being  founded  on 
such  a  dispensing  power  as  might  at  pleasure  set  aside  all 
laws  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  it  appeared  to  them  illegal,  as 
it  had  done  to  the  Parliament  in  1661  and  1672,  and  that 
it  was  a  point  of  such  consequence,  that  they  could  not  so 
far  make  themselves  parties  to  it,  as  the  reading  of  it  in 
church  in  time  of  Divine  Service  amounted  to. 

The  King  was  so  far  incensed  at  this  address,  that  he 
with  threatening  expressions  commanded  them  to  obey 
him  in  reading  it  at  their  perils,  and  so  dismissed  them. 

20th.  I  went  to  Whitehall  Chapel,  Avhere,  after  the 
morning  Lessons,  the  Declaration  was  read  by  one  of  the 
Choir  who  used  to  read  the  Chapters.  I  hear  it  was  in 
the  Abbey  Church,  Westminster,  but  almost  universally 
forborne  throughout  all  London:  the  consequences  of 
which  a  little  time  will  show. 

25th.  All  the  discourse  now  was  about  the  Bishops 
refusing  to  read  the  injunction  for  the  abohtion  of  the 
Test,  &c.  It  seems  the  injunction  came  so  crudely  from 
the  Secretary's  office,  that  it  was  neither  sealed  nor  signed 
in  form,  nor  had  any  lawyer  been  consulted,  so  as  the 
Bishops,  who  took  all  imaginable  advice,  put  the  Court  to 
great  difficulties  how  to  proceed  against  them.  Great 
were  the  consults,  and  a  proclamation  expected  all  this 
day ;  but  nothing  was  done.  The  action  of  the  Bishops 
was  universally  applauded,  and  reconciled  many  adverse 
parties.  Papists  only  excepted,  who  were  now  exceedingly 
perplexed,  and  violent  courses  were  every  moment  ex- 
pected. Report  was,  that  the  Protestant  secular  Lords 
and  Nobility  would  abet  the  Clergy. 

The  Queen  Dowager,  hitherto  bent  on  her  return  into 
Portugal,  now  on  the  sudden,  on  allegation  of  a  great  debt 

*  John  Lake.  f  William  Lloyd.  J  Sir  John  Trelawny,  Bart. 


1688.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  375 

owing  her  by  his  Majesty  disabling  her,  declares  her 
resolution  to  stay. 

News  arrived  of  the  most  prodigious  earthquake  that 
was  almost  ever  heard  of,  subverting  the  city  of  Lima  and 
country  in  Peru,  with  a  dreadful  inundation  following  it. 

8th  June.  This  day,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
with  the  Bishops  of  Ely,  Chichester,  St.  Asaph,  Bristol, 
Peterborough,  and  Bath  and  Wells,  were  sent  from  the 
Privy  Council  prisoners  to  the  Tower,  for  refusing  to  give 
bail  for  their  appearance,  on  their  not  reading  the  Decla- 
ration for  liberty  of  conscience  ;  they  refused  to  give  bail, 
as  it  would  have  prejudiced  their  peerage.  The  concern 
of  the  people  for  them  was  wonderful,  infinite  crowds  on 
their  knees  begging  their  blessing,  and  praying  for  them, 
as  they  passed  out  of  the  barge  along  the  Tower-wharf. 

10th.  A  young  Prince  born,  which  will  cause  disputes. 

About  two  o^ clock,  we  heard  the  Tower-ordnance  dis- 
charged, and  the  bells  ringing  for  the  birth  of  a  Prince  of 
Wales.  This  was  very  surprising,  it  having  been  univer- 
sally given  out  that  her  Majesty  did  not  look  till  the  next 
month. 

13th.  I  went  to  the  Tower  to  see  the  Bishops,  \isited 
the  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  Ely,  St.  Asaph,  and  Bath 
and  Wells. 

14th.  Dined  with  my  Lord  Chancellor. 

15th.  Being  the  first  day  of  Term,  the  Bishops  were 
brought  to  Westminster  on  Habeas  Corpus,  when  the 
indictment  was  read,  and  they  were  called  on  to  plead ; 
their  Counsel  objected  that  the  warrant  was  illegal ;  but, 
after  long  debate,  it  was  over-ruled,  and  they  pleaded. 
The  Court  then  oflTered  to  take  bail  for  their  appearance ; 
but  this  they  refused,  and  at  last  were  dismissed  on  their 
own  recognizances  to  appear  that  day  fortnight;  the 
Archbishop  in  £200,  the  Bishops  £100  each. 

17th.  Was  a  day  of  thanksgiving  in  London  and  ten 
miles  about  for  the  young  Prince's  birth ;  a  form  of  prayer 
made  for  the  purpose  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester. 

29th.  They  appeared;  the  trial  lasted  from  nine  in  the 
morning  to  past  six  in  the  evening,  when  the  Jury  retired 
to  consider  of  their  verdict,  and  the  Court  adjourned  to 
nine  the  next  morning.  The  Jury  were  locked  up  till 
that  time,  eleven  of  them  being  for  an  acqiiittal ;  but  one 

T  2 


276  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

(Arnold  a  brewer)  would  not  consent.  At  length,  he 
agreed  with  the  others.  The  Chief  Justice,  Wright, 
behaved  with  great  moderation  and  civility  to  the  Bishops. 
Alibone,  a  Papist,  was  strongly  against  them  ;  but  Hollo- 
way  and  Powell,  being  of  opinion  in  their  favour,  they 
were  acquitted.  When  this  was  heard,  there  was  great 
rejoicing;  and  there  was  a  lane  of  people  from  the  King's 
Bench  to  the  water-side,  on  their  knees,  us  the  Bishops 
passed  and  repassed,  to  beg  their  blessing.  Bonfires  were 
made  that  night,  and  bells  rung,  which  was  taken  very  ill 
at  Court,  and  an  appearance  of  near  sixty  Earls  and 
Lords,  &c.  on  the  bench,  did  not  a  little  comfort  them ; 
but  indeed  they  were  all  along  full  of  comfort  and  cheerful. 

Note,  they  denied  to  pay  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower 
(Hales,  who  used  them  very  surlily)  any  fees,  alleging 
that  none  were  due. 

The  night  was  solemnized  with  bonfires,  and  other 
fire- works,  &c. 

2nd  July.  The  two  Judges,  HoUoway  and  Powell,  were 
displaced. 

3rd.  I  went  with  Dr.  Godolphin  and  his  brother  Sir 
William  to  St.  Alban's  to  see  a  library  he  would  have 
bought  of  the  widow  of  Dr.  Cartwright,  late  Archdeacon 
of  St.  Alban's,  a  very  good  collection  of  books,  especially 
iji  divinity ;  he  was  to  give  £300  for  them.  Having  seen 
the  great  Church,  now  newly  repaired  by  a  public  contri- 
bution, we  returned  home. 

8th.  One  of  the  King's  Chaplains  preached  before  the 
Princess  on  Exodus  xiv.  13,  "  Stand,  still,  and  behold  the 
salvation  of  the  Lord,"  which  he  applied  so  boldly  to  the 
present  conjuncture  of  the  Church  of  England,  that  more 
could  scarce  be  said  to  encourage  desponders.  The 
Popish  priests  were  not  able  to  carry  their  cause  against 
their  learned  adversaries,  who  confounded  them  both  by 
their  disputes  and  writings. 

12th.  The  camp  now  began  at  Hounslow;  but  the 
nation  was  in  high  discontent. 

Colonel  Titus,  Sir  Henry  Vane,  (son  of  him  who  was 
executed  for  his  treason)  and  some  other  of  the  Presby- 
terians and  Independent  party,  were  sworn  of  the  Privy 
Council,  from  hopes  of  thereby  diverting  that  party  from 
going  over  to  the  Bishops  and  Church  of  England,  which 


1688.1  JOHN  EVELYN.  277 

now  they  began  to  do^  foreseeing  the  design  of  the 
Papists  to  descend  and  take  in  their  most  hateful  of 
heretics  (as  they  at  other  times  expressed  them  to  be)  to 
effect  their  own  ends,  now  evident ;  the  utter  extirpation 
of  the  Church  of  England  first,  and  then  the  rest  would 
follow. 

17th.  This  night  the  fireworks  were  played  off,  that  had 
been  prepared  for  the  Queen's  up-sitting.  We  saw  them 
to  great  advantage ;  they  were  very  fine,  and  cost  some 
thousands  of  pounds,  in  the  pyramids,  statues,  &c. ;  but 
were  spent  too  soon  for  so  long  a  preparation. 

2Gth.  I  went  to  Lambeth  to  visit  the  Archbishop,  whom 
I  found  very  cheerful. 

lOtii  August.  Dr.  Tenison  now  told  me  there  would 
suddenly  be  some  great  thing  discovered.  This  was  the 
Prince  of  Orange  intending  to  come  over. 

15th.  I  went  to  Althorpe,  in  Northamptonshire,  seventy 
miles.  A  coach  and  four  horses  took  up  me  and  my  son 
at  Whitehall,  and  carried  us  to  Dunstable,  where  we 
arrived  and  dined  at  noon,  and  from  thence  another  coach 
and  six  horses  carried  us  to  Althorpe,  four  miles  beyond 
Northampton,  where  we  arrived  by  seven  o'clock  that 
evening.  Both  these  coaches  were  hired  for  me  by 
that  noble  Countess  of  Sunderland,  who  invited  me  to  her 
house  at  Althorpe  *  where  she  entertained  me  and  my 
son  with  very  extraordinary  kindness ;  I  staid  till  the 
Thursday. 

18th.  Dr.  Jeffryes,  the  minister  of  Althorpe,  Avho  was 
my  Lord's  chaplain  when  Ambassador  in  France,  preached 
the  shortest  discourse  I  ever  heard ;  but  what  was  defec- 
tive in  the  amplitude  of  his  sermon,  he  had  supplied  in 
the  largeness  and  convenience  of  the  parsonage-house, 
which  the  Doctor  (who  had  at  least  £600  a-year  in  spiritual 
advancement)  had  new  built,  and  made  fit  for  a  person  of 
quality  to  live  in,  with  gardens  and  all  accommodation 
according  therewith. 

My  lady  carried  us  to  see  Lord  Northampton's  Scat, 
a  very  strong  large  house,  built  with  stone,  not  altogether 
modern.      They  were  enlarging  the  garden,  in  which  was 

*  See  a  former  visit  to  this  place,  p.  100. 


278  DIARY  OF  [althorpe, 

nothing  extraordinary,  except  the  iron  gate  opening  into 
the  park,  which  indeed  was  very  good  work,  wrought  in 
flowers,  painted  with  blue  and  gilded.  There  is  a  noble  walk 
of  elms  towards  the  front  of  the  house  by  the  bowling- 
green.  I  was  not  in  any  room  of  the  house  besides  a 
lobby  looking  into  the  garden,  where  my  Lord  and  his 
new  Countess  (Sir  Stephen  Fox's  daughter,  whom  I  had 
known  from  a  child)  entertained  the  Countess  and  her 
daughter  the  Countess  of  Arran  (newly  married  to  the 
son  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton)  with  so  little  good  grace, 
and  so  dully,  that  our  visit  was  very  short,  and  so  we 
returned  to  Althorpe,  twelve  miles  distant. 

The  house,  or  rather  palace,  at  Althorpe,  is  a  noble 
uniform  pile  in  form  of  a  half  H,  built  of  brick  and  free- 
stone, balustred  and  a  la  moderne ;  the  hall  is  well,  the 
staircase  excellent ;  the  rooms  of  state,  galleries,  offices 
and  furniture,  such  as  may  become  a  great  prince.  It  is 
situate  in  the  midst  of  a  garden,  exquisitely  planted  and 
kept,  and  all  this  in  a  park  walled  in  with  hewn  stone, 
planted  with  rows  and  walks  of  trees,  canals  and  fish- 
ponds, and  stored  with  game.  And,  what  is  above  all 
this,  governed  by  a  lady,  who  without  any  show  of  solici- 
tude, keeps  everything  in  such  admirable  order,  both 
within  and  without,  from  the  garret  to  the  cellar,  that 
I  do  not  believe  there  is  any  in  this  nation,  or  in  any 
other,  that  exceeds  her  in  such  exact  order,  without  osten- 
tation, but  substantially  great  and  noble.  The  meanest 
servant  is  lodged  so  neat  and  cleanly;  the  service  at  the 
several  tables,  the  good  order  and  decency — in  a  word, 
the  entire  economy  is  perfectly  becoming  a  wise  and  noble 
person.  She  is  one  who  for  her  distinguished  esteem 
of  me  from  a  long  and  worthy  friendship,  I  must  ever 
honour  and  celebrate.  I  wish  from  my  soul  the  Lord  her 
husband  (whose  parts  and  abilities  are  otherwise  con- 
spicuous) was  as  worthy  of  her,  as  by  a  fatal  apostacy  and 
court-ambition  he  has  made  himself  unworthy !  This^ 
is  what  she  deplores,  and  it  renders  her  as  much  affliction 
as  a  lady  of  great  soul  and  much  prudence  is  capable  of. 
The  Countess  of  Bristol,  her  mother,  a  grave  and  honour- 
able lady,  has  the  comfort  of  seeing  her  daughter  and 
grandchildren  under  the  same  economy,  especially  Mr. 


1688.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  379 

Charles  Spencer^*  a  youtli  of  extraordinary  hopes,  very- 
learned  for  his  age,  and  ingenious,  and  under  a  governor 
of  great  worth.  Happy  were  it,  could  as  much  be  said  of 
the  elder  brother,  the  Lord  Spencer,  who,  rambling  about 
the  world,  dishonours  both  his  name  and  his  family, 
adding  sorrow  to  sorrow  to  a  mother,  who  has  taken  all 
imaginable  care  of  his  education.  There  is  a  daughter 
very  young  married  to  the  Earl  of  Clancarty,  who  has 
a  great  and  fair  estate  in  Ireland,  but  who  yet  gives  no 
great  presage  of  worth, — so  universally  contaminated  is 
the  youth  of  this  corrupt  and  abandoned  age  !  But  this 
is  again  recompensed  by  my  Lord  Arran,  a  sober  and 
worthy  gentleman,  who  has  espoused  the  Lady  Ann 
Spencer,  a  young  lady  of  admirable  accomplishments  and 
virtue. 

23rd.  I  left  this  noble  place  and  conversation,  my  lady 
having  provided  carriages  to  convey  us  back  in  the  same 
manner  as  we  went,  and  a  dinner  being  prepared  at 
Dunstable  against  our  arrival.  Northampton,  having  been 
lately  burnt  and  re-edified,  is  now  become  a  town  that 
for  the  beauty  of  the  buildings,  especially  the  church  and 
town-house,  may  compare  with  the  neatest  in  Italy  itself. 

Dr.  Sprat,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  wrote  a  very  honest 
and  handsome  letter  to  the  Commissioners  Ecclesiastical, 
excusing  himself  from  sitting  any  longer  among  them,  he 
by  no  means  approving  of  their  prosecuting  the  Clergy 
who  refused  to  read  the  Declaration  for  liberty  of  con- 
science, in  prejudice  of  the  Church  of  England. 

The  Dutch  make  extraordinary  preparations  both  at  sea 
and  land,  which  with  the  no  small  progress  Popery 
makes  among  us,  puts  us  to  many  difficulties.  The  Popish 
Irish  soldiers  commit  many  murders  and  insults;  the 
whole  nation  disaffected,  and  in  apprehensions. 

After  long  trials  of  the  doctors  to  bring  up  the  little 
Prince  of  Wales  by  hand  (so  many  of  her  Majesty's 
children  having  died  infants)  not  succeeding,  a  country- 
nurse,  the  wife  of  a  tile-maker,  is  taken  to  give  it  suck. 


*  The  eldest  son  dying  without  issue,  this  Charles  succeeded  to  the  title  and 
estate,  and  marrying  to  his  second  wife  one  of  the  daughters  and  at  length 
coheiress  to  John  Duke  of  Marlborough,  his  son  by  her  succeeded  to  that 
title. 


280  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

18th  September.  I  went  to  London,  where  I  found  the 
Court  in  the  utmost  consternation  on  report  of  the  Prince 
of  Grangers  landing;  which  put  Whitehall  into  so  panic  a 
fear,  that  I  could  hardly  believe  it  possible  to  find  such  a 
change. 

Writs  were  issued  in  order  to  a  Parliament,  and  a  decla- 
ration to  back  the  good  order  of  elections,  with  great 
professions  of  maintaining  the  Church  of  England,  but 
without  giving  any  sort  of  satisfaction  to  the  people,  who 
showed  their  high  discontent  at  several  things  in  the 
Oovernment. 

Earthquakes  had  utterly  demolished  the  ancient  Smyrna, 
and  several  other  places  in  Greece,  Italy,  and  even  in  the 
Spanish  Indies,  forerunners  of  greater  calamities.  God 
Almighty  preserve  His  Church  and  all  who  put  them- 
selves under  the  shadow  of  His  wings,  till  these  things  be 
over-past ! 

30th.  The  Court  in  so  extraordinary  a  consternation,  on 
assurance  of  the  Prince  of  Orange's  intention  to  land,  that 
the  writs  sent  forth  for  a  Parliament  were  recalled. 

7th  October.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  at  St.  Martin's,  on 
2  Tim.  iii.  16,  showing  the  Scriptures  to  be  our  only  rule 
of  faith,  and  its  perfection  above  all  traditions.  After 
which,  near  1,000  devout  persons  partook  of  the  Com- 
munion. This  sermon  was  chiefly  occasioned  by  a  Jesuit, 
who  in  the  Masshouse  on  the  Sunday  before  had  dispa- 
raged the  Scripture  and  railed  at  our  translation,  which 
some  present  contradicting,  they  pulled  him  out  of  the 
pulpit,  and  treated  him  very  coarsely,  insomuch  that  it 
was  like  to  create  a  great  disturbance  in  the  City. 

Hourly  expectation  of  the  Prince  of  Orange's  invasion 
heightened  to  that  degree,  that  his  Majesty  thought  fit  to 
abrogate  the  Commission  for  the  dispensing  Power  (but 
retaining  his  own  right  still  to  dispense  with  all  laws)  and 
restore  the  ejected  Fellows  of  Magdalen  CoUege,  Oxford. 
•In  the  mean  time,  he  called  over  5,000  Irish,  and  4,000 
Scots,  and  continued  to  remove  Protestants  and  put  in 
Papists  at  Portsmouth  and  other  places  of  trust,  and 
retained  the  Jesuits  about  him,  increasing  the  universal 
discontent.  It  brought  people  to  so  desperate  a  pass, 
that  they  seemed  passionately  to  long  for  and  desire  the 
landing  of  that  Prince,  whom  they  looked  on  to  be  their 


1688.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  ggj 

deliverer  from  Popish  tyranny,  praying  incessantly  for  an 
east  wind,  which  was  said  to  be  the  only  hindrance  of  his 
expedition  with  a  numerous  army  ready  to  make  a  descent. 
To  such  a  strange  temper,  and  unheard-of  in  former 
times,  was  this  poor  nation  reduced,  and  of  which  I  was 
an  eye-witness.  The  apprehension  was  (and  with  reason) 
that  his  Majesty ^s  forces  would  neither  at  land  nor  sea 
oppose  them  with  that  vigour  requisite  to  repel  invaders. 
The  late  imprisoned  Bishops  were  now  called  to  recon- 
cile matters,  and  the  Jesuits  hard  at  work  to  foment 
confusion  among  the  Protestants  by  their  usual  tricks. 
A  letter  was   sent   to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,* 


•  By  Mr.  Evelyn.     The  letter  was  as  follows  : 

"My  Lord,  The  honour  and  reputation  which  your  Grace's  piety,  pru- 
dence, and  signal  courage,  have  justly  merited  and  obtained,  not  only  from  the 
sons  of  the  Church  of  England,  but  even  universally  from  those  Protestants 
amongst  us  who  are  Dissenters  from  her  discipline  ;  God  Almighty's  provi- 
dence and  blessing  upon  your  Grace's  vigilancy  and  extraordinary  endeavours 
will  not  suffer  to  be  diminished  in  this  conjuncture.  The  conversation  I  now 
and  then  have  with  some  in  place,  who  have  the  opportunity  of  knowing  what 
is  doing  in  the  most  secret  recesses  and  cabals  of  our  Church's  adversaries, 
obliges  me  to  acquaint  you,  that  the  calling  of  your  Grace  and  the  rest  of  the 
Lords  Bishops  to  Court,  and  what  has  there  of  late  been  required  of  you,  is 
only  to  create  a  jealousy  and  suspicion  amongst  well-meaning  people  of  such 
compliances,  as  it  is  certain  they  have  no  cause  to  apprehend.  The  plan  of 
this  and  of  all  that  which  is  to  follow  of  seeming  favour  thence,  is  wholly  drawn 
by  the  Jesuits,  who  are  at  this  time  more  than  ever  busy  to  make  divisions 
amongst  us,  all  other  arts  and  mechanisms  having  hitherto  failed  them.  They 
have,  with  other  things,  contrived  that  your  Lordships  the  Bishops  should 
give  his  Majesty  advice  separately,  without  calling  any  of  the  rest  of  the  Peers, 
■which,  though  maliciously  suggested,  spreads  generally  about  the  town.  I 
do  not  at  all  question  but  your  Grace  will  speedily  prevent  the  operation  of 
this  venom,  and  that  you  will  think  it  highly  necessary  so  to  do,  that  your 
Grace  is  also  in  joined  to  compose  a  form  of  prayer,  wherein  the  Prince  of 
Orange  is  expressly  to  be  named  the  Invader  :  of  this  I  presume  not  to  say 
anything  ;  but  for  as  much  as  in  all  the  Declarations,  &c.  which  have  hitherto 
been  published  in  pretended  favour  of  the  Chm-ch  of  England,  there  is  not  once 
the  least  mention  of  the  Refoi'med  or  Protestant  Religion,  but  only  of  the  Church 
of  England  as  by  Law  established,  which  Church  the  Papists  tell  us  is  the 
Church  of  Rome,  which  is  (say  they)  the  Catholic  Church  of  England — that 
only  is  established  by  Law  ;  the  Church  of  England  in  the  Reformed  sense  so 
estabUshed,  is  but  by  an  usurped  authority.  The  antiquity  of  that  would  by  these 
words  be  explained,  and  utterly  defeat  this  false  and  subdolous  construction, 
and  take  off  all  exceptions  whatsoever  ;  if,  in  all  extraordinary  offices,  upon 
these  occasions,  the  words  Rtfwmed  and  Protestant  were  added  to  that  of  the 
Church  of  England  by  Law  established.     And  whosoever  threatens  to  invade 


282  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

informing  him,  from  good  hands,  of  what  was  contriving 
by  them.  A  paper  of  what  the  Bishops  advised  his 
Majesty  was  pubhshed.  The  Bishops  were  enjoined  to 
prepare  a  form  of  prayer  against  the  feared  invasion,  A 
pardon  pubhshed.     Soldiers  and  mariners  daily  pressed. 

14th.  The  King's  Birthday.  No  guns  from  the  Tower 
as  usual.  The  sun  eclipsed  at  its  rising.  This  day 
signal  for  the  victory  of  William  the  Conqueror  against 
Harold,  near  Battel,  in  Sussex.  The  wind,  which  had 
been  hitherto  west,  was  east  all  this  day.  Wonderful 
expectation  of  the  Dutch  fleet.  Public  prayers  ordered 
to  be  read  in  the  churches  against  invasion. 

28th.  A  tumult  in  London  on  the  rabble  demolishing  a 
Popish  chapel  that  had  been  set  up  in  the  City. 

29th.  Lady  Sunderland  acquainted  me  with  his  Majesty's 
taking  away  the  Seals  from  Lord  Sunderland,  and  of  her 
being  with  the  Queen  to  intercede  for  him.  It  is  con- 
ceived that  he  had  of  late  grown  remiss  in  pursuing  the 
interest  of  the  Jesuitical  counsels ;  some  reported  one 
thing,  some  another;  but  there  was  doubtless  some  secret 
betrayed,  which  time  may  discover. 

There  was  a  Council  called,  to  which  were  summoned 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  Judges,  the  Lord 
Mayor,  &c.  The  Queen  Dowager,  and  all  the  ladies  and 
lords  who  were  present  at  the  Queen  Consort's  labour, 
were  to  give  their  testimony  upon  oath  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales's  birth,  recorded  both  at  the  Council-Board  and  at 
the  Chancery  a  day  or  two  after.  This  procedure  was 
censured  by  some  as  below  his  Majesty  to  condescend  to, 
on  the  talk  of  the  people.  It  was  remarkable  that  on  this 
occasion  the  Archbishop,  Marquis  of  Hahfax,  the  Earls  of 
Clarendon  and  Nottingham,  refused  to  sit  at  the  Council- 
table  amongst  Papists,  and  their  bold  telling  his  Majesty 
that  whatever  was  done  whilst  such  sat  amongst  them 

or  come  agidnst  us,  to  the  prejudice  of  that  Church,  in  God's  name,  be  they 
Dutch  or  Irish,  let  us  heartily  pray  and  fight  against  them.  My  Lord,  this 
is,  I  confess,  a  bold,  but  honest  period  :  and,  though  I  am  well  assxu-ed  that 
your  Grace  is  perfectly  acquainted  vnth  all  this  before,  and  therefore  may 
blame  my  impertinence,  as  that  does  oXKoTpioeTriffKoireii/ ;  yet  I  am  confident 
you  will  not  reprove  the  zeal  of  one  who  most  humbly  begs  your  Grace's 
pardon,  with  your  blessing.  Lond.,  10  Oct.,  1688."  (From  a  copy  in  Mr. 
Evelyn's  handwriting.)    See  p.  287. 


1C88.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  283 

was  unlawful  and  incurred  premunire ; — at  least,  if  what  I 
heard  be  true. 

30th.  I  dined  with  Lord  Preston,  made  Secretary  of 
State,  in  the  place  of  the  Earl  of  Sunderland. 

Visited  Mr.  Boyle,  when  came  in  the  Duke  of  Hamilton 
and  Earl  of  Burlington.  The  Duke  told  us  many  parti- 
culars of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,  and  her  amours  with  the 
Italian  favourite,  &c. 

31st.  My  birthday,  being  the  68th  year  of  my  age. 
O  blessed  Lord,  grant  that  as  I  grow  in  years,  so  may  I 
improve  in  grace  !  Be  Thou  my  Protector  this  following 
year,  and  preserve  me  and  mine  from  those  dangers  and 
great  confusions  that  threaten  a  sad  revolution  to  this 
sinful  nation  !  Defend  Thy  Church,  our  holy  religion,  and 
just  laws,  disposing  his  Majesty  to  listen  to  sober  and 
healing  counsels,  that  if  it  be  Thy  blessed  will,  we  may 
still  enjoy  that  happy  tranquillity  which  hitherto  Thou 
hast  continued  to  us  !     Amen,  Amen  ! 

1st  November.  Dined  with  Lord  Preston,  with  other 
company,  at  Sir  Stephen  Fox's.  Continual  alarms  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  but  no  certainty.  Reports  of  his  great 
losses  of  horse  in  the  storm,  but  without  any  assurance. 
A  man  was  taken  with  divers  papers  and  printed  mani- 
festoes, and  carried  to  Newgate,  after  examination  at  the 
Cabinet-Council.  There  was  likewise  a  Declaration  of  the 
States  for  satisfaction  of  all  Public  Ministers  at  the 
Hague,  except  to  the  English  and  the  French.  There 
was  in  that  of  the  Prince's  an  expression,  as  if  the  Lords 
both  Spiritual  and  Temporal  had  invited  him  over,  with 
a  deduction  of  the  causes  of  his  enterprise.  This  made 
his  Majesty  convene  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  and  the  other 
Bishops  now  in  town,  to  give  an  account  of  what  was  in 
the  manifesto,  and  to  enjoin  them  to  clear  themselves  by 
some  public  writing  of  this  disloyal  charge. 

2nd.  It  was  now  certainly  reported  by  some  who  saw 
the  fleet,  and  the  Prince  embark^  that  they  sailed  from 
the  Brill  on  Wednesday  morning,  and  that  the  Princess  of 
Orange  was  there  to  take  leave  of  her  husband. 

4th.  Fresh  reports  of  the  Prince  being  landed  some- 
where about  Portsmouth,  or  the  Isle  of  Wight,  whereas  it 
was  thought  it  would  have  been  northward.  The  Court 
in  great  hurry. 


284  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

5th.  I  went  to  London ;  heard  the  news  of  the  Prince 
having  landed  at  Torbay,  coming  with  a  fleet  of  near  700 
sail,  passing  through  the  Channel  with  so  favourable  a 
wind,  that  our  navy  could  not  intercept,  or  molest  them. 
This  put  the  King  and  Court  into  great  consternation; 
they  were  now  employed  in  forming  an  army  to  stop  their 
further  progress,  for  they  were  got  into  Exeter,  and  the 
season  and  ways  very  improper  for  his  Majesty's  forces  to 
march  so  great  a  distance. 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  some  few  of  the 
other  Bishops  and  Lords  in  London,  were  sent  for  to 
Whitehall,  and  required  to  set  forth  their  abhorrence  of 
this  invasion.  They  assured  his  Majesty  they  had  never 
invited  any  of  the  Prince's  party,  or  were  in  the  least 
privy  to  it,  and  would  be  ready  to  show  all  testimony  of 
their  loyalty;  but,  as  to  a  public  declaration,  being  so 
few,  they  desired  that  his  Majesty  would  call  the  rest  of 
their  brethren  and  Peers,  that  they  might  consult  what 
was  fit  to  be  done  on  this  occasion,  not  thinking  it  right 
to  publish  any  thing  without  them,  and  till  they  had 
themselves  seen  the  Prince's  Manifesto,  in  which  it  was 
pretended  he  was  invited  in  by  the  Lords  Spiritual  and 
Temporal.  This  did  not  please  the  King;  so  they 
departed. 

A  Declaration  was  published,  prohibiting  all  persons  to 
see  or  read  the  Prince's  Manifesto,  in  which  was  set  forth 
at  large  the  cause  of  his  expedition,  as  there  had  been  one 
before  from  the  States. 

These  are  the  beginnings  of  sorrow,  unless  God  in  his 
mercy  prevent  it  by  some  happy  reconciliation  of  all 
dissensions  among  us.  This,  in  all  likelihood,  nothing 
can  effect  except  a  free  Parliament ;  but  this  we  cannot 
hope  to  see,  whilst  there  are  any  forces  on  either  side.  I 
pray  God  to  protect  and  direct  the  King  for  the  best  and 
•truest  interest  of  his  people  ! — I  saw  his  Majesty  touch  for 
the  evil,  Piten  the  Jesuit,  and  Warner  officiating. 

14th.  The  Prince  increases  every  day  in  force.  Several 
Lords  go  in  to  him.  Lord  Cornbury  carries  some  regi- 
ments, and  marches  to  Honiton,  the  Prince's  head- 
quarters. The  City  of  London  in  disorder;  the  rabble 
pulled  down  the  nunnery  newly  bought  by  the  Papists  of 
Lord  Berkeley,  at  St.  John's.     The  Queen  prepares  to  go 


1C88.1  ;'JOHN  EVELYN.  2§5 

to  Portsmouth  for  safety,   to   attend  the  issue  of  this 
commotion,  which  has  a  dreadful  aspect. 

18th.  It  was  now  a  very  hard  frost.  The  King  goes  to 
Salisbury  to  rendezvous  the  army,  and  returns  to  London. 
Lord  Delamere  appears  for  the  Prince,  in  Cheshire.  The 
nobility  meet  in  Yorkshire.  The  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury and  some  Bishops,  and  such  Peers  as  were  in  London, 
address  his  Majesty  to  call  a  Parliament.  The  King 
invites  all  foreign  nations  to  come  over.  The  French  take 
all  the  Palatinate,  and  alarm  the  Germans  more  than  ever. 

29th.  I  went  to  the  Royal  Society.  We  adjourned  the 
election  of  a  President  to  23rd  April,  by  reason  of  the 
public  commotions,  yet  dined  together  as  of  custom  this  day. 

2nd  December.  Dr.  Tenison  preached  at  St.  Martinis, 
on  Psalm  xxxvi.  5,  6,  7,  concerning  Providence.  I  received 
the  blessed  Sacrament.  Afterwards,  visited  my  Lord 
Godolphin,  then  going  with  the  Marquis  of  Halifax  and 
Earl  of  Nottingham  as  Commissioners  to  the  Prince  of 
Orange;  he  told  me  they  had  little  power.  Plymouth 
declared  for  the  Prince.  Bath,  York,  Hull,  Bristol,  and 
all  the  eminent  nobility  and  persons  of  quality  through 
England,  declare  for  the  Protestant  religion  and  laws,  and 
go  to  meet  the  Prince,  who  every  day  sets  forth  new 
declarations  against  the  Papists.  The  great  favourites  at 
Court,  Priests  and  Jesuits,  fly  or  abscond.  Every  thing, 
till  now  concealed,  flies  abroad  in  public  print,  and  is  cried 
about  the  streets.  Expectation  of  the  Prince  coming  to 
Oxford.  The  Prince  of  Wales  and  great  treasure  sent 
privily  to  Portsmouth,  the  Earl  of  Dover  being  governor. 
Address  from  the  Fleet  not  grateful  to  his  Majesty.  The 
Papists  in  offices  lay  down  their  commissions,  and  fly. 
Universal  consternation  amongst  them;  it  looks  like  a 
revolution. 

7th.  My  son  went  toward  Oxford.     I  returned  home. 

9th.  Lord  Sunderland  meditates  flight.  The  rabble 
demolished  all  Popish  chapels,  and  several  Papist  lords  and 
gentlemen's  houses,  especially  that  of  the  Spanish  Ambas- 
sador, which  they  pillaged,  and  burnt  his  library. 

13th.  The  King  flies  to  sea,  puts  in  at  Feversham  for 
ballast ;  is  rudelv  treated  by  the  people ;  comes  back  to 
Whitehall. 

The  Prince  of  Orange  is  advanced  to  Windsor,  is  invited 


286  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

by  the  King  to  St.  James's,  the  messenger  sent  was  the 
Earl  of  Feversham,  the  General  of  the  Forces,  who  going 
without  trumpet,  or  passport,  is  detained  prisoner  by  the 
Prince,  who  accepts  the  invitation,  but  requires  his  Majesty 
to  retire  to  some  distant  place,  that  his  own  guards  may 
be  quartered  about  the  Palace  and  City.  This  is  taken 
heinously,  and  the  King  goes  privately  to  Rochester ;  is 
persuaded  to  come  back;  comes  on  the  Sunday;  goes  to  mass, 
and  dines  in  public,  a  Jesuit  saying  grace  (I  was  present.) 

17th.  That  night  was  a  Council;  his  Majesty  refuses  to 
assent  to  all  the  proposals ;  goes  away  again  to  Rochester. 

18th.  I  saw  the  King  take  barge  to  Gravesend  at 
twelve  o'clock — a  sad  sight !  The  Prince  comes  to 
St.  James's,  and  fills  Whitehall  with  Dutch  guards.  A 
Council  of  Peers  meet  about  an  expedient  to  call  a 
Parliament ;  adjourn  to  the  House  of  Lords.  The  Chan- 
cellor, Earl  of  Peterborough,  and  divers  others  taken. 
The  Earl  of  Sunderland  flies ;  Sir  Edward  Hales,  Walker, 
and  others,  taken  and  secured. 

All  the  world  go  to  see  the  Prince  at  St.  James's,  where 
there  is  a  great  Court.  There  I  saw  him,  and  several  of 
my  acquaintance  who  came  over  with  him.  He  is  very 
stately,  serious,  and  reserved.  The  English  soldiers  sent 
out  of  town  to  disband  them ;  not  well  pleased. 

24th.  The  King  passes  into  France,  whither  the  Queen 
and  child  were  gone  a  few  days  before. 

26th.  The  Peers  and  such  Commoners  as  were  members 
of  the  Parliament  at  Oxford,  being  the  last  of  Charles  II. 
meeting,  desire  the  Prince  of  Orange  to  take  on  him  the 
disposal  of  the  public  revenue  till  a  convention  of  Lords 
and  Commons  should  meet  in  full  body,  appointed  by  his 
circular  letters  to  the  shires  and  boroughs,  22nd  January. 
I  had  now  quartered  upon  me  a  Lieutenant-Colonel  and 
eight  horses. 

30th.  This  day  prayers  for  the  Prince  of  Wales  were 
first  left  off  in  our  church. 

1688-9.  7th  January.  A  long  frost  and  deep  snow;  the 
Thames  almost  frozen  over. 

15th.  I  visited  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  where  I 
found  the  Bishops  of  St.  Asaph,*  Ely,t  Bath  and  Wells,t 

*  Lloyd.  +  Turner.  t  Ken. 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  287 

Peterborough,*  and  Chichester, f  the  Earls  of  Aylesbury 
and  Clarendon,  Sir  George  Mackenzie  Lord-Advocate  of 
Scotland,  and  then  came  in  a  Scotch  Archbishop,  &c. 
After  prayers  and  dinner,  divers  serious  matters  Averp 
discoursed,  concerning  the  present  state  of  the  Public,  arfd 
sorry  I  was  to  find  there  vpas  as  yet  no  accord  in  the 
judgments  of  those  of  the  Lords  and  Commons  who  were 
to  convene;  some  would  have  the  Princess  made  Queen 
without  any  more  dispute,  others  were  for  a  Regency; 
there  was  a  Tory  party,  (then  so  called)  who  were  for 
inviting  his  Majesty  again  upon  conditions;  and  there 
were  Republicans  who  would  make  the  Prince  of  Orange 
like  a  Stadtholder.  The  Romanists  were  busy  among 
these  several  parties  to  bring  them  into  confusion :  most 
for  ambition  or  other  interest,  few  for  conscience  and 
moderate  resolutions.  I  found  nothing  of  all  this  in  this 
assembly  of  Bishops,  who  were  pleased  to  admit  me  into 
their  discourses ;  they  were  all  for  a  Regency,  thereby  to 
salve  their  oaths,  and  so  all  public  matters  to  proceed  in 
his  Majesty's  name,  by  that  to  facilitate  the  calling  of  a 
Parhament,  according  to  the  laws  in  being.  Such  was 
the  result  of  this  meeting. 

My  Lord  of  Canterbury  gave  me  great  thanks  for  the 
advertisement  I  sent  him  in  October,  J  and  assured  me 
they  took  my  counsel  in  that  particular,  and  that  it  came 
very  seasonably. 

I  found  by  the  Lord- Advocate  that  the  Bishops  of  Scot- 
land (who  were  indeed  little  worthy  of  that  character,  and 
had  done  much  mischief  in  that  Church)  were  now  coming 
about  to  the  true  interest,  in  this  conjuncture  which 
threatened  to  abolish  the  whole  hierarchy  in  that  king- 
dom ;  and  therefore  the  Scottish  Archbishop  and  Lord- 
Advocate  requested  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  use 
his  best  endeavours  with  the  Prince  to  maintain  the  Church 
there  in  the  same  state,  as  by  law  at  present  settled. 

It  now  growing  late,  after  some  private  discourse  with 
his  Grace  I  took  my  leave,  most  of  the  Lords  being  gone. 

The  trial  of  the  bishops  was  now  printed. 

The  great  convention  being  assembled  the  day  before, 
falling  upon  the  question  about  the  Government,  resolved 

*  White  ^  Lake.  J  See  p.  282. 


288  DIARY  OF  [lokdom, 

that  King  James  having  by  the  ad\dce  of  the  Jesuits  and 
other  wicked  persons  endeavoured  to  subvert  the  laws  of 
Church  and  State,  and  deserted  the  kingdom,  carrying 
away  the  seals,  &c.  without  any  care  for  the  management 
of  the  government,  had  by  demise  abdicated  himself  and 
wholly  vacated  his  right;  they  did  therefore  desire  the 
Lords'  concurrence  to  their  vote,  to  place  the  crown  on  the 
next  heir,  the  Prince  of  Orange,  for  his  hfe,  then  to  the 
Princess,  his  wife,  and  if  she  died  without  issue,  to  the 
Princess  of  Denmark,  and  she  failing,  to  the  heirs  of  the 
Prince,  excluding  for  ever  all  possibility  of  admitting  a 
K-oman  Catholic. 

27th.  I  dined  at  the  Admiralty,  where  was  brought  in  a 
child  not  twelve  years  old,  the  son  of  one  Dr.  Clench,  of 
the  most  prodigious  maturity  of  knowledge,  for  I  cannot 
call  it  altogether  memory,  but  something  more  extraor- 
dinary.* Mr.  Pepys  and  myself  examined  him,  not  in  any 
method,  but  with  promiscuous  questions,  which  required 
judgment  and  discernment  to  answer  so  readily  and  perti- 
nently. There  was  not  anything  in  chronology,  history, 
geography,  the  several  systems  of  astronomy,  courses  of 
the  stars,  longitude,  latitude,  doctrine  of  the  spheres, 
courses  and  sources  of  rivers,  creeks,  harbours,  eminent 
cities,  boundaries  and  bearings  of  countries,  not  only  in 
Europe,  but  in  any  other  part  of  the  earth,  which  he  did  not 
readily  resolve  and  demonstrate  his  knowledge  of,  readily 
drawing  out  with  a  pen  anything  he  would  describe.  He 
was  able  not  only  to  repeat  the  most  famous  things  which 
are  left  us  in  any  of  the  Greek  or  Roman  histories,  mo- 
narchies, republics,  wars,  colonies,  exploits  by  sea  and  land, 
but  aU  the  sacred  stories  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament ; 
the  succession  of  all  the  monarchies,  Babylonian,  Persian, 
Greek,  Roman,  with  all  the  lower  Emperors,  Popes,  Here- 
siarchs,  and  Councils,  what  they  were  called  about,  what 
they  determined,  or  in  the  controversy  about  Easter,  the 
tenets  of  the  Gnostics,  Sabellians,  Arians,  Nestorians  ;  the 
difference  between  St.  Cyprian  and  Stephen  about  re-bap- 
tizatiouj    the  schisms.      We  leaped  from  that  to  other 

•  See  a  similar  account  of  the  afterwards  celebrated  Rev.  William  Wotton, 
mider  the  year  1679,  July  6.  This  Dr.  Clench  was  murdered  in  a  hackney- 
coach,  and  one  Harrison  was  executed  for  it. 


iG89.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  289 

tilings  totally  different,  to  Olympic  years,  and  syneliro- 
nisms ;  we  asked  him  questions  which  could  not  be 
resolved  without  considerable  meditation  and  judgment, 
nay  of  some  particulars  of  the  Civil  Laws,  of  the  Digest  and 
Code.  He  gave  a  stupendous  account  of  both  natural  and 
moral  philosophy,  and  even  in  metaphysics. 

Having  thus  exhausted  ourselves  rather  than  this  won- 
derful child,  or  angel  rather,  for  he  was  as  beautiful  and 
lovely  in  countenance  as  in  knowledge,  we  concluded  with 
asking  him  if,  in  all  he  had  read  or  heard  of,  he  had  ever 
met  with  anything  which  was  like  this  expedition  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  with  so  small  a  force  to  obtain  three 
great  kingdoms  without  any  contest.  After  a  little  thought, 
he  told  us  that  he  knew  of  nothing  which  did  more  resemble 
it  than  the  coming  of  Constantine  the  Great  out  of  Britain, 
through  France  and  Italy,  so  tedious  a  march,  to  meet 
Maxentius,  whom  he  overthrew  at  Pons  Milvius  with  very 
little  conflict,  and  at  the  very  gates  of  Rome,  which  he 
entered  and  was  received  with  triumph,  and  obtained  the 
empire,  not  of  three  kingdoms  •  only,  but  of  all  the  then 
known  world.  He  was  perfect  in  the  Latin  authors,  spake 
French  naturally,  and  gave  us  a  description  of  France, 
Italy,  Savoy,  Spain,  ancient  and  modernly  divided ;  as  also 
of  ancient  Greece,  Scythia,  and  northern  countries  and 
tracts :  we  left  questioning  further.  He  did  this  without 
any  set  or  formal  repetitions,  as  one  who  had  learned  things 
without  book,  but  as  if  he  minded  other  things,  going 
about  the  room,  and  toying  with  a  parrot  there,  and  as  he 
was  at  dinner  [tanquam  aliud  agens,  as  it  were)  seeming  to 
be  full  of  play,  of  a  lively,  sprightly  temper,  always  smiling, 
and  exceeding  pleasant,  without  the  least  levity,  rudeness, 
or  childishness. 

His  father  assured  us  he  never  imposed  anything  to 
charge  his  memory  by  causing  him  to  get  things  by  heart, 
not  even  the  rules  of  grammar ;  but  his  tutor  (who  was  a 
Frenchman)  read  to  him,  first  in  French,  then  in  Latin ; 
that  he  usually  played  amongst  other  boys  four  or  five 
hours  every  day,  and  that  he  was  as  earnest  at  his  play  as 
at  his  study.  He  was  perfect  in  arithmetic,  and  now 
iieAvly  entered  into  Greek.  In  sum  {horresco  referem,)  I 
had  read  of  divers  forward  and  precocious  youths,  and  some 
I  have  known,  but  I  never  did  either  hear  or  read  of  any- 

VOL.  II.  u 


290  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

thing  like  to  this  sweet  child,  if  it  be  right  to  call  him  child 
who  has  more  knowledge  than  most  men  in  the  world.  I 
counselled  his  father  not  to  set  his  heart  too  much  on  this 
jewel, 

Immodicis  brevis  est  setas,  et  rara  senectus, 

as  I  myself  learned  by  sad  experience  in  my  most  dear 
child  Richard,*  many  years  since,  who  dying  before  he  was 
six  years  old,  was  both  in  shape  and  countenance  and  preg- 
nancy of  learning,  next  to  a  prodigy. 

29th.  The  votes  of  the  House  of  Commons  being  carried 
up  by  Mr.  Hampden,  their  chairman,  to  the  Lords,  I  got 
a  station  by  the  Princess  lodgings  at  the  door  of  the  lobby 
to  the  House,  and  heard  much  of  the  debate,  which  lasted 
very  long.  Lord  Derby  was  in  the  chair  (for  the  House 
was  resolved  into  a  grand  committee  of  the  whole  House)"; 
after  all  had  spoken,  it  came  to  the  question,  which  was 
carried  but  by  three  voices  against  a  Regency,  which  51  were 
for,  54  against;  the  minority  alleging  the  danger  of  dethron- 
ing Kings,  and  scrupling  many  passages  and  expressions 
in  the  vote  of  the  Commons,  too  long  to  set  down  parti- 
cularly. Some  were  for  sending  to  his  Majesty  Avith  con- 
ditions ;  others  that  the  King  could  do  no  wrong,  and  that 
the  mal-administration  was  chargeable  on  his  ministers. 
There  were  not  more  than  eight  or  nine  bishops,  and  but 
two  against  the  Regency ;  the  archbishop  was  absent,  and 
the  clergy  now  began  to  change  their  note,  both  in  pulpit 
and  discourse,  on  their  old  passive  obedience,  so  as  people 
began  to  talk  of  the  bishops  being  cast  out  of  the  House. 
In  short,  things  tended  to  dissatisfaction  on  both  sides ; 
add  to  this,  the  morose  temper  of  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
who  showed  little  countenance  to  the  noblemen  and  others, 
who  expected  a  more  gracious  and  cheerful  reception  when 
they  made  their  court.  The  Enghsh  army  also  was  not  so 
in  order,  and  firm  to  his  interest,  nor  so  weakened  but  that 
it  might  give  interruption.  Ireland  was  in  an  ill  posture 
as  well  as  Scotland.  Nothing  was  yet  done  towards  a  set- 
tlement. God  of  His  infinite  mercy  compose  these  things, 
that  we  may  be  at  last  a  Nation  and  a  Church  under  some 
fixed  and  sober  estabhshment ! 

♦  See  vol.  T,  p.  324. 


1639.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  OQl 

SOtli.  The  anniversary  of  King  Cliaxles  the  First^s 
martyrdom ;  but  in  all  the  public  offices  and  pulpit  prayers, 
the  collects,  and  litany  for  the  King  and  Queen  were 
curtailed  and  mutilated.  Dr.  Sharp  preached  before  the 
Commons,  but  was  disliked,  and  not  thanked  for  his 
sermon. 

31st.  At  oiu'  churcli  (the  next  day  being  appointed 
a  Thanksgiving  for  deliverance  by  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
with  prayers  purposely  composed),  our  lecturer  preached 
in  the  afternoon  a  very  honest  sermon,  showing  our 
duty  to  God  for  the  many  signal  deliverances  of  our 
Church,  without  touching  on  politics. 

6th  February.  The  King's  coronation-day  was  ordered 
not  to  be  observed,  as  hitherto  it  had  been. 

The  Convention  of  the  Lords  and  Commons  now  declare 
the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Orange  King  and  Queen 
of  England,  France,  and  Ireland,  (Scotland  being  an 
independent  kingdom),  the  Prince  and  Princess  being  to 
enjoy  it  jointly  during  their  lives;  but  the  executive 
authority  to  be  vested  in  the  Prince  during  life,  though 
all  proceedings  to  run  in  both  names,  and  that  it  should 
descend  to  their  issue,  and  for  want  of  such,  to  the  Prin- 
cess Anne  of  Denmark  and  her  issue,  and  in  want  of  such, 
to  the  heirs  of  the  body  of  the  Prince,  if  he  survive,  and 
that  failing,  to  devolve  to  the  Parliament,  as  they  should 
think  fit.  These  produced  a  conference  with  the  Lords, 
when  also  there  was  presented  heads  of  such  new  laws  as 
were  to  be  enacted.  It  is  thought  on  these  conditions  they 
will  be  proclaimed. 

There  was  much  contest  about  the  King's  abdication, 
and  whether  he  had  vacated  the  government.  The  Earl  of 
Nottingham  and  about  twenty  Lords,  and  many  Bishops, 
entered  their  protests,  but  the  concurrence  was  great 
against  them. 

The  Princess  hourly  expected.  Forces  sending  to  Ire- 
land, that  kingdom  being  in  great  danger  by  the  Earl  of 
Tyrconnell's  army,  and  expectations  from  France  coming 
to  assist  them,  but  that  King  was  busy  in  invading  Flan- 
ders, and  encountering  the  German  Princes.  It  is  likely 
that  this  will  be  the  most  remarkable  summer  for  action, 
Avhich  has  happened  in  many  years. 

21st.  Dr.  Burnet  preached  at  St.  James's,  on  the 
u  2 


292  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

obligation  to  walk  worthy  of  God's  particular  and  signal 
deliverance  of  the  Nation  and  Church. 

I  saw  the  new  Queen  and  King  proclaimed  the  very  next 
day  after  her  coming  to  Whitehall,  Wednesday  13th  Feb- 
ruary, with  great  acclamation  and  general  good  reception. 
Bonfires,  bells,  guns,  &c.  It  was  believed  that  both,  espe- 
cially the  Princess,  would  have  showed  some  (seeming) 
reluctance  at  least,  of  assuming  her  father's  Crown,  and 
made  some  apology,  testifying  by  her  regret  that  he  should 
by  his  mismanagement  necessitate  the  Nation  to  so  extra- 
ordinary a  proceeding,  which  would  have  showed  very 
handsomely  to  the  world,  and  according  to  the  character 
given  of  her  piety ;  consonant  also  to  her  husband's  first 
declaration,  that  there  was  no  intention  of  deposing  the 
King,  but  of  succouring  the  Nation ;  but  nothing  of  all 
this  appeared ;  she  came  into  Whitehall  laughing  and  jolly, 
as  to  a  wedding,  so  as  to  seem  quite  transported.  She 
rose  early  the  next  morning,  and  in  her  undress,  as  it  was 
reported,  before  her  women  were  up,  went  about  from  room 
to  room  to  see  the  convenience  of  Whitehall ;  lay  in  the 
same  bed  and  apartment  where  the  late  Queen  lay,  and 
within  a  night  or  two  sat  down  to  play  at  basset,  as 
the  Queen  her  predecessor  used  to  do.  She  smiled  upon 
and  talked  to  everybody,  so  that  no  change  seemed  to  have 
taken  place  at  Court  since  her  last  going  away,  save  that 
infinite  croM  ds  of  people  thronged  to  see  her,  and  that  she 
went  to  our  prayers.  This  carriage  was  censured  by  many. 
She  seems  to  be  of  a  good  nature,  and  that  she  takes 
nothing  to  heart :  whilst  the  Prince  her  husband  has 
a  thoughtful  countenance,  is  wonderful  serious  and  silent, 
and  seems  to  treat  all  persons  alike  gravely,  and  to 
be  very  intent  on  affairs :  Holland,  Ireland,  and  France 
calling  for  his  care. 

Divers  Bishops  and  Noblemen  are  not  at  all  satisfied 
with  this  so  sudden  assumption  of  the  Crown,  without  any 
previous  sending,  and  offering  some  conditions  to  the 
absent  King ;  or,  on  his  not  returning,  or  not  assenting  to 
those  conditions,  to  have  proclaimed  him  Begent;  but  the 
major  part  of  both  Houses  prevailed  to  make  them  King 
and  Queen  immediately,  and  a  crown  was  tempting.  This 
was  opposed  and  spoken  against  with  such  vehemence 
by  Lord  Clarendon  (her  own  uncle),  that  it  put  him  by  all 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  093 

preferment,  which  must  doubtless  have  been  as  great 
as  could  have  been  given  him.  My  Lord  of  Rochester 
his  brother,  overshot  himself,  by  the  same  carriage  and 
stiffness,  which  their  friends  thought  they  might  have  well 
spared  when  they  saw  how  it  was  like  to  be  overruled,  and 
that  it  had  been  sufficient  to  have  declared  their  dissent 
with  less  passion,  acquiescing  in  due  time. 

The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  some  of  the  rest,  on 
scruple  of  conscience  and  to  salve  the  oaths  they  had 
taken,  entered  their  protests  and  hung  off,  especially  the 
Archbishop,  who  had  not  all  this  while  so  much  as  appeared 
out  of  Lambeth.  This  occasioned  the  Avonder  of  many 
who  observed  with  what  zeal  they  contributed  to  the 
Prince's  expedition,  and  all  the  while  also  rejecting  any 
proposals  of  sending  again  to  the  absent  King ;  that  they 
should  now  raise  scruples,  and  such  as  created  much 
division  among  the  people,  greatly  rejoicing  the  old  cour- 
tiers, and  especially  the  Papists. 

Another  objection  was,  the  invalidity  of  what  was  done 
by  a  Convention  only,  and  the  as  yet  unabrogated  laws ; 
this  drew  them  to  make  themselves  on  the  32nd  [Feb- 
ruary] a  Parliament,  the  new  King  passing  the  Act  with 
the  crown  on  his  head.  The  lawyers  disputed,  but  neces- 
sity prevailed,  the  government  requiring  a  speedy  settle- 
ment. 

Innumerable  were  the  crowds,  who  solicited  for,  and 
expected  offices;  most  of  the  old  ones  were  turned  out. 
Two  or  three  white  staves  were  disposed  of  some  days 
before,  as  Lord  Steward,  to  the  Earl  of  Devonshire  j 
Treasurer  of  the  Household,  to  Lord  Newport;  Lord 
Chamberlain  to  the  King,  to  my  Lord  of  Dorset ;  but 
there  were  as  yet  none  in  offices  of  the  Civil  Government 
save  the  Marquis  of  Halifax  as  Privy  Seal.  A  Council  of 
thirty  was  chosen.  Lord  Derby  president,  but  neither  Chan- 
cellor nor  Judges  were  yet  declared,  the  new  Great  Seal 
not  yet  finished. 

8th  March.  Dr.  Tillotson,  Dean  of  Canterbury,  made 
an  excellent  discourse  on  Matt.  v.  44,  exhorting  to  charity 
and  forgiveness  of  enemies ;  I  suppose  purposely,  the  new 
Parliament  being  furious  about  impeaching  those  who  were 
obnoxious,  and  as  their  custom  has  ever  been,  going  on 
violently  without  reserve,  or  moderation,  whilst  wise  men 


291  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

were  of  opinion  the  most  notorious  offenders  being  named 
and  excepted,  an  Act  of  Amnesty  would  be  more  season- 
able, to  pacify  the  minds  of  men  in  so  general  a  discontent 
of  the  nation,  especially  of  those  who  did  not  expect  to  see 
the  government  assumed  without  any  regard  to  the  absent 
King,  or  proving  a  spontaneous  abdication,  or  that  the 
birth  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  was  an  imposture ;  five  of  the 
Bishops  also  still  refusing  to  take  the  new  oath. 

In  the  mean  time,  to  gratify  the  people,  the  Hearth- 
Tax  was  remitted  for  ever;  but  what  was  intended  to 
supply  it,  besides  present  great  taxes  on  land,  is  not 
named. 

The  King  abroad  was  now  furnished  by  the  French  King 
with  money  and  officers  for  an  expedition  to  Ireland.  The 
great  neglect  in  not  more  timely  preventing  that  from 
hence,  and  the  disturbances  in  Scotland,  give  apprehen- 
sions of  great  difficulties,  before  any  settlement  can  be 
perfected  here,  whilst  the  Parliament  dispose  of  the  great 
offices  amongst  themselves.  The  Great  Seal,  Treasury  and 
Admiralty  put  into  commission  of  many  unexpected  per- 
sons, to  gratify  the  more ;  so  that  by  the  present  appear- 
ance of  things  (unless  God  Almighty  graciously  interpose 
and  give  success  in  Ireland  and  settle  Scotland)  more  trouble 
seems  to  threaten  the  nation  than  could  be  expected.  In 
the  interim,  the  new  King  refers  all  to  tbe  Parliament 
in  the  most  popular  manner,  but  is  very  slow  in  providing 
against  all  these  menaces,  besides  finding  difficulties  in 
raising  men  to  send  abroad ;  the  former  army,  which  had 
never  seen  any  service  hitherto,  recei^dng  their  pay  and 
passing  their  summer  in  an  idle  scene  of  a  camp  at  Houn- 
slow,  unwilling  to  engage,  and  many  disaffected,  and  scarce 
to  be  trusted. 

29th.  The  new  King  much  blamed  for  neglecting 
Ireland,  now  like  to  be  ruined  by  the  Lord  Tyrconnel 
and  his  Popish  party,  too  strong  for  the  Protestants. 
Wonderful  uncertainty  where  King  James  was,  whether 
in  France  or  Ireland.  "  The  Scots  seem  as  yet  to  favour 
King  William,  rejecting  King  James's  letter  to  them,  yet 
declaring  nothing  positively.  Soldiers  in  England  dis- 
contented. Parliament  preparing  the  coronation-oath. 
Presbyterians  and  Dissenters  displeased  at  the  Vote  for 
preserving  the  Protestant  Religion  as  established  by  law, 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  295 

without  mentioning  what  they  were  to  have  as  to  indul- 
gence. 

Tlie  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  four*  other  Bishops 
refusing  to  come  to  Parhament^  it  was  deliberated  whether 
they  should  incur  Prtsmunire ;  but  it  was  thought  fit  to  let 
this  fall,  and  be  connived  at,  for  fear  of  the  people,  to 
whom  these  Prelates  were  very  dear,  for  the  opposition 
they  had  given  to  Popery. 

Court-offices  distributed  amongst  Parliament  men.  No 
considerable  fleet  as  yet  sent  forth.  Things  far  from 
settled  as  was  expected,  by  reason  of  the  slothful,  sickly 
temper  of  the  new  King,  and  the  Parliament's  unmind- 
fulness  of  Ireland,  which  is  likely  to  prove  a  sad  omission. 

The  Confederates  beat  the  French  out  of  the  Palatinate, 
which  they  had  most  barbarously  ruined. 

11th  April.  I  saw  the  procession  to  and  from  the  Abbey- 
Church  of  Westminster,  with  the  great  feast  in  West- 
minster-Hall, at  the  coronation  of  King  William  and 
Oueen  Mary.  What  was  different  from  former  corona- 
tions, was  some  alteration  in  the  coronation-oath.  Dr. 
Burnet,  now  made  Bishop  of  Sarum,  preached  Avith  great 
applause.  The  Parliament-men  had  scaffolds  and  places 
which  took  up  the  one  whole  side  of  the  Hall.  When  the 
King  and  Queen  had  dined,  the  ceremony  of  the  Cham- 
pion, and  other  services  by  tenure  were  performed.  The 
Parliament-men  were  feasted  in  the  Exchequer-chamber, 
and  had  each  of  them  a  gold  [coronation]  medal  given 
them,  worth  five-and-forty  shillings.  On  one  side  were 
the  effigies  of  the  King  and  Queen  inclining  one  to  the 
other;  on  the  reverse  was  Jupiter  throwing  a  bolt  at 
Phaeton,  the  words  "iVe  totus  absumatur:"  which  was 
but  dull,  seeing  they  might  have  had  out  of  the  poet 
something  as  apposite.     The  sculpture  was  very  mean. 

Much  of  the  splendour  of  the  proceeding  was  abated  by 
the  absence  of  divers  who  should  have  contributed  to  it, 
there  being  but  five  Bishops,  four  Judges,  (no  more  being 

*  Burnet  names  only  three  besides  the  Archbishop,  viz.,  Thomas  of  Wor- 
cester, Lake  of  Chichester,  Ken  of  Bath  and  Wells.  He  says  that  at  the  first 
landing  of  the  Prince,  Ken  declared  heartily  for  him,  and  advised  all  to  go  to 
him  ;  but  went  with  great  heat  iij,to  the  notion  of  a  Regent.  After  this,  he 
changed  his  mind,  came  to  town  with  intent  to  take  the  oaths,  but  again 
changed,  and  never  did  take  them.     Burnet's  Own  Times,  vol.  II.  page  6. 


296  DIARY   OP  [LONDON, 

yet  sworn),  and  several  noblemen  and  great  ladies  want- 
ing ;  the  feast,  however,  was  magnificent.  The  next  day 
the  House  of  Commons  went  and  kissed  their  new  Majes- 
ties' hands  in  the  Banqueting-house. 

12th.  I  went  with  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  to  visit  my 
Lord  of  Canterbury  at  Lambeth,  who  had  excused  himself 
from  officiating  at  the  coronation,  which  was  performed 
by  the  Bishop  of  London,  assisted  by  the  Archbishop  of 
York.  We  had  much  private  and  free  discourse  with  his 
Grace  concerning  several  things  relating  to  the  Church, 
there  being  now  a  Bill  of  Comprehension  to  be  brought 
from  the  Lords  to  the  Commons.  I  urged  that  when  they 
went  about  to  reform  some  particulars  in  the  Liturgy, 
Church-discipline,  Canons,  &c.  the  baptising  in  private 
houses  without  necessity  might  be  reformed,  as  likewise  so 
frequent  burials  in  churches;  the  one  proceeding  much 
from  the  pride  of  women,  bringing  that  into  custom  which 
was  only  indulged  in  case  of  imminent  danger,  and  out  of 
necessity  during  the  rebellion,  and  persecution  of  the 
clergy  in  our  late  civil  wars ;  the  other  from  the  avarice 
of  ministers,  who,  in  some  opulent  parishes,  made  almost 
as  much  of  permission  to  bury  in  the  chancel  and  the 
church,  as  of  their  livings,  and  were  paid  with  consider- 
able advantage  and  gifts  for  baptising  in  chambers.  To 
this  they  heartily  assented,  and  promised  their  endeavour 
to  get  it  reformed,  utterly  disliking  both  practices  as  novel 
and  indecent. 

We  discoursed  likewise  of  the  great  disturbance  and 
prejudice  it  might  cause,  should  the  new  oath,  now  on  the 
anvil,  be  imposed  on  any,  save  such  as  were  in  new  office, 
without  any  retrospect  to  such  as  either  had  no  office,  or 
had  been  long  in  office,  who  it  was  likely  would  have  some 
scruples  about  taking  a  new  oath,  having  already  sworn 
fidelity  to  the  government  as  established  by  law.  This  we 
all  knew  to  be  the  case  of  my  Lord  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, and  some  other  persons  who  were  not  so  fully  satis- 
fied with  the  Convention  making  it  an  abdication  of  King 
James,  to  whom  they  had  sworn  allegiance. 

King  James  was  now  certainly  in  Ireland  with  the 
Marshal  d'Estrades  whom  he  made  a  Privy  Councillor; 
and  who  caused  the  King  to  remove  the  Protestant  Coun- 
cillors,  some  whereof,   it   seems,   had  continued  to   sit. 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  297 

telling  Lira  tliat  tlie  King  of  France  his  master  would 
never  assist  him  if  he  did  not  immediately  do  it ;  by  Avhieli 
it  is  apparent  how  the  poor  Prince  is  managed  by  the 
French. 

Scotland  declares  for  King  William  and  Queen  Mary, 
with  the  reasons  of  their  setting  aside  King  James,  not  as 
abdicating,  but  forfeiting  his  right  by  mal-administration ; 
they  proceeded  with  much  more  caution  and  prudence 
than  we  did,  who  precipitated  all  things  to  the  great 
reproach  of  the  nation,  all  which  had  been  managed  by 
some  crafty  ill-principled  men.  The  new  Privy  Council 
have  a  Republican  spirit,  manifestly  undermining  all 
future  succession  of  the  crown  and  prosperity  of  the 
Clmrch  of  England,  which  yet  I  hope  they  will  not  be 
able  to  accomplish  so  soon  as  they  expect,  though  they  get 
into  all  places  of  trust  and  profit. 

21st.  This  was  one  of  the  most  seasonable  springs,  free 
from  the  usual  sharp  east  winds,  that  I  have  observed 
since  the  year  1660,  (the  year  of  the  Restoration)  which 
was  much  such  an  one. 

26th.  I  heard  the  lawyers  plead  before  the  Lords  the 
writ  of  error  in  the  judgment  of  Gates,  as  to  the  charge 
against  him  of  perjuiy,  which  after  debate  they  referred 
to  the  answer  of  Holloway,  &c.  who  were  his  Judges.  I 
then  went  with  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  to  the  Archbishop 
at  Lambeth,  where  they  entered  into  discourse  concerning 
the  final  destruction  of  Antichrist,  both  concluding  that 
the  third  trumpet  and  vdal  Avere  now  pouring  out.  My 
Lord  St.  Asaph  considered  the  killing  of  the  two  witnesses, 
to  be  the  utter  destruction  of  the  Cevennes  Protestants  by 
the  French  and  Duke  of  Savoy,  and  the  other  the  Wal- 
denses  and  Pyrenean  Christians,  who  by  all  appearance 
from  good  history  had  kept  the  primitive  faith  from  the 
very  Apostles'  time  till  now.  The  doubt  his  Grace  sug- 
gested was,  Avhether  it  could  be  made  evident  that  the 
present  persecution  had  made  so  great  a  havoc  of  those 
faithful  people  as  of  the  other,  and  whether  there  Avere  not 
yet  some  among  them  in  being,  who  met  together,  it  being 
stated  from  the  text  Apoc.  xi.,  that  they  should  both  be 
slain  together.  They  both  much  approved  of  Mr.  Mede's 
way  of  interpretation,  and  that  he  only  failed  in  resolving 
too  hastily  on  the  King  of  Sweden's  (Gustavus  Adolphus) 


298  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

success  in  Germany.  They  agreed  that  it  would  be  good 
to  employ  some  intelligent  French  minister  *  to  travel 
as  far  as  the  PjTenees  to  understand  the  present  state  of 
the  Church  there,  it  being  a  country  where  hardly  any  one 
travels. 

There  now  came  certain  news  that  King  James  had 
not  only  landed  in  Ireland,  but  that  he  had  surprised 
Londonderiy,  and  was  become  master  of  that  kingdom, 
to  the  great  shame  of  our  Government,  who  had  been  so 
often  solicited  to  provide  against  it  by  timely  succour,  and 
which  they  might  so  easily  have  done.  This  is  a  terrible 
beginning  of  more  troubles,  especially  should  an  army 
come  thence  into  Scotland,  people  being  generally  disaf- 
fected here  and  everywhere  else,  so  that  the  sea  and 
land-men  would  scarce  serve  without  compulsion. 

A  new  oath  was  now  fabricating  for  all  the  clergy  to  take, 
of  obedience  to  the  present  Government,  in  abrogation  of 
the  former  oaths  of  allegiance,  which  it  is  foreseen  many 
of  the  Bishops  and  others  of  the  clergy  will  not  take. 
The  penalty  is  to  be  the  loss  of  their  dignity  and  spiritual 
preferment.  This  is  thought  to  have  been  driven  on  by 
the  Presbyterians,  our  new  governors.  God  in  mercy 
send  us  help,  and  direct  the  counsels  to  His  glory  and 
good  of  His  Church  ! 

Public  matters  went  very  ill  in  Ireland ;  confusion  and 
dissension  amongst  ourselves,  stupidity,  inconstancy,  emu- 
lation, the  governors  emplojdng  unskilful  men  in  greatest 
offices,  no  person  of  public  spirit  and  ability  appearing, — 
threaten  us  with  a  very  sad  prospect  of  what  may  be  the 
conclusion,  without  God^s  infinite  mercy. 

A  fight  by  Admiral  Herbert  with  the  French,  he  impru- 
dently setting  on  them  in  a  creek  as  they  were  landing  men 
in  Ireland,  by  which  we  came  off  with  great  slaughter  and 
little  honour — so  strangely  negligent  and  remiss  were  we 
in  preparing  a  timely  and  sufficient  fleet.  The  Scots  Com- 
missioners ofler  the  crown  to  the  new  King  and  Queen  on 
conditions — Act  of  Poll-money  came  forth,  sparing  none. 
— Now  appeared  the  Act  of  Indulgence  for  the  Dissenters, 
but  not  exempting  them  paying  dues  to  the  Church  of 
England  Clergy,  or  serving  in  office  according  to  law,  with 

•  They  sent  two.     See  afterwards. 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  £99 

several  other  clauses. — A  most  splendid  embassy  from 
Holland  to  congratulate  the  King  and  Queen  on  their 
accession  to  the  crown. 

4th  June.  A  solemn  fast  for  success  of  the  fleet,  &c. 

0th.  I  dined  with  the  Bishop  of  Asaph;  Monsieur 
Capellus,  the  learned  son  of  the  most  learned  Ludovicus, 
presented  to  him  his  father's  works,  not  published  till 
now. 

7th.  I  visited  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  staid 
witli  him  till  about  seven  o'clock.  He  read  to  me  the 
Pope's  excommunication  of  the  French  King. 

9th.  Visited  Dr.  Burnet,  now  Bishop  of  Sarum ;  got 
him  to  let  Mr.  Kneller  draw  his  picture. 

16th.  King  James's  declaration  was  now  dispersed, 
oflPering  pardon  to  all,  if  on  his  landing,  or  within  twenty 
days  after,  they  should  return  to  their  obedience. 

Our  fleet  not  yet  at  sea,  through  some  prodigious  sloth, 
and  men  minding  only  their  present  interest ;  the  French 
riding  masters  at  sea,  taking  many  great  prizes  to  our 
v/onderful  reproach.  No  certain  news  from  Ireland ; 
various  reports  of  Scotland;  discontents  at  home.  The 
King  of  Denmark  at  last  joins  Avith  the  Confederates,  and 
the  two  Northern  Powers  are  reconciled.  The  East  India 
Company  likely  to  be  dissolved  by  Parliament  for  many 
arbitrary  actions,  Oates  acquitted  of  perjury,  to  all  honest 
men's  admiration. 

20th.  News  of  a  Plot  discovered,  on  which  divers  were 
sent  to  the  Tower  and  secured. 

23rd.  An  extraordinary  drought,  to  the  threatening  of 
great  wants  as  to  the  fruits  of  the  earth. 

8th  July.  I  sat  for  my  picture  to  Mr.  KneUer,  for 
]Mr.  Pepys,  late  Secretary  to  the  Admiralty,  holding  my 
"  Sylva"  in  my  right  hand.*  It  was  on  his  long  and 
earnest  request,  and  is  placed  in  his  library.  Kneller 
never  painted  in  a  more  masterly  manner. 

11th.  I  dined  at  Lord  Clarendon's,  it  being  his  lady's 
wedding-day,  when  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  there 
was  an  unusual  and  violent  storm  of  thunder,  rain,  and 
wind ;  many  boats  on  the  Thames  were  overwhelmed,  and 

*  Now  at  Wotton.     A  copy  of  it  was  given  by  the  late  Sir  Frederick 
Evelyn  to  the  Earl  of  Harcourt,  a  few  years  ago. 


300  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the  wind  as  to  carry  up  the 
waves  in  pillars  and  spouts  most  dreadful  to  behold, 
rooting  up  trees  and  ruining  some  houses.  The  Countess 
of  Sunderland  afterwards  told  me  that  it  extended  as  far 
as  Althorpe  at  the  very  time,  which  is  seventy  miles  from 
London.  It  did  no  harm  at  Deptford,  but  at  Greenwich 
it  did  much  mischief. 

16th.  I  went  to  Hampton-Court  about  business,  the 
Council  being  there.  A  great  apartment  and  vspacious 
garden  with  fountains  was  beginning  in  the  park  at  the 
head  of  the  canal. 

19th.  The  Marshal  de  Schomberg  went  now  as  General 
towards  Ireland,  to  the  relief  of  Londonderry.  Our  fleet 
lay  before  Brest.  The  Confederates  passing  the  Rhine, 
besiege  Bonn  and  Mayence,  to  obtain  a  passage  into 
France.  A  great  victory  got  by  the  Muscovites,  taking 
and  burning  Perecop.  A  new  rebel  against  the  Turks 
threatens  the  destruction  of  that  tyranny.  All  Europe  in 
arms  against  France,  and  hardly  to  be  found  in  history  so 
universal  a  face  of  war. 

The  Convention  (or  Parliament  as  some  called  it)  sitting, 
exempt  the  Duke  of  Hanover  from  the  succession  to  the 
crown,  which  they  seem  to  confine  to  the  present  new 
King,  his  wife,  and  Princess  Anne  of  Denmark,  who  is  so 
monstrously  swollen,  that  it's  doubted  whether  her  being 
thought  with  child,  may  prove  a  tympany  only,  so  that  the 
unhappy  family  of  the  Stuarts  seems  to  be  extinguishing, 
and  then  what  government  is  likely  to  be  next  set  up  is 
unknown,  whether  regal  and  by  election,  or  otherwise,  the 
Republicans  and  Dissenters  from  the  Church  of  England 
evidently  looking  that  way. 

The  Scots  have  now  again  voted  down  Episcopacy 
there. — Great  discontents  through  this  nation  at  the  slow 
proceedings  of  the  King,  and  the  incompetent  instruments 
and  officers  he  advances  to  the  greatest  and  most  necessary 
charges. 

2(Jrd  August.  Came  to  visit  me  Mr.  Fu'min.* 

*  He  was  a  man  of  the  most  amiable  character  and  most  unbounded 
charity  :  a  great  friend  of  Sir  Robert  Clayton,  who,  after  his  death,  erected  a 
monument  for  him  in  a  walk  which  he  had  foiined  at  Sir  Robert's  seat  at 
Marden,  in  Surrey.  He  was  very  fond  of  gardens,  and  so  far  of  a  congenial 
spirit  with  Mr.  Evelyn.     He  was  an  Unitai'ian,  but  lived  in  intimacy  with 


1689.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3Q2 

25th.  Hitherto  it  has  been  a  most  seasonable  summer. — 
Londonderry  relieved  after  a  brave  and  Avonderful  holding- 
out. 

31st  September.  I  Avent  to  visit  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  since  his  suspension,  and  was  received  with 
great  kindness. — A  dreadful  fire  happened  in  Southwark. 

2nd  October.  Came  to  visit  us  the  Marquis  de  Ruvigne, 
and  one  Monsieur  le  Coque,  a  French  refugee,  who  left 
great  riches  for  his  religion ;  a  very  learned,  civil  person ; 
he  married  the  sister  of  the  Duchess  de  la  Force. — 
Ottobone,  a  Venetian  Cardinal,  eighty  years  old,  made 
Pope.  * 

olst.  My  birthday,  being  now  sixty-nine  years  old. 
Blessed  Father,  who  hast  prolonged  my  years  to  this  great 
age,  and  given  me  to  see  so  great  and  wonderful  revolu- 
tions, and  preserved  me  amidst  them  to  this  moment, 
accept,  I  beseech  thee,  the  continuance  of  my  prayers  and 
thankful  acknowledgments,  and  grant  me  grace  to  be 
working  out  my  salvation  and  redeeming  the  time,  that 
Thou  mayst  be  glorified  by  me  here,  and  my  immortal 
soul  save  whenever  Thou  shalt  call  for  it,  to  perpetuate 
Thy  praises  to  all  eternity,  in  that  heavenly  kingdom 
where  there  are  no  more  changes  or  vicissitudes,  but  rest, 
and  peace,  and  joy,  and  consummate  felicity,  for  ever. 
Orant  this,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  thine 
only  Son  and  our  Saviour.     Amen  ! 

5th  November.  The  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph,  Lord-Almoner, 
preached  before  the  King  and  Queen,  the  whole  discourse 
being  an  historical  narrative  of  the  Church  of  England's 
several  deliverances,  especially  that  of  this  anniversary, 
signalised  by  being  also  the  birthday  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange,  his  marriage,  (which  was  on  the  4th)  and  his 
landing  at  Torbay  this  day.  There  was  a  splendid  ball 
and  other  rejoicings. 

10th.  After  a  very  wet  season,  the  winter  came  on 
severely. 

17th.  Much  wet,  without  frost,  yet  the  wind  north  and 
easterly. — A  Convocation  of  the  Clergy   meet   about   a 

many  of  the  most  eminent  clergy.     His  life  was  printed  in  a  small  volume. 
See  more  of  him  in  the  History  of  Surrey,  vol.  II.  pp.  804,  805. 

*  Peter  Otthobonus  succeeded  Innocent  XI.  as  Pope  in  1681),  by  the  title 
of  Alexander  VIII. 


302  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

reformation  of  our  Liturgy,  Canons,  &c.,  obstructed  by 
others  of  the  clergy. 

27th.  I  went  to  London  with  my  family  to  winter  m. 
Soho,  in  the  great  square. 

1689-90.  11th  January.  This  night  there  was  a  most 
extraordinary  storm  of  wind,  accompanied  with  snow  and 
sharp  weather ;  it  did  great  harm  in  many  places,  blowing 
down  houses,  trees,  &c.,  kilUng  many  people.  It  began 
about  two  in  the  morning,  and  lasted  till  five,  being  a  kind 
of  hurricane,  which  mariners  observe  have  begun  of  late 
years  to  come  northward.  This  winter  has  been  hitherto 
extremely  wet,  warm,  and  windy. 

12th.  There  was  read  at  St.  Ann's  Church  an  exhorta- 
tory  letter  to  the  clergy  of  London  from  the  Bishop, 
together  with  a  Brief  for  relie\dng  the  distressed  Protes- 
tants, the  Vaudois,  who  fled  from  the  persecution  of  the 
French  and  Duke  of  Savoy,  to  the  Protestant  Cantons  of 
Switzerland. 

The  Parliament  was  unexpectedly  prorogued  to  2nd 
April,  to  the  discontent  and  surprise  of  many  members 
who,  being  exceeding  averse  to  the  settling  of  any  thing, 
proceeding  with  animosities,  multiplying  exceptions  against 
those  whom  they  pronounced  obnoxious,  and  producing  as 
universal  a  discontent  against  King  William  and  them- 
selves, as  there  was  before  against  King  James. — The  new 
King  resolved  on  an  expedition  into  Ireland  in  person. 
About  150  of  the  members  who  were  of  the  more  royal 
party,  meeting  at  a  feast  at  the  Apollo  Tavern  near  St. 
Dunstan's,  sent  some  of  their  company  to  the  King,  to 
assure  him  of  their  service ;  he  returned  his  thanks,  advis- 
ing them  to  repair  to  their  several  counties  and  preserve 
the  peace  during  his  absence,  and  assuring  them  that  he 
would  be  steady  to  his  resolution  of  defending  the  Laws 
and  Religion  established. — The  great  Lord  suspected  to 
have  counselled  this  prorogation,  universally  denied  it. 
However,  it  was  believed  the  chief  adviser  was  the  Marquis 
of  Carmarthen,*  who  now  seemed  to  be  most  in  favour. 

2nd  February.  The  Parliament  was  dissolved  by  procla- 
mation, and  another  called  to  meet  the  20th  of  March. 
This  was  a  second  surprise  to  the  former  members ;  and 

•  Osborne,  Lord  Danby,  afterwards  Duke  of  Leeds. 


1690.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  303 

now  the  Court-partV;,  or,  as  tliey  call  themselves,  Church 
of  England,  are  making  their  interests  in  the  country. 
The  Marquis  of  Halifax  lays  down  his  office  of  Privy  Seal, 
and  pretends  to  retire. 

16th.  The  Duchess  of  Monmouth's  chaplain  preached 
at  St.  Martin's  an  excellent  discourse,  exhorting  to  peace 
and  sanctity,  it  being  now  the  time  of  very  great  division 
and  dissension  in  the  nation ;  first,  amongst  the  Church- 
men, of  whom  the  moderate  and  sober  part  were  for  a 
speedy  reformation  of  divers  things,  which  it  was  thought 
might  be  made  in  our  Liturgy,  for  the  inviting  of  Dis- 
senters ;  others  more  stiff  and  rigid,  were  for  no  conde- 
scension at  all.  Books  and  pamphlets  were  pubhshed 
every  day  pro  and  con. ;  the  Convocation  were  forced  for 
the  present  to  suspend  any  further  progress. — There  was 
fierce  and  great  carousing  about  being  elected  in  the  new 
Parliament. — The  King  persists  in  his  intention  of  going 
in  person  for  Ireland,  whither  the  French  are  sending 
supplies  to  King  James,  and  we,  the  Danish  horse  to 
Schomberg. 

19th.  I  dined  with  the  Marquis  of  Carmarthen  (late 
Lord  Danby),  vrhere  was  Lieutenant-general  Douglas,  a 
very  considerate  and  sober  commander,  going  for  Ireland. 
He  related  to  us  the  exceeding  neglect  of  the  English 
soldiers,  sufi'ering  severely  for  want  of  clothes  and  neces- 
saries this  winter,  exceedingly  magnifying  their  courage 
and  bravery  during  all  their  hardships.  There  dined  also 
Lord  Lucas,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  and  the  Bishop  of 
St.  Asaph. — The  Privy  Seal  was  again  put  in  commission, 
Mr.  Cheny  (who  married  my  kinswoman,  Mrs.  Pierrepoint), 
Sir  Thomas  Knatchbull,  and  Sir  P.  W.  Pultney.— The 
impudence  of  both  sexes  was  now  become  so  great 
and  universal,  persons  of  all  ranks  keeping  their  courtesans 
publicly,  that  the  King  had  lately  directed  a  letter  to  the 
Bishops  to  order  their  clergy  to  preach  against  that  sin, 
swearing,  &c.,  and  to  put  the  ecclesiastical  laws  in  execu- 
tion without  any  indulgence. 

25th.  I  went  to  Kensington,  which  King  Wilham  had 
bought  of  Lord  Nottingham,  and  altered,  but  was  yet  a 
patched  building,  but  with  the  garden,  however,  it  is  a  very 
sweet  villa,  having  to  it  the  park  and  a  straight  new  way 
through  this  park. 


304  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

7th  March.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Pepys,  late  Secretary  to 
the  Admiralty,  where  was  that  excellent  shipwright  and 
seaman  (for  so  he  had  been  and  also  a  Commissioner  of 
the  Navy)  Sir  Anthony  Deane.  Amongst  other  discourse, 
and  deploring  the  sad  condition  of  our  navy,  as  now 
governed  by  inexperienced  men  since  this  Revolution,  he 
mentioned  what  exceeding  advantage  we  of  this  nation  had 
by  being  the  first  who  built  frigates,  the  first  of  which  ever 
built  was  that  vessel  which  was  afterwards  called  "  The 
Constant  Warwick,"  and  was  the  work  of  Pett  *  of  Chat- 
ham, for  a  trial  of  making  a  vessel  that  would  sail  swiftly ; 
it  was  built  with  low  decks,  the  guns  lying  near  the  water, 
and  was  so  light  and  swift  of  sailing,  that  in  a  short  time 
he  told  us  she  had,  ere  the  Dutch  war  was  ended,  taken 
as  much  money  from  privateers  as  would  have  laden  her ; 
and  that  more  such  being  built,  did  in  a  year  or  two  scour 
the  Channel  from  those  of  Dunkirk  and  others  which  had 
exceedingly  infested  it.  He  added  that  it  would  be  the 
best  and  only  infallible  expedient  to  be  masters  of  the  sea, 
and  able  to  destroy  the  greatest  navy  of  any  enemy  if, 
instead  of  building  huge  great  ships  and  second  and  third 
rates,  they  would  leave  off  building  such  high  decks,  which 
were  for  nothing  but  to  gratify  gentlemen -commanders, 
who  must  have  all  their  effeminate  accommodations,  and 
for  pomp ;  that  it  would  be  the  ruin  of  our  fleets,  if  such 
persons  were  continued  in  command,  they  neither  having 
experience  nor  being  capable  of  learning,  because  they 
would  not  submit  to  the  fatigue  and  inconvenience  which 
those  Avho  were  bred  seamen  would  undergo,  in  those  so 
otherwise  useful  swift  frigates.  These  being  to  encounter 
the  greatest  ships  would  be  able  to  protect,  set  on,  and 
bring  off,  those  who  should  manage  the  fire-ships;  and  the 
Prince  who  should  first  store  himself  with  numbers  of  such 
fire-ships  would,  through  the  help  and  countenance  of 
•such  frigates,  be  able  to  ruin  the  greatest  force  of  such 
vast  ships  as  could  be  sent  to  sea,  by  the  dexterity  of 
working  those  light,  swift  ships  to  guard  the  fire-ships. 
He  concluded  there  would  shortly  be  no  other  method  of 
sea-fight,  and  that  great  ships  and  men-of-war,  however 
stored  with  guns  and  men,  must  submit  to  those  who 

*  See  vol.  I.  p.  375. 


1690.J  JOHN  EVELYN.  395 

should  encounter  tliem  -with  far  less  number.  He  repre- 
sented to  us  the  dreadful  effect  of  these  fire-ships ;  that  he 
continually  observed  in  our  late  maritime  war  with  the 
Dutch  that,  when  an  enemy's  fire-ship  approached,  the 
most  valiant  commander  and  common  sailors  were  in  such 
consternation,  that  though  then,  of  all  times,  there  was 
most  need  of  the  guns,  bombs,  &c.,  to  keep  the  mischief 
off,  they  grew  pale  and  astonished,  as  if  of  a  quite  other 
mean  soul,  that  they  slunk  about,  forsook  their  guns  and 
work  as  if  in  despair,  every  one  looking  about  to  see  which 
way  they  might  get  out  of  their  ship,  though  sure  to  be 
drowned  if  they  did  so.  This  he  said  was  likely  to  prove 
hereafter  the  method  of  sea-fight,  likely  to  be  the  misfor- 
tune of  England  if  they  continued  to  put  gentlemen-com- 
manders over  experienced  seamen,  on  account  of  their 
ignorance,  effeminacy,  and  insolence. 

9th,  Preached  at  Whitehall  Dr.  Burnet,  late  Bishop  of 
Sarum,  on  Heb.  iv.  13,  anatomically  describing  the  texture 
of  the  eye ;  and  that,  as  it  received  such  innumerable  sorts 
of  spies  through  so  very  small  a  passage  to  the  brain,  and 
that  without  the  least  confusion  or  trouble,  and  accordingly 
judged  and  reflected  on  them;  so  God  Avho  made  this 
sensory,  did  with  the  greatest  ease  and  at  once  see  all  that 
was  done  through  the  vast  universe,  even  to  the  very 
thought  as  well  as  action.  This  similitude  he  continued 
with  much  perspicuity  and  aptness ;  and  applied  it  accord- 
ingly, for  the  admonishing  us  how  uprightly  Ave  ought  to 
live  and  behave  ourselves  before  such  an  all-seeing  Deity ; 
and  how  we  were  to  conceive  of  other  His  attributes,  which 
we  could  have  no  idea  of  than  by  comparing  them  by  what 
we  Avere  able  to  conceive  of  the  nature  and  power  of  things, 
whicli  were  the  objects  of  our  senses;  and  therefore  it  was 
that  in  Scripture  avc  attribute  those  actions  and  affections 
of  God  by  the  same  of  man,  not  as  adequately  or  in  any 
proportion  like  them,  but  as  the  only  expedient  to  make 
some  resemblance  of  His  divine  perfections  :  as  Avhen  the 
Scripture  says,  "  God  Avill  remember  the  sins  of  the  peni- 
tent no  more  : "  not  as  if  God  could  forget  anything, 
but  as  intimating  he  would  pass  by  such  penitents  and 
receive  them  to  mercy. 

I  dined  at  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph's,  Almoner  to  the  ncAV 
Queeu,  Avith  the  famous   lawyer  Sir  George  Mackenzie 

VOL.  II.  X 


306  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

(late  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland),  against  whom  both  the 
Bishop  and  myself  had  written  and  published  books,  but 
now  most  firiendly  reconciled.*  He  related  to  us  many 
particulars  of  Scotland,  the  present  sad  condition  of  it,  the 
inveterate  hatred  which  the  Presbyterians  show  to  the 
family  of  the  Stuarts,  and  the  exceeding  tyranny  of  those 
bigots  who  acknowledge  no  superior  on  earth,  in  civil  or 
divine  matters,  maintaining  that  the  people  only  have  the 
right  of  government ;  their  implacable  hatred  to  the  Epis- 
copal Order  and  Church  of  England.  He  observed  that 
the  first  Presbyter-dissents  from  our  discipline  were  intro- 
duced by  the  Jesuits'  order,  about  the  20  of  Queen  Eliz., 
a  famous  Jesuit  amongst  them  feigning  himself  a  Pro- 
testant, and  who  was  the  first  who  began  to  pray  extem- 
pore, and  brought  in  that  which  they  since  called,  and  are 
stni  so  fond  of,  praying  by  the  Spirit.  This  Jesuit 
remained  many  years  before  he  was  discovered,  afterwards 

died  in  Scotland,  where  he  was  buried  at having 

yet  on  his  monument,  "  Rosa  inter  spinas." 

11th.  I  went  again  to  see  Mr.  Charlton's  curiosities,  f 
both  of  art  and  nature,  and  his  full  and  rare  collection  of 
medals,  which  taken  altogether,  in  all  kinds,  is  doubtless 
one  of  the  most  perfect  assemblages  of  rarities  that  can  be 
any  where  seen.  I  much  admired  the  contortions  of  the 
Thea  root,  which  was  so  perplexed,  large,  and  intricate,  and 
withal  hard  as  box,  that  it  was  wonderful  to  consider. — The 
French  have  landed  in  Ireland. 

16th,  A  public  fast. 

24th  May.  City  charter  restored.  Divers  exempted  from 
pardon. 

4th  June.  King  William  set  forth  on  his  Irish  expedition, 
leaving  the  Queen  regent. 

10th.  Mr.  Pepys  read  to  me  his  Remonstrance,  showing 
with  what  malice  and  injustice  he  was  suspected  with  Sir 
Anthony  Deane  about  the  timber,  of  which  the  thirty  ships 
were  built  by  a  late  Act  of  Parliament,  with  the  exceeding 
danger  which  the  fleet  would  shortly  be  in,  by  reason  of 

*  Sir  George  had  written  in  praise  of  a  Private  Life,  which  Mr.  Evelyn 
answered  by  a  book  in  praise  of  Public  Life  and  Active  Employment ;  see 
the  Introduction  to  vol.  I.  and  Appendix.  As  to  the  Bishop's  book,  see 
Biog.  Brit,  articles  Lloyd  and  Mackenzie. 

t  See  p.  260. 


1690.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  OQ<jf 

the  tyranny  and  incompetency  of  those  who  now  managed 
the  Admiralty  and  affairs  of  the  Navy,  of  which  he  gave  an 
accurate  state,  and  showed  his  great  abihty. 

18th.  Fast-day.  Visited  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph;  his 
conversation  was  on  the  Vaudois  in  Savoy,  who  had  been 
thought  so  near  destruction  and  final  extirpation  by  the 
French,  being  totally  given  up  to  slaughter,  so  that  there 
were  no  hopes  for  them ;  but  now  it  pleased  God  that  tlie 
Duke  of  Savoy,  who  had  hitherto  joined  with  the  French 
in  their  persecution,  being  now  pressed  by  them  to  deliver 
up  (Saluce)*  and  Turin  as  cautionary  towns,  on  suspicion 
that  he  might  at  last  come  into  the  Confederacy  of  the 
German  Princes,  did  secretly  concert  measures  with,  and 
afterwards  declared  for,  them.  He  then  invited  these 
poor  people  from  their  dispersion  amongst  the  mountains 
whither  they  had  fled,  and  restored  them  to  their  country, 
their  dwellings,  and  the  exercise  of  their  religion,  and 
begged  pardon  for  the  ill  usage  they  had  received,  charging 
it  on  the  cruelty  of  the  French  who  forced  him  to  it. 
These  being  the  remainder  of  those  persecuted  Christians 
which  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  had  so  long  affirmed  to  be 
the  two  witnesses  spoken  of  in  the  Revelation,  who  should 
be  killed  and  brought  to  life  again,  it  was  looked  on  as  an 
extraordinaiy  thing  that  this  prophesying  Bishop  should 
persuade  two  fugitive  ministers  of  the  Vaudoist  to  return 
to  their  country,  and  furnish  them  with  £20  towards  their 
journey,  at  that  very  time  when  nothing  but  universal 
destruction  was  to  be  expected,  assuring  them  and  showing 
them  from  the  Apocalypse,  that  then*  countrymen  should 
be  returned  safely  to  their  country  before  they  arrived. 
This  happening  contrary  to  all  expectation  and  appearance, 
did  exceedingly  credit  the  Bishop's  confidence  how  that 
prophecy  of  the  witnesses  should  come  to  pass,  just  at  the 
time,  and  the  very  month  he  had  spoken  of  some  years 
before. 

I  afterwards  went  with  him  to  Mr.  Boyle  and  Lady 
Banelagh  his  sister,  to  whom  he  explained  the  necessity 
of  it  so  fully,  and  so  learnedly  made  out,  with  what  events 
were  immediately  to  follow,  viz.  the  French  King's  ruin, 
the  calling  of  the  Jews  to  be  near  at  hand,  but  that  the 
Kingdom  of  Antichrist  would  not  yet  be  utterly  destroyed 

*  Sed  quoere.  f  See  p.  297. 

X  2 


308  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

till  30  years,  when  Christ  should  begin  the  Millenium, 
not  as  personally  and  visibly  reigning  on  earth,  but  that 
the  true  religion  and  universal  peace  should  obtain  through 
all  the  world.  He  showed  how  Mr.  Brightman,  Mr. 
Mede,  and  other  interpreters  of  these  events  failed,  by 
mistaking  and  reckoning  the  year  as  the  Latins  and  others 
did,  to  consist  of  the  present  calculation,  so  many  days  to 
the  year,  whereas  the  Apocalypse  reckons  after  the  Persian 
account,  as  Daniel  did,  whose  visions  St.  John  all  along 
explains  as  meaning  only  the  Christian  Church. 

24th.  Dined  with  Mr.  Pepys,  who  the  next  day  was 
sent  to  the  Gate-house,*  and  several  great  persons  to  the 
Tower,  on  suspicion  of  being  affected  to  King  James ; 
amongst  them  was  the  Earl  of  Clarendon,  the  Queen's 
uncle. — King  William  having  vanquished  King  James  in 
Ireland,  there  was  much  public  rejoicing.  It  seems  the 
Irish  in  King  James's  army  would  not  stand,  but  the 
English-Irish  and  French  made  great  resistance.  Schom- 
berg  was  slain,  and  Dr.  Walker,  who  so  bravely  defended 
Londonderry.  King  William  received  a  slight  wound  by 
the  grazing  of  a  cannon-bullet  on  his  shoulder,  which 
he  endured  with  very  little  interruption  of  his  pursuit. 
Hamilton,  who  broke  his  word  about  Tyrconnel,  was  taken. 
It  is  reported  that  King  James  is  gone  back  to  France. 
Drogheda  and  Dublin  surrendered,  and  if  King  William 
be  returning,  we  may  say  of  him  as  Caesar  said,  "  Venif 
vidi,  vici."  But  to  alloy  much  of  this,  the  French  fleet 
rides  in  our  Channel,  ours  not  daring  to  interpose,  and  the 
enemy  threatening  to  land. 

27th.  I  went  to  visit  some  friends  in  the  Tower,  when 
asking  for  Lord  Clarendon,  they  by  mistake  directed  me 
to  the  Earl  of  Torrington,  who  about  three  days  before 
had  been  sent  for  from  the  fleet,  and  put  into  the  Tower 
for  cowardice  and  not  fighting  the  French  fleet,  which 
having  beaten  a  squadron  of  the  Hollanders,  whilst  Tor- 
rington did  nothing,  did  now  ride  masters  of  the  sea, 
threatening  a  descent. 

20th  July.  This  afternoon  a  camp  of  about  4,000  men 
was  begun  to  be  formed  on  Blackheath. 

*  By  Grey's  Parliamentary  Debates  it  appears  that  he  was  accused  of 
having  sent  information  to  the  French  Court  of  the  state  of  the  English 
Navy. 


1690.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3O9 

30tli.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Pepys,  now  suffered  to  return 
to  liis  house,  on  account  of  indisposition. 

1st  August.  The  Duke  of  Grafton  came  to  visit  me, 
going  to  his  ship  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  in  his  way  to 
Ireland  (where  he  Avas  slain). 

ord.  The  French  landed  some  soldiers  at  Teignmouth, 
in  Devon,  and  burnt  some  poor  houses. — The  French  fleet 
still  hovering  about  the  Western  coast,  and  we  having 
300  sail  of  rich  merchant-ships  in  the  Bay  of  Plymouth, 
our  fleet  begin  to  move  towards  them,  under  three 
admirals.  The  country  in  the  west  all  on  their  guard. — 
A  very  extraordinary  fine  season ;  but  on  the  1 2th  was 
a  very  great  storm  of  thunder  and  lightning,  and  on  the 
15th  the  season  much  changed  to  wet  and  cold. — The 
militia  and  trained  bands,  horse  and  foot,  which  were  up 
through  England,  were  dismissed.  —  The  French  King 
having  news  that  King  William  was  slain,  and  his  army 
defeated  in  Ireland,  caused  such  a  triumph  at  Paris,  and 
all  over  France,  as  was  never  heard  of;  when,  in  the  midst 
of  it,  the  unhappy  King  James  being  vanquished,  by  a 
speedy  flight  and  escape,  himself  brought  the  news  of  his 
own  defeat. 

15th.  I  was  desired  to  be  one  of  the  bail  of  the  Earl  of 
Clarendon,  for  his  release  from  the  Tower,  with  divers 
noblemen.  The  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  expounds  his 
prophecies  to  me  and  Mr.  Pepys,  &c.  The  troops  from 
Blackheath  march  to  Portsmouth. — That  sweet  and  hopeful 
youth.  Sir  Charles  Tuke,  died  of  the  wounds  he  received 
in  the  fight  of  the  Boyne,  to  the  great  sorrow  of  all  his 
friends,  being  (I  think)  the  last  male  of  that  family,  to 
which  my  wife  is  related.  A  more  virtuous  young  gentle- 
man I  never  knew ;  he  was  learned  for  his  age,  having  had 
the  advantage  of  the  choicest  breeding  abroad,  both  as  to 
arts  and  arms ;  he  had  travelled  much,  but  was  so  unhappy 
as  to  fall  in  the  side  of  the  unfortunate  King, 

The  unseasonable  and  most  tempestuous  weather  happen- 
ing, the  naval  expedition  is  hindered,  and  the  extremity  of 
wet  causes  the  siege  of  Limerick  to  be  raised.  King  William 
returned  toEngland. — Lord  Sydney  left  Governor  of  what  is 
conquered  in  Ireland,  which  is  near  three  parts  [in  four] . 
17th.  A  public  fast. — An  extraordinary  sharp,  cold,  east 
Avind. 


310  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

12tli  October.  The  French  General,  with  Tyrconnel  and 
their  forces,  gone  back  to  France,  beaten  out  by  King 
William. — Cork  delivered  on  discretion.  The  Duke  of 
Grafton  was  there  mortally  wounded  and  dies. — Very 
great  storms  of  wind.  The  8th  of  this  month  Lord  Spencer 
wrote  me  word  from  Althorpe,  that  there  happened  an 
earthquake  the  day  before  in  the  morning  which,  though 
short,  sensibly  shook  the  house.  The  Gazette  acquainted 
us  that  the  like  happened  at  the  same  time,  half-past 
seven,  at  Barnstaple,  Holyhead,  and  Dublin.  We  were 
not  sensible  of  it  here. 

26th.  Kinsale  at  last  surrendered,  meantime  King 
James's  party  burn  all  the  houses  they  have  in  their 
power,  and  amongst  them  that  stately  palace  of  Lord 
Ossory's,  which  lately  cost,  as  reported,  £40,000.  By  a 
disastrous  accident,  a  third-rate  ship,  the  Breda,  blew  up 
and  destroyed  all  on  board ;  in  it  were  twenty-five  prison- 
ers of  war.  She  was  to  have  sailed  for  England  the  next 
day. 

3rd  November.  Went  to  the  Countess  of  Clancarty  to 
condole  with  her  concerning  her  debauched  and  dissolute 
son,  who  had  done  so  much  mischief  in  Ireland,  now  taken 
and  brought  prisoner  to  the  Tower. 

16th.  Exceeding  great  storms,  yet  a  warm  season. 

23rd.  Carried  Mr.  Pepys's  memorials  to  Lord  Go- 
dolphin,  now  resuming  the  commission  of  the  Treasury  to 
the  wonder  of  all  his  friends. 

1st  December.  Having  been  chosen  President  of  the 
Royal  Society,  I  desired  to  decline  it,  and  with  great 
difficulty  devolved  the  election  on  Sir  Robert  Southwell, 
Secretary  of  State  to  King  William  in  Ireland. 

20th.  Dr.  Hough,  President  of  Magdalen  College, 
Oxford,  who  was  displaced  with  several  of  the  Fellows  for 
not  taking  the  oath  imposed  by  King  James,  now  made 
a  Bishop.* — Most  of  this  month  cold  and  frost. — One 
Johnson,  a  knight,  was  executed  at  Tyburn  for  being  an 
accomplice  with  Campbell,  brother  to  Lord  Argyle,  in 
stealing  a  young  heiress. 

*  In  1699,  Dr.  Hough  was  translated  to  Lichfield  and  Coventry  :  in  1717, 
he  became  Bishop  of  Worcester,  which  he  held  till  1743,  when  he  died,  8th 
May,  at  the  great  age  of  93.     His  convei-sation  and  familiar  letters,  at  the 


1691.1  JOHN   EVELYN.  3II 

1690-1.  4th  January,  This  week  a  jo/oif  was  discovered 
for  a  general  rising  against  the  new  Grovernment,  for 
which  (Henry)  Lord  Clarendon  and  others  were  sent  to 
the  Tower.  The  next  day,  I  went  to  see  Lord  Clarendon. 
The  Bishop  of  Ely*  searched  for. — Trial  of  Lord  Preston, 
as  not  being  an  English  Peer,  hastened  at  the  Old 
Bailey. 

18th,  Lord  Preston  condemned  about  a  design  to  bring 
in  King  James  by  the  French.  Ashton  executed.  The 
Bishop  of  Ely,  Mr.  Graham,  &c.  absconded, 

13th  March.  I  went  to  visit  Monsieur  Justell  and  the 
Library  at  St,  James's,  in  which  that  learned  man  had 
put  the  MSS.  (which  were  in  good  number)  into  excellent 
order,  they  having  lain  neglected  for  many  years.  Divers 
medals  had  been  stolen  and  embezzled. 

21st,  Dined  at  Sir  William  Fermor's,  who  showed  me 
many  good  pictures.  After  dinner,  a  French  servant 
played  rarely  on  the  lute.  Sir  William  had  now  bought 
all  the  remaining  statues  collected  with  so  much  expense 
by  the  famous  Thomas,  Earl  of  Arundel,  and  sent  them  to 
his  seat  at  Easton,  near  Towcester.f 

25th.  Lord  Sidney,  principal  Secretary  of  State,  gave 
me  a  letter  to  Lord  Lucas,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  to 
permit  me  to  visit  Lord  Clarendon ;  Avhich  this  day  I  did 
and  dined  with  him. 

10th  April,  This  night,  a  sudden  and  terrible  fire  burnt 
down  all  the  buildings  over  the  stone-gallery  at  Whitehall 
to  the  water-side,  beginning  at  the  apartment  of  the  late 
Duchess  of  Portsmouth  (which  had  been  pulled  down  and 
rebuilt  no  less  than  three  times  to  please  her),  and  con- 
suming other  lodgings  of  such  lewd  creatures,  who 
debauched  both  King  Charles  XL,  and  others,  and  were 

close  of  his  life,  had  the  cheerfulness  and  spirit  of  youth.  He  was  a  genuine 
pati'iot  ;  the  delight  of  the  Church  ;  a  tliom  in  the  side  of  oppression ;  a 
pillar  of  religion  ;  a  father  of  tlie  indigent  ;  and  a  friend  to  all.  His  Memoirs 
were  published  in  a  quarto  volume,  in  1812,  by  John  Wilmot,  Esq.,  illus- 
trated witli  two  fine  portraits,  and  other  appropriate  embellishments. 

*  Dr.  Turner  who,  though  one  of  the  six  Bishops  sent  to  tlie  Tower  for 
the  petition  to  the  King,  declined  taking  the  oaths  to  King  William  and 
Queen  Mary. 

-f-  They  ai'e  now  at  Oxford,  having  been  presented  to  the  University  in 
175.5  by  Henrietta  Countess-dowager  of  Pomfret,  widow  of  Thomas,  the  first 
Earl. 


812  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

his  destruction. — The  King  returned  out  of  Holland 
just  as  this  accident  happened.  —  Proclamation  against 
Papists,  &c. 

16th.  I  went  to  see  Dr.  Sloane's  curiosities,  being  an 
universal  collection  of  the  natural  productions  of  Jamaica, 
consisting  of  plants,  fruits,  corals,  minerals,  stones,  earth, 
shells,  animals,  and  insects,  collected  with  great  judg- 
ment ;  several  folios  of  dried  plants,  and  one  which  had 
about  80  several  sorts  of  ferns,  and  another  of  grasses; 
the  Jamaica  pepper,  in  branch,  leaves,  flower,  fruit,  &c. 
This  collection,*  with  his  Journal  and  other  philosophical 
and  natural  discourses  and  observations,  indeed  very 
copious  and  extraordinary,  sufficient  to  furnish  a  history 
of  that  island,  to  which  I  encouraged  him. 

19th.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  Bishops  of 
Ely,  Bath  and  Wells,  Peterborough,  Gloucester,  and  the 
rest  who  would  not  take  the  oaths  to  King  William,  were 
now  displaced ;  and,  in  their  rooms.  Dr.  Tillotson,  Dean 
of  St.  Paul's,  was  made  Archbishop;  Patrick  removed 
from  Chichester  to  Ely ;  Cumberlandf,  to  Gloucester. 

22nd.  I  dined  with  Lord  Clarendon  in  the  Tower. 

24th.  I  visited  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Sunderland, 
now  come  to  kiss  the  King's  hand,  after  his  return  from 
Holland.  This  is  a  mystery.  The  King  preparing  to 
return  to  the  army. 

7  th  May.  I  went  to  visit  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
[Sancroft]  yet  at  Lambeth.  I  found  him  alone,  and 
discoursing  of  the  times,  especially  of  the  new  designed 
Bishops ;  he  told  me  that  by  no  canon  or  divine  law  they 
could  justify  the  removing  the  present  incumbents ;  that 
Dr.  Beveridge,  designed  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  came  to 
ask  his  advice ;  that  the  Archbishop  told  him,  though  he 
should  give  it,  he  believed  he  would  not  take  it;  the 
Doctor  said  he  would;  why  then,  says  the  Archbishop, 
when  they  come  to  ask,  say  Nolo,  and  say  it  from  the 
heart ;  there  is  nothing  easier  than  to  resolve  yourself  what 

*  It  now  forms  part  of  the  splendid  collections  in  the  British  Museum. 
In  1 707,  he  published  the  first  volume  of  his  Natural  History  of  Jamaica,  in 
folio,  witli  numerous  plates  ;  but  the  second  volume  did  not  appear  till  1725. 
Sir  Hans  died  Jan.  11,  1752. 

f  A  mistake.  Dr.  Edward  Fowler  was  made  Bishop  of  Gloucester  in 
the  place  of  Dr.  Robert  Frampton,  deprived  for  not  taking  the  oaths. 


1691.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3^3 

is  to  be  done  in  the  case;  the  Doctor  seemed  to  deliberate. 
What  he  will  do  I  know  not,  but  Bishop  Ken,  who  is  to 
be  put  out,  is  exceedingly  beloved  in  his  diocese ;  and, 
if  he  and  the  rest  should  insist  on  it,  and  plead  their 
interest  as  freeholders,  it  is  believed  there  would  be  diffi- 
culty in  their  case,  and  it  may  endanger  a  schism  and  much 
disturbance,  so  as  wise  men  think  it  had  been  better  to 
have  let  them  alone,  than  to  have  proceeded  with  this 
rigour  to  turn  them  out  for  refusing  to  swear  against  their 
consciences.  I  asked  at  parting,  when  his  Grace  removed; 
he  said  that  he  had  not  yet  received  any  summons,  but 
I  found  the  house  altogether  disfurnished,  and  his  books 
packing  up. 

1st  June.  I  went  with  my  son,  and  brother-in-law, 
Glanville  and  his  son,  to  Wotton,  to  solemnise  the  funeral 
of  my  nephew,  which  was  performed  the  next  day  very 
decently  and  orderly  by  the  herald,  in  the  afternoon,  a 
very  great  appearance  of  the  country  being  there.  I  was 
the  chief  mourner ;  the  pall  was  held  by  Sir  Francis 
Yincent,  Sir  Richard  Onslow,  Mr.  Thomas  Howard  (son 
to  Sir  llobert)  and  Captain  of  the  King's  Guard,  Mr. 
Hyldiard,  Mr.  James,  Mr.  Herbert,  nephew  to  Lord 
Herbert  of  Cherbury,  and  cousin-german  to  my  deceased 
nephcAv.  He  was  laid  in  the  vault  at  Wotton  chui'ch, 
in  the  burying-place  of  the  family.  A  great  concourse  of 
coaches  and  people  accompanied  the  solemnity. 

10th.  I  went  to  visit  Lord  Clarendon,  still  prisoner  in  the 
Tower,  though  Lord  Preston  being  pardoned  was  released. 

17th.  A  fast. 

11th  July.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Pepys,  where  was  Dr. 
Cumberland,  the  new  Bishop  of  Norwich,*  Dr.  Lloyd 
having  been  put  out  for  not  acknowledging  the  Govern- 
ment. Cumberland  is  a  very  learned,  excellent  man. — 
Possession  was  now  given  to  Dr.  Tillotson,  at  Lambeth, 
])y  the  Sheriff;  Archbishop  Sancroft  was  gone,  but  had 
left  his  nephew  to  keep  possession;  and  he  refusing  to 
deliver  it  up  on  the  Queen's  message,  was  dispossessed  by 
the  Sheriff,  and  imprisoned.  This  stout  demeanour  of 
the  few  Bishops  who  refused  to  take  the  oaths  to  King 
William,  animated  a  great  party  to  forsake  the  churches, 

•  A  mistake.     Dr.  Cumberland  was  made  Bishop  of  Peterborough,  and 
IXr.  John  Moore  succeeded  Dr.  Lloyd  in  the  See  of  Norwich. 


314  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

SO  as  to  threaten  a  schism;  though  those  who  looked 
further  into  the  ancient  practice,  found  that  when  (as 
formerly)  there  were  Bishops  displaced  on  secular  accounts, 
the  people  never  refused  to  acknowledge  the  new  Bishops, 
provided  they  were  not  heretics.  The  truth  is,  the  whole 
clergy  had  till  now  stretched  the  duty  of  passive  obedi- 
ence, so  that  the  proceedings  against  these  Bishops  gave 
no  little  occasion  of  exceptions;  hut  this  not  amounting 
to  heresy,  there  was  a  necessity  of  receiving  the  new 
Bishops,  to  prevent  a  failure  of  that  order  in  the  Church. — 
I  went  to  visit  Lord  Clarendon  in  the  Tower,  but  he  was 
gone  into  the  country  for  air  by  the  Queen's  permission, 
under  the  care  of  his  warden. 

18th.  To  London  to  hear  Mr.  Stringfellow  preach  his 
first  sermon  in  the  new-erected  church  of  Trinity,  in 
Conduit  Street;  to  which  I  did  recommend  him  to  Dr. 
Tenison  for  the  constant  preacher  and  lecturer.  This 
church,  formerly  built  of  timber  on  Hounslow-Heath  by 
King  James  for  the  mass-priests,  being  begged  by  Dr. 
Tenison,  rector  of  St.  Martin's,  was  set  up  by  that  public- 
minded,  charitable  and  pious  man  near  my  son's  dwelling 
in  Dover  Street,  chiefly  at  the  charge  of  the  Doctor.  I 
know  him  to  be  an  excellent  preacher  and  a  fit  person. 
This  church,  though  erected  in  St.  Martin's,  which 
is  the  Doctor's  parish,  he  was  not  only  content,  but 
was  the  sole  industrious  mover,  that  it  should  be  made 
a  separate  parish,  in  regard  of  the  neighbourhood  having 
become  so  populous.  Wherefore  to  countenance  and  in- 
troduce the  new  minister,  and  take  possession  of  a  gallery 
designed  for  my  son's  family,  I  went  to  London,  where, 

19th,  in  the  morning  Dr.  Tenison  preached  the  first 
sermon,  taking  his  text  from  Psahn  xxvi.  8.  "  Lord,  I 
have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy  house,  and  the  place 
where  thine  honour  dwelleth."  In  concluding,  he  gave 
that  this  should  be  made  a  parish-church  so  soon  as  the 
Parhament  sate,  and  was  to  be  dedicated  to  the  Holy 
Trinity,*  in  honour  of  the  three  undivided  Persons  in  the 

*  Tliis  was  never  made  a  parish-church,  but  still  remains  a  chapel,  and  is 
private  property.  But,  imder  the  Act  for  building  fifty  new  churches,  one 
was  built  in  the  street  between  Conduit-street  and  Hanover-square,  the  first 
stone  being  laid  20th  June,  1712  ;  it  was  dedicated  to  St.  George,  and  part 
of  St.  Martin's  was  made  a  separate  parish,  now  called  St.  George's, 
Hanover-square. 


1691.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3^5 

Deity ;  and  he  minded  them  to  attend  to  that  faith  of  the 
Church,  noAV  especially  that  Arianism,  Socinianism,  and 
Atheism  began  to  spread  amongst  ns. — In  the  afternoon, 
Mr.  Stringfellow  preached  on  Luke  vii.  5,  "  The  centurion 
who  had  built  a  synagogue/^  He  proceeded  to  the  due 
praise  of  persons  of  such  public  spirit,  and  thence  to  such  a 
character  of  pious  benefactors  in  the  person  of  the  generous 
centurion,  as  was  comprehensive  of  all  the  virtues  of  an 
accomplished  Christian,  in  a  style  so  full,  eloquent  and 
moving,  that  I  never  heard  a  sermon  more  apposite  to  the 
occasion.  He  modestly  insinuated  the  obligation  they 
had  to  that  person  who  should  be  the  author  and  promoter 
of  such  public  Avorks  for  the  benefit  of  mankind,  especially 
to  the  advantage  of  religion,  such  as  building  and  endow- 
ing churches,  hospitals,  libraries,  schools,  procuring  the 
best  editions  of  useful  books,  by  which  he  handsomely 
intimated  who  it  was  that  had  been  so  exemplary  for  his 
benefaction  to  that  place.  Indeed,  that  excellent  person. 
Dr.  Tenison,  had  also  erected  and  furnished  a  public 
library  *  [in  St.  Martin's]  ;  and  set  up  two  or  three 
free-schools  at  his  own  charges.  Besides  this,  he  was 
of  an  exemplary  holy  life,  took  great  pains  in  constantly 
preaching,  and  incessantly  employing  himself  to  promote 
the  service  of  God  both  in  public  and  private.  I  never 
knew  a  man  of  a  more  universal  and  generous  spirit,  with 
so  much  modesty,  prudence,  and  piety. 

The  great  victory  of  King  William's  army  in  Ireland 
was  looked  on  as  decisive  of  that  war.  The  French 
General,  St.  Ruth,  who  had  been  so  cruel  to  the  poor 
Protestants  in  France,  was  slain,  with  divers  of  the  best 
commanders;  nor  was  it  cheap  to  us,  having  1,000  killed, 
but  of  the  enemy  4  or  5,000. 

2Gth.  An  extraordinary  hot  season,  yet  refreshed  by 
some  thunder-showers. 

28th.  I  went  to  Wotton. 

2nd  August.  No  sermon  in  the  church  in  the  afternoon, 
and  the  curacy  ill  served. 

IGth.  A  sermon  by  the  curate;  an  honest  discourse, 
but  read  without  any  spirit,  or  seeming  concern ;  a  great 
fault  in  the  education  of  yoimg  preachers. — Great  thunder 
and  lightning  on  Thursday,  but  the  rain  and  wind  very 

*  Seep.  194. 


(316  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

violent. — Our  fleet  come  in  to  lay  up  the  great  ships; 
nothing  done  at  sea,  pretending  that  we  cannot  meet  the 
iVench. 

13th  September.  A  great  storm  at  sea;  we  lost  the 
Coronation  and  Harwich,  above  600  men  perishing. 

14th  October.  A  most  pleasing  autumn. — Our  navy 
come  in  without  having  performed  any  thing,  yet  there 
has  been  great  loss  of  ships  by  negligence,  and  unskilful 
men  governing  the  fleet  and  Navy-board. 

7th  November.  I  visited  the  Earl  of  Dover,  who  having 
made  his  peace  with  the  King,  was  now  come  home.  The 
relation  he  gave  of  the  strength  of  the  French  King,  and 
the  difficulty  of  our  forcing  him  to  fight,  and  any  way 
making  impression  into  France,  was  very  wide  from  what 
we  fancied. 

8th — 30th.  An  extraordinary  dry  and  warm  season, 
without  frost,  and  like  a  new  spring;  such  as  had  not 
been  known  for  many  years.  Part  of  the  King's  house  at 
Kensington  was  burnt. 

6th  December.  Discourse  of  another  plot,  in  which 
several  great  persons  were  named,  but  believed  to  be  a 
sham. — A  proposal  in  the  House  of  Commons  that  every 
officer  in  the  whole  nation  who  received  a  salary  above 
£500  or  otherwise  by  virtue  of  his  office,  should  contribute 
it  wholly  to  the  support  of  the  war  with  France,  and  this 
upon  their  oaths. 

25th.  My  daughter-in-law  was  brought  to  bed  of  a 
daughter. 

26th.  An  exceeding  dry  and  calm  winter,  no  rain  for 
many  past  months. 

28th.  Dined  at  Lambeth  with  the  new  Archbishop. 
Saw  the  eff'ect  of  my  green-house  furnace,  set  up  by  the 
Archbishop's  son-in-law. 

30th.  I  again  saw  Mr.  Charlton's  collection*  of  spiders, 
birds,  scorpions,  and  other  serpents,  &c. 

1691-2.  1st  January.  This  last  week  died  that  pious 
admirable  Christian,  excellent  philosopher,  and  my  worthy 
friend,  Mr.  Boyle,  aged  about  65 — a  great  loss  to  all  that 
knew  him,  and  to  the  public. 

6th.  At  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Boyle,  at  St.  Martin's,  Dr. 
Burnet,  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  preached  on  Eccles.  ii.  26. 

..  *  See  pp.  260,306. 


1692.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3]  7 

He  concluded  with  an  eulogy  due  to  the  deceased,  who 
made  God  and  religion  the  scope  of  all  his  excellent 
talents  in  the  knowledge  of  nature,  and  who  had  arrived 
to  so  high  a  degree  in  it,  accompanied  with  such  zeal  and 
extraordinary  piety,  which  he  showed  in  the  whole  course 
of  his  life,  particularly  in  his  exemplary  charity  on  all 
occasions — that  he  gave  £1,000  yearly  to  the  distressed 
refugees  of  France  and  Ireland;  was  at  the  charge  of 
translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Irish  and  Indian  tongues, 
and  was  now  promoting  a  Turkish  translation,  as  he  had 
formerly  done,  of  Grotius  "  on  the  Truth  of  the  Christian 
Religion"  into  Arabic,  which  he  caused  to  be  dispersed 
in  the  Eastern  countries ;  that  he  had  settled  a  fund  for 
preachers  who  should  preach  expressly  against  Atheists, 
Libertines,  Socinians,  and  Jews ;  that  he  had  in  his  Will 
given  £8,000  to  charitable  uses ;  but  that  his  private 
charities  were  extraordinary.  He  dilated  on  his  learning 
in  Hebrew  and  Greek,  his  reading  of  the  Fathers,  and 
solid  knowledge  in  theology,  once  deliberating  about  taking 
Holy  Orders,  and  that  at  the  time  of  restoration  of  King 
Charles  II.,  when  he  might  have  made  a  great  figure  in 
the  nation  as  to  secular  honour  and  titles,  his  fear  of  not 
being  able  to  discharge  so  weighty  a  duty  as  the  first, 
made  him  decline  that,  and  his  humility  the  other.  He 
spake  of  his  civility  to  strangers,  the  great  good  which 
he  did  by  his  experience  in  medicine  and  chemistry,  and 
to  what  noble  ends  he  applied  himself  to  his  darling 
studies ;  the  works  both  pious  and  useful  which  he  pub- 
lished ;  the  exact  life  he  led,  and  the  happy  end  he  made. 
Sometliing  was  touched  of  his  sister,  the  Lady  Ranelagh, 
Avho  died  but  a  few  days  before  him.  And  truly  all  this 
was  but  his  due,  without  any  grain  of  flattery. 

This  week,  a  most  execrable  murder  was  committed  on 
Dr.  Clench,  father  of  that  extraordinary  learned  child 
whom  I  have  before  noticed.  *  Under  pretence  of  carry- 
ing him  in  a  coach  to  see  a  patient,  they  strangled  him  in 
it ;  and,  sending  away  the  coachman  under  some  pretence, 
they  left  his  dead  body  in  the  coach,  and  escaped  in  the 
dusk  of  the  evening.f 

*  See  before,  p.  288. 

t  One  Henry  Harrison  wa3  tried  for  this  murder,  convicted,  and  lianged  ; 
but  he  left  a  paper,  which  was  printed,  denying  his  guilt. 


33^3  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

12th.  My  grand-daughter  was  christened  by  Dr.  Tenison, 
now  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  in  Trinity  Church,  being  the  first 
that  was  christened  there.     She  was  named  Jane. 

24th.  A  frosty  and  dry  season  continued;  many  persons 
die  of  apoplexies,  more  than  usual. — Lord  Marlborough, 
Lieutenant-general  of  the  King's  army  in  England, 
Gentleman  of  the  Bed-chamber,  &c.  dismissed  from  all 
his  charges,  military  and  other,  for  his  excessive  taking 
of  bribes,  covetousness  and  extortion  on  all  occasions 
from  his  inferior  officers. — Note,  this  was  the  Lord  who 
was  entirely  advanced  by  King  James,  and  was  the  first 
who  betrayed  and  forsook  his  master.  He  was  son  of  Sir 
Winston  Churchill  of  the  Green-cloth. 

7th  February.  An  extraordinary  snow  fell  in  most  parts. 

13th.  Mr.  Boyle  having  made  me  one  of  the  trustees 
for  his  charitable  bequests,  I  went  to  a  meeting  of  the 

Bishop  of  Lincoln,  Sir  Rob wood  and  Serjeant 

Rotheram,  to  settle  that  clause  in  the  will  which  related 
to  charitable  uses,  and  especially  the  appointing  and 
electing  a  minister  to  preach  one  sermon  the  first  Sunday 
in  the  month,  during  the  four  summer-months,  expressly 
against  Atheists,  Deists,  Libertines,  Jews,  &c.  without 
descending  to  any  other  controversy  whatever,  for  which 
£50  per  annum  is  to  be  paid  quarterly  to  the  preacher ; 
and,  at  the  end  of  three  years,  to  proceed  to  a  new  election 
of  some  other  able  divine,  or  to  continue  the  same,  as  the 
trustees  should  judge  convenient.  We  made  choice  of 
one  Mr.  Bentley,*  chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  Worcester 
(Dr.  Stillingfleet).  The  first  sermon  was  appointed  for 
the  first  Sunday  in  March,  at  St.  Martin's;  the  second 
Sunday  in  April,  at  Bow-church,  and  so  alternately. 

28th.  Lord  Marlborough  having  used  words  against 
the  King,  and  been  discharged  from  aU  his  great  places, 
his  wife  was  forbid  the  Court,  and  the  Princess  of  Den- 
mark was  desired  by  the  Queen  to  dismiss  her  from  her 
service ;  but  she  refusing  to  do  so,  goes  away  from  Court 
to  Sion-house. — Divers  new  Lords  made;  Sir  Henry 
Capel,t  Sir  William  Fermor,J  &c. — Change  of  Commis- 

•  Afterwards  the  celebrated  scholar  and  critic,  Librarian  to  the  King,  and 
Master  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge. 
+  Lord  Capel,  of  Tewkesbury. 
J  Baron  of  Leominster  ;  afterwards  Earl  of  Pomfret. 


1692.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  '  gjg 

sioners  in  the  Treasury. — The  Parliament  adjourned,  not 
well  satisfied  with  affairs.  The  business  of  the  East  India 
Company,  which  they  would  have  reformed,  let  fall. — 
The  Duke  of  Norfolk  does  not  succeed  in  his  endeavour 
to  be  divorced.* 

20th  March.  My  son  was  made  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Revenue  and  Treasury  of  Ireland,  to  which 
emploj^ment  he  had  a  mind,  far  from  my  wishes. — I 
visited  the  Earl  of  Peterborough,  who  showed  me  the 
picture  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  newly  brought  out  of  France, 
seeming  in  my  opinion  very  much  to  resemble  the  Queen 
his  mother,  and  of  a  most  vivacious  countenance. 

April.  No  spring  yet  appearing.  The  Queen-dowager 
went  out  of  England  towards  Portugal,  as  pretended, 
against  the  advice  of  all  her  friends. 

4th.  Mr.  Bentley  preached  Mr.  Boyle^s  lecture  at  St. 
IMary-le-Bow.  So  excellent  a  discourse  against  the 
Epicurean  system  is  not  to  be  recapitulated  in  a  few 
words.  He  came  to  me  to  ask  whether  I  thought  it 
should  be  printed,  or  that  there  was  anything  in  it  which 
I  desired  to  be  altered.  I  took  this  as  a  civility,  and 
earnestly  desired  it  should  be  printed,  as  one  of  the  most 
learned  and  convincing  discourses  I  had  ever  heard. 

6th.  A  fast. — King  James  sends  a  letter  written  and 
directed  by  his  own  hand  to  several  of  the  Privy  Council, 
and  one  to  his  daughter  the  Queen  Regent,  informing 
them  of  the  Queen  being  ready  to  be  brought  to  bed,  and 
summoning  them  to  be  at  the  birth  by  the  middle  of  May, 
promising  as  from  the  French  King,  permission  to  come 
and  return  in  safety. 

24th.  Much  apprehension  of  a  French  invasion,  and 
of  an  universal  rising.  Our  fleet  begins  to  join  with  the 
Dutch.  Unkindness  between  the  Queen  and  her  sister. 
Very  cold  and  unseasonable  weather,  scarce  a  leaf  on 
the  trees. 

5  th  May.  Reports  of  an  invasion  were  very  hot,  and 
alarmed  the  City,  Court,  and  people ;  nothing  but  securing 
suspected  persons,  sending  forces  to  the  sea-side,  and 
hastening  out  the  fleet.  Continued  discourse  of  the 
French  invasion,  and  of  ours  in  France.  The  eastern 
wind  so  constantly  blowing,  gave  our  fleet  time  to  unite, 

*  See  hereafter,  under  the  year  1700,  April. 


320  DIARY  OF  [WINDSOR, 

■which  had  been  so  tardy  in  preparation,  that,  had  not 
God  thus  wonderfully  favoured,  the  enemy  would  in  all 
probability  have  fallen  upon  us.  Many  daily  secured,  and 
proclamations  out  for  more  conspirators. 

8th.  My  kinsman,  Sir  Edward  Evelyn,  of  Long  Ditton, 
died  suddenly. 

12th.  A  fast. 

13th.  I  dined  at  my  cousin  Cheny's,  son  to  my  Lord 
Cheny,  who  married  my  cousin  Pierpoint. 

15th.  My  niece,  M.  Evelyn,  was  now  married  to  Sir 
Cyril  Wyche,  Secretary  of  State  for  Ireland.* — After  all 
our  apprehensions  of  being  invaded,  and  doubts  of  our 
success  by  sea,  it  pleased  God  to  give  us  a  great  naval 
victory,  to  the  utter  ruin  of  the  French  fleet,  their  admiral 
and  all  their  best  men  of  Avar,  transport-ships,  &c. 

29th.  Though  this  day  was  set  apart  expressly  for 
celebrating  the  memorable  birth,  return,  and  restoration 
of  the  late  King  Charles  II.,  there  was  no  notice  taken  of 
it,  nor  any  part  of  the  office  annexed  to  the  Common 
Prayer-Book  made  use  of,  which  I  think  was  ill  done,  in 
regard  his  restoration  not  only  redeemed  us  from  anarchy 
and  confusion,  but  restored  the  Church  of  England,  as  it 
were  miraculously. 

9th  June.  I  went  to  Windsor  to  carry  my  grandson  to 
Eton  School,  where  I  met  my  Lady  Stonehouse  and  other 
of  my  daughter-in-law's  relations,  who  came  on  purpose 
to  see  her  before  her  journey  into  Ireland.  We  went  to 
see  the  Castle,  which  we  found  furnished  and  very  neatly 
kept,  as  formerly,  only  that  the  arms  in  the  guard- 
chamber  .and  keep  were  removed  and  carried  away. — An 
exceeding  great  storm  of  wind  and  rain,  in  some  places 
stripping  the  trees  of  their  fruit  and  leaves  as  if  it  had 
been  winter ;  and  an  extraordinary  wet  season,  with  great 
floods. 

23rd  July.  I  went  with  my  wife,  son,  and  daughter,  to 
Eton,  to  see  my  grandson,  and  thence  to  my  Lord 
Godolphin's,  at  Cranbm'n,  where  we  lay,  and  were  most 
honourably  entertained.  The  next  day  to  St.  George's 
Chapel,  and  returned  to  London  late  in' the  evening. 

25th.  To  Mr.  Hewer's  at  Clapham,  where  he  has  an 
excellent,  useful,  and  capacious  house  on  the  Common, 

*  See  hereafter  under  the  year  1699,  October. 


1692.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  32] 

built  by  Sir  Den.  Gauden,  and  by  him  sold  to  Mr.  Hewer, 
who  got  a  very  considerable  estate  in  the  Navy,  in  Avhich, 
from  being  Mr.  Pepys's  clerk,  he  came  to  be  one  of  the 
principal  officers,  but  Avas  put  out  of  all  employment  on 
the  Revolution,  as  were  all  the  best  officers,  on  suspicion 
of  being  no  friends  to  the  change ;  such  were  put  in  their 
places,  as  were  most  shamefully  ignorant  and  unfit.  Mr. 
Hewer  lives  very  handsomely  and  friendly  to  every  body.* 
— Our  fleet  was  now  sailing  on  their  long  pretence  of  a 
descent  on  the  French  coast ;  but,  after  having  sailed  one 
hundred  leagues,  returned,  the  admiral  and  officers  dis- 
agreeing as  to  the  place  where  they  w^ere  to  land,  and  the 
time  of  year  being  so  far  spent, — to  the  great  dishonour 
of  those  at  the  helm,  who  concerted  their  matters  so 
indiscreetly,  or,  as  some  thought,  designedly. 

This  whole  summer  was  exceeding  wet  and  rainj^ ;  the 
like  had  not  been  known  since  the  year  1648;  whilst  in 
Ireland  they  had  not  known  so  great  a  drought. 

16th.  I  went  to  visit  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  when, 
amongst  other  things,  he  told  me  that  one  Dr.  Chaplin,  of 
University  College  in  Oxford,  was  the  person  who  wrote 
the  "  Whole  Duty  of  Man  ;'^  that  he  used  to  read  it  to  his 
pupils,  and  communicated  it  to  Dr.  Stern,  afterwards 
Archbishop  of  York,  but  would  never  suffer  any  of  his 
pupils  to  have  a  copy  of  it. 

lOtli  August.  A  fast.— Came  the  sad  news  of  the  hurri- 
cane and  earthquake,  which  has  destroyed  almost  the 
whole  Island  of  Jamaica,  many  thousands  ha\dng  perished. 

11th,  My  son,  his  wife,  and  little  daughter,  went  for 
Ireland,  there  to  reside  as  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Hevenue. 

14'th.  Still  an  exceeding  wet  season. 

15th  September.  There  happened  an  earthquake,  w^hich, 
though  not  so  great  as  to  do  any  harm  in  England,  was 
universal  in  all  these  parts  of  Europe.  It  shook  the  house 
at  "VVotton,  but  was  not  perceived  by  any  save  a  servant 
or  two,  who  were  making  my  bed,  and  another  in  a  garret. 
I  and  the  rest  being  at  dinner  below  in  the  parlour,  were 
not  sensible  of  it.  The  dreadful  one  in  Jamaica  this 
summer  was  profanely  and  ludicrously  represented  in  a 

*  Sec  (he  Diai-y  and  Correspondence  of  Samuel  Pcpys,' edited  by  Ilicliard 
Lord  Braybrooke. 

V0I>.   II.  Y 


322  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

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. 

1st  October.  This  season  was  so  exceedingly  cold,  by 
reason  of  a  long  and  tempestuous  north-east  wind,  that 
tliis  usually  pleasant  month  was  very  uncomfortable.  No 
fruit  ripened  kindly. — Harbord  dies  at  Belgrade;  Lord 
Paget  sent  Ambassador  in  his  room. 

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

10th.  A  solemn  Thanksgiving  for  our  victory  at  sea, 
safe  return  of  the  King,  &c. 

20th.  Dr.  Lancaster,  the  new  Vicar  of  St.  Martin's, 
preached. 

A  signal  robbery  in  Hertfordshire  of  the  tax-money 
bringing  out  of  the  north  towards  London.  They  were  set 
upon  by  several  desperate  persons,  who  dismounted  and 
stopped  all  travellers  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. 

14th  December.  With  much  reluctance  we  gratified  Sir 
J.  Rotheram,  one  of  Mr.  Boyle's  trustees,  by  admitting 
the  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  *  to  be  lecturer  for  the 
next  year,  instead  of  Mr.  Bentley,  who  had  so  worthily 
acqmtted  himself.  We  intended  to  take  him  in  again  the 
next  year. 

1692-3.  January.  Contest  in  Parliament  about  a  self- 
denying  Act,  that  no  Parliament-man  should  have  any 
office :  it  wanted  only  two  or  three  voices  to  have  been 
carried. — The  Duke  of  Norfolk's  Bill  for  a  divorce  thrown 
out,  he  having  managed  it  very  indiscreetly. — The  quarrel 
between  Admiral  Bussell  and  Lord  Nottingham  yet  un- 
determined. 

4th  February.  After  five  days'  trial  and  extraordinary 
contest,  the  Lord  Mohun  was  acquitted  by  the  Lords  of 
the  murder  of  Montford,  the  player,  notwithstanding  the 
Judges,  from  the  pregnant   witnesses   of  the  fact,  had 

*  Bishop  Kidder. 


1693.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3£3 

declared  him  guilty ;  but  whether  in  commiseration  of  his 
youth,  being  not  eighteen  years  old,  though  exceeding 
dissolute,  or  upon  whatever  other  reason,  the  King  himself 
present  some  part  of  the  trial,  and  satisfied,  as  they  report, 
that  he  was  culpable,  G9  acquitted  him,  only  14  con- 
demned him. 

Unheard-of  stories  of  the  universal  increase  of  witches 
in  New  England;  men,  women,  and  children,  devoting 
themselves  to  the  devil,  so  as  to  threaten  the  suljversion  of 
the  government.* — At  the  same  time  there  was  a  con- 
spiracy amongst  the  negroes  in  Barbadoes  to  murder  all 
their  masters,  discovered  by  overhearing  a  discourse  of  two 
of  the  slaves,  and  so  preventing  the  execution  of  the 
design. — Hitherto  an  exceeding  mild  winter. — France  in 
the  utmost  misery  and  poverty  for  want  of  corn  and  sub- 
sistence, whilst  the  ambitious  King  is  intent  to  pursue  his 
conquests  on  the  rest  of  his  neighbours  both  by  sea  and 
land.  Our  Admiral,  E-ussell,  laid  aside  for  not  pursuing 
the  advantage  he  had  obtained  over  the  French  in  the  past 
summer;  three  others  chosen  in  his  place.  Dr.  Burnet, 
Bishop  of  Salisbury's  book  burnt  by  the  hangman  for  an 
expression  of  the  King's  title  by  conquest,  on  a  complaint 
of  Joseph  How,  a  Member  of  Parliament,  little  better  than 
a  madman. 

19th.  The  Bishop  of  Lincoln  preached  in  the  afternoon 
at  the  Tabernacle  near  Golden  Square,  set  up  by  him. — 
Proposals  of  a  marriage  between  Mr.  Draper  and  my 
daughter  Susanna. — Hitherto  an  exceeding  warm  winter, 
such  as  has  seldom  been  known,  and  portending  an  nnpros- 
perous  spring  as  to  the  fruits  of  the  earth;  our  climate 
requires  more  cold  and  winterly  weather.  The  dreadful 
and  astonishing  earthquake  swallowing  up  Catania  and 
other  famous  and  ancient  cities,  with  more  than  100,000 
persons  in  Sicily,  on  lltli  January  last,  came  now  to  be 
reported  amongst  us. 

26th.  An   extraordinary   deep   snow,   after   almost   no 

*  Some  account  of  these  unfortunate  persons  is  given  in  the  History  of 
Surrey,  II.,  7 1 4,  from  the  papers  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miller,  Vicar  of  Effingham, 
in  that  county,  who  was  Chaplain  to  the  King's  forces  there  from  1692  to 
1695.  Some  of  these  poor  people  were  convicted  and  executed  ;  but  Sir 
William  Phipps,  the  Governor,  had  the  good  sense  to  reprieve,  and  afterwards 
pardon,  several ;  and  the  Queen  approved  his  conduct. 

Y'Z 


324  DIARY   OF  [LONDON, 

winter,  and  a  sudden  gentle  thaw. — A  deplorable  earth- 
quake at  Malta,  since  that  of  Sicily,  nearly  as  great. 

19th  March.  A  new  Secretary  of  State,  Sir  John  Trench- 
ard;*  the  Attorney-General,  Somers,  made  Lord-Keeper, 
a  young  lawyer  of  extraordinary  merit. — King  William 
goes  towards  Flanders;  but  returns,  the  wind  being 
contrary. 

31st.  I  met  the  King  going  to  Gravesend  to  embark  in 
his  yacht  for  Holland. 

23rd  April.  An  extraordinary  wet  spring. 

27th.  My  daughter  Susanna  was  married  to  William 
Draper,  Esq.,  in  the  chapel  of  Ely  House,  by  Dr.  Tenison, 
Bishop  of  Lincoln  (since  Archbishop).  I  gave  her  in  por- 
tion £4,000,  her  jointure  is  £500  per  annum.  I  pray 
Almighty  God  to  give  His  blessing  to  this  marriage  !  She 
is  a  good  child,  religious,  discreet,  ingenious,  and  qualified 
with  all  the  ornaments  of  her  sex.  She  has  a  peculiar 
talent  in  design,  as  painting  in  oil  and  miniature,  and  an 
extraordinary  genius  for  whatever  hands  can  do  with  a 
needle.  She  has  the  Erench  tongue,  has  read  most  of  the 
Greek  and  Roman  authors,  and  poets,  using  her  talents 
with  great  modesty ;  exquisitely  shaped,  and  of  an  agree- 
able countenance.  This  character  is  due  to  her,  though 
coming  from  her  father.  Much  of  this  week  spent  in 
ceremonies,  receiving  visits  and  entertaining  relations,  and 
a  great  part  of  the  next  in  returning  visits. 

11th  May.  We  accompanied  my  daughter  to  her  hus- 
band's house,t  where  with  many  of  his  and  our  relations 
we  were  magnificently  treated.     There  we  left  her  in  an 

*  Of  Bloxworth,  in  Dorsetshire.  He  had  been  engaged  with  the  Duke  of 
Monmouth,  but  got  out  of  England,  and  lived  abroad,  where  he  acquired  a 
true  knowledge  of  foreign  affairs.  He  was  a  calm  and  sedate  man,  and  more 
moderate  than  could  have  been  expected,  since  he  had  been  a  leading  man  in 
a  party.  He  was  the  confidential  friend  of  King  William,  by  whom  he  was  com- 
missioned to  concert  measures  with  his  friends  on  this  side  of  the  water,  and 
ensure  his  favourable  reception.  Previously  to  his  appointment  of  Secretary- 
of-State,  the  King  had  made  him  Serjeant-at-law,  and  Chief  Justice  of  Chester. 
He  died  in  1 694,  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  and  is  buried  at  Bloxworth,  There  is 
an  engraved  portrait  of  Sir  John  Trenchard  in  mezzotinto,  by  James  Watson, 
representing  him  in  the  dress  of  his  office,  and  expresses  a  weakness  which 
he  had  in  his  right  hand  and  arm  ;  also  another  in  armour,  from  a  miniature 
after  the  original,  by  Ozias  Humphrey,  R.A.,  engraved  by  Cantlo  Bestland. 
See  Hutchins's  History  of  Dorsetshire,  vol.  III. 

t  At  Addiscombe,  near  Croydon. 


1693.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  325 

apartment  very  riclily  adorned  and  furnished,  and  I  hope 
in  as  happy  a  condition  as  could  be  wished,  and  with  the 
great  satisfaction  of  all  our  friends  ;  for  which  God  be 
praised ! 

14'th.  Nothing  yet  of  action  from  abroad.  Muttering 
of  a  design  to  bring  forces  under  colour  of  an  expected 
descent,  to  be  a  standing  army  for  other  purposes.  Talk 
of  a  declaration  of  the  French  King,  offering  mighty  advan- 
tages to  the  Confederates,  exclusive  of  King  William ;  and 
another  of  King  James,  with  an  universal  pardon,  and 
referring  the  composing  of  all  differences  to  a  Parliament. 
These  were  yet  but  discourses ;  but  something  is  certainly 
under  it.  A  Declaration  or  Manifesto  from  King  James, 
so  written,  that  many  thought  it  reasonable,  and  much 
more  to  the  purpose  than  any  of  his  former. 

June.  Whit-Sunday.  I  went  to  my  Lord  Griffith's 
chapel ;  the  common  church-office  was  used  for  the  King 
without  naming  the  person,  with  some  other,  apposite  to 
the  necessity  and  circumstances  of  the  time. 

11th.  I  dined  at  Sir  William  Godolphin's;  and,  after 
evening  prayer,  visited  the  Duchess  of  Grafton. 

21st.  I  saw  a  great  auction  of  pictures  in  the  Banquet- 
ing-house,  Whitehall.  They  had  been  my  Lord  Melford's, 
now  Ambassador  from  King  James  at  Rome,  and  engaged 
to  his  creditors  here.  Lord  jMulgrave  and  Sir  Edward 
Seymour  came  to  my  house,  and  desired  me  to  go  with 
them  to  the  sale.  Divers  more  of  the  great  lords,  &c.,  were 
there,  and  bought  j^ictures  dear  enough.  There  were  some 
very  excellent  of  Vandyke,  Rubens,  and  Bassan.  Lord 
Godolphin  bought  the  picture  of  the  Boys,  by  Murillo  the 
Spaniard,  for  80  guineas,  dear  enough;  my  nephew  Glan- 
ville,  the  old  Earl  of  Arundel's  head  by  Rubens,  for  £20. 
Growing  late,  I  did  not  stay  till  all  were  sold. 

24th.  A  very  wet  hay-harvest,  and  little  summer  as  yet. 

9th  July.  Mr.  Tippin,  successor  of  Dr.  Parr  at  Camber- 
well,  preached  an  excellent  sermon. 

13th.  I  saw  the  Queen's  rare  cabinets  and  collection  of 
china ;  which  was  wonderfully  rich  and  plentiful,  but  espe- 
cially a  large  cabinet,  looking-glass  frame  and  stands,  all 
of  amber,  much  of  it  white,  with  historical  bass-reliefs  and 
statues,  with  medals  carved  in  them,  esteemed  worth 
c€4,000,    sent    by    the  Duke  of   Brandenburgh,    Avhose 


326  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

country,  Prussia,  abounds  with  amber,  cast  up  by  the  sea ; 
divers  other  China  and  Indian  cabinets,  screens,  and  hang- 
ings. In  her  library  were  many  books  in  Enghsh,  French, 
and  Dutch,  of  all  sorts;  a  cupboard  of  gold  plate;  a 
cabinet  of  silver  filagree,  which  I  think  was  our  Queen 
Mary's,*  and  which,  in  my  opinion,  should  have  been 
generously  sent  to  her. 

18th.  I  dined  with  Lord  Mulgrave,  with  the  Earl  of 
Devonshire,  Mr.  Hampden  (a  scholar  and  fine  gentleman), 
Dr.  Davenant,  Sir  Henry  Vane,  and  others,  and  saw  and 
admired  the  Venus  of  Correggio,  which  Lord  Mulgrave  had 
newly  bought  of  Mr.  Daun  for  £250;  one  of  the  best 
paintings  I  ever  saw. 

1st  August.  Lord  Capel,  Sir  Cyril  Wyche,  and  Mr. 
Duncomb,  made  Lord- Justices  in  Ireland ;  Lord  Sydney 
recalled,  and  made  Master  of  the  Ordnance. 

6th.  Very  lovely  harvest-weather,  and  a  wholesome 
season,  but  no  garden-fruit. 

31st  October.  A  very  wet  and  uncomfortable  season. 

12th  November.  Lord  Nottingham  resigned  as  Secretary 
of  State  ;  t  the  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  outed,  and 
Russell  J  restored  to  his  office. — The  season  continued  very 
wet,  as  it  had  nearly  all  the  summer,  if  one  might  call  it 
summer,  in  which  there  was  no  fruit,  but  corn  was  very 
plentiful. 

14th.  In  the  lottery  set  up  after  the  Venetian  manner 
by  Mr.  Neale,  Sir  R.  Haddock  one  of  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Navy  had  the  greatest  lot,  £3000 ;  my  coachman  £40. 

17th.  Was  the  funeral  of  Captain  Young,  who  died  of 
the  stone  and  great  age.  I  think  he  was  the  first  who  in 
the  first  war  with  Cromwell  against  Spain,§  took  the 
Governor  of  Havannah,  and  another  rich  prize,  and  struck 
the  first  stroke  against  the  Dutch  fleet  in  the  first  war  with 
Holland  in  the  time  of  the  Rebellion ;  a  sober  man  and  an 
excellent  seaman. 

30th.  Much  importuned  to  take  the  office  of  President 
of  the  Royal  Society,  but  I  again  declined  it.  Sir  Robert 
Southwell  was  continued.  We  all  dined  at  Pontac's,  as  usual. 

*  Mary  of  Este',  King  James's  Queen,  now  with  him  in  France. 
f  He  was  succeeded  by  Cliarles  Eai-l  of  Shrewsbury. 
J  Edward  Russell,  afterwards  Earl  of  Orford. 
§  See  vol.  L,  p.  318. 


1694.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  32.^ 

3rd  December.  Mr.  Bentley  preached  at  the  Tabernacle, 
near  Golden  Square.  I  gave  my  voice  for  him  to  proceed 
on  his  former  subject  the  following  year  in  Mr.  Boyle's 
lecture,  in  which  he  had  been  interrupted  by  the  impor- 
tunity of  Sir  J.  Rotheram  that  the  Bishop  of  Chichester  * 
might  be  chosen  the  year  before,  to  the  great  dissatisfac- 
tion of  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  and  myself.  We  chose 
Mr.  Bentley  again. — The  Duchess  of  Grafton's  Appeal  to 
the  House  of  Lords  for  the  Prothonotary's  place  given  to 
the  late  Duke  and  to  her  son  by  King  Charles  II.,  now 
challenged  by  the  Lord  Chief  Justice.  The  Judges  were 
severely  reproved  on  something  they  said. 

10th.  A  very  great  storm  with  thunder  and  lightning. 

1698-4.  1st  January.  Prince  Lewis  of  Baden  came  to 
London,  and  was  much  feasted.  Danish  ships  arrested 
carrying  corn  and  naval  stores  to  France. 

11th.  Supped  at  Mr.  Edward  Sheldon's,  where  was 
Mr.  Dryden,  the  poet,  who  now  intended  to  write  no  more 
plays,  being  intent  on  his  translation  of  Virgil.  He  read 
to  us  his  prologue  and  epilogue  to  his  valedictory  play  now 
shortly  to  be  acted. 

21st.  Lord  Macclesfield,  Lord  Warrington,  and  Lord 
Westmoreland,  all  died  within  about  one  week.  Several 
persons  shot,  hanged,  and  made  away  with  themselves. 

11th  February.  Now  was  the  great  trial  of  the  appeal  of 
Lord  Bath  and  Lord  Montagu  before  the  Lords,  for  the 
estate  of  the  late  Duke  of  Albemarle.f 

10th  March.  Mr.  Stringfellow  preached  at  Trinity 
parish,  being  restored  to  that  place,  after  the  contest 
between  the  Queen  and  the  Bishop  of  London  who  had 
displaced  him. 

22nd.  Came  the  dismal  news  of  the  disaster  befallen 
our  Turkey  fleet  by  tempest,  to  the  almost  utter  ruin  of 
that  trade,  the  convoy  of  three  or  four  men-of-war,  and 
divers  merchant-ships,  with  all  their  men  and  lading, 
having  perished. 

25th.  Dr.  Goode,  minister  of  St.  Martin's,  preached ; 
he  was  likewise  put  in  by  the  Queen,  on  the  issue  of  her 
process  with  the  Bishop  of  London. 

30th.  I  went  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  to  desire  him  to 

*  Read  Bath  and  Wells  ;  viz.  Bp.  KidJer  ;  se?  p.  322. 
t  See  pp.  343,  366. 


328  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

make  cousin  Evelyn  of  Nutfield,  one  of  the  Deputy- 
Lieutenants  of  Surrey,  and  entreat  him  to  dismiss  my 
brother,  now  unable  to  serve  by  reason  of  age  and  infir- 
mity. The  Duke  granted  the  one,  but  would  not  suffer 
my  brother  to  resign  his  commission,  desiring  he  should 
keep  the  honour  of  it  during  his  life,  though  he  could  not 
act.     He  professed  great  kindness  to  our  family. 

1st  April.  Dr.  Sharp,  Archbishop  of  York,  preached  in 
the  afternoon  at  the  Tabernacle,  by  Soho. 

13th.  Mr.  Bentley,  our  Boyle  Lecturer,  Chaplain  to  the 
Bishop  of  Worcester,  came  to  see  me. 

15th.  One  Mr.  Stanhope  *  preached  a  most  excellent 
sermon. 

22nd.  A  fiery  exhalation  rising  out  of  the  sea,  spread 
itself  in  Montgomeryshire  a  furlong  broad,  and  many 
miles  in  length,  burning  all  straw,  hay,  thatch,  and  grass, 
but  doing  no  harm  to  trees,  timber,  or  any  solid  things, 
only  firing  barns,  or  thatched  houses.  It  left  such  a  taint 
on  the  grass  as  to  kill  all  the  cattle  that  eat  of  it.  I  saw 
the  attestations  in  the  hands  of  the  suflerers.  It  lasted 
many  months. — "The  Berkeley  Castle '^  sunk  by  the 
French  coming  from  the  East  Indies,  worth  £200,000. 
The  French  took  our  castle  of  Gamboo  in  Guinea,  so  that 
the  Africa  Actions  fell  to  £30,  and  the  India  to  £80. — 
Some  regiments  of  Highland  Dragoons  ■were  on  their 
march  through  England ;  they  were  of  large  stature,  well 
appointed  and  disciplined.  One  of  them  having  reproached 
a  Dutchman  for  cowardice  in  our  late  fight,  was  attacked 
by  two  Dutchmen,  when  with  his  sword  he  struck  off  the 
head  of  one,  and  cleft  the  skull  of  the  other  down  to  his  chin. 

A  very  young  gentleman  named  Wilson,  the  younger 
son  of  one  who  had  not  above  £200  a-year  estate,  lived  in 
the  garb  and  equipage  of  the  richest  nobleman,  for  house, 
furniture,  coaches,  saddle-horses,  and  kept  a  table,  and  all 
things  accordingly,  redeemed  his  father's  estate,  and  gave 
portions  to  his  sisters,  being  challenged  by  one  Laws,  a 
Scotchman,  was  killed  in  a  duel,  not  fairly.  The  quarrel 
arose  from  his  taking  away  his  own  sister  from  lodging  in 
a  house  where  this  Laws  had  a  mistress,  which  the  mistress 

♦  Afterwards  Dean  of  Canterbury  ;  a  most  respectable  and  worthy  divine, 
who  made  no  scruple  to  publish  what  he  found  truly  pious  in  the  worics  of  a 
Roman  Catholic  Priest.    See  p.  338.^ 


1G94.]  ,  JOHN  EVELYN.  329 

of  the  house  thinking  a  disparagement  to  it,  and  losing  by 
it,  instigated  Laws  to  this  duel.  He  was  taken  and  con- 
demned for  murder.  The  mystery  is  how  this  so  young  a 
gentleman,  very  sober  and  of  good  fame,  could  live  in  such 
an  expensive  manner ;  it  could  not  be  discovered  by  all 
possible  industrv,  or  entreat}^  of  his  friends  to  make  him 
reveal  it.  It  did  not  appear  that  he  was  kept  by  Avomen, 
play,  coining,  padding,  or  dealing  in  chymistry ;  but  he 
would  sometimes  say  that  if  he  should  live  ever  so  long, 
he  had  wherewith  to  maintain  himself  in  the  same  manner. 
He  was  veiy  civil  and  well-natured,  but  of  no  great  force 
of  understanding.  This  was  a  subject  of  much  discourse. 
24th.  I  went  to  visit  Mr.  Waller,  an  extraordinary 
young  gentleman  of  great  accomplishments,  skilled  in 
mathematics,  anatomy,  music,  painting  both  in  oil  and 
miniature  to  great  perfection,  an  excellent  botanist,  a  rare 
engraver  on  brass,  writer  in  Latin,  and  a  poet ;  and  with 
all  this  exceeding  modest.  His  house  is  an  academy  of 
itself.  I  carried  him  to  see  Brompton  Park  [by  Knights- 
bridge]  ,*  where  he  was  in  admiration  at  the  store  of  rare 
plants,  and  the  method  he  found  in  that  noble  nursery, 
and  how  well  it  was  cultivated. — A  public  Bank  of 
£140,000,  set  up  by  Act  of  Parliament  among  other  Acts, 
and  Lotteries  for  money  to  carry  on  the  war. — The  whole 
month  of  April  without  rain. — A  great  rising  of  people  in 
Buckinghamshire,  on  the  declaration  of  a  famous  preacher, t 
till  now  reputed  a  sober  and  religious  man,  that  our  Lord 
Christ  appearing  to  him  on  the  16th  of  this  month,  told 
him  he  was  now  come  down,  and  would  appear  publicly  at 
Pentecost,  and  gather  all  the  saints,  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
and  lead  them  to  Jerusalem,  and  begin  the  Millennium, 
and  destroying  and  judging  the  Avicked,  dehver  the  govern- 

*  Belonging  to  Mr.  Wise.     See  p.  ?>66. 

■\-  John  Mason,  who  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Water  Stratford,  in 
1674.  Granger  calls  him  a  man  of  unaffected  piety,  and  says  that  he  was 
esteemed  to  be  possessed  of  learning  and  abilities  above  the  common  level, 
till  he  became  bewildered  in  the  mystei'ies  of  Calvinism.  Great  iiumliers  of 
his  deluded  followers  left  their  homes,  and  filled  all  the  houses  and  barns  iu 
the  neighbourhood  of  Water  Stratford  ;  and,  when  they  were  prevented  from 
assembling  in  their  chosen  field,  they  met  in  the  town.  Three  pahiphlcts  oil 
this  subject  were  published  in  1C94,  the  year  after  Mr.  Mason's  death,  one 
of  which  has  been  privately  reprinted  by  the  late  Rev.  Edward  Cooke, 
Kcctor  of  Ilaversham,  iu  the  same  county. 


330  DIARY  OF  [hotton, 

ment  of  the  world  to  the  saints.  Great  multitudes  followed 
this  preacher,  divers  of  the  most  zealous  brought  their 
goods  and  considerable  sums  of  money,  and  began  to  live 
in  imitation  of  the  primitive  saints,  minding  no  private 
concerns,  continually  dancing  and  singing  Hallelujah 
night  and  day.  This  brings  to  mind  what  I  lately  hap- 
pened to  find  in  Alstedius,  that  the  thousand  years  should 
begin  this  very  year  1694  :  it  is  in  his  Encyclopaedia 
Biblica.  My  copy  of  the  book  printed  near  sixty  years 
ago. 

4th  May.  I  went  this  day  with  my  wife  and  four  servants 
from  Sayes  Court,  removing  much  furniture  of  all  sorts, 
books,  pictures,  hangings,  bedding,  &c.,  to  furnish  the 
apartment  my  brother  assigned  me,  and  now,  after  more 
than  forty  years,  to  spend  the  rest  of  my  days  with  him  at 
Wotton,  where  I  was  born ;  leaving  my  house  at  Deptford 
full  furnished,  and  three  servants,  to  my  son-in-law 
Draper,  to  pass  the  summer  in,  and  such  longer  time  as 
he  should  think  fit  to  make  use  of  it. 

6th.  This  being  the  first  Sunday  in  the  month,  the 
blessed  Sacrament  of  the  Lord^s  Supper  ought  to  have 
been  celebrated  at  Wotton  Church,  but  in  this  parish  it  is 
exceedingly  neglected,  so  that,  unless  at  the  four  great 
Feasts,  there  is  no  communion  hereabouts ;  which  is  a 
great  fault  both  in  ministers  and  people.  I  have  spoken, 
to  my  brother,  who  is  the  patron,  to  discourse  the  Minister 
about  it. — Scarcely  one  shower  has  fallen  since  the 
beginning  of  April. 

80th.  This  week  we  had  news  of  my  Lord  Tiviot  having 
cut  his  own  throat,  through  what  discontent  not  yet  said. 
He  had  been,  not  many  years  past,  my  colleague  in  the 
commission  of  the  Privy  Seal,  au  old  acquaintance,  very 
soberly  and  religiously  inclined.  Lord,  what  are  we 
without  Thy  continual  grace  ! 

Lord  Falkland,  grandson  to  the  learned  Lord  Falkland, 
Secretary  of  State  to  King  Charles  I.,  and  slain  in  his 
service,  died  now  of  the  smaU-pox.  He  was  a  pretty, 
brisk,  understanding,  industrious  young  gentleman;  had 
formerly  been  faulty,  but  now  much  reclaimed ;  had  also 
the  good  luck  to  marry  a  very  great  fortune,  besides  being 
entitled  to  a  vast  sum,  his  share  of  the  Spanish  wreck, 
taken  up  at  the  expense  of  divers  adventurers.     From  a 


1694.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  331 

Scotch  Viscount  he  was  made  an  English  Baron,  designed 
Ambassador  for  Holland ;  had  been  Treasurer  of  the 
Navy,  and  advancing  extremely  in  the  new  Court.  All 
now  gone  in  a  moment,  and  I  think  the  title  is  extinct. 
I  know  not  whether  the  estate  devolves  to  my  cousin 
Carew.  It  was  at  my  Lord  Falkland's,  whose  lady  impor- 
tuned us  to  let  our  daughter  be  with  her  some  time,  so 
that  that  dear  child  took  the  same  infection,  which  cost 
her  valuable  life.* 

3rd  June.  Mr.  Edwards,  minister  of  Denton,  in  Sussex, 
a  living  in  my  brother's  gift,  came  to  see  him.  He  had 
suffered  much  by  a  fire. — Seasonable  showers. 

14.th.  The  public  Fast.  Mr.  Wotton,  that  extraordinary 
learned  young  man,  preached  excellently. 

1st  July.  Mr.  Duncomb,  minister  of  Albury,  preached 
at  Wotton,  a  very  religious  and  exact  discourse. 

The  first  great  Bank  for  a  fund  of  money  being 
now  established  by  Act  of  Parliament,  was  filled  and 
completed  to  the  sum  of  £120,000,  and  put  under  the 
government  of  the  most  able  and  wealthy  citizens  of 
London.  All  who  adventm-ed  any  sum  had  four  per  Cent., 
so  long  as  it  lay  in  the  Bank,  and  had  power  either  to  take 
it  out  at  pleasure,  or  transfer  it. — Glorious  steady  weather ; 
corn  and  all  fruits  in  extraordinary  plenty  generally. 

13th.  Lord  Berkeley  burnt  Dieppe  and  Havre-de-Grace 
with  bombs,  in  revenge  for  the  defeat  at  Brest.  This 
manner  of  destructive  war  was  begun  by  the  French,  is 
exceedingly  ruinous,  especially  falling  on  the  poorer  people, 
and  does  not  seem  to  tend  to  make  a  more  speedy  end  of 
the  war ;  but  rather  to  exasperate  and  incite  to  revenge. — 
Many  executed  at  London  for  clipping  money,  now  done 
to  that  intolerable  extent,  that  there  was  hardly  any  money 
that  was  worth  above  half  the  nominal  value. 

4th  August.  I  went  to  visit  my  cousin,  George  Evelyn 
of  Nutfield,  where  I  found  a  family  of  ten  children,  five 
sons  and  five  daughters — all  beautiful  women  grown,  and 
extremely  well-fashioned.  All  painted  in  one  piece,  very 
well,  bj?^  Mr.  Lutterell,  in  crayon  on  copper,  and  seeming 
to  be  as  finely  painted  as  the  best  miniature.  They  are 
the  children  of  two  extraordinary  beautiful  Avives.  The 
boys  were  at  school. 

*  See  March  7  &  10,  1684-5. 


332  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

5th.  Stormy  and  unseasonable  wet  weather  this  week. 

5th  October.  I  went  to  St  Paul's  to  see  the  choir,  now 
finished  as  to  the  stone  work,  and  the  scaffolds  struck  both 
without  and  within,  in  that  part.  Some  exceptions  might 
perhaps  be  taken  as  to  the  placing  columns  on  pilasters  at 
the  East  tribunal.  As  to  the  rest,  it  is  a  piece  of  architec- 
ture without  reproach.  The  pulhng  out  the  forms,  like 
drawers,  from  under  the  stalls  is  ingenious.  I  went  also 
to  see  the  building  beginning  near  St.  Giles's,  where  seven 
streets  make  a  star  from  a  Doric  pillar  placed  in  the 
middle  of  a  circular  area ;  said  to  be  built  by  Mr.  Neale,* 
introducer  of  the  late  lotteries,  in  imitation  of  those  at 
Venice,  now  set  up  here,  for  himself  twice,  and  now  one 
for  the  State. 

28th.  Mr.  Stringfellow  preached  at  Trinity  church. 

22nd  November.  Visited  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  [Teni- 
son]  newly  come  on  the  death  of  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, who  a  few  days  before  had  a  paralytic  stroke — 
the  same  day  and  month  that  Archbishop  Sancroft  was 
put  out. — A  very  sickly  time,  especially  the  small-pox,  of 
which  divers  considerable  persons  died.  The  State  Lot- 
teryt  drawing,  Mr.  Cock,  a  French  refugee,  and  a  Presi- 
dent in  the  Parliament  of  Paris  for  the  Reformed,  drew  a 
lot  of  £1,000  per  annum. 

29th.  I  visited  the  Marquis  of  Normanby,  and  had 
much  discourse  concerning  King  Charles  II.  being  poisoned. 
— Also  concerning  the  Quinquina  which  the  physicians 
would  not  give  to  the  King,  at  a  time  when,  in  a  dangerous 
ague,  it  was  the  only  thing  that  could  cure  him  (out  of 
envy  because  it  had  been  brought  into  vogue  by  Mr. 
Tudor,  an  apothecary),  till  Dr.  Short,  to  whom  the  King 
sent  to  know  his  opinion  of  it  privately,  he  being  reputed 
a  Papist  (but  who  was  in  truth  a  very  honest  good 
Christian),  sent  word  to  the  King  that  it  was  the  only 
thing  which  could  save  his  Kfe,  and  then  the  King  enjoined 
his  physicians  to  give  it  to  him,  which  they  did,  and  he 

*  This  Mr.  Neale  took  a  large  piece  of  ground  on  the  north  side  of 
Piccadilly,  of  Sir  Walter  Clarges,  agreeing  to  lay  out  £15,000  in  building  j 
but  he  did  not  do  so,  and  Sir  Walter  having,  after  great  trouble,  got  the 
lease  out  of  his  hands,  built  what  is  now  called  Clarges-street.  Malcolm's 
London,  p.  329. 

t  State  Lotteries  finally  closed  October  18,  1826. 


1695.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  333 

recovered.  Being  asked  by  this  Lord  why  they  would  not 
prescribe  it,  Dr.  Lower  said  it  would  spoil  their  practice, 
or  some  such  expression,  and  at  last  confessed  it  was  a 
remedy  fit  only  for  kings. — Exception  was  taken  that  the 
late  Archbishop  did  not  cause  any  of  his  Chaplains  to  use 
any  office  for  the  sick  during  his  illness. 

9th  December.  I  had  news  that  my  dear  and  worthy 
friend.  Dr.  Tenison,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  was  made  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  for  which  I  thank  God  and  rejoice,  he 
being  most  worthy  of  it,  for  his  learning,  piety,  and  prudence. 

13th.  I  went  to  London  to  congratulate  him.  He  being 
my  proxy,  gave  my  vote  for  Dr.  Williams,  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bentley  in  Mr.  Boyle^s  lectures. 

29th.  The  small-pox  increased  exceedingly,  and  was 
very  mortal.     The  Queen  died  of  it  on  the  28th. 

13th  January,  1694-5.  The  Thames  was  frozen  over. 
The  deaths  by  small-pox  increased  to  five  hundred  more 
than  in  the  preceding  week. — The  King  and  Princess 
Anne  reconciled,  and  she  was  invited  to  keep  her  court  at 
Whitehall,  having  hitherto  lived  privately  at  Berkeley- 
house  :  she  was  desired  to  take  into  her  family  divers 
servants  of  the  late  Queen ;  to  maintain  them  the  King 
has  assigned  her  £5,000  a-quarter. 

20th.  The  frost  and  continual  snow  have  now  lasted 
five  weeks. 

February.  Lord  Spencer  married  the  Duke  of  New- 
castle's daughter,  and  our  neighbour,  Mr.  Ilussey,  married 
a  daughter  of  my  cousin  George  Evelyn,  of  Nutfield. 

3rd.  The  long  frost  intermitted,  but  not  gone. 

17th.  Called  to  London  by  Lord  Godolphin,  one  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Treasury,  ofi'ering  me  the  treasurership  of  the 
hospital  designed  to  be  built  at  Greenwich  for  worn-out 
seamen. 

24th.  I  saw  the  Queen  lie  in  state. 

27th.  The  Marquis  of  Normanby  told  me  King  Charles 
had  a  design  to  buy  all  King  Street,  and  build  it  nobly, 
it  being  the  street  leading  to  Westminster.  This  might 
have  been  done  for  the  expense  of  the  Queen's  funeral, 
which  was  £50,000,  against  her  desire. 

March  5th.  I  went  to  see  the  ceremony.  Never  was  so 
universal  a  mourning ;  all  the  Parliament  men  had  cloaks 
given  them,  and  four  hundred  poor  Avomen ;  all  the  streets 


334  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

hung,  and  the  middle  of  the  street  boarded  and  covered 
with  bhick  cloth.  There  were  all  the  Nobility,  Mayor, 
Aldermen,  Judges,  &c. 

8th.  I  supped  at  the  Bishop  of  Lichfield  and  Coventry's, 
who  related  to  me  the  pious  behaviour  of  the  Queen  in  all 
her  sickness,  which  was  admirable.  She  never  inquired 
of  what  opinion  persons  were,  who  were  objects  of  charity ; 
that,  on  opening  a  cabinet,  a  paper  was  found,  wherein 
she  had  desired  that  her  body  might  not  be  opened,  or 
any  extraordinary  expense  at  her  funeral,  whenever  she 
should  die.  This  paper  was  not  found  in  time  to  be 
observed.  There  were  other  excellent  things  under  her 
own  hand,  to  the  very  least  of  her  debts,  which  were  very 
small,  and  everything  in  that  exact  method,  as  seldom  is 
found  in  any  private  person.  In  sum,  she  was  such  an 
admirable  woman,  abating  for  taking  the  Crown  without 
a  more  due  apology,  as  does,  if  possible,  outdo  the  renowned 
Queen  Elizabeth. 

10th.  I  dined  at  the  Earl  of  Sunderland^s  with  Lord 
Spencer.  My  Lord  showed  me  his  library,  now  again 
improved  by  many  books  bought  at  the  sale  of  Sir  Charles 
Scarborough,  an  eminent  physician,*  which  was  the  very 
best  collection,  especially  of  mathematical  books,  that  was 
I  believe  in  Europe,  once  designed  for  the  King's  Library 
at  St.  James's;  but  the  Queen's  dying,  who  was  the  great 
patroness  of  that  design,  it  was  let  fall,  and  the  books 
were  miserably  dissipated. 

The  new  edition  of  Camden's  Britannia  was  now  pub- 
lished (by  Bishop  Gibson),  with  great  additions ;  those  to 
Surrey  were  mine,  so  that  I  had  one  presented  to  me. 
Dr.  Gale  showed  me  a  MS.  of  some  parts  of  the  New 
Testament  in  vulgar  Latin,  that  had  belonged  to  a  monas- 
tery in  the  North  of  Scotland,  which  he  esteemed  to  be 
above  eight  hundred  years  old :  there  were  some  consider- 
able various  readings  observable,  as  in  John  i.,  and 
genealogy  of  St.  Luke. 

24th.  Easter-day.  Mr.  Duncomb,  parson  of  this  parish, 
preached,  which  he  hardly  comes  to  above  once  a  year, 
though  but  seven  or  eight  miles  off  jf  a  florid  discourse, 

•  See  vol.  I.,  p.  283. 

f  This  was  William  Duncomb,  Rector  of  Ashted,  in  Surrey,  not  Mr. 
Duiicomo  ot  Albury,  mentioned  in  pp.  331,  336. 


1695.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  335 

read  out  of  his  notes.  The  Holy  Sacrament  followed, 
which  he  administered  with  very  little  reverence,  leaving 
out  many  prayers  and  exhortations;  nor  was  there  any 
oblation.  This  ought  to  be  reformed,  but  my  good  brother 
did  not  well  consider  when  he  gave  away  this  living  and 
the  next  [Abinger] . 

March.  The  latter  end  of  the  month  sharp  and  severe 
cold,  with  much  snow  and  hard  frost;  no  appearance  of 
spring. 

31st.  Mr.  Lucas  preached  in  the  afternoon  at  Wotton. 

7th  April.  Lord  Halifax  died  suddenly  at  London,  the 
day  his  daughter  was  married  to  the  Earl  of  Nottingham's 
son  at  Burleigh.  Lord  H.  was  a  very  rich  man,  very  witty, 
and  in  his  younger  days  somewhat  positive. 

I'ith.  After  a  most  severe,  cold,  and  snowy  winter, 
without  almost  any  shower  for  many  months,  the  wind 
continuing  N.  and  E.  and  not  a  leaf  appearing ;  the  weather 
and  wind  now  changed,  some  showers  fell,  and  there  was  a 
remission  of  cold. 

21st.  The  spring  begins  to  appear,  yet  the  trees  hardly 
leafed. — Sir  T.  Cooke  discovers  what  prodigious  bribes 
have  been  given  by  some  of  the  East  India  Company  out 
of  the  stock,  which  makes  a  great  clamour. — Never  were 
so  many  private  Bills  passed  for  unsettling  estates,  showing 
the  wonderful  prodigality  and  decay  of  families. 

5th  May.  I  came  to  Deptford  from  Wotton,  in  order  to 
the  first  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  for  endowing  an 
Hospital  for  Seamen  at  Greenwich ;  it  was  at  the  Guild- 
hall, London.  Present,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
Lord- Keeper,  Lord  Privy  Seal,  Lord  Godolphin,  Duke  of 
Shrewsbury,  Duke  of  Leeds,  Earls  of  Dorset  and  Mon- 
mouth, Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  and  Navy,  Sir 
Robert  Clayton,  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  and  several  more. 
The  Commission  was  read  by  Mr.  Lowndes,  Secretary  to 
the  Lords  of  the  Treasury,  Surveyor-General. 

17th.  Second  meeting  of  the  Commissioners,  and  a  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  go  to  Greenwich  to  survey  the  place, 
I  being  one  of  them. 

21  st.  We  went  to  survey  Greenwich,  Sir  Robert  Clayton, 
Sir  Christopher  Wren,  Mr.  Travers  the  King's  Surveyor ; 
Captain  Sanders,  and  myself. 
"  24th.  We  made  report  of  the  state  of  Greenwich  House, 


336  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

and  how  the  standing  part  might  be  made  serviceable  at 
present  for  £6,000,  and  what  ground  would  be  requisite 
for  the  whole  design. — My  Lord-Keeper  ordered  me  to 
prepare  a  book  for  subscriptions,  and  a  preamble  to  it. 

31st.  Met  again.  Mr.  Vanbrugh  was  made  Secretary 
to  the  Commission,  by  my  nomination  of  him  to  the  Lords, 
which  was  all  done  that  day. 

7th  June.  The  Commissioners  met  at  Guildhall,  when 
there  were  scruples  and  contests  of  the  Lord  Mayor,*  who 
would  not  meet,  not  being  named  as  one  of  the  quorum, 
so  that  a  new  Commission  was  required,  though  the  Lord- 
Keeper  and  the  rest  thought  it  too  nice  a  punctilio. 

14th.  Met  at  Guildhall,  but  could  do  nothing  for  want 
of  a  quorum. 

5th  July.  At  Guildhall ;  account  of  subscriptions,  about 
7  or  £8,000. 

6th.  I  dined  at  Lambeth,  making  my  first  visit  to  the 
Archbishop,  where  there  was  much  company  and  great 
cheer.  After  pra3'ers  in  the  evening,  my  Lord  made  me 
stay  to  show  me  his  house,  furniture,  and  garden,  which 
Avere  all  very  fine,  and  far  beyond  the  usual  Archbishops, 
not  as  affected  by  this,  but  being  bought  ready  furnished 
by  his  predecessor.  We  discoursed  of  several  public  mat- 
ters, particularly  of  the  Princess  of  Denmark,  who  made 
so  little  figure. 

11th.  Met  at  Guildhall:  not  a  fuU  Committee,  so 
nothing  done. 

14th.  No  sermon  at  church;  but,  after  prayers,  the  names 
of  all  the  parishioners  were  read,  in  order  to  gathering  the 
tax  of  4.<s.  for  marriages,  burials,  &c.  A  very  imprudent 
tax,  especially  this  reading  the  names,  so  that  most  went 
out  of  the  church. 

19th.  I  dined  at  Sir  Purbeck  Temple's,  near  Croydon  j 
his  lady  is  aunt  to  my  son-in-law.  Draper;  the  house 
exactly  furnished.  Went  thence  with  my  son  and  daughter 
to  Wotton. — At  Wotton,  Mr.  Duncomb,  parson  of  Albury, 
preached  excellently. 

28th.  A  very  wet  season. 

11th  August.  The  weather  now  so  cold,  that  greater 
frosts  were  not  always  seen  in  the  midst  of  winter;  this 
succeeded  much  wet,  and  set  harvest  extremely  back. 

*  Sir  William  Ashurst,  Knt. 


1695, J  JOHN   EVELYN.  337 

25tli.  Mr.  Offley  preached  at  Abinger;  too  mucli  of 
controversy  on  a  point  of  no  consequence,  for  the  country 
people  here.  This  was  the  first  time  I  had  heard  him 
preach.* — Bombarding  of  Cadiz ;  a  cruel  and  brutish  way 
of  making  war,  first  begun  by  the  French. — The  season 
wet,  great  storms,  unseasonable  harvest  weather. — My 
good  and  worthy  friend.  Captain  Gilford,  who  that  he 
might  get  some  competence  to  live  decently,  adventured 
all  he  had  in  a  voyage  of  two  years  to  the  East  Indies,  was, 
with  another  great  ship,  taken  by  some  French  men-of- 
war,  almost  within  sight  of  England,  to  the  loss  of  near 
£70,000,  to  my  great  sorrow,  and  pity  of  his  wife,  he  being 
also  a  valiant  and  industrious  man.  The  losses  of  this  sort 
to  the  nation  have  been  immense,  and  all  through  negli- 
gence and  little  care  to  secure  the  same  near  our  own 
coasts;  of  infinitely  more  concern  to  the  public  than 
spending  their  time  in  bombarding  and  ruining  two  or 
three  paltry  towns,  without  any  benefit,  or  weakening  our 
enemies,  who,  though  they  began,  ought  not- to  be  imitated 
in  an  action  totally  adverse  to  humanity,  or  Christianity. 

29th.  Very  cold  weather. — Sir  Purbeck  Temple,  uncle 
to  my  son  Draper,  died  suddenly.  A  great  funeral  at 
Addiscombe.  His  lady  being  own  aunt  to  my  son  Draper, 
he  hopes  for  a  good  fortune,  there  being  no  heir.  There 
had  been  a  new  meeting  of  the  Commissioners  about 
Greenwich  Hospital,  on  the  new  Commission,  where  the 
Lord  Mayor,  &c.  appeared,  but  I  was  prevented  by  indis- 
position from  attending.  The  weather  very  sharp,  winter 
approaching  apace. — The  King  went  a  progress  into  the 
north,  to  show  himself  to  the  people  against  the  elections, 
and  was  every  Avhere  complimented,  except  at  Oxford, 
where  it  was  not  as  he  expected,  so  that  he  hardly  stopped 
an  hour  there,  and,  having  seen  the  Theatre,  did  not  receive 
the  banquet  proposed. — I  dined  with  Dr.  Gale  at  St.  PauFs 
school,  who  showed  me  many  curious  passages  out  of  some 
ancient  Platonists^  MSS.  concerning  the  Trinity,  Avhich 
this  great  and  learned  person  would  publish,  with  many 

*  This  gentleman  gave  good  farms  in  Sussex  for  the  better  endowment  of 
Oakwood  Chapel,  which  is  a  Chapel  of  ease  for  the  lower  parts  of  Abinger 
and  Wotton,  both  of  which  livings  are  in  the  gift  of  the  owner  of  Wotton  ; 
mapy  of  tlie  inhabitants  thereabouts  being  distant  five  miles  from  their 
parish  churches  :  the  roads  also  in  winter  are  extremely  bad. 
VOL.  II.  Z 


338  DIARY    OP  [LONDON, 

other  rare  things,  if  he  was  encouraged,  and  eased  of  the 
burden  of  teaching. 

25th  October.  The  Archbishop  and  myself  went  to 
Hammersmith,  to  visit  Sir  Samuel  Morland,*  who  was 
entirely  blind ;  a  very  mortifying  sight.  He  showed  us 
his  invention  of  writing,  which  was  very  ingenious ;  also 
his  wooden  kalendar,  which  instructed  him  all  by  feeling ; 
and  other  pretty  and  useful  inventions  of  mills,  pumps,  &c., 
and  the  pump  he  had  erected  that  serves  water  to  his 
garden,  and  to  passengers,  with  an  inscription,  and  brings 
from  a  filthy  part  of  the  Thames  near  it  a  most  perfect 
and  pure  water.  He  had  newly  buried  £200  worth  of 
music-books  six  feet  under  ground,  being,  as  he  said,  love- 
songs  and  vanity.  He  plays  himself  psalms  and  religious 
hymns  on  the  theorbo.  Very  mild  weather  the  whole  of 
October. 

10th  November.  Mr.  Stanhope, f  Vicar  of  Lewisham, 
preached  at  Whitehall.  He  is  one  of  the  most  accom- 
plished preachers  I  ever  heard,  for  matter,  eloquence, 
action,  voice,  and  I  am  told,  of  excellent  conversation. 

13th.  Famous  fireworks  and  very  chargeable,  the  King 
being  returned  from  his  progress.  He  stayed  seven  or 
eight  days  at  Lord  Sunderland's  at  Althorpe,  where  he  was 
mightily  entertained.  These  fireworks  were  showed  before 
Lord  Romney,  master  of  the  ordnance,  in  St.  James's  great 
square,  where  the  King  stood. 

17th.  I  spoke  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  to  inte- 
rest himself  for  restoring  a  room  belonging  to  St.  James's 
library,  where  the  books  want  place. 

21st.  I  went  to  see  Mr.  Churchill's  collection  of  rarities. 

23rd.  To  Lambeth,  to  get  Mr.  Williams  continued  in 
Boyle's  lectures  another  year.  Amongst  others  who  dined 
there  was  Dr.  Covel,J  the  great  Oriental  traveller. 

1st  December.  I  dined  at  Lord  Sunderland's,  now  the 
great  favourite  and  underhand  politician,  but  not  adven- 
turing on  any  character,  being  obnoxious  to  the  people  for 
having  twice  changed  his  religion. 

23rd.    The   Parliament   wondrous   intent   on  ways   to 

•  Seep.  26.  +  See  p.  328. TJ 

J  Dr.  John  Covel,  Master  of  Christ's  College,  Cambridge,  and  Chancellor 

of  York.     He  wrote  an  account  of  the  Greek  Church,  which  he  published 

just  before  his  death  in  1722,  in  his  85th  year. 


1696.}  JOHN   EVELYN.  339 

reform  the  coin;  setting  out  a  Proclamation  proliibiting 
the  currency  of  half-crowns,  &c.;  which  made  much  confu- 
sion among  the  people. 

25  th.  Hitherto  mild,  dark,  misty  weather.  Now  snow 
and  frost. 

1G95-6.  12th  January.  Great  confusion  and  distraction 
by  reason  of  the  clipped  money,  and  the  diificuity  found  in 
reforming  it. 

2nd  February.  An  extraordinary  wet  season,  though 
temperate  as  to  cold. — The  Royal  Sovereign*  man-of-war 
burnt  at  Chatham.  It  was  built  in  1637,  and  having 
given  occasion  to  the  levy  of  Ship-money  was  perhaps  the 
cause  of  all  the  after-troubles  to  this  day. — An  earthquake 
in  Dorsetshire  by  Portland,  or  rather  a  sinking  of  the 
ground  suddenly  for  a  large  space,  near  the  quarries  of 
stone,  hindering  the  conveyance  of  that  material  for  the 
finishing  St.  Paul's. 

23rd.  They  now  began  to  coin  new  money. 

26th.  There  was  now  a  conspiracy  of  about  thirty  knights, 
gentlemen,  captains,  many  of  them  Irish  and  English 
Papists,  and  Nonjurors  or  Jacobites  (so  called),  to  murder 
King  William  on  the  first  opportunity  of  his  going  either 
from  Kensington,  or  to  hunting,  or  to  the  chapel ;  and, 
upon  signal  of  fire  to  be  given  from  Dover  Cliff  to  Calais, 
an  invasion  was  designed.  In  order  to  it  there  was  a  great 
army  in  readiness,  men-of-war  and  transports,  to  join  a 
general  insurrection  here,  the  Duke  of  Berwick  having 
secretly  come  to  London  to  head  them.  King  James 
attending  at  Calais  with  the  French  army.  It  was  disco- 
vered by  some  of  their  own  party.  £1000  reward  was 
offered  to  whoever  could  apprehend  any  of  the  thii'ty 
named.  Most  of  those  who  were  engaged  in  it,  were  taken 
and  secured.  The  Parliament,  City,  and  aU  the  nation, 
congratulate  the  discovery  ;  and  votes  and  resolutions  were 
passed  that,  if  King  William  should  ever  be  assassinated, 
it  should  be  revenged  on  the  Papists  and  party  through 
the  nation :  an  Act  of  Association  drawing  up  to  empower 
the  Parliament  to  sit  on  any  such  accident,  till  the  Crown 
should  be  disposed  of  according  to  the  late  settlement  at 
the  Revolution.  All  Papists,  in  the  mean  time,  to  be 
banished  ten  miles  from  London.     This  put  the  nation 

*  See  Vol.  T.,  p.  17. 

z  3 


340  DIARY  OP  [londok, 

into  an  incredible  disturbance  and  general  animosity 
against  the  French  King  and  King  James.  The  militia  of 
the  nation  was  raised,  several  regiments  were  sent  for  out 
of  Flanders,  and  all  things  put  in  a  posture  to  encounter  a 
descent.  This  was  so  timed  by  the  enemy,  that  whilst  we 
were  already  much  discontented  by  the  greatness  of  the 
taxes,  and  corruption  of  the  money,  &c.,  we  had  like  to 
have  had  very  few  men-of-war  near  our  coasts ;  but  so  it 
pleased  God  that  Admiral  Rooke  wanting  a  wind  to  pxirsue 
his  voyage  to  the  Straits,  that  squadron,  with  others  at 
Portsmouth  and  other  places,  were  still  in  the  Channel, 
and  were  soon  brought  up  to  join  with  the  rest  of  the  ships 
which  could  be  got  together,  so  that  there  is  hope  this  plot 
may  be  broken.  I  look  on  it  as  a  very  great  deliverance 
and  prevention  by  the  providence  of  God.  Though  many 
did  formerly  pity  King  James's  condition,  this  design  of 
assassination  and  bringing  over  a  French  army,  alienated 
many  of  his  friends,  and  was  likely  to  produce  a  more 
perfect  establishment  of  King  William. 

1st  March.  The  wind  continuing  N.  and  E.  all  this 
week,  brought  so  many  of  our  men-of-war  together  that, 
though  most  of  the  French  finding  their  design  detected 
and  prevented,  made  a  shift  to  get  into  Calais  and  Dunkirk 
roads,  we  wanting  fire-ships  and  bombs  to  disturb  them ; 
yet  they  were  so  engaged  among  the  sands  and  flats,  that 
^tis  said  they  cut  their  masts  and  flung  their  great  guns 
overboard  to  lighten  their  vessels.  We  are  yet  upon 
them.  This  deliverance  is  due  solely  to  God.  French 
were  to  have  invaded  at  once  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland. 

8th.  Divers  of  the  conspirators  tried  and  condemned. 

Vesuvius  breaking  out,  terrified  Naples. — Three  of  the 
unhappy  wretches,  whereof  one  was  a  priest,  were  executed* 
for  intending  to  assassinate  the  King ;  they  acknowledged 
their  intention,  but  acquitted  King  James  of  inciting 
them  to  it,  and  died  very  penitent.  Divers  more  in 
danger,  and  some  very  considerable  persons. 

Great  frost  and  cold. 

6th  April.  I  visited  Mr.  Graham  in  the  Fleet. 

10th.  The  quarters  of  Sir  William  Perkins  and  Sir  John 
Friend,  lately  executed  on  the  plot,  with  Perkins's  head, 

•  Robert  Chamock,  Edward  King,  and  Thomas  Keys. 


1696.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  34I 

were  set  up  at  Temple-Bar ,  a  dismal  sight,  which  many- 
pitied.  I  think  there  never  was  such  at  Temple- Bar  till 
now,  except  once  in  the  time  of  King  Charles  II.,  viz.,  of 
Sir  Thomas  Armstrong.* 

12th.  A  very  fine  spring  season. 

19th.  Great  offence  taken  at  the  three  ministers  f 
who  absolved  Sir  WiUiam  Perkins  and  Friend  at  Tyburn. 
One  of  them  (Snatt)  was  a  son  of  my  old  schoolmaster. 
This  produced  much  altercation  as  to  the  canonicalness  of 
the  action. J  • 

31st.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Guildhall  of  the  Grand 
Committee  about  settHng  the  draught  of  Greenwich 
Hospital. 

2ord.  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,  Holbein,  Julio 
Romano,  Bassan,  Vandyke,  Tintoretto,  and  others ;  a  great 
collection  of  porcelain ;  and  a  pretty  private  Kbrary.  The 
gardens  about  it  very  delicious. 

26th.  Dr.  Sharp  preached  at  the  Temple.  His  prayer 
before  the  sermon  was  one  of  the  most  excellent  composi- 
tions I  ever  heard. 

28th.  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. 

2nd  May.  I  dined  at  Lambeth,  being  summoned  to  meet 
my  co-trustees,  the  Archbishop,  Sir  Henry  Ashurst,  and 
Mr.  Serjeant  Rotheram,  to  consult  about  settling  Mr. 
Boyle's  lecture  for  a  perpetuity ;  which  we  concluded  upon, 

*  He  was  concerned  in  the  Rye-House  Plot,  fled  into  Holland,  was  given 
up,  and  executed  in  his  own  country,  168-1.     See  p.  198. 

t  Mr.  Collier,  Mr.  Snatt,  and  Mr.  Cook,  all  nonjuring  clergj-men. 
i  And  pamphlets  upon  the  subject  were  written  pro  and  con. 


342  DIARY  OF  tLONDON, 

by  buying  a  rent-charge  of  £50  per  annum,  with  the  stock 
in  our  hands. 

6th.  I  went  to  Lambeth,  to  meet  at  dinner  the  Countess 
of  Sunderland  and  divers  ladies.  We  dined  in  the  Arch- 
bishop^s  wife's  apartment  with  his  Grace,  and  stayed  late ; 
yet  I  returned  to  Deptford  at  night. 

13th.  I  went  to  London  to  meet  my  son,  newly  come 
from  Ireland,  indisposed. — Money  still  continuing  exceed- 
ing scarce,  so  that  none  was  paid  or  received,  but  all  was 
on  trust,  the  Mint  not  supplying  Tor  common  necessities. 
The  Association  with  an  oath  required  of  all  lawyers 
and  oificers,  on  pain  of  praemunire,  whereby  men  were 
obliged  to  renounce  King  James  as  no  rightful  king,  and 
to  revenge  King  William's  death,  if  happening  by  assas- 
sination. This  to  be  taken  by  all  the  Counsel  by  a  day 
limited,  so  that  the  Courts  of  Chancery  and  King's  Bench 
hardly  heard  any  cause  in  Easter  Term,  so  manj'^  crowded 
to  take  the  oath.  This  was  censured  as  a  very  entangling 
contrivance  of  the  Parliament  in  expectation,  that  many 
in  high  office  would  lay  down,  and  others  surrender. 
Many  gentlemen  taken  up  on  suspicion  of  the  late  plot, 
were  now  discharged  out  of  prison. 

29th.  We  settled  divers  officers,  and  other  matters 
relating  to  workmen,  for  the  beginning  of  Greenwich 
Hospital. 

June  1st.  I  went  to  Deptford  to  dispose  of  our  goods, 
in  order  to  letting  the  house  for  three  years  to  Vice- 
Admiral  Benbow,  with  condition  to  keep  up  the  garden. 
This  was  done  soon  after. 

4th.  A  Committee  met  at  Whitehall  about  Greenwich 
Hospital,  at  Sir  Christopher  Wren's,  his  Majesty's  Sur- 
veyor-General. We  made  the  first  agreement  with  divers 
workmen,  and  for  materials;  and  gave  the  first  order 
for  proceeding  on  the  foundation,  and  for  weekly  pay- 
ments to  the  workmen,  and  a  general  account  to  be 
monthly. 

11th.  Dined  at  Lord  Pembroke's,  Lord  Privy  Seal,  a 
very  worthy  gentleman.  He  showed  me  divers  rare 
pictures  of  very  many  of  the  old  and  best  masters,  espe- 
cially one  of  M.  Angelo  of  a  man  gathering  fruit  to  give  to 
a  woman,  and  a  large  book  of  the  best  drawings  of  the  old 
masters. — Sir  John  Fenwick,  one  of  the  conspirators,  was 


1696.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  343 

taken.^' — Great  subscriptions  in  Scotland  to  their  East 
India  Company. — Want  of  current  money  to  carry  on  tke 
smallest  concerns,  even  for  daily  provisions  in  the  markets. 
Guineas  lowered  to  twenty-two  shillings,  and  great  sums 
daily  transported  to  Holland,  where  it  yields  more,  with 
other  treasure  sent  to  pay  the  armies,  and  nothing  con- 
siderable coined  of  the  new  and  now  only  current  stamp, 
cause  such  a  scarcity  that  tumults  are  every  day  feared, 
nobody  paying,  or  receiving  money ;  so  imprudent  was 
the  late  Parliament  to  condemn  the  old,  though  clipped 
and  corrupted,  till  they  had  provided  supplies.  To  this 
add  the  fraud  of  the  bankers  and  goldsmiths,  who  having 
gotten  immense  riches  by  extortion,  keep  up  their  treasure 
in  expectation  of  enhancing  its  value.  Duncombe,  not 
long  since  a  mean  goldsmith,  having  made  a  purchase  of 
the  late  Duke  of  Buckingham's  estate  f  at  near  £90,000, 
and  reputed  to  have  near  as  much  in  cash.  Banks  and 
Lotteries  every  day  set  up. 

18th.  The  famous  trial  between  my  Lord  Bath  and 
Lord  Montague  for  an  estate  of  £11,000  a  year,  left  by 
the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  wherein  on  several  trials  hud  been 
spent  £20,000  between  them.  The  Earl  of  Bath  was  cast 
on  evident  forgery.  J 

20th.  I  made  my  Lord  Cheney  a  visit  at  Chelsea,  and 
saw  those  ingenious  water-works  invented  by  Mr.  Win- 
stanley,  §  wherein  were  some  things  very  surprising  and 
extraordinary. 

21st.  An  exceeding  rainy,  cold,  unseasonable  summer, 
yet  the  City  was  very  healthy. 

25th.  A  trial  in  the  Common  Pleas  between  the  Lady 
Purbeck  Temple  and  Mr,  Temple,  a  nephew  of  Sir  Purbeck, 
concerning  a  deed  set  up  to  take  place  of  several  wills. 
This  deed  was  proved  to  be  forged.  The  cause  went  on 
my  lady's  side.     This  concerning  my  son-in-law.  Draper, 

*  He  was  taken  at  a  house  by  the  side  of  the  road  from  Great  Boolcham  to 
Stoke  Dabernon,  in  Surrey,  near  Slyfield-mill,  as  I  was  told  by  tlie  great 
grandson  of  Mr.  Evelyn. — W.  B. 
•f-  At  Helmsley,  in  Yorkshii-e. 

"  And  Helmsley,  once  proud  Buckingham's  delight. 
Slides  to  a  Scrivener  or  a  City-Knight." — Pope. 
,t  Vide  2  Sept.,  1701. 

§  The  ingenious  architect  who  built  the  Eddystone  Lighthouse,  and 
perished  iu  it  when  blown  down  by  the  great  storm  iu  1703. 


344  DIARY    OP  [GREENWICH, 

I  staid  almost  all  day  at  Court.  A  great  supper  was  given 
to  the  jury,  being  persons  of  the  best  condition  in  Buck- 
inghamshire. 

30th.  I  went  with  a  select  Committee  of  the  Commis- 
sioners for  Greenwich  Hospital,*  and  with  Sir  Christopher 
Wren,  where  with  him  I  laid  the  first  stone  of  the  intended 
foundation,  precisely  at  five  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after 
we  had  dined  together.  Mr.  Flamstead,  the  King's 
Astronomical  Professor,  observing  the  punctual  time  by 
instruments. 

4th  July.  Note  that  my  Lord  Godolphin  was  the  first 
of  the  subscribers  who  paid  any  money  to  this  noble 
fabricf 

*  Sir  William  Ashurst,  Sir  Christopher  Wren,  Sir  Thomas  Lane,  Sir 
Stephen  Evance,  John  Evelyn,  William  Draper,  Dr.  Cade,  Mr.  Johnsod, 

Mr.  Thomas,  Captain  Gatteridge,  Mr.  Firmin,  Mr.  Lake,  and  Captain  Heath, 
t  Subscriptions  to  Geeknwich  Hospital  ;  from  Mb.  Evklyn's  Papers. 

£  s.  d. 

The  King 2,000  0  0 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury    " 500  0  0 

Lord  Keeper  Somers 500  0  0 

Duke  of  Leeds,  President  of  the  Council         .         .     .     500  0  0 

Earl  of  Pembroke,  Lord  Privy  Seal   .        .        .        .    500  0  0 

Duke  of  Devonshire 500  0  0 

Duke  of  Shrewsbury,  Secretary  of  State     .        .        .    500  0  0 

Earl  of  Romney 200  0  0 

Earl  of  Dorset 500  0  0 

Lord  Montague 300  0  0 

Lord  Godolphin,  First  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury     200  0  0 

Mr.  Montague,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer      .         .     100  0  0 

Mr.  Smith,  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury      .         .     .     100  0  0 

Lord  Cliief- Justice  Holt 100  0  0 

Sir  Ste.  Fox,  Commissioner  of  the  Treasury  .     .    200  0  0 

Earl  of  Ranelagh 100  0  0 

Sir  John  Lowther 100  0  0 

Mr.  Priestman 100  0  0 

Sir  Geo.  Rooke 100  0  0 

Sir  John  Houblon 100  0  0 

Lord  Chief- Justice  Treby 100  0  0 

Sir  Wm.  Trumball,  Principal  Secretary  of  State         .     100  0  0 

Sir  Robt.  Rich .     .     100  0  0 

Sir  Hen.  Goodrick 50  0  0 

Col.  Austen 100  0  0 

Sir  Tho.  Lane     ....  ...     100  0  0 

Sir  Patience  Ward 100  0  0 

Carried  Forward  £7,850    0    0 


1696.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  345 

7th.  A  northern  wind  altering  the  weather  with  a  con- 
tinual and  impetuous  rain  of  three  days  and  nights, 
changed  it  into  perfect  winter. 

12th.  Very  unseasonable  and  uncertain  weather. 

26th.  So  little  money  in  the  nation  that  Exchequer 
TalHes^  of  which  I  had  for  £2^000  on  the  best  fund  in 
England,  the  Post-Office,  nobody  would  take  at  30  per 
cent,  discount. 

3rd  August.  The  Bank  lending  the  £200,000  to  pay  the 
army  in  Flanders,  that  had  done  nothing  against  the 
enemy,  had  so  exhausted  the  treasure  of  the  nation,  that 
one  could  not  have  borroAved  money  under  14  or  15  per 
cent,  on  bills,  or  on  Exchequer  Tallies  under  30  per  cent. 
— Reasonable  good  harvest-weather. — I  went  to  Lambeth 
and  dined  with  the  Archbishop,  who  had  been  at  Court  on 
the  complaint  against  Dr.  Thomas  Watson,  Bishop  of  St. 
David^s,   who   was  suspended  for  simony.*      The  Arch- 

£  s.  d. 

Brought  forward         .         .     .  7,850  0  0 

Sir  William  Ashurst 100  0  0 

Sir  John  Trevor,  Master  of  the  Rolls     .         .         .     .  100  0  0 

Mr.  Justice  Rokeby 50  0  0 

Mr.  Justice  Powell 50  0  0        - 

Mr.  Justice  Eyre 50  0  0 

Lord  Chief  Baron  Ward 66  13  4 

Mr.  Justice  Gregory 50  0  0 

Mr.  Baron  Powell 50  0  0 

Earl  of  Portland 500  0  0 

Mr.  Baron  Powis 40  0  0 

Sir  Richard  Onslow 100  0  0 

Mr.  Baron  Lechmore 40  0  0 


£9,046  13     4 


By  the  Committee  for  the  fabric  of  Green\vich  Hospital,  Nov.  4,  1696. — 
Expense  of  the  work  already  done,  £  5,000  and  upwards,  towards  which  the 
Treasurer  had  not  received  above  £800,  so  that  they  must  be  obliged  to  stop 
the  work,  unless  there  can  be  a  supply  of  money  both  from  the  tallies  that 
have  been  assigned  for  payment  of  his  Majesty's £2,000,  and  the  money  sub- 
scribed by  several  noblemen  and  gentlemen  ;  the  Secretary  was  ordered  to 
attend  Mr.  Lowndes,  Secretary  to  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury,  to  move  for  an 
order  that  the  tallies  may  be  fi.\.ed  on  such  fund  as  may  be  ready  money,  or 
that  the  Treasurer  of  the  Hospital  may  be  directed  to  dispose  of  them  on  the 
best  terms  he  can  ;  and  that  the  Solicitor,  with  the  Treasurers  clerk,  do 
attend  the  noblemen  and  gentlemen  that  have  subscribed,  to  acquaint  them 
herewith  *  Afterwards  deprived  ;  see  p.  354. 


346  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

bishop  told  me  how  unsatisfied  he  was  with  the  Canon-law, 
and  how  exceedingly  unreasonable  all  their  pleadings 
appeared  to  him. 

September.  Fine  seasonable  weather,  and  a  great  harvest 
after  a  cold  wet  summer.     Scarcity  in  Scotland. 

6th.  I  went  to  congratulate  the  marriage  of  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  Boscawen  to  the  son  of  Sir  Philip  Meadows ;  she  is 
niece  to  my  Lord  Godolphin,  married  at  Lambeth  by  the 
Archbishop  30th  August. — ^After  above  six  months'  stay 
in  London  about  Greenwich  Hospital,  I  returned  to 
Wotton. 

24th  October.  Unseasonable  stormy  weather,  and  an 
ill  seed-time. 

November,  Lord  Godolphin  retired  from  the  Treasury, 
who  was  the  first  Commissioner  and  most  skilful  manager 
of  all. 

8th.  The  first  frost  began  fiercely,  but  lasted  not  long. — . 
More  plots  talked  of.     Search  for  Jacobites  so  called. 

15th — 23rd.  Very  stormy  weather,  rain,  and  inun- 
dations. 

13th  December.  Continuance  of  extreme  frost  and  snow. 

1696-7.  17th  January.  The  severe  frost  and  weather 
relented,  but  again  froze  with  snow. — Conspiracies  con- 
tinue against  King  William.  Sir  John  Fen  wick  was 
beheaded. 

7th  February.  Severe  frost  continued  with  snow.  Soldiers 
in  the  armies  and  garrison-towns  frozen  to  death  on  their 
posts. 

(Here  a  leaf  of  the  MS.  is  lost.)* 

*  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Bohun,  dated  Wotton,  18th  January,  169f,  Mr. 
Evelyn  says : 

"  Having  been  told  that  you  have  lately  inquired  what  is  become  of  your 
now  old  friends  of  Sayes  Court,  the  date  hereof  will  acquaint  you  where 
they  are,  and  the  sequel  much  of  what  they  do  and  think.  I  believe  I  need 
not  tell  you  that,  after  the  marriage  of  my  daughter,  aud  the  so  kind  ofiFer 
of  my  good  brother  here,  my  then  circumstances  and  times  considered,  I 
had  reason  to  embrace  it,  not  merely  out  of  inclination  to  the  place  where  I 
was  bom  and  have  now  an  interest. 

"  Amongst  other  things,  I  had  paid  £300  for  the  renewing  of  my  lease  [at 
Deptford]  with  some  augmentation  of  what  I  hold  from  the  Crown,  which  the 

Duke  of  Leeds  was  supplanting  me  of but  I  am  not  here  on 

free  cost. 

"My  Lord  Godolphin  (my  ever  noble  patron  and  steady  friend,  now 
retired  from  a  fatiguing  station,)  got  me  to  be  named  Treasurer  to  the 


1697.]  JOHN  EVELYN,  347 

17th  August.  I  came  to  Wotton  after  three  months* 
absence. 

September.  Very  bright  weather,  but  with  sharp  east 
wind.  My  son  came  from  London  in  his  melanclioly 
indisposition. 

Mai'ine  College  erecting  at  Greenwich,  with  the  salary  of  £200  per  annum, 
of  which  I  have  never  yet  received  one  penny  of  the  tallies  assigned  for  it, 
now  two  years  at  our  Lady-day  ;  my  son-in-law,  Draper,  is  my  substitute. 
I  have  only  had  tliis  opportunity  to  place  my  old  (indeed  faithful)  servant 
J.  Strd.  in  an  employment  at  Greenwich,  which  with  my  other  business,  not 
small,  among  so  many  beggarly  tenants  as  you  know  I  have  at  Deptford  [is 
some  provision  for  him].  1  have  let  my  house  to  Captain  Benbow,  and 
have  the  mortification  of  seeing  every  day  much  of  my  former  labours  and 
exjjense  there  impairing  for  want  of  a  more  polite  tenant. 

"  My  grandson  is  so  delighted  in  books,  that  he  professes  a  library  is  to 
him  the  greatest  recreation,  so  I  give  him  free  scope  here,  where  I  have  near 
upon  22,000  [qu.  2000  1]  (with  my  brother's),  and  whither  I  would  brmg 
the  rest  had  I  any  room,  which  I  have  not,  to  my  great  regret,  having  here 
so  little  conversation  with  the  learned,  unless  it  be  when  Mr.  Wotton  [the 
learned  gentleman  before-mentioned,  the  friend  of  Dr.  Bentley,]  comes  now 
and  then  to  visit  mo,  he  being  tutor  to  Mr.  Finch's  son  at  Aibury,  but  which 
he  is  now  leaving  to  go  to  his  living,  that  without  books,  and  the  best  wife 
and  brother  in  the  world,  I  were  to  be  pitied  ;  but,  with  these  subsidiaries, 
and  the  revising  some  of  my  old  impertinences,  to  which  I  am  adding  a 
Discourse  I  made  on  Medals  (lying  by  me  long  before  Obadiah  Walker's 
Treatise  appeared),  I  pass  some  of  my  Attic  nights,  if  I  may  be  so  vain  as  to 
name  tliem,  with  the  author  of  those  Criticisms.  For  the  rest,  I  am  planting 
an  evergreen  grove  here  to  an  old  house  ready  to  drop,  the  economy  and 
hospitality  of  which  my  good  old  brother  will  not  depart  from,  but  more 
vetcnun  kept  a  Christmas,  in  which  we  had  not  fewer  than  three  hundred 
bumkins  every  holy-day. 

"  We  have  here  a  very  convenient  apartment  of  five  'rooms  together, 
besides  a  pretty  closet,  which  we  have  furnished  with  the  spoils  of  Sayes 
Court,  and  is  the  raree-show  of  the  whole  neighbourhood,  and  in  truth  we 
live  easy  as  to  all  domestic  cares.  Wednesday  and  Saturday  nights  we  call 
Lecture-nights,  when  my  wife  and  myself  talvC  our  turns  to  read  the  packets 
of  all  the  news  sent  constantly  from  Loudon,  which  serves  us  for  discourse 
till  fresh  news  comes  ;  and  so  you  have  the  history  of  a  very  old  man  and  his 
no  young  companion,  whoso  society  I  have  enjoyed  more  to  my  satisfaction 
these  three  years  here,  than  in  almost  fifty  before,  but  am  now  every  day 
trussing  up  to  be  gone,  I  hope  to  a  better  place. 

"  My  daughter.  Draper,  being  brought  to  bed  in  the  Christmas-hoUdays  of 
a  fine  boy,  has  given  an  heir  to  a  most  deserving  husband,  a  prudent,  well- 
natured  gentleman,  a  man  of  business,  like  to  be  very  rich,  and  deserving  to 
be  so,  among  the  happiest  pairs  I  think  in  England,  and  to  my  daughter  s 
and  our  hearts'  desire.  She  has  also  a  fine  girl,  and  a  mother-in-law 
exceedingly  fond  of  my  daughter,  and  a  most  excellent  woman,  charitable 
and  of  a  very  sweet  disposition.  They  all  live  together,  keep  each  their 
coach,  and  with  as  suitable  an  equipage  as  any  in  town." 


348  DIARY  OP  [toNDow, 

12th.  Mr.  Duncombe,  the  rector,  came  and  preached 
after  an  absence  of  two  years,  though  only  living  seven  or 
eight  miles  off  [at  Ashted]. — Welcome  tidings  of  the 
Peace. 

3rd  October.  So  great  were  the  storms  all  this  week, 
that  near  a  thousand  people  were  lost  going  into  the 
Texel. 

16th  November.  The  King's  entry  very  pompous ;  but 
in  nothing  approaching  that  of  King  Charles  II. 

2nd  December.  Thanksgiving- day  for  the  Peace.  The 
King  and  a  great  Court  at  Whitehall.  The  Bishop  of 
Salisbury*  preached,  or  rather  made  a  florid  panegyric, 
on  2  Chron.  ix.  7,  8. — The  evening  concluded  with  fire- 
works and  illuminations  of  great  expense. 

5th.  Was  the  first  Sunday  that  St.  Paul's  had  had 
service  performed  in  it  since  it  was  burnt  in  1666. 

6th.  I  went  to  Kensington  with  the  Sheriff,  Knights, 
and  chief  gentlemen  of  Surrey,  to  present  their  Address 
to  the  King.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk  promised  to  introduce 
it,  but  came  so  late,  that  it  was  presented  before  he  came. 
This  insignificant  ceremony  was  brought  in  in  Cromwell's 
time,  and  has  ever  since  continued  with  offers  of  life  and 
fortune  to  whoever  happened  to  have  the  power.  I  dined 
at  Sir  Richard  Onslow's  who  treated  almost  all  the 
gentlemen  of  Surrey.  When  we  had  half  dined,  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk  came  in  to  make  his  excuse. 

12th.  At  the  Temple  church ;  it  was  very  long  before 
the  service  began,  staying  for  the  Comptroller  of  the 
Inner  Temple,  where  was  to  be  kept  a  riotous  and  revelhng 
Christmas,  according  to  custom. 

18th.  At  Lambeth,  to  Dr.  Bentley,  about  the  Library  at 
St.  James's. 

23rd.  I  returned  to  Wotton. 

1697-8.  A  great  Christmas  kept  at  Wotton,  open  house, 
much  company.  I  presented  my  book  of  Medals,  &c.  to 
divers  Noblemen,  before  I  exposed  it  to  sale.' 

2nd  January.  Dr.  Fulham,  who  lately  married  my  niece, 
preached  against  Atheism,  a  very  eloquent  discourse, 
somewhat  improper  for  most  of  the  audience :  at  [Wot- 
ton] but  fitted  for  some  other  place,  and  very  apposite  to 
the  profane  temper  of  the  age. 

*  Burnet. 


1698.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  349 

5th.  Whitehall  burnt,  nothing  hut  walls  and  ruins  left. 

30th.  The  imprisonment  of  the  great  banker^  Buncombe: 
censured  by  Parliament ;  acquitted  by  the  Lords ;  sent 
again  to  the  Tower  by  the  Commons.* 

The  Czar  of  Muscovy  being  come  to  England,  and 
having  a  mind  to  see  the  building  of  ships,  hired  my  house 
at  Sayes  Court,  and  made  it  his  court  and  palace,  new 
furnished  for  him  by  the  King.f 

31st  April.  The  Czar  went  from  my  house  to  return  home. 
— An  exceeding  sharp  and  cold  season. 

8th  May.  An  extraordinary  great  snow  and  frost,  nipping 
the  corn  and  other  fruits.  Corn  at  nine  shillings  a  bushel 
[£18  a  load]. 

30th.  I  dined  at  Mr.  Pepys,  where  I  heard  the  rare  voice 
of  Mr.  Pule,  who  was  lately  come  from  Italy,  reputed  the 
most  excellent  singer  we  had  ever  had.  He  sung  several 
compositions  of  the  late  Dr.  Purcell. 

5th  June.  Dr.  White,  late  Bishop  of  Norwich,  who  had 
been  ejected  for  not  complying  with  Government,  -was 
buried  in  St.  Gregory^s  churchyard  or  vault  at  St.  Paulas. 
His  hearse  was  accompanied  by  two  non-juror  Bishops^ 
Dr.  Turner  of  Ely,  and  Dr.  Lloyd,  with  forty  other  non- 
juror clergymen,  who  would  not  stay  the  Office  of  the 
burial,  because  the  Dean  of  St.  PauPs  had  appointed  a 
conforming  minister  to  read  the  Office ;  at  which  all  much 

*  25tli  Jan.  1697-8.  Charles  Buncombe,  Esq.,  M.P.,  was  charged  with 
makmg  false  endorsements  on  Exchequer-bills,  and  was  committed  close 
prisoner  to  the  Tower.  29  tb.  Being  ill,  his  apothecary  and  his  brother 
Antliony  Duucombe  were  pei-mittod  to  see  liim.  He  confessed  his  guilt,  and 
was  expelled  the  House.  A  Bill  was  brought  in  for  seizure  of  his  estate, 
which  was  passed  26th  Feb.  after  great  opposition,  138  against  103.  It  was 
entitled  "  An  Act  for  punishing  C.  Buncombe,  Esq.,  for  contriving  and  ad- 
vising the  making  false  endorsements  of  several  Bills  made  forth  at  Receipt 
of  the  Exchequer  commonly  called  Exchequer-Bills."  This  being  sent  to  the 
Lords,  they  desired  a  conference  with  the  Commons,  and  not  being  satisfied,, 
though  he  had  acknowledged  the  fact,  they  discharged  liim  from  the  Tower. 

31st  March,  the  Commons  re-committed  him.  We  do  not  find  in  the 
Journals  of  the  House  of  Commons,  that  anything  further  was  done. 

t  Whilst  the  Czar  was  in  his  house,  Mr.  Evelyn's  servant  writes  to  him  : 
"  There  is  a  house  full  of  people,  and  right  nasty.  The  Czar  lies  next  your 
library,  and  dines  in  the  parlour  next  your  study.  Ho  dines  at  ten  o'clock 
and  six  at  night,  is  very  seldom  at  home  a  whole  day,  very  often  in  the 
King's  Yard,  or  by  water,  dressed  in  several  dresses.  The  King  is  expected 
here  this  day  ;  the  best  parlour  is  pretty  clean  for  him  to  be  entertained  in. 
The  King  pays  for  all  he  has."^ 


350  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

wondered,  there  being  notliing  in  that  Office  which  men- 
tioned the  present  King. 

8th.  I  went  to  congratulate  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Godolphin  with  the  Earl  of  Marlborough's  daughter. 

9th.  To  Deptford,  to  see  how  miserably  the  Czar  had  left 
my  house,  after  three  months  making  it  his  Court.  I  got 
Sir  Christopher  Wren,  the  King's  surveyor,  and  Mr. 
London  his  gardener,  to  go  and  estimate  the  repairs, 
for  which  they  allowed  £150  in  their  report  to  the  Lords 
of  the  Treasury.  I  then  went  to  see  the  foundation  of  the 
Hall  and  Chapel  at  Greenwich  Hospital. 

6th  August.  I  dined  with  Mr.  Pepys,  where  was  Captain 
Dam  pier,*  who  had  been  a  famous  buccaneer,  had  brought 
hither  the  painted  Prince  Job,t  and  printed  a  relation  of 
his  very  strange  adventure,  and  his  observations.  He  was 
now  going  abroad  again  by  the  King''s  encouragement, 
who  furnished  a  ship  of  290  tons.J  He  seemed  a  more 
modest  man  than  one  would  imagine  by  the  relation  of 
the  crew  he  had  assorted  with.  He  brought  a  map  of 
his  observations  of  the  course  of  the  winds  in  the  South 
Sea,  and  assured  us  that  the  maps  hitherto  extant  were 
all  false  as  to  the  Pacific  Sea,  which  he  makes  on  the 
south  of  the  line,  that  on  the  north  end  running  by  the 
coast  of  Peru  being  extremely  tempestuous. 

25th  September.  Dr.  Foy  came  to  me  to  use  my  interest 
with  Lord  Sunderland  for  his  being  made  Professor  of 
Physic  at  Oxford,  in  the  King's  gift.  I  went  also  to 
the  Archbishop  in  his  behalf. 

7th  December.  Being  one  of  the  Council  of  the  Royal 
Society,  I  was  named  to  be  of  the  Committee  to  wait  on 
our  new  President,  the  Lorr"  chancellor, §  our  Secretary  Dr. 
Sloane,  and  Sir  R.  Southwell,  last  Vice-president,  carrying 

*  The  celebrated  navigator,  bom  in  1652,  whose  travels  were  verj' 
extensive,  but  the  time  of  his  death  is  uncertain.  His  "  Voyage  round  the 
World "  has  gone  through  many  editions,  and  the  substance  of  it  has  been 
transferred  to  many  collections  of  voyages. 

f  Giolo,  of  whom  there  is  a  very  curious  portrait,  engraved  by  Savage,  to 
which  is  subjoined  a  singular  nai-rative  of  his  wonderful  adventures ;  there  is 
also  a  smaller  one,  copied  from  the  above,  prefixed  to  a  fictitious  account 
of  his  life,  printed  in  a  4to  pamphlet.  Mr.  Evelyn  mentions  him  in  his 
**  Numismata." 

t  Noticed  in  Parliament.  §  LordtSomers. 


1699.]  JOHN  EVELYN.   ]    '  35J 

our  book  of  statutes :  the  Office  of  the  President  being  read, 
his  Lordship  subsci'ibed  his  name,  and  took  the  oaths 
according  to  our  statutes  as  a  Corporation  for  the  im- 
provement of  natural  knowledge.  Then  his  Lordship 
made  a  short  compliment  concerning  the  honour  the 
Society  had  done  him,  and  hew  ready  he  "would  be  to 
promote  so  noble  a  design,  and  come  himself  among  us,  as 
often  as  the  attendance  on  the  public  would  permit ;  and, 
so  wc  took  our  leave. 

18th.  Very  warm,  but  exceeding  stormy. 

1698-9.  January.  My  cousin  Pierrepoint,  died.  She 
was  daughter  to  Sir  John  Evelyn,  of  Wilts,  my  father's 
nephew;  she  was  widow  of  William  Pierrepoint,  brother 
to  the  Marquis  of  Dorchester,  and  mother  to  Evelyn 
Pierrepoint,  Earl  of  Kingston;  a  most  excellent  and 
prudent  lady. 

The  House  of  Commons  persist  in  refusing  more  than 
7000  men  to  be  a  standing  army,  and  no  strangers  to  be 
in  the  number.  This  displeased  the  Court-party.  Our 
county  member.  Sir  R.  Onslow,  opposed  it  also ;  which 
might  reconcile  him  to  the  people,  who  began  to  suspect 
him. 

17th  February.  My  grandson  went  to  Oxford  with 
Dr.  Mander,  the  Master  of  Baliol  College,*  where  he  was 
entered  a  fellow-commoner. 

19th.  A  most  furious  wind,  such  as  has  not  happened 
for  many  years,  doing  great  damage  to  houses  and  trees, 
by  the  fall  of  which  several  persons  were  killed. 

5th  March.  The  old  East  India  Company  lost  their 
business  against  the  new  Company,  by  ten  votes  in  Parha- 
ment,  so  many  of  their  friends  being  absent,  going  to  see 
a  tiger  baited  by  dogs. 

The  persecuted  Vaudois,  who  were  banished  out  of 
Savoy,  were  received  by  the  German  Protestant  Princes. 

24th.  My  only  remaining  son  died  after  a  tedious  lan- 
guishing sickness,  contracted  in  Ireland  and  increased 
here,  to  my  exceeding  grief  and  affliction ;  leaving  me  one 
grandson,  now  at  Oxford,  whom  I  pray  God  to  prosper 
and  be  the  support  of  the  Wotton  family.  He  was  aged 
forty-four  years  and  about  three  months.      He  had  been 

*  Dr.  Roger  Maaider  was  elected  MasterJ  of  his  College,  in  the  place  of 
Dr.  John  Venn,  deceased,  23  Oct.  1687.     Wood's  Fasti  Oxonienscs.  ,_ 


352  DIARY  OP  [londow, 

six  years  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Revenue  in 
Ireland,  with  great  ability  and  reputation. 

26th.  After  an  extraordinary  storm,  there  came  up  the 
Tliames  a  whale  which  was  fifty-six  feet  long.  Such,  and 
a  larger  of  the  spout  kind,  was  killed  there  forty  years 
ago  (June  1658).     That  year  died  Cromwell. 

30th.  My  deceased  son  was  buried  in  the  vault  at 
Wotton,  according  to  his  desire. 

The  Duke  of  Devon  lost  £1,900  at  a  horse-race  at  New- 
market. 

The  King  preferring  his  young  favourite  Earl  of  Albe- 
marle *  to  be  first  Commander  of  his  Guard,  the  Duke  of 
Ormond  laid  down  his  commission.  This,  of  the  Dutch 
Lord  passing  over  his  head,  was  exceedingly  resented  by 
every  body. 

April.  Lord  Spencer  purchased  an  incomparable  library  f 

of wherein,  among  other  rare  books, 

were  several  that  were  printed  at  the  first  invention  of 
that  wonderful  art,  as  particularly  "  TuUy's  Offices,"  &c. 
There  was  a  Homer  and  a  Suidas  in  a  very  gpod  Greek 
character  and  good  paper,  almost  as  ancient.  This  gen- 
tleman is  a  very  fine  scholar,  whom  from  a  child  I  have 
known.     His  tutor  was  one  Florival  of  Geneva. 

29th.  I  dined  with  the  Archbishop ;  but  my  business 
was  to  get  him  to  persuade  the  King  to  purchase  the  late 
Bishop  of  Worcester's  libraiy,  and  build  a  place  for  his 
OAvn  library  at  St.  James's,  in  the  Park,  the  present  one 
being  too  small. 

3rd  May.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Royal  Society  I  was 
nominated  to  be  of  the  Committee  to  wait  on  the  Lord 
Chancellor  to  move  the  King  to  purchase  the  Bishop  of 
Worcester's  library  (Dr.  Edward  Stillingfleet) . 

4th.  The  Court-party  have  little  influence  in  this  Session. 

7th.  The  Duke  of  Ormond  restored  to  his  commission. 
— All  Lotteries,  till  now  cheating  the  people,  to  be  no 
longer  permitted  than  to  Christmas,  except  that  for  the 
benefit  of  Greemvich  Hospital.  Mr.  Bridgman,  chairman 
of  the  committee  for  that  charitable  work,  died ;  a  great  loss 
to  it.    He  was  Clerk  of  the  Council,  a  very  industrious  useful 

•  Arnold  Joost  Van  Keppel,  created  Earl  of  Albemarle,  Viscount  Bury, 
&c.,  in  Feb.  1695-6,  K.G.  1700,  died  in  1718,  at  the  Hague,  set.  48. 
+  The  foundation  of  the  noble  llbx-ai'y  now  at  Blenheim. 


1699.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  353 

man.  I  saw  the  library  of  Dr.  John  Moore,*  Bishop  of 
Norwich,  one  of  the  best  and  most  ample  collection  of  all 
sorts  of  good  books  in  England,  and  he,  one  of  the  most 
learned  men. 

June  11th.  After  a  long  drought,  we  had  a  refreshing 
shower.  The  day  before  there  was  a  dreadful  fire  at 
Rotherhithe,  near  the  Thames  side,  which  burnt  divers 
ships,  and  consumed  near  three  Imndred  houses. — Now 
died  the  famous  Duchess  of  Mazarine ;  she  had  been  the 
richest  lady  in  Europe.  She  was  niece  of  Cardinal  Maza- 
rine, and  was  married  to  the  richest  subject  in  Europe,  as 
is  said.  She  was  born  at  Rome,  educated  in  Erance,  and 
was  an  extraordinary  beauty  and  wit,  but  dissolute  and 
impatient  of  matrimonial  restraint,  so  as  to  be  abandoned 
by  her  husband,  and  banished,  when  she  came  into  England 
for  shelter,  lived  on  a  pension  given  her  here,  and  is 
reported  to  have  hastened  her  death  by  intemperate  drink- 
ing strong  spirits.  She  has  written  her  own  story  and 
adventures,  and  so  has  her  other  extravagant  sister,  wife  to 
the  noble /amily  of  Colonna. 

15th,  This  week  died  Conyers  Seymour,  son  of  Sir 
Edward  Seymour,  killed  in  a  duel  caused  by  a  slight  affront 
in  St.  James's  Park,  given  him  by  one  who  was  envious  of 
his  gallantries ;  for  he  was  a  vain  foppish  young  man,  who 
made  a  great  eclat  about  town  by  his  splendid  equipage  and 
boundless  expense.  He  was  about  twenty-three  years  old ; 
his  brother,  now  at  Oxford,  inherited  an  estate  of  £7000 
a  year,  which  had  fallen  to  him  not  two  years  before. 

19th.  My  cousin,  George  Evelyn  of  Nutfield,  died 
suddenly. 

25th.  The  heat  has  been  so  great,  almost  all  this  month, 
that  I  do  not  remember  to  have  felt  much  greater  in  Italy, 
and  this  after  aAvinter  the  wettest,  though  not  the  coldest, 
that  I  remember  for  fifty  years  last  past. 

*  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Ely.  He  died  31  July,  1714.  King  George  the 
First  purchased  this  library  after  the  Bishop's  death,  for  £  6000,  and  pre- 
sented it  to  the  University  of  Cambridge,  where  it  now  is.  This  gift 
occasioned  two  most  witty  epigrams  on  the  Universities  of  Oxford  and 
Cambridge  ;  a  tx'oop  of  horse  being  at  this  time  sent  to  the  fomier,  holding 
high  Tory  opinions  ;  the  books  to  the  latter,  holding  those  of  the  Whigs  and 
strong  attachment  to  the  Hanover  family.  They  may  be  seen  in  Noble'a 
Continuation  of  Granger. 

VOL.    II.  A  A 


354  DIARY  OF  [woTTON, 

28tli.  Finding  my  occasions  called  me  so  often  to  Lon- 
don, I  took  the  remainder  of  the  lease  my  son  had  in  a 
.  house  in  Dover  Street,  to  which  I  now  removed,  not  taking 
my  goods  from  Wotton. 

23rd  July.  Seasonable  showers,  after  a  continuance  of 
excessive  drought  and  heat. 

August.  I  drank  the  Shooters'  Hill  waters.  At  Dept- 
ford,  they  had  been  building  a  pretty  new  church. — The 
Bishop  of  St.  David's  [Watson]  deprived  for  simony.* — 
The  city  of  Moscow  burnt  by  the  throwing  of  squibs. 

3rd  September.  There  was  in  this  week  an  eclipse  of 
the  sun,  at  which  many  were  frightened  by  the  predictions 
of  the  astrologers.  I  remember  fifty  years  ago  that  many 
were  so  terrified  by  Lilly,  that  they  durst  not  go  out  of 
their  houses. — A  strange  earthquake  at  New  Batavia,  in 
the  East  Indies. 

4th  October.  My  worthy  brother  died  at  Wotton,  in 
the  83rd  year  of  his  age,  of  perfect  memory  and  under- 
standing. He  was  religious,  sober,  and  temperate,  and  of 
so  hospitable  a  nature,  that  no  family  in  the  county  main- 
tained that  ancient  custom  of  keeping,  as  it  were,  open 
house  the  whole  year  in  the  same  manner,  or  gave  more 
noble  or  free  entertainment  to  the  county  on  all  occasions, 
so  that  his  house  was  never  free.  There  were  sometimes 
twenty  persons  more  than  his  family,  and  some  that  stayed 
there  all  the  summer,  to  his  no  small  expense ;  by  this  he 
gained  the  universal  love  of  the  county.  He  was  born  at 
Wotton,  went  from  the  free-school  at  Guildford  to  Trinity 
College,  Oxford,  thence  to  the  Middle  Temple,  as  gentle- 
men of  the  best  quality  did,  but  without  intention  to  study 
the  law  as  a  profession.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
Colwall,t  of  a  worthy  and  ancient  family  in  Leicestershire, 
by  whom  he  had  one  son;  she  dying  in  1643,  left  George 
her  son  an  infant,  who,  being  educated  liberally,  after 
travelling  abroad, f  returned  and  married  one  Mrs.  Gore, 

*  S«e  p.  345. 

•f-  Mary,  daughter  and  co-beiress  of  Daniel  Caldwell,  of  Homdon,  in  Essex. 
See  pedigree. 

J  Mr.  Evelyn,  30th  March,  1664,  in  a  letter  to  his  nephew,  George 
Evelyn,  then  on  his  travels  in  Italy,  tells  him  that  his  father  complained  of 
his  expenses,  as  much  exceeding  those  of  his  own,  which  were  known  to  the 
young  gentleman's  father,  as  all  tlie  money  passed  through  his  hands.  He 
Bays  that  when  he  ti'avelled  he  kept  a  servant,  sometimes  two,  entertained 


1699.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  355 

by  whom  he  had  several  children,  but  only  three  daughters 
survived.  He  was  a  young  man  of  good  understanding, 
but  over-indulging  his  ease  and  pleasure,  grew  so  very 
corpulent,  contrary  to  the  constitution  of  the  rest  of  his 
father^s  relations,  that  he  died.  My  brother  afterwards 
married  a  noble  and  honourable  lady,  relict  of  Sir  John 
Cotton,  she  being  an  Offley,  a  worthy  and  ancient  Stafford- 
shire family,  by  whom  he  had  several  children  of  both 
sexes.  This  lady  died,  leaving  only  two  daughters  and  a 
son.  The  younger  daughter  died  before  marriage;  the 
other  afterwards  married   Sir  Cyril  Wych,  a  noble  and 

learned  gentleman  (son  of  Sir Wych),  who  had  been 

Ambassador  at  Constantinople,  and  was  afterwards  made 
one  of  the  Lords  Justices  of  Ireland.  Before  this  marriage, 

her  only  brother  married  the  daughter  of Eversfield, 

of  Sussex,  of  an  honourable  family,  but  left  a  widow 
without  any  child  living;  he  died  about  1691,  and  his  wife 
not  many  years  after,  and  my  brother  re-settled  the  whole 
estate  on  me.  His  sister,  Wych,  had  a  portion  of  £6000, 
to  which  was  added  about  £800  more;  the  three  other 
daughters,  with  what  I  added,  had  about  £5000  each.  My 
brother  died  on  the  5th  October,  in  a  good  old  age  and 
great  reputation,  making  his  beloved  daughter.  Lady 
Wych,  sole  executrix,  leaving  me  only  his  library  and 
some  pictures  of  my  father,  mother,  &c.  She  buried  him 
with  extraordinary  solemnity,  rather  as  a  nobleman  than 
as  a  private  gentleman.  There  were,  as  I  computed,  above 
2000  persons  at  the  funeral,  all  the  gentlemen  of  the 
county  doing  him  the  last  honours.  I  returned  to 
London,  till  ray  lady  should  dispose  of  herself  and  family. 

21st.  After  an  unusual  warm  and  pleasant  season,  we 
were  surprised  with  a  very  sharp  frost. — I  presented  my 
Acetaria,^  dedicated  to  my  Lord  Chancellor,  who  returned 
me  thanks  in  an  extraordinary  civil  letter. 

15th  November.  There  happened  this  Aveek  so  thick  a 
mist  and  fog,  that  people  lost  their  way  in  the  streets,  it 
being  so  intense  that  no  light  of  candles,  or  torches,  yielded 
any  (or  but  very  little)    direction.     I  was  in  it  and  in 

several  masters,  and  made  no  inconsiderable  collection  of  curiosities,  all 
■witliin  £300  per  arm. — He  desires  seeds  of  the  ilex,  phyllera,  myrtle, 
jessamine,  which  he  says  are  rare  in  England. 

*\See  Mr.  Evelyn's  "Miscellaneous  Writings,"  1825,  4to,  pp.  721—812. 

A  A  2 


356  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

danger.  Robberies  were  committed  between  the  very 
lights  which  were  fixed  between  London  and  Kensington 
on  both  sides,  and  whilst  coaches  and  travellers  were 
passing.  It  began  about  four  in  the  afternoon,  and  was 
quite  gone  by  eight,  without  any  wind  to  disperse  it.  At 
the  Thames,  they  beat  drums  to  direct  the  watermen  to 
make  the  shore. 

19th.  At  our  chapel  in  the  evening  there  was  a  sermon 
preached  by  young  Mr.  Horneck,*  chaplain  to  Lord 
Guilford,  whose  lady's  funeral  had  been  celebrated  mag- 
nificently the  Thursday  before.  A  panegyric  was  now 
pronounced,  describing  the  extraordinary  piety  and  excel- 
lently employed  life  of  this  amiable  young  lady.  She  died 
in  childbed  a  few  days  before,  to  the  excessive  sorrow  of 
her  husband,  who  ordered  the  preacher  to  declare  that  it 
was  on  her  exemplary  life,  exhortations  and  persuasion, 
that  he  totally  changed  the  course  of  his  life,  which  was 
before  in  great  danger  of  being  perverted ;  following  the 
mode  of  this  dissolute  age.  Her  devotion,  early  piety, 
charity,  fastings,  econoT:iy,  disposition  of  her  time  in 
reading,  praying,  recollections  in  her  own  hand-writing  of 
what  she  heard  and  read,  and  her  conversation,  were  most 
exemplary. 

24th.  I  signed  Dr.  BlackwalFs  election  to  be  the  next 
year's  Boyle's  Lecturer. 

Such  horrible  robberies  and  murders  were  committed, 
as  had  not  been  known  in  this  nation ;  atheism,  profane- 
ness,  blasphemy,  amongst  all  sorts,  portended  some 
judgment  if  not  amended ;  on  which  a  Society  was  set  on 
foot,  who  obliged  themselves  to  endeavour  the  reforming 
of  it,  in  London  and  other  places,  and  began  to  punish 
offenders  and  put  the  laws  in  more  strict  execution  :  which 
God  Almighty  prosper !  t — A  gentle,  calm,  dry,  temperate 
weather  all  this  season  of  the  year,  but  now  came  sharp, 
hard  frost,  and  mist,  but  calm. 

3rd  December.  Calm,  bright,  and  warm  as  in  the  mid- 
dle of  April.  So  continued  on  21st  Jan. — A  great  earth- 
quake in  Portugal. 

The  Parliament  reverse  the  prodigious  donations  of  the 
Irish  forfeitures,  which  were  intended  to  be  set  apart  for 

*  Of  the  character  of  this  gentleman's  father,  see  p.  173. 
t  See  p.  368. 


1700.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  357 

discharging  the  vast  national  debt.  They  called  some 
great  persons  in  the  highest  offices  in  question  for  setting 
the  Great  Seal  to  the  pardon  of  an  arch-pirate,*  who  had 
turned  pirate  again,  and  brought  prizes  into  the  West 
Indies,  suspected  to  be  connived  at  on  sharing  the  prey ; 
but  the  prevailing  part  in  the  House  called  Courtiers, 
out-voted  the  complaints,  not  by  being  more  in  number, 
but  by  the  country-party  being  negligent  in  attendance. 

1699-1700.  14th  January.  Dr.  Lancaster,  Vicar  of  St. 
Martinis,  dismissed  Mr.  Stringfellow,  who  had  been  made 
the  first  preacher  at  our  chapel  by  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
[Dr.  Tenison,  now  Archbishop,]  whilst  he  held  St.  Martin's 
by  dispensation,  and  put  in  one  Mr.  Sandys,  much  against 
the  inclination  of  those  who  frequented  the  chapel. — The 
Scotch  book  about  Darien  was  burnt  by  the  hangman  by 
vote  of  Parliament.f 

21st.  Died  the  Duke  of  Beaufort,|  a  person  of  great 
honour,  prudence,  and  estate. 

25th.  I  went  to  Wotton,  the  first  time  after  my  brother's 
funeral,  to  furnish  the  house  with  necessaries.  Lady  Wych 
and  ray  nephew  Glanville  the  executors  having  sold  and 
disposed  of  what  goods  were  there  of  my  brother's. — The 
Aveather  was  now  altering  into  sharp  and  hard  frost. 

One  Stephens, §  who  preached  before  the  House  of 
Commons  on  King  Charles's  Martyrdom,  told  them  that 
the  observation  of  that  day  was  not  intended  out  of  any 
detestation  of  his  murder,  but  to  be  a  lesson  to  other 
Kings  and  Rulers,  how  they  ought  to  beliave  themselves 
towards  their  subjects,  lest  they  should  come  to  the  same 
end.     This  was  so  resented  that,  though  it  was  usual  to 

*  Captain  Kidd  ;  he  was  hanged  about  two  years  afterwards  with  some  of 
his  accompHces.  This  was  one  o(  the  charges  brought  by  the  Commons 
against  Lord  Somers. 

•f*  The  Volume  alhided  to  was  "  An  Enquiry  into  tlie  causes  of  the 
Miscarriage  of  the  Scots  Colony,  at  Darien  :  Or  an  Answer  to  a  Libel, 
entituled,  A  Defence  of  the  Scots  abdicating  Darien."  See  Votes  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  15th  January,  1699-1700. 

X  Henry  Somerset,  the  first  Duke,  who  exerted  himself  against  the  Duke 
of  Monmouth  in  1 685  ;  and  in  1 688,  endeavoured  to  secure  Bristol  against 
the  adherents  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  ;  upon  whose  elevation  to  the  throne 
his  grace  refusing  to  take  the  oaths,  lived  in  retirement  till  his  death. 

§  William  Stephens,  Rector  of  Sutton,  in  Surrey.  After  the  censure  of 
his  Sermon  by  the  House  of  Commons,  he  published  it  as  in  defiance.  See 
more  of  this  and  of  him  in  Manning  .ind  Br.ay's  Ilistoiy  of  Surrey,  II.  487. 


358  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

desire  these  anniversary-sermons  to  be  printed,  they 
refused  thanks  to  him,  and  ordered  that  in  future  no  one 
should  preach  before  them,  who  was  not  either  a  Dean  or 
a  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

4th  February.  The  Parliament  voted  against  the  Scots 
settling  in  Darien  as  being  prejudicial  to  our  trade  with 
Spain.  They  also  voted  that  the  exorbitant  number  of 
attorneys  be  lessened  (now  indeed  swarming,  and  evidently 
causing  lawsuits  and  disturbance,  eating  out  the  estates  of 
people,  provoking  them  to  go  to  law). 

18th.  Mild  and  calm  season,  with  gentle  frost,  and  little 
mizzling  rain.  The  Vicar  of  St.  Martinis  frequently 
preached  at  Trinity  chapel  in  the  afternoon. 

8th  March.  The  season  was  like  April  for  warmth  and 
mildness. — 11th.  On  Wednesday,  was  a  sermon  at  our 
chapel,  to  be  continued  during  Lent. 

ISih.  I  was  at  the  funeral  of  ray  Lady  Temple,  who 
was  buried  at  Islington,  brought  from  Addiscombe,  near 
Croydon.  She  left  my  son-in-law  Draper  (her  nephew) 
the  mansion  house  of  Addiscombe,  very  nobly  and  com- 
pletely furnished,  with  the  estate  about  it,  with  plate  and 
jewels,  to  the  value  in  all  of  about  £20,000.  She  was  a  very 
prudent  lady,  gave  many  great  legacies,  with  £500  to  the 
poor  of  Islington,  where  her  husband,  Sir  Purbeck  Temple, 
was  buried,  both  dying  Avithout  issue. 

24th.  The  season  warm,  gentle,  and  exceeding  pleasant. 
— Divers  persons  of  quality  entered  into  the  Society  for 
Reformation*  of  Manners;  and  some  lectures  were  set 
up,  particularly  in  the  City  of  London.  Tlie  most  eminent 
of  the  Clergy  preached  at  Bow  Church,  after  reading  a 
declaration  set  forth  by  the  King  to  suppress  the  growing 
wickedness ;  this  began  already  to  take  some  effect  as  to 
common  swearing,  and  oaths  in  the  mouths  of  people  of 
all  ranks. 

25th.  Dr.  Burnet  preached  to-day  before  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  a  very  great  congregation,  on  Proverbs  xxvii. 
5,  6.  "  Open  rebuke  is  better  than  secret  love ;  the  wounds 
of  a  friend  are  better  than  the  kisses  of  an  enemy .'^  He 
made  a  very  pathetic  discourse  concerning  the  necessity 
and  advantage  of  friendly  correction. 

April.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk  now  succeeded  in  obtaining 

*  See  p.  356. 


1700.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  359 

a  divorce  from  his  wife  by  the  Parliament  for  adultery 
with  Sir  John  Germaine,  a  Dutch  gamester,  of  mean 
extraction,  who  had  got  much  by  gaming ;  the  Duke  had 
leave  to  marry  again,  so  that  if  he  should  have  children, 
the  Dukedom  will  go  from  the  late  Lord  Thomases  children, 
Papists  indeed,  but  very  hopeful  and  virtuous  gentlemen, 
as  was  their  father.  The  now  Duke  their  uncle  is  a 
Protestant. 

The  Parliament  nominated  fourteen  persons  to  go  into 
Ireland  as  Commissioners  to  dispose  of  the  forfeited  estates 
there,  towards  payment  of  the  debts  incurred  by  the  late 
war,  but  which  the  King  had  m  great  measure  given  to 
some  of  his  favourites  of  both  sexes,  Dutch  and  others  of 
little  merit,  and  very  unseasonably.  That  this  might  be 
done  without  suspicion  of  interest  in  the  Parliament,  it 
was  ordered  that  no  member  of  either  House  should  be  in 
the  Commission. — The  great  contest  between  the  Lords 
and  Commons  concerning  the  Lords'  power  of  amend- 
ments and  rejecting  bills  tacked  to  the  money-bill,  carried 
for  the  Commons.  However,  this  tacking  of  bills  is  a 
novel  practice,  suffered  by  King  Charles  II.,  who,  being 
continually  in  want  of  money,  let  anything  pass  rather 
than  not  have  wherewith  to  feed  his  extravagance.  This 
was  carried  but  by  one  voice  in  the  Lords,  all  the  Bishops 
following  the  Court,  save  one ;  so  that  near  sixty  bills 
passed,  to  the  great  triumph  of  the  Commons  and  Country- 
party,  but  high  regret  of  the  Court,  and  those  to  whom 
the  King  had  given  large  estates  in  Ireland.  Pity  it  is, 
that  things  should  be  brought  to  this  extremity,  the 
government  of  this  nation  being  so  equally  poised  between 
King  and  subject ;  l)ut  we  are  satisfied  with  nothing;  and, 
whilst  there  is  no  perfection  on  this  side  Heaven,  methinks 
both  might  be  contented  without  straining  things  too  far. 
Amongst  the  rest,  there  passed  a  law  as  to  Papists'  estates, 
that  if  one  turned  not  Protestant  before  eighteen  years  of 
age,  it  should  pass  to  his  next  Protestant  heir.  This 
indeed  seemed  a  hard  law,  but  not  only  the  usage  of  the 
French  King  to  his  Protestant  subjects,  but  the  indiscreet 
insolence  of  the  Papists  here,  going  in  triumphant  and 
public  processions  with  their  Bishops,  with  banners  and 
trumpets  in  divers  places  (as  is  said)  in  the  northern 
counties,  has  brought  it  on  their  party. 


360  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

24th.  This  week  there  was  a  great  change  of  State- 
officers. — The  Duke  of  Shrewsbury  resigned  his  Lord 
Chamberlainship  to  the  Earl  of  Jersey,  the  Duke's  indis- 
position requiring  his  retreat.  Mr.  Vernon,  Secretary  of 
State,  was  put  out. — The  Seal  was  taken  from  the  Lord 
Chancellor  Somers,  though  he  had  been  acquitted  by  a 
great  majority  of  votes  for  what  was  charged  against  him 
in  the  House  of  Commons.*  This  being  in  term-time, 
put  some  stop  to  business,  many  eminent  lawyers  refusing 
to  accept  the  office,  considering  the  uncertainty  of  things 
in  this  fluctuating  conjuncture.  It  is  certain  that  this 
Chancellor  was  a  most  excellent  lawyer,  very  learned  in 
all  polite  literature,  a  superior  pen,  master  of  a  handsome 
style,  and  of  easy  conversation ;  but  he  is  said  to  make 
too  much  haste  to  be  rich,  as  his  predecessor,  and  most  in 
place  in  this  age  did,  to  a  more  prodigious  excess  than  was 
ever  known.  But  the  Commons  had  now  so  mortified 
the  Court-party,  and  property  and  liberty  were  so  much 
invaded  in  all  the  neighbouring  kingdoms,  that  their 
jealousy  made  them  cautious,  and  every  day  strengthened 
the  law  which  protected  the  people  from  tyranny. 

A  most  glorious  spring,  with  hope  of  abundance  of  fruit 
of  all  kinds,  and  a  propitious  year. 

10th  May.  The  great  trial  between  Sir  Walter  Clarges 
and  Mr.  Sherwin  concerning  the  legitimacy  of  the  late 
Duke  of  Albemarle,  on  which  depended  an  estate  of  £1500 
a  year ;  the  verdict  was  given  for  Sir  Walter. — 19th. 
Serjeant  Wright  f  at  last  accepted  the  Great  Seal. 

24th.  I  went  from  Dover-street  to  Wotton,  for  the 
rest  of  the  summer,  and  removed  thither  the  rest  of  my 
goods  from  Sayes  Court. 

2nd  June.  A  sweet  season,  with  a  mixture  of  refreshing 
showers. 

9th — 16th.  In  the  afternoon,  our  clergyman  had  a 
Catechism,  which  was  continued  for  some  time. 

July.  I  was  visited  with  illness,  but  it  pleased  God  that 

*  See  p.  365. 

+  Sir  Nathan  Wrighte,  appointed  Lord-Keeper,  who  purchased  the  manor 
of  and  resided  at  Gothurst,  near  Newport  Pagnell,  Bucks.  He  lies  buried 
in  that  church,  in  which  are  whole-length  figures  in  white  marble  of  the  Lord- 
Keeper  in  his  robes,  and  his  son,  George  Wrighte,  Esquire,  Clerk  of  the 
Crown,  in  his  official  dress. 


1700.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  361 

I  recovered,  for  which  praise  he  ascribed  to  Him  by  me, 
and  that  He  has  again  so  graciously  advertised  me  of  my 
duty  to  prepare  for  my  latter  end,  which  at  my  great  age 
cannot  be  far  off. 

The  Duke  of  Gloucester,  son  of  the  Princess  Anne  of 
Denmark,  died  of  the  small-pox. 

13th.  I  went  to  Harden,  which  was  originally  a  barren 
warren  bought  by  Sir  Robert  Clayton,*  who  built  there  a 
pretty  house,  and  made  such  alteration  by  planting  not 
only  an  infinite  store  of  the  best  fruit;  but  so  changed 
the  natural  situation  of  the  hill,  valleys,  and  solitary 
mountains  about  it,  that  it  rather  represented  some  foreign 
country,  which  would  produce  spontaneously  pines,  firs, 
cypress,  yew,  holly,  and  juniper ;  they  were  come  to  their 
perfect  growth,  with  walks,  mazes,  &c.,  amongst  them,  and 
were  preserved  with  the  utmost  care,  so  that  I  who  had 
seen  it  some  years  before  in  its  naked  and  barren  con- 
dition, was  in  admiration  of  it.  The  land  was  bought 
of  Sir  John  Evelyn,  of  Godstone,  and  was  thus  improved 
for  pleasure  and  retirement  by  the  vast  charge  and  industry 
of  this  opulent  citizen.  He  and  his  lady  received  us  with 
great  civility. — The  tombs  in  the  church  at  Croydon  of 
Archbishops  Grindal,  Whitgift,  and  other  Archbishops,  are 
fine  and  venerable ;  but  none  comparable  to  that  of  the 
late  Archbishop  Sheldon,  which,  being  all  of  white  marble, 
and  of  a  stately  ordinance  and  carvings,  far  surpassed  the 
rest,  and  I  judge  could  not  cost  less  than  £700  or  £800. f 

20th  September.  I  went  to  Beddington,  the  ancient  seat 
of  the  Carews,  f  in  my  remembrance  a  noble  old  structure, 
capacious,  and  in  form  of  the  buildings  of  the  age  of 
Henry  VIII.  and  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  proper  for  the  old 
English  hospitality,  but  now  decaying  with  the  house 
itself,  heretofore  adorned  with  ample  gardens,  and  the 
first  orange-trees  §  that  had  been  seen  in  England,  planted 

*  Seep.  115. 

>t-  There  is  a  print  of  this  very  beautiful  monument  in  Lysons'  "  Environs 
of  London,"  article  Croydon,  Vol.  L,  p.  193. 

J  In  the  same  volume,  p.  52,  &c.,  is  an  ample  account  of  the  family  of 
Carew,  of  the  house  as  it  now  is,  portrait  of  Sir  Richard  C.irew,  views  of  the 
church,  monuments,  &c. 

§  Oi'anges  were  eaten  in  this  kingdom  in  the  time  of  King  James  I.,  if 
not  earlier,  as  appears  by  the  accounts  of  a  Student  in  the  Temple,  which 
tlie  Editor  l;rvr,  seen. 


362  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

in  the  open  ground,  and  secured  in  winter  only  by  a 
tabernacle  of  boards  and  stoves  removable  in  summer, 
that  standing  120  years,  large  and  goodly  trees,  and  laden 
with  fruit,  were  now  in  decay,  as  well  as  the  grotto,  foun- 
tains, cabinets,  and  other  curiosities  in  the  house  and 
abroad,  it  being  now  fallen  to  a  child  under  age,  and  only 
kept  by  a  servant  or  two  from  utter  dilapidation.  The 
estate  and  park  about  it  also  in  decay. 

23rd.  I  went  to  visit  Mr.  Pepys  at  Clapham,  where  he 
has  a  very  noble  and  wonderfully  well-furnished  house, 
especially  with  Indian  and  Chinese  curiosities.  The 
offices  and  gardens  well  accommodated  for  pleasure  and 
retirement. 

31st  October.  My  birthda}^,  now  completed  the  80th 
year  of  my  age.  I  with  my  soul  render  thanks  to  God, 
who,  of  His  infinite  mercy,  not  onl}^  brought  me  out  of 
many  troubles,  but  this  year  restored  me  to  health,  after 
an  ague  and  other  infirmities  of  so  great  an  age,  my  sight, 
hearing,  and  other  senses  and  faculties  tolerable,  which 
I  implore  Him  to  continue,  with  the  pardon  of  my  sins 
past,  and  grace  to  acknowledge  by  my  improvement  of  his 
goodness  the  ensuing  year,  if  it  be  His  pleasure  to  pro- 
tract my  life,  that  I  may  be  the  better  prepared  for  my 
last  day,  through  the  infinite  merits  of  my  blessed  Saviour, 
the  Lord  Jesus,  Amen  ! 

5th  November.  Came  the  news  of  my  dear  grandson  (the 
only  male  of  my  family  now  remaining)  being  fallen  ill  of 
the  small-pox  at  Oxford,  which  after  the  dire  effects  of  it 
in  my  family  exceedingly  afflicted  me ;  but  so  it  pleased 
my  most  merciful  God  that  being  let  blood  at  his  first 
complaint,  and  by  the  extraordinary  care  of  Dr.  Mander, 
(Head  of  the  college  and  now  Vice-Chancellor)  who  caused 
him  to  be  brought  and  lodged  in  his  own  bed  and  bed- 
chamber, with  the  advice  of  his  physician  and  care  of  his 
tutor,  there  were  all  fair  hopes  of  his  recovery,  to  our 
infinite  comfort.  We  had  a  letter  every  day  either  from 
the  Vice-Chancellor  himself,  or  his  tutor. 

17th.  Assurance  of  his  recovery  by  a  letter  from 
himself. 

There  was  a  change  of  great  officers  at  Court.  Lord  Godol- 
phin  returned  to  his  former  station  of  first  Commissioner 
of  the  Treasury;  Sir  Charles  Hedges  Secretary  of  State. 


1701.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3g3 

30tli.  At  the  Royal  Society,  Lord  Somers,  the  late 
Chancellor,  was  continued  President. 

8th  December.  Great  alterations  of  officers  at  Court,  and 
elsewhere — Lord  Chief  Justice  Treby  died ;  he  was  a  learned 
man  in  his  profession,  of  which  we  have  now  few,  never 
fewer;  the  Chancery  requiring  so  little  skill  in  deep  law- 
learning,  if  the  practiser  can  talk  eloquently  in  that  Court ; 
so  that  probably  few  care  to  study  the  law  to  any  pur- 
pose.— Lord  Marlborough  Master  of  the  Ordnance,  in 
place  of  Lord  Romney  made  Groom  of  the  Stole.  The 
Earl  of  Rochester  goes  Lord  Lieutenant  to  Ireland. 

1700-1.  January.  I  finished  the  sale  of  North  Stoake 
in  Sussex  to  Robert  Michell,  Esq.,  appointed  by  my  brother 
to  be  sold  for  payment  of  portions  to  my  nieces,  and  other 
incumbrances  on  the  estate. 

4th.  An  exceeding  deep  snow,  and  melted  away  as 
suddenly. 

19th.  Severe  frost,  and  such  a  tempest  as  threw  down 
many  chimneys,  and  did  great  spoil  at  sea,  and  blew  down 
above  twenty  trees  of  mine  at  Wotton. 

9th  February.  The  old  Speaker  laid  aside,*  and  Mr. 
narley,t  an  able  gentleman,  chosen.  Our  countryman, 
Sir  Richard  Onslow,  had  a  party  for  him. 

27th.  By  an  order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  I  laid 
before  the  Speaker  the  state  of  what  had  been  received 
and  paid  towards  the  building  of  Greenwich  Hospital.  J 

Mr.  Wye,  Rector  of  Wotton,  died,  a  very  worthy  good 

*  Sir  Thomas  Lyttelton,  Bart. 

f  Robert  Harley,  Speaker  in  three  Parliaments  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne,  Secretary  of  State,  Author  of  the  South  Sea  scheme,  Lord  High  Trea- 
surer ;  attempted  to  be  stabbed  by  Guiscard,  a  Frenchman,  under  examina- 
tion before  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council.  He  was  afterwai'ds  created 
Earl  of  Oxford  and  Mortimer. 

J  John  Evelyn,  Esq.  Dr.  to  Greenwich  Hospital. 
Received  in  the  year  £       s.    d. 

1696 3,416     0     0 

1697 6.836  16     3 

1698 14,967     B     4 

1699 ]  4,0-24   13     4 

1700 19,241      1     3 

1701,  June  16 10,834     2     3 

69,320     1     5 

Per  Contra, 


364  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

man.  I  gave  it  to  Dr.  Bohun,  a  learned  person  and 
excellent  preacher,  who  had  been  my  son's  tutor,  and 
lived  long  in  my  family. 

18th  March.  I  let  Sayes  Court  to  Lord  Carmarthen, 
son  to  the  Duke  of  Leeds. — 28th.  I  went  to  the  funeral  of 
my  sister  Draper,*  who  was  buried  at  Edmonton  in  great 
state.  Dr.  Davenant  displeased  the  clergy  now  met  in 
Convocation  by  a  passage  in  his  book,  p.  40.t 

April.  A  Dutch  boy  of  about  eight  or  nine  years  old  was 
carried  about  by  his  parents  to  show,  who  had  about  the 
iris  of  one  eye,  the  letters  of  Deus  meiLS,  and  of  the  other 
Elohim,,  in  the  Hebrew  character.  How  this  was  done 
by  artifice  none  could  imagine ;  his  parents  affirming  that 
he  was  so  born.  It  did  not  prejudice  his  sight,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  a  lively  playing  boy.     Everybody  went   to 

Per  Contra,  Creditor. 

By  the  Accompt  in  £       s.  d. 

1696 5,915  18  7 

1697 8,971   10  4 

1698 11,585  15  1 

1699 19,614     9  8 

1700 18,013     8  5 

1701     .         .        ' 5,000     0  0 

Kemain  in  Cash 219     1  4 

69,320     3    5 
69,320     3     5 

Remain  in  Lottery  Tickets"! 

to  be  paid  in  ten  years     ,j''. 
More  in  Malt  Tickets.        .         1,000 

69,320      

12,434 

In  all  81,754 

Besides  His  Majesty  £6,000,  and  Subscriptions. 

•  Mother  of  the  gentleman  who  married  Mr.  Evelyn's  daughter. 

+  Charles  Davenant,  LL.D.  (son  of  Sir  William),  The  book  was, "  Essays 
upon  the  Balance  of  Power,"  in  which  he  says  that  many  of  tliose  lately  in 
place,  have  used  their  utmost  endeavours  to  discountenance  all  revealed  reli- 
gion. "Are  not  many  of  us  able  to  point  to  several  persons,  whom  nothing 
has  recommended  to  places  of  the  highest  trust,  and  often  to  rich  benefices 
and  dignities,  but  the  open  enmity  which  they  have,  almost  from  their 
cradles,  professed  to  the  Divinity  of  Christ  ? "  The  Convocation  on  reading 
the  book,  ordered  papers  to  be  fixed  on  several  doors  in  Westminster  Abbey, 
inviting  the  author,  whoever  he  be,  or  any  one  of  the  many,  to  point  out 
these  persons,  that  they  may  be  proceeded  against.     Biog.  Brit,  last  edit. 


1701.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  355 

see  him;  physicians  and  philosophers  examined  it  witli 
great  accuracy,  some  considered  it  as  artificial,  others  as 
almost  supernatural. 

4th.  The  Duke  of  Norfolk  died  of  an  apoplexy,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Howard  of  complicated  disease  since  his 
being  cut  for  the  stone ;  he  was  one  of  the  Tellers  of  the 
Exchequer.     Mr.  How  made  a  Baron. 

May.  Some  Kentish  men  delivering  a  petition  to  the 
House  of  Commons,  were  imprisoned.* 

A  great  dearth,  no  considerable  rain  having  fallen  for 
some  months. 

17  th.  Very  plentiful  showers,  the  wind  coming  west  and 
south. — The  Bishops  and  Convocation  at  difference 
concerning  the  right  of  calling  the  assembly  and  dis- 
solving. Atterbury  f  and  Dr.  WakeJ  writing  one  against 
the  other. 

20th  June.  The  Commons  demanded  a  conference  with 
the  Lords  on  the  trial  of  Lord  Somers,  which  the  Lords 
refused,  and  proceeding  on  the  trial,  the  Commons  would 
not  attend,  and  he  was  acquitted.  § 

22nd.  I  went  to  congratulate  the  arrival  of  that  worthy 
and  excellent  person  my  Lord  Galway,  newly  come  out 
of  Ireland,  where  he  had  behaved  himself  so  honestly, 
and  to  the  exceeding  satisfaction  of  the  people ;  but  he 
was  removed  thence  for  being  a  Frenchman,  ||  though 
they  had  not  a  more  worthy,  valiant,  discreet,  and  trusty 
person  in  the  two  kingdoms,  on  whom  they  could  have 
relied  for  his  conduct  and  fitness.  He  was  one  who  had 
deeply  suffered,  as  well  as  the  Marquis  his  father,  for  being 
Protestants. ^1 

*  Justinian  Champneys,  Thomas  Colepepper,  William  Colepepper,  William 
Hamilton,  and  David  Polhill,  gentlemen  of  considerable  property  and  family 
in  the  county.  There  is  a  very  good  print  of  tliem  in  five  ovals  on  one 
plate,  engraved  by  R.  White,  in  1701.  They  desired  the  Parliament  to 
mind  the  public  more,  and  their  private  heats  less.  They  were  confined  till 
the  prorogation,  and  were  much  visited.     Burnet,  V,  532. 

f  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Rochester. 

J  Afterwards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  §  See  p.  3G0. 

II  Henry  Rouvignd,  Earl  of  Galway,  in  Ireland,  son  of  the  Marquis,  who 
was  Ambassador  from  France  to  Charles  II.  He  was  created  a  Peer  by 
King  William  for  his  gallantry  at  the  battle  of  the  Boyne,  where  his  brother 
also  fought  and  was  killed.  He  commanded  afterwards  both  in  Italy  and 
Spain,  where  the  fatal  battle  of  Almanza  put  an  end  to  his  military  glory. 
There  is  a  mezzotinto  portrait  of  him  by  Simon.  H  See  p.  2(55. 


366  DIARY  OF  [lowdon, 

July.  My  Lord  Treasurer  made  my  grandson  one  of  the 
Commissioners  of  the  prizes,  salary  £500  per  annum. 

8th.  My  grandson  went  with  Sir  Simon  Harcourt,  the 
Solicitor-General,  to  Windsor,  to  wait  on  my  Lord  Trea- 
surer. There  had  been  for  some  time  a  proposal  of  marry- 
ing my  grandson  to  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Boscawen,  sister  of 
my  Lord  Treasurer,  which  was  now  far  advanced. 

14th.  I  subscribed  towards  re-building  Oakwood  Chapel,* 
now,  after  200  years,  almost  fallen  down. 

August.  The  weather  changed  from  heat  not  much  less 
than  in  Italy  or  Spain  for  some  few  days,  to  wet^  dripping, 
and  cold,  with  intermissions  of  fair. 

2nd  September.  I  went  to  Kensington,  and  saw  the 
house,  plantations,  and  gardens,  the  work  of  Mr.  Wi8e,t 
who  was  there  to  receive  me. 

The  death  of  King  James  happening  on  the  15th  of  this 
month,  N.  S.,  after  two  or  three  days'  indisposition,  put 
an  end  to  that  unhappy  Prince's  troubles,  after  a  short  and 
unprosperous  reign,  indiscreetly  attempting  to  bring  in 
Popery,  and  make  himself  absolute,  in  imitation  of  the 
French,  hurried  on  by  the  impatience  of  the  Jesuits ;  which 
the  nation  would  not  endure. 

Died  the  Earl  of  Bath,  whose  contest  with  Lord  Montague 
about  the  Duke  of  Albemarle's  estate,  claiming  under  a 
will  supposed  to  have  been  forged,  is  said  to  have  been 
worth  £10,000  to  the  lawyers.  His  eldest  son  shot  himself 
a  few  days  after  his  father's  death ;  for  what  cause  is  not 
clear.  He  was  a  most  hopeful  young  man,  and  had  behaved 
so  bravely  against  the  Turks  at  the  siege  of  Vienna,  that 
the  Emperor  made  him  a  Count  of  the  Empire. — It  was 
falsely  reported  that  Sir  Edward  Seymour  was  dead,  a 
great  man ;  he  had  often  been  Speaker,  Treasurer  of  the 
Navy,  and  in  many  other  lucrative  offices.  He  was  of  a 
hasty  spirit,  not  at  all  sincere,  but  head  of  the  party  at  any 
time  prevailing  in  Parliament. 

29th.  I  kept  ray  first  courts  in  Surrey,  which  took  up 
the  whole  week.  My  steward  was  Mr.  Hervey,J  a  Coun- 
sellor, Jiistice  of  Peace,  and  Member  of  Parliament,  and 

"  In  the  lower  part  of  the  parish  of  Wotton. 

+  Mr.  Wise  was  the  great  gardener  of  Brompton  Parle,  see  p.  329.    Se« 
Evelyn's  «  Miscellaneous  Writings,"  1825,  4to,  pp.  714,  715. 
±  Of  Betchworth. 


1702.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  3^7 

my  neighbour.  I  gave  him  six  guineas,  which  was  a  guinea 
a-day,  and  to  Mr.  Martin,  his  clerk,  three  guineas. 

31st  October.  I  was  this  day  81  complete,  in  tolerable 
health,  considering  my  great  age. 

December.  Great  contentions  about  elections.  I  gave 
my  vote  and  interest  to  Sir  R.  Onslow  and  Mr.  Weston.* 

27th.  My  grandson  quitted  Oxford. 

1701-2.  21st  January.  At  the  Royal  Society  there  was 
read  and  approved  the  delineation  and  description  of  my 
Tables  of  Veins  and  Arteries, f  by  Mr.  Cooper,  the  chirur- 
geon,  in  order  to  their  being  engraved. 

8th  March.  The  King  had  a  fall  from  his  horse,  and 
broke  his  collar-bone,  and  having  been  much  indisposed 
before,  and  agueish,  with  a  long  cough  and  other  weakness, 
died  this  Sunday  morning,  about  four  o^ clock. 

I  carried  my  accounts  of  Greenwich  Hospital  to  the 
Committee. 

12th  April.  My  brother-in-law,  Glanville,  departed  this 
life  this  morning,  after  a  long  languishing  illness,  leaving 
a  son  by  my  sister,  and  two  grand-daughters.  J  Our  rela- 
tion and  friendship  had  been  long  and  great.  He  was  a 
man  of  excellent  parts.  He  died  in  the  84th  year  of  his 
age,  and  willed  his  body  to  be  wrapped  in  lead  and  carried 
down  to  Greenwich,  put  on  board  a  ship,  and  buried  in  the 
sea,  between  Dover  and  Calais,  about  the  Goodwin  sands; 
which  was  done  on  the  Tuesday,  or  Wednesday  after. 
This  occasioned  much  discourse,  he  having  no  relation  at 
all  to  the  sea.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  an  ancient  family  in 
Devonshire,  and  married  my  sister  Jane.  By  his  prudent 
parsimony   he   much  improved  his  fortune.      He  had  a 

*  Of  Ockham  ;  but  Mr.  Wessell  of  Bansted  (a  merchant)  carried  it 
against  Mr.  Weston. 

t  Vol.  I.,  p.  344  ;  Vol.  II.,  pp.  5,  61,  299. 

J  One  of  these  daughters  became  heiress  of  the  family,  and  married 
William  Evelyn  of  St.  Cleer,  in  Kent,  son  of  George  Evelyn,  of  Nutfield. 
He  assumed  the  name  of  Glanville  ;  but  there  being  only  daughters  by  this 
marriage,  he  had  two  sons  by  a  second  wife,  and  they  resumed  the  name  of 
Evelyn.  The  first  of  those  sons  left  a  son  who  died  unmarried  before  he 
came  of  age,  and  a  daughter  who  married  Colonel  Hume,  who  has  taken  the 
name  of  Evelyn,  but  has  no  child  ;  the  second  son  of  Mr.  Glanville  Evelyn 
married  Lady  Jane  Leslie,  who  became  Countess  of  Rothes,  in  her  own  right, 
and  leit  a  son,  George  William,  who  became  Earl  of  Rothes  in  right  of  his 
mother,  and  died  in  1817,  leaving  no  issue  male. 


368  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

place  in  the  Alienation-Office,  and  might  have  been  an 
extraordinary  man,  had  he  cultivated  his  parts. 

My  steward  at  Wotton  gave  a  very  honest  account  of 
what  he  had  laid  out  on  repairs,  amounting  to  £1900. 

3rd  May.  The  Report  of  the  Committee  sent  to  examine 
the  state  of  Greenwich  Hospital  was  delivered  to  the 
House  of  Commons,  much  to  their  satisfaction. — Lord 
Godolphin  made  Lord  High  Treasurer. 

Being  elected  a  member  of  the  Society  lately  incorpo- 
rated for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
I  subscribed  £10  per  annum  towards  the  carrying  it  on. 
We  agreed  that  every  missioner,  besides  the  £20  to  set 
him  forth,  should  have  £50  per  annum  out  of  the  stock  of 
the  Corporation,  till  his  settlement  was  worth  to  him  £100 
per  annum.     We  sent  a  young  divine  to  New  York. 

22nd  June.  I  dined  at  the  Archbishop's  with  the  new- 
made  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  Dr.  Nicolson,  my  worthy  and 
learned  correspondent. 

27th.  I  went  to  Wotton  with  my  family  for  the  rest  of 
the  summer,  and  my  son-in-law.  Draper,  with  his  family 
came  to  stay  with  us,  his  house  at  Addiscombe  being  new- 
building,  so  that  my  family  was  above  thirty. — Most  of 
the  new  Parliament  were  chosen  of  Church  of  England 
principles,  against  the  peevish  party.  The  Queen  was 
magnificently  entertained  at  Oxford  and  all  the  towns  she 
passed  through  on  her  way  to  Bath. 

31st  October.  Arrived  now  to  the  82nd  year  of  my  age, 
having  read  over  all  that  passed  since  this  day  twelvemonth 
in  these  notes,  I  render  solemn  thanks  to  the  Lord,  implor- 
ing the  pardon  of  my  past  sins,  and  the  assistance  of  His 
grace;  making  new  resolutions,  and  imploring  that  He  will 
continue  His  assistance,  and  prepare  me  for  my  blessed 
Saviour's  coming,  that  I  may  obtain  a  comfortable  depar- 
ture, after  so  long  a  term  as  has  been  hitherto  indulged 
me.  I  find  by  many  infirmities  this  year  (especially 
nephritic  pains)  that  I  much  decline;  and  yet  of  His 
infinite  mercy  retain  my  intellects  and  senses  in  great 
measure  above  most  of  my  age.  I  have  this  year  repaired 
much  of  the  mansion-house  and  several  tenants'  houses, 
and  paid  some  of  my  debts  and  engagements.  My  wife, 
children,  and  family  in  health :  for  all  which  I  most 
sincerely  beseech  Almighty  God  to  accept  of  these  my 


1703.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  369 

acknowledgments,  and  that  if  it  be  His  holy  will  to  con- 
tinue me  yet  longer,  it  may  be  to  the  praise  of  His  infinite 
grace,  and  salvation  of  my  soul.     Amen ! 

8th  November.  My  kinsman,  John  Evelyn  of  jSTutfield, 
a  young  and  very  hopeful  gentleman,  and  Member  of 
Parliament,*  after  having  come  to  Wotton  to  see  me, 
about  fifteen  days  past,  went  to  London  and  there  died 
of  the  small-pox.  He  left  a  brother,  a  commander  in  the 
army  in  Holland,  to  inherit  a  fair  estate. 

Our  afi'airs  in  so  prosperous  a  condition  both  by  sea  and 
land,  that  there  has  not  been  so  great  an  union  in  Parlia- 
ment, Court,  and  people,  in  memory  of  man,  which  God  in 
mercy  make  us  thankful  for,  and  continue  !  L  The  Bishop  of 
Exeter  preached  before  the  Queen  and  .both  Houses  of 
Parliament  at  St.  Paul's ;  they  were  wonderfully  huzzaed 
in  their  passage,  and  splendidly  entertained  in  the  city. 

December.  The  expectation  now.is,  what  treasure  will  be 
found  on  breaking  bulk  of  the  galleon  brought  from  .Vigo  by 
Sir  George  Ilooke,  which  being  made  up  in  an  extraordinary 
manner  in  the  hold,  was, not  begun  to  be  opened  till  the 
5th  of  this  month,  before  two  of  the  Privy  Council,  two  of 
the  chief  magistrates  of  the  city,' and, the  Lord*.Treasm'er. 

After  the  excess  of  honour  conferred  by  the  Queen  on 
the  Earl  of  Marlborough,  by  making  him  a  Knight  of  the 
Garter  and  a  Diike,  for  the  success  of  butjone  campaign, 
that  he  should  desire  £5000  a-year  o  be  settled  on  him 
by  Parliament  out  of  the  Post-office,  was  .thought  a  bold 
and  unadvised  request,  as  he  had,  besides  his  own  consi- 
derable estate,  above  £30,000  a-year  in  places  and  employ- 
ments, with  £50,000  at  interest.  -He, had  married  one 
daughter  to  the  son  of  my  Lord ;  Treasurer  Godolphin, 
another  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  and  a  third  to  the 
Earl  of  Bridgewater.  He  is  a  very  handsome  person, 
well-spoken  and  affable,  and  supports  his  want  of  acquired 
knowledge  by  keeping  good  company. 

1702-3.  News  of  Vice-Admii-al  Benbow's  conflict  with 
the  French  fleet  in  the  West  Indies,  in  which  he  gallantly 
behaved  himself,  and  was  wounded,  and  would  have  had 
extraordinary  success,  had  not  four  of  his  men-of-war 
stood   spectators  without  coming  to   his   assistance ;  for 

I*  ,  ■  .  -  '  ' 

.    -  *  For  Blechingley,  in  Surrey  '   •*''.''' 

VOL.  II.  B  B 


370  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

this,  two  of  their  commanders  were  tried  by  a  Council  of 
War,  and  executed;*  a  third  was  condemned  to  perpetual 
imprisonment,  loss  of  pay,  and  incapacity  to  serve  in 
future.     The  fourth  died. 

Sir  Richard  Onslow  and  Mr.  Oglethorpe  (son  of  the  late 
Sir  Theo.  O.)  fought  on  occasion  of  some  words  which 
passed  at  a  Committee  of  the  House.  Mr.  Oglethorpe 
was  disarmed. — The  Bill  against  occasional  Conformity 
was  lost  by  one  vote. — Corn  and  provisions  so  cheap  that 
the  farmers  are  unable  to  pay  their  rents. 

February.  A  famous  cause  at  the  King's  Bench  between 
Mr.  Fenwick  and  his  wife,t  which  went  for  him  with  a 
great  estate.  The  Duke  of  Marlborough  lost  his  only  son 
at  Cambridge  by  the  small-pox.^ — A  great  earthquake  at 
Rome,  &c. — A  famous  young  woman,  an  Italian,  was  hired 
by  our  comedians  to  sing  on  the  stage,  during  so  many 
plays,  for  which  they  gave  her  £500;  which  part  by  her 
voice  alone  at  the  end  of  three  scenes  she  performed  with 
such  modesty  and  grace,  and  above  all  with  such  skill, 
that  there  was  never  any  who  did  anything  comparable 
with  their  voices.  She  was  to  go  home  to  the  Court  of 
the  King  of  Prussia,  and  I  believe  carried  with  her  out  of 
this  vain  nation  above  £1000,  everybody  coveting  to  hear 
her  at  their  private  houses. 

26th  May.  This  day  died  Mr.  Samuel  Pepys,  a  very 
worthy,  industrious  and  curious  person,  none  in  England 
exceeding  him  in  knowledge  of  the  navy,  in  which  he  had 
passed  through  all  the  most  considerable  offices,  Clerk  of 
the  Acts  and  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty,  all  which  he 
performed  with  great  integrity.  When  King  James  II.  went 
out  of  England,  he  laid  down  his  office,  and  would  serve 
no  more  ;  but  withdrawing  himself  from  all  public  affairs, 
he  lived  at  Clapham  with  his  partner,  Mr.  Hewer,  formerly 

*  The  Captains  Kirby  and  Wade  were  tried  and  condemned  to  die  by  a 
Court-Martial  held  on  them  in  the  West  Indies — they  were  sent  home  in  the 
"  Bristol ;"  and,  on  its  aiTival  at  Portsmouth,  were  both  shot  on  board,  not 
being  suffered  to  land  on  Englisli  gromid. 

t  She  was  daughter  and  heir  of  Sir  Adam  Brown  of  Betchworth  Castle, 
in  Dorking,  and  married  Mr.  Fenwick.  This  suit  probably  related  to  a 
settlement  which  she  had  consented  to  make,  by  which  the  estate  was  limited 
to  them  and  their  issue,  and  the  heir  of  the  survivor.  They  had  one  son, 
who  died  without  issue,  and  she  survived  her  husband,  thereby  becoming 
entitled  to  dispose  of  it. 


1703.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  371 

his  clerk^  in  a  very  noble  honse  and  sweet  place,  wliere  lie 
enjoyed  the  fruit  of  his  labours  in  great  prosperity.  He 
was  universally  beloved,  hospitable,  generous,  learned  in 
many  things,  skilled  in  music,  a  very  great  cherisher  of 
learned  men  of  whom  he  had  the  conversation.  His 
hbrary*  and  collection  of  other  curiosities  were  of  the 
most  considerable,  the  models  of  ships  especially.  Besides 
what  he  published  of  an  account  of  the  navy,  as  he  found 
and  left  it,  he  had  for  divers  years  under  his  hand  the 
History  of  the  Navy,  or  Navalia,  as  he  called  it ;  but  how 
far  advanced,  and  what  will  follow  of  his,  is  left,  I  suppose, 
to  his  sister's  son,  Mr.  Jackson,  a  young  gentleman,  whom 
Mr.  Pepys  had  educated  in  all  sorts  of  useful  learning, 
sending  him  to  travel  abroad,  from  whence  he  returned 
with  extraordinary  accomplishments,  and  worthy  to  be 
heir.  Mr.  Pepys  had  been  for  near  forty  years  so  much 
my  particular  friend,  that  Mr.  Jackson  sent  me  complete 
mourning,  desiring  me  to  be  one  to  hold  up  the  pall  at 
his  magnificent  obsequies ;  but  my  indisposition  hindered 
me  from  doing  him  this  last  office. 

13th  June.  Rains  have  been  great  and  continual,  and 
now,  near  midsummer,  cold  and  wet. 

11th  July.  I  went  to  Addiscombe,  sixteen  miles  from 
Wotton,  to  see  my  son-in-law^s  new  house,  the  outside,  to 
the  coving,  being  such  excellent  brickwork,  based  with 
Portland  stone,  with  the  pilasters,  windows,  and  within, 
that  I  pronounced  it  in  all  the  points  of  good  and  sohd 
architecture  to  be  one  of  the  very  best  gentlemen's  houses 
in  Surrey,  when  finished.  I  returned  to  Wotton  in  the 
evening,  though  weary. 

25th.  The  last  week  in  this  month  an  uncommon  long- 
continued  rain,  and  the  Sunday  following,  thunder  and 
lightning. 

12th  August.  The  new  Commission,  for  Greenwich 
Hospital  was  sealed  and  opened,  at  which  my  son-in-law. 
Draper,  was  present,  to  whom  I  resigned  my  office  of 
Treasurer.  Prom  August  1696,  there  had  been  expended 
in  building  £89,364  14*.  ^d. 

*  His  valuable  library  he  gave  to  Magdalen  College,  Cambridge,  together 
with  his  fine  collection  of  prints,  where  they  now  remain  in  a  very  handsome 
room,  and  are  to  this  day  among  the  videnda  of  that  University. 

B  B  2 


372  DIARY  OF  [LONDON, 

31st  October.  This  day,  being  eighty-three  years  of  age, 
upon  examining  what  concerned  me,  more  particularly  the 
past  year,  with  the  great  mercies  of  God  preserving  me, 
and  in  the  same  measure  making  my  infirmities  tolerable, 
I  gave  God  most  hearty  and  humble  thanks,  beseeching 
Him  to  confirm  to  me  the  pardon  of  my  sins  past,  and  to 
prepare  me  for  a  better  life  by  the  virtue  of  His  grace  and 
mercy,  for  the  sake  of  my  blessed  Saviour. 

21st  November.  The  wet  and  uncomfortable  weather 
staying  us  from  church  this  morning,  our  Doctor  officiated 
in  my  family ;  at  which  were  present  above  twenty  domes- 
tics. He  made  an  excellent  discourse  on  1  Cor.  xv.,  v.  55, 
56,  of  the  vanity  of  this  world  and  uncertainty  of  life,  and 
the  inexpressible  happiness  and  satisfaction  of  a  holy  life, 
with  pertinent  inferences  to  prepare  us  for  death  and  a 
future  state.  I  gave  him  thanks,  and  told  him  I  took  it 
kindly  as  my  funeral  sermon. 

26-7th.  The  eflFects  of  the  hurricane  and  tempest  of 
wind,  rain,  and  lightning,  through  all  the  nation,  especially 
London,  were  very  dismal.  Many  houses  demolished,  and 
people  killed.  As  to  my  own  losses,  the  subversion  of 
woods  and  timber,  both  ornamental  and  valuable,  through 
my  whole  estate,  and  about  my  house  the  woods  crowning 
the  garden-mount,  and  growing  along  the  park-meadow, 
the  damage  to  my  own  dwelling,  farms,  and  outhouses,  is 
almost  tragical,  not  to  be  paralleled  with  any  thing  happen- 
ing in  our  age.  I  am  not  able  to  describe  it ;  but  submit 
to  the  pleasure  of  Almighty  God. 

7th  December.  I  removed  to  Dover  Street,  where  I  found 
all  well ;  but  houses,  trees,  garden,  &c.  at  Sayes  Court, 
suffered  very  much. 

31st.  I  made  up  my  accounts,  paid  wages,  gave  rewards 
and  new-year's  gifts,  according  to  custom. 

1703-4.  January.  The  King  of  Spain*  landing  at  Ports- 
mouth, came  to  Windsor,  where  he  was  magnificently 
entertained  by  the  Queen,  and  behaved  himself  so  nobly, 
that  everybody  was  taken  with  his  graceful  deportment. 
After  two  days,  having  presented  the  great  ladies,  and 
others,  with  very  valuable  jewels,  he  went  back  to  Ports- 
mouth, and  immediately  embarked  for  Spain. 

♦  Charles  the  Third,  afterwards  Emperor  of  Germany,  by  the  title  of 
Charles  the  Sixth. 


1704.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  373 

16tli.  The  Lord  Treasurer  gave  my  grandson  the  office  of 
Treasurer  of  the  Stamp-Duties,  with  a  salary  of  £300  a  year, 

30th.  The  fast  on  the  martyrdom  of  King  Charles  I. 
was  observed  with  more  than  usual  solemnity. 

May.  Dr.  Bathurst,  President  of  Trinity  College,  Oxford, 
now  died,*  I  think  the  oldest  acquaintance  now  left  me  in 
the  world.  He  was  eighty-six  years  of  age,  stark-blind, 
deaf,  and  memory  lost,  after  having  been  a  person  of 
admirable  parts  and  learning.  This  is  a  serious  alarm  to 
me.  God  grant  that  I  may  profit  by  it !  He  built  a  very 
handsome  chapel  to  the  college,  and  his  own  tomb.  He 
gave  a  legacy  of  money,  and  the  third  part  of  his  library, 
to  his  nephew.  Dr.  Bohun,  who  went  hence  to  his  funeral. 

7th  September.  This  day  was  celebrated  the  thanks- 
giving for  the  late  great  victory,  f  with  the  utmost  pomp 
and  splendour  by  the  Queen,  Court,  great  Officers,  Lord 
Mayor,  Sheriffs,  Companies,  &c.  The  streets  were  scaf- 
folded from  Temple  Bar,  where  the  Lord  Mayor  presented 
her  Majesty  with  the  sword,  which  she  returned.  Every 
Company  was  ranged  under  its  banners,  the  City  IMilitia 
without  the  rails,  which  were  all  hung  with  cloth  suitable 
to  the  colour  of  the  baniaer.  The  Lord  Mayor,  Sheriffs, 
and  Aldermen,  were  in  their  scarlet  robes,  with  caparisoned 
horses ;  the  Knight  Marshal  on  horseback ;  the  Foot- 
Guards ;  the  Queen  in  a  rich  coach  with  eight  horses, 
none  with  her  but  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough  in  a  very 
plain  garment,  the  Queen  full  of  jewels.  Music  and 
trumpets  at  every  City  Company.  The  great  Officers  of 
the  Crown,  Nobility,  and  Bishops,  all  in  coaches  with  six 
horses,  besides  innumerable  servants,  went  to  St.  Paul's, 
Avhere  the  Dean  preached.  After  this,  the  Queen  went 
back  in  the  same  order  to  St.  James's.  The  City  Companies 
feasted  all  the  Nobility  and  Bishops,  and  illuminated  at 
night.  Music  for  the  church  and  anthems  composed  by 
the  best  masters.  The  day  before  was  wet  and  stormy, 
but  this  was  one  of  the  most  serene  and  calm  days  that 
had  been  all  the  year. 

October.  The  year  has  been  very  plentiful. 

*  There  is  a  very  good  Life  of  him,  with  his  portrait  prefixed,  by- 
Mr.  Thomas  Warton,  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  and  Poetry  Professor  at 
Ovxford. 

+  Over  the  Frencli  and  Bavarians,  at  Blenheim,  13th  August,  1704. 


374  DIARY  OP  [LONDON, 

31st  October.  Being  my  birthday  and  the  84th  year  of 
my  life,  after  particular  reflections  on  my  concerns  and 
passages  of  the  year,  I  set  some  considerable  time  of  this 
day  apart,  to  recollect  and  examine  my  state  and  condition, 
giving  God  thanks,  and  acknowledging  His  infinite  mercies 
to  me  and  mine,  begging  His  blessing,  and  imploring  His 
protection  for  the  year  following. 

December.  Lord  Clarendon  presented  me  with  the  three 
volumes  of  his  father's  History  of  the  Rebellion. 

My  Lord  of  Canterbury  wrote  to  me  for  suflrage  for 
Mr.  Clarke's  continuance  this  year  in  the  Boyle  Lecture, 
which  I  willingly  gave  for  his  excellent  performance  of 
this  year. 

9th  February.  I  went  to  wait  on  my  Lord  Treasurer, 
where  was  the  victorious  Duke  of  Marlborough,  who  came 
to  me  and  took  me  by  the  hand  with  extraordinary  fami- 
liarity and  civility,  as  formerly  he  was  used  to  do,  without 
any  alteration  of  his  good-nature.  He  had  a  most  rich 
George  in  a  sardonyx  set  with  diamonds  of  very  great 
value ;  for  the  rest,  very  plain.  I  had  not  seen  him  for 
some  years,  and  believed  he  might  have  forgotten  me. 

21st.  Remarkable  fine  weather.  Agues  and  small-pox 
much  in  every  place. 

11th  March.  An  exceeding  dry  season. — Great  loss  by 
fire,  burning  the  outhouses  and  famous  stable  of  the  Earl 
of  Nottingham  at  Burleigh,  [Rutlandshire],  full  of  rich 
goods  and  fiu-niture,  by  the  carelessness  of  a  servant.  A 
httle  before,  the  same  happened  at  Lord  Pembroke's,  at 
Wilton.  The  old  Countess  of  Northumberland,  Dowager 
of  Algernon  Percy,  Admiral  of  the  Fleet  to  King  Charles  I., 
died  in  the  83rd  year  of  her  age.  She  was  sister  to  the 
Earl  of  Suff'olk,  and  left  a  great  estate,  her  jointure  to 
descend  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset.* 

May.  The  BaiKfl"  of  Westminster  hanged  himself.  He 
had  an  ill  report. 

On  the  death  of  the  Emperor,  there  was  no  mourning 
worn  at  Court,  because  there  was  none  at  the  Imperial 
Court  on  the  death  of  King  William. 

18th.  I  went  to  see  Sir  John  Chardine,t  at  Turnham- 

*  This  Duke  had  married  Elizabeth  Percy,  widow  of  Lord  Cole,  only 
daughter  and  heir  to  Joceline  Percy,  the  eleventh  and  last  Earl  of 
Northumberland.  t  See  p.  191, 


1705.]  JOHN  EVELYN.  375 

Green,  the  gardens  being  very  fine,  and  exceeding  well 
planted  with  fruit. 

20th.  Most  extravagant  expense  to  debauch  and  corrupt 
votes  for  parliament  members.  I  sent  my  grandson  with  his 
party  of  my  freeholders  to  vote  for  Mr.  Harvey,  of  Combe.* 

1704-5.  4th  January.  I  dined  at  Lambeth  with  the 
Archbishop  of  Dublin,  Dr.  King,  a  sharp  ready  man  in 
politics,  as  well  as  very  learned. 

June.  The  season  very  dry  and  hot. — I  went  to  see  Dr. 
Dickinson  t  the  famous  chemist.  We  had  long  conversation 
about  the  philosopher's  elixir,  which  he  believed  attainable, 
and  had  seen  projection  himself  by  one  who  went  under  the 
name  of  Mundanus,  who  sometimes  came  among  the  adepts, 
but  was  unknown  as  to  his  country,  or  abode ;  of  this  the 
Doctor  has  written  a  treatise  in  Latin,  full  of  very  astonish- 
ing relations.  He  is  a  very  learned  person,  formerly  a  Fellow 
of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford,  J  in  which  city  he  practised 
physic,  but  has  now  altogether  given  it  over,  and  lives 
retired,  being  very  old  and  infirm,  yet  continuing  chymistry. 

I  went  to  Greenwich  Hospital,  where  they  now  began  to 
take  in  wounded  and  worn-out  seamen,  who  are  exceed- 
ing well  provided  for.  The  buildings  now  going  on  are 
very  magnificent. 

October.  Mr.  Cowper  §  made  Lord  Keeper.  Observing 
how  uncertain  great  oflEicers  are  of  continuing  long  in  their 
places,  he  would  not  accept  it,  unless  £2000  a  year  were 
given  him  in  reversion  when  he  was  put  out,  in  considera- 
tion of  his  loss  of  practice.     His  predecessors,  how  little 

*  Six'  Richard  Onslow  and  Sir  William  Scawen  were  the  other  candidates, 
and  succeeded,     Mr.  Harvey  was  a  violent  Tory. 

'\-  Edmund  Dickinson,  of  Merton  College,  Oxford,  took  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  22nd  June,  1 647.  He  was  living  in  Westminster,  in 
1 692,  in  good  repute  for  his  practice  in  the  faculty  of  physic.  He  published 
several  things.     Wood's  Fasti  Oxon.  p.  741. 

X  He  was  afterwards  a  Fellow  of  Merton,  He  died  in  1707,  aged  84. 
Dr,  Campbell,  in  his  edition  of  the  Biog.  Brit,  speaks  very  highly  of  him  ; 
but  Dr.  Kippis,  in  the  new  edition  of  that  Work,  differs  much  from  the 
Doctor,  though  he  allows  him  to  have  been  a  very  learned  man.  Mr.  Evelyn 
must  have  mistaken  Dr.  Dickinson  as  to  his  not  knowing  who  Mundanus  was, 
for  in  1686  the  Doctor  printed  a  letter  to  him  with  his  answer  from  Paris  ; 
and  in  the  latter,  Mundanus  says  he  made  two  projections  in  his  pi'esence. 
Biog.  Brit.  art.  Dickinson. 

,  §  William  Cowper,  created  a  Baron  in  1 706,  and  Lord  Chancellor,  after- 
wards Viscount  Fordwich  and  Earl  Cowper,  by  George  the  First. 


376  DIARY  OF  JOHN  EVELYN.  [london,  1706. 

time  soever  they  had  the  seal,  usually  got  £lj9t),000,  and 
made  themselves  Barons. — A  new  Secretary  of  State.* — 
Lord  Abington,  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  displaced,  and 
General  Churchill,  brother  to  the  Duke  of  Marlborough, 
put  in.  An  indication  of  great  unsteadiness  somewhere, 
but  thus  the  crafty  Whig  party  (as  called)  begin  to  change 
the  face  of  the  Court,  in  opposition  to  the  High  Church- 
men, which  was  another  distinction  of  a  party  from  the 
Low  Churchmen.  The  Parliament  chose  one  Mr.  Smith, 
Speaker.t  There  had  never  been  so  great  an  assembly  of 
members  on  the  first  day  of  sitting,  being  more  than  450. 
The  votes  both  of  the  old,  as  well  as  the  new,  fell  to  those 
called  Low  Churchmen,  contrary  to  all  expectation. 

31st.  I  am  this  day  arrived  to  the  85th  year  of  my  age. 
Lord  teach  me  so  to  number  my  days  to  come,  that  I  may 
apply  them  to  wisdom  ! 

1705-6.  1st  January.  Making  up  my  accounts  for  the 
past  year,  paid  bills,  wages,  and  new-year's-gifts,  according 
to  custom.  .  Though  much  indisposed  and  in  so  advanced 
'a  stage,  I  went  to  our  chapel  [in  London]  to  give  God 
public  thanks,  beseeching  Almighty  God  to  assist  mc  and 
my  family  the  ensuing  year,  if  he  should  yet  continue  my 
pilgrimage  here,  and  bring  me  at  last  to  a  better  life  with 
Him  in  his  heavenly  kingdom.  Divers  of  our  friends  and 
relations  dined  with  us  this  day. 

27th.  My  indisposition  increasing,  I  was  exceeding  ill 
this  whole  week. 

3rd  February.  Notes  of  the  sermons  at  the  chapel  in 
the  morning  and  afternoon,  written  with  his  own  hand, 
-conclude  this  Diary. 

*^*  Mr.  Evelyn  died  on  the  27th  of  this  month. 

•  Charles,  Earl  of  Sunderland. 

f  John  Smith,  Esq.,  Member  for  Andover. 


END    OF    THE    DIARY. 


ADDITIONAL   NOTES. 


Page  1,  line  1.     "Nonsuch  House." 

Of  this  favourite  summer  residence  of  Queen  EUzabeth,  not  a  vestige 
remains,  but  the  "  avenue  planted  with  rows  of  fine  elms."  Pcpys  mentions 
the  Exchequer  money  being  removed  to  Nonsuch,  and  describes  the  park 
and  house  as  they  then  appeared.  The  building  was  subset^uently  pulled 
down,  and  its  contents  dispersed.  A  modern  structure  has  been  raised  on 
its  site. 

Page  4,  last  line.     "  Lord  Berkeley." 

John,  created  Baron  Berkeley,  of  Stratton,  in  1658.  He  was  Lord- 
Lieutenant  of  Ireland  in  1670,  and  Ambassador  to  France  in  1674.  He  died 
in  1675).  His  new  house,  next  the  Lord  Chancellor's,  was  well-known  as 
Berkeley  House — the  neighbourhood  of  Piccadilly  being  then  the  favourite 
locality  for  what  Evelyn  styles  "  new  palaces." 

Page  1,  line  1.     "Sir  George  Downing." 

Secretary  to  the  Treasury,  and  Commissioner  of  the  Customs.  He  had 
been  recently  made  a  baronet,  and  was  now  a  zealous  courtier  ;  though, 
during  the  Commonwealth,  as  Cromwell's  Resident  in  Holland,  he  had 
been  no  less  zealous  a  republican.  He  subsequently  went  to  Holland  as 
Ambassador  from  the  King.  To  him  belongs  the  credit  of  having  engaged 
Pepys  about  the  year  165,9,  as  one  of  the  clerks  in  a  department  of  the 
Exchequer  then  under  his  management.  For  his  character,  of  which 
Pepys  gives  a  somewhat  doubtful  impi-ession,  see  Lord  Clarendon's  Life. 

Page  8,  line  20.     "  The  famous  chemist,  Drebbell." 

Cornelius  Van  Drebbell,  born  at  Alkmaar,  in  Holland,  in  1572  ;  but  in  the 
reign  of  Chai-les  I.  settled  in  London,  where  he  died  in  1634.  He  was 
famous  for  other  discoveries  in  science  besides  that  mentioned  by  Evelyn — 
the  most  important  of  which  was  the  thermometer.  He  also  made  improve- 
ments in  microscopes  and  telescopes  ;  and,  though,  like  many  of  his  scientific 
contemporaries,  something  of  an  empiric,  possessed  a  considerable  know- 
ledge of  chemistry  and  of  different  branches  of  natural  philosophy. 

Page  8,  line  24.     «  Mr.  Povey." 

There  were  three  brothers  of  this  name  ;  sons  of  Justinian  Povey,  Audi- 
tor-General to  Queen  Anne  of  Denmark.  The  one  mentioned  by  Evelyn 
was  Thomas  Povey,  a  Member  of  Parliament,  Treasurer  to  the  Commis- 


378  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

sioners  for  the  affairs  of  Tangier,  and  Surveyor-Genei'al  of  the  Victualling 
Department,  in  which  offices  he  was  succeeded  by  Pepys.  He  had  previ- 
ously held  oflBce  under  Cromwell,  and  was  Treasurer  and  Receiver  General 
of  the  rents  and  revenues  of  the  Duke  of  York.  The  "  country  house  he 
had  bought  near  Brentford,"  as  Evelyn  tells  us,  was  called  "  The  Priory," 
and  was  situated  neai*  Hoimslow.     Pepys  mentions  him  frequently. 

Page  8,  line  29.    «  Sir  Stephen  Fox." 

One  of  the  most  celebrated  statesmen  of  the  period  comprised  in  the 
Diary.  He  was  knighted  in  1665,  made  Clerk  of  the  Green  Cloth,  and  Pay- 
master of  the  Forces  by  Charles  II.  He  lost  the  favour  of  his  successor  by 
opposing  the  bill  for  a  standing  army,  but  was  again  employed  in  the  reign 
of  Queen  Anne.  Mr.  Evelyn  gives  an  interesting  account  of  him  at  p.  147-8 
of  this  volume.  He  was  father  of  the  first  Earl  of  Ilchester,  and  of  the  first 
Baron  Holland.  He  projected  Chelsea  College — the  honour  of  which  has 
generally  been  attributed  to  Nell  Gwynne.  He  also  founded  a  new  church 
and  a  set  of  alms-houses  at  his  seat,  Farley,  in  Wilts.  He  was  born  in  1027, 
and  died  in  1716. 

Page  8,  line  6  from  hottom.    "  Sir  William  D'Oyley." 

One  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  Sick  and  Wounded.  Pepys  records  a 
wager  which  Sir  William  laid  with  him,  of  "  a  poll  of  ling,  a  brace  of  carps, 
and  a  pottle  of  wine,  :u  d  Sir  W.  Pen,  and  Mr.  Scowen  to  be  at  the  eating  of 
them." 

Page  9,  line  7.     "  Mr.  Thomas  Chicheley." 

Afterwards  knighted.  Pepys  mentions  him  as  one  of  the  Masters  of  the 
Ordnance.     He  was  also  a  Member  of  the  Privy  Council. 

Page  9,  line  7.     "  Mr.  Slingsby." 

He  held  the  office  of  Master  of  the  Mint.  Other  members  of  the  family 
were  employed  about  the  Court.  Arthur,  son  of  Sir  Guildford,  was  knighted, 
and  subsequently  made  a  baronet  ;  and  Sir  Robert  Slingsby  was  Comptroller 
of  the  Navy — a  man  much  respected  by  Pepys. 

Page  9,' line  7  from  hottom.    "  Mereator." 

Nicholas  Mereator,  the  mathematician,  must  not  be  confounded  with  his 
namesake,  so  well-known  as  the  inventor  of  Mercator's  Projection,  who  was 
both  a  geographer  and  a  mathematician,  and  who  died[in  1594.  Nicholas  was 
born  at  Holstein  in  1640;  but,  after  the  Restoration,  settled  in  England, 
where  his  scientific  attainments  procm-ed  him  the  honour  of  being  elected 
a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society.     He  wrote  several  books  on  science. 

Page'9,  line  9  from  bottom.     "  Mr.  Rooke." 

Laurence  Rooke,  Astronomy,  and  subsequently  Geometry  Professor  of 
Gresham  College.  He  was  born  in  1623,  and  died  1662  ;  having  established, 
by  several  successful  works,  his  reputation  as  a  man  of  science. 

Page  18,  line  12.    «  Sir  K  Howard,", 

Sir  Robert  Howard  held  the  office  of  Auditor  of  the  Exchequer  ;  but  was 
more  celebrated  as  an  author,  having  written  comedies,  tragedies,  poemSj 
histories,  and  translations.    He  was  born  in  1626,  and  diedln  1698. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  379 

Parje  18,  line  30.     "  Lord  Cleveland." 

Thomas  Wentworth,  created  in  February,  1626-7,  Baron  Wentworth  of 
Nettlested  and  Earl  of  Cleveland.     He  died  in  1667. 

Page  18,  second  note. 

Mrs.  Davenport  (Roxolana)  was  "  my  Lord  Oxford's  miss  ;"  Mrs.  Uphill 
was  the  actress  alluded  to  in  connection  with  Sir  R.  Howard ;  Mrs.  Hughes 
ensnared  Prince  Rupert ;  and  the  last  of  the  "  misses "  referred  to  by 
Evelyn  was  Nell  Gwynne. 

Page  19,  line  14.     "  Lord  Viscount  Mordaunt." 

John,  second  son  of  John,  first  Earl  of  Peterborough.  He  was  raised  to 
the  Peerage  in  July  1659,  for  his  services  in  the  cause  of  Charles  II.  He 
died  June  5th,  1675. 

Page  20,  line  16.    "Mr.  WilHamson,  Secretary  to  Lord  Arlington." 

He  filled  several  important  offices,  was  Keeper  of  the  State  Paper  Office, 
Under  Secretary,  and  then  Secretary  of  State.  He  was  knighted,  and  sub- 
sequently elected  President  of  the  Royal  Society.  Sir  Joseph  Williamson 
was  a  jVIember  of  Parliament  during  several  sessions,  and  represented  Thet- 
ford  and  Rochester.  Pepys  describes  him  in  1662-3  as  "a  pretty  knowing 
man  and  a  scholar,  but  it  may  be,  thinks  himself  to  be  too  much  so."  He 
died  in  1701. 

Page  20,  line  9.    "  Monsieur  Kiviet,  a  Dutch  Gentleman  Pensioner,  of 
Rotterdam." 

Probably  the  same  person  described  by  Pepys  as  "  Kevet,  Birrgomaster  of 
Amsterdam."  He  made  a  proposition,  as  Evelyn  describes  it,  "  to  wharf 
the  whole  river  of  Thames,  or  quay  from  the  Temple  to  the  Tower,  as  far 
as  the  fire  destroyed,  with  bricks,  without  piles,  both  lasting  and 
ornamental." 

Page  21,  Ihie  13.     "  Sir  George  Mackenzie." 

A  Scottish  advocate,  who  wrote  several  works  on  the  Scottish  laws,  and 
various  essays  and  poetical  pieces.  Hewas  born  at  Dundee  in  1536,  and 
died  in  London  in  1691. 

Page  21,  Kwe  25.     "  Mr.  Secretary  Morice." 

Sir  William  Morice.  General  Monk,  his  kinsman,  procured  him,  at  the 
Restoration,  the  place  of  Secretary  of  State,  which  he  resigned  in  1668.  Ho 
died  in  1676. 

Page  21.     "  Saw  the  Virgin  Queen." 

The  "Virgin  Queen"  which  Evelyn  saw  on  the  14th  Feb.  1666-7,  was 
Dryden's  "  ]\laiden  Queen."  Pej^ys  saw  it  on  the  night  of  its  first  production 
(twelve  days  before  Evelyn's  visit) ;  and  was  charmed  by  Nell  Gwynne's 
Floriraell.  "  So  great  a  performance  of  a  comical  partwas  never,  I  beUeve, 
in  the  world  before." 

Page  23,  line  Id  from  bottom.    "  Mr.  Henry  Jennyn." 
In  1685  created  Baron  Jermyn  of  Dover. 

Page  23,  line  9  from  bottom.    "  Sir  Henry  Capel." 
A- leading  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  created  April  11th,  1692, 
Baron  Capel  of  Tewkesbury,  afterwards  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 


380  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

Page  24,  line  29.    «  Lord  Middleton." 

John  Middleton  was  first  a  Parliamentary  general,  but  subsequently  fought 
for  Charles  II.  at  Worcester,  and  otherwise  distinguished  himself  as  a  Royalist 
officer  till  the  Restoration,  when  he  was  created  Earl  of  Middleton.  He  was 
Commander-in-Chief  of  tlie  Forces  in  Scotland,  Governor  of  Edinburgh 
Castle,  Commissioner  to  the  Scottish  Parliament,  and  finally  Governor  of 
Tangier,  where  he  died  in  1673. 

Page  26,  line  5.    "  Lord  Carlingford." 

Theobald,  second  Viscount  Taafe,  created  Earl  of  Carlingford,  June  26th, 
1662. 

Page  26,  line  25.    "  Sir  Nicholas  Annom'er." 

Equerry  to  Charles  II.  Pepys  tells  a  curious  anecdote  of  his  inducing  the 
King  to  drink  the  Duke  of  York's  health  on  his  knees. 

Page  27,  line  28.     «  Mr.  Oldenburg." 

Henry  Oldenburg,  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Society.  He  was  committed  to 
the  Tower,  as  Pepys  informs  us,  "  for  writing  news  to  a  virtuoso  in  France," 
but  was  shortly  afterwards  liberated. 

Page  28,  line  32.    "  Mr.  Ashbumham  and  Mr.  W.  Legge." 

John  Ashburnham,  Groom  of  the  Bedchamber  to  Charles  I.  and  Charles  II. 
Colonel  William  Legge  filled  the  same  post ;  was  Treasurer  and  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Ordnance,  Member  for  Southampton,  and  father  of  the  first 
Lord  Dartmouth.  Pepys  describes  him  as  "  a  pleasant  man,  and  that  hath 
seen  much  of  the  world,  and  more  of  the  Court."  He  was  with  Charles  I. 
during  the  rebellion,  and  represented  Sussex  in  Parliament.  Another  of  the 
Ashburnhams  filled  the  office  of  Cofferer.     Pepys  frequently  alludes  to  both. 

Page  31.     «  To  visit  the  late  Lord  Chancellor." 

This  entry  of  the  9th  December,  1667,  is  a  mistake.  Evelyn  could  not 
have  visited  the  "  late  Lord  Chancellor  "  on  that  day.  Lord  Clarendon  fled 
on  Saturday,  the  29th  of  November,  1667,  and  his  letter  resigning  the 
Chancellorship  of  the  University  of  Oxford  is  dated  from  Calais  on  the 
7th  of  December.  That  Evelyn's  book  is  not,  in  every  respect,  strictly  a 
diary,  is  shown  by  this  and  several  similar  passages,  aheady  adverted  to  in 
the  remarks  prefixed  to  the  present  edition.  If  this  entry  of  the  18  th  of 
August,  1683,  is  correct,  the  date  of  Evelyn's  last  visit  to  Lord  Clarendon 
was  the  28th  of  November,  1667.    (See  p.  184  of  the  present  volume.) 

Page  32,  line  15.     «  Sir  WiUiam  Penn." 

Father  of  the  founder  of  Pennsylvania,  whom  Evelyn  in  a  subsequent 
page  accuses  of  having  published  "  a  blasphemous  book  against  the  Deity 
of  our  blessed  Lord."  Sir  William  Penn  held  the  rank  of  Admiral,  and  had 
distinguished  himself  in  the  battle  with  the  Dutch  in  1664,  which  gained 
him  tbe  honour  of  knighthood.  He  was  Governor  of  Kinsale,  and  died  in 
1670. 

Page  33,  last  note. 

Evelyn's  allusion  is  certainly  to  Dryden's  comedy,  which  was  produced 
and  printed  in  1668,  the  year  in  which  Evelyn  would  appeal*  to  have 
seen  it. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  381 

Page  34,  Utic  3.     "  Sir  Samuel  Tuke." 

Of  Cressing  Temple,  Essex;  a  baronet,  and  colonel  in  the  army  of  Charles  I. 
He  was  Evelyn's  cousin. 

Page  35,  line  20.     "  Sir  Elias  Leighton." 

The  Sir  Ellis  Layton  of  Pepys.  He  was  Secretary  to  the  Prize  Office,  and 
to  the  Duke  of  York.  "  A  mad  freaking  fellow" — according  to  one  authority 
— though  a  Doctor  of  Civil  Law,  and  brother  to  the  Bishop  of  Dumblane. 
According  to  another,  "  for  a  speech  of  forty  words  the  wittiest  man  that 
ever  he  knew,"  and  moreover  "  one  of  the  best  companions  at  a  meal  in  the 
world." 

Page  38,  line  15.    "Mrs.  Phillips." 

A  poetess  of  much  celebrity  in  her  time,  and  known  as  "  the  matchless 
Orinda."  The  work  mentioned  by  Evelyn  was  her  translation  of  P.  Cor- 
neille's  '  Horace,'  which  Pepys  calls  "  a  silly  tragedy." 

Page  38,  line  1 6.    "  Signer  Malpighi." 

Marcellus  Malpighi,  eminent  for  his  discoveries  respecting  the  economy  of 
the  liver  and  kidneys,  and  for  his  researches  in  vegetable  physiology.  Born 
1628,  died  1694. 

Page  39,  line  18.     «  Sir  William  Pulteney." 

A  distinguished  member  of  Parliament,  grandfather  of  the  first  Earl  of 
Bath.  He  was  a  Commissicwer  of  the  Privy  Seal  under  William  III.,  and 
died  in  1671. 

Page  39,  line  28.    "  That  excellent  creature,  Mrs.  Blagge." 

Afterwards  Mrs.  Godolphin,  whose  life,  written  by  Evelyn,  has  recently 
been  published  under  the  auspices  of  the  Bishop  of  Oxford. 

Page  m,  line  IG.    "Dr.  South." 

Robert  South,  D.D.,  Prebendary  of  Westminster  and  Canon  of  Christ- 
church,  one  of  the  most  eloquent  preachers  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
Pepys  alludes  to  his  having  been  seized  with  a  fainting  fit  in  the  pulpit  while 
preaching  before  the  King.   He  nevertheless  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Page  i\,  line  Id.    "Dr.  Hyde." 

Thomas  Hyde,  D.D.,  Hebrew  Reader,  Keeper  of  the  Bodleian  Library, 
Prebend  of  Salisbury  Cathedral,  Regius  Professor  of  Hebrew,  and  Canon  of 
Christchurch,  Oxford ;  author  of  a  Latin  History  of  the  Ancient  Persians 
and  Medes,  and  one  of  Walton's  coadjutors  in  the  great  Polyglot  Bible. 
Born  in  1638,  and  died  in  1703. 

Page  4:1,  line  19.  "  Dr.  Compton." 
Henry,  son  of  Spencer  Compton,  Earl  of  Northampton,  slain  at  the  battle 
of  Hop  ton  Heath,  commenced  his  career  as  a  cornet  of  dragoons,  but  after  a 
short  time  abandoned  the  army  for  the  church,  in  which  he  raised  himself 
by  his  talents  to  be  Bishop  of  Oxford,  and  in  1675  was  translated  to. the  see 
of  London.  He  was  a  zealous  Protestant  during  the  reign  of  James  II.,  and 
not  only  was  instrumental  in  bringing  over  William  of  Orange  to  this  country, 
but  placed  the  crown  upon  his  head,  on  Archbishop  Bancroft  refusing  to 
assist  at  the  coronation.     He  wrote  several  works  of  a  religioua  character. 


382  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

and  a  translation  of  the  life  of  Donna  Olympia  Maldachini,  from  tlie  Italian. 
He  died  in  1713. 

Page  4 1,  lirie  21.    "  Dr.  Sprat." 

Dr.  Thomas  Sprat,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  the  biographer  of  Cowley, 
historian  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  author  of  smidry  verses  and  sermons. 
Bom  in  1636,  died  1713. 

Page  41,  line  22.    «  Dr.  Allestree." 

Richard  Allestree  was  first  designed  for  the  church,  but  tlie  Civil  War 
forced  him  into  the  army.  At  the  Restoration  he  returned  to  his  original 
profession,  in  which  he  raised  himself  to  considerable  eminence.  Born  1619, 
died  1680. 

Page  44,  line  7.    "  Dr.  Patrick." 

Simon  Patrick,  Prebendary  of  Westminster,  Dean  of  Peterborough,  Bishop 
of  Chichester,  thence  removed  to  the  see  of  Ely,  and  author  of  several  religious 
works,  in  which  he  put  himself  forward  as  the  champion  of  the  Protestant 
party  in  the  reign  of  James  II.    Born  in  1626,  died  in  1707. 

Page  45,  line  1 0.     «  Dr.  Durell." 

John  Durell,  Dean  of  Windsor.  He  translated  the  Liturgy  into  the  French 
and  Latin  languages,  and  was  the  author  of  a  Vindication  of  the  Church  of 
England  against  schismatics.     Born  1626,  died  1683. 

Page  50,  line  7  from  lotiom.        "  Monsieur  Monconys." 

Balthasar  de  Monconys,  a  Frenchman,  celebrated  for  his  travels  in  the 
East,  which  he  published  in  three  volumes.  His  object  was  to  discover  ves- 
tiges of  the  philosophy  of  Trismegistus  and  Zoroaster ;  in  which,  it  is 
hardly  necessary  to  add,  he  was  not  very  successful. 

Page  65,  line  31.    «  Mr.  Streeter." 

Robert  Streeter,  an  artist  held  in  much  esteem  at  this  period,  and  enjoy- 
ing the  post  of  Serjeant  Painter  to  the  King.     He  died  in  1680. 

Page  57.     "  Dined  at  the  Treasurer's." 

This  entry  of  1 0th  May,  1 671,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  Blood,  and  the  stealing  of 
the  crown,  &c.,  is  a  mistake.  Blood  stole  the  crown  on  the  9th  of  May,  1671 
— the  very  day  before  ;  aud  the  "not  long  before  "  of  Evelyn,  and  the  cir- 
cumstance of  his  being  "  pardoned,"  which  Evelyn  also  mentions,  can  hardly 
be  said  to  relate  to  only  the  day  before.  This  is  another  of  the  passages  to 
which  frequent  reference  has  been  made,  and  which  are  explained  in  the 
advertisement  to  the  present  edition  of  the  Diary. 

Page  57,  line  35.     "  Monsieur  de  Grammont." 

Philibert,  Comte  de  Grammont,  so  well  known  by  the  Memoirs  he  dictated 
to  his  brother-in-law,  Anthony,  Cormt  Hamilton.    He  died  in  1707. 

Page  59,  line  10.     «  Colonel  Titus." 
Silas  Titus,  author  of  "  Killing  no  Murder." 

Page  60,  line  2.    "  Chief  Justice  Hales." 
Sir  Matthew  Hale,  so  famous  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  bench  in 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  383 

Cromwell's  time.  After  the  Restoration,  he  became  Chief  Baron  of  the 
Exchequer;  then  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench  ;  and  died  in  1 676 .  The 
author  of  numerous  works,  not  only  on  professional  subjects,  but  on 
mathematics  and  philosophy. 

Page  60,  line  22.     "  Colonel  Middleton." 

Thomas  Middleton,  a  coadjutor  of  Pepys  in  the  Navy  Board,  and  styled 
by  him  "  a  most  honest  and  understanding  man." 

Page  60,  line  31.     "Constantine  Huygens." 

Constantino  and  his  son,  Christian  Huygens,  were  both  eminent  for  scien- 
tific knowledge  and  classical  attainments  ;  Christian,  particularly  so  ;  for 
he  was  the  inventor  of  the  pendulum,  made  an  improvement  in  the  air- 
pump,  first  discovered  the  ring  and  one  of  the  satellites  of  Saturn,  and 
ascertained  the  laws  of  collision  of  clastic  bodies.  He  died  in  1695.  Con- 
stantine, the  fathei*,  was  a  person  of  influence  and  distinction  in  Holland, 
and  held  tlie  post  of  secretary  to  the  Prince  of  Orange. 

Page  62,  line  1 3.     "  Sir  Thomas  Strickland." 

Made  a  baronet  by  Charles  I.  on  the  field  of  Edgehill,  where  he  com- 
manded a  regiment  of  infantry.  After  the  Restoration  he  was  member  for 
the  County  of  Westmoreland,  and  Privy  Purse  to  Charles  II.  He  was  subse- 
quently one  of  James  II's  Privy  Council,  and  followed  liim  into  France, 
where  he  died  in  1694. 

Page  62,  second  note. 

This  note  is  a  mistake.  The  Custom  House  rebuilt  after  the  Fire,  was 
burnt  down  in  1718.  The  new  one  erected  in  its  stead  was  destroyed  in 
1814. 

Page  65,  line  9.    «  Dr.  T.  Browne." 

Better  kno^vn  as  Sir  Thomas  Browne.  Beside  the  work  mentioned  by 
Evelyn,  he  was  the  author  of  the  famous  treatise  on  "  Urn  Burial,"  and 
"  The  Garden  of  Cyrus."     He  was  boi'n  in  1605,  and  died  in  1682. 

Page  Q9,  line  19.     «  Sir  John  Cutler." 

An  eminent  citizen  of  London,  and  member  of  the  Grocers'  Company, 
who  have  a  statue  of  him  in  their  hall.  There  is  another  in  the  College  of 
Physicians.  He  is  severely  handled  by  Pope,  as  all  poetical  readers 
know  ;  yet  Pepys  appeal's  to  have  thought  well  of  him. 

Page  81,  last  line.    "Isaac  Vossius." 

Bom  at  Leyden,  in  1618.  On  comuig  to  England,  Charles  II.  gave  him 
a  canonry  at  Windsor,  and  the  University  of  Oxford  conferred  on  him  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws.  It  was  said  of  him  by  the  King,  "  He  is  a 
strange  man  for  a  divine  ;  there  is  nothing  he  refuses  to  believe,  but  the 
Bible."     He  died  in  1688. 

Page  85,  Uiie  19.    "  Mr.  Wright." 
Michael  Wright,  a  fashionable  portrait  painter,  but  greatly  inferior  to  Lely. 

Page  88,  line  1 2.     "  Sii-  Edward  Walker." 
Celebrated  for  his  knowledge  of  heraldry.     He  attended  Charles  II.  into 
exile,  and   after    the    Restoration    he  became  first   Clerk    of  the    Privy 


384  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

Council  and  subsequently  Garter  King-at-Anns.  Author,  among  other 
works,  of  "  Iter  Carolinum,  or  au  Account  of  the  Marches,  &c.,  of  King 
Charles  I."  *'  Mihtary  Discoveries,"!,"  Historical  Discoveries,"  &c.  He  died 
in  1677.  Pepys  describes  his  bringing  the  Gai'ter  to  the  Earl  of  Sandwich, 
and  his  officiating  at  the  coronation  of  Charles  II. 

Page  93,  liiie  11.    "The  Lord  Chief  Baron  Turner." 

Sir  Edward  Turner,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  subsequently 
SoUcitor-General,  and  Lord  Chief  Baron.    He  died  in  1675. 

Page  dZ,  line  \\.     « Sergeant  Wild." 
Sir  William  Wild,  Member  for  the  City  of  London,  and  Recorder. 

Page  98,  line  7.    "  Sir  Robert  Southwell." 

Sent  Envoy  Extraordinary  to  Portugal,  in  1665,  and  in  the  same  capacity 
to  Brussels,  in  1671.  He  was  subsequently  Clerk  of  the  Privy  Council,  and 
having  shown  much  taste  for  learned  and  scientific  researches,  was  five 
times  elected  President  of  the  Royal  Society.  He  died  in  1702.  His  son 
Edward  became  Secretary  of  State. 

Page  99,  line  28.    «  Dr.  Morison." 

Robert  Morison,  Physician  to  Charles  II.,  Regius  Professor  of  Botany  at 
Oxford,  and  author  of  "  Praeludium  Botanicum,"  and  of  the  fragment  of  a 
"  Historia  Plantarum,"  which  he  left  unfinished  when  he  died,  in  1683. 

Page  99,  line  30.    «  Dr.  Plot." 

Robert  Plot,  Doctor  of  Laws,  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Royal  Society, 
Royal  Historiographer,' Keeper  of  the  Archives  of  the  Heralds'  College; 
celebrated  for  his  "  Natural  -Histories  of  Oxfordshire  and  Staffordshire."  He 
died  ill  1696.  ,  .  .  ■■        .        —  .  •     ' 

Pa^re  103,  Zine  21.    "Spanheimus."  ■ 

Ezekiel  Spanheim  was  bom  at  Geneva,  in  1629.  The  Elector  Palatine, 
Charles  Louis,  to  whose  son  he  had  heen  tutor,  sent  him,  after  the  peace  of 
Ryswicke,  ambassador;  to  France,  and  thence  to  England,  where  he  died  in 
1710.    He  was  a  learned  author,  as  well  as  a  celebrated  diplomatist. 

Page  105,  line  2.    "Dr.  Whistler." 

President  of  the  College  of  Physicians.  He  accompanied  Bulstrode 
Whitelock  in  his  embassy  to  Sweden,  and  died  in  1 684.  '  Pepys  says  that  he 
found  him  "  good  company,  and  a  very  ingenious  man." 

Page  1 05,  line  2  from  bottom.    "  Mr.  Prideaux." 

Humphrey  Prideaux  was  bom  in  1648,  and  became  Dean  of  Norwich. 
He  was  the  author  of  "  The  Connection  of  the  History  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament,"  "  The  Life  of  Mahomet,"  and  other  works.     He  died  in  1724. 

Page  107,  line  8.     "  Sir  William  Sanderson." 

The" author  of  a  "History  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots,"  and  of  Histories 
of  James  and  Charles  I.  He  held  the  post  of  gentleman  of  the  chamber, 
and  his  wife  that  of  "  mother  of  the  maids."  i 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  385 

Page  108,  line  1 2.     «  Mr.  Flamstead." 

John  Flamstead,  author  of  "  Historia  Coelestis  Britannica,"  and  other 
works.  A  distinguished  astronomer  ;  and  in  the  comprehensiveness  of  his 
scientific  knowledge,  second  only  to  Sir  Isaac  Newton.     He  died  in  1719. 

Page  1 17,  line  20.     "  Dr.  Grew." 

Neheraiah  Grew,  a  physician,  who  directed  his  researches  towards  botany, 
and  one  of  the  first  who  advocated  the  theory  of  different  sexes  in  plants. 
Born  1628,  died  1711. 

Page  119,  line  27.     "  Monsieur  Rotiere," 

Probably  Philip  Rotiere,  who  introduced  the  figure  of  Britannia  into  tho 
coinage,  taking  for  his  model  the  King's  favourite,  Frances  Stewart,  Duchess 
of  Richmond. 

Page  1 20,  second  note. 

For  Colyeur  read  Collyer.  There  are  other  errors  in  this  note.  The 
Countess  of  Dorchester  married  David  Collyer,  Earl  of  Portmore.  See 
note  at  p.  248. 

Page  128,  line  12.     «  Mr.  Houblon." 

One  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  merchants  of  London  at  this  period.  Two 
of  James  Iloublon's  sons  obtained  the  honour  of  knighthood.  Sir  James 
became  one  of  the  members  for  the  city,  in  1648  ;  Sir  John  was  Lord 
Mayor,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  and  Governor  of  the 
Bank  of  England.  From  the  former  descend  the  Houblons  of  Hallingbury- 
place,  Eissex,  and  of  Culverthorpe,  Lincoln.  Pepys  mentions  "  five  bro- 
thers Houblon,"  and  he  adds,  "  mighty  fine  gentlemen  they  are  all,  and 
used  me  mighty  respectfully." 

Page  129,  line  5  from  lottom.  "Sir  Robert  Viner." 
A  very  wealthy  banker,  whom  Pepys  describes  as  living  in  great  state  at 
Swakely  House,  Ickenham,  Middlesex.  When  Lord  Mayor  he  entertained 
Charles  11.  at  Guildhall  ;  and  on  his  Majesty  retiring,  urged  him  to  "return 
and  take  t'other  bottle."  He  was  created  a  Baronet.  The  crown  was  indebted 
to  Sir  Robert  Viner,  at  the  shutting  of  the  Exchequer,  nearly  half  a  million 
of  money,  for  which  he  was  awarded  25,0001.  9s.  Ad.  per  annum,  out  of  the 
excise. 

Page  134,  last  line  hut  two.     "  Now  lately  returned  from  Flanders." 
He  returned  the  day  before,  the  12th  of  September.     This  is  another  of 
the  indications  that  the  entries  of  this  Diary  were  not  always  made  on  the 
precise  days  they  refer  to. 

Page  1 39,  line  7.    "  Dr.  Cave." 

Ml*.  William  Cave ;  author  also  of  "  Lives  of  the  Apostles  and  Mai'tyrs," 
and  "Historia  Literaria."     Born  1C37,  died  1713. 

Page  145,  line  9.     "  Monsieur  Chardin. 

! '  Better  known  as  Sir  John  Chardin,  he  liaving,  though  a  Frenchman,  been 
knighted  by  Charles  II.  He  was  an  enterprising  traveller  in  the  East,  and 
his  accounts  of  India  and  Persia  ai-e  thought  peculiarly  interesting.  He 
died  in  1713. 

VOL.  II.  C  C 


386  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

Page  147.    "  In  my  esteem,  above  all,  the  Noli  me  Tangere." 

Now,  with  other  fpictvires  mentioned  in  the  course  of  this  Diary,  in  the 
gallery  at  Hampton  Court. 

Page  151,  line  22.  '/'Mr.  Treby." 

Afterwards  Chief  Justice  of  the  Common  Pleas,  and  knighted.  Sir  George 
Treby  was  also  member  of  Parliament  for  Plympton,  in  Devonshire,  where 
he  was  bom.     He  died  in  1702. 

Page  159,  line  23.    «  Dr.  Hooper." 

George  Hooper,  afterwards  Dean  of  Canterbury,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph, 
and  then  translated  to  the  see  of  Bath  and  Wells.     He  died  in  1727. 

Page  160,  line  1.    «^Mr.  Thynne." 

Thomas  Thynne,  Esq.,  of  Longleat  Hall,  Wilts.  He  had  married  the  young 
widow  of  Lord  Ogle,  but  the  marriage  was  never  consummated  ;  and  had 
previously  seduced,  under  a  promise  of  marriage,  a  young  lady,  who  is  said 
to  have  been  in  some  way  instrumental  to  his  murder.  Hence  the  burlesque 
epitaph : 

"  Here  lies  Tom  Thynne  of  Longleat  Hall, 
AVlio  never  would  have  miscarried, 
Had  he  married  the  woman  he  lay  withal ; 
Or  laid  with  the  woman  he  married." 

Assuming  the  truth  of  what  Lord  Essex  conveyed  to  Evelyn  in  the  text, 
the  incUuations  of  the  wealthy  heiress  were  not  consulted  in  her  union  ;  and 
this  may  have  given  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  she  encouraged  Count  Konigs- 
marke's  addresses,  and  was  privy  to  his  murderous  designs  upon  her  husband. 

Page  166,  line  8.    "Monsieur  Papm." 

Denys  Papin,  a  French  physician"  and  mathematician,  who  possessed 'so 
remarkable  a  knowledge  of  mathematics,  that  he  very  nearly  brought  the  in- 
vention of  the  steam-engine  into  working  order.  He  assisted  Mr.  Boyle  in 
his  pneumatic  experiments,  and  was  afterwards  mathematical  professor  at 
Marpurg.     Ho  died  in  1710. 

Page  171,  line  6.    "Dr.  Gale." 

Dr.  Thomas  Gale  ;  he  was  Greek  Professor  at  Cambridge,  Master  of  St. 
Paul's  School,  London,  and  subsequently  Dean  of  York.  He  was  the  author 
of  several  scholastic  works  ;  and  was  counted  among  the  most  learned  men 
of  his  time.    Born  in  1636  ;  died  in  1702. 

Page  n\,  line  15.    "  Captain  Collins." 

Probably  a  John  CoUins,  who  had  been  in  the  naval  service  of  Venice,  and 
who  was  employed  at  this  time  as  an  accountant  in  some  of  the  government 
offices,  was  a  contributor  to  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  wrote 
several  mathematical  works. 

Page  174,  line  16.    «  Dr.  Charleton." 

Walter  Charleton  was  with  Charles  II.  during  his  exile,  in  the  capa- 
city of  physician,  and  returned  with  him  at  the  Restoration.  He  wrote  on 
natural  history,  antiquities,  theology,  medicine,  and  natural  philosophy. 
Died  1707. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  387 

Page  179.    "  Sir  Thomas  Yarborough  and  his  lady." 

The  lady  was  Mary  Blagg,  of  whom  Count  Hamilton  says  so  much  ;  and 
sister  of  Mi*.  Blagg,  of  whom  Evelyn  says  so  much. 

Page  180.    "Much  discourse  with  Monsieur  Pontaq." 

And  see  p.  326,  whore  Evelyn  describes  himself  and  certain  members  of 
the  Royal  Society  all  dining  "  at  Pontac's  as  usual,"  Pontac's  was  a  famous 
French  eating-house,  now  existing  only  in  the  verse  of  Dryden,  the  prose  of 
Swift  and  Defoe,  and  other  such  imperishable  records.  Defoe  describes  its 
name  as  derived  from  the  owner  of  the  most  celebrated  claret  vintage  of 
France,  the  president  of  the  parliament  of  Bourdeaux  ;  the  "  M.  Pontaq" 
above  referred  to,  established  it ;  and  Swift,  who  dined  at  it  seventeen  years 
after  the  dinner  mentioned  by  Evelyn,  tells  Stella  that  the  wine  was  charged 
seven  shillings  a  flask.     "Are  not  these  pretty  rates  \" 

Page  194,  line  2.    "Monsieur  Justell." 

Henry  Justell,  created  LL.D.  by  the  University  of  Oxford,  on  presenting 
to  the  university  the  MSS.  of  his  father,  Christopher  Justell,  a  learned  writer 
on  ecclesiastical  antiquities  and  canon  law.  Both  were  bom  in  France  ; 
but  on  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  the  son  fled  to  England,  and  was 
appointed  Keeper  of  the  King's  Library.  He  published  sevei-al  works. 
Born  1620  ;  died  1693. 

Page  194,  line  14.    "Mr.  Johnson." 

Samuel  Johnson,  a  clergyman,  who  was  distingtiished  by  the  rigour  of  his 
writings  against  the  Court ;  particularly  by  his  "  Juhan  the  Apostate,"  directed 
at  the  Duke  of  York,  a  recent  convert  to  Popery.  For  these  he  was  fined 
and  imprisoned,  put  in  the  pillory,  whipped  at  the  cart's  tail,  and  degraded 
from  the  priesthood  :  nevertheless,  he  was  not  silenced  ;  and  he  lived  to  see 
the  Revolution,  which  placed  William  of  Orange  on  the  throne  ;  whereupon 
he  received  a  present  of  £1000,  and  a  pension  of  £300  per  annum,  for  the 
joint  lives  of  himself  and  his  son.     He  died  in  1703. 

Page  203,  line  1 5.    «  Dobson." 

William  Dobson,  a  clever  portrait  painter,  who  succeeded  Vandyke  in  the 
employments  he  held  under  Charles  I.     He  died  in  1646. 

Page  211.     "  Under  the  name  of  Sir  Positive." 

Evelyn  here  means  Sir  Positive  At-All,  in  Shadwell's  comedy  of  the 
"  Sullen  Lovers,"  which  Pepys  also  tells  us  was  meant  for  Sir  Robert 
Howard,  Dryden's  brother-in-law. 

Page  242,  Ztwe  19.    «  The  famous  Claude." 

John  Claude,  a  celebrated  French  Protestant  minister,  and  a  distinguished 
controversial  writer  ;  who,  at  the  revocation  of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  was  or- 
dered to  quit  France  in  four-and-twcnty  hours.  One  of  his  books  was 
burned,  by  the  direction  of  James  II.,  by  tlae  hangman,  in  the  Old  Exchange, 
on  May  5th,  1686.     He  died  the  following  year. 

Page  250,  Vfne  32.     «  Dr.  Ray." 

John  Ray,  the  celebrated  naturalist,  and  author,  among  other  works,  of 
"  Tlie  Wisdom  of  God  manifested  in  the  Works  of  the  Creation."     He  ^vas  a 

c  c  2 


388  ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

liberal  contributor  to  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society,  of  which  he  was 
elected  a  fellow  m  1667.   Born  iu  1628,  died  m  1705. 

Page  255,  line  10.  *'  Dr.  Sharp." 
John  Sharp,  Dean  of  Norwich,  famous  for  having  been  one  of  the  first 
victims  to  the  intolerance  of  James  II.,  who  caused  him  to  be  suspended  for 
preaching  against  Popery.  After  the  revolution  he  was  made  Dean  of 
Canterbury,  and  subsec[uently  Archbishop  of  York.  Born  1644.  Died 
1713. 

Page  255,  line  n.    «  Tully." 

George  Tully,  another  champion  of  Protestantism,  whom  James  endea- 
voured to  silence  with  persecution.     He  died  in  1697. 

Page  261,  line  10.    «  Mr.  Wake." 

William  III.  recognised  the  services  of  the  Rev.  William  Wake  in  the 
cause  of  the  Protestant  Church  of  England,  by  presenting  him  with  valuable 
preferments.  He  was  King's  Chaplain,  Rector  of  St.  James's  Westminster, 
Dean  of  Exeter,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  finally,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
Bom  1657.    Died  1737. 

Page  263,  line  11.    «  Dr.  Ken." 

A  prelate  remarkable  for  his  benevolence  and  piety,  and  the  only  person 
in  England  known  to  have  interceded  for  the  sufferers  from  the  cruelty 
of  Colonel  Kirke,  on  the  suppression  of  Monmouth's  rebellion ;  urging  the 
King  with  tears  to  put  a  stop  to  the  dreadful  butchery.  He  was  one  of 
the  seven  bishops  sent  by  James  II.  to  the  Tower  ;  yet  he  refused  to 
acknowledge  James's  successor,  on  the  ground  that  it  would  be  a  breach  of 
his  Consecration  Oath,  and  suffered  for  his  conscientious  scruples  _  the 
penalty  of  deprivation.    He  was  born  in  1637,  and  died  in  1711. 

Page  266.    "  Marriage  of  my  cousin,  Evelyn  Pierpoint." 

This  Evelyn  Pierpoint  was  married  in  the  same  month  to  Lady  Mary 
Fielding.  The  issue  of  the  marriage  was  the  celebrated  Lady  Mary  Wort- 
ley  Montagu. 

Page  285.    "  Especially  that  of  the  Spanish  Ambassador." 
The  Spanish  Ambassador's  House  was  Wild  House,  Drury  Lane. 

Page  308,  line  19.  «  Dr.  Walker." 
George  Walker,  an  Irish  clergyman,  who  distinguished  himself  more  in 
the  camp  than  in  the  pulpit,  and  after  successfully  defending  Protestant 
Londonderry  against  the  Popish  army  under  James  II.,  accompanied 
William  III.  during  his  decisive  campaign  against  his  father-in-law,  till  he 
was  slain  at  the  battle  of  the  Boyne. 

Page  308,  line  32.    "  Lord  Torrington." 

Arthur  Herbert,  grandson  of  the  celebrated  Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbtoy. 
In  1689,  William  raised  him  to  the  Peerage  for  his  eminent  naval  services, 
with  the  titles  of  Baron  Torbay  and  Earl  of  Torrington ;  but  not  succeeding 
against  the  French  fleet  near  Beechy  Head,  he  was  sent  to  the  Tower,  tried 
by  a  Court-martial,  and,  though  acquitted,  never  again  employed.  He  died 
April  14,  1716. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES.  339 

Page  SOS,  line  3.    «  The  Duke  of  Grafton." 

Henry  Fitzroy,  second  natural  son  of  Charles  II.  by  the  Duchess  of 
CleTcland.    His  Grace  was  ancestor  of  the  present  Duke. 

Page  309,  line  4  from  hottom.    "  Lord  Sydney," 

Henry,  youngest  brother  of  Robert,  second  Earl  of  Leicester  ;  created  in 
1689,  Baron  Sydney  and  Viscount  Sydney,  and  in  1694  Earl  of  Ronmey. 
He  died  in  1704. 

Page  310,  line  20.    "  Countess  of  Clancarty." 

Elizabeth  Fitzgerald,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Kildare.  Her  son,  the  third 
Earl,  for  the  services  he  had  rendered  James  II.,  forfeited  in  the  reign  of  his 
successor  the  whole  of  his  vast  estates. 

Page  312,  line  3.    «  Dr.  Sloane." 

Better  known  as  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  having  been  created  a  Baronet  by 
George  I.  He  was  an  eminent  physician  and  naturalist,  Physician-general 
to  the  Army,  Physician  in  Ordinary  to  the  King,  and  in  1727  was  elected 
President  of  the  Royal  Society.  His  monument  may  be  seen  in  the  church- 
yard of  old  St.  Luke's,  Chelsea,  near  the  river.  His  extensive  museum  aud 
library  were  purchased  for  20,000?.,  and  transferred  to  the  British  Museum. 
Bom  1660.    Died  in  1752. 

Page  318,  line  5.    «  Lord  Marlborough." 

So  celebrated  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne  as  John,  first  Duke  of  Marl- 
borougli.  The  real  cause  of  his  dismissal  from  his  employments  by  Wil- 
liam III.  was  not  tlie  one  mentioned  by  Evelyn, but  a  quarrel  between  Queen 
Mary  and  her  sister,  the  Princess  Anne,  in  which  her  friend  Lady  Marl- 
borough was  involved. 

Page  321,  line  23.    «  Dr.  Sterne." 

Richard  Sterne,  grandfather  of  the  author  of  "  Tristram  Shandy."  He 
attended  Archbisliop  Laud  to  the  scaffold  as  his  chaplain.  On  the  Restora- 
tion he  was  created  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  and  subsequently  Archbishop  of  York. 
He  assisted  in  the  Polyglott  and  in  the  revisal  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.     Bom  1596.     Died  1683. 

Page  326,  line  10.    «  Dr.  Davenant." 

Cliai'les,  eldest  son  of  Sir  William  Davenant,  joint  inspector  of  plays, 
Commissioner  of  Excise,  and  Inspector-general  of  Exports  and  Imports.  His 
chief  work  was  called  "  Essays  on  Trade,"  in  five  volumes.  Born  1656. 
Died  1714. 

Page  331,  line  13.    "  Mr.  Wotton." 

The  Reverend  William  Wotton,  author  of  "  Reflections  upon  Ancient  and 
Modem  Learning,"  "  The  History  of  Rome,  from  the  Death  of  Antoninus 
Pius  to  the  Death  of  Severus  Alexander,"  and  other  works.  Born  1666. 
Died  1726. 

Page  336,  line  5.    «  Mr.  Vanbmgh." 

Sir  John  Vanbrugh,  the  famous  dramatist,  architect  of  Blenheim  and 
Castle  Howard  ;  also  Clarencieux  King  at  Arms,  Comptroller  of  the  Board 
of  Works,  and  Surveyor  of  Greenwich  Hospital.     Born  1672.     Died  1726. 


APPENDIX. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


(See  p.  234.) 

Feb.  1687-8,  there  was  printed  what  was  called  "A  true  and  perfect 
narrative  of  the  strange  and  unexpected  finding  the  Crucifix  and  Gold-chain 
of  that  pious  Prince,  St.  Edward  the  King  and  Confessor,  which  was  found 
after  six  hundred  and  thirty  years'  interment,  and  presented  to  his  most 
Sacred  Majesty,  King  James  the  Second.  By  Charles  Taylour,  Gent. 
London,  printed  by  J.  B.,  and  are  to  be  sold  by  Randal  Taylor,  near 
Stationers'  Hall,  1688." 

He  says,  that  "on  St.  Bamaby's  Day  (11  June),  1685,  between  11  and  12 
at  noon,  he  went  with  two  friends  to  see  the  coffin  of  Edward  tlie  Confessor, 
having  heard  that  it  was  brolce  ;  fetched  a  ladder,  looked  on  the  coffin  and 
found  a  hole  as  reported,  put  his  hand  into  the  hole,  and  turning  the  bones 
which  he  felt  there,  drew  from  under  the  shoulder-bones  a  crucifix  richly 
adorned  and  enamelled,  and  a  golden  chain  of  twenty-four  inches  long  to 
which  it  was  fixed  ;  showed  them  to  his  two  friends  ;  was  afraid  to  take  them 
away,  till  he  had  acquainted  the  Dean  ;  put  them  into  the  coffiu  again.  But 
the  Dean  not  being  to  be  spoke  with  then,  and  fearing  this  treasure  might  be 
taken  by  some  other,  he  went  two  or  three  hours  afterward  to  one  of  the 
choir,  acquainted  him  with  what  lie  had  found,  who  accompanied  him  to  the 
monument,  from  whence  he  again  drew  tlie  crucifix  and  chain  ;  his  friend 
advised  him  to  keep  them,  until  he  could  show  them  to  the  Dean  (the 
Bishop  of  Rochester)  ;  kept  them  three  weeks  before  he  could  speak  to  the 
Bishop  ;  went  to  the  Archbishop  of  York,  and  showed  them  ;  next  morning, 
the  Archbishop  of  York  carried  him  to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbiu-y  att 
Lambeth,  and  showed  them.  After  this,  he  procured  an  exact  drawing  to  be 
made  of  them  ;  showed  tliem  to  Sir  William  Dugdale. — 6th  July,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  told  the  Bishop  of  Rochester,  who,  about  four  that  after- 
noon, sent  for  him,  and  took  him  to  Whitehall,  that  he  might  present  them 
to  the  King  ;  which  he  did  accordingly.  The  King  ordered  a  new  strong 
wooden  coffin  to  be  made  to  inclose  the  broken  one.  The  links  of  the  chain 
oblong,  and  curiously  wrought ;  the  upper  part  joined  by  a  locket,  composed 
of  a  large  round  knob  of  gold,  massy,  in  circumference  as  big  as  a  milled 
shilling,  half  an  inch  thick  ;  round  this  went  a  wire  and  half  a  dozen  little 
beads,  hanging  loose,  running  to  and  again  on  the  same,  all  of  pure  gold, 
finely  wrought ;  on  each  side  of  the  locket  were  set  two  large  square  stones 
(supposed  to  be  rubies).  From  each  side  of  this  locket,  fixed  to  two  rings  of 
gold,  the  chain  descends,  and,  meeting  below,  passes  through  a  square  piece 
of  gold,  of  a  convenient  bigness,  made  hollow  for  the  same  purpose.  This 
gold,  wrought  into  several  angles,  was  painted  with  divers  colours,  resembling 
gems  or  precious  stones,  to  which  the  crucifix  was  joined,  yet  to  be  taken  off 
by  help  of  a  screw.  The  form  of  tlie  cross  nearest  that  of  an  humettde  flory 
(among  the  heralds),  or  rather  the  botany  [boton^e]  ;  yet  the  pieces  not  of 


APPENDIX.  391 

equal  length,  the  perpendicular  beam  being  near  one-foui*th  part  longer  than 
the  traverse,  as  being  four  inches  to  the  extremity,  whilst  the  other  scarce 
exceeds  three  ;  yet  all  neatly  turned  at  the  ends,  and  tlie  botons  enamelled 
with  figures  thereon.  The  cross  of  the  same  gold  as  the  chain,  but  exceeds 
it  by  its  rich  enamel,  having  on  one  side  tlie  picture  of  our  Saviour  Christ  in 
his  passion  wi'ought  thei'eon,  and  an  eye  from  above  casting  a  kmd  of  beam 
on  him  ;  on  the  reverse,  picture  of  a  Benedictine  monk  in  his  habit,  aud  on 
each  side  of  him  these  capital  Roman  letters  : — 

On  the  right,  And  on  the  left, 
(A)  P 

Z    A    X  AC 

A  H 

This  cross  is  hollow,  to  be  opened  by  two  little  screws  towards  the  top, 
wherein,  it  is  presumed,  some  reUc  might  have  been  conserved.  William  I. 
commanded  the  coffin  to  be  enshrined,  and  the  shrine  covered  with  plates  of 
gold  and  silver,  adorned  with  pearls  and  precious  stones.  About  oue  hundred 
and  thirty-six  years  after,  the  Abbot  resolved  to  inspect  the  body,  said  to  be 
incorruptible,  and,  on  opening,  found  it  to  be  so,  being  perfect,  the  limbs 
flexible :  the  face  covered  ;  Gundolph,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  withdrew  the 
cover,  but,  with  great  reverence,  covered  it  again,  changing  the  former  vest- 
ments, and  putting  on  others  of  equal  price.  In  1163,  Thomas  a  Becket 
procured  a  canonisation  of  the  King,  and  in  the  ceremony  the  Abbot  opened 
the  coffin,  found  the  body  lying  in  rich  vestments  of  cloth  of  gold,  having  on 
his  feet  buskins  of  purple,  and  shoes  of  great  price  ;  the  body  uncoiTupted  ; 
removed  the  whole  body  from  the  stone  repository  to  another  of  wood,  some 
assisting  at  the  head,  others  at  the  arms  and  legs  ;  they  Ufted  it  gently,  and 
laid  the  corpse  first  on  tapestry  spread  on  the  floor,  and  then  wrapping  the 
same  in  silken  cloths  of  great  value,  they  put  it  into  the  wooden  chest,  with 
all  tlwse  things  that  were  fomid  in  the  foiiner,  except  the  gold  ring  which  was 
on  the  King's  finger,  which  the  Abbot,  out  of  devotion,  retained,  and  ordered 
it  to  be  kept  in  the  Treasury  of  the  Abbey. 

"  In  1226,  King  Henry  III.  again  removed  the  coffin  to  a  chapel  built  for 
the  purpose." 

II. 

MR.  EVELYN'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  first  subjoined  List  is  from  a  Letter  of  Mr.  Evelyn's  to 
Dr.  Plot,  dated  16  March,  1682-3. 
Translations. 
■    1.  Of  Liberty  and  Servitude,  Loud.  1644,  12mo. 

2.  The  French  Gardener  and  English  Vineyard,  1658,  12mo.  3rd  edit. 
,    3.  An  Essay  on  the  first  Book  of  Lucretius,  1656,  8vo. 

4.  Gaspar  Naudaeus,  Instructions  concerning  Libraries,  1661,  8vo. 

5.  A  Parallel  of  the  Ancient  Architectui'e  with  the  Modern,  with  a  treatise 
on  Statues,  (Sec,  1664,  folio. 

6.  An  Idea  of  the  perfection  of  Paintmg,  1668,  8vo. 

7.  The  Mystery  of  Jesuitism,  2  parts,  8vo. 

8.  St.  Chrysostom's  Golden  Book  for  the  Education  of  Children,  out  of 
tlie  Greeli,  1659,  12mo. 

On{/inal  WorJ:s. 
1.  An  Apology  for  the  Royal  Party,  1659,  4to.     Three  Editions. 
'      2.  Panegyric  at  his  Majesty's  Coronation,  1G61,  folio. 

,   3.  Fumifugium,  or  a  prophetic  Invective  against  the  Fire  and  Smoke  of 
London,  with  its  Remedies,  1661,  4 to. 


392  APPENDIX. 

4.  Sculptura,  or  the  History  of  the  Art  of  Chalcogi-aphy,  1662,  8vo. 

5.  Public  Employment,  and  an  active  life  preferred  to  Solitude,  1667, 8vc 

6.  History  of  the  Three  late  Impostors,  1669,  8vo. 

7.  Kalendarium  Hortense,  1664,  1679,  8vo.    Six  Editions. 

8.  Sylva,  1679,  folio.     Three  Editions. 

9.  Terra,  1679.     Two  Editions. 

10.  Tyrannus,  or  the  Mode,  8vo. 

1 1 .  The  Dignity  of  Man,  &c.,  not  printed,  nearly  ready. 

12.  Elysium  Britanicum,  not  printed,  nearly  ready. 

Prepared  for  the  Press. 

A  Discourse  of  Medals. — Of  Manuscripts. — Of  Stones. — Of  Reason  in 
Brute  Animals.* 


In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Beale,  11  July,  1679,  Mr.  Evelyn  says,  "I  have  some- 
times thought  of  publishing  a  Treatise  of  Acetaria,  which  (though  but  one  of 
the  chapters  of  Elysium,  JBritannicum)  would  make  a  competent  volume, 
accompanied  with  other  necessaries,  according  to  my  manner  ;  but  whilst  I 
as  often  think  of  performing  my  so  long-since  promised  (more  xmiversal) 
Hortulan  work,  I  know  not  how  to  take  that  chapter  out,  and  single  it  for 
the  press,  without  some  blemish  to  the  rest.  When  again  I  consider  into 
what  an  ocean  I  am  plunged,  how  much  I  have  written  and  collected  for 
above  these  twenty  years  upon  this  fruitful  and  inexhaustible  subject  (I 
mean  Horticulture)  not  yet  fully  digested  to  my  mind,  and  what  insuperable 
pains  it  will  require  to  insert  the  (daily  increasing)  particulars  into  what  I 
have  ah'eady  in  some  measure  prepared,  and  which  must  of  necessity  be 
done  by  my  own  hand,  I  am  almost  out  of  hope,  that  I  shall  ever  have 
strength  and  leisure  to  bring  it  to  maturity,  having  for  the  last  ten  years  of 
my  life  been  in  perpetual  motion,  and  hardly  two  months  in  a  year  at  my 
own  habitation,  or  conversant  with  my  family. 

"  You  know  what  my  charge  and  care  has  been  during  the  late  unhappy 
war  with  the  Hollanders  ;  and  what  it  has  cost  me  as  to  avocations,  and  for 
the  procuring  money,  and  attending  the  Lord  Treasurer,  &c.,  to  discharge 
the  quarters  of  many  thousands. 

"  Since  that,  I  have  upon  me  no  fewer  than  three  executorships,  besides 
other  domestic  concerns,  either  of  them  enough  to  distract  a  more  steady 
and  composed  genius  than  is  mine. 

"  Superadd  to  these  the  public  confusions  in  church  and  kingdom  (never 
to  be  sufficiently  deplored),  and  which  cannot  but  most  sensibly  touch  every 
sober  and  honest  man. 

"  In  the  midst  of  these  disturbances,  who  but  Dr.  Beale  (that  stands  upon 
the  tower,  looks  down  unconcernedly  on  all  those  tempests)  can  think  of 
gardens  and  fish-ponds,  and  the  delices  and  ornaments  of  peace  and  tran- 
quillity ?  With  no  little  conflict  and  force  on  my  other  business,  I  have  yet 
at  last,  and  as  I  was  able,  published  a  third  edition  of  my  "  Sylva,"  and 
with  such  additions  as  occurred  ;  and  this  in  truth  only  to  pacify  the  impor- 
tunity of  very  many  (besides  the  printer),  who  quite  tired  me  with  calling  on 
me  for  it,  and  above  all,  threatening  to  reprint  it  with  all  its  former  defects,  if 


*  Of  the  four  Treatises  here  enumerated,  the  Discourse  on  Medals  only  has 
been  printed.  There  is  at  Wotton  a  copy  of  that  on  Manuscripts  in  thirteen 
leaves,  4to,  which  seems  to  contain  all  he  intended  on  this  subject,  and  is  given  at 
the  close  of  this  Appendix.  There  is  also  a  chapter  of  an  essay,  entitled,  "  Do 
Baculis,"  which  from  the  poem  seems  to  have  been  intended  as  jocular,  but  it 
begins  with  great  gravity. 


APPENDIX,  393 

I  did  not  speedily  prevent  it.  I  am  only  vexed  that  it  proving  so  popular  as 
iu  so  few  years  to  pass  so  many  impressions,  and  (as  I  hear)  gratify  the 
avaricious  printer  with  some  hundreds  of  pounds,  there  had  not  been  some 
course  taken  in  it  for  the  benefit  of  our  Society.  It  is  apparent,  that  near 
£500  has  been  already  gotten  by  it ;  but  we  are  not  yet  economists. 

"  You  know  what  pillars  we  have  lost :  Palmer,*  Moray,*  CIiester,f 
01denburg,J  &c.  ;  and  through  what  other  discouragements  we  still  labour  ; 
and  therefore  you  will  excuse  the  zeal  and  fervour  of  what  I  have  added  in 
my  Epistle  to  the  Reader,  if  at  length  it  be  possible  to  raise  up  some 
generous  soul  to  free  us,  or  emerge  out  of  our  difficulties.  In  all  events 
you  will  see  where  my  inclinations  are  fixed,  and  that  love  is  stronger  than 
death  ;  and  secular  affairs,  which  is  the  burial  of  all  philosophical  specula- 
tions and  improvements  :  though  they  can  never  in  the  least  diminish  the 
great  esteem  I  have  of  your  friendship,  and  the  infinite  obligations  I  daily 
receive  from  your  favours." 


Of  Books  which  he  had  designed  to  publish,  we  find  various  Memoranda 
in  his  letters,  &c. 

In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Boyle,  8  August,  1659,  he  says  he  had  intended  to 
write  a  History  of  Trades  ;  but  had  given  it  up,  from  the  fgreat  difficulty  he 
found  in  the  attempt. 

In  another,  23rd  Nov.,  1 664,  he  says, "  One  Rhea  [qu.  Ray  ?]  has  published 
a  veiy  useful  book  concerning  the  Culture  of  Flowers  ;  but  it  does  nothing 
reach  my  long-since  attempted  design  on  that  entire  subject,  with  all  its  orna- 
ments and  circumstances,  but  God  only  knows  when  my  opportunities  will 
permit  me  to  bring  it  to  maturity." 

In  the  Preface  to  the  "  Acetaria,"  published  in  1 669,  he  mentions  a  Work  in 
which  he  had  spent  upwards  of  forty  years,  and  his  collections  for  which  had 
in  that  time  filled  several  thousand  pages.  The  author  of  the  "  Biographia 
Britannica  "  believes  that  this  was  the  work,  part  of  which  he  had  showed  to 
his  friends  under  the  title  of  "  Elysium  Britannicum,"  but  which  in  that 
Preface  he  calls  "  The  Plan  of  a  Royal  Garden,"  &c.  ;  and  that  his  "  Acetaria," 
and  "  Gardener's  Kalendai-,"  were  parts  of  it.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  pre- 
ceding letter  to  Dr.  Beale. 

Amongst  the  MSS.  at  Wotton  there  ai'e  parts  of  two  volumes  with  the 
running  title  of  "  Elysium  Britannicum,"  consisting  of  miscellaneous  observa- 
tions on  a  great  variety  of  subjects,  but  nothing  digested,  except  a  printed 
sheet  of  the  contents  of  the  intended  Work,  as  follows  : 

ELYSIUM    BRITANNICUM 

IN  THREE  BOOKS, 

PrcBTtiissis  prcemittendis,  d;c. 

Book  I. 
Chap.  1.  A  Garden  derived  and  defined,  with  its  distinctions  and  sorts. — 
a.  Of  a  Gardener,  and  how  he  is  to  be  qualified, — 3.  Of  the  Prmciples  and 
Elements  in  general. — 4.  Of  the  Fire.— 5.  Of  the  Air  and  Winds.— 6.  Of  the 
Water.— 7.  Of  the  Earth.— 8.  Of  the  Celestial  Influences,  particularly  the 
Sun,  and  Moon,  and  of  the  Chmates. — 9.  Of  the  Four  Seasons. — 10,  Of  the 
Mould  and  Soil  of  a  Garden. — 11,  Of  Composts  and  Stercoration. — 12.  Of 
tl'.e  Generation  of  Plants, 


*  Dudley  Palmer,  Esq.,  born  in   1602,  and  died  in   1666,  and  Sir  Robert 
Moray,  Knt.,  who  died  .Tuly  4,  1673,  two  of  the  first  Council  of  the  Roval  Society, 
•f  John  Wilkins,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Chester.     He  died  Nov.  19,  1672, 
J  Secretary  to  the  Royal  Societj',  who  died  in  September,  1677, 


394  APPENDIX. 

Book  II, 

Chap.  1.  Of  the  Instruments  belonging  to  a  Gardener,  and  their  several 
uses. — 2.  Of  the  situation  of  a  Garden,  with  its  extent. — 3.  Of  fencing, 
enclosing,  plotting,  and  disposing  the  Ground. — 4.  Of  a  Seminary,  and  of 
propagating  Trees,  Plants,  and  Flowers. — 5.  Of  Knots,  Parterres,  Compart- 
ments, Borders,  and  Embossments. — 6.  Of  Walks,  Terraces,  Carpets,  and 
Alleys,  Bowling-greens,  Malls,  their  materials  and  proportions.  — 7.  Of 
Groves,  Labyrinths,  Dsedales,  Cabinets,  Cradles,  Pavilions,  Galleries,  Close- 
walks,  and  other  Relievos. — 8,  Of  Transplanting. — 9.  Of  Fountains,  Cas- 
cades, Rivulets,  Piscinas,  and  Water- works. — 10.  Of  Rocks,  Grots,  Cryptas, 
Mounts,  Precipices,  Porticos,  Ventiducts. — 11.  Of  Statues,  Columns,  Dials, 
Perspectives,  Pots,  Vases,  and  other  ornaments. — 12.  Of  Artificial  Echos, 
Music,  and  Hydraulic  motions. — 13.  Of  Aviaries,  Apiaries,  Vivaries,  Insects. 
— 14.  Of  Orangeries,  and  Conservatories  of  rare  Plants. — 15.  Of  Verdures, 
Perennial-Greens,  and  perpetual  Springs. — 16.  Of  Coronary  Gardens.  Flowers, 
and  rare  Plants,  how  they  are  to  be  propagated,  governed,  and  improved  ; 
together  with  a  Catalogue  of  the  choicest  Trees,  Shrubs,  Plants  and  Flowers, 
and  how  the  Gardener  is  to  keep  his  Register. — 17.  Of  the  Philosophico- 
Medical  Garden. — 18.  Of  a  Vineyard. — 19.  Of  Watering,  Pruning,  Clipping, 
Rolling,  Weeding,  &c. — 20.  Of  the  Enemies  and  Infirmities  to  which  a 
Garden  is  obnoxious,  together  with  the  remedies. — 21.  Of  the  Gardener's 
Almanack,  or  Kalendariimi  Hortense,  directing  what  he  is  to  do  Monthly, 
and  what  Flowers  are  in  prime. 

Book  III. 

Chap.  1.  Of  Conserving,  Properating,  Retarding,  Multiplying,  Trans- 
muting, and  altering  the  Species,  Forms  and  substantial  qualities  of  Flowers, 
&c. — 2.  Of  Chaplets,  Festoons,  Flower-pots,  Nosegays,  and  Posies. — 3.  Of 
the  Gardener's  Elaboratory,  and  of  distilling  and  extracting  of  Essences, 
Resuscitation  of  Plants,  wilJi  other  rare  Experiments. — 4.  Of  composing 
the  Hortus  Hyemalis,  and  making  books  of  Natural  Arid  Plants  and  Flowers, 
with  other  curious  ways  of  preserving  them  in  their  Natural. — 5.  Of  planting 
of  Flowers,  Flowers  enamelled  in  Silk,  Wax,  and  other  artificial  representa- 
tions of  them. — 6.  Of  Hortulane  Entertainments,  to  show  the  riches,  beauty, 
wonder,  plenty,  delight,  and  use  of  a  Garden-Festival,  &c. — 7.  Of  the  most 
famous  Gardens  in  the  World,  Ancient  and  Modem. — 8.  The  Description  of  . 
a  Villa. — The  Corollary  and  Conclusion. 

Amongst  the  MSS.  at  Wotton  also,  on  a  separate  paper,  are  the  following 
Memoranda  in  Mr.  Evelyn's  handwriting  : 

"  Things  I  would  write  out  fair  and  reform,  if  I  had  leisure  : — 

Londinum  Redivivum,  which  I  presented  to  the  King  thre»or  four  days 
after  the  Conflagration  of  that  City,  1666. 

Pedigree  of  the  Evelyns. 

The  three  remaining  Meditations  on  Friday,  Saturday,  and  Sunday,  being 
the  remaining  course  of  OfiBces ;  to  which  belongs  a  Book  of  Recollection 
bound  in  leather. 

A  Rational  Account  of  the  True  Religion,  or  an  History  of  it.  With  a 
packet  of  Notes  belonging  to  it. 

Oeconomist  to  a  Married  Friend. 

The  Legend  of  the  Peai'l 

Some  Letters  of  mine  to  Electra  and  to  others  in  that  packet. 

The  Life  of  Mrs.  Godolphin. 

A  book  of  some  Observations,  Politica's,  and  Discourses  of  that  kind, 

Thyrsander,  a  Tragi-Comedy. 

Dignity  of  Mankind. 

My  oAvn  Ephemeris  or  Diary. 

Animadversions  upon  Spinosa 


APPENDIX.  395 

Papers  concerning  Education. 

Mathematical  papers."  * 

Of  the  works  by  Mr.  Evelyn  actually  published,  the  list  now  finally  sub- 
joined, comprising  many  which  are  included  in  the  collection  of  Evelyn's 
Miscellaneous  Wntinga  edited  by  Mr.  Upcott,  will,  it  is  believed,  be  found 
tolerably  accurate. 

1.  Of  Liberty  and  Servitude,  1649,  12mo. 

2.  A  Character  of  England,  as  it  was  lately  presented  in  a  Letter  to  a 
Nobleman  of  France  ;  with  Reflections  upon  Gallus  Castratus,  1651,  3rd 
edit.  1659. 

3.  The  State  of  France.     London,  1652,  8vo. 

4.  An  Essay  on  the  first  Book  of  Lucretius  de  Remm  Natura,  interpreted 
and  made  into  Enghsh  Verse,  1656,  8vo.  The  frontispiece  designed  by  his 
lady,  Mary  Evelyn. 

5.  Dedicatory  Epistles,  &c.,  to  "The  French  Gardener."  London,  1658, 
12mo. — The  third  edition,  in  1672,  was  illustrated  by  plates. — In  most  of 
the  editions  is  added  "  The  English  Vineyard  Vindicated,  by  John  Rose, 
Gardener  to  King  Charles  II." 

6.  The  Golden  Book  of  St.  Chrysostom,  concerning  the  Education  of 
Children.     London,  1659,  12mo. 

7.  An  Apology  for  the  Royal  Party,  written  in  a  Letter  to  a  person  of  the 
late  Council  of  State  :  with  a  Touch  at  the  pretended  Plea  of  the  Army. 
London,  1659,  in  two  sheets,  4to.     Three  editions. 

8.  The  late  News  from  Brussels  unmasked.     London,  1660, 4to. 

9.  The  manner  of  the  Encounter  between  the  French  and  Spanish  Ambas- 
sadors at  the  landing  of  the  Swedish  Ambassador. 

10.  A  Panegyrick  at  his  Majesty  King  Charles's  Coronation.  London, 
1661,  folio. 

11.  Instructions  concerning  the  erection  of  a  Library.  Written  by 
Gabriel  Naude,  published  in  English  with  some  Improvements  by  John 
Evelyn,  Esq.     London,  1661,  8vo. 

12.  Fumifugium  ;  or  the  Inconveniences  of  the  Air  and  Smoke  of  London 
dissipated.  Together  with  some  remedies  humbly  proposed  by  John  Evelyn, 
Esq.  Lond.  1 661,  4to,  in  five  sheets,  addressed  to  the  King  and  Parhament, 
and  published  by  his  Majesty's  express  Command.-)- 

1 3.  Tyrannus  ;  or  the  Mode ;  in  a  Discourse  of  Sumptuary  Laws, 
1661,  8vo. 

1 4.  Sculptura  ;  or  the  History  and  Art  of  Chalcography  and  Engraving  in 
Copper  and  Mezzo-tinto.     Lond.  1662,  8vo. 

15.  Sylva  ;  or  a  Discourse  of  Forest-Trees.  Lond.  1 664,  fol. ;  2nd  edition 
1669  ;  3rd  in  1697  ;  4th  in  1733,  also  in  folio. — Pomona  is  an  Appendix  ; 
3rd  edition  1679;  4th,  1706  ;  Sth,  1729.— i^This  learned  work  has  since 
been  several  times  republished  by  Dr.  A.  Hunter,  an  eminent  physician  in 
York,  who  has  rendered  it  still  more  valuable  by  adding  to  it  the  observa- 
tions of  later  \\Titers. 

16.  Dedicatory  Epistles,  &c.,  to  "Parallel  of  Ancient  and  Modern  Archi- 
tecture." London,  1664,  folio.  4th  edit.  1733,  foL;  with  the  Elements  of 
Architecture  by  Sir  Hen.  Wotton. 


*  Of  the  "  things"  mentioned  in  this  list  as  reserved  for  attention  and  revision 
in  Mr.  Evelyn's  leisure,  the  Diary  and  Letters  and  Life  of  Mrs.  Godolphin  (sec 
also  p.  124  of  this  volume)  have  since  been  given  to  the  world  ;  and  it  is  under- 
stood that  the  work,  entitled  "  A  Rational  Account  of  the  True  Religion,  or  an 
History  of  it,"  edited  from  the  MSS.  at  Wotton,  is  now  preparing  for  publication. 
It  embodies  the  researches  and  reflections  of  Mr.  Evelyn's  life  on  the  all-important 
Subject  to  which  it  relates. 

t  Reprinted  in  1772,  in  quarto,  with  an  additional  Preface. 


396  APPENDIX. 

]  7.  Ditto  to  "  MvffT'fipiov  TTJs  'Avo,u.ltts  ; "  another  part  of  the  Mysterj'  of 
Jesuitism.    Lond.  1664,  8vo.     Two  Parts. 

18.  Kalendarium  Hortense,  Lond.  1664,  Bvo. — The  2d  and  3d  edit,  was  in 
folio,  bound  with  the  Sylva  and  Pomona  ;  also  re-printed  in  octavo  in  1699. 

19.  Public  Employment  and  active  life  preferred  to  Solitude,  in  reply  to 
Sir  Geo.  Mackenzie.     Lond.  1667,  8vo. 

20.  History  of  the  Three  late  famous  Impostors.     Lond.  1669,  8vo. 

21.  An  Idea  of  the  Perfection  of  Painting,  translated  from  the  French  of 
Roland  Freart.     Lond.  1668,  8vo. 

22.  Navigation   and  Commerce,    their  Original  and  Progress.      Lond. 
1674,  8vo. 

23.  Terra ;  a  Philosophical  Discourse  of  Earth.     Lond.  1675,  fol.  ;  and 
8vo.  1676. 

24.  Mundus  Muliebris.     Lond.  1690,  4to. 

25.  Monsieur  de  la  Quintinye's  Treatise  of  Orange-Trees,  and  Complete 
Gardener,  translated  from  the  French.     Lond.  1693,  fol. 

26.  Advertisement  to  the  Translation  of  the  Compleat  Gardener,  by  M.  de 
la  Quintinye,  1693. 

27.  Ditto  to  M.  de  la  Quintinye's  Directions  concerning  Melons. 

28.  Ditto  to  M.  de  la  Quintinye's  Directions  concerning  Oi-ange  Trees. 

29.  Numismata  :  a  Discourse  on  Medals.    London,  1697,  fol. 

30.  Acetaria  :  a  Discourse  of  Salads.     Lond.  1699, 8vo. 

31.  An  Account  of  Architects  and  Architecture — a  tract. 

32.  Letter  to  Viscount  Brounclcer,  concerning  a  new  Engine  for  Ploughing, 
&c.     1669-70, 

33.  Dedication  to  Renatus  Rapinusof  Gardens,  1673. 

34.  Letter  to  Mr.  Aubrey,  concerning  Surrey  Antiquities,  1670. 

35.  Abstract  of  a  Letter  to  the  Royal  Society,  concerning  the  damage  done 
to  liis  Gardens  in  tlie  preceding  Winter,  1684. 

36.  The  Diary  and  Letters.     1818,  1825. 

37.  Miscellaneous  "Writings,  collected  and  edited  by  Mr.  Upcott.     " 

38.  Life  of  Mrs.  Godolphin.     1849. 


Mr.  Evelyn  had  likewise  etched,  when  he  came  to  Paris  from  Italy,  five 
several  Prospects  of  Places  which  he  had  drawn  on  the  spot  between  Rome 
and  Naples,  to  which  he  pi'efixed  also  a  frontispiece,  intituled, 

"  Locorum  aliquot  insignium  et  celeberrimorum  inter  Romam  et  Neapolin 
jacentium,  viroSei^eis  et  exemplaria. 

"  Domino  Dom.  Thomse  Hensheaw  Anglo,  omnium  eximianmi  et  prsecla.- 
rissimarum  artium  cultori  ac  pi'opugnatori  maximo,  et  (rwo\l/dfj.fv^  avr^  (non 
propter  operis  pretium,  sed  ut'singulare  Amoris  sui  Testimonium  exhibeat) 
primas  has  aSoKifiacrias  aqua  forti  excusas  et  insculptas,  Jo.  Evelynus  Deli- 
neator D.  D.  C.  Q."  R.  Hoare  excud. 

I.  Tres  Tabemae  sive  Appii  Fonun,  celebre  illud,  in  sacris  Litteris.  Act.  28. 

II.  Terracinse,  olira  Anxuris,  Promontorium.  * 

III.  Prospectus  versus  Neapolin,  a  Monte  Vesuvio. 

,.  IV.,  V.  Montis  Vesuvii  Fauces  :  et  Vorago,  sive  Barathrum  internum. 

He  etched  also  a  View  of  his  own  Seat  at  Wotton,  then  in  the  possession 
of  his  brother,  George  Evelyn. 

Putney  ad  Ripam  Tamesis — corrected  on  one  impression,  by  himself,  to 
Battereea. 

END    OF   VOL.    II. 


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UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACIUTY 


NEW    AND    CHE 


A     000  922  162     3 


INTERESTING    WORKS. 

LATELY  PUBLISHED  BY  MR.  COLBUIIN. 


Sir  E.  Bulwer  Lytton's  King  Arthur,  1  T 0  10     6 

Sir  E.  Bulwer  Lytton's  New  Timon,  1  V 0    6    0 

Disraeli's  Coningsby,  1  V 0     6     0 

Disraeli's  Sybil,  3  V 0  15     0 

Disraeli's  Tancred,  3  V 0  15     0 

Disraeli's  Contarini  Fleming,  3  V 0  15     0 

Pepy's  Diary  and  Correspondence,  5  v.  each     0  10     6 

Warburton's  Crescent  and  Cross,  2  V 110 

Warburton's  Hochelaga,  2  V 110 

Walpole's  Reign  of  George  II.,  3  V 14     0 

Lord  Lindsay's  Letters  on  the  Holy  Land,  1  V 0     7     6 

Broderip's  Zoological  Recreations,  1  V 0     7     6 

Story  of  the  Peninsular  War,  1  V 0     7     6 

Lord  Castlereagh's  Journey  to  Damascus,  2  v 0  15     0 

Fitzroy's  Voyage  Round  the  World,  3  V 1  11     6 

Ross'  Yacht  Voyage  to  Denmark,  &c.,  1  v 0  10     6 

Capt.  Hall's  Nemesis  in  China,  1  V 0  10     6 

Howitt's  Hall  and  Hamlet,  2  V 0  12     0 

Lady  Blessington's  Conversations  with  Byron,  1  T 0     7     0 

Letters  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  2  V 110 

Ward's  Five  Years' in  KafiBrland,  2  V 110 

Revelations  of  Russia,  2  V 110 

Mrs.  Trollope's  Travels  and  Travellers,  2  V 0  10    0 

Letters  of  Illustrious  Ladies,  3  V 0  18    0 

Lady  Hester  Stanhope's  Memoirs,  3  V 110 

Lady  Hester  Stanhope's  Travels,  3  V 0  18     0 

Memoirs  and  Diary  of  Sophia  Dorothea,  2  V 110 

Klose's  Memoirs  of  Prince  Charles  Stuart,  2  T 1     1     0 

Bush's  Memoirs  of  the  Queens  of  France,  2  T 0  12    0 

Elwood's  Literary  Ladies  of  England,  2  V 0  12     0 

Lady  Morgan's  Woman  and  her  Master,  2  T 0  16    0 

Lady  Morgan's  Life  of  Salvator  Rosa,  2  v 0  16    0 

Lady  Morgan's  Italy,  3  V 0  18     0 

Campan's  Memoirs  of  Marie  Antoinette,  2  V 0  12    0 

Life  and  Letters  of  the  Empress  Josephine,  3  v , 0  15     0 

Bourrienne's  Memoires  de  Napoleon  (French)  5  V 15     0 

Golovine's  Russia  under  Nicholas  I.,  2  V 0  16     0 

White's  Three  Years  in  Constantinople,  3  V 110 

Vigne's  Travels  in  Cashmere,  2  V 110 

Townsend's  Memoirs  of  the  House  of  Commons,  2  V 110 

Cobbold's  Zenon  the  Martyr,  3  V 0  15    0 

Cobbold's  History  of  Margaret  Catchpole,  1  V 0  10    6 

Cobbold's  Mary  Anne  Wellington,  1  V 0  10    6 

HENRY  COLBURN,  Publishes,  13,  Gr.  Maelboeouqh  Steeet. 


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