THE HISTORY OF
THE EVELYN FAMILY
THE HISTORY
OF
THE EVELYN FAMILY
WITH A SPECIAL MEMOIR OF
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, M.P.
BY
HELEN EVELYN
LONDON
EVELEIGH NASH
1915
cs
'*<.
PREFACE
IN publishing this little work on the Evelyn Family, I am
aware that it is very far from complete. To make it so,
many more papers and documents both at the British
Museum and the Record Office would have to be gone through.
Notwithstanding this, however, I have decided to publish
it as it is, with the consolation that it may be a slight help
to any possible future historian of the family In most
previous accounts of the family many facts are mentioned
without the references which would prove them, and in
compiling this work I have endeavoured to avoid this error,
carefully stating my authority whenever necessary. There
still remain many interesting papers at Wotton which have
not been gone through, and it is to be hoped that some day
some enterprising member of the family may feel an inclina-
tion to do so. The title-deeds of Wotton might also afford
some valuable information. In conclusion, let me say that I
am much indebted to Miss Fairbrother of 5 Manor Place,
Paddington Green, for her assistance with regard to the
connection (or rather non-connection as it has proved)
of the Evelyns with Shropshire, and also for her researches
in regard to the Chamberlain and Shee pedigrees.
H. E.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
John Evelyn of Wotton (the Diarist) . . - Frontispiece
From a portrait by Sir G. Kneller (1689). FACING PAGE
Richard Evelyn of Wotton (1579-1646), father of the Diarist . . 30
Eleanor Standsfield, wife of Richard Evelyn . . > 34
John Evelyn (Diarist), 1620-1706 . . . .64
From a portrait by Vanderborcht.
Mary Browne, aged 4 years, wife of " Sylva " Evelyn . . .88
Elizabeth Evelyn, granddaughter of John Evelyn, wife of Simon
Harcourt . . . . . J 54
Sir John Evelyn, ist Bart. (1682-1763) . . . . .162
Sir John Evelyn, 2nd Bart. (1706-1767) . . . . .178
William Evelyn of St. Clere (1686-1766), son of George Evelyn of
Nutfield 216
Jane, daughter of Benjamin Mead, first wife of Richard Evelyn of
Dublin ........ 222
Margaret Chamberlain (1718-1776), wife of William Evelyn, Dean
ofEmly . . . . . . .
William Glanville Evelyn (1741-1776) .....
John Evelyn (1743-1827) . . . . . .^
John Evelyn (1743-1827) .......
From a portrait by Sir M. Archer-Shee.
George Evelyn of Wotton (1791-1829) . . . ..;
Mary Jane Massy-Dawson (1801-1896), wife of George Evelyn
Mary Jane Massy-Dawson
From a painting on ivory by Sir W. Newton, in the possession of
Mrs. E. Wyndham Bailey.
Wotton House (from the North) . . . . ' ; ( >
Mrs. George Evelyn and her Children . . . ^f
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis, of Jamaica, with their Children .
Mrs. W. J. Evelyn (1850-1897)
From a portrait by Sant in 1884.
William John Evelyn, M.P.
From a portrait by Havell.
William John Evelyn, M.P.
Frances Evelyn (1719-1805), wife of Admiral Boscawen
Sarah Evelyn (1735-1826), daughter of William Evelyn of St. Clere .
CONTENTS
PART I
THE FAMILY OF EVELYN
PAGE
Traditional descent The French family of Evelin First English
settlers Their early history George Evelyn of Long Ditton
His family . . . . . . .n
PART II
THE WOTTON BRANCH OF THE EVELYN FAMILY
CHAPTER I
RICHARD EVELYN OF WOTTON
His history Petition to Charles I His will Family George
Evelyn Family letters Improvements at Wotton Corre-
spondence Will Woodcote Park Baynards . . .29
CHAPTER II
JOHN EVELYN, AUTHOR OF SYLVA
Early years Travels List of published works Correspondence
Prayers His last will Mary Browne, wife of John Evelyn
Her children Princess Henrietta Dr. Bohun's " Character of
Mrs. Evelyn" Correspondence Death Her will Children
of John Evelyn His account of his eldest son Mary
Elizabeth Susannah I'* <,.*,' ^v, . . -63
CHAPTER III
JOHN EVELYN, SON OF "SYLVA" EVELYN
Early years Education The Great Plague of London Travels
Correspondence with his father His poems His children . 133
CHAPTER IV
JOHN EVELYN (AFTERWARDS SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART.)
Education Marriage M. P. for Helston Correspondence His
children . . . . - . . . .156
PAGE
8 CONTENTS
CHAPTER V
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART.
Family history Correspondence His children . .178
CHAPTER VI
SIR FREDERICK EVELYN, 3RD BART.
Early life Marriage Catalogue of Wotton Library . . .185
CHAPTER VII
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 4TH BART.
Family history Death, 1833 .... . .189
CHAPTER VIII
SIR HUGH EVELYN, STH BART.
Early life and marriage Memoir His death and will Last direct
male descendant of Sylva Evelyn .... 190
PART III
THE GODSTONE BRANCH OF THE EVELYN FAMILY
CHAPTER I
JOHN EVELYN OF KINGSTON, GODSTONE, WEST DEAN,
AND EVERLEY
Early history and marriage Litigation West Dean His children . 197
CHAPTER II
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE, SECOND SON OF
JOHN EVELYN OF KINGSTON
Early life and marriage Knighted by Charles I His will
hildren-Sir J. Evelyn of Lee Place Marden Park
itigation - George Evelyn of Nutfield - His marriage
Children-Richard Evelyn of Dublin-Family by first
and second marriages-William Evelyn, Dean of Emly-His
career-Family . .... 202
CHAPTER III
JOHN EVELYN, SECOND SON OF WILLIAM EVELYN, DEAN OF EMLY,
DEVISEE OF LADY EVELYN
~* n l ia ~ Carriage-Correspondence- Will-Correspon-
aerlllr ^'^ ^ wife -Children-Ge O r g e Evelyn at
-Correspondence-His marriage-Athenaeum Club
her correspondence-Dr. Arnold-Death and children . 233
CONTENTS 9
PART IV
CHAPTER I
PAGE
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, A MEMOIR BY W. S. BLUNT . . 265
CHAPTER II
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN
Childhood and early life Education ..... 279
CHAPTER III
W. J. EVELYN
Early manhood and first Parliamentary experiences . . . 304
CHAPTER IV
W. J. EVELYN'S EXPERIENCES WHILE HIGH SHERIFF OF SURREY 310
CHAPTER V
W. J. EVELYN'S MARRIAGE AND SECOND PARLIAMENTARY CAREER 360
CHAPTER VI
W. J. EVELYN
End of Parliamentary career ...... 406
CHAPTER VII
W. J. EVELYN
Concluding years Correspondence . . . . 450
CHAPTER VIII
W. J. EVELYN
Poetical Works > ? -#*.., ^-, . i,, <; .' fi! . ..... . 473
CHAPTER IX
JOHN HARCOURT CHICHESTER EVELYN
Early life Education Experiences of the Boer War Prisoner of
War Return to England Marriage .... 485
PART V
THE EVELYNS OF WEST DEAN AND EVERLEY IN
WILTSHIRE 489
10 CONTENTS
PART VI
THE EVELYNS OF FELBRIDGE, IN SURREY . 510
PART VII
THE EVELYNS OF LONG DITTON, AND HUNTER-
COMBE .
PART VIH
THE EVELYNS IN AMERICA
ROBERT EVELYN . -53
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I. The Ibelins of Syria, Cyprus, and Normandy . . 539
II. The Evelyns in Shropshire . 55 1
III. Account of the Shee Family . . 55$
IV. Account of the Chamberlain Family . . -559
V. The Evelyns of St. Clere, Kent . . . .561
VI. Pedigree of the Massy Family . . . 5 6 9
VII. Pedigree of the Chichester Family . . . 57
FAMILY PEDIGREES
1. Abridged predigree of the French family of Evelin . . 13
2. Pedigree of the Evelyns of Harrow-on-the-Hill and Kingston . 28
3. Pedigree of the Wotton Branch of the Evelyn Family . . 194
4. Pedigree of the Evelyn Family showing the Wotton and the
Godstone Branch . . . . . . 195
5. Table of descent showing relationship of the Boscawens . . 232
6. Pedigree of the Evelyns of Godstone and later of Wotton . . 488
7. The Evelyns of West Dean and Everley . . . .509
8. The Evelyns of Long Ditton . . . . . .528
9. The Evelyns of Huntercombe . . . . -529
10. The Evelyns in America ..... . 538
11. Pedigree of the Shee Family . . . . . . 558
12. Pedigree of the Chamberlain Family . . . . 560
13. The Evelyns of St. Clere . . . ...',. 568
14. Pedigree of the Massy Family , * , . . . .569
15. Pedigree of the Chichester Family . . . . .570
LIST OF AUTHORITIES . . . 57I
THE HISTORY OF THE
"I ' EVELYN FAMILY
PART I
r ; THE FAMILY OF EVELYN
THE family of Evelyn is traditionally descended from the
French family of Evelin. This family took a prominent
part in the Crusades, and in fact took its name from Ibelin,
a locality in Palestine lying between Joppa and Ascalon. 1
A French Herauld's Book was brought over to England in
1650 by John Evelyn, author of Sylva, who translated it into
English. It relates that a member of the family went to
the Holy Land with Robert, Duke of Normandy, and became
possessed of Baruth, a seaport. It also states that the
Evelins intermarried with the royal families of Jerusalem
and Cyprus. 2 A member of the family, Henri Evelin,
returned to France in 1475 and bought a fief in Normandy
which he called " Eveliniere."
In John Evelyn's time the representative of the French
Evelyns was Guillaume Evelin, described as " Physician
and Counselour to Henry iv, Louis xm, and Louis xiv."
1 See Appendix I., p. 539, " The Ibelins of Syria, Cyprus, and Normandy."
2 The extract may be found in a book called The Evelyn Family compiled
by the Hon. C. G. S. Foljambe, afterwards Earl of Liverpool.
12 THE EVELYN FAMILY
John Evelyn met him in 1670 when he came over to England
with Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, sister to Charles H.
The following is an extract from John Evelyn's Diary de-
scribing the meeting between them :
" May 26, 1670. Receiving a letter from Mr. Philip
Howard, Lord Almoner to the Queen, that Monsieur Evelin,
first physician to Madame (who was now come to Dover to
visit the King her brother) was come to towne, greately
desirous to see me, but his stay so short that he could not
come to me, I went with my brother to meete him at the
Tower, where he was seeing the Magazines and other curiousi-
ties, having never before ben in England : we renew'd our
alliance and friendship, with much regret on both sides that
he being to returne towards Dover that evening, we could not
enjoy one another any longer. How this French familie,
Evelin, of Evelin in Normandy, a very ancient and noble
house, is grafted into our Pedigree, see in the collection
brought by me from Paris in 1650."
EARLY HISTORY
13
ABRIDGED PEDIGREE OF THE FRENCH FAMILY
OF EVELIN
(From the Lignages d'outre Mer of Du CANGE)
BALIAN LE FRANCOIS,
d. about 1155.
I
BALIAN D'IBELIN.
JEAN D'IBELIN,
Seigneur de Beirut,
d. 1234.
GUY D'IBELIN,
Constable of Cyprus,
d. 1247.
BALIAN D'IBELIN,
Seneschal of Cyprus,
d. about 1306.
Guv (or BALIAN) D'IBELIN,
Seneschal of Cyprus.
HELVIS, daughter and heir
of Baldwin, Siegneur of
Rama and Mirabel.
QUEEN MARIE, widow of
Amalric I, King of Jeru-
salem, and niece of the
Emperor Manual Com-
nenus.
MILLICENT, dau. and heir of
the Seigneur d'Arsur.
PHILIPPA, dau. of Amalric
Barlais.
ALIX, dau. of the Seigneur
de Lambron.
ISABELLA, dau. of Baldwin
d'Ibelin.
I
D'IBELIN.
HENRI EVELIN,
went to Normandy, 1475. Bought
Eveliniere, near Coutances.
HENRI EVELIN,
m. N. St. Gilles.
GUILLAUME EVELIN,
went to England in 1489
and never returned.
JEANNE MORIE (second
wife).
JEAN EVELIN :
lived at Rohan.
PIERRE EVELIN = M A RIE DE
FONTAINES.
I
JOHN EVELIN = RAULINS.
GUILLAUME EVELIN = J EANNE VENOT.
GUILLAUME EVELIN =
Physician and Counsellor of Henry
iv, Louis xni, and Louis xiv.
Living 1650.
14 THE EVELYN FAMILY
This pedigree of the French Evelyns, which is taken
from the Lignages d 'outre Mer of Du Cange, differs slightly
from another pedigree of the family which John Evelyn
brought from France and is included in Lord Liverpool's
book. The William Evelyn said to have gone to England
in 1489 cannot very well be the ancestor of the English
Evelyns, as they were living at Harrow in 1476 (see
pedigree, p. 28).
John Evelyn, in a letter to Aubrey, which is prefixed to
the latter's History of Surrey, gives the following account of
the Evelyn family and their first settlement at Wotton :
" We have not been at Wotton (purchased of one Owen,
a great rich man) above 160 years. My great-grandfather
came from Long Ditton (the seat now of Sir Edward Evelyn)
where we had been long before ; and to Long Ditton from
Harrow-on-the-Hill ; and many years before that from
Evelyn near Tower Castle in Shropshire, at what time there
transmigrated also (as I have been told) the Onslows and
Hattons, from seats and places of those names yet there.
There are of our name both in France and Italy, written
Ivelyn, Avelin ; and in old deeds I find Avelyn alias Evelyn.
One of our name was taken prisoner at the battle of Agincourt.
When the Duchess of Orleans came to Dover to see the King
(Charles u) one of our race (whose family derives itself from
Lusignan, King of Cyprus) claimed relation to us. We have
in our family a tradition of a great sum of money that had
been given for the ransom of a French lord with which
a great estate was purchased; but these things are all
mystical."
No trace of the Evelyn family can be found in Shrop-
shire, 1 although the place Evelyn or Evelithe was situated
near the village of Shifnall and is marked in ancient maps of
the county, but it never belonged to any Evelyns. First
it belonged to the De Toret family, then to the family of
Corbett, and lastly to the Forsters. Tonge Castle is not
far off, and that is probably what John Evelyn meant when he
wrote that Evelyn was near Tower Castle, as no castle of
the latter name can be found.
1 See Appendix IL, p. 551, " The Evelyns in Shropshire."
EARLY HISTORY 15
The first Evelyn recorded is WILLIAM AVELYN or
EVELYN l of the Harrow-on-the-Hill, who died in 1476 (reign
of Edward iv).
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM EVELYN
ROGER EVELYN, of whom presently.
HENRY EVELYN, living 17 Edward iv (1478), 2 Henry
vn (1487) and in 1508, according to Lord Liverpool's book,
which, however, gives no references.
ROGER EVELYN
ROGER EVELYN of Stanmore, Middlesex, who died in
1508 (reign of Henry vn), is stated to have possessed lands at
Harrow-on-the-Hill. According to Lord Liverpool, he was
living 17 Edward iv (1478), 1 Henry vn (1486), and 18
Henry vn (1503). His wife was Alice Aylard, an heiress, and
she died in 1515* (6 Henry vm). She was executrix to her
husband's will, in|which he desired to be buried at Stanmore.
The will was dated July 28, and provedfAugust 28, 1508.
Years later, in 1572, we find the Aylard arms quartered with
those of Evelyn in a grant of arms to George Evelyn of Long
Ditton.
WILL OF ROGER EVELYN OF STANMORE
(P.C.C., Bennett, 4)
" In the name of God Amen, the twenty-eighth day of
July Fifteen hundred and eight. I, Roger Evelyn of Stamar
the More w t in the Co. Middlesex, make and declare my last
Will and Testament in the man and forme following, Firste I
bequeath my soule to Almighty God and to His blessed Moder,
our Lady Saint Mary, and to all saynts in Heaven and my
body to be buried w'in the churchyard of Our Lady of
Stamar and my principall to be my mortuary after the manner
of the^ country. Also I bequeath to the highefaltar of the
1 According to a MS. " History of the Evelyn Family," by Bray, preserved
at Wotton, he is mentioned in the Harrow Court Rolls.
16 THE EVELYN FAMILY
same church for tythes forgotten xvi d . Item I bequeath
to the high altar of the church of Harrow-on-the-Hill xii d .
Item I bequeath to the church of Our Lady of Stamar a redde
cowe on her first calfe and the churchwardens to have the
latting of the cowe so that the stokke may perpetually con-
tynue to the use of the church. Item I bequeath to the
church ii of the best baron ewys that I have. Item I bequeath
to our ladys werk at Stanmer ll d . Item I bequeath to Alice
'my wif xx poolleys of bestes a bull, five score of my best schep
at hir chose after my burying and moneths mynde. Item I
bequeath to my wif viii hors the best of three hors coltes my
dettes owing to me and my household stuffe. Item I bequeath
to my fowre servantes iche of theym a wayning calf. Item I
bequeath to my ii doughters Agnes and Margaret iiii bullockes
and to iche of theym xx s. to hir marriage. And the chyle
that my wif ys wt all shal have oon bullock and xx s. to the
marriage. And if it fayll my wif to have the part thereof.
Also I bequeath to my ii sonnes John and Robert all the
residue of my bestes schepes not bequeathed andyche of theym
a hors colt. Item I bequeath to my ii sonnes a brede of free
lond of John Warner lying in the fallowfield and it to be sow
this yere w' what of my wiffes proper costes and charge to the
profit of my ii sonnes. Item I will that my wif doo deliver
to John our heyre w l in twel moneths and a day all the housyng
and landes that she hath wtin the parishe of Harrow. And if
she doo it not John my son shall shifte half of almanner
of goodes that I have bequeathed to her and the goodes afore-
named that I have bequeathed to John my son Robert my
son shall have it. Item I bequeath to John my son a grete
brasse pot. Item I bequeath to Robert my son a litel brasse
pot. Item I will that if any of my children faill iche of
theym to be others heyre. Item I bequeath to John Colyn
a gray mare. Item I bequeath to Henry Evelyn my brother
a bay gilding and a don nagge. Item I will a trentall of
masses to be songen for my soule. Item I bequeath xx lode
of gravell to the High Way and it to be layd betwixt my gate
and William Law is gate where that moost neede ys. The
Residue of my goodes not bequeathed I give to Alice my wif.
I will and ordeyne to myn executos the same Alice my wif
EARLY HISTORY 17
and John Warnar. And he to have vi s. viii d. for his labor.
And my wife and he to dispose to the pleasure of God and
helthe of my soule. Item I will that Robert Warryn and
Henry Evelyn be overseers that my will be fulfilled and that
my children have noo wrong. Witnesse that this is my last
will Sr Edward Thorp parson John Warner yoman Henry
Evelyn husbandman w e many other moo."
(Proved at Lambeth August 28, 1508, by Alice, relict, and
John Warnar, executors.)
CHILDREN OF ROGER EVELYN
JOHN EVELYN, of whom presently.
ROBERT EVELYN of East Acton, Middlesex (in the parish
of Ch. Acton in the Diocese of Westminster) ; second son, will
dated October 16, 1543, proved January 12, 1543-44 ; desires
to be buried in Churchyard in Acton. Married Petronilla,
executrix to her husband. He had three children William
Evelyn, buried at Acton, September 12, 1543 ; John Evelyn,
buried at Acton, November 18, 1539 ; and Margery Evelyn,
buried at Acton, March 4, 1541-42.
AGNES EVELYN.
MARGARET EVELYN.
JOHN EVELYN of KINGSTON-ON-THAMES
JOHN EVELYN of Kingston-on-Thames, eldest son of Roger
Evelyn, was the first of the family to settle in Surrey. He
lived during four reigns, that of Henry vm, Edward vi,
Mary, and Elizabeth. He is mentioned in the will of his
brother Robert, which is dated 1543. He was born in 1520.
He was a tenant at Kingston of one Peter Bradsey in the
reign of Edward vi * (1547-53), and was one of two wardens
chosen yearly for collecting the sum of 6, 13s. 4d. for main-
taining a priest to sing mass in Trinity Chapel, Kingston-
better of George Evelyn, 1596, to Lord Treasurer Burghley. Dom.
3. P., Eliz., vol. 261.
The Report of George Evelyn to Lord Burghley. Dom. S. P., Eliz.,
rol. 261.
2
18 THE EVELYN FAMILY
on-Thames, which annuity had been left by one Robert
Bradsey. His wife was the daughter and heiress of Davic
Vincent of Long Ditton, Surrey.
Regarding the family of Vincent, Burke says : This
ancient family, which appeared to have possessed the manor
of Swinford, Co. Leicester, A.D. 1264, removed from the
Northampton, wherein it had been established for ages, to
the Co. of Surrey, upon the marriage of Thomas Vincent in
the reign of Elizabeth, with Jane, only daughter and heiress
of Thomas Ly field of Stoke d'Abernon."
According to Brayley's History of Surrey, the manor of
Long Ditton, which, with other monastic estates, had become
the property of the Crown on the suppression of the monastery
of St. Mary, Bishopsgate, in 1537, was in 1553 granted by
Edward vi to David Vincent, keeper of the wardrobe at
Richmond, afterwards one of the gentlemen of his bed-
chamber, and witness to his will, in which the King be-
queathed him a legacy of 100. According to the above-
mentioned history, this David was the father of Mrs. Evelyn.
He died in 1565 and was succeeded by his son Thomas afore
mentioned, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth when she
visited him at Stoke in 1613.
The manor of Cleygate, in Ditton, which had once be-
longed to the Abbot and convent of Westminster, but on its
suppression by Henry vm came into the possession of the
Crown, was granted in the seventh year of the reign of Edward
vi to John Child, paying a rent of 9, 8s. 8d., and not long
after he sold the estate to David Vincent, Esq., who died
seized of it. His son Thomas did not inherit it, but it
became the property of George Evelyn, David Vincent's
grandson.
John Evelyn was buried in St. Peter's Chapel, in the
Tower of London, according to Lord Liverpool before 1568,
his wife having been buried there about 1566. He left one
son and a daughter, who married Robert Cole of Heston,
Middlesex (belonging to an elder branch of the family now
represented by the Earl of Enniskilten, Ireland).
EARLY HISTORY 19
GEORGE EVELYN of LONG DITTON, ETC.
GEORGE EVELYN of Kingston, Long Ditton, Godstone, and
Wotton, only son of John Evelyn, was born in 1526 (reign of
Henry vm). Like his father, he lived through four reigns.
About the year 1565, Queen Elizabeth granted him a mono-
poly for the manufacture of gunpowder, which had hitherto
always come from abroad. The granting of monopolies by
the Crown was an intensely unpopular practice, and excited
a great deal of ill-feeling. George Evelyn had mills for the
manufacture of gunpowder at Long Ditton, Godstone and
Wotton, all in Surrey. John Evelyn (Sylva), grandson to
George Evelyn, in a letter to Aubrey dated February 8,
1675, says :
" Not far from my Brother's House (Wotton) upon the
Streams and Ponds, since filled up and drained, stood formerly
many Powder Mills, erected by my Ancestors, who were the
very first who brought that Invention into England ; before
which we had all our powder out of Flanders. My Grand-
father transferr'd his Patent to the late Sir John Evelyn's
Grandfather of Godstone, in the same County ; in whose
Family it continu'd till the late Civil Wars. That which I
would remark upon this Occasion, is, the breaking of a huge
Beam of fifteen or sixteen Inches Diameter in my Brother's
House (and since crampt with a Dog of Iron) upon the blowing
up of one of those Mills, without doing any Mischief that I can
learn ; but another standing below towards Shire, shot a
Piece of Timber thro' a Cottage, which took off a poor
Woman's Head as she was spinning."
George Evelyn's manufacture of gunpowder was very
successful and probably furnished the means by which he
bought the large estates of which he became the possessor.
About the year 1550 he married his first wife, Rose
Williams, daughter and heiress of Thomas Williams, brother
and heir of Sir John Williams, Kt. There is a small portrait
of her in the Library at Wotton which represents her as a
very plain lady with a sour expression. She is dressed in
the costume of the period with an Elizabethan ruffle round
her neck. She had a large family consisting of ten sons
20 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and six daughters, but most of them died young. She died
in July 1577 and was buried at Long Ditton.
George Evelyn became bailiff of Kingston in 1566.
On April 1, 1567, he came into possession of the manor of
Long Ditton (see Brayley's History of Surrey), which he
bought from Thomas Vincent, his mother's brother ; in 1579
he bought Wotton, which belonged to a family of the name of
Owen ; 1 on July 1 of the same year 2 his son-in-law, Richard
Hatton of Long Ditton (the husband of his daughter Mary,
whom he had married in 1566), sold to him, for the sum of
200, Hill Place alias Hull Place, in Surrey, and 139 acres
belonging to it in the parishes of Horsell, Byssheley, and
Chobham, in Surrey ; and on the same day Richard Hatton
sold to George Evelyn, 3 for the sum of 650, the fourth part
of the manor of Wooton alias Wooten, also the fourth part
of the advowson and patronage of the Church of Wooton
alias Wooten, " and the free gift and disposition of the same,"
also the fourth part of other lands in Wooton, Abynger,
Dorking and Shere, in Surrey. In 1585 the moiety of the
manor of Abinger 4 belonged to the Hill family, who conveyed
it to George Evelyn. The other moiety belonged to Sir
John Morgan, who settled it on his daughter Ann on
her marriage with Edward Randyll, Esq., of Chilworth,
and the latter in 1622 conveyed it to Richard Evelyn,
youngest son of George Evelyn, who had left him the other
moiety.
On April 24, 1588, George Evelyn came into possession
of his Godstone estate, 5 which he bought for 3100 from
Thomas Powle of London, Clerk of the Court of Chancery.
This included the manor of Merdenne, alias Mardon, and a
house called Leighe Place in the parish of Godstone.
On October 11, 1588, 6 George Evelyn bought from Richard
Taverner, Esq., of the city of London, Norbyton Hall in
Kingston-on-Thames and lands in Kingston-on-Thames.
J See Chan. Pro., Eli*., C. 7 . 26. See Close Roll, 21 Eliz., part 9
'See Exchequer of Pleas Judgment Roll, 22 Eliz., Trinity Term memb
Id, d.
See Brayley's History of Surrey. * See Close Roll, 30 Eliz part i s
See Close Roll. 30 Eliz.. part 19.
EARLY HISTORY 21
The following account of Norbiton Hall is from Brayley's
History of Surrey :
" In the reign of Edward vi the mansion called Norbiton
Hall was the property and residence of Richard Taverner,
Esq., a person of somewhat eccentric character, but a zealous
Protestant ; and though a layman, he obtained a licence
to preach in any place in the King's dominion. When High
Sheriff for the county, he is said to have actually delivered a
discourse before the University of Oxford, wearing a gold
chain about his neck, and a sword by his side. The estate
afterwards belonged to the Evelyn family, and was then
described as a manor held of the bailiffs of Kingston. The
present house, comparatively a modern structure, stuccoed,
was the residence (in the early part of this century) of
General Gabriel Johnstone, who purchased it of the repre-
sentatives of the Lintall family in 1799."
The manor of Milton in Surrey in the time of Edward n
belonged to the prioress and nuns of Kilburn, 1 and after the
suppression of that convent by Henry vm the manor was
annexed to the honour of Hampton Court. Queen Mary
settled it and other estates on the restored monastery of
Shene, which was again suppressed in the beginning of the
reign of Elizabeth. After some temporary grants that
queen conveyed it, by letters-patent dated 1599, to George
Evelyn of Long Ditton. The mansion called Milton Court
was built in the latter years of Queen Elizabeth's reign,
probably by George Evelyn. It is a red brick house two
stories high. The staircase is remarkable for the peculiar
form and solidity of its rails and balusters.
George's second wife was a Mrs. Rogers, a young widow
whose maiden name was Joan Stint. She was born in 1550
and was married to George Evelyn at St. Mary Alder mary,
April 23, 1578. She died March 9, 1613, aged sixty-three,
and was buried at Wotton. She had eight children, six of
whom died young, which brings the total number of
George Evelyn's children up to twenty-four. There were
only six, however, of this enormous family who did not die
young.
1 See Brayley's History of Surrey.
22 THE EVELYN FAMILY
In 1587 l George Evelyn brought a lawsuit in the Court of
Chancery against one Thomas Gunne of Ewell, whom he
alleged to have unlawfully taken possession of some lands in
Ewell which rightly belonged to George Evelyn. How the
suit ended does not appear.
George Evelyn's grandson, John Evelyn (the diarist),
mentions in a letter to Aubrey 2 that his grandfather, George
Evelyn, cut down some oaks at Wotton. He says : "That
which I would observe to you from the Wood, is, that where
goodly Oaks grew, and were cut down by my Grand-father
almost a hundred years since, are now altogether Beech;
and where my Brother has extirpated the Beech, there rises
Birch."
George Evelyn lived to the age of seventy-seven. He died
at midnight between the 29th and the 30th of May 1603,
about two months after the death of Queen Elizabeth, and
was buried at Wotton on May 31.
WILL OF GEORGE EVELYN
(P.P.C., 35 Belein)
" In dei nomini amen. The twenthe day of Januarie and
in the forteth yeare of the Raigne of our most gratiouse
Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of
England Fraunce and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc., I
Georg Evelyn of Wotton in the County of Surrey esquier
being sicke of bodie but whole and in perfect of remembraunce
praise be given unto God Do make ordaine and devise this
for my p(rese)nte testament containinge therein my laste
will in manner and fourme followinge, that is to saie, firste
and principallie I com(m)ende my sowle into the handes of
Almightie God my maker and Creator and to his sonne
Jhesus Christe my onlie true saviour trustinge by his deathe
and passion I hope to be saved. And my bodie to be buried
within the parrish Church of Wotton as aforesaide. Item I
give unto threescore poore howsholders of the parryshe
of Darkinge the some of three poundes of currant monie of
1 See Chan. Pro., Eliz., E.e. 4, No. 25.
1 See Aubrey's History of Surrey.
EARLY HISTORY 23
Englande that is to sale, to everie howsholder twelve pence to
be paide at their e dwellinge howses. And allso unto twentie
howsholders of the parrishe of Wottoune the some of twentie
shillinges that is to saie twelve pence a peece. And allso
to thirtie poore howsholders of Abinger the some of thirtie
shillinges that is to saie twelve pence everie howsholder as
aforesaid. Allso to fortie poore howsholders of the parrishe
of Sheere the some of fortie shillinges to be paide att their
howses twelve pence a peece as aforesaid. Item I give unto
everie one of my servauntes twentie shillings apeece. Item I
give unto Thomas Bysshopp and to his wife dwellinge at
Claigate the some of fortie poundes of like monie of England.
Item unto Henrie Tilte of the parrishe of Kingstone the some
of tenne shillinges. Item I give and bequeathe unto
Katherine Eveline my daughter the some of five hundred
poundes of good and lawfull monie of England which some of
five hundreth poundes to be paide by my sonne John Eveline
when that the said Katherine my daughter shall accomplishe
and be of the full age of eightene yeares which said some of
fower (sic) hundreth poundes the said John Evelyne hath
receaved of my late ladie Davers or from her Assignes as a
true debte from the saide ladie Davers to the onlie use of me
the saide Georg Evelyn. And the other hundred of Mr.
Edmondes for my woodd. Item I give and bequeath unto
my sonne John Evelin and to his heires forever all those
parcelles of landes and one tennement with the appurten-
aunces lyinge and being in Kingstone uppon Thames which late
I purchased of Richard Hatton gent, and Thomas Stamforde
of Thisselworthe now in the occupations of William Stawlton
and Thomas Elmer and their assignes provided alwaies and
uppon this condiction that the said John Eveline or his
heires shall well and trulie paie unto the said Katherine my
daughter the foresaide some of five hundred poundes as afore-
saide when that she shall accomplishe the saide age of
eightene yeares as aforesaide without fraude or deceipte
yf that the saide Katherine shalbe then livinge. And further
that yf the saide John Eveline shall make default of the
paimentof the saide some of five hundreth poundes to the saide
Katherine at or before the time aforesaide that then I give
24 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and bequeathe unto the said Katherine my daughter and to
her heires forever the said two parcells of landes and tenne-
mentes beforesaide lyinge and beinge in Kingstone uppon
Thames aforesaide. And allso that my saide executors
shall recover of the said John Eveline and of his heires or
assignes the same some of five hundreth poundes before named
by accion of debt. And allso further I do give and bequeathe
unto the said John Eveline my sonne and to his heires forever
all that my mannor called Norlyngton Hall lying and being in
Kingstone aforesaide. And allso all other my landes and
tennementes lienge and being in Kingstone aforesaide to the
saide John Eveline and to his heires forever excepte all my
lande in Hooke and nine acres of arrable lande lyinge and
beinge in a common feilde called Surbiton feilde in the occupa-
tion of my sonne Thomas Eveline his assignes which saide
nine acres of lande I do give and bequeathe unto the saide
Thomas Eveline and to his heires for ever. And item I give
and bequeathe unto my sonne Richard Eveline and to the
heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten forever all those my
Mannor landes Tennementes and appurtenaunces to the same
belonginge lienge and being in the parrishe of Abinger in the
Countie of Surrey. And allso all other my landes and tenne-
mentes, whatsoever lieng and beinge in the saide parrishe of
Abinger to the said Richard Eveline my sonne and to his
heires of his bodie lawfullie begotten as aforesaide. And allso
further I give and bequeath to the said Richard Eveline one
certaine lease and woodes lieng and being in East Clangdon
in the saide Countie of Surry with all the tearme of yeares
therein yet to come. And allso my verie minde and will is
that Thomas Evelin, John Evelin, Robert Evelin and Richard
Evelin shall have and enjoy all such landes and tennementes
accordinge to theire severall estates made and mentioned in
their saide severall Deedes thereof made by me foresaide
Georg Eveline. And further I give and bequeathe more
unto the saide Katherine my daughter the some of eight
lundreth poundes of good and lawfull monie of Englande
when that the saide Katherine shall accomplishe the full age of
eightene yeares yf that she shall so longe live, which saide
some of eight hundreth poundes shalbe paide to the saide
EARLY HISTORY 25
Katherine at the time aforesaide by Robert Evelin my sonne.
And in consideration thereof that my saide sonne Robert doe
well and trulie paie the saide some of eight hundreth poundes
I do freelie and clerelie forgive unto the saide Robert Evelin
my sonne all other debtes and somes of monie whatsoever is
to me owing by the saide Robert at the daie of my death.
Item I give unto Marie Hatton the wife of Richard Hatton
gent, the some of one hundreth poundes of current monie of
England to be paide unto the saide Marie or her assignes
within one yeare next after my decease. Item I give and
bequeathe unto Fraunces Hatton the daughter of the said
Richard Hatton the some of one hundred poundes of like
monie of England to be paid unto the saide Fraunces at the
day of her marriage. The residue of all my moveable goodes,
debtes and chattelles whatsoever I now have (after my debtes
paide my funerall expences donne my legacies performed and
this my p(rese)nte testament in all thinges fullfilled) I whc&e
give and bequeath unto Joane my wife and to my sonne
Richard Eveline whom I make my Executors of this p(rese)nt
will and last testament. Allso I entreat and desier my cosen
Georg Cole and William Comber gent, to be my overseers
trustinge in them and everie of them that they will see my will
accomplished as much as in them lieth. And for their paines
I give to everie of them the some of three poundes six shillinges
eight pence a peece. Theis being Witnesses. William Mathew
scr. Further I give to Mary Evelin one hundred poundes to
be paide at xxth yeares of age. George Evelin-Robert
Rogers."
(Will dated Jan. 20, 40 Eliz. ; pr. May 30, 1603, by Thos.
lies, proctor for Joane the relict, power being reserved to
Rich d Eveline.)
CHILDREN OF GEORGE EVELYN
By George's first wife he had three sons who survived
him, Thomas, John and Robert, and one son called Richard
by his second wife. He also had two daughters who survived,
Mary, by his first wife, and Catherine by his second.
Between his four sons he divided his estates.
26 THE EVELYN FAMILY
THOMAS, the eldest son, born 1551, inherited Long Ditton.
His family is now extinct in the male line. Mrs Gladstone
who was a Miss Glynne, was descended from him through
Sophia Evelyn, daughter of Sir Edward Evelyn of Long
Ditton, who married Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart.
JOHN, the second son, was born about 1554. He had
Kingston at his father's death, also West Dean and Everley
in Wiltshire. He purchased Godstone from his brother
Robert on the latter's emigrating to Virginia. He was the
direct ancestor of the present owner of Wotton.
ROBERT, 1 the third son, was born about 1556. Godstone,
as stated before, was left to him. He was engaged as well
as his brothers in the manufacture of gunpowder, but failed
to make it pay, and even complained in a petition 2 to the
Earl of Salisbury, Chief Secretary of State to James I, that
he had had " insupportable losses and dangers by it almost
to the whole overthrowe of his estate." The petition failed
in its object, so Robert Evelyn formed the plan of selling
Godstone to his brother John and of emigrating to Virginia,
where he hoped to retrieve his fortune. On October 19, 1590,
he had married, at St. Peter's, Cornhill, London, Susannah,
daughter of Gregory and Susannah Young, and he was at
this time the father of a considerable number of children. He
embarked about 1609 and became the founder of a family
in America.
RICHARD EVELYN, the fourth surviving son of George
Evelyn, was born in 1579 and inherited Wotton as his share
in the family estates.
MARY EVELYN, daughter of George Evelyn of Long
Ditton by his first wife, was born in 1550. She married,
October 7, 1566, Richard Hatton of Long Ditton, third son
of Richard Hatton, Esq., of Shrewsbury. She died September
19, 1612, and was buried at Long Ditton.
CATHERINE EVELYN, daughter of George Evelyn and his
second wife Joan Stint, was baptized at Long Ditton, August
20, 1582. She married Thomas Stoughton (son of Sir
Lawrence Stoughton), of Stoughton, near Guildford, Surrey.
1 See Part VIII., " The Evelyns in America."
Cecil MSS., at Hatfield.
EARLY HISTORY 27
On her marriage her father settled on her husband 1 the
manor of Wolborough in Nutfield, consisting of a messuage
and about 160 acres of land, and Daysies Farm in Burstow.
Thomas Stoughton afterwards devised this manor to his
brother (later Sir George Stoughton, Kt.), by whom it was
sold in 1624. Sir Lawrence Stoughton represented Guildford
in the latter years of Elizabeth, and James i knighted him
at Bagshot in 1611.
The family mansion of the Stoughtons was called Stough-
ton Place, 2 and was situated near the centre of the manor of
Stoughton. It was pulled down, but its site is still called
Stoughton Gardens. Catherine Stoughton died November
15, 1610, her five children having all died before her. Her
husband expired a few months later, viz. March 22, 1610-11.
There is a brass to her memory in Stoke Church near
Guildford.
1 See Brayley's History of Surrey.
2 The Evelyn Family, by C. G. S. Foljambe.
28 THE EVELYN FAMILY
PEDIGREE OF THE EVELYNS OF HARROW-ON-THE-HILL
AND LATER OF KINGSTON
WILLIAM AVELIN OR EVELYN
of Harrow-on-the-Hill, d. 1476.
ROGER EVELYN
of Stanmore,
Middlesex, d.
1508.
ALICE AYLARD,
d. 1516.
HENRY EVELYN,
/. 1508.
JOHN EVELYN :
of Kingston-on-
Thames, f>. 1520,
d. 1558'
VINCENT
d. about 1566.
ROBERT = PETRONILLA
of East Acton, Middle-
sex, d. 1544-
Firstly, ROSE WILLIAMS, = GEORGE EVELYN = Secondly, JOAN STINT, widow of
d. of Thomas Williams,
d. 1577-
of Kingston, Long
Ditton, Godstone
and Wotton, b.
1526, d. 1603.
Rodgers, b. 1550, d. 1613.
Long Ditton. Godstone.
America.
Wotton.
Thomas, of Johi
Long Ditton. King
and(
stoi
i, of Rob
ston four
jod- of
ic. Amei
brar
ert, Mar
der Ric
Ha
ican of 1
ch. Dit
y, m.
hard
tton,
-,ong
ton.
Richard, Catherine,
of Wotton. m. Thomas
Stoughton.
PART II
WOTTON BRANCH OF THE EVELYN
FAMILY
CHAPTER I
RICHARD EVELYN
RICHARD EVELYN, the fourth surviving son of George Evelyn
of Long Ditton, was born in 1579 or 1580 (reign of Elizabeth).
He was the father of John Evelyn, author of Sylva. On the
death of his father in 1603 he inherited Wotton as his share
in the family estates. He must have been about twenty-
four at this time. He was J.P. in 1623.
He purchased a house called Baynards * in Ewhurst,
Surrey, with land belonging to it, in 1629, from one Richard
Gurnard, who had bought it in 1628 from one James Jossey.
He married Eleanor Stansfield (daughter and heiress
of John Stansfield of the Cliff, Lewes, Sussex) at St. Mary
Overyes, Southwark, on Thursday, January 27, 1613-14.
As she was born on November 17, 1598-99, she cannot have
been more than fourteen at this time.
The following is a description of Richard Evelyn and
his wife from the Diary of their second son, John Evelyn.
The account of their appearance is borne out by two portraits
of them at Wotton :
" My father named Richard was of a sanguine complexion,
mixed with a dash of choler ; his hair inclining to light, which
though very thick, became hoary by that time he was thirty
years of age ; it was somewhat curled towards the extremity ;
his beard, which he wore a little peaked, as the mode was, of
1 Chan. Pro., Charles i, E. 65/8, and E. 71/16.
29
80
THE EVELYN FAMILY
a brownish coulour, and so continued to the last, save that it
was somewhat mingled with grey hairs about his cheeks which
with his countenance was cleare and fresh coloured, his eyes
quick and piercing, an ample forehead, manly aspect ; low
of stature but very strong. So exact and temperate, that
have heard he had never been surprised by excesse, being
ascetic and sparing. His wisdom was great, his judgment
acute ; of solid discourse, affable, humble and in nothing
affected ; of a thriving neate, silent and methodical genius ;
discreetly severe, yet liberal on all just occasions, to his
children," strangers and servants ; a lover of hospitality ; of a
singular and Christian moderation in all his actions ; a justice
of the Peace and of the Quorum ; he served his country
as High Sheriff for Surrey and Sussex together. He was a
studious decliner of honours and titles, being already in that
esteem with his country that they could have added little
to him beside their burden. He was a person of that rare
conversation that upon frequent recollection, and calling to
mind passages of his life and discourse, I could never charge
him with the least passion or inadvertence. His estate was
esteemed about 4000 per ann. well wooded and full of timber.
" My Mother's name was Elianor, sole daughter and
heyresse of John Standsfield Esq. ; of an ancient and honour-
able family (though now extinct) in Shropshire, by his wife
Elianor Comber of a good and well knowne house in Sussex.
She was of proper personage ; of a browne complexion ; her
eyes and haire of a lovely black ; of constitution inclyned to
a religious melancholy, or pious sadness ; of a rare memory
and most exemplary life; for oeconomie and prudence
esteemed one of the most conspicuous in her County.
44 Thus much in brief e touching my parents ; nor was it
reasonable I should speake less of them to whom I owe so
much."
Richard Evelyn was Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1634,
which counties have ever since been under the government
of two distinct Sheriffs. John Evelyn writes in his Diary :
14 1684. My Father was appointed Sheriff for Surrey and
Sussex before they were disjoyned. He had 116 servants in
liverys, every one livery'd in greene satin doublets ; divers
RICHARD KVKIyYN OF WOTTON (1579-1646)
FATHER OF Tim DIARIST
THE WOTTON BRANCH 31
gentlemen and persons of quality waited on him in the same
garbe and habit, which at that time (when 30 or 40 was the
usual retinue of the High Sheriff) was esteem'd a great
matter. Nor was this out of the least vanity that my Father
exceeded (who was one of the greatest decliners of it), but
because he could not refuse the civility of his friends and
relations, who voluntarily came themselves, or sent in their
servants. But my Father was afterwards most unjustly
and spitefully molested by that jeering judge Richardson,
for repreeving the execution of a woman, to gratifie my L.
of Lindsay, then admiral ; but out of this he emerged with
as much honour as trouble."
The following was a petition by Richard Evelyn while
he was High Sheriff :
" To the King's most Excellent Ma tie
The humble peticon of Richard Evelyn Esq. 1
" Humbly sheweth, That yo r Peticon being by yo r
sacred Ma tie appointed Sherriffe of the Counties of Surrey
and Sussex in the 9th yere of yo r Ma ts raigne did execute
the said office w th all dilligence and integritie, yet notw th -
standing some psons disaffected to him have untruly sug-
gested to yo r Ma tie that he did presumptuouslie, and of his
owne power reprive Magdalen Button and Elizabeth Wynne
prisoners condemned by the lawe and by him to have bin
executed. And although the Peticon can give satisfaccon
of his innocencie therein yet he is likely to be questioned in
Star-chamber for the supposed offence, through the wily
information of his adversaries.
" Yo r humble suppliant having noe way offended and
well knowing yo r Ma tie to be so gratious to all yo r loyall
subjects as that they shall not be put to the defence of a
Starchamber suite when they can make a cleere demonstracon
of their innocence, Most humbly besecheth yo r sacred Ma tie
to referre the examinacon thereof, to any of yo r Ma ts most
no bie privy Councell to the end that they may certify yo r
Ma tie whether he hath offended or not.
1 Dom. S. P., Charles i, pp. 285, 294, 18.
82 THE EVELYN FAMILY
"And he shall ever pray for yo r Ma tie , etc. At the
Court at Oatlands 20 July, 1635."
(Unsigned.)
The matter was looked into and resulted in the following
report :
" May it please yo r most Excellent Ma tie ,
"According to yo r Ma ts gratious Reference hereunto
annexed, I have in the presence of Mr. Attorney Generall,
taken consideracon of the annexed peticyon, and I finde
Elizabeth Wynn convicted before the Judges of Assize for
the County of Surrey, the tenth day of March in the nynth
yeare of yo r Ma ts Raigne for fellony in breaking into a house
and takeing away goods of the value of 3 5s., and Magdalen
Button was at the same Assizes convicted for takeing a
purse of ten pounds from one John Putch, and the said
Wynn and Button at the said Assizes received judgment to
be hanged, Richard Evelin the Pet r being then High Sheriff.
It appeares by the affdt of Robert Tayor the pet" under-
sheriff that the said Elizabeth Wynn was newly delivered of a
child before the said Assizes, and that Sir Robert Hitcham
one of yo r Ma. then Judges of Assize, before whome the said
Elizabeth was tryed, gave order to the said Undersheriff to
respit her execucon for a moneth after her delivrance. And
Mathew Aburne the said Tayers deputy deposeth he intended
to have executed the said Elizabeth about the twentieth of
Aprill next after the said Assizes, but that he then receaved
a peticyon whereby yo r Ma tie had declared yo r royall pleasure
to be certified from the Justices of Assize how fitt the said
Elizabeth Wynn was to receave yo r Ma ts mercy, and upon
sight of the said peticyon the said Aburne deposeth he did
forbeare to execute the said Elizabeth Wynn, and for no
other cause, and that she was brought to the next assizes
from whence she was remaunded by the Judges to prison,
there to remaine without Bayle. It appears by the kallander
of the prisoners condemned at the aforesaid Assizes that the
said Magdalen Button was reprived because it was alleadged
that she was then with childe, and at the moneths end after
THE WOTTON BRANCH 33
her deliverie she was to be executed. And the said Magdalen,
Button being brought to the next Assizes held the one and
twentiether of July following, was remaunded backe toremaine
in Gaole without bayle. And the said Elizabeth Wynn and
Magdalen Button was by your Ma ts gratious comaund the
tenth of May last transported to Guiana so that I conceave
if it may stand with your Ma ts good pleasure, Mr. Evelin is
very capable of your Ma ts grace and favour in this particular
which in all humbleness I submitt to your princely Wisdome.
" February llth, 1635. Vera copia ex d .
p. THOMAM ALURED."
Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, who had married
Edward Barcy of Bartford, Kent, and who had a very
unhappy married life, died Becember 15, 1634, at the age
of twenty.
The grief occasioned by the death of Elizabeth Barcy
hastened that of her mother, who died on September 25 the
following year, 1635, aged thirty-seven. Before her death
she sent for her four remaining children, the youngest of
whom, Richard, was thirteen years old, and after giving
them some pious instructions, handed to each of them a
ring with her blessing. She then took her husband's hand
and recommended her children to his care. She begged
him to give the money which he intended to spend on her
funeral to the poor instead. She sent for every servant
in the house and gave to each some good advice. Her
physicians, Br. Merwell, Br. Clement and Br. Rand, could do
nothing to save her, and although Br. Sanders Buncombe
tried to cure her with a celebrated powder, it was of no use,
though she lingered on for many days. When her death
was approaching, she laid her hands on all her children,
and after resigning her soul to God, gently expired. She
was buried at night on October 3rd, as near as possible to
her daughter, Mrs. Barcy. The portrait of her at Wotton
depicts her in a black dress with a large white lace collar.
She has a long, pale, melancholy face surrounded by black
curls.
Richard Evelyn possessed a house called Vachery in the
3
34 THE EVELYN FAMILY
parish of Cranley, Surrey. Aubrey in his History of Surrey
In this parish (Cranley) is a Seat call'd Vachery, formerly
belonging to the Onslow's, then the Baynard's and since to
the Evelyn's of Wotton ; formerly surrounded with a Park,
but now disparked." John Evelyn refers to this in a footnote.
He says : " This was built by Sir George More of Lothesley
in this County, and purchased of him by my Father Richard
Evelyn Esq."
On June 27, 1640, Richard Evelyn went to Bath by the
advice of his physicians, and on July 7 his two eldest sons,
George and John, having heard that their father was
dangerously ill, rode as fast as they could from Guildford to
see him. They found him very weak, but he lingered on
for some months, returning home on September 8 with his
son John.
Richard Evelyn died December 24, 1640. His son writes
in his Diary :
" My Father's disorder appeared to be a dropsy an in-
disposition the most unsuspected, being a person so exem-
plarly temperate. On the 24th of December he died, re-
taining his senses and piety to the last, which he most
tenderly expressed in blessing us whom he now left to the
world, and the worst of times, whilst he was taken from the
evill to come."
On January 2, 1641, he again writes :
" We at night followed the mourning hearse to the Church
at Wotton, when, after a sermon and funeral oration my
Father was interred neere his formerly erected monument,
and mingled with the ashes of our Mother, his deare wife.
Thus we were bereft of both our parents in a period when we
most of all stood in need of theire counsell and assistance,
especially myselfe, of a raw, vaine, uncertain and very unwary
inclination ; but so it pleased God to make tryall of my conduct
in a conjuncture of the greatest and most prodigious hazard
that ever the youth of England saw."
ELEANOR STANSFIEIJ3 (1597-1635)
WIFE OF RICHARD EVELYN OF WOTTON
THE WOTTON BRANCH 35
WILL OF RICHARD EVELYN
(Copied from Lord Liverpool's book)
Will dat. October 27, 1640 ; pr. February 9, 1640-41, by
Geo. Evelyn (1 Evelyn).
" Leighe farm in Sussex after my death is settled upon
my da. Jane Evelyn and her issue, and I give her 2000 in
lieu of the legacy from her grandfather Mr. John Stansfield,
and other demands. To my son John Evelyn lands at South
Maling and also 4000 and to my son Richard Evelyn 1000,
in lieu of the legacies from their ads d grandfather Stansfield.
Residue to my son Geo. Evelyn, sole ex'or. My cousin
Robert Hatton, Esq., and my brother in law George Dun-
combe the elder, overseers. To my servant Richard Higham
an annuity of 10. Wit., Geo. Buncombe, Robt. Rapley,
Jerome Collins."
CHILDREN OF RICHARD EVELYN
RICHARD EVELYN and his wife had five children : ELIZA-
BETH, born November 28, 1614 ; JANE, born February 16,
1615-16 ; GEORGE, born at Wotton, June 18, 1617 ; JOHN,
born at Wotton, October 31, 1620; and RICHARD, born
November 9, 1622.
ELIZABETH, the eldest daughter, had a very unhappy
married life. She was married on October 25, 1632, at Black-
friars, London, at the age of eighteen, to Edward Darcy of
Dartford, Kent. Her brother John remarks in his Diary
that " he little deserved so excellent a person," and on his
sister's death, December 15, 1634, at the age of twenty he
describes her as "in vertue advanc'd beyond her yeares,
or the merit of her husband, the worst of men." On the
previous 2nd of June to her death she had given birth to a
daughter, Elizabeth Darcy, who was born at Wotton, but
the infant only lived till the following 17th of July.
John Evelyn, in a footnote in Aubrey's History of Surrey,
says :
" This Darcy married for 2nd Wife the Lady Elizabeth
Stanhope, Daughter of the Earl of Chesterfield. He ruined
36 THE EVELYN FAMILY
both himself and Estate by his dissolute Life. He sold the
Maneur of Episham and Horton to Mr. Mynne of Woodcot,
whose Daughter and Coheir married my younger Brother
Richard Evelyn, whose only Daughter married Mr. Montague,
Son of the Chief Baron, who ruined both my Niece and
himself by his scandalous Life. J. E., i.e. JOHN EVELYN."
JANE EVELYN,* the second daughter of Richard Evelyn,
was twenty-six when her father died. On June 28 of the
same year, 1641, she went to London with her brother John,
who the next day sat for his portrait to a painter called
Vanderborcht, who painted it in oils. John gave the portrait
to his sister on her request as a parting present, as he had
resolved to leave England on account of the unpromising
state of things at home, in which he found it difficult to prevent
himself from taking part to the danger of himself and his
relations. Jane did not marry till 1647, when over thirty.
She married George Glanville of Devonshire. She had one
son, William Glanville, whose daughter, Frances Glanville,
married William Evelyn of St. Clere, Kent. Evelyn writes
in his Diary, November 9, 1647 : " My sister open'd to me
her marriage with Mr. Glanville." Jane went to Gravesend
to see her brother John off on his departure to France in
July 1649. He says in his Diary : " It was about three in
the afternoone I tooke oares for Gravesend, accompanied by
my cousin Stephens and sister Glanville, who there supp'd
with me and return'd."
Jane died in December 1651, and was buried at Wotton on
the 19th of that month. Her brother John was abroad when
she died. On January 2, 1652, he writes in his Diary : " News
of my sister Glanville's death in childbed, which exceedingly
affected me."
Evelyn writes in his Diary, June 1, 1691 :
" 1 went with my son and brother-in-law Glanville and
his son, to Wotton, to solemnize the funeral of my Nephew
(Glanville), which was perform'd the next day very decently
and orderly by the Herauld, in the afternoon, a very great
appearance of the country being there. I was the cheife
mourner; the pall was held by Sir Francis Vincent, Sir
1 Chan. Pro., Charles i, E. 10/49.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 37
Richard Onslow, Mr. Tho. Howard (son to Sir Robert) and
Capt. of the King's Guard, Mr. Hyldiard, Mr. James, Mr.
Herbert nephew to Lord Herbert of Cherbury and cousin-
german to my deceas'd nephew. He was laid in the vault of
Wotton Church, in the burying-place of the Family. A
great concourse of coaches and of people accompanied the
solemnity."
On the death of his brother-in-law, George Glanville,
Evelyn also writes :
" 1702, April 12. My Brother-in-law Glanville departed
this life this morning after a long languishing illnesse, leaving
a son by my sister, and two grand-daughters. Our relation
and friendship had been long and greate. He was a man of
excellent parts. He died in the 84th year of his age, and
will'd his body to be wrapp'd in lead and carried downe to
Greenwich, put on board a ship and buried in the sea, betweene
Dover and Calais, about the Goodwin sands, which was don
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 improv'd
his fortune. He had a place in the Alienation Office, and
might have ben an extraordinary man had he cultivated his
parts."
GEORGE EVELYN, 1 eldest son of Richard Evelyn, was born
at Wotton, June 18, 1617. He was educated at the free school
at Guildford, and afterwards completed his education at
Trinity College, Oxford.
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN or TRINITY COLLEGE,
OXFORD, TO HIS FATHER, RICHARD EVELYN, ESQ., OF
WOTTON, 1634. 2
" HONOR D SIR, I cannot omitte writinge unto you,
deeming it fit to make knowne unto you, that I am in good
1 Chan. Pro. before 1714, Hamilton, Evelyn v. Mansel, 441/69; Chan.
Pro. before 1714, Hamilton, 448/28 ; Chan. Pro. before 1714, Whittington,
Evelyn v. Offley, 320.
a Add. MSS., 15,948, fo. 2, British Museum.
38 THE EVELYN FAMILY
health, and that our acte is at hand. Our acte is A Saterday
soen which, wilbe an occasion of expenses to me, by reason
of friends which come to our acte, and knowing that I am in
ye University will visit e me. Wherefore, I would entreate
you to furnish me w th 2 pieces by Mr. Hill, (who is a constant
visitor of our acte,) assuringe you moreover that I have not
as yet, neither will I consume my money idly, but uppon good
grounds. The Quarter is expired, and I would have made
knowinge unto you in this letter what my Battalls amounts
too, if I could have gotten the Bowser (sic) to have summoned
them up. Wherefore betwixt this and our acte I will certify
you in a letter what my Battells and all other necessarys
which I have had, come too. So remembering my Duty
to you and my (Hono rd Mother) and my love to my brothers
and sisters but in pticuler to my Brother and Sister Darcy,
hopeing that I shall enioy his Society heere at our acte : In
all haste, I rest
" Yo r obedient Sonne
(Signed) GEORGE EVELYN.
"TRIN. COLL. OXON.
this 30 of June 1634."
(Addressed.)
'-'- To his very loveinge father Richard Evelyn Esq. and high sherife
of the countys of Surrey and Sussex, at his house att Wooton in Surrey
neere Dorkinge presents these with speede.
" Leave this letter w'h Mr. Thomas Cole Woollen draper att the
White Lyon in Powles Churchyeard London to be delivered accordinge
to the Supscription."
His father's reply is written upon the other side of this
letter.
LETTER FROM RICHARD EVELYN TO HIS SON GEORGE IN
REPLY TO HIS SON'S LETTER
" SONN GEO. I rec d yo r letter dated 30 January 1634 and
have herewi'h sent you 2 pieces accordinge to yo r desire,
hoping you wilbe carefull howe you spend it and not to wast
yo r money wi'hout good cause, for as I would not have you
base and uncivill in companye,yett would I have you discreete
and prudent in yo r expence, neither would I have you to
THE WOTTON BRANCH 39
visitte the inns or taverns so often, for that will by degrees
bringe you to a habitte and a delight in keeping companye
w cb will draw much charge and needles expence uppon you,
and especyallye you must be carefull what companye you
keepe, that you associate yorselfe with none but sivill men,
and of them you shall be sure to learne no hurt ; now you
must be carefull of yor behavyer, for you are in a publicke
place and many eyes are uppon you, and take heede of beinge
ov r com w th wine or strong beere (for any man's pleasure)
and beware of flatterers that will sooth you upp in folly, and
insinuate into you for theire own ends w ch may tend to your
overthrow. And above all things be sure to serve God and
depend uppon him, and then no doubt but he will bless you
and defende and keepe you in all your wayes. And no we
make good use of your tyme, and apply yourself to your study e,
for that will doo you good when other things will faile and my
joye be increased by your well doings. Your brother Harye
is com to see you and designes to bring you home with him
after the Acte. I would have you advise with your Tutor
whether your Tutor goes into the country this vacatyen,
which if he doo then (if your Tutor approve well of it) you
maye come with your Brother and staye till your Tutor think
it fitt for you to come againe.
" I send no money now to your Tutor but when I heere
from him that he desyres to have anye it shalbe speedely sent.
" If your Tutor goe into the country this vacation, I would
have you aske him if he will come along with you and staye
heere awhile.
" And so both myself and your carefull Mother praying
God to pour down his blessing uppon you and so preserve and
keepe you from all evil,
" I rest
Your loveinge and carefull
father "
(Unsigned.)
(Endorsed.)
My Sonn Geo. his letter to me 30 January 1634.
My letter to him 10 July 1634.
My Annsweare 10 July 1634.
40 THE EVELYN FAMILY
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN TO HIS FATHER,
RICHARD EVELYN*
" I know you have long desired to heere of my welfaire,
and the totall series of his Majesty's entertainment whilst
hee was fixed in the center of our Academic.
" The Archbishop our Ld. Chauncelour (Laud) and many
Bishops, Doctor Bayley or Vice-Chauncelor w th the rest of
the Doctors of the University, together w th the Maior of the
City, and his brethren, rode out in state to meet his Majesty,
the Bishops in their pontificall robes, the Doctors in their
scarlet gowns and their black capps (being the habite of the
University), the Mayor and Aldermen in their Scarlett gowns,
and 60 other townsmen all in blacke satin doubletts and in
old fashion jacketts. At the appropinquatio of ye King,
after the Beedles staffs were delivered up to his Majesty in
token yt they yielded up all their autority to him, the Vice-
Chauncelor spooke a Speech to the King, and presented him
w th a Bible in the Universitys behalfe, the Queene w th
Camden's Britannia in English, and the Prince Elect (as I
tooke it) w th Croke's Politicks ; all of them w th gloves (because
Oxford is famous for gloves). A little higher the City where
ye Citye bounds are terminated, the Maior presented his
Majesty w th a large guilt capp, et tenet vicinitaten opinio
the Recorder of the City made a speech to his Majesty. In
the extreme of the Universitie, at St. John's College, he was
detained w th another speech made by a Fellow of the house
The speech being ended, he went to Christe-church, schollers
standing on both sides of the street according to their degrees
and in their formalitys, clemantes, Vivate Rex noster Carolus.
Being entered Christ-church he had another speech made by
the Universitie oratour, and student of the same house;
the subject of all which speeches being this, expressing their
joy and his welcome to ye Universitie. Then retiring him-
selfe a little he went to prayers ; they being ended, soone
after to supper, and then to the play, whose subject was the
Calming of the Passions ; but it was generallie misliked of
the Court, because it was so grave, but especially because
1 Add. MSS., British Museum.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 41
they understood it not. This was the first days entertain-
ment.
" The next morning he had a sermon in Christ-church,
preached by Browne the proctor of the University, and a
student of the house. The sermon being ended, the Prince
Elect and Prince Rupert went to St. Mary's, where there
was a congregation, and Prince Rupert created Mr. of Arts,
also many nobles w th him. The reason why the Prince Elect
was not created Mr. of Arts, was because Cambridge our
Sister had created him before. The congregation done, the
King, Queene, and all the nobles went to the Schools, (the
Glory of Christendome) where in ye publick Library, his
Majesty heard another speech, spoaken by my Ld. Chamber-
lans 3rd sonne, and of Exeter College, w ch speech the K.
liked well. From the Schools the K. went to St. Johns to
dinner, where the Archbishop entertained his Majesty w th a
magnificent dinner, and costly banquet (dessert). Then a
play made by the same house. The play being ended, he
went to Christ-church, and after supper to another play
called the Royall Slave, all the actors performing in a
Persian habit e, w ch play much delighted his Majesty and
all the nobles, commending for the best y* ever was
acted.
" The next morning he departed from the University, all
the Doctors kissing his hand, his Majesty expressing his
kingly love to ye University, and his countenance demon-
strating unto us that he was well pleased w th this his enter-
tainment made by us schollars. After the King's departure
there was a Congregation called where many Doctors, some
Maisters of Art and a few Batchelours were created, they
procuring it by making friends to ye Paulsgrave. There were
very few that went out that are now resident, most of them
were Lds. and gentlemen. A Doctor of Divinity and Batche-
lour of Arts were created of our house (Trinity) but they
made special friends to gett it.
" W th the 30 you sent me I have furnished me w th those
necessarys I wanted, and have made me two suits, one of
them being a blacke satin doublett and black cloth breeches,
the other a white satin doublett and Scarlett hoase ; the
42 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Scarlett hoase I shall weare but little heare, but it will be
comely for me to weare in the country.
" Yor desire was that I should be as frugal in my expenses
as I could and I assure you, honoured Sir, I have been ;
I have spent none of it in riot or toyes. You hoped it would
be sufficient to furnish me and discharge my battailes for
this quarter, but I feare it will not, therefore I humbly en-
treat you to send me 6. I know what I have already, and
w th this I send you, wil be more than enough to discharge
these months, but I know not what occasion may fall out.
"TRIN. COLL. OXON., 26, 9 th 1636."
After leaving Oxford George entered himself at the
Middle Temple, which it was the custom for young men of
good position to do, though he had no intention of taking up
the law as a profession. On May 28, 1640, at the age of
twenty-three, he married a daughter of Daniel Caldwell by
Mary, daughter of George Buncombe, Esq., of Albury. The
wedding took place at Albury, near Wotton. The bride
was an heiress, according to the Diary, and belonged to an old
Leicestershire family. Her married life lasted but a short
time, as she died four years later, May 15, 1644. She left
one son, who was christened George.
George's father died about seven months after this
marriage, and George being the eldest son succeeded him at
Wotton. He married again, and his second wife was Mary,
daughter of Robert Offley of Kettleby, Cheshire, and Dalby,
Leicestershire. She was the widow of Sir John Cotton of
Kent, and belonged to an old Staffordshire family. In'l641,
George Evelyn became M.P. for Reigate at the age of twenty-
four. He stood for Haslemere in 1661, for Surrey in 1678-79,
and again in 1679, 1680-81, and 1688-89.
John Evelyn writes in his Diary, January 1, 1651 :
" I wrote to my brother at Wotton about his garden and
fountaines."
In the year 1652, George Evelyn set about to improve the
garden at Wotton. He intended to lay out the garden in
the Italian style, which had been newly introduced into
England by Injgo Jones, the celebrated architect of the
THE WOTTON BRANCH 43
Italian style. The latter died the year before, July 5, 1651.
Up till now the house had remained almost untouched since
the reign of Elizabeth when George Evelyn, the original
purchaser, lived there. It was then surrounded by a moat.
His grandson George had two advisers in his work of
planning the garden ; one was his younger brother John and
the other was Captain George Evelyn, the son of his uncle
Robert and formerly Governor of Kent Island. This Captain
George Evelyn had recently been employed in laying out the
mansion and grounds of Albury Park, near Wotton, which
was then the Surrey residence of the Dukes of Norfolk.
In a footnote in Aubrey's History of Surrey, John Evelyn
says :
" My kinsman, Capt. George Evelyn, (who had been a
great Traveller) built the great Dining-Room and Apartment
for Mr. Henry Howard, (after Duke of Norfolk) in order to a
noble Palace, &c. But the Duke (after his virtuous Lady's
Death) growing Dissolute, neglected this Design, and all
other honourable Things. His Grandfather, who purchased
Albury, would have sold any Estate he had in England,
(Arundel Except ed) before he would have parted with this
his Darling Villa, as I can show you in that brave Person's
Letters to me from Padoua, 1646."
Captain George Evelyn had travelled a great deal, and
among other places had visited Italy, and had there made a
study of the Italian style.
On February 26, 1649, three years before the alterations
were made, John Evelyn wrote in his Diary :
" Came to see me Capt. Geo. Evelyn my kinsman ye greate
traveller, and one who believed himself a better architect
than really he was, witness the portico in the garden at
Wotton ; yet the greate room at Albury is somewhat better
understood. He had a large mind but overbuilt everything."
The Doric portico or temple mentioned in this passage
was designed by Captain George Evelyn. It was at a distance
of about 390 feet from the house. In the central niche
of the portico was placed a stone statue of Venus holding a
dolphin, out of whose mouth the water ran into a sculptured
stone basin underneath. On the sides of the portico were
44 THE EVELYN FAMILY
two smaller niches, containing boys' heads in marble throwing
up water which fell into two stone basins. On the ceiling
were painted the four elements, with Flora in the middle
and the arms of the family. The floor was paved with
marble. The portico still exists in good preservation, but
the painting on the ceiling has disappeared. Venus with the
dolphin and the boys' heads still remain.
Some years before, in 1643, John Evelyn had, with his
brother's permission, made a few improvements at Wotton,
which he mentions in his Diary in these words :
" May 2, 1643. Resolving to possess myselfe in some quiet
if it might be, in a time of so great jealousy, I built by my
Brother's permission a study, made a fishpond, an island,
and some other solitudes and retirements, at Wotton, which
gave the first occasion of improving them to those water-
works and gardens which afterwards succeeded them, and
became at that time the most famous of England."
This passage shows that the earlier improvements gave
to George Evelyn the idea of the changes which he accom-
plished in 1652 and 1653.
There exist at Wotton some etchings of the house by John
Evelyn showing it as it was before and after the alterations
in 1652 and 1653, but as the perspective is very bad (in one
sketch the house looks as if it were on the top of a hill instead
of in a valley) it does not give a very good idea of it. On
March 22, 1652, John Evelyn says in his Diary :
" I went with my Brother Evelyn to Wotton to give him
what directions I was able about his garden, which he was
now desirous to put into some forme ; but for which he was
to remove a mountain overgrowne w th huge trees and thicket,
with a moate within 10 yards of the house. This my Brother
immediately attempted, and that without greate cost, for
more than a hundred yards south, by digging downe the
mountaine and flinging it into a rapid stream, it not only
carried away the sand, etc., but filled up the moate, and
Jevel'd that noble area, where now the garden and fountaine
Fhe first occasion of my Brother making this alteration
as my building ye little retiring place betweene the greate
wood eastward next the meadow, where sometime after my
THE WOTTON BRANCH 45
Father's death I made a triangular pond, or little stew, with
an artificial rock after my coming out of Flanders."
The gardens were laid out in the Italian style, with
parterres, terraces, and walks leading up to the portico,
in front of which was a fountain throwing water to the height
of about thirteen feet. The fountain still exists, but nothing
now remains of the Italian garden. In the same year, 1653,
George Evelyn built the banqueting hall (a fine room in the
Italian style), about 38 feet long, 20 feet wide, and 20 feet high.
The ornamentation, however, is quite modern, having been
added by William John Evelyn. Up till the latter 's time
it was used as an orangery ; there was no entrance to it from
the house, and it was only by attaching a Corridor to it
that it became possible to use it as a dining-room. The
ceiling is in the Italian style, divided into compartments
by guilloche ornaments. The cornice is 42 inches in girth,
and is composed of dentils, mouldings, and enrichments of
the same. The mouldings in the doors and joiner's work
are in egg-and-anchor or egg-and-tongue pattern.
Most of George Evelyn's children died young. By his
first wife he had five sons, all of whom died in infancy except
the youngest, George. By his second wife he had nine
children, five sons and four daughters, but they all except
three died young. On the death of George's third son
Richard, by his second marriage, at the age of two, he
received the following letter from his brother John :
"To MY BROTHER G. EVELYN,
! SAYS-COURT, 15 Decemb. 1656.
" DEAR BRO. 1 I am so deeply sensible of the affliction
which presses you, that I cannot forbeare to let you under-
stand how greate a share I have in the losse, and how reciprocal
it is to us. For yr part, I consider that your sex and your
knowledge do better fortifie you against the com'on calamities
and vicissitudes of these sublunary things ; so that precepts
to you were but impertinencys ; though I also find that the
physitian himselfe has sometimes neede of the physitian ;
1 From the Epistolary Correspondence of John Evelyn in the Memoirs
of John Evelyn, edited by William Bray.
46 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and that to condole and to counsell those who want nothing
to support them but their owne vertue, is to relieve them of a
considerable part of their affliction ; But the feare which I
have that the tendernesse of so indulgent a mother's affection
(as is that of my deare lady) may insensibly transgresse its
bounds, to so huge a prejudice as we should all receive by it,
(if her immoderate griefe should continue) makes me choose
rather, being absent, to contribute what aydes I can towards
its remedy, then, being present, to renew her sorrows by
such expressions of ressentiment as of course use to fall from
friends, but can add little to the cure, because but compliment.
Nor do I hereby extenuate her prudence, whose virtue is
able to oppose the rudest assaults of fortune ; but present my
arguments as an instance of my care, not of my diffidence.
I confesse there is cause of sadnesse ; but all who are not
stoicks know by experience, that in these lugubrous encounters
our affections do sometimes outrun our reason. Nature
herselfe has assigned places and instruments to the passions :
and it were as well impiety as stupidity to be totaly do-ropyos
and without natural affection ; but we must remember
withall that we grieve not as persons without hope ; least
while in sacrifice to our passions, we be bound to offend
against God, and by indulging an over kind nature redouble
the losse, and loose our recompence. Children are such
blossomes as every trifling wind deflowres, and to be disordered
at their fall, were to be fond of certaine troubles, but the
most uncertaine conf orts ; whilst the store of the more
mature which God has yet left you, invite both your resigna-
tion and yr gratitude. So extraordinary prosperity as you
have hitherto ben encircled with, was indeede to be suspected ;
nor may he think to beare all his sailes, whose vessell (like
yours) has been driven by the highest gale of felicity. We
give hostages to Fortune when we bring children into the
world : and how unstable this is we know, and must therefore
hazard the adventure. God has suffer'd this for yr excercise :
seeke then as well your consolation in his rod, as in his staff.
Are you offended that it has pleased him to snatch yr
pretty babes from the infinite contingencies of so perverse
an age, in which there is so little temptation to live ? At
THE WOTTON BRANCH 47
least consider, that your pledges are but gon a little before
you : and that a part of you has taken possession of the
inheritance which you must one day enter, if ever you will be
happy. Brother, when I reflect on the losse as it concerns
our family in general, I coulde recall my owne, and mingle
my tears with you (for I have lost some very deare to me) ;
but when I consider the necessity of submitting to the divine
arests, I am ready to dry them againe and be silent. There
is nothing of us perished ; but deposited : And say not thay
might haue come later to their destiny : Magna est felicitas,
cito esse felicem : 'tis no smalle happnesse to be happy
quickly. That which may fortune to all, we ought not to
accuse for a few : and it is but reason to support that
patiently, which cannot be prevented possibly. But I haue
now don with the philosopher, and will dismisse you with the
divine. ' Brother, be not ignorant concerning them which
are asleepe, that, you sorrow not euen as others which have no
hope : for, if we belieue that Jesus died and rose againe, euen
so them also which sleepe in Jesus will God bring with him.'
They are the words of St. Paul, and I can add nothing to
them. In the mean tyme auxiliarys against his enemy
cannot render it the more formidable : and though all griefe
of this nature haue a just rise, yet may it end in a dangerous
fall : our deare Mother is a sad instance of it : and I conjure
you to use all the art, and all the interest you are able, to
compose your selfe, and consolate yr excellent lady, which
(after I haue presented my particular resentiments) is what
I would haue hereby assisted you in, who am,
" Dear Brother, &c.
" Et consolamini alij olios istis sermombus."
" To MY LADY CoTTON, 1
"FROM HER BROTHER-IN-LAW JOHN EVELYN
" MADAME, It was by a Visite which was made us this
afternoon, that we heard how it had pleased God to dispose
of the little sweete Babe ; and withall, how much the losse
of it does yet aflict you. Whatsoever concernes you in this
1 From the Memoirs of John Evelyn, edited by William Bray.
48 THE EVELYN FAMILY
kind is, Madame, a com'on diminution to the Familie, and
touches every particular of it ; but so as our resentiments
held proportion to the cause, and that the losse of one dos
not take away the comfort and the comtentment which we
ought to have in those who are left ; since we must pretend
to nothing here, but upon the conditions of Mortalitie, and
ten thousand other accidents ; and that we may learne to
place our felicities in our obedience to the Will of God, which
is allways the best, and to sacrifice our affections upon that
Altar, which can consecrate our very losses, and turne them
to our greatest advantage. Madame, I have heard with
infinite satisfaction how graciously God had restor'd you
your health : Why should you now impaire it againe by an
excesse of Griefe, which can recalle nothing that God has
taken to himselfe in exchange without a kind of ingratitude ?
There be some may happly sooth your Ladyship in this
sensible part (which was the destruction of my deare Mother) ;
But your Ladyship's discretion ought to fortifie you against
it before it become habitual and dangerous. Remember
that you have an Husband who loves you intirely ; that you
have other Children who will neede your conducte ; that
you have many Friends, and a prosperous Family. Pluck
up your spirits then, and at once banish these hurtfull
tendernesses. It is the vote of "all who honor and love you ;
it is what God requires of you, and what I conjure you to
resolve upon ; and I beseech your la'p., let this expresse
bring us some fairer confidences of it, then the com'on report
dos represent it, to the griefe of
" Madame, Your, &c.
" SAVES COURT, 9 Sept. 1662."
On August 8, 1664, George Evelyn's second wife died
and was buried at Wotton.
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON TO JOHN
EVELYN OF SAYES COURT l
WOTTON, 20 Feb. 168$.
" DEARE BROTHER, I received your letter by my Bro:
Granvill: who I praise God, is well recovered, and I hope the
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 2.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 49
country fresh Aire, will restore him to his wonted health
& constitution. As to ye moneys you have loged at my
cousen John's Lodging ; I shall in convenient tyme dispose
off, & for ye remaynder, you may take your own tyme
to repay it. My occasions will call me to Towne some tyme
in Easter Tearme, when we shall have oppotunity to adjust
all matters : Brother I find by your Letter, Y l I have the
fate of other men, to be misrepresented to his present
Majesty, but you, and all men that know me, must witness,
that I was always loyall to his late Ma ty (of blessed memory)
and am now to his present Majesty and shall so continue to
my life's end, praying for his long life and ye happiness of
his Governmnet. The only answer I can give to ye foote
of your Letter is, That as to the choice of knights of ye sheere
into the next Parliam 4 , I leave my country men to their own
freedome : With my service to all our Relations.
" I am,
D. Bro.
Y r most affectionate Brother
& Serv 1 ,
(Signed) GEO. EVELYN."
(In John Evelyn's handwriting endorsed.)
From my bro. G. E., Wotton,
20: Feb. i68|.
Concerning his recp* of 200 & of his
resolution of serving in Parliam* if chosen :
Answered 22 ditto.
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON TO JOHN
EVELYN OF SAYES COURT 1
" WOTTON, 30^ March 85.
" DEARE BROTHER, I doe heartily condole the decease
of y l most excellent creature my Neece Mary Evelyn ; it
is to you my sister & to all her relations a most irreparable
losse, but we must all submit to God's will in these & all
other his dispensations, & I know you and my sister hath
that religious and Xtian prudence as to moderate your sorrow,
knowing she is a blessed saint in Heaven and taken away
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 3.
4
50 THE EVELYN FAMILY
hence from the evills to come, w ch must be your consolation.
I have sent my servant in purpose to enquire after all your
healths (w ch was my intentions before I received your last
obliging letter) which acquaints me of the kindness and favors
of D r Daye and M r Bowzer expressed to M r Onslow &
my selfe in the approaching elections for K 4 of the Sheere.
I must deale ingeniously w th you, it was not my desire any
more to stand for a parliam 1 man, haveing paid so deare for
ye honor, & been sufficiently satisfed their is nothing but
change and trouble in such employs ; and to shew you how
unwillingly I am pswaded to stand againe, I have not solicited
one vote either for myselfe or friend, but leave the freeholders
to their owne choyse at the day of the Election. There
have been many of my Neighbours & country men w th me to
desire I would serve them in this ensueing Parliam 1 I have
desired their excuse but when I could not prevaile w th them
to let me be at home & in quiet I told them y 4 if they did
choose me, & M r Onslow, we would both serve them, soe we
are obliged to doe it if once chosen, and thus stands the
business. I find by D r Parr's letter to you that M r Bowzer
& himselfe have been industrious to get voices for us without
our knowledge or any applications from us to any of them,
& therefore these favors are the more to be esteem'd &
acknowledg* 1 by us both. What directions I can give you,
how to improve their favors not at present for we are kept
in the darke when the time and place wilbee appointed for the
Election. The County Court is next Wensday at Guildford
& by ye statute the Sheriffe then is to appoint tyme and place
and the day, but we have by informaccon that the Sheriffe
intends on Wensday to open ye writt for Elections, & by sub-
sequent then to proceed to an election, & tis beleeved he will
play that tricke a' purpose to surprise an Election ; but the
freeholders have notice of this intended design and wilbee
in some numbers ready there to attend ye progresse & method
he will take, and so demand a pole (if there be occasion) y*
so there may be a fair proceeding on all partys, and men may
have time to come to give their voices. It is left to ye dis-
cretion of ye gentlemen whether they will come a' Wensday
morning to ye County Court, or stay till a further notice if
THE WOTTON BRANCH 51
any by the Sheriff e shall be given, but I am of opinion it
may be on Wensday and therefore most of ye freeholders in
these parts will appeare at Guildford a' Wensday next,
w ch you may intimate (if you thinke fit) to M r Abbis y r
Neighbour who is a leading man (as D r Parr's Lre hints),
and has been very instrumental for voices for M r Onslow
& my selfe, & now at this instant I have certain intelligence
that Wensday next is designed for ye day of Election a'
purpose to serve Sr A. V. & Sr Ed. E., so y* if they desire
to beat ye election, they must not faile to be a' Guildford a'
Wensday morning & they have liberty to give their voices for
whom they please when they come into ye feild. I suppose
ye freeholders in South warke and Bermunsey may have an
alarum of this design before this can kiss y r hands. It is
resolved by us to be at no charges, the freeholders must beat
themselves which they have in two former elections done, &
are resolved not to put ye gentlemen they vote for to any
expense, they having formerly paid so deare for it. Having
tired you with this account give me leave now to tell you that
I have ordered M r Spencers clerke to rec. the 200 w ch you
so long time lodged at my Nephew John's lodgings, & in
order thereunto have sent my nephew a' letter & note under
my hand for him to pay it M r Rich. Smyther, M r Spensers
clerke, that willbe a sufficient discharge to you & my
nephew for ye paym* of the 200. I am sorry I have
burthened my cousen so long w th ye custody of it but I
beg yrs & his parden for it. May all our services be prsented
to you & my sorrowing sister & all our cousens. My Brother
Glanville remembers kindly to you all. He is in good health
God be praised.
"lam
Y r most affectionate Brother
& humble servant,
(Signed) GEO. EVELYN."
(Endorsed.)
From my bro: Geo: Evelyn,
Wotton, 30 Mar: 85.
Concerning his election for
Knight of the Sher. &c.
52 THE EVELYN FAMILY
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON TO JOHN
EVELYN OF SAYES COURT x
" DEARE BROTHER, Your ioynt Congratulations with
other of my good friends and Relations upon the birth of my
grandson, adds to the obligations upon all occasions you
exert towards me, and consequently must repeat my high
sentiments of them. I thanke God after many miscarriages
my Daughter Evelyn hath brought a very lusty Boy into the
world, & I hope by your hearty prayers for his life, he may be a
ioy and happiness to ye family, in ye continuance of ye name,
which by God's blessing hitherto hath prospered amongst us,
and you have my hearty prayers yt my little Nephew at Dept-
ford may live to recomfort you & my sister in ye losses of my
deere Neeces,
" D r Br. I have but a few days to spend heere ; from ye
17 instant I shalbee 69 years old. I would gladly see you &
my sister at Wotton ere I dye. I hope before the sumer be
ended you may be at leisure to visite your Natale Solum, and
give us the happiness of your enioym* where you know your
welcome to him who is and ever wilbee D r B r ,
14 Your most affectionate Brother
& humble Ser 1 ,
(Signed) GEO: EVELYN."
" WOTTON, 9 June 86.
44 Mr. Strickland tells me 100 shalbee paid this weeke the
last about Midsumer, which is well.
44 1 have given M r Strickland a note of the time of pay-
ment of this last 500 that at your leisure you may adiust
the Interest & at your good tyme all accounts between us."
(Endorsed.)
Bro: Evelyn
9 June 86.
Concerning ye birth of
a son at Wotton & of
mony &c.
George Evelyn survived his wife five years, dying on
October 4, 1699, at the age of eighty-two. He left no male
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 4.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 53
heir, so his brother John succeeded him at Wotton, The
following account of him is from the Diary of his brother :
" Oct. 4, 1699. 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 maintain'd
that ancient custom of keeping, as it were, open house the
whole yeare 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 20 persons
more than his family, and some that staid there all the
summer, to his no small expence; by this he gain'd the
universal love of the county. He was born at Wotton,
went from the free schoole at Guildford to Trinity Coll.
Oxford, thence to the Middle Temple as gentlemen of the
best quality did, but without intention to study the law as a
profession, He married the daughter of Colwall, of a worthy
and ancient family in Leicestershire, by whom he had one
son ; she dying in 1643, left Geo. her son, an infant, who
being educated liberally after travelling abroad return 'd
and married one Mrs. Gore, 1 by whom he had several children,
but only three daughters surviv'd : he was a young man of
good understanding, but overindulging 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
Sr John Cotton she being an Offley, a worthy and ancient
Staffordshire 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 Sr Cyril Wych, a noble and learned
gentleman (son of Sr Wych), who had ben Ambass at
Constantinople, and was afterwards made one of the Lords
Justices of Ireland. Before this marriage, her only brother
1 Register of the Vicar-General of Canterbury, Marriage Licenses.
" George Evelyn of Wotton bachelor, aged about 23 years, and Mrs. Catherine
Gore of Chelsea spinster, aged about 19 years, with the Consent of her
father, Robert Gore of the same merchant." (Married at St. Luke's, Chelsea,
Dec. 19, 1667.)
54 THE EVELYN FAMILY
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 resettled the whole estate on me. His sister
Wych had a portion of 6000 to w ch was added about 300
more ; the three other daughters, with what I added, had
about 5000 each. My Brother died on 5 Oct. in a good old
age and greate reputation, making his beloved Lady Wych
sole executrix, leaving me only his library and some pictures
of my father, mother, etc. 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 funerall,
all the gentlemen of the county doing him the Last honors.
I return'd to London, till my lady should dispose of herselfe
and family."
WILL OF GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON
George Evelyn of Wotton, Co. Surrey, Esq. Will dat.
July 22, 1699 ; codicil, Sept. 15, 1699 ; proved Feb. 3, 1699-
1700 by Dame Mary Wych, power reserved to W m Glanville.
44 To be buried in my Vault near Adjoining Wootton
Church next my late dearest wife Dame Mary Cotton. Poor
of Wotton, Abinger, and Dorking, 10 each parish. To my
brother in law William Glanvill 100. To my brother John
Evelyn, Esq., my library of books, my gilt bowl of plate, and
three pictures of my father, mother, and sister Darcy. My
grandchildren Mrs. Katherine Fulham and Mrs. Mary Evelyn.
My great grandchild Jane Dyett. Sir Cyril Wych. My
nephew John Evelyn. My nephew William Glanvill 200.
Indenture 23 June 1699 between me and my brother John
Evelyn of one p l , Stephen Hervey, Esq., of the second p l ,
and Francis Stratford, Esq., and W m Draper, Esq., of the
third part, to pay the said Steph. Hervey and Fran. Stratford
6500 upon certain trusts. Residue of my goods, etc., my
rent charge of 38, 16s. out of the manor of Sommersbury
and other lands, etc., in Ewhurst and Cranley, co. Surrey, and
all rents which have come to me by the death of my brother
Richard Evelyn, Esq., I give to my dau. Dame Mary Wych,
sole ex'trix. Codicil (15 Sep. 1699) : To my nephew William
THE WOTTON BRANCH 55
Glanvill 300 more, and to be joint ex' or with my dau.
Dame Mary, wife of Sir Cyril Wych. 1 Wit. (to will and codi-
cil), Robt. Wye, William Morley, James Marten. (22 Noel)."
RICHARD EVELYN 2 of Woodcote, the younger brother of
George and John Evelyn, and the third son of his father
Richard, was born on November 9, 1622 (according to Diary,
December 4). On January 21, 1640, he left school to be a
chamber-fellow at Baliol College, Oxford, with his brother
John. The latter writes in his Diary :
" Came my Bro. Richard from Schole to be my chamber-
fellow at the University. He was admitted the next day, and
matriculated the 31st."
His father died on the following 24th of December when
Richard was nineteen. It does not appear what he did on
leaving Oxford.
He lived in a house called Baynards, 3 in Surrey, which
had been left to him by his father. On January 14, 1648, his
brother John writes :
" From London I went to Wotton to see my young
Nephew ; and thence to Baynards (in Ewhurst) to visit my
Brother Richard."
On August 16 of this same year, 1648, he writes :
" I went to Woodcote (in Epsom) to the wedding of my
Brother Richard, who married the daughter and coheire of
Esqr. Minn lately deceas'd, by which he had a greate estate
both in land and monie on the death of a brother. The coach
in which the bride and bridegroom were, was overturned in
coming home, but no harm was done."
1 Sir Cyril Wyche possessed a house called Flankford in the parish of
Reigate which is described in Coxe's History of Surrey, published 1728 :
" In this parish also is an house called Flankford, an handsome Seat, lately in
the Possession of Sir Cyril Wyche, that one of the six Clerks in Chancery some
time since. It is adorn'd with a spacious Garden, and a Park well stock'd
with Deer, wherein are four Ponds in a Row, from which issue out water in
such Plenty as to drive a Mill. This Sir Cyril Wyche, who was afterwards
Secretary cf State in Ireland, was born at Constantinople during his Father's
Embassy there to the Ottoman Court ; and having had for one of his God-
fathers at his baptism, the famous Patriarch Cyril, who was bodely murder'4
by the Jesuits, had his name imposed on him."
2 Chan. Pro. before 1714, Brydges, 3/26.
3 Chan, Pro, before 1714, Brydges, 137/15,
56 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Richard was twenty-six when he married l and the bride
was nineteen. Her name was Elizabeth, and she was the
daughter and heiress of George Mynne of Woodcote in the
parish of Epsom, whose wife was Anne, daughter of Sir
Robert Parkhurst, Kt., of Pirford, Surrey.
In the beginning of the year 1655, John went to
pay his younger brother a visit at Woodcote, where
the couple seem to have lived. He writes on January 1,
1655:
" I went to keepe the rest of Christmas at my Brother's
R. Evelyn, at Woodcote."
The following is a description of Woodcote Park from
Brayley's History of Surrey :
" Woodcote Park comprises about 350 acres of ground,
and is situated at the distance of one mile from Epsom to the
south, and contiguous to the racecourse. The park is well
wooded, and includes some flourishing plantations. The
mansion is a handsome building, consisting of a centre and
wings, connected on each side by curvilinear arcades. From
the lawn in front a twofold flight of steps with balustrades,
leads to the entrance-hall, which is ornamented with coupled
Corinthian columns supporting a frieze. The chief apart-
ments include two with drawing-rooms, elegantly decorated.
The library is profusely enriched by gilding, etc., and on the
ceiling is a painting of Gannymede by Verrio. There is also
an apartment called the Painted Room, from the walls being
covered with designs illustrative of the Greek romance, by
Longus, of Daphnis, and Chloe ; and on the ceiling of that
which was formerly a chapel is a representation of the
Ascension of our Saviour by Verrio. The old manor-house at
Horton, which was large and surrounded by a moat, appears
to have been the abode of the Mynns and their predecessors ;
but after the marriage of their co-heiress, Elizabeth, with
Richard Evelyn, that gentleman, being struck with the far
preferable situation of Woodcote Park, determined to
erect a mansion there for the residence of the owner of the
estate ; and such a house he built, together with a chapel and
a library The two latter were ornamented by Grinling
1 Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marriage Licenses.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 57
Gibbons and Verrio, who had been recommended to Mr.
Evelyn by his brother John."
The following is a description of Baynards from the
Diary, May 5, 1657 :
" I went with my cousin George Tuke to see Baynards
in Surrey, an house of my brother Richard's, which he would
have hir'd. This is a very faire noble residence, built in a
park, and having one of the goodliest avenues of oakes up to
it that ever I saw ; there is a pond of 60 acres neere it ; the
windows of ye cheife roomes are of very fine painted glasse
The situation is excessively dirty and melancholy."
The following quotation is from Evelyn's Sylva (edition
Hunter, p. 589):
" To conclude, I could have shewn an avenue planted to a
house standing in a barren park, the soil a cold clay ; it con-
sisted totally of Oaks, one hundred in number ; The person
who first set them, dying very lately, lived to see them
spread their branches one hundred and twenty-three feet in
compass, which, at the distance of twenty-four feet, mingling
their shady tresses for above a thousand in length, formed
themselves into one of the most venerable and stately arbor-
walks that in my life I ever beheld ; This was at Baynards
in Surry, and belonging lately to my most honoured Brother
(a most industrious planter of wood) Richard Evelyn, Esq ;
since transplanted to a better world : The walk is fifty-six
feet broad, one tree with another containing, by estimation,
three quarters of a load of timber, and in their lops three
cords of fire- wood ; Their bodies were not of the tallest,
having been topped when they were young, to reduce them
to an uniform height ; yet was the timber most excellent
for its scantling ; and for their heads, few in England excelling
them : Where some of their contemporaries were planted
single in the park without cumber, they spread above four-
score feet in arms ; all of them since cut down and destroyed
by the person who continued to detain the just possession
of that estate from those to whom of right and conscience it
belonged. Since then it is disposed of, and I am glad it has
fallen into the hands of the present Possessor."
Baynards is situated partly in Ewhurst and partly in Cran-
58 THE EVELYN FAMILY
ley. It adjoins to Rudgwick in Sussex and is in a deep clay
soil. Sir George More of Losely bought it about the year 1577
from Sir Edward Bray. John Evelyn in a letter to Aubrey,
which is prefixed to the latter's History of Surrey, says :
" You will observe the number of ponds and little lakes
in this country, one of my brothers (now deceas'd) had at a
place caird Baynards, within his Park, a pond of 60 acres.
The house was honourably built by Sir George Moore, many
years past Lieutenant of the Tower. The soil is so addicted
to oaks, that to tell of their prodigious growth within 50
years, would astonish those who should measure the timber
now growing. It is a sour loamy ground."
The following description of Baynards is quoted from
Brayley and Walford's History of Surrey :
" The Mansion, situated on a healthy knoll, commands a
beautiful view over the Hog's Back Hills, and is a fine
specimen of Tudor architecture. It was carefully restored by
the late owner. The northern front is of irregular design,
but very characteristic of the period of its erection, the
arrangement and older parts of the mansion being apparently
much anterior to the date specified by Evelyn. On the
basement floor is a spacious hall, which communicates with
the library, dining-room, music-room, drawing-room, and
great staircase, all of which are appropriately fitted up, and
furnished with taste and elegance. The collection of paintings
(mostly portraits) at Baynards is very fine and comprises
works by Raffaelle, Holbein, Zucchero, Mytens, Vandyke,
Rembrandt, and other masters. Here likewise, together
with some fine old armour, carvings, and tapestry, several
objects of great curiosity are preserved, among them a large
and very strong charter chest, formerly the property of Sir
Thomas More, which is beautifully painted, cased with iron,
and secured by four locks and secret keyhole, and a pair of
steelyards, presented by the City of London to Sir Thomas
Gresham : they are finely wrought, inlaid with gold, and
ornamented with figures of Gog and Magog, Romulus and
Remus, and other curious devices.
Baynards is said to be haunted, and many years ago no
neighbour would approach it after nightfall. The impression
THE WOTTON BRANCH 59
of ghosts having been seen fluttering about, had its origin
in the decapitated head of Sir Thomas More having been
long kept in this house by his favourite daughter, Margaret
Roper. Her residence here was doubtless in consequence of
her daughter Elizabeth (by William Roper, Esq.) having
become the wife of Sir Edward Bray, the younger. The skull
of Sir Thomas was finally deposited in the vault of the
Ropers, in St. Dunstan's Church, Canterbury. Margaret
Roper was herself buried there, and near her coffin is a niche
in the wall, secured by an iron grating, within which the
skull is placed."
When Richard Evelyn died in 1670, Baynards was inherited
by his only daughter, Anne, who married William Montague,
son of the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Of his heirs
it was purchased by Richard, first Baron Onslow, from
whom it descended to George, Earl Onslow ; but after several
intermediate ownerships, Baynards was sold in 1882 to the
Rev. Thomas Thurlow, a nephew of Lord Chancellor Thurlow.
The third Earl of Onslow carried the beautiful painted
glass in the house to his seat at Clandon.
On August 9, 1664, on the day after the death of his
sister-in-law, Richard went to Wotton with his brother John
to try and console his eldest brother George.
Richard had five children, of whom four sons died in
infancy and an only daughter survived. This daughter,
Anne, was married on June 29, 1670, at Southampton House
Chapel, London, to William Montague, son of the Lord Chief
Baron of the Exchequer. She had no children and died at
Woodcote, February 15, 1688. Her uncle John mentions
the wedding in his Diary. On June 29, 1670, he says :
" To London, in order to my Niece's marriage, Mary,
Daughter to my late Brother Richard, of Woodcot, with ye
eldest son of Mr. Attorney Mountague, which was celebrated
at Southampton House chapell, after which a magnificent
entertainment, feast, and dauncing, dinner and supper, in
the great roome there, but the bride was bedded at my
Sister's lodging in Drurie-lane."
In 1668 Richard Evelyn became very ill. On November 8
a message was sent to his brother John, which arrived while
60 THE EVELYN FAMILY
he was in the middle of dinner, asking him to come up to
London and see his brother. He did so, and stayed with him
till the 17th. Richard's illness lasted many months.
John Evelyn writes, March 3, 1670 :
" Finding my Brother in such exceeding torture, and
that he now began to fall into convulsion fits, I solemnly
set ye next day apart to beg of God to mitigate his sufferings
and prosper the onely meanes 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 ye operation, and
all things prepar'd, his spirit and resolution failed."
Three days later, on March 6, Richard's sufferings were
ended. His brother writes, March 6 :
" Dr. Patrick preached in Co vent Garden church. I
participated of the blessed Sacrament, recommending to God
the deplorable condition of my deare Brother, who was
almost in ye last agonies of death. I watched late with him
this night. It pleased God to deliver him out of this miser-
able life, towards five o'clock this Moneday morning, to my
unspeakable griefe. He was a Brother whom I most dearly
lov'd for his many virtues ; but two yeares younger than
myself, a sober, prudent, and worthy gentleman. He had
married a greate fortune, and left one onely daughter, and a
noble seate at Woodcote near Epsom. I return'd home on
the 8th, full of sadnesse, and to bemoane my losse."
Richard was buried at Epsom on March 21. His brother
writes on that date :
;t We all accompanied the corpse of my deare Brother to
Epsom church, where he was decently interr'd in ye chapell
belonging to Woodcote House. A greate number of friends
and gentlemen of the country attended, about 20 coaches
and six horses, and innumerable people."
Richard's wife survived him about twenty-two years.
She died January 29, 1692, aged sixty-three, and was buried
in Epsom Parish Church. She was Lady of the Manor of
Epsom and Horton, and her daughter having died before
her in 1688, Charles Calvert, Baron Baltimore, was her next
of kin, as she had no grandchildren.
THE WOTTON BRANCH 61
LETTER FROM MRS. ELIZABETH EVELYN, WIFE or
RICHARD EVELYN OF WOOD COTE, TO WILLIAM GLAN-
VILLE, 1661. 1
" DEARE BROTHER, I give y u very many thanks for
sending mee so much choise fruit, I looke upon it a great
present because I know there is but little new com over. I
shall not give you the trouble of procuring me any more,
since y u have sent me as many as I shall make use of my
selfe a great while. Though I am I thanke God pritty well
now, yett I must tell y u I have beene sick againe as formerly
and how to remedy it is (for what I can perceive) beyound
the Phisitians skill. Notwithstanding I follow their pre-
scriptions and shall waite the event. Y r good company
will doe me more good than all their Phisick, which as soone
as conveniently y u may is desired by
" Ye r most affect sister
and humble servent,
(Signed) ELIZA: EVELYN.
" Woodcott, novemb.
the 12 th , 1 66 1.
my most humble service to y r Brother
and sister and let them know that
their Daughter is well.
my service to all on Ludgate Hill."
(Addressed.)
These
To William Glanville Esq.
present.
(Endorsed.)
12 th November 1661.
WILL OF RICHARD EVELYN OF WOODCOTE
(P.C.C., 68 Penn.)
" Richard Evelyn of Woodcott in the par. of Ebisham al's
Epsham, Surrey, Esq. Will dat. 5 Feb., 1669 ; proved 17
June 1670 by Elizabeth Evelin the relict. To be buried in
1 Add. MSS., British Museum, 15,949, fo. 125.
62 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the Chancel of Ebisham Church, belonging to Woodcott
house, and for my funeral 250. To poor of Ebisham 15,
of Wootton 50s., and of Ewhurst 50s. Manors and lands in
Pevensey, Mankesey, and Hoo, co. Sussex, and in Horley,
Home, and Sheire, co. Surrey, were by deed conveyed to
Sir Edward Thurland, Knt., and Christopher Buckle, Esq.,
in trust for the advancement of my dau. Anne in marriage,
and my Ex'ix is to pay my s d da. Anne 1000. To my
brothers George and John Evelyn and my brother in law
William Glanville, Esq., 20 each for rings. To my nephew
and godson William Glanville 100. To my friends Sir
Edward Thurland, Knt., and Christopher Buckle the elder,
Esq., 10 each, they to be guardians of my dau. Anne if
my wife dies before she is of age. To my s d wife a messuage
and farm, etc., in Longhurst Hill, Cranley, co. Surrey. By
my marriage settlement, dat. 20 May 1648, the manor house
of Baynards and other lands, and the manor of Somersbury
in Ewhurst and Ockley, were settled on me and my wife for
our lives, remainder in default of my brother George Evelyn,
he to pay my brother John Evelyn 1000, and my nephew
and godson William Glanville 500. My wife Elizabeth sole
ex'ix, and to have the custody of my dau. Anne Evelyn
during her minority. My s d brother George Evelyn and
John Evelyn overseers. Wit., Edw d Thurland, Tho s Hollier,
and James Martin."
CHAPTER II
JOHN EVELYN
^AUTHOR OF SYLVA}
JOHN EVELYN, second son of Richard Evelyn, was born at
Wotton on Tuesday, October 31, 1620, and was baptized
there the following 15th of November, by the Rev. Geo.
Highnam, Rector of Wotton. The following is a short
resume* of the chief events of his life. The christening took
place in the dining-room at Wotton and he was afterwards,
as was the custom, sent out to be nursed by a tenant's wife,
and remained away from home till the 17th of January 1622,
when he was over a year old. In after life his earliest recollec-
tions were of seeing, when he was three years old, his younger
brother Richard in the nurse's arms. His education began
at the age of four, when he made his first efforts under the
teaching of a schoolmaster called Frier, who taught him at
the church porch of Wotton.
In 1625 he was sent away from home to live with his
maternal grandfather Standsfield, at Lewes in Sussex, and
here his childhood was passed. When he was six years old
his portrait was painted by Chanterell. In 1627 his grand-
father died, but he continued to live with his second wife,
who wished to keep him with her. He learnt Latin from a
Frenchman in Lewes called Citolin. He was also sent to a
school at Lewes kept by a Mr. Potts, and later on to the free
school at Southover near the town, kept by Edward Snatt,
and here he stayed till he went to Oxford. His grandmother
married a Mr. Newton of Southover, so they all removed
there. John's father wanted to send him to Eton, but the
boy was so terrified at the reports he had heard of the severe
discipline there, that he was persuaded to let him remain on
with his grandmother.
63
64 THE EVELYN FAMILY
In 1637 he entered as a Fellow Commoner of Baliol
College, Oxford, where he remained for three years. In
April 1640 he took up his residence in the Middle Temple,
and engaged in the study of law. In December of this year
his father died, leaving him to face his future career un-
aided.
In July of the next year, 1641, at the age of twenty-one, he
resolved to go abroad owing to the unsettled state of things in
England. He visited Holland, and after a stay there of a
few months, he returned home again. The battle of Brentford,
fought between the Cavaliers and the Roundheads, took place
on November 12, 1642, and John arrived on the scene with his
horse just at the retreat. He stayed with the Royal Army
till the 15th, and then left, for fear of ruining himself and his
brothers without any advantage to the King, as the soldiers
were about to march to Gloucester.
In November 1643 he again visited the Continent, this
time going to Paris, where he made the acquaintance of Sir
Richard Browne, Charles I's ambassador in Paris. He then
visited Italy, where he remained some years. About the
end of 1646 he returned to Paris, and the next year, on June 27,
1647, he was married by Dr. John Earle (afterwards Bishop of
Salisbury) to Mary, daughter of Sir Richard Browne, in the
chapel attached to the latter 's house in Paris. He soon
after returned to England, leaving his wife, who was only
eleven years old, in the care of her mother.
It was in right of this marriage that John came into
possession of Sayes Court, Deptford, which belonged to Sir
Richard Browne.
Evelyn writes in his Diary, November 14, 1647 :
" To Sayes Court at Deptford in Kent, (since my house),
where I found M r Pretyman my wife's uncle, who had charge
of it and the estate about it during my father-in-law's
residence in France. On the 15th I againe occupied my owne
Chambers at the Middle Temple."
In January 1649 he took up his residence at Sayes Court,
and in the same month issued his first publication, which was
a translation from the French of an essay by Franois de La
Mothe Le Vayer, on Liberty and Servitude.
JOHN KVEI.YN ( AUTHOR OF "
From a portrait (1641) by Vanderborcht
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 65
May 12, 1649, he writes in his Diary, " I purchased the
Manor of Warley Magna in Essex."
In the summer of 1649 he again went to France,
but returned in the beginning of 1652, and on his
arrival home published a little book entitled The State of
France.
On March 9, 1652, John Evelyn writes in his Diary :
" I went to Deptford, where I made preparation for my
settlement, no more intending to go out of England, but
endeavour a settl'd life, either in this or some other place,
there being now so little appearance of any change for the
better, all being entirely in the Rebells hands, and this
particular habitation and the estate contiguous to it (belong-
ing to my father-in-law actually in his Majesty's Service),
very much suffering for want of some friend to rescue it
out of the power of the usurpers ; so as to preserve our
interest, and take some care of my other concernes. By the
advice and endeavour of my friends I was ad vis 'd to reside in
it, and compound with the soldiers. This I was besides
authoriz'd by his Majesty to do, and encourag'd with a
promise that what was in lease from the Crowne, if ever it
pleas'd God to restore him, he would secure to us in fee-ferme.
I had also addresses and cyfers to correspond with his Majesty
and Ministers abroad : upon all which inducements I was
persuaded to settle henceforth in England, having now run
about the world, most part out of my Country, neere 10
yeares. I therefore now likewise meditated sending over
for my wife, whom as yet I had left at Paris."
His wife came to England in June of this year, and the
following August their first child was born. He was called
Richard, and gave promise of great ability, but only lived
till he was six. Four more sons were afterwards born, all
of whom except one died in infancy, and three daughters,
Mary, Elizabeth, and Susannah.
John Evelyn took great pains with his garden at Sayes
Court, which in time became celebrated.
He was among the first members of the Royal Society,
which was created in the reign of Charles n. He held several
appointments at different times of his life. In 1664 he was
5
66 THE EVELYN FAMILY
appointed one of the Commissioners to take care of the
Dutch sick and wounded prisoners, taken in the war with
Holland. He had much difficulty in getting the funds
necessary for their maintenance. To make matters worse,
the plague broke out in London, so he sent his wife and
family to Wotton while he remained to attend to his duty.
In the same year, 1664, he published Sylva, his celebrated
work on forest trees.
In 1685 he was made one of the Commissioners of the
Privy Seal. In the same year he had his portrait painted by
Kneller, which is now at Wotton, together with one by
Vanderborcht and one by Walker. John Evelyn was not
averse to the Revolution in favour of William of Orange.
On January 17, 1653, Evelyn writes :
" I began to set out the ovall garden at Sayes Court,
which was before a rude orchard and all the rest one intire
field of 100 acres, without any hedge, except the hither holly
hedge joining to the bank of the mount walk. This was the
beginning of all the succeeding gardens, walks, groves, en-
closures, and plantations there.
" 19th. I planted the Orchard at Sayes Court, new moone,
wind W."
The following is copied from the Diary of John Evelyn,
edited by William Bray in 1870 :
FROM THE MSS. AT WOTTON
" SAVES COURT. The hithermost Grove I planted about
1656 ; the other beyond it, 1660 ; the lower Grove, 1662 ;
the holly hedge, even with the Mount hedge below, 1670.
" I planted every hedge and tree, not onely in the garden,
Groves, etc., but about all the fields and house since 1653,
except those large, old & hollow Elms in the Stable Court &
next the Sewer ; for it was before, all one pasture field to the
very garden of the house, which was but small ; from which
time also I repaired the ruined house, & built the whole end
of the Kitchen, the chapel, buttry, my study, above & below,
cellars and all the outhouses & walls, still-house, Orangerie,
& made the gardens &c. to my great cost, & better I had don
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 67
to have pulled all down at first, but it was don at severall
times."
His only surviving son, John, died in 1699, leaving one
son. His elder brother, George Evelyn, died in the same
year at Wotton, at the age of eighty-three, and John Evelyn
then inherited Wotton, being seventy-nine at the time. He
continued to write his Diary to the last, and is now more
celebrated for it than for his Sylva, for which he was famous
in his own day.
On February 27, 1706, he died, aged eighty-five, at his
London house in Dover Street. He was buried in the
Mortuary Chapel in Wotton Church, March 4, 1706.
LIST OF WORKS BY JOHN EVELYN 1
1649. Of Liberty and Servitude. Translated out of the
French (of the Sieur F. de La Mothe Le Vayer) into English
by John Evelyn and dedicated to George Evelyn, Esq. The
Note of Dedication is signed Phileleutheros and dated Paris,
March 25, 1647. Although only a translation, it is interesting
as being Evelyn's first literary work. It is a philosophical
treatise on liberty. The author was a celebrated writer of
the seventeenth century, who was born at Paris in 1588 and
died in 1672. His works are numerous and are on a great
variety of subjects, the principal of which are, De la Vertu
des Payens, Des Anciens et Principaux Historiens Grecs et
Latins, Sur la Facon de Parler ri avoir pas le sens commun,
Petits Traites en Forme de Lettres, and The Prerogative of a
Private Life. The translation by John Evelyn was reprinted
in Evelyn's Miscellaneous Works, edited by William Upcott
of the London Institution, published in 1825. The editor
states in his preface that it was reprinted word for word from
the copy which was in John Evelyn's possession, containing
his MSS. notes. He also says that in 1781 it was purchased
by Mr. Bindley, probably from Mr. J. Robson, a well-known
bookseller in Bond Street, who bought a large portion of the
Evelyn library from that family about the year 1767. At the
1 Copied from Evelyn's Memoirs, edited by Bray.
68 THE EVELYN FAMILY
disposal of Mr. Bindley's collection in 1818, it came into the
possession of George Watson Taylor, Esq., on the sale of
whose books it was purchased by Mr. Upcott, March 26, 1823.
In Evelyn's own copy there is the following pencil-note :
" I was like to be call'd in question by the Rebells for this
booke, being published a few days before his Majesty's
decollation."
1652. The State of France, as it stood in the IXth year
of this present Monarch, Lewis XI I II. Written to a Friend
by J. E., London. Reprinted in Miscellaneous Writings in
1825.
1656. An Essay on the First Book of T. Lucretius Carus
de Rerum Natura. Interpreted and made English verse by
J. Evelyn. Frontispiece designed by Mrs. Evelyn and En-
graved by Hollar.
1658. The Golden Book of St. John Chrysostom, concerning
the Education of Children. Translated out of the Greek by
J. E., Esq. Reprinted in Miscellaneous Writings, 1825.
1658. The French Gardiner : instructing how to cultivate
all sorts of Fruit-trees and Herbs for the Garden ; together with
directions to dry and conserve them in their natural. Six times
printed in France and once in Holland. An accomplished
piece, first written by R. D. C. D. W. B. D. N. (N. de Bonne-
fons) and now transplanted into English by Philocepos.
Illustrated with sculptures.
1659. A Character of England, as it was lately presented
in a Letter to a Noble Man of France. Reprinted in Mis-
cellaneous Writings, 1825.
1659. An Apology for the Royal Party, written in a Letter
to a person of the late Councel of State, by a Lover of
Peace and of his country. With a Touch at the pretended
" Plea for the Army." Reprinted in Miscellaneous Writings,
1825.
1660. The late News from Brussels unmasked, and His
Majesty vindicated from the base calumny and scandal therein
fixed on him. An answer to a coarse libel by Marchmont
Needham, entitled News from Brussels. Reprinted in
Miscellaneous Writings.
1661. Fumifugium : or the inconveniencie of the Aer and
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 69
Smoak of London dissipated, together with some remedies
humbly proposed by J. E., Esq., to his Sacred Majesty and to
the Parliament now assembled. Published by His Majesty's
Command. Reprinted for B. White, London, 1772, and in
Miscellaneous Writings.
1661. A Faithful and Impartial Narrative of what passed at
the landing of the Swedish Ambassador.
1661. Instructions concerning erecting of a Library, pre-
sented to My Lord the President De Mesme by Gilbert
Naudeus, P., and now interpreted by Jo. Evelyn, Esquire.
1661. Tyrannus or the Mode, in a Discourse of Sumptuary
Lawes.
1662. Sculptura : or the History and Art of Chalcography
and Engraving in Copper, with an ample enumeration of
the most renowned masters and their works ; to which is
annexed a new manner of Engraving or Mezzo Tinto, com-
municated by His Highness Prince Rupert to the Author
of this treatise. Second edition, London, 1755. Dedicated
to Sir John Evelyn, Bart., by J. Payne the publisher. Re-
printed in Miscellaneous Writings, 1825.
1664. Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest-Trees, and the
propagation of Timber in his Majesties Dominions. By
J. E., Esq. As it was deliv'd in the Royal Society the
xvth of October, MDCLXIL, upon occasion of certain
quaeries propounded to that illustratious Assembly by the
Honorable the Principal Officers and Commissioners of the
Navy ; to which is annexed Pomona, or an Appendix
concerning Fruit Trees in relation to Cider, the making and
severall wayes of ordering it. Published by express order
of the Royal Society. Also Kalendarium Hortense, or the
Gardener's Almanack, directing what he is to do monethly
throughout the year.
1664. Kalendarium Hortense ; or the Gardener's Almanack,
directing what he is to do monethly throughout the year,
and what fruits and flowers are in prime. By John Evelyn,
Esq., Fellow of the Royal Society. Reprinted in Mis-
cellaneous Writings, 1825.
1664. A Parallel of the Ancient Architecture with the
Modern, in a Collection of ten principal Authors who have
70 THE EVELYN FAMILY
written upon the five Orders, viz., Palladio and Scamozzi,
Serlio and Vignola, D. Barbaro and Cateneo, L. B. Albert i
and Viola, Bullant and De Lorme, ' compared with one
another. The three Greek Orders, Doric, Ionic, and
Corinthian, comprise the first part of this Treatise, and the
two Latin, Tuscan and Composita, the latter. Written in
French by Roland Freart, Sieur de Chambray, Made English
for the Benefit of Builders ; to which is added, An Account
of Architects and Architecture in an Historical and
Etymological Explanation of certain terms particularly
affected by Architects, with Leon Baptista Alberti's Treatise
of Statues. By John Evelyn, Esq., Fellow of the Royal
Society.
1665. Mvffrrjpiov TT}? Avoptas, that is, Another part of
the Mystery of Jesuitism, or the new Heresie of the Jesuites,
publickly maintained at Paris in the College of Clermont
the 12 of December, 1661, declared to all the Bishops of
France, according to the Copy printed at Paris ; together
with the Imaginary Heresie in three letters with divers
other particulars relating to this abominable Mystrie, never
before published in English. The copy presented by the
author to Sir Henry Herbert, with autograph inscription,
is in the British Museum.
1666. The English Vineyard, vindicated by John Rose
Gard'ner to his Majesty at his Royal Garden in St. James's,
formerly Gard'ner to her Grace the Duchesse of Somerset.
With an Address, where the best plants may be had at
easie rates. The Preface is signed " Philosepos," otherwise
John Evelyn, who put the book into form. Reprinted in
the French Gardiner.
1667. Publick Employment, and an Active Life prefer'd
to Solitude, and all its appanages, such as fame, command,
riches, conversation, &c., in reply to a late ingenious Essay
of a contrary title. By J. E., Esq., S.R.S., London. Re-
printed in Miscellaneous Writings.
1668. An Idea of the Perfection of Painting, demonstrated
from the principles of art, and by examples conformable
to the Observations which Pliny and Quintilian have made
upon the most celebrated pieces of the ancient painters,
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 71
parallaPd with some works of the most modern painters,
Leonardo da Vinci, Julio Romano, and N. Poussin. Written
in French by Roland Freart, Sieur de Cambray, and rendered
English by J. E., Esquire, Fellow of the Royal Society.
Dedication and Preface reprinted in Miscellaneous Writings.
1669. The History of the three late famous Impostors,
viz., Padre Ottomano, Mahomed Bei, and Sabetei Sevi. The
one pretended son and heir to the late Grand Seignior, the
other a Prince of the Ottoman family, but in truth a
Valachian Counterfeit ; and the late, the supposed Messiah
of the Jews, in the year of the true Messiah 1666. With
a brief account of the ground and occasion of the present
war between the Turk and the Venetian ; together with
the cause of the final extirpation, destruction and exile
of the Jews out of the empire of Persia. Reprinted in
Miscellaneous Writings.
1674. Navigation and Commerce, their Original and
Progress. Containing a succinct account of Traffick in
general ; its benefits and improvements ; of discoveries,
Wars, and Conflicts at sea, from the Original of Navigation
to this day ; with special regard to the English Nation ;
their several voyages and expeditions to the beginning of
our late differences with Holland ; in which his Majesties
title to the Dominion of the Sea is asserted against the
Novel and later pretenders. By J. Evelyn, S.R.S. Re-
printed in Miscellaneous Writings.
1676. A Philosophical Discourse of Earth, relating to
the culture and improvement of it for Vegetation, and the
propagation of Plants, &c., as it was presented to the Royal
Society, April 29, 1675. By J. Evelyn, Esq., Fellow of
the said Society.
1690. Mundus Muliebris : or the Ladies 9 Dressing-room
Unlocked and her toilette spread. In Burlesque, together
with the Fop-Dictionary compiled for the use of the fair
sex. A Voyage to Marryland ; or the Ladies'" Dressing-
room, is the title given on page 1. It seems likely that
the poem was written by Mary Evelyn, John Evelyn's
eldest daughter, as in the Diary her father makes a slight
allusion to it when describing her character after her death
72 THE EVELYN FAMILY
on March 14, 1685. This was five years before the publica-
tion of the poem. The passage alluded to states that " she
could compose happily, and put in pretty symbols, as in
the Mundus Muliebris, wherein is an enumeration of the
immense variety of the modes and ornaments belonging to
the sex." Reprinted in Miscellaneous Writings.
1693. The Compleat Gardener, or Directions for Cultivating
and right ordering of Fruit Gardens ; with divers Reflections
on several parts of Husbandry. In six Books. By the
famous Monsr. De La Quintinye, Chief Director of all the
Gardens of the French King ; to which is added his Treatise
of Orange Trees, with the raising of Melons, omitted in the
French editions. Made English by John Evelyn, Esq.
Illustrated with Copper Plates.
1697. Numismata : A Discourse of Medals, Antient and
Modern. Together with some Account of Heads and
Effigies of illustrious and famous persons in sculps and taille-
douce, of whom we have no medals extant, and of the use
to be derived from them, to which is added a digression
concerning Physiognomy. By J. Evelyn, Esq., S.R.S.
1699. Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets. By J. E.,
S.R.S., Author of the Kalendarium. Reprinted in Mis-
cellaneous Writings.
POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATIONS
1818. Memoirs illustrative of the Life and Writings of
John Evelyn, Esq., F.R.S., comprising his Diary from 1641
to 1705-6, and a Selection from his familiar letters. Edited
by W. Bray. London, 1818.
1825. The Miscellaneous Writings of John Evelyn, Esq.,
F.R.S., Author df " Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest-Trees,"
" Memoirs," &c. Now first Collected, with occasional Notes
by William Upcott, of the London Institution.
1847. The Life of Mrs. Godolphin. By John Evelyn, of
Wotton, Esq. Now first published and edited by Samuel
(Wilberforce), Lord Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor of the
most noble Order of the Garter. Printed from Evelyn's
original MS. in the possession of his great-great-grandson,
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 73
Edward Venables Vernon Harcourt, Lord Archbishop of
York.
1850. The History of Religion : a Rational Account of
the True Religion. By John Evelyn, author of Sylva, etc.
Now first published, by permission of W. J. Evelyn, Esq.,
M.P., from the original MS. in the Library at Wotton.
Edited with Notes by the Reverend R. W. Evanson, B.A.,
Rector of Lansoy, Monmouthshire. This work, which con-
tains much interesting matter drawn from various authors,
was commenced in 1657. John Evelyn continued and added
to it during his life. He entitled it Analecta or Collections.
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO HIS WIFE x
" FOR MRS. EVELYN, AT GEO: EVELYN ESQ.
"his house in Wotton: Surrey.
"SAYS-COURT, 2$th Jan: 6f.
" MY DEARE, I am just now ariv'd from Hampton-
Court, where his Ma tie gaue me so kind a reception as I could
not haue desired a more gracious : The Duke of Albemarle
presenting me to the King, he ran to me, & giuing me his
hand to kisse, told me he was heartily glad he had me safe ;
& twise, vsing this expression, as I am an honest man, I
haue been in care for you, I haue pitied you ; I haue been
I tell you, realy troubled for y r employment ; I am much
beholden to you for your good Service: Vpon w h I replyd,
that for the danger I did not consider it, so the performances
of my duty, might answer his Ma ties gracious opinion of me :
He told me, he was highly satisfied, & that I had exceedingly
oblig'd him: I vse his Ma ties very expressions as neere as I
can recall them : after this I had the honor to entertaine
him quite alone concerning severall particulars relating to
my service for neere 3 quarters of an houre, & after that
twise more in Privat, dismissing me with a Command to
waite on him on Thursday at Whitehall, where I find I
shall receive orders for my grand Project of an Infirmary
to be built at Chatham, & diuers other affairs, that I am
1 In the possession of Mrs. Arthur Heygate.
74 THE EVELYN FAMILY
like to be engag'd in: After this the Duke of Yorke came
to me of his owne accord ; & gaue me likewise his hand to
kisse, with many most obliging expressions for the good
Service I had don him & the King, then came my Ld:
Arlington, S r W ra Coventry, & a full crowd of other Create
Persons to salute me ; but none w th more ceremony, com-
pliment & wonderfull expressions of kindnesse, than my Ld:
of S l Albans who is wont (you know) to overlooke all the
World: Thus I passd from one, to another, halfe pull'd to
pieces for joy, & at last I came away, a Squire as pure as
euer I went, to my no small contentment, though I was
once or twise affraid of making you a Lady ; but (I thank
God) I got most dextrously off.
'* The King did tell me as a Seacret, that he would be
at Lond: on Thursday ; & but for that, I had not sent this
Boy to you : for considering that y r Father (coming to
morrow to Hampton Court from Oxford) will vndoubtedly
follow his Ma tie to Lond: & be in greate impatience for y e
Keys of his Lodging there, & happly in want of them for
some Papers &c: I thought fit to send to you expressly for
the Black-box I left w th you, in which he writes me word
his Keys are : I suppose it is the same I gaue you out of
my Trunke when I left Wotton last : I pray now send it
by Jack, & see it safely put vp : I do (by y e Grace of God)
persist to send for you about the beginning of next Weeke ;
but whither by the conveniency of a Glasse Coach, I much
doubt, Cap: Cock being at Lond: w th his Family, & I
suppose vsing it: The Weather is not so cold, but that if
it be a fine day & the Curtain cloasd, I hope you may passe
the journey without danger of y e Moppet: I shall then also
find you Morys, but I pray let me first know what you
expect:
"In y e meane time prouide my number of Trees, y l the
Cart may bring them:
" Learne also of my Brother w* course he takes for liverye
to send to S r Jo: Euelyn ? where he buys the cloth ? and
when they must be ready to appear, w th that whole Equipage
&c:
4 You neede no more enquire concerning the generall
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 75
greate abatement of y e Contagion, than to consider y l his
Ma tie resolues for Lond: & I am of opinion will returne no
more to Oxford, or Hampton - Court : Whitehall being
fitting vp in all hast:
44 This enclosd 2 d kind lett r from my L d Cornebury I send
you, to let you see how well I am in y fc family, & what newes
there is, & how they passe their time at Oxon: Also the
Garrett from Oxon: for my Bro: who may possibly not
haue scene it:
" And now I haue don, when you haue made my service
acceptable to my deare Bro: Nephew, Niece, M rs Bohun &
all y e good Company at Wotton from
" Dear, Dear,
Y r most affectionate Husband
& humble servant,
J. EUELYN:"
" We are meeting afresh at Gressham Coll. & haue had
purchasd for vs, since these days of separation, the fullest,
& certainly noblest collection of naturall raritys of all kinds
that is this day in Europ to be scene: Tell M r Bohun, The
Royall Society is not at an end yet, florit, floreat
" Bring me my L: Cornberys lett r againe.
" My Ld: Arundel of Warder presents his service to
you ; I belieue S r Sam: may come ouer yet at last:
" M rs Murden, Isabell, & y e Doctor w th his Lady, kisse
y r hande. God send vs a joy full meeting."
(Endorsed.)
From J. E. the 29 Jan. 65
to M rs Evelyn
his reception by the K. & Duke
of York at Hampton Court.
Escaped being knighted.
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO DR. BOHUN l
" WOTTON, iSth Jan. 9f.
" WORTHY D R BOHUN, Having been told that you have
lately Inquir'd what is become of y r now old ffriends of
1 Given to the Bodleian Library by Mrs. Heygate.
76 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Says-Court, the date hereof! will acquaint you where they
are, and the sequal, much of what they do & think : I
belieue I neede not tell you that after the Marriage of my
Daughter, and the so kind offer of my good Bro: here (my
then Circumstances and times consider'd) I had reason
to embrace it ; not onely out of Inclination to the place
where I was born, & haue now an Interest in ; but, by
reducing my Family, to extricate my selfe out of some
difficulties, which yet with all goode husbandry, I haue
not ben able to do, as y u y r selfe (to my no small sorrow)
haue ben sensible of: The Superfluities of the Wedding
& apparatus's ; the 200 1 I haue pd. to M r K. Pretyman
on a Bond of S r Richards ; the full 300 for passing y e re-
newing of my Lease w th some augmentation &c: of what
I hold from the Crowne, which the Duke of Leedes was sup-
planting me of: The Insupportable Taxes, many Repaires,
Removes & other vnavoydable expenses be added to the
rest, keeping me hitherto to a Confinement, tho' not
vngratefull ; yet with much alloy, 1 so long as I remaind
in yours other debts, which I am euery day endeauoring
to contract, as fast as my circumstances will permitt ; for
as I am not here vpon free Cost, so with my necessary
Servants & other accidents, I hardly yet bring the yeare
about with a decency becoming vs: It is true, my L d
Godolphin (my euer noble patron & steady friend, now
retird from a fatigud station) got me to be named Treasurer,
to the Marine Colledge erecting at Greenwich, with the
Sallary of 200 H p r A nn : of which I haue neuer yet receiud
one peny of the Tallies assignd for it, now two yeare at
O r Lady-day: The expense of Journeys, and necessity of
being often at London to discharge that trust, has hitherto
ben to my disadvantage, & the attendance so inconvenient
& chargeable, that I am faine to put it off to my Son-in-
Law Draper who is my Substitute ; I haue onely had this
opportunity to place my old (indeede faithfull) Ser 1 J.
Str d , in an Employment at Greenewich, who complys with
my other business, which is not small, among so many
begerly Tennants, as y u know I haue at Deptford ; whilst
1 Reading doubtful.
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 77
I haue let my House to Cap. Benbow, and haue the morti-
fication of seeing euery day, much of my former labour
& expense there impairing, for want of a more polite
Tennant ; but w h I must comply with: But that which
is to us a yet greater Affliction, is, the ill state of my Son,
both before, & since his returne out of Ireland where the
contracted Indisposition has taken such roote in him, that
vnlesse the approaching Spring relieue him, I much feare
the Consequences, & daily pray to God for him: Little
Jack (my Grand-son) is in truth, a very good Child, of an
honest, steady, & sweet e nature ; of a good Vnderstanding
& I belieue will be a solid man, hauing already an extra-
ordinary sense of things beyond my imagination: & as
to Book-learning now in the fift forme at Eaton ; so as
there is no dealing w th him in Homer, Vergil, Horace, &c.
In sum: M r Newbery (the chiefe M r of that Schoole) told
me that this 20 years he neuer had any so forward and
good a proficient as Jack, & D r Bently, a friend of mine
(& one known I believ to you) whom I causd to examine
him severely, assurd me, he was fully ready for the Vni-
versity, & told me he would but loose his time at Schoole:
Howeuer, my own defects prompt me to fix him perfectly
in the Greek tongue to w h the child has greate Inclination:
He is so delighted in Books, that he professes a Library
is to him the greatest recreation, so as I giue him free scope
here, wher I haue neere vpon 2000 (w th my Brother) &
whither I would bring the rest, had I any volumes which I
haue not to my greate regrett, hauing here so little Con-
versation with the Learned (vnlesse it be when M r Wotton
now and then comes to visit me, he being Tutor to M r
Finches son at Alban, 1 but w h he is now leaving to go to
his living) that without Books & the best Wife & Bro:
in the World, I were to be pitied: But with those subsidiary
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 Walkers Treatise appeard) I passe
some of my Attic nights, if I may be so vaine as to name
them, w th the Author of those Criticisms : for the rest, I
1 Reading doubtful.
78 THE EVELYN FAMILY
am planting an euer-green-Groue here, to an old house
ready to drop, the Oeconomy & Hospitality of which my
good" old Bro: will not depart from, but More Veterum,
kept a Christmas in w h we had not fewer than 300 bumkins
euery holy-day. Some account now I haue giuen you of
my selfe, forgetting to acquaint you of a Scorbutic sorenesse
in the spots vpon one of my legs, w h , tho' without breaking,
made me dog-lame aboue 6 monethes, but is, I thank God,
remoud by Tqffys (the famous Quacke) Elixir, & the change
of air: My wife is now & then assaulted w th her inveterat
Cough & defluxion but has ben in better health this Winter,
than of many yeares: Her employment is most assiduous
Reading, knitting knotts, and governing my Bro: Table,
when y e Regent Lady seldom appeares 'til about 9 at
night when the Sun rises in her quarters: S r Cyrill comes
once in 3 moneths to see her, and is willing she should
continue as she is, as long as her father Hues, who has
made her executrix of his goods, w h with all my heart I
am glad of ; we hauing much more than we know where
to dispose of if the house were empty, of the most vselesse
lumber that stuffs it: S r Cyrill is a very worthy Gent:
an ex' Scholar & one to be valud extreamly: But wise
men are now & then mistaken. Greate fortunes w th Wiues,
do not all way make men happy:
" We haue here a very convenient Appartment of 5
roomes together, beside a pretty Closet, which we haue
furnishd with the spoiles of Says-Court, & is the rare shew
of the whole Neighborhood, & in truth live very easy as to
all domestic cares ; I haue a small Charriot to w b I make vse
of my Bro s horses when we haue a mind to go abroad, w h we
very seldome do : Wednesdays & Saturdays night, we call
Lecture-Nights, when my Wife and my selfe take our turnes
to read the packets of all the Newes, sent constantly from
London, w ch serues vs for discourse 'til fresh ones come ; &
so you haue the History of a very Old man & his no young
Companion, whose Society I haue enjoyd more to my satis-
faction these 3 years here, than in almost 50 before, but am
now euery day trussing vp to begon, I hope, to a better
place ; in the meane time that my Bro: (tho sometimes
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 79
afflicted w th the stone, & much impaird in his sight, & vse
of his leggs) is as hearty as he has ben 20 year past, frequently
wishing to see you here once before we part: And now I
think I haue told you all I know, of o r Concerns except it be
of my Daughter Draper, who being brought to bed in the
Christmas Holydays of a very fine Boy, has giuen an Heir,
to her most deserving Husband, a prudent, well natur'd
gent : a man of Buisinesse, like to be very rich & deserving
to be so, among the happiest paires I think in England, and
to my daughter, & our hearts desire: My wife could not be
at the labour, by reason of a cold she had at that time, &
severity of the Weather, which keeps vs close to the fire
here ; she has likewise a very fine Girle, and a Mother-in-Law
(a pictresse) exceedingly fond of my daughter & a most
excellent Woman, charitable & of a very sweet disposition,
they all live together, keepe each their Coach, & w th as
suitable an Equipage as any in the Towne : but Sue says,
you haue quite forgotten her But so haue not I D r Bohune,
hauing no longer ago, than this very Day written to his
Grace of Canterbury (as I haue don at least six or 7 times),
continualy minding him of his promise, w h , tho' he still
confirmes, puts off, w th many assurances, that he will not
forget you, w h doe not satisfie me. I receiud a lett r from his
Grace yesterday, giving me an account of their choosing one
M r Gastrel, to supply the Lecture of M r Boyle the present
yeare : D r Williams, who was the last, being made (as you
know) a B ip : Vpon this Occasion (my Lord of Cant: doing
me the honor to be my proxe) I againe renewd my old
Request, with very greate Earnestness ; so long promising
me, that when the Bp of Lincolne came to Towne, he did
not doubt of gratifying you with something worth y r patience ;
this I urg'd w th as much zeale as if it had ben for my owne
Bro: & do not a little wonder it has hitherto produc'd no
effect ; his Grace professing so very much kindnesse to me
vpon all Occasions & frequent Correspondence ; By a lett r
of the 24 th ffeb: (now neare a yeare past) I wrot you word
I would vse my vttmost Interest in this affaire, which I did
more than once, going to Lambeth on purpose, nor haue I
euer scene him since (& that has been often) but I haue
80 THE EVELYN FAMILY
constantly spoken to him concerning you, of wh: my Son
Draper, has sometimes ben Witnesse : But the Bip: of
Salisbry I could neuer light conveniently vpon, & you gaue
me Caution in that matter: Whether you euer receiu'd that
lett r I neuer heard:
" This being the 16 th or 17 th letter I haue ben oblig'd to
write this very day ; if it has not wearied me in writing I am
sure must haue tir'd you in Reading, and therefore hoping
you will excuse the Impertinences of so tedious a Scribbler
desire you will belieue me to be
" Worthy D r , Y r
most humble, faithfull
and Obliged Servant,
J. E:"
" Natalis Christ! toto semel advenit anno,
Illius adventus nos hilaresque facit :
Protinus baud aliter ver6 quam somnia vana
Vanescit, dicit longum abiensque vale,
Laudandus tamen est animus generosus amicos
Gaudentis putavi magnified accipere."
" I do not praise him for his poetry ; for he seemes to affect
a more solid talent, but the theame being giuen him almost
the very moment he was going to take leave of his Vnkle,
before S r Cyr: Wych, he tooke pen & Like, & wrot them
downe before vs, (who gaue him y e old Song) after 5 or six
minutes pause (indeede none at all) w h presenting to my
Bro: return'd in a piece of broad gold: If y u think me
fond & foolish remember the Philosopher & Hoby -horse."
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO MR WOTON x
"ToM'WoroN. DOVER-STR: i ffeb: i/of-.
14 Worthy S r , This trouble had not come so hastily vpon
you, but to beg y r pardon for so much as thinking you shuld
not long since haue ben acquainted with those particulars
concerning the Boglona Family, or that any-thing I could
say on that subject should be new to you: Tho' you haue
ben so ciuil as not to owne it, least it might looke like a
1 Presented to the Bodleian Library by Mrs. Heygate.
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 81
reproach : Since all that I wrot to you, is Verbatim in a
Funerall Sermon of the Countesse of Warwick (youngest
daughter to the R d E. of Corke), preacht and publishd by
D r Walker 1678, which I the more wonder I should not call
to mind, who about the same time, lost the best friend of
her sex I, or any man else had in the world adornd with all
the perfection of that devout & ex* Lady, & in most passages
of her life so resembling her, as neuer pearles were more
alike, than this Mary & my Marguerite, who were paragons,
more valuable than those Vnios (if I may so call them) than
a thousand of Cleopatras : I haue so much to say of my
incomparable Friend vpon all accounts of a perfect &
accomplishd a creature, as would take up Volumes : They
departed both about the same time, The Lady Warwick in a
Calme, the other in a storme, that is, delirious, occasioned
by a feaver, after hauing left a sonne & heire to the best
Man-friend I haue in the world, & the greatest & most worthy
person, deservdly dignifyd w th the greatest Ministery this
frail son l was blessd with, next her Ma tie , I shall not neede
to name him ; farther than to let you know, that this young
Gent: his son, Inherits the virtues of both his parents, was
consignd to my Care intirely, 'till he went at the Schoole at
Eaton (where his Vnkle is now the worthy provost) w h is no
small honour to me : But of these things vpon some other
occasion : This coming only, to beg y r pardon for seeming
to impose upon you (as a service) what I am confident you
knew before ; the Mistake being from the Failing of my
Memory, who hauing nothing of that passage in my memory
tooke it out of what I found my late son, had transcribed out
of this funeral Sermon, in which he says no more of S r Geof-
frey Fenton than y l he was a great Officer of state, but in w l
station, mentions not : This [ 2 ] & w l else you tell me
you haue to Inquire of I reserve to be informed of, if two of
M r Boyles Niesces, the Lady Frances Shannon & Katherine
Fitz Gerald, both my Wifes Relations & my Acquaintance
(are both now in Towne as we are informed) can giue you
any light, if not, I shall aske my L d Ranelagh, who is the
most likly to inform me :
1 Reading doubtful. 2 Word undeciphered.
6
82 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" & now whilst I cannot doubt but you will haue occasion
to mention what you find amongst the papers of M r Boile
(not publishd) a Considerable bundle of something w h he had
written vpon the Existence of the Deity, w b with other
Tractates, he intended to haue deliuerd to a divine to peruse,
& fit for y e publisher : but this was so very little time before
his last sickness, that it went no farther : His Booke (& I
think y c best of all his philosophical works) concerning y e
Original of Formes, a French stranger, desird his permission
to let him put into Latine, & print at Geneva : whether it
was so publishd, I cannot tell : Olderburg (first Secretary
to y c R. Society) & who had ben Tutor to my L d Ranelagh,
& whose patron was M r Boyle, got aboundance of the most
valuable papers of M r Boyles as well as other original papers
and a curious book, belonging to the Society, w h he neuer
restord, but were sold by his Widdow to the Earle of Anglesey,
who prevented the search w h ought to haue ben made by
our president.
" Thus far you haue had a wearisome Talke, & yet I haue
not quite don :
" Sins y rs of the 23 d past, you acquaint me with the
Enquirement of D r Duncomb &c. in behalfe of [solicitude
for] a son of M r Banister whom y u name. 1 Vpon w h account
the D r Writ a letter to me on Sondy last, enclosd in another
of M r Hussys of y e same Tenor : My Answer to them was,
that vnderstanding M r Wotton would be so kind as to use
his Interest w th the M r of Trinity, any Interposure of mine
would be intirely needlesse : Howeuer, to show [how] much
I was inclynd to promote so charitable a work, as [ 2 ]
far as I might signify, I would write to the Master which I
accordingly haue don, who am
" Worthy S r
Y r most faithful
humble Servant,
J. E: "
44 Return my wifes humble
Service to y r Lady."
1 This sentence is interlineated and not very clear in the original.
1 Interlineation, undeciphered.
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 83
COMPLINE 1
For the 31: December, or Last Day of
the Yeare, & first of the New :
ADVERTISEMENT :
" I haue long thought the setting some considerable
portion of this day, and the following a part, for more than
Ordinary Recollection, and the Calling of ones Selfe to an
Accompt, for the passages, & Improvements of the past
Yeare, to be of singular Vse ; and as it is a good preparation
for the publique Solemnitie of the Day ensuing ; by Ex-
amining the State of our Soule, and how far we are advanc'd
in the Spiritual Life : We should therefore do well to take
a more serious review of the yeare which is now expir'd,
and by the help of those private notices we haue daily taken,
& Registr'd, call-to-mind w r hat greater sins we may haue
Committed, or what an accumulation of Frailties, & smaller
Infirmities ; together with what we haue reform' d & mortified,
by which to Judge of y e Progresse & Condition of our Soules,
and what method to proceede in the Yeare following ; that
so we may be continualy growing towards perfection, as we
advance in Yeares : With this we shall do well likewise to
Consider what signal Blessings we haue received, Spiritual
especialy, & then Temporal ones ; what more conspicuous
Acts of Piety we haue perform' d ; what Perils Escaped ;
what Providences Observed, & accordingly to make our
humble Addresses to Almighty God, in Acts of Repentance ;
Prayers for what we Want ; Thanksgivings for what we
haue Received ; Renewing our Resolutions [<&] Working-out
our Salvation, with more Care & Vigilancy for the time to
come, in some such forme of
PRAYER :
" 6 Father of my Life & Being ! who are the same Yester-
day, to-day & for-ever ; whose Yeares do never faile :
1 Given to the Bodleian Library by Mrs. Heygate.
84 THE EVELYN FAMILY
If euer Thou wert a Father to any Creature Thou hast ben
a Father to Me, Depending vpon Thy Bounty, and Goodnes
from the first moment of my breath : Day after day, &
Yeare after Yeare, I haue eaten of Thy Bread, Lived vpon
Thy Providence, euen when my Father & Mother (tender
as they were) could take no more care of me, and that I
was left to my owne vnsteady Conduct : Ever since I was
Borne, hast Thou ben my God, my Guide, my Lord, my
Saviour, my Friend, Father & Protector in the most obliging
Instances & indulgent Compassions of all those indearing
Relations ; and Thro so many Perils, & Accidents to which
thro the Malice of Satan, Wickednesse of the Age, & my
owne perverse Inclinations might haue exposd me, Yet,
hitherto hast Thou brought me, and behold, I line, to
Magnifie Thy Mercy as this Day Ah, that Thou wouldest
Vouchsafe to superadd this one Grace to the multitude of
Thy favours ; Bestow vpon me an heart truely Thankfull,
Vpright, & Obedient, & such as by the fruites of an holy,
& refin'd Life, may testifie that it is not in vaine, Thou hast
continu'd to be thus Gracious to me : In the bitternesse of
my Soule I most sadly deplore the sinns, & follies of my
whole Life, & in Particular Those Offences &
Frailties which I haue accumulated to the rest of that
monstrous heape, this Yeare past ; supplicating Thy Grace
as freely to pardon them for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake ;
so for the future, by the ayde of thy holy Spirit, to fortifie
me against them ; that I may euery Yeare see these deadly
Enemyes of my Soule, not onely to be weakn'd but p[ ]
fied, and the Victory compleated ; that so I [may ] vpon
the passages of my Life for the time to come, [ ] Comfort,
& grow vp to the full measure of the stature of [ ] my
Redeemer, 'til the Yeares of my Earthly Pilgrimage being
accomplish' d, I may live with Thee in blisse for euer : We
haue here no abiding Citty ; the Yeares of our Age are few,
& euil, and there is no repose but with Thee, when our
Yeares shall no more faile than thine ; because Thou hast
promisd us life euerlasting, and a state of Glory ; when we
shall neither wax old, nor sorrow, nor sin any more : Ah
happy State, how I Thirst, how I Languish for that Life,
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 85
for that Glory, that blessed Condition, that Eternity ! How,
ah how slow are the Wheeles of that Charriot which Thou
hast appointed to Conduct us thither ! 6 my Sweete
Sauiour, Giue me Patience, & Provision for that desired
journey, that blessed state ; and whilst Thou hast deter-
min'd that I shall abide in this Tabernacle, Assist me so to
Hue that I may be prepar'd for that glorious Translation,
and blessed change. The Continuance of my Health, Com-
petency, Friends, &, aboue all, the fruition of thy venerable
Ord' nances ; the temporal, & spiritual refreshments which
Thou still vouchsaf'st me, call perpetualy on me to praise
thy holy Name, & to Loue Thee infinitely, Particularly for
and that Thou hast this Yeare bestow' d vpon, &
added to me Let, 6 let not my Vn-mindfullnesse
of the least of thy favours, provoke thee either to deprive
me of, or lessen them ! When I consider my demerits I am
arnaz'd at this Goodnesse of Thine : Make, 6 make me
humble, & Thankfull, and to Love Thee more for Thy-selfe,
than for all that I either do, or can hope to Enjoy in this
World.
44 1 farther blesse thy Name, that Thou hast giuen
me opportunitie, & made me successeful in
To Thy Glory be it intirely ascrib'd : Continue to render
me in some measure, a faithfull, & sincere dispencer
of the Talents, & Graces which Thou hast imparted to Thy
Servant.
" That Thou hast deliuer'd thy Creature from Sicknesse,
Sad & Calamitous Accidents, Want, Ignominy, [and], Aboue
all, from dying in Thy displeasure, and given me Hope of
Glory fing Thee in my Life, & Death, and all Conditions ; I
magnifie Thy Grace. One external thing will I onely neuer
cease from begging of the Lord my Father, & bountifull
Benefactor, 6 grant it me, if it be thy blessed will, namely
That so I may passe the residue of my time in thy
Service, and the duties of my Condition, without distraction,
or vn-worthy Complyances : For the rest (yea euen & for
this & all I aske) dispose of me as Thou pleasest : Thy Will
be don on Earth, as it is in Heaven : Continue Thy Loving-
kindnesse to me, & I am sure of Thy Care : Preserve me
86 THE EVELYN FAMILY
without Sin, & I am certaine of Thy Loue, & of all I can wish
or desire : If in Submission to Thy all-wise Providence, I
may yet obtaine this Mercy , and that my Request proceedes
from the motions of Thy holy Spirit, Thou wilt heare me ;
and, if not, Thou (who know'st my Heart, and for what end
I beg it) wilt pardon me, and giue me something which is
better : Lord Giue me Thy Selfe, & thy Loue, I Aske
no more, nor Aske I this, or any thing else, but for that
alone.
" And now holy Father, haue Reguard to thy Church
Catholic to inlarge, protect, & refine it. To this National
poore Church, to Cherish, defend & prosper it : To the King
& his Throne, to establish it in Righteousnesse : To all
Degrees of People in this Nation to preserne them in Piety,
Obedience, & Charity. To all distressed Christians, & all
Mankind suffering innocently, Support, Deliuerance, & Con-
solation according to the Yeares wherein they haue suffered
affliction : To my Dearest Relations & Friends, especially
. That Thou wilt improue their Graces, Continue
their prosperity, & for any kindnesse shew(n) to me, Reward
them an hundredfold :
" Let thy holy Angels (for whose ministrie & protection
I blesse thee) Watch-ouer, Guard, & Defend me this . . ."
WILL OF JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA)
(P.P.C. Eides 60)
' The five and twentieth day of February 1705 I John
Evelyn of Wotton in the County of Surrey Esq re being weake
in body but of perfect memory and understanding blessed be
Almighty God and calling to mind the uncertainty of certaine
death as to the time and manner doe make and ordaine this
my last will and testament in manner and forme following
First and especially I recommend my Immortall Soul into
the hands of Almighty God &c. who living and fearing his
name dye in the profession of the true ancient Catholic
Christian Faith derived to us from our Blessed Saviour his
Apostles and Suscessors according to the Scriptures com-
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 87
mitting my Body to be deposited at Wotton in said County
of Surrey as I have ordered my Executor by my Codicil
annexed to this my will together with the expenses of my
Funerall. As to that of my Worldly Estate which God has
most graciously been pleased to trust me with and in my
power to dispose of I give devise bequeath and dispose the
same as followeth, Imprimis I will and direct my Funerall
Charges and all such my just debts and those of my late
dear sonn John Evelyn Esq re deceased as shall be oweing
and unpaid at the time of my death and the payment thereof
not otherwise provided for shall be paid and satisfied by my
Executor hereinafter named with all convenient speed after
my decease out of such personall Estate as I shall leave him
by this my will. Item I leave and give unto Mary my deare
Wife the Lease of the House wherein I now live situate and
being in Dover Street in the Parish of St. Martins-in-the-
Fields in the County of Middlesex, and the furniture of the
same as it is now furnished Except such Furniture as is in or
does belong to my daughter-in-law Evelyns Apartment in
the same House which my will and meaning is she shall have
and enjoy, And I give and devise the same to her my said
daughter-in-Law accordingly. I alsoe Will order and direct
That my said deare Wife shall have and take such and soe
many pieces of my Plate as she shall choose and desire, And
I also give to my said deare Wife my Coach and Horses and
all such Rings and Jewells as she usually wore and are in her
keeping and possession. Then I give to my Granddaughter
Elizabeth Evelyn and to her Assignes One Annuity of fourteen
pounds per Annum issueing and payable out of her Majesties
Exchequer for and dureinge her naturall life. Then I give
to my Grandsonn John Evelyn Esq r all my Bookes both at
Wotton and at my house in Dover Street aforesaid, And
I doe hereby make declare nominate and appoint the said
John Evelyn my Grandsonn whole and sole Executor of this
my Will, And I doe give and devise to him my said Grandsonn
All the rest and residue of my personall Estate undisposed of
by this my Will, And Lastly revokeing all former Wills by
me heretofore made I doe hereby make and declare this to
be my last Will comprized in one sheet of paper. In Witness
88 THE EVELYN FAMILY
whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and scale the day
and year above written.
(Signed) JOHN EVELYN.
Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the Testator
as and for his last Will and Testament in the
presence of us
Jos. SHERWOOD, J N STRICKLAND, THO: BEDINFIELD.
Prove 18 March 1705."
(No Codicil annexed.)
MARY, DAUGHTER OF SIR RICHARD BROWNE AND WIFE
OF JOHN EVELYN
Mary Browne was the only daughter of Sir Richard
Browne, Charles I's ambassador at Paris. He owned Sayes
Court at Deptford. Her mother was Elizabeth Pretyman,
daughter of Sir Pretyman of Dryfield, Gloucestershire. Sir
Richard Browne, Knight and Baronet, was the only son of
Christopher Browne and grandson of Sir Richard Browne.
He was gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Charles i and
Clerk of the Council to Kings Charles i and Charles n. He
was ambassador to the Court of France from those monarchs
from 1641 until the Restoration of King Charles n in 1660.
It was while he was ambassador in Paris that he made the
acquaintance in 1643 of John Evelyn, then a young man of
twenty-three who was doing a tour on the Continent.
Three years later, on July 27, 1647, the marriage took place
between the latter and Mary Browne, who was then only about
twelve years old. John Evelyn mentions it in these words :
" June 10. We concluded about my marriage, in order
to which I went to St. Germains, where his Majesty then
Prince of Wales, had his Court, to desire of Dr. Earle, then
one of his chaplains (since Dean of Westminster, Clerke of
the Closet and Bishop of Salisburie) that he would accompany
me to Paris, which he did and on Thursday 27 June, 1647,
he married us in Sir Richard Browne's Chappell, betwixed
the houres of 11 and 12, some few select friends being present ;
and this being Corpus Christi feast was solemnly observ'd
MARY BROWNE (AGED 4 YEARS)
WIFE OF JOHN EVELYN (THE DIARIST)
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 89
in this country ; the streetes were sumptuously hung with
tapestry, and strew'd with flowers."
" Sept. 10. Being call'd into England to settle my
affaires after an absence of 4 yeares, I foooke leave of the
Prince and Queene, leaving my Wife, yet very young, under
the care of an excellent lady and prudent mother."
Mary had been brought up almost entirely in France, as
she had come over with her parents at the age of five, and
cannot therefore have had much recollection of her native
country. The marriage was a very happy one, as Mary
testifies afterwards in her will, where she says that her
husband was to her a father, lover, friend and husband, all
in one.
Nearly two years after the marriage, on March 21, 1649,
John Evelyn writes in his Diary :
" I receiv'd letters from Paris from my Wife, and from
Sir Richard, with whom I kept a political correspondence,
with no small danger of being discover'd."
On July 16 of this year, John Evelyn started for Paris with
a party of which Lady Caroline Scott, whom he describes
as " a very pleasant lady," was a member. It was an exciting
journey, as they had some fear of highwaymen, and often
had to get out of the coach and walk beside it with
their guns. They arrived, however, in safety, and on
September 7, Evelyn and his wife went to see the Queen-
Mother, Henrietta Maria, at St. Germains, and kissed her
hand.
On May 27, 1650, he took leave of his wife and returned
to England, but on the following 13th of August again set
out for Paris, where he stayed till January 29, 1652, when he
went back to England. In June of this year he received
the pleasing news that his wife had obtained permission to
leave Paris, which was besieged by the Prince of Conde's
army. On June 4 he writes thus :
" 1 set out to meet her now on her journey from Paris,
after she had obtain'd leave to come out of y 4 citty, wch
had now ben besieged some time by ye Prince of Conde's armie
in ye time of the rebellion, and after she had ben now neere
twelve yeares from her owne country, that is since five yeares
90 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of age, at wch time she went over. I went to Rie to meet
her, where was an embargo on occasion of the late conflict
wth the Holland fleet, the two nations being now in warr
and which made sailing very unsafe."
On the llth he writes again :
44 About 4 in ye afternoone being at bowles on ye grene,
we discover 'd a vessel, which prov'd to be that in which my
Wife was, and which got into ye harbour about 8 y l evening
to my no small joy. They had ben three days at sea, and
escaped the Dutch fleete, thro' which they pass'd taken for
fishers, wch was great good fortune, there being 17 bailes of
furniture and other rich plunder, wch I blesse God came all
safe to land, together with my Wife and my Lady Browne
her Mother, who accompanied her. My Wife being discom-
pos'd by having been so long at sea, we set forth towards
home till ye 14th, when hearing the small-pox was very rife
in and about London, and Lady Browne having a desire to
drink Tunbridge Waters, I carried them thither, and staied
in a very sweete place, private and refreshing, and tooke
the waters myself till the 23rd, when I went to prepare for
their reception leaving them for ye present in their little
cottage by the Wells."
Mary was now seventeen.
On August 24, her first child, a son, was born and
christened by the name of Richard.
In September she had the misfortune to lose her mother,
Lady Browne, who was taken ill with scarlet fever. Evelyn
writes :
44 1 went to Woodcot, where Lady Browne was taken with
a scarlet fever and died. She was carried to Deptford, and
interr'd in the church neere Sir Richard's relations with all
decent ceremonie, and according to the church office, for
which I obtain'd permission, after it had not ben us'd in that
church for seven yeares. Thus ended an excellent and
virtuous lady, universally lamented, having ben so obliging
on all occasions to those who continualy frequented her house
in Paris, which was not only an hospital, but an asylum to all
our persecuted and afflicted countrymen during eleven yeare's
residence there in that honourable situation."
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 91
This must have been a terrible grief to the young wife of
seventeen, who, being an only child, had probably been much
indulged at home and accustomed to being a companion to
her mother. She was in a strange country and had not had
time as yet to make many friends.
The next year, on October 11, 1653, a second son was born
and christened John Standsfield after Evelyn's maternal
grandfather, that name having become extinct. Evelyn
writes, October 11 :
" My Sonn John Standsfield was borne, being my second
child, and christened by the name of my Mother's father,
that name now quite extinct, being of Cheshire. Christen'd
by Mr. Owen in my library at Sayes Court, where he after-
wards churched my Wife, I always making use of him on
these occasions, because the parish minister durst not have
officiated according to the forme and usage of the Church of
England, to wch I always adhered."
This son only lived about three months. He died on
January 25, 1654, of convulsions and was buried at Deptford.
On June 8 of this year Evelyn and his wife set out on a
tour in Wiltshire and other parts in a coach with four horses
in order to visit some of Mary's relations. They first visited
Windsor, and went to see the chapel of St. George where
Charles i is buried, and spent the night at Reading, where they
saw the ruins of Lord Craven's house which had been felled
by the rebels. They visited Bath and Bristol and then
Oxford, where they went to see the different colleges. They
also visited an uncle of Mary's, Sir John Glanville, whose
seat was at Broad Hinton. John Evelyn describes him as
a famous lawyer and formerly Speaker of the House of
Commons. He also states that he was living in the Gate-
house, as he had burnt down his own dwelling-house to prevent
the rebels from using it as a garrison. They visited Salisbury,
and among other things went to see Stonehenge. They also
wentto Gloucester and Worcester, and then through Leicester-
shire to visit another uncle of Mary's. They visited York,
Beverley, and Cambridge, and arrived back at Sayes Court on
October 3, after a journey of 700 miles.
On January 19, 1655, Mary gave birth to another son,
92 THE EVELYN FAMILY
who was christened John. Two years later she had the
grief of losing her eldest son, Richard, aged five.
While the plague was raging in London in 1665, Mary
Evelyn was at her brother-in-law's at Wotton with her son
John (who was now her only child), his tutor, Mr. Bohun, and
almost her whole household of servants, as her husband
feared that as Deptford was so near London the infection
might spread there. This must have been a time of anxiety
for Mary, as her husband remained in London to attend to
his duty in looking after the Dutch sick and wounded
prisoners.
It was during this necessarily prolonged stay at Wotton
that Mary gave birth to a daughter on October 1. This
child, who was christened Mary, was born in the same room
(now called the Pillared Room) as her father, and in the same
month as himself, he having been born on the 31st. The
news of her birth was brought to him in the afternoon on
October 1 while he was engaged in evening prayers.
John Evelyn spent the following Christmas at Wotton.
On January 12 he returned to Sayes Court, his wife remaining
at Wotton, as her husband still feared for her as the plague
continued, though very much diminished. On February 6
she and her son, who was aged eleven, and her infant daughter
returned home. Evelyn writes :
" My Wife and family return'd to me from the country,
where they had ben since August, by reason of 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 poore officers, escaping
still myselfe, that I might live to recount and magnifie his
goodnesse to me."
Mary had had her portrait painted by Monsieur Bourdon
before her departure from France, when she was little more
than a child. This picture was stolen by pirates of Dunkirk
in its transit in 1649, when John Evelyn was awaiting it in
England, his wife being still in Paris at the time. It was
recovered in 1652. Evelyn happened to be dining with
Lord Wentworth and some banished royalists, at Calais,
when he was informed that the Count de la Strade, Governor
JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) 93
of Dunkirk, who had bought his wife's picture, was in the
town. He made his addresses to him, and the Count told
him that he had the picture in his own bedroom among the
portraits of other ladies, and explained how he came by it.
It was arranged between them that it was to be sent to a
French merchant at Dover known to Evelyn, there to await
him. This picture is now in the library at Wotton. The
Count de la Strade afterwards sent the picture at his own
expense to Evelyn in a larger tin case. Evelyn says of it,
" It is of Mr. Bourdon and is that which has ye dog in it, and
is to the knees, but it has been something spoil' d by washing
it ignorantly with soap-suds." There is also an etching of
Mary Evelyn by Nanteuil which is at Wotton, with also that
of her father and husband.
In November 1660, when Mary was about twenty-three,
Charles n's mother arrived in England after her long banish-
ment, bringing with her her daughter Henrietta. On
November 23 Mary was introduced to them both. Her hus-
band writes on November 23 :
"Being this day in ye bedchamber of ye Princess Henrietta,
where were many greate beauties and noblemen, I saluted
divers of my old friends and aquaintances abroad ; His
Majesty carrying my Wife to salute the Queene and Princesse,
and then led her into his closet, and with his own hands
shew'd her divers curiosities."
On March 31 he again writes :
" This night His Matie promis'd to make my Wife Lady
of the Jewels (a very honourable charge) to the future Queene
(but which he never perform' d)."
Mary had presented the Princess Henrietta with A Char-
acter of England which is reprinted in Evelyn's Miscellaneous
Writings. On December 22, 1660, her husband writes in
his Diary :
" The Princesse gave my wife an extraordinary com-
pliment and gracious acceptance for the Character she pre-
sented her the day before, and which was afterwards
printed."
Mary was a skilful artist ; two pictures by her of some
flowers remain at Wotton, which, although rather stiff and
94 THE EVELYN FAMILY
conventional, are very well painted. In May 1661 she
presented a miniature which she had copied to Charles n.
John Evelyn writes :
" May 11, 1661. My wife presented to His Majesty the
Madona she had copied in a miniature from P. Oliver's
pointing after Raphael, which she wrought with extraordinary
pains and judgment. The King was infinitely pleas'd with
it, and caus'd it to be placed in his cabinet amongst his best
paintings."
On September 13, 1667, between the hours of twelve and
one (according to the Diary), Mary's second daughter was
born at Sayes Court and christened by the name of Elizabeth,
and two years later, on May 20, 1669, her youngest child
Susanna was born. Of her five sons all died in early infancy
except the third son, John. Her eldest daughter, Mary, was
only nineteen when she died of small -pox on March 14, 1685.
The second daughter, Elizabeth, also died of the same disease,
August 27, 1685, aged eighteen, very shortly after her
marriage with the nephew of Sir John Tippet. The youngest
daughter, Susanna, who married William Draper of Adscomb,
was the only child who survived both her parents. She died
August 24, 1754.
Towards the end of 1699 Mary's brother-in-law, George
Evelyn of Wotton, died, leaving no male heir, and her husband
then inherited Wotton at the age of seventy-nine. Mary
was then about sixty-four. Her father, Sir Richard Browne,
died at Sayes Court at 10 a.m. February 12, 1683, and was
buried at St. Nicholas, Deptford. It was through him that
she inherited Sayes Court.
A CHARACTER OF MRS. EVELYN
BY DR. BOHUN
(From the Original in his Handwriting)
" I had lately occasion to review severall Letters to me
from Mrs. Evelyn of Deptford. After reading them, I found
they were much to be valued, because they contained not
only a compleat description of the private events in the
CHARACTER OF MRS. EVELYN 95
family, but publick transactions of the times, where are
many curious and memorable things described in an easy
and eloquent style.
" Many forgotten circumstances by this means are re-
called afresh to my memorie ; by so full and perfect a
narration of them, they are again present to my thoughts,
and I see them reacted as it were before my eyes. This
made strong impressions on my mind, so that I could not
rest till I had recollected the substance of them, and from
thence some generall reflexions thereon, and from thence
drew a character of their author, so farr only as by plain
and naturall inferences may be gathered from their contents.
This was not perform'd in a manner worthy of the design,
but hastily and uncorrectly, which cost no more time than
cou'd be employed at one sitting in an afternoon ; but in
this short model, Mrs. Evelyn will appeare to be the best
daughter and wife, the most tender mother, and desirable
neighbour and friend ; in all parts of her life. The his-
toricall account of matters of fact sufficiently set forth her
prayses, wherein there cou'd be no error or self-conceit ; and
declare her to be an exact pattern of many excellent vertues ;
but they are concealed in such modest expressions, that the
most envious censurers can't fix upon her the least suspicion
of vanity or pride. Tho' she had many advantages of birth
and beauty, and wit, yet you may perceive in her writings,
an humble indifference to all worldly enjoyments, great
charity, and compassion to those that had disobliged her,
and no memory of past occurrences, unless it were a gratefull
acknowledgement of some friendly office ; a vein of good-
nature and resignation, and self denial runs through them
all. There's nothing so despis'd in many of these letters,
as the fruitles and empty vanitys of the Town ; and they
seem to pity the misfortune of those who are condemned
by their greater quality or stations to squander away their
precious time in unprofitable diversions, or bestow it in
courtly visits and conversations. Where there happens to
be any mention of Children or Friends, there's such an air
of sincerity and benevolence for the one, and religious concern
for the hapines of the other, as if she had no other design
96 THE EVELYN FAMILY
to live in the world, than to perform her own duty, and
promote the welfare of her relations and aquaintance.
" There's another observation to be collected, not less
remarkable than the rest, which is her indefatigable industry
in employing herself, and more for the sake of others than
her own ; This she wrote, not out of vain glory, or to procure
commendation, but to entertain them with whom she had
a familiar correspondence by letters, with the relation of
such accidents or bysnes wherein she was engag'd for the
month, or the week past.
" This was a peculiar felicity in her way of writing, that,
tho' she often treated of vulgar and domestic subjects, she
never suffer'd her style to languish or flag, but by some
new remark or pleasant digression kept it up to its usual
pitch.
" The reproofs in any of these numerous letters were so
softly insinuated, that the greatest punishment to be in-
flicted upon any disobligation was only to have the contrary
vertue to the fault they had ben guilty of, highly applauded
in the next correspondence, which was ever so manag'd as
to pleas and improve.
" Scarce an harsh expression, much less an evill surmise
or suspicion cou'd be admitted where every line was devoted
to charity and goodnes. There is no effect of partiality,
but appears in the particular instances, so that the same
judgment must be made by all unprejudiced persons who
shall have a"sight of them.
" Any misfortune or disappoint ement was not mournfully
lamented, but related in such a manner as became a mind
that had laid in a sufficient provision of courage and patience
before-hand to support it under afflictions. All unfortunate
accidents are allaid by some consolatory argument take
from solid principles. No kind of trouble but one seei
to interrupt the constant intention to entertain and oblij
but that is dolorously represented in many of the lett
which is the loss of Children or Friends. That being
irreparable separation in this world, is deplored with th(
most affectionate tenderness which words can express.
You may conclude that they who write in such a manner
CHARACTER OF MRS. EVELYN 97
as this, must be suppos'd to have a sens of religion, becaus
there can scarce be assign'd one act of a beneficent and
charitable temper but has many texts of the Gospel to
enforce it. So that all good Xtians must be very usefull
and excellent neighbours and friends, which made this lady
ever esteem'd so. Shee was the delight of all the conversa-
tions, where she appear'd she was lov'd and admir'd, yet
never envy'd by any, not so much as by the women, who
seldom allow the perfections of their own sex, least they
ecclips their own. But as this very manifestly and upon
all occasions was her temper, the world was very gratefull
to her upon that account. This happines was gain'd and
preserved by one wise qualification, for tho' no person living
had a closer insight into the humours or characters of persons,
or cou'd distinguish their merits more nicely, yet she never
made any despising or censorious reflexions ; her great dis-
cernment and wit were never abus'd to sully the reputation
of others, nor affected any applaus that might be gain'd
by satyrical jests. Tho' shee was extreamly valu'd
and her friendship priz'd and sought for by them of
the highest condition, yet she ever treated those of the
lowest with great condescension and humanity. The
memory of her vertues and benefits made such deep impres-
sion on her neighbours of Deptford and Greenwich, that if
any one should bring in another report from this, or what
was generally receiv'd among them, they'd condem as fals,
and the effect of a slanderous calumny ; either they wou'd
never yield that any change shou'd happen to this excellent
lady, or they'd impute it to sickness, or time, or chance, or
the unavoidable frailtys of human nature. But I have
somewhat disgress'd from my subject, which was to describe
her person or perfections no otherwise than they may be
gathered from the letters I receiv'd ; they contain historical
passages and accounts of any, more or less considerable,
action or accident that came to her knowledge, with divert-
ing or serious reflections as the subject requir'd, but generally
in an equall and chaste style, supported by a constant gravity,
never descending to affected sallys of ludicrous wit.
" It's to be further observ'd, that tho' she recites and
7
98 THE EVELYN FAMILY
speaks French exactly, and understands Italian, yet she
confines herself with such strictneses to the purity of the
English toung, that she never introduces foreign or adopted
words ; that ther's a great steadines and equality in her
thoughts ; and that her sens and expressions have a mutual
dependance on each other may be infer'd from hence you
never perceive one perplext sentence or blot, or recalling a
word hi more than twenty letters.
. " Many persons with whom she convers'd or were related
to her, or had any publick part in the world, were honoured
by very lively characters confer'd on them, always just,
and full of discernment, rather inclining to the charitable
side, yet no otherwyse than as skillfull masters who paint
like, yet know how to give some graces and advantages to
them whose pictures they draw. The expressions are clear
and unaffected, the sentences frequent and grave, the remarks
judicious, the periods flowing and long, after the Ciceronian
way, yet tho' they launch out so farr, they are strict to the
rules of grammar, and ever come safe home at last without
any obscurity or incoherence attending them.
" I'll only give one instance of a person who was character-
is'd by her in a more favorable manner than he durst presume
that he deserv'd ; however, to shew the method of her writing,
I shall set it down. I believe (such an one) to be a person of
much wit, great knowledge, judicious and discerning, charit-
able, well natur'd, obliging in conversation, apt to forget and
forgive injuries, eloquent in the pulpit, living according to
known precepts, faithfull to his friend, generous to his enemie,
and in every respect accomplisht ; this in our vulgar way is
a desirable character, but you'll excuse if I judge unrefinedly,
who have the care of cakes and stilling and sweetmeats and
such usefull things.
" Mrs. Evelyn has been often heard to say concerning the
death of her admirable and beloved Daughter, that tho' she
had lost her for ever in this world, yet she wou'd not but
that she had been, becaus many pleasing ideas occur to her
thoughts that she had convers'd with her for so many years.
" OXON, 1695, Sept. 20."
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. EVELYN 99
The following letters were written by Mary :
" FOR M R BOHUNE, AT NEW COLLEDGE, OXON 1
" i66f-
" March 22.
" S R , I will Imagine the important and weighty Charge
you haue to execute, your frequent conuersation with Books,
yr constant appearance in the Chappell, emulating a Chamber-
fellow in treating of Ladyes, and keeping the common fires
with the witts, to be reasonable execuces for so long a silence
in Methodicall M r Deane. But when I remember M r Bohune,
a well natured person, a decrier of exactnesse, and formality ;
one who easily dispences with Rule, and as soone executes, as
starts a designe ; That he should take 3 weeks consideration
to write an Epistle makes me admire. I am perswaded though
you Drole upon Deptford inteligence, I could furnish you
with some passages at Court, intrigues of state, and the names
of newer playes then are yet arriued at Oxon : but you are
taken up with latin Orations, and the pleasant diuersion of
throwing Eggs in the scolars faces ; besides, I suppose Doctor
Wren could not be so long absent, had you not vndertaken
to supply his place in ouerseeing the Theater, and exercising
your talent in architecture : I confesse I cannot avoid giuing
those of the Continent their just praise for speaking their
owne language correctly, which in this Country is so generall
a defect, that the learned themselves take halfe their Hues in
searching after the criticisms of languages they neuer speake,
and neglect the subject of their owne so vsfull upon all
occasions : This without the assistance of Seneca, or Howell
may be obseru'd ; for instance, /// had went to Shotover where
if I aren't deceiued I sh'd finde kind wellcome, with other
suchlike Elegancies. Well, to grow serious, I must giue you
thanks for your care of Jack, and entreat you to let Doctor
Bathurst and his Lady know, I am very sensible of their
fauours and kindnesse to the deare boy, who I wish may
gouerne himselfe so, as not to perswade them his failings
proceed from our too great indulgence in keeping him at home,
but partly from his naturall negligence, in what you say I call
1 Given to the Bodleian Library by Mrs. Heygate.
100 THE EVELYN FAMILY
outside ; and though you may be lesse scrupulous in this
particular with persons whose goodnesse you are secure off ;
yet I cannot but wish him very perfect amongst those very
persons who possesse all desirable accomplishments, and are
so capable Judges : You haue preuented me in all I could
think of concerning your pupill ; I haue only to put you in
mind of what I so largly discourced of to you at parting, which
concerned you both, equally, and to assure you that I am
44 Cr
?
Your humble seruant,
M. EUELYN.
SAYES-COURT,
the 22th.
" certainly before this you are
out of paine for your boots,
which William gardner put
into the Carriers hands friday last
was sennight, with what was wanting
of Jacks : my seruice to my Nephew Glanuill
I haue nothing to object against the gowne
but as it may be a test to good purposes."
" FOR MR. BOHUN
2i May 1668.
"If it be true that wee are generally enclined to covett
what wee admire, I can assure you my ambition aspires not
to the fame of Balzac, and therefore must not thank you for
entitling me to that great name. I do not admire his style,
nor emulate the spirit of discontent which runns through all
his letters. There is a lucky hitt in reputation whiche some
obtaine by the deffect in their judges, rather than from the
greatnesse of their merit ; the contrary may be instanced in
Doctor Donne, who had he not ben really a learned man, a
libertine in witt and a courtier, might have ben allowed to
write well, but I confesse in my opinion, with these qualifi-
cations he falls short in his letters of the praises some give him.
" Voiture seems to excell both in quicknesse of fancy,
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. EVELYN 101
easinesse of expression, and in a facile way of insinuating that
he was not ignorant of letters, an advantage the Court ayre
gives persons who converse with the world as books.
" I wonder at nothing more than at the ambition of
printing letters ; since, if the designe be to produce witt
and learning, there is too little scope for the one, and the other
may be reduced to a lesse compasse than a sheet of gilt paper,
unlesse truth were more communicative. Buisinesse, love,
accidents, secret displeasure, family intrigues, generally make
up the body of letters, and can signifie very little to any
besides the persons they are addressed to, and therefore must
loose infinitely by being exposed to the unconcerned. With-
out this declaration I hope I am sufficiently secure never to
runne the hazard of being censured that way, since I cannot
suspect my friends of so much unkindnesse, nor myselfe of
the vanity to wish fame on so doubtfull a foundation as the
caprice of mankind. Do not impute my silence to neglect ;
had you scene me these tenne days continually entertaining
persons of different humor, age and sense, not only at meales,
or afternoone, or the time of a civill visit but from morning
till night, you will be assured it was impossible for me to
finish these few lines sooner ; so often have I set pen to paper
and ben taken off againe, that I almost despaired to lett
you know my satisfaction that Jack [her son then at College
under Mr. Bohun's care] complies so well with your desires,
and that I am your friend and servant,
"M. EVELYN to Mr. BOHUN."
5*1671.
" SR, I must believe you are very busy, hearing so seldome
from you, and that you are much in the esteeme of Dr.
Bathurst, 1 since he judges so favourably of yr friends. It
cannot be the effect of his discernment which makes him
give sentence in my behalfe, being so great a master of reason
as he is ; but it is certainly a mark of his great kindnesse
to you that he deffers to Yr judgment in opposition to his
1 Dr. Ralph Bathurst, Dean of WeUs, and President of Trinity College,
Oxford, whose Life and Literary Remains have been published by Thomas
Warton, Poetry Professor and Fellow of the same College.
102 THE EVELYN FAMILY
owne. I should not question Yrs in other things, but the
wisest may be allowd some grains, and I conclude you no
lesse a courtier than a philosopher. Since my last to you I
have scene The Siege of Grenada, a play so full of ideas that
the most refined romance I ever read is not to compare with
it ; love is made so pure, and valor so nice, that one would
imagine it designed for an Utopia rather than our stage.
I do not quarrell with the poet, but admire one borne in
the decline of morality should be able to feigne such exact
virtue ; and as poetick fiction has been instructive in former
ages, I wish this the same event in ours. As to the strict
law of Comedy I dare not pretend to judge ; some thinke
the division of the story not so well as if it could all haue ben
comprehended in the dayes actions ; truth of history, exact-
ness of time, possibilities of adventures, are niceties the
antient criticks might require ; but those who have outdone
them in fine notions may be allowed the liberty to expresse
them their owne way, and the present world is so enlightened
that the old dramatique must bear no sway. This account
perhaps is not enough to do Mr. Dryden right, yet is as much
as you can expect from the leisure of one who has the care of
a nursery.
" I am, Sir, &c.,
M. EVELYN."
" To MR. BOHUN AT OXFORD
" SR, Do not think my silence hitherto has proceeded
from being taken up with the diversions of the towne, the
eclat of the wedding, mascarades which trebled their number
the second night of the wedding (so) that there was great
disorder and confusion caused by it, and with which the
solemnity ended ; neither can I charge the housewifry of
the country after my returne, or treating my neighbours
this Christmas, since I never finde any businesse or recreation
that makes me forget my friends. Should I confesse the
reall cause, it is yr expectation of extraordinary notions
of things wholy out of my way ; Women were not borne to
reade authors, and censure the learned, to compare lives
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. EVELYN 103
and judge of virtues, to give rules of morality and sacrifice to
the Muses. We are willing to acknowledge all time borrowed
from family duties is misspent ; the care of children's
education, observing a husband's commands, assisting the
sick, relieving the poore, and being serviceable to our friends,
are of sufficient weight to employ the most improved capacities
amongst us. If sometimes it happens by accident that one
of a thousand aspires a little higher, her fate commonly
exposes her to wonder, but adds little to esteeme. The
distaff will defend our quarrells as well as the sword, and the
needle is as instructive as the penne. A heroine is a kind
of prodigy ; the influence of a blazing starre is not more
dangerous, or more avoyded. Though I have lived under
the roofe of the learned, and in the neighbourhood of science,
it has had no other effect on such a temper as mine, but
that of admiration, and that too but when it is reduced to
practice. I confesse I am infinitely delighted to meet with
in books the achievements of the heroes, with the calmnesse
of philosophers, and with the eloquence of orators ; but what
charms me irresistably is to see perfect resignation in the
minds of men let what ever happens adverse to them in their
fortune ; that is being knowing and truly wise ; it confirmes
my beleefe of antiquity, and engages my perswasion of future
perfection, without which it were in vaine to live. Hope
not for volumes or treatises ; raillery may make me goe
beyond my bounds, but when serious, I esteeme myselfe
capable of very little yet I am, Sr,
" Your friend and servant,
M. E.
" Jan. 4, 1672."
" To MY LADY TUKE, AFTER THE DEATH OP
SR SAM TUKE
" MADAME, I acknowledge these are trialls which make
Christian philosophy usefull, not only by a resignation to the
divine decree, but by that hope which encourages us to expect
a more lasting happinesse then any this world can give.
Without this wee were extreamly wretched, since no felicity
104 THE EVELYN FAMILY
here has any duration. Wee are solicitous to obtaine, wee
feare whilst we possesse, and wee are inconsolable when wee
loose. The greatest conquerors themselves are subject to
this unsteady state of humane nature ; lett us not murmure
then, for wee offend, and though in compliance to yr present
sence of things I could joyne with you in greeving, having
made as particular a losse as ever any did in a friend, I dare
not indulge yr sorrows, especially when I consider how
prejudiciall it will prove to yrselfe and those dear pledges that
are left to your care ; but I do rather beg of you cease
greeving, and owe that to reason and prudence which time
will overcome. Were I in so good health that I could quitt
my chamber, I would be dayly with you and assure you how
really I am concerned for you. You cannot doubt the
affection of your, &c.
b ujan.2S, 1672."
" To MR. BOHUN
" SAYES-COURT, 29 Jan. 1672.
" SR, If a friend be of infinite value living, how much
cause have wee to lament him dead ! Such a friend was Sr
Sam Tuke, who retired out of this life on St. Paul's day
Jan. 25 at midnight, and has changed the scene to him and us,
and left occasion to all that knew him to bewayle the losse.
You need not to be made sensible by a character of a person
you knew so well, and you can enumerate virtues enough
to lament and shed some teares justly ; therefore spare me
the sorrow of repeating what effect it has wrought on such
a minde as mine, who think no missfortune worth regretting
besides the losse of those I love. Do not blame me if I
beleeve it allmost impossible to meet with a person so worthy
in himselfe, and so disposed to esteeme me againe; and
yet that is not the chief est cause of my affliction ! I might
wave much of my owne interest, had I not so many partners
that will suffer equally. These are the trialls which make
Christian philosophy usefull, not only by a resignation to the
Divine decree, but by that hope which encourages us to
expect a more lasting happinesse than any this world can give,
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. EVELYN
without which wee were extreamly wretched, since no felicity
here has any duration. The greatest conquerors themselves
are subject to this unsteady state of human nature, therefore
well may I submitt, whose concerns are triviall in respect of
others. Yet this I conclude, that wee dye by degrees when
our friends go before us. But whilst I discourse thus with
you, I should consider what effects melancholy reflections
may have on a spleen etic person, one who needes not cherish
that temper. I will only add that I am now able to quitt
my chamber, which is more than I could do these 14 dayes,
and that I am, Sr,
" Your Servant,
M. EVELYN."
" To MR. BOHUN, FELLOW OF NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD
" SR, When I have assured you that my usuall indis-
position has treated me so severelly this winter that I have
had little leisure to think of any thing but the meanes of
gaineing health and ease, I am perswaded you will excuse
me if I have not decided in my thoughts which was the
greatest captaine, Caesar or Pompey ; whether Mr. De
Rosny were not a great politician, a brave soldier, and the
best servant that ever Prince had for capacity, fidelity and
steadinesse, a man strangely disinterested, infinitely fortun-
ate, and every way qualified to serve such a master as was
Henry the Great, who notwithstanding humane frailties, was
worthy to be faithfully dealt with, since he knew how to
judge and to reward. But why do we allwayes look back
into times past ? wee may not reproch our owne, since heere
is at this present a scene for galantrie and merit, and whilst
wee may hope, wee must not condemne. Should I tell you
how full of sorrow I have ben for the losse of Dr. Bretton,
[minister of Deptford ; he died in February 1672] you only
would blame me ; after death flattery ceases, therefore you
may beleeve there was some cause to lament when thousands
of weeping eyes witnessed the affliction their soules were in ;
one would have imagined every one in this parish had lost a
father, brother, or husband, so great was the bewailing ; and
106 THE EVELYN FAMILY
in earnest it dos appeare there never was a better nor a more
worthy man. Such was his temper, prudence, charity, and
good conduct, that he gained the weeke and preserved the
wise. The sudenesse of his death was a surprise only to his
friends ; as for himselfe it might be looked upon as a deliver-
ance from paine, the effect of sicknesse, and I am allmost
perswaded God snatched him from us, least he might have
ben prevailed with by the number of petitions to have left
him still amongst us. If you suspect kindness in me makes
me speake too much, Doctor Parr l is a person against whome
you cannot object ; it was he who preached the funerall
sermon, and as an effect of truth as well as eloquence he
himselfe could not forbeare weeping in the pulpit. It was
his owne expression that there were three for whome he
infinitely greeved, the martyred King, my Lord Primate
(Archbishop Usher) and Doctor Bretton ; and as a confirma-
tion of the right that was done him in that oration, there was
not a drie eye nor a dissenting person. But of this no more.
"M. EVELYN.
" SAVES COURT, 2 March 1671-2."
" To LADY TUKE
" April 1685.
" How to expresse the sorrow for parting with so deare a
child is a difficult task. She was welcome to me from the
first moment God gave her, acceptable through the whole
course of her life by a thousand endearments, by the gifts
of nature, by acquired parts, by the tender love she ever
shew'd her father and me : a thred of piety accompanyed
all her actions, and now proves our greatest consolation.
The patience, resignation, humility of her carriage in so
severe and fatall a disease, discover'd more than an ordinary
assistance of the Divine goodness, never expressing feare of
death, or a desire to live, but for her friends sake. The
seaventh day of her illnesse she discoursed to me in par-
ticular as calmly as in health, desir'd to confesse and receive
1 Richard Parr, D.D., Vicar of Reigate and Camberwell. Died, November
2, 1691. The funeral sermon alluded to was printed in 1672. See Manning
and Bray's History of Surrey, vol. i. 9, 323.
CORRESPONDENCE OF MRS. EVELYN 107
the blessed Sacrament, which she perform'd with great
devotion, after which, tho' in her perfect senses to the last,
she never signified the least concerne for the world, prayed
often, and resigned her soule. What shall I say ! She was
too great a blessing for me, who never deserved any thing,
much lesse such a Jewell. I am too well assured of yr Lps
kindnesse to doubt the part you take in this losse ; you have
ever shew'd yrselfe a friend in so many instances, that I pre-
sume upon yr compassion ; nothing but this just occasion
could have hindered me from wellcoming you to towne, and
rejoyceing with the best friend I have in the world a friend
by merit and inclination, one I must esteeme as the wife of
so worthy a relation and so sincere a friend as Sr Sam:
(Tuke) was to me and mine. What is this world, when we
recall past things ! What are the charms that keep our minds
in suspence ! Without the conversation of those we love,
what is life worth ! How did I propose happinesse this
sum'er in the returne of yr Ld and my deare child for she
was absent almost all this winter !
" She had much improved her selfe by the remarks she
had made of the world and all its vanities What shall I add !
I could ever speake of her, and might I be just to her without
suspition of partiality, could tell you many things. The
papers which are found in her cabinet discover she profited
by her readying such reflections, collections out of Scripture,
confessions, meditations, and pious notions, evidence her
time was not spent in the trifling way of most young women.
I acknowledge, as a Christian, I ought not to murmur, and I
should be infinitely sorry to incur God's further displeasure.
There are those yet remaining that challenge my care, and
for their sakes I endeavour to submitt all I can. I thank my
poore Cousin a thousand times for her kind concerne, and
wishe she may live to be the comfort you deserve in her, that
God will continue the blessing to both, and make you happy
which is the prayer of her who is
" Yrs Most affectionately,
M. E."
108 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" To HER SON JOHN
" I haue received yr letter, and request for a supply of
mony ; but none of those you mention which were bare
effects of yr duty. If you were so desirous to answer our
expections as you pretend to be, you would give those tutors
and overseers you think so exact over you lesse trouble than
I feare they have with you. Much is to be wished in yor
behalfe : that yr temper were humble and tractable, yr
inclinations virtuous, and that from choice not compulsion
you make an honnest man. Whateuer object of vice comes
before you, should haue the same effect in yr mind of dislike
and aversion that drunkenesse had in the youth of Sparta
when their slaves were presented to them in that brutish
condition, not only from the deformity of such a sight, but
from a motive beyond theirs, the hope of a future happinesse,
which those rigorous heathens in morall virtue had little
prospect of, finding no reward for virtue but in virtue itselfe.
You are not too young to know that lying, defrauding,
swearing, disobedience to parents and persons in authority,
are offences to God and man : that debauchery is injurious
to growth, health, life, and indeed to the pleasures of life :
therefore now that you are turning from child to man en-
deavour to follow the best precepts, and chuse such wayes
as may render you worthy of praise and love. You are
assured of yr Father's care and my tendernesse : no mark
of it shall be wanting at any time to confirme it to you, with
this reserve only, that you strive to deserve kindnesse by a
sincere honest proceeding, and not natter yrselfe that you
are good whilst you only appeare to be so. Fallacies will
only passe in schools. When you thoroughly weigh these
considerations, I hope you will apply them to your owne
advantage, as well as to our infinite satisfaction. I pray
dayly God would inspire you with his grace, and blesse you.
" I am,
Yr Louing mother,
M. EVELYN."
DEATH OF MRS. EVELYN 109
Mary outlived her husband three years. She died at her
house in Dover Street, London, February 9, 1709, aged seventy-
four, and was buried at Wotton, February 14. By her will,
dated February 9, 1708, she desired to be buried in a stone
coffin near that of "my dear husband, whose love andfriendship
I was happy in 58 years 9 months, but by God's Providence
left a disconsolate widow the 27 day of February, 1705, in
the 71st year of my age. His care of my education was such
as might become a father, a lover, a friend, for instruction,
tenderness, affection and fidelity to the last moment of his
life ; which obligation I mention with a gratitude to his
memory, ever dear to me ; and I must not omit to own the
sense I have of my Parents care and goodnesse, in placing
me in such worthy hands."
In the year 1666 the second edition of John Evelyn's
Kalendarium Hortense, or the Gardener's Almanack, had been
published and dedicated to his friend Abraham Cowley the
poet. This called forth from Cowley a poem entitled " The
Garden,' ' addressed to Evelyn. In the first verse Mary Evelyn
is mentioned in very flattering terms. It is printed in
Evelyn's Miscellaneous Writings, edited by William Upcott
in 1825. The original manuscript in the handwriting of
Abraham Cowley was given to William Upcott by Lady
Evelyn, who died in 1817 and was the widow of Sir
Frederick Evelyn.
FIRST VERSE OF "THE GARDEN"
BY ABRAHAM COWLEY
Happy art Thou whom God does bless
Wth ye full choice of thine own happinesse !
And happier yet, becaus thou'rt blest
Wth prudence how to choos the best !
In Books and Gardens thou hast plac'd aright
(Things wch thou well dost understand,
And both dost make wth thy laborious hand)
Thy noble, innocent delight :
And in thy virtuous Wife, where thou again dost meet
Both pleasures more refin'd and sweet :
The fairest garden in her looks,
And in her mind the wisest books.
110 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Oh who would change theis soft, yet solid joys,
For empty shows and senceless noise,
And all wch rank Ambition breeds,
Wch seem such beauteous flowers, and are such poisonous weeds ?
WILL OF MARY EVELYN, WIDOW OF JOHN EVELYN
(P.C.C. 32 Lane)
" The 9th day of February 1708, I Mary Evelyn Widow
of John Evelyn late of Wotton in Co. Surrey Esquire being
weake in Body but of perfect memory ... Do make and
ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and sence
following First and Especially I recommend my immortall
Soul into the hands of Almighty God. . . .
" My Body to be deposited in the Parish Church of Wotton
aforesaid in a Stone Coffin and sett near that of my dear
Husband whose love and Friendshipp I was happy in fifty-
eight yeares nine Monthes but by God's Providence left a
Disconsolate Widow the Seaven and twentyeth day of
February 1705 in the seventy first year of my age. His care
of my Education was such as might become a Father a Lover
a Friend and Husband for Instruction Tenderness Affection
and Fidelity to the last moment of his Life which Obligation
I mention with due Gratitude to his Memory ever dear to me
And I must not omitt to own the sense I have of my Parents
care (sic) and Goodness in placing me in such worthy hands
As to my personall Estate I Give devise bequeath and dispose
of the same as f olloweth : Imprimus I will and direct that the
Charges of my Funerall which I desire may be only decent
and all such just debts as shall be oweing and unpaid at my
Death shall be paid and satisf yed by my Executor hereinafter
named with all convenient speed after my decease Item I
Give to the Poor of the Parish of Wotton the sume of 5 H
Item I give to the poor of the Parish of Deptford 5 Item I
give and bequeath to my daughter Martha Evelyn the Lease
of my House in Dover Streete I give her alsoe the Goods and
Furniture in the said House belonging to me at my Death as
Beds Hangings Pictures Cabinetts Chaires Stooles Tables
Pewter Brass either in Kitchen Parlours or Chambers Table
WILL OF MRS. EVELYN 111
Linnen also Sheets and Kitchen Linnen Looking Glasses
China the choice of what pieces of Plate may be usefull out
of my little stock the Stairs Clock all to use during her Life
then to returne to my Grandson John Evelyn I give her
my Ring given me by my Lady Stonehouse at her Death also
my Ebony Toylett Box and Toylett Looking Glass with a
narrow Border and what remaines in the drawers of the
Black Cabinett when things are disposed of being particularly
expressed I give her my share in the new Coach and a browne
Leather purse with 7 pieces of Gold I desire her to dispose of
my small Wardrobe according to the Particulars mentioned
in a Letter directed to her Item I give to my son William
Draper Esquire 20 Guineas to bestow in a Ring or Piece of
Plate which he pleases I give to my Daughter Susanna
Draper an Orang Colour Silk Purse with 22 pieces of Gold
the particular Coins sett doune in a paper in my own hand
in the Purse Also a pair of Enamel Pendants with red drops
I give my Grandson Draper a Purse with six Dozen of Silver
Counters French Coin I give Susan Draper a Bracelett of
Moucca stones sett in Gold in a Tortoise Shell Box alsoe a
Gold Box for sweets enamelled with a Turquoise Stone sett
in the Lidd I give my Goddaughter Evelyn Draper a Moucca
stone Bracelet sett in Gold in a Tortoise Shell Box Alsoe a
Mantle of Angaria Goats Haire to lay on a Bed I give Sarah
Draper 10 halfe Guineas in a purse to buy her a Ring Item
I give my Grandson John Evelyn a chased two ear'd Cupp
Cover and Salver Alsoe a chased little Sugar Dish I give
him what plate remains when my daughter Evelyn has chose
for her use which is to returne to him after her death I
give him a Crimson and Gold Purse with 51 pieces of Gold
Coins sett doune in a paper in my hand in the Purse accom-
panied with the Blessing of increase as it was given me Alsoe
a nett purse with 129 Silver Coins as appears in a Note of
Particulars in the Purse Alsoe a Tortoise Shell Box with a
Gold Medall of Andrea Doria in a Box and 36 Medalls and
Coins Silver and Silver Gilt Alsoe my Wedding Ring and a
little Gold Ring with a Toad stone my Fathers Alsoe a
Sardonix Seale engraved with my Arms only finely sett
Alsoe an Onix Seal with both Coats engraved sett in Gold
112 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and my Table Clock Item I give my Granddaughter Anne
Evelyn my Japan Cabinett and Frame all the China that
stands upon it and the three large China Basons under it
alsoe the great China Jarr Alsoe a Japan lacre Card box
shap'd like a Fann in it two Dozen of Mill'd Queen Elizabeth
sixpences in a nett Purse Alsoe what small china miniature
Pictures or little Curiosities are in the Cabinet an approved
Bloudstone some unsett Moucca Stones alsoe a Feather
Mantle to lay on a Bed in a black and white Chint Cover Alsoe
a Chest of Drawers and Dressing Box in the dineing room at
Wotton Item I give my Granddaughter Elizabeth Evelyn
a silver chased round Box with 17 pieces of Gold Coins and
13 Silver Coins besides one Vigo Medall of the Queenes in
Silver Alsoe a sett of Japan Boxes trays salvers Looking
glass all fitted to a Wainscott Case lin'd Alsoe an Indian
Baskett and Frame Alsoe a Gold and silk floured Gawse
Upper Toilet with a silk Fringe I give her a white flourished
upper Toilett upon Muslin and the Toylet to set about the
Table and one for the Baskett all of a sort Also a stitched
white India Bed Gowne Wastcoate and Table Toilett all of
the same sort of stitching in scales I give her a white
stitch's Indian Quilt for a Bed a colour'd flower'd Indian
Quilt for a Bed a White Fur Mantle to lay on a Bed Alsoe a
suite of Holland Napkins wrought and three Table Cloaths
I give my Goddaughter Frances Glanville a Metie Gold purse
with 10 pieces of Gold the particulars in a note in my hand
in the purse I give Mrs. Mary Fowler my sable muff and
Tippett I give my Goddaughter Anne Sherwood 5 pounds
I give Mr. Strickland 10 pounds I give Mr. Bedingfield 5
pounds I desire if Mrs. Bruskell is with me at my Death
she may have 10 pounds I desire Jean Hinge may have 10
pounds I give Mrs. Billingsley 2 guineas I give Mrs.
Alexander 2 guineas I desire those Servants who have no
Legacies exprest may have halfe a yeares Wages over and
above what is due to them And I doe hereby make declare
nominate and appoint the said John Evelyn my Grandson
whole and sole Executor of this my Will and I doe give and
devise to him my said Grandson All the rest and residue of
my Personall Estate undisposed of by this my Will And
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 113
lastly Revoking all former Wills I do hereby make and declare
this to be my last Will comprized in five sheets of paper. In
Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my Hand and Scale
the day and Yeare above written MARY EVELYN.
, . . r ; , /. , : Witnesses, ANN STRICKLAND.
MARY FOUNES."
" Proved 26 February 1708."
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA)
JOHN EVELYN had eight children, five sons and three
daughters, but of the sons four died in infancy and only one
lived to succeed his father. The names of the children were
Richard, the eldest son, born at Sayes Court, August 24, 1652 ;
John Stansfield, second son, born at Sayes Court, October
11, 1653, died there January 25, 1654, and buried in St.
Nicholas, Deptford ; John, third son, born at Sayes Court,
January 19, 1655 ; George, fourth son, born at Sayes Court,
June 7, 1657, died February 15, 1658, and buried at St.
Nicholas, Deptford ; Richard, fifth son, born at Sayes Court,
January 10, 1644, died March 26, 1664, and buried at St.
Nicholas, Deptford ; Mary, eldest daughter, born at Wotton,
September 30, 1665 ; Elizabeth, second daughter, born at
Sayes Court, September 14, 1667 ; and Susanna, the youngest
child, born at Sayes Court, May 20, 1669.
RICHARD, ELDEST SON OF JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA)
The following account of Evelyn's eldest son Richard, who
died at the age of six (January 27, 1658), is taken from The
Golden Book of St. John Chrysostom, concerning the Education
of Children, which was translated from the Greek by John
Evelyn and published in 1659. It was written by him as a
consolation for the loss of his son, who was an extraordinarily
promising boy, and it was dedicated to his two brothers
George and Richard, who had both lost children of their own.
" 1 cannot, with St. Augustine, say of my son, as he of
his, Annorum erat fere quindecim, and ingenio proeveniebat
8
114 THE EVELYN FAMILY
multos graves and doctos viros. But this I can truly affirm ;
he was little above five years old, and he did excel many
that I have known of fifteene. Tarn brevi spatio tempora
multa compleverat. He was taught to pray as soon as he could
speak, and he was taught to read as soon as he could pray.
At three years old he read any character or letter whatso-
ever used in our printed books, and, within a little time after,
any tolerable writing hand, and had gotten (by heart) before
he was five years of age seven or eight hundred Latine and
Greek words, as I have since calculated out of his OVO/JLCHTKOV,
together with their genders and declensions. I entered
him then upon the verbs, which in four months time he did
perfectly conjugate, together with most of the irregulars
excepted in our grammar. These he conquered with
incredible delight, and intelligence of their use. But it
is more strange to consider, that when from then I thought
to set him to the nouns, he had in that interim (by himself)
learned both the declensions and their examples, their
exceptions, adjectives, comparisons, pronouns, without any
knowledge or precept of mine, insomuch as I stood amazed
at his sedulity and memory. This engaged me to bring
him a Sententiae Pueriles, and a Cato, and of late Comenius ;
the short sentences of which two first, and the more solid
ones of the last, he learned to construe and parse, as fast as
one could well teach and attend him : for he became not
onely dextrous in the ordinary rules by frequent recourse to
them (for indeed I never obliged him to get any of them by
heart as a task, by that same carnificine puerorurri) upon
occasions, but did at this age also easily comprehend both
the meaning and the use of the relative, and ellipsis, and
defects of verbs and nouns unexpressed. But to repeat here
all that I could justly affirm concerning his promptitude in
this nature, were altogether prodigious, so that truly I have
been sometimes even constrained to cry out with the father,
as of another Adeodatus, horrori mihi est hoc ingenium.
For so insatiable were his desires of knowledge, that I well
remember upon a time hearing one discourse of Terence
and Plautus, and being told (upon his enquiring concerning
these authors) that the books were too difficult for him, he
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 115
wept for very grief, and would hardly be pacified ; but thus
it is reported of Thucydides, when these noble Muses were
recited in his hearing, from whence was predicted the great-
ness of his genius. To tell you how exactly he read French,
how much of it he spake and understood, were to let you
onely know that his mother did instruct him without any
confusion to the rest. Thus he learned a catechism and
many prayers, and read divers things in that language.
More to be admired was the liveliness of his judgment, that
being much affected with the diagramms in Euclid, he did
with so great facility interpret to me many of the common
postulata and definitions, which he would readily repeate in
Latine and apply it. And he was in one hour onely taught
to play the first half of a thorough basse, to one of our Church
psalmes, upon the organ. Let no man think that we did
hereby crowd his spirit too full of notions. Those things
which we force upon other children were strangely natural
to him ; for as he very seldome affected their toyes, to such
things were his usual recreations as the gravest man might
not be ashamed to divert himself withal. These were
especially the Apologues of JEsop, most of which he could so
readily recount, with divers other stories, as you would
admire from whence he produced them ; but he was never
without some book or other in his hand. Pictures did afford
him infinite pleasure ; above all, a pen and ink, with which
he now began to form his letters. Thus he often delighted
himself in reciting of poems and sentences, some whereof he
had in Greek, fragments of comedies, divers verses out of
Herbert, and, amongst the psalmes, his beloved and often
repeated Ecce quam bonum : and indeed he had an ear so
curiously framed to sounds, that he would never misse
infallibly to have told you what language it was you did
read by the accent only, were it Latin, Greek, French,
Italian, or Dutch. To all I might add, the incomparable
sweetness of his countenance and eyes, the clean fabric of
his body and pretty addresses : how easily he forgot in-
juries, when at any time I would break and crosse his
passions, by sometimes interrupting his enjoyments, in the
midst of some sweet or other delicious things which allured
116 THE EVELYN FAMILY
him, that I might thereby render him the more indifferent
to all things, though these he seldom quitted without re-
wards and advantage. But above all, extremely con-
spicuous was his affection to his younger brother, with
whose impertinencies he would continually bear, saying, he
was but a child, and understood no better. For he was
ever so smiling, cheerful and in perfect good humour, that
it might be truly verified of him, as it was once of Helio-
dorus, gravitatem morum hilarite frontis temperabut. But
these things were obvious, and I dwel no longer on them :
there are yet better behind ; and those are, his early piety,
and how ripe he was for God. Never did this child lye in
bed (by his good will) longer than six or seven, winter or
summer ; and the first thing he did (being up) was to say
his French prayers, and our Church Catechism ; after break-
fast that short Latine prayer, which having encountered at
the beginning of our Lillie's Grammar, he had learned by
heart, without any knowledge or injunction of mine, and
whatsoever he so committed to memory, he would never
desist till he perfectly understood ; yet with all this, did he
no day employ above two houres at his book by my order ;
what he else learned was most by himselfe, without con-
straint or the least severity, unseene, and totally imported
by his own inclination. But to return, wonderful was it
to observe the chapters which himselfe would choose, and
the psalmes and verses that he would apply upon occasion,
and as in particular he did to some that were sick in my
family a little before him, bidding them to consider the
sufferings of Christ, how bitter they were, and how willingly
he endured them. How frequently would he pray by him-
self in the day time, and procure others to joyn with him
in some private corner of the house apart ? The last time
he was at church (which was, as I remember, at Greenwich),
at his return I asked him what he brought away from the
sermon ; he replyed, that he had remembered two good
things, bonum gratiae, and bonum gloriae, which expressions
were indeed used, though I did not believe he had minded
them.
" I should even tire you with repeating all that I might
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 117
call to mind of his pertinent answers upon several occasions,
one of the best whereof I will only instance. When about
Christmas a kinsman of his related to us by the fire side some
passages of the presumptuous fasting of certain enthusiasts
about Colchester, whilst we were expressing some admira-
tion at the passage, That, sayes the child (being upon the
gentleman's knee, and, as we thought, not minding the
discourse), is no such wonder, for it is written, ' Man shall not
live by bread alone, &c.' But more to be admired was his
perfect comprehension of the sacred histories in the method
of our Golden Author, so as it may be truly affirmed of this
child, as it was once said of Timothy, Quod a puero sacras
literas noverat. Nor was all this by rote only (as they term
it), for that he was capable of the greater mystery of our
salvation by Christ I have had many infallible indications.
And when the Lord's day fortnight before he died, he repeated
to me our Church Catechism, he told me that he now per-
ceived his godfathers were disengaged ; for that since he
himself did now understand what his duty was, it would be
required of him, and not of them for the future. And let
no man think, that when I use the term dis-engaged, it is to
expresse the childs meaning with a fine word, for he did
not only make use of such phrases himself, but would
frequently in his ordinary discourse come out with such
expressions as one would have admired how he came by them ;
but upon enquiry he would certainly have produced his
authority, and either in the Bible or some other booke,
shewed you the words so used. How divinely did this
pious infant speake of his being weary of this troublesome
world (into which he was scarcely entred), and whilst he lay
sick, of his desires to goe to Heaven ; that the angels might
conveye him into Abrahams bosome, passionately perswading
those that tended him to dye with him ; for he told them that
he knew he should not live ; and, really, though it were an
ague which carried him from us (a disease which I least
apprehended, finding him so lively in his interval), yet the
day before he took his leave of us, he call'd to me, and pro-
nounced it very soberly ; Father (says he), you have often
told me that you would give me your house, and your land,
118 THE EVELYN FAMILY
your bookes, and all your fine things ; but I tell you, I shall
have none of them ; you will leave them all to my brother.
This he spake without any provocation or passion ; and it
did somewhat trouble me, that I could not make him alter
this conceit, which in another would be esteemed prophetick.
But that I may conclude, and shew how truly jealous this
child was least he should offend God in the least scruple,
that very morning, not many houres before he fell into
that sleepe which was his last, being in the midst of his parox-
cisme, he called to me, and asked of me whether he should
not offend, if in the extremity of his pain he mentioned so
often the name of God calling for ease ; and whether God
would accept his prayers if he did not hold his hands out of
bed in the posture of praying ? which when I had pacified
him about, he prayed, till his prayers were turned into eternal
praises. Thus ended your nephew, being but five years
five monethes and three dayes old, and more I could still
say, Nam quern corpore non valemus rebordatione teneamus, et
cum quo loqui non possumus de co loqui nunquam desinamus.
But my tears mingle so fast with my inke, that I must breake
off here, and be silent I end therefore with that blessed
Saint : Munera tua tibi confiteor, Domine Deus meus, Creator
omnium, multum potens reformare nostra deformia ; nam ego
in illo puero, praeter delictum nihil habebam. Quod enim
enutriebatur a nobis in disciplina tua. Tu inspira veras nobis,
nullus alius. Munera tua tibi confiteor Cito de terra ab-
stulisti vitum ejus, et securior eum recordor. Deare Brothers,
indulge me these excesses. It is not a new thing which I doe.
St. Hierom wrote divers Epistles, which he inscribed his
Epitaphs ; and never was a Paula or Estochium dearer to
him then this your nephew was to
"DearB. B.,
Your most affectionate brother and most
humble servant,
J.E"
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 119
"GROT. AD PATREM.
" CARERE LIBERIS DURUM NON EST, NISI HIS gui HABUERUNT."
In Evelyn's Diary there is another description of this
child in very much the same words. It ends in these words :
" In my opinion he was suffocated by ye women and
maids that tended him, and cover'd him too hot with blankets
as he lay in a cradle, near an excessive hot fire in a close roome.
I suffer'd him to be open'd, when they found that he was
what is vulgarly call'd liver-growne. I caused his body to be
coffin'd in lead, and reposited on the 30th at 8 o'clock that
night in the church at Deptford, accompanied with divers
of my relations and neighbours, among whom I distributed
rings with this motto : Dominus dbstulit ; intending, God
willing, to have him transported with my own body to be
interr'd in our dormitory in Wotton Church in my dear native
county of Surrey, and to lay my bones and mingle my dust
with my fathers, if God be gracious to me and make me as fit
for Him as this blessed child was. The Lord Jesus sanctify
this and all other my afflictions, Amen. Here ends the joy
of my life and for which I go even mourning to the grave."
In St. Nicholas Church, Deptford, there is a monument of
white marble to the memory of Richard, with a Latin in-
scription of which the following is the English translation :
44 R., son of John Evelyn, rests under this stone ; and
with him rests everything that father's love can cherish, and
lament when deprived of. That fair face no longer as of old,
bright with the smile of intelligence ; the unusual grace of
manner which few can attain, which all who knew him will
miss ; the simple talk in French or Latin languages which
he took in with his mother's milk all silent now. He had
begun the study of the arts, and with the principles of the
arts had learnt those of piety as well ; and was so fond
of his books that only death could tear him from them.
His example showed how much natural quickness, discipline,
and labour, when united, could achieve. Marvellous as a
child what would he have been when old, had fate allowed
him length of life ? But God decreed otherwise. A slight
fever carried him off after he had lived five years, eight
120 THE EVELYN FAMILY
months, and a few days. He was the only child of his
parents, and alas ! how brief was their enjoyment ! What
mortals love, let them beware never to love too well ! "
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO SIR RICHARD BROWNE l
j By the reverse of this medall, you will perceive
how much reason I had to be affraid of my felicity, and how
greately it did import me to do all that I could to prevent
what I have apprehended, what I deserved, and what I now
feele. God has taken from us that deare Childe, your Grand-
son, your Godsonn, and with him all the joy and satisfaction
that could be derived from the greatest hopes. A losse,
so much the more to be deplored, as our contentments were
extraordinary, and the indications of his future perfections
as faire and legible as, yet, I ever saw, or read off in one so
very young : You have, Sir, heard so much of this, that I may
say it with the lesse crime and suspicion. And indeede
his whole life was from the beginning so greate a miracle,
that it were hard to exceede in the description of it, and which
I should here yet attempt, by sum'ing up all the prodigies of
it, and what a child of 5 yeares old (for he was little more)
is capable off, had I not given you so many minute and parti-
cular accounts of it, by several expresses, when I then men-
tioned those things with the greatest joy, which now I write
with as much sorrow and amasement. But so it is, that it
has pleased God to dispose of him, and that Blossome (Fruit,
rather I may say) is fallen ; a six days Quotidian having
deprived us of him ; an accident that has made so great a
breach in all my contentments, as I do never hope to see re-
paired : because we are not in this life to be fed with wonders :
and that I know you will hardly be able to support the
affliction & the losse, who beare so greate a part in every
thing that concernes me. But thus we must be reduced
when God sees good, and I submitt ; since I had, therefore,
this blessing for a punishment, & that I might feele the effects
of my greate unworthynesse. But I have begged of God that
I might pay the fine heare, and if to such belonged the
1 From Evelyn's Memoirs, edited by William Bray.
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 121
Kingdome of Heaven, I have one depositum there. Dominus
dedit, Dominus abstulit : blessed be his name : since without
that consideration it were impossible to support it : for the
stroke is so severe, that I find nothing in all Philosophy
capable to allay the impression of it, beyond that of cutting
the channell and dividing with our friends, who really sigh
on our behalfe, and mingle with our greater sorrows in accents
of piety and compassion, which is all that can yet any ways
alleviate the sadnesse of, Deare Sir, Your &c.
" SAVES COURT, 14 Feb: 1657-8."
DESCRIPTION FROM EVELYN'S DIARY OF HIS DAUGHTER
MARY, WHO DIED OF SMALL-POX, MARCH 14, 1685
" March 7, 1685. My daughter Mary was taken with the
small-pox, and there soon was found no hope of her recovery.
A very greate affliction to me ; but God's Holy will be done.
" March 10. She received the blessed sacrement ;
after which, disposing herselfe to suffer what God should
determine to inflict, she bore the remainder of her sicknesse
with extraordinary patience and piety, and more than
ordinary resignation and blessed frame of mind. She died
the 14th, to our unspeakable sorrow and affliction, and
not to ours onely, but that of all who knew her, who were
many of the best quality, greatest and most virtuous
persons. The justnesse of her stature, person, comeliness
of countenance, graceful! nesse of motion, unaffected tho'
more than ordinary beautifull, were the least of her ornaments
compared with those of her mind. Of early piety, singularly
religious, spending a part of every day in private devotion,
reading, and other virtuous exercises ; she had collected
and written out many of the most usefull 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 deale 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
122 THE EVELYN FAMILY
she read and observed, to which assisted a most faithful
memory and discernment ; and she did make very prudent
and discreete reflections upon what she had observ'd of
the conversations among which she had at any time ben,
which being continualy of persons of the best quality, she
thereby improved. She had an excellent voice, to which
she play'd a thorough-bass on the harpsi-chord, in both
which arived to that perfection, that of the schollars of
those two famous masters Signers Pietro and Bartholomeo
she was esteem'd the best ; for the sweetnesse of her voice
and management of it added such an agreeablenesse to her
countenance, without any constraint or concerne, that
when she sung, it was as charming to the eye as to the eare ;
this I rather note, because it was a universal remarke, and
for which so many noble and judicious persons in music
desired to heare her, the last being at Lord Arundel's of
Wardour. What shall I say, or rather not say, of the cheer-
fullness and agreeablenesse 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 reade
to them, examine, instruct, and pray with them if they were
sick, so as she was exceedingly beloved of everybody. 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 endeavour to
improve them, by insinuating something of religious, and
that tended to bring them to a love of devotion ; she had one
or two confidants with whom she used to passe whole dayes
of fasting, reading and prayers, especialy before the monethly
communion and other solemn occasions. She abhorr'd flattery
and tho' she had aboundance of witt, the raillery was so
innocent and ingenuous that it was most agreeable ; she
sometimes would see a play, but since the stage grew licen-
tious, express'd herselfe weary of them, and the time spent at
the theater was an unaccountable vanity. She never play'd
at cards without extreme importunity and for the company,
but this was so very seldome that I cannot number it among
any thing she could name a fault. No one could read prose
or verse better or with more judgment ; and as she read, so
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 123
she writ, not only most correct orthography, with that maturi-
tie of judgment and exactnesse of the periods, choice of ex-
pressions, and familiarity of style, that some letters of hers
have astonish'd me and others to whom she has occasionally
written. She had a talent of rehersing any comical part or
poeme, as to them she might be decently free with ; was
more pleasing than heard on ye theater ; she daunc'd
with the greatest grace I had ever scene, and so would
her master say, who was Monsr Isaac ; but she seldome
shew'd that perfection, save in the gracefullnesse of her car-
riage, which was with an aire of spritely modestie not easily
to be described. Nothing affected, but natural and easy as
well in her deportment as in her discourse, which was always
materiall, not trifling, and to which the extraordinary sweet-
ness 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 caresse and humour with greate
delight. But she most affected to be with grave and sober
men, of whom she might learne something, and improve
herselfe. I have been assisted by her in reading and praying
by me ; comprehensive of uncommon notions, curious of
knowing every thing to some excesse, had I not sometimes
repressed it. Nothing was so full delightfull to her as to
go into my study, where she would willingly have spent
whole dayes, for as I sayd she had read aboundance of history,
and all the best poets, even Terence, Plautus, Homer, Virgil,
Horace, Ovid ; all the best romances and modern poemes ;
she could compose happily, and put in pretty symbols, as
in the ' Mundus Muliebris,' wherein is an enumeration of
the immense variety of the modes and ornaments belonging
to the sex ; but all these are vaine trifles to the virtues which
adorn'd her soule ; she was sincerely religious, most dutifull
to her parents, whom she lov'd with an affection temper'd
with greate esteeme, so as we were easy and free, and never
were so well pleas'd 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
deare, sweete and desireable child, how shall I part with all
this goodness and virtue without the bitternesse of sorrow
124 THE EVELYN FAMILY
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 deare to thy mother, whose example and tender care of
thee was unparalleFd, nor was thy returne to her lesse con-
spicuous ; 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 thou art at rest and happy)
give us to resigne thee and all our contentments (for thou
indeede wert all in this world) to his blessed pleasure ! Let
him be glorified by our submission, and give us grace to
blesse him for the graces he implanted in thee, thy virtuous
life, pious and holy death, which is indeede the onely comfort
of our soules, hastening thro' the infinite love and mercy of
the Lord Jesus to be shortly with thee, deare child, and with
thee and those blessed saints like thee, glorifye 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 gentle-
woman whom she went with Lady Falkland to visite, who
after they had ben a good while in the house, told them she
had a servant sick of the small-pox (who indeede died the
next day) ; this my poore child acknowledg'd made an
impression on her spirits. There were four gentlemen of
quality offering to treate with me about marriage, and I
freely gave her her owne choice, knowing her discretion. She
showed greate indifference to marrying at all, for truly, says
she to her mother (the other day), were I assured of your life
and my deare 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 designe me to my sisters, and keepe up the
reputation of our family. This was so discreetly and sincerely
utter'd that it could not but proceede from an extraordinary
child, and one who lov'd her parents beyond example.
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 125
" At London she tooke this fatal disease, and the occasion
of her being there was this ; my Lord Viscount Falkland's
Lady having ben our neighbour (as he was Treasuere of the
Navy), she tooke so greate an affection to my daughter ;
that when they went back in the autumn to the citty, nothing
would satisfie their incessant importunity but letting her
accompany my Lady, and staying sometime with her ; it was
with ye 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 Signr 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 express' d her wish to
come home, being tir'd of ye vaine and empty conversation
of the towne, ye theatres, the court, and trifling visites wch
consumed so much precious time, and made her sometimes
misse of that regular course of piety that gave her ye 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 shewing herselfe, she knew
ye Court well, and pass'd one summer in it at Windsor with
Lady Tuke, one of the Queene's women of the bed-chamber
(a most virtuous relation of hers) ; she was not fond of
that glittering scene, now become admirably licentious,
though there was a designe of Lady Rochester and Lady
Clarendon to have made her a maid of Honour to the Queene
as soone as there was a vacancy. But this she did not set
her heart upon, nor indeede on any thing so much as the
service of God, a quiet and regular life, and how she might
improve herselfe in the most necessary accomplishments,
and to wch she was arriv'd at so greate a measure.
" This is ye little history and imperfect character of my
deare child, whose piety, virtue, and incomparable endow-
ments deserve a monument more durable than brasse 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 over coming passion for the present,
126 THE EVELYN FAMILY
so many things worthy an excellent Christian and dutifull
child crowding upon me. Never can I say enough, oh deare,
my deare child, whose memory is so precious to me !
" This deare child was born at Wotton, in the same house
and chamber in which I first drew my breath, my Wife
having retir'd to my Brother there in the great sickness
that yeare upon the first of that moneth, and neere the very
houre that I was borne, upon the last : viz. October.
" March I6th. She was interr'd in the south-east end
of the church at Deptford, neere her grandmother and severall
of my younger children and relations. My desire was she
should have ben carried and layed among my own parents and
relations at Wotton, where I desire to be interr'd myselfe,
when God shall call me out of this uncertaine transitory life,
but some circumstances did not permit it. Our vicar Dr.
Holden preach'd her funeral sermon on 1 Phil. v. 21 : ' For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gaine,' upon which he
made an apposite discourse, as those who heard it assur'd
me (for griefe suffer'd me not to be present), concluding
with a modest recital of her many virtues and signal piety,
so as to draw both teares and admiration from the hearers.
I was not altogether unwilling that something of this sort
should be spoken, for the edification and encouragement of
other young people.
" Divers noble persons honoured her funeral, some in
person, others sending their coaches, of wch there were six or
seven with six horses, viz. the Countesse of Sunderland,
Earle of Clarendon, Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Sir
Wm. Godolphin, Viscount Falkland, and others. There
were distributed amongst her friends about 60 rings.
" Thus liv'd, died and was buried the joy of my life, and
ornament of her sex and of my poore family ! God Almighty
of his infinite mercy grant me the grace thankfully to resigne
myselfe 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 I Amen I
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 127
" On looking into her closet, it is incredible what a number
of collections she had made from historians, poetes, travellers,
&c., but above all devotions, contemplations and resolutions
on these contemplations, found under her hand in a booke
most methodically dispos'd ; prayers, meditations, and
devotions on particular occasions, with many pretty letters
to her confidants ; one to a divine (not nam'd) 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 desir'd 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 acquir'd such sub-
stantial and practical knowledge in other ornamental parts of
education, especially music both vocal and instrumental, in
dauncing, paying and receiving visites, and necessary con-
versation, could accomplish halfe 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 conversation. But she
was a little miracle while she liv'd, and so she died ! "
; The monument to Mary Evelyn in St. Nicholas' Church,
Deptford, has the following words :
"MARY EVELYN,
Eldest daughter of John Evelyn, and Mary his wife, borne the
last day of September, 1665, at Wooton, in the County of
Surrey; a beautiful young woman, endowed with shining
qualities both of body and mind, infinitely pious, the delight
of her parents and friends. She died the I4th of March, 1685,
at the age of nineteen years, five months, seventeen days,
regretted by all persons of worth that knew her value."
ELIZABETH EVELYN
In the same year, 1685, and only a few months after the
death of his eldest daughter, Mary, John Evelyn lost his
128 THE EVELYN FAMILY
second daughter, Elizabeth, who died of the same disease as
her sister. He writes on August 27 :
" My daughter Elizabeth died of the small-pox soon after
having married a young man, nephew of Sir John Tippet,
surveyor of the Navy, and one of the Commissioners. The
30th she was buried in the church at Deptford. Thus in
lesse than six moneths were we deprived of two children for
our unworthinesse and causes best known to God, whom I
beseeche from the bottom of my heart that he will give us
grace to make that right use of all these chastizements, that
we may become better, and entirely submitt in all things to
his infinite wise disposal. Amen."
SUSANNAH EVELYN
John Evelyn writes of his daughter Susannah on her
marriage with William Draper of Adscomb, near Croydon,
Surrey, on April 27, 1693 :
" My daughter Susannah was married to William Draper,
Esq. in the chapel of Ely House, by Dr. Tenison, Bishop of
Lincoln (since Archbishop). I gave her in portion 4000, her
jointure is 500 per annum. I pray Almighty God to give his
blessing to this marriage. She is a good child, religious, dis-
creet, ingenious, and qualified with all the ornaments of her
sex. She has a peculiar talent in designe, as painting in oil
and miniature, and an extraordinary genius for whatever
hands can do with a needle. She has the French tongue, has
read most of the Greek and Roman authors and poets, using
her talents with greate modesty ; exquisitely shap'd, and of
an agreeable countenance. fa^
" This character is due to her, tho' coming from her father.
" May 11. We accompanied my Daughter to her hus-
band's house, where with many of his and our relations we
were magnificently treated. There we left her in an apart-
ment very richly adorn'd and furnish'd and I hope in as
happy a condition as could be wish'd, and with the greate
satisfaction of all our friends ; for wch God be prais'd."
Susannah is again mentioned by her father in a letter
written by him to Dr. Bohun, dated Wotton, January 18, 1697:
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 129
" My daughter Draper being brought to bed in the Christ-
mas holidays of a fine boy, has given an heire to a most
deserving husband, a prudent well-natur'd gent, a man of
businesse, like to be very rich, and deserving to be so, among
the happiest paires I think in England, and to my Daughter's
and our hearts' desire. She has also a fine girle, and a
Mother-in-law exceedingly fond of my Daughter, and a most
excellent woman, charitable and of a very sweete disposition.
They all live together, keepe each their coach, and with as
suitable an equipage as any in towne."
John Evelyn writes in his Diary, June 27, 1702 :
" 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 Adscomb being new building, so
that my family was above 30."
On July 11, 1703, Evelyn writes :
" I went to Adscomb, 16 miles from Wotton, to see my
Son-in-law's new house, the outside, to the coveing, being
such excellent brick-work, bas'd with Portland stone, with
the pilasters, windows and within, that I pronounced it in
all the points of good and solid architecture to be one of the
very best gentlemen's houses in Surrey, when finish'd. I
returned to Wotton in the evening tho' weary."
There is a picture painted by Susannah Evelyn in the
picture gallery at Wotton entitled " The Flight into
Egypt."
She died August 24, 1754, and was buried in Wotton
churchyard. Her daughter died January 12, 1772, and was
also buried in Wotton churchyard. Susannah's husband
was nephew to Sir Thomas Draper of Sunninghill, Bart.
LETTER FROM SUSANNAH EVELYN TO HER FATHER,
JOHN EVELYN l
Julyy<2$.
" July 25, 1691. I hope dear papa you will not Impute
my silence to any want of y* Duty and respect I am sensible
Ijywe to so good a Father on all occasions, but will rather
1 Add MSS., 15,949, fo. 128.
9
130 THE EVELYN FAMILY
believe I forebore writing out of a feare to trouble you with
my noncense knowing how ill I should acquit myself, but in
obedience to y r commands I shall venture with the more
assurance to acquainte you with the maner of spending my
days since our coming heither, but in the first place must not
omitt my thanks to you for the leave you are so kindly
pleased to give me to make a longer stay heare then was our
first intention to doe. In order to my health I shall do my
endeavour to keep to those rules in diet and all other things
y l may contribute towards it, thoe if I dide not hope my
Mother would receive good by the Bath should very un-
willingly consent to spend so much money & time mearely
on my account, espescially when I consider I shall not be
able to say much for myself, bathing and drinking watters
not allowing me any time to paint or draw, but I hope if it
please God to give me health I shall at my returne make up
all my idle hours. My Mother haveing informed you of our
travells heitherto, it will be needles to repeate what she has
expressed in so much better termes then I durst have hoped
to doe. I will therefore onely say y* after hearing so much
of the dull cittuation, heat and ill smells of this place, I ex-
pected to finde it much less tollerable then it has proved, &
I am so far from dislikinge the hills y* suround it y' I chuse
rather then the greene or lottery where the ladys in the
evenings meete, to walke in the Medows frome whence I
enjoy the prospect of them. I have in my walks found a
very preety Landscape which I intend to draw but dare not
promise how well I shall performe, my designe being in some
want of the tiffany. I believe I shall returne with the same
inclinations towards marrieing a conterry Esqr. as when I
left London, & heare being onely married men, & having no
ambition to make anye conqueste amonge them, then my
heart is in a very secure way at present, & I am full per-
swaded I shall returne with it as whole as I brought it. We
have made some few acquaintance as Sir Richard Franckling
& his Lady & one Mr. Bancks & his wife. Besides theese,
heare are not many people of quality, my Lord Macklesfield
& a Scoch Lord whome they call Alundell being all the noble
men. We have had two balls where I bore a part therefore
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN 131
neede not take great paines to perswade you they were ex-
trordinarye ones, and now I think I have said all I can
muster up either of my owne or other peoples affaires & am
very sorry the sparks and Ladys have produced no adven-
tures worth sending the relation of. So far the place is in
itself very baren of news besides what comes by the news
books twice a week from London. I will not presume to add
any more but y l I wish it had bin in my power to informe
you of any thing which might have recompensed the pains
you will take to reade my scrible, but I hope dear Papa you
will accept of the endeavors of her who desires nothing more
ernestly then y l you would believe her to be what she truly
is y r Dutyfull
Daughter,
S. E.
" Pray doe me the favour to let doctor Bohun know I
have received his letter & give him many thanks for his
wholesome advise which I shall endeavour to follow. I
must not forget to wish you a good journey to Wotton where
I hope we shall ere longe all meete."
(Addressed.)
for John Evelyn Esq r att his
House att Says Court att
Deptford
In Kent.
(Endorsed.)
From my Daughter
Susanna
Bath. July 25
1691.
Account of the Bath. J. E.
The following account of Addiscombe is taken from
Brayley's History of Surrey :
" This place, formerly called Adgcomb and Adscomb,
is about one mile and a half from the town of Croydon on
the road to Wickham. In the reign of Henry vm, this
estate belonged to Thomas Heron, who died in 1518, leaving
two sons, who held it in succession. Sir Nicholas Heron,
the younger, died in 1568, and was interred in Heron's Chapel
132 THE EVELYN FAMILY
in the parish church. Addiscombe afterwards became
the residence of Sir John Tunstal, Gentleman Usher to
Anne of Denmark, consort of James i ; and his eldest son,
Henry, who dwelt here, was in 1647 appointed one of the
Committee of Inquiry concerning the conduct of the clergy
in Surrey. Sir Purbeck Temple, Knt., a member of the
Privy Council of Charles n, held this estate ; and, as he
died without issue in 1695, it came into the possession of
his widow, who died in 1700, having left Addiscombe to
her nephew, William Draper, son-in-law of the celebrated
John Evelyn. Mr. Draper rebuilt the mansion in 1702,
the masonry consisting of brick-work cased with Portland
stone. Sir John Vanburgh is said to have been the architect
and the walls and ceilings of the staircase and saloon were
ornamented by the pencil of Sir James Thornhill. In
the course of the eighteenth century Addiscombe House
was successively occupied by the Lord Chancellor Talbot,
who died here in 1737 ; by Lord Grant ham, who died in
1786 ; and by Charles Jenkinson, first Earl of Liverpool,
who had a lease of the estate for life, and died in 1808.J
" The Addiscombe estate had previously become the
property of Charles Clarke, Esq., through an heiress of the
Draper family ; and his grandson, Charles John Clarke,
lost his life in consequence of the fall of a scaffold at Paris,
whither he had gone after the peace of Amiens. He was
married, but. as he left no issue, his estates devolved on
his sister, Anne Millicent Clarke, wife of Emilius Henry
Delme*, who assumed the name of Radcliffe. This gentleman
was Master of the Stud to George iv and his successor.
In 1809, Mr. Radcliffe sold Addiscombe to the East India
Company, who founded there a Military College for the
education of cadets for the Engineers and Artillery, and in
1825 the plan of the institution was extended so as to furnish
instruction for candidates for the infantry service in general.
After the transfer of the government of India to the Crown, by
the old East India Company, in 1858, Addiscombe College
was broken up, and its site has been utilised for building
purposes."
CHAPTER III
JOHN EVELYN
(SON OF SYLVA EVELYN)
JOHN EVELYN, the third son of John Evelyn (author of
Sylvd) was born at Sayes Court, January 19, 1655, and was
baptized on the 26th of the same month at St. Nicholas'
Church, Deptford. At the time of his birth, his elder brother,
Richard, was three years old. There had been another son
after him, christened John Standsfield, who had, however,
only lived a few months, and so the third son was also called
John. He was the only one of John Evelyn's five sons
who survived his infancy. The eldest boy, Richard, died at
the age of five. John therefore cannot have had in after
life any recollection of him and must have always remembered
himself as the eldest child. The two brothers who were
born after him, George and Richard by name, only lived
a few months, so his childhood remained practically un-
enlivened by brothers and sisters till he was ten years old,
when his sister Mary was born.
In the winter of 1659, John, who was not quite five years
old, was very ill. His father records in his Diary :
" Sept. 10, 1659. I came with my wife and family
to London, tooke lodgings at the 3 Feathers in Russell
Street, Covent Garden, for all the winter, my sonn being
very unwell."
On December 13, 1660, at the age of five, his father
presented him to Queen Henrietta Maria. He says :
" I presented my Son John to the Queen Mother, who
kissed Him, talked with and made extraordinary much of
him."
John passed some years of his early childhood with the
children of Mr. Henry Howard, who lived at Albury Park in
33
134 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Surrey, but not later than the age of seven, for his father
reluctantly took him away, as the Howards were Catholics,
and he was afraid of their perverting his son. While on a
visit to Mr. Henry Howard at Albury, John Evelyn writes
in his Diary :
" July 3, 1662. My wife met me at Woodcott whither
Mr. Howard accompanied me to see my son John, who
had been much brought up amongst Mr. Howard's
children at Arundel House, til for feare of their perverting
him in the Catholic religion, I was forced to take him
home."
In April, 1665, at which time John was ten years old,
his father wished to engage a tutor for him, and wrote the
following letter to Dr. (afterwards Sir) Christopher Wren,
to ask him to recommend one to him :
" SIR, You may please to remember that some tyme
since I begg'd a favour of you in behalf of my little Boy :
he is now susceptible of instruction, a pleasant, and (though
I speake it) a most ingenious and pregnant child. My
designe is to give him good education ; he is past many
initial difficulties, and conquers all things with incredible
industry : Do me that eternal obligation, as to enquire out
and recom'end me some young man for a preceptor. I will
give him 20 per annum Sallary, and such other accom'oda-
tions as shall be no ways disagreeable to an ingenious spirit ;
and possibly I may do him other advantages : In all cases
he will find his condition with us easy, his scholar a delight,
& the conversation not to be despised : This obliges
me to wish he may not be a morose, or severe person, but
of an agreeable temper. The qualities I require are, that he
be a perfect Grecian, and if more vulgarly Mathematical,
so much the more accomplish'd for my designe : myne
owne defects in the Greeke tongue and knowledge of its
usefulnesse, obliges me to mention that particular with an
extraordinary note : in sum I would have him as well f urnish'd
as might be for the laying of a permanent and solid founda-
tion : The Boy is capable beyond his yeares ; and if you en-
counter one thus qualified, I shall receive it amongst the
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 135
greate good fortunes of my life that I obtain'd it by the
benefit of your friendship, for which I have ever had so
perfect an esteeme. There is no more to be said, but that
when you have found the person, you direct him im'ediately
to me, that I may receive, and value him.
44 Sir, I am told by Sir Jo: Denham that you looke towards
France this somer : be assur'd I will charge you with some
addresses to Friends of mine there, that shall exceedingly
cherish you ; and though you will stand in no neede of my
reccom'endations, yet I am confident you will not refuse the
offer of those civilities which I shall bespeake you.
" There has layne at Dr. Needham's a copy of the Parallel
bound up for you, & long since design'd you, which I shall
intreate you to accept ; not as a recompence of your many
favours to mee, much lesse a thing in the least assistant
to you (who are yourselfe a Master), but as a toaken of my
respect, as the Booke itselfe is of the affection I beare to an
Art which you so hapily cultivate.
" Deare Sir, I am
Your &c.
-' SAYES-COURT, 4 Apr. 1665."
The tutor provided was Mr. Bohun, Fellow of New
College, Oxford, and nephew of the learned Doctor Bathurst,
President of Trinity College, Oxford. He was recommended
not by Sir Christopher Wren, but by Doctor Wilkins and the
President of New College, Oxford. Mr. Bohun proved a
great success, and remained with the family until the beginning
of 1671 when he went to reside at Oxford. John Evelyn
speaks in his Diary of his having " well and faithfully per-
form'd his charge." In 1701, John Evelyn gave him the
living of Wotton on the death of Mr. Wye, the former rector.
In mentioning this fact in his Diary, John Evelyn describes
Dr. Bohun as "a learned person and excellent preacher,
who had ben my son's tutor, and liv'd long in my family."
In this year, 1665, the plague was raging in London,
and on August 4, John, accompanied by his newly acquired
tutor, was taken by his father to Wotton in order to stay
there till all danger of its spreading to Deptford was over.
136 THE EVELYN FAMILY
His father had to remain in the danger in order to'attend to
his duty in looking after the Dutch sick and wounded prisoners,
and his mother remained at Sayes Court until the 28th of
the month, when she also came to Wotton with nearly her
whole household of servants. John Evelyn, in a letter to
Viscount Cornebery, written on September 9 from Sayes
Court, says :
" After 6978 (and possibly halfe as many more conceil'd)
which the pestilence has mow'd downe in London this
Weeke ; neere 30 houses are visited in this miserable Village,
whereoff one has beene the very neerest to my dwelling :
after a servant of mine now sick of a swelling (whom we have
all frequented, before our suspicion was pregnant) & which
we know not where will determine ; behold me a living
monument of God Almighty's protection and mercy ! It
was Saturday last 'ere my courageous Wife would be per-
suaded to take the alarme ; but she is now fled, with most
of my Family ; whilst my conscience, or something which
I would have taken for duty, obliges me to this sad station,
4 till his Majestic take pitty on me and send me a considerable
refreshment for the comfort of these poore creatures, the
sick and wounded Seamen under mine inspection through
all the ports of my district. For mine owne particular, I
am resolv'd to do my duty as far as I am capable."
In another letter to Lord Cornebery, written three days
later, John Evelyn mentions " that his servant whom he
had sent out of his house for fear of the worst, will recover,
and proves sick only of a very ougly surfeit ; which not only
frees me fro' infinite apprehensions, but admitts me to give
my Wife a visite, who is at my Brother's, and within a fort-
night of bringing me my seaventh sonne ; and it is time,
my Lord, he were borne ; for they keepe us so short of mony
at Court, that his Majesties Commissioners had neede of one
to do Wonders, and heale the Sick and Wounded by Miracle,
4 till we can maintaine our Chyrurgeons.' "
On the following first of October, John's sister, Mary,
was born at Wotton during this necessarily prolonged visit.
At Christmas, John Evelyn joined the family party, and
on January 12, 1666, he writes in his Diary :
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 137
" After much, and indeede extraordinary mirth and
cheere, all my brothers, our wives and children being to-
gether, and after much sorrow and trouble during this Con-
tagion, which separated our families as well as others, I re-
turned to my house, but my Wife went back to Wotton, I not
as yet willing to adventure her, the Contagion, tho' exceedingly
abated, not as yet wholy extinguished amongst us."
On February 6, he writes in his Diary :
" My wife and family return'd to me from the country,
where they had ben since August, by reason of the contagion,
now almost universally ceasing. Blessed be God for his infinite
mercy in preserving us ! I having gone thro' so much
danger, and lost so many of my poore officers, escaping still
myselfe, that I might live to recount and magnifie his good-
nesse to me."
The plague, however, was by no means over, as on April
15 John Evelyn writes : " Our parish was now more infected
with the plague than ever, and so was all the countrie
about, tho' almost quite ceas'd at London." And on July 29
he writes : " The pestilence now afresh increasing in our
parish, I forebore going to church." During August the
plague still continued, and on the 26th the family had their
church service at home instead of going to church, and
even as late as September, the pestilence was not over in
Deptford.
On November 17, 1666, John is again mentioned at the
age of eleven in these words :
" I returned to Chatham. My charriot over-turning on
the steepe of Bexley Hill, wounded me in two places on the
head ; my sonn Jack being with me was like to have ben
worse cutt by the glasse, but I thanke God we both escaped
without much hurt, tho' not without exceeding danger."
In the year 1667 John's father sent him to Oxford. He
was then only twelve years old, but extremely clever for his
age. He was placed under the learned Dr. Bat hurst of
Trinity College. John Evelyn writes on January 29 :
" To London in order to my Son's Oxford journey, who
being very early enter'd both in Latin and Greek, and prompt
to learn beyond most of his age, I was persuaded to trust
138 THE EVELYN FAMILY
him under ye tutorage of Mr. Bohun, Fellow of New College,
who had ben his preceptor in my house some years before ;
but at Oxford under ye inspection of Dr. Bathurst, President
of Trinity College, where I plac'd him, not as yet 13 years old.
He was newly out of long coates."
In the Easter term of 1668, John was admitted a gentle-
man commoner. Although he inherited in a certain degree
the literary tastes of his father, he does not appear to have
taken a degree at Oxford.
It is supposed that it was during his residence at Trinity,
and when he was not over fifteen years of age, that he wrote
an elegant Greek poem which is prefixed to the second edition
of Sylva.
In 1672 he was admitted to the Middle Temple. His
father writes, May 2 :
" My sonn John was specially admitted of the Middle
Temple by Sir Fra. North his Majesties 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."
In January 1673 he published his first work, a treatise
On Gardens in four books, which was a translation of a book
in Latin verse by Renatus Rapinus. His father annexed
the second book of this translation to his Sylva.
John's other works were : The Life of Alexander the
Great, translated from the Greek of Plutarch, printed in the
fourth volume of Plutarch's Lives by several hands ; The
History of the Grand Viziers Mahomet and Achmet Coprogly ;
of the three last Grand Signiors, their Sultanas and chief
favourites ; with the most secret intrigues of the Seraglio. This
was a translation from the French, and has been considered an
interesting history.
He also wrote some original poems.
On March 29, 1673, John Evelyn writes to his son :
" I carried my Sonn to the Bishop of Chichester, that
learned and pious man, Dr. Peter Gunning, to be instructed
by him before he receiv'd 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
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 139
been so blessed and instructed when first I was admitted to
that sacred ordinance !
" 302ft. Easter Day. Myself and Son receiv'd 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 and good Christian, whilst I endeavour
to instil into him ye feare and love of God, and discharge the
duty of a father."
On May 25 of the same year, John Evelyn writes :
" My sonn was made a younger brother of the Trinity
House. The New Master was Sr. Jer. Smith, one of the
Commissioners of the Navy, a stout seaman who had inter-
pos'd and saved the Duke from perishing by a fire-ship in the
late warr."
In November 1675, John set out at the age of twenty for
Paris, with Lord Berkeley, Ambassador to the French Court,
and returned home the following May. John Evelyn writes,
November 10 :
" Being ye day appointed for my Lord Ambass r to set
out, I met them with my coach at New Crosse. There were
with him my Lady, his wife and my deare 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 e inducement for permitting my Sonn
to travel, but I knew him safe under her inspection, and in
reguard my Lord himselfe had promis'd to take him into
his special favour, he having intrusted all he had to my
care.
" Thus we set out, 3 coaches (besides mine), 3 waggons,
and about forty horse. It being late, and my Lord as yet but
valetudinarie, 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 by
his house.
" 12th. We came to Canterbury, and next morning to
Dover.
" There was in my Lady Ambassadresses company my
Lady Hamilton, a sprightly young lady, much in the good
140 THE EVELYN FAMILY
graces of the family, wife of that valiant and worthy gentle-
man Geo. Hamilton, not long after slaine in the warrs. She
had been a maid of honour to the Dutchesse, and now turn'd
Papist.
" 14th. Being Sunday, my Lord having before he de-
liver'd to me this letter of attorney, keyes, scale, and his will,
we took solemn leave of one another upon the beach, the
coaches carrying them into the sea to the boats, which
deliver'd them to Capt. Gunman's yacht the Mary. Being
under saile the castle gave them 17 gunns, which Capt.
Gunman answered with 11. Hence I went to church, to beg
a blessing on their voyage."
On May 13, 1676, he again writes :
" Returned and found my Son come from France, prais'd
be God."
When John was twenty-two his father began to consider
his marriage, and set about to arrange a match between him
and the step-daughter of Sir John Stonehouse, a Miss Martha
Spencer, daughter and co-heir of Richard Spencer, a Turkey
merchant of Derbyshire. On November 27, 1679, John
Evelyn relates that he went to see Sir John Stonehouse, with
whom he was arranging the marriage which subsequently
took place at St. Andrew's, Holborn, February 24, 1680.
John Evelyn mentions the wedding in these words :
" Feb. 21. Shrove Tuesday. My sonn was married to
Miss 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, Deane of
St. Paul's, the present incumbent. We afterwards din'd
at a house in Holborn ; and after the solemnity and dauncing
was don, they were bedded at Sir John Stonehouse's lodgings
in Bow-street, Covent Garden."
Nearly eight years later, on December 10, 1687, John
Evelyn writes : " My son was return'd out of Devon, where
he had ben on a Commission from the Lords of the Treasury
about a concealment of land." John was then nearly thirty-
three. He had three children living, a boy and two girls,
his eldest son, Richard, having died before his second birth-
day.
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 141
The next year, 1688, Martha Evelyn had an alarming
coach accident. Her father-in-law, John Evelyn, mentions
it in his Diary, February 12, 1688 ;
" My daughter Evelyn going in the coach to visite in the
Citty, a jolt (the door being not fast shut) flung her quite out
in such manner as the hind wheeles passed over her a little
above her knees. Yet it pleased God, besides the bruises
of the wheeles, she had no other harme. In two days she
was able to walke, and soon after perfectly well, thro' God
Almighty's greate mercy to an excellent wife and a most
dutiful and discreete daughter-in-law."
In December 1688, John was introduced to the Prince of
Orange (who came over that year) at Abingdon by Colonel
Sidney and Colonel Berkeley, and was one of the volunteers
in Lord Lovelace's troops when the latter secured Oxford
for the Prince.
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA) TO HIS SON,
JOHN EVELYN
"Dec. 1 8, 1688.
44 SON, If just now receiv'd the narrative of the Princes
march, and the political remarks you have made upon the
occurrences where you hav ben. My Lord Clarendon would
gladly have conferred with you on several points seasonable
at that juncture ; but all have now it seemes submitted, and
the bells and the bonefires proclaims as much joy & satis-
faction as those are capable of, who have beheld so many
changes & revolutions, without being able to divine how all
this will conclude at last, & remembering that precept of the
wisest of kings, (Proverbs, ch. xxiv. 21) which I neede not
repeate to you. It will be no newes (I perceive) to you, to
acquaint you with his Majesty's late recesse, nor of his being
stop't at Feversham, &c. But of his coming back to White-
hall, and what has since intervened, you may not yet have
heard. On Friday last there went thither my Lord Midleton,
Earle of Alesbury, Lord Feversham, Sir Steph. Fox, and Mr.
Grahame, where the rabble had detain'd the King (the vessel
wherein^ he was embark'd with Sir Ed. Hales, & Ralph
142 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Sheldon, which were all his attendance, coming in for want of
balast), till the newes of it being brought to the Lords of the
Council, those Lords and Gents: I named were sent to per-
swade his Majesty to returne, or if not prevailing, to conduct
and waite upon him with two troopes of horse, to what other
part or place he should please to go. The King, at last induced
to come back to London, arrived at White-Hall on Sunday
Evening, went to Masse at his Chapel on Monday, three
priests officiating ; the usual number of Roman Catholics,
& a world more, filling the bedchamber and all the roomes
with extraordinary acclamation. In this manner his Majesty
went thence to dinner (a Jesuite saying grace), and all things
seemed to passe in such order, as the eclipse the Court suffered,
by his Majesties four dayes absence, was hardly discernable,
all the clouds (as we thought) were vanishing, and a bright
day againe appearing. So soone as he was retired, he sent
my Lord Feversham with a letter under his owne hand to
invite the P: of Orange to St: James's ; the message was
accepted, but the messenger arested & made prisoner at
Windsor ; upon which politicians made reflexions. But 'tis
pretended, that a general of an enemy ought not by law of
armes to come into the quarters of his antagonist without a
trumpet & a passport : others say, that his Highnesse was
much displeased at the Earle's disbanding his Majesty's
forces under his co'mand, without disarming them, and un-
payed, as thereby leaving them in danger of seeking some
desperate resolution, of disturbing the measures he had
taken ; and there are who believe upon some other account,
which time will discover. Tuesday morning came the Marq:
of Halifax (who with the Lord Godolphin had ben sent
commissioner to the Prince) from Windsor, to let his Majesty
know, the Prince would be the next day at St. James's ;
but withall (foreseeing it might be dangerous to have his
army quarter'd about the towne, so necessary to his safety
whilst the King's guards were so neere) he desires his Majesty
that he would make choice of Hampton Court, or some
other place about that distance, to repaire to, for the avoiding
jealousies & inconveniencies, which might happen between
the guards of different interests. You will easily believe
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 143
this was not very kindly taken, after so generous an invita-
tion ; and that it was the more surprizing for its coming to
him at one o'clock in the morning, when he was weary and
fast asleepe. The King upon this rises and goes immediately
to Council, where severall things being propos'd (but what I
undertake not to say) & altogether rejected ; and whilst
by this time White-Hall and all its environs were crowded
with Dutch souldiers, his Majestic put himself into his barge,
accompanied with my Lord Alesbury (now in waiting),
the Lords Dumbarton, Arran, & one or two more, follow'd
with three other barges and small boates, filled with a Dutch
guard, & a troop of horse by land, steering their course
towards Rochester againe, from whence he had so lately
return'd. Thus have you the second recesse, or something
more dismaly boading : which, whilst I myselfe, with Sir
Chas: Cotterell & Sir Step: Fox, beheld from one of the
windows of the new buildings vix tempero a lachrymis.
I should have told you that the Prince being yesterday at
Syon sent Sir Rob: Howard & Hen. Powle with a letter to the
Citty, acquainting them with his approach, with other comple-
ments of course. This was read before the Lord Mayor &
Com: Council, and was answer 'd with all submission and
respect, & with an invitation that his Highness would honour
their Citty by vouchsafing to lodge in it, rather than at St.
James's. On this there stood up an Alderman, & moved
that an Addresse might first be made to congratulate his
Majesty's gracious returne to White-Hall. But the pro-
posal was not approv'd of, one of them saying, ' They had
given a good pail of milke, and that this were to kick it downe
againe'
" Thus, Son, I have given you as minute an account of
the Proteus here as I am able for the present. The hero is
now at St. James's where I have scene him, and severall of
my old acquaintance. I dined at the E: of Clarendons, whom
I did not find altogether so well satisfied as I expected, con-
sidering that his son my Lord Cornebery tooke so considerable
a stroke in this turne. I wish he do not Trpbe/ceyrpa Xa/mgetw.
By what I collect, the ambitious and the covetous will
be canvassing for places of honour, and rich employment ;
144 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and that my Lord will withstand the mercat, and neglect,
if not slight his applications, upon confidence of his neere
relation, & the merites of my Lord his son, if not upon
other principles. If none of this happen, and that successe
do not quite alter the principles of men in power, we are to
expect Astrea upon earth againe : But as I have often told
you, I looke for no improvement of mankind in this declining
age & Catalysis. A Parliament (legaly caPed) of brave
& worthy Patriots, not influenced by faction, nor terrified
by power, or corrupted by selfe interest, would produce a
kind of new creation amongst us. But it will grow old,
and dissolve to chaos againe, unlesse the same stupendious
Providence (which has put this opportunitie into men's
hands to make us happy), dispose them to do just & right-
eous things, and to use their empire with moderation,
justice, piety & for the public good. Upon the whole
matter, those who seeke employment, before the grandees
are served, may suspend their solicitation, the Queene having
('tis sayd) carried away the Great Seale : most of the writs
being burnt by his Majesty, it will cost time, & excogitation of
expedients how legaly to supply them, if his Majesty should
designe to travell againe, or the doore (which I feare most
likely) be shut after him. These, and sundry other diffi-
culties will render things both uneasy and uncertaine. Onely I
think Popery to be universaly declining, and you know I am
one of those who despise not prophesying : nor, whilst I behold
what is daily wrought in the world, believe miracles to be
ceas'd.
" Sir Ed: Hales & Obadiah (his old tutor) are both in
gaole at Maidstone. C. Justice Herbert, Rob: Brent, &
Peters above all, are not yet heard of. Poore Roger (for
want of better observation) is carried to New-gate, and every
houre is pregnant of wonders.
" ANN. MIRABIL., LOND., 18 Dec. 1688."
In 1690 John purchased the place of Chief Clerk of the
Treasury, but in the next year he was by some means re-
moved from it by Mr. Grey, who succeeded him in that
office.
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 145
He became in 1692 one of the Commissioners of the
Revenue of Ireland. His father writes, March 20, 1692 :
" My Son was made one of the Commissioners of the Revenue
and Treasury of Ireland, to w ch employment he had a
mind, far from my wishes." On August 11, John set out
for Ireland accompanied by his wife and daughter, Elizabeth,
who was not quite eight years old. Her brother John, who
was ten years old, was left behind in England, as he had been
sent to Eton just two months before.
John remained in this appointment in Ireland not quite
seven years, or he might have been advanced to higher
posts.
He died at his house in Berkeley Square, London, March
24, 1699, aged forty- four. His father writes, March 24 :
" My only remaining Son died after a tedious languishing
sickness contracted in Ireland, and increased here, to my
exceeding grief and affliction ; leaving me one Grandson,
now at Oxford, who I pray God to prosper and be the sup-
port of the Wotton family. He was aged 44 years and about
3 months. He had been 6 years one of the Commiss rs of
the Revenue in Ireland, with great ability and reputation."
His wife died September 13, 1726, and was buried
at Wotton.
POEMS COMPOSED BY JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA)*
REMEDY OF LOVE
WOULD you be quite cur'd of love ?
From your mistress' sight remove.
To the open fields repair ;
Cool'd with absence, and with air,
You will soon be eas'd of care.
Seek out in another place
Something fit for your embrace ;
Perhaps in a less charming face
You may find a pleasing grace,
Wit, or motion, dress, or art,
Thousand things that may divert
The torments of your throbbing heart.
1 From Nichol's Collection of Poems, published in 1780.
10
146 THE EVELYN FAMILY
If in this no ease you find,
But constant love still plagues your mind,
To your former flame return,
See if still her eyes do burn
With equal force ; you'll find, perchance,
Less warmth in every amorous glance :
Seeing oft what we desire,
Makes us less and less admire,
And will in time put out the fire.
Visit her betimes each morn,
Stand by her when she does adorn
Her head ; perhaps some borrow'd hair,
Some ill-contriv'd affected snare,
Lewd song on table found, or prayer
Nonsensical, may let you see,
That what you thought divinity
Is but a piece of puppetry.
If still thy passion does remain,
And unseen charms thy heart' inchain,
If she break thy sleep by night,
Fly again the witch's fight ;
Opium take, that may invite
The gentle god to charm thy soul ;
Peaceful slumbers love control.
Have a care of purling brooks,
Of silent groves, and awful shade,
They but to thy torment add,
Love does there with ease invade,
No music hear, no dying looks
Behold, read no romantic books ;
Books and music turn the head,
Fools only sing, and madmen read :
They with false notions fill the brain,
Are only fit to entertain
Women, and fops that are more vain.
Love and folly still are found
In those to make the deepest wound,
Who think their passions to allay,
By giving of them leave to sway
A-while ; but they like winter torrents grow,
And all our limits overflow.
Never trust thyself alone,
Frequent good company and wine ;
In generous wines thy passion drown,
That will make thee all divine.
Better 'tis to drink to death,
Than sigh and whine away our breath,
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 147
In friends and bottles we may find
More joys than in womankind.
After enjoyment women pall,
Intolerable plagues they're all,
Vain, foolish, fond, proud, whimsical,
Dissembling, hypocritical.
Wines by keeping them improve,
And real friends more firmly love.
If one vintage prove severe,
We're doubly recompens'd next year.
If our dearest friends we lose,
Others may succeed to those ;
Women only of all things
Have nothing to assuage their stings.
Curs'd is the man that does pursue
The short-liv'd pleasures of their charms ;
There is no hell but in their arms ;
For ever damned, damning sex, adieu.
ON VIRTUE, TO MR. S. G.
FAIR Virtue, should I follow thee,
I should be naked and alone ;
For thou art not in company,
And scarce art to be found in one.
Thy rules are too severe and cold,
To be embrac'd by vigorous youth ;
And Fraud and Avarice arm the old
Against thy justice and thy truth.
He, who by light of reason led,
Instructs himself in thy rough school,
Shall all his life- time beg his bread,
And, when he dies, be thought a fool.
Though in himself he's satisfied
With a calm mind and cheerful heart,
The world will call his virtue pride,
His holy life design and art.
The reign of Vice is absolute,
While good men vainly strive to rise ;
They may disclaim, they may dispute,
But shall continue poor and wise.
148 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Honours and wealth are made by Fate
To wait on fawning Impudence,
To give insipid coxcombs weight,
And to supply the want of sense.
Mighty Pompey whose great soul
Design'd the liberty of Rome,
In vain did Caesar's arms control,
And at Pharsalia was o'ercome.
His virtue, constant in distress,
In Ptolemy no pity bred,
Who, barely guided by success,
Secur'd his peace with his friend's head.
Brutus, whom the gods ordain'd
To do what Pompey would have done,
The generous motion entertain'd,
And stabb'd the tyrant on his throne.
This god-like Brutus, whose delight
Was Virtue, which he had ador'd,
Haunted by spectres over-night,
Fell the next day on his own sword.
If, when his hope of victory lost
This noble Roman could exclaim,
Oh Virtue, whom I courted most,
I find she's but an empty name !
In a degenerate age like this,
We with more reason may conclude,
That Fortune will attend on Vice,
Misery on those who dare be good.
TO ENVY
OVID, AMOR., BOOK I. ELEG. xv.
ENVY, how dar'st thou say that I in vain
Have spent my years, or with false names profane
The sacred product of my fertile brain ?
'Tis true, in th' art of war I am not skill'd,
No trophies did I e'er attempt to build
By gaining grinning honour in the field.
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 149
I never try'd to learn the tedious laws,
Or fought, in pleading of a desperate cause,
To fell my breath for interest or applause.
Such little things I scorne ; I nobly aim
At that which may secure a lasting fame,
And through the world immortalize my name.
Old Chaucer shall, for his facetious style,
Be read and prais'd by warlike Britons, while
The sea enriches, and defends their isle.
While the whole earth resounds Elisa's fame.
Who aw'd the French, and did the Spaniard tame,
The English will remember Spenser's name.
While flatterers thrive and parasites shall dine,
While commonwealths afford a Catiline,
Laborious Jonson shall be thought divine.
Thee, Shakespeare, poets ever shall adore.
Whose wealthy fancy left so vast a store,
They still refine thy rough but precious ore.
So long shall Cowley be admir'd above
The crowd, as David's troubles pity move,
Till women cease to charm, and youth to love.
While we the fall of our first parents grieve,
And worship him who did that fall retrieve,
Milton shall in Majestic numbers live.
Dryden will last as long as wit and sense,
While judgement is requir'd to excellence,
While perfect language charms an audience.
As long as men are false, and women vaine,
While gold continues to be Virtue's bane,
In pointed satire Wicherley shall reign.
When the aspiring Grecian in the East,
And haughty Philip is forgot i' th' West
Then Lee and Otway's works shall be supprest.
While fathers are severe, and servants cheat,
Till bawds and whores can live without deceit,
Sedley and easy Etherege shall be great.
150 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Stones will consume, age will on metals prey,
But deathless verse no time can wear away ;
That stands the shock of years without decay.
When kingdoms shall be lost 'in sloth and lust,
When treasures fail, and glorious arms shall rust,
Verse only lifts itself above the dust.
Come, bright Apollo ! then, let me drink deep
Of that blest spring thou dost for poets keep,
While in ignoble ease the world's asleep.
Let wreaths of tender myrtle crown my head,
Let me be still by anxious lovers read,
Envy'd alive, but honour'd when I'm dead.
Till after death, desert was never crown'd,
When my ashes are forgotten under ground,
Then my best part will be immortal found.
MARTIAL, BOOK VIII. EPIG. LVI.
ALL other ages since our age excells,
And conquering Rome to so much greatness swells.
You wonder what's become of Maro's vein,
That none write battles in so high a strain.
Had Wit its patrons, Flaccus, now-a-days,
As once it had, more would contend for praise,
Thy villa would a mighty genius raise.
When Virgil was oppress'd by civil hate,
Robb'd of his flocks, and stripp'd of his estate,
On Tityrus' dress beneath a beach he sate.
Weeping in shades thus was the poet found
Till brave Maecenas rais'd him from the ground ;
Knowing that want would greatest minds betray,
He fear'd a Muse so God-like should decay.
And drave malicious Poverty away.
Freed from the want that now oppresses thee,
Thou shalt for ever prince of poets be.
In all my pleasures thou a part shalt bear,
Thou shalt with me my dear Alexis share.
The charming youth stood by his master's board
And with his ivory hands black Falern pour'd :
With rosy lips each cup he first assay'd,
Of such a draught Jove would himself be glad,
And for Alexis change his Ganymed
Down go the rude Bucolics on the floor,
Of bees and harvest now he writes no more,
Whose humble Muse had sung the great when poor.
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 151
Straight he exalts his voice to arms and Kings,
The Roman story and his hero sings.
Mean thoughts upon a narrow fortune wait,
The fancy is improv'd by an estate,
Favour and pension make a Laureat.
HORACE, BOOK I. ODE vm.
LYDIA, I conjure you, say,
Why haste you so to make away
Poor Sybaris with love ?
Why hates he now the open air ?
Why heat, and clouds of dust to bear,
Does he no more approve ?
Why leaves he off his martial pride ?
Why is he now afraid to ride ?
Upon his Gallic steed ?
Why swims he not the Tiber o'er ?
Or wrestles as he did before ?
Whence do his fears proceed ?
Why boasts he not his limbs grow black
With bearing arms, or his strong back
With which he threw the bar ?
Is he like Thetis' son conceal'd,
And from all manly sports with-held,
To keep him safe from war ?
THE PUNISHMENT
ON Hebrus bank as Orpheus sate,
Mourning Euridice's hard fate,
The birds and beasts did on his music wait,
And trees and stones became compassionate
Yet he, who all things else could move,
Was quite insensible to love.
Therefore, ye Gods, ye justly did ordain,
That he, who love and women did despise,
To the fair sex should fall a sacrifice,
And, for contempt of pleasure, suffer pain.
PART OF AJAX'S SPEECH
OVID, Metam., BOOK XIII.
THE princes sate, whom martial throngs inclose,
When Ajax lord o' th' sevenfold shield arose.
152 THE EVELYN FAMILY
With just disdain and untam'd passion swell'd,
Sigaeum and the navy he beheld.
Then lifting up his hands, Oh Jove ! said he,
Before this fleet, can my right question'd be ?
And dares Ulysses too contend with me ?
He, who, when Hector all our ships had fir'd,
Far from the danger cowardly retir'd ;
While I alone the hostile flame sustain'd,
And sav'd the burning navy with this hand ?
He'll therefore find it much his safest course,
To trust to tropes and figures, not to force.
His talent lies in prating, mine in war ;
And yet you so unequal judges are,
That you prefer his pedantry and art,
Before my conquering arm and generous heart.
Of my exploits I nothing need to say,
For they were all perform'd in open day,
You saw them ; his, if any, were all done
By night, told of himself, but seen by none.
OUT OF SANNAZARIUS
NEPTUNE saw Venice on the Adria stand,
Firm as a rock, and all the sea command.
Think'st thou, O Jove ! said he, Rome's walls excell ?
Or that proud cliff whence false Tarpeia fell ?
Grand Tyber best, view both ; and you will say,
That men did those, Gods these foundations lay.
\
WRITTEN ON A LADY'S MASK
WELL may'st thou, envious mask, be proud,
That dost such killing beauties shroud !
Not Phoebus, when behind a cloud,
Of half those glories robs our eye,
As behind thee concealed lie.
I would have kept thee ; but I find
My fair Elisa so unkind,
Thou wilt better service do
To keep her charms from human view :
For she is so strangely bright,
So surprising, so divine,
That I know her very sight
Soon will make all hearts like mine.
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 153
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN
John had two sons and three daughters, of which only
two, a son and a daughter, survived their infancy.
RICHARD, the eldest son, was born at Sayes Court,
December 17, 1680, but he died before he was a year old on
September 6, 1681, and was buried at St. Nicholas' Church,
Deptford.
JOHN, the second son, was born the following year, 1682,
of whom presently.
MARTHA MARY, the eldest daughter, was born June 28,
1683, at Sayes Court. She died there August 28 of the same
year, and was buried at St. Nicholas', Deptford.
ELIZABETH, the second daughter, was born November
26, 1684. She was married at the age of twenty-four at
Chelsea Church, July 21, 1709, to Simon Harcourt, son and
heir of Simon, Viscount Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt,
Oxfordshire, late Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. He
died in 1720 at Paris. She survived him and died April 6,
1760, aged seventy-six. Their son was Simon, Earl Har-
court, and their daughter Martha married George Venables,
Lord Vernon, whose second son Edward, Lord Archbishop
of York, eventually succeeded to the Harcourt estates, and
took the name of Harcourt, and whose grandson was Edward
William Harcourt of Nuneham and Stanton Harcourt.
Elizabeth's portrait is at Wotton.
The following was a letter written by her * to her brother
in 1700 :
'August 25, 1700.
" This is to assure my dear Brother I answered his letter
long sence tho' by negligence of the post I hear you did
not receive it, but I should not have stood upon ceremony but
have wrote to you again had I not been in hopes of seeing
you at Wotton this summer, which we should all have been
glad of, company being very acceptable in this place, and that
of friends especially. I hope if you deny us your company
now, you will continue your resolution of coming to us at
1 This letter is preserve^ at Wotton.
154 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Christmas. I am glad to hear Oxford has proved so entertain-
ing this year by reason of the act and the singing of famous
Mr. Abel who I suppose you had the curiousity of hearing, and
I doubt not but you obliged my Aunt Stonhouse by waiting
on her to all the sight worth seeing. I hear you have been
but once at Radley this summer, and that sence my aunt
Harcourt came thither, so that my grandmother doth not
take that as a visit to her but expects while you are so neer to
se you oftner. Pray when you do give my duty and service
to all my friends there. We are in so much disorder yet at
Wotton as ever, if not more, everything being begun and
nothing finished, but in the way of being so we hope before
winter. I believe my aunt and uncle Draper and Cousin
Jukes who are with them this summer, will spend some time
with us as soon as we can get up beds for them. My mother
and grandmother give theyr love to you and be assured,
Dear Brother,
" I am your affectionate
sister, ELIZA EVELYN."
JANE, third daughter, was born December 25, 1691, in the
Parish of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London. She died an
infant and was buried at Kensington.
LETTER FROM MRS. HARCOURT TO HER MOTHER,
MRS. EVELYN *
" COCKTHORP,
-June y e 10**, 1716.
" DEAR MADAM, We gott very well to our journeys end
a Saturday before five o'clock, tho' the weather happen'd to
be exceeding hot both the days that we were upon the Road
& the dust very troublesome to us, I was afraid Bettys eyes
wou'd have beene the worse for it, but I don't find that they
are & both she & the Boy bore the journey mighty well, it
will be a very great satisfaction to me to heare from Wotton,
how all my Friends do there, & that you got well thither, I
was very sorry that it was so necessary upon the Childrens
A4d, MSS., 15,949, fo. 59.
ELIZABETH EVELYN (1684-1760)
WIFE OF SIMON HARCOURT
JOHN EVELYN (SON OF SYLVA) 155
account to hasten out of town, & that I cou'd enjoy your
Company there no longer, & return you many thanks for the
favour of your kind visit, & hope you will excuse the freedome
with which you were treated, & that things were not in such
order as I wished or as they ought to have been, when I had
the happines of your Company, which I find the want of very
much here, & shou'd have been very glad if you could have
been prevailed with to have spent some time with me at
Cockthorp tho' this place is now very pleasant, I want the
good Company very much that I left at London, & shall
be in a very solitary way till some of my Friends come down,
I live in hopes that it wont be long before some of them do,
& wish nothing may happen to hinder. I was this evening to
visit Patt, I found her very well, & very good humour'd & by
what I hear of her she is seldom other ways, she goes mighty
strong & well, tho' she is pretty fatt still, her hair is almost
as white as the Boy's, and her complexion I think fairer than
his, but I fear I shall tire you Madam with this long discrip-
tion of your Goddaughter, & will therefore beg leave to add my
humble service to my Brother and sister, & to M rs Boscawin,
& am, Dear Madam,
" Your Most Obedient &
" Betty desires her duty & Dutifull Daughter,
humble service may not E. HARCOURT."
be forgott."
(Addressed.)
To M rs EVELYN.
(Endorsed.)
June 10, 1716.
CHAPTER IV
JOHN EVELYN
(AFTERWARDS SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART.)
JOHN, the second son of John Evelyn and Martha Spencer,
and grandson of Sylva Evelyn, was born at Sayes Court,
Deptford, March 1, 1682, and baptized the next day, March 2,
at St. Nicholas' Church.
On June 9, 1692, when he was not yet ten years old,
he was sent to school at Eton. His father, mother, and
sister Elizabeth, who was about two years younger than
himself, went to Ireland about two months later, owing to
the former's appointment as a Commissioner of the Revenue
there. He held this appointment for nearly seven years.
We do not know whether his son joined him in Ireland during
this period for his holidays or whether he remained in
England, or whether his mother and sister may have
come over sometimes and lived for a time in their
house in Berkeley Square. John's grandfather writes on
June 9 :
" 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 Furnish'd and very neatly kept, as formerly,
only the arms in the guard chamber and keep were remov'd
and carried away. An exceeding greate storm of wind and
rain, in some places stripping the trees of their fruit and leaves
as if it had ben winter ; and an extraordinary wet season
with greate floods.
" June 23. I went with my Wife, Son, and Daughter to
Eton to see my Grandson, and thence to my Lord Godolphin's
at Cranburn, where we lay, and were most honorably enter-
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 157
tain'd. The next day to St. George's Chapel, and return'd
to London late in the evening."
John was sent to Oxford when nearly seventeen. His
grandfather says, February 17, 1699, " My Grandson went to
Oxford with Dr. Mander, the Master of Baliol College, where
he was entered a Fellow-commoner." On March 24 of the
following year his father died.
The next year John had an attack of small -pox at Oxford.
This alarmed his grandfather very much, all the more as
he had himself lost two of his daughters by the disease. On
November 5, 1700, he writes in his Diary :
" Came the news of my deare Grandson (the only male of
my family now remaining) being fallen ill of the small-pox
at Oxford, wch after the dire effects of it in my family ex-
ceedingly afflicted me, but so it pleas'd 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
new Vice-Chancellor) who caus'd him to be brought and lodg'd
in his own bed and bed-chamber, with the advice of his
physician and care of his tutor, there were all faire hopes of his
recovery, to our infinite comfort. We had a letter every day
either from the Vice-Chancellor himself e or from his tutor."
LETTER FROM DR. ROGER MANDER, MASTER OF BALIOL
COLLEGE, OXFORD, TO JOHN EVELYN, ESQ., NOVEMBER 4,
1700 x
" S R , I am greviously frighted upon y r account of Mr.
Evelyn who has been these 2 dayes complaining of a giddy-
ness & some pain in his head, & this day y e small pox begin a
little to appear upon him : as soon as he complained I sent
for Dr. Hay but it seems he is not in Town, they say he's in
London : in his absence I sent for Dr. Breach who is recon'd
y e best physition in this place, together w th Dr. Shapcott of
o r own Coll y 4 has all along been acquainted w th Mr. Evelyn :
both w ch have taken y e best method y* can be w th him, who
I hope y e best & as yet see noe ill symptoms for any one to
fear his recovery, yet considering how brittle human nature
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 37.
158 THE EVELYN FAMILY
is, and how lyable psons in his condition are to unforeseen
accidents, & withall how dear he is to his relations as well as
to us & all y' know him, I cannot but wish y l some of his
relations for y r better satisfaction at least as well as for
or justification were here, it may be y r prsence might heart'n
him y e more chearfully to goe through his distemper : I
pray you y r fore w th all speed to dispatch a messenger to
Mr. Evelyn or his mother wherever they are, this messenger
hath promised to be with you this evening whom I send on
purpose not being willing to trust a matter of this consequence
toy' post: lam Dear S ' !
" y e messenger is to Yo r afflicted servant,
have 20s." Ro: MANDER."
" BALL. COLL.
Nov. 4, 1700."
In the following year, 1701, and while he was still nine-
teen and had not yet left Oxford, a proposal was made for
John's marriage with Anne Boscawen, a daughter of Edward
Boscawen of Worthivill, Cornwall, younger brother of Hugh
Boscawen of Tregothnan, and sister to Hugh, 1st Viscount
Falmouth. On July 8, 1701, John's grandfather writes :
" My Grandson went with Sir Simon Harcourt, the
Solicitor Gen., to Windsor, to wait on my Lord Treasurer.
There had been for some time a proposal of marrying my
Grandson to a daughter of Mr. Boscawen, sister of my Lord
Treasurer, wch was now far advanc'd."
It was at this time that John was made by the Lord
Treasurer one of the Commissioners of the prizes, with a
salary of 500 a year.
A few months later, on December 27, 1701, John left
Oxford, and about two years later the Lord Treasurer, Lord
Falmouth, procured him the office of Treasurer of the Stamp
Duties, with a salary of 300 a year.
His marriage with Anne Boscawen took place the following
year on September 18, 1705, when he was twenty-three years
of age. The ceremony was performed in the private chapel
of Lambeth Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
On the 27th of February in the following year, 1706,
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 159
John's grandfather died, leaving him at the age of twenty-
four sole heir to the Wotton and Deptford estates. His
father had died when he was seventeen, but his mother
was still alive.
He became M.P. for Helston 1708-10, and on August 6,
1713, at the age of thirty-one, he was created a baronet by
Queen Anne.
Like his grandfather, he became a Fellow of the Royal
Society. He was also first Commissioner of the Customs
for some time. His love of learning caused him to build a
library at Wotton, which is now the entrance hall, 45 feet
long, 14 feet wide, and as many high, for the reception of the
large collection of books made by his grandfather and himself.
He also made a complete copy in a clear hand of the Diary of
his grandfather, which latter is at Wotton.
He died July 15, 1763, aged eighty-one. His wife had died
eleven years before, on January 15, 1752, aged sixty-seven.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO LADY EVELYN
"COCKTHORP, Sep r 1st, I/l8.
" Not to omit the first opportunity of thanking my Dear
for her kind, pretty, entertaining letter of y e 29th past I
write this to carry with me to Oxford to-morrow morning :
I went this to Cornbury, where I was well entertain'd with
the pictures & the library in which I spent above an hour,
my brother was not well enough for a ride of seven miles,
but I had M r Harcourts company. We had a fine air
going but it was very hott coming back, & yesterday was
here a very warm day. I have been very successfull at
picquet this afternoon, having beaten all the family, won
five or six pools & thereby clear'd above a guinea, my Lord
Harcourt says you shall be Housekeeper att Newnham, tho'
he is hardly in charity with you for not coming this time,
& I dont know how I shall come off for leaving them next
fryday, when I am so much press'd to stay longer : I propose
to dine that day with my aunt Jennings, lye at Hetley,
& meet you att Eton Saturday, & I hope I shall be at home
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 68.
160 THE EVELYN FAMILY
time enough to receive my L d Rialton. I am sorry to hear
my uncle Draper is no better, you did very well to invite his
son so much by Bedingfield, & were in the right to persuade
M r Howard to goe to Albury without me, where I dare say
he wanted no Introducer, tho' shou'd have been glad to have
waited upon him if I had been at home. We had nothing
but prayers yesterday & no D r Hammond, because the
house was not full enough, Harvey Cross came to night, &
Phil Harcourt will be here tomorrow & Dr. Bletchington is
expected very suddenly, tho' it be near eleven & we are to
be in ye coach by eight I must not conclude without making
the complements from hence to all att Wotton, & my duty
& humble service to y r Onbre (?) player, & assuring you
" I am,
y rs entirely,
J. E."
(Addressed.)
For the Lady Evelyn
At Wotton near Dorking
in Surrey.
(Endorsed.)
1718
Sep" i st.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS OF
HORSLEY PLACE, GUILDFORD
"EDINBURGH, Oct. 24, 1723.
" DEAR SIR, I have your favour of the llth instant,
and hope you have received my letter in answer to your
first about Mr. Dawson's death. I believe as much applica-
tion has been made to me for his place, as to the Ministry
for the Teller's ; besides your recommendation, which must
always have a very great weight with me, I am solicited for
this considerable employment by Mr. Richardson, of whom
I have a very good opinion, and the three attornies, Mr.
Bonwicke, Mr. Heath, and Mr. Sturt ; but as I have no
present occasion for keeping courts, I do not think it necessary
to come to any determination in this affair before my return,
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 161
which I begin to reckon not far off, and count with pleasure
upon seeing my friends again in South Britain before the
Christmas holidays are over. In the mean time, it is some
comfort to have the weather continue fine so much longer than
one had reason to expect, especially in this country, betwixt
which and England, in that particular, I have not hither-
to perceived the least difference. Saturday last my Lord
Advocate Dundass, who is a great opposer of the Argathelion
party, entertained the English part of our commission at
his house four miles off, and one of our number hunted with
him in the morning. The plenty of hares, as well as of
stones, is no small hindrance to that sport in this country.
I take it to be better for shooting, there being no want of
moor-game and partridges ; and to-day I saw woodcocks
in my ride to Dalkith-park, a sweet spot of ground, encom-
passed with two rivers meeting at one corner, and having
wood enough to make it resemble an English park more than
any thing I have seen in Scotland.
" Last week my wife and I had the curiosity to see Duke
Hamilton's lodgings in Holyrood-house, which are very hand-
some, and have some good pictures ; one of Philip n, another
of Duke James that was beheaded. But the chief sight was
the little room in a corner tower, the remains of the old palace,
where David Rizzio was at supper with Queen Mary when
he was murdered ; and there are still some marks of blood,
said to be his, in the passage beyond the outer room, to which
place he was dragged. Having lately received a letter from
Wastell, signifying his acceptance of the place in my gift,
the presentment of him was signed yesterday, and he shall
have notice when his warrant comes down. I believe his
security may be taken in London ; and therefore he will do
well to get two housholders ready to be bound in a bond of
100Z for his good behaviour. I am very sorry you con-
tinue to give so indifferent an account of Mrs. Nicholas,
and hope for a better in your next. My wife joins with me
in humble service and good wishes for her recovery ; and I
am, dear Sir, your most humble and obedient servant,
"J. EVELYN."
162 THE EVELYN FAMILY
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS l
" EDINBURGH, Nov r j th , 1723.
" DEAR S R , I hope this will find you safe return'd to
Horseley with Mrs. Etrick, & that Mrs. Nicholas, of whose
being well enough to goe abroad we were very glad to hear,
is still better for so doing the weather having continued fine
even in this Country till monday last ; since which we have
had a pretty deal of rain, & the wind very high at South West
a point our Lodgings are much exposed to.
" I dont wonder to hear M r Bon wick acquits himself so
much to your satisfaction, & am very much disposed to think
him in the right about M r Tryons heriots, since you doe whose
recommendation of him I never in the least imagined to
proceed from anything but y e friendship & kindness I have
experienced from you on all occasions.
" I thank you for the account of the Comet which I have
not yet had the good fortune to see, nor any one else in this
Country that I can hear of, & Mr. Rose in a letter I lately
received from him complains of his not being able to discover
it with his glasses. I hope it will be more visible at my return
to London.
" Lord Onslow has paid dear for his impatience to be at
Newmarket, where I hear L d Godolphin has been obliged to
pay his forfeit by his horses laming himself the day before he
was to run with one of the Duke of Devonshires.
" We are to have another race at Leith before the end of
this month, & the Assembly was opened again to night, the
business of our board hindered me from being at it, but my
Wife is gone with Mrs. Hamilton one of the dancers, daughter
of the President of the Sessions Lady, & M r William Gordons
eldest daughter the reigning beauty of this place called upon
us in her way. I have lately seen Hatton a pretty seat of
my L d Lauderdales six miles from hence, where there is a
fine Cascade, & S r James Dalrimples near Musselburgh, in a
dry sandy soil on a hill at a little distance from y e Firth, he
has lately built a library there very near as big as the great
rooms at Albury, & 'tis filled with books almost to the top,
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 227.
SIR JOHN EVELYN (1682-1763)
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 163
but the best Collection of British History is at Heriots
hospital, & belongs to one Mr. Anderson, who among other
curiosities shew'd me t'other day a grant of Drumbonrig
to this Duke of Queensberrys Ancestor writt all with K James
y e first of Scotlands own hand, & dated from Croydon where
he was Prisoner 1412.
" I hope this time you have gott as many beech plants
from Wotton as you wanted, & for fir seed in my opinion you
need goe no farther, the trees of my raising being to the best
of my observation as flourishing as any I have seen in this
Country.
" L d Isla is lately come down to prosecute before the I/ s
of Sessions his Law Suit on a South Sea bargain with my Lord
Kinnoul, who is here likewise, as he has been several times
before from Duplin since we came to prepare for his defence y e
bond the other has from him is said to be for 7000. The
Comm rs for forfeited estates, which by the claims upon them
come to nothing in these parts have been here a good while,
but are preparing to leave us.
" When y r friend the Provost was at Ombre t'other
night with my Wife I made y r complem ts to him as I hope
you will ours to Mrs. Nicholas, & believe me ever S r
" y rs most sincerely,
J. EVELYN."
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS 1
" EDINBURGH, Dec r . $th, 1723.
S r John Evelyn to
M r Edw d Nicholas of
Horsley Place, near Guildford.
" DEAR S R , I have both your favours of the 7th and
25th of last month, for which I am very much obliged to you,
and particularly for the kind expression in them relating to
our return, which we shou'd still be more impatient for,
if we thought it cou'd any ways contribute to Mrs. Nicholas's
health, which we hope will not want us, for we are not like to
have the pleasure of seeing you so soon as I expected when I
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 233.
164 THE EVELYN FAMILY
wrote last, we shall set out next month but not time enough
to reach London before Feby. since 'tis so difficult to find the
Comet in England I despair of seeing it here Astronomy being
very little regarded here or anything else besides the bottle.
" The Warrant for Wastell being sign'd I acquainted him
with it, and directed him how to proceed. I shou'd be more
sorry to loose Mr. Owen out of Surrey were it not so much for
his advantage, and am afraid All Souls will not send a better
in his roome. You were not misinformed about the Pur-
chaser of Chilworth, but since you give it so good a character,
I hope 'tis design'd by her Grace for the trust, and not for
herself. I forgot to mention as great a curiosity as any I saw
at Heriots hospital the solemn League & Covenant sign'd
by King Charles y e seconds own hand, when he was here in
1651.
" My Wife is under some concern about taking y e Oaths
which I never thought necessary for her till very lately, &
she must now doe it as a Scotch Woman, since the time for
taking them in England will soon be over.
" We had very stormy weather last month & the wind
was so high on the 27th that it putt me in mind of ye tempest
in England that night 20 years agoe, but we now begin to
feel the sharpness of this climate, & had snow today, which
lies upon the highlands. Lord Isla, & L d Kinoul are fighting
their way thro' the Court of Sessions here, in order to bring
their South Sea Cause to a decision in the House of Lords.
I saw them both this day sennight at the Assembly, which
had a great deal of good Company for this place among y e rest
Duke Hamilton, & his Dutchess a pretty creature y e late L d
Dundonalds daughter the other beautys were his Graces
Sister Lady Charlotte, Grace Lockhart daughter of the
Memoirs writer, a Mrs. Gordon whom I mention'd formerly,
her father has a house at Rowhampton. It will be time to
release you, when I have made my Wife's complem ts to Mrs.
Nicholas & Mrs. Etrick, & assured you of my being ever
Dear S r
" Y rs most sincerely,
J. EVELYN."
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 165
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS 1
" DUKE STREET, Feb** 3*, 1725.
" DEAR S R , I'm sorry you gave yourself the trouble of
writing, when it was so uneasy for you, & the fear of being
the occasion of your doing so has made me forbear you longer
than I shou'd have done, tho' I can't say the town has of
late afforded much news besides what is doing at Westm r
which you have a much better account of from Mr. Clark
& your other friends of the House of Commons, than I can
pretend to give you. His Grace of Bedford had a fine ball
at Southampton house monday night, which lasted till six
the next morning, & did the honours very well particularly
what related to drinking of healths. There was not quite
so much company at the Opera of Elisa the next night, the
Audience not amounting to above thirty besides the Royal
Family, so 'tis to be laid aside, & O'tho with some new songs
to be perform'd Saturday next, for my part I shall be very
indifferent after the fine entertainment I had last night at y e
Dutchess of Marlboroughs concert, where Seresino sung
better than ever I heard him, & Bononcini made such
musick with the Violoncello as I had no notion of, Currani
was not well enough to be there.
" The Prince and Princess went to Lincolns Inn to see
seven Judges & the Chancelor of the Exchequer dance at
the Revels, as I suppose my Lord Chancelor did at the
Temple.
" L d Blanford has sent over two cases of books which
he says is half the collection he has made at Paris, & a bill
of lading for some pictures which are coming from Venice,
the Dutchess of Newcastle told me last night he had in
a letter to her named next month for his coming himself,
but she seemed to be of opinion he wou'd alter his
mind.
" I'm in some pain for my Son Charles who has had a
fever at Neufchatel & I have not had a letter from thence
this good while, his brother the Oxonian is gone to the new
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 570.
166 THE EVELYN FAMILY
play of Hemba said to be writt by Southern, he saw the Duke
of Bedford, Lord Lauderdale & some others playing pretty
deep last night at Mrs. Kemps Assembly. My wife who
presents her humble service to you, & Mrs. Nicholas, & is
always very solicitous to know how you doe has a kind of one
above stairs & the Directors complain of Quadrille for
ruinining the Operas. I hope you continue to mend apace
& am Dear S r
" y r most Obedient Serv 1
JN. EVELYN.
" L d Stanhope had an
acco* of his fathers
death this morning
by an express."
(Endorsed.)
1725-
3 feb.
5 rec.
9 ans. S r Jn Evelyn to
Mr. Edw d N.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS l
"DUKE STREET, Aug* igth y 1725.
" DEAR S R , Lord Castlemain kept me & my com-
pany Sir J. Stanley & M rs Walker so long in his gardens
tuesday last to shew us what alterations he design'd to make
that I came home too late to thank you by that post for your
favour of the 17 th , which I found the night before at my
return from making a visit at Eton where I had the pleasure
of seeing M r Hill looking extremely well after his progress,
which seems to have sett him up again he came thither but
the day before with his fellow Traveller, who went in the
afternoon to Henley in his way to Oxford. Mr. Hill was full
of the praises of the fine things he saw at Wiltons, & of the
Lady of the place, but wou'd not own she had been ill in y e
way I heard.
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 431.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 167
" The news of M rs D. going into Gloucestershire does
not hold by a letter from M r Mann I find Charles set out for
Lions monday was sennight, tho' he says he believes he cou'd
have been contented to have made a longer stay at Paris, if
his Governor had not persisted to carry him away, for which
I have not the worse opinion of him. However in y e little
time he staid he saw the King at Supper at Versailes, &
had the honour to be so much taken notice of by the young
Monarch as for him to enquire who he was & M r Mann
believes he might have stood fair for one of his Playfellows,
cou'd he have talk't French, the same letter says bills were
lately sett up in the night all over Paris threatning a rising
of 12,000 men, if bread now at 4 d sterling p r pound
was not cheaper, which 'tis thought is more owing to
the ill managem' of the people in power, than to any
scarcity of corn, as the Courts being so much behind in
the payment of pensions is the effect of the same cause
rather than of want of money. I hope you will forgive
my troubling you with so much French news, when I
cou'd learn none at home, tho' I was at S r Rob. Wai-
poles levee this morning, and afterwards at Georges new
Chocolate house, where Grinda was, which he has much
improved.
"I'm told L d Bolingbroke has purchas'd L d Torkewils
seat & y e estate about it for 22000, & intends to show there
the skill in gardening he has learnt in France.
" I wish you good Success from the letter you have
wrote to your great Neighbour & dont think it the less
likely, for the application being made directly to
him.
" I hear the Noble L d who went so well attended to
dine with him, is gone to Winchester races with his Lady, &
his Neighbours of Parford, & will proceed from thence to
those at Oxford which my son writes me word were to be
this week.
"I'm very glad to hear your Stomach is so good, & hope
this fine weather will contribute every way to your recovery &
enable you to continue a good account of yourself in y r next
directed to Wotton where I count upon being the beginning
168 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of next week. My Wife desires her complem ts & I
am S r
44 Y r most humble
& Obedient Serv 1
J. EVELYN.
" I hope my brother
Antiquary is well, &
beg my humble service
to him."
(Endorsed.)
1725.
19 Aug.
21 Rec d
23 ans.
Jn Evelyn
to Mr. Edw d N.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS l
" DUKE STREET, Nov r 6, 1725.
" DEAR S R , I ought much sooner to have acknowledged
your favour of the 27th of last month, and exprest the
pleasure I took in reading the good account you give of
yourself, but the last three or four days of my stay at Wotton
prolonged to yesterday, as you rightly guess'd were entirely
taken up in settling my affair there.
" Lord Harcourt has been in town long enough to wonder
what I could doe in the countrey, and was beginning this
evening to fall upon me by virtue of his Flagship for not
coming sooner, when I stopt his mouth by saying his Ex-
cellency had little to doe, if that was all his business, and
made my peace by admiring the finery of his new crimson
Damask furniture, and promising to wait upon him monday
next to Leicester fields. My Wife begins now to think a
little of her new employment tho the joyners are not out of
Dr. Blanfords house, but your faith is stronger than ours
in believing he will be here so soon as Christmas and I'm
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 493.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 169
afraid the bill of 300 brought me to day is not to pay off his
lodging at Paris.
" I'm sorry you are so much imposed on in the matter
of Woodcocks, which if you were nearer Wotton might be
had at a much easier rate, & that the Ladys have had so ill
a run. The Dutchess of Marlborough won't allow that the
Duke of Bedford has been so great a sufferer by the Gamesters,
& makes his losses under 1000. I find his Grace is no
enemy to good liquor of all kinds, especially strong beer, &
that L d Clarendon makes quite another figure in Oxford-
shire since his Lady's death, I wish I cou'd say a better.
" S r Cecil Bishop is dead at last, & I believe the new one
will have the Lady you mention, but not presently. He
proposes I hear to clear y e debts his father has left by selling
part of the estate, after which he will have 1500 a year in
present & 1800 a year more after his mother but then he has
brothers & sisters to provide for. Mr. Clark has answer'd
LI Blanfords request in a very obliging manner, but I
wonder a little at his Lordships choice of so melancholy a
piece of furniture. Our Peripatetick Coll: has not yet had
Mr. Bridgman, & I dont think the place deserves the hand
of such a Master in his profession. I'm sorry you had so
much trouble between Mrs. Budgen & Mr. Heath, & wish
Thomas James cou'd have been of any use to you in it. I
was told the Lady was gone to be admitted at your Court
yesterday sennight. I found Shawfields son to day in our
new Board room at the Custom house instead of Sr James
Campbell, who sett out for North Britain last week. I
dont know how matters goe with his father, but the young
man does not seem to like that the Glascow Rioters are come
off so easily. Wottrell is a good Sollicitor, but he might
have spared you, tis not so easy to advance him so fast as he
thinks he deserves, but I shan't forgett to putt Mr. Hale in
mind of him, to whom he is obliged for y e good post he is
now in, tho' he does not reckon it equal to his merits.
" Admiral Norris told the Prince to day he had orders
to goe for his Majesty who is expected the first light nights
in Dec r . My Wife desires me to present her humble service
to you & tell you, that Mrs. Hall whom we met at St. James
170 THE EVELYN FAMILY
place to night was much more wellcome to her for the good
news she told her of your late recovery, & design of being
shortly in town. She wou'd have writt to Mrs. Nicholas
how much she is her humble servant. I beg my Comple-
ments to her, & wishing you a daily improvement in your
health am ever
" Dear Sr,
" my writing tackle is Y r most humble & obedient
none of y e best. Serv 1
J. EVELYN."
(Addressed.)
For
Edward Nicholas Esq re
at Bath.
(Endorsed.)
1725
6. Nov.
8 Rec.
10 An.
S? Jn Evelyn
to Edw? N.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN l
" WOTTON, y 8 29 of June 1743.
" I have the pleasure of my Dears letter writt last night
and the satisfaction of hearing that there is an express come
with perticulars but still I want to know what has happened
since the first account, I hate to think of the French Army
so near his Majesty and his good subjects, and think it a
vast while to know nothing new of them, 700 of the French
deserting to us is a very extraordinary circumstance, the
Girls were att Horsly last night and saw the Nichollas's and
the Fox's who all wanted to know more, then comes to any
of our shares, this Neighbourhood, att least the lower class
of them amuse themselves with seeing poor Lady Donnegall
lye in state, and by what I hear it is as stately as it is pos-
sible in that House. Mrs. Evelyn is buisy putting up his
Tent to entertain Lady Onslow with sherries and tea in the
* Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 138.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 171
afternoon, and talks of carrying me thither but I dont find
my self much dispos'd.
" I am very sorry I was not in Town to receive the
Dutchess of Newcastle's favour, and wish she may come
again, when I am in the next time I beg my complyments to
Lord Godolphin, and all friends, the young people desire
their duty to you, and I am ever my Dearest intirely yours
" I hope you'l write to me J. EVELYN.
tomorrow night that it may
come seasonably to raise my
spirits for my journey, I hope the Darking sightsees did
not forget my letter last night, I trusted it to Mr. Dean to
carry it all our own servants being gone to Abinger too."
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS *
" EDINBURGH, Sepn 3*, 1743.
" DEAR S R , I was ashamed to receive a second favour
from you last night, before I had returned you my thanks for
that of the 16th of last month, my Wife who desires her best
complements to you & Mrs. Nicholas is as well as myself
extremely concerned at the sad account you give of poor
Lady Aylesfords condition, & not at all surprised at the
melancholy scene you saw at Albury. I hope in God her
Ladyship will recover since her convulsions were over, &
that to morrows post will bring us the agreable news of her
being like to doe well.
" I am very sorry for the terrible misfortune befallen L d
Onslow, & wish he may escape the danger he must needs be
in from such a wound. I think no punishment bad enough
for a Villain, that cou'd be guilty of such a fact, & show no
remorse for it ; & can't but be of opinion that tis a defect in
our Law not to make such attempts death.
" I shou'd not have deferr'd writing to you so long, but
that I might be able to give you some account of y e seats in
this Countrey, as you were pleased to desire. Those I have
seen are Hamilton Place as tis called situated in a fine Countrey
within eight miles of Glascow, which is a fine City on the river
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 204.
172 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Clyde, it has a noble gallery full of good pictures joyning
the two wings of apartments, but the front to y e garden is old.
y e gardens if well kept wou'd be fine & y e plantations about it
are large. Kinross an handsome house in Fife belonging to
S r Tho: Bruce built by his Grandfather S r William the great
Architect of this Countrey, who built Holyrood house, the
situation of this is uncommon being on Loch Levin eleven
miles round, in which is an Island with a Castle where Mary
Queen of Scots was confined for some time till she made her
escape by y e help of her Keeper, to whom 'tis said she was not
unkind. I was last week also at Duplin, where are vast
plantations of Scotch fir with all sorts of other trees and
hedges particularly one of Oak of a great length, the house
which looks upon a fine valley with y e river airr in it is very
well & has some fine pictures in it, & ye offices lately built are
extremely good, my L d Kinnoul pass'd thro' this town fry-
day last in his way home. L d Marrs garden of 40 Acres, &
his wood of above 100 cutt into Vistas terminating on the
river Forth is a vast design well laid out but not finish't.
I saw in ye same progress no less than five palaces of the
Scotch King, Dumferling, Falkland, & Lithgow in ruins,
Skuin which belonging to my Lord Stormont is kept up, &
has a fine apartment, where the Pretender lodged, & Sterling
Castle, where the hall Chapel & rooms of state were very
noble, & y e prospect from it pretty near as fine as that of
Windsor, besides Sheriffmuir, Bannockburn & Falkirk all
famous for battles, & the Roman Temple commonly calPd
Arthurs oven at y e bounds of y e Roman Empire in shape like
an eg with one end cutt off & built of stones without mortar.
" The Duke & Dutchess of Queensborough with whom
we had the honour to dine staid but ten days, they made a
ball at which there was a great appearance of good company
as my Wife told me, for I was gone that day to Glascow.
" I'm sorry I was not at Wotton when you & Mr. Fox
took y e pains to goe so far, & I wish I had made one at y e
Astronomical party at y e Parsonage.
" 1 dare say by this time you are more tired with my de-
scription of my late expedition, than I was in performing it
& shall therefore trouble you with nothing more than my
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 173
humble service to Mrs. Nicholas, & y e assurances of my being,
Dear S r ,
Y r most faithfull & Obedient Serv 1 ,
J. EVELYN*
(Endorsed.)
Edinburgh 3d Sep r .
S r J n Evelyn 10 r d
to Mr. Edw. Nicholas 10 an r .
instead of ye thunder & lightning you complain of we have had
nothing here these three weeks but fine warm weather, & I
eat good grapes today. I supt at Perth a pretty town on y e
banks of Tay Wednesday last with Sabine, who went ony e
next day towards the Highlands to receive y e rest of y e
Forces.
" The ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral shew it to have been
very stately & Arch Bishop Sharps Monument is a fine thing
the Universitys three Colleges are little better than y e Halls at
Oxford & it being Vacation time not a soul appears in them."
(Addressed.)
For Edward Nicholas Esq re
at West Horsley near Pipley in Surrey.
LETTER FROM SIR JOHN EVELYN TO MR. NICHOLAS *
" EDINBURGH, Oct r 3 rf , 1743.
" DEAR S R , I have two of your favours to acknowledge
which want nothing to make them complete but a better
account of Mrs. Nicholas. She was very good to visit our
little boy at Dorking, when such an hill was in the way but
after what you have said in his praise, there can be no
occasion for her giving herself the trouble to write on that
subject.
" Mr. Hornby s situation must by your description be very
fine, & I believe you will allow L d Hoptons tho' in this Coun-
trey to be so too, when you hear that from the hall door there
is a prospect of 20 miles down the Firth & of 3 miles cross it to
y e coast of Fife from a noble grass terrace in his garden, & of
1 Egerton MSS., 2540, fo. 208.
174 THE EVELYN FAMILY
15 miles up the river to Sterling Castle, the parterre has a
large fountain in it, & is very neatly kept, & the hedges with
the greens within them are as flourishing as those in Kensing-
ton Garden tho not yet so tall, you have his house in the
Vitruvius Britannicus, but he is making a considerable
addition to it by two semicircular wings in the front to ye
Court, in short 'tis much the finest place I have seen in North
Britain & may view with many if not most in the South. I
shou'd not have thought Balganoon too f arr, cou'd I have been
absent long enough for such an expedition a Gentleman who
was with me this morning, & came by it lately says tis a verry
pretty place in a pleasant countrey & much improved of
late, but Mr. Ross's woods are a great distance from it,
there being nothing but shrubs & young planting near his
house, our weather continued extremely fine to the end of
last week, & my wife & I were troubled with the heat but
Saturday last in going to dine at L d Raglans an agreable
place with a good house four miles off, & within a mile of L d
Annandales Villa where besides bust & urns I saw several good
pictures he brought from Italy, but miss'd the sight of his
books said to be very curious by his Lordsh p * having carried
away the key of his Library
" That the fruit at Horseley shou'd be good this year is no
wonder to us, who have tasted very ripe grapes so far North,
& eat frequently pears & golden pepins not inferior to those
of England.
" We have heard abundance of our Landlords odd match,
& I can't blame his first Wive's relations for being angry with
him, shou'd he make any difficultys in providing handsomly
for her children to whom his fortune is in a great measure
owing.
"I'm sorry for Mr. Fieldings death, & am afraid his
Successor at Ashstead will not be so well to be liked, it must be
no small mortification to Mr. Hill & Mr. Clark to come at such
a time to L d Lexingtons who by our account of his will he has
provided well for ye D: of Rutlands second son.
" I'm very glad L d Aylesford was so agreably surprised as
to find my Lady like to doe well, at his coming to Albany
upon so melancholy a summons, & Surrey is happy in the
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 175
recovery of her L d Lieutenant. Your acquaintance Campbell
& Member for this City was tuesday last unanimously chose
Lord Provost again, an honour I dont despair of after having
my freedom given me ten days agoe & an entertainment by
the Magistrates of Leith in company with my brethren. I'm
told the Magistrates are not so easily chosen in other parts but
here the Argathelions carry all before them.
" Thursday next we are to have a race on the sands at
Leith, & the first of Nov r the term begins, which will fill this
town again, & renew the Assemblys in the mean time my
Wife has taken possession of the room our board sitts in in the
morning for tea & Ombre in the evening & is glad to play with
some of the Commission the Ladys of this town not playing
at this or any other game, whether for fear of offending the
Kirk, or because they can employ their time better I will not
take upon me to determine.
" I'm afraid I have tired you with the length of this epistle,
& shall end it with our best complements to Mrs. Nicholas
& the assurance of my being very sincerely, Dear S r ,
, " Y r most humble & Obedient Serv',
J. EVELYN."
(Endorsed.)
1743. Edinburgh. 3: oct.
S r Jn Evelyn 10 rec.
;..? Mr. Edwd. Nicholas ans. 10 & n.
CHILDREN OF SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART.
Sir John had six sons and three daughters, viz. :
1. SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2nd Bart. Born August 24, 1706 ;
died September 15, 1749, of whom presently.
2. CHARLES, second son. Born in the parish of St.
Mary, Woolnoth, London, January 3, 1709 ; he was of St.
James's, Westminster, and of Yerlington, Somersetshire.
Died, January 15, 1748 ; he was buried at Yerlington. He
married Susannah, 1 daughter and heir of Peter Prideaux,
Esq., of Solden, Devonshire, brother of Sir Edmund Prideaux,
Bart. ; Marriage settlement, dated November 17-18, 1732 ;
1 Chan. Pro., 1714-58, Evelyn v. Cheethe, 58.
1T6 THE EVELYN FAMILY
died June 4, 1747, and buried at Yerlington. Charles 1
had three sons, two of whom died in infancy. Charles, the
eldest son, married Philippa, daughter of Captain Fortunatus
Wright of Liverpool, captain of the Fane and King George,
Privateers. The latter perished at sea in 1757. He had
nine children, four sons and five daughters, viz. :
Sir John Evelyn, 4th Bart. Born 1757. Died May
11, 1833, of whom presently.
Edward, who died an infant.
Charles, born November 23, 1765 ; was a lieutenant in
the H.E.I. Co.'s service at Calcutta. He died on a voyage
from India to Bassora, Persia, in April 1784, unmarried.
Sir Hugh Evelyn, 5th Bart. Born December 31, 1769.
Died August 28, 1848.
Susannah Prideaux Evelyn. Born about 1765. Married
at St. James's, Westminster, February 21, 1785, Lieutenant
John Els worthy Fortunatus Wright, R.N., Master of St.
George's Dock, Liverpool. Died 1798. They had two sons
and four daughters.
Martha Boscawen Evelyn. Born 1759. Married 1786 to
Nicholas Vincent, captain of a ship trading between Charleston
and England. She died in America, 1794.
Philippa Evelyn. Born 1760. Died October 27, 1824.
Buried at Bexhill, Sussex. Married (1) Major Daniel Francis
Houghton, late of the 69th Regiment, Fort-Major of the
garrison of Goree, West Africa, by whom she had two sons
and one daughter. He was a celebrated traveller. She
married (2) Wilbraham Liardet, by whom she had one son
and two daughters.
Maria Evelyn. Born March 21, 1766. Died, unmarried,
before 1818 in a convent in France.
Francis Louisa. Born 1767. Married, 1785, the Rev.
John Griffith of Manchester.
3. GEORGE EVELYN, third son. Born July 25, 1713.
Died, March 6, 1714, at St. Margaret's, Westminster. Buried,
March 11, at Deptford.
4. GEORGE EVELYN, fourth son. Born April 19, 1716.
Died September of the same year.
1 Chan. Pro., 1714-58, Evelyn v. Evelyn, 592.
\
SIR JOHN EVELYN, IST BART. 177
5. SYDNEY EVELYN, fifth son. Born April 17, 1718.
Was of Upton Gray, Hampshire. Died s.p. January 19,
1782, aged sixty-three. Buried at Upton Gray Church.
Married Elizabeth, daughter of ... Hill. She died, March
8, 1762, in her fortieth year. Buried at Upton Gray Church,
near Basingstoke.
6. WILLIAM EVELYN, sixth son. Born February 10,
1723 ; he was in the Guards ; Lieut.-General in Army ;
and Colonel, 29th Foot ; M.P. for Helston, 1767-74. Died,
unmarried, at Send Grove, Surrey, August 13, 1783. Buried
at Send. Left his estates to be sold and divided between
the children of his nephew Charles, except Mrs. Wright, who
was otherwise provided for.
1. ANNE EVELYN, eldest daughter. Born at Wotton,
August 27, 1707. Died young.
2. ANNE EVELYN, second daughter. Born, September 18,
1710. Died, unmarried, 1771. Buried at Wotton.
3. MARY EVELYN, third daughter. Born, 1711. Died,
unmarried, 1779.
The following is an extract from an account of the last
descendants of John Evelyn by William Bray, and refers to
William Evelyn, youngest son of Sir John Evelyn :
" After the death of his father, he and his two unmarried
sisters bought a cottage and a small quantity of ground in the
Parish of Send, in Surrey. This gentleman had his great-
grandfather's taste for gardening, which he exhibited by
purchasing pieces of land adjoining the house and turning
them into a beautiful ferme ornie ; he at length added to the
house, so as to make it a very comfortable and beautiful
residence. Here he spent the greatest part of his time,
having also a house in London. On the death of his brother
John, he was brought into Parliament for the borough
of Helston, in Cornwall, by Lord Godolphin, the old friend
of the family, and he continued to represent it till his death
in 1783."
12
CHAPTER V
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2nd Baronet, eldest son of Sir John
Evelyn, 1st Baronet, and Anne Boscawen, and great-grand-
son of Sylva Evelyn, was born at Wotton, August 24, 1706,
and was baptized there on September 1. Of him very little
is known, but he must have been a good deal about the Court
as he was Groom of the Bedchamber and Clerk of the
Green Cloth to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and to George
in.
He married l on August 17, 1732, his first cousin, Mary,
daughter of Hugh, 1st Viscount Falmouth, his mother's
brother. She was twenty-seven, having been born on
March 12, 1705, and John was a year younger than she.
There is a portrait of her at Wotton. Through her mother,
Charlotte Godfrey, Lady Evelyn was great-niece of John,
Duke of Marlborough, and this accounts for the presence of
so many Churchill portraits at Wotton.
He served in Parliament three times, viz., for Helston,
1727-41 ; for Penryn, 1741-47 ; and again for Helston from
1747-67.
His wife died, September 15, 1749, aged forty-four, and
was buried at Wotton, September 21. His father died on
July 15, 1763, and his son then succeeded him as Baronet
when he was nearly fifty-seven.
Sir John Evelyn died June 11, 1767, aged nearly sixty-
one, and was buried at Wotton on the following 19th of
June.
1 Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marriage Licenses.
" To be married at the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster."
178
SIR JOHN EVELYN (1706-1767)
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART. 179
LETTER FROM J. EVELYN TO HIS FATHER, SIR JOHN
EVELYN, BART. 1
" CLATFORD, Nov. y e gth, 1738.
" DEAR S R , I had the favour of your letter with Mr.
Hoares note of 100, for which I give you many thanks.
" I went to Bath friday last and return'd hither tuesday
& left my Wife much better than she was before her going
there, tho' I can hardly think the waters have been of any
service to her as her cold has prevented her drinking 'em
constantly.
" Their Roy all Highnesses were in very good health but
appeared a little tired of the place & have fixt y e 1st of Dec r for
leaving it, they go tomorrow to Bristol, where great prepara-
tions are making for their reception ; there was a great crowd
att y e rooms att Bath of an evening tho' not much good com-
pany, but every body seem'd pleased with their Royal High-
nesses behaviour, which is designed to be as little troublesome
as possible ;
44 1 went one morning to see Mr. Allen the Postmasters
great stone Quarry, and new house he is building near it,
upon one of y e high hills about a mile from y e town ; the
stone works easier than wood when first cutt out of the
Quarry but hardens they say by the weather ; 'tis conveyed
in a very cleaver manner down to y e town upon carriages
with low broad wheels, covered with iron, which run upon
a wooden frame made y e length of y e hill, so that when y e
machine is sett agoing it runs down y e hill without any
help, only one man behind to steer it, & in this manner above
three hundred Tunn of stones are carried down at one load ;
I visited Mrs. Godolphin who sem'd pretty well but I believe
seldom goes into y e crowd of the Place ; Lady Sundon I heard
was so bad that 'tis doubtfull whether she will ever be able to
come from thence ;
44 I'm glad Mr. Edwardses goods sold so well & I wish his
estate may do y e same to make Lady Marys loss y e less
considerable, I hope L d Godolphin is well, &, if in town, beg
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 102.
180 THE EVELYN FAMILY
my best respects to him & I am, with my duty to my Mother
& compliments to y e rest of y e family,
" Y r most dutifull & affectionate son,
J. EVELYN."
(Addressed.)
For
S r John Evelyn Bar 1
in Duke Street,
Westminster.
Free
J. Evelyn.
(Endorsed.)
Mr. Evelyn,
Nov r 9th
1738.
LETTER FROM J. EVELYN TO HIS FATHER, SIR JOHN
EVELYN, BART. 1
" NOTTINGHAM, November 1738.
" DEAR S R , Since I wrote last to you I have made a
Tour allmost round this county taking the opportunity of
going with a Gentleman that went to receive the Land tax,
for his father a Banker here that returns it to London.
" We went Wednesday last about 6 o'clock, & after about
4 miles ride came to the banks of the Trent, leaving Shelford
on the opposite side, an old stone house about the size of Milton
court at present inhabited by a Grazier but very pleasantly
situated, the road from hence on a flat by the Trent side is
reckon'd the most beautiful ride in the country, great part of
the way you have a sloping bank on the other side cover'd
with wood that reaches almost to the water this wood is part
of the ancient estate of the Hoekers, which family is extinct,
for at present it belongs to a Mrs. Disney, on the left hand
you see the spire of Southwell, upon the banks of the Trent
I saw two or three Cranes which are pretty common here,
we cross'd the Trent about 4 mile off Newark in a boat with a
rope, though the river is there wider I believe than the
1 Add. MSS., 15,949, fo. 100.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART. 181
Thames at Hampton Court being 140 yards over, leaving the
river on the left we came to Stoke 3 mile from Newark, where
Henry the 7th defeated the Imposter Lambert Symnel in
1487. between this & Newark is a fine Champaign country
surrounded with beautiful Spires in the other parts of this
country very scarce, that of Newark is the finest I remember
to have seen, the ruins of the castle make a great show, & so
does the Duke of Rutlands Lodge & woods in his Park at
Averham about a mile from Kelham both on the other side
the Trent. Newark you must remember to be an old dirty
town not half so big as Nottingham, as may appear from
the Land tax the one paying not 300 Ibs. the other 800,
which is as much as Leicester & Northampton pay both
together, though each is near as big, Nottingham having
been as zealous as the counties near London at the laying
on of the Tax. In Newark there are about 1100 families, it
falls short of Nottingham both in Trade & Beauty of the
buildings as well as in number of inhabitants, though stand-
ing on a level the streets are more regular & even, the Church
is a very handsome old building having a Spire in its kind as
pretty as the tower of Allhallows in Derby there is hardly
a Dissenter in the town, though so near a place where they
swarm, & as their great affection to the Church appears from
their Behaviour in the Civil war, it still seems to shew itself
in their using the Cathedral service in a Parish Church they
having a Choir of Men & boys that wear a black gown faced
with a broad kind of white furr. there are some old gates
about the town, besides the ruinous castle which is prettily
situated on that branch of the Trent that runs by the town,
at dinner the Duke of Newcastles health was drunk ; who
makes one of the Members of the Town at present Mr. Pel-
ham, his Grace has the Toll at the Bridge, which the Scotch
beasts make very considerable, there passing above 400 in
less than a quarter of an hour that I stood there, after dinner
we went to Kelham a mile from Newark cross an Island f orm'd
by the Trent : it is a large brick house 3 story high, & sur-
rounded by a stone ballustrade on the top, it has been lately
above half rebuilt, the Ceilings are most of them Stucco, &
in richness of furniture & neatness of finishing it falls little
182 THE EVELYN FAMILY
short of Chatsworth, though not to be compar'd with it for
grandeur & bulk, the Apartment being much smaller, it
abounds in fine Cabinets, silk Tapestry hangings (which
being most of them paper'd up were lost to us) Crimson
velvet chairs, work'd beds, & Indian paintings upon Silk,
Marble tables, & pictures, one of the present Duke a Land-
scape of Averham Park, a large view of Constantinople & the
raising the seige of Vienna, (a picture of which was shewn
some time ago at Spring garden) these three are on a stair
case, there is a pretty little picture of a Lady that was house-
keeper to Queen Elizabeth with the following Motto :
- Uxor amet, sileat, servet, nee ubique varetur,
Hoc Testudo docet, claves, labra junctaque Turtur.'
alluding to these several Emblems that are express'd in the
picture, there is a great deal of fine work done by the late
Duchess & her workwomen, she died here, the Laundry is a
pretty contrivance, it is a large room, with a row of Leaden
Tubs to wash in, each having a cock to let in water, & a plug
to let it out, to every one belongs a wooden leaf which being
put on forms a firm dresser for Ironing, at the top of the room
are racks that are let down to receive the cloaths & wound up
again, here is also a Mangle, the Trent in a flood covers the
garden which lies flat down to the river & has nothing
remarkable besides its situation & a Maze, the Church joins
to the garden, on one side of the Chancel is a neat little
building over the Vault belonging to the Lexington family,
paved like the Vestibule at Wotton, & separated from the
Chancel by an Iron grate, in this is a fine monument of the
L d & Lady Lexington leaning on a marble cushion & under-
neath it a Matress of the same, the whole seems to be a fine
piece of sculpture, on one side is my L ds Epitaph on the
other side my Ladies, at one end are carv'd the Arms of
the family at the other is an inscription setting forth the
Antiquity of the family, viz. : that there was a Lord Lexing-
ton in the 13th Century, & that the Suttons having married
into that family, had the Title bestowed upon them in the
21st of Charles 1st, in consideration of their steady loyalty,
& in the person of the late Lord's father, the late Lord losing
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART. 183
his son at Madrid during his embassy (the negotiations of
which are pompously represented as having greatly contri-
buted to the peace of Utrecht, & King Philips renunciation
of the Crown of France) settled his estate on his daughters
second son on condition of his taking the name & arms of
Sutton, the Duke has two sons that go by that name in case
one should die, the estate is said to be 4000Z a year, others
say 7000Z. I return'd in the Evening to the receipt of money,
indeed I never saw so much in Specie before, there was near
1000Z in gold most of it guineas, & 3000Z in Silver making
about half a peck-full into which it was flung, & afterwards
counted out upon a vast table, besides this of the Land tax
the same people receiv'd about 5000Z of my Lord Oxfords
Tenants being half a years rent of his estate about Newark,
they receive at times & return most of the money in the
county & Banker in a remote town being very rare, & of great
use. I shall give you an account of the rest of my journey
next post, Mr. Mordan is pretty well recover'd & goes abroad,
I received Miss Maries & your letter, & am with my duty to
Mama your most dutiful
& affectionate son
J. EVELYN."
CHILDREN OF SIR JOHN EVELYN, 2ND BART.
Sir John Evelyn had five children, two sons and three
daughters, viz. :
FREDERICK, 3rd Bart., of whom presently. Born March
20, 1733. Died April 1, 1812.
JOHN. Born November 17, 1737. Baptized at St.
George's, Hanover Square, December 12, 1737. Died young.
MARY. Born, May 20, 1735. Baptized at St. George's,
Hanover Square, June 13, 1735. Died, unmarried, September
6, 1785, aged fifty. Buried at Wotton, September 27, 1785.
AUGUSTA. Born June 22, 1736. Baptized at St. George's,
Hanover Square, July 19, 1736. Was Maid of Honour to the
Princess Dowager of Wales (mother of George in), after
whom she was probably named. Married, June 2, 1781, the
Rev. Henry Jenkin, D.D. He was of St. John's College,
184 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Cambridge, and had the college living of Ufford, with the
Chapel of Bainton, Northamptonshire. On the death of the
Rev. Thomas Taylor he was presented, in 1808, by Sir
Frederick Evelyn to the livings of Wotton and Abinger in
Surrey, on which occasion he resigned Ufford. He was
Chaplain to the Prince Regent, and was presented by him to
the Deanery of St. Burian, in Cornwall, which he held till
his death. Mrs. Jenkin died April 2, 1812, s.p. 9 aged seventy-
five, and was buried at Wotton on April 9, 1812. Her
husband died December 21, 1817, aged eighty-five, and was
buried at Wotton, December 31, 1817.
LUCY. Born, 1739. Died, June 1754, at the age of four-
teen. Buried at Wotton, June 25, 1754.
CHAPTER VI
SIR FREDERICK EVELYN, 3RD BART.
SIR FREDERICK EVELYN, 1 3rd Baronet, eldest son of Sir
John Evelyn, 2nd Baronet, was born in London, March 20,
1733, and baptized at St. George's, Hanover Square, on
April 16 following. He entered the army and, in 1759,
served in Elliot's Light Horse at the battle of Minden.
He was a member of the Jockey Club and was devoted
to sport of all kind. His pictures of horses and dogs still
ornament the walls of the morning-room at Wotton, where is
also his portrait.
He spent considerable sums on the Turf, was on terms of
friendship with the Prince Regent, and was, in fact, in his
" set."
When he was nearly thirty-four years of age, his father
died in 1767, and Frederick then inherited the Wotton and
Deptford estates and succeeded to the baronetcy. His
mother had died when he was fifteen.
On August 8, 1769, at the age of thirty-seven, he married,
at St. Marylebone, Mary, daughter of William Turton, Esq.,
of Staffordshire. Her portrait is at Wotton. She was a
handsome brunette with a clear olive complexion. She
had no children.
When Sir Frederick made his will he was somewhat
embarrassed by the fact of having no direct heir and that
the next of kin, John, the son of his first cousin, Charles Evelyn,
was a lunatic in confinement, his younger brother, Hugh,
being also insane though at liberty. Sir Frederick, under the
circumstances, decided to leave the whole estate to his wife,
1 Chan, Pro., 1758-1800, Evelyn v. Bysshop, 1691.
185
186 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Lady Evelyn, on the understanding that she should make
it over to John Evelyn, her husband's fifth cousin.
Sir Frederick died April 1, 1812, and was buried at
Wotton on April 8. As his estates were not entailed, he
left both those at Wotton and Deptford to his widow. She
lived at Wotton, where she was very much loved and re-
spected.
Her great hobby was botany and gardening, and she had
a splendid collection of plants and shrubs, both of those
native to this country and of exotic plants. She had a
complete catalogue arranged by Mr. Upcott, of the London
Institution, of the things in the library at Wotton. She
also had the Diary of her husband's ancestor, John Evelyn,
published for the first time. The following is an account of
how it came to be published. It is an extract from the
Preface to Frederick Strong's Catalogue : sub tit. " Address
to the Reader, the late William Upcott," p. 16 (taken from
the History of Deptford, by Nathan Dews) :
" In 1814 Mr. Wm. Upcott being on a visit at Lady
Evelyn's at Wotton, in Surrey, and sitting after dinner with
her ladyship and her friend, Mrs. Molyneux, his attention
was attracted to a tippet of feathers on which Lady Evelyn
was employed ' We have all of us our hobbies, I perceive,
my lady,' said Mr. Upcott. 4 Very true,' rejoined her lady-
ship, ' and pray what may yours be ? ' ' Mine, madam,
from a very early age, began by collecting provincial copper
tokens, and latterly the handwriting (or autographs) of men
who have distinguished themselves in every walk of life.'
4 Handwritings ! ' exclaimed Lady Evelyn, with surprise ;
' what do you mean by handwritings ? Surely you don't
mean old letters ? ' at the same time opening the drawer of
her work table, and taking out a small parcel of papers,
some of which had just been used by Mrs. Molyneux as
patterns for articles of dress. The sight of this packet,
though of no literary importance, yet containing letters
written by eminent characters (more particularly one from
the celebrated Sarah Duchess of Marlborough), afforded the
greatest pleasure to Mr. Upcott, who expressed exceeding
delight in looking them over. ' Oh 1 ' added Lady Evelyn,
SIR FREDERICK EVELYN, 3RD BART. 187
' if you care for papers like these you shall have plenty, for
Sylva Evelyn (the familiar appellation applied to John
Evelyn by his descendants), and those that succeeded him,
preserved all their letters." Then, ringing for her con-
fidential attendant, ' Here,' said her ladyship, 4 Mr. Upcott
tells me he is fond of collecting old letters ; take the key of
the ebony cabinet in the billiard room, procure a basket, and
bring down some of the bundles.' Mr. Upcott accom-
panied the attendant, and, having brought a quantity of
these letters into the dining room, passed an agreeable
evening in examining the contents of each packet ; with
the assurance from Lady Evelyn that he was welcome to
lay aside any that he might desire for his own collection.
On the following evening the ebony cabinet was visited a
second time, when Evelyn's Kalendarium, as he had entitled
it, or Diary, a small quarto volume, very closely written
with his own hand, presented itself. This interesting family
document had been lent by Lady Evelyn from time to time
to her particular friends, yet she did not consider its con-
tents of sufficient importance for publication, and except
for accident it might have been cut up for dress patterns
or lighting fires. Evelyn's Diary was obtained from the old
lady for publication, and has since appeared, in successive
quarto and octavo editions."
Lady Evelyn died, November 12, 1817, five years after her
husband, aged seventy-three, and was buried at Wotton on
November 22.
By her will, which was dated September 12, 1814, she
left her estates to her husband's fifth cousin, John Evelyn,
who belonged to an elder branch of the family, and was
directly descended from George Evelyn of Long Ditton,
Kingston, Godstone, and Wotton, the original possessor of
Wotton and their common ancestor, who died in 1603.
On a tablet in Wotton church is the following inscription
by John Evelyn, the devisee of Lady Evelyn :
" To the memory of Dame Mary Evelyn, widow of Sir
Frederick Evelyn, of Wotton, in this parish, Baronet. She
was the only child of William Turton, Esq., of the County
of Stafford, and in 1769 was married to Sir Frederick, who
188 THE EVELYN FAMILY
having no issue gave his estates to her, which at her death
she bequeathed to John Evelyn, descended from the common
ancestor of Sir Frederick and him. Her taste gave addi-
tional charms to the family residence ; her liberality cheered
the abode of the cottager and cloathed and educated his
children. She crowned all by a genuine unaffected piety.
Having borne a long and painful illness with fortitude and
Christian resignation, she departed this life on the 12th
November, 1817, universally respected and regretted, in the
73rd year of her age. In greatful remembrance of her
kindness, this memorial is inscribed by John Evelyn, her
successor at Wotton, 1818."
William John Evelyn, in the Appendix to a pamphlet by
William Bray on the Last Male Descendants of John Evelyn,
says :
" My grandfather was scarcely, if at all known to Lady
Evelyn. It was therefore under no unworthy solicitation
or undue influence that Lady Evelyn acted. She con-
scientiously discharged the trust reposed in her by her
husband ; and her memory as a good religious and chari-
table lady, is still respected and honoured at Wotton. There
are letters of hers still preserved, which prove the interest
which she took in the management and improvement of her
estates. The Tables of Descent herewith printed will shew
clearly that on failure of heirs male of John Evelyn (except
the two last unfortunate baronets, both of unsound mind)
my grandfather was rightly and properly named by Lady
Evelyn as her devisee and successor at Wotton. On his
death, in 1827, my father succeeded as tenant for life, under
Lady Evelyn's will ; and on his early and lamented death in
1829, I, in my seventh year, was called as tenant-in-tail to
succeed to the inheritance."
CHAPTER VII
SIR JOHN EVELYN, 4TH BART.
ON Sir Frederick Evelyn's death in 1812, the baronetcy
went to his first cousin once removed, John Evelyn, great-
grandson of Sir John Evelyn, 1st Baronet. The last named
had, besides his eldest son who succeeded him, a second son
called Charles, who married Susannah, daughter of Peter
Prideaux. Their eldest son was also called Charles, and he
married Philippa, daughter of Captain Fortunatus Wright of
Liverpool. Sir John Evelyn, 4th Baronet, was the eldest
son of this marriage, and was therefore the next heir to the
baronetcy, and would have been heir to Wotton if it had
been entailed.
He was born at Totnes, Devonshire, in 1757, and was
lieutenant in the Portsmouth Division of the Royal Marines.
By an inquisition taken on July 28, 1795, he was de-
clared to be insane from May 1794. It was owing to the
insanity in this branch of the family that the Wotton and
Deptford estates were not left to him or his brother or any of
his sisters. It was after he had been guilty of causing the
death of a post-boy, whom he shot for no known reason, that
he was put under restraint.
He died, unmarried, at the age of seventy-five, at Bexhill,
Sussex, May 14, 1833, and was buried in Bexhill church.
There is a brass to his memory in Bexhill church, placed there
by William John Evelyn of Wotton in 1878.
189
CHAPTER VIII
SIR HUGH EVELYN, 5ra BART.
SIR HUGH EVELYN, 5th Baronet, who succeeded his brother
as 5th Baronet in 1833, was born at Totnes, Devonshire,
January 31, 1769. He was the fourth son and youngest child
of Charles Evelyn's family of nine children. Through the
influence of Sir Frederick Evelyn he obtained a commission
in the Bengal Navy, but in later life his mind became un-
sound.
On November 12, 1836, Sir Hugh married Mary, daughter
of John Kennedy, and relict of James Hathaway of London,
merchant, in the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Middle-
sex. She was born in 1800, at Hoxton, Middlesex.
She died, May 5, 1883, and was buried at Nunhead
cemetery. He was said to have married firstly, in 1831, Mrs.
Henrietta Harris, widow of an officer. She died in 1836 and
was buried at North Repps, Norfolk. The second wife was
living in 1882 at Eagle House, Forest Hill, S.E., and died
there on Saturday, May 5, 1883.
The following extract is taken from a printed pamphlet
containing an account of the Last Male Descendants of John
Evelyn from a MS. account written by William Bray in 1831:
" Sir Frederick took the youngest son Hugh to Wotton,
and sent him to a very good school at Guildford. He very
soon gave symptoms of what was likely to be his future
conduct by running from the school, as he also did from
another school where Sir Frederick placed him, and I think
from a third school : and his conduct in the house at Wotton
and in Sir Frederick's house in London was such that Sir
Frederick was forced to forbid him coming to either of those
houses. He then, by ceaseless solicitations to his different
190
SIR HUGH EVELYN, 5TH BART. 191
relations and connexions, occasionally obtained assistance,
but there was no regular place for his subsistence. At length
I had orders to give him notice that a dinner would be provided
for him every day at a particular house, if he thought fit to
call for it.
" Notwithstanding this conduct in Mr. Hugh, Sir Frederick
took every pains possible to place him in some respectable
situation, but finding it in vain to attempt anything so long
as he remained in London, I was employed to find board and
lodging in some remote part of the country, which I accord-
ingly did. It was not far from the borders of Scotland, and
he was sent thither. He soon found his way into that
country, and with a fluency of language which he possessed,
he introduced himself to any meeting of the gentry, whether
a hunting or racing party, or on public business, by a declara-
tion that he was the next heir to Sir Frederick Evelyn ; this
did not last long, and he came back to London. Sir Frederick
then determined to try what he could do with him in the
Navy, and prevailed upon his cousin, Captain Meadows, to
take him with him as a midshipman in a king's ship, in which
he was going out to take the command on the West India
station. Mr. Hugh soon got tired of that, and under pretence
of ill-health, desired that he might be returned to England.
Captain Meadows had no objection to part with him, and Mr.
Hugh took a place as a cabin passenger in a merchantman
going to England ; they arrived at Liverpool, and the captain
was so engaged by his plausible story, that it is understood
he maintained him there some time, and probably furnished
money to carry him to London. Sir Frederick, still desirous
to do something for him, if possible, offered to procure a
cadetship in the East India Company's army if he would go,
which he refused. Sir Frederick then desisted from any
further attempt. By his plausible stories he had cunning
enough to raise money from annuity and post-obit mongers,
and had no other visible means of subsistence. He soon gave
abundant proof of his mind being in an unsound state.
" The trustees in General William Evelyn's will were
Strode, Esquire, a gentleman of large fortune in Herts, and
William Mann Godeschale, Esquire, a gentleman living upon
192 THE EVELYN FAMILY
a considerable family estate at Albury, in Surrey, where he
took a very active part in all the public business of the
county. Mr. Hugh Evelyn had a placard printed and posted
up in different parts of the city of Westminster offering a
reward for the apprehension of Mr. Strode and Mr. Godeschale
on a charge of perjury and forgery. Mr. Strode thought this
was too gross a business to be passed over without notice ; he
therefore directed an indictment to be preferred against him
for this libel. On hearing the cause, the Court sentenced Mr.
Hugh Evelyn to pay a fine, the amount of which I forget, and
that he should be imprisoned till that fine was paid, and till
he had given proper security for his future behaviour. The
amount of the fine he had no means of raising, nor could he
find security for good behaviour ; he was in consequence com-
mitted to the King's Bench prison, within the walls whereof
he remained for some years, during which time Sir Frederick
Evelyn, finding it wholly useless to send any money to him in
person, employed me to send a weekly allowance to the hands
of one of the officers of the prison, to furnish him with some
degree of provision for his subsistence, besides which they
and other relations often sent him clothes, which very soon
found their way to the pawnbrokers. In this miserable
situation he remained for some years ; but it is very extra-
ordinary that in this situation the widow of an officer who had
half-pay, by some means, became acquainted with him,
giving him much assistance, and much good but useless
advice.
" In , Mr. Strode died, having survived Mr. Gode-
schale, when Mr. Hugh Evelyn applied to be discharged and
obtained his discharge. The gentlewoman above mentioned
absolutely married him, and I believe is now (1831) living.
She had household furniture of her own, which they carried
to a house which they took in Great Bookham, near Leather-
head, where they lived for some time ; and it was not long
before he contracted debts, and their goods were seized by
creditors.
" Lady Evelyn gave him occasional assistance, and by
her will left two guineas per week charged upon the Surrey
estate, except the mansion house, to be paid to his own hands
SIR HUGH EVELYN, 5ra BART. 193
only, well knowing that it would have been useless to have
given him the estate, or more, if he had the power of selling
it ; this has been paid to him ever since ; a variety of in-
stances might be produced to prove his having been long in
an unsound state of mind.
" In , he filed a bill against his unfortunate sister
Mrs. Griffith and William Bray, mixing them up with several
other defendants with whom neither of them had any con-
nexion whatever. To this bill they demurred, and got it
dismissed with costs, which were taxed at thirty pounds,
for non-payment of which he stood committed for Contempt
of the Court and remains in custody ; but he has found means
to obtain the rule of the Court in Saint George's Fields,
where he now resides, having the annuity which Lady
Evelyn left him as above mentioned."
William John Evelyn, in a note appended to the above
narration, says :
" Hugh Evelyn succeeded to the title as 5th Baronet,
on the death of his brother Sir John, May 14, 1833. He
died at Sydenham, August 28, 1848, without issue, and so the
baronetcy became extinct. On his death, his widow wrote
to inform me of the event, and to request that he might be
buried at Wotton. I replied by granting this request, and
volunteered also to pay the expenses of the funeral. Accord-
ingly Sir Hugh's remains were interred, by my permission,
in the Family Vault at Wotton, September 9, 1848. From
that time down to the present year, 1879, his widow received
from me a small annuity. He was twice married, but left
no issue, male or female. His will, dated June 13, 1838,
and re-attested August 4, 1845, was proved by his widow
as sole executrix, June 28, 1878, on an affidavit that her
object in obtaining probate was to claim property at Dept-
ford. Sir Hugh was the last direct descendant in the male
line of the celebrated John Evelyn."
194
THE EVELYN FAMILY
PEDIGREE OF THE WOTTON BRANCH OF THE
EVELYN FAMILY
RICHARD EVELYN,=ELEANOR STANDSFIELD.
son of George Evelyn of
Long Ditton, b. 1579,
d. 1646.
GEORGE, JOHN (author = MARY BROWNE.
b. 1617, of Sylva), b.
d. 1699, 1620,0?. 1705-
m. (I)
Mary
Caldwell;
(2) Lady
Cotton.
Left no
male de-
scendants.
1706.
RICHARD, of ELIZABETH, JANE,
Woodcote, m. Edward
Darcy.
m. Elizabeth
M y n n e .
Left no male
descendants.
William
Gla n-
v i 1 1 e.
JOHN, =
b. 1654,
d, 1698-99.
MARTHA SPENCER,
d. 1726.
Sir JOHN EVELYN=ANNE BOSCAWEN,
Baronet, b. 1682, d.
1763-
d. 1752.
Sir JOHN EVELYN = MARY BOSCAWEN,
2nd Baronet, b. d. 1749.
1706, d. 1767.
Sir FREDERICK EVELYN = MARY TURTON,
3rd Baronet, b. 1733, d. d. 1817.
1812.
CHARLES EVELYN,
m. Susannah Prideaux.
CHARLES EVELYN,
m. Philippa Wright.
Sir JOHN EVELYN,
4th Baronet, b.
1757, d. 1833. Died
unmarried.
Sir HUGH EVELYN,
5th and last Baronet,
b. 1769, d. 1848.
Left no descendants.
THE EVELYN FAMILY 195
PEDIGREE OF THE EVELYN FAMILY, SHOWING THE
WOTTON AND THE GODSTONE BRANCH
AVELYN or EVELYN of Evelyn, near Tower Castle, in the Hundred of
South Bradford, Shropshire, 1410.
AVELYN or EVELYN of Harrow-on-the-Hill, Co. Middlesex, 1440.
I
WILLIAM AVELYN or EVELYN of Harrow-on-the-Hill, d. 1476.
ROGER EVELYN of Stanmore, = ALICE AYLARD.
Middlesex, d. 1508.
JOHN EVELYN of Kingston, = Daughter and heiress
Surrey, d. 1558. I of David Vincent.
GEORGE EVELYN of Kingston, = ROSE WILLIAMS.
Long Ditton and Wotton, d.
1603.
I I
JOHN EVELYN of Kingston, 1554- RICHARD of Wotton, m.
1627, m. Elizabeth Stevens. Eleanor Standsfield, d. 1640.
Sir JOHN, Knight, of Godstone, JOHN EVELYN (SYLVA), /.
m. Thomasine Heynes, d. 1664. Mary Browne, d. 1706.
GEORGE of Nutfield, m. Frances JOHN EVELYN, m. Martha
Bromhall, d. 1699. Spencer, d. 1699.
RICHARD of Dublin, m. Jane Mead, Sir JOHN EVELYN of Wotton,
d. 1751. Baronet, m. Anne Boscawen,
d. 1763-
WILLIAM, Dean of Emley, Ireland, Sir JOHN, 2nd Baronet, m.
m. Margaret Chamberlain, d. 1776. Mary Boscawen, d. 1767.
JOHN of Wotton, 1743-1827, m. Sir FREDERICK, 3rd Baronet
Anne Shee. of Wotton, m. Mary Turton,
d. 1813.
GEORGE EVELYN, m. Mary Jane
Massy-Dawson, d. 1829.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, 1822-1908,
m. Frances Harriet Chichester.
JOHN HARCOURT CHICHESTER
EVELYN, b. 1876, m. Frances Edith
Ives.
CECIL JOHN ALVIN EVELYN, b.
1904.
PART III
THE GODSTONE BRANCH OF THE
EVELYN FAMILY
I HAVE now reached the third part of this history which
treats of the Godstone branch of the Evelyn family to which
the present owner of Wotton belongs. It is necessary to
recall to mind George Evelyn of Long Ditton, Kingston,
Godstone, and Wotton, the common ancestor of the two
branches of Godstone and Wotton and the original purchaser
of Wotton, who died in 1603. It will be remembered that by
his two wives, Rose Williams and Joan Stint, he had four
sons who survived, Thomas, John, Robert, and Richard,
between whom he divided his estates. Thomas, John,
and Robert were the children of the first wife, and Richard
of the second wife. The second son, John, was the ancestor
of the Godstone branch of the family which afterwards went
over to Ireland and which was the elder line of the two,
and Richard, the youngest son, was the ancestor of John
Evelyn's branch of the family.
196
CHAPTER I
JOHN EVELYN
OF KINGSTON, GODSTONE, WEST DEAN, AND
EVERLEY
JOHN EVELYN of Kingston and Godstone in Surrey, and of
West Dean and Everley in Wiltshire, was born in the year
1554 (reign of Elizabeth).
On the death of his father, in May 1603, the estates were
divided between him and his three brothers. While Thomas
inherited Long Ditton Robert, Godstone and Richard,
Wotton John, the second son, came in for Kingston.
On Robert's emigrating to Virginia in 1610 he sold God-
stone to his brother John.
His father had made a considerable amount of money in
the manufacture of gunpowder of which he had a monopoly
which had been given to him by Queen Elizabeth about the
year 1565, and John was also concerned with him in its manu-
facture. John and Robert became partners in the powder
patent, and John presented a petition in 1627 to the Privy
Council, in which he asked them to restrain all other
powder- makers, and added l " that no such liberty having
been given for above sixty years to any but the peti-
tioners and his ancestors." Contracts were granted to
the Evelyns for periods of from three to ten or twelve
years, and were renewed from time to time till the death of
Charles i.
Robert does not appear to have profited by its manufac-
ture, for he complained that he had had " in-supportable
losses . . . and dangers by it, almost to the whole over-
throwe of his estate." Owing to this he determined to
1 See The Evelyn Family, by C. G. S. Foljambe.
197
198 THE EVELYN FAMILY
try and retrieve his fortunes by embarking in 1610 for the
new colony of Virginia, and, before going, he sold his Godstone
estate to his brother John.
John married, at the age of twenty-six, Elizabeth
Stevens, only daughter and heiress of William Stevens
of Kingston-on-Thames. She was twenty-one at the time,
having been born in 1559. The wedding took place at
Kingston-on-Thames, June 10, 1580. They had a family of
eleven children.
On John's marriage his father settled to leave him certain
lands in Kingston-on-Thames. 1
In June 1589 John Evelyn had a lawsuit against one
Thomas Pygotte, a grocer of London. 2 According to John
Evelyn's complaint, dated June 6, 1589, to Sir Christopher
Hatton, Knight of the Garter and Lord Chancellor of England,
the former had, in the previous month of September, borrowed
from Thomas Pygotte the sum of 50, which was to be repaid
within a month. At the end of the month Robert Evelyn,
brother of John, sold to Thomas Pygotte, at different times,
twelve barrels of gunpowder, each barrel containing 100
pounds of powder. Thomas Pygotte agreed to pay to Robert
Evelyn for six of the barrels at the rate of lOd. a pound,
amounting to 25, and for the other six barrels, at the rate
of 9d. the pound, amounting to the sum of 22 10s., so that
he owed to Robert Evelyn altogether 47 10s. The latter,
knowing that it was about the time that his brother had
agreed to pay to Thomas Pygotte the 50 that he had
borrowed from him, suggested to the latter that he should
keep the money which he owed him for the gunpowder,
amounting to 47 10s., towards the payment of the 50,
and this was agreed to by Thomas Pygotte. On John
Evelyn being informed of this arrangement by his brother,
he offered to pay to Thomas Pygotte the sum of 2 10s.
more, to make up the full sum of 50. Thomas Pygotte
refused to accept this sum, intending to take action against
John Evelyn for the whole 50, and yet refused to pay the
sums for the gunpowder to Robert Evelyn.
In July 1590 John Evelyn was made one of the six
1 See Close Roll, 20 Eliz., part 10. a See Chan. Pro., Eliz., E.e.3, No. 5.
JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 199
clerks of the Court of Chancery, as the following memorandum 1
will show :
" Admissio Johannis Evelyn ad efficium unius sex Cleri-
conum.
" Memorandum that this present 15th day of July being
in the two and thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign
Lady Queen Elizabeth Henry Walrond one of the Six Clerks
of the Chancery came before me Sir Gilbert Gerrard Knight
Master of the Rolls and did surrender into my hands his said
office of one of the Six Clerks to the intent that I the said
Master of the Rolls should grant the said office unto John
Evelyn. Whereupon I the said Master of the Rolls have not
only received and taken the said Surrender but also have
admitted the said (John) Evelyn to that place of one of the
Six Clerks and have taken him sworn for the due executing
of the said office according to the form of an ancient oath
usual to be ministered unto every Six Clerk at the time of his
admission in the presence of John Shuckburgh Edward
Hubbard and John Rotherun three of the Six Clerks and of
Jerome Hawley one of the Clerks of the Petty Bag and
others.
" In witness whereof I the said Sir Gilbert Gerrard have
unto these presents subscribed my name the day and year
first above written.
"G. GERHARD.
" Ivi xo die Julii anno predicto."
Early in the seventeenth century John Evelyn purchased
the manor and advowson of West Dean in Wiltshire and also
Everley in the same county, the latter from Sir Ralph Sadler
about 1634-35. 2
John Evelyn's wife died May 7, 1625, aged sixty-six, and
was buried at West Dean. Her husband died two years later,
April 17, 1627, at West Dean, aged seventy-three. He was
buried at West Dean on May 21. There is a fine monument
to him in the Mortuary Chapel at West Dean. It is made of
alabaster and marble, and lies against the north wall (towards
1 See Close Roll, 33 Eliz., part 23.
2 See The Evelyn Family, by C. G. S. Foljambe.
200 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the west end). It was removed to its present position from
the eastern part of the north wall of the destroyed chancel.
The kneeling figures of a man and his wife are represented
under canopies with a prayer-desk between them. Below, on
the face of the tomb, are carved the figures of eight daughters
and three sons. All garments have been painted black.
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN
Of John Evelyn's eleven children, three were sons and
eight were daughters.
GEORGE, the eldest son, was baptized at Kingston, August
20, 1581. He inherited West Dean and Everley at his
father's death. He was one of the six Clerks in Chancery.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of John Rivers of Kent, and
by her had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son,
Sir John Evelyn, Knight, was baptized at Kingston, August
20, 1601. He' was M.P. for Wilton, 1625-1626 ; for Ludgers-
hall, 1640-42 ; and for Totnes, 1655. He was governor of Wall-
ingford, 1646. He was a prominent parliamentary leader,
and was proclaimed a traitor by Charles I and afterwards
pardoned by Charles n. He married Elizabeth, daughter
of Robert Cockes of London. After George's death (which
took place at Everley, January 19, 1637), West Dean and
Everley went to his son, Sir John Evelyn, who died in 1685,
when the estates of West Dean and Everley were inherited
by his daughter Elizabeth, Mrs. Pierrepont. She had
married Robert Pierrepont, grandson of Robert, 1st Earl of
Kingston, and her three sons, Robert, William, and Evelyn,
succeeded each other as Earls of Kingston, the last-named
being created Duke of Kingston in 1715.
JOHN, the second son (of whom presently) was born
October 20, 1591, and was the ancestor of the present owner
of Wotton.
JAMES, the third son, was baptized at Kingston, June 7,
1596. He died, unmarried, 1627.
ELIZABETH, eldest daughter, was baptized at Kingston,
May 16, 1583. She married Sir Edward Engham of God-
neston, Kent, Knight.
JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 201
FRANCES, second daughter, was baptized at Kingston,
October 17, 1585. She married Sir Francis Clarke of Merton
Abbey, Surrey, Knight.
ANNE, was baptized at Kingston, June 25, 1587. She
married at Kingston, July 11, 1596, John Hartopp, Esq., of
Southwark.
Jo AN, 1 was baptized at Kingston, May 1, 1589. She
married, first, Sir Anthony Benne, Knight, Recorder of
London, and, secondly, Sir Eustace Hart of London, Knight.
She died, April 22, 1671, aged eighty-three.
SARAH, died an infant. She was buried at Kingston,
January 30, 1605.
MARGARET, married John Saunders of Reading, Counsellor-
of-Law.
SUSAN, died an infant.
ELIZABETH, eighth daughter, died unmarried, 1623.
1 There is a monument to her in the chapel adjoining to Fliton church in
Bedfordshire with the following inscription : " Here lyeth the body of Lady
Jane Hart wife and relict of Sir Eustace Hart, Knt. She was the daughter
of John Evelyn Esq. of Godstone in the Co. of Surrey ; by her former husband,
Sir Anthony Benne, Knt., she had issue Arrab.ella now Countess Dowager of
Kent whose pious care and duty raised this as a lasting monument of her
affection and of her grief etc. She dyed 22nd April in the year 1671, at the
age of 83."
CHAPTER II
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE
SIR JOHN EVELYN l of Lee Place, Godstone, the second
son of John Evelyn of Kingston, Godstone, West Dean,
and Everley, was baptized at Kingston, October 20, 1591.
On November 24, 1618, he was married, at the age of
twenty-seven, to Thomasine, the daughter of William Heynes
of Chessington, Surrey. She was the co-heir of her brothers,
William and Matthew Heynes, who both died under age.
Her grandfather was William Heynes, a citizen and merchant
tailor of London.
In 1627, the same year that his father died, John Evelyn
was elected Member of Parliament for Bletchingly, again in
1628, and in 1640.
Flore or Flower House was transferred 2 in 1634 to Sir
John Evelyn. It was in the parish of Godstone, and had
belonged to his eldest brother, George Evelyn of West Dean
and Everley, to whom with others it had been conveyed in
1632 by Sir John Rivers, Bart., and his son and heir, in
trust to raise portions for his four daughters, one of whom,
Elizabeth, George Evelyn married.
He was knighted by Charles i, June 25, 1641.
Lee Place, Godstone, according to Aubrey, was built by
Sir John Evelyn.
He was first cousin to his relative, John Evelyn, author
of Sylva, and the latter mentions him several times in his
Diary. On April 11, 1649, it is mentioned that the two cousins
dined together at Westminster. On July 2 of the same year
he is again mentioned in these words :
" I went from Wotton to Godstone (the residence of Sir
1 See Chan. Pro. before 1714, Hamilton, Evelyn v. Wharton, 113/20.
8 See Brayley's History of Surrey.
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 203
John Evelyn) where was also Sir John Evelyn of Wilts. 1
when I took leave of both Sir Johns and their ladys. Mem.
the prodigious memory of Sir John of Wilts, daughter, since
married to Mr. W. Pierrepont, and mother of ye present
Earle of Kingston. I returned to Sayes Court this night."
On August 3, 1658, Sir John Evelyn is again spoken of
in the Diary in these words :
" Went to see Sir John Evelyn at Godstone. The place
is excellent, but might be improved by turning some offices
of the house and removing the garden. The house being a
noble fabric tho' not comparable to what was first built by
my Uncle, who was master of all ye powder-mills."
On November 24, 1649, John Evelyn was again the
guest of his cousin, Sir John Evelyn, on the celebration of
the latter 's forty-first birthday.
Sir John Evelyn was godfather to John Evelyn's third son.
Sir John Evelyn died in January 1664, and was buried
in the family vault at Godstone on January 18. He was
aged seventy- three. His wife survived him twelve years.
She was buried at Godstone, January 13, 1676.
Nearly fourteen years after Sir John Evelyn's death, his
cousin, John Evelyn, went to see his tomb at Godstone. On
October 14, 1677, he writes :
" I went to church at Godstone, and to see old Sir John
Evelyn's dormitory, joining to the church, pav'd with marble,
where he and his lady lie on a very stately monument at
length ; he in armour of white marble."
This monument is still in good preservation. William
John Evelyn, Sir John Evelyn's direct descendant, had a
model made of it in white marble which is in the Library
at Wotton.
This is the last mention of Sir John Evelyn in the Diary.
1 The Sir John Evelyn of Wilts, mentioned here was Sir John Evelyn's
nephew, the distinguished Parliamentarian, the son of his elder brother
George Evelyn of West Dean and Everley. He was M.P. for Ludgershall,
and was proclaimed a traitor by Charles I and pardoned by Charles n. He
left all he possessed to his daughter, Mrs. Pierrepont, and disinherited his othe r
surviving daughter, Sarah, Viscountess Castleton.
204 THE EVELYN FAMILY
COPY OF THE WILL OF SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 1
" In the Name of God Amen. I S r John Evelyn of God-
stone in y e County of Surrey knight (being in goode health
and memory praysed be Allmighty God for y e same) doe
make and ordaine this my last Will and Testamt this
twentieth day of Aprill one thousand six hundred sixtie three
in manner and forme as followeth. First I comend my
Soule into y e hands of Allmighty God my Creator : and to
Jesus Christ my most blessed Saviour and Redeemer : trust-
ing most assuredly to be saved : in and through his meri-
torious Death and Passion only, and for my Body I would
have it buried in the Vault of y e Chancell of y e p'ish Church
of Godstone w ch I have erected and finished : and for y e
manner I wholie refer it, to y e discrecon of my Executrix
hereafter named desireing her not to make any subligne
buisiness about it, but only to invite such together as may
come without trouble to them or her, being of y e neighbour-
hood adjoyning.
. " Item I give to my Son George Evelyn all my Estate of
Land and Tythes in ye County of Surrey whatsoever : lyeing
and being in y e severall p'shes of Walkhamsted Godstone
Tandridge Bletchingly or Catterham w ch were not settled
upon my Eldest Son John in Marriage. Excepte William
Woods ffarme and Camfeilds ffarme, both w ch ffarmes I
since sould to my Son John for y e consideracon of eight
hundred Pounds : and y e entayling of all his Estate in
revercon upon his younger Brother, all my other Estate of
Land and Tythes I have long since settled upon my younger
Son George by Deed executed before Credible witnesses.
Item I give to my good Son in law Edward Hayles of
Boughton Malherbe in y e Countie of Kent Esqr ffortie
Pounds to buy him mourning for himself e and his Wife : and
Twentie more to my Daughter y e Lady Lecke to buy her
selfe mourning. Item I give to Richard Alexander my
Servant Ten Pound in Money : and all my wearing Aparell,
if he be in my Service att y e time of my death : And to all
my other servants halfe a yeares Wages more than is due
1 Archdeaconry of Surrey, 1660-86.
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 205
unto them. Item I give to twelve poore people of y e p'ish
of Godstone for ever : y e sume of six Pounds a yeare to be
equally distributed amongst them upon y e first day Twelve
Moneth yt shall next follow after my decease, and see upon
yt day for ever yearly, ye nominacon of ye said twelve first
poore people, to be by my wife ; and after her decease
by my Son George, and after his decease ye nominacon when
any dye, to be filled up by ye present Vicar and Church-
wardens of ye p'ish of Godstone for ever, yt six Pound a
yeare to be charged, raysed, and paid out of my ffarme
called ye Blew Anchor, now in ye Occupacon of Thomas
Davey ; Provided allways yt out of ye Six Pound a yeare
given to ye poore aforsaid, it is my true intent and meaning
yt ye Chancell and Vault : by me now erected, may be kept
for ever in decent and good reparacons, And yt dureing
such times of reparacons all paym 1 to such poore people to
cease but no longer. Item I will yt Ten Pound be given to
ye severall p'ishes of Godstone Bletchingly Tandridge
Catterham and Woldingham att ye discrecon of my Ex-
ecutrix, as equally as may be, haveing respect to ye greatnes
of ye poore in every p'ish on ye day of my buriall. Lastly
I make and ordaine my deare and wellbeloved Wife Thomasin
Evelyn my sole and lawfull Executrix of this my last Will
and Testam 1 desireing her not to sorrow overmuch for me
who am I bless God abundantly weaned from ye love of ye
things of this Life : by seeing what befell my Soveraigne Lord
and Master King Charles, ye best of men, this with other in
my owene family : hath made such an impression on my
Soule, yt I prayse God I have with patience and comfort
waited my change : w ch I know not how neare (when ever)
I put my full confidence in my only Saviour and blessed
Redeemer Jesus Christ : yt he will sweeten it unto me by ye
Comfort of his Holy Spirit, haveing taken away ye sting of
it by his most precious blood upon ye Crosse, and though we
parte here, we shall one day meete in heaven. And I re-
quire all my children to have a tender regard and to beare
all Love and Duty to their Mother, who never missed how
weake soever her selfe to doe anything with her owne hand
for their good, and it is my desire and last request, as their
206 THE EVELYN FAMILY
father yt they would beare all true Love and affection one
to another, yt ye blessing of Allmighty God may rest upon
them and theirs for ever : and my further Will is that my
Son George : out of my reall Estate w ch I have settled upon
him, doe pay and discharge all my just Debts, Legacyes and
funerall charges : not suffering his Mother to have ye least
trouble or disturbance : either in her joynter or p'sonall
Estate w ch I have left unto her. And I desire my Son George
to follow ye study of ye Law, as he hath often promised me :
yt he may be a stay and Comfort to his Mother : and in some
measure answer ye educacon given him. In witness where-
of I have subscribed my name in every Leafe of this my last
Will and Testamt containing three sheets of Paper and
have thereunto sett my hand and Scale ye day and yeare
above written declaring and publishing ye same.
"JOHN EVELYN.
" In ye p'sence of JOHN GAINSFORD, THOMAS PACKENHAM,
RICHARD ALEXANDER.
" Probatum Fuit humos Testamtun decime sexto die
Mensis January Anno Dni (Style Anglia) 1663 :
Juramente Duae Thomazinae Evelyn Relictae et
Executricis."
CHILDREN OF SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE,
KNIGHT
Sir John Evelyn of Godstone had seven children, of
whom four were sons and three daughters.
GEORGE EVELYN, the eldest son, was born, March 26,
1629 ; he was baptized at St. Gregory's, London, April 8,
and died, May 29, 1629. He was buried at Godstone.
SIR JOHN EVELYN, Bart., second son, was of Lee Place,
Marden Park, and Flore House, all in the parish of Godstone
in Surrey. He was born, March 12, 1632-33. He was created
a baronet May 29, 1660, by letters patent from the Hague.
He was M.P. for Bletchingley in 1660, and High Sheriff of
Surrey in 1666. He married, firstly, Mary, daughter of
George Farmer, Esq., Prothonotary of Common Pleas.
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 207
She died, s.p., in 1663, and was buried at Godstone, February
18, 1663-64. His second wife was Anne, 1 daughter of Sir
John Glynne of Henley Park, Surrey, Sergeant at Law.
She died in 1691, and was buried at St. Margaret's, West-
minster, April 29, 1691.
The following description of Harden Park is from Bray-
ley's History of Surrey :
" Harden Park is situated in a valley at the foot of the
chalk hills, distant about one mile and a half north from the
town of Godstone. The mansion was destroyed by fire in
November, 1879 ; it was a large and conveniently arranged
building. The park is extensive ; the house stood up-
wards of a mile from its entrance. Here Evelyn is said
to have written his Diary ; here, too, the Emperor Louis
Napoleon passed some of his years when an exile ; and here
Hacaulay lived for some time."
The following references to Harden are quotations from
Evelyn's Diary, 1677 :
"I2th October. With Sir Robert Clayton to Harden,
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
etc., of most laudable example. Innumerable are the
plantations of trees, especially walnuts. 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 four days very freely. I earnestly
suggested to him the repairing of an old desolate dilapidated
church, standing on the hill above the house, 2 which I left
1 Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marriage Licenses.
" To be married at St. Laurence, Old Jewry, in the city of London, or Lincoln's
Inn Chapel, Nov. 23, 1664."
2 The church was Woldingham Church. It consisted of one room about
208 THE EVELYN FAMILY
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. This place is exceedingly
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 overstocked with bees ;
I think he had near forty hives of that industrious insect."
On July 13, 1700, Evelyn again writes in his Diary :
" I went to Marden, 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, etc., amongst them, and were preserved with the
utmost care, so that I who had seen it some years before in
its naked and barren condition, 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."
In 1669 Sir John Evelyn brought a lawsuit against his
brother, George Evelyn of Nutfield and his mother, Lady
Evelyn. In his Bill of Complaint l addressed to the " right
honorable Anthony Lord Ashley, Chancellor and Under-
treasurer of His Majesty's Court of Exchequer, Sir Matthew
Hale, Knt., Lord Chief Baron of the same Court and to the
rest of the Barons there," he says that his father in his life-
time owned the manors of Godstone, alias Walkansted,
Flowre Nolread, and other manors in the parishes of God-
stone, Oxstead, Bletchingley, Limpsfield, and elsewhere in
thirty feet long and twenty-one wide, without any spire, tower, or bell. Sir
Robert Clayton did not restore it, and it remained in its dilapidated state
till 1890, when it was restored by the owner of Marden Park.
1 See Exchequer, Bills, and Answers, Charles n, Surrey, No. 134, Michael-
mas the 20th year of Charles u, and also Chan. Pro. before 1714, Brydges,
Dame Thomasine Evelyn v. Sir John Evelyn, Bart., 478/47.
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 209
Surrey, and other counties of over the yearly value of 1400,
and the rectory and parsonage of Godstone. About the year
1653 and 1658 the lands mentioned, and in particular certain
farms called Burgesses Farm, Bennet's Farm, Goales Farm,
Lanes Farm lands in the occupation of Thomas Smith and
others of Earbie were settled upon Dame Thomazine
Evelyn, the petitioner's mother, for her life, and the remainder
of the lands were to come to the petitioner, with remainder
to George Evelyn, his brother, and a great part of the remain-
ing lands were settled on the petitioner and Mary, his late wife,
and should have come to him on his father's death. Mary,
the petitioner's wife, died, leaving no children, and his father,
about the month of January 1663 while the petitioner was
beyond the seas, made his last will and testament. He left
to George Evelyn several farms and lands mentioned in the
will, and made his wife, Lady Evelyn, executrix, and shortly
afterwards died. On his death all the lands except such as
were settled on Lady Evelyn and George Evelyn ought to
have come to the petitioner, and the jointure lands settled
on his mother ought to have come to him after her death.
The petitioner being beyond the seas at the time of his father's
death and not knowing of it until his return to England, his
mother, by the advice and persuasions of " your orator's said
brother George Evelyn and some others of his confederates,
or else the said George Evelyn singly," immediately after
her husband's death, and before the petitioner came back to
England, had great quantities of timber trees cut down, to
the value of 400, and had them taken away and disposed of,
pretending that they had been felled in her husband's lifetime.
This was upon the lands which would descend after her death
to the petitioner. And taking advantage of the petitioner's
absence at the time of his father's death, Lady Evelyn and
her son George possessed themselves of the deeds, writings,
etc., concerning the said lands and which would show the
petitioner's right to them. " And now the said Dame
Thomazine, your orator's said mother, by the evil advice
of the said George Evelyn, your orator's said brother, as
your orator hath this much cause to believe, or by some
other evilly affected persons endeavouring to create and
14
210 THE EVELYN FAMILY
continue in your orator's said mother some ill opinion in your
orator doth deny to discover to your orator the said deeds,
evidences and writings, or to deliver the same. And although
your orator have in an humble and duteous manner applied
himself to his said mother, and in a brotherly manner to the
said George Evelyn, entreating his said mother and desiring
his said brother to shew unto your said orator the said
writings, deeds and evidences, and to discover unto your
orator such as of right do belong to him, and concern his
title to the said manors, lands and premises," the petitioner
offering to confirm the said estate for life of his mother
settled on her for her jointure, and the right of George Evelyn
to the lands settled on him. Yet now the petitioner's mother,
" by such ill advice as aforesaid," instead of delivering the
writings of the estate, pretends to have a right to more lands
and tenements than were settled on her by her husband, and
pretends to have the power to cut down timber upon the
jointure lands, and has continued to cut down great quantities
of trees and to commit great waste. And George Evelyn,
having got possession of parts of the lands not devised to
him, and being in possession of them before the petitioner's
return to England, the petitioner, for want of the deeds, cannot
make out his claim to the lands. George Evelyn refuses to
give up the deeds, and both of them refuse to say how much
timber and of what value has been cut down and disposed of
on the jointure lands, immediately after Sir John Evelyn's
death and before the return to Godstone of his eldest son,
Sir John Evelyn, Bart., and they refuse to give up the writings,
deeds, etc., or to make satisfaction for the timber felled and
disposed of, or to stay further waste on the land which is to
descend to the petitioner " all which leads to your orator's
great discontent and disadvantage, and is against the rules
of equity and good conscience." Wherefore, owing to the
secret cutting down of the trees soon after Sir John Evelyn's
death and by reason of his son's long absence before and at the
time, the petitioner cannot particularize the said deeds, etc.,
nor the particulars of the settlements " but the same are well-
known unto your orator's said mother and brother." And
the petitioner's witnesses, who could prove the truth, and the
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 211
boundaries of the petitioner's lands, descended and descend-
able, and the quantity and nature of the timber felled, and
the wastes committed, being either dead or in foreign parts,
the petitioner, for want of the said deeds, cannot make out his
claim to the lands. He begs that his mother and brother
may be summoned to appear before the Court of Exchequer
Chamber at Westminster.
In his answer to the Bill of Complaint, George Evelyn
says that it is true that his father died about the time stated
by his brother, appointing his wife sole executrix, and that
his father owned lands in the parishes of Godstone, alias Walk-
hamsted, Bletchingley, Catterham, and Tandridge, together
with the rectory of Godstone, and that his father, about the
year 1653, settled a great part of the lands upon the com-
plainant, and some other lands to come to the latter after
his death, and some to come to the complainant after his
mother's death. But as for the said rectory and several
other lands mentioned in the settlement, his father reserved
them for himself and his heirs, all of which is set forth in the
settlement which the defendant says is in the custody of
the complainant. Neither has the defendant any lands but
what were left to him by his father in his last will. The
defendant denies that at the time of his father's sickness
or death or at any other time he had any trees cut down on
the complainant's land. He also denies that he has com-
mitted any waste to his knowledge on any of his brother's
land or that he ever advised his mother to do so, neither
can he remember that any timber has been cut down from
Lady Evelyn's jointure lands since his father's death except
such as was cut down by her order, and assigned to some or
one of her tenants for repairing their houses, except some
timber that was cut down at Shalcross Farm by the special
order of the complainant, as the defendant has been in-
formed. The defendant says he has no deeds that show the
complainant's title to any lands whatsoever except such as
concern his mother's jointure. He utterly denies that he is
combining with others to withhold and conceal any writ-
ings, or to do any other unlawful act. " Therefore this
defendant prays that he may be hence dismissed with his
212 THE EVELYN FAMILY
reasonable costs and charges in this behalf wrongfully
sustained."
Lady Evelyn, in her answer to the Bill of Complaint,
says that it is true that her late husband had lands in the
parishes of Godstone, Bletchingley, Caterham, and Tandridge,
but never had any in Oxted or Limpsfield. Her husband,
about the year 1653, by an indenture between himself, for the
first part, George Farmer, one of the Prothonotaries of the
Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, and John Evelyn,
his eldest son, the complainant, for the second part, and
George Evelyn of Wotton, Richard Hatton of Thames Ditton,
Thomas Bird of London, Doctor of the Laws, for the third
part, agree to make over to his son, Sir John Evelyn, Bart.,
on his marriage with Mary Farmer, lands in the parishes of
Godstone, Bletchingley, Caterham, and Tandridge, including
the manors of Mardon, Tillingdowne, and Fore, and other lands
to him and his heirs. She denies that she has claimed any
other lands than for her jointure, neither has she enjoyed
all those lands settled on her for her jointure, but not being
able to persuade the complainant to deliver them to her, she
has preferred to lose some part of them rather than bring
a lawsuit against her son. Soon after the indenture was
sealed and the marriage solemnised, by notice of which the
complainant was in actual possession of such a great estate,
he began to sue his own father for several supposed promises,
and also for a legacy of 200 which he pretended was given
him when a child by one Pigott, a relation. Sir John Evelyn,
Knight, being " unwilling to publish how unnatural a person
he had unto his son," was constrained to settle on the com-
plainant some lands out of which he had intended to make
provision for his younger children. On or about January 12,
1663, Sir John Evelyn, Knight, died, making her, Lady Evelyn,
his sole executrix. " And no sooner were this defendant's
husband's funeral over, but she this defendant thought it
most expedient to remove from her late husband's mansion
house, being thereunto in truth necessitated by reason of
the temper of the said complainant before a month was fully
ended, the said mansion house being parcel of such of the
lands and tenements as were, as this defendant was credibly
SIR JOHN EVELYN OF GODSTONE 213
informed, to come to the said complainant after the death of
his said father, although this defendant knew not whither to
retire herself on so short a time, but being so unexpectedly
surprised with grief and sorrow for the loss of her said dear
husband, and the most undutiful carriage of the said com-
plainant, was urged to remove several of her goods to a
house of Sir William Hoskins at Oxted, Knight, which said
place being inconvenient for this defendant, she this defendant
was inforced to a second remove of the said goods to a house
which was hired for her use of Richard Glyd, gent.,
situate in the parish of Bletchingley aforesaid at a greater
distance from the former in which so sudden removals
occasioned by the said complainant, if any box or trunk were
lost, in which any writings or things were put, this defendant
knows not, and in a short time after this this defendant
was settled at Bletchingley, but this defendant hoping, by
demonstrations of love and affection to win her son the
complainant to a better composure, ordered that certain
writings specified should be delivered to her son which was
done. Soon after this on or about April 4, 1664, the de-
fendant gave to Richard Alexander, the complainant's
servant, for the complainant, about sixty Court Rolls or
upwards, being all that the defendant could find. And this
defendant further saith that shortly after the great and
lamentable fire in London, some loose and dissolute persons
persuaded him the said complainant, as she this defendant
verily believeth, by evil counsel in a threatening way to
demand his writings of this defendant to which messenger
this defendant answered that she would willingly first speak
with her son the now complainant, but in case he would not
come, that then if he would send one sufficiently authorized
to receive all such writings which she had or could find that
concerned him (and which she had formerly voluntarily and
freely offered to him) and for the same to give a sufficient dis-
charge she would to such a person so qualified deliver them,
which message being accordingly delivered, the said com-
plainant, as this defendant hath credibly heard, utterly re-
fusing to come in person to this defendant, his mother, sent
his counsel learned to ask, gather and receive the said writings,
214 THE EVELYN FAMILY
giving him a sufficient authority (as the said counsel affirmed)
under his hand and seal before six credible witnesses. And
accordingly this defendant . . . did cause to be delivered
to the said counsel several deeds, writings, court rolls, and
other evidences, which said deeds and evidences are particularly
in writing expressed, with a discharge for the same under the
hand of the said counsel, no relation being thereunto had,
it doth and may more fully appear, which said discharge,
together with the title and dates of the said delivered writings
and evidences this defendant hath in readiness, and is willing
to produce the same if this honourable court shall judge the
same to be expedient and shall direct her so to do." She
says it was true that the complainant was beyond the seas
and returned about the time of his father's death, but, since
her husband's death, she has never had any timber cut down
on the jointure land except what was necessary to repair her
houses, fences, etc., neither has she committed any waste or
destruction. She confesses that she retains in her hands the
counterpart of the deed whereby her jointure is settled upon
her, and the deeds whereby the lands were conveyed to her
husband who bought them of several persons. She has no
other deeds to her knowledge which concern the complainant.
" All which matters and things this defendant is ready to aver
maintain and prove as this honorable court shall direct."
Sir John Evelyn, Bart., in reply to this says that the
defendant's answers are untrue, and says that he will prove
that what he says is true.
Sir John Evelyn died, August 10, 1671, and was buried
at Godstone, August 17, 1671. He repudiated his daughter
Frances by his second wife (who died about 1681), and he left
some of his estates to his mistress, Mary Gittings, and her
daughter, Mary Gittings.
After his death his brother George brought an action to
try and prove that there had been undue influence on the
part of Mary Gittings. 1
The following reference to Sir John Evelyn is from
Aubrey's History of Surrey, which was published in 1719 :
" It (Godstone) has been now for some time in the Family
1 See Chan. Pro. before 1714, Collins, Evelyn v. Gittings, 198.
GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD 215
and name of Evelyn, and the House built here cost 9000
pounds, and was raised by Sir John Evelyn (whose father
was then the only Powder Maker in England) and demolish'd
by his Son Sir John, because his younger brother George
would not supply him with Money to gratify his vicious
Inclinations, he gave 500 pounds per annum to his Mistress,
and but 500 pounds to his Daughter and Heir by his Wife,
Daughter of Judge Glynne."
RICHARD EVELYN, the third son of Sir John Evelyn of
Godstone, Knight, was born April 20, 1633, and died October
20, 1633.
GEORGE EVELYN, the fourth son, of whom presently.
JANE EVELYN, the eldest daughter, was born June 3,
1631. She married at St. Bride's, London, December 21,
1647, Sir William Leach of Squerryes, in the parish of Wester-
ham, Kent, Knight.
THOMASINE EVELYN, the second daughter, was born
February 19, 1635. She died, April 1, 1643, and was buried
at Godstone.
ELIZABETH EVELYN, the third daughter, was born June
25, 1638. She married at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London,
May 22, 1656, Edward Hales of Boughton Malherb, Kent,
and of the parish of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Esq. Their
son, John Hales, was baptized at Godstone, October 10, 1663,
died an infant, and was buried at Godstone, November 30,
1663. On May 8, 1666, Evelyn writes in his Diary, " Went
to visit my cousin, Hales, at a sweetly-watered place at
Chilston, near Beckton (Boughton Malherb)."
GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD
GEORGE EVELYN 1 of Nutfield, younger son of Sir John
Evelyn of Godstone, was born December 4, 1641. He was
heir to his elder brother, Sir John. He lived at Nutfield
in Surrey, in a house then called Ventris House, but which
is now called Nutfield Court. 2 He was three times married.
1 Chan. Pro. before 1714, Collins, Evelyn v. Arndel, 242 ; ibid., Reynardson,
426/97; ibid., Collins, Evelyn v. Budgeon, 218.
2 The Evelyn Family, by C. G. S. Foljambe.
216 THE EVELYN FAMILY
His first wife, whom he married at Chipstead, September 8,
1664, when he was twenty-three years of age, was Mrs. Mary
Longley of Coulsden. He had no children by her, and she
died nine years after their marriage, and was buried at
Godstone, January 16, 1673. His second wife was Margaret, 1
daughter and heiress of William Webb of Throckmorton
Street, London. The marriage took place in June 1673,
about five months after the death of the first wife. The bride
was about twenty years of age, as she was born in 1653.
By her he had Edward Evelyn of Felbridge in Sussex, whose
branch of the family is now extinct. Lord Liverpool is a
descendant of his. George Evelyn's elder brother, Sir John
Evelyn, Bart., died in August 1671, and George inherited
some of his estates which were entailed. Some of the land,
however, was left to a certain Mary Gittings, and, in November
1671, George Evelyn brought an action to prove undue in-
fluence, which, however, failed. 2
Margaret died in 1683, after ten years of married life.
George Evelyn was M.P. for Bletchingley, 1678-81, and
for Gatton, 1696. He was also a Justice of the Peace and
Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey.
In August 1684 he married his third wife, 3 Frances Brom-
hall, daughter of Andrew Bromhall, Esq., of Stoke Ne wing-
ton. She was about twenty-two, having been born in 1662.
She had three children Richard, ancestor of the present
owner of Wotton ; William, ancestor of the Countess of
Rothes ; and Frances, who died young.
George Evelyn of Nutfield, like his father, was a personal
friend of his cousin, John Evelyn, and the latter mentions
him several times in his Diary. On March 30, 1694, he says :
" I went to the Duke of Norfolk to desire him to make
Cousin Evelyn of Nutfield one of the Deputy Lieutenants
of Surrey and intreat him to dismiss my Brother now unable
to serve by reason of age and infirmity. The Duke granted
the one, but would not suffer my Brother to resign his com-
mission, desiring he should keepe the honor of it during his
1 Register of the Vicar General of Canterbury, Marriage Licences.
Chan. Pro. before 1714, Collins, Evelyn v. Gittings, 198.
* Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Marriage Licences.
WILUAM EVELYN OF ST. CLERE (1686-1766)
SON OF GEORGE EVEI.YN OF NUTFIEI,D
GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD 217
life, tho' he could not act. He profess'd greate kindnesse to
our family."
On August 4, 1694, John Evelyn writes :
" I went to visit my Cousin Geo. Evelyn of Nut field
where I found a family of 10 children, 5 sons and 5 daughters.
All Beautifull women grown, and extreamly well fashion' d.
All painted in one piece, very well, by Mr. Lutterell, in crayon
on copper, and seeming to be as finely painted as the best
miniature. They are children of 2 extraordinary beaut if ull
wives. The boys were at school."
In February 1695, John Evelyn mentions the marriage
of one of the daughters of George Evelyn to his neighbour
Mr. Hussey.
He is mentioned for the fourth and last time in the Diary
on June 19, 1699, in these words : " My Cousin Geo. Evelyn
of Nutfield died suddenly." He was in his fifty-eighth year
and was buried at Godstone, June 24, 1699. His wife died
in Ireland in 1730, where she had accompanied her son Richard.
There is a portrait of George Evelyn of Nutfield at Wotton.
THE WILL OF GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD
(P.C.C., 20 Dyer)
" I George Evelyn of Nutfield in the County of Surry,
Esq., in pursuance of a power to me reserved in and by a
settlement lately made by me and my sonne John Evelyn
wherein I have liberty to charge six thousand pound upon
the Manor of Wolhamstead also Godstone and divers other
messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments, in the said
county of Surry, doe by this my will or writing, purporting my
last will and testament give, direct, limitt and appoynt unto
my two daughters Thomazine Evelyn and Mary Evelyn the
sume of fifteene hundred pounds a peece of lawfull English
money to be paid unto them respectively at their respective
ages of one and twenty yeares or dayes of their respective
marriages which shall first happen and in the meantime to
pay unto them respectively interest for the same after the
rate of five pounds per cent per annum by quarterly pay-
218 THE EVELYN FAMILY
ments in full of their porcons. Item, I doe give, limitt, direct
and appoynt the sume of fifteene hundred pounds more to
be paid unto my two sonnes Richard Evelyn and William
Evelyn at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares,
to witt one thousand pounds to Richard and five hundred
pounds to William and in the meantime to have interest
after the rate of Five Pounds per cent. And I doe revoke
all former wills by me made. Item whereas I have surrendred
my house and lands thereto belonging which is copyhold to
the use of my last will, I doe give the said copyhold, messuages,
and lands to my sonne John Evelyn and his heires, provided
that he pay five hundred pounds more to my sonne William
Evelyn. Item, I give unto my wife all my plate that hath
her and my armes upon it and the wrought bedd in the
yallow chamber and the furniture in the chamber wherein
I and my wife used to lye. Item, I make my sonne John
Evelyn my sole executor. Witnesse my hand and seale this
nineteenth day of June one thousand six hundred nynety
nyne.
" GEO. EVELYN
" Signed sealed published and declared by the said Geo.
Evelyn to be his last will and testament, in the
presence of us DAN. Cox, JOH. WOODWARD, ROBERT
GAY, SAM. WOODCOCK, EDW. HABERFEILD."
(Will proved February 21, 1700-1, by his son John
Evelyn.)
CHILDREN OF GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD
George Evelyn of Nutfield had eleven children, eight by
his second wife, Margaret Webb, and three by his third wife,
Frances Bromhall. The children by his second wife were as
follows :
JOHN EVELYN of Nutfield, eldest son. Born at Nutfield,
October 3, 1677. Baptized at Godstone, October 11, 1677.
M.P. for Bletchingley, 1702. Died, unmarried, November 8,
1702 ; buried at Godstone, November 18, 1702. He is
mentioned in John Evelyn's Diary :
GEORGE EVELYN OF NUTFIELD 219
" 1702, Nov. 8. My Kinsman John Evelyn of Nutfield, a
young and very hopeful gentleman, and member of Parlia-
ment, after having come to Wotton to see me, about 15 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 faire estate."
GEORGE EVELYN, l second son, of Rooks' Nest in the parish
of Godstone, and of Nutfield. Born and baptized at Nutfield,
October 26, 1678. M.P. for Bletchingley, 1708-24 (in five
Parliaments). Died, 1724 ; buried at Godstone, October 22,
1724. Married Mary, daughter of Thomas Garth of Morden,
Surrey.
EDWARD EVELYN, third son, of Heath Hatch and Fel-
bridge, in parish of Godstone, Surrey. Born, 1681. Bap-
tized at Nutfield, August 18, 1681. Died November 20, 1751 ;
buried at Godstone, November 28, 1751. Married Julia,
daughter of James, second Duke of Ormonde.
MARGARET EVELYN, eldest daughter. Born at Nutfield,
April 7, 1674. Baptized at Bletchingley, April 16, 1674.
Married, February 1695, Peter Hussey, Esq., of Gomshall,
Surrey.
John Evelyn writes in his Diary, February 1695 :
" Our neighbour Mr. Hussey married a daughter of my
cousin Geo. Evelyn of Nutfield."
THOMASINE EVELYN, second daughter. Born at Nutfield,
June 8, 1675. Baptized at Bletchingley same day ; was of
Hammersmith. Died, unmarried, March 13, 1743 ; buried
at Godstone.
ANNIE EVELYN, third daughter. Born, 1676. Baptized
at Nutfield, July 19, 1676.
MARY EVELYN, fourth daughter. Born at Nutfield,
November 9, 1679. Baptized at Nutfield same day. Married
. . . Chabannes.
FRANCES EVELYN, fifth daughter. Born and died 1683.
The children of George Evelyn of Nutfield by his third
wife, Frances Brom'nall, were as follows :
RICHARD EVELYN. Born 1685, of whom presently.
1 Chan. Pro. 1758-1800, Evelyn v. Garth, 842 ; Evelyn v. Evelyn, 484.
220 THE EVELYN FAMILY
WILLIAM EVELYN, fifth son. Born at Nutfield, 1686.
Baptized at Nutfield, December 4, 1686. Died, October 19,
1766; buried at Godstone. Married, February 12, 1718,
Frances, daughter and heir of William Glanville, Esq., and
granddaughter of William Glanville and Jane Evelyn, his
wife, sister of John Evelyn, author of Sylva. She died not
long after marriage, July 23, 1719, aged twenty-two, leaving one
daughter, Frances, who was born June 9, 1719. The latter
married, in 1742, Admiral Hon. Edward Boscawen, second
son of Hugh, 1st Viscount Falmouth, Admiral of the Fleet,
General of Marines, and Lord of the Admiralty. He received
the thanks of the House of Commons, December 6, 1758, for
his services in North America. He died at Hatchlands, Surrey,
January 10, 1761. His wife died in South Audley Street,
London, March 26, 1805, aged eighty-six. They had two
sons and two daughters. William Evelyn, on his marriage
with Frances Glanville, assumed the name of Glanville, but on
the marriage of his daughter to Admiral Boscawen, who
carried her estate to that family, he resumed his original
name of Evelyn. He was M.P. for Hythe, 1729 ; and he
bought the manor of St. Clere * alias West Aldham in the
parish of Ightham, Kent, and also property in London, viz.
Rathbone Place. William Evelyn's second wife was Bridget,
daughter of Hugh Raymond of Sealing Hall, Essex, and
Langley, Kent, sister and co-heiress of Jones Raymond of
Langley aforesaid. She died December 1, 1761, aged fifty-one.
She had four children, William, George, Bridget, and Sarah.
William, the eldest son, inherited St. Clere. He married
Susannah, daughter of Thomas Barrett, Esq., by Susan, his
wife, daughter of Sir Thomas Scawen. Their eldest son
William having died, owing to a fall from his horse while
hunting, the St. Clere and Rathbone Place estates passed to
the only surviving daughter, Frances, who married Colonel
Alexander Hume. On her death, without issue, March 28,
1837, the estates of St. Clere and Rathbone Place passed to
W. J. Evelyn.
FRANCES EVELYN. Baptized at Nutfield, July 7, 1692.
She died young. Buried at Godstone, July 8, 1698.
1 See Appendix V., p. 561.
RICHARD EVELYN OF DUBLIN 221
RICHARD EVELYN OF DUBLIN
RICHARD EVELYN of Dublin, the eldest son of George
Evelyn of Nutfield, by his third wife, was born at Nutfield.
He was baptized there, August 19, 1685. He had the
character of being very idle and dissolute in early life, and he
spent his time in extensive travelling. By these means he
dissipated his fortune .
His younger brother, William, who had taken his wife's
surname of Glanville, went over to Ireland very early in the
eighteenth century as a Commissioner of the Revenue, an
office that was then considered a very high one. Thither
Richard followed him, and was by his interest appointed
Collector of Revenue of Naas, near Dublin. This employ-
ment, together with the little that remained of his fortune,
afforded him the means of maintenance.
Richard was somewhat eccentric and of a lively wit. He
was very agreeable, and having travelled a great deal whilst
spending his fortune, used to talk jocularly about his many
adventures.
On June 22, 1715, he was married at St. Catherine's
Church, Dublin, to Jane, daughter of Benjamin Mead, Esq., of
Meath Street, Dublin, Proctor of the Bishop's Court. She
was the sister of Alderman Thomas Mead, who was Lord
Mayor of Dublin in 1758. After Richard's marriage and
appointment he settled down into a steady character. His
wife only lived five years after the marriage. She was buried
at St. Catherine's, Dublin, May 20, 1720.
Richard's second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Francis
Cadden, Esq. She is described as a fine woman. She sur-
vived her husband nearly thirty years. She died January 6,
1780, and was buried in Irishtown Churchyard, Dublin. All
her children died in early infancy. On a tombstone in
Irishtown Churchyard the name is spelt MacCadden.
Richard Evelyn died at Dublin, December 1751, and was
buried in the cemetery of Little St. George's at Dublin. He
had lived latterly at Celbridge. 1
1 For much of the information relating to the Evelyns whilst in Ireland I
am indebted to a Memoir by Daniel Webb Webber, Esq., who was connected
222 THE EVELYN FAMILY
There are two miniatures at Wotton of Richard Evelyn
and also a portrait of his first wife, Jane Mead.
WILL OF RICHARD EVELYN OF DUBLIN
DUBLIN WILL, 1752
"I Richard Evelyn of the Citty of Dublin, Gent, being
at this present writing in full and perfect health do make
this my last will and Testament in manner and form following,
viz. : as to my Body I leave it to be buried at the discretion
of my Executrix hereafter named and that no more then
ten pound be layd out on my ffuneral Expences, as to my
worldly Goods money Houses Lands Hereditaments all and
every thing I have any right to I leave and bequeath to my
wife Elizabeth Evelyn during her natural life and after her
death to my Son William Evelyn expecting and ordering that
my Just debts be first payd and discharged and I appoint my
sayd wife Elizabeth Evelyn my full and sole Executrix and
do hereby make voyd and annull all and every former or other
will by me at any time heretofore made and do declare and
order this to be and stand as my last will and Testament.
" Will signed, July 29, 1734.
" Witnesses
MARY CHAMBERLAINE.
MICHAEL CHAMBERLAIN.
JOHN TREVIN.
" Will proved January 11, 1752, by Elizabeth Evelyn, the
soleEx'trix."
WILL OF ELIZABETH, WIDOW OF RICHARD EVELYN
PREROGATIVE WILL, DUBLIN
" I Elizabeth Evelyn of City of Dublin, Widow. My body
to be privately interred by grand Nephew George Macklin in
Irish Town Churchyard.
with the Evelyns through the Chamberlains. The original manuscript is at
Wotton in Daniel Webber's handwriting, with other letters and papers relating
thereto. The Memoir was written in 1836, and in June 1878 it was copied and
printed in the form of a booklet with notes by W. J. Evelyn.
JANE MEAD
WIFE OF RICHARD EVELYN OF DUBUN
WILLIAM EVELYN OF EMLY 223
" To my niece Margaret Evelyn 10.
To my niece Celia Chamberlain 10.
To my grandson John Evelyn, now in the East Indies,
To my niece Elinor Mulineux, 10.
My grand-niece Alice Mulineux,
My niece Mary Macklin,
My Grand-niece Elizabeth Crane, and
Elinor Macklin.
My Gt. grand-niece Elizabeth Macklin.
Hugh Henry Mitchell Esq.
Residue to George Macklin.
Executrix CELIA CHAMBERLAINE.
(Signed) 16th Oct. 1779.
Witnesses MARGARET SHEE, MARY SHEE."
(Apparently this was never proved.)
CHILDREN OF RICHARD EVELYN OF DUBLIN
(BY HIS FIRST WIFE)
WILLIAM EVELYN. Dean of Emly. Born 1718, of
whom presently.
GEORGE EVELYN. Died an infant ; buried at St.
Catherine's, Dublin, March 9, 1720.
? Daughter, married to Colonel Trion of Sligo.
? Daughter, married to ... Chamberlain.
WILLIAM EVELYN, DEAN OF EMLY
WILLIAM EVELYN, Dean of Emly, Ireland, son of Richard
Evelyn and his first wife, Jane Mead, was born at Dublin,
in St. Bride's parish, in 1718. He showed extraordinary
talents as a boy, and was educated in St. Bride's Latin School,
under Dr. Hugo Young, who kept a celebrated school.
Owing to his precocious intellect he was sent to College very
young, and matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin, July 18,
1730, at which time he was only twelve years old. He dis-
tinguished himself at College, but at the usual period for
224 THE EVELYN FAMILY
graduating was thought by the Board of Senior Fellows to be
too young to be allowed to take a degree, and was suspended
from doing so by a veto which drew from him a very sarcastic
little poem severely ridiculing the Senior Fellows who thus
opposed him. It had great point and severity and was
remembered many years afterwards. Eventually he took
his degree of D.D. and M.A. (the last in 1739), but this check
was injurious to him, for it broke his habits of study and gave
his energies an idle direction. He gave himself up to exer-
cises and games of all sorts, in which he became very proficient
but which he practised to excess. He excelled in tennis,
rackets, and shooting, and was so good a shot as never almost
to be known to miss, imperfectly as fire-arms were then
made. He threw finger-stones with such precision and force
as to kill birds constantly with them. In whatever he
attempted to do he excelled.
In appearance he was rather short, though strongly built
and well proportioned ; he had a fine countenance, with full,
penetrating dark eyes.
He was very witty, was most agreeable in conversation,
and had an excellent temper. He was kindly, affectionate,
and very charitable. He played chess and whist extremely
well, and when he entered the Church, became an excellent
preacher. He had a very fine voice and was an excellent
reader, and he had also a wonderful memory.
When he left Trinity College, qualified by his degree, his
father put him into the Church, expecting advancement for
him through his English connections.
He married, in 1739, Margaret, daughter of Christopher
Chamberlain, Esq., of Dublin and of Chamberlainstown, Co.
Meath, by Margaret his wife, daughter of Francis Cadden of
Dublin. She was the niece of William's stepmother, who
was a Miss Cadden. The Chamberlains were a very ancient
Irish family. They once owned extensive property in County
Meath. The family came to Ireland with Strongbow. It
was originally a Norman family. The Chamberlains were
Counts of Tancarville, whose chateau still exists on the
banks of the Seine in Normandy. They were hereditary
Chamberlains to the Dukes of Normandy, and Raoul de
WILLIAM EVELYN OF EMLY 225
Tancarville fought with William at Hastings. 1 Mr. Tancar-
ville Chamberlain, in a note appended to the Memoir of
Daniel Webb Webber, says he thinks that the Tancarvilles
adopted the name of Chamberlain before going to Ireland.
He says that in the Roll of Battle Abbey he finds no Tancar-
ville under that name, but Chamberlain and Chamberlayne.
The family is alluded to by Edmund Spenser the Elizabethan
poet, in his View of the State of Ireland, where he mentions
that in the year 1316 " Edward Le Bruce in his invasion of
Ireland rooted out the noble families of Audlies, Tuchets,
Chamberlaines, Maundevilles and the Savages out of Ardes."
A considerable tract of the county of Meath is still called
Chamberlainstown.
William was curate to the Rev. Sutton Symes, D.D., Dean
of Achonry and Rector of Arklow during the years 1743,
1744, 1745, 1746, and 1747, and probably also 1748 and
1749. The Rector was a connection of the family of Mead
of Dublin.
All William's children were born at Seabank, Arklow,
except his eldest son, William, who was born in Dublin.
In 1750, 1751, and 1752, he was curate of Delgany, the
Rector being Sir Philip Hoby, Bart., LL.D.
A family connection existed between Lord Harcourt,
the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and the Evelyns, Elizabeth
Evelyn, granddaughter of John Evelyn (Sylva), having
married the Hon. Simon Harcourt, son of Lord Chancellor
Harcourt.
William was appointed to his first parish by the Lord-
Lieutenant in the year 1752 or 1753. It was the parish of
Foxford, and was situated in a distant and then very wild
country in the county of Mayo and diocese of Killala, to
which see Dr. Robinson, afterwards Primate, was appointed
Bishop at the same time. They took possession of their
respective preferments at the same time, and travelled down
together in a two-wheeled carriage called a noddy, drawn by
one horse, in which the driver sat on a small seat like a music
stool, with his body placed impartially between the faces
of the two travellers. The journey lasted for the better part
1 See Bulwer Lytton's Harold, the Last of the Saxon Kings.
'5
226 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of a week. Mrs. Evelyn and the children went down to
her uncle's in the adjoining county of Sligo and joined her
husband later in Foxford, when the glebe house, which
was thought a tolerably good one, was ready for their
reception.
The children consisted at this time of three sons William,
John, and George their only daughter, Margaret, having
died. According to Daniel Webber, William Evelyn was
very proud of his sons, and used to say, addressing his wife,
" My Mag, if we had a hundred sons we should not have a
fool or a coward among them." Mrs. Evelyn had great
strength of mind ; she had warm feelings but an excellent
temper, and was a splendid wife and mother.
By the interest of William's friends, perhaps the Earl of
Dorset, he was appointed one of the Lord-Lieutenant's
chaplains. In 1751 he had been appointed Prebendary of
Kilmoree, in the diocese of Achonry, Archdeacon of Achonry
in 1755, and Prebendary of Ardagh in the diocese of Killala
in the same year.
About the year 1760 William paid a visit to his friends in
England, and remained some months with them. He stayed
with the Boscawens, and on parting, Admiral Boscawen,
then First Lord of the Admiralty, assured him that he would
not relax his endeavours to serve him until he had placed
him on the Episcopal Bench. But, unfortunately, Admiral
Boscawen died of a fever shortly afterwards, so this was
never fulfilled. Mrs. Boscawen, who was first cousin to
William Evelyn, continued to correspond familiarly with
him till his death.
Shortly after his return to Ireland, William was removed
from Foxford to the living of Portglinone, in the county of
Antrim and diocese of Down, from which he shortly after,
in 1767, exchanged for the parish of Trim, in the diocese of
Meath. Though this living was of inferior value, it hacf the
advantage of being nearer to Dublin, to which he was often
called as chaplain to successive Lord-Lieutenants. He was
not a negligent, but neither a diligent clergyman.
Lord Harcourt made him Rector of Clonallen, Dean of
Emly (April 3, 1774, on the promotion of the Rev. Dr.
MARGARET CHAMBERLAIN (1718-1776)
WIFE OF WIUJAM EVELYN, DEAN OF EMI,Y
WILLIAM EVELYN OF EMLY 227
Hawkins), and Chancellor of Dromore in 1775, these appoint-
ments being in his gift.
It was while acting as private chaplain to Lord Harcourt
that he was taken suddenly ill while preaching in the Castle
Chapel. It was a paralytic stroke, and resulted in his death
in a few days on March 25, 1776. A notice of his death
appears in the Gentleman's Magazine for 1776. He was buried
in the cemetery of Little St. George's, Dublin.
The following extract is from a letter which was written
about six months later to Mrs. Evelyn by her son William Glan-
ville Evelyn from New York Island, September 25, 1776 :
" MY DEAR MADAM, If you have not received a letter
which I wrote to you the beginning of August, by a ship bound
to Cork, you will be at a loss to account for my being so long
silent. In that letter I requested you would draw upon our
agents (Adair and Bullock) in London for 40 sterling, which
I have in their hands, and which I have not any immediate
occasion for. If you have not already received it, I must
beg that you will, and not deny me this mark of your con-
fidence in my disposition to afford you every assistance in
my power. I only wish I could supply all your wants with
that liberality you have always shown towards me, and in
some degree make lighter your weight of affliction, which is
almost too heavy for you to bear. What I can do to alleviate
it shall never be wanting, and your own piety and virtue
will support you under it with fortitude and resignation."
The following letter was written by Mrs. Evelyn, after
the death of her son William in the American War of Inde-
pendence, to the Hon. Mrs. Leveson Gower :
"Jan. ye i6th, 1777.
" EVER DEAR MADAM, The sorrows of my heart are
enlarged ; I have lost both my incomparable Williams ;
pardon the epithet ; they were so in my eyes. My son's
virtues and tenderness for me was healing the wound I so
lately reed, by his dear Father's death. His untimely
fall tears it open, and I am satisfied if it proves as mortal as
228 THE EVELYN FAMILY
his. Your kind letter, Madam, was concealed from me till
Saturday sen' night ; then was I told the mournful tale.
What can I say in return for your studious care to palliate
my grief but to petition the Almighty to guard you that
you may never experience the irreparable losses of husband
or children or any other to afflict you. I have pay'd dear
for King'sbridge victory ; I desire not blood for blood, but
wish those snakes that have turned on their Sovereign may
be tumbled as low as the creeping animals. How many
childless mothers, widows or orphans are left wretched by
the havoc made in that devouring region, wicked America.
Yet in the anguish of my heart I have this consolation, that,
Madam, your brother came safe home. 'Tis plain to me my
William did not expect to escape, he was so unhappy at Mr.
Boscawen being there. Since it was the will of God his poor
limbs should be mangled, it was an instance of his good-
ness to free him from agony. It could be no gratification
to a fond Mother to see her beloved son linger in misery.
If, as you say, dear Madam, it had pleased God to have
recovered his health to a tolerable state, tho' he lost his
limb, it would be my duty and pleasure to devote most of
my time to watch over him and to take that care off Mrs.
Boscawen (who has been better to my children in many
respects than was in their mother's power to be), but even
that comfort is denyd me. My fond hopes of my children
meeting, and seeing them go hand in hand in love and un-
animity (which always subsisted between them) are blasted.
I have lost almost my all ; my dearest John is so remote
from me I have no expectation of seeing him, and can hear
of him but seldom, and when he gets an account of his
brother's fate I fear it will make him indifferent about re-
turning.
" Why God afflicts his creatures and why our anxiety
for our gone friends does not cease when our care and tender-
ness for them is no longer necessary for them, we cannot
comprehend. The ways of God are past finding out and in
wisdom he doth it all. Except my own sufferings, I never
felt any with greater poignancy than those of your amiable
mother. We feel for each other and for ourselves, our cases
WILLIAM EVELYN OF EMLY 229
are similar ; my recent one has given her too lively a recollec-
tion of her own, which adds to my troubles. Dear Madam,
your and Mrs. Bosca wen's affectionate remembrance of my
husband and children, and compassion for me, would raise
my drooping spirits were it not that I see yours or hers de-
pressed. Your exemplary mother is truly worthy of imita-
tion, but I have not those powers of mind and pleasing talents
(that Mrs. Boscawen is justly admired for) to aid and assist
me. I own I am weak in every sense of the word. I am
feeble and sore smitten. God is all sufficient to strengthen
me, and I trust in his goodness not to lay more on me than
I am able to bear. My health, except my cold (which is
declining), is wonderous good ; the situation of my mind, dear
Madam, you are too sensible of.
" The two worthy Rev ds you mentioned are in the
country. Many of my friends cannot yet bear an interview
with me. Their absence is made up to me by your endeavours
to compose me ; the dictates of a generous heart sensibly ex-
pressed is a precious balsam, and mitigates my wound. You
are one of my temporal comforters. I pray God reward you
and bless you and yours.
"I received the favour of Mrs. Boscawen's most accept-
able letter and shall do myself the honour to answer it within
a few days ; I hope ye both and your families are well ; ye
cannot be better than I wish. While I am in being I shall
retain a grateful sense of the infinite number of obligations
I am under to both, and that I am, dear Madam, with love
and compliments,
" Your most unalterably faithful cousin and servant,
MARG T EVELYN."
Mrs. Evelyn died December 3, 1787, in the house of her
cousin Mrs. Webber, in Dublin, and was buried at Little St.
George's, Dublin. No stone has been laid over their graves.
William Evelyn died intestate in Bride Street, and on
February 25, 1777, administration of his goods was granted
to his widow, Margaret Evelyn.
230 THE EVELYN FAMILY
CHILDREN OF WILLIAM EVELYN, DEAN OF EMLY
WILLIAM GLANVILLE EVELYN, the eldest son, was born
at Dublin, December 1741, and was baptized in the parish
of St. Audoen's, Dublin. He was Captain in the 4th King's
Own Regiment and was engaged in the American War of
Independence, where he was mortally wounded in a skirmish
which took place just before the Battle of White Plains,
October 18, 1776. He had been sent at the head of two com-
panies of light infantry to dislodge a party of rebels from
some closely enclosed ground, from which they were annoy-
ing a column of the English army then taking up a position
preparatory to the next day's battle. William was in
advance of his company, and after vaulting over a stone wall
received three bullet shots ; the first grazed his left arm,
the second wounded him on the upper part of the thigh,
and the third shattered the right leg above the knee. Timely
amputation would have saved his life, but he would not
consent to it until it was too late, and it was then performed
in vain. After lingering for nearly three weeks, he died at
New York on November 6, 1776. It is supposed that he
was buried in the ground attached to Trinity Church, New
York. In Daniel Webber's account of him he is said to
have been " a great loss to the service, of ardent spirit and
zeal, and talent for his profession, of a lively conversation
and wit, of a warm and generous character, particularly
well made, about five feet ten inches in height, very active,
dark eyes, and slightly marked with the small -pox." General
Howe, in a dispatch to Lord George Germaine dated
November 20, 1776, writes of him thus : " The latter
(Captain Evelyn) is since dead and much regretted as a
gallant officer." He was never married, and owing to his
death his brother John became head of the family on the
death of James Evelyn of Felbridge, Surrey, in 1793 with-
out male issue. 1
1 For an account of William Glanville Evelyn, with the letters which he
wrote from the seat of war, see The Evelyns in America, edited and annotated
by G. D. Scull.
WILLIAM GLANVILLE EVELYN (1741-1776)
WILLIAM EVELYN OF EMLY 231
JOHN EVELYN, the second son, was born June 1, 1743,
of whom presently.
GEORGE EVELYN, the third son, was born at Arklow in
1744. He was early put into the Navy under the care of
Admiral Boscawen. Daniel Webber says that " he was in
person superior to his brothers, of great strength and as
great courage." He died in Portglinone in the parish of
Maghrahaughill, Co. Antrim, 1756, of an internal inflamma-
tion caused by carrying or moving a tremendous weight.
He was twelve years old when he died.
MARGARET EVELYN, the only daughter, was born in
1740. She died young, before 1752, and was buried at
Arklow.
232
THE EVELYN FAMILY
TABLE OF DESCENT TO SHOW THE RELATIONSHIP
OF THE BOSCAWENS
1684.
GEORGE EVELYN = FRANCES BROMHALL, daughter
of Nutfield,
b. 1641, d. 1699.
of Andrew Bromhall, b. 1662,
d. about 1730.
JANE MEAD = RICHARD = Elizabeth Cadden
of Dublin,
1685-1751.
WILLIAM = FRANCES GLANVILLE,
b. 1686.
an heiress.
WILLIAM = MARGARET CHAMBERLAIN.
Dean of
Emly,
1718-
1786.
FRANCES = Hon. Admiral BOSCAWEN.
JOHN =
succeeded
to Wbtton,
1817.
ANNE SHEE.
GEORGE,
3rd Viscount Falmouth.
CHAPTER III
JOHN EVELYN
(DEVISEE OF LADY EVELYN)
JOHN EVELYN of Wotton, the second son of William,
Dean of Emly and Margaret Chamberlain, was born at
Arklow, June 1, 1743, during his father's curacy there.
From 1770 to 1790 he served in the Honourable East
India Company's Civil Service, and became a senior merchant
of the Company. His relative, George Shee, afterwards
Sir George Shee, Bart., of Dunmore, Co. Galway, and
Lockleys Hall, Herts, was at this time Governor of Bengal.
The latter was many years in India, and on his return to
England was in high office in Ireland, and afterwards Under-
secretary for Foreign Affairs under Mr. Wyndham.
John Evelyn was at first employed as Writer- Assistant
in the Collector's Office. 1 In 1773 he was Clerk of the
Market and Mayor of the town of Calcutta. In 1774 he was
Assistant to the Council of Revenue at Dacca, and in 1776,
Factor with the same duties. In 1778 he was Superintendent
of the Dewannee Adawlat at Dacca. In 1779 he was Junior
Merchant and third member of the Calcutta Revenue Com-
mittee, and in 1782 he became Senior Merchant and Member
of the Calcutta Revenue Committee or Board of Revenue.
As English ladies were scarce, no opportunity of marriage
presented itself for John, so George Shee, with a view to
bringing about a match, invited his two sisters to visit him
at Dacca, where at the time he was a judge. The two girls
came out from England in ignorance of the plans which
were being made for their future.
One of them became engaged on the voyage out to a
Mr. Jackson, whom she subsequently married. He after-
wards died, and his widow married a Mr. Molony and lived
in Charles Street, Manchester Square, London.
1 India Office, Bengal Civilians, D-F.
233
234 THE EVELYN FAMILY
This gave John no choice, so he proposed to, and was
accepted by, Anne Shee. She was the seventh and youngest
daughter of Anthony Shee of Castlebar, Co. Mayo, by
Marjory, daughter of Edmund Burke of Corry, Co. Mayo.
The family of Shee claimed descent from ancient kings of
Ireland. They were Roman Catholics, and this at first
presented an obstacle to the marriage. Anne, however,
became a Protestant, and remained so till her husband's
death, when she reverted to her former religion. She was
only sixteen at the time she married.
As there was no clergyman to be procured, the ceremony
of marriage was performed on or about April 14, 1787, by a
layman called Matthew Day (chief or collector of the Re-
venue of Dacca), in Sir George Shee's house at Dacca. This
was the custom then in remote parts of India when no
clergyman of the Church of England could be procured. On
November 24 of the same year, 1787, another ceremony
of marriage was performed at Calcutta by a clergyman of
the Church of England called Blanchard. The wedding
took place in John Evelyn's house in Calcutta. The
marriage turned out well in spite of the lack of romance in
the circumstances which brought it about.
On January 18, 1790, 1 John Evelyn started from Bengal
for England in the Melville Castle, East Indiaman. The
ship arrived at her destination on May 29, and her arrival
is mentioned with a list of the passengers in the Morning
Herald for June 2 of that year.
He returned to England a rich man. He was accompanied
by his wife and two sons, John and William, the elder of
whom was about three, and the younger about two, years
old.
His intention was to settle in Ireland, and with this
object in view he purchased an estate in County Mayo,
which he afterwards sold to the Marquis of Sligo. His
1 Before Anne Shee came out to India, John Evelyn, as was the custom
then among Englishmen in India, formed a connection with a native woman.
She was a half-caste, and by her he had one son whom he named George
Nyleve (the name Evelyn spelt backwards) , for whom he subsequently provided
and who afterwards came to live in England. By his will John Evelyn left a
small property at Sidmouth to this son, who died between 1840 and 1843.
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON (1743-1827)
From" a miniature
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 235
third son, George, was born at Gal way in 1791, and in 1797
his only daughter, Frances, was born at Bath. 1 While
residing at Bath the family lived in Marlborough Buildings,
and in 1795 John Evelyn had a lawsuit to prove that he
was the person mentioned in the entail in the will of James
Evelyn of Felbridge, who had died in 1793.
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO B. C. WILLIAMS, ESQ.,
6 BEDFORD Row, LONDON
" BATH, May 2, 1802.
" MY DEAR SIR, I have applied to have my eldest
son William admitted a cadet in the Royal Military College,
and from General Harcourt's answer I believe with success.
It will be necessary to ascertain accurately his age, which
can only be done by a copy of the register of his baptism
at the India House. He was born in December 1788 and
was christened I suppose in January '89, but you have a
copy already. I must request you will obtain me a regular
authenticated copy of the register of his baptism, precisely as
if intended to be exhibited in a Court of Law, and transmit
it to me to this place, and if it would not be too troublesome,
I should be particularly and extremely obliged by your
procuring me the name and proper address of the Secretary
of the Supreme Board belonging to this College. I believe
they can tell at the War Office, if not General Harcourt
certainly can as he transmitted my letter to the Board he
lives in Portland Place.
" I wish to hear how you have settled with Mr. Brydges
and what Reynolds has done with Burke. As I do not
know how soon William may be called upon to attend the
Board to be examined for admittance, I hope you will send
me the copy of the register, and if you can, the Secretary's
address as soon as you conveniently can.
" I am, my dear Sir,
Your obliged Hble. Servant,
JOHN EVELYN."
1 Chan. Pro., 1758-1800, 657.
236 THE EVELYN FAMILY
EXTRACT FROM LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO
B. C. WILLIAMS, ESQ., 9 LINCOLN'S INN
" 10 UPPER GEORGE STREET,
February 14, 1817.
" MY DEAR SIR, I had not time last night to give your
note that consideration it deserved, but after again having
talked the matter over with Mrs. Evelyn we are decidedly of
opinion that it is equitable and proper to dispose of the money
in India in the way proposed. We considered that George
is a young man who has a profession, and that a moderate
addition to his pay will enable him to support his rank in the
Army and live with comfort and respectability. Not so our
daughter, she has no profession and should she not be fortun-
ate enough to marry must depend entirely upon what she
shall receive from her parents, and the utmost we can give
her will not be sufficient to support her in the manner we
wish without she should marry, which may or may not happen.
Added to this consideration, there is another which I would
mention only to yourself. The death of the Earl of Rothes,
which happened last Tuesday, gives George a fair chance of
coming into Mr. Evelyn's estate sooner or later, indeed in
the course of nature he may expect it, as he is much younger
than Col. or Mrs. Evelyn. Poor Fanny has no such prospect."
Lady Evelyn, widow of Sir Frederick Evelyn of Wotton,
died in November 1817, and by her will John Evelyn in-
herited the Wotton and Deptford estates ; James Evelyn of
Felbridge, who would otherwise have had more right to
succeed to them, having died in 1793, leaving no male de-
scendants. This stroke of fortune was not altogether welcome
to John Evelyn, who regarded it rather in the nature of an
embarrassment. He was now seventy-four years of age.
His two eldest sons were dead, and his only surviving son,
George, who was in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, and
had fought at Waterloo in 1815, was now twenty-six years old
and as yet unmarried. His daughter Frances was aged twenty.
John Evelyn was in character something of an autocrat,
and this trait had probably been accentuated by his life
in India, where he had been accustomed to ordering people
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 237
about and receiving the most implicit obedience. He ex-
pected the same compliance in his own family, and proceeded
to express a wish to his son George that he should marry a
certain Miss Hammond. George, however, had already set
his affections elsewhere, and declined to fall in with his
father's views, and this had the effect of alienating them,
and created a breach between them which was never quite
bridged over. When George married Mary Jane Massy-
Dawson, in 1821, his father, though not approving, yielded
so far as to be present at the wedding. He still, however, felt
strongly in the matter and never quite forgave George, who
was in consequence very little at Wotton during his father's
lifetime.
John Evelyn lived partly at Wotton and partly at 80
Gloucester Place. In the season he was always in London ;
the rest of the year he was generally at Wotton, though
sometimes at Brighton and other places. He had a house
at Sidmouth called Cannister House, which he left to his son
George Nyleve.
John Evelyn's brother-in-law, Sir George Shee, intro-
duced him to his first cousin, Sir Martin Archer Shee, the
distinguished painter, for the purpose of having his portrait
painted. The portrait, which is a fine one, is now at Wotton.
John Evelyn is represented seated and in his hand is a snuff-
box, the original of which is preserved in the library.
LETTER FROM JOHN EVELYN TO SIR CHARLES ROWLEY, BART.
" LONDON, June 4, 1822.
" SIR, I have the pleasure to inform you that your son
Charles has proposed for my daughter, his proposal has met
our entire approbation and hope it will be favoured with yours
and Lady Rowley's. I will do everything in my power for
the young people, but owing to the very depressed state of
agriculture my means are not now so ample as they ought to
be ; however, I will make the best provision for my daughter
in my power, but as this (owing to the great and unlooked-for
falling of rents) will not be sufficient to place them in a state
of comfort, trust you will supply the deficiency by an adequate
238 THE EVELYN FAMILY
settlement on your son, this I submit to your best consideration.
I frankly acknowledge it would be highly gratifying to me
to unite my daughter to such an amiable young man, highly
gratifying to be allied to a family for every branch of which
I have the highest esteem, and would deeply lament should
any untoward circumstance occur to throw a cloud over the
fair prospect just opening to a young couple in whose happi-
ness I take the most lively interest.
" I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obed. Hble. Servant,
JOHN EVELYN."
John Evelyn died, at the age of eighty-four, on Tuesday,
November 20, 1827. On the morning of that day he and his
wife left Wotton in their carriage in order to proceed to
Brighton. They had not travelled beyond the boundaries
of Wotton parish when John Evelyn died suddenly from a
stroke of apoplexy. Thomas Turner, who had been in his
service since 1823, was on the dicky of the vehicle when this
occurred.
They drove on to Mr. Lee Steere's at Jayes, Ockley, and
he sent for the doctor, who found him dead.
John Evelyn was buried at Wotton in the family vault,
December 5, 1827. He was fifth cousin to Sir Frederick
Evelyn, the last direct descendant of John Evelyn (Sylva)
who lived at Wotton.
WILL OF JOHN EVELYN
" This is the last will and testament of me John Evelyn
of Gloucester Place in the County of Middlesex and of Wotton
in the County of Surrey Esquire as follows. I give devise
and bequeath unto my natural son George Nyleve all that
my freehold house called Cannister House situate at Sidmouth
in the County of Devon with the lawn land rights members
and appurtenances thereto belonging. And all my leasehold
land and premises situate at Sidmouth aforesaid and held
with the said house. To hold the same unto the said George
Nyleve his heirs executors administrators and assigns re-
spectively to and for his and their own absolute use and
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON (1743-1827)
From a portrait (1821) by Sir Martin Archer Shee
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 239
benefit I give devise and bequeath all those my freehold
farms lands and hereditaments situate in the Parish of
Horsted Keynes or elsewhere in the County of Sussex
commonly called or known by the name of Northwood and
all that my copyhold estate called Tott Farm situate within
the Manor and Parish of Hurst Perpoint in the said County
of Sussex and all these my farms and estates called Horns
Lodge and Brooks Farm situate in the Parishes of Tunbridge
and Hadleigh or elsewhere in the County of Kent. And
also all my real estates situate in the County of Norfolk
together with the rights members and appurtenances to the
said several hereditaments and premises respectively belong-
ing. And all other my freehold and copyhold lands tene-
ments estates and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever
situate (not hereinbefore by me devised) unto my dear wife
Anne Evelyn to hold the same unto my said dear wife Anne
Evelyn her heirs and assigns for ever absolutely for her and
their own use and benefit. I give and bequeath all that my
leasehold messuage or dwelling house in Gloucester Place
aforesaid with the buildings and ground thereto belonging
and all my plate books pictures prints china glass linen wines
and other liquors household goods furniture and effects and
also my carriages and carriage horses unto my said wife to hold
the same to my said wife Anne Evelyn her executors adminis-
trators and assigns absolutely to and for her and their own
use and benefit. All my monies heritable and other bonds
mortgages and other securities for money and all my Parlia-
mentary East India Bank and other Stocks and Funds in
England and Ireland all my monies in the French funds
and all rents arrears of rent debts and sums of money that
shall happen to be due and owing to me at the time of my
decease and all my farming stock of every description live
and dead and implements of husbandry in and about my
estate at Wotton aforesaid and all the rest residue and
remainder of my personal estate and effects of what nature
or kind soever I give and bequeath unto my said dear wife
Anne Evelyn to and for her own use and benefit and to be at
her own absolute disposal. And lastly I do hereby nominate
and appoint my said wife Anne Evelyn sole Executrix
240 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all
Wills at any time by me heretofore made declaring this
to be my last Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty-fifth day of April in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-seven.
" Signed, sealed, published and de-
clared by the said Testator John
Evelyn, as, and for his last Will
and Testament, in the presence of JOHN EVELYN.
us, who in his presence, at his
request, and in the presence of each
other, have hereunto subscribed
our names as
Witnesses
ROB. WRITMORE,
PHILIP BURNETT, All of No. 9 New Square,
JOHN ELD AD WALTERS, Lincoln's Inn."
Anne Evelyn never recovered from the shock of her
husband's death. Soon afterwards, in the year 1828, she went
to Brighton, where she took a house on the New Steine, and
from where she wrote the following letter :
LETTER FROM ANN EVELYN TO B. C. WILLIAMS, ESQ., 15
LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, LONDON. WRITTEN DECEMBER
IT, 1828.
" BRIGHTON, December 1828. 12 NEW STEYNE.
" MY DEAR SIR, I this morning received your kind
letter for which you have my best thanks. I am indeed
exceeding grieved to hear that my dear George is so very
unwell, he is still a very young man so I trust and hope he
will get over this attack in a little time. You mentioned in
your letter to me that it would be necessary for me to make
some alteration in my will, for my part I do not see any
necessity for doing so as I think it is at present very well
arranged. However I shall be in town by the 18th of January
and we shall talk this business over.
" Believe me very sincerely yours,
ANN EVELYN.
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 241
7 " I have just now recollected that I cannot leave Brighton
before the 28th of January."
Ann Evelyn lived at Richmond until her death in 1841.
She was also sometimes at No. 80 Gloucester Place, which she
retained till her death. She reverted to her former faith of
Roman Catholicism.
In the autumn of 1833 Mrs. Evelyn's maid, Mrs. Turner,
received the following note from the old lady's daughter-in-
law, Mrs. Evelyn :
" To MRS. TURNER.
44 Have the kindness to give the enclosed to Mrs. Evelyn.
She was so kind as to say she could give me a bed when I came
to town. It is to request her to do so the week after next
at which time I intend taking my son Charles to the dentist.
44 1 remain,
Yours very truly,
" WOTTON, November $th, 1833." M * J * EvELYN -
The following letter was written about six years later :
" To MRS. TURNER.
44 1 have some business which will take me to London
about the second week in March, and I shall be happy to go
to Mrs. Evelyn's if it will not be inconvenient to her to receive
me at that time.
44 1 should prefer sleeping in the back parlour if you
could let me have that room instead of the next room to Mrs.
Evelyn's which I think had better remain occupied by your-
self. Please let me know how Mrs. Evelyn is. I hope she
has experienced no bad effects from the cause that created
alarm some time ago.
44 1 remain,
Yours truly,
WOTTON, February 2$th, 1840.'' M< * EvELYN -
" To MRS. TURNER.
44 1 expect to be in London from Tuesday till Saturday
16
242 THE EVELYN FAMILY
next, and shall be happy to pay Mrs. Evelyn a visit if you
have a room disengaged. I intend to bring my maid but no
other servant. Do not expect me after 8 o'clock.
** Yours truly,
M. J. EVELYN.
" WOTTON, April 26th, 1840."
" To MRS. TURNER.
" I shall probably be in London by 1 o'clock on Monday
and shall be happy to dine with Mrs. Evelyn and to sleep at
80 if you can, without inconveniency, give accommodation
to my maid and myself for the night. May I beg the favour
of Turner to do a little commission for me, viz. : to get a
certificate of William's birth and baptism. It will be found
at Mary-le-bone Church in the register of August 1st 1822.
I think the clerk's fee for giving it is 2/6, but whatever it
may be I will be much obliged to Turner to pay it.
" I remain,
Yours,
M. J. EVELYN.
" WOTTON, November $th, 1840.'*
Anne Evelyn died at Richmond, August 27, 1841, and was
buried at Wotton.
She devised her Norfolk estates to Sir George Shee, Bart.,
her nephew ; Tott Farm, in the parish of Hurst -pur-point,
Sussex, to George Palmer Evelyn, her grandson ; Homes
Lodge and Brookes Farm, in the parish of Tunbridge and
Hadleigh in Kent, to Charles Francis Evelyn ; and North wood,
in the parish of Horsted Keynes in Sussex, to Frederick Massy
Evelyn. She also left a legacy of 600 to her daughter-in-
law, Mary Jane Evelyn.
The following letter was written after the death of old
Mrs. Evelyn :
" To MRS. TURNER.
" I return you the snuff-box and miniature which I should
not feel comfortable in keeping without the knowledge of
Colonel Rowley, for whatever may have been the intentions
of Mrs. Evelyn, she did not mention them in her will to give
me any legal right to them. I therefore think you had better
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 243
mention to Col. Rowley the wishes she expressed respecting
them, and that the snuff-box was given to Mr. Evelyn by my
mother, and I think he will not object to let me have them.
" I remain,
Yours most obediently,
M. J. EVELYN.
" WOTTON, Sept. 4th, 1841."
The Turners had been for a good number of years in old
Mrs. Evelyn's service. Turner had been butler at Wotton
during her husband's latter years, and it was there that he had
met his future wife, Mary Ann North, who was Mrs. Evelyn's
maid.
After the death of old Mrs. Evelyn her daughter-in-law
tried to find situations for the Turners, as the following letter
from her will show :
" To MR. TURNER.
" I have heard of a family who are in need of a butler
and I wish to know if you would like to undertake the situa-
tion as I think you would suit the family. They pass a
portion of the year on the Continent, and, being a small
family, have no footman. When at home they live in the
country. Although only a small establishment is kept the
situation may be considered a very comfortable one and
should you like to undertake it, in your answer mention
the wages you would expect, and if not, let me know if you
think Mrs. Evelyn's footman would suit, and if he would
have no objection to live out of London, and the wages he
would expect. I beg you will also let me know if Mrs.
Evelyn's late housemaid is in want of a situation, as a lady
of my acquaintance is looking out for a person to take care
of a house in London in the course of a few weeks until the
house is again let and she wishes to engage one as maid of
all work who would not object to live at a short distance from
London when her services would not be required in the London
house. Let me know the housemaid's answer to this & as
to the wages she would require.
" Yours most obediently,
M. J. EVELYN.
WOTTON, Sept. 6th, 1841."
244 THE EVELYN FAMILY
CHILDREN OF JOHN EVELYN
John Evelyn and his wife had four children, viz.
JOHN, born at Calcutta, January 25, 1788, and baptized
there February 23, 1788. He only lived till he was five years
old. He died at Bath, October 1793, and was buried there
October 22.
The following is an extract from a letter from Mrs. Bos-
cavren to her cousin, Mrs. Sayer, daughter of Edward Evelyn
of Felbridge, Surrey :
"BATH,
" Monday, 28th October 1793.
"... We have got Mr. and Mrs. John Evelyn at dinner
to-day, the first time they have been out since the death of
their eldest child who has long been ill with little hope of
recovery ; it has been a great affliction to them. They have
two boys left, a William and a George. They have never heard
of being named in Mr. Evelyn of Felbridge, his will . . ." x
WILLIAM, the second son, was born at Calcutta, December
16, 1788. He was educated at the Royal Military College,
Mario w, and became an ensign in the 41st Regiment. He
was drowned in the wreck of the transport Two Friends off
Cape Breton, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, on the night of
October 22, 1805, about midnight. The transport was on
her voyage from Portsmouth to Quebec. Through his
exertions all the soldiers excepting two, and all the passengers,
including women and children, were saved. He was un-
married, and was buried in the cemetery of Louisberg, in the
island of Cape Breton. He was not quite seventeen at the
time of his death.
The following is an extract from a letter written to W.
Gilpin, Esq., Army agent, London, by W. Robertson, Assist-
ant-Surgeon in the 41st Regiment, who was one of the sur-
vivors of the wreck :
" MONTREAL, November i$th, 1807.
" At the time the vessel struck everyone on board put
what money they had in their pockets, and Mr. E. among the
1 The original of this letter is in the collection of Mrs. Boscawen's letters,
belonging to her descendant the present Viscount Falmouth.
JOHN EVELYN OF WOTTON 245
rest. Next day the boat which conveyed some of the men
ashore having broke and no officer having left the ship
we resolved to try and get ashore on the rope that had been
fixed to the boat. I went on first and with great difficulty
got safe. Mr. E. followed but had only got a short way from
the wreck when he let go his hold and unfortunately was lost.
No assistance could be given him owing to the uncommon
heavy surf. Another man who followed shared the same
melancholy fate, and no more attempted to escape by that
conveyance. What boxes of Mr. E.'s floated ashore no-one
for some time took any care of. Upon hearing this I got
them conveyed to a place of safety, etc. etc.
" P.S. Mr.E.'sbody was found by some people the night
after he was lost. Before any of the soldiers discovered him
they had taken everything out of his pockets and even took
some of his clothes off."
His nephew, George Palmer Evelyn, while quartered at
Halifax, visited the place, and in a letter to his mother, dated
September 6, 1845, gives the following narration of the
occurrence :
" A fisherman said that the ship was lost October 23, 1805,
and that a young officer of the name of Evelyn and two of the
men were drowned. He was lost while endeavouring to
reach the shore by means of a rope passing from it to the ship.
He held on for some time, but at last the waves proved too
strong for him and washed him away. He was buried with
military honours in the old French burial ground about a mile
from the place. Of course I went to see the grave, it is only a
mound of earth with a stone at each end."
GEORGE, the third son, was born September 16, 1791, of
whom presently.
FRANCES, the only daughter, was born at Bath, April 26,
1797. She was married at Wotton, August 31, 1822, to
Colonel, afterwards Sir Charles, Rowley of Hill House, Herts,
and afterwards of 3 Hanover Terrace, Regent's Park. He
was the eldest son of Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, Bart.,
K.C.B. She died at Florence, April 22, 1834, and was buried
there.
246 THE EVELYN FAMILY
On April 12 she had written the following letter from Paris
to her mother, Mrs. Evelyn, who was then at 80 Gloucester
Place :
" PARIS, April i2th.
" MY DEAREST MOTHER, I am happy to tell you that we
all arrived here quite safe on Wednesday last and that I bore
the fatigue of the journey better than I expected. The roads
were extremely bad and dangerous, but happily we escaped
accident. We were ten days on the journey to Paris as we
found it impossible to travel fast. I am certainly better than
when I left Richmond altho' still far from well ; & as this is
the first letter I have written for three months I hope you will
excuse its being a short one. We shall probably remain here a
few days longer and then proceed on our journey to the south.
Charles wrote to you on our arrival at Calais which letter he
hopes you received. He and the dear children are quite well,
and with their best love to you.
" Believe me,
Your affectionate daughter,
FRANCES ROWLEY."
Her husband married, secondly, Peroline, only child of M.
Marcowitz, but had no children by her. By his first wife he
had several children. Charles Evelyn Rowley, the eldest son,
born June 30, 1824, was a captain in the Navy. He married,
but left no children. Albert Evelyn Rowley, the second son,
was killed in the trenches before Sebastopol, October 16,
1854. Another son died young. Louisa Rowley, the eldest
daughter, died in 1840, aged fifteen, from a fall from a precipice
in Switzerland. Sophia Evelyn Frances Rowley, married, July
15, 1841, Edward Nourse Harvey, Esq., and had two children-
Edward Nourse Rowley Harvey, and Frances Evelyn Harvey.
The latter married Arthur Heygate, Esq.; and has children.
GEORGE EVELYN
GEORGE EVELYN, third but only surviving son of John
Evelyn, was born at Galway, September 16, 1791. At the
time there were present in the house Letitia and Elizabeth
I
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON (1791-1829)
From a miniature
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 247
Shee, sisters of Mrs. Evelyn, and Daniel Webb Webber. The
surgeon who attended Mrs. Evelyn was Eneas Swaile of
Castlebar, Co. Mayo, who deposed to that effect before a
Chancery Commission in 1796.
He was educated at Warminster in Wiltshire, where Dr.
Griffiths was headmaster and Mr. Lawes was assistant master.
Here he was the school-fellow of Thomas Arnold (afterwards
the celebrated headmaster of Rugby School) with whom he
formed a friendship but whom he never met after 1806.
George was the elder by three years and nine months. On
leaving Warminster he was sent to Harrow, where he was pur-
suing his studies in 1808 and where he probably remained till
he entered the army in 1810. He served under the Duke of
Wellington in the Peninsular War as Lieutenant and Captain
in the first battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards. He
distinguished himself at the repulse of a sortie at the siege of
Bayonne in 1814. The regiment returned to England in July
1814. George was transferred from the first to the second
battalion, which he joined in Belgium before Waterloo.
During the battle he was engaged in the defence of the
Chateau of Hougoumont, and was severely wounded in the
left arm. The surgeon of the battalion, of the name of Good,
dressed his wound after the battle and told Henry Montague,
afterwards Lord Rokeby, a brother officer, that he thought it
very likely that George would die, as he had refused to have
his arm amputated, and his elbow was so severely shattered
that he did not think he could recover. After the battle,
while George was laid up at Brussels owing to his wound, his
father came out to see how he was getting on. George was
nearly twenty -four years old at this time. His father wrote
the following letter while in Brussels to his wife in England :
"182 RUE ROYALE, BRUXELLES,
6 July 1815.
" MY DEAR ANN, On Monday I informed you of my
arrival in Bruxelles and of the state in which I found George,
which was more favorable than I expected. He continues
to improve, no bad symptom has appeared and the surgeon
speaks with confidence of his recovery. I deferred writing
248 THE EVELYN FAMILY
to-day until he had dressed the wound that I might give
you the latest report. He told me George was going on
as well as possible, and that as far as human skill and science
could judge, there was no doubt of his recovery. This is
very consoling. He is still confined to his bed, but I hope
he will be able (to) get up in a few days, and he now begins
to sit up in it, with a support to his back. I am glad I came
over, for tho' I cannot accelerate his recovery, my being with
him is a comfort. I sit with him, chat and talk over the Battle
with him, and by these means draw his attention from his
present situation. He was with a small detachment sent to
defend a farm house called Hougoumont, in front of the left
wing of our Army. The detachment consisted of 2 Com-
panies of Light Infantry, about 180 men, and about three
hundred Dutch troops. The House was a square with an
open space in the Centre and only one Gateway opening into
the middle space. The detachment took post in front of the
House, the Dutch a little in advance and the Light Infantry
in their rear. The French attacked with a much superior
force, the Dutch instantly gave way, and fled into the rear,
the Light Infantry at the same moment advancing to the
front. From this time the fight was sustained by this handfull
of English alone. The French, confident from their number
and elated with their first success, attacked with great im-
petuosity and pressed so close that the English charged
them with the bayonet and drove them back. Three times
did this little band of Spartans charge with their bayonets
and thrice did the French fly before them, but the slaughter
was dreadfull ; out of 90 men, the complement of George's
company, 60 were killed and wounded. At last overpowered
by numbers they retreated into the house determined to
defend it to the last. They shut the Gate and barricaded
it with logs of wood on the inside. It was while
he was assisting in doing this that he received his wound,
thro' a hole in the old Gate. He sunk upon his knees, felt he
was wounded but did not know in what part, untill he saw
his arm hanging down. The soldiers took him into the
open space, seven or eight of them gathered round him, they
said the French were breaking in, and swore they would
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 249
defend him while a man of them was left alive. They brought
him their Canteens with beer, and did everything possible
to cheer and comfort him. They then removed into a room
inside the building. Here he was lying with one soldier
attending him when Col. Holme rushed in, told him the house
was on fire and that they were all getting out of it. By one
of those efforts which nature always makes when not deserted
by the mind, George rose and with the soldier went out of the
room. The smoke in the passage was so thick that he could
not see his way, but fortunately made a turn without knowing
where it led to, which brought him into the open space. The
French had retired, and it is supposed they were called off
and had set the house on fire. George walked towards
our line, which was then under a very heavy cannonade,
passed thro' the intervall, and got with difficulty to the
Hospital in the rear. The Surgeon dressed his wound, telling
him that his arm must be amputated ; he then set off for
Bruxelles, and by accident met a soldier on horseback, who
lent him his horse for a certain distance. A report was spread
that the French cavalry was advancing. He was obliged to
trot which gave him extreme pain. He came up with a buggy
of the Prince's and prevailed upon the servant to convey
him some part of the way. He then saw a boy on horseback,
who agreed to carry him into Bruxelles. He was lifted on,
and the boy led the horse to Madame Santi's house. Madame
Santi received him as her own son, treated him with great
kindness, and is unremitting in her attentions. It fortunately
happened that Captain Godwin was in the house, and he im-
mediately sent for the surgeon of his regiment, reckoned the
best surgeon in the army, and his intimate friend, who has
attended him ever since and saved his arm. He told me
that it was as bad a wound as he ever saw in a limb, and that
for the first two days he had little hope of saving his arm,
and that he owed the preservation of it as much to his own
constitution, patience and fortitude, as to his skill. He never
uttered a groan nor a complaint. His only regret was that
he could not join his regiment. He said (when told that
amputation might be necessary) he would prefer dying to
the loss of his arm ; but if it was necessary to the preserva-
250 THE EVELYN FAMILY
tion of his life he would submit to it, because he knew his
father and mother wished him to live. This is a summary
of his misfortune and sufferings. Thank God they are now
nearly terminated. It is doubtful whether his arm will ever
recover its former strength ; but as he observed to me, an
arm of any kind looks better than a sleeve of a coat. Madame
Santi insisted on my taking a bed in her house. Her husband
is returned, a very kind, good-tempered, old man. I feel
quite at home, and if I could speak French I should not care
how long I remained here. An armistice is concluded be-
tween the Provisional Government and Lord Wellington.
Louis the xviuth is to enter Paris to-day or to-morrow.
Buonaparte has retreated with his army beyond the Loire.
This is true I believe.
" Yours,
J. EVELYN.
" Send this letter to my good friend Mrs. Price. She
has taken a lively interest in poor George's misfortune."
Mrs. Price was first cousin once removed to John Evelyn.
She was the daughter of William Evelyn of St. Clere and his
wife Bridget Raymond, and was a great friend of the Evelyn
family.
William John Evelyn used to relate the following anec-
dote with regard to his father : While the latter was lying
wounded on the ground he found himself surrounded by
the enemy who had come up, when a French soldier approached
him, and, offering him a glass of water said, " Fortune de
guerre, monsieur, fortune de guerre."
Captain Elrington, who was in George's regiment, was an
intimate friend of his. When George was sufficiently re-
covered he rejoined his regiment in Paris. He was then
suffering frightfully with his arm, which he wore in a sling
and was fearfully wasted. Lord Rokeby described him as a
distinguished, gallant, plucky officer. After the regiment's
return to England in 1816 it was stationed for a time at the
Tower of London. The following incident took place while
the regiment was there : George and a brother officer had an
argument which was interrupted by their having to go to
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 251
parade. The brother officer wanted to carry it on when
parade was over, but was unable to do so as George did not
appear at breakfast. The officer went down to the latter's
quarters immediately after breakfast, and, entering his room,
addressed him by saying, " To resume that discussion."
He found George in bed, who said to him, " I have gone to
bed, feeling unwell, for the express purpose of avoiding it.
Perhaps you will be good enough to leave me."
In August 1816 the second battalion of the regiment was
stationed at Windsor. George still suffered pain and in-
convenience from his wound. He sometimes carried his arm
in a sling, but when he did not it would hang down, so
that anyone could see that there was something the matter
with it. It became necessary now for him to have an opera-
tion to his arm, as he had exfoliation of the bone. It was
performed by the surgeon of the battalion, Mr. Good, who
told George's friend and brother officer, Sir William Knollys,
K.C.B., that George would always suffer inconvenience from
his wound as he had not had his arm amputated. Sir
William Knollys was present during the operation. The
battalion left Windsor in February 1817, and was then
stationed in London at St. James's.
About the year 1819 George Evelyn became engaged to
Mary Jane Massy-Dawson, eldest daughter of James Hewitt
Massy-Dawson of Ballinacourty, otherwise called the Glen,
in County Tipperary, Ireland. James Massy-Dawson was
Member of Parliament for Clonmel, and grandson of Hugh,
1st Baron Massy. The Massy family is a very old one, and
can trace back to Hame de Massy who came over at the
Norman Conquest. George was about twenty-eight at this
time. His choice of a wife was displeasing to his father,
who wished him to marry a Miss Hammond whom he had
selected as a desirable daughter-in-law. George's dis-
obedience was never quite forgiven, and in consequence of
this he was very little at Wotton during his father's life-
time. George and Mary Jane were cousins, as the maternal
grandmothers of both of them belonged to the same family
of Burke. Mary Jane's grandmother, Mrs. Dennis, whose
maiden name was Mary Burke, bought No. 28 Gloucester
252 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Place, Portman Square, and her granddaughter, who was
devoted to her, remembered in after years how she had for-
bidden her servants to illuminate the house for Waterloo
until she knew whether George Evelyn, of whom she had
a great opinion, was safe. Mrs. Dennis was also a great
friend of George's father. The Massy-Dawsons also lived
in Gloucester Place at No. 87, where Mary was born, and
where her family went to live about 1800, and she had
known the Evelyn family since she was six years old. When
she became engaged she was about eighteen. The engage-
ment lasted two years, as there was a delay and dispute
about settlements. James Hewitt Massy-Dawson intended
to give his daughter 6000, but John Evelyn insisted on
nothing less than 10,000. Finally, Mrs. Dennis generously
gave the extra 4000.
When George came back to England in 1816, after Water-
loo, he had been out of England about five or six years, and
had not seen his cousin and future wife since she was quite a
child. She would often see him walking in the Park with his
arm in a sling. Mary Jane Massy-Dawson belonged to a very
large family. Altogether there were twelve brothers and
sisters, of whom five were boys and seven girls.
The wedding took place from 87 Gloucester Place on
July 12, 1821, at Marylebone Church, London. George
was not quite thirty at this time, and the bride was twenty
years of age, as she was born, March 22, 1801. She was
small and very pretty, with dark hair, a fresh complexion and
blue eyes. Shortly after the marriage George and his wife
went to Paris and also to Barege, where George took the
waters. When they returned from their honeymoon they
took up their residence at 28 Gloucester Place. When they
were not in London they lived at the Castle, Kingston-on-
Thames, where they were the guests of James Hewitt Massy-
Dawson. Mrs. Dennis continued to live at 28 Gloucester
Place, which belonged to her and continued to be hers as
long as she lived.
For a long time before he married George Evelyn carried
his arm in a sling, but after his marriage he left off doing so
though the left arm was never so strong as the other.
MARY JANE MASSY-DAWSON (1801-1896)
WIFE OF GEORGE
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 253
George Evelyn was a Fellow of the Society of Anti-
quaries, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Kent, and a
member of the Athenaeum and Guards' Clubs. He took a
great deal of interest in all that concerned the welfare of
Deptford, and assisted his father in the management of the
Deptford estates. He was, like his father, a governor and
vice-president of the Kent Dispensary. Among the papers
left by him is a copy of a correspondence between him and
Sir Thomas Blomefield, Bart., in 1827, by which it appears
that George Evelyn was requested by his brother magis-
trates to urge on Sir Thomas the advisability of placing in the
commission of the Peace some resident Deptford gentlemen.
The following letter from George Evelyn to Michael Faraday,
the celebrated chemist and electrician, is preserved among
the manuscripts in the British Museum and shows the
interest which he took in science and literature. Faraday
was then assistant in the laboratory of the Royal Institution
of Great Britain, and was conducting a series of experiments
in the diffusion of gases. The letter relates to the founding
of the Athenaeum Club, and is dated from 28 Gloucester
Place, Portman Square, in the parish of Marylebone.
"March ^rd, 1824,
" GLOUCESTER PLACE, 28.
" SIR, In answer to a letter dated February 16th, with
which I have been favoured, I take leave to state to you
that I shall be most happy to lend my humble aid towards
the establishment of a Society founded on the principles of
encouraging Science and Literature, and I shall feel much
honoured by being constituted one of its members.
" I am, Sir,
Your most obedient,
GEORGE EVELYN.
" Mr. Faraday,
21 Albemarle Street."
George Evelyn left the army in 1825. The following
letter was written by him to Lieut. -General Sir Herbert
Taylor, Military Secretary :
254 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES,
August 19, 1825.
" SIR, I am desirous of availing myself of the per-
mission contained in His Majesty's Regulations dated
25th April ultimo, and to dispose of my half-pay com-
mission at the price established by the Army Regulations in
1821.
" The period of my service is fifteen years. My first
commission was dated May 1810. In 1814 I was promoted
to the rank of Lieutenant and Captain in the 3rd Regiment
of Foot Guards, at the Battle of Waterloo I received, while
employed in the defence of the farm of Hougoumont, a
severe wound in the arm, by which I have been ever since
disabled, and am in the receipt of a pension in consequence.
" Being by this wound rendered incapable of much
bodily exertion, I exchanged from the Guards to the half-
pay of the 60th Regiment, for the sale of which commission
I am now desirous of obtaining the sanction of His Royal
Highness the Commander-in-Chief .
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
GEORGE EVELYN,
Captain half-pay
6oth Regiment."
On November 27, 1827, George's father died, and Wotton,
which was entailed, came to him. He and his wife removed
there from Gloucester Place with their five boys, the eldest
of whom, William, was five years old. George Evelyn was
thirty-six at this time. At the time of his father's death
George was at Kingston, where he was then residing, and on
hearing of the death he came over to Wotton. Turner, his
father's butler, who had been with him since 1823, opened
the door to him and took him upstairs to the room where
his father lay. He went up to the body and knelt
down by the side of the bed. He was chief mourner at
his father's funeral, and carried his wounded arm in his
hand.
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 255
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN TO B. C. WILLIAMS, ESQ., OF
9 NEW SQUARE, LINCOLN'S INN
" KINGSTON, November 27th, 1827.
" MY DEAR SIR, I have just received the melancholy
account of the death of my father, of which I lose no time in
informing you, as one for whom he ever entertained a lively
friendship and esteem. He died this morning on his road
from Wotton to Brighton. Life was extinct before he could
be taken from his carriage. On an event so fearfully sad I
dare not hazard a comment. I am this moment about to
set out to see my unhappy mother.
" GEORGE EVELYN."
LETTER FROM GEORGE EVELYN TO HIS WIFE
" WOTTON, November 28th, 1827.
" MY DEAR JANE, Upon my arrival here I found my poor
mother in an alarming state of illness, brought on by mental
anxiety and excitement. I sent to Dorking for medical
advice, and the Gentleman who usually attends her, remained
with us during the night ; she was bled, but is now somewhat
better. It is a shock she never can perfectly recover ; to
have my poor dead father in the carriage with her without
a house within a mile of the spot where the sad event took
place ; I cannot bring my mind to look into the details
much less can I describe them, they are so shocking, so
deplorable. He died without pain ; in that at least there is
comfort. Light and gentle was the summons which termin-
ated his amiable and blameless life. Watch the children
during my absence ; let them never be alone in a room with a
fire ; let them never be alone in the cold damp garden ;
read these instructions to the nurses as coming from me ; to
their rigid execution I shall hold them responsible. The
hand of death is on our house, and it behoves us to be watchful.
Give directions that my bed in London be prepared, it is
possible that I may be obliged to go there. I am beset with
256 THE EVELYN FAMILY
business, while my mind, anxious and distrait, can be brought
to bear but on one subject. God bless you.
" GEORGE EVELYN."
The following letter was written by George Evelyn,
six days after his father's funeral, which took place on
December 5, to the Rev. John Evelyn Boscawen, Rector of
Wotton. The latter was the father of Evelyn, 6th Viscount
Falmouth :
To THE HON. AND REV. J. EVELYN BOSCAWEN
" KINGSTON, December nth, 1827.
" MY DEAR SIR, I take blame on myself for not having
before answered your kind and friendly letter, and can only
tender as some palliation of my neglect, the agitation, the
concern, and the business which necessarily devolved upon
me on the occasion of my father's sudden and melancholy
dissolution. I have brought my unhappy mother thus far
on her way to London. She is better than could have been
hoped considering what she has had to endure, that the
friend of her youth and her age is lost to her, that he departed
not after the ordinary manner of human dissolution, but was
suddenly called away without warning to himself, without
notice to his friends. While commencing a journey of
pleasure, he was summoned to go that Journey of which the
beginning is the grave, the end an appearance before that
unknown Being, whose will is deed, who gives and takes away,
who with a breath lights up or extinguishes the wavering
flame of existence.
" All the family at Wotton and myself regretted the
necessity which deprived us of your friendly offices and pro-
fessional assistance on the day of the funeral. He who we
then buried had a regard for you, the descendant of the friend
and patron of his youth ; he esteemed you were near to him
in blood, and near to him in affection. However, I am fully
aware that under the circumstances of the case it could not
have been otherwise ; our duties to the living are paramount,
they must not yield to our feelings for the dead. After all,
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 257
it is but of little import ; he whom you would have followed
to honour and lament would have been insensible to your
sympathy. Your presence might have added to the splendour
of the ceremony ; but what is splendour and pageantry
on such occasion ? Heap up plume and trophy if you will,
still the mourning hearse covers but corruption ; the worm
will mar it all, with its slimy filth defile it all. But this is
idle, I ought not thus to have troubled you with my weakness,
but my thoughts wandered on ; or rather on one subject
only could I fix them, and the pen has mechanically followed
their dictates. I was encouraged by the consciousness that
you entertained a sincere regard for him whom we have lost.
I loved him too ; I fear he suspected otherwise, therein he did
me wrong. It trenched upon our mutual happiness that I
was misunderstood.
" With kind remembrances to Mrs. Boscawen,
Believe me, my dear Sir,
Most sincerely yours,
GEORGE EVELYN."
In 1828 George Evelyn added the east wing to Wotton
House. The old one, which was in the Tudor style, had to be
pulled down as it was in too dilapidated a state to admit of
repair.
After George Evelyn came into possession of Wotton he
visited all the tenants. On Shrove Tuesday, 1828, he attended
a rent audit and, after the business was settled, the tenants
were given a good treat. George Evelyn made an admirable
speech, and drank the health of the tenants. He spoke so
kindly that the tenants were very much delighted with him.
Mrs. Dennis continued to reside with the Evelyns until her
death in 1832.
George Evelyn never altogether recovered from the
wound which he had received at Waterloo. For five years
after the battle he was under the care of Dr. Abernethy, as
several pieces of bone worked their way out of the wound,
which was between the shoulder and elbow. His final illness,
however, was brought about by a fall from a horse ; he was
riding from Wotton to Kingston-on-Thames, where he was
T 7
258 THE EVELYN FAMILY
staying with Mr. Pallmer, his wife's uncle, at Norbiton
Hall, when his horse fell down and then rolled on him.
Although he was injured he persisted in mounting it and
continuing his journey. On arrival at Norbiton, however,
he complained of faintness, and from that time he was never
well. A fatal and painful illness resulted from the accident,
which lasted eight months. He was attended by Sir Astley
Cooper, the eminent surgeon. He died, February 10, 1829,
at the age of thirty-eight, at 28 Gloucester Place, Portman
Square, a little more than a year after his residence at Wotton,
and thus his career, so full of promise, was brought to an early
close. There is a bust and a miniature of him and also of his
wife at Wotton, but unfortunately no portrait of him exists.
George Evelyn was buried at Wotton on February 23. He
left behind him six boys, the eldest of whom was then only
six and a half years old, and the youngest about six weeks.
Amongst the clump of trees by the Institute, known as
the Round Abouts, is a group of sweet chestnuts planted
by George Evelyn in 1829, the year of his death.
LETTER FROM THE REV. THOMAS ARNOLD, D.D. (HEAD-
MASTER OF RUGBY SCHOOL) TO MRS, EVELYN.
" RUGBY, February 22, 1829.
" MY DEAR MADAM, I need not, I trust, say how deeply
I was shocked and grieved by the intelligence contained in
your letter. I was totally ignorant of your most heavy
loss, and it was one of the hopes in which I have often fondly
indulged, that I might some time or other again meet one
who I believe was my earliest friend, and for whom I had
never ceased to retain a strong admiration and regard. I
heard of him last winter from a common friend who had been
indebted to his kindness and whom I have also lost within
the last few months, Mr. Lawes, of Marlborough ; and since
that time I had again lost sight of him, till I received from
you the account of his death. He must indeed be an irrepar-
able loss to all his family ; for I well remember the extra-
ordinary promise which he gave as a boy, of mingled noble-
ness and gentleness of heart, as well as very great powers
MARY JANE MASSY-DAWSON,; (1801-1896)
WIFE OF GEORGE EVEI.YN OF WOTTON
From a painting on ivory by Sir William Newton, in the possession of
Mrs. E. Wyndham Bailey
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 259
of understanding. These were visible to me even at an
earlier period of his life than you are perhaps aware of,
for it was not at Harrow that I knew him, but at Warminster,
when we were both very young, and since the year 1806 I
have never seen him ; but the impression of his character
has remained strongly marked on my memory ever since ;
for I never knew so bright a promise in any other boy ; I
never knew any spirit at that age so pure and generous, and
so free from the ordinary meannesses, coarsenesses, and little-
nesses of boyhood. It will give me great pleasure to comply
with your wishes with regard to an inscription to his memory,
if you will be kind enough to furnish me with some particulars
of his life and character in later years, for mine is but a
knowledge of his boyhood, and I am sure that his manhood
must have been even still better worth knowing. You will,
however, I am sure, allow me to state in perfect sincerity,
that I feel very ill qualified to write anything of this nature,
and that it requires a peculiar talent which I feel myself
wholly to want. I should give you, I fear, but a very bad
inscription ; but if you really wish me to attempt it, I will
do the best I can to express at least my sincere regard and
respect for the memory of my earliest friend.
" Let me thank you sincerely for all the particulars which
you have been kind enough to give me in your letter, and
" I remain, my dear Madam, with sincere respect,
Yours very faithfully,
T. ARNOLD.
" I ought to ask you what form of inscription you were
wishing to be adopted. I would endeavour to comply with
your wish in any case, but I think any failure or flatness in
verse would be much more observable, and to my own taste
the simplest style is the most suitable to such a subject."
LETTER FROM DOCTOR ARNOLD
" RUBGY, March i$th, 1829.
" MY DEAR MADAM, I have been so unusually engaged
in various business during the last fortnight that I have not
260 THE EVELYN FAMILY
been able to answer your letter so soon as I could have
wished. I have written on the other side of this sheet a few
lines which I am afraid show how very incompetent I am
to fulfil what I have undertaken. Indeed I am so conscious
of it that several years ago when I wished to write something
of the same sort for my only brother, I was obliged to content
myself with a mere statement of the situations he had filled,
and the time and manner of his death. In the present in-
stance I most sincerely hope that you will not scruple to
throw what I have written into the fire, if it does not entirely
meet your views.
" May I be allowed to have the pleasure of calling on you
when I am next in London, should you continue to reside
there ?
" I remain, My dear Madam,
Yours most faithfully,
T. ARNOLD."
INSCRIPTION ON TABLET IN WOTTON CHURCH TO THE
MEMORY OF GEORGE EVELYN
To the MEMORY of GEORGE EVELYN, Esq.
Only surviving son of JOHN and ANNE EVELYN of Wotton
House, in this Parish.
He entered the Army in 1810, was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant and Captain in the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards
in 1814. He served in the Peninsular War, and received at
Waterloo, while employed in the defence of Hougoumont, a
severe wound in the arm, which disabled him from active
service. His constitution never fully recovered from the
effects of his fatigues and sufferings, and an illness brought
on by a fall from his horse terminated his life on the 15th
February 1829i His public services were acknowledged by a
medal, his private work is commemorated in the following
lines from the pen of his early friend the Rev d Dr. Arnold,
head master of Rugby School :
His early years gave a beautiful Promise of Vigour of
Understanding, kindness of Heart and Christian Nobleness of
Principle ; His Manhood abundantly fulfilled it. Living and
Dying in the Faith of Christ, He has left to his Family a humble
but lively Hope, That as he was respected and loved by Men,
He has been accepted and Forgiven by God,
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 261
The day after George Evelyn's death, as his first cousin
once removed Sir Martin Archer Shee was at breakfast in
Cavendish Square, he was told that somebody wished to see
him who came to say that George Evelyn had died during
the previous night or that morning, and that this person had
been sent on behalf of Mrs. Evelyn to ask if Sir Martin would
go to her house where he lay to take a drawing of his face with
a view of having a portrait executed from it later on. Sir
Martin declined to do so, giving as one reason that he was
not personally acquainted with George Evelyn, whom he had
never seen in life, and therefore had no recollection of his
countenance, and that being so he considered it impossible to
make a satisfactory picture. Wishing, however, to facilitate
the object which Mrs. Evelyn had in view, he suggested that
some sculptor should be employed to take a cast of the face,
and he recommended for that purpose a sculptor of whom he
had a high opinion, who was accordingly applied to and
ultimately executed a marble bust from the cast. The bust
was afterwards exhibited in the Royal Academy.
George Evelyn's wife, Mary Jane Evelyn, survived her
husband many years, the latter part of her life being spent at
Campfield, near Leith Hill, Surrey. She died, January 11,
1896, at the age of ninety-five, and retained all her faculties to
the last. She was buried in the family vault at Wotton,
January 16. There is a portrait of her at Wotton, by Pickers -
gill, also a miniature and a bust, and a picture of her, by
Buck, surrounded by her six boys.
George Evelyn was a smallish man, but strongly made,
with wavy, light -brown hair and a refined, manly appearance.
He had neat feet and small hands, he wore whiskers, and his
mouth showed great decision of character. He was very
orderly in his habits, and was a great walker, an early riser,
a tennis player, and an expert fencer. He used to go
frequently to Angelo's fencing rooms in Regent Street. He
had a well-educated, polished mind and was fond of literature
CHILDREN OF GEORGE EVELYN
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, the eldest son, born July 27,
1822, of whom presently.
262 THE EVELYN FAMILY
GEORGE PALMER EVELYN, the second son, was born,
August 21, 1823, at 28 Gloucester Place ; he was baptized at
St. Marylebone, September 25. He went to Cheam School
in January 1835, and left in December 1837. He was of
Hartley Manor, Dartford, Kent, and of 59 Wimpole Street,
Cavendish Square, London, and was a Justice of the Peace for
Kent. He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society,
and was colonel of the third battalion of the East Surrey
Regiment (formerly 1st Royal Surrey Militia). He was
captain in the first and third battalion of the Rifle Brigade,
and served with it in North America and at the Cape of Good
Hope. He also served in the Boer War of 1848, as some
companies of the Rifle Brigade were employed in it. He was
on special service during the Crimean War, and was present at
the battles of Alma, Balaklava, and Inkerman, also at the
siege of Sebastopol and the defence of Eupatoria. He was
decorated with a medal and four clasps for the Crimea, fourth
class for the Medjidie, and Turkish medal. He married, in
1855, at the age of thirty-two, Esther Emmeline, second
daughter of Lewin Phillips of Frankfort, and granddaughter
of the Rev. Philip Phillips of Frankfort, and by her had
three sons, George, Charles, and Edward, and a daughter,
Mary. George Rowley, the eldest son, was born August 12,
1857. He was second lieutenant in the 3rd Regiment (fiuffs)
and died during the Zulu War at Fort Ekowe, Zululand,
March 30, 1879. Charles William Glanville, the second son,
was born March 22, 1860, and died about the year 1890.
Edward Shee, the third son, was born, December 30, 1866.
Mary Emmeline, the only daughter, married, in 1887, Henry
Vardon,Esq.,of 40 West Cromwell Road, London, and has one
son. George Evelyn died in London, March 18, 1889, aged
sixty-five, and was buried in Wotton churchyard, March
22, 1889. His wife died, May 27, 1887, at 59 Wimpole Street,
and was buried in Wotton churchyard.
CHARLES FRANCIS, third son of George Evelyn, was born
at 28 Gloucester Place, October 2, 1824. He went to Cheam
School in January 1834 and left in June 1840. He lived at
Horn's Lodge, Tunbridge, Kent. He served in the Navy and
was afterwards lieutenant-colonel in the 3rd Royal Surrey
GEORGE EVELYN OF WOTTON 263
Militia. He married, on July 31, 1880, at the age of fifty-five,
Emma Brook, third daughter of the Rev. Charles Paul, Vicar
of Wellow, Somersetshire, at St. Mary Abbot's, Kensington.
They had one son, Francis Alvin, born January 4, 1882, at
Sunning Hill, Ascot, Berkshire, and baptized, February 9, at
Sunning Hill. Charles Evelyn died at Park Point, Bessels
Green, near Sevenoaks, February 17, 1885, aged sixty, and
was buried at Riverhead, Kent, February 21, 1885.
FREDERICK MASSY EVELYN, the fourth son, was born at
28 Gloucester Place, December 14, 1825, and baptized at
St. Marylebone, January 19, 1826. He went to Cheam
School in January 1835 and left in December 1844. He was
Vicar of Oakwood, Surrey, and afterwards lived at Sadler's
Hall, Kent. He married, May 21, 1848, at the age of twenty-
two, Miss Oretta Cocks of Ipswich, and by her had two sons
and a daughter, viz., William Frederick, born September
7, 1857 ; John Dawson, born March 29, 1862 ; and Mary Ade-
laide, born . . . ; married, at Eynsford Parish Church, Kent,
February, 3, 1882, to the Rev. S. E. Andrews of Leeds, Kent.
Frederick Evelyn died at Margate, August 19, 1877, aged
fifty-one, and was buried at Oakwood.
JAMES EVELYN, the fifth son, was born at 28 Gloucester
Place, May 8, 1827. He was baptized at Kingston on the
following 3rd of June. He went to Cheam School in June
1837 and left in June 1843. His education was continued
at Eton. He was lieutenant and captain in the Grenadier
Guards. In 1860 he married, at Boulogne-sur-Mer, Anne
Antoinetta, daughter of John Davis, Esq., of Richmond,
Surrey. By her he had two children, James Boscawen, born
July 12, 1868, who died at Pau, March 19, 1869, and was buried
at Wotton; and Alberta Sylva, only daughter, married at
Wrotham, Kent, January 15, 1885, to Captain Edmund
Wyndham Green Bailey, captain in the third battalion Royal
West Kent Regiment, eldest son of the Rev. J. Sandford
Bailey of Nepicar House, Wrotham, Kent, and has one son.
James Evelyn died at Paris, of consumption, November 6,
1874, aged forty-seven, and was buried in Wotton church-
yard, November 12, 1874.
EDMUND BOSCAWEN EVELYN, sixth and youngest son,
264 THE EVELYN FAMILY
was born at 28 Gloucester Place, December 29, 1828, and
baptized at St. Marylebone, January 23, 1829. At the time
of his birth his father was dying. He was called Edmund
after a brother officer of his father's who served in the
Peninsular War and who died about this time, and Boscawen
after the Hon. and Rev. John Boscawen, then Rector of
Wotton, who was a distant cousin. He was educated at
Cheam School, where he went in January 1838, and left in
December 1842, and at Rugby. He afterwards entered
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his degree of B.A.
in 1851 and M.A. in 1854. He entered the Church, and in 1853
became curate at Shepton Beauchamp where he remained
till 1855, when he went out to the Crimea (where his brother
George was then serving) as chaplain to the forces. In 1856
he returned to England, and on August 20, 1857, he married
Lucy Emma, daughter of the Rev. Charles Francis Johnson,
Vicar of White Lackington, Somersetshire. In 1857 William
Evelyn appointed him to the living at Wotton. In 1875 he
resigned the living. St. Clere in Kent at one time belonged
to him, as he bought up his brother's shares of the property.
He afterwards sold it and resided at Yaldham, near
Sevenoaks, Kent, from where he removed to Terrys Lodge,
near Wrotham, and finally to Worcester House, near
Cirencester, where he died September 18, 1904.
PART IV
CHAPTER I
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN
A MEMOIR
BY WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT
MY earliest recollection of my old friend and country neigh-
bour, William John Evelyn, dates from as far back as the
years 1856-1857, when I, being at that time a boy at school
and spending my holidays at West Horsley Place with my
relative Henry Currie, saw him from time to time. Evelyn
was then already Member for West Surrey, having succeeded
Henry Currie some years before. He must have been about
thirty-five, and, in spite of his public position, was still very
shy, and I remember that my old relative, who was one of his
principal constituents, used to assume a rather bullying
air towards him, an attitude which he bore with patience,
though doubtless with inward reservations. As owner of
Wotton he had too high a position in the county to resent
any such airs of patronage.
With my school days, however, I ceased to frequent West
Horsley, and it was not till many years afterwards that I
renewed my acquaintance with Evelyn. The occasion of it
was the part taken by him in the autumn of 1882 when he, in
company with Lord Randolph Churchill, the late Lord
Wemyss, the late Mr. Percy Wyndham, and a good many other
Tory Members of Parliament, gave me help in the House of
Commons in my attempt to obtain a fair trial for Arabi
Pasha, who had been made prisoner by Lord Wolseley after
the battle of Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt. Evelyn's motive and
theirs was the honourable one of resisting the outcry, then
so strong in England, for having the prisoners hanged, and
265
266 THE EVELYN FAMILY
in answer to my appeal for funds to carry on the defence,
Evelyn generously subscribed twenty pounds. He con-
sidered the honour of the country involved in the issue.
The interest thus taken by him in Egyptian affairs was
continued by him during the following calamitous years of
Mr. Gladstone's administration, which included Gordon's
mission to Khartoum and death ; and it was in a spirit of
strong antagonism to the violences of the Liberal party of
that time both abroad and in Ireland that he stood for
Deptford at the general election of 1885. His position in
the Tory party was in many ways analogous to my own.
Though a Conservative in home affairs, he had never accepted
the strong Imperialist views of the party introduced by
Disraeli, and he neither approved of the aggression on
Egpyt nor of coercion in Ireland. He was a Nationalist in
the old-fashioned sense, and the Irish blood inherited through
his mother gave him a special interest in the Irish cause.
Thus we fought the elections of 1885 on much the same
programme, he at Deptford, I in the adjoining constituency
of North Camber well. The earliest letter I can find of our
twenty and more years' correspondence relates to this and to
the campaign we were still making in favour of Arabi's being
restored to liberty. He writes :
" November 19, 1885. To my great regret I find that the
exigences of the severe election contest in which I am engaged
will prevent my attending the meeting in behalf of Arabi.
Nothing but absolute necessity could keep me away from the
meeting, so heartily do I sympathise with you in this move-
ment and so fully do I recognise the great service you have
already rendered to our country. The surrender of Arabi, our
prisoner of war, was an act of a most dishonourable kind on
the part of the late Government. But for you, Arabi would
in all probability have been judicially murdered, an indelible
stigma attached to the name of England. In any future
meeting or movement for the release of Arabi you may
command my humble support. To restore this unfortunate
man to liberty, would be a graceful act on the part of the
present (Lord Salisbury's) ministry."
A month later, December 16, he writes expressing his
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 267
" painful surprise on public grounds," at my defeat at
Camberwell, and inviting me and my wife to Wotton. This
letter contained a hint of his sympathy with my Indian
views in connection with Lalmohun Ghose's candidature as
a Liberal against him at Deptford. " It is to be regretted," he
says, " that Lalmohun Ghose should have been advised to
attack me at Deptford where I had already been five months
in the field. If India has her enemies I am not one of them."
Almost immediately after this Mr. Gladstone issued his
" kite " about Ireland, followed shortly after by Jesse
Ceilings' attempt to raise the English land question ; and
I find, January 8, 1886, a letter alluding to both these sub-
jects. On the land question he writes, " As a counterpoise
to the visionary cow and three acres, why should we not
offer to the agricultural labourer some sort of security in
his actual holding, his cottage and garden, security from
capricious eviction and from capricious raising of his rent ?
Had the Conservatives offered this or something like this,
they would have gained many seats." And about Ireland,
" I go far with you in your views. My seat is due to the
Irish vote. If Orange councils prevail in the Cabinet, I
dread the result."
I find two visits to Wotton about this time recorded in
my diary thus :
" December 20, 1885. This is a fine old house, the property
of a fine old gentleman and one who has a heart to under-
stand. There are a number of young ladies in the house and
children, a fine family party. I remember William John
Evelyn thirty years ago at West Horsley Place, a shy young
man much bullied by my old relative Henry Currie, who
thought himself the lord and master of this part of Surrey.
Evelyn was then already M.P. for Surrey, he has now just
been returned for Deptford, where he has a large inherited
property and is called ' the Squire ' a truly honest man
such as it does one good to see."
A second entry says :
" January 20, 1886. To Wotton where I find Evelyn
very well disposed about Ireland, he says he would like
to go there on a political tour with me." And again :
268 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" January 31. At Wotton. We have been talking again
of a political tour in Ireland. Evelyn declares nothing shall
induce him to vote for coercion.
" February 16. Evelyn is in doleful dumps about his
position in Parliament, would like me to take over his seat
at Deptford.
" May 14. Called on Evelyn who is still very unhappy.
He would like to support the bill (Mr. Gladstone's first
Home Rule Bill) but dares not do it alone among the Tories,
so is going to vote against it. He has not quite the fibre
of a fighter."
These slight entries show Evelyn's political position pretty
clearly. He was essentially a Conservative, by temperament
and tradition, but he had the old-fashioned view of national
freedom as opposed to Imperialism, and his mind was a
logical one which refused to be tricked into any compromise
with his principles, while he already considered himself too
old either to change his party or to embark on any strong
independent line of his own. For this reason the part he
played in Parliament in 1886 and 1887 was more or less a
passive one ; he deeply disapproved Lord Salisbury's policy,
but, as long as strong measures of coercion were deferred in
Ireland, he continued to vote with his party. I was myself
too much occupied with my Irish campaigning to see him
very frequently, though every time we met he recurred to his
desire that I should take his place at Deptford as a more
avowed Home Ruler than he himself was able to be. At the
general election of 1886 he retained his seat ; but when the
change of policy in Ireland took place in 1887 and Mr. Balfour
as Chief Secretary announced and carried his violent ceorcion
bill that summer, Evelyn saw that his position in the House
of Commons had become an impossible one, and made up his
mind to retire from Parliament. My arrest under the Coercion
Act was the occasion of his final decision. Its date was
October 23, and the sentence of two months' imprisonment
was pronounced on me under the arbitrary terms of Balfour's
Act a few days later. It was during the interval which
elapsed between that and my trial on appeal that Evelyn
sent in his letter to his Deptford constituents announcing his
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 269
intention to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds as soon as
Parliament should meet in February. I was at Wotton at
the time of his doing this, and he had obtained my consent,
not a very willing one, to stand as Home Rule candidate
for Deptford as soon as the seat should be vacant. In the
meanwhile and being still in Parliament, he accompanied
me to Ireland and was present at my new trial, with his
brother Edmund, and on to my prison door in Galway.
The Deptford election took place while I was absent in
gaol, and it was no fault of Evelyn's if it did not go in my
favour ; we lost it by less than 200 votes. " We lost Dept-
ford," he writes, March 6, 1888, " but not ingloriously " ;
and a few days later he insisted upon bearing half the ex-
penses of the election, which came to a little less than a
thousand pounds. " The election," he writes, March 28,
" was as much my affair as yours, and the verdict of the con-
stituency is a rebuke to me." He was extremely generous
in all matters where money was concerned, and he would not
be denied. The result, nevertheless, depressed him not a
little, and he ceased from that time to take any active part in
politics.
Our relations, however, continued as cordial as before, and
from time to time he would write to me in regard to public
events where our ideas remained closely in common.
On the 18th of November 1892, he writes :
" I fear that Lord Rosebery will wreck the Government
by his fearful jingoism ; his last speech reported in yesterday's
papers is worse than any previous utterance. Evidently he
thinks that the country generally is in favour of a forward
policy. I have some doubt on the subject, but the Jingoes
are loud and demonstrative while the other side of the ques-
tion is rarely placed properly before the people."
On the 23rd of June 1892 I find his first letter from North-
wood House, where he began to take up his occasional resi-
dence, so that we had become nearer neighbours than before,
and I thus had the advantage of seeing him more frequently.
He was a genealogist and took much pleasure in making the
discovery that there was a family connection between us
through the Glanvilles and Scawens. He also interested
270 THE EVELYN FAMILY
himself much, with me, in the breeding of Arab horses, and
became a regular attendant at our Crabbet sales. He was
happier in some ways at Northwood, where he lived in quite
a small way, the house being little more than a farm house ;
also he was politically more at his ease there than at Wotton.
" The whole atmosphere at Wotton and its neighbourhood,"
he says, sending me a copy of a letter he had written to his
cottagers there, "is so tainted with the coercionist and jingo
miasma that I fear that these poor fellows might be deceived
and my name wrongly used (at the elections). As to the
tenant farmers on my estate I leave them to their own imagina-
tions ; almost all of them are worshippers of Balfour."
Another interest we had in common was that of chess -
playing, at which he was a great proficient. This we indulged
in as often as we met. He used to spend most of his evenings
in this way, his secretary, Paxton, being his usual opponent,
or his brother Edmund. He was, however, a far better player
than any of us, and, moreover, a most generous one, scorning
to take advantage of our oversights. I had nevertheless
invented a chess opening which for a while puzzled him,
and I find several allusions to this in his letters as also in my
diary. It violated, he assured me, all the received principles
of good play ; but I now and again managed by it to win a
game of him.
" My second chess defeat," he writes, September 11, 1894,
" has led me to entertain a higher opinion of your zigzag
pawn opening. Herewith I send you a short work by Bird,
giving a brief but clear view of the principal openings."
Bird was the well-known professional chess player, with
whom Evelyn had had many contests, being within a little
of match form. I am therefore proud of this testimonial.
In the autumn of 1893 his humane feelings were once
more roused by the doings of the South Africa Company :
" So the South Africa Company of filibusters have
gained a glorious victory. The butcher's bill of slaughtered
Matabele is almost sufficient to satisfy the most ardent
Jingo. The policy of our Foreign Office seems to me most
miserable. There is no reprobation of the atrocious things
done in South Africa, but there is great jealousy of the Char-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 271
tered Company's acting without deferring to our Foreign
Office. Colonel Goold Adams, in command of the Imperial
forces, seems to have followed in the track of the Company's
forces, and to have entered Bulawayo on Sunday, the 29th
ultimo, the day after its occupation by the Company. Mata-
beleland is the prize sought for. Whether it shall belong to
the Company or the Crown matters little to the unfortunate
inhabitants and their king. The transaction is in itself
infamous, and I wish that our Foreign Office, inspired by
nobler instincts than the traditions of aggressive grab, would
save the Crown from being mixed up in this business. . . .
You are the only prominent Englishman who has protested
against these traditions, and I hope that you will publicly
declare your sentiments on the Matabele War. I suppose a
public meeting (at Sayes Court Hall ?) would not be advisable.
If however you think otherwise, such a meeting could easily
be arranged."
And again on the same subject, November 16, 1893 :
"To me the attitude of Sir W. Harcourt is better than
that of Gladstone, because it is free from cant. To go in for
burgling because others burgle is at any rate a simple and
intelligible principle. . . . Gladstone cannot stop ; he must
now go on in the career of degradation and dishonour. If
Cecil Rhodes is not a sordid cruel vulgar adventurer, if he be
simply what Gladstone calls him " a very able man,'* he
must be rewarded as a man who has added a province to the
Empire, and has a fair claim to all the honours that a grateful
Gladstonian Government can confer on him. ... So it has
come to this that for the benefit of a Vienna Jew, foreign
diamond merchants, and other speculators, British and
foreign, these horrible massacres should be perpetrated. . . .
Would that there were any feasible way of showing publicly
that there exists in the country a minority which disapproves
of these abominations. . . . The farmers ought to be taught
that Jingoism means the enrichment of adventurers and the
pauperisation of England. They shout for the Empire and
then they cry out about rates and taxes."
In the winter of 1895, Evelyn paid a first visit to Egypt,
or rather a second visit, for he had been there forty-seven years
272 THE EVELYN FAMILY
before, and he spent some days with me at my country house
of Sheykh Obeyd on his return from the Upper Nile, a visit
of which I preserve a very pleasant recollection, Frederick
Harrison being also staying in the house, and I find a note
from him from Alexandria, written on his way home from the
house of his brother-in-law there, Arthur Chichester :
" I shall return to England," he writes, " with a vivid
sense of the degrading and irritating system of government
established here under the present military occupation of
the country."
I find a note in my diary of that year showing that it was
at this time that he made up his mind to retire from the
management of his property and to make over the Wotton
estate to his son :
" Evelyn has asked me to be trustee for a settlement he
is making of his property by which he makes over Wotton to
his son, as he is tired of having the management of it and
also would escape if possible the onerous death dues. I have
consented to this though much against my habit and having
told him how bad a man of business I am, and likely to be how
much abroad."
He returned to Europe by way of Naples in Frederick
Harrison's company, and writing from Castellamare and
giving his impression of the Nile and its politics, with which
latter he continued to be in full sympathy with me, he writes :
" Frederic Harrison and I both wish that you would come
forward and take some part in the world of politics. You
would I think have a much stronger following than perhaps
you suppose. As for me, my day is past, and in the battle
of life I acknowledge myself baffled and defeated. Your
suggestion of a pleasant and quiet retreat on the banks of
Nilus is tempting ; but I would rather have a place at Assuan
or thereabouts than in Lower Egypt. Is there land to be had
in that neighbourhood ? There I should like to end my days,
if it could be arranged, waited on by soft-eyed Nubian girls
(if Lord Cromer would not indite me as the possessor of
slaves), there to rest and to be buried in some quiet spot
under the palm trees, leaving to dear Johnny the burden of
the family estate. But this is a dream, and only a dream."
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 273
During the summer that followed, I found my friend much
troubled at the growing weakness of his mother, to whom he
was devotedly attached and of whom, though he was now
seventy-three, she being ninety-four, he would speak with all
the passionate affection of youth, visiting her, if I remember
rightly, nearly every day, while he was at Wotton, at her
house a mile or two away. It was a very beautiful trait in
his character. She died on 10th of January 1896, and to get
away from the scene of his grief he once more paid me a visit
in Egypt, soon after his return from which another domestic
blow struck him, that of his wife's serious illness and her
death in July 1897.
" The blow," he writes to me, " is staggering ; my present
plans are uncertain." The autumn of that year he spent in
Florence, having taken a villa in the direction of Fiesole, the
Villa Pucci, 25 Via Bolognese. "The villa," he writes,
" belongs to the Marchese Pucci, and I have taken it for four
months. There I propose to rest awhile with my four
daughters and their governess ; five English servants from
Wotton are in the villa ; the cook and coachman are Italian,
John is with me, and I have suggested to him to undertake a
journey to Egypt. I shall give him a letter of introduction
to General Henderson, who has been my guest at Wotton in
happier days, and I feel sure that I may count on you and
Lady Anne to allow him to call on you at Sheykh Obeyd.
I have urged John to study Arabic during his stay in Egypt
and to keep a little diary. I am naturally very anxious
about him and his sisters. What I should wish is that, after
a short stay at Cairo and seeing the pyramids, etc., he should
up the Nile, as far at least as Thebes. I shall give him a
letter to General Henderson, who has stayed at Wotton. . . .
He would take as courier an Austrian named Hans von
Zwischenberger, who really seems to me rather above the
common level of couriers and whom I have found to be
strictly honest. Zwischenberger speaks (besides European
languages) Arabic, Syriac, Greek, with a smattering of
Ethiopic, having travelled in Abyssinia with an Austrian
nobleman. His account of the Abyssinian people is inter-
esting. He is a Catholic, and was married to an English wife,
18
274 THE EVELYN FAMILY
now deceased. ... I gave him (John) your advice about
keeping a diary, and I hope that he will do so. My object
in letting him undertake this journey is that he may acquire
in some degree the habit of acting and thinking for himself,
believing as I do that it is not well that a young man of his
age should be always subjected to home restraints. ... In
fact I wish him to acquire habits of observation and to enjoy
the period of youth. And I hope that he will not long remain
unmarried. I have advised him, as an intellectual occupa-
tion, to study Arabic while he is in Egypt. . . . Moreover, I
should be glad of his having some conversation with you
about political matters, though I do not at all desire in the
present state of things that he should enter Parliament. But
I do not wish him to be a Jingo or a Coercionist."
And again in November :
" Everything is now arranged for my son's journey to
Egypt. I hope that John will call on you when he is at
Cairo. He intends to keep a journal, and if he ascends the
Nile, I wish him to employ his time in endeavouring to learn
the rudiments of Arabic. My great desire is that he should
acquire habits of observation and self-reliance, and I shall
be glad also if he really enjoys his little excursion, for youth
should be a period of enjoyment, as Horace advises ; trouble
and pain should come later, since come they must, such
is the lot of mortals."
This project of his son's journey was carried out success-
fully, and I am glad to remember that Johnny stayed some
days with us at Sheykh Obeyd. . . . During the following
year, 1898, 1 find few letters from Evelyn. It was a time when
I was passing through a severe illness and my correspondence
was neglected. I remember, however, that my very first visit
on my recovery was to Wotton, where I spent three pleasant
days in July, renewing our chess combats. This is an entry
which I am glad to record, as it tells of my having won a game
from him, an unusual occurrence :
" July 14. Won a game with my own four pawn opening.
To win with it requires the most cautious possible play. I
call it the battle of Waterloo, for one has to stand almost still,
never crossing the middle line till the enemy has broken his
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 275
strength. Then you advance, as occasion offers, and secure a
victory. Evelyn declares that the opening violates every
law and principle of the game, but admits its strength.
' If it is sound,' he said, ' we have nothing to do but to burn
all our books on chess.' He is a far better player than I am,
and can give me two pawns if I play him with any of the
common openings. I find Evelyn with strong Spanish
sympathies in the war that is going on."
I remember, too, that we were at one in condemning the
great slaughter at Omdurman and the affair of the Mahdi's
tomb. All England was that time going through a phase of
extreme Jingoism which culminated in the unjustifiable
Transvaal War. Here I again find letters from Evelyn worth
quoting. I had published a long poem of protest against
these doings, and he writes :
" November 2, 1899. Thank you for the copy of your poem
4 Satan Absolved,' it is indeed a daring flight on your part.
The idea, the ultimate reconciliation of Ormuzd and Ahri-
man, is worked out by you in your splendid Alexandrines
most effectively. The poem, from its originality and vigour,
will assuredly make a great impression. Would that the
poem, with your prefatory observations, might induce some
of our countrymen to pause and reflect ! But perhaps
nothing but disaster will bring about such a result. I see
quoted from The Times a short poem in heroic couplets
from the Poet Laureate entitled ' Inflexible as Fate.' I
should have thought that, after the jingoistic effusion of
Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Austin might have refrained from
what seems a work of supererogation. I regret to find that
Swinburne, whose genius I admire, has taken his stand in the
jingo ranks."
Evelyn's strong disapproval of the war led him to refuse
any subscription to a widows and orphans fund being raised
at Deptford.
" My refusal," he writes, November 14, " was based on
grounds similar to those given in the letter you enclosed to
me. I am pleased to find that in refusing I stand in line
with you. I told the applicant that the persons who should
be applied to are the authors and promoters of the war.
276 THE EVELYN FAMILY
It is interesting to learn that, at your rent audit, the letter
you enclosed to me was read with applause. This confirms
me in my opinion that this abominable war is not so popular
in the country as in London or the great towns. When I
speak to country people on the subject, either in Surrey or in
Sussex, they do not seem by their answers to be much affected
by the jingo mania."
My journal contains :
" November 24. To Wotton to dine and sleep. They
have fought a new battle in South Africa and another in the
Soudan, and announced them as two British victories : the
South African nothing much to boast of, two hundred of
our men lost, mostly of the Guards, the other probably
less bogus. Dear old Evelyn still sticks religiously to his
principles with me. We are the last of the Anti-Imperialist
Conservatives."
That winter of 1889-1900 Evelyn again paid me a visit
at Sheykh Obeyd. I have a letter from him, dated Cairo,
March 5, 1900, giving an interesting account of his travels
in Upper Egypt and of the new reservoir at Assouan, which
was just then in process of building, and the new hotels
that were springing up there.
" Egypt," he says, " seems to be losing its picturesque-
ness ; and Cairo is become little more than the resort of
fashionable and wealthy pleasure-seekers. On arriving at
Cairo, a telegram arrived from John with the unexpected
news that he had joined the Imperial Yeomanry and would
leave immediately for the Cape." . . .
This was, of course, a source of great anxiety to him for
some weeks, only to be relieved by the intelligence of John's
capture by the Boers in the first engagement in which he
took part.
Later he wrote of his son, " I do not know where he is
now. Since his landing in South Africa I have had one
letter from him (May 14)."
Again :
" October 31. The Liberal party seem to me in a wretched
condition. In regard to the South African War, instead of
going in for Liberal Imperialism, they should have stood to
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 277
their guns. Then, if they were destined to come to grief,
they would have fallen with dignity. You ask me about
John ; my anxiety about him is great. . . . The last letter
I received from him was dated Pretoria, October 3."
Pretoria had by this time been occupied by Lord Roberts'
army.
A few weeks later, he writes in better spirits :
" December 11. John is probably by this time on his
way to Italy by Durban and Port Said in a German ship.
On his arrival at Naples, he will be met by my estate agent,
Mr. Rice, and by an old servant of the family, and I wish
him to stay some little time at Rome, with my cousins the
Pantaleones, before returning to England. This adventure
of John's has given me much anxiety. ... In yesterday's
Pall Mall Gazette there is an account of the looting and burn-
ing of the Chinese city of Ten-lien by English troops. The
narrative is ghastly in its details. I see no marked abatement
in the war fever here."
The final end of his anxieties about his son was not long
to be waited for. On November 29, 1901, I had the pleasure
of receiving from him the announcement of John's engagement
with Miss Frances Ives and that the marriage would take
place in January. I consider these letters very interesting
as bearing on a certain side of Evelyn's character, the high
duty which he felt was his of worthily representing the
honourable tradition of his family. His dynastic hopes were
still further crowned by the birth of a grandson, heir to
Wotton, in August 1904.
Our correspondence continued on the same footing of
common neighbourly interest and a community of political
ideas, I am glad to remember, to the day of his death. We
agreed together in regard to Japan and China, Somaliland
and the Thibetan expedition, which marked the later years of
the Conservative administration, and in our opposition to
Sir Edward Grey's foreign policy when the Liberals returned
to power. My last letter from him was written from Camp-
field House, where he had taken up his residence near Wotton,
having made over Wotton itself to his son. It was to tell
me of an accident, a fall, from which he never completely
278 THE EVELYN FAMILY
recovered. At the same time he sent me the extraordinarily
generous contribution of one hundred and twenty pounds
towards a fund which I was at that time raising in connection
with a matter which deeply interested us both, that of pro-
viding for the sufferers in the notorious Denshawi case in
Egypt. The news of his somewhat sudden death a few weeks
later was to me a very great grief, the more so because my
own state of health at the time had prevented me from
paying him a visit during the whole of the past winter.
Of all the friends with whom in my later years I have
been intimate, I hold William John Evelyn to have been the
most completely after my own heart, as representing the best
type of English country squire and Conservative politician,
untouched by the plutocratic vulgarities of the modern
imperialist who has so largely replaced him. He was a kind
and helpful neighbour and a generous friend, faithful to his
principles, and these of the noblest kind.
WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT.
July 1913.
CHAPTER II
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN
CHILDHOOD AND EARLY LIFE
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN (of Wotton, Deptford, and Rathbone
Place, London), eldest son of George Evelyn, was born at
28 Gloucester Place, Portman Square, July 27, 1822. He
was baptized in the house, 28 Gloucester Place, on the
following 19th of September. His godparents were his
paternal grandfather, John Evelyn of Wotton, his grand-
father on his mother's side, James Hewitt Massy-Dawson of
Ballinacourty, otherwise called the Glen, Tipperary, Ireland,
and Mrs. Evelyn, of St. Clere, Kent.
The latter was very anxious that her godson should be
christened William because it was the name of her dead
brother, whom she was very fond of, but William's parents
did not like the idea as they considered it to be an unlucky
name in the family. The child's uncle, that is to say his
father's elder brother, William, had been drowned in a
shipwreck in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ; his great -uncle,
William Glanville Evelyn, had died from a wound which
he received in the American War of Independence ; and his
cousin, William Evelyn of St. Clere, expired owing to an
accident in the hunting field. Mrs. Evelyn of St. Clere,
however, insisted that the baby should be called William,
and she had her way in spite of remonstrances.
William's first nurse was an Irishwoman, a Mrs. O'Connor,
the wife of a private soldier in his father's regiment. In
after life his earliest recollections were of playing in Portman
Square with a number of other children and of frequently
walking with his father from Gloucester Place to Hyde Park,
379
280 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and stopping on the way at a shop where they were provided
with curds and whey. He remembered, too, up to the last
days of his life the beauties of Kensington Gardens, and of
how it was then, as now, a favourite resort for nurses and
children. He recollected how he and his brothers used to
go there constantly with their nurses. Once they met the
Princess Victoria there. She and another lady were walking
along a path accompanied by a little dog. William and
George, the two eldest boys, immediately ran after it and
tried to catch it, to the consternation of their nurse, who
afterwards said to them : "Do you know what you have
done, children ? That was the Princess Victoria." They
were very frightened and expected to be sent to prison.
On the death of his grandfather at the end of 1827, when
William was five years old, the family removed from London
to Wotton. A little more than a year after this, when he
was six and a half years old, his father died, February 15,
1829, after a lingering illness of eight months. His youngest
brother, Edmund, was only a few weeks old. Thus his
mother after eight years of married life was left a widow with
six little boys, when she was not quite twenty-seven years
of age. She had to face the prospect of managing a large
property which was encumbered by many heavy liabilities.
For many years she lived a very retiring life at Wotton.
William's father, Captain George Evelyn, had never
properly recovered from a wound in the left arm which he
had received at the battle of Waterloo, where with his
regiment, the 3rd regiment of Foot Guards, he had been
engaged in defending Hougoumont. For years after the
battle his arm gave him great trouble, as pieces of bone
worked their way out. His final illness, however, was caused
not by his wound but by an accident which he had while
riding from Wotton to Kingston-on-Thames. His horse
fell and then rolled on him, but although injured he was
able to remount it and proceed on his journey. On arrival
at Norbiton Hall, however, where he was staying, he com-
plained of faintness, and from that time was never well and
suffered greatly as an abscess formed on the liver. The
following are a few notes written by William Evelyn in a
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 281
memorandum book giving his childish recollections of this
period :
" I recollect wondering at the absence of my father
from Norbiton House, where we were staying at the residence
of Mr. Massy-Dawson at Kingston. I asked where my
father was. They told me he had gone to Wotton, and I
replied, ' I don't believe there is any such place as Wotton/
This must have been in November and December (1827)
when my father had gone to Wotton on hearing of my
grandfather's death. I recollect a journey with my father
and mother to St. Clere, Kent. I recollect perfectly well
stopping to change horses at Godstone and walking with
my father on to a small tongue of land in a pond before
the inn. Then I remember the workmen employed on the
east wing. Then I remember being in London again about
July 1828. This was in order to obtain good medical advice
for my poor father. Then I remember his lying ill on a
sofa in the drawing-room at 28. No longer did he take
me as was his wont in 1827 a walk before breakfast to Hyde
Park and give me curds and whey at the little shop at the
gate. Then I remember on February 14 in the afternoon
my grandmother Mrs. Dawson coming to the nursery and
telling us that my father was dying, on which I began to
cry. Next morning I was called in to see him lying cold
and pale and to kiss his forehead."
A short description of Wotton House, where Mrs. Evelyn
and her six little boys were henceforward to take up their
permanent residence, may not be out of place here. Up
till now they had been very little there, as Captain Evelyn
had not been on very good terms with his father, who,
although possessed of many good qualities, had a somewhat
autocratic disposition. The house lies about three miles to
the west of Dorking on the road to Guildford and is situated
in an upland valley about 400 feet above the level of the
sea. It is on the slope of Leith Hill, which is nearly 1000
feet high and is the highest point in the south-east of England.
The exact date of the oldest part of the house is not known,
but in general character it is Elizabethan. It has been
in the possession of the Evelyn family since 1579, at which
282 THE EVELYN FAMILY
date it was purchased by George Evelyn of Long Ditton in
Surrey from one Henry Owen. From this George Evelyn,
William John Evelyn was directly descended in the male
line. The house has been extensively added to at different
times. The oldest part of the house is the centre, as both
the east and the west wings are modern, but occupy the
sites of old wings of the building. The west wing was
added by William John Evelyn in 1864, the old wing having
been destroyed by fire about 1790, and the east wing was
built in 1828 by Captain George Evelyn, as the old one,
which was in the Tudor style and was as old as the reign of
Elizabeth, was found to be too dilapidated to admit of repair.
The house faces north and south and is comprised of a
centre part and the two wings. It is built of red brick
with a slate roof. When originally purchased in the reign
of Elizabeth by George Evelyn, the house was encircled
by a moat, and this remained until the time of his grandson
George Evelyn (brother of the diarist), who laid out the
garden and ground in the newly introduced Italian style,
and in doing this levelled a hill to the south of the house
which enabled him to fill up the moat. The Italian garden
no longer exists, but a Doric portico or temple which George
Evelyn built still remains and also a fountain in front of it
which was made by him. In all these improvements he
was advised by his brother John Evelyn and also by a
cousin, Captain George Evelyn, who designed the portico.
George Evelyn also built the banqueting hall, a fine room in
the Italian style. The house, which is somewhat in a hollow,
is environed by exquisite woods of beech trees. It was in
this lovely place impregnated by the romance of bygone
ages and amidst all the beauties of nature that William
Evelyn and his brothers were to grow up. Throughout his
life he remained deeply attached to Wotton and grew up
a devoted student of nature.
The following extracts are from the diary of Madame
Henriette Bourgeaud, who was a Swiss governess in the
Massy-Da wson family in 1827 at 87 Gloucester Place, and
seems to have been rather intimate with Mrs. Evelyn, whom
she speaks of as " ma chere amie." A copy of the diary,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 283
which was published in 1837, is kept at Wotton. It is
mostly a minute description of the writer's miserable experi-
ences as a governess and has no bearing on the history of the
family with the exception of the following extracts, which
are here given translated into English :
" March 1830. Yesterday, Monday, the weather was so
fine that I profited by it to take a long walk. I directed my
course towards G P (Gloucester Place) in order to
see again, in passing, a house where I was for two years as
governess, and where, as a consequence, I suffered ; but one
attaches oneself even to the place where one has known
pain, and when the time has passed, one likes to throw a
glance on it in repassing it. I looked, therefore, at this
number ; the house seemed to be inhabited by its former
masters (Note : 87 Gloucester Place, where James Hewitt
Massy-Dawson resided) ; I recognised the same draperies in
the windows of the drawing-room, the windows of the bed-
rooms were open as formerly ; as in old times, the entrance
door was painted in brown, and the number in yellow as
before ; a sigh escaped from me on approaching the door ;
but I no longer stopped as I formerly did at that door. Why
should I ? I was forgotten there. I went away, therefore,
and heaved a second sigh : the first had been caused by the
remembrance of the sorrows that had overcome me there ;
the being forgotten was the cause of the second. I continued
on my route, and went and knocked on the door of a lady,
a relation of that same family of G P and whom I had
known and loved when I lived there. A servant in deep
mourning came to open it to me. I asked if Mrs. E. were at
home. ' Yes, madam,' he replied, c but she is at table, she
dines so early now. Shall I go and tell her ? ' ' No,' I re-
plied, ' I don't want to disturb her.' I then gave my
card and departed.
" Being surprised at the servant being in mourning, I
meditated sadly on it as I went along. 4 What ! ' I said to
myself, while I trembled at the idea, ' can it be the head of that
young family who is no more ? Can it be the father of
those five little boys, so charming and so gay ? Can it be,
284 THE EVELYN FAMILY
in fact, that worthy and estimable Mr. E. whom I have
known, always so good, so amiable ; that man, as distinguished
by the qualities of the heart as for a profound and thoughtful
mind ? But no, I will not think of such a sad event ; no,
it is not he. No, all that mourning that I have just seen
is not for him.' While making these reflections, I made
my way towards my humble dwelling where I threw myself
on my bed, exhausted with fatigue, emotions, and sad and
painful thoughts.
" Alas ! my suspicions of the death of Mr. E. were only
too well founded. Yesterday I renewed my visit to No.
of G P ; the same servant in mourning opened the
door to me ; they showed me into the drawing-room, where
I found Mrs. E. dressed in widow's weeds, so remarkable
in England. This proved to me the terrible truth of which
the suspicion alone had clouded my eyes with tears. . . .
Oh, earth ! where are thy charms ? . . . All is sorrow
here below. . . . Heaven ! oh yes, the calm of Heaven is
far sweeter. . . . Poor dear friend, on seeing me she was
very much moved ; she came forward, threw herself on my
neck, and we remained thus for some seconds incapable of
speaking ; we then sat down and a torrent of tears relieved
our hearts. . . . ' It is two years since I have seen you,'
she said to me at last. 6 Ah ! what a change since then.' . . .
After she was a little more herself again, she recounted to
me the details of the illness and the last moments of that
worthy friend. I asked to see the children ; she had them
fetched. Five little boys all dressed in black entered soon
afterwards ; they recognised me at once and all threw
themselves on my neck while saying to me : ' Oh ! we
have not forgotten you at all ; now you must never go
away again, you must stay with us always.' At these
sincere outbursts of affection my eyes filled with tears.
The mother, in squeezing my hand, added : 6 You see how
they regret you ; it was a happy time when you were near
us.* I understood her. I pointed to the sky : ' He is there,'
I said to her, ' he is waiting for you . . . there one reposes
in peace, after all the sorrows of the earth. But, in the
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 285
meanwhile,' I added, ' take courage, take care of yourself,
live for all these charming little beings who surround you
and have no other support but you.' Those dear little
ones looked at us with an air of astonishment, and the
youngest said to me, in stretching out his little arms to me,
4 Why are you both crying ? ' I clasped him to my heart,
and I went away with a promise to come back again the
next week to pass a day with them. Arrived at my lodging
I was obliged to throw myself on my pallet worn out by
painful emotions ; I felt quite crushed with sadness when
I recalled my thoughts to that excellent man, that good
friend, that father of a family, passed away so suddenly in
the flower of his age. Cut off like the herb of the field.
In the morning the scythe of the reaper passes over it, and
already in the evening, even the spot where it blossomed
is unrecognisable."
In this same month of March, 1830, Mme Bourgeaud
was invited by Mrs. Evelyn to stay at her house in London
for a month. She arrived there on March 26.
" On the 26th of March I left my lodging. Here I am at
G P staying with my dear Mrs. E., who has received
me with a charming friendship. I have a pretty room,
well aired and very clean. Oh, how happy I feel to be for
some time away from the dirt and the dust of my dark
retreat ! . . .
" April 1st. It has snowed, it has rained, and been very
cold to-day. What a difference to those passed days when
there was such an excessive heat ! I have been drawing
the whole morning ; the rest of the day I passed with Mrs.
E. near a good fire where we read and talked. The subject
of our conversations is generally on the death of her husband.
She likes to talk of it and to remember his slightest words ;
his habits, his books, his pens, his written thoughts, all
these are dear and precious to her now, and I who knew well,
appreciated and esteemed that excellent man, partake
sincerely of the regrets of his widow and I weep with her
over a friend. The youngest of her six little boys, little
Edmund, who was born six weeks before the death of his
286 THE EVELYN FAMILY
father, is a very interesting child ; his expression is so
melancholy that one would say that he feels the loss that
he has just had to bear at his entrance into life. Poor
child ! May God serve him as a father !
" The 13th. No letter. No news ; I have as yet no hope,
and the time passes rapidly. It is true that I am not taking
much trouble any more ; I am tired, discouraged with running
and writing always in vain, I am not going to disturb myself
any more. The morrow will provide for itself. Mrs. E. and
I walked a great deal to-day ; walking makes her gay and
does her good as well as me. We joked and laughed this
evening at the expense of a certain Mrs. , stupid enough
and thinking herself a great genius ; she is teaching the E.
children to read.
" The 24ith. Mrs. E. and I went this evening to Maryle-
bone Church to hear an excellent English preacher. What
a superb sermon ! How consoling it was and true ! How
he spoke to the soul ! Oh ! how happy I felt during this
time ; a gentle sort of celestial impression took possession
of my soul, augmented still more by the aspect of that
beautiful church lighted by a multitude of lamps and by the
organ music, so beautiful that one might have taken it for
the voices of angels. We returned to the house so tired
that I went at once to repose myself without writing as
usual some words on my day.
" The 26th. My dear Mrs. E. entered my room this
morning to propose a walk to me, and finding me in tears she
asked me the reason of it. I told her, while throwing myself
on her neck ; she reprimanded me for it with the greatest
kindness, assuring me that the home which she offered me was
given me with the greatest pleasure, and that I must always
look upon her house as mine. May God bless her for those
words.
" May 20th. To-morrow we depart for W. Oh ! how
that idea rejoices me. There I shall find again nature, the
woods, solitude, and that beautiful sky of which the azure
will not be obscured by the smoke from the roofs of men.
But no more reflections for this evening. I am so tired, as
well as my dear good friend. We have been packing up the
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 287
whole day ; it is midnight and I hear her still ; she is occu-
pied with her departure of to-morrow. Poor gentle friend,
she was very pale and very sad this evening ; we are going to
the place where repose the ashes of her friend.
" The 24<th. Wotton (I put this name in full out of
gratitude ) . I have lived in this delicious abode since the evening
of the day before yesterday ; I arrived there at eight o'clock
during superb weather. Mrs. E. and Miss (Addison), the little
governess of her children, came to meet me. On approaching
this beautiful dwelling the sight of a nature so magnificent
caused me to experience a sentiment of calm and of happiness
that I had not felt for a very long time. Nothing is more
beautiful, more romantic, than that superb ground of which
the woods are the most magnificent ornament ; they extend for
several miles all round the old manor, which yet does not
respond to the majestic grandeur of nature, which seems to
have reunited there all the beauties ; mounds, streams, cas-
cades, forests, all are to be found in this romantic place.
The other day, in London, I said to a gentleman of my acquaint-
ance that I was going to pass some time at Wotton. ' At
Wotton ! ' he said to me ; ' ah ! I congratulate you ; it is a
celebrated ground, and both romantic and classic, as it be-
longed to the celebrated John Evelyn, so well known for his
Sylva (it is the title of a work which treats of the way to
plant trees and to beautify them). He composed that work
at Wotton, and the magnificent woods which he had planted
there himself, are a good example of the truth of his book.
I write this at this moment in an antique chamber of this
manor ; I am seated on a big comfortable arm-chair, so
respectable and so old, that I imagine it has been used by
the good as well as celebrated John Evelyn, who has perhaps
written his Sylva or his Memoirs in this arm-chair, which,
according to this supposition, would be nearly two hundred
years old, for this John Evelyn was born in 1620 and died
in 1706 ; he lived therefore under Cromwell, Charles n,
James n, Mary, William, and Anne. To my right, above the
mantelpiece, is a portrait of this John Evelyn when he was
eleven years old. To my left is an immense bed as old as it
is delicious, when in the evening, very tired with our walks
288 THE EVELYN FAMILY
in the woods, I throw myself on it to find there some repose.
Opposite to my antique arm-chair are three old windows
still more venerable, which uncover to my eyes a charming
hill crowned with woods. In the morning when I wake up
I open my windows, and there on my knees I address my
prayer to the Eternal ; one prays with more fervour and
sincerity in the sight of His works. . . .
" On waking up this morning the first object which
struck my eyes was the sight of a charming fountain on the
side of the hill, of which the spouting water elevated itself
to a great height to fall again in silvery pearls sparkling in
the first rays of the sun. Some steps from there some cows
browsed on that hillock enamelled with flowers and crowned
by the majestic chain of gigantic forest trees of which the
summits seem to touch the skies. This picture of the morning
which I saw from my bed on opening my eyes, seemed to me
magic, enchanted, and made me experience a sentiment of
peace so delicious, that on descending to breakfast I com-
municated it to my friend, while thanking her again for having
given me an asylum in such a beautiful place. She smiled
and told me that every one in the house noticed that I looked
happy and gay. ' Yes,' I replied, 6 1 experience here with you,
a sentiment of peace and of happiness which I have not felt
since I have been in England.' After breakfast we went for
a long walk in the woods, where our conversation ran as usual
on our dead friend, I say our friend because I had the happiness
to have obtained his esteem, more flattering in my eyes than
a thousand other approbations, for he did not accord it
lightly or by chance. . . .
" June 4th. As we were walking this morning in the
forest, Mrs. E. suddenly gave a cry. I look all round us quite
trembling before daring to find out the cause of such a fright.
At last I venture to ask her if she has seen some monster.
' Oh ! I have seen ... I have seen,' she says, ' a
mouse which has passed quite close to my foot.' ' A mouse ! '
I reply, laughing. ' What ! you are then so afraid of it ? '
' Oh yes, I have always had an insurmountable horror of
them.' ' Not insurmountable,' I replied gently, ' but in-
surmounted ; what harm can a little animal so innocent do ? '
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 289
4 Don't let us talk of its innocence,' replied my poor friend,
still half frightened, ' and let us return very quickly to
the house.' While going along I said to myself : ' Poor beings
that we are, we are full of weaknesses. . . .'
44 The 9th. The grandmother of my friend (Mrs. Dennis)
has just arrived here, to visit her grandchild and her great-
grandchildren. She is a venerable-looking woman, aged
eighty-one, blind, but possessing still fairly well the faculties
of a mind which they say has been strong and active. Never-
theless what remains now of that passed youth, of that
energy of body and mind ? Alas ! decrepitude, feebleness,
dependence, and that is all. . . .
" The IQth. What a dark day ; rain from morning till
night ; I have passed it partly in prattling with the old grand-
mother, who, fortunately, has been very pleasant to me which
is not very often the case with that good woman, who, if she
accords you her favour one hour of time, retracts it the
following one. To please her I have been listening with the
best grace in the world, to old anecdotes that she had told me
a hundred times in the last three years, and which she repeated
to me to-day three times in the space of some hours, with-
out suspecting the repetition, while on my side I left her with
her sweet illusion, trying to laugh and to seem as surprised at
the third mention as at the first. Ah, how sad it is to get old !
" The llth. The old grandmother has departed this
morning ; after her departure, without imparting anything
to each other, we felt happier and more free ; there is a great
deal of constraint in the presence of that poor woman, so old
and so blind, listening to all that goes on around her and
asking an explanation ; if she hears moving, coughing,
ringing, the opening of a door, moving of a chair, etc., one
has to give her an ample explanation of each of these sounds.
Ah, how sad it is to grow old !
44 The 13th. After Church we went for a walk on the
hills, where we stopped to contemplate what they call here
the new building ; it is a wing of the manor which was re-
built two years ago by its last possessor. Now the master
of this beautiful estate has been dead for a year, and the
building which was begun has remained just as he left it ;
19
290 THE EVELYN FAMILY
not one stone has been added to it ; the doors, the floors,
the partitions, and the ornaments are not there yet ; they are
waiting in vain for the master in order to be placed there.
He comes no more that master. Where is he ? Take a few
steps to the little village church ; there you will find a stone
of marble with carved letters ; read and you will see there
the name of the master that you are looking for. All that
remains of him on the earth is under this marble ; but his
soul has flown towards the sky, it has returned to God.
He is happy, he has nothing more to do with the passions
of men or with the vanities of the world.
" The 23rd. We laughed very much this evening on the
subject of our causeless terrors of hydrophobia of which one
hears so many instances now that we cannot walk without
trembling ; if we see a poor dog at a distance he seems to
us mad, and we hasten to jump the first hedge or the first
ditch at the risk of breaking our necks to avoid an imaginary
danger. To-day while we were out walking my friend said
to me all of a sudden : ' It is not only dogs that I am afraid
of, but men, for I have heard that a gentleman who had been
bitten by a dog some time ago, and who was thought to be
cured (having taken the necessary remedies), has just bitten
his barber as a first sign of his madness.' ' How horrible,'
I cried . . . and yet the idea of being afraid of the bites of
men that we might meet going peacefully to their homes, or
to their work, this idea, I say, seemed to us so absurd that
we could not help laughing at it ; at that moment I added,
4 Oh ! there is a man over there on a horse with a dog running
by the side ; let us hide. At this formidable sight my friend
was actually so frightened that she ran and jumped over a
high hedge to hide herself in the ditch on the opposite side,
and I followed her in a kind of vague terror that the dog,
the horse, or the man were mad ; and perhaps all three.
The poor man, who noticed us behind the hedge, and who, no
doubt, had seen our ridiculous movement of fear from a long
way off, saluted us humbly as if to re-assure us. On returning
to the manor, we laughed at ourselves for having allowed
ourselves to give way to such ridiculous fears, as if one could
believe all the reports, always exaggerated and often false.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 291
" The 25th. The weather has been very extraordinary
to-day, the morning hot and rainy, and in the afternoon such
a dark sky, the air so stifling and the atmosphere so oppres-
sive, that breathing, walking, talking, or sitting down was an
effort ; nevertheless there was no storm this evening although
the sky seemed to announce it. At this moment there is a
tremendous wind ; everything cracks here, windows, parti-
tions, chimneys ; this manor is so old that the architects who
have examined it do not find it very safe ; also, I should not
be surprised if a storm destroyed this old edifice, and made of
it a heap of ruins under which we should perhaps be buried.
This evening we were talking of it and we should hardly have
been able to make up our minds to go to bed without the
belief in a Divine Providence which would watch over us
and would know well how to save us if it wished. Neverthe-
less I seriously advised my friend not to expose herself and
her family another year in this unsafe building, unless the
repairs necessary to its solidity are done.
" July 12th. The old grandmother has come back here
for a short time, and this morning my friend has gone to
pass some days with one of her sisters, so that during her
absence I am going to do my best to please and amuse the
good old grandmother with whom I am happily in great
favour at this moment, although always in fear, as I think
I have said before, that this favourable wind may change all
at once into a violent tempest, all the more unexpected
because no cloud had announced it.
" The 13th. I read to-day three English sermons to the old
grandmother, who liked my reading so much, according to
what she told me, in spite of my foreign accent, that she wants
to have quite as much of it again to-morrow ; I am quite
willing. If my favour depends on that, I shall not lose it ;
there is, besides, pleasure in obliging people and especially old
people ; their nature so feeble, so dependant, and so near to the
grave, must naturally inspire us with regard and compassion.
" The 14>th. This morning I went for a tremendous walk
with the little governess and the children ; she led us on to a
high hill from where one had a really magnificent view. On
returning to the manor I read sermons to the good old grand-
292 THE EVELYN FAMILY
mother. I stayed with her for the rest of the day, and at last,
this evening, I have learned by chance that something that
I said quite innocently in conversation and laughing, has been
changed, turned about, and badly understood by a person
vile enough to listen at doors and to fabricate afterwards at
will calumnies on what he thinks he has heard. I confess I
ani pained at what I have just heard, although it is not of
importance, and the vile object, the author of this false report,
is not worthy of my anger. Why, then, am I so angry ? Is it
pride, or self-love ? Is it puerile fear of the opinion of the
world that makes me shed tears at this moment on account
of the slander that comes from it ? Yes, I must confess, to my
shame, it is all that, or rather nothing but that, that makes
me sad. Oh ! my poor thoughts ! Why let yourselves
trouble for nothing ? When a worm gnaws at a plant the good
and humane gardener takes no other vengeance than shaking
the reptile to the ground, where it returns to crawl in the dust
from where it had come, while the gardener, who is a novice,
impatient, and irritated at the wound done to the plant,
pursues the vile animal, catches it, and crushes it, without
being ashamed of such a miserable victory. Should I like
to resemble this last, in taking vengeance on a worm ?
No ! . . . then I am going to forget the wound and the little
worm which has done it, and the little insect who has had the
stupidity to make me perceive it.
" The 16th. I have had a letter from my friend who tells
me that she is coming back to-day to the manor. What a
good thing ! above all for her dear little children.
" The 17th. Yesterday evening we waited in vain for
Mrs. E. ; she did not come, and this morning I have received
a second letter which announces to me that she will not come
back till Monday with her sisters. This delay has put the good
old grandmother in such a bad temper that to-day she has
refused my readings. I did not know what to do to amuse
her ; also in contemplating the poor blind woman, seated
there before me, hemming by the groping of her fingers some
coarse kitchen cloths, I could not help repeating often to
myself, ' Ah, how sad it is to get old ! '
" The ISth. The rain has not ceased a moment for three
w|
K* ^
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 293
days and three nights ; to-day, Sunday, the weather is so
frightful that it has been impossible for us to go to church
which is some way from here. I therefore said my prayers
alone in my room, the good grandmother said them in hers
with her maid, and the little governess with the children, in
the schoolroom. We all re-united at dinner and all separated
after the repast, as usual, and we re-united again at tea.
This life of women who do not care for each other is rather
singular. The mistress of the house is absent, her governess
does not care for me and I feel the same towards her ; as for
the grandmother, she tells us both unceasingly that she cares
for no-one in the world, outside her children, and that, except-
ing for herself and her family, there are no more people who
are really religious and Christian in the world, etc. However,
I shall not cease to render to that lady the respect which is
due to her age, besides I ought to be grateful to her as her
granddaughter, Mrs. E., is my friend. I try also to be always
attentive and considerate towards her in spite of her fits of
bad temper. I offered this evening to copy a sermon for her
that we have just read and that she thought so beautiful
that she wants to have it. To-morrow I shall copy it for her,
happy thereby to prolong my favour.
" The 19th. Mrs. E. has come back ; we waited for her
at tea, and I was very happy to see that good friend again.
I had placed on the mantelpiece of the drawing-room the
picture in relief that I destined for her, and this little surprise
seemed to give her great pleasure.
" The 20th. My friend is so pale and so sad since her
return that that change which I hoped would do her so much
good seems to have produced the contrary effect. We were
all sad to-night at dinner, I don't quite know why. The
grandmother does not seem to me to have been well the last
few days ; I am afraid she may die suddenly while she is here.
May God preserve at least for some time her granddaughter
from this blow. She owes a great deal to that grandmother.
" The 26th. This evening after dinner I silently escaped
to go for a solitary walk in the fields. The sun had set, a bluish
mist began to cover the hills, the surrounding woods pre-
sented nothing but a long black mass ; not a leaf moved on
294 THE EVELYN FAMILY
its stem, and this silence of nature was only interrupted
by the bells of the cattle which were browsing in the meadow.
While I thus walked along slowly and in solitude, I arrived at
a plantation of young trees, placed there by the master of
this estate about two years ago. ' The master has fallen and
those trees still grow,' I said to myself in contemplating them.
A sigh was about to escape from me at this idea, when I raised
my eyes to the sky, ' He is there,' I thought ; ' is he not there-
fore better there than here ? There the true Christian finds
calm and peace.'
The 27th. Alas ! It is all useless ; it is in vain now
that I force myself to be always obliging and attentive towards
the old grandmother, her caprice has turned against me ;
she cannot leave me two days in peace without using the
hardest words to me. I see well that I shall have to leave,
and that that is her object in treating me thus, but at any rate
my dear good friend, far from upholding her grandmother
in this, entreats me without ceasing not to leave her until I
have found a family that would give me a convenient home.
Nevertheless I repeat it, I must depart ; since the grand-
mother has been here I have lost my tranquillity, my peace.
I am afraid to say a word, I am afraid not to say it ; I am
afraid to go into the drawing-room, I am afraid not to go
into it ; I am afraid to go for a walk, I am afraid not to go for
a walk ; everything is changed and misinterpreted by that
lady, otherwise to be respected, but who, being blind and very
old, hears badly, understands badly, and forms an erroneous
judgment on everything. As she has been very much
deceived in her life, she thinks and says so openly, that apart
from her family the whole world is composed of rogues,
hypocrites, false friends, etc. ; also, I do not doubt, that she
seeks to persuade my friend that I am, like the rest of the
world, a false friend, and a cheat who seeks to deceive
her ; that is no doubt the cause of the sharp words which she
throws at me at moments when I least expect them. Yes, I
must go away, for I confess that, in spite of my constant
efforts, I cannot succeed in conserving for two minutes
running that favour which is more precarious than the wind,
as it changes more often.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 295
44 The 30th. I have received this morning a letter
which gives me some hope of success ; may God will that
it be so.
44 We are expecting society in the house ; we have there-
fore, Miss and I, offered our rooms to Mrs. E. for her
friends, so that I am writing this in one of the drawing-rooms
which we have made our bedroom for two or three nights.
We have each a large sofa arranged for sleeping, and as the
room contains a large number of family portraits, this morning,
on waking up, and on seeing all these old portraits hanging
round the room, and seeming to regard us, some smiling, others
frowning, I was almost tempted to hide myself under the
blankets so as not to be exposed to the mockery and censure
of passed generations.
44 The 3lst. It is midnight ; I have just packed my things
once more in their journeying carriage, that good old trunk.
I have received a letter from the lady that I spoke of above ;
she asks to have an interview with me, so I shall depart
to-morrow for London. Good-bye then W. . . ., good-bye
peaceful residence ; good-bye hospitable manor. Good-bye
dear, good friend who have received me so amicably under
your roof. May the Eternal render this blessing to your
children ! May they find, like me, a friend in this strange
world, if misfortune overtakes them.
" To-morrow is Sunday ; I shall go for the last time to
that pretty church of W., and in saying good-bye to it, my
eye will turn itself towards the marble stone which contains
the remains of a friend, and will deposit there, in parting, the
tear of remembrance."
There is a pretty picture at Wotton, by Buck, of the
six little boys. They are dressed in picturesque suits with
lace collars, and they have bare arms and necks. Edmund,
the youngest, is standing on a chair in a white frock and blue
sash with his mother's arm round him, and the rest are stand-
ing in various positions.
On January 2, 1832, old Mrs. Dennis died. Her grand-
child, Mrs. Evelyn, wrote in a small diary on that date :
44 My dearest Grand Mother expired at 6 o'clock in the
296 THE EVELYN FAMILY
morning. Her death was truly that of a sincere & perfect
Christian. Death was, with her, a source of rejoicing."
On May 16 of the same year she writes, " Mrs. Russell
came to me as Governess."
George Evelyn, in his will, had appointed his wife and the
Rev. J. Boscawen, Rector of Wotton, joint guardians of his
children, with the provision that in the event of Mrs. Evelyn
remarrying, her guardianship should cease and Mr. Boscawen
should remain sole guardian. Mrs. Evelyn had resolved
never to marry again. Mr. Boscawen, however, noting the
provision in the will, and desiring to have the management
of the children's affairs in his sole hands, attempted to bring
about a second marriage, and with this object in view, intro-
duced to her a curate of the name of Courtenay, who became
tutor to the six boys. Mr. Courtenay was encouraged by Mr.
Boscawen to pay attentions to Mrs. Evelyn, and, to her
astonishment, eventually proposed to her. She refused him,
and Mr. Boscawen then made out that Mr. Courtenay had
received encouragement. The result was considerable
friction between the Evelyns and the Boscawens, and the
boys were forbidden to have any further intercourse with Mr.
Courtenay.
In the year 1834 William lost three near relations. The
first death was that of his grandmother, Mrs. Massy-Dawson,
on March 14 of that year. Her Christian names were Eliza
Jane, and she was the daughter of Francis Dennis of Jamaica,
and Mary Burke, his wife, daughter of Nicholas Burke of
Corry, County Mayo. There is a pretty picture of her as a
small child, at Wotton, where she is represented as dancing
with her sister, both little girls being attired in white dresses
and pink sashes. Both have brown hair and blue eyes.
The parents are watching them dance, the father in a stand-
ing position, and the mother seated and accompanying her
children on a banjo.
The second death in the family was that of William's aunt,
Frances, his father's only sister, who died at Florence after a
lingering illness on April 22.
The third death was that of his grandfather, James
Hewitt Massy-Dawson, who died on October 2, aged fifty-five.
<J <J
to 5
ti 5
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN . 297
This bereavement of both her parents was probably a terrible
blow to William's mother, who must often have been in need
of their counsel and experience, particularly in the manage-
ment of her six boys, who grew up with the disadvantage of
having no father to advise them.
William was educated first at East Sheen, and from there,
in January 1835, he went to Cheam School which was kept
by Doctor Mayo. His brothers, George and Frederick, went
there at the same time. He was about fourteen and a half
years old at this time. His brother Charles was already there,
as he had been sent there in January 1834, just a year before.
The following little sketch concerning his schooldays at
Cheam has been written by Miss Mayo, a daughter of Doctor
Mayo :
" Mr. Evelyn was sent to Cheam School in January 1835,
and remained there till June 1837, when he went to Rugby.
He was one of Doctor Mayo's favourite pupils, partly perhaps
at first through sympathy with the young widowed mother
of six sons, and through interest in the eldest who would
never know a father's guiding hand, but must be prepared
to fill a high position in after life. Soon after, Doctor Mayo
perceived rare qualities of excellence both in intellect and
personal character, veiled by a natural shyness which he did
his best to counteract, and as it were to draw the boy out
of his shell. A great attachment sprang up between master
and pupil. Mr. Evelyn would often say, in after years, that
his days at Cheam were the happiest in his life, and would
speak of the interest he took in the subjects of Natural
History and Chemistry which then were taught nowhere
else. He took great pleasure in a visit to Wotton from the
master, Mr. Reiner, who gave these lessons, and in showing
him his own little boy. His remembrance of those days
seemed to be as fresh as ever till the end of his life. He would
tell of a great school-friendship with a boy who shared a garden
in the playground with him. At one time there was a rupture,
but he could not remember the reason, or how a reconciliation
was effected, but there must have been one, as he recalled
returning from a walk when he was not well and leaning on
this boy's arm. All this he would relate with an amused
298 THE EVELYN FAMILY
chuckle. Mr. Evelyn was very faithful to some of his Cheam
School friends, and would often talk about them. There was
one in particular whom he much regretted, through no fault
of his own having lost sight of. This man died not very long
ago. About fifteen years before his death, Mr. Evelyn asked
a friend to go over to Cheam with him, and was delighted in
being shown over the old house which was considerably
altered. He identified his own bedroom and one or two
original schoolrooms, and was so charmed to find a man who
said that as house-boy he had often blacked Mr. Evelyn's
boots, that he gave him a sovereign. He visited Dr. Mayo's
grave, and copied the inscription, speaking of him with the
greatest affection."
The following is a quotation from a letter, dated June 22,
1901, which William Evelyn wrote to Miss Mayo concerning
his time at Cheam :
" All that I can say in regard to Cheam School is that I
was very happy there, and shall always retain a most affec-
tionate recollection of your parents. Well do I remember
when I was ill that your mother came to my bedside and
spoke such kind and comforting words to me that I was much
moved by her affectionate interest in my welfare."
He also wrote the following letter to Miss Mayo, in which
he refers to the school :
"AugUSt 22, 1888.
" DEAR Miss MAYO, Accept my best thanks for the
cuttings of cabbage roses and also for the most interesting
photograph and lithograph which you have so kindly sent.
Cheam is a spot of earth most endeared to my recollection,
and the day when I left the school was an ill-starred day for
me. I was truly pleased to revisit Cheam with you and to
revive old memories.
" Believe me,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
Two great friends of William Evelyn at Cheam were Hugh
Proby (son of the third Earl of Carysfort) and Wyndham
Hoste.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 299
TRANSLATION BY WILLIAM EVELYN AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN
(TAKEN FROM THE " CHEAM SCHOOL JOURNAL " OF 1836)
" Ulysses' Farewell to Calypso
" Goddess, farewell ! the hour of my departure has arrived.
That time which I have been so long desiring comes at last,
and I now return to my native country, to Ithaca, where I
shall behold once more my wife and son, who perhaps even
now suppose that their Ulysses is no more, swallowed up
by the ocean. Yet, think not that I am ungrateful, O
Goddess ! think not that I shall cease to remember your
benefits. You saved my life, and rescued me from the raging
deep. You not only rescued me, but received me into your
island, when I was an unhappy wanderer, cast upon your
shores by the tempest. You supported me, and even
promised me immortality if I would consent to stay here,
giving up all thoughts of returning to my native land. I
acknowledge all your kindness ; but not the delights and
pleasures of your island, not the happiness of having a
goddess for my wife, not all the delights of immortality, can
wean my affections from my native country. They cannot
allay the grief that I feel as a husband and a father ; they
cannot banish my anxiety as a king. Many a tedious day and
sleepless night I have passed on the shore of your island,
lamenting my hard destiny, despairing ever to see Ithaca
again, and looking sorrowfully on the turbulent sea, desiring
in vain to return to my native country. Then, O Goddess !
your promises and pleasures were all in vain ; they could
not assuage the grief of my mind. In vain you tried to
dissuade me from my return ; in vain you attempted to
divert my attention to other objects yourself, in detaining
me, caused me grief. Even if I had accepted your offers
even if I had consented to stay here, enjoying with you the
delights of immortality I could never have been happy
while absent from Ithaca. I confess that my Penelope is far
inferior to you in beauty and mien. She is a mortal and you
are a goddess. I allow that the delights and pleasures of
Ogygia far exceed those of Ithaca ; but so strong is the tie
300 THE EVELYN FAMILY
that binds me to my native land that nothing can destroy
it. You tell me that I shall endure many misfortunes, and
encounter many accidents, before I see again my native
shores ; but no perils can deter me. Though I must alone
encounter the tempest, though perhaps I may lose my life in
the ocean, rather let me perish thus than renounce all thoughts
of return. Once more, O Goddess, farewell.
W. E. Age 14."
On March 28, 1837, William's godmother, Mrs. Evelyn
of St. Clere, died, and as she left no children St. Clere passed
to William and his five brothers, according to the law of
Gavelkind which then prevailed in Kent, which provides
that if a person dies without making a will, his land shall
be divided equally between his nearest of kin. Finally it
came to belong to Edmund, the youngest brother, who bought
up his brothers' shares. He afterwards sold it, and it now
belongs to Sir Mark and Lady Collet.
In June, 1837, William left Cheam and was sent to Rugby.
He was now nearly sixteen. He was contemporary at Rugby
with several boys who were destined to become distinguished.
Among them were the Earl of Derby, Matthew Arnold,
Tom Hughes, and Dean Stanley. Matthew Arnold and Tom
Hughes (author of Tom Brown's Schooldays] were his personal
friends. The celebrated Dr. Arnold was at this time head
master.
With regard to his Rugby schooldays, a friend of his,
Mr. Augustus Orlobar, the Slogger Williams of Tom Brown's
Schooldays, writes as follows :
" Though I was at the School House and a great friend
of W. J. Evelyn, I am sorry I can give very little useful
information. He was always considered clever and well read,
and I think I remember his gaining prizes in the Sixth Form.
We had no school magazine at that time. He was a diffident
and shy boy, and did not take much part in the games, though
he played up well at football occasionally. He was an in-
tellectual boy, and set a good example of high-minded
morality. I was with him in the Sixth Form, and again at
Oxford ; and I was at Wadham when he was at Balliol. In
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 301
after life, I stayed with him at Wotton, and he was god-
father to my second son, named after him Evelyn Henry,
now a retired Colonel in the Marines."
Another old schoolfellow, Mr. Henry A. Olivier, writes as
follows :
" Evelyn was senior to me at Rugby. I only remember
him as a quiet, gentlemanly boy, whom I much liked. . . .
He did not signalise himself by gaining any prize, as far as I
remember, nor by prominence in either cricket or football, or
running Hare and Hounds."
Mr. John G. Hollermy writes as follows :
" It is more than seventy years since I was at Rugby with
William Evelyn, and my memory, like my frame, is very feeble.
I was intimate with him at school ; he was a very quiet sort
of fellow, and I cannot remember his taking any part in any
magazine or the like, nor was he prominent in school games
or in school work as far as I recollect. He had literary
tastes, and I have a vague recollection of being introduced
by him to the older English dramatists and attending " read-
ings " of their dramas in Evelyn's study (at the end of the
bottom passage in the School House). I rather think he,
as well as I, was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge
Club, and we used to meet there in after years."
From Rugby he went on to Oxford, where he entered
Balliol College (the same College in which Sylva Evelyn took
his degree). He took his degree of M.A. in 1844.
The following is an extract from Lord Beaconsfield's
Correspondence with his sister, 1832-1852, published in
1886 :
" September 1843. We returned from Deepdene this
morning, after a most agreeable visit, with beautiful weather.
One night I sat next to Mrs. Evelyn of Wotton, a widow ; her
son, the present squire, there also ; a young Oxonian and
full of Young England."
"Yours,
" D."
Mrs. Evelyn used to relate in after years that, on hearing
that she was William Evelyn's mother, Disraeli remarked
302 THE EVELYN FAMILY
thoughtfully : " Ah, the Evelyns have always had good
mothers," a fact he could hardly have been aware of if
true.
Disraeli was the leader of the association which went by
the name of " Young England " and which was made up
of young men joined together to carry out its policy. The
following description of the movement is taken from the
Earl of Beaconsfield and his Times, by Alexander Charles
Ewald :
" Let us here say a few words respecting the new associa-
tion which, during the earlier years of the Peel administration,
was sneered at as " Young England." Mr. Disraeli was the
chief its presiding and inspiring genius. With him were
associated Lord John Manners, his staunch friend and sup-
porter throughout the whole of his political career ; the
brilliant George Sydney-Smythe ; Henry Hope, the son of
the author of Anastasius ; Monckton Milnes the poet ; Faber,
who afterwards completed his Tractarianism by embracing
the faith of Rome, and others of lesser note. The animating
spirit of the new creed was that the salvation of the country
was to proceed from its youth, the ' new generation.' . . ."
" The faith of the ' new generation ' might be sentimental,
but it was to be at the same time eminently practical. The
higher classes were to visit the cottages of the poor, and by
sympathy, kindly charity, and gentle counsel, bridge over
the gulf which separated ' the two nations.' Henceforth
the peer and the pauper were not to be the strangers they had
been to each other ; the peer was to lose his pride, the pauper
his prejudices. The Church was to be no longer the mechan-
ism of a creed, but a real, animating influence ; once more her
doors were to be thrown open to all classes, her walls thronged
with worshippers, her priests alive to the mission for which
they had been consecrated, and the piety which had built
our monasteries and founded our chapels once more to be
restored in all its purity and vigour. The apostles of the new
faith met with much ridicule in their day, yet the creed they
taught was a holy and unselfish one. It did its work well,
and to its example we owe, in no small measure, our churches
free and filled, our charity organisation societies, our work-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 303
men's clubs, our homes, asylums, and refuges, and the other
numerous institutions at the present day which have for
their object the spread of religion, the advancement of
education, and the mitigation of the miseries of
humanity."
CHAPTER III
EARLY MANHOOD AND FIRST PARLIAMENTARY
EXPERIENCES
AFTER leaving Oxford William went on a course of travels.
Among other places he visited Egypt, and went beyond the
second cataract of the Nile as far as New Dongola, which was
considered a great undertaking in those days.
In August 1849 a vacancy occurred in the representation
of West Surrey by the death of Mr. Denison, the Liberal
member. William Evelyn, although only twenty-seven
years of age, contested the seat in the Conservative interest.
His opponent was Mr. Wyatt Edgell, of Milton Place, Egham.
At this time the Whig party was in power under their
leader, Lord John Russell, who had succeeded Sir Robert
Peel (the leader of the Tory party) in 1846, the memorable
year of the potato famine in Ireland and of the repeal of
the Corn Laws.
Polling took place at Chertsey, Chobham, Dorking,
Epsom, Farnham, Godalming, and Guildford, and at the end
of the first day's voting it was found that William Evelyn
headed his opponent by 156. Mr. Edgell thereupon retired.
William Evelyn had for his colleague in the representation
of West Surrey, William Drummond of Albury.
On April 26, 1850, a large ball was given at Wotton, the
first to take place there since William Evelyn's election,
William Evelyn had recently had a new road made to replace
the old carriage drive. The old road wound itself over the
very steep hill to the north of the house. The view from it oi
the house and woods surrounding it must have been lovely,
but the extreme precipitancy of this approach was incon-
venient. The new road curves round gradually to the mail
304
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 305
road with only a slight incline nearly all the way, and is
of course much more convenient, but the magnificent view
unfortunately is entirely lost.
In February 1852 Lord John Russell resigned and the
Whig Government went out of office. The Tory Government
which then came into power was under the leadership of
Lord Derby, who avowed his intention of re-opening the
question of Protection, and this declaration resulted in the
Free Trade League being again organised. This was a year of
excitement in England, as people feared that the country
might be invaded by France, and it was owing to this that
the volunteer movement came into existence.
In the beginning of July Parliament was dissolved and a
general election took place.
William Evelyn again contested his seat, and after a
severe contest was again returned.
The election figures were as follow :
EVELYN, DRUMMOND, CHALLONER,
1646. 1610. 1385.
William Evelyn therefore again had Mr. Drummond as his
colleague in the representation of West Surrey.
The Tories came back into office with a small majority.
Parliament met in November 1852, and Protection was now
completely dropped. The Government did not long remain
in office, and what was called the Coalition Government was
formed. Lord Aberdeen was Prime Minister, Lord John
Russell, Foreign Secretary ; Lord Palmerston, Home Secre-
tary ; and Mr. Gladstone, Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
Crimean War broke out in 1854, and in the beginning of 1855
the Coalition Government came to an end. William Evelyn
had a personal interest in the Crimean War, as two of his
brothers went out there his brother George on active service,
and Edmund as chaplain to the forces. The war came to
an end in the beginning of 1856, and the next year, 1857,
the war with China began, which centred round the dispute
about the lorcha Arrow, a Chinese pirate boat which, while
flying a British flag, was in October 1856 boarded by a party
of Chinese, and twelve men taken prisoners on a charge of
306 THE EVELYN FAMILY
piracy. William Evelyn, in common with so many others,
disapproved of this war, and when on February 26, 1857,
Mr. Cobden brought forward a motion condemning Lord
Palmerston's Government for embarking on it, and the
resolution was carried by a majority of sixteen, William
Evelyn recorded his vote in favour of the resolution.
He was always a strong opponent of centralisation, and
he was a prominent member of Mr. Toulmin B. Smith's
Anti-Centralisation Association. He introduced a Bill for
restoring self-government to English parishes, which was
drafted by Mr. Toulmin Smith ; but although the Bill passed
the first reading, he was obliged to withdraw it (like most
Bills of private members), as he met with no support in the
House.
He continued to represent West Surrey till 1857, when he
voluntarily retired.
In the following year, 1858, William Evelyn, urged by
influential deputations, resolved to come forward as a
candidate for Guildford. His Liberal opponent was Mr.
Guildford Onslow, who afterwards came much before the
public notice by his championship of the Tichborne claimant.
The contest was very keen, and was won by Mr. Onslow,
William Evelyn being defeated by a majority of twenty-
nine. The Guildford Conservatives, however, in token of
esteem, presented him with a testimonial, which is now at
Wotton.
The following is an extract from the English Note-
Books of Nathaniel Hawthorne, with an account of his
visit to Wotton and his meeting with William Evelyn in
April 1856, when the latter was thirty-four.
" WOTTON
" Wotton stands in a hollow, near the summit of one oi
the long swells that here undulate over the face of th<
country. There is a good deal of wood behind it, as shoul
be the case with the residence of the author of the Sylva
but I believe few, if any, of those trees are known to
been planted by John Evelyn, or even to have been coeval
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 307
with his time. The house is of brick, partly ancient, and
consists of a front and two projecting wings, with a porch
and entrance in the centre. It has a desolate, meagre
aspect, and needs something to give it life and stir and
jollity.
" The present proprietor is of the old Evelyn family,
and is now one of the two members of Parliament for Surrey ;
but he is a very shy and retiring man, unmarried, sees little
company, and seems either not to know how to make himself
comfortable or not to care about it. A servant told us that
Mr. Evelyn had just gone out, but T p, who is apparently
on intimate terms with him, thought it best that we should
go into the house, while he went in search of the master.
So the servant ushered us through a hall where were
many family pictures by Lely, and, for aught I know, by
Vandyke and by Kneller, and other famous painters up
a grand staircase and into the library, the inner room of
which contained the ponderous volumes which John Evelyn
used to read. Nevertheless it was a room of most barren
aspect, without a carpet on the floor, with pine bookcases,
with a common whitewashed ceiling, with no luxurious
study-chairs, and without a fire. There was an open folio
on the table, and a sheet of manuscript that appeared to
have been recently written. I took down a book from the
shelves (a volume of annals connected with English history),
and T p afterwards told us that this one single volume,
for its rarity, was worth either two or three hundred pounds.
Against one of the windows of the library there grows a
magnolia tree, with a very large stem, and at least fifty years
old. Mrs. T p and I waited a good while, and then B h
and T p came back, without having found Mr. E. T p
wished very much to show the Prayer Book used by King
Charles at his execution, and some curious old manuscript
volumes ; but the servant said that his master always kept
these treasures locked up, and trusted the key to nobody.
We therefore had to take our leave without seeing them ;
and I have not often entered a house that one feels to be
more forlorn than Wotton though we did have a glimpse
of a dining-room, with a table laid for three or four guests,
308 THE EVELYN FAMILY
and looking quite brilliant with plate and glass and snowy
napery. There was a fire, too, in this one room. Mr. E. is
making extensive alterations in the house, or has recently
done so, and this is perhaps one reason of its ungenial
meagreness and lack of finish.
" Before our departure from Wotton, Tupper had asked
me to leave my card for Mr. E. ; but I had no mind to over-
step any limit of formal courtesy in dealing with an English-
man, and therefore declined. Tupper, however, on his own
responsibility wrote his name, Bennoch's, and mine on a piece
of paper, and told the servant to show them to Mr. .
We had experience of the good effect of this ; for we had
scarcely got back before somebody drove up to Tupper's
door, and one of the girls, looking out, exclaimed that there
was Mr. himself and another gentleman. He had set
out, the instant he heard of our call, to bring the three
precious volumes for me to see. This surely was most kind ;
a kindness which I should never have dreamed of expecting
from a shy, retiring man like Mr. E. So he and his friend
were ushered into the dining-room, and introduced. Mr.
is a young-looking man, dark, with a moustache, rather small,
and though he has the manners of a man who has seen the
world, it evidently requires an effort in him to speak to any-
body ; and I could see his whole person slightly writhing
itself, as it were, while he addressed me. This is strange in a
man of his public position, member for the county, necessarily
mixed up with life in many forms, the possessor of sixteen
thousand pounds a year, and the representative of an ancient
name. Nevertheless, I liked him, and felt as if I could
become intimately acquainted with him if circumstances
were favourable ; but, at a brief interview like this, it was
hopeless to break through two great reserves ; so I talked
more with his companion a pleasant young man, fresh from
college, I should imagine than with Mr. E. himself.
" The three books were really of very great interest. One
was an octavo volume of manuscript in John Evelyn's own
hand, the beginning of his published diary, written as dis-
tinctly as print, in a small, clear character. It can be read
just as easily as any printed book. Another was a Church of
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 309
England Prayer Book, which King Charles used on the
scaffold, and which was stained with his sacred blood, and
underneath are two or three lines in John Evelyn's hand,
certifying this to be the very book. It is an octavo, or small
folio, and seems to have been very little used, scarcely opened,
except in one spot ; its leaves elsewhere retaining their
original freshness and elasticity. It opens most readily at the
commencement of the common service ; and there, on the
left-hand page, is a discoloration of a yellowish or brownish
hue, about two -thirds of an inch large, which, two hundred
years ago and a little more, was doubtless red. For on that
page had fallen a drop of King Charles's blood.
" The other volume was large, and contained a great many
original letters, written by the King during his troubles. I
had not time to examine them with any minuteness, and
remember only one document, which Mr. E. pointed out,
and which had a strange pathos and pitifulness in it. It was
a sort of due-bill, promising to pay a small sum for beer,
which had been supplied to His Majesty, so soon as God
should enable him, or the distracted circumstances of his
kingdom make it possible or some touching and helpless
expression of that kind. Prince Hal seemed to consider it an
unworthy matter, that a great prince should think of ' that
poor creature, small beer,' at all ; but that a great prince
should not be able to pay for it is far worse.
" Mr. E. expressed his regret that I was not staying longer
in this part of the country, as he would gladly have seen me at
Wotton, and he succeeded in saying something about my
books ; and I hope I partly succeeded in showing him that I
was very sensible of his kindness in letting me see those relics.
I cannot say whether or no I expressed it sufficiently. It
is better with such a man, or, indeed, with any man, to
say too little than too much ; and, in fact, it would have
been indecorous in me to take too much of his kindness to
my own share, B h being likewise in question.
" We had a cup of coffee, and then took our leave, T p
accompanying me part way down the village street, and
bidding us an affectionate farewell."
CHAPTER IV
EXPERIENCES WHILE HIGH SHERIFF OF SURREY
IN 1860 William Evelyn became High Sheriff of Surrey, and
it was while he was Sheriff that Mr. Drummond, the repre-
sentative of West Surrey, died. In August of 1860 Lord
Chief Justice Cockburn and Mr. Justice Blackburn were
presiding at the Surrey Assizes at Guildford. In conse-
quence of a representation to William Evelyn of an insufficiency
of grand jurors at previous Assizes, he gave instructions
for a larger number to be summoned, and there were fifty
present in Court. Mr. Justice Blackburn made some com-
plaint as to the noise in Court, and eventually ordered the
public to be cleared out of it. For eight days the Court re-
mained closed to the general public. The story as told by
Mr. Toulmin Smith, barrister-at-law, in the Parliamentary
Remembrancer of that year is as follows :
"THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
" A case has lately occurred, which involves matters of
such first-rate importance to the dearest interests of the public,
and touches so fundamentally the course of the administration
of justice, that it would be an unpardonable omission to let
it pass unnoticed in these pages. It would have been noticed
before but that the published statements were so various
and inconsistent that it was impossible to know what the
true state of facts was : while it was plain that everything
depended upon the exact state of the facts. Means have
now been taken to ascertain these facts with the exact<
care, and upon evidence which has been verified beyom
310
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 311
possibility of doubt. The correctness of the following short
statement may therefore be guaranteed.
" The circumstances took place at the Surrey Assizes
which sat at Guildford, for the first day on Friday, August 3.
The Court House in which the circumstances took place is
one that has been praised for its convenience by former dis-
tinguished Judges. It is light, lofty, and airy. It has, indeed,
the characteristic which all Courts used to have, of being
on one side not closed in by a wall, but separated from the
highway by open- worked iron rails and gates ; so that the
administration of justice shall be, in truth, as the Law of
England has always required that it shall be, open ' Corum
populo ' (Bacon, On Government, ii. p. 54). The Court itself
is divided into two parts : the one being|close upon the r high-
way, into which it opens by open-worked iron gates"; the
other rising, by two or three steps, from the former, and there
being, at the top of these steps, open-worked iron rails and
gates, which gates, like those opening from the front Court
on to the highway, have always heretofore been set wide,
for public access, during every Assizes. Across the middle
of the raised part of the Court there is fixed a light wooden
bar, to separate, for obvious convenience, those who are
actually engaged in pending or coming trials that is, the
Sheriff, Jury, Judge, Counsel, Attorneys, Parties, Witnesses,
and reserve Jurymen from the public. The space between
this wooden bar and the gates at the top of the steps is the
one appropriated to the public. The open Court below is,
and always has been, the means of access to the part of the
raised Court which is thus appropriated to the public ; and
those who wish to wait in a less crowded part, could do so
on seats set in that open Court. The latter is not, as has
been alleged, ever used during the Assizes as a corn-market.
" Such being the facts as to the place, the Court met on
Friday, August 3, the High Sheriff and the Judge being in
their respective places. The Judge made some complaint
of the Court. He complained also of noise the probable
cause of which was the fact that, through the stoppage of an
adjoining road, more carts, etc., were obliged to pass along
the highway next the Court than usual. Presently the
312 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Judge ordered that the above described part of the Court
between the steps and the highway should be cleared, and
the gates closed. He did not make his complaint to the
Sheriff and request his interference, as would have been
the regular course if there had been any real cause of com-
plaint, but gave this order himself. The part in question was
cleared and the gates were closed. The part of the raised
Court which is appropriated to the public still remained
filled by the public. Presently, the Judge again complained
of noise ; and again, without any reference to the Sheriff,
and while the public then present were perfectly quiet, he ordered
this part also of the Court to be cleared. This order also was
obeyed ; and with some difficulty, and for the first time in
the history of an English Court of Justice, the entire part
thus appropriated to the public was forcibly cleared of the
public, and the gates were locked against the access of either
those same people or any other of the public to the part of
the Court appropriated to public use. The Court remained
thus closed, and barred of access, from that day, Friday,
August 3, till Saturday evening, August 11. Again, pre-
sently, a few of those thus ejected from the raised part of
the Court having remained in the outer part, between the
steps and the outer gates, the Judge gave, in the same
manner, a third order of clearance.
" No access whatever was open to the public during all
the eight days above named. There is a double door, in
quite a different part of the Court House, on the folds of
which are painted respectively the words ' Counsel and
Attorneys ' and 4 Witnesses,' and at which door an officer
usually stands, to take care that none but those apparently
concerned in the business before the Court come in by that
way. The access of the public to the part of the Court
appropriated to it remained, for eight days, entirely closed.
" Shortly after these clearances had been made, the
Grand Jury came into Court. The High Sheriff had previ-
ously suggested to the Judge that it would be desirable that,
in thanking the Grand Jurymen, a word of thanks should
be given to those who had, at equal inconvenience, and with
equal devotion to their public duty, come up ready to serve
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 313
if necessary. The Judge rejected the suggestion. He
shortly thanked the Grand Jurymen. The High Sheriff
then rose, and attempted to add one sentence of thanks to the
others. Instantly that he began, the Judge, in a tone of
great rudeness, called on him to sit down. The High Sheriff
still went on. The Judge then said that he fined the High
Sheriff 500, and ordered the fine to be recorded. The
High Sheriff, not daunted by this extraordinary exhibition
of petulance in the Judge, still attempted to finish his sen-
tence ; when the Judge, raising his hand to suit the action
to the word, threatened to put him under arrest (he must
have entirely forgotten that he was addressing the Sheriff of
the shire). The High Sheriff, utterly astonished at such an
unbecoming and irregular exhibition by the Judge, and
unwilling to be party to the continuance of a ' scene,' sat
down.
44 It must be particularly noted that, when the High
Sheriff rose, there was no case before the Court. He in-
terrupted nothing, but was merely discharging a very simple
and obvious duty. The only irregularity, or breach of order,
or interruption to public business, was caused by the Judge's
inconsiderate interference.
44 The High Sheriff soon after retired ; but, yielding
to the suggestion of several friends, and without taking
sufficient time to consider what the real merits and bearings
of what was involved in the transaction were, he went into
Court in the afternoon of the same day, and expressed his
regret for what had taken place. This was a very great
mistake. Seeing this expression of regret, nobody has
troubled himself to go into the real merits ; and all have
naturally concluded, at once, that he who was, in fact,
perfectly in order and discharging a graceful duty, was in
the wrong, and that he who alone did really commit what
irregularity and breach of decorum there was, was in the
right.
" The irregular proceeding thus stated had an incidental
consequence, irrespective of its own merits. Without the
act of, or any appeal made by the Judge to, the High Sheriff,
the Court had been cleared, and was kept closed. It would
314 THE EVELYN FAMILY
naturally be supposed that an English Judge would, after a
night's rest, have seen the extraordinary error and unlawful-
ness of the course he had taken. But when, day after day,
the Court still remained with the public barred out from
access, it became exceedingly embarrassing to the High
Sheriff. It was his clear duty to maintain an open Court.
But he was anxious to avoid another collision with the
Judge. To offer any suggestion to the Judge had been found,
by experience, to be useless. To appeal to his brother Judge
on circuit, would seem offensive. To open the gates to
the public, as the law required should be done, without a
word of explanation, would be certain to be misrepresented.
It was suggested that a written Protest, signed by the High
Sheriff and several County Magistrates, should, at the close
of the Assizes, be handed to the Judges of Assize, and
sent to the Home Office. But this would imply a tacit
permission of what was known to be an unlawful course,
up to the end. After much consideration, a course was
adopted which was the most consistent with the obvious
public duty of the High Sheriff. He issued a Proclamation,
which should make known, at the same time, the exact
state of the facts ; the duty that arose thereupon ; and the
course he had taken in order to fulfil that duty. The Pro-
clamation was in the following words :
" 4 To the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County
of Surrey
" ' GENTLEMEN, On Friday, August 3, Mr. Justice Black-
burn, in my presence but without addressing himself to me,
ordered that part of the Court which is appropriated to the
public to be cleared, at a time when perfect quietness pre-
vailed among the public, who were then present according
to custom. From that time, the public have been barred
out from the Court where Mr. Justice Blackburn presides ;
and the prisoners have been tried, and causes heard, without
the possibility of the law being fulfilled which requires that
" so many as will or can " shall " come so near as to hear."
As your Sheriff, and feeling that the general dissatisfaction
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 315
is well-grounded, it is my duty to record my protest against
this unlawful proceeding. And I have given directions
that the Court shall be open again to the public, according
to the custom and the law. All persons, so long as they
conduct themselves with decorum, have a lawful right to be
present in Court ; and I hereby prohibit my officers from
aiding and abetting any attempt to bar out the public from
free access to the Court. I am, Gentlemen, your faithful
servant, WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, Sheriff.
' 'GuiLDFORD, Saturday, August n, 1860.'
" In order to prevent any danger of disorder in the Court,
the posting of this Proclamation was withheld, by express
instructions, until after the Judge had arrived on Monday
morning, August 13 ; and written instructions were given,
under the hand of the High Sheriff, to the Under- Sheriff,
that, ' should any persons be disorderly in Court, you, as
Under-Sheriff, will of course give directions for the immediate
removal of the offenders by the Javelinmen ' ; and, to the
Javelinmen themselves, ' to keep strict order in Court
to remove any disorderly person or persons.' Thus the
High Sheriff, while fulfilling what was his absolute duty,
in order to secure the legality of the Court itself, by taking
care that it should be an ' Open Court,' took especial pains
that no breach of order or decorum should be committed.
" The result was that the Court, which had been un-
lawfully sitting for eight days with the public access
barred, was, on Monday, the 13th of August, opened again ;
and that the public, thus again admitted, behaved as before
with perfect order and decorum.
" But the unlawful barring out of the public from the
Court by the act of the Judge, and this re-opening of it by
the act of the High Sheriff, in accordance with his imperative
duty, put the Judge who had acted thus unlawfully in
rather an awkward position. To close the Court again he
did not venture to attempt. The terms of the Proclamation
showed, too clearly, that the High Sheriff knew very well
what he was about. The whole of Monday, 13th August,
the Court remained open it being thus most significantly
316 THE EVELYN FAMILY
admitted that the High Sheriff was right and the Judge
wrong. Late on that night, the High Sheriff received a
summons to appear in the Crown Court the next morning,
to answer for. a ' Contempt ' in publishing the Proclamation.
When men usurp the power of being plaintiffs, judges, and
executioners in their own cause, the process is singularly
easy. The High Sheriff appeared the next morning in his
usual place and state. He treated the matter with the
dignity becoming his office and the duty he owed to the
public. And the unbecoming spectacle followed of his
being fined 500 for the fulfilment of his duty. Such a
travesty upon the administration of justice needs no comment
here. The facts speak for themselves. It is not the first
time that Judges have attempted to cover over their wounded
self-love by imposing fines for the setting aside of their own
illegal acts. . . .
" Of the unlawfulness of the fine imposed in the present
case there cannot be the slightest doubt in the minds of
any who really know anything of the Laws of England.
But John Hampden himself submitted to the judgment
which was given against him in the great Ship -Money Case ;
though Parliament itself declared, shortly afterwards, ' That
the Judgment in the Exchequer in Mr. Hampden's case is
against the laws of the realm, the right of property, the
liberty of the subjects, and contrary to former resolutions
in Parliament and to the petition of right.' Every one of
these words of condemnation applies, even more strongly,
against the arbitrary proceeding adopted in the present
case.
" All who respect the institutions of the country will
desire that the Judges shall be held in high respect. It is
painful when any course is taken by the latter which is
inconsistent with the respect which their office should
ensure. But it is undeniable that there have been tend-
encies lately which are alarming enough. The Judges,
highly paid for the discharge of their functions, have too
often forgotten the full gravity and responsibility of the
duties they are called on to fulfil. But no case has ever yet
gone to the extraordinary lengths reached in the present
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 317
instance, in a direction that strikes at the very foundations
themselves of the pure administration of justice.
" That all Courts where Justice is administered in
England are open and public Courts is an absolute rule of
law, which has, hitherto, been always deemed so much a
thing of course that it is a matter of continual allusion by
all the best writers on our Laws and Institutions, without
their deeming the proposition to need an argument in itself.
" To multiply illustrations would fill a volume. Every-
body knows that, in point of fact, at the present day the
Assizes are times when the Sheriff always appears in state.
In the case of the present High Sheriff of Surrey, he went
to meet the Judges, at the Spring Assizes of the present year,
accompanied by more than a hundred gentlemen and yeomen
of the County on horseback which recalls the incident
when an ancestor of the High Sheriff of 1860, being High
Sheriff of the same county in 1633, was in like manner well
accompanied by his neighbours. And, curiously to com-
plete the coincidence, the earlier Sheriff Evelyn, like the
later, had the misfortune, during his shrievalty, to fall into
unpleasant relations with a Judge, who, as it happened,
was himself obliged, at the next Assizes, to declare the
revocation of an order (on another matter) which the Judges
of Assize (he being one) had made at the last Assizes.
(Compare Evelyn's Diary, November 3, 1633, and 2 Rush-
worth, pp. 191, 192.) So that Judges of Assize were no
more infallible then than they are now.
" Coming up, as the number of good men of the county
did on the present occasion, out of respect for the summons
of the High Sheriff, to fulfil a public duty which had of late
years been too laxly fulfilled in that county a state of
things which the High Sheriff was anxious to see amended
there can be but one answer to the question, Whether
the welfare of the County, and the administration of justice
there, will be better promoted by the refusal of the Judge
to thank them, and his so irregularly stopping the Sheriff
in the course of thanking them, than it would have been
318 THE EVELYN FAMILY
had the wish and attempt of the Sheriff been fulfilled ? The
Sheriff and the rest have received a rude repulse, solely on
account of their anxiety duly to aid the administration of
justice. Will this encourage others ? . . .
" The functions of the Sheriff and the Judge are as
distinct as those of the Judge and the Jury. The Sheriff
must keep the Court of the County open, must prevent
disorder, and must instantly suppress it if it arise. But
the Judge cannot administer his functions unless the Court
is kept open to all the County ; and, instead of its being in
his power to close the Court, it is his bounden duty to see
that where he is sitting is the lawful and open Court of the
County, and to call upon the Sheriff to make it so, should
he find it otherwise. Hence the High Sheriff of Surrey,
however embarrassing, under the circumstances before-
named, had become his position, had the imperative duty
cast upon him at the last Assizes to keep the Court open.
This duty he fulfilled ; and the fulfilment of it the Judges
of Assize have taken upon themselves to call an Act of
' Contempt,' while they do not venture to attempt, again,
to overrule the fact of the Court being an Open Court."
A LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE MAGISTRATES OF THE COUNTY
OF SURREY BY WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, SHERIFF
" To the Magistrates of the County of Surrey
"WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING,
January 1861.
" My LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, The misunderstanding
with Her Majesty's Justices, during the late Guildford Assizes,
and the imposition of a heavy fine on me at the will and
pleasure of those learned Judges, are matters that have
doubtless engaged your attention. And though no public
demonstration of opinion has taken place, yet knowing
as I do, from many communications that I have received,
that the County has not looked unmoved upon those pro-
ceedings, but that, on the contrary, one general feeling of
amazement has pervaded all classes in Surrey, and that
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 319
there is a desire to know the real facts of the case (facts
somewhat overclouded by the misrepresentations which have
been studiously circulated), I venture to break the silence
that I had imposed on myself. In deference, therefore, to
the many who have requested me to give them a true and
faithful account of those occurrences, and in justice to
myself, I proceed to make a communication to the County
in the manner that seems to me the most regular and be-
coming, through the medium of a letter, addressed to the
magisterial body.
" And in thus addressing you, I am emboldened by the
reflection that several of your number having served in the
capacity of Sheriff, have a just appreciation of the nature of
the duties appertaining to that office ; further, as several of
you served on the Grand Jury at Guildford, and were wit-
nesses of a portion of the scenes to which it is my painful duty
to allude, you will be able, in some degree, to test the accuracy
of my statements. Let me then, without further preface,
briefly recapitulate the circumstances that led to the mis-
understanding with the Judges. It was on August 2 that
Mr. Justice Blackburn, as one of Her Majesty's Justices of
Assize for the Home Circuit, opened the commission at Guild-
ford in due form. On the following day, August 3, his
colleague, the Lord Chief Justice, arrived, and the Courts
were opened at 10 a.m., Mr. Justice Blackburn presiding
in the Crown Court. After the usual forms had been gone
through, the names of the gentlemen who had been sum-
moned to serve on the Grand Jury were called over, and
twenty-four having answered to their names, these twenty-
four were then duly sworn. Here I may be permitted to
mention that it had been represented to me by my Deputy
Sheriff, Mr. Abbott, that usually the attendance of Grand
Jurymen at Guildford had been scanty. I therefore had
taken special pains to secure a good attendance, and passing
beyond the circle of the Magistracy rather more than is
usual, had summoned such gentlemen as I thought would be
likely to attend, and many who had never been summoned
before received a summons on this occasion. The result
was that instead of a scanty attendance there was an un-
320 THE EVELYN FAMILY
usually large attendance (not less than fifty), and many of
these gentlemen had come, as I well knew, at great personal
inconvenience to themselves. One gentleman had travelled
all the way from Clifton the day before. They came dis-
regarding their own personal interests or pleasure ; they
came, not out of ' compliment ' to me, but to discharge a
public duty and to serve their Queen and Country in what
the Times described as a ' thankless and unremunerative
office ' ; and, except the twenty-four who stood first on the
list, they had not even the satisfaction of answering to their
name in Court. Just before the Judge was preparing to de-
liver his charge to the Grand Jury, I made mention to him,
most respectfully, of this unusually large attendance, and I
suggested that a word of acknowledgment from his Lordship
would be gratifying to the County, and might have the effect
of inducing a good attendance on future occasions. I further
mentioned that the attendance at Guildford had usually
been scanty. Was there anything unreasonable in my
request ? Is it an unprecedented proceeding that a Judge
should compliment a County for an unusual attendance of
Grand Jurymen, or should censure a County for a defective
attendance ? No ; on this point I confidently appeal to your
recollections. I have myself heard a learned Judge perform
this graceful act ; nothing is more common or more befitting.
In making the request I had, as Sheriff, a public object in
view. I thought that dismissal without acknowledgment
might deter gentlemen from attending on a future occasion,
while a gracious word from the presiding Judge might en-
courage them to come forward with the same zeal and good-
will in future years. Surely a request made on public
grounds and couched in respectful language surely such a
request, so preferred, merited, if not acquiescence, at least
an answer. What was the reception it met with from Mr.
Justice Blackburn ? He listened to me, answered nothing,
charged the Grand Jury, briefly commenting on the cases
they had to consider, and concluded his address without
condescending to allude to the matter to which I had drawn
his attention.
" Unable to comprehend the meaning of this disdain, I
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 321
ventured, still observing the same respectful language and
manner, to remark to the Judge that I regretted that he had
not done me the honour to notice my suggestion.
" He replied with considerable asperity, and concluded by
saying, ' Pray, Mr. High Sheriff, do those gentlemen who are
not required to serve on the Grand Jury expect to dine with
us ? ' (the Judges).
" I assured him that they had no such expectation, but
that they would have been glad of a word of acknowledgment.
These gentlemen therefore left the town, and I felt ashamed
of having given them so much trouble ; and I took care to
let them know that I had in vain requested the Judge to
thank them for their attendance.
" Well, from this moment I can safely say (and I appeal to
all who were present in Court to bear witness to the truth
of my assertion) that during the whole of the memorable
morning nothing could have been more unbecoming than the
demeanour of Mr. Justice Blackburn. Indeed, both Judges,
as if by concert or compact, abused the Courts in most un-
measured terms. 'This is a barn,' said the Lord Chief
Justice ; ' it's a disgrace to the county.' ' I cannot hear,'
exclaimed Mr. Justice Blackburn. ' Why don't the Sheriff's
officers keep order ? This Court is a disgrace to the gentlemen
of the county ! Where are the Sheriff's officers ? There's
so much talking in the Court that I must clear the Court if the
noise continues.' I may observe here, with regard to the
Courts at Guildford, that they have been very unjustly
disparaged, both in the newspapers and by the Judges ;
they are capacious and substantial buildings ; and we have
the valuable testimony of Mr. Henry Avory, Deputy Clerk
of Assize, to the fact that the fittings of the Crown Court
left nothing to be desired. But suppose it were otherwise, is it
dignified for Judges to revile the gentlemen of the county in
open Court ? Would it not have been better to have said, in
charging the Grand Jury, ' Gentlemen, I congratulate the
county on the numerous attendance, but I cannot congratulate
you on the Courts of Justice ; and I hope you will see the
propriety of improving the present structures, or erecting
new ones.' This, however, is a matter of taste ; but in accusing
21
322 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the people of disorderly behaviour the Judge was guilty of a
graver offence than any breach of decorum. The accusation
(I hesitate not to say it) was an unjust reflection on the people
of Surrey. It is true there was a noise, but it is equally true
that that noise proceeded from the High Street and the public
thoroughfare that runs by the side of the Court ; it did not
proceed from the people within the Court. I pointed out to
several persons in Court, and among others the gentleman
who officiated as the Judge's marshal, that there was no
talking in Court, and that his Lordship was acting under
an erroneous impression. Determined evidently to maintain
his aggressive attitude, the presiding Judge appeared to
be by no means a bright example of order in the Court.
I speak confidently on this point, because I watched
the people and their countenances, and I am perfectly
ready to make a solemn declaration (as my officers have
already done) to the fact that perfect quiet prevailed in
the Court while the Judge was indulging in these com-
plaints.
" Presently I heard the order given, ' Officers, clear the
Court.' I borrow from the Parliamentary Remembrancer a
very accurate account of what followed.
" ' The Judge ordered that the part of the Court between
the steps and the highway should be cleared, and the gates
closed. He did not make his complaint to the Sheriff, and
request his interference, as would have been the regular
course if there had been any real cause of complaint, but
gave this order himself. The part in question was cleared,
and the gates were closed. The part of the raised Court
which is appropriated to the public still remained filled by
the public. Presently the Judge again complained of noise ;
and again, without any reference to the Sheriff, and while
the public then present were perfectly quiet, he ordered this
part also of the Court to be cleared. This order also was
obeyed, and with some difficulty ; and, for the first time in
the history of an English Court of Justice, the entire part
thus appropriated to the public was forcibly cleared of the
public, and the gates were locked against the access of either
those same people or any other of the public, to the part of
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 323
the Court appropriated to public use ' (Parliamentary Remem-
brancer, No. 82).
" Thus I had the mortification of seeing the people of
Surrey, during the trial of a prisoner, forcibly ejected from
their own Court, thrust out at the point of the javelin by
Sheriff's officers, reluctantly obeying the orders of a Judge,
who thus put an affront both on the county and on the Sheriff.
" 1 request that you will here refer to the plan of the
Court. The only portion of the Court now left open was the
official portion ; there was an entrance for the Judge and
Sheriff ; there was also a double door at the side, on one
compartment of which was labelled ' For Counsel and
Attorneys,' and on the other, ' For Witnesses.' It is pre-
tended by some that this double door was a public door, and
that, therefore, the public were not excluded, and could enter
the Court ; they forget, however, that this door has never
been regarded as a public entrance ; it is an official entrance
for counsel, attorneys, and witnesses ; though the javelin-
man appointed to guard the door might, as a matter of
courtesy, admit a few well-dressed and respectable inhabitants
of the town ; this entrance, I repeat, has never been intended
for the general public ; indeed, it could not well be otherwise.
The admission of the public into the official portion of the
Court would lead to great inconvenience, and seriously in-
terrupt the proceedings.
" In fact, the officer stationed to guard this door had
much trouble in preventing an intrusion into the official
portion of the Court. He had repeatedly to ask the question,
' Are you an attorney or a witness ? Have you any business
in Court ? ' for the public, excluded from the regular en-
trance, thronged about this door. All this increased the
noise, and this increase in the noise was thus owing to the
act of the Judge himself. Another consequence of the harsh
and inconsiderate proceeding of the Judge tended also to
aggravate the evil of which he complained. By a well-known
physical law, sound travels with far greater intensity over
a smooth than over an unequal surface ; and so, when the
public part of the Court had been emptied of people, the noises
in the High Street, passing over the level stone pavement,
324 THE EVELYN FAMILY
were far more troublesome than when they were deadened
and attenuated by a body of men occupying the floor of the
Court. Now there was a distinct reverberation, and, conse-
quently, augmented disturbance. Soon afterwards, on
quitting the Court, having perceived the discontent and heard
the murmurs of the people outside, I mentioned to several
gentlemen my own dissatisfaction, and added, that if, on
discharging the Grand Jury, the Judge should still omit to
acknowledge the numerous attendance, I would myself
repair the omission. With this intention, I returned to the
Court and took my proper place ; presently the Grand
Jurymen, having finished their labours, came into Court,
and the Judge discharged them, concluding with these words :
' And, gentlemen, I thank you for your attendance.' Here-
upon I endeavoured to add, 4 And I beg leave, also, to thank
those gentlemen who attended to serve on the Grand Jury, but
whose services were not required.' But ere I had got through
more than two or three words, I was peremptorily ordered to
sit down. On my still persisting, the Judge, said, 4 Sit down,
Mr. High Sheriff, or I'll fine you.' On my still persisting, he
said, ' Mr. High Sheriff, I fine you 500. Let the fine be
recorded.'
" Still I endeavoured to finish the sentence ; on which
these words were uttered, accompanied by a gesture of com-
mand, ' Sit down, or I'll order you into custody.' I then sat
down, and the Judge concluded with these words : ' This
is intolerable.' To which I rejoined, ' It is intolerable.'
" After remaining a short time in Court, I left, and con-
ferred with the gentlemen of the Grand Jury, to whom I
explained the circumstances, and requested the benefit of
their counsel and advice. One and all they most kindly and
courteously expressed their sympathy, and it was most
gratifying to see that they determined to stand by me, and
in return I placed myself entirely in their hands. A com-
munication ensued with the Lord Chief Justice, and finally
I was advised to tender an apology to the Judge on account
of my alleged irregularity in not sitting down when he ordered
me to do so. A form of apology was drawn up, and submitted
to the Lord Chief Justice, who suggested an addition. To
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 325
this I assented, and then the foreman of the Grand Jury,
accompanied by one or two other gentlemen, took the paper to
Mr. Justice Blackburn for his approval. He looked over it,
but I am informed that he appeared to suppose I wanted the
fine to be remitted. Had I imagined that the Judge had the
notion that I was prompted by a mercenary motive to make
the apology, of course the apology would not have been made ;
as it was, I came into Court, and read it publicly, and received
in reply a severe reprimand. The apology was as follows,
and the Lord Chief Justice's addition to the paper as originally
drawn up is distinguished by italics :
" ' I have to express my regret that, in my anxiety that
the large attendance of magistrates and county gentlemen
who came to serve on the Grand Jury should be acknowledged,
I was led into the irregularity of addressing them in the
presence of your Lordship in open Court, and I beg leave to
assure your Lordship that it was far from my intention to
treat the Court or your Lordship with disrespect, and if any-
thing I said or did conveyed that impression to your Lordship's
mind, I beg leave to express my sincere regret?
" Having finished reading the written apology, I then
added of my own accord the following words : ' And I thank
your Lordship for granting me permission to acknowledge the
error, which on reflection I perceive that I have committed.'
" How was this apology received by the Judge who had
just before threatened to imprison me for an act which,
even in his view, was but an informality, deserving a very
slight rebuke ? I borrow from the Times of August 4, 1860,
the report of his answer : ' Mr. Justice Blackburn stated
that he had no personal feeling, but must respect the dignity
of the Court, and could not allow any improper interruptions
to the business of the Assize.'
" His Lordship then added, ' Let the fine be remitted,'
and the affair terminated.
" In the same impression of the Times from which I have
just quoted there appeared a leading article written with
great ability, and drawing the public attention to this un-
usual scene.
" I wish, however, to correct an erroneous impression
326 THE EVELYN FAMILY
which has prevailed. Allusion was made by the Times to
a report that the Judge had written a letter to me, offering
to remit the fine, and that I had replied by sending him a
cheque for 500. It is quite true, as the Times stated,
that such a report was current in Guildford, but it is equally
true that the report was destitute of any foundation. No
private communication passed between the Judge and me ;
nothing occurred but what I have narrated.
" Having set myself right as to this matter, let me make
a passing allusion to a part of the Judge's conduct wherein I
think he has been too severely censured. I have pleasure
in saying that I entirely exculpate him from the charge of
assaulting me in open Court. The gesture used was, as I
have said, a gesture of command, and though I must complain
of the Judge's imperious behaviour, I must frankly state
that he is not liable to this imputation.
" I have mentioned that when the Judge had finished
his reprimand, he said, ' The fine is remitted,' or ' Let the
fine be remitted.' Surely this is an admission of the ille-
gality of the fine ; surely no penalty duly recorded can be
remitted at the pleasure of a Judge. The power of Judges
is, or ought to be, limited by their commission, and the
prerogative of pardon belongs to the Sovereign alone.
" If my view be correct, then in one and the same day
Mr. Justice Blackburn contrived to trench upon the pre-
rogative of the Crown, the dignity of the Sheriff, and the
rights of the people.
" On Saturday, August 4, the Judges were again pre-
siding, but the public still remained barred out of the Crown
Court. And this exclusion continued until Monday, the 13th
August, when, by announcing to the public the reopening
of the Court, I drew down on my head another political
thunderbolt, aimed this time by the skilful hand of the Lord
Chief Justice.
" And here again I must request your attention to my
statement of the facts as they actually occurred.
" During the period (from August 3 to August 13)
I quietly performed the usual duties of a Sheriff, and I
had daily the honour of attending Mr. Justice Blackburn
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 327
into Court (if that can be called a Court from which the
public are excluded). But it may be asked, Why did you not
interfere ? Why did you not remonstrate ? By remaining
in Court even for a short time, you made yourself a party
to the proceedings of which you complain ; you have, in
fact, given a tacit consent to the exclusion of the public.
Further, it was almost insinuated that there was a want of
candour in waiting so long before proceeding to act. With
regard to the last insinuation, let me say that my inter-
course with the Judges during this interval was slight, and I
could not with any degree of self-respect make any private
communication to Mr. Justice Blackburn. I could not
subject myself a second time to the humiliation of having
a suggestion treated with contempt. But with regard to
the first charge, I must admit that, by my silence and my
presence, I did in fact acquiesce in the exclusion of the public ;
but mine was an unwilling and unwitting acquiescence.
Having been once humiliated in the presence of the county,
I felt it necessary to be cautious, and to be sure that the
rights of the public had really been infringed, before attempt-
ing to vindicate those rights. Moreover, I was but little in
Court, and every day I expected that the Judge would see
the propriety of readmitting the public. Disappointed
in this expectation, and uncertain how far the Judge might
be warranted in law, I wrote to a friend on Wednesday,
August 8, in these words : ' On Saturday, when the Court
opened, the people were not admitted ; and this exclusion
continued during Monday, the 6th inst., during the whole
of Tuesday (yesterday), and at this moment,' etc.
" On Thursday, August 9, having been excused from
further attendance on the Judges, I took my departure from
Guildford, and on the very next day received an answer
from the friend to whom I had written, and who is a very
competent and learned legal authority. From his answer,
dated August 9, I quote the following words : ' The clearing
of the Court is new to me, and is very startling. It is utterly
illegal. It is a fatal step if it be let pass unchallenged.'
In my reply (dated August 11), I wrote : ' Something may
yet be done to assert the rights of the people and Sheriff, by
328 THE EVELYN FAMILY
insisting on the opening of the Court now illegally closed to
the people by order of this Judge. Can there be any recent
statute giving the Judge the power of closing the Court ? '
" These extracts are merely quoted in order to show,
firstly, that it was not till the day after my leaving Guild-
ford that I became certain that an illegality had been
committed ; secondly, that so far from my interference
having been a sudden resolve, the whole matter wa with
me a subject of anxious deliberation during the week.
" Being now convinced that his Lordship had disregarded
the law, I was determined, not only to reopen the Court,
but to enter a public protest against the exclusion. It
occurred to me, after much deliberation, that the protest
should be embodied in a proclamation. I accordingly drew
up such a paper, and submitted it to the friend whom I had
consulted on the legal question. He made some alterations,
advising that the proclamation should be drawn with firm-
ness, but still with great moderation of language. At the
same time I sent instructions to the javelin-men and the
Under Sheriff, which instructions will be found in the
Appendix. To the javelin-men, besides the public instruc-
tions which they were to show if called upon, I also gave
private instructions, and these too I have thought it fair to
produce. It will be seen that every provision was made
against the occurrence of disorder in Court. At the same
time, if the Judge made any attempt to continue the exclu-
sion of the public, the Under Sheriff and the javelin-men
were to retire, and not to re-enter the Court till the people
were readmitted.
" The proclamation ran in these words :
" ' To the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County
of Surrey
" ' GENTLEMEN, On Friday, the 3rd of August, Mr.
Justice Blackburn, in my presence, but without addressing
himself to me, ordered that part of the Court which is appro-
priated to the public to be cleared, at a time when perfect
quietness prevailed among the public, who were there
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 329
present according to custom. From that time the public
have been barred out from the Court where Mr. Justice
Blackburn presides, and the prisoners have been tried and
heard without the possibility of the law being fulfilled, which
requires that " so many as will or can " shall " come so near
as to hear." As your Sheriff, and feeling that the general
dissatisfaction is well grounded, it is my duty to record my
protest against this unlawful proceeding ; and I have given
directions that the Court shall be opened again to the public,
according to the custom and the law. All persons, so long
as they conduct themselves with decorum, have a lawful
right to be present in Court ; and I hereby prohibit my
officers from aiding and abetting any attempt to bar out
the public from free access to the Court.
44 4 1 am, Gentlemen, your faithful servant,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN,
Sheriff:
44 The words quoted in the proclamation are from Smith's
Commonwealth. My orders were admirably carried into
effect : the proclamation was posted, not in the Court, but
fronting the High Street, on the outside of the pillars (marked
in the plan T.T.T.), and also on various other public places
in the town. The public again appeared in Court, and I
learned with pleasure that they conducted themselves with
the same perfect order and decorum as on August 3, when
they had been so unwarrantably turned out. Nobody
ventured to interfere with the public, and so far all was
well ; but rumours reached me of an impending storm.
There were tidings of telegraphic messages, and mysterious
councils. As the day wore on, I sent to Guildford to direct
my officers (now that my object had been accomplished)
to remove the proclamation, and this was carried into effect.
Nothing more happened till about 11 p.m., when on approach-
ing my house I found a carriage waiting before the door.
Who could this late visitor be ? It proved to be no less a
personage than the tipstaff of the Lord Chief Justice, who
had not waited long, and who now handed to me a letter
addressed to myself, and bearing on the envelope the
330 THE EVELYN FAMILY
word c Immediate.' The contents of the letter were as
follows :
" 'HOME CIRCUIT, GUILDFORD,
August 13, 1860.
" c SIR, We, Her Majesty's Judges of Assize for the
Home Circuit, hereby require your attendance in the Crown
Court at this place to-morrow morning, at the sitting of the
Court, to answer for a contempt of Court in publishing a
handbill bearing your signature of the date of the llth of the
present month.
" ' A. E. COCKBURN,
" ' William John Evelyn, CoLIN BLACKBURN.
High Sheriff of the County of Surrey. '
" I requested the ' signor of the night ' to wait till I had
written an answer, and presently returning, gave him the
following letter :
" ' WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING,
August 13, 1860.
' MY LORDS, In obedience to your Lordships' re-
quisition, I shall attend at the Crown Court to-morrow at
the opening of the Court.
" ' I have the honour to be,
Your Lordships' obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN,
Sheriff of Surrey.
' - To Her Majesty's Judges of Assize,
Home Circuit, Guildford.'
" For me to have disregarded this summons would clearly
have been most imprudent, as such a course might have ex-
posed me to a charge of contumacy ; for the right of the
Judges to command my attendance cannot be questioned.
Resolved not to put myself in the wrong, soon after the
receipt of the summons I travelled on the same night to
Guildford (that town being about nine miles distant from my
house), and was present at 9 a.m., when the Court opened.
In a few moments my carriage brought the Judges, who
entered the Court, and the Lord Chief Justice, without
recognising my obeisance, took his seat. Instead of at-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 331
tempting to describe in my own words the scene that ensued,
I prefer to take the account given in one of our local papers.
Although some slight inaccuracies might be corrected, and a
fuller report given by a comparison of different journals,
it is safer to trust to one faithful and detailed account, rather
than to incur the imputation of dressing up a narrative.
" From the "Surrey Standard' of August 18, 1860.
" ' On Thursday morning the Lord Chief Justice accom-
panied Mr. Justice Blackburn to the Crown Court, where the
High Sheriff was in attendance, and the room was speedily
filled with members of the Bar and others, all evidently much
excited by the novel event which they were about to witness.
The learned Judges took their seats on the Bench, and Mr.
Evelyn, in his official costume, stood on their left hand.
" 4 THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE (to MR. EVELYN). I have
to ask you whether this bill, which bears your name, was
published by your authority ?
" ' THE HIGH SHERIFF. It was, my Lord.
" ' THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE. Then, sir, as we con-
sider the publication of this handbill a gross contempt of
Court, I have to call upon you to offer any reason why the
Court should not proceed to punish you for that contempt.
" ' THE HIGH SHERIFF. My Lord, I stand here in the
painful position of having been summoned to answer a charge
of contempt of Court founded on this handbill, the publica-
tion of which I cannot deny. I received the summons to
appear before your Lordships at my own house, at 11 o'clock
last night. (The High Sheriff here hesitated for a few
moments, and then proceeded) Pardon me if I hesitate,
oppressed as I am by the novelty of my position.
" ' THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE. If you wish more time
for consideration, do not hesitate to ask for it.
" 4 THE HIGH SHERIFF. No, my Lord. I thank you for
your courtesy, but I will not interfere with the proceedings
of the Court ; anything I omit to say I will trust to your
Lordship's kindness to supply. Permit me to explain the
circumstances which led to this step. On the 3rd of August
332 THE EVELYN FAMILY
this Court was cleared by order of the learned Judge then
presiding. At that time I doubted whether it was a legal
step to take ; and when I sat here, day after day, and saw
the Court cleared of people, I felt great doubts whether the
learned Judge was not exceeding his duty. I ought, perhaps,
to have remonstrated at the time. I ought, I believe, to
have gone further. It has occurred to me that it was part
of my duty, as High Sheriff, to interfere and prevent what I
considered an illegal proceeding. (Some persons in the body
of the Court cried " Hear, hear," but silence was immediately
restored by the officials.) In not taking that step I exposed
myself to a charge of vacillation and inconsistency. But
let it be remembered, I have had some painful experience of
the small extent of my power to address this Court, and any-
thing I might have said then would have been open to the
imputation of contempt quite as much as this document.
I sat here, day after day, till last Thursday, when your Lord-
ships were kind enough to excuse my further attendance.
The day after that, I became fully convinced in my mind of
the illegality of the learned Judge's step in clearing the Court,
and that verdicts taken in the absence of an audience were
not valid in law. I then no longer hesitated to determine
that some step on my part was necessary, but the question
was, What step ? It suggested itself to me to come into
Court to interfere personally, and to insist that the public
should be admitted ; but a due regard to propriety, and a wish
to avoid anything which might offend the decency of the
Court, led me to give up that idea. I then began to think
what other course I should pursue, as I determined that some-
thing should be done. By sitting in Court with people turned
out of it, I had implicated myself in that proceeding, and I
wished to correct my own error though I was only impli-
cated by suffering the Court to be cleared in my presence ;
I wished to enter a public protest against such a proceeding,
in order that it might never be drawn into a precedent.
I then reverted to this step, well advised or ill advised, it is
not for me to say. The handbill contains an address from
the High Sheriff to the county of which he is the head ; and
surely a High Sheriff has a right to address the people on a
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 333
matter which so much concerns them as their right to be
present in a Court of Justice. When I heard it said that this
document was contempt of Court, I asked myself how it
could be ? If I refused to obey the lawful orders of a Court
or disturbed its proceedings, I can see how that might be
contempt of Court, but and I speak with great humility
and submission in this presence on legal points I venture
to think that a placard posted on the walls relating to the
conduct of a learned Judge cannot be a contempt of Court.
For, if a person at a public meeting were to reflect upon a
Judge's conduct, I presume that his speech might just as
well be considered contempt of Court as this writing. On
looking over the handbill from beginning to end, I can see
nothing which, in my opinion, bears the imputation which
has been cast upon it. The concluding words merely pro-
hibit my officers from aiding and abetting what I con-
sidered and still consider an unlawful attempt to exclude
the public from the Court. But I will abridge my observa-
tions, though I feel that I have not done justice to the cause
I would fain advocate. There is one point, however, on
which allow me to touch ; and I trust the observations I
am about to make will be received kindly and courteously
by your Lordship. Though I may have been injudicious,
though this last step of mine may be wrong but I do not
think it wrong yet let not my motives be impugned, for
they were honest motives. I have acted with the greatest
deliberation. I came to the conclusion that a wrong had
been done, and that this was the best way of remedying it.
I have been much pained by hearing it hinted that any feeling
of mine against the learned Judge, who now sits on your
Lordship's right, led to the production of the handbill. If
so, it would be an unworthy act, but I declare, on the honour
of a gentleman, that nothing of the kind actuated my con-
duct. When the learned Judge kindly gave me leave to
depart on Thursday, he behaved with the greatest courtesy
and kindness, and we separated with good feeling on both
sides. And let no unworthy motive be imputed my object
was to assert the principle that no Judge of this land has a
right to clear an audience from any Court of Justice
334 THE EVELYN FAMILY
(marked applause, which was, of course, suppressed), and
that if any Judge commands a Sheriff or his officers to do
so, those officers and that Sheriff are bound to disobey the
unlawful mandate.
" 4 The High Sheriff here sat down for a few moments,
but again rose, and said he was prepared to produce
evidence of the truth of the allegations contained in the
document.
" ' MR. JUSTICE BLACKBURN. There is not the smallest
doubt that the Court was cleared.
44 ' The learned Judges then conferred together for some
moments, after which the Lord Chief Justice, in a very
solemn tone, and amidst the deepest silence, proceeded to
address Mr. Evelyn. His Lordship said :
44 4 4t Mr. High Sheriff, Her Majesty's Judges of Assize
have now a very painful and distressing, but at the same time
plain and straightforward duty to discharge. We cannot
entertain the slightest doubt that you have been guilty of a
most serious and aggravated contempt of this Court. Mis-
taken as to your law and as to the course which you ought
to pursue, and acting, I will give you credit for believing,
with honest motives, yet in ignorance, and with rashness and
inconsiderate haste, you have placed yourself in the position
which you now occupy. It is perfectly true that Courts in
this country are, and I hope they always will be, open to the
public, but that rule must be taken with this exception
their primary purpose is the efficient administration of justice,
and so far as the exclusion of persons from any part is neces-
sary to that object the public must submit for the sake of
the greater good. In this most inconvenient Court the noise
from the street was found by my learned brother to be very
much aggravated by that which proceeded from the lower
part of the Court. It did not arise from the disorderly conduct
of the people assembled there ; but as no seats were provided
for them, much movement naturally ensued, and a stone
floor (as we understood) added to the disturbance. More-
over, the prisoners' bar intervened and separated the lower
portion of the audience from the immediate supervision of
the Court. My learned brother found himself unable to hear
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 335
the witnesses and prisoners, and from this motive, and this
alone for the proper conduct of business he directed the
lower part of the Court to be cleared. The necessity for that
step arose from the defective construction and arrangement
of this Court. Your representation of the case goes forth to
the public with a perversion of the truth, though not an inten-
tional one, I believe, that the whole Court was cleared. A
portion only was cleared, the rest was occupied by the public,
and they were freely admitted. Now as to the law, there
cannot be the shadow of a doubt that for the purposes of the
due administration of justice the Judge has a perfect right to
order any portion of the Court to be cleared, if necessary for
the proper conduct of business. That right has never been
questioned, and all who are acquainted with the practice
of the Law Courts know that many Judges of undoubted
probity have acted upon it. This exclusion took place, as
you yourself have stated, the first day of the Assizes, and con-
tinued till yesterday morning. During the whole of that
time you were in communication with the Judges, and never
suggested to them the propriety of again admitting the public.
You left us as far back as Thursday last, having first requested
and obtained our consent to your departure ; we parted on
perfectly friendly terms, and you had an opportunity then of
speaking to us on this subject, but you went away without
making any suggestion. During the whole week neither my
brother nor myself ever heard a whisper as to any discontent
occasioned by the exclusion of the public from a portion of
the Court."
" ' The HIGH SHERIFF. Am I allowed to speak ?
" 4 THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE. We have fully heard
what you have deemed it advisable to say, and you must now
allow me to proceed. After having left this place and divested
yourself, as I may say, of the functions of High Sheriff, the
Court and Judge, on proceeding to transact business yester-
day morning, were astonished to find placarded throughout the
town, and affixed to the walls of their halls, a handbill, in
which you not only call in question the lawfulness and pro-
priety of my learned brother's order, but openly declare that
you had directed his commands to be disobeyed by your
336 THE EVELYN FAMILY
officers ! And you did this when you were from town, and
could not possibly judge of the circumstances which might
arise here. By directing your officers, who are under our
command, not to keep a portion of the Court clear, you gave
them positive orders to disobey the learned Judge ; you have
greatly mistaken the law and your duty. If a learned Judge
give an inexpedient and improper command, there is a tribunal
before which he may be called ; but it is not for you, his
officer, his minister you who ought to be the servant of the
administration of justice to stand forth as the organ of dis-
obedience, and show to others a disobedient and rebellious
spirit. Believe me, you altogether forget with whom you
have to do. As individuals we are nothing, but as the
ministers of justice you and the public are bound to treat us
with respect. Judges are the representatives not only of law
and order, but of the Sovereign herself the commands they
put forth they put forth in her name, and insult and con-
tumely to them are insult and contumely to her. This act
of yours was an act of insult and contumely. You, or any
man, have a right to call in question the conduct of a Judge,
if you do so in an appropriate manner ; but you act wrongly
if, when in this Court, where the administration of justice is
carried on in the name of the Sovereign, you take upon your-
self to declare in a tone of loud and ostentatious defiance that
you will disobey the Judge, and instruct your ministers to do
the same. You have put the matter upon such an issue as
renders it impossible for us to deal with it as I should have
wished in a mild spirit. I quite acquit you of anything
unworthy of an English gentleman of any intention to
offer an indignity to my learned brother in consequence of
anything which has passed between you. You are an English
gentleman, and incapable of anything mean, sordid, or
ungentlemanly ; but you have put this case upon the issue
whether the High Sheriff or the Judge is the superior power
in a Court of Justice. That question having been raised, you
stand firm by it, instead of acknowledging you were mistaken.
We have no other course to pursue than to meet the question
in such a way as shall fully vindicate the superiority of the
Judge. We can do no less than sentence you to be fined 500.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 337
" ' The fine was recorded, the Lord Chief Justice proceeded
to the other Court, and the business of the day commenced.
" ' After a few whispers had passed between Mr. Justice
Blackburn and Mr. Evelyn, the High Sheriff left the Court.
" ' The prisoners' bar, to which the Lord Chief Justice
referred, was removed at the conclusion of the criminal
business, and the whole of the Court continued open to the
public on Tuesday as on the previous day. The placards
which were posted on the fronts of the halls on Monday
had been carefully removed before the proceedings commenced
on Tuesday morning.'
" Before proceeding to comment on the speech of the Lord
Chief Justice, I will just mention, for your satisfaction, what
the mysterious ' whispers ' were which are said to have
passed between Mr. Justice Blackburn and myself. His
Lordship merely said, ' Mr. High Sheriff, I wish to say one
word to you I entirely acquit you of having acted from a
personal feeling against me,' or words to that effect. To this
I replied by thanks and by asking if my further attendance
might be excused ; whereupon I received an answer in the
affirmative ; and this was all that passed between the learned
Judge and me ; and, I may add, that during my speech
Mr. Justice Blackburn several times bowed a courteous
assent to such of my observations as had reference to the
motives that had actuated my conduct.
** Now I will proceed to comment on the speech of the Lord
Chief Justice of England, who certainly, on this occasion,
proved himself fully sensible of the advantage of having the
last word in a controversy. Knowing that I could not reply,
he began by making a grave misstatement.
" Misapprehending the ground of my complaint, he states
that I had declared that the whole Court was cleared. And
on this perversion of my language he proceeded to erect an
edifice of invective and denunciation, garnished with all the
false glitter of a sophistical rhetoric. My proclamation lay
on the desk before him, yet he deigned, he dared, to misquote
it. Had he chosen to read it, he might have seen that my
words were, not that the ' whole Court ' was cleared, but
22
338 THE EVELYN FAMILY
only ' that part of the Court which is appropriated to the
public.' To that statement I adhere. Was it then fair and
reasonable, first of all, to decline to allow me to produce
evidence in support of the allegations contained in my pro-
clamation, and then, abusing the privilege of the last word,
not only to declare those allegations to be false, but to per-
vert and misrepresent their purport ? Such artifices may be
suitable to a debating club ; but surely they are tricks of the
forum and the senate which are quite unsuited to the judicial
bench.
" That the space appropriated to the public was cleared
will be proved by the testimony of my officers, given in the
Appendix. With regard to the principle laid down by the
Lord Chief Justice, that a Judge has a right to clear a part of
a Court of Justice, the country ought to know what are the
limits of this power. A whole is made up of parts, and it
would seem, that if a Judge has a right to clear any portion
of the area of a Court, he may proceed in the exercise of this
power until the whole of the Court is cleared. Can this be
the law of England ? I had supposed, and still suppose, that
every Englishman has a lawful right to remain in Court so
long as he conducts himself with decorum, and that neither
Judge nor Sheriff is justified in keeping the people out of a
Court of Justice ; though, undoubtedly, it is the duty of a
High Sheriff to preserve order, and to eject any person or
persons who may interrupt the proceedings. Should there
be great and incurable disorder, then the Judge has the
undoubted right of adjourning the Court ; he may not
carry on the proceedings with the public excluded. The
Justices of Assize and Nisi Prius are empowered by the
Statute of 36 Henry vin, Cap. VI, where a Jury has been
reduced in number by challenges, to command the Sheriff
to appoint tales de circumstantibus, ' such persons of by-
standers,' or, in the words of the Act, ' so many of such other
able Persons of the said County then present at the said Assize
or Nisi Prius, as shall make up a full jury.' How could the
Sheriff fulfil this command of the Judge if all the bystanders,
who had no actual business to transact in the Court, had
been already ejected ?
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 339
" Surely, I need not attempt to show that Courts of
Justice in England are open Courts, seeing that even the
Lord Chief Justice, in his Guildford speech, was obliged to
admit the principle, though with wonderful inconsistency
he asserted the right of a Judge to set this principle at defiance.
One thing is clear that if this arbitrary power belongs to the
Judges of Her Majesty's Superior Courts, it must belong to all
Judges, and must even belong to Magistrates when acting in
their judicial capacity.
" Now, there is a case which seems very much in point ; the
case of Collier v. Hickes (Barnewall and Adolphus's Reports,
vol. ii. page 663), argued and determined in the Court of
King's Bench, in 1831. In this case the plaintiff, Collier, an
Attorney, brought an action of trespass against four Magis-
trates for an assault ; and this alleged assault consisted in his
forcible ejection from a police court at Cheltenham, pending
the trial of a prisoner before those Magistrates. It was
pleaded, on behalf of the Magistrates, that Collier had not
quietly remained in Court, as one of the public, but had in-
sisted upon being allowed to act as the prisoner's advocate.
The plea was held good on demurrer, and judgment was given
for the defendants, but these Judges (no mean authorities)
were most careful, on giving judgment, to preserve invio-
late the rights of the public ; and I will quote the words of
two of them Lord Tenterden (then Lord Chief Justice of
England) and Justice Parke :
" 4 TENTERDEN. This was, undoubtedly, an open Court,
and the public had a right to be present, as in other Courts ;
but whether any persons, and who, shall be allowed to take
part in the proceedings, must depend on the discretion of the
Magistrates, who, like other Judges, must have the power to
regulate the proceedings of their own Courts.
" ' PARKE. It is impossible to say that all the King's
subjects have a right to act as professional assistants. . . .
ALL MAY BE PRESENT, and either of the parties may have
a professional assistant to confer and consult with, but not
to interfere in the course of the proceedings. The plaintiff
having insisted on the right to act as advocate, the defendants
were justified in committing the alleged trespass.'
340 THE EVELYN FAMILY
44 Nothing can be clearer than this judgment. The two
other Judges, Sir Joseph Littledale and Sir William Taunton,
concurred with their learned brothers, and it is clear that if
Mr. Collier had remained quietly in Court, without interfering,
he would not have been liable to the indignity of being forcibly
ejected into the street by two high constables of Cheltenham,
or if such an illegal proceeding had been resorted to by the
Magistrates, they would have been liable to punishment for
an infringement of the law of the land. Will Sir Alexander
Cockburn, or any Judge of the realm, contend that there is one
law for the Superior Courts, and another law for the Inferior
Courts of Judicature ? No ; the same maxims govern all
English Courts of Justice that which would be wrong in
a Cheltenham magistrate cannot be right in a Lord Chief
Justice ; and I shall show by and bye that both the Judges
at Guildford were perfectly aware of the illegality that had
been committed in the Crown Court.
" I will not occupy your time by citing other cases in
support of the principle of open Courts. I may remind you,
however, that very recently we had a striking proof of the
jealousy with which Parliament in our days still guards this
precious birthright of the English people. When it was
proposed in 1859 (with a view to the interests of public
morality), that in certain cases the doors of the new Divorce
Court should be closed, the House of Commons decided that
it would not, even in this case, and for an object so beneficial,
sanction in a single instance the dangerous precedent of
excluding the people from a Court of Justice, and the Lords
were obliged to yield the point.
" As an unlearned Englishman, therefore, I am unable to
comprehend what the Lord Chief Justice meant when he
asserted at Guildford the right of a Judge to eject from a
Court any portion of a well-conducted audience. The law
of the land declares that the public has as much right to be
present as the Judge himself, and, in fact, the law recognises
the public as an essential part of the Court.
" I must now proceed to consider one or two more points
touched upon by the Lord Chief Justice. He took me
severely to task for not having communicated with the
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 341
Judges before leaving Guildford. Let me say, first, that this
lecture on politeness conies with no very good grace from one
who had abused the Courts, and inveighed against the County,
without first making any communications, either to Sheriff,
Magistrates, or Grand Jury. In the second place, I must
repeat, that unhappily, after what had passed between Mr.
Justice Blackburn and myself in reference to the Grand Jury,
I could not, with any degree of self-respect, tender to him a
private suggestion. No word of regret had come from him,
though I continued to treat him with perfect respect, both in
public and in private I am forced to reply to this argument
of the Lord Chief Justice by mentioning the fact that Mr.
Justice Blackburn never had the civility to express to me one
word of regret for the misunderstanding that had taken place,
and for his uncourteous conduct on that occasion. And when
I am told of my daily intercourse with the Judges, let me say
that that intercourse was extremely slight ; from the begin-
ning of the Assize there was no cordiality on the part of the
Judges, who even deigned to omit the accustomed civility of
inviting the Sheriff's chaplain to dinner.
" I must now comment on the employment of the name
of Her Majesty, a somewhat irrelevant rhetorical flourish on
the part of the Lord Chief Justice ; and as Sheriff of Surrey,
let me tell him, that the Judge who exceeds his commission,
the Judge who excludes Her Majesty's subjects from a Court
of Justice, the Judge who punishes not according to law, but
at his own arbitrary will and pleasure that Judge may more
properly be said to be guilty of disrespect to the Sovereign
than a Sheriff who upholds the law and vindicates the rights of
the people. And when it is said that a Sheriff is the minister
and officer of the Judge, I deny the propriety of that descrip-
tion of the office. Both Judge and Sheriff are servants of the
Crown ; both receive their high commissions directly from
the Crown ; the Sheriff is not appointed by the Judge, cannot
be dismissed by him though inferior in rank to the Judge,
he is an essential part of the Court ; and it is an insult to the
Sheriff and the County when a Judge, without communicating
with the Sheriff, in his presence orders his officers to eject the
people from the Court. Neither in the warrant which I hold,
342 THE EVELYN FAMILY
nor in the oath of office which I have taken, is there one word
to imply that the Sheriff is the minister and officer of the
Judge. That he is the servant of the Court is true ; that he
is bound to execute the orders of the Court is undoubted ; but
the Judge and the Court are not synonymous. A King of
France once said that he was the State ; and now it seems
that the English Judges say, ' We are the Court.' Why, the
Court consists not only of Judge, but Jury, Sheriff, and even
the despised Public ; all these are essential elements of an
English Court of Justice ; the Judge by himself is nothing ;
an unlawful order, either of Judge or Sheriff, should be
entirely disregarded and disobeyed. I repeat that the
introduction of Her Majesty's name is most uncalled for ;
the Judges are not Viceroys ; they have no regal authority,
but their office entitles them to all respect so long as they
do not attempt to go beyond their commission. The true
idea of loyalty is obedience to law ; that Judge and that
Sheriff prove themselves to be the most loyal who show the
greatest reverence for law and the greatest respect for the
rights of Her Majesty's subjects.
" One word more as to a singular charge which the Lord
Chief Justice brought against me, that my speech in Court
was couched in a tone of c ostentatious defiance.' I appeal
to those present, to the Magistrates, the general public,
and the gentlemen of the Bar, whether the few halting
sentences which I uttered, in my anxiety and doubt as to the
nature of the punishment which was about to fall on me I
ask confidently, whether these sentences were spoken with
haughty insolence ? Nay, let any man read the report of my
unprepared defence, and say whether the words, as reported,
could have betokened aught but the most respectful deference.
Having been told beforehand that I should be perhaps
degraded from the shrievalty, perhaps struck off the Com-
mission of the Peace, prudence as well as propriety dictated
that I should not by an arrogant tone give a fair pretext for
such harsh proceedings. In fact, in looking over what I said,
I cannot but think that in the anxiety of the moment I went
somewhat too far in the direction of submission ; and that I
ought to have entered a firmer protest against the arbitrary
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 343
proceedings of which I was the victim. But I suppose that,
having in his own mind assumed that if I were allowed to
speak I should make an inflammatory appeal to the people,
and being disappointed in this expectation, the Lord Chief
Justice could not resist the temptation of drawing upon his
imagination for his facts ; the notion of my insolence seemed
at least to give a turn and a roundness to a few sounding
periods ; and though it would not be believed in Surrey,
yet it might, perhaps, obtain credence in London, and other
places, far from the scene of the occurrence and where I
myself was unknown. I had no resolve but to bear in
silence this and other mis-statements and unfair inferences
which the Chief Justice, from the vantage-ground of his
position, was able to make with perfect impunity.
" Throughout his observations the Lord Chief Justice
scarcely addressed himself to the difficult task of showing the
legality of the act against which 1 had protested, but (if he be
rightly reported) he rested his defence of the exclusion upon
the fact that the noise of feet against the stone floor pre-
vented the Judge from hearing the witnesses. The reason
why he chose to take this ground is obvious. If the people
had been excluded for disorderly conduct on the 3rd, that
would be no reason for their continued exclusion on the
subsequent days of the sitting of the Court ; whereas this
plea, of the shuffling of feet, gives a sort of pretext for alleging
that the noise was a necessary consequence of the peculiar
construction of the Court, and that so a continued exclusion
was expedient and needful. This was the plea set up^by
the Lord Chief Justice ; but Mr. Justice Blackburn's public
complaints of the talking and the noise, and his censure of
the Sheriff's officers for not preserving order in the Court, are
entirely inconsistent with the theory of the Lord Chief Justice ;
the people were excluded on the ground of disorderly conduct ;
the shuffling of feet is merely an afterthought, the ingenious
suggestion of an advocate conscious of the weakness of his case.
" On the subject of the posting of my proclamation,
the language of the Lord Chief Justice was ambiguous, and
the reader of his speech would naturally be led to infer
that these proclamations were posted inside the Courts.
344 THE EVELYN FAMILY
This would be an erroneous conclusion, as you will see on
reading the written instructions given to my officers. But,
besides these written instructions, it so happens that I
verbally intimated to them that they were by no means
to post the proclamation within the Court. My object
was, not to affront the Judge, but to redress a wrong, and
to enter a protest against an unlawful aggression on the
rights of the public. Some of the proclamations were
(as I have already said) posted on the outside of the pillars
facing the High Street, but I repeat that none were posted
within the Court. And having, at the conclusion of his
speech (a speech uttered in a solemn and almost funereal
tone, like that in which a capital sentence is passed upon
a criminal), laid down the principle that a Judge is superior
to a Sheriff, a principle which I never presumed to call in
question, the Lord Chief Justice left the Court in the same
haughty manner in which he had entered. The fine was
recorded ; the scene had been carefully prepared in some
respects it reflected credit on the tact and management of
the Lord Chief Justice ; but one thing was omitted the
act for which I had been denounced and sentenced was not
reversed : THE PUBLIC STILL REMAINED IN COURT. And
why were they allowed to remain ? Anyone who refers to
the case before cited, of Collier v. Hickes, may clearly
see that if unoffending persons be forcibly ejected from a
Court of Justice by order of the English Judge, those persons
may bring an action of assault against him who gives the
order. Thus the right of the public was triumphantly
vindicated at Guildford ; the Crown Court, which had
been hermetically sealed to the public until August 13,
and had been thrown open by me on that day, was allowed
to remain open during the whole of August 13 also, and
during the whole of the following day (the day when I was
fined, and when the business of the Assize was brought to
a close). But in not daring to reverse my act, did not the
Judges betray a consciousness of their own false position ?
The whole proceeding resolves itself into an absurdity, and
the extortion of a heavy fine from me has no longer any
pretence founded on reason or justice
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 345
" Again, I may fairly ask why the fine was fixed at so
heavy a sum ? Assuming that it was desirable to assert
the principle of the absolute power of Judges, and that
Sheriffs and their officers are bound to obey any and every
order of a presiding Judge, however unlawful ; admitting
all this, yet I may be allowed to ask, whether a smaller sum
would not have equally served to vindicate the principle
contended for ? I have always understood that the amount
of punishment should correspond to the heinousness of the
crime, and that also the character of a penalty should
have a certain relation to the character and nature of the
offence. In my case, the Judges acquitted me of any in-
tention to affront them ; they admitted that there was no
intentional ' insult or contumely ' ; and, therefore, I submit
that, on the showing of the Lord Chief Justice himself, the
penalty was greater than the pretended offence. As to the
character of the punishment, I may be permitted to remark,
that where a High Sheriff fails in providing a proper equip-
age ; where, by an ill-timed parsimony, he fails in showing
a proper attention to the Judges of Assize, who bear a high
commission from the Crown then the imposition of a fine
may be fit and proper, though even then it is questionable
whether such a fine should be imposed at the arbitrary
discretion of a Judge. When, on the other hand, a Sheriff has
neglected nothing, has spared no expense to pay due honour
to those who bear Her Majesty's commission, when no man
pretends that, until the misunderstanding at Guildford,
there was any failure in respect, then, surely, coming after
the heavy expenses of the office, a large fine was an unsuit-
able punishment. But I will charitably suppose that the
Lord Chief Justice proceeded on the supposition that all
landowners are wealthy, and that it would be rather agree-
able to me to pay the money. The notion is a pleasant
idea, firmly entertained by some people who ought by this
time to know a little more about the agricultural classes of
England. Every inheritor of land is, in the eyes of a certain
class of writers, a millionaire, even though in many cases
those fancied riches may have no more real existence than
the jewelled casements of Aladdin's Palace.
346 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" On Wednesday, August 15 (the day after I had been
sentenced to pay the fine), the House of Commons, being in
committee of supply, Mr. Edwin James, the learned Member
for Marylebone (on the vote for the expenses of criminal
prosecutions being taken), embraced the opportunity of
calling the attention of the House to the state of the Courts
of Justice at Guildford ; and in the course of the discussion
(which will be found in the Appendix), Colonel Fitzstephen
French, Member for the County of Roscommon, expressed
an opinion that the Judge, in clearing the Crown Court at
Guildford, had been guilty of a violation of the law of
the land ; but Sir George Lewis, the Home Secretary, on
the other hand, defended the conduct of the Judge. On the
following day (Thursday, August 16), Colonel French ' gave
notice, that, in going into committee of supply to-morrow
(August 17) he would call the attention of the House to the
recent occurrences that had taken place at the Assize
at Guildford, and ask the Home Secretary whether he was
prepared to lay the correspondence that had taken place on
the subject on the table.'
" Let me here say that this notice of motion was not
given at my instigation ; I was not even aware of it, Colonel
French having acted on his own responsibility, as an inde-
pendent Member of Parliament, and without communi-
cating with me ; but having seen the notice in the public
journals, I transmitted to Colonel French a statement of
facts, and then went down to the House on Friday, the 17th.
There, while in the lobby, I was informed by several honour-
able members that the Government was earnestly pressing
Colonel French not to bring on the discussion, and that
that gallant gentleman had refused to attend to the sugges-
tion. Several members connected with our county most
kindly offered me their counsels, recommending, one and
all, that I should second the request of the Government ;
and it was intimated to me that the Home Secretary would
not be disinclined to give a fair consideration to any appli-
cation for the remission of the fine. I yielded to these
friendly counsels, and sent a verbal message to Colonel
French to say that I thought it would be better not to bring
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 347
on the discussion. Thereupon, the honourable member
came into the lobby, declaring that he would not withdraw
the motion ' unless I have it from Mr. Evelyn's own lips
that he wishes me to do so.' On my making the request,
he consented not to bring the matter forward. Nothing,
I am bound to say, could have been more courteous than
the conduct of Colonel French ; he had placed the notice
on the paper from a sense of public duty ; I had no right to
request him not to fulfil that duty, yet he at once acceded
to my expressed wish.
" One member of the House, however, who had advised me
to let the debate come on, made this remark : ' Now that
there is to be no debate, the fine will not be remitted ; had
the discussion come on, they would have never dared to
enforce it.' The sequel of this narrative will show whether
or not the honourable member was justified in his prognosti-
cation. On Saturday, the 18th inst., 1 instructed Mr. Abbot,
my Deputy Sheriff, to pay the fine, which he did, on Monday,
the 27th inst. Had I resisted it, I should have brought on
myself great annoyance and additional expense, and should
have had a very unpleasant visit from the Coroner, who
(in default of payment) was empowered to seize any articles
of furniture, and might even have taken the equipage and
horses which had been placed at the disposal of the learned
Judges from the beginning to the end of the Assize. After
having paid the money, my next object was (if possible) to
get it back again ; and, with this view, I drew up a memorial
to the Lords of Her Majesty's Treasury ; and I also felt it
to be a public duty to present a petition to the House of
Commons, praying the House to define and limit the arbitrary
power of fine and imprisonment claimed by our English
Judges. Mr. Baillie Cochrane, Member for Honiton, took
charge of my petition, and kindly volunteered to put a
question to Sir George Lewis on the subject of the remission
of the fine. This promise he fulfilled on August 22 ; and I
borrow from the Times newspaper of August 23 the report
of his question and the Home Secretary's answer.
348 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" ' HOUSE OF COMMONS,
" { Wednesday, August 22, 1860.
" ' Mr. B. COCHRANE. I rise to ask the Home Secretary
the question of which I have given him private notice,
respecting my friend, Mr. Evelyn -the High Sheriff ; I
wish to know whether, taking into consideration the high
character of Mr. Evelyn, and the universal respect entertained
for him in the County of Surrey, and also the misapprehension
under which he issued the placard, desiring the officers not
to close that portion of the Court assigned to the public, in
opposition to the commands of the Judge presiding in that
Court, the Home Secretary will advise Her Majesty to be
graciously pleased to remit the fine of 500, which has been
imposed on Mr. Evelyn.
" ' Sir G. LEWIS. I have no doubt at all of the high
character of Mr. Evelyn, the High Sheriff of Surrey, but I
must take the liberty of remarking that if it is his wish to
approach Her Majesty with any petition for the remission
of the fine, the proper mode of making the petition is to
address it to the Home Secretary, and not to ask any friend
of his, however distinguished, to put a question in this House.
Not having received any communication from Mr. Evelyn,
and not knowing from his statement that there had been any
misapprehension, it is impossible for me to give any opinion
whatever, as to the advice which I might, in the event of
such a petition being presented, tender to Her Majesty on
the subject. I will only say that I have seen the handbill
which Mr. Evelyn caused to be placarded in the town, and
which I believe he also caused to be distributed by the Sheriff's
Officers in the Court, and it certainly appears to me that that
placard was of a highly objectionable nature for a High
Sheriff, under the circumstances, to distribute. Until I
receive some information which leads me to a different
conclusion, it seems to me to be clear that the Judges were
justified in taking serious notice of the proceedings of the
High Sheriff.'
" I wish to remark on this answer of Sir George Lewis,
that I do not understand on what ground he stated that he
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 349
* believed ' in my having given orders to my officers to
distribute the placards in Court. The instructions to my
officers, given in the Appendix, show no such order, and it
would have been better, before expressing his belief, to ascer-
tain that that belief was well founded. Acting on Sir George
Lewis's hint, and in deference to him, I gave up the idea of
memorialising the Treasury, as I had hitherto intended, and,
instead, addressed myself to him as Home Secretary, and I
herewith subjoin this Memorial, which was left at the Home
Office on August 24th.
" ' To the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Home
Department
" ' SIR, I beg leave most respectfully to draw your
attention to the fact, that I, being High Sheriff of the County
of Surrey, was, by order of Her Majesty's Justices of Assize,
and at their pleasure, sentenced at the Crown Court at
Guildford, on Tuesday, the fourteenth instant, to pay a fine
of five hundred pounds, for a supposed contempt of Court,
in the publication of a handbill, on Monday, the thirteenth
instant. In resorting to the measure, on account of which
this grievous fine was imposed, I acted from a sense of
public duty, and my object was publicly to vindicate a
public right, by announcing to the public their readmittance
into a Court from which they had been excluded.
" 4 1 gave the most strict instructions to guard against any
confusion at the Court, and my object having been accom-
plished, I sent orders to take down the handbills, and this
was done accordingly by my officers, and on the following
morning (Tuesday, the fourteenth instant), not one handbill
was visible.
4 During the period that has elapsed since I have had
the honour of being Sheriff, my constant and earnest en-
deavour has been to treat Her Majesty's Justices of Assize
with profound respect, and to spare no pains for this purpose ;
and I venture to hope that, considering the circumstances
of the present case, you may feel yourself justified in advising
350 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Her Majesty graciously to remit the fine that has been
inflicted.
" 4 1 am, Sir,
Your Obedient Humble Servant,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN,
Sheriff of the County of Surrey.
1 ' WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING,
Thursday, August 23, 1860.'
" The Petition to the House of Commons was in the
following words :
" ' To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and
Ireland in Parliament assembled
" c The humble Petition of the High Sheriff of Surrey
" ' SHEWETH, That your petitioner was on Tuesday, the
fourteenth day of this present month of August, eighteen
hundred and sixty, by Her Majesty's Justices of Assize for the
Home Circuit, and at their will and pleasure, sentenced in the
Crown Court at Guildford to pay a fine of five hundred pounds,
for a supposed contempt of Court, in the publication of a hand-
bill on Monday, August the thirteenth.
" ' That your Petitioner, from the time of his appoint-
ment to the office of Sheriff, has intended and earnestly en-
deavoured to treat Her Majesty's Justices of Assize with
profound respect ; and until the occurrences which preceded
the imposition of this fine he has reason to believe that his
conduct has met with their approval.
" ' That in publishing the said handbill your Petitioner
meant only publicly to vindicate a public right, by announcing
to the public their readmission into a Court from which they
had been excluded for some days.
" ' That as soon as your Petitioner was advised that this
exclusion of the public was unlawful, he thought that as
Sheriff he was bound to interfere, and when the object
proposed had been accomplished, he sent orders to his
officers to take down the handbills, and this was done
accordingly on the same evening, so that on Tuesday, the
fourteenth instant, not one handbill was visible.
" ' Your Petitioner, therefore, having been fined for a
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 351
contempt of Court on account of the publication of this
handbill, humbly prays your Honourable House to take
into your consideration how far Her Majesty's Justices of
Assize should exercise an arbitrary and unlimited power of
fining and imprisoning Sheriffs of Counties, and whether
it may not tend to the public advantage that some measure
should be passed declaring and defining the law of the
land respecting the right of exercising this formidable
power.
" ' And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
(Signed) WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN, Sheriff.'
" The Petition having been presented on August 24, was
referred in the usual course to the Committee on Public
Petitions, by whom it was ordered to be printed, and to lie
on the table of the House. It is remarkable, however, that
(while a clerical error is retained with a scrupulous exactitude)
the purport and meaning of the Petition is misrepresented
in the report of the Committee. In the report, the petition
is described as the petition of the High Sheriff of Surrey ' for
consideration of his case.' This is wrong, as a perusal of
the document will show. In my memorial to the Home
Secretary I asked Sir George Lewis to consider my case ;
what I asked the House of Commons to consider was, not
my particular case, but the general question of the arbitrary
power claimed by English Judges. The printed Petition
was not delivered to honourable members till August 30,
two days after the prorogation of Parliament.
" A considerable time having elapsed since my memorial
to the Home Secretary had been deposited at the Home
Office, and no acknowledgment of its receipt having reached
me, the gentleman who acted as my Under Sheriff undertook
to make inquiry, and having called at the Home Office on
September 22, was informed that the memorial had been
forwarded to ' the proper quarter,' and that the High Sheriff
would receive an answer. Another interval having elapsed,
a friend offered to inquire, and accordingly called at the
Home Office on October 3. His application was more
successful than that of the Under Sheriff, for it was speedily
352 THE EVELYN FAMILY
followed by the subjoined answer. How long the silence
of the Home Office would (but for this second application)
have continued, it is difficult to conjecture.
" 'WHITEHALL, October 4, 1860.
" ' SIR, I am directed by Secretary Sir George Lewis
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd August
last, praying the remission of a Fine imposed upon you by
the Judges of Assize at Guildford, for a Contempt of Court ;
and I am to inform you, that after a careful consideration
of the circumstances of the case, Sir George Lewis is not
prepared to advise the Crown to mitigate the Penalty.
" ' I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
H. WADDINGTON.'
" From the answer given to the Sheffield memorialists on
the 3rd of September, it would appear that Sir George Lewis
had not then made up his mind ; that he had not arrived
at any decision respecting the remission of the fine. Now,
however, five weeks having elapsed, this cold refusal was
returned, amply verifying in its result the prediction made
to me in the lobby of the House of Commons.
" Doubtless Sir George Lewis referred the matter to the
very Judge who had passed sentence on me, and I may
fairly suppose it was less a ' consideration of the circum-
stances,' than his Lordship's version of those circumstances
that the Home Secretary declined to advise the Crown,
either to command the remission of the penalty or even
its mitigation. Gentlemen, my task is now nearly ended.
Earnestly do I trust that in the course of this statement
no word of mine may be thought to transgress the bounds
of propriety and decorum. With respect to the two dis-
tinguished Judges with whom I have unhappily come into
collision, I do not doubt their high character or their ability ;
but I must protest against their unjust conduct at the Guild-
ford Assize, and I cannot for a moment admit that a Sheriff
is bound to give an unreasoning obedience to every order
of a Judge. It may be objected that I am presumptuous
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 353
in questioning the decision of the Lord Chief Justice of England
on a question of law. Yet, presumptuous as I may be
thought, and brilliant as has been the career of that learned
Judge, and high as is the estimation in which he is justly
held, I must be permitted to call in question his authority
on a matter which involves the power and authority of the
Judicial Office. In another sphere, and in another place, it
has been my lot to listen to the eloquence and to appreciate
the abilities of Sir Alexander Cockburn. I saw in him a
brilliant debater, an assiduous representative, a powerful
member of Government, but, above all, an uncompromising
partisan. Can it be that he showed at Guildford that same
spirit of partisanship which sometimes in the House of
Commons leads to a ' memorable reward ' ? Possibly it
may have been so. Possibly, seeing that a difference had
arisen between a Judge and a Sheriff, he chivalrously rushed
to the rescue of his learned brother, as he would have rushed
to the rescue of his political chief. Possibly had a Judge
actually assaulted a Sheriff in open Court (an act of which
no English Judge is capable), the Lord Chief Justice of
England would, with equal readiness, have come forward to
make the best case for his learned brother, and to cover
the Sheriff with confusion. Of any petty feeling, he is
of course incapable ; but seeing the growing efforts to
exalt the authority of Judges, I would not trust his
impartiality in a matter that concerns the powers of the
Judicial Office.
" How can the conduct of the Judges at Guildford be
explained ? I can only conjecture that both came filled
with an unreasoning prejudice against the town and its
Courts of Justice. To travel so far into the country is in-
convenient ; some spot nearer London would be more
agreeable ; hence perhaps they arrived in a bad temper,
prepared to find fault with everyone, with the Grand Jury,
the Sheriff and the Sheriff's Posse Comitatus. But this is
conjecture I can only be sure of the facts as they
occurred.
" One word as to the office of Sheriff. That functionary
is in some respects less fortunate than are Her Majesty's
2 3
354 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Judges. A time there was, when the Sheriff's office was a
position of emolument, and the older Sheriffs made what may
be called 4 a very good thing of it.' The Statute Book shows,
that some Sheriffs went to the length of ' farming out their
Counties ' and continued to remain in office ten years or more.
All this is now altered. Statutes were passed in Henry vi's
reign, to remedy these abuses, and the Sheriffs of that period
would be surprised, could they witness the condition of Queen
Victoria's Sheriffs, who, so far from coveting the office, are
for the most part not even Volunteers, and only resemble
Volunteers from the fact that they receive no pay ; and who
are often forced against their will into their position of digni-
fied degradation. In fact, that once honourable office is now
too often dragged in the mire.
" Some letters given in the Appendix, and written by
gentlemen living in the county, will show that I am not alone
in saying that the Courts at Guildford have been unduly
disparaged. The Crown Court, a temple sacred to Ceres and
to Themis, though its proportions might not satisfy the
critical eye of a Vitruvius or a Ruskin, is yet a substantial
and confessedly an airy building ; and the Lord Chief Justice
himself might have discerned some merit in the four stately
columns of its portico, fronting the High Street, and sup-
porting a pediment with the Arms of Guildford sculptured in
bold relief upon the tympanum. As to the Nisi Prius Court,
even Surrey's Sheriff must admit that the Town Hall of Guild-
ford is not quite so grand as the Town Hall of Carthage,
described in the second Book of the Mneid, and certainly the
wars of Troy are not pictured on its walls ; though, instead
of the wars of Troy there may be seen the portraits of three
Stuart Kings, of William and Mary, and of two eminent
members of the House of Onslow one distinguished in the
Senate, the other on the Ocean ; but I need not dwell on this
topic, seeing that at the General Quarter Sessions, held at
Newington, on January 1, a committee was appointed to
report on 'the present state of the Assize Courts and Shire-
hall at Guildford.' These structures, with some modifica-
tions and precautions against the noise of the High Street,
might be suitable for conducting the business of the Assize,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 355
though the Town Hall is scarcely quite large enough for all
County purposes ; since at County elections the Court is
often adjourned by common consent, and the proceedings
held in the open air.
" I have little more to add. In re-admitting the public
to the Court at Guildford and in protesting against the
conduct of a learned Judge I acted in a difficult position,
on no light grounds, and on behalf of the public good. Since
the date of those occurrences, whenever it has fallen to me to
appear at a public meeting, I have never abused the occasion
by dwelling on the personal wrong which I have sustained.
And if the degradation of the office of Sheriff concerned only
the individual, it would matter little that a ' paltry Squire '
(to use the words of an anonymous correspondent) should be
treated with indignity, is of small moment but let me tell
my unknown friend that a Sheriff, whether he be a paltry
Squire, or a member of the ruling oligarchy, is by virtue of
his office the temporary head of his County, and a blow aimed
at him is really aimed at the liberties of the community. I
may remind you that this is not the first instance within
living memory, of a dispute between Judge and Sheriff in our
County. I believe it is true that some twenty years since, a
gentleman, now occupying a distinguished position, and then
serving the office of High Sheriff, on being severely repri-
manded by a learned Judge in the Public Court, replied with
becoming spirit, and carried with him the sympathies of the
auditory.
" The exposition of facts which I have now given has
occupied much more space than I had anticipated or wished.
I will conclude by observing, that now the time is drawing
near when my official year will come to a close ; after what has
occurred, I do not repine at the reflection that, thanks to the
Statute of Henry vi, a man can be a Sheriff but once in his
life. There is, however, some satisfaction in having tried to
hand over the dignity of the office untarnished, the rights of
the people unimpaired. My duty has been done, though
at some cost to myself ; and my statement (imperfect as
it is) is, I trust, drawn up in a truthful and dispassionate
spirit.
356 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" Respectfully soliciting your candid consideration of
that Statement
" I have the honour to be,
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Your faithful and obedient Servant,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN,
Sheriff r
EXTRACT FROM THE APPENDIX
" To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty,
" The Memorial of the Sheffield Foreign Affairs Committee.
" HUMBLY SHEWETH, That one of the main safeguards
of a nation is the due and proper administration of the law ;
securing for it a high regard and inviolable attachment
and an invincible repugnance to those who break it.
44 That the frightful effects of a mal-administration of the
law and disregard of its requirements, may now be seen in the
disordered state of Sicily, Naples, and elsewhere on the Con-
tinent, where those who are successful in trampling under foot
all laws, both human and divine, are idolised and worshipped.
" That it is therefore in the highest degree incumbent on
all who desire the true welfare of their country, to be con-
stantly having a watchful regard over the administration of
the law.
" That it is an essential characteristic of the law of
England that all the public Courts wherein adjudication is
sought are and must be open.
" That when an attempt was made to close the recently
established Divorce Court, it was found that it could not be
done without the authority of Parliament, and Parliament
refusing its sanction, the Court necessarily remains open.
" That notwithstanding the incontrovertible evidence from
time immemorial that it is indispensable for the judicial
tribunals of England to be open, and wholly unlawful to close
them, Mr. Justice Blackburn did close the Court at the recent
Assizes held at Guildford, and did it in such an improper
manner (by wholly ignoring the High Sheriff), as showed that
he had forgotten at the time that he was a gentleman. That
the High Sheriff, as in duty bound, afterwards discharged his
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 357
officers from obeying this unlawful order, and therefore Mr.
Justice Blackburn, in conjunction with his colleague, fined
the High Sheriff in the sum of 500.
" That for an official, who has broken the law and is wholly
in the wrong, to punish another who has obeyed the law and
is in the right, is manifestly absurd and unlawful.
" That in order to prevent the evil effects on the public of
so scandalous an example, it is indispensable that the acts of
Mr. Justice Blackburn and his colleague should be reversed
in the most marked manner.
" Your Majesty's Memorialists therefore, humbly pray,
that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to command that
the fine on Mr. High Sheriff Evelyn be remitted, that the Lord
Chief Justice may be severely reprimanded, and Mr. Justice
Blackburn suspended, as being wholly unfit for his high office.
44 And your Majesty's Memorialists as in duty bound will
ever pray
44 Signed by order and on behalf of the Committee,
" ISAAC IRONSIDE, Chairman.
JOSEPH PEARSON, Secretary.
"SHEFFIELD, August $ist, 1860."
" WHITEHALL, $rd September 1860
44 SIR, I am directed by Secretary Sir George Lewis to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo,
forwarding a Memorial to the Queen, signed by yourself and
Joseph Pearson ; and I am to inform you that the Judges
of the Superior Courts are not removable at the pleasure
of the Crown.
44 1 am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
H. WADDINGTON."
THE TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1860
" To the Editor of the Times.
44 SIR, Your comments have given to the recent incidents
at Guildford so much prominence that I venture to ask you
to allow me to correct an impression which has prevailed
with respect to the clearing of the Crown Court in that town.
358 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" Whatever view may be entertained of the good taste
or discretion of my proceedings, I must reiterate that on the
3rd of August, at the Crown Court at Guildford, the whole
of the space appropriated to the public was entirely cleared,
and from that date to Monday, August 13, when I interfered,
that space was empty. The only entrances left open were,
first, the entrance for counsel, witnesses, jurors, and officials ;
and, secondly, the Judge's entrance ; and numerous com-
plaints were made to me on the subject. I cannot but main-
tain that I was substantially right in the course taken. It
was with apparent reluctance that the learned Judges felt
it their duty to inflict so severe a sentence, and it is a satis-
faction to me to believe that both the Lord Chief Justice and
Mr. Justice Blackburn gave me credit for acting from a sense
of duty.
" Having said thus much, I do not desire to trespass
further on your columns by entering into any apologetic
statement, however inclined to ask your permission to do so ;
and, if I do not ask it, it is not that I affect to despise public
opinion.
" I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN.
" WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING,
August 15."
Forty-two years later, on January 25, 1902, William
Evelyn referred to the incident with the Judges in a speech
which he made to some of the Dorking tradesmen, on their
presentation to his son of a gift in commemoration of the
latter's wedding which took place two days later. In this
speech he said that " he might remind them that he had
served the county in Parliament ; he had fought three elections
in his life one unsuccessfully at Guildford. That was in
1858, and he should ever retain a sense of the great courtesy
he met with, but the contest was too difficult for him. After
the Guildford election, much against his will, he was com-
pelled to take the office of High Sheriff, an honour which
he did not aim at. But it might be of interest to know that
he was the third High Sheriff which his family had given to
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 359
the county. He thought it very hard upon him, after three
expensive election contests, to have this office thrust upon him
an office, very honourable and ancient, but which, after
all, led to nothing. And then came the unfortunate un-
pleasantness with the Judges, which caused him very great
annoyance. It was right that it should be known that
during that affair he acted on the high legal advice of Mr.
Toulmin Smith, the author of a very learned work on parish
law."
In olden times Surrey and Sussex had in general one
Sheriff between them, but in 1637 each county had its own
Sheriff, and so it has continued ever since. The other two
members of the Evelyn family who have served the county
of Surrey as High Sheriffs were Richard Evelyn, the father
of John Evelyn (Sylva) who was appointed Sheriff in 1634,
and Sir John Evelyn, Bart., of Marden Park, in the parish
of Godstone, who became High Sheriff of Surrey in 1666.
The following passage from Evelyn's Diary, referring to his
father being made High Sheriff, is given, on account of the
remarkable coincidence of the experiences of Richard Evelyn
in 1634 and of William John Evelyn in 1860 :
" 1634. My Father was appointed Sheriff for Surrey
and Sussex before they were disjoyned. He had 116 servants
in liverys, every one livery'd in greene sattin doublets ; divers
gentlemen and persons of quality waited on him in the same
garbe and habit, which at that time (when 30 or 40 was the
usual retinue of the High Sheriff) was esteem'd a great matter.
Nor was this out of the least vanity that my Father ex-
ceeded (who was one of the greatest decliners of it), but
because he could not refuse the civility of his friends and
relations, who voluntarily came themselves, or sent in their
servants. But my Father was afterwards most unjustly
and spitefully molested by that jeering judge Richardson,
for repreeving the execution of a woman, to gratifie my L.
of Lindsey, then Admiral ; but out of this he emerged with
as much honor as trouble."
CHAPTER V
MARRIAGE AND SECOND PARLIAMENTARY CAREER
WILLIAM EVELYN was married, October 28, 1873, at the age
of fifty-one, to Frances Harriet, eldest daughter of the Rev.
George Vaughan Chichester, brother to Lord O'Neill of
Shanes Castle, Co. Antrim. Mr. Chichester was at that
time Vicar of Randalstown in Co. Antrim. The bride was
only twenty-three years of age. The wedding took place at
Randalstown. Three years after the marriage a son was born
who was christened John Harcourt Chichester, and subse-
quently four daughters, viz., Ada Jane, Helen Elizabeth,
Florence, and Henrietta Frances.
William Evelyn was patron of the three livings of Wotton,
Abinger, and Oakwood, all of which are adjoining parishes.
He appointed his youngest brother, Edmund, to the family
living at Wotton in 1857, and on the latter 's resignation in
1875, he gave the living to his father-in-law, who retained it
till his death in 1898. He gave the living at Oakwood to
his eldest brother-in-law, the Rev. Edward Chichester,
afterwards Vicar of Dorking.
In 1879 William Evelyn felt obliged to bring an action for
libel against a former estate agent of his named John Evelyn
Liardet, who was distantly related to the family and who,
after his dismissal in 1878 from the management of the
estates, began to spread about the report that William
Evelyn's grandparents had not been properly married, and
that therefore their son, George Evelyn, was illegitimate, with
the result that his son, William John Evelyn, had no legal
right to the estates in Surrey, Kent, or Middlesex. Of course
it was an easy matter to disprove this report, the only seem-
ing foundation for which was that William Evelyn's grand-
MRS. W. J. EVELYN (1850-1897)
From a portrait (1884) by Sant
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 361
father, Mr. John Evelyn, while employed in the East India
Company's Civil Service, was married at Dacca in April 1787
to Miss Anne Shee, and, as was the custom in those days in
remote parts of India, when it was impossible to procure
a clergyman, the ceremony of marriage was performed by a
layman. In this case it was performed by one Matthew Day,
chief or collector of the revenue of Dacca. On November 24
of the same year, however, another ceremony of marriage
was performed at Calcutta by a clergyman of the Church of
England. Their son, George Evelyn, was not born till 1791,
and his birth took place in Galway. This case was naturally
a great worry to William Evelyn, who was always so sensitive
about anything which concerned the honour of his family.
The counsel he employed was Sir Henry James. The follow-
ing letter was written to his mother :
"WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING, SURREY,
Friday, 12 December 1879.
" MY DEAR MOTHER, On the 9th instant I attended a
consultation which was most satisfactory, and the letter of
Mr. Boscawen which you were so kind as to lend me will be
of very great service. I had hoped (and I expressed that hope
to my leading counsel Sir Henry James) that we might be
able to spare you the trouble of giving evidence ; but were
you not to be called as a witness your absence would be
commented on by our unscrupulous adversaries. For this
reason I must, though most reluctantly, ask you to appear as
a witness. Very few questions will be asked you ; you will
be called on to state your certainty of the falsehood of the
wretched and monstrous statement about my father and to
certify to the genuineness of Mr. Webber's narrative. I do
not think that your examination will occupy ten minutes.
I deeply regret that it is not possible to spare you this
trouble.
" Sir Henry James is a man of first-rate ability as a
lawyer ; and he is also a thorough gentleman. We shall
make very short work of Mr. Liardet, and I do not think that
Lady Evelyn will venture (after Liardet 's defeat) to persevere
in her monstrous pretensions.
362 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" As a matter of course I shall be examined in detail.
" I am very sorry that George was unable to be present
at the consultation.
" It is certain that my father was born at Galway on the
sixteenth day of September 1791, and it is all but certain
that he was baptized in the Protestant church of Galway.
But unfortunately the baptismal register does not go back
so far as 1791.
" The trial will probably come on in about a week. You
will have due notice. I am alone at Wotton just now but
expect Frances this evening.
" Trusting that you are quite well,
I remain,
Your affectionate son,
W. J. EVELYN."
Four days later he again writes to his mother on hearing
that she had refused to give evidence :
" WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING, SURREY,
1 6 December 1879.
" MY DEAR MOTHER, This morning I received from the
Messrs. Walters a letter enclosing a copy of your letter to
them dated the 13th instant which I may consider to be your
answer to my letter dated the 19th instant. I trust that you
will reconsider your refusal to give evidence. I certainly
understood from you that though objecting to make an
affidavit, you would be quite willing to appear as a witness.
The case is not now likely to be tried before the end of
February.
" I thank you for so kindly sending to the Messrs. Walters
your copy of Brayley's History of Surrey to which you
contributed a most interesting account of my father's life
and a continuation of the pedigree to the year 1841, when
Brayley's work was published. Unfortunately that pedigree
does not assist us because of the mistakes of Mr. Bray, some
of which are reproduced in Brayley. For instance my uncle's
(John Evelyn) age is set down at ten years when he died
whereas it should have been five years. Again my great-
grandmother is stated both by Bray and Brayley to be
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 363
daughter of Michael Tankerville Chamberlain, whereas she
was really daughter of Christopher Chamberlain. One of
Mr. Bray's mistakes (viz., that my father was born at Bath)
is not repeated in Brayley ; but on the whole I fear that
Brayley's work will not be of service though I will consult
counsel on the matter. As I have two copies of Brayley's
work, the Messrs. Walters will return to you the copy you
have lent lest it should be damaged. The pedigree is in
vol. v. pp. 27-31.
" There is no intention of publishing Mr. Webber's
Memoir and you are quite right in saying that it was 4 not
intended for publication.' All that will be done with it is
to make use of one passage in proof of my father's birth at
Gal way in 1791.
" We were very pleased to see you yesterday. Frances
and Mary have driven to Norbury. Were they at home they
would unite with me in love to you.
" I remain,
Ever your affectionate son,
W. J. EVELYN."
He writes to his mother again a few days later :
" WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING, SURREY,
Saturday, 20 December 1879.
" MY DEAR MOTHER, Your visit to-day was so brief
that I had not time to speak on matters of business.
" I regret to have to tell you that your evidence cannot
be dispensed with in the Trusteeship action. Such is the
opinion of counsel. Every British subject (including even
the members of the royal family) is bound by law to give
evidence when required. No-one except the Sovereign (or
persons labouring under some special disability) is exempt
from this duty. I wish I could spare you the trouble and
vexation but I cannot.
: ' The Trusteeship action will come on perhaps in January.
I do not think that Lady Evelyn's l monstrous claim will
come on at all.
1 Lady Evelyn was the widow of Sir Hugh Evelyn, the 5th and last
baronet in the Evelyn family, and was acting in concert with Liardet.
364 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" At such a moment when the honour of the family is
assailed surely all the members of the family should act
in harmony. In my letter to you dated the 12th instant I
explained that very few questions will be put to you ; and
I trust you will give your evidence willingly.
" Frances tells me that you expect Edmund this evening
and that he is to leave you early on Monday. I regret that
the shortness of his stay will prevent our calling on him. I
hope that he is quite well.
" With our united love and trusting that you will soon
get rid of your cold.
" I remain,
Your affectionate son,
W. J. EVELYN."
On December 22 William Evelyn again wrote to his
mother, this time giving her a list of questions which he
thought she would very likely be asked if she gave evidence
in Court. Old Mrs. Evelyn, however, wrote to her son on the
24th, again reiterating her decision not to appear as a witness.
A day later her son wrote to her again as follows :
"WOTTON HOUSE, NEAR DORKING,
Christmas Day, 1879.
" MY DEAR MOTHER, I was glad to see you to-day and
to wish you a merry Christmas and happy new year ; but I
regret that I must write a line to say how deeply I deplore
that you should have sent me such a letter as you wrote
yesterday, so abruptly worded and not even acknowledging
the receipt of my letters of the 22nd and 23rd. I am very
sorry that you should have been advised not to give evidence
in the action I have brought against Liardet. I should have
thought that respect for my father's memory would have
induced you not to withhold your testimony. I beg of you
to reconsider your decision. Sure I am that if you adhere
to it you will deeply regret having done so, and on -
will rest the great responsibility of having tendered to you
such fatal advice. From the tenor of his letters it is clear
that you are guided by him. It is not too late to reconsider
your decision, but I fear that it is useless for me to attempt
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 365
to counteract the influence that has overcome your better
judgment.
" The astounding decision that you have arrived at will
be laid before counsel. I must in the approaching trial do
my best to uphold the honour of the family under the great
disadvantage that your decision will entail. We must either
not call you at all or subpoena you as an unwilling witness
and as a witness unwilling to give your testimony in a case
which concerns not only the honour of the family, but your
own personal honour ; for you are quite aware of the im-
putation cast upon you of complicity in fraud, etc.
" I remain in sorrow,
Your affectionate son,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN."
In a letter to one of his relations, William Evelyn says,
" Now that the honour of the family is assailed, surely the
members of the family should be united. Frances joins with
me in this feeling ; and we should be happy to see you at
Wotton if you will pass a day or two with us any time during
the next fortnight." In another letter he says, " I have
already in several letters explained painfully and carefully
to my mother why she ought to appear and I have also,
in answer to her inquiries, stated what questions in my
opinion are likely to be asked. I have written as kindly
dutifully and considerately as it was possible for a son
to write, but without result. Acting on 's advice she
declined to make a deposition but promised to give her
evidence in open Court. Again acting on his advice she now
declines to give any evidence. I do not wish to say anything
harsh, but it is well before it is too late that should
consider the tremendous responsibility of offering such advice
in opposition not only to me but to the wishes and judgment
of my brother Colonel George Evelyn whose conduct towards
me during this trouble has been worthy of his father's son
(I can give it no higher praise) and will ever be gratefully
remembered by me.
"As to my mother's health, I thank God that she is in
the enjoyment of excellent health ; she called here y ester-
366 THE EVELYN FAMILY
day. But of course you will inform , what Mr.
Booty will confirm, viz., that if my mother's physician certi-
fied that her health would suffer by appearing in Court her
evidence would by permission of the Court be taken at her
own house."
Old Mrs. Evelyn eventually agreed to give evidence in
Court, and the case ended satisfactorily as, of course, it was
bound to do.
The following letter by William Evelyn, on the proposed
desecration of Shakespeare's tomb, appeared in the Times
and also in the Kentish Mercury for September 7, 1883 :
" SIR, I gather from the statement of a Stratford-on-
Avon newspaper correspondent that the Vicar of Stratford
Parish, after acquiescing in the proposal to desecrate Shake-
speare's tomb, puts in a claim to be ' neutral ' in the matter.
This plea of neutrality cannot be allowed ; it is deplorable
that any clergyman should be neutral in regard to so scanda-
lous a meditated outrage against the illustrious dead. Doubt-
less Mr. Mayon is right in thinking that a protest against the
monstrous proposal would be all but unanimous in Great
Britain. Nay, more ; surely America and Germany would
not be behind-hand in the expression of their indignation.
The monumental bust of Shakespeare is undoubtedly from
life, and should be regarded as a test of the genuineness of
the various supposed portraits of the great poet. In illustra-
tion of this subject I may instance the case of the father and
mother of John Evelyn, author of Sylva, both of whom died in
Charles I's reign. Their portraits are at Wotton House, their
kneeling likenesses in alabaster are in Wotton Church, and their
persons are very graphically portrayed at the beginning of
their son's diary. Now, in comparing the verbal description,
the portraits and the monumental figures, anyone can see that
the three authorities tend to verify one another, and that in
the sculptured monumental figures we have exact likenesses
of the persons represented. And this was the case gener-
ally with the sixteenth and seventeenth century monuments.
Many of these monuments were probably finished during life,
the space for the inscriptions being left in blank. Some years
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 367
ago Mr. Martin Tupper informed me that in visiting Stratford
he found that the Church had been restored, and that the old
font Shakespeare's font had been removed and had been
replaced by a brand new font ; that after some trouble he
found the old font, and after some more trouble obtained a
promise that it should be replaced in the Church.
" Let us hope that as one act of disrespect to the memory
of Shakespeare was annulled and set right through the
interference of Mr. Tupper, so the present more atrocious and
deliberate design may come utterly to naught, and that its
authors may at once abandon their prospect of desecrating
Shakespeare's tomb, a project alike discreditable to them-
selves and offensive to the national sentiment.
" I am, Sir, etc.,
W. J. EVELYN.
" WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
September 4."
In the beginning of 1885 William Evelyn was selected
as a Conservative candidate for Deptford. His opponent
was Mr. Lalmohun Ghose, an Indian barrister of much
culture and ability. The election did not take place until the
end of the year, but his election address was issued in January
and ran as follows :
" GENTLEMEN, In compliance with the invitation of the
Deptford Conservative Association, I beg leave to announce
that, should the Redistribution of Seats Bill in its present
shape become law, I propose to offer myself as Conservative
Candidate to represent the future constituency of Deptford.
" A careful survey of the present aspect of politics has
led me to distrust both the home and foreign policy of the
present Government. The difficulties in Egypt, South Africa
and Afghanistan, the growing discontent of our most im-
portant colonies, the lowering of the national reputation by
alternate arrogance and vacillation, are among the results of
their foreign policy. At home we find increased taxation
combined with commercial distress, the expenditure of the
present Administration during the first four years of its
existence greatly exceeding that of the late Government for
368 THE EVELYN FAMILY
an equal period, and the contention that the present per-
plexities are the legacies of the late Government seems to me
fallacious.
" Armed with the severest Coercion Act ever passed, the
present Ministry has entirely failed to restore contentment
and prosperity to Ireland. What Ireland requires, in my
opinion, is a lenient and just administration, with as much
local self-government as is consistent with the security of
the Empire.
" In reference to the subject of elementary education,
public opinion has strongly condemned the London School
Board for inconsiderate treatment of the poor, and for
extravagant expenditure resulting in a constant and alarming
increase of the School Rate. In these views, though a friend
to the cause of education, I fully concur.
"As to the London Government Bill, I have already
expressed my sentiments in public at Deptford. Having ever
been an opponent of centralisation and an advocate of
municipal institutions, I could not support a measure which,
besides infringing a local self-government, would probably
tend to increase our local rates.
" I am in favour of a Commission of Enquiry into the
causes that have led to the present depression of trade.
Such a Commission might determine whether the policy of
free imports from countries which have refused to receive
our productions has not tended to create or to increase the
depression by sacrificing the interests of British producers to
those of our foreign competitors.
" The most momentous questions of the day are those
affecting the social welfare of the people. All measures
tending to promote the independence of the working classes,
and the comfort of their homes, will ever receive my earnest
support ; and assuring you that, if elected, I shall not fail in
attention to your local interests,
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient and faithful servant,
W. J. EVELYN.
"WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
is* January 1885.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 369
The Redistribution of Seats Bill mentioned in the fore-
going address was passed early in the year, and had been
rendered necessary by the many flagrant anomalies connected
with the returning of Members to Parliament. In some cases
small boroughs with scanty populations of a few hundred
returned as many representatives as some of the large
counties.
The Liberal Government had been in power since 1882,
and in 1883 a Coercion Act had been passed for Ireland, which
was still in force but was to expire on August 14. It was an
important question whether or not it was to be continued.
On May 15, Mr. Gladstone announced that should the Liberals
be in office certain clauses of it would be continued. The
Gladstone Government were defeated in a vote of censure in
connection with Mr. Childers' budget on June 8, and went out
of office. The Conservative party then took office under
Lord Salisbury. It was to their interest to conciliate the
Irish party as the Liberals were still in a majority in the House
of Commons. Rumours were current, and had been current
for some little time, that the Conservative party and the Irish
party had come to some agreement, and it was said that in
exchange for the Nationalist support the Tories would agree
to drop coercion. Lord Carnarvon, who was known to have
lenient views in regard to Ireland, was made Lord Lieutenant,
and this was very popular with the Home Rule party. He
even had an interview with Mr. Parnell, the leader of the
Nationalist party, in a London drawing-room at the end
of July, and was in favour of Home Rule for Ireland with
proper safeguards against the danger of separation, but it is
not known how far Lord Salisbury shared his views. Parlia-
ment was prorogued on August 14, the same day that the
Coercion Act expired, and people soon began to prepare
for the general election which took place in November and
December. The Irish vote in Great Britain was given to the
Conservatives.
The election lasted from November 23 to December 19,
and resulted in the Liberals returning 334 Members ; the
Conservatives, 250 ; and the Nationalists, 86. The Liberals
therefore had a majority over the Conservatives of 84, but not
24
370 THE EVELYN FAMILY
a majority over the Conservatives and Nationalists combined,
so the Tories again took office.
William Evelyn was returned for Deptford by a majority of
367, the numbers being respectively
EVELYN 3928
GHOSE 3560
In his election speeches he frequently referred to the
advantages of Protection of British Industries, or Fair
Trade, as it was then often called. He blamed the Glad-
stone Government for embarking on the Sudan campaign.
The following extract from a speech of his at Deptford
in February will show his attitude towards the working
classes :
44 1 consider that Conservative principles are directly
opposed to destructive principles. (Hear, hear.) The so-
called working-man's candidate goes in for destruction ' We
will destroy the Monarchy and the House of Lords.' Now I
am for destroying nothing, but for adapting our institutions
to the present circumstances of the country. (Hear, hear.)
I would not say 4 Pull down the mansions ' and let us have a
dead level of equality throughout the country, but I should
like to see the inhabitant of the cottage equally happy with
the inhabitant of the mansion. (Hear, hear.) Let Mr.
Chamberlain enjoy his expensive orchids while the cottager
enjoys the humble primroses and wall-flowers."
The following extract is from the Kentish Mercury for
May 29, 1885, and shows the very deep affection with which
he was regarded at Deptford :
44 An interesting and very suggestive incident occurred
at the meeting in support of the candidature of Baboo Ghose
in the Deptford Lecture Hall, so creditable to all parties,
and so honourable to one that we are constrained to refer to
it. When Baboo Ghose alluded to his Conservative opponent
and mentioned the name of Mr. Evelyn, it was received with
loud sympathetic cheers, and not a single sound indicating
hostility or ill-feeling was heard. We do not wish to be
understood as attaching the slightest political importance to
this unusual demonstration, for we are aware that the meeting
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 371
was composed of the friends and supporters of Baboo Ghose,
but it was an expression of personal respect and esteem for Mr.
Evelyn which must be all the more gratifying to that gentle-
man because it proceeded from outspoken political antago-
nists. It is, we believe, a circumstance without a parallel
in the election experience of Deptford and Greenwich that a
spontaneous tribute of this kind should be paid to the standard
bearer of the opposite party. We take it as a happy augury
of the spirit in which the battle in Deptford will be fought, and
we feel it right to record our sense of the fair and generous
spirit manifested by the men composing this Liberal meeting.
It was a testimony to the worth of Mr. Evelyn beyond price."
With regard to coercion William Evelyn said in a speech
in July that :
" The question whether he was in favour of coercion was
answered by his address, in which he expressed the hope that
Ireland would be governed without the necessity of recurring
to measures like the Crimes Act. That address was issued on
January 1, but he was happy to say that he saw no reason for
wishing one word of it altered. With the advent to office of
a Conservative administration he trusted that all necessity
for further coercive measures in regard to Ireland would have
passed away. (Hear, hear.) He looked to the conciliatory
spirit of Lord Carnarvon to assure to Ireland a period of
tranquillity and just government. (Hear, hear.) It was a
happy omen that the new Lord Lieutenant was able to go
about without an armed escort. (Hear, hear.) "
The following is an extract from the Souih-Eastern Herald
for November 27, 1885. After giving an account of the polling
at Deptford, it says :
" A great number of people had gathered outside the
Conservative Club in New Cross Road, doubtless because it was
known that the victorious candidate was within, and was
expected to make a speech. Loud calls for Evelyn and the
Squire were raised and the crowd refused to be satisfied with
a deputy. . . .
" The electors continued to make vociferous demands for
the member himself, and at last Mr. Evelyn, who was natur-
ally much fatigued by the work and excitement of the day,
372 THE EVELYN FAMILY
made his appearance at the open window of the first floor of
the Club. He was received with intense enthusiasm, and so
great were the demonstrations of joy that he was only per-
mitted to deliver his speech in short sentences, his voice being
then drowned amidst the continuous cheers with which his
references to the happy result of the conflict were received.
He said :
' Gentlemen, the brilliant triumph that we have achieved
this day is to me enhanced very much by the kind acclama-
tion of your congratulation. I thank you, Electors of the
borough of Deptford, for the great honour you have con-
ferred on me. I regard this moment as the happiest of my
life. The electoral struggle in which we have been engaged
was of an arduous nature, and the eyes of England were
fixed on the borough of Deptford, which, let me remind you,
was considered the most difficult for the Conservative can-
didate of the three boroughs into which the old constituency
is divided. This victory then is very remarkable, and it is
an augury, I hope, of equally brilliant success in the two
remaining parts of the old borough. To-morrow, I hope our
friend Mr. Boord will be returned for Greenwich and that
they will secure an equally brilliant victory at Woolwich.
Happy and proud as we all are of the victory we have
achieved, we shall not be contented unless the borough of
Deptford is surrounded by Conservative constituencies.
We shall, I hope, be able to congratulate ourselves on the
return of Lord Lewisham, and I hope our friend Mr. Bauman
will be returned for Peckham.
" ' A word to you who are Liberal electors of this borough.
I ask you, gentlemen, if after all you do not admit that I
and my friends have fought this battle fairly ? Had the
result been adverse to me, had I been the rejected candidate,
I should have bowed to the verdict of the constituency, and
accepted that verdict with perfect equanimity. But the
brilliant result that has been achieved, adds a new and
honourable dignity to the ties which have so long connected
my family with this ancient town. Rest assured, gentlemen,
that it will be my best endeavour in the House of Commons
to justify the choice that you have made.'
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 373
" After the member had withdrawn from the window, the
crowd remained cheering for a considerable time, and inside
the Club he was besieged by congratulatory friends."
The new Parliament opened on January 21, 1886, and
in the Queen's speech it was stated that coercion for
Ireland would be resorted to if the ordinary law proved
insufficient to control the organised intimidation which
prevailed.
This change of policy on the part of Lord Salisbury's
Government put William Evelyn in a difficult position. He
had always had a strong feeling against coercion. He wrote
a letter to the Head Whip, Mr. Akers-Douglas, to express his
regret that the Government should have changed its policy,
and the great difficulty he should feel if a Coercion Bill should
be brought forward.
Lord Salisbury's Government soon went out of office.
Mr. Jesse Collings, at that time a strong Radical and Home
Ruler, proposed, on January 27, an amendment to the
address from the Throne, expressing regret that no measure
had been announced by the Government for the relief of
agriculture, and especially for affording facilities to agri-
cultural labourers to obtain small holdings on good terms
as to rent and fixity of tenure. This was known afterwards
as the " Three acres and a cow " Amendment. The Amend-
ment was carried by 329 votes against 250, and the Con-
servative Government immediately went out of office. The
Gladstone Government took its place, and Parliament re-
assembled on February 3.
Mr. Gladstone introduced his Home Rule scheme on
April 8, but the Liberal Unionists held the fate of the Bill
in their hands, and it was doomed to be defeated.
William Evelyn was at this time opposed to Home Rule,
although he was always deeply attached to the Irish nation.
This attachment, which he retained throughout his whole
life, was no doubt partly due to the Irish blood in his veins,
owing to which he was, in character and temperament, far
more akin to the Celtic than to the Saxon race. The
following extract is from a speech which he made at Deptford
towards the end of April : -
374 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" In the few observations that I shall make to you, I shall
address myself more particularly to the Irish element of this
constituency. I am the last man in the world to use invective
against the Irish nation. (Cheers.) Among many powerful
considerations which would deter me from such a course, I
cannot forget that Irish blood flows in my own veins (Ap-
plause), nor can I ever cease to be grateful to the Irish and
Catholic electors of Deptford for the very valuable support
which they gave us during the late arduous contest. (Cheers.)
In my address of thanks I especially made my acknowledg-
ments for that support, and I am not going to withdraw
from any pledge that I gave during the late election. Mr.
Marchant has made allusions to Grattan's Parliament, and I
agree with much that he said. Undoubtedly that Parlia-
ment showed elements of corruption in the manner in which
it allowed itself to be bribed by Pitt into passing the Act
of Union ; still I would remind my friends that Grattan's
Parliament was exclusively a Protestant Parliament, and
that though it was perhaps too exclusive in its composition,
yet it passed some enlightened measures. It gave votes
to the Roman Catholic electors ; it allowed the Roman
Catholics to hold leases of 999 years in Ireland, whereas
they were previously excluded from any possession of landed
property ; it gave the death-blow to the odious system of
penal laws which disfigured the eighteenth century, and
the recollection of which, I fear, has embittered the relations
between the two countries. (Hear, hear.) Now we come
to the question immediately before us, and here I cannot
but differ very much from the remarks of Mr. Gladstone in
his speech of three hours and twenty-five minutes in intro-
ducing the Home Rule question, when he stated that there
was no alternative between granting Home Rule and re-
introducing the system of coercion. (Hear, hear.) We
know that the system of coercion has prevailed during the
whole of the present century, that it was inaugurated during
the last century when that terrible penal code was estab-
lished in Ireland which we have now happily got rid of
altogether. While I am opposed to Home Rule, such as
it is proposed in Mr. Gladstone's Bill, I adhere to those
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 375
pledges which I gave during the last election, and am also
opposed to anything like special coercive legislation in regard
to Ireland except in the face of some desperate extremity
such as I cannot conceive possible. Mr. Gladstone, we know,
put down the Land League, and what was the result ?
Secret societies permeated the land, and the evil was more
intensified than when there was an open body with public
meetings and public agitation. So it would be now if we
attempted to suppress the National League which has suc-
ceeded to the Land League. I fear that if we attempted
by special legislation to put down the National League
we should embark on a dangerous policy. I fear that
secret societies would revive, and perhaps we might make
worse instead of better in Ireland. These views are con-
sistent with the pledges I gave during the election. I then
praised the Government of Lord Carnarvon, contrasting it
with that of Lord Spencer, and approved of the Government
dispensing with the Crimes Act. The policy of the late
Government altered after it came into office. I am far
from blaming them on that account ; no doubt they had
good grounds in their view for a change of policy, and for
announcing the probability of a return to the policy of
coercion. I personally regretted that they found such a
course necessary, and therefore, as the fall of the Govern-
ment seemed certain, it was some relief to me that Providence
sent Mr. Jesse Collings with his cow to trip us up, before
the special question of Irish coercion came on. (Laughter.)
Now, therefore, I beg you to understand that in opposing the
policy of Mr. Gladstone's Bill I am not at all deviating from
the pledges I gave that I should be opposed to special re-
strictive legislation with regard to Ireland. (Hear, hear.) "
The following is an extract from a speech of Mr. T. P.
O'Connor on June 3, in the House of Commons, during the
debate on the Home Rule Bill :
" What I say is that throughout the English constitu-
encies large numbers of Tory candidates asked for the Irish
vote on the ground of no coercion absolutely, solely
and without conditions, and that same party, on January
26, came out with a policy which rejected the pledges on
376 THE EVELYN FAMILY
which large numbers of its Members were returned. I pass
from these facts, which have much significance to my mind,
to Tory declarations. I do not think that honourable
gentlemen above the gangway, who were fortunate enough
through the Irish vote to become Members of this House,
will particularly care to have some of these declarations
brought back to their memories. Those declarations form
a not entirely agreeable contrast with the policy of
their leaders at the present moment. For, sir, what is the
policy of the present Conservative party as enunciated
by its leader ? The policy of coercion and depopulation.
There is no policy against which Conservative declara-
tions were more frequent and more emphatic during the
election than the policy of coercion and depopulation.
Here, for instance, is a quotation from the speech of the
honourable gentleman now the Member for Deptford (Mr.
Evelyn) :
" ' With regard to Ireland, I am informed that the Dept-
ford Irish held a meeting yesterday in this hall, with what
result I know not ; but if the Irish electors here vote for a
supporter of Mr. Gladstone, I will give the Irish credit for
being the most forgiving of people. Have they forgotten
the jury-packing ? the convictions of innocent men ? the
long imprisonments without trial ? the suborning of evi-
dence ? the nameless scandals of Dublin Castle ? Will
they be untrue to the memory of O'Connell who denounced
the Whig party as the base, bloody, and brutal Whigs ?
Under the blighting influence of Whig misrule the popula-
tion of Ireland has declined between 1841 and 1881 from
8,000,000 to less than 5,000,000.' "
The next day, June 4, William Evelyn made the following
speech in the House of Commons :
" Mr. Speaker, sir, I should not have risen for the purpose
of taking part in this debate had it not been for a personal
reference made to me by the Member for Liverpool (Mr.
T. P. O'Connor) yesterday evening. (Hear, hear.) But
for that I should not have intruded upon the House, for I
am thoroughly in accord with the majority of the honourable
Members on these benches, that this discussion has pro-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 377
ceeded at too great a length, and that the division should
be taken to-night. (Hear, hear.) For it would be im-
possible to conceive a more dismal set of orations than we
have had from that side (the Liberal) of the House. (Hear,
hear.) We first of all had a lugubrious jeremiad from the
honourable Member for Bradford (Mr. Illingworth), lament-
ing the disunion of the Liberal party, but that is a matter
for which we, on these benches, can hardly be expected to
offer much sympathy. (Opposition laughter.) Then there
came the speech of the Under Secretary of State for the
Colonies (Mr. Osborne Morgan), and then the speech of
another honourable member, the Member for East Cam-
bridge (Mr. Newnes). The speech of the right honourable
gentleman, the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies,
was a speech distinguished by its moroseness and ill-nature,
and, as if half despairing of enlivening the House in any
other way, he fell to abusing the noble lord, the leader of
the Conservative party, in which example he was followed
by the honourable gentleman the Member for East Cam-
bridge. There was one statement in the speech of the
right honourable gentleman, the Under Secretary of State
for the Colonies, which I noted very much at the time when
he made it. It was that so long as six months ago he was
in favour of Home Rule, and that therefore his conversion
was not sudden nor recent. But I remember about eight
months ago that the right honourable gentleman came down
to Deptford to stump in favour of my Oriental opponent,
and, if I am not mistaken, he said not a word then about
Home Rule. (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.) The two
subjects which the right honourable gentleman carefully
avoided making any reference to were Home Rule and the
Contagious Diseases (Women) Acts, of which Acts, whether
good or bad, he was a distinguished champion. (Hear,
hear.) I therefore think that his conversion, if so long ago
as six months, was not so long ago as eight months. I was
very much astonished by a gross historical mis-statement
made by the right honourable gentleman. I mean his allu-
sion to the state of Norway. I am sorry that the right
honourable gentleman is not in his place, because I should
378 THE EVELYN FAMILY
be sorry to misrepresent him in the slightest degree. (Hear,
hear.) I think I have heard him say that the Norwegians
regard the Danish dominion with much the same feeling
as the Irish regard the Cromwellian dominion. (Hear,
hear.) The tradition of the rule of the Danes over their
country is a tradition of the time when most grievous
oppression existed. (Hear, hear.) Then the right honour-
able gentleman talked of the union of Norway and Sweden,
and he used that illustration as an argument in favour of the
principle of separate Parliaments for those two countries,
and as an argument in favour of the present Bill ; then he
declared that Norway and Sweden were on good terms
and that there were never any differences between them.
It is astonishing that the right honourable gentleman in his
position should be so singularly ill-informed about modern
history as he seems to be. (Laughter.) I don't so much
blame him for being misinformed about the history of Norway
and Sweden, because we are not supposed to be acquainted
with the history of every part of the world ; but this I do
say, sir, that when a gentleman comes forward to instruct
us he ought to take care that his facts are at all events well-
founded. (Hear, hear.) I think on examination of the
recent history of Sweden and Norway, it will be found that
there have been great difficulties in the connection between
the two countries, that there has been a political crisis, that
a few years ago separation was nearly brought about, and I
am not at all sure that the difficulties there are terminated.
(Hear, hear.) The King of Sweden's authority was dis-
avowed in Norway, there was a ministerial crisis, and it
was only by some humiliating concessions that an absolute
revolution was averted. (Hear, hear.) I cannot, therefore,
think that the right honourable gentleman was exact in the
information which he gave to the House as he might have
been, had he taken the trouble to inquire into the real facts
of the case. (Hear, hear.) I think the prolongation of this
debate is to be deprecated on this ground, that amid the
crash of political battle and the hurly-burly of the melee
we are in danger of confusing the real issue by losing sight
of instead of elucidating it. (Hear, hear.) That real issue,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 379
I cannot think, is an abstract resolution. The only thing
tangible we have in our hands is the Bill before us. The
only question we have to decide is whether it is a workable,
sensible, and carefully worked out Bill, and whether it will
tend to the pacification and happiness of Ireland, and to
the promotion of good feeling between the two countries.
(Hear, hear.) There is another point of very considerable
influence in this discussion, and that is whether the Prime
Minister has a right to spring a Bill like this upon Parlia-
ment before the country has been consulted. (Hear, hear.) I
think there are occasions when a Minister might take so
great a responsibility, but I would ask whether in this case
there is such a crisis. The right honourable gentleman who
is at the head of Her Majesty's Government has declared
that there is such a crisis, and yet in his speech in introducing
this measure he declared the condition of Ireland in 1885
has immensely improved to what it was in 1832. I will
quote the words of the right honourable gentleman. He
says :
" ' The whole criminal offences in Ireland were 1400 in
the former, and in the latter, 2683.'
" The right honourable gentleman also states as to the
present time :
" ' The serious agrarian crimes in Ireland, which in 1881
were 1011, in 1885 were 245.'
" So that the right honourable gentleman lays it down
as a fact that the condition of Ireland is steadily improving,
and yet he says there is such a crisis and a dangerous condition
of things that to avoid peril it is absolutely necessary to take
this specific step to introduce a measure which alters com-
pletely the relations between the two countries. (Opposi-
tion cheers.) I cannot but think that there is some incon-
sistency in that view of the right honourable gentleman. I
wish, sir, now T to say a few words of a personal character as
regards myself, because I was alluded to last evening by the
honourable Member for Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor),
who, I fear, is not in his place on this occasion, and who,
although he belongs to a different party to myself, would not
wish, I am sure, to misrepresent my conduct in the late
380 THE EVELYN FAMILY
election at Deptford. I would say in regard to quoting elec-
tion speeches, that I am surprised at honourable gentlemen
below the gangway endeavouring to use a weapon of that
kind, because we know that they live in glass houses in that
respect. (Hear, hear.) If any Members ever lived in glass
houses they are the Members below the gangway, and also
some members of the Government. (Hear, hear.) They
tell us they are not in favour of the separation of the two
countries. I accept that statement as sincere, but never-
theless in the heat of political controversies in the provinces
they must admit that they would be placed in a very awkward
position, if the speeches which they then delivered were
brought forward against them. (Hear, hear.) It might have
happened that in the exigencies of the Deptford election,
when I had a formidable opponent who was supported by
letters from the Prime Minister and his son and by the right
honourable gentleman, the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
who stumped for him, that I might have used some expres-
sions which seemed to be in fault, but I can assure the House
that I offered no sentiment in that election that I need recall
or that I am not prepared to abide by. (Opposition cheers.)
Throughout the whole of that election the question of Home
Rule did not come up at all ; I never was asked a single ques-
tion on the subject of Home Rule, but I must admit that there
was a great deal said about coercion, and in my election
address I stated that Ireland ought to have the largest amount
of self-government which was consistent with the security
of the Empire. (Home Rule cheers.) I also blamed the
Government the late Liberal Government for its coercive
policy, by the doctrine adopted towards Ireland. I don't
know that I have anything now to retract in this matter, and
I can assure honourable gentlemen opposite that I am not
prepared to back out of any pledges I gave during that election,
in spite of the assertions of the honourable Member for Liver-
pool (Mr. T. P. O'Connor.) (Opposition cheers.) I can only
repeat what I said in my speeches during the election, that
I deeply regret that it was thought necessary by the Con-
servative party to refer to the coercion ; and it was some
relief when Mr. Jesse Collings came forward with his cow
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 381
(a laugh) and when we approached the Irish question,
seeing that we must have fallen, I preferred that we should be
tossed by that cow. (Hear, hear, and a laugh.) We knew
that we were in a difficulty then, and I now venture to hope
that the state of Ireland will continue to improve and that
there may be no necessity for coercive legislation in that
country. (Hear, hear.) But when it is said by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer that coercion is the old Tory policy,
the traditional policy of the Tory party towards Ireland, I
should like to know where he gets his support for that theory
from ? (Hear, hear.) It is the fact that the great majority
of the coercive Acts relating to Ireland were passed by Liberal
administrations, crowned by that most severe coercive Act
of all the Crimes Act. (Hear, hear.) I was not one who
thought it was a mistake to allow the Crimes Act to lapse.
(Hear, hear.) In making these remarks I would again say
that as the Conservative party are now placed they are united
as one man ; that we will give to Ireland all she wants in the
way of redressing just grievances, but we are not prepared to
embark on a dangerous course which would risk the supremacy
and unity of the Empire. (Cheers.) When so much is
said about an alternative policy, I cannot help thinking that
there is a very great fallacy in that constantly reiterated
charge against us, that we have no alternative policy. What
is the meaning of an alternative policy ? You bring forward
a Bill to greatly modify the Act of Union between England
and Ireland in a way that we think dangerous, and our
alternative policy seems to me to be simply to vote against
the Bill you have brought in (Conservative cheers), or if you
brought forward an abstract resolution, to vote against the
abstract resolution. (Renewed cheers.) The Prime Minister
seems to regard the whole British Constitution as a growth of
upas trees (Cheers and counter-cheers), and when he begins
with his axe to attack the Church, the Monarchy, I suppose,
will be attacked another time (Oh, and opposition) if
we pass this Bill, and then we shall be asked what is our
alternative policy ? Why, if the Monarchy had been
attacked our alternative policy would have been to have
opposed the measure. I think that is quite a sufficient
382 THE EVELYN FAMILY
answer on that point. (Hear, hear.) I would say to the
honourable Members below the gangway (the Parnellites)
that all of us on these benches (the Conservatives) are
desirous to redress the just grievances of Ireland. (Hear,
hear.) I am not ashamed to acknowledge that I had the
Irish support at the last election (Hear, hear), and although
I shall vote against this Bill, I hope there will be no ill-
feeling. I cannot separate myself from my party and vote
for a measure which is not in accordance with my convic-
tions. As this measure is not in accordance with my con-
victions, I can do no more than honestly go into the lobby
against it, and I can assure honourable members that I shall
at the same time keep all the pledges which I gave at the
late election. (Cheers.)"
After the Home Rule Bill had been defeated in the House
of Commons on June 7, Parliament was immediately dis-
solved, and a general election took place which ended about
the middle of July. The Conservatives and Liberal Unionists
combined returned 393 members ; and the Radicals and Home
Rulers, 275. The Liberals thus were left in a minority of 118.
William Evelyn again contested his seat at Deptford and
was again returned, this time with a majority of over 600.
His opponent was again Mr. Lalmohun Ghose. His election
address was as follows :
" To the Electors of Deptford
'-'- WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
June 23, 1886.
" GENTLEMEN, At the last general election having hi
the honour (after a candidature of nearly eleven months) ol
being returned to Parliament as the first representative of the
Borough of Deptford, I now come forward to solicit a renew*
of the high trust reposed in me last November.
" You will remember that at the outset of my forme]
candidature I expressed myself as opposed to the genen
policy of Mr. Gladstone's second administration at hom<
and abroad, especially to the Irish policy, resulting in th(
severe and harassing Crimes Act of 1882.
WIIvUAM JOHN EVELYN
From a portrait by Havell (1884)
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 383
" In my first election address, issued on New Year's Day,
1885, I declared that what Ireland needed was ' a lenient and
just administration, with as much local self-government as
is consistent with the security of the Empire.' You will
also remember that on the accession to office of a Con-
servative Ministry in June 1885, I expressed my desire that
a fair trial should be given to a Government which under-
took the conduct of public affairs under very difficult and
trying circumstances.
44 It is for you now to pronounce whether, during the
short but eventful Parliament which, after a duration of
less than six months, is now on the eve of dissolution, I
have or have not endeavoured to fulfil my election pledges
and do my duty towards the constituency which honoured
me with its confidence.
44 A great and a new issue is now before us. Mr. Gladstone,
having succeeded in overthrowing the late Government
which continued in office with great public advantage for
seven months has signalised his third premiership by bring-
ing forward a Bill for setting up in Ireland a separate Parlia-
ment and a separate Government. From the condemnatory
vote of the House of Commons rejecting the second reading
of this Bill, the Premier now recklessly appeals to the
country, regardless alike of political consistency and public
convenience, while there has been a necessary postponement
of sound practical legislation tending to the real improvement
and benefit of the people of Great Britain and Ireland.
44 To this so-called Home Rule measure Mr. Gladstone has
appended a plan for buying out Irish landlords at the risk
of British tax-payers. This monstrous project he brought
forward with much parade as an important part of his Irish
policy.
44 The issues thus raised are above the level of ordinary
party politics. In opposing such perilous and retrograde
legislation, '.I|rely on the support, not only of Conservatives,
butjof intelligent and patriotic Liberals, who, desirous as
they are of redressing all just grievances of Ireland without
resorting to what is called 4 Coercion,' yet view with distrust
and alarm the measures on which the present Ministry
384 THE EVELYN FAMILY
founds its appeal to the nation whose mandate it has exceeded
and whose confidence it has abused.
" I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
Your obedient and faithful servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
William Evelyn expressed himself on the subject of Home
Rule in the following terms at a meeting in June, at Sayes
Court, of the members of the Chichester Habitation of the
Primrose League and of the North Ward of the Deptford
Conservative Association :
" Mr. Ghose and his friends may ask, ' Why should we not
have a local legislature in Ireland ? We have given self-govern-
ment to the Colonies, why refuse it to the sister country ? '
It is true we have given it to the Colonies, but there is a
very great difference between granting self-government to the
Colonies and granting it to Ireland in the way of affecting
the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament of the United
Kingdom. We have granted self-government to Australia,
New Zealand, and Canada, and with very beneficial effect
and little risk. The risk is that self-government may lead
to separation, but if that happens in a distant country England
still remains a great country, as she did when she lost the
sway of the United States. But if we entered upon a course
that led to a separation with Ireland, our very existence as
a nation would be threatened. (Hear, hear.) We cannot
afford to incur any such risk. Anything short of that we
might be willing to grant to Ireland, and I am sure that
Members on the Conservative side of the House would be as
anxious to do anything in the way of justice as those on the
Liberal side, or even, perhaps, as those somewhat noisy frien<
who sit on the same side as we do, but sit below the gan|
way and follow the leadership of Mr. Parnell. (Laughter.)
Further on in the same speech William Evelyn says :
" When Mr. Ghose says that the only alternative
coercion, I cannot say he is logically right in that idea. I do
not see why Ireland should not go on under a just and firm
Government which would redress Irish grievances and not
resort to any extraordinary or exceptional legislation, unless
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 385
some desperate circumstances arose which rendered coercion
necessary. (Cheers.) "
William Evelyn again, in a speech delivered at the New
Cross Conservative Club in July, expressed his views on
Home Rule in the following words :
" Your chairman has reminded me of my former career
in Parliament. When I was returned as a very young man,
perhaps too soon, to Parliament, one of the chief things I
took up at that time was the principle of self-government,
and I remember belonging to an Anti-Centralisation Society.
I rank myself amongst the most ardent supporters of the
principles of self-government, but this measure of Mr.
Gladstone's goes far beyond any reasonable principle of local
self-government. (Cheers.) I am sure we should all be glad
to give the Irish people all reasonable power of managing
their own affairs (Hear, hear), but we are not prepared
to have suddenly and violently forced upon us the proposal
of two Parliaments in this United Kingdom. No, gentlemen,
we will rally round the old principles of England, we will
support the dignity of the Crown, the honour of the country,
and if we are true to ourselves we will place in office, whether
it is a Ministry of Conservative statesmen or of Liberal states-
men, men who will be true to the principles that we have in-
herited from our ancestors, principles which we hope to be-
queath untarnished and unblemished to our posterity. (Loud
cheers.)"
In another speech in the New Cross Hall, William Evelyn
said in reference to the Irish question :
" Now, with regard to the Irish policy of the Government,
you are aware two Bills were brought into the late House of
Commons, one was the Government of Ireland Bill, and the
other the Irish Land Purchase Bill. In the Government of
Ireland Bill there was a provision for repealing, or rather for
modifying the Act of Union, and for establishing a separate
Parliament in Ireland, a statutory Parliament for the purpose
of managing Irish affairs. In the provisions of that Bill
there were a great many restrictions to prevent the proposed
statutory Parliament from exceeding its duty. There were
provisions against any interference with religion or establish-
2 5
386 THE EVELYN FAMILY
ing a rival creed. Then the new Irish Parliament was for-
bidden to alter the customs or excise duties in Ireland, and
there were many others greatly restricting the powers of this
Statutory Parliament which would be a body very different
from the old Parliament of Grattan, which was really an inde-
pendent Parliament which had the power of discussing not
only local questions, but Imperial questions, such as Peace
and War, and which, by the Constitution of 1782, was rendered
a perfectly independent Parliament, so that from 1782 to the
Act of Union we had two separate and independent legis-
latures in this country. Mr. Gladstone now proposes to
establish a Statutory Parliament, and declares it can be done
with perfect safety for the supremacy of the Imperial Parlia-
ment and with no violation of the principle of unity of the
Empire. (Oh, oh.) The question before you is whether Mr.
Gladstone is justified in that assertion or not. (No, no.) ....
" 1 must now tell you why I think this proposal of Mr.
Gladstone for the modification of the Act of Union is a dan-
gerous one. There is in it no element of finality. Under
the Bill, should it become law, Ireland will have to pay a con-
siderable sum, about 5,000,000, to the English Exchequer,
and then Ireland will be restricted from any tampering with
the excise and customs, and restricted otherwise. It would
have no power to protect Irish industries, which was the one
great object of Grattan, whose memory the Irish so reverence.
There would be powers of restriction against interfering
with religion or tyrannising over what is called a Loyalist
minority. In all these matters I think the restrictions just
and necessary if the Bill is to pass. But what would be the
result ? Why, constant agitation to bring back the Parlia-
ment of Grattan, the independent Parliament. (Cheers.) We
shall not end the Irish question by granting Ireland a separate
Parliament, but bring about the commencement of a new
and more dangerous agitation than ever yet existed in that
country. (Loud cheers.) There will be a constant effort to
shake off the onerous restrictions which the Irish will say
are unjustly imposed upon them. (Cheers.) A great agita-
tion will be raised, and they will ask why they should not
have Grattan' s Parliament of 1782. So that I am quite
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 387
certain, even if Mr. Parnell and his followers were sincere in
saying they will be content with the present measure, they
are not able to bind posterity. (Hear, hear.) I say, however
sincere they may be and it is a great stretch to give them
credit for sincerity considering their former assertions they
could never answer for future generations and prevent the
mischievous agitation which would certainly ensue suppos-
ing Mr. Gladstone's dangerous proposals were carried out.
(Cheers and interruption.) Now we come to the question of
coercion, which I have told you is not actually a question
before us. It has been dragged into the controversy, and Mr.
Gladstone, in his manifesto to the electors of Midlothian,
declares there is no alternative between passing his measure
of Home Rule and a policy of cruel and unjust coercion.
(Oh, oh.) Now, I cannot for the life of me see the force of
that reasoning. In the House of Commons and in many
speeches of the Gladstonian party, I saw the same thing re-
peated over and over again. I cannot see why the maintenance
of the liberty of the Parliament is inconsistent with a just
and lenient administration of Irish affairs. (Hear, hear.) "
The result of the election at Deptford, ending as it did
in a victory for William Evelyn, was a surprise to many, as it
was known that some of the Irish Roman Catholics who had
voted for him at the last election would vote against him this
time. There was also a strong element of Nonconformist
Liberalism in the constituency.
William Evelyn awaited the declaration of the poll all
night in the Deptford Conservative Club, where there was a
large gathering. It was about 3 o'clock in the morning when
the result of the poll become known. Thousands of working
men had remained to hear it declared, and when the result was
announced at 3.30 there was an enthusiastic demonstration
by the crowd outside the club and also by his friends inside
it. The figures were as follows :
EVELYN 3682
GHOSE 3055
I
William Evelyn therefore had a majority of 627. A
working man in the crowd called out, "He is a fine old
388 THE EVELYN FAMILY
English gentleman," and the phrase was taken up and
vociferated with enthusiasm. William Evelyn tried to say
a word or two, but he could not, for his feelings overcame
him and his eyes filled with tears.
Soon after the election he left England to make a short
stay in Ireland. He stayed with his maternal uncle, Mr.
Massy-Dawson of Ballinacourty, Tipperary, and visited Cork
among other places.
Lord Salisbury's Government came back into office, and
Parliament opened on January 22, 1887. Sir Michael Hicks-
Beach was Chief Secretary for Ireland, but he gave up his post,
which was taken by Mr. Arthur Balfour, who, up to that time,
had been holding the new office of Secretary for Scotland.
In a speech made at a meeting of the Deptford Conserva-
tive Association on January 14, William Evelyn, referring
to Ireland, said that whilst he was prepared to support the
rights of the landlord, he could not but regret the cruelty
and barbarity of the evictions in Kerry, poor sickly people
being turned out of their homes, etc.
He was always very attentive to local matters, and at
this time he interested himself in the desire of the people of
Deptford to establish free communication with the other side
of the Thames. It was a question whether this would be best
effected by a bridge, a subway, or a free ferry On January 26
he presided at a meeting at Deptford to consider this question,
and in the following May he accompanied two succeeding
deputations to the House of Commons to interview the Chair-
man of the Metropolitan Board of Works. On both occasions
he introduced the deputation, and made a speech in which he
advocated the claim of Deptford for a free ferry. As this
had no result, although a memorial signed by 5000 working
men had been presented by the second deputation, another
deputation was got up in July for the same object. William
Evelyn accompanied it, and again made a speech in which
he urged the great hardship and inconvenience to Deptford
working men whose employment lay on the other side of the
river to have to pay daily for crossing it.
He also interested himself in the question of the importa-
tion of butterine, or imitation butter, and the harm that
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 389
this was causing to the industry of butter-making in the
country.
During the parliamentary sessions of 1886 and 1887 he
was on the public committee on forestry.
The following speech of his was delivered in Parliament
on April 1, during the debate on the Criminal Law Amend-
ment Bill, on Mr. Parnell's amendment :
" Sir, having the honour to represent a constituency
containing a considerable Irish element, I trust that the
House will allow me, in a very few words, to state the reasons
why I feel bound to vote against the amendment proposed
by the honourable member for Cork (Mr. Parnell). Not-
withstanding such vehement invectives and imputations as
we have just heard from the junior member for Northampton
(Mr. Bradlaugh), public opinion in the country will, I think,
acknowledge that, in bringing forward the present measure
Her Majesty's Government were actuated by high and con-
scientious motives. To me, individually, it is a matter of
regret that without any pressing or proved necessity a measure
should have been introduced which, in some of its clauses,
at least, is acknowledged to be an extreme measure of excep-
tional legislation for Ireland. Yet it must be evident to
candid and impartial minds that since the action taken by the
Government is not the easiest or most convenient from a party
point of view, and since it was sure to lead to a strenuous
opposition in this House, and to a stormy agitation in the
country, that action must have been prompted simply by a
sense of what its authors deemed to be their duty. The
attacks on the Government during the present debate have
proceeded from two of the four minorities into which the
right honourable gentleman the Member for Midlothian (Mr.
W. E. Gladstone) has declared that the House is divided
that is, from the Irish party on the one hand, and, on the
other, from the regular Opposition. Now, with regard to the
Irish party, it must be admitted that, in opposing coercion,
they have been straightforward and consistent. In attack-
ing the Government they are acting within their right, and
though their language may be somewhat strong, some allow-
ance should be made for the Oriental fervour of the Irish
390 THE EVELYN FAMILY
temperament ; and I, for one, would not be disposed to con-
nect the Irish party with crime or be too hard on them for
speeches delivered in this House during the excitement of
debate, or at agitated public meetings in the country. Ad-
mitting, as I do, their honesty of purpose, I am willing to
believe in their disclaimer of all sympathy with crime. But
the language of the regular Opposition is scarcely entitled
to the same indulgent consideration. And when the right
honourable gentleman the Member for Midlothian rises in
his place in the front Opposition bench and, in solemn tones,
lectures down on the present occupants of the Treasury
bench, as if in this matter of Irish coercion they were sinners
above all the Galileans, I cannot quite agree with the honour-
able member for Northampton that there is anything unfair
in reminding the Member for Midlothian that his culpability
is greater than that of any gentleman in this House, not
excepting the right honourable gentleman the Member for
Derby. The honourable member for Cork, in the eloquent
and impressive speech delivered by him this evening, favoured
us with a laboured analysis of this Irish Coercion Bill of the
Government, which is not yet printed. He also contended
that the Gladstonian Coercion Act of 1870 was less stringent
in its provisions than the Bill now under discussion. But
on that particular point he was completely refuted by the
right honourable gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland
(Mr. A, J. Balfour) ; and I cannot but feel surprised that the
honourable member for Cork, who is usually more careful,
should have committed himself to a statement so inaccurate
that it seems to have been made at haphazard. Then the
honourable member for Cork adverted, at considerable length,
to some jury cases, and to a Land Bill of the Government
which is now before the other House ; but it is somewhat
remarkable that, throughout the whole of his speech, he
scarcely made a passing allusion to the amendment which
he brought forward. Now, in bringing forward that amend-
ment, I have no doubt that the honourable member for Cork
acted in accordance with the constitutional precedent ; but
though the amendment taken by itself may be perfectly
regular, yet it seems open to the imputation of being perfectly
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 391
unpractical. We have already, in the Reports of Com-
mission, and in the Returns laid on the tables of the House,
ample information as to the state of Ireland. To go into
Committee of the whole House on that subject would be a
mere waste of time. The amendment then viewed by itself
is simply obstructive ; it is a part of a policy of delay, a
policy scarcely worthy, if I may say so, of the honourable
member for Cork. But, Sir, when I consider the amendment
not by itself, but in connection with the violent and intem-
perate attacks on the Government which has characterised
this discussion, then the whole matter clearly resolves itself
into a challenge of confidence in the present Government.
We, on this side of the House, have to meet an attempt to
overthrow the present administration and to replace it by a
ministry presided over by the right honourable gentleman
the Member for Midlothian. Such an attempt, if successful,
would not, in my humble judgment, tend to the public
advantage. It is true that, as a Unionist, and in the interests
of the Union itself, I deplore the revival of coercion in a per-
manent form, and the departure from the policy of Lord
Carnarvon in 1885. During my election contests in 1885
and 1886 I encountered the arguments of my able and
eloquent Oriental antagonist, Mr. Lalmohun Ghose, by
maintaining that coercion was a thing of the past, and that
the Imperial Parliament would do for Ireland all, and more
than all, than she could expect from a native Parliament at
College Green. A similar line was adopted by other Conser-
vative candidates ; but, henceforth, I fear that we must look
abroad for other arguments in support of the Union. The
adoption of the amendment could but lead to delay, and the
honourable member for Northampton has truly said that the
Bill is ' sure to pass.' Then why should all English and
Scotch legislation, why should all legislation affecting the
working classes of the United Kingdom be indefinitely post-
poned, in order to prolong a useless discussion which can
only end in one way, as the honourable members have already
made up their minds ? And be it remembered, also, that
though this particular Bill is new, yet the subject itself has
been discussed since the beginning of the century ; and the
392 THE EVELYN FAMILY
present Bill is said to be the 87th Coercion Bill since the
Union, and is based on the same principles as former measures
of the same character. Let that which must be done, whether
right or wrong, be done quickly. Surely the prolongation of
this discussion would not be advantageous either to Ireland
or to the Irish party in this House. Surely it would be better
to get rid of this painful subject, and to proceed without
delay to the consideration of the remedial measures which are
to follow. To these measures I look forward with confidence,
hoping and believing that they may not only complete and
perfect the Land Acts of 1881 and 1885, but also succeed in
restoring to distracted Ireland the blessings of tranquillity,
prosperity, and contentment."
During the six years that the Conservatives were in
power the split in the Liberal party widened and the Liberal
Unionists even joined with the Tories over coercion. In the
latter part of 1886 what was called the Plan of Campaign
had been started in Ireland, which consisted in a combination
among the peasants designed to protect themselves from the
exaction of exorbitant rents.
The Government appointed a Commission under Lord
Cowper, called the Cowper Commission, to inquire into the
material resources of the country and particularly into land
rents and land purchase, and this Commission reported in
February 1887 that the refusal of some landlords to reduce
rents, and the fact that the peasants could not pay them owing
to the fall in prices, restriction of credit by the banks, and
other circumstances, was the cause of the tenants combining.
The Commission recommended " an earlier revision of judicial
rents, on account of the straightened circumstances of Irish
farmers." This induced the Government eventually to intro-
duce a Bill which initiated some amelioration with regard to
rents.
The new Crimes Bill surpassed in severity all former
Coercion Acts, and a new departure was made in the fact
that it was henceforth to be the permanent law of Ireland,
and could be brought into force whenever the Government
pleased.
On Monday night, April 18, William Evelyn voted in the
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 393
House of Commons in favour of the second reading of the
Crimes Bill, which was carried by 370 votes to 269. This
may seem inconsistent with his former declarations against
coercion, but it must be remembered that his position was a
very difficult one, and at present his feeling against a harsh
Irish policy was balanced by his desire not to injure his
party in any way. Meeting with no sympathy in his views
about coercion either among acquaintances or the members of
his party, the tide was too strong for him this time and he could
not resist it. As Mr. Blunt said of him in his book called
The Land War in Ireland, he had not the fibre of a fighter,
and it would have required more than ordinary moral
courage to stand quite alone and unsupported in such a crisis.
The next day, Tuesday, April 19, William Evelyn addressed
the members of the Chichester Habitation of the Primrose
League at a concert in the Amersham Hall. In referring to
his vote of the evening before he said :
'' You know that we had a division in the small hours of
this morning, and I have passed a very anxious night waiting
for the result. A messenger came to look me up at my house,
and visited several clubs in search of me. What other places
he visited I do not know ; I should exceedingly like to know,
because it would give me some idea of what, in the opinion of
the Whips of the Conservative party and the leaders of the
Conservative party, are the haunts in which they are most
likely to find me. About midnight I received a letter from
Mr. Smith saying that every vote was of the greatest import-
ance ; and of course it was a question upon which the fate
of the Government depended. I therefore recorded my vote
in favour of the Bill. (Prolonged cheers.) "
William Evelyn had received the following letter from
Mr. Frayling, a licensed victualler of Deptford, in reference to
the Coercion Bill :
" THE TIGER TAVERN,
"PRINCE STREET, DEPTFORD, S.E.,
^ April 18, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I have the honour to forward you the first
instalment of a memorial praying you to, at least, abstain
from voting in favour of the present Coercion Bill,
394 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" As one of the signatories to the memorial, I have been
requested by some Conservatives, as well as Liberal friends,
to take charge of it and send it to you.
" Trusting you will accede to its prayer,
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant and political supporter,
(Signed) C, B. FRAYLING."
The memorandum was as follows :
" To Mr. Evelyn, M.P., the Honourable Member for
Deptford
" The Memorial of the Electors and other Residents of
Deptford, of all shades of political opinions, showeth that
in the opinion of your memorialists, coercion is no remedy for
the grievances of the people of Ireland, neither would it tend
to the observance of law and order, but, on the contrary,
exasperate the people of a country which is at present remark-
ably free from agrarian and other crimes.
" Your memorialists would remind you of your professions
of anti-coercion in your address to the electors in 1885 and
also in 1886, when in your election address and your speeches
you confirmed your former professions. Your memorialists
are deeply concerned at the apprehension of the troubles which
may ensue should an extreme and permanent measure of co-
ercion such as is now proposed by the Government become law.
" Your memorialists, knowing you to be a sincere sup-
porter of the great Conservative party in all measures they
intend for the public good and the welfare of the Empire,
nevertheless implore you to withhold your vote, and at least
abstain from supporting such a drastic Coercion Bill as is
now before Parliament."
(Then follow the signatures.)
William Evelyn's reply was as follows :
" HOUSE OF COMMONS, April 19, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I write to acknowledge the receipt of yoi
letter dated yesterday, together with a memorial (numerously
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 395
and influent ially signed by Deptford constituents, Conserva-
tive as well as Liberal) requesting me to abstain from voting
on the second reading of the Criminal Law Amendment
(Ireland) Bill, and reminding me of my election pledges
against coercion. My views on that subject remain un-
changed, but I could not well avoid voting on a question
which involved the existence of the Government, In support-
ing the second reading I am not bound to uphold every clause
of the Bill.
" I remain,
Yours very truly,
(Signed) W. J. EVELYN."
The following correspondence on the same subject also
took place, and is taken from the Greenwich and Deptford
Observer of April 29 :
"352 NEW CROSS ROAD, S.E.,
"April 12, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I see in the Daily News of to-day it is
reported that you have decided against coercion. If this is
correct, I cannot doubt that it will give great satisfaction to
many of your constituents.
" I am aware that during the last contest we understood
from your speeches that you were opposed to coercive legis-
lation, but so many members of the present House of Commons
seem to have forgotten their election pledges on this subject.
" If not troubling you too much, I should like to know
whether you have decided to vote for or against the second
reading of this unrighteous Bill.
" With compliments, I am, dear Sir,
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) JAMES BILLS."
William Evelyn's reply was as follows :
-' 119 PICCADILLY, W., April 19, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I write a line in reply to your letter dated
the 12th inst. With much reluctance I came to the con-
clusion that, as a member of the Conservative party, I had
396 THE EVELYN FAMILY
no alternative but to vote for the second reading of the Irish
Crimes Bill. Up to last night I had intended to absent myself
from the division, but I found that I should be the only
Conservative absentee unpaired or not prevented by illness
from being in his place. I adhere to my views against
coercion and can but hope that the more stringent clauses
of the Bill will be amended in committee.
" Believe me,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
On April 28 a meeting was held by the Deptford Radical
and Liberal Association at the New Cross Public Hall, to
protest against the Crimes Bill. Mr. Herbert Gladstone
was in the chair, and the following speech of his is taken
from the Greenwich and Deptford Observer for April 29,
1887 :
" The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said their
late candidate, Mr. Ghose, had contested the Borough with a
gallantry and ability only equalled in his judgment by the
generosity of the Liberal voters of this division, who accepted
Mr. Ghose, although a stranger and connected with a distant
land. Mr. Evelyn recorded his vote in favour of the Coercion
Bill, in spite of his word pledged in his election address, and
in letters which he had written to the leaders of the local
Liberal party. Since Mr. Evelyn had voted he had written
one of his constituents a letter which was the most extra-
ordinary one he (the Chairman) had ever seen. He had no
doubt Mr. Evelyn's case was one of many of the Tory party.
If Mr. Evelyn had voted against the Government, he would
have been an outcast from Tory society, and would have been
turned out of every Primrose Habitation, and blackballed
from every club to which he had applied for admission. The
Government said, whether there was crime or no crime, the
National League was equally to blame, and must be put down
at any cost. In his opinion, if there had been no evictions,
there would have been no crime in Ireland. Crime was an
evil thing in Ireland and England, and he considered that if
English and Scotch people had to put up with the govern-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 397
ment that Ireland had had, there would have been far more
and far worse crime than there was in Ireland."
William Evelyn referred to the above speech shortly
afterwards at a meeting in connection with the Chichester
Habitation of the Primrose League, which was held at Sayes
Court, Deptford. In the course of it he said :
" Private members have their own opinions, but it would
never do to forget that the Government of England after all
is a party Government, and that, if each individual in the
Conservative party or any other were to stand on his own
crochets and refuse to give way there would be an end to
government by party, and I think it would not tend to the
advantage of public affairs. (Hear, hear.) So in what was
said of me by Lord Spencer and the others, really, when we
come to look at it, it really comes to nothing at all. I cer-
tainly pledged myself to oppose coercion, but I was not so
much pledged as many Conservative candidates belonging to
what I have called the left wing of the party. I don't know
how it was with my friend, Mr. Baumann. I don't know
whether he had ' votes for Baumann and no Coercion '
adorning the streets of Peckham. I can only say that at
Deptford there was nothing of the kind. All I said was that
I was opposed to Coercion, and to exceptional measures for
Ireland, and I had chiefly in view Mr. Gladstone's Crimes Bill
of 1882, which, with its curfew clause and other severe enact-
ments, was much more of a Coercion Bill than this Bill brought
in by Lord Salisbury. (Hear, hear.) When Lord Salisbury's
first Government was formed, I looked forward in the hope,
as did Lord Salisbury himself, that we might have governed
Ireland without exceptional measures, and that he might
have had the high honour of putting an end to the era of
special legislation. But in that hope we were disappointed.
When I said that I reluctantly voted for the Bill of the
present Government, the Criminal Law Amendment
(Ireland) Bill, it was not that I considered that measure a
measure of coercion, compared with former measures that
have been brought in by former Governments, yet there were
some clauses that I thought had a savour of coercion in them,
and required to be very carefully watched. The Bill itself
398 THE EVELYN FAMILY
may well be passed, and, having been well considered in
committee and amended, I do not think it will deserve to
be called a Coercion Bill. (Hear, hear.) Still, on looking
through the clauses of the Bill, I saw there were some I did not
like, and therefore it was that I had some little hesitation
in supporting the measure. The first clause has been already
very much improved by the concessions made by the Govern-
ment, and so, as we go through the clauses of the Bill, if we
ever get to the end at all, I trust it will come out of the House
of Commons a really good and workable measure. (Hear,
hear.)"
William Evelyn concluded his speech by defending him-
self from the recent attack by Mr. Herbert Gladstone. He
complained that the latter did not attack him in the House
of Commons, but chose to come down to Deptford and attack
him there, and said that he had not met with much courtesy
or consideration from either Mr. Herbert Gladstone or his
father.
The following is a correspondence which took place be-
tween William Evelyn and Mr. Herbert Gladstone :
" 119 PICCADILLY, May 4, 1887.
" SIR, At a speech delivered at a public meeting in the
New Cross Public Hall, on Thursday, April 28, you are re-
ported to have said that I pledged myself to vote against the
Irish Crimes Bill. All the Deptford local journals concur in
attributing to you words to that effect. My object in writing
to you is to ask you on what authority you made the above
statement, which is incorrect, for I never gave any such pledge.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
The following was the reply of Mr. Herbert Gladstone :
-HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 9, 1887.
" SIR, I regret that, owing to pressure of engagements,
I have not been able to reply earlier to your letter of the 4th
inst.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 399
" My speech at Deptford was not reported in the leading
London papers, except in the usual abbreviated shape, and
as you do not quote any passage I am unable to write as
definitely as I could wish.
" You tell me that I am reported to have said that you
pledged yourself to vote against the Irish Crimes Bill. Un-
doubtedly I spoke to that effect. On April 18 you wrote
in these words to the Deptford Liberal Association. ' With
regard to the question of Irish Coercion, after a very careful
consideration of the provisions of the Criminal Law Amend-
ment (Ireland) Bill, I have most reluctantly come to the
conclusion that, desirous as I am of supporting Lord Salis-
bury's Government, I am unable to vote for the second
reading of the Bill.' As these words stand I agree that they
did not bind you to vote against the Bill. But considering
that this Bill affects personal liberty, and that it is being
passed in the teeth of five-eighths of the Irish representatives,
it seemed to me almost inconceivable that any member could
in justice to his constituents refrain from voting one way or
the other on so vital a question. In your case, moreover, you
had strongly denounced coercion in your election speeches,
and your words seem to me to have pledged you to one course
only in the clearest and most unmistakable way. These were
your words : ' I have been asked whether I would vote for
coercion in Ireland. I have always considered, long before I
ever thought of being a candidate for Deptford, that the
Crimes Act, which was introduced by Mr. Gladstone and a
Whig Government in 1882, was a most abominable and un-
constitutional measure.'
" If that act was abominable, seeing that at the time the
majority of Irish members were not opposed to coercion, and
that crime then was far worse than now, it appears to me a
fortiori that the present Bill is more ' abominable ' and more
' unconstitutional.' By the light of your election speeches
I could only interpret your letter of the 18th in one way.
Even the ' tremendous pressure ' which you in a subsequent
letter to the Deptford Liberal Association said was put upon
Conservative members presumably to vote against their elec-
tion pledges and their consciences, cannot relieve you of
400 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the responsibility of having before your election led the
public to believe that you were going to take a course which
you subsequently repudiated.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
HERBERT J. GLADSTONE."
William Evelyn received this letter on May 10, and he
wrote in reply to it the same day as follows :
{ H9 PICCADILLY, May 10, 1887.
" SIR, I have duly received your letter dated yesterday,
which, unless I hear from you to the contrary, will be sent to
the local Deptford press ; for, in addressing my constituents
yesterday evening, I read a copy of my letter to you dated
the 4th inst. and complained of not having received a reply
thereto.
" Though you admit that you had no authority for stating
that I had pledged myself to vote against the Criminal Law
Amendment (Ireland) Bill, it does not seem to occur to you
that you owe me an apology for the misstatement.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
Mr. Herbert Gladstone replied as follows :
"4 CLEVELAND SQUARE, May 10, 1887.
" SIR, I have no objection whatever to the publication
of my letters.
" It certainly has not occurred to me that I owe you an
apology, for I do not admit that I had no authority for saying
that you had pledged yourself to vote against coercion. I
quoted the words you yourself used with reference to coercion
during your election contest, and you do not dispute th<
authenticity.
" I hold that these words pledged you to vote against e:
ceptional repressive legislation for Ireland. This may be
matter of opinion, but it is an opinion which I think I
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 401
justified in holding. Had you not felt that you were com-
mitted to your constituents to oppose coercion it is difficult
to see why on April 18 you wrote to say that you could not
support the second reading of the Crimes Bill which that very
evening you did support, or why the next day you wrote to
the effect that it was only ' tremendous pressure ' and the
fear of absolute isolation that forced you to vote against your
own convictions.
" I shall be obliged if you will publish this with my first
letter.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
HERBERT J. GLADSTONE."
The following was a subsequent letter from Mr. Herbert
Gladstone :
-HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 16, 1887.
" SIR, My attention has been called to a speech of yours
as reported in the Kentish Mercury of May 13.
" Most of your remarks personal to myself though offensive
and inaccurate are harmless. This passage, however, I am
obliged to notice, ' Mr. H. Gladstone was in 1881 the minority
Member for Middlesex (sic), a three-cornered constituency,
and if he had gone to his constituents he would inevitably
have lost his seat. What did Mr. Gladstone do ? He re-
sorted to the ingenious device of making an additional lord-
ship of the Treasury for his hopeful son, and Mr. H. Gladstone,
a Lord of the Treasury, without pay. In 1885 this second
ingenious device was resorted to. He was given a nominal
Deputy-Commissionership of the Board of Works which did
not require him to vacate his seat, and then the salary of
the lordship of the Treasury was given to him, not in respect
of that but in respect of the office of Deputy-Commissioner of
Works. A more flagrant job and evasion of the law could
hardly have been perpetrated.' I was given no nominal
Deputy-Commissionership in 1885. In February of that
year the First Commissioner being in the House of Lords
the duty of doing the business of the office in the House
of Commons was assigned to me, and from April 1 to
26
402 THE EVELYN FAMILY
June 20 I drew the salary belonging to a lordship of the
Treasury.
" There never was a minority Member for Middlesex, a
fact which I should have thought was well known to the least
informed Member of Parliament. In 1881 I was one of the
Members for Leeds, and in August of that year, upon being
appointed a Junior Lord of the Treasury, I vacated my seat
and was re-elected without opposition.
" I ask you whether a more flagrant falsification of
facts than this statement of yours could possibly be per-
petrated ?
" I am sending this letter to the Deptford papers, and
remain,
" Your obedient servant,
HERBERT J. GLADSTONE."
The reply was as follows :
-HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 17, 1887.
" SIR, I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
dated yesterday correcting my statement as to your having
represented Middlesex. On this minor point I was un-
doubtedly mistaken. You were an unsuccessful candidate
for Middlesex in April 1880, you were elected for Leeds in
May 1880, and on your appointment as a Lord of the
Treasury you vacated your seat for Leeds, and were re-elected
in August 1881.
" You do not dispute my main contention that a super-
numerary Lordship of the Treasury was expressly created
for you.
" Recollect that in this controversy you are the assailant.
Your speech at New Cross Public Hall seems to me better to
deserve the epithets ' offensive and inaccurate ' than any-
thing that I may have said at Deptford in reply and self-
defence on the 9th inst.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 403
Mr. Herbert Gladstone replied as follows :
-HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 18, 1887.
" SIR, I do not wish to prolong this correspondence
ad infinitum. I have shown that without the smallest
justification you made a most serious charge by a complete
reversal of facts. You now say that I do not dispute your
4 main ' contention that a supernumerary Lordship was
expressly created for me. Most certainly I do. Had you
considered the matter at all you would have found that the
Treasury is in commission and that the Crown can add at
will to that commission, according to the interests of the
public service. On my appointment I was attached to
the Irish office and was under Mr. Forster until May
1882.
" If you now confine your attack to the subject of my
being put into office it is obvious that I cannot reply to you,
and when you justify this attack by saying that I was the
assailant, I fail to see why because I attack you for your
Irish views, you should reply by accusing the Prime Minister
of perpetrating a job, the grossness of which you endeavoured
to substantiate by extraordinary misstatements. In con-
clusion I must express my regret if anything that I have
said or written bears the character of an attack on your
personal honour and good faith. I don't think that it is
so, though I adhere to the strongest condemnation of your
political action in the Irish question.
" There can be no question that the baseless charge which
you have made and which I have demonstrated to be without
foundation, and for making which you have expressed no
regret while admitting your grave inaccuracy, does impute
not to me only, but to the late Prime Minister as well, the
meanest and most contemptible motives.
" It may be as well to send these last letters with any
reply you like to make to the Deptford papers.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
HERBERT J. GLADSTONE."
404 THE EVELYN FAMILY
William Evelyn's reply was as follows :
-HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 18, 1887.
" SIR, I reciprocate your wish that this correspondence
should not be prolonged ; moreover, I accept all your
statements of fact touching yourself as correct, and where
those statements differ from information given to me I
will conclude that my informants were wrong and that you
are right.
" I never meant to complain, and no sensible man could
complain that Mr. Gladstone should desire to place his son
in a post for which he was fitted by capacity and education.
What I found fault with was that whereas there had previ-
ously, according to universal custom and precedent, been
only three Junior Lords of the Treasury, Mr. Gladstone
should have created a fourth. You state in answer that
* the Treasury is in commission.' This is true in itself, but
does not prove that the First Lord of the Treasury is morally
justified in increasing the number of Treasury officials when-
ever his personal exigencies suggest such increase.
" When I addressed my constituents on the 9th instant,
I did so with the feeling that you had somewhat bitterly and
unfairly assailed me, and that you had omitted to reply to
my letter dated the 4th instant.
" Regretting that any part of my speech should have
given offence.
" I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
On May 12 William Evelyn presented a petition to
Parliament in favour of leasehold enfranchisement.
On Thursday, June 14, there were five divisions on the
Criminal Law Amendment Act, but William Evelyn was
absent.
During the summer of 1887 Queen Victoria's Jubilee was
celebrated all over England. On June 16, William Evelyn
attended a banquet given by the West Kent and Carlton
Club to celebrate it, and in the course of his speech he said :
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 405
" He did not quite agree with Mr. Boord's suggestion that
the Crimes Act should be made to apply to England, but
without dwelling too much on matters on which they might
differ he would remark that they were all agreed on the
general principle of Conservatism, and in confidence in the
present Premier. (Applause.) In his foreign policy Lord
Salisbury upheld manfully the interest and honour of Eng-
land. (Cheers.) In his domestic policy they felt that he was
also a true Englishman, and that they might trust him to
the fullest extent that any political party ever trusted its
leader."
On June 19 William Evelyn presented a petition from
the inhabitants of Deptford and the vicinity in favour of
the establishment of an Anglo-American Tribunal for the
decision of all questions affecting the mutual relations of the
two nations. The petitioners referred to the importance of
avoiding such friction as that which had recently taken place
on the fisheries question, and expressed the hope that the
establishment of such a tribunal as that proposed would
lead to an international system of arbitration. The petition
had 750 signatures.
On the same evening William Evelyn presented two
petitions from inhabitants of New Cross and the neighbour-
hood and women ratepayers of Hatcham and Lee, in favour
of the extension of the franchise to women.
CHAPTER VI
END OF PARLIAMENTARY CAREER
ON September 9 a very unfortunate incident occurred at
Mitchelstown in Co. Cork. The following account of it is
a quotation from John Morley's Life of Gladstone.
" A meeting of some six thousand persons assembled in
a large public square at Mitchelstown, in the county of Cork.
It was a good illustration of Mr. Gladstone's habitual strategy
in public movements, that he should have boldly and
promptly seized on the doings at Mitchelstown as an incident
well fitted to arrest the attention of the country. 'Remember
Mitchelstown ' became a watchword. The Chairman, speak-
ing from a carriage that did duty for a platform, opened
the proceedings. Then a file of police endeavoured to force
away through the densest part of the crowd for a Government
note-taker. Why they did not choose an easier mode of ap-
proach from the rear, or by the side ; why they had not got
their reporter on to the platform before the business began ;
and why they had not beforehand asked for accommodation
as was the practice, were three points never explained. The
police, unable to make a way through the crowd, retired
to the outskirt. The meeting went on. In a few minutes
a larger body of police pressed up through the thick of the
throng to the platform. A violent struggle began, the police
fighting their way through the crowd with batons and clubbed
rifles. The crowd flung stones and struck out with sticks,
and after three or four minutes the police fled to their bar-
racks some two hundred and fifty yards away. So far
there is no material discrepancy in the various versions of
this dismal story. What followed is matter of conflicting
testimony. One side alleged that a furious throng rushed
I
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 407
after the police, attacked the barrack, and half murdered a
constable outside, and that the constables inside in order to
save their comrade and to beat off the assailing force, opened
fire from an upper window. The other side declare that no
crowd followed the retreating police at all, that the assault
on the barrack was a myth, and that the police fired without
orders from any responsible officer, in mere blind panic and
confusion. One old man was shot dead, two others were
mortally wounded and died within a week.
" Three days later the affray was brought before the
House of Commons. Anyone could see from the various
reports that the conduct of the police, the resistance of the
crowd, and the guilt or justification of the bloodshed, were
all matters in the utmost doubt and demanding rigorous
inquiry. Mr. Balfour pronounced instant and peremptory
judgment. The thing had happened on the previous Friday.
The official report, however rapidly prepared, could not have
reached him until the morning of Sunday. His officers
at the Castle had had no opportunity of testing their official
report by cross-examination of the constables concerned,
nor by inspection of the barrack, the line of fire, and other
material elements of the case. Yet on the strength of this
hastily drawn and unsifted report received by him from Ireland
on Sunday, and without waiting for any information that eye-
witnesses in the House might have to lay before him in the
course of the discussion, the Irish Minister actually told
Parliament once for all, on the afternoon of Monday, that
he was of opinion, 'looking at the matter in the most impartial
spirit, that the police were in no way to blame, and that
no responsibility rested upon anyone except upon those who
convened the meeting under circumstances which they knew
would lead to excitement and might lead to outrage ! ' The
country was astounded to see the most critical mind in all the
House swallow an untested police report whole ; to hear one
of the best judges in all the country of the fallibility of human
testimony, give off-hand in what was really a charge of
murder, a verdict of Not Guilty, after he had read the untested
evidence on one side. The rest was all of a piece. The
Coroner's inquest was held in due course. The proceedings
408 THE EVELYN FAMILY
were not more happily conducted than was to be expected
where each side followed the counsel's ferocious exasperation.
The jury after some seventeen days of it, returned a verdict
of wilful murder against the chief police officer and five of
his men. This inquisition was afterwards quashed (February
10, 1888) in the Queen's Bench, on the groundthat the Coroner
had perpetrated certain irregularities of form. Nobody has
doubted that the Queen's Bench was right ; it seemed as if
there had been a conspiracy of all the demons of human
stupidity in this tragic bungle, from the first forcing of the
reporter through the crowd, down to the inquest on the
three slain men and onwards.
" The Coroner's inquest having broken down, reasonable
opinion demanded that some other public inquiry should
be held. Even supporters of the Government demanded it.
If three men had been killed by the police in connection with
a public meeting in England or Scotland, no Home Secretary
would have dreamed for five minutes of resisting such a
demand. Instead of a public inquiry, what the Chief Secretary
did was to appoint a confidential departmental committee
of policemen privately, to examine, not whether the firing
was justified by the circumstances, but how it came about that
the police were so handled by their officers that a large force
was put to flight by a disorderly mob. The three deaths were
treated as mere accident and irrelevance. The committee
was appointed to correct the discipline of the force, said the
Irish Minister, on December 3, 1888, and in no sense to seek
justification for actions which, in his opinion, required no
justification. Endless speeches were made in the House and
out of it, Members went over to Mitchelstown to measure
distances, calculate angles, and fire imaginary rifles out of the
barrack window ; all sorts of theories of ricochet shots were
invented, photographs and diagrams were taken. Some
held the police to be justified, others held them to be wholly
unjustified. But without a judicial inquiry, such as had
been set up in the case of Belfast in 1886, all these
doings were futile. The Government remained stubborn.
The slaughter of the three men was finally left just as
if it had been the slaughter of three dogs. No other in-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 409
cident of Irish administration stirred deeper feelings of
disgust in Ireland, or of misgiving and indignation in
England.
" Here was in a word, the key to the new policy. Every
act of Irish officials was to be defended. No constable could
be capable of excess. No magistrate could err. No prison
rule was over harsh. Every severity technically in order
must be politic."
During September there began to be a rumour that William
Evelyn intended to resign his seat in Parliament owing to
his intense disapproval of the Irish policy of the Government.
In that month a meeting of working men was held at Deptford
at which a resolution was passed that the Government should
make a searching inquiry into the conduct of the police in
firing on the people at Mitchelstown. The Chairman of the
meeting forwarded the resolution to William Evelyn together
with the following letter :
, i TIGER TAVERN, PRINCES STREET, DEPTFORD,
September 14, 1887.
" Sir, I beg to forward you the copy of a resolution
unanimously passed at a meeting of working-men electors
at Deptford, held last evening (13th) at the Tiger Tavern ;
and will thank you if you will kindly give an expression of
opinion on it.
" I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
CHARLES COMPTON."
William Evelyn replied as follows :
-OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CLUB, PALL MALL, S.W.,
September 14, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I have duly received your letter enclosing
the copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of working-men
electors at Deptford yesterday evening, and you ask me for
an expression of opinion on the resolution. In answer, I beg
leave to say, that I so far agree with the resolution as to think
that the deplorable occurrence at Mitchelstown on the 9th
inst. is so grave as to require an official investigation before
410 THE EVELYN FAMILY
some reliable and impartial tribunal. So far as I can judge
at present, the police in firing on the people exceeded their
duty. I am aware that this opinion of mine is not shared by
the extreme Orange party in Ireland, but much as I value
the honour of representing Deptford, I would rather resign
my seat than appear by my vote to sanction any cruel pro-
ceedings against the Irish people.
" I remain,
Yours faithfully,
W. J. EVELYN."
A few days after this another conference was held at Dept-
ford to further consider the attitude of William Evelyn towards
the Irish policy of the Government. A copy of a letter from
the First Lord of the Treasury, at which he said an inquiry
was to be held into the Mitchelstown affair, was sent to
William Evelyn, who replied as follows :
"WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
September 23, 1887.
" MY DEAR SIR, I thank you for sending me a copy of the
official reply to your letter of the 15th inst., addressed to
Mr. Smith. I do not consider the reply as satisfactory, inas-
much as the ' inquiry ' is (if I mistake not) to be conducted by
the notorious Captain Plunket.
" Believe me, yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
A general conversation then took place, during which
William Evelyn's present conduct was highly approved of.
It was resolved to convene a public meeting of Irishmen to
hear what William Evelyn had to say with regard to his line of
conduct and to hear what his future course of action would be.
On September 27, William Evelyn wrote the following
letter to Mr. Compton, chairman of the above-mentioned
meeting, which was read at a future conference at Deptford :
- WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
September 27, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, In reply to your letter dated the 22nd inst.,
which I hope you will pardon me for not having sooner
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 411
answered, I beg leave to assure you that my opinion on the
action of the police at Mitchelstown remains unchanged.
Looking at the present aspect of the Irish question, I am
obliged to reconsider my position as Member for Deptford.
I hope to address my constituents in January, when in view
of the late regrettable and painful development by Lord
Salisbury's Government of a severe and harsh Irish policy, I
may feel it my duty to resign the high trust which the con-
stituency of Deptford has twice done me the honour of repos-
ing in me.
" I remain, yours faithfully,
W. J. EVELYN.
" P.S. I have received a letter, dated Mitchelstown, the
24th inst., from Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, who, as you may perhaps
remember, was in 1885 the Conservative candidate for North
Camberwell. I subjoin an extract from Mr. Blunt's letter :
" ' What Chamberlain is reported to have said about the
police nobly defending their barracks is utter nonsense. The
barracks were not attacked except by a few boys throwing
stones, and as a matter of fact there are only six panes of glass
broken, two of which were admittedly broken by the police
themselves. 1 "
The Chairman said that as a Conservative he regretted the
prospect of losing William Evelyn's services as Member for
Deptford, but at the same time he could not help feeling that
the honourable gentleman's self-sacrifice, dictated as it no
doubt was by high conscientious motives, did him great credit.
After full deliberation the conference decided to postpone
further action until the intended public meeting had been held.
The full letter from Mr. Wilfrid Blunt was as follows :
''MITCHELSTOWN, September 24, 1887.
" MY DEAR MR. EVELYN, I think you will like to hear
from me from this place. I came here last Wednesday and
have attended the inquest and also O'Brien's trial. With
regard to the first, although it is not yet over, it seems to be
absolutely certain that the police will be proved to have been
412 THE EVELYN FAMILY
throughout the aggressors and to have had no sort of justifica-
tion for firing on the people. I heard Dillon give his evidence,
and the counsel for the police hardly attempted to shake his
evidence, while the police themselves have confessed to firing
without orders. I have examined the locality thoroughly
and find the corner of the square, where the mob was, fifty-four
yards from the barracks and so placed that, in order to fire
into the square, it must have been necessary for the police
to lean quite out of the window, for the square is to their right,
and as you know a man firing from the right shoulder has a
very awkward shot. It was not therefore in self defence but
in anger and revenge. I notice a very bad and aggressive
feeling here on the part of the police towards the people ; and
yesterday under Captain Plunkett's orders they very nearly
managed to bring about another fight, and it was only Dillon's
presence that prevented trouble. This I saw with my eyes.
"As to the trial, though there is no doubt O'Brien did
speak more or less in the sense complained of, there has not
been produced an atom of evidence which would weigh with an
English jury. It is clear that the reports by the police were
written after they had seen the newspapers and in collusion
with each other ; and the whole thing has been a mockery of
law, whatever may be thought of its political necessity.
" I am glad you have protested against the bloodshed.
If the Government is to carry through its policy and it
cannot really succeed it must be through rivers of blood.
"I see here things I could not have believed possible in
any English speaking country in this year of grace 1887.
" Yours very truly,
WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT.
" What Chamberlain is reported to have said about the
police nobly defending their barracks is utter nonsense. The
barracks were not attacked except by a few boys throwing
stones and as a matter of fact there are only six panes of
glass broken in it, two of which were admittedly broken by
the police themselves."
William Evelyn's position was made doubly difficult by
the fact that his views on Ireland met with no sympathy
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 413
among a great number of his acquaintances, for most of
them, being Conservative in their sympathies, shared the
views of the majority of the Protestants in Ulster. William
Evelyn was always strongly averse to any violence, and the
thought of any human being suffering injustice or oppression
of any kind always aroused his indignation. He afterwards
described his attitude towards the Mitchelstown affair in a
speech on November 3, in these words :
44 So my difficulties continued, till the Mitchelstown affair
on the 9th September. When I read on the 10th September
the account of that horrible event (Cheers) the bloody shoot-
ing of the people at Mitchelstown and the slaughter of three
innocent men, I felt that that was the last straw, to use the
proverb, that breaks the camel's back. (Cheers.) I could
stand it no longer. On that very day, the 10th of September,
I wrote a letter to Mr. Smith, the leader of the House of
Commons, in which I strongly urged the Government to
disavow the firing on the people at Mitchelstown. I added
this sentence in my letter, 4 Unless the Government take this
course (that was to disavow the action of the police in firing
on the people), I cannot support them in that which really
can only be designated as a policy of slaughter.' '
On October 6 a special meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Deptford Conservative Association took place at Dept-
ford. William Evelyn was present at it, and a resolution was
unanimously adopted asking him to reconsider his intention
of resigning his seat. A further conference was held soon
afterwards in consequence of the receipt of another letter
from William Evelyn which ran as follows :
" WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
October 13.
" MY DEAR SIR, Adverting to your letter dated the llth
hist., and received by me to-day, it is quite true that such
a resolution was carried. It is not correct to say that I
acquiesced in it. There is no chance of my retracting my
expression of my opinion as to the present aspect of the Irish
question. The only point under my consideration is whether
or not I should resign my seat for Deptford, and as I do
414 THE EVELYN FAMILY
not think it fair to keep the constituency in suspense, I
shall probably in a very few days publicly notify my decision.
" Believe me, yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
On October 19, William Evelyn wrote the following letter
to Mr. Jacob, Vice -Chairman of the Deptford Conservative
Association :
a WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
October 19, 1887.
" DEAR MR. JACOB, At a meeting of the Executive
Committee of the Deptford Conservative Association on the
6th instant, the Committee, after requiring and receiving from
me an explanation of my views on the recent Irish policy of
Lord Salisbury's Government, passed a resolution expressive
of a hope that I would reconsider those views. You, as
Vice-chairman of the Association, presided at the meeting.
I was there by desire of the Committee.
" I now write to request you to let the Committee and the
Association know, not only that further consideration has
confirmed the views expressed by me at the meeting, but
that I have most reluctantly come to the conclusion that,
under present circumstances, I can no longer be of service to
our party in the House of Commons and that, on the re-
assembling of Parliament, I shall feel it my duty to resign my
seat, and not to seek re-election. You and the Committee will
be so good as to regard this resolve as fixed and final, and
to take measures accordingly in view of the expected vacancy.
" Neither the Conservative leaders nor my friends at
Deptford should be surprised at this announcement. Since
the memorable change of policy in 1886, my parliamentary
position in regard to the Irish question has been difficult
I may almost say painful. Strongly opposed to the policy
of coercion, yet most reluctant to separate myself from the
party, I have at various times made representations to the
Leaders. The last occasion of my doing so was on the 10th
of September, when, on reading in the London Journals the
account of the Mitchelstown affair, I strongly urged that,
assuming the newspaper reports to be correct, the Govern-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 415
ment should disavow the action of the police in firing on
the people. A few days afterwards the Chief Secretary for
Ireland, in the House of Commons, justified and upheld all
that the police had done at Mitchelstown.
" The Irish Crimes Act, which we were told was to be
employed for the repression and detection of crime, is now
openly perverted to such political purposes as the suppression
of public meetings and of the liberty of the Irish Press. In
the recent utterances of Conservative leaders I see no indica-
tion of any intention to recede from the fatal policy on which
the Government has entered. And if they do not recede they
must go forward.
" To inflict on Ireland, under the name of Law and Order,
a system of one-sided tyranny, to attack the liberty of the
Press, to suppress public meetings by force, this is not govern-
ment, but a confession of inability to govern. And if we
cannot govern Ireland the only way left is to allow the
Irish to try the experiment of governing themselves. We
must, in fact, concede their claim for a separate Parliament
and a separate Executive. Hence the present action of the
Ministry (as I endeavoured to show on the 6th instant) is
not only at variance with the best traditions of our Party,
but it is a deadly blow at those Unionist principles for which
we have contended.
" Thanking you and other friends for past kindness and
support.
" I remain, dear Mr. Jacob,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN.
" P.S. As my conduct has been publicly commented on,
I reserve to myself the right of publishing this letter."
William Evelyn received the following letter from Mr.
Bills :
- 1 6 SOUTH STREET, GREENWICH,
October 19, 1887.
" MY DEAR SIR, You will probably remember my writing
to you in April last on the subject of the Coercion Bill which
was then before the House of Commons, and in your reply
416 THE EVELYN FAMILY
you stated that ' you voted for the second reading with great
reluctance and hoped that the more stringent clauses might
be amended in Committee ' but there seems to be more
stringency than many even of its supporters dreamed of.
"Allow me, therefore, as one of your constituents to assure
you how highly many of us regard the very honourable course
you are now taking, and some of us even would be glad if you
could see your way clear to take the same action as Mr.
Buchanan, one of the Members for Edinburgh.
" With compliments,
I am, dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
JAMES BILLS."
On October 24 a crowded meeting of Liberal electors was
held at Deptford to consider the steps to be taken by the
Liberal party in view of William Evelyn's resignation, and
the following resolution was carried :
" That this meeting of the Electors of Deptford cordially
endorses the views laid down in the recent letter of Mr. Evelyn
to his constituents, that the fatal policy of the Government
in inflicting on Ireland under the name of law and order, a
system of one-sided tyranny, attacking the liberty of the press,
suppressing public meeting by force, is not government, but
a confession of inability to govern, and that if we cannot
govern Ireland the only way left is to allow the Irish to
try the experiment of governing themselves ; and we thank
Mr. Evelyn for appreciating the situation and stepping out of
the way, so that the electors of Deptford may have an oppor-
tunity of expressing their views on the subject."
On October 28 the Deptford Conservative Association
passed the following resolution at a meeting :
"1. That this meeting having considered Mr. Evelyn's
letter announcing his intention of resigning his seat at the
reassembling of Parliament, approve of the course he pro-
poses to take, and trust that he will carry his intention into
effect, as soon as circumstances will permit.
" 2. That apart from the Irish question, on which this
Association totally differs from Mr. Evelyn's views, the Associa-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 417
tion desires to express its thanks to Mr. Evelyn for his past
services to the borough as its representative."
One of William Evelyn's greatest friends was Mr. Wilfrid
Blunt of Crabbet Park, near Three Bridges in Sussex, and
both of them held the same views on Ireland. Mr. Blunt went
over to Ireland and held a meeting at Woodford on October
23, under the English Home Rule Union, to express indigna-
tion at the cruel evictions which had recently taken place
on Lord Clanricarde's estate. The meeting was dispersed by
the police, and Mr. Blunt was taken prisoner and was sentenced
under the Crimes Act to two months' imprisonment.
The following is an account of the meeting at Woodford
from a speech by Sir Horace Davy :
" The meeting at Woodford was an English meeting,
with an Englishman as Chairman, with English ladies
present, and English speakers told off to address their Irish
fellow-subjects, both chairman and speakers representing
the Home Rule movement in England. It was a meeting
not of the National League, but of an English association,
to express English sympathy with the Irish people, and to
protest firmly, but in a manner perfectly orderly, the indigna-
tion of Englishmen at the suppression of free speech, and
at the heartless evictions of pauperised men and innocent
women and children. It was carefully arranged that if the
police arrived the assembly should make way for them, and
Mr. Blunt announced that he should not desist from holding
the meeting until he was arrested. Such a thing as aggressive
conduct against the police was not dreamed of for a single
moment.
" On Saturday morning Mr. Blunt's posters convened
the meeting. At five o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday,
the 22nd, the official intimation that the meeting would be
suppressed by force was received, and on Sunday morning
the Castle proclamation was posted up. The proclamation
said, on the ground of certain sworn information, the pro-
moters of the meeting wished to interfere with and resist
the law. That meant that they wished to encourage the
tenants of Woodford to resist evictions which had yet to
take place. But when the meeting was held, the evictions
27
418 THE EVELYN FAMILY
had been stopped, and the meeting could not possibly have
the effect of encouraging tenants to resist what was already
past. The meeting was solely a protest against the cruelty
exercised upon the tenants already evicted. A breach of the
peace was impossible, unless the police interfered, because
the whole audience was unanimous.
" The meeting was held in an enclosed field, which is
private property. When the meeting began the police
attempted to stop it without making arrests. Divisional
Magistrate Byrne, who holds a position analogous to that of a
sub-sheriff in England, came in person with his myrmidons
and personally hustled the occupants of the platform. He
struck Lady Anne Blunt in the chest with his fist, and thrust
his thumb deep into her neck so as nearly to throttle her. It
was only after a long struggle that Mr. Blunt was arrested,
and then he walked off quietly to the prison. The people
made no movement, but the police charged into them and
bludgeoned over thirty people, some of them very seriously.
Mr. Keary, who ran to the rescue of a little boy, was brutally
batoned. Mr. J. Roche, President of the Local Association,
was assailed by a policeman and struck in return. For this
he has been sentenced to hard labour, perhaps, too, because
he had been Mr. Blunt's host.
" No time was allowed to obtain counsel, and had Mr.
Harrington arrived fifteen minutes later Mr. Blunt would
have been undefended. His judges were a decayed racing
man (who at the time was being county courted for over
2000, and was therefore dependent on his salary of 500
a year) and an ex-grocer from Limerick. No attempt was
made to prove an intention to incite to a breach of the peace.
The magistrates were simply set to decide that the police were
justified in interfering with the meeting, not because it was
wrong in itself, but because a proclamation had been issued
against it. The magistrates first said the proclamation was
valid by the Crimes Act. Mr Harrington pointed out that
in that case he was entitled to a dismissal under sec. 12,
subsec. 2 of the Crimes Act, which provides that such a pro-
clamation, to be valid, must appear in the Dublin Gazette
previously, which it had not done in this case. The magis-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 419
trates then immediately changed their minds and said the
proclamation was valid under common law."
William Evelyn received the following letter from Canon
Fannan :
"CATHOLIC CHURCH, DEPTFORD, S.E.,
-" October 22, 1887.
"DEAR MR. EVELYN, I can hardly give adequate
expression to my sense of your chivalrous conduct in giving
so signal a reproof to the heads of the party with which you
have been so long connected, by resigning your seat in Parlia-
ment. I felt sure that the cruel and oppressive tactics which
that party so quickly exhibited, and is now carrying through
with such fatal perversity, would prove repellent in the highest
degree to any man of noble and humane instincts, as I know
you to be, A few such men, even now, would make the Govern-
ment pause in its violent courses, but, unfortunately, political
honour is almost dead when men violate the promises solemnly
given at the last general election, and do not and will not
recognise the vital distinction in the mandate given to the
Government, so admirably set forth in your letter to Mr. Jacob.
" You are no doubt aware that the vast majority of my
flock comes from that ill-fated land, so recently the theatre
of what can be called by no other name than legalised murder,
of which Mitchelstown is but one of countless scenes.
Acquainted as I am with their inmost feeling on all matters
touching the interests of their country, I can offer you, on
their behalf, as well as on my own, sincere gratitude for the
bold and manly course you have pursued a course so rarely
followed by public men in these degenerate days. You stood
already high in their regard because of personal worth and
kindly heart, but you have now secured a much higher and
more lasting place in the hearts of priest and people.
" Permit me, in conclusion, to hope that under happier
auspices you may be once again ' to the fore,' as we say in
Ireland, to help in securing a peaceful and enduring settlement
of the long and bitter quarrel between your country and ours.
" With heartfelt wishes for your welfare,
" Yours faithfully,
M. P. CANON FANNAN."
420 THE EVELYN FAMILY
William Evelyn's reply was as follows :
:,V " WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
Monday, October 24, 1887.
" DEAR CANON FANNAN, Accept my best thanks for
the kind expression in your letter of the 22nd inst. But
you give me far more credit than I deserve.
" If only a few Conservative members would support my
protest against the present Irish policy of the Government,
ministers might, perhaps, be induced to pause.
" The suppression of the meeting at Woodford yesterday,
and the arrest of Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, are proceedings alike
deplorable and futile.
" Believe me, with much respect,
Yours faithfully,
W. J. EVELYN."
Mr. Charles J. Darling, Q.C. (afterwards Mr. Justice
Darling), was selected as the Conservative candidate to
contest the seat which would become vacant after William
Evelyn's retirement and Mr. Blunt was chosen as the Liberal
candidate. William Evelyn strongly suppoited Mr. Blunt
and hoped that there would be so much sympathy for him
on account of his imprisonment that he would be returned
to Parliament.
At a meeting of the Chichester Habitation of the Primrose
League the following letter was read from William Evelyn :
r
rter
" WOTTON, DORKING, SURREY,
November 3, 1887.
" DEAR SIR, I write to acknowledge the receipt of yoi
letter dated the 1st instant, enclosing a copy of a resoli
tion passed by the Executive Committee of the Chichesl
Habitation of the Primrose League, expressive of regret that
I should resign my seat from inability to support the present
Irish policy of Her Majesty's Government. That regret is
shared by myself, and I have to thank the Committee for the
courteous terms in which the resolution is drawn up.
" As the Deptford Conservatives are not unanimous on
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 421
the difficult question of the Irish policy, I would venture to
suggest to the Habitation the advisability of not opposing
the candidature of Mr. Wilfrid Blunt. If we postpone the
entering on a contest till the next general election, we shall,
I hope, by that time, be reunited and better prepared.
" May I ask you to be so good as to submit this letter to
the consideration of the Committee ?
" Believe me, yours faithfully,
W. J. EVELYN."
William Evelyn endeavoured to form a Home Rule
Association in the Conservative ranks. The Pall Mall
Gazette of November 4, 1887, alludes to it in these words :
"It is a forlorn enterprise, but it bespeaks the man of
faith and courage. We are glad to see that some of his
Conservative supporters at Deptf ord have passed a resolution
declaring that 4 it is the duty of moderate Conservatives to
combine and form a Metropolitan Conservative Association
with the object of endeavouring to urge upon the Metropolitan
Conservative M.P.'s to represent to the Government the
injurious effect the fatal policy of coercion will have upon
the party ' ! No doubt it is their duty, but England expects
that hardly a Conservative among them all will do his duty."
On November 14 the Churchill Conservative Club held
a meeting at which they passed a resolution calling upon
William Evelyn to resign his position as president of the
club.
The following speech was delivered at Sayes Court, Dept-
ford, on November 3, at a meeting which was held in order
to hear William Evelyn's explanation of his views on the
Irish question :
" Mr. Evelyn, who rose amid loud cheers, said I can
assure you, gentlemen, that I wish that this hall was only
large enough to contain the whole of my constituency.
(Interruption A voice, ' Why were we debarred from
entering at the gates without tickets ? ') Continuing, the
speaker said It was my order that the gates should be
thrown open, and that any electors who wished to attend
this meeting should be allowed to come in. (Cheers.) So
422 THE EVELYN FAMILY
much, then, for the statement that this meeting was not free
to anyone who wished to attend. (A voice, ' I wish to ask
a question.' Cries of 'Chair' and 'Sit down.') I claim,
gentlemen, on this occasion, a fair hearing. (Cheers.) Mr.
Darling had a ticket meeting last week, and he was perfectly
justified in holding such a meeting. No imputation should
rest on me for doing the same, and I claim fair play. (A
voice, ' Why don't you open the doors ? ') Let them be
opened. (This order was followed by great confusion.)
There are two reasons that I think entitle me to your in-
dulgence on this occasion. The first reason is one which
may weigh, perhaps, even with those who blame me, and
that is that this is one of the last occasions, perhaps, when I
may address my constituents on political subjects. It is
the custom when a member comes forward in the House of
Commons for the first time, when he makes his maiden
speech, to ask the indulgence of that assembly on the ground
of his inexperience. I make the same request on the exactly
opposite ground, that this is perhaps one of the last times
that I may address you. My second reason for asking your
indulgence is that I have been somewhat misrepresented in
the public press, and therefore I have that claim which
every man has who wishes to set himself right with his
constituents and the public. It is astonishing to me to find
how much the political position of Deptford has been dis-
cussed in the public press, and I stand before you with some
remorse and embarrassment as the innocent cause of so much
turmoil and trouble. Not only has the political position of
Deptford been discussed in the press of Great Britain and
Ireland, but also by the newspapers of Canada and the
United States, and looking across the Channel we find it has
got into the French and German papers also, whilst even
our phlegmatic Dutch friend, when smoking his pipe at
Amsterdam or Rotterdam, is projecting from his inner
consciousness the representation of what he imagines Dept-
ford to be. (Laughter.) It was intimated to me before I
came here this evening that an attempt would be made
to disturb this meeting. (A voice, ' Let them try it on,'
and cheers.) One gentleman called at the Estate Office
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 423
this morning to ask for tickets. There were no more tickets
to be given, and then he declared that we should be 'nobbled.'
I say, gentlemen, that two can play at that game of nobbling,
and I trust to the popular sympathy with the cause that I am
advocating to put down any cowardly attempt of that kind.
(Cheers.) I shall not occupy your time by attempting to
advert to all the notices of Deptford that have appeared
in the public press, but there is one of such a remarkable
character that I will read it to you. It occurs in Vanity
Fair of 12th November. You are aware, perhaps, that
Vanity Fair is a weekly journal, very ably written, and the
organ of what is called the Tory democracy. Here is what
it says of Deptford : ' I should not be surprised if Sir William
Harcourt may be credited with a share in the change of
front of Mr. Evelyn, M.P. They are kinsmen. Sir William
is godson to the heir of Wotton.' (Laughter.) Now I sup-
pose my son is the heir of Wotton. There, over the fireplace,
is his portrait as he was a year ago, when he was ten yearsold.
He has now arrived at the mature age of eleven, and, should
Providence spare his life, I can assure you, sir, and I can
assure all my friends here present, that whatever responsi-
bility may devolve upon him, he will not be answerable for
having been godfather to Sir William Harcourt (Laughter),
or in any way responsible for the religious opinions or in-
struction of that eminent Member of the House of Commons.
(Laughter.) I hope that the Editor of Vanity Fair will
ponder over this fact. (Laughter.) So much for the press.
" Now let me allude to the position taken up by the Con-
servative party in Deptford. I do not wish to say anything
unkind towards those who have been my political friends and
supporters. When I first came forward in 1885, when I was
first elected, there was only one Conservative Association.
There are now six Conservative associations or clubs, including
the Chichester Habitation of the Primrose League. Now, all
these clubs and associations, I am aware, joined in a sort of
chorus of disapprobation, but in that chorus I believe they
were not unanimous. I believe that in every one of those
clubs and associations there was a minority who approved of
my conduct. (Hear, hear.) I am especially pained to think
424 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of my friends of the Chichester Habitation having taken such
a hostile course. On the 9th May, in this very room, Mrs.
Evelyn presented them with a beautiful banner. We had a
grand meeting, and outside this building there was an over-
flow meeting, which also seemed to take great interest in our
proceedings (Laughter), and I am happy to think that some
of my friends who were outside on that occasion are now
within this room. (Cheers.) The least that the Chichester
Habitation could have done would have been to send us that
banner to decorate the room on this occasion. (Hear, hear.)
What is it that these associations reproach me with ? Their
reproaches resolve themselves mainly into two counts of in-
dictment. First of all, it is said I have published letters in
the newspapers tending to injure the Conservative cause.
Secondly, it is said that I have promised to be neutral in the
forthcoming election. Now with regard to the publication of
letters, what happened ? When the Mitchelstown massacre
occurred a Conservative friend of mine, Mr. Frayling, wrote
horrified at the occurrence, and asked my views on the Irish
question. I replied to him frankly and fully. Was I wrong in
that ? (No.) It is said that a diplomatist is bound to conceal
his sentiments. Is that the duty of a Member of Parliament ?
I am sure you will feel that it is not. I wrote to Mr. Frayling,
and approving of what I had written Mr. Frayling sent the
letter to the public press, as he had a perfect right to do,
because it was not a private letter. (Hear.) All that I can
say is that the publication was not my doing. Afterwards I had
various letters written to me, to which I responded, and I had
invitations to attend public meetings, to which I also re-
sponded ; but I never sent one of my letters to the public
press, except one, which I will speak of presently ; but some
gentlemen who had received letters from me thought them
worthy of insertion in the public press. This accusation,
therefore, falls entirely to the ground. (Cheers.) Moreover,
as to injuring the Conservative cause, is the Conservative
cause, in the opinion of those who cavil at me, coincident with
oppression and coercion ? My letters were directed against
tyranny (Loud cheers), against the inhuman treatment of
prisoners ; and I for one, as a Conservative, and those friends
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 425
on this platform who are also Conservatives, refuse to associ-
ate the Conservative cause with such abominations. (Cheers.)
We leave it for other people to do that ; we leave it for the
Chichester Habitation of the Primrose League to do that.
(Applause. ) My friends of the Executive of the Deptf ord Con-
servative Association requested me to meet them in order
to explain my views on the Irish question. Recognising the
fact that they were the central Conservative body of Deptf ord,
I at once acceded to their wish. I attended on the 6th October
at the Amersham Hall, and I gave them my views of the
position of the Irish question. I beg leave to be excused from
drawing aside the curtain that would reveal the picture of
what passed on that occasion. Our meeting was a little
confused occasionally. Notwithstanding the great ability
of our chairman, I could not sometimes help missing the sage
and experienced guidance of the gentleman who would have
presided had he not been unfortunately kept away by illness.
I will not give you the details of that meeting ; it is sufficient
to tell you that perhaps from want of oratorical power I
failed to convince my audience. Resolutions of various kinds
were proposed, supported, and withdrawn. In the end two
resolutions, I think, were passed, one requesting me to re-
consider my views on the Irish question, and the other of
confidence in the present Government. After the meeting was
over these resolutions were sent by the Executive Committee
to the press, not by me, and during the course of that meeting
all that I said was that I still remained a Conservative.
(Applause.) Mr. D'Ews, now on the platform, was then a
member of the Executive Committee, and he will bear me out
in what I say. (Hear, hear.) These resolutions having been
published by the Association, I felt myself bound in fact, my
respect for the Association obliged me to write to them to say
whether my views had really changed as they wished. Accord-
ingly, on October 19, 1 addressed a letter to the vice-chairman,
at which letter I do not know why the Association seems
to feel aggrieved. It was a very simple, plain letter. I told
them that my views had not changed, and that under these
circumstances I should feel it my duty to tender the resigna-
tion of my seat. What right have they to reproach me ? I
426 THE EVELYN FAMILY
acted in a spirit of perfect loyalty and even over-civility to
the party. (Hear, hear.) I addressed my letter, intimating
my intention to resign, to the Central Association of Deptford,
and what is more, I stated that I would not seek re-election.
And why ? Because I felt that if I sought re-election I could
only come in, owing to the hostile attitude of the Conservative
associations of the town, by Liberal votes, over the heads of
my former political friends. Therefore I say plainly, that
these gentlemen, instead of indulging in reproaches against me,
ought to recognise the perfect loyalty with which I have acted
towards them. (Hear, hear.) This letter alone was sent by
me to the local press of Deptford as the most convenient
mode of letting my constituents know the important decision
at which I had arrived. The reproaches aimed at me are the
more unreasonable when it is plain and clear to every body
of gentlemen that in the election of 1885 my supporters were
perfectly aware that my strong feeling was against the principle
of coercion or exclusiveness. (Applause and a voice, ' Were
you a Home Ruler in 1885 ? ') I am in favour of Home Rule
now (Loud cheers), and I will tell you why I did not support
Home Rule in 1885. We had then a united Parliament without
coercion, and I should prefer such a Parliament if we could
have it ; but Lord Salisbury now says, ' You can only have
a united Parliament with coercion.' Then I say I will not
for anything be a party to a regime of most abominable and
execrable tyranny. (Loud cheers.) Having answered that
question, I hope satisfactorily, and explained why I prefer
Home Rule to coercive tyranny, if I may use such an ex-
pression, I hope you will allow me for a moment, although
I do not wish to give an account of my stewardship, to give
you some portion of my career in Parliament, not that I boast
of having achieved much, but I wish you to see that I have not
been an altogether neglectful member. (Cheers.)
" Now, I beg you to observe that I always recognised
the fact that I represent a working-man's constituency. If
you look at my conduct in reference to such Bills as the
Coal Mines Regulation Bill and the Truck Bill you will find
that I voted in favour of the working man on the amend-
ments to these Bills. I am also happy and proud to say
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 427
that I was not the only Conservative who did so, and who
regretted that the Upper House mutilated these Bills and
diminished their value as regards working men. (Hear.)
Then, in regard to leasehold enfranchisement, Colonel
Hughes, the Member for Woolwich (Hear, hear), brought
in a Bill for that purpose. To please the gentleman who
interrupts, I will add some adjectives Colonel Hughes, the
able and efficient Member for Woolwich, brought in a Bill
for that purpose and asked me to put my name on the back.
Highly approving of leasehold enfranchisement, I at once
acceded. That the Bill did not pass was not the fault of
Colonel Hughes, for the last Session was one in which the
Government seized almost the whole of our time. Had that
Bill come under discussion I should have supported it to the
best of my ability. I also gave evidence on leasehold
enfranchisement before the Town Holdings Committee.
Then I have served on a public committee of Forestry, during
last year and the present year, for the purpose of improving
the woods and forests oi this country and establishing a
school of forestry. (Hear, hear.) I do not mention these
things as great achievements, it would be absurd to do so,
but I only wish you to know that I have not altogether
neglected my duties in Parliament. (Cheers.) But, say my
Conservative friends, you absented yourself from some very
important divisions. I must admit this charge, and I must
admit that a member is at a great disadvantage who absents
himself from divisions, because we are sent to Parliament to
record our vote in favour of or against certain principles and
certain measures that are placed before us, and a constituency
is right to complain if the name does not appear in the
divisions, for it argues a want of political courage if a member
fails to record his vote. Therefore, I do not defend myself.
But let us consider what these divisions were. They were
in connection with the Irish Crimes Bill, and my conduct
arose out of the great difficulties I had with regard to that
measure. (Hear, hear.) The fact is, I ought to have re-
signed my seat long ago ; and if I did not resign my seat,
I ought to have voted in those divisions against the Govern-
ment. (Renewed cheers.) My extreme reluctance to do
428 THE EVELYN FAMILY
any injury to the political party with which I was connected
led me to take, what I must admit to be, a somewhat
vacillating and uncertain course. I was reluctant to do
anything to injure the present Government, and this is
brought against me as a reproach by the Conservatives
of this borough. I will mention some of those divisions
from which I absented myself. When Mr. Smith proposed
urgency in favour of the Crimes Bill, when he proposed to
bring the Bill forward before he brought forward his remedial
measures in regard to Ireland, I felt that was a great mistake
on the part of the Government. (Cheers.) I absented
myself from that division. I admit I ought to have voted
against the Government, but I absented myself in common
with some other Conservative members. Again, when the
sixth clause of the Crimes Act was brought forward, which
gives the Lord-Lieutenant power to declare any association
that he pleases dangerous, I did not vote for that. I stayed
away from that division. I admit again my fault. I ought
to have voted against it. We had no more opportunity of
voting at all on the remaining clauses of the Bill there are
twenty clauses because directly the division was taken on
the sixth clause, Mr. Smith, the Leader of the House, came
down with the closure, and we rushed the remaining clauses,
without any discussion, in a very few minutes, and without
any divisions. Then again, when Mr. Morley, the Member
for Newcastle, proposed that the Crimes Bill, instead of
being permanent, should be limited in duration to three
years, I and other Conservatives who highly approved of
Mr. Morley's resolution, stayed away from the division
rather than vote against the Government on a vital ques-
tion. All my difficulties and perplexities arose, not from my
changing my front, but from Lord Salisbury changing his
front.
"|In the month of January 1886 there was a sudden
metamorphosis. It was found that it was a better card to
go in for coercion than to adhere to the anti-coercion policy
of 1885. So suddenly, in a moment, the party shifted
round. I wrote to the head whip, Mr. Akers-Douglas, to
express my regret that the Government should shift its
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 429
ground and the great difficulty I should feel if a Coercion
Bill should be brought forward. Suddenly I was relieved
from my difficulty. I should mention that the Conservative
whips are most agreeable gentlemen to deal with. Nothing
could be more pleasant than my social relations with the
whole party. However, I was relieved from my great
difficulty by the sudden appearance of the cow and three
acr es not Mr. Akers-Douglas (Laughter), but a cow and
three acres, and astride the cow was Mr. Jesse Collings.
(Laughter.) He charged the Government with this cow,
tossed to the winds the whole administration (Laughter),
and away we went to the Opposition benches. You will
remember that Mr. Gladstone came in. (Loud cheers.) He
failed to carry Home Rule. Then came the appeal to the
country, and the general election of 1886, and then the second
administration of Lord Salisbury. So my difficulties con-
tinued till the Mitchelstown affair on the 9th September.
When I read on the 10th September the account of that
horrible event (Cheers), the bloody shooting of the people at
Mitchelstown and the slaughter of three innocent men, I felt
that that was the last straw, to use the proverb, that breaks
the camel's back. (Cheers.) I could stand it no longer.
On that very day, the 10th of September, I wrote a letter to
Mr. Smith, the leader of the House of Commons, in which I
strongly urged the Government to disavow the firing on the
people at Mitchelstown. I added this sentence in my letter :
' Unless the Government take this course (that was to
disavow the action of the police in firing on the people) I
cannot support them in that which really can only be desig-
nated as a policy of slaughter.' (Loud cheers.) After I had
written that letter Mr. Balf our rose in the House of Commons,
defended the action of the police, and declared that the
barrack windows had been smashed and the doors broken
open. The evidence of the police themselves showed that
statement of Mr. Balf our 's to be utterly unfounded ; in fact,
he stands convicted of having, on official information, made a
distinctly false statement in the House of Commons. (Hear,
hear.) On the 12th September, two days after, Sir W.
Harcourt brought the matter before the House, when Mr.
430 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Balfour again defended the action of the authorities at
Mitchelstown. backed them up in everything they had done,
and declared by way of concession and consolation that he
would send down to conduct an inquiry into the affair,
whom do you think ? The notorious Captain Plunkett
(Groans) the author of the maxim, ' Do not hesitate to
shoot.' (Renewed groans.) Mr. Balfour, in the House of
Commons, said that he would send down this man, whose
watchword is, ' Do not hesitate to shoot,' to examine the
conduct of men who had acted upon that maxim by shooting.
(A voice, ' How about Whelehan ? ') I am going to allude
to the Whelehan affair presently, but before we go on to
that it would take too much time to touch upon all the
arbitrary acts of the Government I should wish you to
observe, in regard to the Mitchelstown affair, that the Govern-
ment did not act under any provision of the Crimes Act,
but by the common law, as they call it, of England. That
means, in other words, that their act had no warrant at all,
because the common law is a vague term, and the fact is,
that the Government's action is, I believe, entirely and
wholly illegal. (Loud cheers.) Of course my authority
for such a statement goes for very little, but I have in my
hand a pamphlet by Sir Horace Davy, Q.C., Solicitor-General
of the Liberal administration of 1886. I forbear to quote,
because it would take too much time, but he lays that
down clearly and fully and also quotes in corroboration
Professor Dicey in his work on the British Constitution.
Professor Dicey is a very learned man, Professor of Law at
Oxford. These and other high authorities tend to prove
that the right of public meeting is a sacred and inalienable
right of the British people, inalienable except by the people's
own consent. (Cheers.) If a statute is passed by Parlia-
ment limiting that right, then the Constitution holds that
the people may, for convenience and order, choose to limit
their own liberties, but by common law the Executive has
no right to suppress a public meeting for the discussion of
grievances ; in fact, the right of public meeting is closely
connected with the well-known right of petitioning Parlia-
ment. (Hear, hear.) The legitimate way to get up such a
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 431
petition is for people to meet together and to discuss their
grievances before they present such a petition. The right
of public meeting cannot be taken away except by statute.
The Crimes Act only applies to meetings convened by
dangerous associations. The Irish National League has been
declared to be dangerous, but this meeting at Mitchelstown
was not so, not held under the National League at all. There-
fore the Government had nothing to go upon except what
they called the common law, which really means that their
action was entirely illegal. Now I come to the Whelehan
business. Head Constable Whelehan, two days after the
Mitchelstown affair, lost his life in a moonlight affray. We
do not know exactly how he lost his life. He was in plain
clothes, and there seems to have been a moonlight raid on a
certain house. He was there and lost his life. All this has
been the subject of inquiry before a coroner's jury ; but, by
the way, there was a coroner's jury in Mitchelstown, and
a verdict of wilful murder was found against five men. It
remains to be seen whether these five men will ever be tried
at all. (Hear, hear.) But, in regard to the Whelehan
business, I wish to advert to this to show how very wrong
use was made of informers by the present Government. It
was clear that this raid was concocted by a set of men. It
took place in the County of Clare, but one man named
Callinane was brought before the jury, and it is proved be-
yond doubt that this man had been in the pay of the police.
Not long ago Lord Hartington referred to this Whelehan
affair, and declared that the authorities were perfectly right
in their employment of informers. Soon afterwards Sir
William Harcourt laid down the true doctrine consistent
with common sense, that informers should never be em-
ployed except as the last resource. It is possible rightly to
employ them only after crime has been committed. When
you cannot get any other evidence, then you may employ
informers ; but the authorities ought to be very reluctant
in employing such scoundrels. (Cheers.) It can never be
right, as in the case of Callinane, to keep a man in your pay
who is engaged in concocting crime on the chance that he
may betray his accomplices. By such an act the authorities
432 THE EVELYN FAMILY
make themselves, to a certain extent, accomplices in crime.
(Hear, hear.) I will here quote two very pregnant sentences
of Edmund Burke, at Bristol, in 1780. He speaks in one
passage of ' these pests of society mercenary informers,'
and in another passage he states, ' bad laws are the worst sort
of tyranny.' (Cheers.) But although I think Lord Harting-
ton decidedly wrong in his doctrine, yet it is only what
might be expected from a man of his acute, but somewhat
narrow, mind. I have no doubt that the doctrine laid down
by Lord Hartington, or any other doctrine of the leader of the
Whigs, would be heartily endorsed by Mr. Chamberlain of
the many-coloured political coat, and by that broad-brimmed
apostle of slaughter, John Bright. (Cheers.) But although
it may be endorsed by them, it will not be endorsed by
either Great Britain or Ireland. (Cheers.)
44 Now I come to another instance of the illegal suppres-
sion of public meetings ; I mean the meeting at Woodford,
which was attended by Mr. Wilfrid Blunt. (Cheers.) It
differed from the meeting at Mitchelstown in this respect,
amongst others the meeting at Mitchelstown was not pro-
claimed, and the meeting at Woodford was. But it is laid
down by the authorities that I have already quoted, and
generally admitted now, that a proclamation is really so
much waste paper unless the statute law sanctions it.
Suppose our meeting to-night were proclaimed, such a pro-
clamation would have been a mere dead letter. The Govern-
ment cannot suppress a meeting unless they are empowered
by the law to do so. (Hear.) Had this meeting at Woodford
been a National League meeting perhaps the Government
would have some warrant in law. But it was not a National
League meeting ; it was a meeting of an English association,
convened by Mr. Blunt, in order to show the sympathy of
the English people for Ireland, and in order to protest against
the cruel evictions that had already taken place on the estate
of Lord Clanricarde. These evictions had taken place and
ceased. There was no intention in regard to the future,
on the part of Mr. Blunt, nor any intention to resist the
police. He and his friends simply went to express the
sympathy of the English people with those unfortuna
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 433
creatures in Ireland, and also to caution them and give them
sound advice to abstain from being provoked to anything
like outrages. (Hear.) Nothing could have been more
legitimate or more worthy than the object of Mr. Blunt ;
but he disregarded the proclamation because it was illegal.
(Cheers.) It is rather a curious thing that this proclamation
of Mr. Balfour came to Woodford with the statement that
it had been made on sworn information ; yet it arrived with
such rapidity that it was utterly impossible that that could
have been true. What happened ? Mr. Blunt was jostled
off the platform, flung violently to the ground after a desperate
and gallant resistance, and Lady Anne Blunt, the grand-
daughter of Lord Byron, was struck in the breast by some
cowardly brute, and afterwards when on the ground was
throttled, and her life was almost in danger from the grip of
the scoundrel, whoever he was, I won't name him, because
I might be mistaken. Mr. Blunt was hurried off to gaol to
Loughrea, locked up for the night, and next day he was
brought back to Woodford and taken before the resident
magistrates, who seemed rather puzzled as to the law of the
case. But, being bewildered, they thought it was better to
refuse the prisoner the benefit of the doubt, and sentenced
him to two months' imprisonment. I believe they gave him
that sentence in order to shift some of the responsibility of
the case and give him the right of appeal at the Quarter
Sessions at Portumna, where the case will be dealt with, I
believe, in the beginning of January. The responsibility
will be thrown on the authorities at these Quarter Sessions.
Now I wish to touch on the case of Mr. O'Brien. (Cheers.)
Mr. O'Brien has been arrested, flung into gaol, hurried
from prison to prison ; he has been subjected to every
indignity ; he has had his clothes stolen from him : I believe
he has had his pencil-case stolen. (A laugh.) I have no
doubt that these things are very amusing to the gentleman
who gives a laugh of cheerful approbation, but these are
outrages which will not be tolerated by the English people.
(Loud cheers.) I am quite convinced that the heart of
England will beat in harmony with the heart of Ireland in
reference to this cowardly treatment of political prisoners
28
434 THE EVELYN FAMILY
a course of treatment, I believe, unknown in any other
civilised country. (Cheers.) But then comes the question,
What crime has Mr. O'Brien committed ? Surely it must be
a very heinous one perhaps it was of sufficiently deep a dye
to warrant all these indignities. I will tell you what it was.
Mr. O'Brien went down to Mitchelstown in the month of
August last, and he made speeches there on the 9th and llth
of August. At that time the Irish Land Bill of last session
was passing through the House. I think it had passed the
third reading in the House of Commons, and had gone up
to the Lords, who were then considering amendments intro-
duced to it in the Lower House. There was every prospect,
and it was well known that in a fortnight or so it would
become law ; and in fact it received the Royal assent on the
25th of August. What was the position of affairs in Mitchels-
town ? The estates of the ancient family of the Earls of
Kingston had become seriously encumbered, and were in
the hands of a set of money-lenders and usurers, who,
horrified at the idea of a Land Bill passing that would enable
the tenants to go to the Land Court and obtain a reduction
of exorbitant rents, and would protect them to some extent,
though not to the extent it ought, from harsh evictions,
determined to hurry on things and proceed with evictions in
fraudulent anticipation of this Bill, in order to prevent the
tenants having the benefit of this Act of Parliament which
was about to be passed. But what did Mr. O'Brien do ?
I have looked carefully into these facts, and if I had found
them other than I have found them to be, I would be frank
with you, and if I had found that Mr. O'Brien was, in my
opinion, in any degree in fault, I would plainly tell you so.
Mr. O'Brien advised these unfortunate people not to submil
to this fraud, which the usurers endeavoured to put upoi
them, but to hold on till the Land Act became law, when the;
would be able to go to the Land Court and obtain a reductioi
of rent, and security from harsh evictions. They took his ad-
vice. I do not say that in these speeches of Mr. O'Brien thei
was nothing that I disapproved of. There was some vei
strong language which in calm blood I should blame ; but w<
must all make allowances for human nature. Mr. O'Brien
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 435
was carried away by feelings of human nature, but he was in
the legitimate position which I am in at this moment, of
addressing his own constituents and giving them the best
advice that he could. (Cheers.) He advised them to hold on,
and in the meantime to exercise great control over themselves,
and abstain from any kind of outrage, which would only give
advantage to their enemies. They followed his wise and
excellent advice, and by this means seven hundred tenants
were saved from ruin ; and if you allow an average of five
persons to each family of these tenants, 3500 human beings
were saved from being driven out destitute into the wilderness
through the action of Mr. O'Brien. (Loud cheers.) This is
the crime for which he is now in prison, and for which he and
Mr. Mandeville are now suffering all those outrages which
shame the British nation. (Cheers.)
" I pass from Mr. O'Brien to the Prime Minister of England.
What is Lord Salisbury about ? Lord Salisbury has been
compared by an eminent Conservative: I will not give his
name to the Grand Llama of Thibet. Certainly, like that
potentate, he lives in an airy region of his own, and is very
little in touch with his party in the House of Commons.
You could not have a better proof than his appointment of
Colonel King-Harman as Irish Under-Secretary in the House of
Commons. (Hear.) I can assure you, sir, that that appoint-
ment was scarcely more distasteful to the Irish members in the
House than it was to many of us Conservatives sitting below
the gangway on the Ministerial side. We thought it a bad
appointment, and were very disgusted to see, night after
night, that brawny bully answering the questions of the Irish
members in the most insulting way, while Mr. Balfour was
dodging behind the Speaker's chair ; answering on behalf of
Mr. Balfour who is paid to answer such questions. That is
an instance that Lord Salisbury is out of touch altogether
with his party, but are there not warning signs on the wall
which might even alarm the Premier ? What of his gaolers,
will they be true to him ? Mr. O'Brien has received a suit of
clothes. (Cheers.) I was delighted to hear that, and I hope
that they will not be stolen by Mr. Balfour. Who gave him
that suit of clothes ? There is an inquiry on that point, but
436 THE EVELYN FAMILY
I cannot say. Again, can Lord Salisbury trust the police-
constables of Ireland ? Some of them have already thrown
up the work. (Cheers.) I doubt whether there is not danger
in that. I doubt whether Lord Salisbury will not find he is
in some trouble in this respect if he persists in these terrible,
these oppressive measures. But what of the soldiers ?
There are signs darkly ominous to the Prime Minister, but full
of happy omen from our point of view. A regiment stationed
at Tullamore paraded the streets cheering Mr. O'Brien, and
when Mr. Henry Doughty was tried at Ennis for making a
speech for making a speech is a crime in Ireland not at a
meeting under the Crimes Act, but an ordinary meeting to
express sympathy with Mr. Parnell and Mr. Gladstone. (A
voice, ' Oh ! oh ! ') They do not deserve sympathy in the
opinion of some, but it was a legitimate object for which he
was tried and sentenced to one month's imprisonment. He was
cheered by the soldiers of the Leinster Regiment. (A voice,
4 That is denied.') At all events, it was so stated, but that
seems to have been officially denied. It may, however, not-
withstanding such official denial, be true. But then, sup-
posing that Lord Salisbury can trust his gaolers, his Irish
constabulary, and the soldiers quartered in Ireland, how
about the English constituencies ? Is there no warning voice
from the elections the bye-elections that have taken place ?
Has Lord Salisbury forgotten, or has he never heard of Burnley,
Spalding, Coventry, and North wich ? It seems to me that
these bye-elections prove clearly that there is a reaction in
England, and that the conduct of the Government is not
endorsed by the English nation. But if he can depend on the
constituencies, can he depend on his own rank and file in Parlia-
ment ? I am one instance to the contrary, and it is well that
one voice, however feeble, should be raised from Conservative
benches to protest against a policy so ruinous to the country
and to the party to which we Conservatives belong. (Ap-
plause.) But you may say that you think that in this matter
I am isolated as much as Mr. Pyne in Lisfinny Castle.
(Laughter.) There may be some truth in that, and yet I
assure you that among Conservatives whom I have met sinc(
I declared my sentiments about Mitchelstown I have found
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 437
some sympathy. They do not approve of my conduct, they
think it was precipitate, but still from what they have said
they have a not unfriendly feeling, and admit that the policy of
Lord Salisbury has inflicted a great strain on their allegiance. I
therefore think that trouble may await the Government, even
from the Conservative benches, if they persist in this ruinous,
this monstrous policy. (Cheers.)
" Now comes the last part, and I have detained you too
long. (Go on.) What is Deptford going to do ? Will you
send a message of peace to Ireland, or will you not ? Are you
not convinced that the cause of Ireland is the cause of England,
that tyranny once established there will come home to our own
shores ? (A voice, ' It has already.') Will Deptford assist in
rolling back this tide of fanaticism that seems to overwhelm a
great part of England ? Will Deptford come forward and
assist in telling Lord Salisbury, ' This sort of thing must be
stopped ; you must not steal prisoners' clothes, you must not
repress public meetings, and you must not crush the liberty of
the press in Ireland ' ? (Loud cheers.) It is clear to every
one that the Crimes Act, which was said to be directed against
crime, is now diverted to a political purpose, and therefore
those who voted for it gave their votes under a fraudulent
pretence. (Cheers.) But now, who is to be the candidate ?
(Cries of ' Blunt.') Whatever happens during the approach-
ing contest, I trust I may consider myself a general friend of
the electors of Deptford, and I would impress upon the
electors, Liberal, Radical, and Conservative, the duty of
allowing public meetings to pass uninterrupted, not to imitate
the conduct of some of the champions of law and order, who
attempted to interrupt our meeting to-night. Mr. Darling
had addressed a meeting, and I wish to speak in terms of great
respect of that gentleman. I have received a letter from him
to-day very courteously worded, and he should receive from
us all every courtesy that a gentleman of position and character
deserves. (Hear, hear.) I have told him plainly in answer
that I will never vote for a Conservative coercionist (Loud
cheers), nor for a Liberal coercionist. I have determined
that whatever party a coercionist may belong to, I would
never vote for him, whether he calls himself a Conservative, a
438 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Liberal, or a Radical. Therefore Mr. Darling knows perfectly
well my sentiments on the coming election. But then whom
will you have ? (Renewed cries of 4 Blunt.') Perhaps I ought
not to have alluded to the subject at all, because Mr. Blunt is
not the accepted candidate. Far be it from me, indeed I have
no right, to intrude into the proceedings of the Liberal party.
Only let me say this, that if you decide upon Mr. Blunt, I
can assure you from my own knowledge of him that he is a
gentleman who, independently of politics, would do honour to
any constituency. (Loud cheers.) He is a man of great ex-
perience and great culture. He is an author as well as a
politician. He was a tried and trusted friend of General
Gordon, whose name is ever honoured in this country, and who,
I may add, had a deep feeling of sympathy for Ireland.
(Cheers.) But it is for the Liberal party to determine who will
be their candidate. All I can say for myself, and I believe
that I can say the same for my Conservative friends round me,
is that we will never vote for a coercionist. If Mr. Blunt
comes forward as the Liberal candidate and Mr. Darling
carries the day, then it will be the triumph, not I think of
Conservatism, but the ignoble triumph of oppression. (Hear,
hear.) I will not join in that triumph. But if you choose Mr.
Blunt you will choose a man whose sympathies have ever
been exerted on behalf of the oppressed ard down-trodden of
every clime. (Cheers.) In his wife, Lady Anne Blunt, you
have a granddaughter of Lord Byron, the great poet, whose
name is almost as dear to Englishmen as the name of the
immortal Shakespeare. If you choose Mr. Blunt (Applause),
the chivalry of Deptford will have the opportunity of avenging
the cowardly outrage inflicted upon Lord Byron's grand-
daughter at Woodford.
" One word more. I have spoken of Lord Salisbury am
his great position. I have no doubt he is a man of gm
ambition, an ambition justified by his undoubted talents.
I, too, have my ambition, and when I have stated it I thinl
you will all agree that though I am ambitious, it is a genuin<
and right ambition. My ambition is to transmit to my soi
untainted and unimpaired and undisgraced the name I bear.
(Loud cheers.) Never shall it be said of me that I wei
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 439
back to Parliament to support a Government who not only
were capable of such atrocities as the Mitchelstown massacre,
and the other violent suppressions of public meetings, but
who descended to the meanness of stealing the clothes of
political prisoners. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) "
Mr. Blunt appealed against the decision of the magistrate
condemning him to two months' imprisonment, and his
case came on at Portumna in January 1888. William Evelyn
and his brother Edmund went over to Ireland in this month
and accompanied Mr. Blunt in his journey from Dublin to
Portumna. Lady Anne Blunt, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, and a few
others were also in the party. Portumna was reached about
four o'clock, and the party put up at Keary's Hotel, where they
were visited during the evening by several Roman Catholic
priests and other sympathisers. Mr. Blunt's appeal failed.
William Evelyn and his brother stayed in Portumna till
the end of the case, when they left for Galway, and from
there back to England. William Evelyn had been unable to
gain permission to visit Mr. Blunt in prison.
The following letter written by Edmund Evelyn appeared
in the Times for January 11, 1888 :
" To the EDITOR of the Times.
" SIR, Having returned from Galway by last night's
mail, I should be obliged if you would allow me to record,
while still fresh in my mind, the impressions I received during
the trial of Mr. Blunt, and from an inspection of that portion
of the Clanricarde estates which is the scene of recent and
pending evictions.
" On January 1, I accompanied my brother, Mr. Evelyn,
M.P. for Deptford, to Ireland, and we travelled from Dublin
to Portumna in company with Mr. Wilfrid "and Lady Anne
Blunt. At Athenry Station Mr. Sheehy,^M.P., in prison
costume and strongly guarded by the police, joined the
train. On arriving at Portumna, we found the small town in
a high state of excitement, but there was no actual disturbance.
When the Court opened on the following day there was a
great rush of people to the Court House. This was neces-
sarily checked by the police, but though batons were drawn,
440 THE EVELYN FAMILY
I neither saw any blow struck nor heard of any injuries being
sustained. I may say here generally that, having closely
observed the action of the police at Portumna and Galway
and elsewhere, I can honestly affirm that their conduct was
marked by great forbearance in very difficult circum-
stances.
" On Wednesday the 4th, I visited Woodford, now so un-
happily notorious for the struggle between the landlord and
his tenants. No sadder sight can be imagined than that hill-
side, with its ruined houses. As for the land, it can only be
partially described as of agricultural value, consisting, as it
mainly does, of rough heather and bog land, recalling to
memory our wilder Surrey commons. What remains of the
farmhouses testifies to the excellence of their original condition ;
they were all constructed at the cost of the original occupiers.
After the evictions some of these houses were razed to the
ground, and in one case the window frames and all the wood-
work had been burnt, as though out of sheer wanton
cruelty.
" I specify a few cases of hardship out of many that came
to my knowledge. One tenant now sheltered in a League hut
on the parish priest's ground owed one year's rent 13, 10s.,
and 18 costs of law ; he was evicted August 26, 1886. It
may have been only a curious coincidence, but every neigh-
bour that gave shelter to this homeless family found himself
speedily evicted. This family, after their own eviction, four
times shared in the eviction of their neighbours who had
sheltered them. The farm had been in the occupation of
this tenant for generations. Another tenant an old man
of seventy was evicted at the same time. His farm con-
sisted of reclaimed bog ; his house had been built by his
ancestors, it was in good order, and his farm showed signs of
great industry. He was evicted for one year's rent (12, 5s.)
and 17 costs.
" At the present time 160 evictions, as I am informed,
are impending over the unhappy people on the Clanricarde
estate. Are these wholesale evictions to be carried out ?
Is Lord Clanricarde to be allowed to make a desert
from the Shannon to the sea ? My object in writing
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 441
to you is to attempt to direct attention to this devasta-
tion.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
E. BOSCAWEN EVELYN.
" YALDHAM, SEVENOAKS, KENT,
January 10."
Towards the end of January a meeting was held in the New
Cross Hall in support of the candidature of Mr. Blunt, and
the following letter was read from William Evelyn :
' WOTTON, DORKING, SURREY,
January 19, 1888.
" DEAR MR. WILLIS, My object in writing is to assure
you of my earnest wish, both on public and private grounds,
for the return of Mr. Blunt as my successor in the Parliamentary
representation of Deptford. I have publicly intimated that
in my position as sitting member I regard it as more respectful
to the constituency that I should not attend meetings of
any candidate, otherwise I would certainly be with you at
New Cross Hall to-morrow evening. The treatment of Mr.
Blunt and other political prisoners is cruel and shameful.
I believe the Governor of Galway Gaol, with whom I
had an interview, to be an honourable and humane gentle-
man ; but the prison authorities must obey the orders of the
Prison Board that is, of Dublin Castle.
" Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
The letter was received with prolonged cheering.
In February a public meeting in support of the candidature
of Mr. Blunt, and to protest against the cruel treatment of
Irish political prisoners, was held at St. Joseph's Schools,
Deptford, and the following letter was read from William
Evelyn :
" DEAR CANON FANNAN, I write to express a hope that
the meeting to-morrow in St. Joseph's Schools may be well
attended and unanimous. The present occasion is one which
442 THE EVELYN FAMILY
should unite men of all parties. Mr. Blunt, in his Galway
prison, represents the cause of humanity. May the Deptford
electors by their verdict rebuke Lord Salisbury's Government
for its hideous one-sided reign of terror set up in Ireland and
menacing England in the name of law and order ; for its de-
liberate and calculated cruelty to political prisoners ; for its
mock-trials under which not only men but girls of tender
age and old women have been sent to gaol ; and for its pro-
tection afforded persons accused of real crime, as in the case
of the Mitchelstown massacre. These dreadful proceedings,
if not disavowed by the country, will lower the national
reputation, and if not abandoned will inevitably lead to
national disaster, possibly to national ruin.
" Believe me, dear Canon Fannan,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
The following letter from Mr. Crook was received by
William Evelyn :
" 3 CHEAP STREET, BATH, February 2, 1888.
" RESPECTED SIR, Kindly excuse the liberty I have taken
in writing to thank you for the kind and sympathetic feeling
you have shown to the poor Irish tenantry throughout
the whole discussion. A Radical myself, I most heartily
wish that all members of the House of Commons would
judge this question free of all party feeling and believe
that the tenantry would honestly pay their rents if
able.
" Many seem to forget that numbers of these small
tenants came over to England and earned their rents during
the hay and corn harvests when times were good, and as our
agriculture declined so did the demand for their labour.
From my small experience of the Irish I find them honest,
industrious, and trustworthy. I am much disgusted at the
remarks of the Times and the Tory candidate and his friends
which they made concerning you, which I see noted in the
Star newspaper.
" Apologising for writing this to you, but most sincerely
hoping you may be spared for many long years to carry on
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 443
the noble work among the people which your kindness of
heart leads you to, is the prayer of
" Yours most respectfully,
N. CROOK."
William Evelyn issued the following address to the
electors of Deptford :
"HOUSE OF COMMONS, February 13.
" GENTLEMEN, I write with regret to announce to you
that on Monday the 20th inst. it is my intention to make the
necessary application for resigning my seat in Parliament.
The reasons that have induced me to retire, and not to seek
re-election, are already well known to you. You will
remember that in 1885 and 1886 you elected me as a
Conservative opposed to harsh administration and exceptional
legislation in Ireland. I adhere to those views, and it is no
fault of mine that the Conservative leaders have changed
their front. By electing Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, now suffering
imprisonment under an unjust sentence, you will support
my protest against the Government policy in Ireland. I
therefore trust that the coming election for Deptford may
result in the return of Mr. Blunt as my successor.
" Thanking you for the great consideration and kindness
that I have generally received during the time that I have
represented you,
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN."
On February 16, William Evelyn made the following
speech in the House of Commons :
" IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEBRUARY 16, 1888 l
" Address in Answer to Her Majesty's gracious Speech
" Mr. EVELYN (Deptford) said, that the right honourable
Member for Mid-Leicestershire (Mr. De Lisle) in the speech he
1 From Hansard's Parliamentary Debates.
444 THE EVELYN FAMILY
had just made had presented a curious and an almost inexplic-
able phenomenon which had bewildered him more than any
other object with which he was familiar. The honourable
member was, or professed to be, a Catholic, and yet he
indulged in insults against the Irish hierarchy and against
those who held the creed which he professed to reverence.
The honourable member in his long and discursive speech
attempted to make out a claim on the Irish members by
stating that he would advocate certain plans of Catholic
education and other movements which would find favour
with those honourable gentlemen ; but in the meantime he
was prepared to continue the great oppression of Ireland.
The honourable member would not, by presenting these other
subjects for their consideration, earn the gratitude of the
Irish people. His observations had ranged from China to
Peru ; and though he (Mr. Evelyn) had expected that he
would end by reading a number of letters from the Times he
had not unnaturally concluded by giving them the whole book
of the Prophet Jeremiah. But he (Mr. Evelyn) would pass from
the honourable member to consider the amendment before
the House. It might be discussed either as a party motion,
the carrying of which would involve the defeat of the Govern-
ment, or it might be discussed on its merits ; and if it were,
there was no reason why it should not be accepted by every
member of the House. From both points of view he felt it
to be his duty to vote for the amendment. He wished to
get rid of this Coalition Government ; he did not call it a
Conservative Government, for in the course the Government
had pursued they had been false to the best traditions of the
Conservative party. The honourable member (Mr. De Lisle)
had sounded the praises of the Union. They had heard the
praises of the Unionists sounded by many gentlemen to-night
in fact, music of this kind was very common in the country.
The Unionists were extolled with considerable oratory at
Primrose League and other meetings ; and the country had
heard a vast deal more about this Paper Union than the union
of hearts and sentiments. It could not be disputed that
Lord Salisbury was prepared in 1885 to throw over the Paper
Union altogether. The interview between Lord Carnarvon
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 445
and the honourable Member for Cork (Mr. Parnell) must have
been well known to Lord Salisbury after it had occurred.
It was true that in 1888 Lord Salisbury gave a denial ; but
what was it ? They knew that Lord Salisbury was practically
prepared to go in for Home Rule, and they knew what Lord
Salisbury's denials were. He said that the assumption that
every other member of the Cabinet besides Lord Carnarvon
had expressed feelings in favour of Home Rule was an utter,
complete, and absolute falsehood. This was pretty strong,
and the noble Lord generally used strong language in denials ;
but nobody ever said that every member of the Cabinet of
1885 besides Lord Carnarvon had expressed feelings in favour
of Home Rule. What was very confidently believed was
that several members of the Cabinet, including Lord Salis-
bury himself, were quite prepared to go in for Home Rule.
They were all glad to find that the Land Act of last session had
had an ameliorative effect on the condition of Ireland. But
they could have wished that it had dealt with the question
of arrears, and that it had not given undue facilities to
evicting landlords like Lord Clanricarde. He hoped that
the Act might soon be amended, and made more serviceable
to the Irish people on these subjects. But he was thankful
to know that, even as it was, it had tended to the diminution
of crime. With regard to coercion, he could not but remember
what he had witnessed in a late visit to Ireland. He had
witnessed with his own eyes the misery of the people and the
oppression under which they laboured, and he could not but
feel that it was only too true that the Crimes Act, which
they were told was to be directed against crime, had been
really directed against political opponents. This had been
clearly shown in the cruel administration by the Government
of that tremendous weapon which the House put into the
hands of the Government last session. He, for one, had to
confess with regret that he had voted for coercion ; but he
did so, as was well known, reluctantly, and because he under-
stood that this terrific weapon was to be used for the repression
of crime, and crime alone. He now found that that was
altogether a fraudulent pretence on the part of the Govern-
ment. He believed that Lord Salisbury all along had it in his
446 THE EVELYN FAMILY
mind to exercise the power that he sought from Parliament in
a cruel and abominable manner. On the 16th of May, 1886,
Lord Salisbury made a foul and slanderous attack on the
Irish people. Lord Salisbury declared that what was wanted
for Ireland was twenty years of resolute government. He
did not complain of that declaration ; but Lord Salisbury
went on to say that they wanted confidence in the Irish
people, and that it depended upon the people they were to
confide in ; and he added, ' You would not confide free
representation to the Hottentots.' At the time that speech
was made he (Mr. Evelyn) happened to be contesting the
Borough of Deptford against a most able and eloquent
adversary, and had the humiliating task of trying to explain
away those words of Lord Salisbury. Later events had
shown that he was quite wrong, and that his opponent was
right, and that all along the present Premier had in his view
the establishment of a Hottentot Government in Ireland.
In November last Lord Salisbury made a memorable speech
at the Mansion House. He said then that any one of his
colleagues was worth the whole 86 members from Ireland.
(Hear, hear.) The expression of approval which came from
his honourable friend sitting below (Mr. Johnstone) he did not
wonder at ; but he did wonder at such a vulgarism coming
from the lips of the Prime Minister of England. In vino
veritas. Taking these two speeches together the Hottentot
speech and the speech at the Mansion House did they not
show that Lord Salisbury had an utter contempt for the
Irish nation ; and had he not insulted the Irish ? When he
was contesting Deptford, and read the Hottentot speech, he
had a personal reason for not quite approving of that speech,
for he had the honour to have Irish blood in his veins. He
knew that Lord Salisbury had denied likening the Irish to
Hottentots ; but let anyone read his words, and put their
own construction on them. Now he came to the administra-
tion of the Crimes Act, and he was sorry that the right
honourable gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland was
not in his place, because he had something to say to him.
As to the cruel administration of the Crimes Act, he wondered
how the right honourable gentleman could smile and smile,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 447
and still be a Chief Secretary. What would not do at all,
and what would not be approved by the English people, was
that he should treat political prisoners with cruelty, and he
should steal their greatcoats, and that he should gloat in
conversation over the weak hearts of his intended victims.
The man who did this was a man about whom he would
express no opinion, because if he did he should perhaps be
transgressing the Orders of the House. But he would say
that he considered the Government of Ireland by the Salisbury -
Balfour clique, he would not say by the Ministry, but by
the clique which controlled the Ministry, to be thoroughly
infamous. His honourable friend on the Front Bench
smiled ; but let him answer the speech of the honourable
Member for Cork, who had proved to the House that the
Chief Secretary had thrown into prison old women, boys and
girls, and had committed all that oppression which had still
to be denied. Now he wished to say a word with reference
to the treatment of Mr. Blunt. A question had been asked
that evening as to why Mr. Blunt had hot been given some
food when he was dragged from his prison in Galway to the
civil action now going on in Dublin. The answer was that
Mr. Blunt had the ordinary food of prisoners ; but what
he contended was that Mr. Blunt was in an exceptional
position, and that it was a cruel and shameful thing to give
a man the ordinary food of prisoners in the twenty-four or
thirty hours during which he was going to a Court of Justice,
half fainting, to be severely cross-examined. Lord Salisbury
and the right honourable gentleman the Chief Secretary
would have to answer for all this, and for other abominable
cruelties to the Irish nation. He agreed with the honourable
gentleman the Member for North-East Cork (Mr. W. O'Brien)
that one of the reasons of the diminution of crime in Ireland
was the feeling entertained by the Irish people that there was
some degree of sympathy entertained for them by the English
people. Such a feeling would necessarily have a great
effect upon a warm-hearted people like the Irish ; and he
trusted that Parliament would do everything it could to
cultivate that feeling. He remembered the compliment paid
by the right honourable gentleman the Chancellor of the
448 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Exchequer to the Chief Secretary, by the despoiler of Egypt
to the despot of Ireland. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
spoke of the right honourable gentleman as ' brave Mr.
Balfour.' Where was the bravery of the right honourable
gentleman ? The right honourable gentleman the Member
for Central Bradford (Mr. Shaw-Lefevre) lately went to
Loughrea, and did exactly what Mr. Wilfrid Blunt had done.
Why was he not picking oakum like Mr. Blunt ? He (Mr.
Evelyn) would tell them. It was because the c brave '
Chief Secretary dared not tackle a Privy Councillor and an
ex-Minister. The right honourable gentleman the Member
for Central Bradford had done admirable service. He had
made the Chief Secretary shrink, and he had brought the
hermit of the Albany to something like reason. He would
say no more, except to make one or two remarks personal
to himself. He wished to say that a great many statements
had been made about him which he would not notice at all.
No one cared less for jeers and sneers than he did when he
knew he was doing his duty. There was only one remark to
which he would refer, and that was that he had written to
Lord Salisbury. He had done nothing of the kind. He wrote
a letter to the First Lord of the Treasury, who so ably led
the Conservative party in that House, and from whom he
had always received the greatest courtesy ; but he did not
write to Lord Salisbury. He felt great regret at parting from
his honourable friends on that side of the House ; but he would
advise them though he did not expect they would take his
advice to go over to the other side, and purify themselves
from the disgrace which had been brought on the Conservative
party by the policy of the Government in Ireland. After
the discipline of Opposition they might come back to those
benches and assert the true principles of Conservatism, which
were enunciated in his early career by Mr. Disraeli, and which,
he thought, would lead to a conciliatory policy towards
Ireland. During his (Mr. Evelyn's) visit to Ireland he was
sometimes cheered by the Irish people ; but he felt ashamed
of those cheers, having voted for coercion ; and when the
right honourable gentleman the Member for Central Bradford,
on the day of Mr. Blunt's condemnation, was going to
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 449
Ballinasloe to address a public meeting there, he asked him
(Mr. Evelyn) to accompany him, but he refused. He had
said ' You can address the Irish ; but I have voted for
coercion, and I feel I have no right to speak to them and get
praises I do not deserve.' He could assure honourable mem-
bers opposite, however, that the votes he had given against
Ireland had been given under false pretences ; but the vote he
should now give would be given with all his heart and soul."
In spite of all the efforts of William Evelyn and his friends
the election resulted in a victory for Mr. Darling, who was
returned by a majority of 275.
William Evelyn received the following letter from Lady
Anne Blunt :
"7 RUTLAND SQUARE, March 4, 1888.
"DEAR ME. EVELYN, I am afraid you will have felt the
great disappointment we have all had, more than I do or than
Wilfrid can feel it, for it is always worse for those who remain
on or near the spot than for anyone who is called away to a
distance or has some other immediate claim on thought and
attention.
" Indeed I am very sorry, and I do believe that but for
some, more or less accidental, circumstances we could have
pulled through. But I hope with it all that some good effects
will remain as the result of the hard work you and we all who
have been exerting ourselves have gone through. It is some-
thing that 4070 people voted for Home Rule. That could
not have been a short time ago even. I am counting the
hours, and they seem very long, till Wilfrid comes out, and
the accounts I hear are that he has suffered a good deal from
this last fortnight.
" I cannot remember the number in Portland Place, so I
direct to Evelyn Street and hope we shall see you as soon as
we arrive. Yours very sincerely,
ANNE BLUNT.
" P-S. I am convinced they will not open the gates till the
moment, and if you wrote to Wilfrid here to-morrow he would
most likely get the letter, and I know it would be such a
pleasure to him,"
2 9
CHAPTER VII
CONCLUDING YEARS
WILLIAM EVELYN'S political career was now over and he
settled down to a life in the country. He was always very
simple in his tastes, and he was now free to devote himself
to the full in his favourite pursuits, such as gardening and
natural history. He had a large space cleared in the woods,
and there made a special garden of his own, where he often
spent hours interesting himself in his flowers or immersed in
his favourite volumes. There also he had miniature gardens
made for his children, and he would often prepare delightful
surprises for them in the shape of pomegranates or other
foreign fruit hidden in the summer-houses for them to find.
Another favourite occupation was to feed the numerous pets
which he kept at different times. There were wild boars,
Indian cattle, kangaroos, a zebra, a vulture, chameleons, a
seagull, and various tortoises. The kangaroos were at one
time let loose on to Leith Hill, where they flourished for years
till gradually exterminated by ruthless individuals.
To a person of William Evelyn's dreamy and idealistic
temperament poetry was naturally a great resource, and his
marvellous memory enabled him to remember most of the
poems he read by heart. He was particularly fond of the
poetry of Lord Byron, in whose personality he was always
interested, and whose misfortunes he pitied. He was also
extremely clever at languages, and was particularly fond
of reading French and German, particularly the plays of
Moliere, Racine, and Schiller. He was never tired of working
out problems in chess, in which he was so proficient that he
had sometimes beaten professionals. His intimate friend,
Martin Tupper, in his Autobiography, says :
450
I
WIWAM JOHN EVELYN (1822-1908)
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 451
" One of the best private chess-players I used often to
encounter but almost never to beat is my old life-friend,
Evelyn of Wotton, now the first M.P. for his own ancestral
Deptford. It was to me a triumph only to puzzle his
shrewdness, to make him think, as I used to say ; and if
ever, through his carelessness, I managed a stale, or a draw,
very seldom a mate that was glory indeed. If he sees this
his memory will countersign it."
He was by nature very abstemious, rarely touching wine,
and practically never eating butcher's meat, for which he had
an aversion. Perhaps this partly acounted for his splendid
constitution. His great friend, Matthew Arnold, often
stayed at Wotton, and was godfather to his youngest child,
Henrietta.
One subject which interested him greatly was astronomy,
and he would sometimes engage lecturers to lecture on it to
the poor people at Wotton. On one occasion Sir Robert Ball
came and gave a lecture on it.
In many ways he resembled his ancestor, John Evelyn,
particularly in his literary tastes, and in his interest in trees
and flowers.
The following letter of his on the proposed establishment
of parish councils in rural districts appeared in The Times
newspaper on April 4, 1893 :
" To the EDITOR of The Times.
" SIR, Though this Bill is drafted in apparent ignorance
or disregard of the wants and requirements of rural parishes,
yet, being a Government measure and supported (as I feel it
is) by the front Opposition bench, it will probably pass the
House of Commons almost unchallenged.
" Under the Bill district councils will be elected to replace
the present boards of guardians, while most of the powers
of the parish vestries will be transferred to elected parish
councils.
" Thus, in the rural parishes there will exist side by side
two representative bodies the vestry and the parish council.
The churchwardens will continue to be appointed at vestry
meetings. The incumbent of the parish will still be ex
452 THE EVELYN FAMILY
officio chairman of the vestry, and will still be empowered to
appoint one of the churchwardens, two clerical privileges
which the late Mr. Toulmin Smith in his learned and ex-
haustive work on the parish clearly proved to be usurpations,
deriving their sanction only from recent judicial decisions,
overriding the old customary rights of the parishioners.
" The Bill is tainted with the vicious principle that the
parish church belongs not to the parishioners but to the
ecclesiastical authorities, while ' ecclesiastical charities ' (so
named in the Bill) are expressly exempted from the opera-
tion of this ill-considered measure. In Clauses 6 and 18, and
throughout the whole Bill, the pretensions of the ecclesias-
tical authorities are carefully safeguarded, and the interest
of the parishioners in their parish church as carefully dis-
regarded.
" The parish meetings to be established under this Bill
will, I fear, be attended not by agricultural labourers, but
by speculative builders, small tradesmen, money-lenders,
and adventurers of doubtful aims. Some of the provisions
tend to encourage corruption and the exercise of vindictive
spite, parish councils being empowered not only to borrow
money on the security of the rates, but also, with the consent
of the district council, to buy land compulsorily, to sell or
exchange land so bought, to enclose parts of commons, to
seize supplies of water, and by a provision in Clause 7 (if I
understand it aright) to tax a part of a parish, exempting
the rest. Among the objects for which rural parishes will
be taxed and plunged into debt are recreation grounds,
baths, and washhouses, public libraries and sewers ! Alms-
houses and village hospitals, which would be really useful
in rural districts, are not mentioned in the Bill.
" Thus, heavy expenses will be imposed on the land at a
time of serious depression, when true statesmanship would
seek to relieve the agricultural classes from some of their
heavy burdens.
" Corruption seems to be sanctioned in Clause 33 by the
first proviso attached to the clause. Future litigation seems
favoured by the use of vague phrases, such as ' any public
or reputed public footpath.' ' Public footpath ' would at
I
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 453
least be intelligible, but the insertion of the two words ' or
reputed ' involves the subject in a legal mist.
" By a provision of Clause 33 the agricultural labourer is
disqualified from being elected a parish councillor if within
12 months before his election he has ' received union or
parochial relief or other alms.' Observe the delightful
vagueness of the expression ' other alms.'
" This Bill will surely not in any way benefit the rural
labourer. What would really benefit him would be to give
him some security in his present country home and garden
by extending to him legally the double boon of fair rent and
fixity of tenure. As long as he is liable to capricious eviction
little can be done for him, his position being one of depend-
ency, more especially if his landlord be also his employer.
On the other hand, if you make him a freeholder he is not
really free, but in debt, either to the official or to the private
money-lender.
" Instead of entering on this new-fangled legislation, it
would surely have been better to proceed on the old lines
by reforming and unfettering the rural vestries, now paralysed
in their functions by Acts of Parliament, judicial decisions,
and clerical usurpations. To set up, as is proposed, a brand-
new talking and taxing machine in every rural parish will
not tend to the advantage of proprietors, tenant farmers, or
labourers.
" The great importance of the subject will, I hope, in
some degree excuse my presumption in troubling you with
this letter.
" I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W. J. EVELYN.
" WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
April 3."
William Evelyn wrote the following letter on November
10, 1893, to John Torrance, Esq., President of the Deptford
Branch of the Irish National League :
" MY DEAR SIR, My support of the Liberal candidate
for Deptford, at the general election of 1892, was prompted
by a hope that the return of Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice
454 THE EVELYN FAMILY
might assist in effecting a satisfactory settlement of the Irish
question by a sound and complete measure of Home Rule.
14 With the Newcastle programme, as a whole, I have,
and had, no sympathy. But regarding the Irish question as
of paramount importance, I determined to waive all other
considerations, and to do what I could to secure the return
of the able and distinguished candidate brought forward by
the Deptford Liberal party.
" I have now the painful duty of announcing, through
you, to my friends the members of the Deptford Branch of
the Irish National League, that in the event of another
contest in Deptford, it will be impossible for me to support
a Gladstonian candidate, strongly disapproving as I do of
the policy of the present Government in sanctioning and
co-operating in the present sanguinary war in South Africa,
carried on for the benefit, as it seems to me, of unscrupulous
adventurers, to the great detriment of this country's reputa-
tion for ' justice, humanity, and mercy.'
" On this question I agree with Mr. Henry Labouchere
and Mr. Wilfrid Blunt.
" So thinking, I cannot with any self-respect place myself
in the position of appearing to sanction that which I recoil
from as simply detestable.
" Therefore, as both ministers and ex-ministers seem
pledged to a South African policy of which I strongly dis-
approve, I shall not vote for either party. But my relations
with the Irish party at Deptford have been so cordial, that
I cannot conclude without assuring you of my continued
sympathy for Ireland. Moreover, I quite appreciate the
peculiar position of the Irish party at the present moment,
and Sayes Court Hall will, in the case of another election,
be placed again at the disposal of your Branch, should you
desire to hold a public meeting there.
" Requesting you to lay this letter before your Committee,
" I remain,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN.
- WOTTON HOUSE, DORKING, SURREY,
November 10, 1893."
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 455
The reply was as follows :
" DEAR SIR, I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of 10th inst., which I read to my Committee at their last
meeting. I need hardly say how sorry they are that circum-
stances have happened which compel you to withdraw your
support from the Liberals of this borough. At the same
time they fully appreciate your motives, and are quite unani-
mous in agreeing with you that the present conflict being
carried on in South Africa is a disgrace to this country and to
the present Government.
" They are pleased, however, to find that whilst disapprov-
ing of the Government policy on this and other points, you
are still in sympathy with the Irish people in their demand
for a satisfactory measure of Home Rule. We sincerely
hope you will have the pleasure of seeing such a measure
passed, and of seeing Ireland as happy, contented, and pros-
perous as the rest of the Empire.
" We thank you from our hearts for your continued sym-
pathy and kindness towards us.
" I beg also to thank you on behalf of my Committee for
the framed photograph of Sayes Court Hall, on the occasion
of the meeting on October 4. It has come out splendidly,
and forms a very beautiful picture.
" With best wishes for your continued good health,
" I beg to remain,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN TORRANCE.
" 1 8 MORNINGTON ROAD, DEPTFORD, S.E.,
November 17, 1893."
The following letter was written on June 14, 1894 :
" DEAREST NELLY, After I had written to Etta this morn-
ing I received your letter. You must have been most inter-
ested in seeing the lighthouse with its revolving light.
" The cliffs at Beachy Head are very curious. Here the
range of chalk downs ends. The chalk downs circle round
from Beachy Head all the way to Dover, enclosing a great
tract of country in the counties of Surrey, Sussex, and Kent.
456 THE EVELYN FAMILY
These chalk downs are continued on the opposite coast of
France. This proves that France and England were once
joined together, until at some remote period the sea broke
through and parted them, making Great Britain an island
and no longer a peninsula. Now, as you know, the straits
of Dover, about 24 miles broad, separates England from
France.
" I am very glad to learn from you and Etta that you
find Eastbourne pleasant. I think that there must be sea-
urchins, if only the fishermen would take the trouble to look
for them.
" Since I wrote to Etta Mr. Hastings called here. He
said that Johnny is now (11.10 a.m.) in the schools under-
going the examination in arithmetic. The examinations will
come to an end on Saturday, but probably the result will
not be known till Wednesday next, the 20th instant, when a
telegram will be sent to Wotton if Johnny, as I hope, suc-
ceeds in passing the examination.
" With the best love of myself and your Uncle Edmund
for you and your sisters,
" I remain, dearest Nelly,
Ever your affectionate father,
W. J. EVELYN."
The following letter was written on October 11, 1895 :
-October n, 1895.
" DEAREST NELLY, I was pleased to receive your letter
on coming to Wotton from Northwood yesterday, and I hope
that you are all three beginning to like school better than at
first. Johnny, on Monday last, the 8th instant, happily suc-
ceeded in passing his divinity examination at Oxford, and on
Tuesday evening he came to Wotton from Oxford, and to-day
(Friday) he left again for Oxford. I am going to Oxford
to-morrow in order to secure a good tutor for Johnny.
" With love to Flo and Etta,
" I remain,
Ever your affectionate father,
W. J. EVELYN."
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 457
A very pleasing trait in William Evelyn's character was
the great love and consideration which he always showed to
his mother, who lived at Campfield House, three miles from
Wotton. She was a wonderful old lady for her age, and
took a great interest in her garden, which was a very beautiful
one, and was planned in an old-fashioned style, with yew
hedges, elaborately shaped flower-beds, and conical-shaped
cypress trees. She had practically never had a day's illness
in her life. On one occasion a relative was staying with her
who complained of a headache, upon which Mrs. Evelyn
said to her, " My dear, I feel very sorry for you, but you
know I have never had a headache in my life." The garden
at Campfield was a great source of interest both to her and
her son, who would drive up from Wotton to see her very
often two or three times a week. Her death, after an attack
of influenza, on January 11, 1896, when she was nearly ninety-
five years of age, was a great loss to her son. She was buried
in the Evelyn family vault in Wotton Church on Thursday,
January 16, 1896.
In February, William Evelyn decided to go to Italy for
a time, and before going he issued the following letter to his
tenants :
" To the Farm and Cottage Tenants on my Wotton and
Northwood Estates
"DEAR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS, On the eve of
quitting England for a while, I desire to address to you a
few farewell words on private and public matters.
44 In regard to private matters, let me tender you my
heartfelt thanks for the sympathy that you have shown to
me and mine on the occasion of the recent loss of my dear
and honoured mother, who passed away from this world
peacefully and painlessly on January 11
" The lamented death, on January 28, of Mr. Mark King,
formerly tenant of Paddington Farm, has deprived us of one
who was deeply respected, and whose family was long and
honourably connected with the parish of Abinger.
44 Passing from these private events which have saddened
458 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the commencement of the present year, I now pass on to
advert briefly to some public matters. In the Queen's
Speech, delivered at the opening of Parliament on Tuesday,
the llth instant, the disastrous condition of agriculture is
alluded to, and measures of relief are promised. It is, how-
ever, but too evident that in the House of Commons the
interest of agriculture is less powerfully supported than the
interest of railways, capitalists, brewers, manufacturers, and
other great interests, including the interest of the Church, that
is, of the clergy.
" Both front benches are apparently indifferent to the in-
terest of the classes connected with agriculture. For instance,
the Liberals have increased the abominable beer tax, a tax on
the poor man's drink, a tax which ought to be abolished alto-
gether and for ever, while the Conservatives have deliber-
ately, in the interest of the clergy, increased the heavy burden
on the land of the tithe-rent charge.
" In any measure brought forward ostensibly for the
relief of agriculture, two points should be considered ; firstly,
whether the measure imposes fresh burdens on the local
rates ; secondly, whether it increases the number or the
powers of the tax-devouring class of permanent officials.
Most parliamentary measures in these days, besides being too
complicated, are deeply imbued with the evil taint of central-
isation, the inevitable result being inefficiency and corruption.
" There is a clamour for increase of armaments and conse-
quent expenditure, with the view of maintaining and aggrand-
ising what is called ' the Empire.' Where is all this to end ?
Why should the half -ruined landowner and the struggling
tenant-farmer attend public meetings to shout for ' the Empire,'
for the augmentation of the Navy, to forward schemes and
enterprises tending not to the benefit of agriculture, but to
the benefit of capitalists, usurers, filibusters, bondholders,
company promoters, and other adventurers ? Not long ago Mr.
Frederic Harrison said that he was content with the England
of Shakespeare and Milton. Entirely agreeing with this
sentiment, I am against what Lord Beaconsfield once described
as ' bloated armaments,' and to the oppression of the weaker
races of mankind for the purpose of extending 'the Empire.'
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 459
" Think what a mess our great statesmen have made in the
Turco-Armenian Question. We began by menaces launched
against the Sultan of Turkey. Then the London press was
inspired to preach a crusade against the Sultan's Government.
Next, after encouraging the revolt against the Sultan's
authority, finding that nobody would follow in our wake, we
withdrew our fleet and our menaces. From that moment the
situation in the Turkish provinces improved. The Armenian
revolutionary committees in London and elsewhere were
baffled by our retirement, and the Sultan, who is really an
able, enlightened, and humane sovereign, is now engaged in
restoring tranquillity and in effecting reforms in his dominions.
That during the insurrectionary movement deplorable deeds
have been committed on both sides is true ; but the troubles
were commenced by Armenian revolutionists to the detri-
ment of the peaceful and law-abiding portion of the Armenian
population. Surely, then, instead of holding meetings in
England to express sympathy with Armenian revolutionists,
it would be more proper to hold meetings to condemn Mr.
Gladstone and Lord Rosebery for their monstrous and mis-
chievous personal attacks on the Sultan of Turkey. It is
natural that the Turkish nation should mistake such utter-
ances echoed by most of the London press for the voice of the
English nation. It is natural too, that the sovereign thus
libelled and insulted should seek other alliances, distrusting
the friendship of Great Britain.
" Thus our unskilful diplomacy, and the unguarded
language of leading politicians, and of a press inspired by
them, tend to alienate those who might be England's friends,
and to augment the number and inveteracy of her foes.
" Meanwhile, amid this clatter and clamour of Jingoism,
the rates and taxes increase 4 by leaps and bounds.'
" Farewell for the present. I am to leave England to-
morrow.
" Believe me to be
Your sincere friend,
W. J. EVELYN.
"LONDON,
February 14, 1896."
460 THE EVELYN FAMILY
r - While in Rome William Evelyn stayed at the Hotel de
Russie, where he was later on joined by his son. The hotel
had the advantage of a nice garden attached to it and also of
being within five minutes' walk of his cousins, the Pantaleones.
It was during this stay that he became very ill, and the illness
resulted in an immediate operation becoming necessary.
Fortunately his first cousin, Signora Pantaleone, procured
one of the very best Italian surgeons, who performed the
operation, which was permanently successful. The Panta-
leones were his very great friends, and when in Rome he always
saw a great deal of them. Signora Pantaleone had been a
Miss Massy-Dawson, the daughter of his mother's brother
Francis.
Not many months after his return from Italy he ex-
perienced another great family bereavement in the death of
his wife, who had been seriously ill for some time, and who
died July 25, 1897, at her sister Mrs. Braithwaite's house,
No. 13 Gloucester Place, Portman Square.
In the autumn of the same year he went abroad with
his son and daughters, their governess, and his first cousin,
Mrs. Cox. The winter was spent at Florence, where a house,
Villa Pucci, Via Bolognese, was taken. A short visit was paid
to Rome, and the family arrived back in England on February
10, 1898.
William Evelyn thoroughly disapproved of the Boer War,
which broke out at the end of the next year, 1899. He
considered that there was no adequate reason for it, that it
had been made in the interest of capitalists, that it could
benefit no one, and, finally, that it was unjust and cruel.
It required some courage to openly hold such views at this
time, owing to the narrow-minded attitude of the Jingoes who
professed to think such views unpatriotic.
All through his life he had a hatred of violence and felt a
great indignation of any tyranny of the strong towards the weak.
The following letter was written to the secretary of the
" Stop the War " Committee :
-January 16, 1900.
" SIR, You may put down my name as one of those
who desire to stop the present war carried on by the Salis-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 461
bury Government against the two South African Republics,
a war which from the first was regarded by me as unjust and
unnecessary, and which saddens the evening of our good and
gracious Queen's reign.
" Though the official oligarchy, Liberal and Conservative,
are generally in favour of prosecuting this war, it is possible
that the mass of the people may ere long discover how grossly
they have been deceived.
" The present war fever, so far as my observation goes,
is far less strong in the rural districts. If your Committee
would like to hold a meeting at Wotton, I could place at your
disposal for that purpose the Wotton Institute Room.
" Meanwhile, I remain,
Yours faithfully,
W. J. E."
At the end of January 1900, William Evelyn again went
abroad, this time with only two of his daughters, Helen and
Henrietta. They went first to Rome and then on to Naples,
where they took a boat to Alexandria. The boat arrived on
February 11, the voyage having taken four days. After a
few days spent at Alexandria they went on to Cairo, where
they stayed at the Ghesireh Palace Hotel, and where William
Evelyn had the pleasure of meeting his dear friend Mr. Wilfrid
Blunt, and of visiting him and Lady Anne Blunt in their
house near Cairo. From Cairo they went on by train to
Assouan, where they stayed a few days, arriving back at Cairo
on March 1. On the afternoon of that day they had tea
on the terrace of Shepherd's Hotel, after watching the militia
from it replacing the Cameron Highlanders. On arrival back
at the Ghesireh Palace Hotel, William Evelyn found a tele-
gram from his son announcing that he had joined the Imperial
Yeomanry and was starting immediately for the Cape. This
was, of course, a surprise to him, all the more so, perhaps,
because it was so unexpected. Joined to his anxiety on
his son's behalf was his regret that he should not have
been able to say good-bye to him. He sent a farewell
message by telegram, although he feared it would be
too late. A few days after this there was an earthquake
462 THE EVELYN FAMILY
at Cairo. William Evelyn and his daughters were sitting
at dinner when they suddenly noticed the floor swaying
up and down, and an enormous chandelier in the middle
of the room began swinging violently. After a few seconds
everyone rose and walked quickly and quietly out of the
room and into the garden. There was no panic, and by this
time the shock was over and everyone returned and went on
with their dinner. There were no more shocks after this,
but at one of the other hotels a chandelier had actually come
down owing to the shock. The party started to return to
Italy on March 10 and arrived at Brindisi on March 13.
After a train journey of eleven hours they arrived at Naples,
where they stayed till the 16th, when they returned again to
the H6tel de Russie, Rome. Here the time was mostly spent
in sight-seeing and in visits to the Pantaleones, who were, of
course, much interested in the news that John, whom they were
very fond of, had volunteered for the front. They returned
to England at the end of March, and shortly after their return
news came that the Imperial Yeomanry had been taken
prisoner on May 31, at Lindley, after holding out for several
days, and had been taken to a place called Nooitgedacht,
where they had to stay for many months. This was a great
relief to William Evelyn, as he knew now that his son was
safe. About this time he wrote a letter to the Morning
Leader, in which he said that he had seen a mention in that
paper of his son having gone to the war, but he hoped that
on that account no one would think that he approved of
the war, and explained that his opinion on it remained
exactly the same as before.
Three months later, September 3, a telegram arrived from
the office of the Yeomanry in Duke Street, which said,
" Evelyn taken prisoner to Barberton." The next news
came in October to the effect that he had been released
and was at Cape Town, and on February 16, 1901, John
arrived back at Wotton, after breaking his journey by
some weeks at Rome. He received a hearty reception
from the tenantry ; when the carriage reached the lodge it
was met by a crowd of cottagers who walked behind it as it
proceeded at a foot's pace to the house, the men of the Wott
.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 463
fire brigade dressed in their uniforms walking on either side.
A large triumphal arch had been erected at the end of the
avenue, and as the carriage reached the porch the school
children who were assembled there sang "Home, sweet Home."
In the porch the tenants presented John with an illuminated
address, which he thanked them for in a few appropriate
words. William Evelyn also made a speech in which his
voice betrayed the agitation which he was feeling in having
his son once more safe and sound under his roof. He had
suffered so much from anxiety and worry that it had some-
what affected his health, and he was looking very ill. The
doctor said that his heart was very weak, and that he ought
never to winter in England, as he felt the cold so much.
This was all the more necessary because he would never put
on anything extra when going out of doors, and would often
drive in an open carriage without any greatcoat, even in the
most bitterly cold weather.
In the beginning of 1903 he relinquished Wotton House
to his son, who had married in January 1902 Miss Frances
Edith Ives, daughter of General Cecil Ives of Moyns Park,
Halstead, Essex. He and his daughters took up their resi-
dence at North wood House, 1 near East Grinstead, in Sussex.
He was also a good deal at Campfield House, near Wotton,
or staying in the Wotton Home Farm, where he had rooms.
The following letter of his was written to Miss Mayo (the
daughter of his old schoolmaster at Cheam), who lived close
to Dgrking, three miles from Wotton.
1 Northwood, which is situated on a hill commanding a beautiful view,
five miles from East Grinstead, was originally a farmhouse, the old part of
which had belonged to the Evelyn Family since the year 1684, at which time
it was purchased by George Evelyn of Nutfield (who died 1699) from John
Wood, yeoman, according to a deed signed by his son, Richard Evelyn, and
his wife, bearing the date November 15, 1733, and endorsed, " Deed to declare
the uses of a Fine and Recovery." From George Evelyn of Nutfield it passed
to his widow, Frances, who died in 1730, then to Richard Evelyn of Dublin
(died 1751), his fourth son, then to Elizabeth (died 1780), widow of Richard,
then to Richard's grandson, John Evelyn (died 1827), then to the latter's
widow, Anne Evelyn, who by will dated May i , 1829, devised it to her grandson,
the Rev. Frederick Evelyn, from whom it was purchased April 2, 1875, by
William Evelyn, who added considerably to the house, which was quite a
small farmhouse when he bought it. In October 1880 he bought Kixes Farm
from William Rolfe.
464 THE EVELYN FAMILY
-Easter Monday, 1903.
" DEAR Miss MAYO, I am soon going to Italy to bring
back my two eldest daughters from Rome, where they are
now staying.
" You are perhaps aware that my son and his wife will
henceforth reside at Wotton House. My headquarters when
in Surrey will be Campfield House.
" We have just started a quarterly magazine for Wotton
Parish.
" You would much oblige me if you would write to the
Editor, Mr. J. V. Moore, Wotton Public Elementary School,
Dorking, Surrey, to let him know the date of the arrival of the
cuckoo and of the turtledove, etc., in the neighbourhood of
Dorking. The little magazine will aim at taking great notice
of facts connected with natural history, migration of birds,
etc. Mr. Moore is schoolmaster of W.P.E. School, and will
be the Editor of the magazine. I would not ask you to write
to him but that I am likely to be absent from England.
" Hoping that on my return home (if Providence allow
me to return) I may have the pleasure of seeing you,
" I remain,
Yours very truly,
W. J. EVELYN."
During this trip William Evelyn stayed with his daughters
in Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Tunis, and returned to
England in the best of health.
It was in August 1904 that William Evelyn's first gran
child was born, a boy, who was christened Cecil John Alvi
This was a great joy to him, and he became much attached
the child.
The following account of a visit of the Deptford Iri
to Campfield on July 27, 1907, is taken from the Dorki
Advertiser for August 10, 1907 :
" On Saturday, July 27, Mr. W. J. Evelyn, J.P., D.L., w
eighty-five years of age, and he celebrated the occasion by
inviting the Deptford Branch of the Irish United League
to Campfield House, Wotton. This invitation has be
given annually, and this year it was accepted by near
'
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 465
one hundred members. Mr. Evelyn had sent brakes to meet
the party at Dorking Station, and they had a lovely drive
of six or seven miles by Wotton Farm to Leith Hill, where
light refreshments were served, and each was given a copy of
an illustrated booklet containing a short history of Leith Hill
Tower, which Mr. Evelyn had had printed specially for their
information. The visitors were handed a preliminary letter
of welcome from Mr. Evelyn, which was read to the branch
by the President, Mr. Brogan. Mr. Evelyn therein expressed
a hope that the weather would be propitious, and continued :
" ' I look forward to seeing my guests at Campfield House
after their visit to Leith Hill Tower. To-day I am eighty-
five years old, having been born at 28 Gloucester Place,
Portman Square, parish of Marylebone, London, July 27, 1822.
My father, George Evelyn, was born at Galway, September
16, 1791. With good wishes for you and all my guests, I
remain, yours truly,
W. J. EVELYN.'
" Dinner was served in a large marquee surmounted by
several flags, the largest and most prominent being inscribed,
' God save the King.' There were also the flag of Ireland,
the Union Jack, and the arms of Mr. Evelyn. Mr. Evelyn
came in just before the closing grace and took the chair.
Having expressed the very great pleasure which he experi-
enced in receiving his Irish friends from Deptford, he gave
the toasts of 6 The Pope ' and ' The King.'
" Mr. Brogan said ' he should be glad to have the oppor-
tunity of proposing the health of their honoured and beloved
host. They could not fail to remark the particular and
graceful compliment which was conveyed in the fact that
Mr. Evelyn had invited them to Campfield on his birthday
(Cheers), and they appreciated, too, his thoughtful kindness
in having specially printed the beautiful booklet containing
a history of Leith Hill, which was inscribed with the state-
ment that it was printed on the occasion of the visit of the
branch. (Hear, hear.) Last year they were invited on
the birthday of Mr. Evelyn's son, Mr. John H. Chichester
Evelyn. The fact that Mr. W. J. Evelyn's father was born in
3
466 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Galway combined with his innate sense of justice to command
his sympathy for the welfare of Ireland. For that cause he
had made enormous sacrifices, and in that respect had set
an example even to Irishmen. (Cheers.) The way in which
he had followed the course which his conscience recom-
mended to him regardless of what the results to himself might
be, evoked the respect and admiration of all Irishmen.
(Cheers.) Since Mr. Evelyn received them last year the
cause of Ireland had made some progress. The election
at Jarrow, where their candidate polled more than 2000,
showed that the Irish vote in that constituency was not a
factor which could be ignored. It was estimated by those
who were competent to judge that there were about 120
constituencies in Great Britain where the Irish vote was the
determining factor, and if the Irish voters in the other 119
acted with the same loyalty and singleness of purpose as
their fellow-countrymen in Jarrow, then some consideration
would have to be given to the claims of Ireland. (Cheers.)
Speaking of Mr. BirrelPs Devolution Bill, he said he believed
the King was anxious to see some settlement of this Irish
question, and he and others were not without hope that
they would see, in the time of King Edward vn, a Bill passed
which might not meet the extreme wishes of the Irish people,
but would, at any rate, be in accord with the natural wishes
of those among them who wished to live in harmony with
their neighbours on the other side of the water. (Applause.)
Many of them had thought that it would have been well to
try Mr. BirrelFs Bill, but they accepted the judgment of their
trusted leader, Mr. John Redmond. Reverting, however,
to the subject which was at that moment in their thoughts,
he was sure he expressed the feelings of all the Irishmen oi
Deptford when he said they hoped that Mr. Evelyn might
spared some years yet, and that all the blessings of Providen<
might be his. (Cheers).'
" The toast was received with great enthusiasm.
Evelyn, acknowledging, said ' he could assure his guesl
that, although he had not been able to do much for the Iris!
cause, yet his heart was as true to that cause as ever it wi
(Cheers.) In the course of his long life he had experiem
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 467
more public notoriety than perhaps he merited. (Laughter.)
He could assure those present that he was not of a turbulent
or adventurous disposition, and that his natural propensity
was to lead a quiet, unobtrusive life. It so happened that
he had been in some stormy scenes, and when Lord Salisbury
came forward with a Bill for Irish coercion, in pursuance of
a course which many of his supporters were pledged not to
support, he, for one, could not stand it, and refused to vote
as he was ordered to vote. (Cheers.) The thought of stand-
ing again against his own former friends was repugnant to
him, and he invited Mr. Blunt to contest the borough. Mr.
Blunt was at that time in prison in consequence of the
monstrous decision of a judge. He (Mr. Evelyn) anticipated
that there would be so much sympathy with Mr. Blunt that
he would carry the election during his imprisonment, but in
spite of all they could do, there was to his great regret a
small majority against them. So long as he lived the Irish
people might always count upon his sympathy and the
interest he should continue to take in the welfare of that
country, with which he was connected by blood. (Cheers.)
He thought Irishmen had an admirable leader in Mr. J.
Redmond, and that everything bade fair for the Irish cause.
(Applause.) He was very glad that the clerk of the weather
had been propitious, and he trusted that his friends from
Deptford would have a very pleasant day. He was very sorry
that his son had been unable to be with them, for he should
have liked both him and his (the speaker's) little grandson to
be present. (Hear, hear.) At his time of life he could not
speak with confidence of the future, but if it should please
Providence to spare him, he should hope to have the oppor-
tunity of welcoming his friends from Deptford again. (Cheers.)'
" After dinner there were traps in readiness for those vho
might like to drive out, but the majority of the guests pre-
ferred to inspect the house and grounds, with the beautiful
trees, the fine growth of roses, the Indian cattle, and South
African sheep. The Wotton brass band played a selection of
music in the grounds, and the St. Joseph's Deptford drum
and fife band played at intervals throughout the day. Mr.
Evelyn joined his visitors at tea. Mr. Brogan expressed the
468 THE EVELYN FAMILY
thanks of the branch to their host for his splendid hospitality,
and Mr. Evelyn, in reply, said it had been to him the greatest
possible pleasure to receive his Deptford guests. Mr. Brogan
also conveyed the thanks of the party to Mrs. Day and her
efficient helpers for the excellence of the arrangements, which
Mr. Evelyn had committed to Mrs. Day's care.
" About 6.30 the members of the branch left Campfield
House in brakes for Dorking Station, cheers being given for
the host, and the Wotton band playing ' Auld Lang Syne.'
Each man carried a handsome gift from Mr. Evelyn, who had
reversed the usual order of birthclay presents.
" After another pleasant drive via Coldharbour, the party
left Dorking at 8.23."
This was the last time that the Deptford Irish were
destined to be entertained at Campfield by the friend whom
they loved so well and who had proved such a sincere friend
to them and the Irish cause, for he died not quite a year later.
During the ensuing winter he began to suffer from his heart,
which gradually became weaker and weaker, and he died of
heart failure on Friday, June 26, 1908, at Campfield House,
at the age of eighty-five. During April, May, and June his
health had seemed to slightly improve, and he was able to
spend many hours in the beautiful garden at Campfield in
which he took such interest. In accordance with his wish
he was buried in the churchyard of Oakwood in Surrey.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society,
Deputy-Lieutenant of Surrey, and had been at one time a
Captain in the Surrey Rifles, which he founded as a club
before the foundation of volunteer regiments. His clubs were
the Carlton, Athenaeum, Oxford and Cambridge, and Con-
stitutional. In many ways his character was far more Iris!
than English, and he had in a very marked degree the dreanr
poetical imagination of the Celt, joined to a warm-hearted anc
emotional impulsiveness, partially veiled, however, by a certaii
shy reserve perhaps due to his restrained boyhood or othe
causes. The most salient points in his character were his
kind-heartedness, his unbounded generosity, his intern
affection for his children, his hatred of any injustice
eagerness to put it right, which often made him enemies, hi
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 469
sincerity and nobility of character, and his utter freedom from
meanness of thought or action. In appearance he was not
tall and rather broad, and he had singularly refined and
beautiful features, his nose aquiline and his eyes of the
colour of forget-me-nots.
The following account is taken from the West Kent Argus
of July 14, 1908 :
" A memorial service for the late Mr. W. J. Evelyn was
held at St. Nicholas, Deptford, on Sunday evening, July 5th,
the congregation including some thirty workmen employed
on the deceased gentleman's Deptford estate, and a number
of the tenantry. Preaching from Psalm xxxvi. 23, ' The steps
of a good man are ordered by the Lord ; and he delighteth
in his way,' the Vicar (The Rev. Arthur Hart) said they were
gathered together to mourn one whose character stood out as
unique in Deptford. Mr. Evelyn could only be a great man
because of the traits in his character which blended in so
beautiful a form. Now that the chapter was closed they saw
him not as partisans, not as neighbours, but they saw the
character relieved of everything that would mislead, and they
realised his worth. After referring to Mr. Evelyn's great will
power, which was controlled by the force of his goodness, the
preacher said that the deceased gentleman's life was trans-
parently clear. Those who came in touch with him knew
that they were dealing with a sincere heart, and came away
the better for having been brought in contact with him.
Combined with this there was a beautiful unselfishness, and
his heart was full of benevolence. His sympathy led him to
enquire constantly what were the conditions of life of the
people of Deptford, and to seek to make them more happy.
Then, how simple he was : a true old English gentleman.
They admired, too, his splendid un sectarianism. If he was
called upon for anything he asked, 6 Is it for the general
good ? ' He lived in an atmosphere of goodness. He was a
good man as a landlord, seeking to make the lives of his
tenants bright, cheerful, and happy. Rents on his estate
were low, and when any of his tenants were in special need he
would assist, as many of them could testify. It was the land-
lord of that class who killed all the democratic Socialism,
470 THE EVELYN FAMILY
" As a benefactor, none would ever know what he gave
away. He maintained the soup kitchen for many years,
and as soon as cold weather came, his one question was :
' Is it not time to open the soup kitchen ? ' When there
was need of a park in Deptford he made it easy for the
authority to acquire land, and then gave his thousands for
the purpose of acquiring land for the people of Deptford.
As an employer, too, he was a good man. When a man was
too old for work he was not cast off, or left to the parish :
Mr. Evelyn himself looked after him. If there were more
such employers there would not be so much discontent, or
so much of the revolutionary spirit showing itself. In that
old parish church, where his ancestors had worshipped for
generation after generation, where the founder of his family
was buried, they, his employees and his tenantry, were met to
mourn his loss, and they laid a tribute of real affection and
real appreciation of the great and good man whom God had
taken from them. They prayed the good work might be
continued, that all the brightness and harmony that existed
between the tenantry and the house of Evelyn might be
continued, and that the great mission of a great house might
be pursued with all the ardour and the great will-power which
he possessed. They thanked God for his life ; they appreci-
ated his character, and they blessed God that he had now
entered upon his rest in the land of light and song."
The following notice from the same newspaper was written
by Owen Brogan, President of the Deptford Branch of the
United Irish League :
" The general sadness that pervaded the breasts of the
Irish people of Deptford on learning of the death of Mr.
W. J. Evelyn, was both touching and impressive. His sym-
pathies towards Ireland and her people were very strong, a
thing at which no one can wonder when Mr. Evelyn's family
ties with Ireland come to be considered. His father was
born at Galway, of an Irish mother, in 1791 ; and his paternal
grandfather at Arklow in County Wicklow. The latter
married Miss Anne Shee, daughter of Mr. Anthony Shee,
of Castlebar, County Mayo. Curiously enough, Mr. Evelyn's
first nurse, Mrs. O'Connor, was Irish, and was the wife of
eota
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 471
private soldier in Mr. Evelyn's father's regiment, the second
battalion of the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards.
" The friendship of Mr. Evelyn for the Irish people of
Deptford began with the good Canon Fannan. That attach-
ment developed into an intimate acquaintance which was
only severed by the death of the beloved Canon, which
was an occasion of inexpressible grief to the revered Mr.
Evelyn.
" Mr. Evelyn entered Parliament as a Conservative, but
the repressive legislation of the Government of that time in
regard to Ireland caused him to become one of the most
fearless and consistent champions of the rights of Ireland.
Since then he had annually entertained the members of the
Deptford branch of the United Irish League at one of his
country seats, where all experienced his friendship, confidence,
and princely hospitality. Indeed, it was remarkable to
observe the delight which the honoured host took in culti-
vating the friendship of his guests.
"Any Irish meeting at Sayes Court was always a matter
of special consideration to Mr. Evelyn. At the time of the
Boer War, when public feeling was in a high state of tension,
I well remember a meeting that took place in Sayes Court
Hall, under the auspices of the Deptford branch of the United
Irish League, to protest against the War. The danger of an
open meeting like that was obvious to any intelligent man,
but Mr. Evelyn had no hesitation in granting the use of the
hall and grounds, believing, as he did, in the justice of the
object of the meeting.
" Mr. Evelyn was not only an indomitable politician, but
also a most generous supporter of any cause which tended to
uplift the lives of the people. The late Canon Fannan's
greatest ideal was to complete the work of his predecessor,
Canon Glennie. The schools were heavily in debt, and had
it not been for Canon Fannan's untiring energy and that of
many of his devoted parishioners, combined with the annual
grant made by Mr. Evelyn, his life, indeed, would have been
a burden. Knowing the precarious position, through no
fault of their own, of many of the Irish people of Deptford,
the worthy squire was ever mindful of their wants through
472 THE EVELYN FAMILY
the medium of the late Canon. As time progressed, so did
Mr. Evelyn's concern for the people become more acute,
and his friendship and generosity for the poor endured with
him. The rebuilding of St. Joseph's Schools cast a grievous
weight on the present Rector of the Church of the Assump-
tion, the Rev. Father Segesser. I vividly recollect, on the
initiation of the work, Mr. Evelyn's anxiety as to how the
expenditure would be met ; but, needless to state, he, by
example, led the way. His interest in the schools prompted
him to give the temporary use of Sayes Court, which generous
action meant the equivalent of some two thousand pounds.
" The annual fete in Sayes Court Gardens in aid of the
rebuilding fund will also be remembered. To his great grief,
on account of others applying for the use of the grounds, Mr.
Evelyn brought the festivities to an end, but not without
further assistance.
" Can anyone in his senses doubt that if worldly honours
had been the object of our beloved friend departed, he could
have failed of obtaining them ? No. He delighted in fight-
ing the battles of the poor and the laborious. He did not
wait upon Fortune by espousing the cause of the successful.
When he conceived anyone was acting ill, he charged him with
the wrong. His like will not be seen again. ' I could make
in a day,' said Francis I to some arrogant lords, speaking of the
death of De Vinci, ' I could make in a day many such nobles
as you, but God only can make such a one as him I deplore.'
" So, fare you well. Farewell, kind friend and true.
Remember us as we remember you.
OWEN BROGAN."
The following act of kindness on the part of William
Evelyn was related by Miss Mayo, and is here given in her
own words : "In 1870 Mr. Joyce, the Vicar of Dorking,
had to undergo a very critical operation. Mr. Evelyn placed
the house in Gloucester Place at his disposal, and not only
that, but he and Mrs. Joyce were his guests. I told this to
a great friend of mine, who afterwards became Dean Butl<
of Lincoln. His remark was, ' A man who could do thi
must have mounted many steps of the ladder to Heaven.'
CHAPTER VIII
POEMS WRITTEN BY WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN
THE following Harvest Song was written by William John
Evelyn in 1860, and sung on the occasion of a Harvest Home
of his Wotton tenantry. It should be borne in mind that
1860 was a very bad year for agriculturists.
HARVEST SONG
WOTTON, 1860
SPRING like second winter seemed ;
Summer suns but faintly beamed ;
Autumn winds and drenching rain
Spoiled the slowly ripening grain.
On the weed-encumbered soil
Weary was the reaper's toil ;
And the husbandman dismayed
Saw his crops in ruin laid.
Yet, though scant the harvest-yield
Gathered from the wasted field,
Let not erring man repine
Chastened by a power divine.
He who smote will surely save
He, the Lord of Harvest, gave
With our load of earthly care
Hands to work and hearts to bear.
So away with doubt and gloom,
Harvest trophies deck the room,
Now we may enjoy a rest,
Earned by toil and therefore blessed.
473
474 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Harps should sometimes be unstrung,
Bows unbent and hearts unwrung ;
He who works should sometimes play-
Labour claims its holiday.
Let us then like brethren meet,
Master, man, each other greet ;
Severed by the world's decree
Linked in Christian sympathy.
Should a storm-cloud burst above
Roofs that shield what most we love,
'Tis not for ourselves we fear,
But for those we hold most dear.
One soft touch, one house-hold smile
Can a thousand pangs beguile ;
Truest happiness but lies
In a virtuous home's sweet ties.
May the next returning spring
Promise fair of plenty bring ;
May the Power that we adore
Guard our hearts and bless our store.
THE LESSON OF THE PAST
LINES addressed to Mr. THOMAS HUGHES, author of Tom Brown's
Schooldays, in 1870, on an occasion when Mr. Hughes put forward
some optimistic social theories which William Evelyn thought
destined to disappointment.
THOU dreamer wake ! the prospect scan !
And seek not, hope not to reverse
The doom that broods o'er fallen man,
The stern mysterious primal curse.
Resign high thoughts that lead astray !
Review the past then gaze around ;
And mark where under Mammon's sway,
Reluctant millions still are bound.
Though girt by light and music, they
To each fine sense must needs be dead ;
And reason's heaven-descended ray
Cheers not, on jaded spirits shed,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 475
Their very love is sad ; they grieve
For the little forms that round them grow ;
Their keenest pang that they must leave
To these a legacy of woe.
Nay, hark ! a voice rings o'er the land ;
Mild are its tones, yet firm and free :
" Justice and plenty are at hand ;
Come, gentle friends, and follow me ! "
Aroused, they break the galling yoke ;
The honied words their souls drink in.
Forward they press, for he who spoke
Had power the hearts of men to win.
They praised him that, though nobly born,
Leaving the order of his birth,
Them and their cause he did not scorn,
But stooped to help the wronged of earth.
Their minds in turn he charmed and awed ;
His brow was grave ; his words were fire.
Each dear abuse, each hallowed fraud
Quailed 'neath the arrows of his ire.
Faction breeds war ! oh, glorious day,
Dearly, but not too dearly bought !
In dust the proud oppressors lay
Now is the great deliverance wrought !
And where is he, their chief adored,
Friend of the people and their cause ?
He stands confest with crimsoned sword,
A Tyrant, trampling on the laws.
And now, too late, they count the cost,
Sore-laden with a heavier chain ;
And so the hard-won day is lost,
And they have striven, have bled in -vain.
So runs the tale from age to age
Of man's revolt against his doom.
Alas ! in life's dim pilgrimage,
No guiding star beams through the gloom.
Then, since no human power can free
Earth from the curse that must endure,
Seek not to change the dark decree,
But soften what thou canst not cure.
476 THE EVELYN FAMILY
APHORISMS
TRUE charity will gently sin reprove.
Its form is courtesy, its essence love.
False charity crawls, chatters, chides, confounds ;
Visits, but pries ; gives, but in giving, wounds.
Two things I hate, as jarring with Heaven's plan :
A manly woman an unmanly man.
Forget the past, nor let thy soul despair.
Look onward, upward ; man is born to bear.
The weapons dark and foul which slanderers wield
Fall blunted from Disdain's opposing shield.
ZETA.
September 1889.
THE MISER AND THE MOUSE
(FROM THE GREEK)
ONCE upon a time a Miser
Thus addressed a little Mouse :
" Friend, what seek you here ? be wiser
Venture not within my house."
Answered Mousey, sweetly smiling,
" Fear not for your golden hoard.
Let me stay, the hours beguiling.
Lodge me. I'll not ask for board."
ZETA.
December 1889.
DECEMBER
TREES are leafless, rent, snowladen :
All too soon the sunbeams fade :
Now no longer youth and maiden
Seek the forest's green arcade :
Yet, this stern midwinter, dearer
Than gay summer's sultry heat,
Makes the ties of blood seem nearer,
And the thought of home more sweet.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 477
Though man's fallen race inherits
Much of suffering, sin, and gloom,
Rest assured that guardian spirits
Watch in pity o'er each home.
Oh ! may Faith, our lives impressing,
Cot and mansion guide and cheer,
Shed on Christmas hearths a blessing,
Brighten all the coming year.
ZETA.
December 1889.
FROM THE GREEK OF THEOGNIS
(ABOUT B.C. 520)
IF the madding crowd surround me,
With the gay I can be gay :
When the good and grave have found me,
I am grave and good as they.
ZETA.
October 1890.
The following poem is in allusion to a Liberal Unionist
meeting held at Abinger Hammer Schoolroom on October 23,
1890, a building belonging to Sir Thomas Farrer Lord
Arthur Russell presiding. The news of the Home Rule
victory at Eccles arrived on the morning of the day of the
meeting.
A WARNING
VAIN Unionists, who met in Farrer's hall,
Could you not read the writing on the wall ?
Spell-bound too long the nation's conscience slumbered;
But with the awakening your days are numbered.
That very morning brought a message true
Of peace to Erin and of doom to you.
Know that in Eccles England has outspoken.
Your game is up ! Your battering-ram is broken.
ZETA.
November 1890.
478 THE EVELYN FAMILY
TRANSLATION OF THE SECOND CHORUS OF THE
"ANTIGONE" OF SOPHOCLES
How wondrous are man's innate powers !
The perils of the deep he braves ;
Undaunted, though a dark sky lowers,
And Notos drives the roaring waves.
Unwearied, deathless, undecayed,
Earth yields to man and man alone.
Her yearly tribute must be paid
In homage to a mortal throne.
Behold the plough her bosom rending,
And steeds beneath the yoke low-bending.
n
The forms uncouth that haunt the wild,
The birds that wing their airy way,
And ocean's tribes by craft beguiled,
Attest their human conqueror's sway
On sea or plain or mountain side.
No more the courser, free as wind,
With arching neck and crest of pride,
Exults : that neck the yoke-straps bind.
The mountain-bull, untamed before,
Must learn obedience, free no more.
Ill
To man, to man alone by Heaven
The boon of language has been given,
And reason, teaching him to scan
Creation's mixed but ordered plan,
With lore polite his mind to mould,
To shield his frame from wet and cold,
To nurse high thoughts, to weigh the past,
With care the future to forecast.
And yet not all his skill and might
Avail to pierce the gloom around.
Resistless else, the grave's dark night
That might can quell, that skill confound.
All the physician's art, though great,
Can but delay, not change, his fate.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 479
IV
Thus, high upheld by reason's power,
Above all else men seems to tower,
Whether by virtue's touch refined,
Or erring passion-tossed, and blind.
Honoured is he among his peers,
Who justice and the gods reveres.
But the wrongdoer, with a name
Deeply disgraced, who feels no shame,
He who can thus unblushing stand
And bear his load of guilt unmoved,
An outcast from his native land,
May he be torn from all he loved !
And never be it mine to blend
My lot with his or call him friend !
ZETA.
May 1891.
TRANSLATION OF AN EPIGRAM OF MARTIAL, WHO
FLOURISHED ABOUT A.D. 90
MARTIAL'S Epigrams, n. 90
MY wants are these ; a grassy nook,
A modest home beside a brook,
A chimney that disdains to smoke.
Servants who love an easy life,
A gentle, not too learned, wife,
And tranquil nights, and no day-strife.
ZETA.
July 1891.
THE BLIND
'Tis said that Nature for the blind in vain
Unfolds her loveliest treasures far and wide.
They hear the river flow when o'er the plain
Rings the soft cadence of the murmuring tide,
But cannot see the crystal water guide
Through meadows fair its wandering course and bright.
They feel the breeze of morning past them glide,
But cannot watch where beams of orient light
Stream forth, and westward drive the sullen waning night.
480 THE EVELYN FAMILY
And yet methinks just Heaven, in chastening kind,
Even for the blind has recompense in store.
If loving hearts beat near them, if the mind
True to itself assert its loftier power,
If innocent musings, weaning each lone hour
From brooding melancholy or dismay,
A soothing balm o'er the worn spirit pour,
The encircling darkness then is changed to day,
And sad or sinful thoughts like phantoms melt away.
The Chian bard who sang with deathless verse
Of Troy and Ithaca, in weakness strong,
Could bear the doom of blindness ; for the curse
Was blended with the sacred gift of song.
King-like he moved amid the admiring throng
Of worshippers and heard their loud acclaim.
Bays that can never fade to him belong.
Age upon age has honoured Homer's name.
Who would repine at loss linked to such glorious fame ?
So our own Milton, old, unblessed by love
Of those from whom such love was due of right,
Though sorely tried had comfort from above ;
And, though the day to him was but as night,
Bright gleams from Eden cheered his mental sight.
His strain heaven-guided was of things concealed
From all save him : yet in imperfect light
His day-dreams he embodied ; half was sealed
From his still mortal ken and half to him revealed.
Ingratitude, neglect subdued him not.
Great were his sorrows, greater his reward,
i And, if at times he mourned his lonely lot,
'Twas but a passing pang : to peace restored
The passion-free the heavenly lay he poured.
Patient in suffering, dreading not to die,
Beyond earth's troubled scene his spirit soared,
Secure that death to his unclouded eye
Now dimly shadowed forth would shew eternity.
ZETA.
October 1891.
THE NORWEGIAN FATHER
(FROM THE NORWEGIAN)
FROM a rocky seat by the rushing tide,
A Norseman spoke thus to a youth at his side.
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 481
" Now hearken ! them art not an infant, my boy :
So the nets thou hast mended henceforward employ.
" I will take thee a-fishing with me : thou shalt set
In the deep-rolling current thy father's own net.
" Thou shalt see then how merrily we, when afloat,
Shall enmesh bright-scaled herrings entrapped from our boat.
" If our boat ship a sea, thou wilt quake not nor quail.
In toil, cold, and hunger thy heart shall not fail.
" Well thou knowest the pride of the Norseman of old
Was to see in his offspring a mariner bold.
" Well thou knowest the old histories I read from that book
Which through long winter nights cheered our loved inglenook.
" Surely we, like our sires of the olden time,
May win honour and treasure in every clime.
" My sons they are many : my farm it is small :
If you all stayed at home you would eat up my all.
" On our ancient homestead my eldest shall stay,
The others must make or must break their way.
" To each I have taught something useful for life :
To cleave with the axe or to carve with the knife :
" Or on skates to pursue, with the speed of a bird,
O'er the mountain's snow-desert the wild reindeer herd.
" But thy thoughts, oh, my youngest, still turned to the sea:
Then fulfil thy heart's wish a brave seaman to be."
The lad looked up smiling. May fortune be kind,
And breathe on his sail with a favouring wind !
ZETA.
February 1892.
IN MEMORY OF JOHN BOX
WHO DIED AT DORKING, FEBRUARY 4, 1892, AGED 60 YEARS
THY lyre is mute as thou, its lord,
Who from our midst hast quickly fled
At the death-angel's summons dread,
But not unhonoured, undeplored.
3 1
482 THE EVELYN FAMILY
The power, the music of thy lays
Impressed the heart and charmed the ear.
And so thy memory claims a tear,
A passing sigh for vanished days.
Yet hope's soft voice may soothe our pain ;
For, if Heaven's promised rest be thine,
Why at Heaven's will should we repine ?
The loss is ours, but thine the gain.
ZETA.
February 8, 1892.
TO MY SON
(WRITTEN DURING ILLNESS)
FOR thee, dear boy, I kneel in prayer ;
And may the hope my prayer inspire
That Heaven may guide thee, soothe each care,
And make thee happier than thy sire.
And, if thy sire have suffered wrong,
Seek not that wrong to render back :
But only, in a good cause strong,
Guard thou his memory from attack.
Methinks, when soon my dust is laid
Within its chamber dark and low,
That thou at least wilt not upbraid
Him who in life had loved thee so.
ZETA.
July 27, 1892.
FAREWELL
'Tis long since sweet spring flowers their fragrance shed,
And now the happy summer days are fled.
No more the forest's overarching screen
Gleams, a light canopy of vivid green ;
But songless woods with foliage sun-imbrowned
Oppress the spirit as we gaze around.
And oft a mystic calm pervades the air
As if the wild winds cowering shunned the glare.
O'er landscapes rich in autumn's grand array
There breeds a boding presage of decay.
Bright is the harvest-moon, and Nature's voice
Bids man forget his sorrows and rejoice,
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN 483
Yet the thought wakes amid the harvest-cheer
That days are shortened and dark winter near.
ZETA.
Harvest-tide, 1892.';;
STOP THE WAR !
WHAT means the din that stuns the deafened ear
With multitudinous uproar far and near,
Marring sweet sounds of spring with discords drear ?
What means the din ?
'Tis the loud war-shout, angry, pitiless,
Of those who would all rule of right transgress,
Impelled by passion and a venal press
To shame and sin.
" Down with the Boer ! No mercy ! No delay ! "
"On to Pretoria ! March, despoil and slay ! "
" Let bayonets and bullets clear the way ! "
Such is the cry.
Official oligarchs with statecraft cold
Have Britain's weal and Britain's honour sold ;
For lust of Empire and for greed of Gold
They plot and lie.
And capitalists a sordid banner wave,
With simulated patriotism rave,
Gloat o'er their dupes, and, still insatiate, crave
Through war, more gain.
Arrayed with these in strange but close accord,
Bishops and ministers deny their Lord,
Breathing revenge, appealing to the sword
In speech profane.
Britons reflect ! let wrath to ruth give place !
With Erin linked, redeem your land's disgrace !
To crush by force a freeborn peasant race
Forbear, forbear !
And may our gracious Queen benignly deign
To accept a homage which we do not feign :
And peaceful be the evening of her reign !
Oh, stop the War !
Easterday, 1900. ZETA.
484 THE EVELYN FAMILY
A WELCOME TO CECIL JOHN ALVIN EVELYN
ON HIS HOMECOMING
(BORN AUGUST 25, 1904)
FEAR not, baby, though we want thee
In an old ancestral home ;
Come with smiles, let nothing daunt thee !
Come and charm away the gloom !
Kind hearts greet thee, dearest boy,
Wotton's hope, thy parents' joy !
Welcome. Oh ! may Heaven protect thee
Through life's dim and chequered way !
May an inward voice direct thee
Never from the right to stray !
So may Peace and Health be thine,
Blessings from a Power divine !
W.
TO CECIL JOHN ALVIN EVELYN
DEAREST Cecil, may good angels guard thee,
Hovering near thee in their watchful love.
Smile whilst thou mayest ! and may Heaven award thee
All the choicest blessings from above !
Sleep on and smile ! too soon must thou awaken
To the wild tumult of a world of strife,
But rest thee, rest thee now, unscared, unshaken,
Unconscious of the pangs, the toils of life.
Honours and wealth, a name renowned in story,
Are phantom-lights, that glittering pass away.
Learn thou that genuine happiness, true glory,
Is never from the path of right to stray.
Be thine the will like a brave knight to bear thee,
To help the weak, the vicious to repel,
Still to take heed lest passion sway or snare thee,
So wilt thou not have lived in vain. Farewell !
ZETA.
March 1905.
CHAPTER IX
JOHN HARCOURT CHICHESTER EVELYN
JOHN HARCOURT CHICHESTER EVELYN, only son of William
John Evelyn, was born at Wotton, August 11, 1876. The
christening took place on September 14, in Wotton Church.
His godparents were Viscount Falmouth, Sir William Har-
court, and his mother's first cousin, the Hon. Anne O'Neill.
The following lines were composed by Martin Tupper for
the occasion :
Blessings on thee, little one
Wotton's heir and Evelyn's son
Gladdening all thy lifelong way
Dated from this happy day.
Blessing more, than so be given ;
Child of God and heir of Heaven
Precious babe of many a prayer,
Doubly thus a son and heir.
His first school was at Castlemount, Dover, kept by Doctor
Chignell. From there he went to Eton, where he was in Miss
Evans' house, and from Eton he went to Christ Church,
Oxford, where he finished his education.
In 1897 his mother died, and he soon afterwards left
Oxford for good and returned to Wotton.
Towards the latter part of 1899 the Boer War broke out,
and in the following year, at the age of twenty-three, John
volunteered, and joined the Imperial Yeomanry as a trooper
in the " Duke of Cambridge's Own," which was a company
composed of the sons of gentlemen. He left England on
March 3, 1900,
The Imperial Yeomanry were defeated at Lindley, where,
under Colonel Spragge, the little force of about five hundred
for the most part volunteers were compelled to surrender to
superior numbers after a defence which lasted nearly three
days. It subsequently transpired that the force had been
led into a trap by the enemy, who, having got possession of the
telegraph, sent to Colonel Spragge, advising him to bring his
men to Lindley. It purported to come from General Colville,
and the Colonel acted on it, only to find, after entering
48s
486 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Lindley, that the place was practically in the hands of the
enemy. For three days the little force made a stand, though
the enemy were all round the town, and the firing was con-
tinuous. Eventually the Boers brought a big gun to their
assistance, and it was this that practically clinched the matter.
There seemed to be no prospect of assistance, so the white
flag was hoisted. The Boers then closed in and took the
force prisoners. The men were deprived of their horses,
rifles, and ammunition, but on the whole they were well
treated. This was on May 31. The surrendered force was
taken to Nooitgedacht, a trying march of nearly a month's
duration. On the day after leaving Lindley, the guns of Lord
Methuen's relieving force could be distinctly heard.
The dreary months of imprisonment at length came to
an end on September 13, after lasting four months all but a
fortnight. John obtained his liberty owing to the arrival of
Lord Roberts' force. The majority of John's comrades were
released at Nooitgedacht, but he himself, with the rest of the
" Duke of Cambridge's Own," was removed to Barberton, the
Boers looking upon each of them as holding an equal position
to an officer. It was at Barberton where he eventually re-
ceived his release. The following is an extract from a letter
which he wrote on November 7, from Cape Town :
" I will now give you a short account of the fighting at
Lindley, but I am sorry you did not get the letter I wrote a
short time afterwards, as of course I put down details. We
rode from Bloemfontein to Kronstadt, and thence to Lindley,
where we arrived about two o'clock one day. We expected to
find Colville there, but it turned out to be unoccupied, and
we were waiting about the place, the Colonel interviewing the
Landrost, etc., when we heard firing over hill. It was our
pickets being attacked. Some men were then posted behind
a wall, and when the Boers began firing upon us, they re-
turned the fire. I was a spectator at this time and not under
fire. After a while we retired from the town, about one man
being wounded. As we retired, we were under fire all the
time. After some hours' time the Boers stopped and let us
alone. That night we went up a hill outside the town and
occupied it, taking the guns up to the top. Next day we
JOHN H. CHICHESTER EVELYN 487
were under fire all day. I have got our losses written down
somewhere, so won't put them here. The Colt gun was sent
out some distance to keep some Boers back. I went out with
it. We had rather a hot time. So things went on, and we
expected to be relieved. On Thursday the Boers brought up
big guns, and their numbers had much increased. We had a
hot time of it. In the afternoon they captured two kopjes
which commanded our main position, and on which we had a
few men. Then it was all up, as they fired down upon us a
tremendous fire, and we were ordered to lie down behind the
wall (we were in an enclosure with a stone wall round it).
After a bit the white flag went up and we surrendered."
John broke his journey home by a stay of some weeks at
Rome, during the last fortnight of which he was joined byhistwo
eldest sisters. In a letter which*he wrote*from Rome he says:
" I read Colville's defence, and it seemed to me rather a
good one. He seems only now to have heard of the telegram
which Spragge received at Kronstadt, purporting to come
from him. We knew about that at the time, and shortly
after our capture, I remember hearing that it was probably
really a Boer one, so it's funny this only coming out now."
He arrived back in England on February 16, 1901, after
nearly a year's absence. On his arrival at Wotton he received
a hearty reception from the tenants, who presented him with
an illuminated address.
The next important event in his life was his marriage, which
took place on January 27, 1902, at St. Mark's Church, North
Audley Street. The bride was Miss Frances Edith Ives,
fourth and youngest daughter of Major-General Cecil Robert
St. John Ives, who at one time commanded the Royal Horse
Guards, and was also Silver Stick in Waiting to Queen
Victoria, and the Hon. Mrs. Ives, daughter of the 4th Baron
Talbot de Malahide. On August 25, 1904, their first child,
a son, was born, and was christened Cecil John Alvin. Subse-
quently, on May 30, 1907, a daughter was born and christened
Susanna Frances, and thirdly, on December 28, 1909, another
son, who was called Peter George.
In June 1908, John's father died and John inherited the
property.
488
THE EVELYN FAMILY
PEDIGREE OF THE EVELYNS OF GODSTONE AND
LATER OF WOTTON
JOHN EVELYN of Kingston, Godstone, = ELIZABETH STEVENS,
West Dean, and Everley, son of George
Evelyn of Long Ditton, b. 1554, d.
1627.
. 1559, d. 1625.
| | 1618.
GEORGE EVELYN of West Sir JOHN EVELYN, Knight of=THOMASiNE HEYNES,
Dean and Everley. Godstone, b. 1591, d. 1663-64. I d. 1675-76.
1673. 1684.
MARGARET WEBB = GEORGE EVELYN of Nutfield= FRANCES BROMHALL,
I b. 1641, d. 1699. I b. 1662, d. 1730.
EDWARD EVELYN=JULIA, daughter of RICHARD EVELYN=JANE MEAD,
of Felbridge, in Parish
of Godstone, b. 1681,
d. I75I-
James, 2nd Duke of of Dublin, b. 1655,
Ormonde.
d. I75I-
d. 1720.
I I739-
JAMES EVELYN = ANNABELLA MEDLEY. WILLIAM EVELYN = MARGARET
of Felbridge, b.
1718, d. 1793.
Dean of Emley,
Ireland, b. 1718,
d. 1776.
CHAMBERLAIN.
1785.
JULIA EVELYN = Sir GEORGE SHUCKBURGH
- !757> d. 1797. EVELYN, Baronet, d. 1804. of Wotton, b.
1743, d. 1827.
1787.
JOHN EVELYN = ANNE SHEE,
d. 1841.
1821.
GEORGE EVELYN = MARY MASSY-DAWSON,
of Wotton, b. 1791,
d. 1829.
b. 1801, d. 1896.
1873-
WILLIAM JOHN EVELYN = FRANCES CHICHESTER,
of Wotton, b. 1822, d.
1908.
b. 1850, d. 1897.
| 1902.
JOHN HARCOURT CHICHESTER EVELYN = FRANCES IVES.
of Wotton, b. 1876.
CECIL JOHN ALVIN EVELYN,
b. 1904.
PART V
THE EVELYNS OF WEST DEAN AND
EVERLEY IN WILTSHIRE
THE manor and advowson of West Dean was purchased by
John Evelyn of Kingston early in the seventeenth century,
and the manor of Everley from Sir Ralph Sadler. John
Evelyn, who was the ancestor of the present Evelyns of
Wotton, and who has been described in another part of this
book, died at West Dean, April 17, 1627, aged seventy-three,
and was buried there May 21, 1627, in the chancel of the
parish church, where there is a fine monument to his memory.
GEORGE EVELYN OF EVERLEY AND WEST DEAN
George Evelyn of Everley and West Dean, the eldest son
of John Evelyn, was baptized at Kingston, August 20, 1581.
He was one of the six Clerks in Chancery, and a Justice
of the Peace in Wiltshire. He died January 19, 1636, at
Everley. His body was conveyed from there to his house
in West Dean, and buried in the chancel of West Dean
Church. The funeral sermon was preached at West Dean by
Doctor Matthew Nicholas, the incumbent of Winterbourne.
Doctor Nicholas was the son of John Nicholas of Wilts, and
brother to Edward Nicholas, the secretary of Charles I.
He wrote l to his brother Edward, March 10, 1621, to tell
him that he had been inducted in the living at Winterbourne.
" On Friday last I was inducted by Mr. Sprat ; Mr. Evelyn
and that whole house seemed to be very glad of the change,
to whome I am and shall ever acknowledge my selfe much
bounde for their love ; to-morrow I am to returne thither
againe to reade the Articles of the Church." From St.
1 Dom. S. P., James i, vol. 120, No. 12.
489
490 THE EVELYN FAMILY
Edmund's Hall, Oxford, he wrote 1 May 14, 1621, " that he
hopes Mr. Evelyn will allow him his diet for teaching his
younger son (Arthur). He has taken lodgings at Dean for
4 a year, which is too much for them." Later on, July 17,
he says that " he is sorry old Evelyn hastens to Dean, as he is
not ready to entertain him. He cannot study there so well as at
Oxford, and has only sermons that will last four or six weeks."
THE PETITION OF GEORGE EVELYN 2
JAN. 15, 1634
" To THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS OF HIS MA TIES
PRIVY COUNCELL
" The humble peticon of George Evelyn, one of the Clarkes of
his Ma ties Court of Chancery
" Most humbly sheweth, That your suppliant on Sater-
day last 10 Jan. neere 40 myles from London, was served with
proces to heare judgment on Monday next 19 Jan. in his
Ma tles high Court of Starre chamber in a cause there prose-
cuted against him by his Ma ties Attorney generall for sup-
posed exaccons in his Office, albeit your said suppliant (as he
humbly conceaveth never receaved or tooke any greater fee for
any busines whatsoever then hath been constantly taken and
receaved in his office by his predecessors tyme out of mynd.
" That hee now findes that Mr. Herbert the Quernes
Ma ties Attorney who was formerly of his Councill, and best
instructed in his cause, in regard of some late relacon to his
Ma tles service, can noe longer contynue to bee of Councell
against his Majesty.
" And Mr. Recorder, one other of his chiefest councell, being
to attend the Sessions for London on friday and Saterday,
cannott possibly bee instructed soe fully as the cause requireth.
" No we forasmuch as your humble suppliant may suffer
much both in his fortunes and reputacon by the shortnes of
tyme and the accidents aforesaid, unles hee bee releeved
herein by your Lordshipps accustomed goodnes,
1 The Evelyn Family, by C. G. S. Foljambe.
8 Dom. S. P., Charles I, vol. 282, p. 53.
THE EVELYNS OF WEST DEAN 491
" Hee therefore most humbly beseecheth your good
x>rdshipps to bee pleased to put off the cause from hearing on
Monday next, that your said suppliant may have such further
iyme to prepare and instruct his Councell, as to your honor-
ible Lordshipps shall seeme reasonable.
" And your humble suppliant (as by duty hee is bound)
ihall day lie pray for your good Lordshipps health and
lappiness."
(Unsigned)
In a letter x written to Secretary Coke, January 25, 1636,
Or. Nicholas writes :
" Mr. Geo. Evelin, one of the six Clerks dyed on Tuesday
ast and Mr. Cusar is sworn in his place according to the last
^rant made by His Ma tie to the 6 clerks." On February 7
jiie writes in a letter 2 to his brother : " The funerall for my
patron is set on to-morrow fortnight. I must straine to doe
iiim the best honour I can and I thanke God I have memor-
able thinges to speake of his liberality to the church and
poore ; God only is the judge of inwarde intentions to whome
I shall leave the censure of his sincerity."
LETTER FROM DR. M. NICHOLAS TO HIS BROTHER EDWARD
RESPECTING THE DEATHBED OF GEORGE EVELYN 3
"Jan. 2$, 1635-6.
" GOOD BROTHER, I had written unto you the last weeke
but that I was surprized by a messenger from Everly to goe
visit Mr. Evelyn with all haste in his extremity w ch made me
choose to intermit my respect unto you rather than loose the
opportunity of doinge my last office unto him from whome
I had received the foundation of that small fortune wherew th
God had blessed me ; but notwithstanding the best speede
I could make I came short to administer such comfort as I
intended unto his partinge soul, for his memory fayled him
before I could be w th him and soe did his speech for any matter
1 Dom. S. P., Charles I., vol. 61, pp. 147, 291.
2 Ibid., Charles I., vol. 418, pp. 21-5, 313. 3 Ibid., Charles i.
492 THE EVELYN FAMILY
of pfect understandinge. He only called upon his sonne
John and held his eare to his mouth as if he had somewhat
to say but could not bringe forth any worde to be understoode.
I could only pray for him and when I had soe done beinge
asked whether he heard me he answered that he did and
thanked me for my paines ; this was more than he had spoken
that morninge beinge Monday and all that he was heard to
mutter afterwards was no more than sometimes to call on his
sonne John. Yet it was Tuesday night before he died his
disease w ch was a Lethargy held him from Thursday nigh
untill that time w th a little intermission on Friday, but we
could not discerne his paines to be violent, he went away
as in a sleepe w thout struglinge at all. There is no will of his
to be founde ; some reasons are given of that neglect from
the condition of his estates w ch he intended to have settled
this next terme if God had given him life, and then to have
disposed of it accordinge to his owne will, w ch yet he did soe
well express unto his Sonne and wife in his lifetime as there
is not likely to growe any difference in his family for that
want. His debts I heare are high at the least 7000 w ch Sir
John Evelyn hath undertaken to pay being allowed by his
mother to sue such letters of administration. He will dy
seased of about twenty hundred pounds per ann. in land and
lease whereof Mrs. Evelyn will have in joynture 400 and Mr.
Arthur 300 lands settled uppon him as soone as he shall
marry besides the reversion of his office. The rest comes to
Sir John Evelyn with all his stock and goods but burthened
w th his debts. The body is allready layd in earth privately
but the solemnity of his funerall is deferred untill towardes
the ende of the terme that his kindred and frendes may have
the opportunity to be present at it. My cousen Betty was
doubtfull that Mrs. Evelyn intending to have a private
wedding would have eased herself of the charge of her, but I
doe not discerne any such intention . . . nor can I see how
she can be w th out her or one of her condicon. I have advised
her to ... by ... fayre way to continue w th her because
her business will nowe be lese and her hopes of reward . . .
and if she finde Mrs. Evelyn inclined to put her off I have
promised her my assistance in a way w ch I presume will be
THE EVELYNS OF WEST DEAN 493
effectual for her stay. She hath gotten good grounde in Mrs.
Evelyn's opinion of late and if she continue in her service
until! her death w ch every man thought would have ben
before Mr. Evelyn's it is likely she will leave her some good
remembrance.
" The peice of lande and copices of w ch my father wrote
lately to you are the same (it seems by ye description) w ch
I gave you notice of before, but they are not yet at sale. If I
be well dealt w th all I had a promise by Robert Web (from him
that is Mr. Hurst's agent and shall sell it if it be sold) that
I should have the first notice of his M rs< intant and the first
perticular that should be given to any, and if my father come
by any I presume it is by the same hands. The younge man
that possesseth the estate is noe goode husbande and there-
fore men thinke he will sell but as longe as he can supply
his expenses by cuttinge of wood and felling of copices (w ch
he may doe for a yeare or two more) give eare unto a notion
of sellinge but I will be further inquisitive uppon this intima-
tion w ch I have by you. I wish the purchase may answere
the report my father hath made unto me but I assure you I
concerne not soe well of it by the relation I had from Robert
Web and I wish I should have a particular before you buy,
w ch when you name, I shall be able to pcure an estimate of
the rates for such as are acquainted w th the grounde and I
will do you the best and fayfullest service I can in both.
I am sorry you are so soon bereaved of your associate but
God be praysed your ability is such you shall want only the
comfort of his company not his assistance in y r employment.
I wish my Lord Cottington all honour and contentment w th
his great e office but envy not his great eness. If there were
not a reward in Heaven for fidelity in the discharge of these
greate employments I should thinke all that men gaine in
them on earth to be no meane a recompence of their trouble.
I am sorry to heare of the continuance . . . my cosen
Huntons weakness and would gladly . . . then pray for her
comfort if I knewe the . . . heard any change of my cosens
hard fare at schoole either from them or any other, nor had I
cause to suspect it for I never sawe children (looke [erased])
of a cleerer complexion then they were when I saw them and
494 THE EVELYN FAMILY
that colour usually shows health w ch if it be an effect of their
fare I could not wish it amended, my wife is my witnes that I
observed and told her how lively they looked especially my
cosen Ned whose complexion was never perfectly restored to
him in my eie since his ague in Chamell Roe untill nowe.
My cosens are returned to schoole too soone for me to deliver
your tokens unto them for their encouragement w ch I would
gladly have done because I beleave they deserve them but
you shall save nothinge by your untimely sendinge me this
commission they shall have them w th the best addition I
can make by my counsayl. Your god sonne is growne learned
beyonde his mothers ability to teach him. He can nowe tell
you how many parts of speech there are and I thanke God I
finde ability enough in him to be a scholler if he sets his minde
to it but I take the paines w th him myselfe because I am
willinge to save that charge, but if I knewe where to dispose
of him unto the like care I would willingly bear the cost to
save my trouble howsoever his mother thinks him of too
infirme constitution to be long out of her eie : George can
get noe grounde of your god sonne though her have the
advantage of age and when Ned sets himselfe to his business
he can leave his brother behinde but a more cowardly and
lazy wit did I never meete w th that could doe so much when it
list. It is time for me to thinke you have somethinge else to
doe then reade my letters. My wife sayes I have written
enough for us both but gives me commission to present her
best love and respect with my owne and I entreate you to
accept of both unto my sister and y r selfe and assurance
that I am
" Y r faythfully lovinge brother,
MAT. NICHOLAS.
" WEST DEANE,
Jan. 25, 1635.
" I shall not write by the carrier because of this better
opportunity to sende to you."
(Endorsed.)
To the right wor th his worthy brother Edwarde Nicholas Esq. at
his house in King streete neere the Axyarde in Westminster.
Givejjthese.
THE EVELYNS OF WEST DEAN 495
LETTER FROM DR. M. NICHOLAS TO HIS BROTHER 1
" February 15, 1635-6.
" GOOD BROTHER, This comes to you by an handle
w ch I could not let goe empty of some testimony of my respect
for you, or else I should not have troubled at a time when I
have not myselfe much liberty. I thought that the company
w ch goe from Winterbourne would have bin with you 'ere
this, but my intelligence fay 
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