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diff --git a/42081-0.txt b/42081-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43ffda4 --- /dev/null +++ b/42081-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15107 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42081 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 42081-h.htm or 42081-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/6/4/42081/42081-h/42081-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/8/6/4/42081/42081-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/diaryofjohnevely02eveliala + + + Project Gutenberg has the other volume (Volume I) of this work. + Volume I: see https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41218 + + +Transcriber's note: + + Page headers in the original text indicated the location of + the author. I have converted these to sidenotes. When the + location did not change over several pages, only one sidenote + was used. + + + + + +[Illustration: _THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM_ + +_From an old painting_] + + +THE DIARY OF JOHN EVELYN + +Edited from the Original Mss. by + +WILLIAM BRAY + +Fellow of the Antiquarian Society + +In Two Volumes + +VOL. II + +With a Biographical Introduction by the Editor + +And a Special Introduction by Richard Garnett, Ll.D. +of the British Museum + + + + + + + +M. Walter Dunne, Publisher +Washington & London + +Copyright, 1901, +by +Walter Dunne, +Publisher + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + CHARLES I. IN PRISON _Frontispiece_ + Photogravure after De La Roche. + + LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL TAKING LEAVE OF HIS CHILDREN, 1683 180 + Photogravure after a painting by Bridges. + + OLIVER CROMWELL DICTATING TO JOHN MILTON 284 + The letter to the Duke of Savoy to stop the persecution + of the Protestants of Piedmont, 1655. + Photogravure from an engraving by Sartain after Newenham. + + +VOLUME II. + + THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM _Frontispiece_ + From an old painting. + + NELL GWYNNE 64 + Photogravure after Sir Peter Lely. + + + + +VOLUME I. + +1620-1664 + + +VOLUME II. + +1665-1706 + + + + +THE DIARY OF JOHN EVELYN. + + +2d January, 1665. + +This day was published by me that part of "The Mystery of Jesuitism" +translated and collected by me, though without my name, containing the +Imaginary Heresy, with four letters and other pieces. + +4th January, 1665. I went in a coach, it being excessive sharp frost and +snow, toward Dover and other parts of Kent, to settle physicians, +chirurgeons, agents, marshals, and other officers in all the sea ports, +to take care of such as should be set on shore, wounded, sick, or +prisoners, in pursuance of our commission reaching from the North +Foreland, in Kent, to Portsmouth, in Hampshire. The rest of the ports in +England were allotted to the other Commissioners. That evening I came to +Rochester, where I delivered the Privy Council's letter to the Mayor to +receive orders from me. + +5th January, 1665. I arrived at Canterbury, and went to the cathedral, +exceedingly well repaired since his Majesty's return. + +6th January, 1665. To Dover, where Colonel Stroode, Lieutenant of the +Castle, having received the letter I brought him from the Duke of +Albemarle, made me lodge in it, and I was splendidly treated, assisting +me from place to place. Here I settled my first Deputy. The Mayor and +officers of the Customs were very civil to me. + +9th January, 1665. To Deal.--10th. To Sandwich, a pretty town, about two +miles from the sea. The Mayor and officers of the Customs were very +diligent to serve me. I visited the forts in the way, and returned that +night to Canterbury. + +11th January, 1665. To Rochester, when I took order to settle officers +at Chatham. + +12th January, 1665. To Gravesend, and returned home. A cold, busy, but +not unpleasant journey. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +25th January, 1665. This night being at Whitehall, his Majesty came to +me standing in the withdrawing-room, and gave me thanks for publishing +"The Mysteries of Jesuitism," which he said he had carried two days in +his pocket, read it, and encouraged me; at which I did not a little +wonder: I suppose Sir Robert Murray had given it to him. + +27th January, 1665. Dined at the Lord Chancellor's, who caused me after +dinner to sit two or three hours alone with him in his bedchamber. + +2d February, 1665. I saw a Masque performed at Court, by six gentlemen +and six ladies, surprising his Majesty, it being Candlemas day. + +8th February, Ash Wednesday, 1665. I visited our prisoners at Chelsea +College, and to examine how the marshal and sutlers behaved. These were +prisoners taken in the war; they only complained that their bread was +too fine. I dined at Sir Henry Herbert's, Master of the Revels. + +9th February, 1665. Dined at my Lord Treasurer's, the Earl of +Southampton, in Bloomsbury, where he was building a noble square or +piazza,[1] a little town; his own house stands too low, some noble +rooms, a pretty cedar chapel, a naked garden to the north, but good air. +I had much discourse with his Lordship, whom I found to be a person of +extraordinary parts, but a _valetudinarian_.--I went to St. James's +Park, where I saw various animals, and examined the throat of the +_Onocrotylus_, or pelican, a fowl between a stork and a swan; a +melancholy water-fowl, brought from Astrakhan by the Russian Ambassador; +it was diverting to see how he would toss up and turn a flat fish, +plaice, or flounder, to get it right into his gullet at its lower beak, +which, being filmy, stretches to a prodigious wideness when it devours a +great fish. Here was also a small water-fowl, not bigger than a moorhen, +that went almost quite erect, like the penguin of America; it would eat +as much fish as its whole body weighed; I never saw so unsatiable a +devourer, yet the body did not appear to swell the bigger. The solan +geese here are also great devourers, and are said soon to exhaust all +the fish in a pond. Here was a curious sort of poultry not much +exceeding the size of a tame pigeon, with legs so short as their crops +seemed to touch the earth; a milk-white raven; a stork, which was a +rarity at this season, seeing he was loose, and could fly loftily; two +Balearian cranes, one of which having had one of his legs broken and cut +off above the knee, had a wooden or boxen leg and thigh, with a joint so +accurately made that the creature could walk and use it as well as if it +had been natural; it was made by a soldier. The park was at this time +stored with numerous flocks of several sorts of ordinary and +extraordinary wild fowl, breeding about the Decoy, which for being near +so great a city, and among such a concourse of soldiers and people, is a +singular and diverting thing. There were also deer of several countries, +white; spotted like leopards; antelopes, an elk, red deer, roebucks, +stags, Guinea goats, Arabian sheep, etc. There were withy-pots, or +nests, for the wild fowl to lay their eggs in, a little above the +surface of the water. + + [Footnote 1: The Italians mean simply a square by their _piazzas_.] + +23d February, 1665. I was invited to a great feast at Mr. Rich's (a +relation of my wife's, now reader at Lincoln's Inn); where was the Duke +of Monmouth, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishops of London and +Winchester, the Speaker of the House of Commons, divers of the Judges, +and several other great men. + +24th February, 1665. Dr. Fell, Canon of Christ Church, preached before +the King, on 15 ch. Romans, v. 2, a very formal discourse, and in blank +verse, according to his manner; however, he is a good man.--Mr. Philips, +preceptor to my son, went to be with the Earl of Pembroke's son, my Lord +Herbert. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d March, 1665. I went with his Majesty into the lobby behind the House +of Lords, where I saw the King and the rest of the Lords robe +themselves, and got into the House of Lords in a corner near the +woolsack, on which the Lord Chancellor sits next below the throne: the +King sat in all the regalia, the crown-imperial on his head, the sceptre +and globe, etc. The Duke of Albemarle bore the sword, the Duke of +Ormond, the cap of dignity. The rest of the Lords robed in their +places:--a most splendid and august convention. Then came the Speaker +and the House of Commons, and at the bar made a speech, and afterward +presented several bills, a nod only passing them, the clerk saying, _Le +Roy le veult_, as to public bills, as to private, _Soit faite commeil +est desirè_. Then, his Majesty made a handsome but short speech, +commanding my Lord Privy Seal to prorogue the Parliament, which he did, +the Chancellor being ill and absent. I had not before seen this +ceremony. + +9th March, 1665. I went to receive the poor creatures that were saved +out of the London frigate, blown up by accident, with above 200 men. + +29th March, 1665. Went to Goring House, now Mr. Secretary Bennet's, +ill-built, but the place capable of being made a pretty villa. His +Majesty was now finishing the Decoy in the Park. + +2d April, 1665. Took order about some prisoners sent from Captain +Allen's ship, taken in the Solomon, viz, the brave men who defended her +so gallantly. + +5th April, 1665. Was a day of public humiliation and for success of this +terrible war, begun doubtless at secret instigation of the French to +weaken the States and Protestant interest. Prodigious preparations on +both sides. + +6th April, 1665. In the afternoon, I saw acted "_Mustapha_," a tragedy +written by the Earl of Orrery. + +11th April, 1665. To London, being now left the only Commissioner to +take all necessary orders how to exchange, remove, and keep prisoners, +dispose of hospitals, etc.; the rest of the Commissioners being gone to +their several districts, in expectation of a sudden engagement. + +19th April, 1665. Invited to a great dinner at the Trinity House, where +I had business with the Commissioners of the Navy, and to receive the +second £5,000, impressed for the service of the sick and wounded +prisoners. + +20th April, 1665. To Whitehall, to the King, who called me into his +bedchamber as he was dressing, to whom, I showed the letter written to +me from the Duke of York from the fleet, giving me notice of young +Evertzen, and some considerable commanders newly taken in fight with the +Dartmouth and Diamond frigates, whom he had sent me as prisoners at war; +I went to know of his Majesty how he would have me treat them, when he +commanded me to bring the young captain to him, and to take the word of +the Dutch Ambassador (who yet remained here) for the other, that he +should render himself to me whenever I called on him, and not stir +without leave. Upon which I desired more guards, the prison being +Chelsea House. I went also to Lord Arlington (the Secretary Bennet +lately made a Lord) about other business. Dined at my Lord Chancellor's; +none with him but Sir Sackville Crowe, formerly Ambassador at +Constantinople; we were very cheerful and merry. + +24th April, 1665. I presented young Captain Evertzen (eldest son of +Cornelius, Vice-Admiral of Zealand and nephew of John, now Admiral, a +most valiant person) to his Majesty in his bed-chamber. The King gave +him his hand to kiss, and restored him his liberty; asked many questions +concerning the fight (it being the first blood drawn), his Majesty +remembering the many civilities he had formerly received from his +relations abroad, who had now so much interest in that considerable +Province. Then, I was commanded to go with him to the Holland +Ambassador, where he was to stay for his passport, and I was to give him +fifty pieces in broad gold. Next day I had the Ambassador's parole for +the other Captain, taken in Captain Allen's fight before Calais. I gave +the King an account of what I had done, and afterward asked the same +favor for another Captain, which his Majesty gave me. + +28th April, 1665. I went to Tunbridge, to see a solemn exercise at the +free-school there. + +Having taken orders with my marshal about my prisoners, and with the +doctor and chirurgeon to attend the wounded enemies, and of our own men, +I went to London again, and visited my charge, several with legs and +arms off; miserable objects, God knows. + +16th May, 1665. To London, to consider of the poor orphans and widows +made by this bloody beginning, and whose husbands and relations perished +in the London frigate, of which there were fifty widows, and forty-five +of them with child. + +26th May, 1665. To treat with the Holland Ambassador at Chelsea, for +release of divers prisoners of war in Holland on exchange here. After +dinner, being called into the Council-Chamber at Whitehall, I gave his +Majesty an account of what I had done, informing him of the vast charge +upon us, now amounting to no less than £1,000 weekly. + +29th May, 1665. I went with my little boy to my district in Kent, to +make up accounts with my officers. Visited the Governor at Dover Castle, +where were some of my prisoners. + +3d June, 1665. In my return went to Gravesend; the fleets being just now +engaged, gave special orders for my officers to be ready to receive the +wounded and prisoners. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th June, 1665. To London, to speak with his Majesty and the Duke of +Albemarle for horse and foot guards for the prisoners at war, committed +more particularly to my charge by a commission apart. + +8th June, 1665. I went again to his Grace, thence to the Council, and +moved for another privy seal for £20,000, and that I might have the +disposal of the Savoy Hospital for the sick and wounded; all which was +granted. Hence to the Royal Society, to refresh among the philosophers. + +Came news of his highness's victory, which indeed might have been a +complete one, and at once ended the war, had it been pursued, but the +cowardice of some, or treachery, or both, frustrated that. We had, +however, bonfires, bells, and rejoicing in the city. Next day, the 9th, +I had instant orders to repair to the Downs, so as I got to Rochester +this evening. Next day I lay at Deal, where I found all in readiness: +but, the fleet being hindered by contrary winds, I came away on the +12th, and went to Dover, and returned to Deal; and on the 13th, hearing +the fleet was at Solbay, I went homeward, and lay at Chatham, and on the +14th, I got home. On the 15th, came the eldest son of the present +Secretary of State to the French King, with much other company, to dine +with me. After dinner, I went with him to London, to speak to my Lord +General for more guards, and gave his Majesty an account of my journey +to the coasts under my inspection. I also waited on his Royal Highness, +now come triumphant from the fleet, gotten into repair. See the whole +history of this conflict in my "History of the Dutch War." + +20th June, 1665. To London, and represented the state of the sick and +wounded to His Majesty in Council, for want of money, he ordered I +should apply to My Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer, upon +what funds to raise the money promised. We also presented to his Majesty +divers expedients for retrenchment of the charge. + +This evening making my court to the Duke, I spake to Monsieur +Comminges, the French Ambassador, and his Highness granted me six +prisoners, Embdeners, who were desirous to go to the Barbadoes with a +merchant. + +22d June, 1665. We waited on the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and got an +Order of Council for our money to be paid to the Treasurer of the Navy +for our Receivers. + +23d June, 1665. I dined with Sir Robert Paston, since Earl of Yarmouth, +and saw the Duke of Verneuille, base brother to the Queen-Mother, a +handsome old man, a great hunter. + +The Duke of York told us that, when we were in fight, his dog sought out +absolutely the very securest place in all the vessel.--In the afternoon, +I saw the pompous reception and audience of El Conde de Molino, the +Spanish Ambassador, in the Banqueting-house, both their Majesties +sitting together under the canopy of state. + +30th June, 1665. To Chatham; and, 1st July, to the fleet with Lord +Sandwich, now Admiral, with whom I went in a pinnace to the Buoy of the +Nore, where the whole fleet rode at anchor; went on board the Prince, of +ninety brass ordnance, haply the best ship in the world, both for +building and sailing; she had 700 men. They made a great huzza, or +shout, at our approach, three times. Here we dined with many noblemen, +gentlemen, and volunteers, served in plate and excellent meat of all +sorts. After dinner, came his Majesty, the Duke, and Prince Rupert. Here +I saw the King knight Captain Custance for behaving so bravely in the +late fight. It was surprising to behold the good order, decency, and +plenty of all things in a vessel so full of men. The ship received a +hundred cannon shot in her body. Then I went on board the Charles, to +which after a gun was shot off, came all the flag officers to his +Majesty, who there held a General Council, which determined that his +Royal Highness should adventure himself no more this summer. I came away +late, having seen the most glorious fleet that ever spread sails. We +returned in his Majesty's yacht with my Lord Sandwich and Mr. +Vice-Chamberlain, landing at Chatham on Sunday morning. + +5th July, 1665. I took order for 150 men, who had been recovered of +their wounds, to be carried on board the Clove Tree, Carolus Quintus, +and Zealand, ships that had been taken by us in the fight; and so +returned home. + +7th July, 1665. To London, to Sir William Coventry; and so to Sion, +where his Majesty sat at Council during the contagion: when business was +over, I viewed that seat belonging to the Earl of Northumberland, built +out of an old nunnery, of stone, and fair enough, but more celebrated +for the garden than it deserves; yet there is excellent wall-fruit, and +a pretty fountain; nothing else extraordinary. + +9th July, 1665. I went to Hampton-Court, where now the whole Court was, +to solicit for money; to carry intercepted letters; confer again with +Sir William Coventry, the Duke's secretary; and so home, having dined +with Mr. Secretary Morice. + +16th July, 1665. There died of the plague in London this week 1,100; and +in the week following, above 2,000. Two houses were shut up in our +parish. + +2d August, 1665. A solemn fast through England to deprecate God's +displeasure against the land by pestilence and war; our Doctor preaching +on 26 Levit. v. 41, 42, that the means to obtain remission of punishment +was not to repine at it; but humbly to submit to it. + +3d August, 1665. Came his Grace the Duke of Albemarle, Lord General of +all his Majesty's forces, to visit me, and carried me to dine with him. + +4th August, 1665. I went to Wotton with my Son and his tutor, Mr. Bohun, +Fellow of New College (recommended to me by Dr. Wilkins, and the +President of New College, Oxford), for fear of the pestilence, still +increasing in London and its environs. On my return, I called at +Durdans, where I found Dr. Wilkins, Sir William Petty, and Mr. Hooke, +contriving chariots, new rigging for ships, a wheel for one to run races +in, and other mechanical inventions; perhaps three such persons together +were not to be found elsewhere in Europe, for parts and ingenuity. + +8th August, 1665. I waited on the Duke of Albemarle, who was resolved to +stay at the Cock-pit, in St. James's Park. Died this week in London, +4,000. + +15th August, 1665. There perished this week 5,000. + +28th August, 1665. The contagion still increasing, and growing now all +about us, I sent my wife and whole family (two or three necessary +servants excepted) to my brother's at Wotton, being resolved to stay at +my house myself, and to look after my charge, trusting in the providence +and goodness of God. + +[Sidenote: CHATHAM] + +5th September, 1665. To Chatham, to inspect my charge, with £900 in my +coach. + +7th September, 1665. Came home, there perishing near 10,000 poor +creatures weekly; however, I went all along the city and suburbs from +Kent Street to St. James's, a dismal passage, and dangerous to see so +many coffins exposed in the streets, now thin of people; the shops shut +up, and all in mournful silence, not knowing whose turn might be next. I +went to the Duke of Albemarle for a pest-ship, to wait on our infected +men, who were not a few. + +14th September, 1665. I went to Wotton; and on 16th September, to visit +old Secretary Nicholas, being now at his new purchase of West Horsley, +once mortgaged to me by Lord Viscount Montague: a pretty dry seat on the +Down. Returned to Wotton. + +17th September, 1665. Receiving a letter from Lord Sandwich of a defeat +given to the Dutch, I was forced to travel all Sunday. I was exceedingly +perplexed to find that near 3,000 prisoners were sent to me to dispose +of, being more than I had places fit to receive and guard. + +25th September, 1665. My Lord Admiral being come from the fleet to +Greenwich, I went thence with him to the Cock-pit, to consult with the +Duke of Albemarle. I was peremptory that, unless we had £10,000 +immediately, the prisoners would starve, and it was proposed it should +be raised out of the East India prizes now taken by Lord Sandwich. They +being but two of the commission, and so not empowered to determine, sent +an express to his Majesty and Council, to know what they should do. In +the meantime, I had five vessels, with competent guards, to keep the +prisoners in for the present, to be placed as I should think best. After +dinner (which was at the General's) I went over to visit his Grace, the +Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth. + +28th September, 1665. To the General again, to acquaint him of the +deplorable state of our men for want of provisions; returned with +orders. + +29th September, 1665. To Erith, to quicken the sale of the prizes lying +there, with order to the commissioner who lay on board till they should +be disposed of, £5,000 being proportioned for my quarter. Then I +delivered the Dutch Vice-Admiral, who was my prisoner, to Mr. Lo.... +[2]of the Marshalsea, he giving me bond in £500 to produce him at my +call. I exceedingly pitied this brave unhappy person, who had lost with +these prizes £40,000 after twenty years' negotiation [trading] in the +East Indies. I dined in one of these vessels, of 1,200 tons, full of +riches. + + [Footnote 2: Mr. Lowman.] + +1st October, 1665. This afternoon, while at evening prayers, tidings +were brought me of the birth of a daughter at Wotton, after six sons, in +the same chamber I had first taken breath in, and at the first day of +that month, as I was on the last, forty-five years before. + +4th October, 1665. The monthly fast. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +11th October, 1665. To London, and went through the whole city, having +occasion to alight out of the coach in several places about business of +money, when I was environed with multitudes of poor, pestiferous +creatures begging alms; the shops universally shut up, a dreadful +prospect! I dined with my Lord General; was to receive £10,000, and had +guards to convey both myself and it, and so returned home, through God's +infinite mercy. + +17th October, 1665. I went to Gravesend; next day to Chatham; thence to +Maidstone, in order to the march of 500 prisoners to Leeds Castle, which +I had hired of Lord Culpeper. I was earnestly desired by the learned Sir +Roger Twisden, and Deputy-Lieutenants, to spare Maidstone from +quartering any of my sick flock. Here, Sir Edward Brett sent me some +horse to bring up the rear. This country, from Rochester to Maidstone +and the Downs, is very agreeable for the prospect. + +21st October, 1665. I came from Gravesend, where Sir J. Griffith, the +Governor of the Fort, entertained me very handsomely. + +31st October, 1665. I was this day forty-five years of age wonderfully +preserved; for which I blessed God for his infinite goodness toward me. + +23d November, 1665. Went home, the contagion having now decreased +considerably. + +27th November, 1665. The Duke of Albemarle was going to Oxford, where +both Court and Parliament had been most part of the summer. There was no +small suspicion of my Lord Sandwich having permitted divers commanders, +who were at the taking of the East India prizes, to break bulk, and to +take to themselves jewels, silks, etc.: though I believe some whom I +could name filled their pockets, my Lord Sandwich himself had the least +share. However, he underwent the blame, and it created him enemies, and +prepossessed the Lord General, for he spoke to me of it with much zeal +and concern, and I believe laid load enough on Lord Sandwich at Oxford. + +8th December, 1665. To my Lord of Albemarle (now returned from Oxford), +who was declared General at Sea, to the no small mortification of that +excellent person, the Earl of Sandwich, whom the Duke of Albemarle not +only suspected faulty about the prizes, but less valiant; himself +imagining how easy a thing it were to confound the Hollanders, as well +now as heretofore he fought against them upon a more disloyal interest. + +25th December, 1665. Kept Christmas with my hospitable brother, at +Wotton. + +30th December, 1665. To Woodcot, where I supped at my Lady Mordaunt's at +Ashsted, where was a room hung with _pintado_, full of figures great and +small, prettily representing sundry trades and occupations of the +Indians, with their habits; here supped also Dr. Duke, a learned and +facetious gentleman. + +31st December, 1665. Now blessed be God for his extraordinary mercies +and preservation of me this year, when thousands, and ten thousands, +perished, and were swept away on each side of me, there dying in our +parish this year 406 of the pestilence! + +3d January, 1665-66. I supped in Nonesuch House,[3] whither the office +of the Exchequer was transferred during the plague, at my good friend +Mr. Packer's, and took an exact view of the plaster statues and +bass-relievos inserted between the timbers and puncheons of the outside +walls of the Court; which must needs have been the work of some +celebrated Italian. I much admired how they had lasted so well and +entire since the time of Henry VIII., exposed as they are to the air; +and pity it is they are not taken out and preserved in some dry place; a +gallery would become them. There are some mezzo-relievos as big as the +life; the story is of the Heathen Gods, emblems, compartments, etc. The +palace consists of two courts, of which the first is of stone, castle +like, by the Lord Lumleys (of whom it was purchased), the other of +timber, a Gothic fabric, but these walls incomparably beautiful. I +observed that the appearing timber-puncheons, entrelices, etc., were all +so covered with scales of slate, that it seemed carved in the wood and +painted, the slate fastened on the timber in pretty figures, that has, +like a coat of armor, preserved it from rotting. There stand in the +garden two handsome stone pyramids, and the avenue planted with rows of +fair elms, but the rest of these goodly trees, both of this and of +Worcester Park adjoining, were felled by those destructive and +avaricious rebels in the late war, which defaced one of the stateliest +seats his Majesty had. + + [Footnote 3: Of this famous summer residence of Queen Elizabeth not + a vestige remains.] + +12th January, 1666. After much, and indeed extraordinary mirth and +cheer, all my brothers, our wives, and children, being together, and +after much sorrow and trouble during this contagion, which separated our +families as well as others, I returned to my house, but my wife went +back to Wotton. I, not as yet willing to adventure her, the contagion, +though exceedingly abated, not as yet wholly extinguished among us. + +29th January, 1666. I went to wait on his Majesty, now returned from +Oxford to Hampton-Court, where the Duke of Albemarle presented me to +him; he ran toward me, and in a most gracious manner gave me his hand to +kiss, with many thanks for my care and faithfulness in his service in a +time of such great danger, when everybody fled their employments; he +told me he was much obliged to me, and said he was several times +concerned for me, and the peril I underwent, and did receive my service +most acceptably (though in truth I did but do my duty, and O that I had +performed it as I ought!). After this, his Majesty was pleased to talk +with me alone, near an hour, of several particulars of my employment, +and ordered me to attend him again on the Thursday following at +Whitehall. Then the Duke came toward me, and embraced me with much +kindness, telling me if he had thought my danger would have been so +great, he would not have suffered his Majesty to employ me in that +station. Then came to salute me my Lord of St. Albans, Lord Arlington, +Sir William Coventry, and several great persons; after which, I got +home, not being very well in health. + +The Court was now in deep mourning for the French Queen-Mother. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d February, 1666. To London; his Majesty now come to Whitehall, where I +heard and saw my Lord Mayor (and brethren) make his speech of welcome, +and the two Sheriffs were knighted. + +6th February, 1666. My wife and family returned to me from the country, +where they had been 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 poor +officers, escaping still myself that I might live to recount and magnify +his goodness to me. + +8th February, 1666. I had another gracious reception by his Majesty, who +called me into his bed-chamber, to lay before and describe to him my +project of an Infirmary, which I read to him, who with great +approbation, recommended it to his Royal Highness. + +20th February, 1666. To the Commissioners of the Navy who, having seen +the project of the Infirmary, encouraged the work, and were very earnest +it should be set about immediately; but I saw no money, though a very +moderate expense would have saved thousands to his Majesty, and been +much more commodious for the cure and quartering of our sick and +wounded, than the dispersing them into private houses, where many more +chirurgeons and attendants were necessary, and the people tempted to +debauchery. + +21st February, 1666. Went to my Lord Treasurer for an assignment of +£40,000 upon the last two quarters for support of the next year's +charge. Next day, to Duke of Albemarle and Secretary of State, to desire +them to propose it to the Council. + +1st March, 1666. To London, and presented his Majesty my book intitled, +"The Pernicious Consequences of the new Heresy of the Jesuits against +Kings and States." + +7th March, 1666. Dr. Sancroft, since Archbishop of Canterbury, preached +before the King about the identity and immutability of God, on Psalm +cii. 27. + +13th March, 1666. To Chatham, to view a place designed for an +Infirmary. + +15th March, 1666. My charge now amounted to near £7,000 [weekly]. + +22d March, 1666. The Royal Society reassembled, after the dispersion +from the contagion. + +24th March, 1666. Sent £2,000 to Chatham. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st April, 1666. To London, to consult about ordering the natural +rarities belonging to the repository of the Royal Society; referred to a +Committee. + +10th April, 1666. Visited Sir William D'Oyly, surprised with a fit of +apoplexy, and in extreme danger. + +11th April, 1666. Dr. Bathurst preached before the King, from "I say +unto you all, watch"--a seasonable and most excellent discourse. When +his Majesty came from chapel, he called to me in the lobby, and told me +he must now have me sworn for a Justice of Peace (having long since made +me of the Commission); which I declined as inconsistent with the other +service I was engaged in, and humbly desired to be excused. After +dinner, waiting on him, I gave him the first notice of the Spaniards +referring the umpirage of the peace between them and Portugal to the +French King, which came to me in a letter from France before the +Secretaries of State had any news of it. After this, his Majesty again +asked me if I had found out any able person about our parts that might +supply my place of Justice of Peace (the office in the world I had most +industriously avoided, in regard of the perpetual trouble thereof in +these numerous parishes); on which I nominated one, whom the King +commanded me to give immediate notice of to my Lord Chancellor, and I +should be excused; for which I rendered his Majesty many thanks. From +thence, I went to the Royal Society, where I was chosen by twenty-seven +voices to be one of their Council for the ensuing year; but, upon my +earnest suit in respect of my other affairs, I got to be excused--and so +home. + +15th April, 1666. Our parish was now more infected with the plague than +ever, and so was all the country about, though almost quite ceased at +London. + +24th April, 1666. To London about our Mint-Commission, and sat in the +inner Court of Wards. + +8th May, 1666. To Queensborough, where finding the Richmond frigate, I +sailed to the buoy of the Nore to my Lord-General and Prince Rupert, +where was the Rendezvous of the most glorious fleet in the world, now +preparing to meet the Hollander. Went to visit my cousin, Hales, at a +sweetly-watered place at Chilston, near Bockton. The next morning, to +Leeds Castle, once a famous hold, now hired by me of my Lord Culpeper +for a prison. Here I flowed the dry moat, made a new drawbridge, brought +spring water into the court of the Castle to an old fountain, and took +order for the repairs. + +22d May, 1666. Waited on my Lord Chancellor at his new palace; and Lord +Berkeley's built next to it. + +24th May, 1666. Dined with Lord Cornbury, now made Lord Chamberlain to +the Queen; who kept a very honorable table. + +1st June, 1666. Being in my garden at 6 o'clock in the evening, and +hearing the great guns go thick off, I took horse and rode that night to +Rochester; thence next day toward the Downs and seacoast, but meeting +the Lieutenant of the Hampshire frigate, who told me what passed, or +rather what had not passed, I returned to London, there being no noise, +or appearance at Deal, or on that coast of any engagement. Recounting +this to his Majesty, whom I found at St. James's Park, impatiently +expecting, and knowing that Prince Rupert was loose about three at St. +Helen's Point at N. of the Isle of Wight, it greatly rejoiced him; but +he was astonished when I assured him they heard nothing of the guns in +the Downs, nor did the Lieutenant who landed there by five that morning. + +3d June, 1666. Whitsunday. After sermon came news that the Duke of +Albemarle was still in fight, and had been all Saturday, and that +Captain Harman's ship (the Henry) was like to be burnt. Then a letter +from Mr. Bertie that Prince Rupert was come up with his squadron +(according to my former advice of his being loose and in the way), and +put new courage into our fleet, now in a manner yielding ground; so that +now we were chasing the chasers; that the Duke of Albemarle was slightly +wounded, and the rest still in great danger. So, having been much +wearied with my journey, I slipped home, the guns still roaring very +fiercely. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th June, 1666. I went this morning to London, where came several +particulars of the fight. + +6th June, 1666. Came Sir Daniel Harvey from the General and related the +dreadful encounter, on which his Majesty commanded me to dispatch an +extraordinary physician and more chirurgeons. It was on the solemn +Fast-day when the news came; his Majesty being in the chapel made a +sudden stop to hear the relation, which being with much advantage on our +side, his Majesty commanded that public thanks should immediately be +given as for a victory. The Dean of the chapel going down to give notice +of it to the other Dean officiating; and notice was likewise sent to St. +Paul's and Westminster Abbey. But this was no sooner over, than news +came that our loss was very great both in ships and men; that the Prince +frigate was burnt, and as noble a vessel of ninety brass guns lost; and +the taking of Sir George Ayscue, and exceeding shattering of both +fleets; so as both being obstinate, both parted rather for want of +ammunition and tackle than courage; our General retreating like a lion; +which exceedingly abated of our former joy. There were, however, orders +given for bonfires and bells; but, God knows, it was rather a +deliverance than a triumph. So much it pleased God to humble our late +overconfidence that nothing could withstand the Duke of Albemarle, who, +in good truth, made too forward a reckoning of his success now, because +he had once beaten the Dutch in another quarrel; and being ambitious to +outdo the Earl of Sandwich, whom he had prejudicated as deficient in +courage. + +7th June, 1666. I sent more chirurgeons, linen, medicaments, etc., to +the several ports in my district. + +8th June, 1666. Dined with me Sir Alexander Fraser, prime physician to +his Majesty; afterward, went on board his Majesty's pleasure-boat, when +I saw the London frigate launched, a most stately ship, built by the +City to supply that which was burnt by accident some time since; the +King, Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, being there with great banquet. + +11th June, 1666. Trinity Monday, after a sermon, applied to the +remeeting of the Corporation of the Trinity-House, after the late raging +and wasting pestilence: I dined with them in their new room in Deptford, +the first time since it was rebuilt. + +15th June, 1666. I went to Chatham.--16th. In the Jemmy yacht (an +incomparable sailer) to sea, arrived by noon at the fleet at the Buoy at +the Nore, dined with Prince Rupert and the General. + +17th June, 1666. Came his Majesty, the Duke, and many Noblemen. After +Council, we went to prayers. My business being dispatched, I returned to +Chatham, having lain but one night in the Royal Charles; we had a +tempestuous sea. I went on shore at Sheerness, where they were building +an arsenal for the fleet, and designing a royal fort with a receptacle +for great ships to ride at anchor; but here I beheld the sad spectacle, +more than half that gallant bulwark of the kingdom miserably shattered, +hardly a vessel entire, but appearing rather so many wrecks and hulls, +so cruelly had the Dutch mangled us. The loss of the Prince, that +gallant vessel, had been a loss to be universally deplored, none knowing +for what reason we first engaged in this ungrateful war; we lost besides +nine or ten more, and near 600 men slain and 1,100 wounded, 2,000 +prisoners; to balance which, perhaps we might destroy eighteen or twenty +of the enemy's ships, and 700 or 800 poor men. + +18th June, 1666. Weary of this sad sight, I returned home. + +2d July, 1666. Came Sir John Duncomb and Mr. Thomas Chicheley, both +Privy Councillors and Commissioners of His Majesty's Ordnance, to visit +me, and let me know that his Majesty had in Council, nominated me to be +one of the Commissioners for regulating the farming and making of +saltpetre through the whole kingdom, and that we were to sit in the +Tower the next day. When they were gone, came to see me Sir John Cotton, +heir to the famous antiquary, Sir Robert Cotton: a pretended great +Grecian, but had by no means the parts, or genius of his grandfather. + +3d July, 1666. I went to sit with the Commissioners at the Tower, where +our commission being read, we made some progress in business, our +Secretary being Sir George Wharton, that famous mathematician who wrote +the yearly Almanac during his Majesty's troubles. Thence, to Painters' +Hall, to our other commission, and dined at my Lord Mayor's. + +4th July, 1666. The solemn Fast-day. Dr. Meggot preached an excellent +discourse before the King on the terrors of God's judgments. After +sermon, I waited on my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of +Winchester, where the Dean of Westminster spoke to me about putting into +my hands the disposal of fifty pounds, which the charitable people of +Oxford had sent to be distributed among the sick and wounded seamen +since the battle. Hence, I went to the Lord Chancellor's to joy him of +his Royal Highness's second son, now born at St. James's; and to desire +the use of the Star-chamber for our Commissioners to meet in, Painters' +Hall not being so convenient. + +12th July, 1666. We sat the first time in the Star-chamber. There was +now added to our commission Sir George Downing (one that had been a +great ... against his Majesty, but now insinuated into his favor; and, +from a pedagogue and fanatic preacher, not worth a groat, had become +excessively rich), to inspect the hospitals and treat about prisons. + +14th July, 1666. Sat at the Tower with Sir J. Duncomb and Lord Berkeley, +to sign deputations for undertakers to furnish their proportions of +saltpetre. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +17th July, 1666. To London, to prepare for the next engagement of the +fleets, now gotten to sea again. + +22d July, 1666. Our parish still infected with the contagion. + +25th July, 1666. The fleets engaged. I dined at Lord Berkeley's, at St. +James's, where dined my Lady Harrietta Hyde, Lord Arlington, and Sir +John Duncomb. + +29th July, 1666. The pestilence now fresh increasing in our parish, I +forbore going to church. In the afternoon came tidings of our victory +over the Dutch, sinking some, and driving others aground, and into their +ports. + +1st August, 1666. I went to Dr. Keffler, who married the daughter of the +famous chemist, Drebbell,[4] inventor of the bodied scarlet. I went to +see his iron ovens, made portable (formerly) for the Prince of Orange's +army: supped at the Rhenish Wine-House with divers Scots gentlemen. + + [Footnote 4: Cornelius Van Drebbell, born at Alkmaar, in Holland, in + 1572; but in the reign of Charles I. settled in London, where he + died in 1634. He was famous for other discoveries in science besides + that mentioned by Evelyn--the most important of which was the + thermometer. He also made improvements in microscopes and + telescopes; and though, like many of his scientific contemporaries, + something of an empiric, possessed a considerable knowledge of + chemistry and of different branches of natural philosophy.] + +6th August, 1666. Dined with Mr. Povey, and then went with him to see a +country house he had bought near Brentford; returning by Kensington; +which house stands to a very graceful avenue of trees, but it is an +ordinary building, especially one part. + +8th August, 1666. Dined at Sir Stephen Fox's with several friends and, +on the 10th, with Mr. Odart, Secretary of the Latin tongue. + +17th August, 1666. Dined with the Lord Chancellor, whom I entreated to +visit the Hospital of the Savoy, and reduce it (after the great abuse +that had been continued) to its original institution for the benefit of +the poor, which he promised to do. + +25th August, 1666. Waited on Sir William D'Oyly, now recovered, as it +were, miraculously. In the afternoon, visited the Savoy Hospital, where +I stayed to see the miserably dismembered and wounded men dressed, and +gave some necessary orders. Then to my Lord Chancellor, who had, with +the Bishop of London and others in the commission, chosen me one of the +three surveyors of the repairs of Paul's, and to consider of a model for +the new building, or, if it might be, repairing of the steeple, which +was most decayed. + +26th August, 1666. The contagion still continuing, we had the Church +service at home. + +27th August, 1666. I went to St. Paul's church, where, with Dr. Wren, +Mr. Pratt, Mr. May, Mr. Thomas Chicheley, Mr. Slingsby, the Bishop of +London, the Dean of St. Paul's, and several expert workmen, we went +about to survey the general decays of that ancient and venerable church, +and to set down in writing the particulars of what was fit to be done, +with the charge thereof, giving our opinion from article to article. +Finding the main building to recede outward it was the opinion of +Chicheley and Mr. Pratt that it had been so built _ab origine_ for an +effect in perspective, in regard of the height; but I was, with Dr. +Wren, quite of another judgment, and so we entered it; we plumbed the +uprights in several places. When we came to the steeple, it was +deliberated whether it were not well enough to repair it only on its old +foundation, with reservation to the four pillars; this Mr. Chicheley and +Mr. Pratt were also for, but we totally rejected it, and persisted that +it required a new foundation, not only in regard of the necessity, but +for that the shape of what stood was very mean, and we had a mind to +build it with a noble cupola, a form of church-building not as yet known +in England, but of wonderful grace. For this purpose, we offered to +bring in a plan and estimate, which after much contest, was at last +assented to, and that we should nominate a committee of able workmen to +examine the present foundation. This concluded, we drew all up in +writing, and so went with my Lord Bishop to the Dean's. + +28th August, 1666. Sat at the Star-chamber. Next day, to the Royal +Society, where one Mercator, an excellent mathematician, produced his +rare clock and new motion to perform the equations, and Mr. Rooke, his +new pendulum. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d September, 1666. This fatal night, about ten, began the deplorable +fire, near Fish street, in London. + +3d September, 1666. I had public prayers at home. The fire continuing, +after dinner, I took coach with my wife and son, and went to the +Bankside in Southwark, where we beheld that dismal spectacle, the whole +city in dreadful flames near the waterside; all the houses from the +Bridge, all Thames street, and upward toward Cheapside, down to the +Three Cranes, were now consumed; and so returned, exceedingly astonished +what would become of the rest. + +The fire having continued all this night (if I may call that night +which was light as day for ten miles round about, after a dreadful +manner), when conspiring with a fierce eastern wind in a very dry +season, I went on foot to the same place; and saw the whole south part +of the city burning from Cheapside to the Thames, and all along Cornhill +(for it likewise kindled back against the wind as well as forward), +Tower street, Fenchurch street, Gracious street, and so along to +Baynard's Castle, and was now taking hold of St. Paul's church, to which +the scaffolds contributed exceedingly. The conflagration was so +universal, and the people so astonished, that, from the beginning, I +know not by what despondency, or fate, they hardly stirred to quench it; +so that there was nothing heard, or seen, but crying out and +lamentation, running about like distracted creatures, without at all +attempting to save even their goods; such a strange consternation there +was upon them, so as it burned both in breadth and length, the churches, +public halls, Exchange, hospitals, monuments, and ornaments; leaping +after a prodigious manner, from house to house, and street to street, at +great distances one from the other. For the heat, with a long set of +fair and warm weather, had even ignited the air, and prepared the +materials to conceive the fire, which devoured, after an incredible +manner, houses, furniture, and every thing. Here, we saw the Thames +covered with goods floating, all the barges and boats laden with what +some had time and courage to save, as, on the other side, the carts, +etc., carrying out to the fields, which for many miles were strewn with +movables of all sorts, and tents erecting to shelter both people and +what goods they could get away. Oh, the miserable and calamitous +spectacle! such as haply the world had not seen since the foundation of +it, nor can be outdone till the universal conflagration thereof. All the +sky was of a fiery aspect, like the top of a burning oven, and the light +seen above forty miles round about for many nights. God grant mine eyes +may never behold the like, who now saw above 10,000 houses all in one +flame! The noise and cracking and thunder of the impetuous flames, the +shrieking of women and children, the hurry of people, the fall of +towers, houses, and churches, was like a hideous storm; and the air all +about so hot and inflamed, that at the last one was not able to approach +it, so that they were forced to stand still, and let the flames burn on, +which they did, for near two miles in length and one in breadth. The +clouds also of smoke were dismal, and reached, upon computation, near +fifty miles in length. Thus, I left it this afternoon burning, a +resemblance of Sodom, or the last day. It forcibly called to my mind +that passage--"_non enim hic habemus stabilem civitatem_"; the ruins +resembling the picture of Troy. London was, but is no more! Thus, I +returned. + +4th September, 1666. The burning still rages, and it is now gotten as +far as the Inner Temple. All Fleet street, the Old Bailey, Ludgate hill, +Warwick lane, Newgate, Paul's chain, Watling street, now flaming, and +most of it reduced to ashes; the stones of Paul's flew like grenados, +the melting lead running down the streets in a stream, and the very +pavements glowing with fiery redness, so as no horse, nor man, was able +to tread on them, and the demolition had stopped all the passages, so +that no help could be applied. The eastern wind still more impetuously +driving the flames forward. Nothing but the Almighty power of God was +able to stop them; for vain was the help of man. + +5th September, 1666. It crossed toward Whitehall; but oh! the confusion +there was then at that Court! It pleased his Majesty to command me, +among the rest, to look after the quenching of Fetter-lane end, to +preserve (if possible) that part of Holborn, while the rest of the +gentlemen took their several posts, some at one part, and some at +another (for now they began to bestir themselves, and not till now, who +hitherto had stood as men intoxicated, with their hands across), and +began to consider that nothing was likely to put a stop but the blowing +up of so many houses as might make a wider gap than any had yet been +made by the ordinary method of pulling them down with engines. This some +stout seamen proposed early enough to have saved near the whole city, +but this some tenacious and avaricious men, aldermen, etc., would not +permit, because their houses must have been of the first. It was, +therefore, now commended to be practiced; and my concern being +particularly for the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, near Smithfield, where +I had many wounded and sick men, made me the more diligent to promote +it; nor was my care for the Savoy less. It now pleased God, by abating +the wind, and by the industry of the people, when almost all was lost +infusing a new spirit into them, that the fury of it began sensibly to +abate about noon, so as it came no farther than the Temple westward, nor +than the entrance of Smithfield, north: but continued all this day and +night so impetuous toward Cripplegate and the Tower, as made us all +despair. It also broke out again in the temple; but the courage of the +multitude persisting, and many houses being blown up, such gaps and +desolations were soon made, as, with the former three days' consumption, +the back fire did not so vehemently urge upon the rest as formerly. +There was yet no standing near the burning and glowing ruins by near a +furlong's space. + +The coal and wood wharfs, and magazines of oil, rosin, etc., did +infinite mischief, so as the invective which a little before I had +dedicated to his Majesty and published,[5] giving warning what probably +might be the issue of suffering those shops to be in the city was looked +upon as a prophecy. + + [Footnote 5: The _Fumifugium_.] + +The poor inhabitants were dispersed about St. George's Fields, and +Moorfields, as far as Highgate, and several miles in circle, some under +tents, some under miserable huts and hovels, many without a rag, or any +necessary utensils, bed or board, who from delicateness, riches, and +easy accommodations in stately and well-furnished houses, were now +reduced to extreme misery and poverty. + +In this calamitous condition, I returned with a sad heart to my house, +blessing and adoring the distinguishing mercy of God to me and mine, +who, in the midst of all this ruin, was like Lot, in my little Zoar, +safe and sound. + +6th September, 1666. Thursday. I represented to his Majesty the case of +the French prisoners at war in my custody, and besought him that there +might be still the same care of watching at all places contiguous to +unseized houses. It is not indeed imaginable how extraordinary the +vigilance and activity of the King and the Duke was, even laboring in +person, and being present to command, order, reward, or encourage +workmen; by which he showed his affection to his people, and gained +theirs. Having, then, disposed of some under cure at the Savoy, I +returned to Whitehall, where I dined at Mr. Offley's, the groom-porter, +who was my relation. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +7th September, 1666. I went this morning on foot from Whitehall as far +as London Bridge, through the late Fleet street, Ludgate hill by St. +Paul's, Cheapside, Exchange, Bishops-gate, Aldersgate, and out to +Moorfields, thence through Cornhill, etc., with extraordinary +difficulty, clambering over heaps of yet smoking rubbish, and frequently +mistaking where I was; the ground under my feet so hot, that it even +burnt the soles of my shoes. In the meantime, his Majesty got to the +Tower by water, to demolish the houses about the graff, which, being +built entirely about it, had they taken fire and attacked the White +Tower, where the magazine of powder lay, would undoubtedly not only have +beaten down and destroyed all the bridge, but sunk and torn the vessels +in the river, and rendered the demolition beyond all expression for +several miles about the country. + +At my return, I was infinitely concerned to find that goodly Church, +St. Paul's--now a sad ruin, and that beautiful portico (for structure +comparable to any in Europe, as not long before repaired by the late +King) now rent in pieces, flakes of large stones split asunder, and +nothing remaining entire but the inscription in the architrave showing +by whom it was built, which had not one letter of it defaced! It was +astonishing to see what immense stones the heat had in a manner +calcined, so that all the ornaments, columns, friezes, capitals, and +projectures of massy Portland stone, flew off, even to the very roof, +where a sheet of lead covering a great space (no less than six acres by +measure) was totally melted. The ruins of the vaulted roof falling, +broke into St. Faith's, which being filled with the magazines of books +belonging to the Stationers, and carried thither for safety, they were +all consumed, burning for a week following. It is also observable that +the lead over the altar at the east end was untouched, and among the +divers monuments the body of one bishop remained entire. Thus lay in +ashes that most venerable church, one of the most ancient pieces of +early piety in the Christian world, besides near one hundred more. The +lead, ironwork, bells, plate, etc., melted, the exquisitely wrought +Mercers' Chapel, the sumptuous Exchange, the august fabric of Christ +Church, all the rest of the Companies' Halls, splendid buildings, +arches, entries, all in dust; the fountains dried up and ruined, while +the very waters remained boiling; the voragos of subterranean cellars, +wells, and dungeons, formerly warehouses, still burning in stench and +dark clouds of smoke; so that in five or six miles traversing about I +did not see one load of timber unconsumed, nor many stones but what were +calcined white as snow. + +The people, who now walked about the ruins, appeared like men in some +dismal desert, or rather, in some great city laid waste by a cruel +enemy; to which was added the stench that came from some poor creatures' +bodies, beds, and other combustible goods. Sir Thomas Gresham's statue, +though fallen from its niche in the Royal Exchange, remained entire, +when all those of the Kings since the Conquest were broken to pieces. +Also the standard in Cornhill, and Queen Elizabeth's effigies, with some +arms on Ludgate, continued with but little detriment, while the vast +iron chains of the city streets, hinges, bars, and gates of prisons, +were many of them melted and reduced to cinders by the vehement heat. +Nor was I yet able to pass through any of the narrow streets, but kept +the widest; the ground and air, smoke and fiery vapor, continued so +intense, that my hair was almost singed, and my feet insufferably +surbated. The by-lanes and narrow streets were quite filled up with +rubbish; nor could one have possibly known where he was, but by the +ruins of some Church, or Hall, that had some remarkable tower, or +pinnacle remaining. + +I then went towards Islington and Highgate, where one might have seen +200,000 people of all ranks and degrees dispersed, and lying along by +their heaps of what they could save from the fire, deploring their loss; +and, though ready to perish for hunger and destitution, yet not asking +one penny for relief, which to me appeared a stranger sight than any I +had yet beheld. His Majesty and Council indeed took all imaginable care +for their relief, by proclamation for the country to come in, and +refresh them with provisions. + +In the midst of all this calamity and confusion, there was, I know not +how, an alarm begun that the French and Dutch, with whom we were now in +hostility, were not only landed, but even entering the city. There was, +in truth, some days before, great suspicion of those two nations +joining; and now that they had been the occasion of firing the town. +This report did so terrify, that on a sudden there was such an uproar +and tumult that they ran from their goods, and, taking what weapons they +could come at, they could not be stopped from falling on some of those +nations whom they casually met, without sense or reason. The clamor and +peril grew so excessive, that it made the whole Court amazed, and they +did with infinite pains and great difficulty, reduce and appease the +people, sending troops of soldiers and guards, to cause them to retire +into the fields again, where they were watched all this night. I left +them pretty quiet, and came home sufficiently weary and broken. Their +spirits thus a little calmed, and the affright abated, they now began to +repair into the suburbs about the city, where such as had friends, or +opportunity, got shelter for the present to which his Majesty's +proclamation also invited them. + +Still, the plague continuing in our parish, I could not, without danger, +adventure to our church. + +10th September, 1666. I went again to the ruins; for it was now no +longer a city. + +13th September, 1666. I presented his Majesty with a survey of the +ruins, and a plot for a new city, with a discourse on it; whereupon, +after dinner, his Majesty sent for me into the Queen's bed-chamber, her +Majesty and the Duke only being present. They examined each particular, +and discoursed on them for near an hour, seeming to be extremely pleased +with what I had so early thought on. The Queen was now in her cavalier +riding-habit, hat and feather, and horseman's coat, going to take the +air. + +16th September, 1666. I went to Greenwich Church, where Mr. Plume +preached very well from this text: "Seeing, then, all these things shall +be dissolved," etc.: taking occasion from the late unparalleled +conflagration to remind us how we ought to walk more holy in all manner +of conversation. + +27th September, 1666. Dined at Sir William D'Oyly's, with that worthy +gentleman, Sir John Holland, of Suffolk. + +10th October, 1666. This day was ordered a general Fast through the +Nation, to humble us on the late dreadful conflagration, added to the +plague and war, the most dismal judgments that could be inflicted; but +which indeed we highly deserved for our prodigious ingratitude, burning +lusts, dissolute court, profane and abominable lives, under such +dispensations of God's continued favor in restoring Church, Prince, and +People from our late intestine calamities, of which we were altogether +unmindful, even to astonishment. This made me resolve to go to our +parish assembly, where our Doctor preached on Luke xix. 41: piously +applying it to the occasion. After which, was a collection for the +distressed losers in the late fire. + +18th October, 1666. To Court. It being the first time his Majesty put +himself solemnly into the Eastern fashion of vest, changing doublet, +stiff collar, bands and cloak, into a comely dress, after the Persian +mode, with girdles or straps, and shoestrings and garters into buckles, +of which some were set with precious stones[6] resolving never to alter +it, and to leave the French mode, which had hitherto obtained to our +great expense and reproach. Upon which, divers courtiers and gentlemen +gave his Majesty gold by way of wager that he would not persist in this +resolution. I had sometime before presented an invective against that +unconstancy, and our so much affecting the French fashion, to his +Majesty; in which I took occasion to describe the comeliness and +usefulness of the Persian clothing, in the very same manner his Majesty +now clad himself. This pamphlet I entitled "_Tyrannus, or the Mode_," +and gave it to the King to read. I do not impute to this discourse the +change which soon happened, but it was an identity that I could not but +take notice of. + + [Footnote 6: This costume was shortly after abandoned, and laid + aside; nor does any existing portrait exhibit the King so + accoutered.] + +This night was acted my Lord Broghill's tragedy, called "_Mustapha_," +before their Majesties at Court, at which I was present; very seldom +going to the public theatres for many reasons now, as they were abused +to an atheistical liberty; foul and indecent women now (and never till +now) permitted to appear and act, who inflaming several young noblemen +and gallants, became their misses, and to some, their wives. Witness the +Earl of Oxford, Sir R. Howard, Prince Rupert, the Earl of Dorset, and +another greater person than any of them, who fell into their snares, to +the reproach of their noble families, and ruin of both body and soul.[7] +I was invited by my Lord Chamberlain to see this tragedy, exceedingly +well written, though in my mind I did not approve of any such pastime in +a time of such judgments and calamities. + + [Footnote 7: Among the principal offenders here aimed at were Mrs. + Margaret Hughes, Mrs. Eleanor Gwynne, Mrs. Davenport, Mrs. Uphill, + Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Knight. Mrs. Davenport (Roxolana) was "my Lord + Oxford's Miss;" Mrs. Uphill was the actress alluded to in connection + with Sir R. Howard; Mrs. Hughes ensnared Prince Rupert; and the last + of the "misses" referred to by Evelyn was Nell Gwynne.] + +21st October, 1666. This season, after so long and extraordinary a +drought in August and September, as if preparatory for the dreadful +fire, was so very wet and rainy as many feared an ensuing famine. + +28th October, 1666. The pestilence, through God's mercy, began now to +abate considerably in our town. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +30th October, 1666. To London to our office, and now had I on the vest +and surcoat, or tunic, as it was called, after his Majesty had brought +the whole court to it. It was a comely and manly habit, too good to +hold, it being impossible for us in good earnest to leave the Monsieurs' +vanities long. + +31st October, 1666. I heard the signal cause of my Lord Cleveland +pleaded before the House of Lords; and was this day forty-six years of +age, wonderfully protected by the mercies of God, for which I render him +immortal thanks. + +14th November, 1666. I went my winter circle through my district, +Rochester and other places, where I had men quartered, and in custody. + +15th November, 1666. To Leeds Castle. + +16th November, 1666. I mustered the prisoners, being about 600 Dutch and +French, ordered their proportion of bread to be augmented and provided +clothes and fuel. Monsieur Colbert, Ambassador at the Court of England, +this day sent money from his master, the French King, to every prisoner +of that nation under my guard. + +17th November, 1666. I returned to Chatham, my chariot overturning on +the steep of Bexley Hill, wounded me in two places on the head; my son, +Jack, being with me, was like to have been worse cut by the glass; but I +thank God we both escaped without much hurt, though not without +exceeding danger. + +18th November, 1666. At Rochester. + +19th November, 1666. Returned home. + +23d November, 1666. At London, I heard an extraordinary case before a +Committee of the whole House of Commons, in the Commons' House of +Parliament, between one Captain Taylor and my Lord Viscount Mordaunt, +where, after the lawyers had pleaded and the witnesses been examined, +such foul and dishonorable things were produced against his Lordship, of +tyranny during his government of Windsor Castle, of which he was +Constable, incontinence, and suborning witnesses (of which last, one Sir +Richard Breames was most concerned), that I was exceedingly interested +for his Lordship, who was my special friend, and husband of the most +virtuous lady in the world. We sat till near ten at night, and yet but +half the counsel had done on behalf of the plaintiff. The question then +was put for bringing in of lights to sit longer. This lasted so long +before it was determined, and raised such a confused noise among the +members, that a stranger would have been astonished at it. I admire that +there is not a rationale to regulate such trifling accidents, which +consume much time, and is a reproach to the gravity of so great an +assembly of sober men. + +27th November, 1666. Sir Hugh Pollard, Comptroller of the Household, +died at Whitehall, and his Majesty conferred the white staff on my +brother Commissioner for sick and wounded, Sir Thomas Clifford, a bold +young gentleman, of a small fortune in Devon, but advanced by Lord +Arlington, Secretary of State, to the great astonishment of all the +Court. This gentleman was somewhat related to me by the marriage of his +mother to my nearest kinsman, Gregory Coale, and was ever my noble +friend, a valiant and daring person, but by no means fit for a supple +and flattering courtier. + +28th November, 1666. Went to see Clarendon House, now almost finished, a +goodly pile to see, but had many defects as to the architecture, yet +placed most gracefully. After this, I waited on the Lord Chancellor, who +was now at Berkshire House, since the burning of London. + +2d December, 1666. Dined with me Monsieur Kiviet, a Dutch +gentleman-pensioner of Rotterdam, who came over for protection, being of +the Prince of Orange's party, now not welcome in Holland. The King +knighted him for some merit in the Prince's behalf. He should, if +caught, have been beheaded with Monsieur Buat, and was brother-in-law to +Van Tromp, the sea-general. With him came Mr. Gabriel Sylvius, and Mr. +Williamson, secretary to Lord Arlington; M. Kiviet came to examine +whether the soil about the river of Thames would be proper to make +clinker bricks, and to treat with me about some accommodation in order +to it. + +9th January, 1666-67. To the Royal Society, which since the sad +conflagration were invited by Mr. Howard to sit at Arundel-House in the +Strand, who at my instigation likewise bestowed on the Society that +noble library which his grandfather especially, and his ancestors had +collected. This gentleman had so little inclination to books, that it +was the preservation of them from embezzlement. + +24th January, 1667. Visited my Lord Clarendon, and presented my son, +John, to him, now preparing to go to Oxford, of which his Lordship was +Chancellor. This evening I heard rare Italian voices, two eunuchs and +one woman, in his Majesty's green chamber, next his cabinet. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +29th January, 1667. To London, in order to my son's Oxford journey, who, +being very early entered both in Latin and Greek, and prompt to learn +beyond most of his age, I was persuaded to trust him under the tutorage +of Mr. Bohun, Fellow of New College, who had been his preceptor in my +house some years before; but, at Oxford, under the inspection of Dr. +Bathurst, President of Trinity College, where I placed him, not as yet +thirteen years old. He was newly out of long coats.[8] + + [Footnote 8: In illustration of the garb which succeeded the "long + coats" out of which lads of twelve or thirteen were thus suffered to + emerge, it may be mentioned that there hung, some years ago, and + perhaps may hang still, upon the walls of the Swan Inn at + Leatherhead in Surrey, a picture of four children, dates of birth + between 1640 and 1650, of whom a lad of about the age of young + Evelyn is represented in a coat reaching to his ankles.] + +15th February, 1667. My little book, in answer to Sir George Mackenzie +on Solitude, was now published, entitled "Public Employment, and an +active Life with its Appanages, preferred to Solitude."[9] + + [Footnote 9: Reprinted in "Miscellaneous Writings," pp. 501-509. In + a letter to Cowley, 12th March, 1666, Evelyn apologises for having + written against that life which he had joined with Mr. Cowley in so + much admiring, assuring him he neither was nor could be serious in + avowing such a preference.] + +18th February, 1667. I was present at a magnificent ball, or masque, in +the theatre at the Court, where their Majesties and all the great lords +and ladies danced, infinitely gallant, the men in their richly +embroidered, most becoming vests. + +19th February, 1667. I saw a comedy acted at Court. In the afternoon, I +witnessed a wrestling match for £1,000 in St. James's Park, before his +Majesty, a vast assemblage of lords and other spectators, between the +western and northern men, Mr. Secretary Morice and Lord Gerard being the +judges. The western men won. Many great sums were betted. + +6th March, 1667. I proposed to my Lord Chancellor, Monsieur Kiviet's +undertaking to wharf the whole river of Thames, or quay, from the Temple +to the Tower, as far as the fire destroyed, with brick, without piles, +both lasting and ornamental.--Great frosts, snow and winds, prodigious +at the vernal equinox; indeed it had been a year of prodigies in this +nation, plague, war, fire, rain, tempest and comet. + +14th March, 1667. Saw "The Virgin Queen,"[10] a play written by Mr. +Dryden. + + [Footnote 10: The VIRGIN QUEEN which Evelyn saw was Dryden's MAIDEN + QUEEN. Pepys saw it on the night of its first production (twelve + days before Evelyn's visit); and was charmed by Nell Gwynne's + Florimell. "So great a performance of a comical part was never, I + believe, in the world before."] + +22d March, 1667. Dined at Mr. Secretary Morice's, who showed me his +library, which was a well chosen collection. This afternoon, I had +audience of his Majesty, concerning the proposal I had made of building +the quay. + +26th March, 1667. Sir John Kiviet dined with me. We went to search for +brick-earth, in order to a great undertaking. + +4th April, 1667. The cold so intense, that there was hardly a leaf on a +tree. + +18th April, 1667. I went to make court to the Duke and Duchess of +Newcastle, at their house in Clerkenwell, being newly come out of the +north. They received me with great kindness, and I was much pleased with +the extraordinary fanciful habit, garb, and discourse of the Duchess. + +22d April, 1667. Saw the sumptuous supper in the banqueting-house at +Whitehall, on the eve of St. George's day, where were all the companions +of the Order of the Garter. + +23d April, 1667. In the morning, his Majesty went to chapel with the +Knights of the Garter, all in their habits and robes, ushered by the +heralds; after the first service, they went in procession, the youngest +first, the Sovereign last, with the Prelate of the Order and Dean, who +had about his neck the book of the Statutes of the Order; and then the +Chancellor of the Order (old Sir Henry de Vic), who wore the purse about +his neck; then the Heralds and Garter King-at-Arms, Clarencieux, Black +Rod. But before the Prelate and Dean of Windsor went the gentlemen of +the chapel and choristers, singing as they marched; behind them two +doctors of music in damask robes; this procession was about the courts +at Whitehall. Then, returning to their stalls and seats in the chapel, +placed under each knight's coat-armor and titles, the second service +began. Then, the King offered at the altar, an anthem was sung; then, +the rest of the Knights offered, and lastly proceeded to the +banqueting-house to a great feast. The King sat on an elevated throne at +the upper end at a table alone; the Knights at a table on the right +hand, reaching all the length of the room; over against them a cupboard +of rich gilded plate; at the lower end, the music; on the balusters +above, wind music, trumpets, and kettle-drums. The King was served by +the lords and pensioners who brought up the dishes. About the middle of +the dinner, the Knights drank the King's health, then the King, theirs, +when the trumpets and music played and sounded, the guns going off at +the Tower. At the Banquet, came in the Queen, and stood by the King's +left hand, but did not sit. Then was the banqueting-stuff flung about +the room profusely. In truth, the crowd was so great, that though I +stayed all the supper the day before, I now stayed no longer than this +sport began, for fear of disorder. The cheer was extraordinary, each +Knight having forty dishes to his mess, piled up five or six high; the +room hung with the richest tapestry. + +25th April, 1667. Visited again the Duke of Newcastle, with whom I had +been acquainted long before in France, where the Duchess had obligation +to my wife's mother for her marriage there; she was sister to Lord +Lucas, and maid of honor then to the Queen-Mother; married in our chapel +at Paris. My wife being with me, the Duke and Duchess both would needs +bring her to the very Court. + +26th April, 1667. My Lord Chancellor showed me all his newly finished +and furnished palace and library; then, we went to take the air in +Hyde-Park. + +27th April, 1667. I had a great deal of discourse with his Majesty at +dinner. In the afternoon, I went again with my wife to the Duchess of +Newcastle, who received her in a kind of transport, suitable to her +extravagant humor and dress, which was very singular. + +8th May, 1667. Made up accounts with our Receiver, which amounted to +£33,936 1s. 4d. Dined at Lord Cornbury's, with Don Francisco de Melos, +Portugal Ambassador, and kindred to the Queen: Of the party were Mr. +Henry Jermyn and Sir Henry Capel. Afterward I went to Arundel House, to +salute Mr. Howard's sons, newly returned out of France. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +11th May, 1667. To London; dined with the Duke of Newcastle, and sat +discoursing with her Grace in her bedchamber after dinner, till my Lord +Marquis of Dorchester, with other company came in, when I went away. + +30th May, 1667. To London, to wait on the Duchess of Newcastle (who was +a mighty pretender to learning, poetry, and philosophy, and had in both +published divers books) to the Royal Society, whither she came in great +pomp, and being received by our Lord President at the door of our +meeting-room, the mace, etc., carried before him, had several +experiments shown to her. I conducted her Grace to her coach, and +returned home. + +1st June, 1667. I went to Greenwich, where his Majesty was trying divers +grenadoes shot out of cannon at the Castlehill, from the house in the +park; they broke not till they hit the mark, the forged ones broke not +at all, but the cast ones very well. The inventor was a German there +present. At the same time, a ring was shown to the King, pretended to be +a projection of mercury, and malleable, and said by the gentlemen to be +fixed by the juice of a plant. + +8th June, 1667. To London, alarmed by the Dutch, who were fallen on our +fleet at Chatham, by a most audacious enterprise, entering the very +river with part of their fleet, doing us not only disgrace, but +incredible mischief in burning several of our best men-of-war lying at +anchor and moored there, and all this through our unaccountable +negligence in not setting out our fleet in due time. This alarm caused +me, fearing the enemy might venture up the Thames even to London (which +they might have done with ease, and fired all the vessels in the river, +too), to send away my best goods, plate, etc., from my house to another +place. The alarm was so great that it put both country and city into +fear, panic, and consternation, such as I hope I shall never see more; +everybody was flying, none knew why or whither. Now, there were land +forces dispatched with the Duke of Albemarle, Lord Middleton, Prince +Rupert, and the Duke, to hinder the Dutch coming to Chatham, fortifying +Upnor Castle, and laying chains and bombs; but the resolute enemy broke +through all, and set fire on our ships, and retreated in spite, stopping +up the Thames, the rest of the fleet lying before the mouth of it. + +14th June, 1667. I went to see the work at Woolwich, a battery to +prevent them coming up to London, which Prince Rupert commanded, and +sunk some ships in the river. + +17th June, 1667. This night, about two o'clock, some chips and +combustible matter prepared for some fire-ships, taking flame in +Deptford-yard, made such a blaze, and caused such an uproar in the Tower +(it being given out that the Dutch fleet was come up, and had landed +their men and fired the Tower), as had liked to have done more mischief +before people would be persuaded to the contrary and believe the +accident. Everybody went to their arms. These were sad and troublesome +times. + +24th June, 1667. The Dutch fleet still continuing to stop up the river, +so as nothing could stir out or come in, I was before the Council, and +commanded by his Majesty to go with some others and search about the +environs of the city, now exceedingly distressed for want of fuel, +whether there could be any peat, or turf, found fit for use. The next +day, I went and discovered enough, and made my report that there might +be found a great deal; but nothing further was done in it. + +[Sidenote: CHATHAM] + +28th June, 1667. I went to Chatham, and thence to view not only what +mischief the Dutch had done; but how triumphantly their whole fleet lay +within the very mouth of the Thames, all from the North Foreland, +Margate, even to the buoy of the Nore--a dreadful spectacle as ever +Englishmen saw, and a dishonor never to be wiped off! Those who advised +his Majesty to prepare no fleet this spring deserved--I know +what--but[11]-- + + [Footnote 11: "The Parliament giving but weak supplies for the war, + the King, to save charges, is persuaded by the Chancellor, the Lord + Treasurer, Southampton, the Duke of Albemarle, and the other + ministers, to lay up the first and second-rate ships, and make only + a defensive war in the next campaign. The Duke of York opposed this, + but was overruled." Life of King James II., vol. i., p. 425.] + +Here in the river off Chatham, just before the town, lay the carcase of +the "London" (now the third time burnt), the "Royal Oak," the "James," +etc., yet smoking; and now, when the mischief was done, we were making +trifling forts on the brink of the river. Here were yet forces, both of +horse and foot, with General Middleton continually expecting the motions +of the enemy's fleet. I had much discourse with him, who was an +experienced commander, I told him I wondered the King did not fortify +Sheerness[12] and the Ferry; both abandoned. + + [Footnote 12: Since done. Evelyn's note.] + +2d July, 1667. Called upon my Lord Arlington, as from his Majesty, about +the new fuel. The occasion why I was mentioned, was from what I said in +my _Sylva_ three years before, about a sort of fuel for a need, which +obstructed a patent of Lord Carlingford, who had been seeking for it +himself; he was endeavoring to bring me into the project, and proffered +me a share. I met my Lord; and, on the 9th, by an order of Council, went +to my Lord Mayor, to be assisting. In the meantime they had made an +experiment of my receipt of _houllies_, which I mention in my book to be +made at Maestricht, with a mixture of charcoal dust and loam, and which +was tried with success at Gresham College (then being the exchange for +the meeting of the merchants since the fire) for everybody to see. This +done, I went to the Treasury for £12,000 for the sick and wounded yet on +my hands. + +Next day, we met again about the fuel at Sir J. Armourer's in the Mews. + +8th July, 1667. My Lord Brereton and others dined at my house, where I +showed them proof of my new fuel, which was very glowing, and without +smoke or ill smell. + +10th July, 1667. I went to see Sir Samuel Morland's inventions and +machines, arithmetical wheels, quench-fires, and new harp. + +17th July, 1667. The master of the mint and his lady, Mr. Williamson, +Sir Nicholas Armourer, Sir Edward Bowyer, Sir Anthony Auger, and other +friends dined with me. + +19th July, 1667. I went to Gravesend; the Dutch fleet still at anchor +before the river, where I saw five of his Majesty's men-at-war encounter +above twenty of the Dutch, in the bottom of the Hope, chasing them with +many broadsides given and returned toward the buoy of the Nore, where +the body of their fleet lay, which lasted till about midnight. One of +their ships was fired, supposed by themselves, she being run on ground. +Having seen this bold action, and their braving us so far up the river, +I went home the next day, not without indignation at our negligence, and +the nation's reproach. It is well known who of the Commissioners of the +Treasury gave advice that the charge of setting forth a fleet this year +might be spared, Sir W. C. (William Coventry) by name. + +1st August, 1667. I received the sad news of Abraham Cowley's death, +that incomparable poet and virtuous man, my very dear friend, and was +greatly deplored. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +3d August, 1667. Went to Mr. Cowley's funeral, whose corpse lay at +Wallingford House, and was thence conveyed to Westminster Abbey in a +hearse with six horses and all funeral decency, near a hundred coaches +of noblemen and persons of quality following; among these, all the wits +of the town, divers bishops and clergymen. He was interred next Geoffry +Chaucer, and near Spenser. A goodly monument is since erected to his +memory. + +Now did his Majesty again dine in the presence, in ancient state, with +music and all the court ceremonies, which had been interrupted since the +late war. + +8th August, 1667. Visited Mr. Oldenburg, a close prisoner in the Tower, +being suspected of writing intelligence. I had an order from Lord +Arlington, Secretary of State, which caused me to be admitted. This +gentleman was secretary to our Society, and I am confident will prove an +innocent person. + +15th August, 1667. Finished my account, amounting to £25,000. + +17th August, 1667. To the funeral of Mr. Farringdon, a relation of my +wife's. + +There was now a very gallant horse to be baited to death with dogs; but +he fought them all, so as the fiercest of them could not fasten on him, +till the men run him through with their swords. This wicked and +barbarous sport deserved to have been punished in the cruel contrivers +to get money, under pretense that the horse had killed a man, which was +false. I would not be persuaded to be a spectator. + +21st August, 1667. Saw the famous Italian puppet-play, for it was no +other. + +24th August, 1667. I was appointed, with the rest of my brother +commissioners, to put in execution an order of Council for freeing the +prisoners at war in my custody at Leeds Castle, and taking off his +Majesty's extraordinary charge, having called before us the French and +Dutch agents. The peace was now proclaimed, in the usual form, by the +heralds-at-arms. + +25th August, 1667. After evening service, I went to visit Mr. Vaughan, +who lay at Greenwich, a very wise and learned person, one of Mr. +Selden's executors and intimate friends. + +27th August, 1667. Visited the Lord Chancellor, to whom his Majesty had +sent for the seals a few days before; I found him in his bedchamber, +very sad. The Parliament had accused him, and he had enemies at Court, +especially the buffoons and ladies of pleasure, because he thwarted some +of them, and stood in their way; I could name some of the chief. The +truth is, he made few friends during his grandeur among the royal +sufferers, but advanced the old rebels. He was, however, though no +considerable lawyer, one who kept up the form and substance of things in +the Nation with more solemnity than some would have had. He was my +particular kind friend, on all occasions. The cabal, however, prevailed, +and that party in Parliament. Great division at Court concerning him, +and divers great persons interceding for him. + +28th August, 1667. I dined with my late Lord Chancellor, where also +dined Mr. Ashburnham, and Mr. W. Legge, of the bedchamber; his Lordship +pretty well in heart, though now many of his friends and sycophants +abandoned him. + +In the afternoon, to the Lords Commissioners for money, and thence to +the audience of a Russian Envoy in the Queen's presence-chamber, +introduced with much state, the soldiers, pensioners, and guards in +their order. His letters of credence brought by his secretary in a scarf +of sarsenet, their vests sumptuous, much embroidered with pearls. He +delivered his speech in the Russ language, but without the least action, +or motion, of his body, which was immediately interpreted aloud by a +German that spoke good English: half of it consisted in repetition of +the Czar's titles, which were very haughty and oriental: the substance +of the rest was, that he was only sent to see the King and Queen, and +know how they did, with much compliment and frothy language. Then, they +kissed their Majesties' hands, and went as they came; but their real +errand was to get money. + +29th August, 1667. We met at the Star-chamber about exchange and release +of prisoners. + +7th September, 1667. Came Sir John Kiviet, to article with me about his +brickwork. + +13th September, 1667. Between the hours of twelve and one, was born my +second daughter, who was afterward christened Elizabeth. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +19th September, 1667. To London, with Mr. Henry Howard, of Norfolk, of +whom I obtained the gift of his Arundelian marbles, those celebrated and +famous inscriptions, Greek and Latin, gathered with so much cost and +industry from Greece, by his illustrious grandfather, the magnificent +Earl of Arundel, my noble friend while he lived. When I saw these +precious monuments miserably neglected, and scattered up and down about +the garden, and other parts of Arundel House, and how exceedingly the +corrosive air of London impaired them, I procured him to bestow them on +the University of Oxford. This he was pleased to grant me; and now gave +me the key of the gallery, with leave to mark all those stones, urns, +altars, etc., and whatever I found had inscriptions on them, that were +not statues. This I did; and getting them removed and piled together, +with those which were incrusted in the garden walls, I sent immediately +letters to the Vice-Chancellor of what I had procured, and that if they +esteemed it a service to the University (of which I had been a member), +they should take order for their transportation. + +This done 21st, I accompanied Mr. Howard to his villa at Albury, where I +designed for him the plot of his canal and garden, with a crypt through +the hill. + +24th September, 1667. Returned to London, where I had orders to deliver +the possession of Chelsea College (used as my prison during the war with +Holland for such as were sent from the fleet to London) to our Society, +as a gift of his Majesty, our founder. + +8th October, 1667. Came to dine with me Dr. Bathurst, Dean of Wells, +President of Trinity College, sent by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, in +the name both of him and the whole University, to thank me for procuring +the inscriptions, and to receive my directions what was to be done to +show their gratitude to Mr. Howard. + +11th October, 1667. I went to see Lord Clarendon, late Lord Chancellor +and greatest officer in England, in continual apprehension what the +Parliament would determine concerning him. + +17th October, 1667. Came Dr. Barlow, Provost of Queen's College and +Protobibliothecus of the Bodleian library, to take order about the +transportation of the marbles. + +25th October, 1667. There were delivered to me two letters from the +Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, with the Decree of the Convocation, attested +by the Public Notary, ordering four Doctors of Divinity and Law to +acknowledge the obligation the University had to me for procuring the +_Marmora Arundeliana_, which was solemnly done by Dr. Barlow, Dr. +Jenkins, Judge of the Admiralty, Dr. Lloyd, and Obadiah Walker, of +University College, who having made a large compliment from the +University, delivered me the decree fairly written; + + _Gesta venerabili domo Convocationis Universitatis Oxon.; . . 17. + 1667. Quo die retulit ad Senatum Academicum Dominus + Vicecancellarius, quantum Universitas deberet singulari benevolentiæ + Johannis Evelini Armigeri, qui pro eâ pietate quâ Almam Matrem + prosequitur non solum Suasu et Consilio apud inclytum Heroem + Henricum Howard, Ducis Norfolciæ hæredem, intercessit, et + Universitati pretiosissimum eruditæ antiquitatis thesaurum Marmora + Arundeliana largiretur; sed egregium insuper in ijs colligendis + asservandisq; navavit operam: Quapropter unanimi suffragio + Venerabilis Domûs decretum est, at eidem publicæ gratiæ per + delegatos ad Honoratissimum Dominum Henricum Howard propediem + mittendos solemnitèr reddantur. + + Concordant superscripta cum originali collatione fâcta per me Ben. + Cooper, + + Notarium Publicum et Registarium Universitat Oxon._ + + "SIR: + + "We intend also a noble inscription, in which also honorable mention + shall be made of yourself; but Mr. Vice-Chancellor commands me to + tell you that that was not sufficient for your merits; but, that if + your occasions would permit you to come down at the Act (when we + intend a dedication of our new Theater), some other testimony should + be given both of your own worth and affection to this your old + mother; for we are all very sensible that this great addition of + learning and reputation to the University is due as well to your + industrious care for the University, and interest with my Lord + Howard, as to his great nobleness and generosity of spirit. + + "I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + + "OBADIAH WALKER, Univ. Coll." + +The Vice-Chancellor's letter to the same effect was too vainglorious to +insert, with divers copies of verses that were also sent me. Their +mentioning me in the inscription I totally declined, when I directed the +titles of Mr. Howard, now made Lord, upon his Ambassage to Morocco. + +These four doctors, having made me this compliment, desired me to carry +and introduce them to Mr. Howard, at Arundel House; which I did, Dr. +Barlow (Provost of Queen's) after a short speech, delivering a larger +letter of the University's thanks, which was written in Latin, +expressing the great sense they had of the honor done them. After this +compliment handsomely performed and as nobly received, Mr. Howard +accompanied the doctors to their coach. That evening I supped with them. + +26th October, 1667. My late Lord Chancellor was accused by Mr. Seymour +in the House of Commons; and, in the evening, I returned home. + +31st October, 1667. My birthday--blessed be God for all his mercies! I +made the Royal Society a present of the Table of Veins, Arteries, and +Nerves, which great curiosity I had caused to be made in Italy, out of +the natural human bodies, by a learned physician, and the help of +Veslingius (professor at Padua), from whence I brought them in 1646. For +this I received the public thanks of the Society; and they are hanging +up in their repository with an inscription. + +9th December, 1667. To visit the late Lord Chancellor.[13] I found him +in his garden at his new-built palace, sitting in his gout wheel-chair, +and seeing the gates setting up toward the north and the fields. He +looked and spake very disconsolately. After some while deploring his +condition to me, I took my leave. Next morning, I heard he was gone; +though I am persuaded that, had he gone sooner, though but to Cornbury, +and there lain quiet, it would have satisfied the Parliament. That which +exasperated them was his presuming to stay and contest the accusation as +long as it was possible: and they were on the point of sending him to +the Tower. + + [Footnote 13: This entry of the 9th December, 1667, is a mistake. + Evelyn could not have visited the "late Lord Chancellor" on that + day. Lord Clarendon fled on Saturday, the 29th of November, 1667, + and his letter resigning the Chancellorship of the University of + Oxford is dated from Calais on the 7th of December. That Evelyn's + book is not, in every respect, strictly a diary, is shown by this + and several similar passages already adverted to in the remarks + prefixed to the present edition. If the entry of the 18th of August, + 1683, is correct, the date of Evelyn's last visit to Lord Clarendon + was the 28th of November, 1667.] + +10th December, 1667. I went to the funeral of Mrs. Heath, wife of my +worthy friend and schoolfellow. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st December, 1667. I saw one Carr pilloried at Charing-cross for a +libel, which was burnt before him by the hangman. + +8th January, 1667-68. I saw deep and prodigious gaming at the +Groom-Porter's, vast heaps of gold squandered away in a vain and profuse +manner. This I looked on as a horrid vice, and unsuitable in a Christian +Court. + +9th January, 1668. Went to see the revels at the Middle Temple, which is +also an old riotous custom, and has relation neither to virtue nor +policy. + +10th January, 1668. To visit Mr. Povey, where were divers great Lords to +see his well-contrived cellar, and other elegancies. + +24th January, 1668. We went to stake out ground for building a college +for the Royal Society at Arundel-House, but did not finish it, which we +shall repent of. + +4th February, 1668. I saw the tragedy of "Horace" (written by the +VIRTUOUS Mrs. Philips) acted before their Majesties. Between each act a +masque and antique dance. The excessive gallantry of the ladies was +infinite, those especially on that ... Castlemaine, esteemed at £40,000 +and more, far outshining the Queen. + +15th February, 1668. I saw the audience of the Swedish Ambassador Count +Donna, in great state in the banqueting house. + +3d March, 1668. Was launched at Deptford, that goodly vessel, "The +Charles." I was near his Majesty. She is longer than the "Sovereign," +and carries 110 brass cannon; she was built by old Shish, a plain, +honest carpenter, master-builder of this dock, but one who can give very +little account of his art by discourse, and is hardly capable of +reading, yet of great ability in his calling. The family have been ship +carpenters in this yard above 300 years. + +12th March, 1668. Went to visit Sir John Cotton, who had me into his +library, full of good MSS., Greek and Latin, but most famous for those +of the Saxon and English antiquities, collected by his grandfather. + +2d April, 1668. To the Royal Society, where I subscribed 50,000 bricks, +toward building a college. Among other libertine libels, there was one +now printed and thrown about, a bold petition of the poor w----s to Lady +Castlemaine.[14] + + [Footnote 14: Evelyn has been supposed himself to have written this + piece.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +9th April, 1668. To London, about finishing my grand account of the sick +and wounded, and prisoners at war, amounting to above £34,000. + +I heard Sir R. Howard impeach Sir William Penn, in the House of Lords, +for breaking bulk, and taking away rich goods out of the East India +prizes, formerly taken by Lord Sandwich. + +28th April, 1668. To London, about the purchase of Ravensbourne Mills, +and land around it, in Upper Deptford, of one Mr. Becher. + +30th April, 1668. We sealed the deeds in Sir Edward Thurland's chambers +in the Inner Temple. I pray God bless it to me, it being a dear +pennyworth; but the passion Sir R. Browne had for it, and that it was +contiguous to our other grounds, engaged me! + +13th May, 1668. Invited by that expert commander, Captain Cox, master of +the lately built "Charles II.," now the best vessel of the fleet, +designed for the Duke of York, I went to Erith, where we had a great +dinner. + +16th May, 1668. Sir Richard Edgecombe, of Mount Edgecombe, by Plymouth, +my relation, came to visit me; a very virtuous and worthy gentleman. + +19th June, 1668. To a new play with several of my relations, "The +Evening Lover," a foolish plot, and very profane; it afflicted me to see +how the stage was degenerated and polluted by the licentious times. + +2d July, 1668. Sir Samuel Tuke, Bart., and the lady he had married this +day, came and bedded at night at my house, many friends accompanying the +bride. + +23d July, 1668. At the Royal Society, were presented divers _glossa +petras_, and other natural curiosities, found in digging to build the +fort at Sheerness. They were just the same as they bring from Malta, +pretending them to be viper's teeth, whereas, in truth, they are of a +shark, as we found by comparing them with one in our repository. + +3d August, 1668. Mr. Bramstone (son to Judge B.), my old +fellow-traveler, now reader at the Middle Temple, invited me to his +feast, which was so very extravagant and great as the like had not been +seen at any time. There were the Duke of Ormond, Privy Seal, Bedford, +Belasis, Halifax, and a world more of Earls and Lords. + +14th August, 1668. His Majesty was pleased to grant me a lease of a slip +of ground out of Brick Close, to enlarge my fore-court, for which I now +gave him thanks; then, entering into other discourse, he talked to me of +a new varnish for ships, instead of pitch, and of the gilding with which +his new yacht was beautified. I showed his Majesty the perpetual motion +sent to me by Dr. Stokes, from Cologne; and then came in Monsieur +Colbert, the French Ambassador. + +19th August, 1668. I saw the magnificent entry of the French Ambassador +Colbert, received in the banqueting house. I had never seen a richer +coach than that which he came in to Whitehall. Standing by his Majesty +at dinner in the presence, there was of that rare fruit called the +king-pine, growing in Barbadoes and the West Indies; the first of them I +had ever seen. His Majesty having cut it up, was pleased to give me a +piece off his own plate to taste of; but, in my opinion, it falls short +of those ravishing varieties of deliciousness described in Captain +Ligon's history, and others; but possibly it might, or certainly was, +much impaired in coming so far; it has yet a grateful acidity, but +tastes more like the quince and melon than of any other fruit he +mentions. + +28th August, 1668. Published my book on "The Perfection of Painting," +dedicated to Mr. Howard. + +17th September, 1668. I entertained Signor Muccinigo, the Venetian +Ambassador, of one of the noblest families of the State, this being the +day of making his public entry, setting forth from my house with several +gentlemen of Venice and others in a very glorious train. He staid with +me till the Earl of Anglesea and Sir Charles Cotterell (master of the +ceremonies) came with the King's barge to carry him to the Tower, where +the guns were fired at his landing; he then entered his Majesty's coach, +followed by many others of the nobility. I accompanied him to his house, +where there was a most noble supper to all the company, of course. After +the extraordinary compliments to me and my wife, for the civilities he +received at my house, I took leave and returned. He is a very +accomplished person. He is since Ambassador at Rome. + +29th September, 1668. I had much discourse with Signor Pietro Cisij, a +Persian gentleman, about the affairs of Turkey, to my great +satisfaction. I went to see Sir Elias Leighton's project of a cart with +iron axletrees. + +8th November, 1668. Being at dinner, my sister Evelyn sent for me to +come up to London to my continuing sick brother. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +14th November, 1668. To London, invited to the consecration of that +excellent person, the Dean of Ripon, Dr. Wilkins, now made Bishop of +Chester; it was at Ely House, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosin, +Bishop of Durham, the Bishops of Ely, Salisbury, Rochester, and others +officiating. Dr. Tillotson preached. Then, we went to a sumptuous dinner +in the hall, where were the Duke of Buckingham, Judges, Secretaries of +State, Lord-Keeper, Council, Noblemen, and innumerable other company, +who were honorers of this incomparable man, universally beloved by all +who knew him. + +This being the Queen's birthday, great was the gallantry at Whitehall, +and the night celebrated with very fine fireworks. + +My poor brother continuing ill, I went not from him till the 17th, when, +dining at the Groom Porters, I heard Sir Edward Sutton play excellently +on the Irish harp; he performs genteelly, but not approaching my worthy +friend, Mr. Clark, a gentleman of Northumberland, who makes it execute +lute, viol, and all the harmony an instrument is capable of; pity it is +that it is not more in use; but, indeed, to play well, takes up the +whole man, as Mr. Clark has assured me, who, though a gentleman of +quality and parts, was yet brought up to that instrument from five years +old, as I remember he told me. + +25th November, 1668. I waited on Lord Sandwich, who presented me with a +Sembrador he brought out of Spain, showing me his two books of +observations made during his embassy and stay at Madrid, in which were +several rare things he promised to impart to me. + +27th November, 1668. I dined at my Lord Ashley's (since Earl of +Shaftesbury), when the match of my niece was proposed for his only son, +in which my assistance was desired for my Lord. + +28th November, 1668. Dr. Patrick preached at Convent Garden, on Acts +xvii. 31, the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment, it being Advent; +a most suitable discourse. + +19th December, 1668. I went to see the old play of "Cataline" acted, +having been now forgotten almost forty years. + +20th December, 1668. I dined with my Lord Cornbury, at Clarendon House, +now bravely furnished, especially with the pictures of most of our +ancient and modern wits, poets, philosophers, famous and learned +Englishmen; which collection of the Chancellor's I much commended, and +gave his Lordship a catalogue of more to be added. + +31st December, 1668. I entertained my kind neighbors, according to +custom, giving Almighty God thanks for his gracious mercies to me the +past year. + +1st January, 1669. Imploring his blessing for the year entering, I went +to church, where our Doctor preached on Psalm lxv. 12, apposite to the +season, and beginning a new year. + +3d January, 1669. About this time one of Sir William Penn's sons had +published a blasphemous book against the Deity of our Blessed Lord. + +29th January, 1669. I went to see a tall gigantic woman who measured 6 +feet 10 inches high, at 21 years old, born in the Low Countries. + +13th February, 1669. I presented his Majesty with my "History of the +Four Impostors;"[15] he told me of other like cheats. I gave my book to +Lord Arlington, to whom I dedicated it. It was now that he began to +tempt me about writing "The Dutch War." + + [Footnote 15: Reprinted in Evelyn's "Miscellaneous Writings."] + +15th February, 1669. Saw Mrs. Phillips' "Horace" acted again. + +18th February, 1669. To the Royal Society, when Signor Malpighi, an +Italian physician and anatomist, sent this learned body the incomparable +"History of the Silk-worm." + +1st March, 1669. Dined at Lord Arlington's at Goring House, with the +Bishop of Hereford. + +4th March, 1669. To the Council of the Royal Society, about disposing +my Lord Howard's library, now given to us. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +16th March, 1669. To London, to place Mr. Christopher Wase about my Lord +Arlington. + +18th March, 1669. I went with Lord Howard of Norfolk, to visit Sir +William Ducie at Charlton, where we dined; the servants made our +coachmen so drunk, that they both fell off their boxes on the heath, +where we were fain to leave them, and were driven to London by two +servants of my Lord's. This barbarous custom of making the masters +welcome by intoxicating the servants, had now the second time happened +to my coachmen. + +My son finally came from Oxford. + +2d April, 1669. Dined at Mr. Treasurer's, where was (with many noblemen) +Colonel Titus of the bedchamber, author of the famous piece against +Cromwell, "Killing no Murder." + +I now placed Mr. Wase with Mr. Williamson, Secretary to the Secretary of +State, and Clerk of the Papers. + +14th April, 1669. I dined with the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, +and saw the library, which was not very considerable. + +19th May, 1669. At a Council of the Royal Society our grant was +finished, in which his Majesty gives us Chelsea College, and some land +about it. It was ordered that five should be a quorum for a Council. The +Vice-President was then sworn for the first time, and it was proposed +how we should receive the Prince of Tuscany, who desired to visit the +Society. + +20th May, 1669. This evening, at 10 o'clock, was born my third daughter, +who was baptized on the 25th by the name of Susannah. + +3d June, 1669. Went to take leave of Lord Howard, going Ambassador to +Morocco. Dined at Lord Arlington's, where were the Earl of Berkshire, +Lord Saint John, Sir Robert Howard, and Sir R. Holmes. + +10th June, 1669. Came my Lord Cornbury, Sir William Pulteney, and others +to visit me. I went this evening to London, to carry Mr. Pepys to my +brother Richard, now exceedingly afflicted with the stone, who had been +successfully cut, and carried the stone as big as a tennis ball to show +him, and encourage his resolution to go through the operation. + +30th June, 1669. My wife went a journey of pleasure down the river as +far as the sea, with Mrs. Howard and her daughter, the Maid of Honor, +and others, among whom that excellent creature, Mrs. Blagg.[16] + + [Footnote 16: Afterward Mrs. Godolphin, whose life, written by + Evelyn, has been published under the auspices of the Bishop of + Oxford. The affecting circumstances of her death will be found + recorded on pp. 126-27 of the present volume.] + +7th July, 1669. I went toward Oxford; lay at Little Wycomb. + +[Sidenote: OXFORD] + +8th July, 1669. Oxford. + +9th July, 1669. In the morning was celebrated the Encænia of the New +Theater, so magnificently built by the munificence of Dr. Gilbert +Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, in which was spent,£25,000, as Sir +Christopher Wren, the architect (as I remember), told me; and yet it was +never seen by the benefactor, my Lord Archbishop having told me that he +never did or ever would see it. It is, in truth, a fabric comparable to +any of this kind of former ages, and doubtless exceeding any of the +present, as this University does for colleges, libraries, schools, +students, and order, all the universities in the world. To the theater +is added the famous Sheldonian printing house. This being at the Act and +the first time of opening the Theater (Acts being formerly kept in St. +Mary's Church, which might be thought indecent, that being a place set +apart for the immediate worship of God, and was the inducement for +building this noble pile), it was now resolved to keep the present Act +in it, and celebrate its dedication with the greatest splendor and +formality that might be; and, therefore, drew a world of strangers, and +other company, to the University, from all parts of the nation. + +The Vice-Chancellor, Heads of Houses, and Doctors, being seated in +magisterial seats, the Vice-Chancellor's chair and desk, Proctors, etc., +covered with _brocatelle_ (a kind of brocade) and cloth of gold; the +University Registrar read the founder's grant and gift of it to the +University for their scholastic exercises upon these solemn occasions. +Then followed Dr. South, the University's orator, in an eloquent speech, +which was very long, and not without some malicious and indecent +reflections on the Royal Society, as underminers of the University; +which was very foolish and untrue, as well as unseasonable. But, to let +that pass from an ill-natured man, the rest was in praise of the +Archbishop and the ingenious architect. This ended, after loud music +from the corridor above, where an organ was placed, there followed +divers panegyric speeches, both in prose and verse, interchangeably +pronounced by the young students placed in the rostrums, in Pindarics, +Eclogues, Heroics, etc., mingled with excellent music, vocal and +instrumental, to entertain the ladies and the rest of the company. A +speech was then made in praise of academical learning. This lasted from +eleven in the morning till seven at night, which was concluded with +ringing of bells, and universal joy and feasting. + +10th July, 1669. The next day began the more solemn lectures in all the +faculties, which were performed in the several schools, where all the +Inceptor-Doctors did their exercises, the Professors having first ended +their reading. The assembly now returned to the Theater, where the +_Terræ filius_ (the _University Buffoon_) entertained the auditory with +a tedious, abusive, sarcastical rhapsody, most unbecoming the gravity of +the University, and that so grossly, that unless it be suppressed, it +will be of ill consequence, as I afterward plainly expressed my sense of +it both to the Vice-Chancellor and several Heads of Houses, who were +perfectly ashamed of it, and resolved to take care of it in future. The +old facetious way of rallying upon the questions was left off, falling +wholly upon persons, so that it was rather licentious lying and railing +than genuine and noble wit. In my life, I was never witness of so +shameful an entertainment. + +After this ribaldry, the Proctors made their speeches. Then began the +music art, vocal and instrumental, above in the balustrade corridor +opposite to the Vice-Chancellor's seat. Then Dr. Wallis, the +mathematical Professor, made his oration, and created one Doctor of +music according to the usual ceremonies of gown (which was of white +damask), cap, ring, kiss, etc. Next followed the disputations of the +Inceptor-Doctors in Medicine, the speech of their Professor, Dr. Hyde, +and so in course their respective creations. Then disputed the Inceptors +of Law, the speech of their Professor, and creation. Lastly, Inceptors +of Theology: Dr. Compton (brother of the Earl of Northampton) being +junior, began with great modesty and applause; so the rest. After which, +Dr. Tillotson, Dr. Sprat, etc., and then Dr. Allestree's speech, the +King's Professor, and their respective creations. Last of all, the +Vice-Chancellor, shutting up the whole in a panegyrical oration, +celebrating their benefactor and the rest, apposite to the occasion. + +Thus was the Theater dedicated by the scholastic exercises in all the +Faculties with great solemnity; and the night, as the former, +entertaining the new Doctor's friends in feasting and music. I was +invited by Dr. Barlow, the worthy and learned Professor of Queen's +College. + +11th July, 1669. The Act sermon was this forenoon preached by Dr. Hall, +in St. Mary's, in an honest, practical discourse against atheism. In the +afternoon, the church was so crowded, that, not coming early, I could +not approach to hear. + +12th July, 1669. Monday. Was held the Divinity Act in the Theater again, +when proceeded seventeen Doctors, in all Faculties some. + +13th July, 1669. I dined at the Vice-Chancellor's, and spent the +afternoon in seeing the rarities of the public libraries, and visiting +the noble marbles and inscriptions, now inserted in the walls that +compass the area of the Theater, which were 150 of the most ancient and +worthy treasures of that kind in the learned world. Now, observing that +people approach them too near, some idle persons began to scratch and +injure them, I advised that a hedge of holly should be planted at the +foot of the wall, to be kept breast-high only to protect them; which the +Vice-Chancellor promised to do the next season. + +14th July, 1669. Dr. Fell, Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor, +with Dr. Allestree, Professor, with beadles and maces before them, came +to visit me at my lodging. I went to visit Lord Howard's sons at +Magdalen College. + +15th July, 1669. Having two days before had notice that the University +intended me the honor of Doctorship, I was this morning attended by the +beadles belonging to the Law, who conducted me to the Theater, where I +found the Duke of Ormond (now Chancellor of the University) with the +Earl of Chesterfield and Mr. Spencer (brother to the late Earl of +Sunderland). Thence, we marched to the Convocation House, a convocation +having been called on purpose; here, being all of us robed in the porch, +in scarlet with caps and hoods, we were led in by the Professor of Laws, +and presented respectively by name, with a short eulogy, to the +Vice-Chancellor, who sat in the chair, with all the Doctors and Heads of +Houses and masters about the room, which was exceedingly full. Then, +began the Public Orator his speech, directed chiefly to the Duke of +Ormond, the Chancellor; but in which I had my compliment, in course. +This ended, we were called up, and created Doctors according to the +form, and seated by the Vice-Chancellor among the Doctors, on his right +hand; then, the Vice-Chancellor made a short speech, and so, saluting +our brother Doctors, the pageantry concluded, and the convocation was +dissolved. So formal a creation of honorary Doctors had seldom been +seen, that a convocation should be called on purpose, and speeches made +by the Orator; but they could do no less, their Chancellor being to +receive, or rather do them, this honor. I should have been made Doctor +with the rest at the public Act, but their expectation of their +Chancellor made them defer it. I was then led with my brother Doctors to +an extraordinary entertainment at Doctor Mewes's, head of St. John's +College, and, after abundance of feasting and compliments, having +visited the Vice-Chancellor and other Doctors, and given them thanks for +the honor done me, I went toward home the 16th, and got as far as +Windsor, and so to my house the next day. + +4th August, 1669. I was invited by Sir Henry Peckham to his reading +feast in the Middle Temple, a pompous entertainment, where were the +Archbishop of Canterbury, all the great Earls and Lords, etc. I had much +discourse with my Lord Winchelsea, a prodigious talker; and the Venetian +Ambassador. + +17th August, 1669. To London, spending almost the entire day in +surveying what progress was made in rebuilding the ruinous city, which +now began a little to revive after its sad calamity. + +20th August, 1669. I saw the splendid audience of the Danish Ambassador +in the Banqueting House at Whitehall. + +23d August, 1669. I went to visit my most excellent and worthy neighbor, +the Lord Bishop of Rochester, at Bromley, which he was now repairing, +after the delapidations of the late Rebellion. + +2d September, 1669. I was this day very ill of a pain in my limbs, which +continued most of this week, and was increased by a visit I made to my +old acquaintance, the Earl of Norwich, at his house in Epping Forest, +where are many good pictures put into the wainscot of the rooms, which +Mr. Baker, his Lordship's predecessor there, brought out of Spain; +especially the History of Joseph, a picture of the pious and learned +Picus Mirandula, and an incomparable one of old Breugel. The gardens +were well understood, I mean the _potager_. I returned late in the +evening, ferrying over the water at Greenwich. + +26th September, 1669. To church, to give God thanks for my recovery. + +3d October, 1669. I received the Blessed Eucharist, to my unspeakable +joy. + +21st October, 1669. To the Royal Society, meeting for the first time +after a long recess, during vacation, according to custom; where was +read a description of the prodigious eruption of Mount Etna; and our +English itinerant presented an account of his autumnal peregrination +about England, for which we hired him, bringing dried fowls, fish, +plants, animals, etc. + +26th October, 1669. My dear brother continued extremely full of pain, +the Lord be gracious to him! + +3d November, 1669. This being the day of meeting for the poor, we dined +neighborly together. + +26th November, 1669. I heard an excellent discourse by Dr. Patrick, on +the Resurrection, and afterward, visited the Countess of Kent, my +kinswoman. + +8th December, 1669. To London, upon the second edition of my "Sylva," +which I presented to the Royal Society. + +6th February, 1669-70. Dr. John Breton, Master of Emmanuel College, in +Cambridge (uncle to our vicar), preached on John i. 27; "whose +shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose," etc., describing the various +fashions of shoes, or sandals, worn by the Jews, and other nations: of +the ornaments of the feet: how great persons had servants that took them +off when they came to their houses, and bore them after them: by which +pointing the dignity of our Savior, when such a person as St. John +Baptist acknowledged his unworthiness even of that mean office. The +lawfulness, decentness, and necessity, of subordinate degrees and ranks +of men and servants, as well in the Church as State: against the late +levelers, and others of that dangerous rabble, who would have all alike. + +3d March, 1670. Finding my brother [Richard] in such exceeding torture, +and that he now began to fall into convulsion-fits, I solemnly set the +next day apart to beg of God to mitigate his sufferings, and prosper the +only means which yet remained for his recovery, he being not only much +wasted, but exceedingly and all along averse from being cut (for the +stone); but, when he at last consented, and it came to the operation, +and all things prepared, his spirit and resolution failed. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th March, 1670. Dr. Patrick preached in Covent Garden Church. I +participated of the Blessed Sacrament, recommending to God the +deplorable condition of my dear brother, who was almost in the last +agonies of death. I watched late with him this night. It pleased God to +deliver him out of this miserable life, toward five o'clock this Monday +morning, to my unspeakable grief. He was a brother whom I most dearly +loved, for his many virtues; but two years younger than myself, a sober, +prudent, worthy gentleman. He had married a great fortune, and left one +only daughter, and a noble seat at Woodcot, near Epsom. His body was +opened, and a stone taken out of his bladder, not much bigger than a +nutmeg. I returned home on the 8th, full of sadness, and to bemoan my +loss. + +20th March, 1670. A stranger preached at the Savoy French church; the +Liturgy of the Church of England being now used altogether, as +translated into French by Dr. Durell. + +21st March, 1670. We all accompanied the corpse of my dear brother to +Epsom Church, where he was decently interred in the chapel belonging to +Woodcot House. A great number of friends and gentlemen of the country +attended, about twenty coaches and six horses, and innumerable people. + +22d March, 1670. I went to Westminster, where in the House of Lords I +saw his Majesty sit on his throne, but without his robes, all the peers +sitting with their hats on; the business of the day being the divorce of +my Lord Ross. Such an occasion and sight had not been seen in England +since the time of Henry VIII.[17] + + [Footnote 17: Evelyn subjoins in a note: "When there was a project, + 1669, for getting a divorce for the King, to facilitate it there was + brought into the House of Lords a bill for dissolving the marriage + of Lord Ross, on account of adultery, and to give him leave to marry + again. This Bill, after great debates, passed by the plurality of + only two votes, and that by the great industry of the Lord's + friends, as well as the Duke's enemies, who carried it on chiefly in + hopes it might be a precedent and inducement for the King to enter + the more easily into their late proposals; nor were they a little + encouraged therein, when they saw the King countenance and drive on + the Bill in Lord Ross's favor. Of eighteen bishops that were in the + House, only two voted for the bill, of which one voted through age, + and one was reputed Socinian." The two bishops favorable to the bill + were Dr. Cosin, Bishop of Durham, and Dr. Wilkins, Bishop of + Chester.] + +5th May, 1670. To London, concerning the office of Latin Secretary to +his Majesty, a place of more honor and dignity than profit, the +reversion of which he had promised me. + +21st May, 1670. Came to visit me Mr. Henry Saville, and Sir Charles +Scarborough. + +26th May, 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 town, +greatly desirous to see me; but his stay so short, that he could not +come to me, I went with my brother to meet him at the Tower, where he +was seeing the magazines and other curiosities, having never before been +in England: we renewed our alliance and friendship, with much regret on +both sides that, he being to return toward Dover that evening, we could +not enjoy one another any longer. How this French family, Ivelin, of +Evelin, Normandy, a very ancient and noble house is grafted into our +pedigree, see in the collection brought from Paris, 1650. + +16th June, 1670. I went with some friends to the Bear Garden, where was +cock-fighting, dog-fighting, bear and bull-baiting, it being a famous +day for all these butcherly sports, or rather barbarous cruelties. The +bulls did exceedingly well, but the Irish wolf dog exceeded, which was a +tall greyhound, a stately creature indeed, who beat a cruel mastiff. One +of the bulls tossed a dog full into a lady's lap as she sat in one of +the boxes at a considerable height from the arena. Two poor dogs were +killed, and so all ended with the ape on horseback, and I most heartily +weary of the rude and dirty pastime, which I had not seen, I think, in +twenty years before. + +18th June, 1670. Dined at Goring House, whither my Lord Arlington +carried me from Whitehall with the Marquis of Worcester; there, we found +Lord Sandwich, Viscount Stafford,[18] the Lieutenant of the Tower, and +others. After dinner, my Lord communicated to me his Majesty's desire +that I would engage to write the history of our late war with the +Hollanders, which I had hitherto declined; this I found was ill taken, +and that I should disoblige his Majesty, who had made choice of me to do +him this service, and, if I would undertake it, I should have all the +assistance the Secretary's office and others could give me, with other +encouragements, which I could not decently refuse. + + [Footnote 18: Sir William Howard, created in November, 1640, + Viscount Stafford. In 1678, he was accused of complicity with the + Popish Plot, and upon trial by his Peers in Westminster Hall, was + found guilty, by a majority of twenty-four. He was beheaded, + December 29, 1680, on Tower Hill.] + +Lord Stafford rose from the table, in some disorder, because there were +roses stuck about the fruit when the dessert was set on the table; such +an antipathy, it seems, he had to them as once Lady Selenger also had, +and to that degree that, as Sir Kenelm Digby tells us, laying but a rose +upon her cheek when she was asleep, it raised a blister: but Sir Kenelm +was a teller of strange things. + +24th June, 1670. Came the Earl of Huntington and Countess, with the Lord +Sherard, to visit us. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +29th June, 1670. To London, in order to my niece's marriage, Mary, +daughter to my late brother Richard, of Woodcot, with the eldest son of +Mr. Attorney Montague, which was celebrated at Southampton-House chapel, +after which a magnificent entertainment, feast, and dancing, dinner and +supper, in the great room there; but the bride was bedded at my sister's +lodging, in Drury-Lane. + +6th July, 1670. Came to visit me Mr. Stanhope, gentleman-usher to her +Majesty, and uncle to the Earl of Chesterfield, a very fine man, with my +Lady Hutcheson. + +19th July, 1670. I accompanied my worthy friend, that excellent man, Sir +Robert Murray, with Mr. Slingsby, master of the mint, to see the +latter's seat and estate at Burrow-Green in Cambridgeshire, he desiring +our advice for placing a new house, which he was resolved to build. We +set out in a coach and six horses with him and his lady, dined about +midway at one Mr. Turner's, where we found a very noble dinner, venison, +music, and a circle of country ladies and their gallants. After dinner, +we proceeded, and came to Burrow-Green that night. This had been the +ancient seat of the Cheekes (whose daughter Mr. Slingsby married), +formerly tutor to King Henry VI. The old house large and ample, and +built for ancient hospitality, ready to fall down with age, placed in a +dirty hole, a stiff clay, no water, next an adjoining church-yard, and +with other inconveniences. We pitched on a spot of rising ground, +adorned with venerable woods, a dry and sweet prospect east and west, +and fit for a park, but no running water; at a mile distance from the +old house. + +20th July, 1670. We went to dine at Lord Allington's, who had newly +built a house of great cost, I believe a little less than £20,000. His +architect was Mr. Pratt. It is seated in a park, with a sweet prospect +and stately avenue; but water still defective; the house has also its +infirmities. Went back to Mr. Slingsby's. + +[Sidenote: NEWMARKET] + +22d July, 1670. We rode out to see the great mere, or level, of +recovered fen land, not far off. In the way, we met Lord Arlington going +to his house in Suffolk, accompanied with Count Ogniati, the Spanish +minister, and Sir Bernard Gascoigne; he was very importunate with me to +go with him to Euston, being but fifteen miles distant; but, in regard +of my company, I could not. So, passing through Newmarket, we alighted +to see his Majesty's house there, now new-building; the arches of the +cellars beneath are well turned by Mr. Samuel, the architect, the rest +mean enough, and hardly fit for a hunting house. Many of the rooms above +had the chimneys in the angles and corners, a mode now introduced by his +Majesty, which I do at no hand approve of. I predict it will spoil many +noble houses and rooms, if followed. It does only well in very small and +trifling rooms, but takes from the state of greater. Besides, this house +is placed in a dirty street, without any court or avenue, like a common +one, whereas it might and ought to have been built at either end of the +town, upon the very carpet where the sports are celebrated; but, it +being the purchase of an old wretched house of my Lord Thomond's, his +Majesty was persuaded to set it on that foundation, the most improper +imaginable for a house of sport and pleasure. + +We went to see the stables and fine horses, of which many were here kept +at a vast expense, with all the art and tenderness imaginable. + +Being arrived at some meres, we found Lord Wotton and Sir John Kiviet +about their draining engines, having, it seems, undertaken to do wonders +on a vast piece of marsh-ground they had hired of Sir Thomas Chicheley +(master of the ordnance). They much pleased themselves with the hopes of +a rich harvest of hemp and coleseed, which was the crop expected. + +Here we visited the engines and mills both for wind and water, draining +it through two rivers or graffs, cut by hand, and capable of carrying +considerable barges, which went thwart one the other, discharging the +water into the sea. Such this spot had been the former winter; it was +astonishing to see it now dry, and so rich that weeds grew on the banks, +almost as high as a man and horse. Here, my Lord and his partner had +built two or three rooms, with Flanders white bricks, very hard. One of +the great engines was in the kitchen, where I saw the fish swim up, even +to the very chimney hearth, by a small cut through the room, and running +within a foot of the very fire. + +Having, after dinner, ridden about that vast level, pestered with heat +and swarms of gnats, we returned over Newmarket Heath, the way being +mostly a sweet turf and down, like Salisbury Plain, the jockeys +breathing their fine barbs and racers and giving them their heats. + +23d July, 1670. We returned from Burrow Green to London, staying some +time at Audley End to see that fine palace. It is indeed a cheerful +piece of Gothic building, or rather _antico moderno_, but placed in an +obscure bottom. The cellars and galleries are very stately. It has a +river by it, a pretty avenue of limes, and in a park. + +This is in Saffron Walden parish, famous for that useful plant, with +which all the country is covered. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +Dining at Bishop Stortford, we came late to London. + +5th August, 1670. There was sent me by a neighbor a servant maid, who, +in the last month, as she was sitting before her mistress at work, felt +a stroke on her arm a little above the wrist for some height, the smart +of which, as if struck by another hand, caused her to hold her arm +awhile till somewhat mitigated; but it put her into a kind of +convulsion, or rather hysteric fit. A gentleman coming casually in, +looking on her arm, found that part powdered with red crosses, set in +most exact and wonderful order, neither swelled nor depressed, about +this shape, + + x + x x + x x x + x x + x + +not seeming to be any way made by artifice, of a reddish color, not so +red as blood, the skin over them smooth, the rest of the arm livid and +of a mortified hue, with certain prints, as it were, of the stroke of +fingers. This had happened three several times in July, at about ten +days' interval, the crosses beginning to wear out, but the successive +ones set in other different, yet uniform order. The maid seemed very +modest, and came from London to Deptford with her mistress, to avoid the +discourse and importunity of curious people. She made no gain by it, +pretended no religious fancies; but seemed to be a plain, ordinary, +silent, working wench, somewhat fat, short, and high-colored. She told +me divers divines and physicians had seen her, but were unsatisfied; +that she had taken some remedies against her fits, but they did her no +good; she had never before had any fits; once since, she seemed in her +sleep to hear one say to her that she should tamper no more with them, +nor trouble herself with anything that happened, but put her trust in +the merits of Christ only. + +This is the substance of what she told me, and what I saw and curiously +examined. I was formerly acquainted with the impostorious nuns of +Loudun, in France, which made such noise among the Papists; I therefore +thought this worth the notice. I remember Monsieur Monconys[19] (that +curious traveler and a Roman Catholic) was by no means satisfied with +the _stigmata_ of those nuns, because they were so shy of letting him +scrape the letters, which were Jesus, Maria, Joseph (as I think), +observing they began to scale off with it, whereas this poor wench was +willing to submit to any trial; so that I profess I know not what to +think of it, nor dare I pronounce it anything supernatural. + + [Footnote 19: Balthasar de Monconys, a Frenchman, celebrated for his + travels in the East, which he published in three volumes. His object + was to discover vestiges of the philosophy of Trismegistus and + Zoroaster; in which, it is hardly necessary to add, he was not very + successful.] + +20th August, 1670. At Windsor I supped with the Duke of Monmouth; and, +the next day, invited by Lord Arlington, dined with the same Duke and +divers Lords. After dinner my Lord and I had a conference of more than +an hour alone in his bedchamber, to engage me in the History. I showed +him something that I had drawn up, to his great satisfaction, and he +desired me to show it to the Treasurer. + +28th August, 1670. One of the Canons preached; then followed the +offering of the Knights of the Order, according to custom; first the +poor Knights, in procession, then, the Canons in their formalities, the +Dean and Chancellor, then his Majesty (the Sovereign), the Duke of York, +Prince Rupert; and, lastly, the Earl of Oxford, being all the Knights +that were then at Court. + +I dined with the Treasurer, and consulted with him what pieces I was to +add; in the afternoon the King took me aside into the balcony over the +terrace, extremely pleased with what had been told him I had begun, in +order to his commands, and enjoining me to proceed vigorously in it. He +told me he had ordered the Secretaries of State to give me all necessary +assistance of papers and particulars relating to it and enjoining me to +make it a LITTLE KEEN, for that the Hollanders had very unhandsomely +abused him in their pictures, books, and libels. + +Windsor was now going to be repaired, being exceedingly ragged and +ruinous. Prince Rupert, the Constable, had begun to trim up the keep or +high round Tower, and handsomely adorned his hall with furniture of +arms, which was very singular, by so disposing the pikes, muskets, +pistols, bandoleers, holsters, drums, back, breast, and headpieces, as +was very extraordinary. Thus, those huge steep stairs ascending to it +had the walls invested with this martial furniture, all new and bright, +so disposing the bandoleers, holsters, and drums, as to represent +festoons, and that without any confusion, trophy-like. From the hall we +went into his bedchamber, and ample rooms hung with tapestry, curious +and effeminate pictures, so extremely different from the other, which +presented nothing but war and horror. + +The King passed most of his time in hunting the stag, and walking in the +park, which he was now planting with rows of trees. + +13th September, 1670. To visit Sir Richard Lashford, my kinsman, and Mr. +Charles Howard, at his extraordinary garden, at Deepden. + +15th September, 1670. I went to visit Mr. Arthur Onslow, at West +Clandon, a pretty dry seat on the Downs, where we dined in his great +room. + +17th September, 1670. To visit Mr. Hussey, who, being near Wotton, lives +in a sweet valley, deliciously watered. + +23d September, 1670. To Albury, to see how that garden proceeded, which +I found exactly done to the design and plot I had made, with the crypta +through the mountain in the park, thirty perches in length. Such a +Pausilippe[20] is nowhere in England. The canal was now digging, and the +vineyard planted. + + [Footnote 20: A word adopted by Evelyn for a subterranean passage, + from the famous grot of Pausilippo, at Naples.] + +14th October, 1670. I spent the whole afternoon in private with the +Treasurer who put into my hands those secret pieces and transactions +concerning the Dutch war, and particularly the expedition of Bergen, in +which he had himself the chief part, and gave me instructions, till the +King arriving from Newmarket, we both went up into his bedchamber. + +21st October, 1670. Dined with the Treasurer; and, after dinner, we +were shut up together. I received other [further] advices, and ten paper +books of dispatches and treaties; to return which again I gave a note +under my hand to Mr. Joseph Williamson, Master of the Paper office. + +31st October, 1670. I was this morning fifty years of age; the Lord +teach me to number my days so as to apply them to his glory! Amen. + +4th November, 1670. Saw the Prince of Orange, newly come to see the +King, his uncle; he has a manly, courageous, wise countenance, +resembling his mother and the Duke of Gloucester, both deceased. + +I now also saw that famous beauty, but in my opinion of a childish, +simple, and baby face, Mademoiselle Querouaille,[21] lately Maid of +Honor to Madame, and now to be so to the Queen. + + [Footnote 21: Henrietta, the King's sister, married to Philip, Duke + of Orleans, was then on a visit here. Madame Querouaille came over + in her train, on purpose to entice Charles into an union with Louis + XIV.; a design which unhappily succeeded but too well. She became + the King's mistress, was made Duchess of Portsmouth, and was his + favorite till his death.] + +23d November, 1670. Dined with the Earl of Arlington, where was the +Venetian Ambassador, of whom I now took solemn leave, now on his return. +There were also Lords Howard, Wharton, Windsor, and divers other great +persons. + +24th November, 1670. I dined with the Treasurer, where was the Earl of +Rochester, a very profane wit. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +15th December, 1670. It was the thickest and darkest fog on the Thames +that was ever known in the memory of man, and I happened to be in the +very midst of it. I supped with Monsieur Zulestein, late Governor to the +late Prince of Orange. + +10th January, 1670-71. Mr. Bohun, my son's tutor, had been five years in +my house, and now Bachelor of Laws, and Fellow of New College, went from +me to Oxford to reside there, having well and faithfully performed his +charge. + +18th January, 1671. This day I first acquainted his Majesty with that +incomparable young man, Gibbon,[22] whom I had lately met with in an +obscure place by mere accident, as I was walking near a poor solitary +thatched house, in a field in our parish, near Sayes Court. I found him +shut in; but looking in at the window, I perceived him carving that +large cartoon, or crucifix, of Tintoretto, a copy of which I had myself +brought from Venice, where the original painting remains. I asked if I +might enter; he opened the door civilly to me, and I saw him about such +a work as for the curiosity of handling, drawing, and studious +exactness, I never had before seen in all my travels. I questioned him +why he worked in such an obscure and lonesome place; he told me it was +that he might apply himself to his profession without interruption, and +wondered not a little how I found him out. I asked if he was unwilling +to be made known to some great man, for that I believed it might turn to +his profit; he answered, he was yet but a beginner, but would not be +sorry to sell off that piece; on demanding the price, he said £100. In +good earnest, the very frame was worth the money, there being nothing in +nature so tender and delicate as the flowers and festoons about it, and +yet the work was very strong; in the piece was more than one hundred +figures of men, etc. I found he was likewise musical, and very civil, +sober, and discreet in his discourse. There was only an old woman in the +house. So, desiring leave to visit him sometimes, I went away. + + [Footnote 22: Better known by the name of Grinling Gibbon; + celebrated for his exquisite carving. Some of his most astonishing + work is at Chatsworth and at Petworth.] + +Of this young artist, together with my manner of finding him out, I +acquainted the King, and begged that he would give me leave to bring him +and his work to Whitehall, for that I would adventure my reputation with +his Majesty that he had never seen anything approach it, and that he +would be exceedingly pleased, and employ him. The King said he would +himself go see him. This was the first notice his Majesty ever had of +Mr. Gibbon. + +20th January, 1671. The King came to me in the Queen's withdrawing-room +from the circle of ladies, to talk with me as to what advance I had made +in the Dutch History. I dined with the Treasurer, and afterward we went +to the Secretary's Office, where we conferred about divers particulars. + +21st January, 1671. I was directed to go to Sir George Downing, who +having been a public minister in Holland, at the beginning of the war, +was to give me light in some material passages. + +This year the weather was so wet, stormy, and unseasonable, as had not +been known in many years. + +9th February, 1671. I saw the great ball danced by the Queen and +distinguished ladies at Whitehall Theater. Next day; was acted there the +famous play, called, "The Siege of Granada," two days acted +successively; there were indeed very glorious scenes and perspectives, +the work of Mr. Streeter, who well understands it.[23] + + [Footnote 23: Evelyn here refers to Dryden's "Conquest of Granada".] + +19th February, 1671. This day dined with me Mr. Surveyor, Dr. +Christopher Wren, and Mr. Pepys, Clerk of the Acts, two extraordinary, +ingenious, and knowing persons, and other friends. I carried them to see +the piece of carving which I had recommended to the King. + +25th February, 1671. Came to visit me one of the Lords Commissioners of +Scotland for the Union. + +28th February, 1671. The Treasurer acquainted me that his Majesty was +graciously pleased to nominate me one of the Council of Foreign +Plantations, and give me a salary of £500 per annum, to encourage me. + +29th February, 1671. I went to thank the Treasurer, who was my great +friend and loved me; I dined with him and much company, and went thence +to my Lord Arlington, Secretary of State, in whose favor I likewise was +upon many occasions, though I cultivated neither of their friendships by +any mean submissions. I kissed his Majesty's hand, on his making me one +of the new-established Council. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st March, 1671. I caused Mr. Gibbon to bring to Whitehall his +excellent piece of carving, where being come, I advertised his Majesty, +who asked me where it was; I told him in Sir Richard Browne's (my +father-in-law) chamber, and that if it pleased his Majesty to appoint +whither it should be brought, being large and though of wood, heavy, I +would take care for it. "No," says the King, "show me the way, I'll go +to Sir Richard's chamber," which he immediately did, walking along the +entries after me; as far as the ewry, till he came up into the room, +where I also lay. No sooner was he entered and cast his eyes on the +work, but he was astonished at the curiosity of it; and having +considered it a long time, and discoursed with Mr. Gibbon, whom I +brought to kiss his hand, he commanded it should be immediately carried +to the Queen's side to show her. It was carried up into her bedchamber, +where she and the King looked on and admired it again; the King, being +called away, left us with the Queen, believing she would have bought it, +it being a crucifix; but, when his Majesty was gone, a French peddling +woman, one Madame de Boord, who used to bring petticoats and fans, and +baubles, out of France to the ladies, began to find fault with several +things in the work, which she understood no more than an ass, or a +monkey, so as in a kind of indignation, I caused the person who brought +it to carry it back to the chamber, finding the Queen so much governed +by an ignorant Frenchwoman, and this incomparable artist had his labor +only for his pains, which not a little displeased me; and he was fain to +send it down to his cottage again; he not long after sold it for £80, +though well worth £100, without the frame, to Sir George Viner. + +His Majesty's Surveyor, Mr. Wren, faithfully promised me to employ +him.[24] I having also bespoke his Majesty for his work at Windsor, +which my friend, Mr. May, the architect there, was going to alter, and +repair universally; for, on the next day, I had a fair opportunity of +talking to his Majesty about it, in the lobby next the Queen's side, +where I presented him with some sheets of my history. I thence walked +with him through St. James's Park to the garden, where I both saw and +heard a very familiar discourse between ... and Mrs. Nelly,[25] as they +called an impudent comedian, she looking out of her garden on a terrace +at the top of the wall, and ... standing on the green walk under it. I +was heartily sorry at this scene. Thence the King walked to the Duchess +of Cleveland, another lady of pleasure, and curse of our nation. + + [Footnote 24: The carving in the choir, etc., of St. Paul's + Cathedral was executed by Gibbon.] + + [Footnote 25: Nell Gwynne: there can be no doubt as to the name with + which we are to fill up these blanks. This familiar interview of + Nelly and the King has afforded a subject for painters.] + +5th March, 1671. I dined at Greenwich, to take leave of Sir Thomas +Linch, going Governor of Jamaica. + +10th March, 1671. To London, about passing my patent as one of the +standing Council for Plantations, a considerable honor, the others in +the Council being chiefly noblemen and officers of state. + +[Illustration: _NELL GWYNNE_ + +_Photogravure after Sir Peter Lely_] + +2d April, 1671. To Sir Thomas Clifford, the Treasurer, to condole with +him on the loss of his eldest son, who died at Florence. + +2d May, 1671. The French King, being now with a great army of 28,000 men +about Dunkirk, divers of the grandees of that Court, and a vast number +of gentlemen and cadets, in fantastical habits, came flocking over to +see our Court and compliment his Majesty. I was present, when they first +were conducted into the Queen's withdrawing-room, where saluted their +Majesties the Dukes of Guise, Longueville, and many others of the first +rank. + +10th May, 1671. Dined at Mr. Treasurer's,[26] in company with Monsieur +De Grammont and several French noblemen, and one Blood, that impudent, +bold fellow who had not long before attempted to steal the imperial +crown itself out of the Tower, pretending only curiosity of seeing the +regalia there, when, stabbing the keeper, though not mortally, he boldly +went away with it through all the guards, taken only by the accident of +his horse falling down. How he came to be pardoned, and even received +into favor, not only after this, but several other exploits almost as +daring both in Ireland and here, I could never come to understand. Some +believed he became a spy of several parties, being well with the +sectaries and enthusiasts, and did his Majesty services that way, which +none alive could do so well as he; but it was certainly the boldest +attempt, so the only treason of this sort that was ever pardoned. This +man had not only a daring but a villanous, unmerciful look, a false +countenance, but very well-spoken and dangerously insinuating. + + [Footnote 26: This entry of 10th May, 1671, so far as it relates to + Blood, and the stealing of the crown, etc., is a mistake. Blood + stole the crown on the 9th of May, 1671--the very day before; and + the "not long before" of Evelyn, and the circumstance of his being + "pardoned," which Evelyn also mentions, can hardly be said to relate + to only the day before.] + +11th May, 1671. I went to Eltham, to sit as one of the commissioners +about the subsidy now given by Parliament to his Majesty. + +17th May, 1671. Dined at Mr. Treasurer's [Sir Thomas Clifford] with +the Earl of Arlington, Carlingford, Lord Arundel of Wardour, Lord +Almoner to the Queen, a French Count and two abbots, with several more +of French nobility; and now by something I had lately observed of Mr. +Treasurer's conversation on occasion, I suspected him a little warping +to Rome. + +25th May, 1671. I dined at a feast made for me and my wife by the +Trinity Company, for our passing a fine of the land which Sir R. Browne, +my wife's father, freely gave to found and build their college, or +almshouses on, at Deptford, it being my wife's after her father's +decease. It was a good and charitable work and gift, but would have been +better bestowed on the poor of that parish, than on the seamen's widows, +the Trinity Company being very rich, and the rest of the poor of the +parish exceedingly indigent. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th May, 1671. The Earl of Bristol's house in Queen's Street +[Lincoln's Inn Fields] was taken for the Commissioners of Trade and +Plantations, and furnished with rich hangings of the King's. It +consisted of seven rooms on a floor, with a long gallery, gardens, etc. +This day we met the Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Lauderdale, Lord +Culpeper, Sir George Carteret, Vice-Chamberlain, and myself, had the +oaths given us by the Earl of Sandwich, our President. It was to advise +and counsel his Majesty, to the best of our abilities, for the +well-governing of his Foreign Plantations, etc., the form very little +differing from that given to the Privy Council. We then took our places +at the Board in the Council-Chamber, a very large room furnished with +atlases, maps, charts, globes, etc. Then came the Lord Keeper, Sir +Orlando Bridgeman, Earl of Arlington, Secretary of State, Lord Ashley, +Mr. Treasurer, Sir John Trevor, the other Secretary, Sir John Duncomb, +Lord Allington, Mr. Grey, son to the Lord Grey, Mr. Henry Broncher, Sir +Humphrey Winch, Sir John Finch, Mr. Waller, and Colonel Titus, of the +bedchamber, with Mr. Slingsby, Secretary to the Council, and two Clerks +of the Council, who had all been sworn some days before. Being all set, +our Patent was read, and then the additional Patent, in which was +recited this new establishment; then, was delivered to each a copy of +the Patent, and of instructions: after which, we proceeded to business. + +The first thing we did was, to settle the form of a circular letter to +the Governors of all his Majesty's Plantations and Territories in the +West Indies and Islands thereof, to give them notice to whom they should +apply themselves on all occasions, and to render us an account of their +present state and government; but, what we most insisted on was, to know +the condition of New England, which appearing to be very independent as +to their regard to Old England, or his Majesty, rich and strong as they +now were, there were great debates in what style to write to them; for +the condition of that Colony was such, that they were able to contest +with all other Plantations about them, and there was fear of their +breaking from all dependence on this nation; his Majesty, therefore, +commended this affair more expressly. We, therefore, thought fit, in the +first place, to acquaint ourselves as well as we could of the state of +that place, by some whom we heard of that were newly come from thence, +and to be informed of their present posture and condition; some of our +Council were for sending them a menacing letter, which those who better +understood the peevish and touchy humor of that Colony, were utterly +against. + +A letter was then read from Sir Thomas Modiford, Governor of Jamaica; +and then the Council broke up. + +Having brought an action against one Cocke, for money which he had +received for me, it had been referred to an arbitration by the +recommendation of that excellent good man, the Chief-Justice Hale,[27] +but, this not succeeding, I went to advise with that famous lawyer, Mr. +Jones, of Gray's Inn, and, 27th of May, had a trial before Lord Chief +Justice Hale; and, after the lawyers had wrangled sufficiently, it was +referred to a new arbitration. This was the very first suit at law that +ever I had with any creature, and oh, that it might be the last! + + [Footnote 27: Sir Matthew Hale, so famous as one of the justices of + the bench in Cromwell's time. After the Restoration, he became Chief + Baron of the Exchequer; then Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and + died in 1676. The author of numerous works, not only on professional + subjects, but on mathematics and philosophy.] + +1st June, 1671. An installation at Windsor. + +6th June, 1671. I went to Council, where was produced a most exact and +ample information of the state of Jamaica, and of the best expedients as +to New England, on which there was a long debate; but at length it was +concluded that, if any, it should be only a conciliating paper at first, +or civil letter, till we had better information of the present face of +things, since we understood they were a people almost upon the very +brink of renouncing any dependence on the Crown. + +19th June, 1671. To a splendid dinner at the great room in Deptford +Trinity House, Sir Thomas Allen chosen Master, and succeeding the Earl +of Craven. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +20th June, 1671. To carry Colonel Middleton to Whitehall, to my Lord +Sandwich, our President, for some information which he was able to give +of the state of the Colony in New England. + +21st June, 1671. To Council again, when one Colonel Cartwright, a +Nottinghamshire man, (formerly in commission with Colonel Nicholls) gave +us a considerable relation of that country; on which the Council +concluded that in the first place a letter of amnesty should be +dispatched. + +24th June, 1671. Constantine Huygens, Signor of Zuylichem, that +excellent learned man, poet, and musician, now near eighty years of age, +a vigorous, brisk man,[28] came to take leave of me before his return +into Holland with the Prince, whose Secretary he was. + + [Footnote 28: He died in 1687, at the great age of 90 years and 6 + months. Constantine and his son, Christian Huygens, were both + eminent for scientific knowledge and classical attainments; + Christian, particularly so; for he was the inventor of the pendulum, + made an improvement in the air-pump, first discovered the ring and + one of the satellites of Saturn, and ascertained the laws of + collision of elastic bodies. He died in 1695. Constantine, the + father, was a person of influence and distinction in Holland, and + held the post of secretary to the Prince of Orange.] + +26th June, 1671. To Council, where Lord Arlington acquainted us that it +was his Majesty's proposal we should, every one of us, contribute £20 +toward building a Council chamber and conveniences somewhere in +Whitehall, that his Majesty might come and sit among us, and hear our +debates; the money we laid out to be reimbursed out of the contingent +moneys already set apart for us, viz, £1,000 yearly. To this we +unanimously consented. There came an uncertain bruit from Barbadoes of +some disorder there. On my return home I stepped in at the theater to +see the new machines for the intended scenes, which were indeed very +costly and magnificent. + +29th June, 1671. To Council, where were letters from Sir Thomas +Modiford, of the expedition and exploit of Colonel Morgan, and others of +Jamaica, on the Spanish Continent at Panama. + +4th July, 1671. To Council, where we drew up and agreed to a letter to +be sent to New England, and made some proposal to Mr. Gorges, for his +interest in a plantation there. + +24th July, 1671. To Council. Mr. Surveyor brought us a plot for the +building of our Council chamber, to be erected at the end of the Privy +garden, in Whitehall. + +3d August, 1671. A full appearance at the Council. The matter in debate +was, whether we should send a deputy to New England, requiring them of +the Massachusetts to restore such to their limits and respective +possessions, as had petitioned the Council; this to be the open +commission only; but, in truth, with secret instructions to inform us of +the condition of those Colonies, and whether they were of such power, as +to be able to resist his Majesty and declare for themselves as +independent of the Crown, which we were told, and which of late years +made them refractory. Colonel Middleton, being called in, assured us +they might be curbed by a few of his Majesty's first-rate frigates, to +spoil their trade with the islands; but, though my Lord President was +not satisfied, the rest were, and we did resolve to advise his Majesty +to send Commissioners with a formal commission for adjusting boundaries, +etc., with some other instructions. + +19th August, 1671. To Council. The letters of Sir Thomas Modiford were +read, giving relation of the exploit at Panama, which was very brave; +they took, burned, and pillaged the town of vast treasures, but the best +of the booty had been shipped off, and lay at anchor in the South Sea, +so that, after our men had ranged the country sixty miles about, they +went back to Nombre de Dios, and embarked for Jamaica. Such an action +had not been done since the famous Drake. + +I dined at the Hamburg Resident's, and, after dinner, went to the +christening of Sir Samuel Tuke's son, Charles, at Somerset House, by a +Popish priest, and many odd ceremonies. The godfathers were the King, +and Lord Arundel of Wardour, and godmother, the Countess of Huntingdon. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +29th August, 1671. To London, with some more papers of my progress in +the Dutch War, delivered to the Treasurer. + +1st September, 1671. Dined with the Treasurer, in company with my Lord +Arlington, Halifax, and Sir Thomas Strickland; and next day, went home, +being the anniversary of the late dreadful fire of London. + +13th September, 1671. This night fell a dreadful tempest. + +15th September, 1671. In the afternoon at Council, where letters were +read from Sir Charles Wheeler, concerning his resigning his government +of St. Christopher's. + +21st September, 1671. I dined in the city, at the fraternity feast in +Ironmongers' Hall, where the four stewards chose their successors for +the next year, with a solemn procession, garlands about their heads, and +music playing before them; so, coming up to the upper tables where the +gentlemen sat, they drank to the new stewards; and so we parted. + +22d September, 1671. I dined at the Treasurer's, where I had discourse +with Sir Henry Jones (now come over to raise a regiment of horse), +concerning the French conquests in Lorraine; he told me the King sold +all things to the soldiers, even to a handful of hay. + +Lord Sunderland was now nominated Ambassador to Spain. + +After dinner, the Treasurer carried me to Lincoln's Inn, to one of the +Parliament Clerks, to obtain of him, that I might carry home and peruse, +some of the Journals, which were, accordingly, delivered to me to +examine about the late Dutch War. Returning home, I went on shore to see +the Custom House, now newly rebuilt since the dreadful conflagration. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +9th and 10th October, 1671. I went, after evening service, to London, +in order to a journey of refreshment with Mr. Treasurer, to Newmarket, +where the King then was, in his coach with six brave horses, which we +changed thrice, first, at Bishop-Stortford, and last, at Chesterford; +so, by night, we got to Newmarket, where Mr. Henry Jermain (nephew to +the Earl of St. Alban) lodged me very civilly. We proceeded immediately +to Court, the King and all the English gallants being there at their +autumnal sports. Supped at the Lord Chamberlain's; and, the next day, +after dinner, I was on the heath, where I saw the great match run +between Woodcock and Flatfoot, belonging to the King, and to Mr. Eliot, +of the bedchamber, many thousands being spectators; a more signal race +had not been run for many years. + +This over, I went that night with Mr. Treasurer to Euston, a palace of +Lord Arlington's, where we found Monsieur Colbert (the French +Ambassador), and the famous new French Maid of Honor, Mademoiselle +Querouaille, now coming to be in great favor with the King. Here was +also the Countess of Sunderland, and several lords and ladies, who +lodged in the house. + +During my stay here with Lord Arlington, near a fortnight, his Majesty +came almost every second day with the Duke, who commonly returned to +Newmarket, but the King often lay here, during which time I had twice +the honor to sit at dinner with him, with all freedom. It was +universally reported that the fair lady ----, was bedded one of these +nights, and the stocking flung, after the manner of a married bride; I +acknowledge she was for the most part in her undress all day, and that +there was fondness and toying with that young wanton; nay, it was said, +I was at the former ceremony; but it is utterly false; I neither saw nor +heard of any such thing while I was there, though I had been in her +chamber, and all over that apartment late enough, and was myself +observing all passages with much curiosity. However, it was with +confidence believed she was first made _a Miss_, as they called these +unhappy creatures, with solemnity at this time. + +On Sunday, a young Cambridge divine preached an excellent sermon in the +chapel, the King and the Duke of York being present. + +16th October, 1671. Came all the great men from Newmarket, and other +parts both of Suffolk and Norfolk, to make their court, the whole house +filled from one end to the other with lords, ladies, and gallants; there +was such a furnished table, as I had seldom seen, nor anything more +splendid and free, so that for fifteen days there were entertained at +least 200 people, and half as many horses, besides servants and guards, +at infinite expense. + +In the morning, we went hunting and hawking; in the afternoon, till +almost morning, to cards and dice, yet I must say without noise, +swearing, quarrel, or confusion of any sort. I, who was no gamester, had +often discourse with the French Ambassador, Colbert, and went sometimes +abroad on horseback with the ladies to take the air, and now and then to +hunting; thus idly passing the time, but not without more often recess +to my pretty apartment, where I was quite out of all this hurry, and had +leisure when I would, to converse with books, for there is no man more +hospitably easy to be withal than my Lord Arlington, of whose particular +friendship and kindness I had ever a more than ordinary share. His house +is a very noble pile, consisting of four pavilions after the French, +beside a body of a large house, and, though not built altogether, but +formed of additions to an old house (purchased by his Lordship of one +Sir T. Rookwood) yet with a vast expense made not only capable and +roomsome, but very magnificent and commodious, as well within as +without, nor less splendidly furnished. The staircase is very elegant, +the garden handsome, the canal beautiful, but the soil dry, barren, and +miserably sandy, which flies in drifts as the wind sits. Here my Lord +was pleased to advise with me about ordering his plantations of firs, +elms, limes, etc., up his park, and in all other places and avenues. I +persuaded him to bring his park so near as to comprehend his house +within it; which he resolved upon, it being now near a mile to it. The +water furnishing the fountains, is raised by a pretty engine, or very +slight plain wheels, which likewise serve to grind his corn, from a +small cascade of the canal, the invention of Sir Samuel Morland. In my +Lord's house, and especially above the staircase, in the great hall and +some of the chambers and rooms of state, are paintings in fresco by +Signor Verrio, being the first work which he did in England. + +[Sidenote: NORWICH] + +17th October, 1671. My Lord Henry Howard coming this night to visit my +Lord Chamberlain, and staying a day, would needs have me go with him to +Norwich, promising to convey me back, after a day or two; this, as I +could not refuse, I was not hard to be pursuaded to, having a desire to +see that famous scholar and physician, Dr. T. Browne, author of the +"_Religio Medici_" and "Vulgar Errors," now lately knighted. Thither, +then, went my Lord and I alone, in his flying chariot with six horses; +and by the way, discoursing with me of several of his concerns, he +acquainted me of his going to marry his eldest son to one of the King's +natural daughters, by the Duchess of Cleveland; by which he reckoned he +should come into mighty favor. He also told me that, though he kept that +idle creature, Mrs. B----, and would leave £200 a year to the son he had +by her, he would never marry her, and that the King himself had +cautioned him against it. All the world knows how he kept his promise, +and I was sorry at heart to hear what now he confessed to me; and that a +person and a family which I so much honored for the sake of that noble +and illustrious friend of mine, his grandfather, should dishonor and +pollute them both with those base and vicious courses he of late had +taken since the death of Sir Samuel Tuke, and that of his own virtuous +lady (my Lady Anne Somerset, sister to the Marquis); who, while they +lived, preserved this gentleman by their example and advice from those +many extravagances that impaired both his fortune and reputation. + +Being come to the Ducal palace, my Lord made very much of me; but I had +little rest, so exceedingly desirous he was to show me the contrivance +he had made for the entertainment of their Majesties, and the whole +Court not long before, and which, though much of it was but temporary, +apparently framed of boards only, was yet standing. As to the palace, it +is an old wretched building, and that part of it newly built of brick, +is very ill understood; so as I was of the opinion it had been much +better to have demolished all, and set it up in a better place, than to +proceed any further; for it stands in the very market-place, and, though +near a river, yet a very narrow muddy one, without any extent. + +Next morning, I went to see Sir Thomas Browne (with whom I had some +time corresponded by letter, though I had never seen him before); his +whole house and garden being a paradise and cabinet of rarities; and +that of the best collection, especially medals, books, plants, and +natural things. Among other curiosities, Sir Thomas had a collection of +the eggs of all the fowl and birds he could procure, that country +(especially the promontory of Norfolk) being frequented, as he said, by +several kinds which seldom or never go further into the land, as cranes, +storks, eagles, and variety of water fowl. He led me to see all the +remarkable places of this ancient city, being one of the largest, and +certainly, after London, one of the noblest of England, for its +venerable cathedral, number of stately churches, cleanness of the +streets, and buildings of flint so exquisitely headed and squared, as I +was much astonished at; but he told me they had lost the art of squaring +the flints, in which they so much excelled, and of which the churches, +best houses, and walls, are built. The Castle is an antique extent of +ground, which now they call Marsfield, and would have been a fitting +area to have placed the Ducal palace in. The suburbs are large, the +prospects sweet, with other amenities, not omitting the flower gardens, +in which all the inhabitants excel. The fabric of stuffs brings a vast +trade to this populous town. + +Being returned to my Lord's, who had been with me all this morning, he +advised with me concerning a plot to rebuild his house, having already, +as he said, erected a front next the street, and a left wing, and now +resolving to set up another wing and pavilion next the garden, and to +convert the bowling green into stables. My advice was, to desist from +all, and to meditate wholly on rebuilding a handsome palace at Arundel +House, in the Strand, before he proceeded further here, and then to +place this in the Castle, that ground belonging to his Lordship. + +I observed that most of the church yards (though some of them large +enough) were filled up with earth, or rather the congestion of dead +bodies one upon another, for want of earth, even to the very top of the +walls, and some above the walls, so as the churches seemed to be built +in pits. + +18th October, 1671. I returned to Euston, in Lord Henry Howard's coach, +leaving him at Norwich, in company with a very ingenious gentleman, Mr. +White, whose father and mother (daughter to the late Lord Treasurer +Weston, Earl of Portland) I knew at Rome, where this gentleman was born, +and where his parents lived and died with much reputation, during their +banishment in our civil broils. + +21st October, 1671. Quitting Euston, I lodged this night at Newmarket, +where I found the jolly blades racing, dancing, feasting, and reveling; +more resembling a luxurious and abandoned rout, than a Christian Court. +The Duke of Buckingham was now in mighty favor, and had with him that +impudent woman, the Countess of Shrewsbury, with his band of fiddlers, +etc. + +Next morning, in company with Sir Bernard Gascoyne, and Lord Hawley, I +came in the Treasurer's coach to Bishop Stortford, where he gave us a +noble supper. The following day, to London, and so home. + +14th November, 1671. To Council, where Sir Charles Wheeler, late +Governor of the Leeward Islands, having been complained of for many +indiscreet managements, it was resolved, on scanning many of the +particulars, to advise his Majesty to remove him; and consult what was +to be done, to prevent these inconveniences he had brought things to. +This business staid me in London almost a week, being in Council, or +Committee, every morning till the 25th. + +27th November, 1671. We ordered that a proclamation should be presented +to his Majesty to sign, against what Sir Charles Wheeler had done in St. +Christopher's since the war, on the articles of peace at Breda. He was +shortly afterward recalled. + +6th December, 1671. Came to visit me Sir William Haywood, a great +pretender to English antiquities. + +14th December, 1671. Went to see the Duke of Buckingham's ridiculous +farce and rhapsody, called the "The Recital,"[29] buffooning all plays, +yet profane enough. + + [Footnote 29: The well-known play of "The Rehearsal" is meant.] + +23d December, 1671. The Councillors of the Board of Trade dined together +at the Cock, in Suffolk street. + +12th January, 1671-72. His Majesty renewed us our lease of Sayes Court +pastures for ninety-nine years, but ought, according to his solemn +promise[30] (as I hope he will still perform), have passed them to us in +fee-farm. + + [Footnote 30: The King's engagement, under his hand, is now at + Wotton.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +23d January, 1672. To London, in order to Sir Richard Browne, my +father-in-law, resigning his place as Clerk of the Council to Joseph +Williamson, Esq., who was admitted, and was knighted. This place his +Majesty had promised to give me many years before; but, upon +consideration of the renewal of our lease and other reasons, I chose to +part with it to Sir Joseph, who gave us and the rest of his brother +clerks a handsome supper at his house; and, after supper, a concert of +music. + +3d February, 1672. An extraordinary snow; part of the week was taken up +in consulting about the commission of prisoners of war, and instructions +to our officers, in order to a second war with the Hollanders, his +Majesty having made choice of the former commissioners, and myself among +them. + +11th February, 1672. In the afternoon, that famous proselyte, Monsieur +Brevall, preached at the Abbey, in English, extremely well and with much +eloquence. He had been a Capuchin, but much better learned than most of +that order. + +12th February, 1672. At the Council, we entered on inquiries about +improving the plantations by silks, galls, flax, senna, etc., and +considered how nutmegs and cinnamon might be obtained and brought to +Jamaica, that soil and climate promising success. Dr. Worsley being +called in, spoke many considerable things to encourage it. We took order +to send to the plantations, that none of their ships should adventure +homeward single, but stay for company and convoys. We also deliberated +on some fit person to go as commissioner to inspect their actions in New +England, and, from time to time, report how that people stood affected. +In future, to meet at Whitehall. + +20th February, 1672. Dr. Parr, of Camberwell, preached a most pathetic +funeral discourse and panegyric at the interment of our late pastor, Dr. +Breton (who died on the 18th), on "Happy is the servant whom, when his +Lord cometh," etc. This good man, among other expressions, professed +that he had never been so touched and concerned at any loss as at this, +unless at that of King Charles our martyr, and Archbishop Usher, whose +chaplain he had been. Dr. Breton had preached on the 28th and 30th of +January: on the Friday, having fasted all day, making his provisionary +sermon for the Sunday following, he went well to bed; but was taken +suddenly ill and expired before help could come to him. + +Never had a parish a greater loss, not only as he was an excellent +preacher, and fitted for our great and vulgar auditory, but for his +excellent life and charity, his meekness and obliging nature, +industrious, helpful, and full of good works. He left near £400 to the +poor in his will, and that what children of his should die in their +minority, their portion should be so employed, I lost in particular a +special friend, and one that had an extraordinary love for me and mine. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +25th February, 1672. To London, to speak with the Bishop, and Sir John +Cutler, our patron, to present Mr. Frampton (afterward Bishop of +Gloucester). + +1st March, 1672. A full Council of Plantations, on the danger of the +Leeward Islands, threatened by the French, who had taken some of our +ships, and began to interrupt our trade. Also in debate, whether the new +Governor of St. Christopher should be subordinate to the Governor of +Barbadoes. The debate was serious and long. + +12th March, 1672. Now was the first blow given by us to the Dutch convoy +of the Smyrna fleet, by Sir Robert Holmes and Lord Ossory, in which we +received little save blows, and a worthy reproach for attacking our +neighbors ere any war was proclaimed, and then pretending the occasion +to be, that some time before, the Merlin yacht chancing to sail through +the whole Dutch fleet, their Admiral did not strike to that trifling +vessel. Surely, this was a quarrel slenderly grounded, and not becoming +Christian neighbors. We are likely to thrive, accordingly. Lord Ossory +several times deplored to me his being engaged in it; he had more +justice and honor than in the least to approve of it, though he had been +over-persuaded to the expedition. There is no doubt but we should have +surprised this exceeding rich fleet, had not the avarice and ambition of +Holmes and Spragge separated themselves, and willfully divided our +fleet, on presumption that either of them was strong enough to deal with +the Dutch convoy without joining and mutual help; but they so warmly +plied our divided fleets, that while in conflict the merchants sailed +away, and got safe into Holland. + +A few days before this, the Treasurer of the Household, Sir Thomas +Clifford, hinted to me, as a confidant, that his Majesty would SHUT UP +THE EXCHEQUER (and, accordingly, his Majesty made use of infinite +treasure there, to prepare for an intended rupture); but, says he, it +will soon be open again, and everybody satisfied; for this bold man, who +had been the sole adviser of the King to invade that sacred stock +(though some pretend it was Lord Ashley's counsel, then Chancellor of +the Exchequer), was so over-confident of the success of this unworthy +design against the Smyrna merchants, as to put his Majesty on an action +which not only lost the hearts of his subjects, and ruined many widows +and orphans, whose stocks were lent him, but the reputation of his +Exchequer forever, it being before in such credit, that he might have +commanded half the wealth of the nation. + +The credit of this bank being thus broken, did exceedingly discontent +the people, and never did his Majesty's affairs prosper to any purpose +after it, for as it did not supply the expense of the meditated war, so +it melted away, I know not how. + +To this succeeded the King's declaration for an universal toleration; +Papists and swarms of Sectaries, now boldly showing themselves in their +public meetings. This was imputed to the same council, Clifford warping +to Rome as was believed, nor was Lord Arlington clear of suspicion, to +gratify that party, but as since it has proved, and was then evidently +foreseen, to the extreme weakening of the Church of England and its +Episcopal Government, as it was projected. I speak not this as my own +sense, but what was the discourse and thoughts of others, who were +lookers-on; for I think there might be some relaxations without the +least prejudice to the present establishment, discreetly limited, but to +let go the reins in this manner, and then to imagine they could take +them up again as easily, was a false policy, and greatly destructive. +The truth is, our Bishops slipped the occasion; for, had they held a +steady hand upon his Majesty's restoration, as they might easily have +done, the Church of England had emerged and flourished, without +interruption; but they were then remiss, and covetous after advantages +of another kind while his Majesty suffered them to come into a harvest, +with which, without any injustice he might have remunerated innumerable +gallant gentlemen for their services who had ruined themselves in the +late rebellion. + +21st March, 1672. I visited the coasts in my district of Kent, and +divers wounded and languishing poor men, that had been in the Smyrna +conflict. I went over to see the new-begun Fort of Tilbury; a royal +work, indeed, and such as will one day bridle a great city to the +purpose, before they are aware. + +23d March, 1672. Captain Cox, one of the Commissioners of the Navy, +furnishing me with a yatch, I sailed to Sheerness to see that fort also, +now newly finished; several places on both sides the Swale and Medway to +Gillingham and Upnore, being also provided with redoubts and batteries +to secure the station of our men-of-war at Chatham, and shut the door +when the steeds were stolen. + +24th March, 1672. I saw the chirurgeon cut off the leg of a wounded +sailor, the stout and gallant man enduring it with incredible patience, +without being bound to his chair, as usual on such painful occasions. I +had hardly courage enough to be present. Not being cut off high enough +the gangrene prevailed, and the second operation cost the poor creature +his life. + +Lord! what miseries are mortal men subject to, and what confusion and +mischief do the avarice, anger, and ambition of Princes, cause in the +world! + +25th March, 1672. I proceeded to Canterbury, Dover, Deal, the Isle of +Thanet, by Sandwich, and so to Margate. Here we had abundance of +miserably wounded men, his Majesty sending his chief chirurgeon, +Sergeant Knight, to meet me, and Dr. Waldrond had attended me all the +journey. Having taken order for the accommodation of the wounded, I came +back through a country the best cultivated of any that in my life I had +anywhere seen, every field lying as even as a bowling-green, and the +fences, plantations, and husbandry, in such admirable order, as +infinitely delighted me, after the sad and afflicting spectacles and +objects I was come from. Observing almost every tall tree to have a +weathercock on the top bough, and some trees half-a-dozen, I learned +that, on a certain holyday, the farmers feast their servants; at which +solemnity, they set up these cocks, in a kind of triumph. + +[Sidenote: ROCHESTER] + +Being come back toward Rochester, I went to take order respecting the +building a strong and high wall about a house I had hired of a +gentleman, at a place called Hartlip, for a prison, paying £50 yearly +rent. Here I settled a Provost-Marshal and other officers, returning by +Feversham. On the 30th heard a sermon in Rochester cathedral, and so got +to Sayes Court on the first of April. + +4th April, 1672. I went to see the fopperies of the Papists at +Somerset-House and York-House, where now the French Ambassador had +caused to be represented our Blessed Savior at the Pascal Supper with +his disciples, in figures and puppets made as big as the life, of +wax-work, curiously clad and sitting round a large table, the room nobly +hung, and shining with innumerable lamps and candles: this was exposed +to all the world; all the city came to see it. Such liberty had the +Roman Catholics at this time obtained. + +16th April, 1672. Sat in Council, preparing Lord Willoughby's commission +and instructions as Governor of Barbadoes and the Caribbee Islands. + +17th April, 1672. Sat on business in the Star Chamber. + +19th April, 1672. At Council, preparing instructions for Colonel +Stapleton, now to go Governor of St. Christopher's, and heard the +complaints of the Jamaica merchants against the Spaniards, for hindering +them from cutting logwood on the mainland, where they have no pretense. + +21st April, 1672. To my Lord of Canterbury, to entreat him to engage Sir +John Cutler, the patron, to provide us a grave and learned man, in +opposition to a novice. + +30th April, 1672. Congratulated Mr. Treasurer Clifford's new honor, +being made a Baron. + +2d May, 1672. My son, John, was specially admitted of the Middle Temple +by Sir Francis North, his Majesty's Solicitor-General, and since +Chancellor. I pray God bless this beginning, my intention being that he +should seriously apply himself to the study of the law. + +10th May, 1672. I was ordered, by letter from the Council, to repair +forthwith to his Majesty, whom I found in the Pall-Mall, in St. James's +Park, where his Majesty coming to me from the company, commanded me to +go immediately to the seacoast, and to observe the motion of the Dutch +fleet and ours, the Duke and so many of the flower of our nation being +now under sail, coming from Portsmouth, through the Downs, where it was +believed there might be an encounter. + +11th May, 1672. Went to Chatham. 12th. Heard a sermon in Rochester +Cathedral. + +13th May, 1672. To Canterbury; visited Dr. Bargrave, my old +fellow-traveler in Italy, and great virtuoso. + +14th May, 1672. To Dover; but the fleet did not appear till the 16th, +when the Duke of York with his and the French squadron, in all 170 ships +(of which above 100 were men-of-war), sailed by, after the Dutch, who +were newly withdrawn. Such a gallant and formidable navy never, I think, +spread sail upon the seas. It was a goodly yet terrible sight, to behold +them as I did, passing eastward by the straits between Dover and Calais +in a glorious day. The wind was yet so high, that I could not well go +aboard, and they were soon got out of sight. The next day, having +visited our prisoners and the Castle, and saluted the Governor, I took +horse for Margate. Here, from the North Foreland Lighthouse top (which +is a pharos, built of brick, and having on the top a cradle of iron, in +which a man attends a great sea-coal fire all the year long, when the +nights are dark, for the safeguard of sailors), we could see our fleet +as they lay at anchor. The next morning, they weighed, and sailed out of +sight to the N. E. + +[Sidenote: MARGATE] + +19th May, 1672. Went to Margate; and, the following day, was carried to +see a gallant widow, brought up a farmeress, and I think of gigantic +race, rich, comely, and exceedingly industrious. She put me in mind of +Deborah and Abigail, her house was so plentifully stored with all manner +of country provisions, all of her own growth, and all her conveniences +so substantial, neat, and well understood; she herself so jolly and +hospitable; and her land so trim and rarely husbanded, that it struck me +with admiration at her economy. + +This town much consists of brewers of a certain heady ale, and they deal +much in malt, etc. For the rest, it is raggedly built, and has an ill +haven, with a small fort of little concernment, nor is the island well +disciplined; but as to the husbandry and rural part, far exceeding any +part of England for the accurate culture of their ground, in which they +exceed, even to curiosity and emulation. + +We passed by Rickborough, and in sight of Reculvers, and so through a +sweet garden, as it were, to Canterbury. + +24th May, 1672. To London and gave his Majesty an account of my journey, +and that I had put all things in readiness upon all events, and so +returned home sufficiently wearied. + +31st May, 1672. I received another command to repair to the seaside; so +I went to Rochester, where I found many wounded, sick, and prisoners, +newly put on shore after the engagement on the 28th, in which the Earl +of Sandwich, that incomparable person and my particular friend, and +divers more whom I loved, were lost. My Lord (who was Admiral of the +Blue) was in the "Prince," which was burnt, one of the best men-of-war +that ever spread canvas on the sea. There were lost with this brave man, +a son of Sir Charles Cotterell (Master of the Ceremonies), and a son of +Sir Charles Harbord (his Majesty's Surveyor-General), two valiant and +most accomplished youths, full of virtue and courage, who might have +saved themselves; but chose to perish with my Lord, whom they honored +and loved above their own lives. + +Here, I cannot but make some reflections on things past. It was not +above a day or two that going to Whitehall to take leave of his +Lordship, who had his lodgings in the Privy-Garden, shaking me by the +hand he bid me good-by, and said he thought he would see me no more, and +I saw, to my thinking, something boding in his countenance: "No," says +he, "they will not have me live. Had I lost a fleet (meaning on his +return from Bergen when he took the East India prize) I should have +fared better; but, be as it pleases God--I must do something, I know not +what, to save my reputation." Something to this effect, he had hinted to +me; thus I took my leave. I well remember that the Duke of Albemarle, +and my now Lord Clifford, had, I know not why, no great opinion of his +courage, because, in former conflicts, being an able and experienced +seaman (which neither of them were), he always brought off his Majesty's +ships without loss, though not without as many marks of true courage as +the stoutest of them; and I am a witness that, in the late war, his own +ship was pierced like a colander. But the business was, he was utterly +against this war from the beginning, and abhorred the attacking of the +Smyrna fleet; he did not favor the heady expedition of Clifford at +Bergen, nor was he so furious and confident as was the Duke of +Albemarle, who believed he could vanquish the Hollanders with one +squadron. My Lord Sandwich was prudent as well as valiant, and always +governed his affairs with success and little loss; he was for +deliberation and reason, they for action and slaughter without either; +and for this, whispered as if my Lord Sandwich was not so gallant, +because he was not so rash, and knew how fatal it was to lose a fleet, +such as was that under his conduct, and for which these very persons +would have censured him on the other side. This it was, I am confident, +grieved him, and made him enter like a lion, and fight like one too, in +the midst of the hottest service, where the stoutest of the rest seeing +him engaged, and so many ships upon him, dared not, or would not, come +to his succor, as some of them, whom I know, might have done. Thus, this +gallant person perished, to gratify the pride and envy of some I named. + +Deplorable was the loss of one of the best accomplished persons, not +only of this nation, but of any other. He was learned in sea affairs, in +politics, in mathematics, and in music: he had been on divers embassies, +was of a sweet and obliging temper, sober, chaste, very ingenious, a +true nobleman, an ornament to the Court and his Prince; nor has he left +any behind him who approach his many virtues. + +He had, I confess, served the tyrant Cromwell, when a young man, but it +was without malice, as a soldier of fortune; and he readily submitted, +and that with joy, bringing an entire fleet with him from the Sound, at +the first tidings of his Majesty's restoration. I verily believe him as +faithful a subject as any that were not his friends. I am yet heartily +grieved at this mighty loss, nor do I call it to my thoughts without +emotion. + +[Sidenote: ROCHESTER] + +2d June, 1672. Trinity Sunday, I passed at Rochester; and, on the 5th, +there was buried in the Cathedral Monsieur Rabiniére, Rear Admiral of +the French squadron, a gallant person, who died of the wounds he +received in the fight. This ceremony lay on me, which I performed with +all the decency I could, inviting the Mayor and Aldermen to come in +their formalities. Sir Jonas Atkins was there with his guards; and the +Dean and Prebendaries: one of his countrymen pronouncing a funeral +oration at the brink of his grave, which I caused to be dug in the +choir. This is more at large described in the "Gazette" of that day; +Colonel Reymes, my colleague in commission, assisting, who was so kind +as to accompany me from London, though it was not his district; for +indeed the stress of both these wars lay more on me by far than on any +of my brethren, who had little to do in theirs. I went to see Upnore +Castle, which I found pretty well defended, but of no great moment. + +Next day I sailed to the fleet, now riding at the buoy of the "Nore," +where I met his Majesty, the Duke, Lord Arlington, and all the great +men, in the "Charles," lying miserably shattered; but the miss of Lord +Sandwich redoubled the loss to me, and showed the folly of hazarding so +brave a fleet, and losing so many good men, for no provocation but that +the Hollanders exceeded us in industry, and in all things but envy. + +At Sheerness, I gave his Majesty and his Royal Highness an account of my +charge, and returned to Queenborough; next day dined at Major Dorel's, +Governor of Sheerness; thence, to Rochester; and the following day, +home. + +12th June, 1672. To London to his Majesty, to solicit for money for the +sick and wounded, which he promised me. + +19th June, 1672. To London again, to solicit the same. + +21st June, 1672. At a Council of Plantations. Most of this week busied +with the sick and wounded. + +3d July, 1672. To Lord Sandwich's funeral, which was by water to +Westminster, in solemn pomp. + +31st July, 1672. I entertained the Maids of Honor (among whom there was +one I infinitely esteemed for her many and extraordinary virtues[31]) at +a comedy this afternoon, and so went home. + + [Footnote 31: Mrs. Blagg whom Evelyn never tires of instancing and + characterizing as a rare example of piety and virtue, in so rare a + wit, beauty, and perfection, in a licentious court, and depraved + age. She was afterward married to Mr. Godolphin, and her life, + written by Evelyn, has been edited and published by the Bishop of + Oxford.] + +1st August, 1672. I was at the betrothal of Lord Arlington's only +daughter (a sweet child if ever there was any[32]) to the Duke of +Grafton, the King's natural son by the Duchess of Cleveland; the +Archbishop of Canterbury officiating, the King and the grandees being +present. I had a favor given me by my Lady; but took no great joy at the +thing for many reasons. + + [Footnote 32: She was then only fifteen years old.] + +18th August, 1672. Sir James Hayes, Secretary to Prince Rupert, dined +with me; after dinner I was sent to Gravesend to dispose of no fewer +than 800 sick men. That night I got to the fleet at the buoy of the +"Nore," where I spoke with the King and the Duke; and, after dinner next +day, returned to Gravesend. + +1st September, 1672. I spent this week in soliciting for moneys, and in +reading to my Lord Clifford my papers relating to the first Holland war. +Now, our Council of Plantations met at Lord Shaftesbury's (Chancellor of +the Exchequer) to read and reform the draft of our new Patent, joining +the Council of Trade to our political capacities. After this, I returned +home, in order to another excursion to the seaside, to get as many as +possible of the men who were recovered on board the fleet. + +8th September, 1672. I lay at Gravesend, thence to Rochester, returning +on the 11th. + +15th September, 1672. Dr. Duport, Greek Professor of Cambridge, preached +before the King, on 1 Timothy vi. 6. No great preacher, but a very +worthy and learned man. + +25th September, 1672. I dined at Lord John Berkeley's, newly arrived +out of Ireland, where he had been Deputy; it was in his new house, or +rather palace; for I am assured it stood him in near £30,000. It was +very well built, and has many noble rooms, but they are not very +convenient, consisting but of one _Corps de Logis_; they are all rooms +of state, without closets. The staircase is of cedar, the furniture is +princely: the kitchen and stables are ill placed, and the corridor +worse, having no report to the wings they join to. For the rest, the +fore-court is noble, so are the stables; and, above all, the gardens, +which are incomparable by reason of the inequality of the ground, and a +pretty piscina. The holly hedges on the terrace I advised the planting +of. The porticos are in imitation of a house described by Palladio; but +it happens to be the worst in his book, though my good friend, Mr. Hugh +May, his Lordship's architect, effected it. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th September, 1672. I carried with me to dinner my Lord H. Howard (now +to be made Earl of Norwich and Earl Marshal of England) to Sir Robert +Clayton's, now Sheriff of London, at his new house, where we had a great +feast; it is built indeed for a great magistrate, at excessive cost. The +cedar dining room is painted with the history of the Giants' War, +incomparably done by Mr. Streeter, but the figures are too near the eye. + +6th October, 1672. Dr. Thistlethwaite preached at Whitehall on Rev. v. +2,--a young, but good preacher. I received the blessed Communion, Dr. +Blandford, Bishop of Worcester, and Dean of the Chapel, officiating. +Dined at my Lord Clifford's, with Lord Mulgrave, Sir Gilbert Talbot, and +Sir Robert Holmes. + +8th October, 1672. I took leave of my Lady Sunderland, who was going to +Paris to my Lord, now ambassador there. She made me stay to dinner at +Leicester House, and afterward sent for Richardson, the famous +fire-eater. He devoured brimstone on glowing coals before us, chewing +and swallowing them; he melted a beer-glass and ate it quite up; then, +taking a live coal on his tongue, he put on it a raw oyster, the coal +was blown on with bellows till it flamed and sparkled in his mouth, and +so remained till the oyster gaped and was quite boiled. Then, he melted +pitch and wax with sulphur, which he drank down as it flamed; I saw it +flaming in his mouth a good while; he also took up a thick piece of +iron, such as laundresses use to put in their smoothing boxes, when it +was fiery hot, held it between his teeth, then in his hand, and threw it +about like a stone; but this, I observed, he cared not to hold very +long; then he stood on a small pot, and, bending his body, took a +glowing iron with his mouth from between his feet, without touching the +pot, or ground, with his hands; with divers other prodigious feats. + +13th October, 1672. After sermon (being summoned before), I went to my +Lord Keeper's, Sir Orlando Bridgeman, at Essex House, where our new +patent was opened and read, constituting us that were of the Council of +Plantations, to be now of the Council of Trade also, both united. After +the patent was read, we all took our oaths, and departed. + +24th October, 1672. Met in Council, the Earl of Shaftesbury, now our +president, swearing our secretary and his clerks, which was Mr. Locke, +an excellent learned gentleman, and student of Christ Church, Mr. Lloyd, +and Mr. Frowde. We dispatched a letter to Sir Thomas Linch, Governor of +Jamaica, giving him notice of a design of the Dutch on that island. + +27th October, 1672. I went to hear that famous preacher, Dr. Frampton, +at St. Giles's, on Psalm xxxix. 6. This divine had been twice at +Jerusalem, and was not only a very pious and holy man, but excellent in +the pulpit for the moving affections. + +8th November, 1672. At Council, we debated the business of the consulate +of Leghorn. I was of the committee with Sir Humphry Winch, the chairman, +to examine the laws of his Majesty's several plantations and colonies in +the West Indies, etc. + +15th November, 1672. Many merchants were summoned about the consulate of +Venice; which caused great disputes; the most considerable thought it +useless. This being the Queen-Consort's birthday, there was an +extraordinary appearance of gallantry, and a ball danced at Court. + +30th November, 1672. I was chosen secretary to the Royal Society. + +21st December, 1672. Settled the consulate of Venice. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st January, 1672-73. After public prayers in the chapel at Whitehall, +when I gave God solemn thanks for all his mercies to me the year past, +and my humble supplications to him for his blessing the year now +entering, I returned home, having my poor deceased servant (Adams) to +bury, who died of pleurisy. + +3d January, 1673. My son now published his version of "_Raptinus +Hortorum_." + +28th January, 1673. Visited Don Francisco de Melos, the Portugal +Ambassador, who showed me his curious collection of books and pictures. +He was a person of good parts, and a virtuous man. + +6th February, 1673. To Council about reforming an abuse of the dyers +with _saundus_, and other false drugs; examined divers of that trade. + +23d February, 1673. The Bishop of Chichester preached before the King +on Coloss. ii. 14, 15, admirably well, as he can do nothing but what is +well. + +5th March, 1673. Our new vicar, Mr. Holden, preached in Whitehall +chapel, on Psalm iv. 6, 7. This gentleman is a very excellent and +universal scholar, a good and wise man; but he had not the popular way +of preaching, nor is in any measure fit for our plain and vulgar +auditory, as his predecessor was. There was, however, no comparison +between their parts for profound learning. But time and experience may +form him to a more practical way than that he is in of University +lectures and erudition; which is now universally left off for what is +much more profitable. + +15th March, 1673. I heard the speech made to the Lords in their House by +Sir Samuel Tuke, in behalf of the Papists, to take off the penal laws; +and then dined with Colonel Norwood. + +16th March, 1673. Dr. Pearson, Bishop of Chester, preached on Hebrews +ix. 14; a most incomparable sermon from one of the most learned divines +of our nation. I dined at my Lord Arlington's with the Duke and Duchess +of Monmouth; she is one of the wisest and craftiest of her sex, and has +much wit. Here was also the learned Isaac Vossius. + +During Lent there is constantly the most excellent preaching by the most +eminent bishops and divines of the nation. + +26th March, 1673. I was sworn a younger brother of the Trinity House, +with my most worthy and long-acquainted noble friend, Lord Ossory +(eldest son to the Duke of Ormond), Sir Richard Browne, my +father-in-law, being now Master of that Society; after which there was a +great collation. + +29th March, 1673. I carried my son to the Bishop of Chichester, that +learned and pious man, Dr. Peter Gunning, to be instructed by him before +he received the Holy Sacrament, when he gave him most excellent advice, +which I pray God may influence and remain with him as long as he lives; +and O that I had been so blessed and instructed, when first I was +admitted to that sacred ordinance! + +30th March, 1673. Easter day. Myself and son received the blessed +Communion, it being his first time, and with that whole week's more +extraordinary preparation. I beseech God to make him a sincere and good +Christian, while I endeavor to instill into him the fear and love of +God, and discharge the duty of a father. + +At the sermon _coram Rege_, preached by Dr. Sparrow, Bishop of Exeter, +to a most crowded auditory; I stayed to see whether, according to +custom, the Duke of York received the Communion with the King; but he +did not, to the amazement of everybody. This being the second year he +had forborne, and put it off, and within a day of the Parliament +sitting, who had lately made so severe an Act against the increase of +Popery, gave exceeding grief and scandal to the whole nation, that the +heir of it, and the son of a martyr for the Protestant religion, should +apostatize. What the consequence of this will be, God only knows, and +wise men dread. + +11th April, 1673. I dined with the plenipotentiaries designed for the +treaty of Nimeguen. + +17th April, 1673. I carried Lady Tuke to thank the Countess of Arlington +for speaking to his Majesty in her behalf, for being one of the Queen +Consort's women. She carried us up into her new dressing room at Goring +House, where was a bed, two glasses, silver jars, and vases, cabinets, +and other so rich furniture as I had seldom seen; to this excess of +superfluity were we now arrived and that not only at Court, but almost +universally, even to wantonness and profusion. + +Dr. Compton, brother to the Earl of Northampton, preached on 1 Corinth. +v. 11-16, showing the Church's power in ordaining things indifferent; +this worthy person's talent is not preaching, but he is likely to make a +grave and serious good man. + +I saw her Majesty's rich toilet in her dressing room, being all of massy +gold, presented to her by the King, valued at £4,000. + +26th April, 1673. Dr. Lamplugh preached at St. Martin's the Holy +Sacrament following, which I partook of, upon obligation of the late Act +of Parliament, enjoining everybody in office, civil or military, under +penalty of £500, to receive it within one month before two authentic +witnesses; being engrossed on parchment, to be afterward produced in the +Court of Chancery, or some other Court of Record; which I did at the +Chancery bar, as being one of the Council of Plantations and Trade; +taking then also the oath of allegiance and supremacy, signing the +clause in the said Act against Transubstantiation. + +25th May, 1673. My son was made a younger brother of the Trinity House. +The new master was Sir J. Smith, one of the Commissioners of the Navy, a +stout seaman, who had interposed and saved the Duke from perishing by a +fire ship in the late war. + +28th May, 1673. I carried one Withers, an ingenious shipwright, to the +King to show him some new method of building. + +29th May, 1673. I saw the Italian comedy at the Court, this afternoon. + +10th June, 1673. Came to visit and dine with me my Lord Viscount +Cornbury and his Lady; Lady Frances Hyde, sister to the Duchess of York; +and Mrs. Dorothy Howard, maid of Honor. We went, after dinner, to see +the formal and formidable camp on Blackheath, raised to invade Holland; +or, as others suspected for another design. Thence, to the Italian +glass-house at Greenwich, where glass was blown of finer metal than that +of Murano, at Venice. + +13th June, 1673. Came to visit us, with other ladies of rank, Mrs. +Sedley,[33] daughter to Sir Charles, who was none of the most virtuous, +but a wit. + + [Footnote 33: The Duke of York's mistress, afterward created by him + Countess of Dorchester.] + +19th June, 1673. Congratulated the new Lord Treasurer, Sir Thomas +Osborne, a gentleman with whom I had been intimately acquainted at +Paris, and who was every day at my father-in-law's house and table +there; on which account I was too confident of succeeding in his favor, +as I had done in his predecessor's; but such a friend shall I never +find, and I neglected my time, far from believing that my Lord Clifford +would have so rashly laid down his staff, as he did, to the amazement of +all the world, when it came to the test of his receiving the Communion, +which I am confident he forbore more from some promise he had entered +into to gratify the Duke, than from any prejudice to the Protestant +religion, though I found him wavering a pretty while. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +23d June, 1673. To London, to accompany our Council who went in a body +to congratulate the new Lord Treasurer, no friend to it because promoted +by my Lord Arlington, whom he hated. + +26th June, 1673. Came visitors from Court to dine with me and see the +army still remaining encamped on Blackheath. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th July, 1673. This evening I went to the funeral of my dear and +excellent friend, that good man and accomplished gentleman, Sir Robert +Murray, Secretary of Scotland. He was buried by order of his Majesty in +Westminster Abbey. + +25th July, 1673. I went to Tunbridge Wells, to visit my Lord Clifford, +late Lord Treasurer, who was there to divert his mind more than his +body; it was believed that he had so engaged himself to the Duke, that +rather than take the Test, without which he was not capable of holding +any office, he would resign that great and honorable station. This, I am +confident, grieved him to the heart, and at last broke it; for, though +he carried with him music, and people to divert him, and, when I came to +see him, lodged me in his own apartment, and would not let me go from +him, I found he was struggling in his mind; and being of a rough and +ambitious nature, he could not long brook the necessity he had brought +on himself, of submission to this conjuncture. Besides, he saw the Dutch +war, which was made much by his advice, as well as the shutting up of +the Exchequer, very unprosperous. These things his high spirit could not +support. Having stayed here two or three days, I obtained leave of my +Lord to return. + +In my way, I saw my Lord of Dorset's house at Knowle, near Sevenoaks, a +great old-fashioned house. + +30th July, 1673. To Council, where the business of transporting wool was +brought before us. + +31st July, 1673. I went to see the pictures of all the judges and +eminent men of the Long Robe, newly painted by Mr. Wright, and set up in +Guildhall, costing the city £1,000. Most of them are very like the +persons they represent, though I never took Wright to be any +considerable artist. + +13th August, 1673. I rode to Durdans, where I dined at my Lord +Berkeley's of Berkeley Castle, my old and noble friend, it being his +wedding anniversary, where I found the Duchess of Albemarle, and other +company, and returned home on that evening late. + +15th August, 1673. Came to visit me my Lord Chancellor, the Earl of +Shaftesbury. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +18th August, 1673. My Lord Clifford, being about this time returned +from Tunbridge, and preparing for Devonshire, I went to take my leave of +him at Wallingford House; he was packing up pictures, most of which were +of hunting wild beasts and vast pieces of bull-baiting, bear-baiting, +etc. I found him in his study, and restored to him several papers of +state, and others of importance, which he had furnished me with, on +engaging me to write the "History of the Holland War," with other +private letters of his acknowledgments to my Lord Arlington, who from a +private gentleman of a very noble family, but inconsiderable fortune, +had advanced him from almost nothing. The first thing was his being in +Parliament, then knighted, then made one of the Commissioners of sick +and wounded, on which occasion we sat long together; then, on the death +of Hugh Pollard, he was made Comptroller of the Household and Privy +Councillor, yet still my brother Commissioner; after the death of Lord +Fitz-Harding, Treasurer of the Household, he, by letters to Lord +Arlington, which that Lord showed me, begged of his Lordship to obtain +it for him as the very height of his ambition. These were written with +such submissions and professions of his patronage, as I had never seen +any more acknowledging. The Earl of Southampton then dying, he was made +one of the Commissioners of the Treasury. His Majesty inclining to put +it into one hand, my Lord Clifford, under pretense of making all his +interest for his patron, my Lord Arlington, cut the grass under his +feet, and procured it for himself, assuring the King that Lord Arlington +did not desire it. Indeed, my Lord Arlington protested to me that his +confidence in Lord Clifford made him so remiss and his affection to him +was so particular, that he was absolutely minded to devolve it on Lord +Clifford, all the world knowing how he himself affected ease and quiet, +now growing into years, yet little thinking of this go-by. This was the +great ingratitude Lord Clifford showed, keeping my Lord Arlington in +ignorance, continually assuring him he was pursuing his interest, which +was the Duke's into whose great favor Lord Clifford was now gotten; but +which certainly cost him the loss of all, namely, his going so +irrevocably far in his interest. + +For the rest, my Lord Clifford was a valiant, incorrupt gentleman, +ambitious, not covetous; generous, passionate, a most constant, sincere +friend, to me in particular, so as when he laid down his office, I was +at the end of all my hopes and endeavors. These were not for high +matters, but to obtain what his Majesty was really indebted to my +father-in-law, which was the utmost of my ambition, and which I had +undoubtedly obtained, if this friend had stood. Sir Thomas Osborn, who +succeeded him, though much more obliged to my father-in-law and his +family, and my long and old acquaintance, being of a more haughty and +far less obliging nature, I could hope for little; a man of excellent +natural parts; but nothing of generous or grateful. + +Taking leave of my Lord Clifford, he wrung me by the hand, and, looking +earnestly on me, bid me God-b'ye, adding, "Mr. Evelyn, I shall never see +thee more." "No!" said I, "my Lord, what's the meaning of this? I hope I +shall see you often, and as great a person again." "No, Mr. Evelyn, do +not expect it, I will never see this place, this city, or Court again," +or words of this sound. In this manner, not without almost mutual tears, +I parted from him; nor was it long after, but the news was that he was +dead, and I have heard from some who I believe knew, he made himself +away, after an extraordinary melancholy. This is not confidently +affirmed, but a servant who lived in the house, and afterward with Sir +Robert Clayton, Lord Mayor, did, as well as others, report it, and when +I hinted some such thing to Mr. Prideaux, one of his trustees, he was +not willing to enter into that discourse. + +It was reported with these particulars, that, causing his servant to +leave him unusually one morning, locking himself in, he strangled +himself with his cravat upon the bed-tester; his servant, not liking the +manner of dismissing him, and looking through the keyhole (as I +remember), and seeing his master hanging, broke in before he was quite +dead, and taking him down, vomiting a great deal of blood, he was heard +to utter these words: "Well; let men say what they will, there is a God, +a just God above"; after which he spoke no more. This, if true, is +dismal. Really, he was the chief occasion of the Dutch war, and of all +that blood which was lost at Bergen in attacking the Smyrna fleet, and +that whole quarrel. + +This leads me to call to mind what my Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury +affirmed, not to me only, but to all my brethren the Council of Foreign +Plantations, when not long after, this accident being mentioned as we +were one day sitting in Council, his Lordship told us this remarkable +passage: that, being one day discoursing with him when he was only Sir +Thomas Clifford, speaking of men's advancement to great charges in the +nation, "Well," says he, "my Lord, I shall be one of the greatest men in +England. Don't impute what I say either to fancy, or vanity; I am +certain that I shall be a mighty man; but it will not last long; I shall +not hold it, but die a bloody death." "What," says my Lord, "your +horoscope tells you so?" "No matter for that, it will be as I tell you." +"Well," says my Lord Chancellor Shaftesbury, "if I were of that opinion, +I either would not be a great man, but decline preferment, or prevent my +danger." + +This my Lord affirmed in my hearing before several gentlemen and +noblemen sitting in council at Whitehall. And I the rather am confident +of it, remembering what Sir Edward Walker (Garter King-at-Arms) had +likewise affirmed to me a long time before, even when he was first made +a Lord; that carrying his pedigree to Lord Clifford on his being created +a peer, and, finding him busy, he bade him go into his study and divert +himself there till he was at leisure to discourse with him about some +things relating to his family; there lay, said Sir Edward, on his table, +his horoscope and nativity calculated, with some writing under it, where +he read that he should be advanced to the highest degree in the state +that could be conferred upon him, but that he should not long enjoy it, +but should die, or expressions to that sense; and I think, (but cannot +confidently say) a bloody death. This Sir Edward affirmed both to me and +Sir Richard Browne; nor could I forbear to note this extraordinary +passage in these memoirs. + +14th September, 1673. Dr. Creighton, son to the late eloquent Bishop of +Bath and Wells, preached to the Household on Isaiah, lvii. 8. + +15th September, 1673. I procured £4,000 of the Lords of the Treasury, +and rectified divers matters about the sick and wounded. + +16th September, 1673. To Council, about choosing a new Secretary. + +17th September, 1673. I went with some friends to visit Mr. Bernard +Grenville, at Abs Court in Surrey; an old house in a pretty park. + +23d September, 1673. I went to see Paradise, a room in Hatton Garden +furnished with a representation of all sorts of animals handsomely +painted on boards or cloth, and so cut out and made to stand, move, fly, +crawl, roar, and make their several cries. The man who showed it, made +us laugh heartily at his formal poetry. + +15th October, 1673. To Council, and swore in Mr. Locke, secretary, Dr. +Worsley being dead. + +27th October, 1673. To Council, about sending succors to recover New +York: and then we read the commission and instructions to Sir Jonathan +Atkins, the new Governor of Barbadoes. + +5th November, 1673. This night the youths of the city burned the Pope in +effigy, after they had made procession with it in great triumph, they +being displeased at the Duke for altering his religion and marrying an +Italian lady. + +30th November, 1673. On St. Andrew's day I first saw the new Duchess of +York, and the Duchess of Modena, her mother. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st December, 1673. To Gresham College, whither the city had invited the +Royal Society by many of their chief aldermen and magistrates, who gave +us a collation, to welcome us to our first place of assembly, from +whence we had been driven to give place to the City, on their making it +their Exchange on the dreadful conflagration, till their new Exchange +was finished, which it now was. The Society having till now been +entertained and having met at Arundel House. + +2d December, 1673. I dined with some friends, and visited the sick; +thence, to an almshouse, where was prayers and relief, some very ill and +miserable. It was one of the best days I ever spent in my life. + +3d December, 1673. There was at dinner my Lord Lockhart, designed +Ambassador for France, a gallant and sober person. + +9th December, 1673. I saw again the Italian Duchess and her brother, the +Prince Reynaldo. + +20th December, 1673. I had some discourse with certain strangers, not +unlearned, who had been born not far from Old Nineveh; they assured me +of the ruins being still extant, and vast and wonderful were the +buildings, vaults, pillars, and magnificent fragments;[34] but they +could say little of the Tower of Babel that satisfied me. But the +description of the amenity and fragrancy of the country for health and +cheerfulness, delighted me; so sensibly they spoke of the excellent air +and climate in respect of our cloudy and splenetic country. + + [Footnote 34: The remarkable discoveries of Mr. Layard give now a + curious interest to this notice by Evelyn.] + +24th December, 1673. Visited the prisoners at Ludgate, taking orders +about the releasing of some. + +30th December, 1673. I gave Almighty God thanks for his infinite +goodness to me the year past, and begged his mercy and protection the +year following; afterward, invited my neighbors to spend the day with +me. + +5th January, 1673-74. I saw an Italian opera in music, the first that +had been in England of this kind. + +9th January, 1674. Sent for by his Majesty to write something against +the Hollanders about the duty of the Flag and Fishery. Returned with +some papers. + +25th March, 1674. I dined at Knightsbridge, with the Bishops of +Salisbury, Chester, and Lincoln, my old friends. + +29th May, 1674. His Majesty's birthday and Restoration. Mr. Demalhoy, +Roger L'Estrange, and several of my friends, came to dine with me on the +happy occasion. + +27th June, 1674. Mr. Dryden, the famous poet and now laureate, came to +give me a visit. It was the anniversary of my marriage, and the first +day I went into my new little cell and cabinet, which I built below +toward the south court, at the east end of the parlor. + +9th July, 1674. Paid £360 for purchase of Dr. Jacombe's son's share in +the mill and land at Deptford, which I bought of the Beechers. + +22d July, 1674. I went to Windsor with my wife and son to see my +daughter Mary, who was there with my Lady Tuke and to do my duty to his +Majesty. Next day, to a great entertainment at Sir Robert Holmes's at +Cranbourne Lodge, in the Forest; there were his Majesty, the Queen, +Duke, Duchess, and all the Court. I returned in the evening with Sir +Joseph Williamson, now declared Secretary of State. He was son of a poor +clergyman somewhere in Cumberland, brought up at Queen's College, +Oxford, of which he came to be a fellow; then traveled with ... and +returning when the King was restored, was received as a clerk under Mr. +Secretary Nicholas. Sir Henry Bennett (now Lord Arlington) succeeding, +Williamson is transferred to him, who loving his ease more than business +(though sufficiently able had he applied himself to it) remitted all to +his man Williamson; and, in a short time, let him so into the secret of +affairs, that (as his Lordship himself told me) there was a kind of +necessity to advance him; and so, by his subtlety, dexterity, and +insinuation, he got now to be principal Secretary; absolutely Lord +Arlington's creature, and ungrateful enough. It has been the fate of +this obliging favorite to advance those who soon forgot their original. +Sir Joseph was a musician, could play at _Jeu de Goblets_, exceedingly +formal, a severe master to his servants, but so inward with my Lord +O'Brien, that after a few months of that gentleman's death, he married +his widow,[35] who, being sister and heir of the Duke of Richmond, +brought him a noble fortune. It was thought they lived not so kindly +after marriage as they did before. She was much censured for marrying so +meanly, being herself allied to the Royal family. + + [Footnote 35: Lady Catherine Stuart, sister and heir to Charles + Stuart, Duke of Richmond and Lennox, the husband of Mrs. Frances + Stuart, one of the most admired beauties of the Court, with whom + Charles II. was so deeply in love that he never forgave the Duke for + marrying her, having already, it is thought, formed some similar + intention himself. He took the first opportunity of sending the Duke + into an honorable exile, as Ambassador to Denmark, where he shortly + after died, leaving no issue by the Duchess.] + +[Sidenote: GROOMBRIDGE] + +6th August, 1674. I went to Groombridge, to see my old friend, Mr. +Packer; the house built within a moat, in a woody valley. The old house +had been the place of confinement of the Duke of Orleans, taken by one +Waller (whose house it then was) at the battle of Agincourt, now +demolished, and a new one built in its place, though a far better +situation had been on the south of the wood, on a graceful ascent. At +some small distance, is a large chapel, not long since built by Mr. +Packer's father, on a vow he made to do it on the return of King Charles +I. out of Spain, 1625, and dedicated to St. Charles, but what saint +there was then of that name I am to seek, for, being a Protestant, I +conceive it was not Borromeo. + +I went to see my farm at Ripe, near Lewes. + +19th August, 1674. His Majesty told me how exceedingly the Dutch were +displeased at my treatise of the "History of Commerce;" that the Holland +Ambassador had complained to him of what I had touched of the Flags and +Fishery, etc., and desired the book might be called in; while on the +other side, he assured me he was exceedingly pleased with what I had +done, and gave me many thanks. However, it being just upon conclusion of +the treaty of Breda (indeed it was designed to have been published some +months before and when we were at defiance), his Majesty told me he must +recall it formally; but gave order that what copies should be publicly +seized to pacify the Ambassador, should immediately be restored to the +printer, and that neither he nor the vender should be molested. The +truth is, that which touched the Hollander was much less than what the +King himself furnished me with, and obliged me to publish, having caused +it to be read to him before it went to press; but the error was, it +should have been published before the peace was proclaimed. The noise of +this book's suppression made it presently to be bought up, and turned +much to the stationer's advantage. It was no other than the preface +prepared to be prefixed to my "History of the Whole War;" which I now +pursued no further. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st August, 1674. In one of the meadows at the foot of the long +Terrace below the Castle [Windsor], works were thrown up to show the +King a representation of the city of Maestricht, newly taken by the +French. Bastians, bulwarks, ramparts, palisadoes, graffs, horn-works, +counter-scarps, etc., were constructed. It was attacked by the Duke of +Monmouth (newly come from the real siege) and the Duke of York, with a +little army, to show their skill in tactics. On Saturday night they made +their approaches, opened trenches, raised batteries, took the +counter-scarp and ravelin, after a stout defense; great guns fired on +both sides, grenadoes shot, mines sprung, parties sent out, attempts of +raising the siege, prisoners taken, parleys; and, in short, all the +circumstances of a formal siege, to appearance, and, what is most +strange all without disorder, or ill accident, to the great satisfaction +of a thousand spectators. Being night, it made a formidable show. The +siege being over, I went with Mr. Pepys back to London, where we arrived +about three in the morning. + +15th September, 1674. To Council, about fetching away the English left +at Surinam, etc., since our reconciliation with Holland. + +21st September, 1674. I went to see the great loss that Lord Arlington +had sustained by fire at Goring House, this night consumed to the +ground, with exceeding loss of hangings, plate, rare pictures, and +cabinets; hardly anything was saved of the best and most princely +furniture that any subject had in England. My lord and lady were both +absent at the Bath. + +6th October, 1674. The Lord Chief Baron Turner, and Sergeant Wild, +Recorder of London, came to visit me. + +20th October, 1674. At Lord Berkeley's, I discoursed with Sir Thomas +Modiford, late Governor of Jamaica, and with Colonel Morgan, who +undertook that gallant exploit from Nombre de Dios to Panama, on the +Continent of America; he told me 10,000 men would easily conquer all the +Spanish Indies, they were so secure. They took great booty, and much +greater had been taken, had they not been betrayed and so discovered +before their approach, by which the Spaniards had time to carry their +vast treasure on board ships that put off to sea in sight of our men, +who had no boats to follow. They set fire to Panama, and ravaged the +country sixty miles about. The Spaniards were so supine and unexercised, +that they were afraid to fire a great gun. + +31st October, 1674. My birthday, 54th year of my life. Blessed be God! +It was also preparation day for the Holy Sacrament, in which I +participated the next day, imploring God's protection for the year +following, and confirming my resolutions of a more holy life, even upon +the Holy Book. The Lord assist and be gracious unto me! Amen. + +15th November, 1674. The anniversary of my baptism: I first heard that +famous and excellent preacher, Dr. Burnet, author of the "History of the +Reformation" on Colossians iii. 10, with such flow of eloquence and +fullness of matter, as showed him to be a person o£ extraordinary parts. + +Being her Majesty's birthday, the Court was exceeding splendid in +clothes and jewels, to the height of excess. + +17th November, 1674. To Council, on the business of Surinam, where the +Dutch had detained some English in prison, ever since the first war, +1665. + +19th November, 1674. I heard that stupendous violin, Signor Nicholao +(with other rare musicians), whom I never heard mortal man exceed on +that instrument. He had a stroke so sweet, and made it speak like the +voice of a man, and, when he pleased, like a concert of several +instruments. He did wonders upon a note, and was an excellent composer. +Here was also that rare lutanist, Dr. Wallgrave; but nothing approached +the violin in Nicholao's hand. He played such ravishing things as +astonished us all. + +2d December, 1674. At Mr. Slingsby's, master of the mint, my worthy +friend, a great lover of music. Heard Signor Francisco on the +harpsichord, esteemed one of the most excellent masters in Europe on +that instrument; then, came Nicholao with his violin, and struck all +mute, but Mrs. Knight, who sung incomparably, and doubtless has the +greatest reach of any English woman; she had been lately roaming in +Italy, and was much improved in that quality. + +15th December, 1674. Saw a comedy at night, at Court, acted by the +ladies only, among them Lady Mary and Ann, his Royal Highness' two +daughters, and my dear friend Mrs. Blagg, who, having the principal +part, performed it to admiration. They were all covered with jewels. + +22d December, 1674. Was at the repetition of the "Pastoral," on which +occasion Mrs. Blagg had about her near £20,000 worth of jewels, of which +she lost one worth about £80, borrowed of the Countess of Suffolk. The +press was so great, that it is a wonder she lost no more. The Duke made +it good. + +20th January, 1674-75. Went to see Mr. Streeter, that excellent painter +of perspective and landscape, to comfort and encourage him to be cut for +the stone, with which that honest man was exceedingly afflicted. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +22d March, 1675. Supped at Sir William Petty's, with the Bishop of +Salisbury, and divers honorable persons. We had a noble entertainment in +a house gloriously furnished; the master and mistress of it were +extraordinary persons. Sir William was the son of a mean man somewhere +in Sussex, and sent from school to Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, +but was most eminent in Mathematics and Mechanics; proceeded Doctor of +Physic, and was grown famous, as for his learning so for his recovering +a poor wench that had been hanged for felony; and her body having been +begged (as the custom is) for the anatomy lecture, he bled her, put her +to bed to a warm woman, and, with spirits and other means, restored her +to life. The young scholars joined and made a little portion, and +married her to a man who had several children by her, she living fifteen +years after, as I have been assured. Sir William came from Oxford to be +tutor to a neighbor of mine; thence, when the rebels were dividing their +conquests in Ireland, he was employed by them to measure and set out the +land, which he did on an easy contract, so much per acre. This he +effected so exactly, that it not only furnished him with a great sum of +money; but enabled him to purchase an estate worth £4,000 a year. He +afterward married the daughter of Sir Hardress Waller; she was an +extraordinary wit as well as beauty, and a prudent woman. + +Sir William, among other inventions, was author of the double-bottomed +ship, which perished, and he was censured for rashness, being lost in +the Bay of Biscay in a storm, when, I think, fifteen other vessels +miscarried. This vessel was flat-bottomed, of exceeding use to put into +shallow ports, and ride over small depths of water. It consisted of two +distinct keels cramped together with huge timbers, etc., so as that a +violent stream ran between; it bore a monstrous broad sail, and he still +persists that it is practicable, and of exceeding use; and he has often +told me he would adventure himself in such another, could he procure +sailors, and his Majesty's permission to make a second Experiment; which +name the King gave the vessel at the launching. + +The Map of Ireland made by Sir William Petty is believed to be the most +exact that ever yet was made of any country. He did promise to publish +it; and I am told it has cost him near £1,000 to have it engraved at +Amsterdam. There is not a better Latin poet living, when he gives +himself that diversion; nor is his excellence less in Council and +prudent matters of state; but he is so exceedingly nice in sifting and +examining all possible contingencies, that he adventures at nothing +which is not demonstration. There was not in the whole world his equal +for a superintendent of manufacture and improvement of trade, or to +govern a plantation. If I were a Prince, I should make him my second +Counsellor, at least. There is nothing difficult to him. He is, besides, +courageous; on which account, I cannot but note a true story of him, +that when Sir Aleyn Brodrick sent him a challenge upon a difference +between them in Ireland, Sir William, though exceedingly purblind, +accepted the challenge, and it being his part to propound the weapon, +desired his antagonist to meet him with a hatchet, or axe, in a dark +cellar; which the other, of course, refused. + +Sir William was, with all this, facetious and of easy conversation, +friendly and courteous, and had such a faculty of imitating others, that +he would take a text and preach, now like a grave orthodox divine, then +falling into the Presbyterian way, then to the fanatical, the Quaker, +the monk and friar, the Popish priest, with such admirable action, and +alteration of voice and tone, as it was not possible to abstain from +wonder, and one would swear to hear several persons, or forbear to think +he was not in good earnest an enthusiast and almost beside himself; +then, he would fall out of it into a serious discourse; but it was very +rarely he would be prevailed on to oblige the company with this faculty, +and that only among most intimate friends. My Lord Duke of Ormond once +obtained it of him, and was almost ravished with admiration; but by and +by, he fell upon a serious reprimand of the faults and miscarriages of +some Princes and Governors, which, though he named none, did so sensibly +touch the Duke, who was then Lieutenant of Ireland, that he began to be +very uneasy, and wished the spirit laid which he had raised, for he was +neither able to endure such truths, nor could he but be delighted. At +last, he melted his discourse to a ridiculous subject, and came down +from the joint stool on which he had stood; but my lord would not have +him preach any more. He never could get favor at Court, because he +outwitted all the projectors that came near him. Having never known such +another genius, I cannot but mention these particulars, among a +multitude of others which I could produce. When I, who knew him in mean +circumstances, have been in his splendid palace, he would himself be in +admiration how he arrived at it; nor was it his value or inclination for +splendid furniture and the curiosities of the age, but his elegant lady +could endure nothing mean, or that was not magnificent. He was very +negligent himself, and rather so of his person, and of a philosophic +temper. "What a to-do is here!" would he say, "I can lie in straw with +as much satisfaction." + +He is author of the ingenious deductions from the bills of mortality, +which go under the name of Mr. Graunt; also of that useful discourse of +the manufacture of wool, and several others in the register of the Royal +Society. He was also author of that paraphrase on the 104th Psalm in +Latin verse, which goes about in MS., and is inimitable. In a word, +there is nothing impenetrable to him. + +26th March, 1675. Dr. Brideoak was elected Bishop of Chichester, on the +translation of Dr. Gunning to Ely. + +30th March, 1675. Dr. Allestree preached on Romans, vi. 3, the necessity +of those who are baptized to die to sin; a very excellent discourse from +an excellent preacher. + +25th April, 1675. Dr. Barrow, that excellent, pious, and most learned +man, divine, mathematician, poet, traveler, and most humble person, +preached at Whitehall to the household, on Luke xx. 27, of love and +charity to our neighbors. + +29th April, 1675. I read my first discourse, "Of Earth and Vegetation," +before the Royal Society as a lecture in course, after Sir Robert +Southwell had read his, the week before, "On Water." I was commanded by +our President and the suffrage of the Society, to print it. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +16th May, 1675. This day was my dear friend, Mrs. Blagg, married at the +Temple Church to my friend, Mr. Sidney Godolphin, Groom of the +Bedchamber to his Majesty. + +18th May, 1675. I went to visit one Mr. Bathurst, a Spanish merchant, my +neighbor. + +31st May, 1675. I went with Lord Ossory to Deptford, where we chose him +Master of the Trinity Company. + +2d June, 1675. I was at a conference of the Lords and Commons in the +Painted Chamber, on a difference about imprisoning some of their +members; and on the 3d, at another conference, when the Lords accused +the Commons for their transcendent misbehavior, breach of privilege, +Magna Charta, subversion of government, and other high, provoking, and +diminishing expressions, showing what duties and subjection they owed to +the Lords in Parliament, by record of Henry IV. This was likely to +create a notable disturbance. + +15th June, 1675. This afternoon came Monsieur Querouaille and his lady, +parents to the famous beauty and ... favorite at Court, to see Sir R. +Browne, with whom they were intimately acquainted in Bretagne, at the +time Sir Richard was sent to Brest to supervise his Majesty's sea +affairs, during the latter part of the King's banishment. This +gentleman's house was not a mile from Brest; Sir Richard made an +acquaintance there, and, being used very civilly, was obliged to return +it here, which we did. He seemed a soldierly person and a good fellow, +as the Bretons generally are; his lady had been very handsome, and +seemed a shrewd understanding woman. Conversing with him in our garden, +I found several words of the Breton language the same with our Welsh. +His daughter was now made Duchess of Portsmouth, and in the height of +favor; but he never made any use of it. + +27th June, 1675. At Ely House, I went to the consecration of my worthy +friend, the learned Dr. Barlow, Warden of Queen's College, Oxford, now +made Bishop of Lincoln. After it succeeded a magnificent feast, where +were the Duke of Ormond, Earl of Lauderdale, the Lord Treasurer, Lord +Keeper, etc. + +8th July, 1675. I went with Mrs. Howard and her two daughters toward +Northampton Assizes, about a trial at law, in which I was concerned for +them as a trustee. We lay this night at Henley-on-the Thames, at our +attorney, Mr. Stephens's, who entertained us very handsomely. Next day, +dining at Shotover, at Sir Timothy Tyrill's, a sweet place, we lay at +Oxford, where it was the time of the Act. Mr. Robert Spencer, uncle to +the Earl of Sunderland, and my old acquaintance in France, entertained +us at his apartment in Christ Church with exceeding generosity. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +10th July, 1675. The Vice Chancellor Dr. Bathurst (who had formerly +taken particular care of my son), President of Trinity College invited +me to dinner, and did me great honor all the time of my stay. The next +day, he invited me and all my company, though strangers to him, to a +very noble feast. I was at all the academic exercises.--Sunday, at St. +Mary's, preached a Fellow of Brasen-nose, not a little magnifying the +dignity of Churchmen. + +11th July, 1675. We heard the speeches, and saw the ceremony of creating +doctors in Divinity, Law and Physic. I had, early in the morning, heard +Dr. Morison, Botanic Professor, read on divers plants in the Physic +Garden; and saw that rare collection of natural curiosities of Dr. +Plot's, of Magdalen Hall, author of "The Natural History of +Oxfordshire," all of them collected in that shire, and indeed +extraordinary, that in one county there should be found such variety of +plants, shells, stones, minerals, marcasites, fowls, insects, models of +works, crystals, agates, and marbles. He was now intending to visit +Staffordshire, and, as he had of Oxfordshire, to give us the natural, +topical, political, and mechanical history. Pity it is that more of this +industrious man's genius were not employed so to describe every county +of England; it would be one of the most useful and illustrious works +that was ever produced in any age or nation. + +I visited also the Bodleian Library and my old friend, the learned +Obadiah Walker, head of University College, which he had now almost +rebuilt, or repaired. We then proceeded to Northampton, where we arrived +the next day. + +In this journey, went part of the way Mr. James Graham (since Privy +Purse to the Duke), a young gentleman exceedingly in love with Mrs. +Dorothy Howard, one of the maids of honor in our company. I could not +but pity them both, the mother not much favoring it. This lady was not +only a great beauty, but a most virtuous and excellent creature, and +worthy to have been wife to the best of men. My advice was required, and +I spoke to the advantage of the young gentleman, more out of pity than +that she deserved no better match; for, though he was a gentleman of +good family, yet there was great inequality. + +14th July, 1675. I went to see my Lord Sunderland's Seat at Althorpe, +four miles from the ragged town of Northampton (since burned, and well +rebuilt). It is placed in a pretty open bottom, very finely watered and +flanked with stately woods and groves in a park, with a canal, but the +water is not running, which is a defect. The house, a kind of modern +building, of freestone, within most nobly furnished; the apartments very +commodious, a gallery and noble hall; but the kitchen being in the body +of the house, and chapel too small, were defects. There is an old yet +honorable gatehouse standing awry, and out-housing mean, but designed to +be taken away. It was moated round, after the old manner, but it is now +dry, and turfed with a beautiful carpet. Above all, are admirable and +magnificent the several ample gardens furnished with the choicest fruit, +and exquisitely kept. Great plenty of oranges, and other curiosities. +The park full of fowl, especially herons, and from it a prospect to +Holmby House, which being demolished in the late civil wars, shows like +a Roman ruin shaded by the trees about it, a stately, solemn, and +pleasing view. + +15th July, 1675. Our cause was pleaded in behalf of the mother, Mrs. +Howard and her daughters, before Baron Thurland, who had formerly been +steward of Courts for me; we carried our cause, as there was reason, for +here was an impudent as well as disobedient son against his mother, by +instigation, doubtless, of his wife, one Mrs. Ogle (an ancient maid), +whom he had clandestinely married, and who brought him no fortune, he +being heir-apparent to the Earl of Berkshire. We lay at Brickhill, in +Bedfordshire, and came late the next day to our journey's end. + +This was a journey of adventures and knight-errantry. One of the lady's +servants being as desperately in love with Mrs. Howard's woman, as Mr. +Graham was with her daughter, and she riding on horseback behind his +rival, the amorous and jealous youth having a little drink in his pate, +had here killed himself had he not been prevented; for, alighting from +his horse, and drawing his sword, he endeavored twice or thrice to fall +on it, but was interrupted by our coachman, and a stranger passing by. +After this, running to his rival, and snatching his sword from his side +(for we had beaten his own out of his hand), and on the sudden pulling +down his mistress, would have run both of them through; we parted them, +not without some blood. This miserable creature poisoned himself for her +not many days after they came to London. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +19th July, 1675. The Lord Treasurer's Chaplain preached at Wallingford +House. + +9th August, 1675. Dr. Sprat, prebend of Westminster, and Chaplain to the +Duke of Buckingham, preached on the 3d Epistle of Jude, showing what the +primitive faith was, how near it and how excellent that of the Church of +England, also the danger of departing from it. + +27th August, 1675. I visited the Bishop of Rochester, at Bromley, and +dined at Sir Philip Warwick's, at Frogpoole [Frognall]. + +2d September, 1675. I went to see Dulwich College, being the pious +foundation of one Alleyn, a famous comedian, in King James's time. The +chapel is pretty, the rest of the hospital very ill contrived; it yet +maintains divers poor of both sexes. It is in a melancholy part of +Camberwell parish. I came back by certain medicinal Spa waters, at a +place called Sydenham Wells, in Lewisham parish, much frequented in +summer. + +10th September, 1675. I was casually shown the Duchess of Portsmouth's +splendid apartment at Whitehall, luxuriously furnished, and with ten +times the richness and glory beyond the Queen's; such massy pieces of +plate, whole tables, and stands of incredible value. + +29th September, 1675. I saw the Italian Scaramuccio act before the King +at Whitehall, people giving money to come in, which was very scandalous, +and never so before at Court diversions. Having seen him act before in +Italy, many years past, I was not averse from seeing the most excellent +of that kind of folly. + +14th October, 1675. Dined at Kensington with my old acquaintance, Mr. +Henshaw, newly returned from Denmark, where he had been left resident +after the death of the Duke of Richmond, who died there Ambassador. + +15th October, 1675. I got an extreme cold, such as was afterward so +epidemical, as not only to afflict us in this island, but was rife over +all Europe, like a plague. It was after an exceedingly dry summer and +autumn. + +I settled affairs, my son being to go into France with my Lord Berkeley, +designed Ambassador-extraordinary for France and Plenipotentiary for the +general treaty of peace at Nimeguen. + +24th October, 1675. Dined at Lord Chamberlain's with the Holland +Ambassador L. Duras, a valiant gentleman whom his Majesty made an +English Baron, of a cadet, and gave him his seat of Holmby, in +Northamptonshire. + +27th October, 1675. Lord Berkeley coming into Council, fell down in the +gallery at Whitehall, in a fit of apoplexy, and being carried into my +Lord Chamberlain's lodgings, several famous doctors were employed all +that night, and with much ado he was at last recovered to some sense, by +applying hot fire pans and spirit of amber to his head; but nothing was +found so effectual as cupping him on the shoulders. It was almost a +miraculous restoration. The next day he was carried to Berkeley House. +This stopped his journey for the present, and caused my stay in town. He +had put all his affairs and his whole estate in England into my hands +during his intended absence, which though I was very unfit to undertake, +in regard of many businesses which then took me up, yet, upon the great +importunity of my lady and Mr. Godolphin (to whom I could refuse +nothing) I did take it on me. It seems when he was Deputy in Ireland, +not long before, he had been much wronged by one he left in trust with +his affairs, and therefore wished for some unmercenary friend who would +take that trouble on him; this was to receive his rents, look after his +houses and tenants, solicit supplies from the Lord Treasurer, and +correspond weekly with him, more than enough to employ any drudge in +England; but what will not friendship and love make one do? + +31st October, 1675. Dined at my Lord Chamberlain's, with my son. There +were the learned Isaac Vossius, and Spanhemius, son of the famous man of +Heidelberg; nor was this gentleman less learned, being a general +scholar. Among other pieces, he was author of an excellent treatise on +Medals. + +10th November, 1675. Being the day appointed for my Lord Ambassador to +set out, I met them with my coach at New Cross. There were with him my +Lady his wife, and my dear friend, Mrs. Godolphin, who, out of an +extraordinary friendship, would needs accompany my lady to Paris, and +stay with her some time, which was the chief inducement for permitting +my son to travel, but I knew him safe under her inspection, and in +regard my Lord himself had promised to take him into his special favor, +he having intrusted all he had to my care. + +Thus we set out three coaches (besides mine), three wagons, and about +forty horses. It being late, and my Lord as yet but valetudinary, we got +but to Dartford, the first day, the next to Sittingbourne. + +At Rochester, the major, Mr. Cony, then an officer of mine for the sick +and wounded of that place, gave the ladies a handsome refreshment as we +came by his house. + +[Sidenote: DOVER] + +12th November, 1675. We came to Canterbury: and, next morning, to Dover. + +There was in my Lady Ambassadress's company my Lady Hamilton, a +sprightly young lady, much in the good graces of the family, wife of +that valiant and worthy gentleman, George Hamilton, not long after slain +in the wars. She had been a maid of honor to the Duchess, and now turned +Papist. + +14th November, 1675. Being Sunday, my Lord having before delivered to me +his letter of attorney, keys, seal, and his Will, we took a solemn leave +of one another upon the beach, the coaches carrying them into the sea to +the boats, which delivered them to Captain Gunman's yacht, the "Mary." +Being under sail, the castle gave them seventeen guns, which Captain +Gunman answered with eleven. Hence, I went to church, to beg a blessing +on their voyage. + +2d December, 1675. Being returned home, I visited Lady Mordaunt at +Parson's Green, my Lord, her son, being sick. This pious woman delivered +to me £100 to bestow as I thought fit for the release of poor prisoners, +and other charitable uses. + +21st December, 1675. Visited her Ladyship again, where I found the +Bishop of Winchester, whom I had long known in France; he invited me to +his house at Chelsea. + +23d December, 1675. Lady Sunderland gave me ten guineas, to bestow in +charities. + +20th February, 1675-76. Dr. Gunning, Bishop of Ely, preached before the +King from St. John xx. 21, 22, 23, chiefly against an anonymous book, +called "Naked Truth," a famous and popular treatise against the +corruption in the Clergy, but not sound as to its quotations, supposed +to have been the Bishop of Hereford's and was answered by Dr. Turner, it +endeavoring to prove an equality of order of Bishop and Presbyter. + +27th February, 1676. Dr. Pritchard, Bishop of Gloucester, preached at +Whitehall, on Isaiah v. 5, very allegorically, according to his manner, +yet very gravely and wittily. + +29th February, 1676. I dined with Mr. Povey, one of the Masters of +Requests, a nice contriver of all elegancies, and exceedingly formal. +Supped with Sir J. Williamson, where were of our Society Mr. Robert +Boyle, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir William Petty, Dr. Holden, subdean of +his Majesty's Chapel, Sir James Shaen, Dr. Whistler, and our Secretary, +Mr. Oldenburg. + +4th March, 1676. Sir Thomas Linch was returned from his government of +Jamaica. + +16th March, 1676. The Countess of Sunderland and I went by water to +Parson's Green, to visit my Lady Mordaunt, and to consult with her about +my Lord's monument. We returned by coach. + +19th March, 1676. Dr. Lloyd, late Curate of Deptford, but now Bishop of +Llandaff, preached before the King, on 1 Cor. xv. 57, that though sin +subjects us to death, yet through Christ we become his conquerors. + +23d March, 1676. To Twickenham Park, Lord Berkeley's country seat, to +examine how the bailiffs and servants ordered matters. + +24th March, 1676. Dr. Brideoake, Bishop of Chichester, preached a mean +discourse for a Bishop. I also heard Dr. Fleetwood, Bishop of Worcester, +on Matt. xxvi. 38, of the sorrows of Christ, a deadly sorrow caused by +our sins; he was no great preacher. + +30th March, 1676. Dining with my Lady Sunderland, I saw a fellow swallow +a knife, and divers great pebble stones, which would make a plain +rattling one against another. The knife was in a sheath of horn. + +Dr. North, son of my Lord North, preached before the King, on Isaiah +liii. 57, a very young but learned and excellent person. Note. This was +the first time the Duke appeared no more in chapel, to the infinite +grief and threatened ruin of this poor nation. + +2d April, 1676. I had now notice that my dear friend Mrs. Godolphin, was +returning from Paris. On the 6th, she arrived to my great joy, whom I +most heartily welcomed. + +28th April, 1676. My wife entertained her Majesty at Deptford, for which +the Queen gave me thanks in the withdrawing room at Whitehall. + +The University of Oxford presented me with the "_Marmora Oxoniensia +Arundeliana_"; the Bishop of Oxford writing to desire that I would +introduce Mr. Prideaux, the editor (a young man most learned in +antiquities) to the Duke of Norfolk, to present another dedicated to his +Grace, which I did, and we dined with the Duke at Arundel House, and +supped at the Bishop of Rochester's with Isaac Vossius. + +7th May, 1676. I spoke to the Duke of York about my Lord Berkeley's +going to Nimeguen. Thence, to the Queen's Council at Somerset House, +about Mrs. Godolphin's lease of Spalding, in Lincolnshire. + +11th May, 1676. I dined with Mr. Charleton, and went to see Mr. +Montague's new palace, near Bloomsbury, built by Mr. Hooke, of our +Society, after the French manner.[36] + + [Footnote 36: Now the British Museum.] + +13th May, 1676. Returned home, and found my son returned from France; +praised be God! + +22d May, 1676. Trinity Monday. A chaplain of my Lord Ossory's preached, +after which we took barge to Trinity House in London. Mr. Pepys +(Secretary of the Admiralty) succeeded my Lord as Master. + +[Sidenote: ENFIELD] + +2d June, 1676. I went with my Lord Chamberlain to see a garden, at +Enfield town; thence, to Mr. Secretary Coventry's lodge in the Chase. It +is a very pretty place, the house commodious, the gardens handsome, and +our entertainment very free, there being none but my Lord and myself. +That which I most wondered at was, that, in the compass of twenty-five +miles, yet within fourteen of London, there is not a house, barn, +church, or building, besides three lodges. To this Lodge are three great +ponds, and some few inclosures, the rest a solitary desert, yet stored +with no less than 3,000 deer. These are pretty retreats for gentlemen, +especially for those who are studious and lovers of privacy. + +We returned in the evening by Hampstead, to see Lord Wotton's house and +garden (Bellsize House), built with vast expense by Mr. O'Neale, an +Irish gentleman who married Lord Wotton's mother, Lady Stanhope. The +furniture is very particular for Indian cabinets, porcelain, and other +solid and noble movables. The gallery very fine, the gardens very large, +but ill kept, yet woody and chargeable. The soil a cold weeping clay, +not answering the expense. + +12th June, 1676. I went to see Sir Thomas Bond's new and fine house by +Peckham; it is on a flat, but has a fine garden and prospect through the +meadows to London. + +2d July, 1676. Dr. Castillion, Prebend of Canterbury, preached before +the King, on John xv. 22, at Whitehall. + +19th July, 1676. Went to the funeral of Sir William Sanderson, husband +to the Mother of the Maids, and author of two large but mean histories +of King James and King Charles I. He was buried at Westminster. + +1st August, 1676. In the afternoon, after prayers at St. James's Chapel, +was christened a daughter of Dr. Leake's, the Duke's Chaplain: +godmothers were Lady Mary, daughter of the Duke of York, and the Duchess +of Monmouth: godfather, the Earl of Bath. + +15th August, 1676. Came to dine with me my Lord Halifax, Sir Thomas +Meeres, one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, Sir John Clayton, Mr. +Slingsby, Mr. Henshaw, and Mr. Bridgeman. + +25th August, 1676. Dined with Sir John Banks at his house in Lincoln's +Inn Fields, on recommending Mr. Upman to be tutor to his son going into +France. This Sir John Banks was a merchant of small beginning, but had +amassed £100,000. + +26th August, 1676. I dined at the Admiralty with Secretary Pepys, and +supped at the Lord Chamberlain's. Here was Captain Baker, who had been +lately on the attempt of the Northwest passage. He reported prodigious +depth of ice, blue as a sapphire, and as transparent. The thick mists +were their chief impediment, and cause of their return. + +2d September, 1676. I paid £1,700 to the Marquis de Sissac, which he had +lent to my Lord Berkeley, and which I heard the Marquis lost at play in +a night or two. + +The Dean of Chichester preached before the King, on Acts xxiv. 16; and +Dr. Crichton preached the second sermon before him on Psalm xc. 12, of +wisely numbering our days, and well employing our time. + +3d September, 1676. Dined at Captain Graham's, where I became acquainted +with Dr. Compton (brother to the Earl of Northampton), now Bishop of +London, and Mr. North, son to the Lord North, brother to the Lord +Chief-Justice and Clerk of the Closet, a most hopeful young man. The +Bishop had once been a soldier, had also traveled in Italy, and became a +most sober, grave, and excellent prelate. + +6th September, 1676. Supped at the Lord Chamberlain's, where also supped +the famous beauty and errant lady, the Duchess of Mazarine (all the +world knows her story), the Duke of Monmouth, Countess of Sussex (both +natural children of the King by the Duchess of Cleveland[37]), and the +Countess of Derby, a virtuous lady, daughter to my best friend, the Earl +of Ossory. + + [Footnote 37: Evelyn makes a slip here. The Duke of Monmouth's + mother was, it is well known, Lucy Walters, sometimes called Mrs. + Barlow, and heretofore mentioned in the "Diary." Nor is he more + correct as to the Countess of Sussex. Lady Anne Fitzroy, as she is + called in the Peerage books, was married to Lennard Dacre, Earl of + Sussex, by whom she left a daughter only, who succeeded on her + father's death to the Barony of Dacre. On the other hand, the Duke + of Southampton, the Duke of Grafton, and the Duke of Northumberland, + were all of them children of Charles II. by the Duchess of + Cleveland.] + +10th September, 1676. Dined with me Mr. Flamsted, the learned astrologer +and mathematician, whom his Majesty had established in the new +Observatory in Greenwich Park, furnished with the choicest instruments. +An honest, sincere man. + +12th September, 1676. To London, to take order about the building of a +house, or rather an apartment, which had all the conveniences of a +house, for my dear friend, Mr. Godolphin and lady, which I undertook to +contrive and survey, and employ workmen until it should be quite +finished; it being just over against his Majesty's wood-yard by the +Thames side, leading to Scotland Yard. + +19th September, 1676. To Lambeth, to that rare magazine of marble, to +take order for chimney-pieces, etc., for Mr. Godolphin's house. The +owner of the works had built for himself a pretty dwelling house; this +Dutchman had contracted with the Genoese for all their marble. We also +saw the Duke of Buckingham's glasswork, where they made huge vases of +metal as clear, ponderous, and thick as crystal; also looking-glasses +far larger and better than any that come from Venice. + +9th October, 1676. I went with Mrs. Godolphin and my wife to Blackwall, +to see some Indian curiosities; the streets being slippery, I fell +against a piece of timber with such violence that I could not speak nor +fetch my breath for some space; being carried into a house and let +blood, I was removed to the water-side and so home, where, after a day's +rest, I recovered. This being one of my greatest deliverances, the Lord +Jesus make me ever mindful and thankful! + +31st October, 1676. Being my birthday, and fifty-six years old, I spent +the morning in devotion and imploring God's protection, with solemn +thanksgiving for all his signal mercies to me, especially for that +escape which concerned me this month at Blackwall. Dined with Mrs. +Godolphin, and returned home through a prodigious and dangerous mist. + +9th November, 1676. Finished the lease of Spalding, for Mr. Godolphin. + +16th November, 1676. My son and I dining at my Lord Chamberlain's, he +showed us among others that incomparable piece of Raphael's, being a +Minister of State dictating to Guicciardini, the earnestness of whose +face looking up in expectation of what he was next to write, is so to +the life, and so natural, as I esteem it one of the choicest pieces of +that admirable artist. There was a woman's head of Leonardo da Vinci; a +Madonna of old Palma, and two of Vandyke's, of which one was his own +picture at length, when young, in a leaning posture; the other, an +eunuch, singing. Rare pieces indeed! + +4th December, 1676. I saw the great ball danced by all the gallants and +ladies at the Duchess of York's. + +10th December, 1676. There fell so deep a snow as hindered us from +church. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +12th December, 1676. To London, in so great a snow, as I remember not +to have seen the like. + +17th December, 1676. More snow falling, I was not able to get to church. + +8th February, 1676-77. I went to Roehampton, with my Lady Duchess of +Ormond. The garden and perspective is pretty, the prospect most +agreeable. + +15th May, 1677. Came the Earl of Peterborough, to desire me to be a +trustee for Lord Viscount Mordaunt and the Countess, for the sale of +certain lands set out by Act of Parliament, to pay debts. + +12th June, 1677. I went to London, to give the Lord Ambassador Berkeley +(now returned from the treaty at Nimeguen) an account of the great trust +reposed in me during his absence, I having received and remitted to him +no less than £20,000 to my no small trouble and loss of time, that +during his absence, and when the Lord Treasurer was no great friend [of +his] I yet procured him great sums, very often soliciting his Majesty in +his behalf; looking after the rest of his estates and concerns entirely, +without once accepting any kind of acknowledgment, purely upon the +request of my dear friend, Mr. Godolphin. I returned with abundance of +thanks and professions from my Lord Berkeley and my Lady. + +29th June, 1677. This business being now at an end, and myself delivered +from that intolerable servitude and correspondence, I had leisure to be +somewhat more at home and to myself. + +3d July, 1677. I sealed the deeds of sale of the manor of Blechingley to +Sir Robert Clayton, for payment of Lord Peterborough's debts, according +to the trust of the Act of Parliament. + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +16th July, 1677. I went to Wotton.--22d. Mr. Evans, curate of Abinger, +preached an excellent sermon on Matt. v. 12. In the afternoon, Mr. +Higham at Wotton catechised. + +26th July, 1677. I dined at Mr. Duncomb's, at Sheere, whose house stands +environed with very sweet and quick streams. + +29th July, 1677. Mr. Bohun, my Son's late tutor, preached at Abinger, on +Phil., iv. 8, very elegantly and practically. + +5th August, 1677. I went to visit my Lord Brounker, now taking the +waters at Dulwich. + +9th August, 1677. Dined at the Earl of Peterborough's the day after the +marriage of my Lord of Arundel to Lady Mary Mordaunt, daughter of the +Earl of Peterborough. + +28th August, 1677. To visit my Lord Chamberlain, in Suffolk; he sent his +coach and six to meet and bring me from St. Edmund's Bury to Euston. + +29th August, 1677. We hunted in the Park and killed a very fat buck. + +31st August, 1677. I went a hawking. + +4th September, 1677. I went to visit my Lord Crofts, now dying at St. +Edmunds Bury, and took the opportunity to see this ancient town, and the +remains of that famous monastery and abbey. There is little standing +entire, save the gatehouse; it has been a vast and magnificent Gothic +structure, and of great extent. The gates are wood, but quite plated +over with iron. There are also two stately churches, one especially. + +5th September, 1677. I went to Thetford, to the borough-town, where +stand the ruins of a religious house: there is a round mountain +artificially raised, either for some castle, or monument, which makes a +pretty landscape. As we went and returned, a tumbler showed his +extraordinary address in the Warren. I also saw the Decoy; much pleased +with the stratagem. + +7th September, 1677. There dined this day at my Lord's one Sir John +Gaudy, a very handsome person, but quite dumb, yet very intelligent by +signs, and a very fine painter; he was so civil and well bred, as it was +not possible to discern any imperfection in him. His lady and children +were also there, and he was at church in the morning with us. + +9th September, 1677. A stranger preached at Euston Church, and fell into +a handsome panegyric on my Lord's new building the church, which indeed +for its elegance and cheerfulness, is one of the prettiest country +churches in England. My Lord told me his heart smote him that, after he +had bestowed so much on his magnificent palace there, he should see +God's House in the ruin it lay in. He has also rebuilt the +parsonage-house, all of stone, very neat and ample. + +[Sidenote: EUSTON] + +10th September, 1677. To divert me, my Lord would needs carry me to see +Ipswich, when we dined with one Mr. Mann by the way, who was Recorder of +the town. There were in our company my Lord Huntingtower, son to the +Duchess of Lauderdale, Sir Edward Bacon, a learned gentleman of the +family of the great Chancellor Verulam, and Sir John Felton, with some +other knights and gentlemen. After dinner came the bailiff and +magistrates in their formalities with their maces to compliment my Lord, +and invite him to the town-house, where they presented us a collation of +dried sweetmeats and wine, the bells ringing, etc. Then, we went to see +the town, and first, the Lord Viscount Hereford's house, which stands in +a park near the town, like that at Brussels, in Flanders; the house not +great, yet pretty, especially the hall. The stews for fish succeeded one +another, and feed one the other, all paved at bottom. There is a good +picture of the blessed virgin in one of the parlors, seeming to be of +Holbein, or some good master. Then we saw the Haven, seven miles from +Harwich. The tide runs out every day, but the bedding being soft mud, it +is safe for shipping and a station. The trade of Ipswich is for the most +part Newcastle coals, with which they supply London; but it was formerly +a clothing town. There is not any beggar asks alms in the whole place, a +thing very extraordinary, so ordered by the prudence of the magistrates. +It has in it fourteen or fifteen beautiful churches: in a word, it is +for building, cleanness, and good order, one of the best towns in +England. Cardinal Wolsey was a butcher's son of Ipswich, but there is +little of that magnificent Prelate's foundation here, besides a school +and I think a library, which I did not see. His intentions were to build +some great thing. We returned late to Euston, having traveled about +fifty miles this day. + +Since first I was at this place, I found things exceedingly improved. +It is seated in a bottom between two graceful swellings, the main +building being now in the figure of a Greek II with four pavilions, two +at each corner, and a break in the front, railed and balustered at the +top, where I caused huge jars to be placed full of earth to keep them +steady upon their pedestals between the statues, which make as good a +show as if they were of stone, and, though the building be of brick, and +but two stories besides cellars and garrets covered with blue slate, yet +there is room enough for a full court, the offices and outhouses being +so ample and well disposed. The King's apartment is painted _à fresco_, +and magnificently furnished. There are many excellent pictures of the +great masters. The gallery is a pleasant, noble room; in the break, or +middle, is a billiard table, but the wainscot, being of fir, and +painted, does not please me so well as Spanish oak without paint. The +chapel is pretty, the porch descending to the gardens. The orange garden +is very fine, and leads into the greenhouse, at the end of which is a +hall to eat in, and the conservatory some hundred feet long, adorned +with maps, as the other side is with the heads of the Cæsars, ill cut in +alabaster; above are several apartments for my Lord, Lady, and Duchess, +with kitchens and other offices below, in a lesser form; lodgings for +servants, all distinct for them to retire to when they please and would +be in private, and have no communication with the palace, which he tells +me he will wholly resign to his son-in-law and daughter, that charming +young creature. + +The canal running under my Lady's dressing room chamber window, is full +of carps and fowl, which come and are fed there. The cascade at the end +of the canal turns a cornmill that provides the family, and raises water +for the fountains and offices. To pass this canal into the opposite +meadows, Sir Samuel Morland has invented a screw bridge, which, being +turned with a key, lands you fifty feet distant at the entrance of an +ascending walk of trees, a mile in length,--as it is also on the front +into the park,--of four rows of ash trees, and reaches to the park pale, +which is nine miles in compass, and the best for riding and meeting the +game that I ever saw. There were now of red and fallow deer almost a +thousand, with good covert, but the soil barren and flying sand, in +which nothing will grow kindly. The tufts of fir, and much of the other +wood, were planted by my direction some years before. This seat is +admirably placed for field sports, hawking, hunting, or racing. The +mutton is small, but sweet. The stables hold thirty horses and four +coaches. The out-offices make two large quadrangles, so as servants +never lived with more ease and convenience; never master more civil. +Strangers are attended and accommodated as at their home, in pretty +apartments furnished with all manner of conveniences and privacy. + +There is a library full of excellent books; bathing rooms, elaboratory, +dispensary, a decoy, and places to keep and fat fowl in. He had now in +his new church (near the garden) built a dormitory, or vault, with +several repositories, in which to bury his family. + +In the expense of this pious structure, the church is most laudable, +most of the houses of God in this country resembling rather stables and +thatched cottages than temples in which to serve the Most High. He has +built a lodge in the park for the keeper, which is a neat dwelling, and +might become any gentleman. The same has he done for the parson, little +deserving it for murmuring that my Lord put him some time out of his +wretched hovel, while it was building. He has also erected a fair inn at +some distance from his palace, with a bridge of stone over a river near +it, and repaired all the tenants' houses, so as there is nothing but +neatness and accommodations about his estate, which I yet think is not +above £1,500 a year. I believe he had now in his family one hundred +domestic servants. + +His lady (being one of the Brederode's daughters, grandchild to a +natural son of Henry Frederick, Prince of Orange) is a good-natured and +obliging woman. They love fine things, and to live easily, pompously, +and hospitably; but, with so vast expense, as plunges my Lord into debts +exceedingly. My Lord himself is given into no expensive vice but +building, and to have all things rich, polite, and princely. He never +plays, but reads much, having the Latin, French, and Spanish tongues in +perfection. He has traveled much, and is the best bred and courtly +person his Majesty has about him, so as the public Ministers more +frequent him than any of the rest of the nobility. While he was +Secretary of State and Prime Minister, he had gotten vastly, but spent +it as hastily, even before he had established a fund to maintain his +greatness; and now beginning to decline in favor (the Duke being no +great friend of his), he knows not how to retrench. He was son of a +Doctor of Laws, whom I have seen, and, being sent from Westminster +School to Oxford, with intention to be a divine, and parson of +Arlington, a village near Brentford, when Master of Arts the Rebellion +falling out, he followed the King's Army, and receiving an HONORABLE +WOUND IN THE FACE, grew into favor, and was advanced from a mean +fortune, at his Majesty's Restoration, to be an Earl and Knight of the +Garter, Lord Chamberlain of the Household, and first favorite for a long +time, during which the King married his natural son, the Duke of +Grafton, to his only daughter and heiress, as before mentioned, worthy +for her beauty and virtue of the greatest prince in Christendom. My Lord +is, besides this, a prudent and understanding person in business, and +speaks well; unfortunate yet in those he has advanced, most of them +proving ungrateful. The many obligations and civilities I have received +from this noble gentleman, extracts from me this character, and I am +sorry he is in no better circumstances. + +Having now passed near three weeks at Euston, to my great satisfaction, +with much difficulty he suffered me to look homeward, being very earnest +with me to stay longer; and, to engage me, would himself have carried me +to Lynn-Regis, a town of important traffic, about twenty miles beyond, +which I had never seen; as also the Traveling Sands, about ten miles +wide of Euston, that have so damaged the country, rolling from place to +place, and, like the Sands in the Deserts of Lybia, quite overwhelmed +some gentlemen's whole estates, as the relation extant in print, and +brought to our Society, describes at large. + +13th September, 1677. My Lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence +baiting at Newmarket, stepping in at Audley-End to see that house again, +I slept at Bishop-Stortford, and, the next day, home. I was accompanied +in my journey by Major Fairfax, of a younger house of the Lord Fairfax, +a soldier, a traveler, an excellent musician, a good-natured, well-bred +gentleman. + +18th September, 1677. I preferred Mr. Phillips (nephew of Milton) to the +service of my Lord Chamberlain, who wanted a scholar to read to and +entertain him sometimes. + +12th October, 1677. With Sir Robert Clayton to Marden, an estate he had +bought lately of my kinsman, Sir John Evelyn, of Godstone, in Surrey, +which from a despicable farmhouse Sir Robert had erected into a seat +with extraordinary 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, which I left him in good +disposition to do, and endow it better; there not being above four or +five houses in the parish, besides that of this prodigious rich +Scrivener. 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. + +14th October, 1677. I went to church at Godstone, and to see old Sir +John Evelyn's DORMITORY, joining to the church, paved with marble, where +he and his Lady lie on a very stately monument at length; he in armor of +white marble. The inscription is only an account of his particular +branch of the family, on black marble. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +15th October, 1677. Returned to London; in the evening, I saw the Prince +of Orange, and supped with Lord Ossory. + +23d October, 1677. Saw again the Prince of Orange; his marriage with the +Lady Mary, eldest daughter to the Duke of York, by Mrs. Hyde, the late +Duchess, was now declared. + +11th November, 1677. I was all this week composing matters between old +Mrs. Howard and Sir Gabriel Sylvius, upon his long and earnest addresses +to Mrs. Anne, her second daughter, maid of honor to the Queen. My +friend, Mrs. Godolphin (who exceedingly loved the young lady) was most +industrious in it, out of pity to the languishing knight; so as though +there were great differences in their years, it was at last effected, +and they were married the 13th, in Henry VII.'s Chapel, by the Bishop of +Rochester, there being besides my wife and Mrs. Graham, her sister, Mrs. +Godolphin, and very few more. We dined at the old lady's, and supped at +Mr. Graham's at St. James's. + +15th November, 1677. The Queen's birthday, a great ball at Court, where +the Prince of Orange and his new Princess danced. + +19th November, 1677. They went away, and I saw embarked my Lady Sylvius, +who went into Holland with her husband, made Hoffmaester to the Prince, +a considerable employment. We parted with great sorrow, for the great +respect and honor I bore her, a most pious and virtuous lady. + +27th November, 1677. Dined at the Lord Treasurer's with Prince Rupert, +Viscount Falkenburg, Earl of Bath, Lord O'Brien, Sir John Lowther, Sir +Christopher Wren, Dr. Grew, and other learned men. + +30th November, 1677. Sir Joseph Williamson, Principal Secretary of +State, was chosen President of the Royal Society, after my Lord Viscount +Brouncker had possessed the chair now sixteen years successively, and +therefore now thought fit to CHANGE, that prescription might not +prejudice. + +4th December, 1677. Being the first day of his taking the chair, he gave +us a magnificent supper. + +20th December, 1677. Carried to my Lord Treasurer an account of the Earl +of Bristol's Library, at Wimbledon, which my Lord thought of purchasing, +till I acquainted him that it was a very broken collection, consisting +much in books of judicial astrology, romances, and trifles. + +25th December, 1677. I gave my son an office, with instructions how to +govern his youth; I pray God give him the grace to make a right use of +it! + +23d January, 1677-78. Dined with the Duke of Norfolk, being the first +time I had seen him since the death of his elder brother, who died at +Padua in Italy, where he had resided above thirty years. The Duke had +now newly declared his marriage to his concubine, whom he promised me he +never would marry. I went with him to see the Duke of Buckingham, thence +to my Lord Sunderland, now Secretary of State, to show him that rare +piece of Vosterman's (son of old Vosterman), which was a view, or +landscape of my Lord's palace, etc., at Althorpe in Northamptonshire. + +8th February, 1678. Supping at my Lord Chamberlain's I had a long +discourse with the Count de Castel Mellor, lately Prime Minister in +Portugal, who, taking part with his master, King Alphonso, was banished +by his brother, Don Pedro, now Regent; but had behaved himself so +uncorruptly in all his ministry that, though he was acquitted, and his +estate restored, yet would they not suffer him to return. He is a very +intelligent and worthy gentleman. + +18th February, 1678. My Lord Treasurer sent for me to accompany him to +Wimbledon, which he had lately purchased of the Earl of Bristol; so +breaking fast with him privately in his chamber, I accompanied him with +two of his daughters, my Lord Conway, and Sir Bernard Gascoyne; and, +having surveyed his gardens and alterations, returned late at night. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +22d February, 1678. Dr. Pierce preached at Whitehall, on 2 Thessalonians +iii. 6, against our late schismatics, in a rational discourse, but a +little over-sharp, and not at all proper for the auditory there. + +22d March, 1678. Dr. South preached _coram Rege_, an incomparable +discourse on this text, "A wounded spirit who can bear!" Note: Now was +our Communion table placed altarwise; the church steeple, clock, and +other reparations finished. + +16th April, 1678. I showed Don Emmanuel de Lyra (Portugal Ambassador) +and the Count de Castel Mellor, the Repository of the Royal Society, and +the College of Physicians. + +18th April, 1678. I went to see new Bedlam Hospital, magnificently +built, and most sweetly placed in Moorfields, since the dreadful fire in +London. + +28th June, 1678. I went to Windsor with my Lord Chamberlain (the castle +now repairing with exceeding cost) to see the rare work of Verrio, an +incomparable carving of Gibbons. + +29th June, 1678. Returned with my Lord by Hounslow Heath, where we saw +the newly raised army encamped, designed against France, in pretense, at +least; but which gave umbrage to the Parliament. His Majesty and a world +of company were in the field, and the whole army in battalia; a very +glorious sight. Now were brought into service a new sort of soldiers, +called GRENADIERS, who were dexterous in flinging hand grenades, +everyone having a pouch full; they had furred caps with coped crowns +like Janizaries, which made them look very fierce, and some had long +hoods hanging down behind, as we picture fools. Their clothing being +likewise piebald, yellow and red. + +8th July, 1678. Came to dine with me my Lord Longford, Treasurer of +Ireland, nephew to that learned gentleman, my Lord Aungier, with whom I +was long since acquainted; also the Lady Stidolph, and other company. + +19th July, 1678. The Earl of Ossory came to take his leave of me, going +into Holland to command the English forces. + +20th July, 1678. I went to the Tower to try a metal at the +Assay-master's, which only proved sulphur; then saw Monsieur Rotière, +that excellent graver belonging to the Mint, who emulates even the +ancients, in both metal and stone;[38] he was now molding a horse for +the King's statue, to be cast in silver, of a yard high. I dined with +Mr. Slingsby, Master of the Mint. + + [Footnote 38: Doubtless Philip Rotière, who introduced the figure of + Britannia into the coinage, taking for his model the King's + favorite, Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond.] + +23d July, 1678. Went to see Mr. Elias Ashmole's library and curiosities, +at Lambeth. He had divers MSS., but most of them astrological, to which +study he is addicted, though I believe not learned, but very +industrious, as his History of the order of the Garter proves. He showed +me a toad included in amber. The prospect from a turret is very fine, it +being so near London, and yet not discovering any house about the +country. The famous John Tradescant bequeathed his Repository to this +gentleman, who has given them to the University of Oxford, and erected a +lecture on them, over the laboratory, in imitation of the Royal Society. + +Mr. Godolphin was made master of the robes to the King. + +25th July, 1678. There was sent me £70; from whom I knew not, to be by +me distributed among poor people; I afterward found it was from that +dear friend (Mrs. Godolphin), who had frequently given me large sums to +bestow on charities. + +16th August, 1678. I went to Lady Mordaunt, who put £100 into my hand to +dispose of for pious uses, relief of prisoners, poor, etc. Many a sum +had she sent me on similar occasions; a blessed creature she was, and +one that loved and feared God exemplarily. + +[Sidenote: WEYBRIDGE] + +23d August, 1678. Upon Sir Robert Reading's importunity, I went to visit +the Duke of Norfolk, at his new palace at Weybridge, where he has laid +out in building near £10,000, on a copyhold, and in a miserable, barren, +sandy place by the street side; never in my life had I seen such expense +to so small purpose. The rooms are wainscotted, and some of them richly +pargeted with cedar, yew, cypress, etc. There are some good pictures, +especially that incomparable painting of Holbein's, where the Duke of +Norfolk, Charles Brandon and Henry VIII., are dancing with the three +ladies, with most amorous countenances, and sprightly motion exquisitely +expressed. It is a thousand pities (as I told my Lord of Arundel, his +son), that that jewel should be given away. + +24th August, 1678. I went to see my Lord of St. Alban's house, at +Byfleet, an old, large building. Thence, to the papermills, where I +found them making a coarse white paper. They cull the rags which are +linen for white paper, woolen for brown; then they stamp them in troughs +to a pap, with pestles, or hammers, like the powder mills, then put it +into a vessel of water, in which they dip a frame closely wired with +wire as small as a hair and as close as a weaver's reed; on this they +take up the pap, the superfluous water draining through the wire; this +they dexterously turning, shake out like a pancake on a smooth board +between two pieces of flannel, then press it between a great press, the +flannel sucking out the moisture; then, taking it out, they ply and dry +it on strings, as they dry linen in the laundry; then dip it in alum +water, lastly, polish and make it up in quires. They put some gum in the +water in which they macerate the rags. The mark we find on the sheets is +formed in the wire. + +25th August, 1678. After evening prayer, visited Mr. Sheldon (nephew to +the late Archbishop of Canterbury), and his pretty melancholy garden; I +took notice of the largest _arbor thuyris_ I had ever seen. The place is +finely watered, and there are many curiosities of India, shown in the +house. + +There was at Weybridge the Duchess of Norfolk, Lord Thomas Howard (a +worthy and virtuous gentleman, with whom my son was sometime bred in +Arundel House), who was newly come from Rome, where he had been some +time; also one of the Duke's daughters, by his first lady. My Lord +leading me about the house made no scruple of showing me all the hiding +places for the Popish priests, and where they said mass, for he was no +bigoted Papist. He told me he never trusted them with any secret, and +used Protestants only in all businesses of importance. + +I went this evening with my Lord Duke to Windsor, where was a +magnificent Court, it being the first time of his Majesty's removing +thither since it was repaired. + +27th August, 1678. I took leave of the Duke, and dined at Mr. Henry +Bruncker's, at the Abbey of Sheene, formerly a monastery of Carthusians, +there yet remaining one of their solitary cells with a cross. Within +this ample inclosure are several pretty villas and fine gardens of the +most excellent fruits, especially Sir William Temple's (lately +Ambassador into Holland), and the Lord Lisle's, son to the Earl of +Leicester, who has divers rare pictures, above all, that of Sir Brian +Tuke's, by Holbein. + +After dinner I walked to Ham, to see the house and garden of the Duke of +Lauderdale, which is indeed inferior to few of the best villas in Italy +itself; the house furnished like a great Prince's; the parterres, +flower-gardens, orangeries, groves, avenues, courts, statues, +perspectives, fountains, aviaries, and all this at the banks of the +sweetest river in the world, must needs be admirable. + +Hence, I went to my worthy friend, Sir Henry Capel [at Kew], brother to +the Earl of Essex; it is an old timber-house; but his garden has the +choicest fruit of any plantation in England, as he is the most +industrious and understanding in it. + +29th August, 1678. I was called to London to wait upon the Duke of +Norfolk, who having at my sole request bestowed the Arundelian Library +on the Royal Society; sent to me to take charge of the books, and remove +them, only stipulating that I would suffer the Herald's chief officer, +Sir William Dugdale, to have such of them as concerned heraldry and the +marshal's office, books of armory and genealogies, the Duke being Earl +Marshal of England. I procured for our Society, besides printed books, +near one hundred MSS. some in Greek of great concernment. The printed +books being of the oldest impressions, are not the less valuable; I +esteem them almost equal to MSS. Among them, are most of the Fathers, +printed at Basil, before the Jesuits abused them with their expurgatory +Indexes; there is a noble MS. of Vitruvius. Many of these books had been +presented by Popes, Cardinals, and great persons, to the Earls of +Arundel and Dukes of Norfolk; and the late magnificent Earl of Arundel +bought a noble library in Germany, which is in this collection. I should +not, for the honor I bear the family, have persuaded the Duke to part +with these, had I not seen how negligent he was of them, suffering the +priests and everybody to carry away and dispose of what they pleased; so +that abundance of rare things are irrecoverably gone. + +Having taken order here, I went to the Royal Society to give them an +account of what I had procured, that they might call a Council and +appoint a day to wait on the Duke to thank him for this munificent gift. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +3d September, 1678. I went to London, to dine with Mrs. Godolphin, and +found her in labor; she was brought to bed of a son, who was baptized in +the chamber, by the name of Francis, the susceptors being Sir William +Godolphin (head of the family), Mr. John Hervey, Treasurer to the Queen, +and Mrs. Boscawen, sister to Sir William and the father. + +8th September, 1678. While I was at church came a letter from Mr. +Godolphin, that my dear friend his lady was exceedingly ill, and +desiring my prayers and assistance. My wife and I took boat immediately, +and went to Whitehall, where, to my inexpressible sorrow, I found she +had been attacked with a new fever, then reigning this excessive hot +autumn, and which was so violent, that it was not thought she could last +many hours. + +9th September, 1678. She died in the 26th year of her age, to the +inexpressible affliction of her dear husband, and all her relations, but +of none in the world more than of myself, who lost the most excellent +and inestimable friend that ever lived. Never was a more virtuous and +inviolable friendship; never a more religious, discreet, and admirable +creature, beloved of all, admired of all, for all possible perfections +of her sex. She is gone to receive the reward of her signal charity, and +all other her Christian graces, too blessed a creature to converse with +mortals, fitted as she was, by a most holy life, to be received into the +mansions above. She was for wit, beauty, good nature, fidelity, +discretion, and all accomplishments, the most incomparable person. How +shall I ever repay the obligations to her for the infinite good offices +she did my soul by so often engaging me to make religion the terms and +tie of the friendship there was between us! She was the best wife, the +best mistress, the best friend, that ever husband had. But it is not +here that I pretend to give her character, HAVING DESIGNED TO CONSECRATE +HER WORTHY LIFE TO POSTERITY. + +Her husband, struck with unspeakable affliction, fell down as dead. The +King himself, and all the Court, expressed their sorrow. To the poor and +miserable, her loss was irreparable; for there was no degree but had +some obligation to her memory. So careful and provident was she to be +prepared for all possible accidents, that (as if she foresaw her end) +she received the heavenly viaticum but the Sunday before, after a most +solemn recollection. She put all her domestic concerns into the exactest +order, and left a letter directed to her husband, to be opened in case +she died in childbed, in which with the most pathetic and endearing +expressions of the most loyal and virtuous wife, she begs his kindness +to her memory might be continued by his care and esteem of those she +left behind, even to her domestic servants, to the meanest of which she +left considerable legacies, as well as to the poor. It was now seven +years since she was maid of honor to the Queen, that she regarded me as +a father, a brother, and what is more, a friend. We often prayed, +visited the sick and miserable, received, read, discoursed, and +communicated in all holy offices together. She was most dear to my wife, +and affectionate to my children. But she is gone! This only is my +comfort, that she is happy in Christ, and I shall shortly behold her +again. She desired to be buried in the dormitory of his family, near +three hundred miles from all her other friends. So afflicted was her +husband at this severe loss, that the entire care of her funeral was +committed to me. Having closed the eyes, and dropped a tear upon the +cheek of my dear departed friend, lovely even in death, I caused her +corpse to be embalmed and wrapped in lead, a plate of brass soldered +thereon, with an inscription, and other circumstances due to her worth, +with as much diligence and care as my grieved heart would permit me; I +then retired home for two days, which were spent in solitude and sad +reflection. + +17th September, 1678. She was, accordingly, carried to Godolphin, in +Cornwall, in a hearse with six horses, attended by two coaches of as +many, with about thirty of her relations and servants. There accompanied +the hearse her husband's brother, Sir William, two more of his brothers, +and three sisters; her husband was so overcome with grief, that he was +wholly unfit to travel so long a journey, till he was more composed. I +went as far as Hounslow with a sad heart; but was obliged to return upon +some indispensable affairs. The corpse was ordered to be taken out of +the hearse every night, and decently placed in the house, with tapers +about it, and her servants attending, to Cornwall; and then was +honorably interred in the parish church of Godolphin. This funeral cost +not much less than £1,000. + +With Mr. Godolphin, I looked over and sorted his lady's papers, most of +which consisted of Prayers, Meditations, Sermon-notes, Discourses, and +Collections on several religious subjects, and many of her own happy +composing, and so pertinently digested, as if she had been all her life +a student in divinity. We found a diary of her solemn resolutions, +tending to practical virtue, with letters from select friends, all put +into exact method. It astonished us to see what she had read and +written, her youth considered. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st October, 1678. The Parliament and the whole Nation were alarmed +about a conspiracy of some eminent Papists for the destruction of the +King and introduction of Popery, discovered by one Oates and Dr. +Tongue,[39] WHICH LAST I KNEW, BEING THE TRANSLATOR OF THE "Jesuits' +Morals"; I went to see and converse with him at Whitehall, with Mr. +Oates, one that was lately an apostate to the church of Rome, and now +returned again with this discovery. He seemed to be a bold man, and, in +my thoughts, furiously indiscreet; but everybody believed what he said; +and it quite changed the genius and motions of the Parliament, growing +now corrupt and interested with long sitting and court practices; but, +with all this, Popery would not go down. This discovery turned them all +as one man against it, and nothing was done but to find out the depth of +this. Oates was encouraged, and everything he affirmed taken for gospel; +the truth is, the Roman Catholics were exceedingly bold and busy +everywhere, since the Duke forbore to go any longer to the chapel. + + [Footnote 39: Ezrael Tonge was bred in University College, Oxford, + and being puritanically inclined, quitted the University; but in + 1648 returned, and was made a Fellow. He had the living of Pluckley, + in Kent, which he resigned in consequence of quarrels with his + parishioners and Quakers. In 1657, he was made fellow of the + newly-erected College at Durham, and that being dissolved in 1660, + he taught school at Islington. He then went with Colonel Edward + Harley to Dunkirk, and subsequently took a small living in + Herefordshire (Lentwardine); but quitted it for St. Mary Stayning, + in London, which, after the fire in 1666, was united to St. Michael, + Wood Street. These he held till his death, in 1680. He was a great + opponent of the Roman Catholics. Wood mentions several publications + of his, among which are, "The Jesuits Unmasked," 1678; "Jesuitical + Aphorisms," 1678; and "The Jesuits' Morals," 1680 (1670); the two + latter translated from the French. (Wood's "_Athenæ, Oxon._" vol. + ii. p. 502.) Evelyn speaks of the last of these translations as + having been executed by his desire: and it figures in a notable + passage of Oates's testimony. Oates said, for example, "that Thomas + Whitbread, a priest, on 13th of June, 16 . . did tell the rector of + St. Omer's that a Minister of the Church of England had scandalously + put out the 'Jesuits' Morals' in English, and had endeavored to + render them odious, and had asked the Rector whether he thought + Oates might know him? and the Rector called, the deponent, who heard + these words as he stood at the chamber door, and when he went into + the chamber of the Provincial, he asked him 'If he knew the author + of the "Jesuits' Morals?"' deponent answered, 'His person, but not + his name.' Whitbread then demanded, whether he would undertake to + poison, or assassinate the author; which deponent undertook, having + £50 reward promised him, and appointed to return to England."] + +16th October, 1678. Mr. Godolphin requested me to continue the trust his +wife had reposed in me, in behalf of his little son, conjuring me to +transfer the friendship I had for his dear wife, on him and his. + +21st October, 1678. The murder of Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, found +strangled about this time, as was manifest, by the Papists, he being the +Justice of the Peace, and one who knew much of their practices, as +conversant with Coleman (a servant of the ... now accused), put the +whole nation into a new ferment against them. + +31st October, 1678. Being the 58th of my age, required my humble +addresses to Almighty God, and that he would take off his heavy hand, +still on my family; and restore comforts to us after the death of my +excellent friend. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th November, 1678. Dr. Tillotson preached before the Commons at St. +Margaret's. He said the Papists were now arrived at that impudence, as +to deny that there ever was any such as the gunpowder-conspiracy; but he +affirmed that he himself had several letters written by Sir Everard +Digby (one of the traitors), in which he gloried that he was to suffer +for it; and that it was so contrived, that of the Papists not above two +or three should have been blown up, and they, such as were not worth +saving. + +15th November, 1678. The Queen's birthday. I never saw the Court more +brave, nor the nation in more apprehension and consternation. Coleman +and one Staly had now been tried, condemned, and executed. On this, +Oates grew so presumptuous as to accuse the Queen of intending to poison +the King; which certainly that pious and virtuous lady abhorred the +thoughts of, and Oates's circumstances made it utterly unlikely in my +opinion. He probably thought to gratify some who would have been glad +his Majesty should have married a fruitful lady; but the King was too +kind a husband to let any of these make impression on him. However, +divers of the Popish peers were sent to the Tower, accused by Oates; and +all the Roman Catholic lords were by a new Act forever excluded the +Parliament; which was a mighty blow. The King's, Queen's, and Duke's +servants, were banished, and a test to be taken by everybody who +pretended to enjoy any office of public trust, and who would not be +suspected of Popery. I went with Sir William Godolphin, a member of the +Commons' House, to the Bishop of Ely (Dr. Peter Gunning), to be resolved +whether masses were idolatry, as the text expressed it, which was so +worded, that several good Protestants scrupled, and Sir William, though +a learned man and excellent divine himself, had some doubts about it. +The Bishop's opinion was that he might take it, though he wished it had +been otherwise worded in the text. + +15th January, 1678-79. I went with my Lady Sunderland to Chelsa, and +dined with the Countess of Bristol [her mother] in the great house, +formerly the Duke of Buckingham's, a spacious and excellent place for +the extent of ground and situation in a good air. The house is large but +ill-contrived, though my Lord of Bristol, who purchased it after he sold +Wimbledon to my Lord Treasurer, expended much money on it. There were +divers pictures of Titian and Vandyke, and some of Bassano, very +excellent, especially an Adonis and Venus, a Duke of Venice, a butcher +in his shambles selling meat to a Swiss; and of Vandyke, my Lord of +Bristol's picture, with the Earl of Bedford's at length, in the same +table. There was in the garden a rare collection of orange trees, of +which she was pleased to bestow some upon me. + +16th January, 1679. I supped this night with Mr. Secretary at one Mr. +Houblon's, a French merchant, who had his house furnished _en Prince_, +and gave us a splendid entertainment. + +25th January, 1679. The Long Parliament, which had sat ever since the +Restoration, was dissolved by persuasion of the Lord Treasurer, though +divers of them were believed to be his pensioner. At this, all the +politicians were at a stand, they being very eager in pursuit of the +late plot of the Papists. + +30th January, 1679. Dr. Cudworth preached before the King at Whitehall, +on 2 Timothy iii. 5, reckoning up the perils of the last times, in +which, among other wickedness, treasons should be one of the greatest, +applying it to the occasion, as committed under a form of reformation +and godliness; concluding that the prophecy did intend more particularly +the present age, as one of the last times; the sins there enumerated, +more abundantly reigning than ever. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d February, 1679. Dr. Durell, Dean of Windsor, preached to the +household at Whitehall, on 1 Cor. xvi. 22; he read the whole sermon out +of his notes, which I had never before seen a Frenchman do, he being of +Jersey, and bred at Paris. + +4th February, 1679. Dr. Pierce, Dean of Salisbury, preached on 1 John, +iv. 1, "Try the Spirits, there being so many delusory ones gone forth of +late into the world"; he inveighed against the pernicious doctrines of +Mr. Hobbes. + +My brother Evelyn, was now chosen Knight for the County of Surrey, +carrying it against my Lord Longford and Sir Adam Brown, of Bechworth +Castle. The country coming in to give him their suffrages were so many, +that I believe they ate and drank him out near £2,000, by a most +abominable custom. + +1st April, 1679. My friend, Mr. Godolphin, was now made one of the Lords +Commissioners of the Treasury, and of the Privy Council. + +4th April, 1679. The Bishop of Gloucester preached in a manner very like +Bishop Andrews, full of divisions, and scholastical, and that with much +quickness. The Holy Communion followed. + +20th April, 1679. EASTER DAY. Our vicar preached exceedingly well on 1 +Cor. v. 7. The Holy Communion followed, at which I and my daughter, Mary +(now about fourteen years old), received for the first time. The Lord +Jesus continue his grace unto her, and improve this blessed beginning! + +24th April, 1679. The Duke of York, voted against by the Commons for his +recusancy, went over to Flanders; which made much discourse. + +4th June, 1679. I dined with Mr. Pepys in the Tower, he having been +committed by the House of Commons for misdemeanors in the Admiralty when +he was secretary; I believe he was unjustly charged. Here I saluted my +Lords Stafford and Petre, who were committed for the Popish plot. + +7th June, 1679. I saw the magnificent cavalcade and entry of the +Portugal Ambassador. + +17th June, 1679. I was godfather to a son of Sir Christopher Wren, +surveyor of his Majesty's buildings, that most excellent and learned +person, with Sir William Fermor, and my Lady Viscountess Newport, wife +of the Treasurer of the Household. + +Thence to Chelsea, to Sir Stephen Fox, and my lady, in order to the +purchase of the Countess of Bristol's house there, which she desired me +to procure a chapman for. + +19th June, 1679. I dined at Sir Robert Clayton's with Sir Robert Viner, +the great banker. + +22d June, 1679. There were now divers Jesuits executed about the plot, +and a rebellion in Scotland of the fanatics, so that there was a sad +prospect of public affairs. + +25th June, 1679. The new Commissioners of the Admiralty came to visit +me, viz, Sir Henry Capell, brother to the Earl of Essex, Mr. Finch, +eldest son to the Lord Chancellor, Sir Humphry Winch, Sir Thomas Meeres, +Mr. Hales, with some of the Commissioners of the Navy. I went with them +to London. + +1st July, 1679. I dined at Sir William Godolphin's, and with that +learned gentleman went to take the air in Hyde Park, where was a +glorious _cortège_. + +3d July, 1679. Sending a piece of venison to Mr. Pepys, still a +prisoner, I went and dined with him. + +6th July, 1679. Now were there papers, speeches, and libels, publicly +cried in the streets against the Dukes of York and Lauderdale, etc., +obnoxious to the Parliament, with too much and indeed too shameful a +liberty; but the people and Parliament had gotten head by reason of the +vices of the great ones. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +There was now brought up to London a child, son of one Mr. Wotton, +formerly amanuensis to Dr. Andrews, Bishop of Winton, who both read and +perfectly understood Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Arabic, Syriac, and most of +the modern languages; disputed in divinity, law, and all the sciences; +was skillful in history, both ecclesiastical and profane; in politics; +in a word, so universally and solidly learned at eleven years of age, +that he was looked on as a miracle. Dr. Lloyd, one of the most deeply +learned divines of this nation in all sorts of literature, with Dr. +Burnet, who had severely examined him, came away astonished, and they +told me they did not believe there had the like appeared in the world. +He had only been instructed by his father, who being himself a learned +person, confessed that his son knew all that he himself knew. But, what +was more admirable than his vast memory, was his judgment and invention, +he being tried with divers hard questions, which required maturity of +thought and experience. He was also dexterous in chronology, +antiquities, mathematics. In sum, an _intellectus universalis_, beyond +all that we read of Picus Mirandula, and other precocious wits, and yet +withal a very humble child. + +14th July, 1679. I went to see how things stood at Parson's Green, my +Lady Viscountess Mordaunt (now sick in Paris, whither she went for +health) having made me a trustee for her children, an office I could not +refuse to this most excellent, pious, and virtuous lady, my long +acquaintance. + +15th July, 1679. I dined with Mr. Sidney Godolphin, now one of the Lords +Commissioners of the Treasury. + +18th July, 1679. I went early to the Old Bailey Sessions House, to the +famous trial of Sir George Wakeman, one of the Queen's physicians, and +three Benedictine monks; the first (whom I was well acquainted with, and +take to be a worthy gentleman abhorring such a fact), for intending to +poison the King; the others as accomplices to carry on the plot, to +subvert the government, and introduce Popery. The bench was crowded with +the judges, Lord Mayor justices, and innumerable spectators. The chief +accusers, Dr. Oates (as he called himself), and one Bedlow, a man of +inferior note. Their testimonies were not so pregnant, and I fear much +of it from hearsay, but swearing positively to some particulars, which +drew suspicion upon their truth; nor did circumstances so agree, as to +give either the bench or jury so entire satisfaction as was expected. +After, therefore, a long and tedious trial of nine hours, the jury +brought them in not guilty, to the extraordinary triumph of the Papists, +and without sufficient disadvantage and reflections on witnesses, +especially Oates and Bedlow. + +This was a happy day for the lords in the Tower, who, expecting their +trial, had this gone against the prisoners at the bar, would all have +been in the utmost hazard. For my part, I look on Oates as a vain, +insolent man, puffed up with the favor of the Commons for having +discovered something really true, more especially as detecting the +dangerous intrigue of Coleman, proved out of his own letters, and of a +general design which the Jesuited party of the Papists ever had and +still have, to ruin the Church of England; but that he was trusted with +those great secrets he pretended, or had any solid ground for what he +accused divers noblemen of, I have many reasons to induce my contrary +belief. That among so many commissions as he affirmed to have delivered +to them from P. Oliva[40] and the Pope,--he who made no scruple of +opening all other papers, letters, and secrets, should not only not open +any of those pretended commissions, but not so much as take any copy or +witness of any one of them, is almost miraculous. But the Commons (some +leading persons I mean of them) had so exalted him that they took all he +said for Gospel, and without more ado ruined all whom he named to be +conspirators; nor did he spare whoever came in his way. But, indeed, the +murder of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, suspected to have been compassed by +the Jesuits' party for his intimacy with Coleman (a busy person whom I +also knew), and the fear they had that he was able to have discovered +things to their prejudice, did so exasperate not only the Commons, but +all the nation, that much of these sharpnesses against the more honest +Roman Catholics who lived peaceably, is to be imputed to that horrid +fact. + + [Footnote 40: Padrè Oliva, General of the Order of Jesuits.] + +The sessions ended, I dined or rather supped (so late it was) with the +judges in the large room annexed to the place, and so returned home. +Though it was not my custom or delight to be often present at any +capital trials, we having them commonly so exactly published by those +who take them in short-hand, yet I was inclined to be at this signal +one, that by the ocular view of the carriages and other circumstances of +the managers and parties concerned, I might inform myself, and regulate +my opinion of a cause that had so alarmed the whole nation. + +22d July, 1679. Dined at Clapham, at Sir D. Gauden's; went thence with +him to Windsor, to assist him in a business with his Majesty. I lay that +night at Eton College, the Provost's lodgings (Dr. Craddock), where I +was courteously entertained. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +23d July, 1679. To Court: after dinner, I visited that excellent +painter, Verrio, whose works in _fresco_ in the King's palace, at +Windsor, will celebrate his name as long as those walls last. He showed +us his pretty garden, choice flowers, and curiosities, he himself being +a skillful gardener. + +I went to Clifden, that stupendous natural rock, wood, and prospect, of +the Duke of Buckingham's, and buildings of extraordinary expense. The +grots in the chalky rocks are pretty: it is a romantic object, and the +place altogether answers the most poetical description that can be made +of solitude, precipice, prospect, or whatever can contribute to a thing +so very like their imaginations. The stand, somewhat like Frascati as to +its front, and on the platform is a circular view to the utmost verge of +the horizon, which, with the serpenting of the Thames, is admirable. The +staircase is for its materials singular; the cloisters, descents, +gardens, and avenue through the wood, august and stately; but the land +all about wretchedly barren, and producing nothing but fern. Indeed, as +I told his Majesty that evening (asking me how I liked Clifden) without +flattery, that it did not please me so well as Windsor for the prospect +and park, which is without compare; there being but one only opening, +and that narrow, which led one to any variety; whereas that of Windsor +is everywhere great and unconfined. + +Returning, I called at my cousin Evelyn's, who has a very pretty seat in +the forest, two miles by hither Clifden, on a flat, with gardens +exquisitely kept, though large, and the house a staunch good old +building, and what was singular, some of the rooms floored dove +tail-wise without a nail, exactly close. One of the closets is pargeted +with plain deal, set in diamond, exceeding staunch and pretty. + +7th August, 1679. Dined at the Sheriff's, when, the Company of Drapers +and their wives being invited, there was a sumptuous entertainment, +according to the forms of the city, with music, etc., comparable to any +prince's service in Europe. + +8th August, 1679. I went this morning to show my Lord Chamberlain, his +Lady, and the Duchess of Grafton, the incomparable work of Mr. Gibbon, +the carver, whom I first recommended to his Majesty, his house being +furnished like a cabinet, not only with his own work, but divers +excellent paintings of the best hands. Thence, to Sir Stephen Fox's, +where we spent the day. + +31st August, 1679. After evening service, to see a neighbor, one Mr. +Bohun, related to my son's late tutor of that name, a rich Spanish +merchant, living in a neat place, which he has adorned with many +curiosities, especially several carvings of Mr. Gibbons, and some +pictures by Streeter. + +13th September, 1679. To Windsor, to congratulate his Majesty on his +recovery; I kissed the Duke's hand, now lately returned from +Flanders[41] to visit his brother the King, on which there were various +bold and foolish discourses, the Duke of Monmouth being sent away. + + [Footnote 41: He returned the day before, the 12th of September. + This is another of the indications that the entries of this Diary + were not always made on the precise days they refer to.] + +19th September, 1679. My Lord Sunderland, one of the principal +Secretaries of State, invited me to dinner, where was the King's natural +son, the Earl of Plymouth, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Earl of Essex, Earl +of Mulgrave, Mr. Hyde, and Mr. Godolphin. After dinner I went to prayers +at Eton, and visited Mr. Henry Godolphin, fellow there, and Dr. +Craddock. + +25th September, 1679. Mr. Slingsby and Signor Verrio came to dine with +me, to whom I gave China oranges off my own trees, as good, I think, as +were ever eaten. + +6th October, 1679. A very wet and sickly season. + +23d October, 1679. Dined at my Lord Chamberlain's, the King being now +newly returned from his Newmarket recreations. + +4th November, 1679. Dined at the Lord Mayor's; and, in the evening, went +to the funeral of my pious, dear, and ancient learned friend, Dr. Jasper +Needham, who was buried at St. Bride's Church. He was a true and holy +Christian, and one who loved me with great affection. Dr. Dove preached +with an eulogy due to his memory. I lost in this person one of my +dearest remaining sincere friends. + +5th November, 1679. I was invited to dine at my Lord Teviotdale's, a +Scotch Earl, a learned and knowing nobleman. We afterward went to see +Mr. Montague's new palace near Bloomsbury, built by our curator, Mr. +Hooke, somewhat after the French; it was most nobly furnished, and a +fine, but too much exposed garden.[42] + + [Footnote 42: Now the British Museum.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th November, 1679. Dined at the Countess of Sunderland's, and was this +evening at the remarriage of the Duchess of Grafton to the Duke (his +Majesty's natural son), she being now twelve years old. The ceremony was +performed in my Lord Chamberlain's (her father's) lodgings at Whitehall +by the Bishop of Rochester, his Majesty being present. A sudden and +unexpected thing, when everybody believed the first marriage would have +come to nothing; but, the measure being determined, I was privately +invited by my Lady, her mother, to be present. I confess I could give +her little joy, and so I plainly told her, but she said the King would +have it so, and there was no going back. This sweetest, most hopeful, +most beautiful, child, and most virtuous, too, was sacrificed to a boy +that had been rudely bred, without anything to encourage them but his +Majesty's pleasure. I pray God the sweet child find it to her advantage, +who, if my augury deceive me not, will in a few years be such a paragon +as were fit to make the wife of the greatest Prince in Europe! I staid +supper, where his Majesty sat between the Duchess of Cleveland (the +mother of the Duke of Grafton) and the sweet Duchess the bride; there +were several great persons and ladies, without pomp. My love to my Lord +Arlington's family, and the sweet child made me behold all this with +regret, though as the Duke of Grafton affects the sea, to which I find +his father intends to use him, he may emerge a plain, useful and robust +officer: and were he polished, a tolerable person; for he is exceedingly +handsome, by far surpassing any of the King's other natural issue. + +8th November, 1679. At Sir Stephen Fox's, and was agreeing for the +Countess of Bristol's house at Chelsea, within £500. + +18th November, 1679. I dined at my Lord Mayor's, being desired by the +Countess of Sunderland to carry her thither on a solemn day, that she +might see the pomp and ceremony of this Prince of Citizens, there never +having been any, who for the stateliness of his palace, prodigious +feasting, and magnificence, exceeded him. This Lord Mayor's acquaintance +had been from the time of his being apprentice to one Mr. Abbot, his +uncle, who being a scrivener, and an honest worthy man, one who was +condemned to die at the beginning of the troubles forty years past, as +concerned in the commission of array for King Charles I. had escaped +with his life; I often used his assistance in money matters. Robert +Clayton, then a boy, his nephew, became, after his uncle Abbot's death, +so prodigiously rich and opulent, that he was reckoned one of the +wealthiest citizens. He married a free-hearted woman, who became his +hospitable disposition; and having no children, with the accession of +his partner and fellow apprentice, who also left him his estate, he grew +excessively rich. He was a discreet magistrate, and though envied, I +think without much cause. Some believed him guilty of hard dealing, +especially with the Duke of Buckingham, much of whose estate he had +swallowed, but I never saw any ill by him, considering the trade he was +of. The reputation and known integrity of his uncle, Abbot, brought all +the royal party to him, by which he got not only great credit, but vast +wealth, so as he passed this office with infinite magnificence and +honor. + +20th November, 1679. I dined with Mr. Slingsby, Master of the Mint, with +my wife, invited to hear music, which was exquisitely performed by four +of the most renowned masters: Du Prue, a Frenchman, on the lute; Signor +Bartholomeo, an Italian, on the harpsichord; Nicholao on the violin; +but, above all, for its sweetness and novelty, the _viol d'amore_ of +five wire strings played on with a bow, being but an ordinary violin, +played on lyre-way, by a German. There was also a _flute douce_, now in +much request for accompanying the voice. Mr. Slingsby, whose son and +daughter played skillfully, had these meetings frequently in his house. + +21st November, 1679. I dined at my Lord Mayor's, to accompany my +worthiest and generous friend, the Earl of Ossory; it was on a Friday, a +private day, but the feast and entertainment might have become a King. +Such an hospitable costume and splendid magistrature does no city in the +world show, as I believe. + +23d November, 1679. Dr. Allestree preached before the household on St. +Luke xi. 2; Dr. Lloyd on Matt. xxiii. 20, before the King, showing with +how little reason the Papists applied those words of our blessed Savior +to maintain the pretended infallibility they boast of. I never heard a +more Christian and excellent discourse; yet were some offended that he +seemed to say the Church of Rome was a true church; but it was a +captious mistake; for he never affirmed anything that could be more to +their reproach, and that such was the present Church of Rome, showing +how much it had erred. There was not in this sermon so much as a shadow +for censure, no person of all the clergy having testified greater zeal +against the errors of the Papists than this pious and most learned +person. I dined at the Bishop of Rochester's, and then went to St. +Paul's to hear that great wit, Dr. Sprat, now newly succeeding Dr. +Outram, in the cure of St. Margaret's. His talent was a great memory, +never making use of notes, a readiness of expression in a most pure and +plain style of words, full of matter, easily delivered. + +26th November, 1679. I met the Earl of Clarendon with the rest of my +fellow executors of the Will of my late Lady Viscountess Mordaunt, +namely, Mr. Laurence Hyde, one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and +lately Plenipotentiary-Ambassador at Nimeguen; Andrew Newport; and Sir +Charles Wheeler; to examine and audit and dispose of this year's account +of the estate of this excellent Lady, according to the direction of her +Will. + +27th November, 1679. I went to see Sir John Stonehouse, with whom I was +treating a marriage between my son and his daughter-in-law. + +28th November, 1679. Came over the Duke of Monmouth from Holland +unexpectedly to his Majesty; while the Duke of York was on his journey +to Scotland, whither the King sent him to reside and govern. The bells +and bonfires of the city at this arrival of the Duke of Monmouth +publishing their joy, to the no small regret of some at Court. This +Duke, whom for distinction they called the Protestant Duke (though the +son of an abandoned woman), the people made their idol. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +4th December, 1679. I dined, together with Lord Ossory and the Earl of +Chesterfield, at the Portugal Ambassador's, now newly come, at Cleveland +House, a noble palace, too good for that infamous.... The staircase is +sumptuous, and the gallery and garden; but, above all, the costly +furniture belonging to the Ambassador, especially the rich Japan +cabinets, of which I think there were a dozen. There was a billiard +table, with as many more hazards as ours commonly have; the game being +only to prosecute the ball till hazarded, without passing the port, or +touching the pin; if one miss hitting the ball every time, the game is +lost, or if hazarded. It is more difficult to hazard a ball, though so +many, than in our table, by reason the bound is made so exactly even, +and the edges not stuffed; the balls are also bigger, and they for the +most part use the sharp and small end of the billiard stick, which is +shod with brass, or silver. The entertainment was exceedingly civil; +but, besides a good olio, the dishes were trifling, hashed and condited +after their way, not at all fit for an English stomach, which is for +solid meat. There was yet good fowls, but roasted to coal, nor were the +sweetmeats good. + +30th December, 1679. I went to meet Sir John Stonehouse, and give him a +particular of the settlement on my son, who now made his addresses to +the young lady his daughter-in-law, daughter of Lady Stonehouse. + +25th January, 1679-80. Dr. Cave, author of "Primitive Christianity," +etc., a pious and learned man, preached at Whitehall to the household, +on James iii. 17, concerning the duty of grace and charity. + +30th January, 1680. I supped with Sir Stephen Fox, now made one of the +Lords Commissioners of the Treasury. + +19th February, 1680. The writings for the settling jointure and other +contracts of marriage of my son were finished and sealed. The lady was +to bring £5,000, in consideration of a settlement of £500 a year present +maintenance, which was likewise to be her jointure, and £500 a year +after mine and my wife's decease. But, with God's blessing, it will be +at the least £1,000 a year more in a few years. I pray God make him +worthy of it, and a comfort to his excellent mother, who deserves much +from him! + +21st February, 1680. SHROVE-TUESDAY. My son was married to Mrs. Martha +Spencer, daughter to my Lady Stonehouse by a former gentleman, at St. +Andrew's, Holborn, by our Vicar, borrowing the church of Dr. +Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's, the present incumbent. We afterward +dined at a house in Holborn; and, after the solemnity and dancing was +done, they were bedded at Sir John Stonehouse's lodgings in Bow Street, +Convent Garden. + +26th February, 1680. To the Royal Society, where I met an Irish Bishop +with his Lady, who was daughter to my worthy and pious friend, Dr. +Jeremy Taylor, late Bishop of Down and Connor; they came to see the +Repository. She seemed to be a knowing woman, beyond the ordinary talent +of her sex. + +3d March, 1680. I dined at my Lord Mayor's, in order to the meeting of +my Lady Beckford, whose daughter (a rich heiress) I had recommended to +my brother of Wotton for his only son, she being the daughter of the +lady by Mr. Eversfield, a Sussex gentleman. + +16th March, 1680. To London, to receive £3,000 of my daughter-in-law's +portion, which was paid in gold. + +26th March, 1680. The Dean of Sarum preached on Jerem. xlv. 5, an hour +and a half from his common-place book, of kings and great men retiring +to private situations. Scarce anything of Scripture in it. + +[Sidenote: CASHIOBURY] + +18th April, 1680. On the earnest invitation of the Earl of Essex, I went +with him to his house at Cashiobury, in Hertfordshire. It was on Sunday, +but going early from his house in the square of St. James, we arrived by +ten o'clock; this he thought too late to go to church, and we had +prayers in his chapel. The house is new, a plain fabric, built by my +friend, Mr. Hugh May. There are divers fair and good rooms, and +excellent carving by Gibbons, especially the chimney-piece of the +library. There is in the porch, or entrance, a painting by Verrio, of +Apollo and the Liberal Arts. One room pargeted with yew, which I liked +well. Some of the chimney mantels are of Irish marble, brought by my +Lord from Ireland, when he was Lord-Lieutenant, and not much inferior to +Italian. The tympanum, or gable, at the front is a bass-relievo of Diana +hunting, cut in Portland stone, handsomely enough. I do not approve of +the middle doors being round: but, when the hall is finished as +designed, it being an oval with a cupola, together with the other wing, +it will be a very noble palace. The library is large, and very nobly +furnished, and all the books are richly bound and gilded; but there are +no MSS., except the Parliament Rolls and Journals, the transcribing and +binding of which cost him, as he assured me, £500. + +No man has been more industrious than this noble Lord in planting about +his seat, adorned with walks, ponds, and other rural elegancies; but the +soil is stony, churlish, and uneven, nor is the water near enough to the +house, though a very swift and clear stream runs within a flight-shot +from it in the valley, which may fitly be called Coldbrook, it being +indeed excessively cold, yet producing fair trouts. It is a pity the +house was not situated to more advantage: but it seems it was built just +where the old one was, which I believe he only meant to repair; this +leads men into irremediable errors, and saves but a little. + +The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of the +place hinders the growth. Black cherry trees prosper even to +considerable timber, some being eighty feet long; they make also very +handsome avenues. There is a pretty oval at the end of a fair walk, set +about with treble rows of Spanish chestnut trees. + +The gardens are very rare, and cannot be otherwise, having so skillful +an artist to govern them as Mr. Cooke, who is, as to the mechanic part, +not ignorant in mathematics, and pretends to astrology. There is an +excellent collection of the choicest fruit. + +As for my Lord, he is a sober, wise, judicious, and pondering person, +not illiterate beyond the rate of most noblemen in this age, very well +versed in English history and affairs, industrious, frugal, methodical, +and every way accomplished. His Lady (being sister of the late Earl of +Northumberland) is a wise, yet somewhat melancholy woman, setting her +heart too much on the little lady, her daughter, of whom she is over +fond. They have a hopeful son at the Academy. + +My Lord was not long since come from his Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, +where he showed his abilities in administration and government, as well +as prudence in considerably augmenting his estate without reproach. He +had been Ambassador-extraordinary in Denmark, and, in a word, such a +person as became the son of that worthy hero his father to be, the late +Lord Capel, who lost his life for King Charles I. + +We spent our time in the mornings in walking, or riding, and contriving +[alterations], and the afternoons in the library, so as I passed my time +for three or four days with much satisfaction. He was pleased in +conversation to impart to me divers particulars of state, relating to +the present times. He being no great friend to the D---- was now laid +aside, his integrity and abilities being not so suitable in this +conjuncture. 21st. I returned to London. + +30th April, 1680. To a meeting of the executors of late Viscountess +Mordaunt's estate, to consider of the sale of Parson's Green, being in +treaty with Mr. Loftus, and to settle the half year's account. + +1st May, 1680. Was a meeting of the feoffees of the poor of our parish. +This year I would stand one of the collectors of their rents, to give +example to others. My son was added to the feoffees. + +This afternoon came to visit me Sir Edward Deering, of Surrendon, in +Kent, one of the Lords of the Treasury, with his daughter, married to my +worthy friend, Sir Robert Southwell, Clerk of the Council, now +Extraordinary-Envoy to the Duke of Brandenburgh, and other Princes in +Germany, as before he had been in Portugal, being a sober, wise, and +virtuous gentleman. + +13th May, 1680. I was at the funeral of old Mr. Shish, master-shipwright +of his Majesty's Yard here, an honest and remarkable man, and his death +a public loss, for his excellent success in building ships (though +altogether illiterate), and for breeding up so many of his children to +be able artists. I held up the pall with three knights, who did him that +honor, and he was worthy of it. It was the custom of this good man to +rise in the night, and to pray, kneeling in his own coffin, which he had +lying by him for many years. He was born that famous year, the +Gunpowder-plot, 1605. + +14th June, 1680. Came to dine with us the Countess of Clarendon, Dr. +Lloyd, Dean of Bangor (since Bishop of St. Asaph), Dr. Burnet, author of +the "History of the Reformation," and my old friend, Mr. Henshaw. After +dinner we all went to see the Observatory, and Mr. Flamsted, who showed +us divers rare instruments, especially the great quadrant. + +[Sidenote: WINDSOR] + +24th July, 1680. Went with my wife and daughter to Windsor, to see that +stately court, now near finished. There was erected in the court the +King on horseback, lately cast in copper, and set on a rich pedestal of +white marble, the work of Mr. Gibbons, at the expense of Toby Rustate, a +page of the back stairs, who by his wonderful frugality had arrived to a +great estate in money, and did many works of charity, as well as this of +gratitude to his master, which cost him £1,000. He is very simple, +ignorant, but honest and loyal creature. + +We all dined at the Countess of Sunderland's, afterward to see Signor +Verrio's garden, thence to Eton College, to salute the provost, and +heard a Latin speech of one of the alumni (it being at the election) and +were invited to supper; but took our leave, and got to London that night +in good time. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th July, 1680. My most noble and illustrious friend, the Earl of +Ossory, espying me this morning after sermon in the privy gallery, +calling to me, told me he was now going his journey (meaning to Tangier, +whither he was designed Governor, and General of the forces, to regain +the losses we had lately sustained from the Moors, when Inchiquin was +Governor). I asked if he would not call at my house (as he always did +whenever he went out of England on any exploit). He said he must embark +at Portsmouth, "wherefore let you and me dine together to-day; I am +quite alone, and have something to impart to you; I am not well, shall +be private, and desire your company." + +Being retired to his lodgings, and set down on a couch, he sent to his +secretary for the copy of a letter which he had written to Lord +Sunderland (Secretary of State), wishing me to read it; it was to take +notice how ill he resented it, that he should tell the King before Lord +Ossory's face, that Tangier was not to be kept, but would certainly be +lost, and yet added that it was fit Lord Ossory should be sent, that +they might give some account of it to the world, meaning (as supposed) +the next Parliament, when all such miscarriages would probably be +examined; this Lord Ossory took very ill of Lord Sunderland, and not +kindly of the King, who resolving to send him with an incompetent force, +seemed, as his Lordship took it, to be willing to cast him away, not +only on a hazardous adventure, but in most men's opinion, an +impossibility, seeing there was not to be above 300 or 400 horse, and +4,000 foot for the garrison and all, both to defend the town, form a +camp, repulse the enemy, and fortify what ground they should get in. +This touched my Lord deeply, that he should be so little considered as +to put him on a business in which he should probably not only lose his +reputation, but be charged with all the miscarriage and ill success; +whereas, at first they promised 6,000 foot and 600 horse effective. + +My Lord, being an exceedingly brave and valiant person, and who had so +approved himself in divers signal battles, both at sea and land; so +beloved and so esteemed by the people, as one they depended on, upon all +occasions worthy of such a captain;--he looked on this as too great an +indifference in his Majesty, after all his services, and the merits of +his father, the Duke of Ormond, and a design of some who envied his +virtue. It certainly took so deep root in his mind, that he who was the +most void of fear in the world (and assured me he would go to Tangier +with ten men if his Majesty commanded him) could not bear up against +this unkindness. Having disburdened himself of this to me after dinner, +he went with his Majesty to the sheriffs at a great supper in +Fishmongers' Hall; but finding himself ill, took his leave immediately +of his Majesty, and came back to his lodging. Not resting well this +night, he was persuaded to remove to Arlington House, for better +accommodation. His disorder turned to a malignant fever, which +increasing, after all that six of the most able physicians could do, he +became delirious, with intervals of sense, during which Dr. Lloyd (after +Bishop of St. Asaph) administered the Holy Sacrament, of which I also +participated. He died the Friday following, the 30th of July, to the +universal grief of all that knew or heard of his great worth, nor had +any a greater loss than myself. Oft would he say I was the oldest +acquaintance he had in England (when his father was in Ireland), it +being now of about thirty years, contracted abroad, when he rode in the +Academy in Paris, and when we were seldom asunder. + +His Majesty never lost a worthier subject, nor father a better or more +dutiful son; a loving, generous, good-natured, and perfectly obliging +friend; one who had done innumerable kindnesses to several before they +knew it; nor did he ever advance any that were not worthy; no one more +brave, more modest; none more humble, sober, and every way virtuous. +Unhappy England in this illustrious person's loss! Universal was the +mourning for him, and the eulogies on him; I stayed night and day by his +bedside to his last gasp, to close his dear eyes! O sad father, mother, +wife, and children! What shall I add? He deserved all that a sincere +friend, a brave soldier, a virtuous courtier, a loyal subject, an honest +man, a bountiful master, and good Christian, could deserve of his prince +and country. One thing more let me note, that he often expressed to me +the abhorrence he had of that base and unworthy action which he was put +upon, of engaging the Smyrna fleet in time of peace, in which though he +behaved himself like a great captain, yet he told me it was the only +blot in his life, and troubled him exceedingly. Though he was commanded, +and never examined further when he was so, yet he always spoke of it +with regret and detestation. The Countess was at the seat of her +daughter, the Countess of Derby, about 200 miles off. + +30th August, 1680. I went to visit a French gentleman, one Monsieur +Chardin, who having been thrice in the East Indies, Persia, and other +remote countries, came hither in our return ships from those parts, and +it being reported that he was a very curious and knowing man, I was +desired by the Royal Society to salute him in their name, and to invite +him to honor them with his company. Sir Joseph Hoskins and Sir +Christopher Wren accompanied me. We found him at his lodgings in his +eastern habit, a very handsome person, extremely affable, a modest, +well-bred man, not inclined to talk wonders. He spoke Latin, and +understood Greek, Arabic, and Persian, from eleven years' travels in +those parts, whither he went in search of jewels, and was become very +rich. He seemed about 36 years of age. After the usual civilities, we +asked some account of the extraordinary things he must have seen in +traveling over land to those places where few, if any, northern +Europeans used to go, as the Black and Caspian Sea, Mingrelia, Bagdad, +Nineveh, Persepolis, etc. He told us that the things most worthy of our +sight would be, the draughts he had caused to be made of some noble +ruins, etc.; for that, besides his own little talent that way, he had +carried two good painters with him, to draw landscapes, measure and +design the remains of the palace which Alexander burned in his frolic at +Persepolis, with divers temples, columns, relievos, and statues, yet +extant, which he affirmed to be sculpture far exceeding anything he had +observed either at Rome, in Greece, or in any other part of the world +where magnificence was in estimation. He said there was an inscription +in letters not intelligible, though entire. He was sorry he could not +gratify the curiosity of the Society at present, his things not being +yet out of the ship; but would wait on them with them on his return from +Paris, whither he was going the next day, but with intention to return +suddenly, and stay longer here, the persecution in France not suffering +Protestants, and he was one, to be quiet. + +He told us that Nineveh was a vast city, now all buried in her ruins, +the inhabitants building on the subterranean vaults, which were, as +appeared, the first stories of the old city, that there were frequently +found huge vases of fine earth, columns, and other antiquities; that the +straw which the Egyptians required of the Israelites, was not to burn, +or cover the rows of bricks as we use, but being chopped small to mingle +with the clay, which being dried in the sun (for they bake not in the +furnace) would else cleave asunder; that in Persia are yet a race of +Ignicolæ, who worship the sun and the fire as Gods; that the women of +Georgia and Mingrelia were universally, and without any compare, the +most beautiful creatures for shape, features, and figure, in the world, +and therefore the Grand Seignor and Bashaws had had from thence most of +their wives and concubines; that there had within these hundred years +been Amazons among them, that is to say, a sort or race of valiant +women, given to war; that Persia was extremely fertile; he spoke also of +Japan and China, and of the many great errors of our late geographers, +as we suggested matter for discourse. We then took our leave, failing of +seeing his papers; but it was told us by others that indeed he dared not +open, or show them, till he had first showed them to the French King; +but of this he himself said nothing. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d September, 1680. I had an opportunity, his Majesty being still at +Windsor, of seeing his private library at Whitehall, at my full ease. I +went with expectation of finding some curiosities, but, though there +were about 1,000 volumes, there were few of importance which I had not +perused before. They consisted chiefly of such books as had from time to +time been dedicated, or presented to him; a few histories, some Travels +and French books, abundance of maps and sea charts, entertainments and +pomps, buildings and pieces relating to the navy, some mathematical +instruments; but what was most rare, were three or four Romish +breviaries, with a great deal of miniature and monkish painting and +gilding, one of which is most exquisitely done, both as to the figures, +grotesques, and compartments, to the utmost of that curious art. There +is another in which I find written by the hand of King Henry VII., his +giving it to his dear daughter, Margaret, afterward Queen of Scots, in +which he desires her to pray for his soul, subscribing his name at +length. There is also the process of the philosophers' great elixir, +represented in divers pieces of excellent miniature, but the discourse +is in high Dutch, a MS. There is another MS. in quarto, of above 300 +years old, in French, being an institution of physic, and in the +botanical part the plants are curiously painted in miniature; also a +folio MS. of good thickness, being the several exercises, as Themes, +Orations, Translations, etc., of King Edward VI., all written and +subscribed by his own hand, and with his name very legible, and divers +of the Greek interleaved and corrected after the manner of schoolboys' +exercises, and that exceedingly well and proper; with some epistles to +his preceptor, which show that young prince to have been extraordinarily +advanced in learning, and as Cardan, who had been in England affirmed, +stupendously knowing for his age. There is likewise his journal, no less +testifying his early ripeness and care about the affairs of state. + +There are besides many pompous volumes, some embossed with gold, and +intaglios on agates, medals, etc. I spent three or four entire days, +locked up, and alone, among these books and curiosities. In the rest of +the private lodgings contiguous to this, are divers of the best pictures +of the great masters, Raphael, Titian, etc., and in my esteem, above +all, the "_Noli me tangere_" of our blessed Savior to Mary Magdalen +after his Resurrection, of Hans Holbein; than which I never saw so much +reverence and kind of heavenly astonishment expressed in a picture. + +There are also divers curious clocks, watches, and pendules of exquisite +work, and other curiosities. An ancient woman who made these lodgings +clean, and had all the keys, let me in at pleasure for a small reward, +by means of a friend. + +6th September, 1680. I dined with Sir Stephen Fox, now one of the Lords +Commissioners of the Treasury. This gentleman came first a poor boy from +the choir of Salisbury, then he was taken notice of by Bishop Duppa, and +afterward waited on my Lord Percy (brother to Algernon, Earl of +Northumberland), who procured for him an inferior place among the clerks +of the kitchen and Greencloth side, where he was found so humble, +diligent, industrious, and prudent in his behavior, that his Majesty +being in exile, and Mr. Fox waiting, both the King and Lords about him +frequently employed him about their affairs, and trusted him both with +receiving and paying the little money they had. Returning with his +Majesty to England, after great want and great sufferings, his Majesty +found him so honest and industrious, and withal so capable and ready, +that, being advanced from clerk of the kitchen to that of the +Greencloth, he procured to be paymaster of the whole army, and by his +dexterity and punctual dealing he obtained such credit among the +bankers, that he was in a short time able to borrow vast sums of them +upon any exigence. The continual turning thus of money, and the +soldiers' moderate allowance to him for keeping touch with them, did so +enrich him, that he is believed to be worth at least £200,000, honestly +got and unenvied; which is next to a miracle. With all this he continues +as humble and ready to do a courtesy as ever he was. + +He is generous, and lives very honorably, of a sweet nature, +well-spoken, well-bred, and is so highly in his Majesty's esteem, and so +useful, that being long since made a knight, he is also advanced to be +one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and has the reversion of +the Cofferer's place after Harry Brouncker. He has married his eldest +daughter to my Lord Cornwallis, and gave her £12,000, and restored that +entangled family besides. He matched his son to Mrs. Trollop, who brings +with her (besides a great sum) near, if not altogether, £2,000 per +annum. Sir Stephen's lady (an excellent woman) is sister to Mr. Whittle, +one of the King's chirurgeons. In a word, never was man more fortunate +than Sir Stephen; he is a handsome person, virtuous, and very religious. + +23d September, 1680. Came to my house some German strangers and Signor +Pietro, a famous musician, who had been long in Sweden in Queen +Christina's Court; he sung admirably to a guitar, and had a perfect good +tenor and bass, and had set to Italian composure many of Abraham +Cowley's pieces which showed extremely well. He told me that in Sweden +the heat in some part of summer was as excessive as the cold in winter; +so cold, he affirmed, that the streets of all the towns are desolate, no +creatures stirring in them for many months, all the inhabitants retiring +to their stoves. He spoke high things of that romantic Queen's learning +and skill in languages, the majesty of her behavior, her exceeding wit, +and that the histories she had read of other countries, especially of +Italy and Rome, had made her despise her own. That the real occasion of +her resigning her crown was the nobleman's importuning her to marry, and +the promise which the Pope had made her of procuring her to be Queen of +Naples, which also caused her to change her religion; but she was +cheated by his crafty Holiness,[43] working on her ambition; that the +reason of her killing her secretary at Fontainebleau, was, his revealing +that intrigue with the Pope. But, after all this, I rather believe it +was her mad prodigality and extreme vanity, which had consumed those +vast treasures the great Adolphus, her father, had brought out of +Germany during his [campaigns] there and wonderful successes; and that, +if she had not voluntarily resigned, as foreseeing the event, the +Estates of her kingdom would have compelled her to do so. + + [Footnote 43: Pope Alexander VII., of the family of Chighi, at + Sienna.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +30th October, 1680. I went to London to be private, my birthday being +the next day, and I now arrived at my sixtieth year; on which I began a +more solemn survey of my whole life, in order to the making and +confirming my peace with God, by an accurate scrutiny of all my actions +past, as far as I was able to call them to mind. How difficult and +uncertain, yet how necessary a work! The Lord be merciful to me, and +accept me! Who can tell how oft he offendeth? Teach me, therefore, so to +number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom, and make my +calling and election sure. Amen, Lord Jesus! + +31st October, 1680. I spent this whole day in exercises. A stranger +preached at Whitehall[44] on Luke xvi. 30, 31. I then went to St. +Martin's, where the Bishop of St. Asaph preached on 1 Peter iii. 15; the +Holy Communion followed, at which I participated, humbly imploring God's +assistance in the great work I was entering into. In the afternoon, I +heard Dr. Sprat, at St. Margaret's, on Acts xvii. 11. + + [Footnote 44: Probably to the King's household, very early in the + morning, as the custom was.] + +I began and spent the whole week in examining my life, begging pardon +for my faults, assistance and blessing for the future, that I might, in +some sort, be prepared for the time that now drew near, and not have the +great work to begin, when one can work no longer. The Lord Jesus help +and assist me! I therefore stirred little abroad till the 5th of +November, when I heard Dr. Tenison, the now vicar of St. Martin's; Dr. +Lloyd, the former incumbent, being made Bishop of St. Asaph. + +7th November, 1680. I participated of the blessed Communion, finishing +and confirming my resolutions of giving myself up more entirely to God, +to whom I had now most solemnly devoted the rest of the poor remainder +of life in this world; the Lord enabling me, who am an unprofitable +servant, a miserable sinner, yet depending on his infinite goodness and +mercy accepting my endeavors. + +15th November, 1680. Came to dine with us Sir Richard Anderson, his +lady, son and wife, sister to my daughter-in-law. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +30th November, 1680. The anniversary election at the Royal Society +brought me to London, where was chosen President that excellent person +and great philosopher, Mr. Robert Boyle, who indeed ought to have been +the very first; but neither his infirmity nor his modesty could now any +longer excuse him. I desired I might for this year be left out of the +Council, by reason my dwelling was in the country. The Society according +to custom dined together. + +The signal day begun the trial (at which I was present) of my Lord +Viscount Stafford, (for conspiring the death of the King), second son to +my Lord Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, Earl Marshal of +England, and grandfather to the present Duke of Norfolk, whom I so well +knew, and from which excellent person I received so many favors. It was +likewise his birthday, The trial was in Westminster Hall, before the +King, Lords, and Commons, just in the same manner as, forty years past, +the great and wise Earl of Strafford (there being but one letter +differing their names) received his trial for pretended ill government +in Ireland, in the very same place, this Lord Stafford's father being +then High Steward. The place of sitting was now exalted some +considerable height from the paved floor of the hall, with a stage of +boards. The throne, woolsacks for the Judges, long forms for the Peers, +chair for the Lord Steward, exactly ranged, as in the House of Lords. +The sides on both hands scaffolded to the very roof for the members of +the House of Commons. At the upper end, and on the right side of the +King's state, was a box for his Majesty, and on the left others for the +great ladies, and over head a gallery for ambassadors and public +ministers. At the lower end, or entrance, was a bar, and place for the +prisoner, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London, the ax-bearer and +guards, my Lord Stafford's two daughters, the Marchioness of Winchester +being one; there was likewise a box for my Lord to retire into. At the +right hand, in another box, somewhat higher, stood the witnesses; at the +left, the managers, in the name of the Commons of England, namely, +Serjeant Maynard (the great lawyer, the same who prosecuted the cause +against the Earl of Strafford forty years before, being now near eighty +years of age), Sir William Jones, late Attorney-General, Sir Francis +Winnington, a famous pleader, and Mr. Treby, now Recorder of London, not +appearing in their gowns as lawyers, but in their cloaks and swords, as +representing the Commons of England: to these were joined Mr. Hampden, +Dr. Sacheverell, Mr. Poule, Colonel Titus, Sir Thomas Lee, all gentlemen +of quality, and noted parliamentary men. The first two days, in which +were read the commission and impeachment, were but a tedious entrance +into matter of fact, at which I was but little present. But, on +Thursday, I was commodiously seated among the Commons, when the +witnesses were sworn and examined. The principal witnesses were Mr. +Oates (who called himself Dr.), Mr. Dugdale, and Turberville. Oates +swore that he delivered a commission to Viscount Stafford from the Pope, +to be Paymaster-General to an army intended to be raised; Dugdale, that +being at Lord Aston's, the prisoner dealt with him plainly to murder his +Majesty; and Turberville, that at Paris he also proposed the same to +him. + +3d December, 1680. The depositions of my Lord's witnesses were taken, to +invalidate the King's witnesses; they were very slight persons, but, +being fifteen or sixteen, they took up all that day, and in truth they +rather did my Lord more injury than service. + +4th December, 1680. Came other witnesses of the Commons to corroborate +the King's, some being Peers, some Commons, with others of good quality, +who took off all the former day's objections, and set the King's +witnesses _recti in curiâ_. + +6th December, 1680. Sir William Jones summed up the evidence; to him +succeeded all the rest of the managers, and then Mr. Henry Poule made a +vehement oration. After this my Lord, as on all occasions, and often +during the trial, spoke in his own defense, denying the charge +altogether, and that he had never seen Oates, or Turberville, at the +time and manner affirmed: in truth, their testimony did little weigh +with me; Dugdale's only seemed to press hardest, to which my Lord spoke +a great while, but confusedly, without any method. + +One thing my Lord said as to Oates, which I confess did exceedingly +affect me: That a person who during his depositions should so vauntingly +brag that though he went over to the Church of Rome, yet he was never a +Papist, nor of their religion, all the time that he seemed to apostatize +from the Protestant, but only as a spy; though he confessed he took +their sacrament; worshiped images, went through all their oaths and +discipline of their proselytes, swearing secrecy and to be faithful, but +with intent to come over again and betray them; that such a hypocrite, +that had so deeply prevaricated as even to turn idolater (for so we of +the Church of England termed it), attesting God so solemnly that he was +entirely theirs and devoted to their interest, and consequently (as he +pretended) trusted; I say, that the witness of such a profligate wretch +should be admitted against the life of a peer,--this my Lord looked upon +as a monstrous thing, and such as must needs redound to the dishonor of +our religion and nation. And verily I am of his Lordship's opinion: such +a man's testimony should not be taken against the life of a dog. But the +merit of something material which he discovered against Coleman, put him +in such esteem with the Parliament, that now, I fancy, he stuck at +nothing, and thought everybody was to take what he said for Gospel. The +consideration of this, and some other circumstances, began to stagger +me; particularly how it was possible that one who went among the Papists +on such a design, and pretended to be intrusted with so many letters and +commissions from the Pope and the party,--nay, and delivered them to so +many great persons,--should not reserve one of them to show, nor so much +as one copy of any commission, which he who had such dexterity in +opening letters might certainly have done, to the undeniable conviction +of those whom he accused; but, as I said, he gained credit on Coleman. +But, as to others whom he so madly flew upon, I am little inclined to +believe his testimony, he being so slight a person, so passionate, ill +bred, and of such impudent behavior; nor is it likely that such piercing +politicians as the Jesuits should trust him with so high and so +dangerous secrets. + +7th December, 1680. On Tuesday, I was again at the trial, when judgment +was demanded; and, after my Lord had spoken what he could in denying the +fact, the managers answering the objections, the Peers adjourned to +their House, and within two hours returned again. There was, in the +meantime, this question put to the judges, "whether there being but one +witness to any single crime, or act, it could amount to convict a man of +treason." They gave an unanimous opinion that in case of treason they +all were overt acts for though no man should be condemned by one witness +for any one act, yet for several acts to the same intent, it was valid; +which was my Lord's case. This being past, and the Peers in their seats +again, the Lord Chancellor Finch (this day the Lord High-Steward) +removing to the woolsack next his Majesty's state, after summoning the +Lieutenant of the Tower to bring forth his prisoner, and proclamation +made for silence, demanded of every Peer (who were in all eighty-six) +whether William, Lord Viscount Stafford, were guilty of the treason laid +to his charge, or not guilty. + +Then the Peer spoken to, standing up, and laying his right hand upon his +breast, said guilty, or not guilty, upon my honor, and then sat down, +the Lord Steward noting their suffrages as they answered upon a paper: +when all had done, the number of not guilty being but 31, the guilty 55; +and then, after proclamation for silence again, the Lord Steward +directing his speech to the prisoner, against whom the ax was turned +edgeways and not before, in aggravation of his crime, he being ennobled +by the King's father, and since received many favors from his present +Majesty: after enlarging on his offense, deploring first his own +unhappiness that he who had never condemned any man before should now be +necessitated to begin with him, he then pronounced sentence of death by +hanging, drawing, and quartering, according to form, with great +solemnity and dreadful gravity; and, after a short pause, told the +prisoner that he believed the Lords would intercede for the omission of +some circumstances of his sentence, beheading only excepted; and then +breaking his white staff, the Court was dissolved. My Lord Stafford +during all this latter part spoke but little, and only gave their +Lordships thanks after the sentence was pronounced; and indeed behaved +himself modestly, and as became him. + +It was observed that all his own relations of his name and family +condemned him, except his nephew, the Earl of Arundel, son to the Duke +of Norfolk. And it must be acknowledged that the whole trial was carried +on with exceeding gravity: so stately and august an appearance I had +never seen before; for, besides the innumerable spectators of gentlemen +and foreign ministers, who saw and heard all the proceedings, the +prisoner had the consciences of all the Commons of England for his +accusers, and all the Peers to be his judges and jury. He had likewise +the assistance of what counsel he would, to direct him in his plea, who +stood by him. And yet I can hardly think that a person of his age and +experience should engage men whom he never saw before (and one of them +that came to visit him as a stranger at Paris) POINT BLANK to murder the +King: God only, who searches hearts, can discover the truth. Lord +Stafford was not a man beloved especially of his own family. + +12th December, 1680. This evening, looking out of my chamber window +toward the west, I saw a meteor of an obscure bright color, very much in +shape like the blade of a sword, the rest of the sky very serene and +clear. What this may portend, God only knows; but such another +phenomenon I remember to have seen in 1640, about the trial of the great +Earl of Strafford, preceding our bloody Rebellion. I pray God avert his +judgments! We have had of late several comets, which though I believe +appear from natural causes, and of themselves operate not, yet I cannot +despise them. They may be warnings from God, as they commonly are +forerunners of his animadversions. After many days and nights of snow, +cloudy and dark weather, the comet was very much wasted. + +17th December, 1680. My daughter-in-law was brought to bed of a son, +christened Richard. + +22d December, 1680. A solemn public Fast that God would prevent all +Popish plots, avert his judgments, and give a blessing to the +proceedings of Parliament now assembled, and which struck at the +succession of the Duke of York. + +29th December, 1680. The Viscount Stafford was beheaded on Towerhill. + +10th February, 1680-81. I was at the wedding of my nephew, John Evelyn +of Wotton, married by the Bishop of Rochester at Westminster, in Henry +VII.'s chapel, to the daughter and heir of Mr. Eversfield, of Sussex, +her portion £8,000. The solemnity was kept with a few friends only at +Lady Beckford's, the lady's mother. + +8th March, 1681. Visited and dined at the Earl of Essex's, with whom I +spent most of the afternoon alone. Thence to my (yet living) godmother +and kinswoman, Mrs. Keightley, sister to Sir Thomas Evelyn and niece to +my father, being now eighty-six years of age, sprightly, and in perfect +health, her eyes serving her as well as ever, and of a comely +countenance, that one would not suppose her above fifty. + +27th March, 1681. The Parliament now convened at Oxford. Great +expectation of his Royal Highness's case as to the succession, against +which the House was set. + +An extraordinary sharp, cold spring, not yet a leaf on the trees, frost +and snow lying: while the whole nation was in the greatest ferment. + +11th April, 1681. I took my leave of Dr. Lloyd (Bishop of St. Asaph) at +his house in Leicester Fields, now going to reside in his diocese. + +12th April, 1681. I dined at Mr. Brisbane's, Secretary to the Admiralty, +a learned and industrious person, whither came Dr. Burnet, to thank me +for some papers I had contributed toward his excellent "History of the +Reformation." + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th April, 1681. I dined at Don Pietro Ronquillo's, the Spanish +Ambassador, at Wild House, who used me with extraordinary civility. The +dinner was plentiful, half after the Spanish, half after the English +way. After dinner, he led me into his bedchamber, where we fell into a +long discourse concerning religion. Though he was a learned man in +politics, and an advocate, he was very ignorant in religion, and unable +to defend any point of controversy; he was, however, far from being +fierce. At parting, he earnestly wished me to apply humbly to the +blessed virgin to direct me, assuring me that he had known divers who +had been averse from the Roman Catholic religion, wonderfully +enlightened and convinced by her intercession. He importuned me to come +and visit him often. + +29th April, 1681. But one shower of rain all this month. + +5th May, 1681. Came to dine with me Sir William Fermor, of +Northamptonshire, and Sir Christopher Wren, his Majesty's architect and +surveyor, now building the Cathedral of St. Paul, and the column in +memory of the city's conflagration, and was in hand with the building of +fifty parish churches. A wonderful genius had this incomparable person. + +16th May, 1681. Came my Lady Sunderland, to desire that I would propose +a match to Sir Stephen Fox for her son, Lord Spencer, to marry Mrs. +Jane, Sir Stephen's daughter. I excused myself all I was able; for the +truth is, I was afraid he would prove an extravagant man: for, though a +youth of extraordinary parts, and had an excellent education to render +him a worthy man, yet his early inclinations to extravagance made me +apprehensive, that I should not serve Sir Stephen by proposing it, like +a friend; this being now his only daughter, well-bred, and likely to +receive a large share of her father's opulence. Lord Sunderland was much +sunk in his estate by gaming and other prodigalities, and was now no +longer Secretary of State, having fallen into displeasure of the King +for siding with the Commons about the succession; but which, I am +assured, he did not do out of his own inclination, or for the +preservation of the Protestant religion, but by mistaking the ability of +the party to carry it. However, so earnest and importunate was the +Countess, that I did mention it to Sir Stephen, who said it was too +great an honor, that his daughter was very young, as well as my Lord, +and he was resolved never to marry her without the parties' mutual +liking; with other objections which I neither would or could contradict. +He desired me to express to the Countess the great sense he had of the +honor done him, that his daughter and her son were too young, that he +would do nothing without her liking, which he did not think her capable +of expressing judiciously, till she was sixteen or seventeen years of +age, of which she now wanted four years, and that I would put it off as +civilly as I could. + +20th May, 1681. Our new curate preached, a pretty hopeful young man, yet +somewhat raw, newly come from college, full of Latin sentences, which in +time will wear off. He read prayers very well. + +25th May, 1681. There came to visit me Sir William Walter and Sir John +Elowes: and the next day, the Earl of Kildare, a young gentleman related +to my wife, and other company. There had scarce fallen any rain since +Christmas. + +2d June, 1681. I went to Hampton Court, when the Surrey gentlemen +presented their addresses to his Majesty, whose hand I kissed, +introduced by the Duke of Albemarle. Being at the Privy Council, I took +another occasion of discoursing with Sir Stephen Fox about his daughter +and to revive that business, and at least brought it to this: That in +case the young people liked one the other, after four years, he first +desiring to see a particular of my Lord's present estate if I could +transmit it to him privately, he would make her portion £14,000, though +to all appearance he might likely make it £50,000 as easily, his eldest +son having no child and growing very corpulent. + +12th June, 1681. It still continued so great a drought as had never been +known in England, and it was said to be universal. + +14th August, 1681. No sermon this afternoon, which I think did not +happen twice in this parish these thirty years; so gracious has God been +to it, and indeed to the whole nation: God grant that we abuse not this +great privilege either by our wantonness, schism, or unfaithfulness, +under such means as he has not favored any other nation under Heaven +besides! + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +23d August, 1681. I went to Wotton, and, on the following day, was +invited to Mr. Denzil Onslow's at his seat at Purford, where was much +company, and such an extraordinary feast, as I had hardly seen at any +country gentleman's table. What made it more remarkable was, that there +was not anything save what his estate about it did afford; as venison, +rabbits, hares, pheasants, partridges, pigeons, quails, poultry, all +sorts of fowl in season from his own decoy near his house, and all sorts +of fresh fish. After dinner we went to see sport at the decoy, where I +never saw so many herons. + +The seat stands on a flat, the ground pasture, rarely watered, and +exceedingly improved since Mr. Onslow bought it of Sir Robert Parkhurst, +who spent a fair estate. The house is timber, but commodious, and with +one ample dining-room, the hall adorned with paintings of fowl and +huntings, etc., the work of Mr. Barlow, who is excellent in this kind +from the life. + +30th August, 1681. From Wotton I went to see Mr. Hussey (at Sutton in +Shere), who has a very pretty seat well watered, near my brother's. He +is the neatest husband for curious ordering his domestic and field +accommodations, and what pertains to husbandry, that I have ever seen, +as to his granaries, tacklings, tools, and utensils, plows, carts, +stables, wood piles, wood houses, even to hen roosts and hog troughs. +Methought, I saw old Cato, or Varro, in him; all substantial, all in +exact order. The sole inconvenience he lies under, is the great quantity +of sand which the stream brings along with it, and fills his canals and +receptacles for fish too soon. The rest of my time of stay at Wotton was +spent in walking about the grounds and goodly woods, where I have in my +youth so often entertained my solitude; and so, on the 2d of September, +I once more returned to my home. + +6th September, 1681. Died my pretty grandchild, and was interred on the +8th [at Deptford]. + +14th September, 1681. Dined with Sir Stephen Fox, who proposed to me the +purchasing of Chelsea College, which his Majesty had sometime since +given to our Society, and would now purchase it again to build a +hospital; or infirmary for soldiers there, in which he desired my +assistance as one of the Council of the Royal Society. + +15th September, 1681. I had another opportunity of visiting his +Majesty's private library at Whitehall. + +To Sir Samuel Morland's, to see his house and mechanics. + +17th September, 1681. I went with Monsieur Faubert about taking the +Countess of Bristol's house for an academy, he being lately come from +Paris for his religion, and resolving to settle here. + +23d September, 1681. I went to see Sir Thomas Bond's fine house and +garden at Peckham. + +2d October, 1681. I went to Camberwell, where that good man Dr. Parr +(late chaplain to Archbishop Usher) preached on Acts xvi. 30. + +11th October, 1681. To Fulham, to visit the Bishop of London, in whose +garden I first saw the _Sedum arborescens_ in flower, which was +exceedingly beautiful. + +5th November, 1681. Dr. Hooper preached on Mark xii. 16, 17, before the +King, of the usurpation of the Church of Rome. This is one of the first +rank of pulpit men in the nation. + +15th November, 1681. I dined with the Earl of Essex who, after dinner +in his study, where we were alone, related to me how much he had been +scandalized and injured in the report of his being privy to the marriage +of his Lady's niece, the rich young widow of the late Lord Ogle, sole +daughter of the Earl of Northumberland; showing me a letter of Mr. +Thynn's, excusing himself for not communicating his marriage to his +Lordship. He acquainted me also with the whole story of that unfortunate +lady being betrayed by her grandmother, the Countess of Northumberland, +and Colonel Bret, for money; and that though, upon the importunity of +the Duke of Monmouth, he had delivered to the grandmother a particular +of the jointure which Mr. Thynn pretended he would settle on the lady, +yet he totally discouraged the proceeding as by no means a competent +match for one that both by birth and fortune might have pretended to the +greatest prince in Christendom; that he also proposed the Earl of +Kingston, or the Lord Cranburn, but was by no means for Mr. Thynn. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +19th November, 1681. I dined with my worthy friend, Mr. Erskine, Master +of the Charter House, uncle to the Duchess of Monmouth; a wise and +learned gentleman, fitter to have been a privy councillor and minister +of state than to have been laid aside. + +24th November, 1681. I was at the audience of the Russian Ambassador +before both their Majesties in the Banqueting House. The presents were +carried before him, held up by his followers in two ranks before the +King's State, and consisted of tapestry (one suite of which was +doubtlessly brought from France as being of that fabric, the Ambassador +having passed through that kingdom as he came out of Spain), a large +Persian carpet, furs of sable and ermine, etc.; but nothing was so +splendid and exotic as the Ambassador who came soon after the King's +restoration. This present Ambassador was exceedingly offended that his +coach was not permitted to come into the Court, till, being told that no +King's Ambassador did, he was pacified, yet requiring an attestation of +it under the hand of Sir Charles Cotterell, the Master of the +Ceremonies; being, it seems, afraid he should offend his Master, if he +omitted the least punctilio. It was reported he condemned his son to +lose his head for shaving off his beard, and putting himself in the +French mode at Paris, and that he would have executed it, had not the +French King interceded--but qy. of this. + +30th November, 1681. Sir Christopher Wren chosen President [of the Royal +Society], Mr. Austine, Secretary, with Dr. Plot, the ingenious author of +the "History of Oxfordshire." There was a most illustrious appearance. + +11th January, 1681-82. I saw the audience of the Morocco Ambassador, +his retinue not numerous. He was received in the Banqueting House, both +their Majesties being present. He came up to the throne without making +any sort of reverence, not bowing his head, or body. He spoke by a +renegado Englishman, for whose safe return there was a promise. They +were all clad in the Moorish habit, cassocks of colored cloth, or silk, +with buttons and loops, over this an _alhaga_, or white woolen mantle, +so large as to wrap both head and body, a sash, or small turban, +naked-legged and armed, but with leather socks like the Turks, rich +scymetar, and large calico sleeved shirts. The Ambassador had a string +of pearls oddly woven in his turban. I fancy the old Roman habit was +little different as to the mantle and naked limbs. He was a handsome +person, well featured, of a wise look, subtle, and extremely civil. +Their presents were lions and ostriches; their errand about a peace at +Tangier. But the concourse and tumult of the people was intolerable, so +as the officers could keep no order, which these strangers were +astonished at first, there being nothing so regular, exact, and +performed with such silence, as is on all these public occasions of +their country, and indeed over all the Turkish dominions. + +14th January, 1682. Dined at the Bishop of Rochester's, at the Abbey, it +being his marriage day, after twenty-four years. He related to me how he +had been treated by Sir William Temple, foreseeing that he might be a +delegate in the concern of my Lady Ogle now likely come in controversy +upon her marriage with Mr. Thynn; also how earnestly the late Earl of +Danby, Lord Treasurer, sought his friendship, and what plain and sincere +advice he gave him from time to time about his miscarriages and +partialities; particularly his outing Sir John Duncomb from being +Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Stephen Fox, above all, from being +Paymaster of the Army. The Treasurer's excuse and reason was, that Fox's +credit was so over great with the bankers and monied men, that he could +procure none but by his means, "for that reason," replied the Bishop, "I +would have made him my friend, Sir Stephen being a person both honest +and of credit." He told him likewise of his stateliness and difficulty +of access, and several other miscarriages, and which indeed made him +hated. + +24th January, 1682. To the Royal Society, where at the Council we +passed a new law for the more accurate consideration of candidates, as +whether they would really be useful; also concerning the honorary +members, that none should be admitted but by diploma. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +This evening I was at the entertainment of the Morocco Ambassador at the +Duchess of Portsmouth's glorious apartments at Whitehall, where was a +great banquet of sweetmeats and music; but at which both the Ambassador +and his retinue behaved themselves with extraordinary moderation and +modesty, though placed about a long table, a lady between two Moors, and +among these were the King's natural children, namely, Lady Lichfield and +Sussex, the Duchess of Portsmouth, Nelly, etc., concubines, and cattle +of that sort, as splendid as jewels and excess of bravery could make +them; the Moors neither admiring nor seeming to regard anything, +furniture or the like, with any earnestness, and but decently tasting of +the banquet. They drank a little milk and water, but not a drop of wine; +they also drank of a sorbet and jacolatt;[45] did not look about, or +stare on the ladies, or express the least surprise, but with a courtly +negligence in pace, countenance, and whole behavior, answering only to +such questions as were asked with a great deal of wit and gallantry, and +so gravely took leave with this compliment, that God would bless the +Duchess of Portsmouth and the Prince, her son meaning the little Duke of +Richmond. The King came in at the latter end, just as the Ambassador was +going away. In this manner was this slave (for he was no more at home) +entertained by most of the nobility in town, and went often to Hyde Park +on horseback, where he and his retinue showed their extraordinary +activity in horsemanship, and flinging and catching their lances at full +speed; they rode very short, and could stand upright at full speed, +managing their spears with incredible agility. He went sometimes to the +theaters, where, upon any foolish or fantastical action, he could not +forbear laughing, but he endeavored to hide it with extraordinary +modesty and gravity. In a word, the Russian Ambassador, still at Court +behaved himself like a clown compared to this civil heathen. + + [Footnote 45: Sherbet and chocolate.] + +27th January, 1682. This evening, Sir Stephen Fox acquainted me again +with his Majesty's resolution of proceeding in the erection of a Royal +Hospital for emerited soldiers on that spot of ground which the Royal +Society had sold to his Majesty for £1,300, and that he would settle +£5,000 per annum on it, and build to the value of £20,000 for the relief +and reception of four companies, namely, 400 men, to be as in a college, +or monastery. I was therefore desired by Sir Stephen (who had not only +the whole managing of this, but was, as I perceived, himself to be a +grand benefactor, as well it became him who had gotten so vast an estate +by the soldiers) to assist him, and consult what method to cast it in, +as to the government. So, in his study we arranged the governor, +chaplain, steward, housekeeper, chirurgeon, cook, butler, gardener, +porter, and other officers, with their several salaries and +entertainments. I would needs have a library, and mentioned several +books, since some soldiers might possibly be studious, when they were at +leisure to recollect. Thus we made the first calculations, and set down +our thoughts to be considered and digested better, to show his Majesty +and the Archbishop. He also engaged me to consider of what laws and +orders were fit for the government, which was to be in every respect as +strict as in any religious convent. + +After supper, came in the famous treble, Mr. Abel, newly returned from +Italy; I never heard a more excellent voice; one would have sworn it had +been a woman's, it was so high, and so well and skillfully managed, +being accompanied by Signor Francesco on the harpsichord. + +28th January, 1682. Mr. Pepys, late Secretary to the Admiralty, showed +me a large folio containing the whole mechanic part and art of building +royal ships and men-of-war, made by Sir Anthony Dean, being so accurate +a piece from the very keel to the lead block, rigging, guns, victualing, +manning, and even to every individual pin and nail, in a method so +astonishing and curious, with a draught, both geometrical and in +perspective, and several sections, that I do not think the world can +show the like. I esteem this book as an extraordinary jewel. + +7th February, 1682. My daughter, Mary, began to learn music of Signor +Bartholomeo, and dancing of Monsieur Isaac, reputed the best masters. + +Having had several violent fits of an ague, recourse was had to bathing +my legs in milk up to the knees, made as hot as I could endure it: and +sitting so in it in a deep churn, or vessel, covered with blankets, and +drinking _carduus_ posset, then going to bed and sweating, I not only +missed that expected fit, but had no more, only continued weak, that I +could not go to church till Ash Wednesday, which I had not missed, I +think, so long in twenty years, so gracious had God been to me. + +After this warning and admonition, I now began to look over and +methodize all my writings, accounts, letters, papers; inventoried the +goods, and other articles of the house, and put things into the best +order I could, and made my will; that now, growing in years, I might +have none of these secular things and concerns to distract me, when it +should please Almighty God to call me from this transitory life. With +this, I prepared some special meditations and devotions for the time of +sickness. The Lord Jesus grant them to be salutary for my poor soul in +that day, that I may obtain mercy and acceptance! + +1st March, 1682. My second grandchild was born, and christened the next +day by our vicar at Sayes Court, by the name of John.[46] I beseech God +to bless him! + + [Footnote 46: Who became his successor, and was created a baronet in + 1713.] + +2d March, 1682. ASH WEDNESDAY. I went to church: our vicar preached on +Proverbs, showing what care and vigilance was required for the keeping +of the heart upright. The Holy Communion followed, on which I gave God +thanks for his gracious dealing with me in my late sickness, and +affording me this blessed opportunity of praising him in the +congregation, and receiving the cup of salvation with new and serious +resolutions. + +Came to see and congratulate my recovery, Sir John Lowther, Mr. Herbert, +Mr. Pepys, Sir Anthony Deane, and Mr. Hill. + +10th March, 1682. This day was executed Colonel Vrats, and some of his +accomplices, for the execrable murder of Mr. Thynn, set on by the +principal Koningsmark. He went to execution like an undaunted hero, as +one that had done a friendly office for that base coward, Count +Koningsmark, who had hopes to marry his widow, the rich Lady Ogle, and +was acquitted by a corrupt jury, and so got away. Vrats told a friend of +mine who accompanied him to the gallows, and gave him some advice that +he did not value dying of a rush, and hoped and believed God would deal +with him like a gentleman. Never man went, so unconcerned for his sad +fate. + +24th March, 1682. I went to see the corpse of that obstinate creature, +Colonel Vrats, the King permitting that his body should be transported +to his own country, he being of a good family, and one of the first +embalmed by a particular art, invented by one William Russell, a +coffin-maker, which preserved the body without disboweling, or to +appearance using any bituminous matter. The flesh was florid, soft, and +full, as if the person were only sleeping. He had now been dead near +fifteen days, and lay exposed in a very rich coffin lined with lead, too +magnificent for so daring and horrid a murderer. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +At the meeting of the Royal Society were exhibited some pieces of amber +sent by the Duke of Brandenburg, in one of which was a spider, in +another a gnat, both very entire. There was a discourse of the tingeing +of glass, especially with red, and the difficulty of finding any red +color effectual to penetrate glass, among the glass-painters; that the +most diaporous, as blue, yellow, etc., did not enter into the substance +of what was ordinarily painted, more than very shallow, unless +incorporated in the metal itself, other reds and whites not at all +beyond the superfices. + +5th April, 1682. To the Royal Society, where at a Council was regulated +what collections should be published monthly, as formerly the +transactions, which had of late been discontinued, but were now much +called for by the curious abroad and at home. + +12th April, 1682. I went this afternoon with several of the Royal +Society to a supper which was all dressed, both fish and flesh, in +Monsieur Papin's digestors, by which the hardest bones of beef itself, +and mutton, were made as soft as cheese, without water or other liquor, +and with less than eight ounces of coals, producing an incredible +quantity of gravy; and for close of all, a jelly made of the bones of +beef, the best for clearness and good relish, and the most delicious +that I had ever seen, or tasted. We ate pike and other fish, bones and +all, without impediment; but nothing exceeded the pigeons, which tasted +just as if baked in a pie, all these being stewed in their own juice, +without any addition of water save what swam about the digestor, as _in +balneo_; the natural juice of all these provisions acting on the grosser +substances, reduced the hardest bones to tenderness; but it is best +descanted with more particulars for extracting tinctures, preserving and +stewing fruit, and saving fuel, in Dr. Papin's book, published and +dedicated to our Society of which he is a member. He is since gone to +Venice with the late Resident here (and also a member of our Society), +who carried this excellent mechanic, philosopher, and physician, to set +up a philosophical meeting in that city. This philosophical supper +caused much mirth among us, and exceedingly pleased all the company. I +sent a glass of the jelly to my wife, to the reproach of all that the +ladies ever made of their best hartshorn.[47] + + [Footnote 47: Denys Papin, a French physician and mathematician, who + possessed so remarkable a knowledge of mathematics, that he very + nearly brought the invention of the steam engine into working order. + He assisted Mr. Boyle in his pneumatic experiments, and was + afterward mathematical professor at Marburg. He died in 1710.] + +The season was unusually wet, with rain and thunder. + +25th May, 1682. I was desired by Sir Stephen Fox and Sir Christopher +Wren to accompany them to Lambeth, with the plot and design of the +college to be built at Chelsea, to have the Archbishop's approbation. It +was a quadrangle of 200 feet square, after the dimensions of the larger +quadrangle at Christ church, Oxford, for the accommodation of 440 +persons, with governor and officers. This was agreed on. + +The Duke and Duchess of York were just now come to London, after his +escape and shipwreck, as he went by sea for Scotland. + +28th May, 1682. At the Rolls' chapel preached the famous Dr. Burnet on +2 Peter, i. 10, describing excellently well what was meant by election; +viz, not the effect of any irreversible decree, but so called because +they embraced the Gospel readily, by which they became elect, or +precious to God. It would be very needless to make our calling and +election sure, were they irreversible and what the rigid Presbyterians +pretend. In the afternoon, to St. Lawrence's church, a new and cheerful +pile. + +29th May, 1682. I gave notice to the Bishop of Rochester of what +Maimburg had published about the motives of the late Duchess of York's +perversion, in his "History of Calvinism;" and did myself write to the +Bishop of Winchester about it, who being concerned in it, I urged him to +set forth his vindication. + +31st May, 1682. The Morocco Ambassador being admitted an honorary member +of the Royal Society, and subscribing his name and titles in Arabic, I +was deputed by the Council to go and compliment him. + +19th June, 1682. The Bantam, or East India Ambassadors (at this time we +had in London the Russian, Moroccan, and Indian Ambassadors), being +invited to dine at Lord George Berkeley's (now Earl), I went to the +entertainment to contemplate the exotic guests. They were both very +hard-favored, and much resembling in countenance some sort of monkeys. +We ate at two tables, the Ambassadors and interpreter by themselves. +Their garments were rich Indian silks, flowered with gold, viz, a close +waistcoat to their knees, drawers, naked legs, and on their heads caps +made like fruit baskets. They wore poisoned daggers at their bosoms, the +hafts carved with some ugly serpents' or devils' heads, exceedingly +keen, and of Damascus metal. They wore no sword. The second Ambassador +(sent it seems to succeed in case the first should die by the way in so +tedious a journey), having been at Mecca, wore a Turkish or Arab sash, a +little part of the linen hanging down behind his neck, with some other +difference of habit, and was half a negro, bare legged and naked feet, +and deemed a very holy man. They sat cross-legged like Turks, and +sometimes in the posture of apes and monkeys; their nails and teeth as +black as jet, and shining, which being the effect, as to their teeth, of +perpetually chewing betel to preserve them from the toothache, much +raging in their country, is esteemed beautiful. + +The first ambassador was of an olive hue, a flat face, narrow eyes, +squat nose, and Moorish lips, no hair appeared; they wore several rings +of silver, gold and copper on their fingers, which was a token of +knighthood, or nobility. They were of Java Major, whose princes have +been turned Mahometans not above fifty years since; the inhabitants are +still pagans and idolaters. They seemed of a dull and heavy +constitution, not wondering at any thing they saw; but exceedingly +astonished how our law gave us propriety in our estates, and so thinking +we were all kings, for they could not be made to comprehend how subjects +could possess anything but at the pleasure of their Prince, they being +all slaves; they were pleased with the notion, and admired our +happiness. They were very sober, and I believe subtle in their way. +Their meat was cooked, carried up, and they attended by several fat +slaves, who had no covering save drawers, which appeared very uncouth +and loathsome. They ate their pilaw, and other spoon-meat, without +spoons, taking up their pottage in the hollow of their fingers, and very +dexterously flung it into their mouths without spilling a drop. + +17th July, 1682. Came to dine with me, the Duke of Grafton and the young +Earl of Ossory, son to my most dear deceased friend. + +30th July, 1682. Went to visit our good neighbor, Mr. Bohun, whose whole +house is a cabinet of all elegancies, especially Indian; in the hall are +contrivances of Japan screens, instead of wainscot; and there is an +excellent pendule clock inclosed in the curious flowerwork of Mr. +Gibbons, in the middle of the vestibule. The landscapes of the screens +represent the manner of living, and country of the Chinese. But, above +all, his lady's cabinet is adorned on the fret, ceiling, and +chimney-piece, with Mr. Gibbons's best carving. There are also some of +Streeter's best paintings, and many rich curiosities of gold and silver +as growing in the mines. The gardens are exactly kept, and the whole +place very agreeable and well watered. The owners are good neighbors, +and Mr. Bohun has also built and endowed a hospital for eight poor +people, with a pretty chapel, and every necessary accommodation. + +1st August, 1682. To the Bishop of London at Fulham, to review the +additions which Mr. Marshall had made to his curious book of flowers in +miniature, and collection of insects. + +4th August, 1682. With Sir Stephen Fox, to survey the foundations of the +Royal Hospital begun at Chelsea. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +9th August, 1682. The Council of the Royal Society had it recommended +to them to be trustees and visitors, or supervisors, of the Academy +which Monsieur Faubert did hope to procure to be built by subscription +of worthy gentlemen and noblemen, for the education of youth, and to +lessen the vast expense the nation is at yearly by sending children into +France to be taught military exercises. We thought to give him all the +encouragement our recommendation could procure. + +15th August, 1682. Came to visit me Dr. Rogers, an acquaintance of mine +long since at Padua. He was then Consul of the English nation, and +student in that University, where he proceeded Doctor in Physic; +presenting me now with the Latin oration he lately made upon the famous +Dr. Harvey's anniversary in the College of Physicians, at London. + +20th August, 1682. This night I saw another comet, near Cancer, very +bright, but the stream not so long as the former. + +29th August, 1682. Supped at Lord Clarendon's, with Lord Hyde, his +brother, now the great favorite, who invited himself to dine at my house +the Tuesday following. + +30th October, 1682. Being my birthday, and I now entering my great +climacterical of 63, after serious recollections of the years past, +giving Almighty God thanks for all his merciful preservations and +forbearance, begging pardon for my sins and unworthiness, and his +blessing on me the year entering, I went with my Lady Fox to survey her +building, and give some directions for the garden at Chiswick; the +architect is Mr. May,--somewhat heavy and thick, and not so well +understood: the garden much too narrow, the place without water, near a +highway, and near another great house of my Lord Burlington, little land +about it, so that I wonder at the expense; but women will have their +will. + +25th November, 1682. I was invited to dine with Monsieur Lionberg, the +Swedish Resident, who made a magnificent entertainment, it being the +birthday of his King. There dined the Duke of Albemarle, Duke of +Hamilton, Earl of Bath, Earl of Aylesbury, Lord Arran, Lord Castlehaven, +the son of him who was executed fifty years before, and several great +persons. I was exceedingly afraid of drinking (it being a Dutch feast), +but the Duke of Albemarle being that night to wait on his Majesty, +excess was prohibited; and, to prevent all, I stole away and left the +company as soon as we rose from table. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +28th November, 1682. I went to the Council of the Royal Society, for the +auditing the last year's account, where I was surprised with a fainting +fit that for a time took away my sight; but God being merciful to me, I +recovered it after a short repose. + +30th November, 1682. I was exceedingly endangered and importuned to +stand the election,[48] having so many voices, but by favor of my +friends, and regard of my remote dwelling, and now frequent infirmities, +I desired their suffrages might be transferred to Sir John Hoskins, one +of the Masters of Chancery; a most learned virtuoso as well as lawyer, +who accordingly was elected. + + [Footnote 48: For President of the Royal Society.] + +7th December, 1682. Went to congratulate Lord Hyde (the great favorite) +newly made Earl of Rochester, and lately marrying his eldest daughter to +the Earl of Ossory. + +18th December, 1682. I sold my East India adventure of £250 principal +for £750 to the Royal Society, after I had been in that company +twenty-five years, being extraordinarily advantageous, by the blessing +of God. + +23d January, 1682-83. Sir Francis North, son to the Lord North, and Lord +Chief Justice, being made Lord Keeper on the death of the Earl of +Nottingham, the Lord Chancellor, I went to congratulate him. He is a +most knowing, learned, and ingenious man, and, besides being an +excellent person, of an ingenious and sweet disposition, very skillful +in music, painting, the new philosophy, and politer studies. + +29th January, 1683. Supped at Sir Joseph Williamson's, where was a +select company of our Society, Sir William Petty, Dr. Gale (that learned +schoolmaster of St. Paul's), Dr. Whistler, Mr. Hill, etc. The +conversation was philosophical and cheerful, on divers considerable +questions proposed; as of the hereditary succession of the Roman +Emperors; the Pica mentioned in the preface to our Common Prayer, which +signifies only the Greek _Kalendarium_. These were mixed with lighter +subjects. + +2d February, 1683. I made my court at St. James's, when I saw the sea +charts of Captain Collins, which that industrious man now brought to +show the Duke, having taken all the coasting from the mouth of the +Thames, as far as Wales, and exactly measuring every creek, island, +rock, soundings, harbors, sands, and tides, intending next spring to +proceed till he had finished the whole island, and that measured by +chains and other instruments: a most exact and useful undertaking. He +affirmed, that of all the maps put out since, there are none extant so +true as those of Joseph Norden, who gave us the first in Queen +Elizabeth's time; all since him are erroneous. + +12th February, 1683. This morning I received the news of the death of my +father-in-law, Sir Richard Browne, Knt. and Bart., who died at my house +at Sayes Court this day at ten in the morning, after he had labored +under the gout and dropsy for nearly six months, in the 78th year of his +age. The funeral was solemnized on the 19th at Deptford, with as much +decency as the dignity of the person, and our relation to him, required; +there being invited the Bishop of Rochester, several noblemen, knights, +and all the fraternity of the Trinity Company, of which he had been +Master, and others of the country. The vicar preached a short but proper +discourse on Psalm xxxix. 10, on the frailty of our mortal condition, +concluding with an ample and well-deserved eulogy on the defunct, +relating to his honorable birth and ancestors, education, learning in +Greek and Latin, modern languages, travels, public employments, signal +loyalty, character abroad, and particularly the honor of supporting the +Church of England in its public worship during its persecution by the +late rebels' usurpation and regicide, by the suffrages of divers +Bishops, Doctors of the Church, and others, who found such an asylum in +his house and family at Paris, that in their disputes with the Papists +(then triumphing over it as utterly lost) they used to argue for its +visibility and existence from Sir R. Browne's chapel and assembly there. +Then he spoke of his great and loyal sufferings during thirteen years' +exile with his present Majesty, his return with him in the signal year +1660; his honorable employment at home, his timely recess to recollect +himself, his great age, infirmities, and death. + +He gave to the Trinity Corporation that land in Deptford on which are +built those almshouses for twenty-four widows of emerited seamen. He was +born the famous year of the Gunpowder Treason, in 1605, and being the +last [male] of his family, left my wife, his only daughter, heir. His +grandfather, Sir Richard Browne, was the great instrument under the +great Earl of Leicester (favorite to Queen Elizabeth) in his government +of the Netherland. He was Master of the Household to King James, and +Cofferer; I think was the first who regulated the compositions through +England for the King's household, provisions, progresses,[49] etc., +which was so high a service, and so grateful to the whole nation, that +he had acknowledgments and public thanks sent him from all the counties; +he died by the rupture of a vein in a vehement speech he made about the +compositions in a Parliament of King James. By his mother's side he was +a Gunson, Treasurer of the Navy in the reigns of Henry VIII., Queen +Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, and, as by his large pedigree appears, +related to divers of the English nobility. Thus ended this honorable +person, after so many changes and tossings to and fro, in the same house +where he was born. "Lord teach us so to number our days, that we may +apply our hearts unto wisdom!" + + [Footnote 49: Notice was taken of this in a previous passage of the + "Diary." The different counties were bound to supply provisions of + various kinds, and these were collected by officers called + purveyors, whose extortions often excited the attention of + Parliament.] + +By a special clause in his will, he ordered that his body should be +buried in the churchyard under the southeast window of the chancel, +adjoining to the burying places of his ancestors, since they came out of +Essex into Sayes Court, he being much offended at the novel custom of +burying everyone within the body of the church and chancel; that being a +favor heretofore granted to martyrs and great persons; this excess of +making churches charnel houses being of ill and irreverend example, and +prejudicial to the health of the living, besides the continual +disturbance of the pavement and seats, and several other indecencies. +Dr. Hall, the pious Bishop of Norwich, would also be so interred, as may +be read in his testament. + +16th March, 1683. I went to see Sir Josiah Child's prodigious cost in +planting walnut trees about his seat, and making fish ponds, many miles +in circuit, in Epping Forest, in a barren spot, as oftentimes these +suddenly monied men for the most part seat themselves. He from a +merchant's apprentice, and management of the East India Company's stock, +being arrived to an estate (it is said) of £200,000; and lately married +his daughter to the eldest son of the Duke of Beaufort, late Marquis of +Worcester, with £50,000 portional present, and various expectations. + +I dined at Mr. Houblon's, a rich and gentle French merchant, who was +building a house in the Forest, near Sir J. Child's, in a place where +the late Earl of Norwich dwelt some time, and which came from his lady, +the widow of Mr. Baker. It will be a pretty villa, about five miles from +Whitechapel. + +18th March, 1683. I went to hear Dr. Horneck preach at the Savoy Church, +on Phil. ii. 5. He was a German born, a most pathetic preacher, a person +of a saint-like life, and hath written an excellent treatise on +Consideration. + +20th March, 1683. Dined at Dr. Whistler's, at the Physicians' College, +with Sir Thomas Millington, both learned men; Dr. W. the most facetious +man in nature, and now Censor of the college. I was here consulted where +they should build their library; it is a pity this college is built so +near Newgate Prison, and in so obscure a hole, a fault in placing most +of our public buildings and churches in the city, through the avarice of +some few men, and his Majesty not overruling it, when it was in his +power after the dreadful conflagration. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st March, 1683. Dr. Tenison preached at Whitehall on 1 Cor. vi. 12; I +esteem him to be one of the most profitable preachers in the Church of +England, being also of a most holy conversation, very learned and +ingenious. The pains he takes and care of his parish will, I fear, wear +him out, which would be an inexpressible loss. + +24th March, 1683. I went to hear Dr. Charleton's lecture on the heart in +the Anatomy Theater at the Physicians' College. + +30th March, 1683. To London, in order to my passing the following week, +for the celebration of the Easter now approaching, there being in the +Holy Week so many eminent preachers officiating at the Court and other +places. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th April, 1683. GOOD FRIDAY. There was in the afternoon, according to +custom, a sermon before the King, at Whitehall; Dr. Sprat preached for +the Bishop of Rochester. + +17th April, 1683. I was at the launching of the last of the thirty ships +ordered to be newly built by Act of Parliament, named the "Neptune," a +second rate, one of the goodliest vessels of the whole navy, built by my +kind neighbor, young Mr. Shish, his Majesty's master shipwright of this +dock. + +1st May, 1683. I went to Blackheath, to see the new fair, being the +first procured by the Lord Dartmouth. This was the first day, pretended +for the sale of cattle, but I think in truth to enrich the new tavern at +the bowling-green, erected by Snape, his Majesty's farrier, a man full +of projects. There appeared nothing but an innumerable assembly of +drinking people from London, peddlars, etc., and I suppose it too near +London to be of any great use to the country. + +March was unusually hot and dry, and all April excessively wet. + +I planted all the out limits of the garden and long walks with +holly.[50] + + [Footnote 50: Evelyn adds a note: "400 feet in length, 9 feet high, + 5 in diameter, in my now ruined garden, thanks to the Czar of + Muscovy."--"_Sylva_," book ii. chap. vi.] + +9th May, 1683. Dined at Sir Gabriel Sylvius's and thence to visit the +Duke of Norfolk, to ask whether he would part with any of his cartoons +and other drawings of Raphael, and the great masters; he told me if he +might sell them all together he would, but that the late Sir Peter Lely +(our famous painter) had gotten some of his best. The person who desired +me to treat for them was Vander Douse, grandson to that great scholar, +contemporary and friend of Joseph Scaliger. + +16th May, 1683. Came to dinner and visited me Sir Richard Anderson, of +Pendley, and his lady, with whom I went to London. + +8th June, 1683. On my return home from the Royal Society, I found Mr. +Wilbraham, a young gentleman of Cheshire. + +11th June, 1683. The Lord Dartmouth was elected Master of the Trinity +House; son to George Legge, late Master of the Ordnance, and one of the +grooms of the bedchamber; a great favorite of the Duke's, an active and +understanding gentleman in sea affairs. + +13th June, 1683. To our Society, where we received the Count de +Zinzendorp, Ambassador from the Duke of Saxony, a fine young man; we +showed him divers experiments on the magnet, on which subject the +Society were upon. + +16th June, 1683. I went to Windsor, dining by the way at Chiswick, at +Sir Stephen Fox's, where I found Sir Robert Howard (that universal +pretender), and Signor Verrio, who brought his draught and designs for +the painting of the staircase of Sir Stephen's new house. + +That which was new at Windsor since I was last there, and was surprising +to me, was the incomparable fresco painting in St. George's Hall, +representing the legend of St. George, and triumph of the Black Prince, +and his reception by Edward III.; the volto, or roof, not totally +finished; then the Resurrection in the Chapel, where the figure of the +Ascension is, in my opinion, comparable to any paintings of the most +famous Roman masters; the Last Supper, also over the altar. I liked the +contrivance of the unseen organ behind the altar, nor less the +stupendous and beyond all description the incomparable carving of our +Gibbons, who is, without controversy, the greatest master both for +invention and rareness of work, that the world ever had in any age; nor +doubt I at all that he will prove as great a master in the statuary art. + +Verrio's invention is admirable, his ordnance full and flowing, antique +and heroical; his figures move; and, if the walls hold (which is the +only doubt by reason of the salts which in time and in this moist +climate prejudice), the work will preserve his name to ages. + +There was now the terrace brought almost round the old castle; the +grass made clean, even, and curiously turfed; the avenues to the new +park, and other walks, planted with elms and limes, and a pretty canal, +and receptacle for fowl; nor less observable and famous is the throwing +so huge a quantity of excellent water to the enormous height of the +castle, for the use of the whole house, by an extraordinary invention of +Sir Samuel Morland. + +17th June, 1683. I dined at the Earl of Sunderland's with the Earls of +Bath, Castlehaven, Lords Viscounts Falconberg, Falkland, Bishop of +London, the Grand Master of Malta, brother to the Duke de Vendôme (a +young wild spark), and Mr. Dryden, the poet. After evening prayer, I +walked in the park with my Lord Clarendon, where we fell into discourse +of the Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Seth Ward), his subtlety, etc. Dr. +Durell, late Dean of Windsor, being dead, Dr. Turner, one of the Duke's +chaplains was made dean. + +I visited my Lady Arlington, groom of the stole to her Majesty, who +being hardly set down to supper, word was brought her that the Queen was +going into the park to walk, it being now near eleven at night; the +alarm caused the Countess to rise in all haste, and leave her supper to +us. + +By this one may take an estimate of the extreme slavery and subjection +that courtiers live in, who had not time to eat and drink at their +pleasure. It put me in mind of Horace's "Mouse," and to bless God for my +own private condition. + +Here was Monsieur de l'Angle, the famous minister of Charenton, lately +fled from the persecution in France, concerning the deplorable condition +of the Protestants there. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +18th June, 1683. I was present, and saw and heard the humble submission +and petition of the Lord Mayor, sheriffs, and aldermen, on behalf of the +city of London, on the _quo warranto_ against their charter which they +delivered to his Majesty in the presence chamber. It was delivered +kneeling, and then the King and Council went into the council chamber, +the mayor and his brethren attending still in the presence chamber. +After a short space they were called in, and my Lord Keeper made a +speech to them, exaggerating the disorderly and riotous behavior in the +late election, and polling for Papillon and Du Bois after the Common +hall had been formally dissolved: with other misdemeanors, libels on the +government, etc., by which they had incurred his Majesty's high +displeasure: and that but for this submission, and under such articles +as the King should require their obedience to, he would certainly enter +judgment against them, which hitherto he had suspended. The things +required were as follows: that they should neither elect mayor, +sheriffs, aldermen, recorder, common Serjeant town clerk, coroner, nor +steward of Southwark, without his Majesty's approbation; and that if +they presented any his Majesty did not like, they should proceed in +wonted manner to a second choice; if that was disapproved, his Majesty +to nominate them; and if within five days they thought good to assent to +this, all former miscarriages should be forgotten. And so they tamely +parted with their so ancient privileges after they had dined and been +treated by the King. This was a signal and most remarkable period. What +the consequences will prove, time will show. Divers of the old and most +learned lawyers and judges were of opinion that they could not forfeit +their charter, but might be personally punished for their misdemeanors; +but the plurality of the younger judges and rising men judged it +otherwise. + +The Popish Plot also, which had hitherto made such a noise, began now +sensibly to dwindle, through the folly, knavery, impudence, and +giddiness of Oates, so as the Papists began to hold up their heads +higher than ever, and those who had fled, flocked to London from abroad. +Such sudden changes and eager doings there had been without anything +steady or prudent, for these last seven years. + +19th June, 1683. I returned to town in a coach with the Earl of +Clarendon, when passing by the glorious palace of his father, built but +a few years before, which they were now demolishing, being sold to +certain undertakers, I turned my head the contrary way till the coach +had gone past it, lest I might minister occasion of speaking of it; +which must needs have grieved him, that in so short a time their pomp +was fallen. + +28th June, 1683. After the Popish Plot, there was now a new and (as +they called it) a Protestant Plot discovered, that certain Lords and +others should design the assassination of the King and the Duke as they +were to come from Newmarket, with a general rising of the nation, and +especially of the city of London, disaffected to the present Government. +Upon which were committed to the Tower, the Lord Russell, eldest son of +the Earl of Bedford, the Earl of Essex, Mr. Algernon Sidney, son to the +old Earl of Leicester, Mr. Trenchard, Hampden, Lord Howard of Escrick, +and others. A proclamation was issued against my Lord Grey, the Duke of +Monmouth, Sir Thomas Armstrong, and one Ferguson, who had escaped beyond +sea; of these some were said to be for killing the King, others for only +seizing on him, and persuading him to new counsels, on the pretense of +the danger of Popery, should the Duke live to succeed, who was now again +admitted to the councils and cabinet secrets. The Lords Essex and +Russell were much deplored, for believing they had any evil intention +against the King, or the Church; some thought they were cunningly drawn +in by their enemies for not approving some late counsels and management +relating to France, to Popery, to the persecution of the Dissenters, +etc. They were discovered by the Lord Howard of Escrick and some false +brethren of the club, and the design happily broken; had it taken +effect, it would, to all appearance, have exposed the Government to +unknown and dangerous events; which God avert! + +Was born my granddaughter at Sayes Court, and christened by the name of +Martha Maria, our Vicar officiating. I pray God bless her, and may she +choose the better part! + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +13th July, 1683. As I was visiting Sir Thomas Yarborough and his Lady, +in Covent Garden, the astonishing news was brought to us of the Earl of +Essex having cut his throat, having been but three days a prisoner in +the Tower, and this happened on the very day and instant that Lord +Russell was on his trial, and had sentence of death. This accident +exceedingly amazed me, my Lord Essex being so well known by me to be a +person of such sober and religious deportment, so well at his ease, and +so much obliged to the King. It is certain the King and Duke were at the +Tower, and passed by his window about the same time this morning, when +my Lord asking for a razor, shut himself into a closet, and perpetrated +the horrid act. Yet it was wondered by some how it was possible he +should do it in the manner he was found, for the wound was so deep and +wide, that being cut through the gullet, windpipe, and both the +jugulars, it reached to the very vertebræ of the neck, so that the head +held to it by a very little skin as it were; the gapping too of the +razor, and cutting his own fingers, was a little strange; but more, that +having passed the jugulars he should have strength to proceed so far, +that an executioner could hardly have done more with an ax. There were +odd reflections upon it. + +The fatal news coming to Hicks's Hall upon the article of my Lord +Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the Jury +and all the Bench to his prejudice. Others said that he had himself on +some occasions hinted that in case he should be in danger of having his +life taken from him by any public misfortune, those who thirsted for his +estate should miss of their aim; and that he should speak favorably of +that Earl of Northumberland,[51] and some others, who made away with +themselves; but these are discourses so unlike his sober and prudent +conversation that I have no inclination to credit them. What might +instigate him to this devilish act, I am not able to conjecture. My Lord +Clarendon, his brother-in-law, who was with him but the day before, +assured me he was then very cheerful, and declared it to be the effect +of his innocence and loyalty; and most believe that his Majesty had no +severe intentions against him, though he was altogether inexorable as to +Lord Russell and some of the rest. For my part, I believe the crafty and +ambitious Earl of Shaftesbury had brought them into some dislike of the +present carriage of matters at Court, not with any design of destroying +the monarchy (which Shaftesbury had in confidence and for unanswerable +reasons told me he would support to his last breath, as having seen and +felt the misery of being under mechanic tyranny), but perhaps of setting +up some other whom he might govern, and frame to his own platonic fancy, +without much regard to the religion established under the hierarchy, for +which he had no esteem; but when he perceived those whom he had engaged +to rise, fail of his expectations, and the day past, reproaching his +accomplices that a second day for an exploit of this nature was never +successful, he gave them the slip, and got into Holland, where the fox +died, three months before these unhappy Lords and others were discovered +or suspected. Every one deplored Essex and Russell, especially the last, +as being thought to have been drawn in on pretense only of endeavoring +to rescue the King from his present councilors, and secure religion from +Popery, and the nation from arbitrary government, now so much +apprehended; while the rest of those who were fled, especially Ferguson +and his gang, had doubtless some bloody design to get up a Commonwealth, +and turn all things topsy-turvy. Of the same tragical principles is +Sydney. + + [Footnote 51: Henry Percy, eighth Earl of Northumberland, shot + himself in the Tower, to which he had been committed on a charge of + high treason in June, 1585.] + +I had this day much discourse with Monsieur Pontaq, son to the famous +and wise prime President of Bordeaux. This gentleman was owner of that +excellent _vignoble_ of Pontaq and O'Brien, from whence come the +choicest of our Bordeaux wines; and I think I may truly say of him, what +was not so truly said of St. Paul, that much learning had made him mad. +He had studied well in philosophy, but chiefly the Rabbins, and was +exceedingly addicted to cabalistical fancies, an eternal hablador +[romancer], and half distracted by reading abundance of the extravagant +Eastern Jews. He spoke all languages, was very rich, had a handsome +person, and was well bred, about forty-five years of age. + +14th July, 1683. I visited Mr. Fraser, a learned Scotch gentleman, whom +I had formerly recommended to Lord Berkeley for the instruction and +government of his son, since dead at sea. He had now been in Holland at +the sale of the learned Heinsius's library, and showed me some very rare +and curious books, and some MSS., which he had purchased to good value. +There were three or four Herbals in miniature, accurately done, divers +Roman antiquities of Verona, and very many books of Aldus's impression. + +15th July, 1683. A stranger, an old man, preached on Jerem. vi. 8, the +not hearkening to instruction, portentous of desolation to a people; +much after Bishop Andrew's method, full of logical divisions, in short +and broken periods, and Latin sentences, now quite out of fashion in the +pulpit, which is grown into a far more profitable way, of plain and +practical discourses, of which sort this nation, or any other, never had +greater plenty or more profitable (I am confident); so much has it to +answer for thriving no better on it. + +The public was now in great consternation on the late plot and +conspiracy; his Majesty very melancholy, and not stirring without double +guards; all the avenues and private doors about Whitehall and the Park +shut up, few admitted to walk in it. The Papists, in the meantime, very +jocund; and indeed with reason, seeing their own plot brought to +nothing, and turned to ridicule, and now a conspiracy of Protestants, as +they called them. + +The Turks were likewise in hostility against the German Emperor, almost +masters of the Upper Hungary, and drawing toward Vienna. On the other +side, the French King (who it is believed brought in the infidels) +disturbing his Spanish and Dutch neighbors, having swallowed up almost +all Flanders, pursuing his ambition of a fifth universal monarchy; and +all this blood and disorder in Christendom had evidently its rise from +our defections at home, in a wanton peace, minding nothing but luxury, +ambition, and to procure money for our vices. To this add our irreligion +and atheism, great ingratitude, and self-interest; the apostacy of some, +and the suffering the French to grow so great, and the Hollanders so +weak. In a word, we were wanton, mad, and surfeiting with prosperity; +every moment unsettling the old foundations, and never constant to +anything. The Lord in mercy avert the sad omen, and that we do not +provoke him till he bear it no longer! + +This summer did we suffer twenty French men-of-war to pass our Channel +toward the Sound, to help the Danes against the Swedes, who had +abandoned the French interest, we not having ready sufficient to guard +our coasts, or take cognizance of what they did; though the nation never +had more, or a better navy, yet the sea had never so slender a fleet. + +19th July, 1683. George, Prince of Denmark, who had landed this day, +came to marry the Lady Anne, daughter to the Duke; so I returned home, +having seen the young gallant at dinner at Whitehall. + +20th July, 1683. Several of the conspirators of the lower form were +executed at Tyburn; and the next day, + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st July, 1683. Lord Russell was beheaded in Lincoln's Inn Fields, the +executioner giving him three butcherly strokes. The speech he made, and +the paper which he gave the Sheriff declaring his innocence, the +nobleness of the family, the piety and worthiness of the unhappy +gentleman, wrought much pity, and occasioned various discourses on the +plot. + +25th July, 1683. I again saw Prince George of Denmark: he had the Danish +countenance, blonde, of few words, spoke French but ill, seemed somewhat +heavy, but reported to be valiant, and indeed he had bravely rescued and +brought off his brother, the King of Denmark, in a battle against the +Swedes, when both these Kings were engaged very smartly. + +28th July, 1683. He was married to the Lady Anne at Whitehall. Her Court +and household to be modeled as the Duke's, her father, had been, and +they to continue in England. + +1st August, 1683. Came to see me Mr. Flamsted, the famous astronomer, +from his Observatory at Greenwich, to draw the meridian from my pendule, +etc. + +2d August, 1683. The Countesses of Bristol and Sunderland, aunt and +cousin-german of the late Lord Russell, came to visit me, and condole +his sad fate. The next day, came Colonel Russell, uncle to the late Lord +Russell, and brother to the Earl of Bedford, and with him Mrs. +Middleton, that famous and indeed incomparable beauty, daughter to my +relation, Sir Robert Needham. + +19th August, 1683. I went to Bromley to visit our Bishop, and excellent +neighbor, and to congratulate his now being made Archbishop of York. On +the 28th, he came to take his leave of us, now preparing for his journey +and residence in his province. + +28th August, 1683. My sweet little grandchild, Martha Maria, died, and +on the 29th was buried in the parish church. + +2d September, 1683. This morning, was read in the church, after the +office was done, the Declaration setting forth the late conspiracy +against the King's person. + +3d September, 1683. I went to see what had been done by the Duke of +Beaufort on his lately purchased house at Chelsea, which I once had the +selling of for the Countess of Bristol, he had made great alterations, +but might have built a better house with the materials and the cost he +had been at. + +Saw the Countess of Monte Feltre, whose husband I had formerly known, +he was a subject of the Pope's, but becoming a Protestant he resided in +England, and married into the family of the Savilles, of Yorkshire. The +Count, her late husband, was a very learned gentleman, a great +politician, and a goodly man. She was accompanied by her sister, +exceedingly skilled in painting, nor did they spare for color on their +own faces. They had a great deal of wit. + +9th September, 1683. It being the day of public thanksgiving for his +Majesty's late preservation, the former Declaration was again read, and +there was an office used, composed for the occasion. A loyal sermon was +preached on the divine right of Kings, from Psalm cxliv. 10. "Thou hast +preserved David from the peril of the sword." + +15th September, 1683. Came to visit me the learned anatomist, Dr. +Tyson,[52] with some other Fellows of our Society. + + [Footnote 52: Doctor Edward Tyson, a learned physician, born at + Clevedon, Somersetshire, in 1649, who became reader of the + anatomical lecture in Surgeons' Hall, and physician to the hospitals + of Bethlehem and Bridewell, which offices he held at his death, Aug. + 1, 1708. He was an ingenious writer, and has left various Essays in + the Philosophical Transactions and Hook's Collections. He published + also "The Anatomy of a Porpoise Dissected at Gresham College," and + "The Anatomy of a Pigmy Compared with a Monkey, an Ape, and a Man," + 4to., 1698-99.] + +16th September, 1683. At the elegant villa and garden of Mr. Bohun, at +Lee. He showed me the zinnar tree, or platanus, and told me that since +they had planted this kind of tree about the city of Ispahan, in Persia, +the plague, which formerly much infested the place, had exceedingly +abated of its mortal effects, and rendered it very healthy. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +18th September, 1683. I went to London to visit the Duchess of Grafton, +now great with child, a most virtuous and beautiful lady. Dining with +her at my Lord Chamberlain's, met my Lord of St. Alban's, now grown so +blind, that he could not see to take his meat. He has lived a most easy +life, in plenty even abroad, while his Majesty was a sufferer; he has +lost immense sums at play, which yet, at about eighty years old, he +continues, having one that sits by him to name the spots on the cards. +He ate and drank with extraordinary appetite. He is a prudent old +courtier, and much enriched since his Majesty's return. + +After dinner, I walked to survey the sad demolition of Clarendon House, +that costly and only sumptuous palace of the late Lord Chancellor Hyde, +where I have often been so cheerful with him, and sometimes so sad: +happening to make him a visit but the day before he fled from the angry +Parliament, accusing him of maladministration, and being envious at his +grandeur, who from a private lawyer came to be father-in-law to the Duke +of York, and as some would suggest, designing his Majesty's marriage +with the Infanta of Portugal, not apt to breed. To this they imputed +much of our unhappiness; and that he, being sole minister and favorite +at his Majesty's restoration, neglected to gratify the King's suffering +party, preferring those who were the cause of our troubles. But perhaps +as many of these things were injuriously laid to his charge, so he kept +the government far steadier than it has proved since. I could name some +who I think contributed greatly to his ruin,--the buffoons and the +MISSIS, to whom he was an eye-sore. It is true he was of a jolly temper, +after the old English fashion; but France had now the ascendant, and we +were become quite another nation. The Chancellor gone, and dying in +exile, the Earl his successor sold that which cost £50,000 building, to +the young Duke of Albemarle for £25,000, to pay debts which how +contracted remains yet a mystery, his son being no way a prodigal. Some +imagine the Duchess his daughter had been chargeable to him. However it +were, this stately palace is decreed to ruin, to support the prodigious +waste the Duke of Albemarle had made of his estate, since the old man +died. He sold it to the highest bidder, and it fell to certain rich +bankers and mechanics, who gave for it and the ground about it, £35,000; +they design a new town, as it were, and a most magnificent piazza +[square]. It is said they have already materials toward it with what +they sold of the house alone, more worth than what they paid for it. See +the vicissitudes of earthly things! I was astonished at this demolition, +nor less at the little army of laborers and artificers leveling the +ground, laying foundations, and contriving great buildings at an expense +of £200,000, if they perfect their design. + +19th September, 1683. In my walks I stepped into a goldbeater's +workhouse, where he showed me the wonderful ductility of that spreading +and oily metal. He said it must be finer than the standard, such as was +old angel-gold, and that of such he had once to the value of £100 +stamped with the _agnus dei_, and coined at the time of the holy war; +which had been found in a ruined wall somewhere in the North, near to +Scotland, some of which he beat into leaves, and the rest sold to the +curiosi in antiquities and medals. + +23d September, 1683. We had now the welcome tidings of the King of +Poland raising the siege of Vienna, which had given terror to all +Europe, and utmost reproach to the French, who it is believed brought in +the Turks for diversion, that the French King might the more easily +swallow Flanders, and pursue his unjust conquest on the empire, while we +sat unconcerned and under a deadly charm from somebody. + +There was this day a collection for rebuilding Newmarket, consumed by an +accidental fire, which removing his Majesty thence sooner than was +intended, put by the assassins, who were disappointed of their +rendezvous and expectation by a wonderful providence. This made the King +more earnest to render Winchester the seat of his autumnal field +diversions for the future, designing a palace there, where the ancient +castle stood; infinitely indeed preferable to Newmarket for prospects, +air, pleasure, and provisions. The surveyor has already begun the +foundation for a palace, estimated to cost £35,000, and his Majesty is +purchasing ground about it to make a park, etc. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +4th October, 1683. I went to London, on receiving a note from the +Countess of Arlington, of some considerable charge or advantage I might +obtain by applying myself to his Majesty on this signal conjuncture of +his Majesty entering up judgment against the city charter; the proposal +made me I wholly declined, not being well satisfied with these violent +transactions, and not a little sorry that his Majesty was so often put +upon things of this nature against so great a city, the consequence +whereof may be so much to his prejudice; so I returned home. At this +time, the Lord Chief-Justice Pemberton was displaced. He was held to be +the most learned of the judges, and an honest man. Sir George Jeffreys +was advanced, reputed to be most ignorant, but most daring. Sir George +Treby, Recorder of London, was also put by, and one Genner, an obscure +lawyer, set in his place. Eight of the richest and chief aldermen were +removed and all the rest made only justices of the peace, and no more +wearing of gowns, or chains of gold; the Lord Mayor and two sheriffs +holding their places by new grants as _custodes_, at the King's +pleasure. The pomp and grandeur of the most august city in the world +thus changed face in a moment; which gave great occasion of discourse +and thoughts of hearts, what all this would end in. Prudent men were for +the old foundations. + +Following his Majesty this morning through the gallery, I went with the +few who attended him, into the Duchess of Portmouth's DRESSING ROOM +within her bedchamber, where she was in her morning loose garment, her +maids combing her, newly out of her bed, his Majesty and the gallants +standing about her; but that which engaged my curiosity, was the rich +and splendid furniture of this woman's apartment, now twice or thrice +pulled down and rebuilt to satisfy her prodigal and expensive pleasures, +while her Majesty's does not exceed some gentlemen's ladies in furniture +and accommodation. Here I saw the new fabric of French tapestry, for +design, tenderness of work, and incomparable imitation of the best +paintings, beyond anything I had ever beheld. Some pieces had +Versailles, St. Germains, and other palaces of the French King, with +huntings, figures, and landscapes, exotic fowls, and all to the life +rarely done. Then for Japan cabinets, screens, pendule clocks, great +vases of wrought plate, tables, stands, chimney-furniture, sconces, +branches, braseras, etc., all of massy silver and out of number, besides +some of her Majesty's best paintings. + +Surfeiting of this, I dined at Sir Stephen Fox's and went contented home +to my poor, but quiet villa. What contentment can there be in the riches +and splendor of this world, purchased with vice and dishonor? + +10th October, 1683. Visited the Duchess of Grafton, not yet brought to +bed, and dining with my Lord Chamberlain (her father), went with them to +see Montague House, a palace lately built by Lord Montague, who had +married the most beautiful Countess of Northumberland. It is a stately +and ample palace. Signor Verrio's fresco paintings, especially the +funeral pile of Dido, on the staircase, the labors of Hercules, fight +with the Centaurs, his effeminacy with Dejanira, and Apotheosis or +reception among the gods, on the walls and roof of the great room +above,--I think exceeds anything he has yet done, both for design, +coloring, and exuberance of invention, comparable to the greatest of the +old masters, or what they so celebrate at Rome. In the rest of the +chamber are some excellent paintings of Holbein, and other masters. The +garden is large, and in good air, but the fronts of the house not +answerable to the inside. The court at entry, and wings for offices seem +too near the street, and that so very narrow and meanly built, that the +corridor is not in proportion to the rest, to hide the court from being +overlooked by neighbors; all which might have been prevented, had they +placed the house further into the ground, of which there was enough to +spare. But on the whole it is a fine palace, built after the French +pavilion-way, by Mr. Hooke, the Curator of the Royal Society. There were +with us my Lady Scroope, the great wit, and Monsieur Chardine, the +celebrated traveler. + +13th October, 1683. Came to visit me my old and worthy friend, Mr. +Packer, bringing with him his nephew Berkeley, grandson to the honest +judge. A most ingenious, virtuous, and religious gentleman, seated near +Worcester, and very curious in gardening. + +17th October, 1683. I was at the court-leet of this manor, my Lord +Arlington his Majesty's High Steward. + +26th October, 1683. Came to visit and dine with me, Mr. Brisbane, +Secretary to the Admiralty, a learned and agreeable man. + +30th October, 1683. I went to Kew to visit Sir Henry Capell, brother to +the late Earl of Essex; but he being gone to Cashiobury, after I had +seen his garden and the alterations therein, I returned home. He had +repaired his house, roofed his hall with a kind of cupola, and in a +niche was an artificial fountain; but the room seems to me +over-melancholy, yet might be much improved by having the walls well +painted _á fresco_. The two green houses for oranges and myrtles, +communicating with the rooms below, are very well contrived. There is a +cupola made with pole-work between two elms at the end of a walk, which +being covered by plashing the trees to them, is very pretty; for the +rest there are too many fir trees in the garden. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +17th November, 1683. I took a house in Villiers Street, York Buildings, +for the winter, having many important concerns to dispatch, and for the +education of my daughters. + +23d November, 1683. The Duke of Monmouth, till now proclaimed traitor on +the pretended plot for which Lord Russell was lately beheaded, came this +evening to Whitehall and rendered himself, on which were various +discourses. + +26th November, 1683. I went to compliment the Duchess of Grafton, now +lying-in of her first child, a son, which she called for, that I might +see it. She was become more beautiful, if it were possible, than before, +and full of virtue and sweetness. She discoursed with me of many +particulars, with great prudence and gravity beyond her years. + +29th November, 1683. Mr. Forbes showed me the plot of the garden making +at Burleigh, at my Lord Exeter's, which I looked on as one of the most +noble that I had seen. + +The whole court and town in solemn mourning for the death of the King of +Portugal, her Majesty's brother. + +30th November, 1683. At the anniversary dinner of the Royal Society the +King sent us two does. Sir Cyril Wych was elected President. + +5th December, 1683. I was this day invited to a wedding of one Mrs. +Castle, to whom I had some obligation, and it was to her fifth husband, +a lieutenant-colonel of the city. She was the daughter of one Burton, a +broom-man, by his wife, who sold kitchen stuff in Kent Street, whom God +so blessed that the father became a very rich, and was a very honest +man; he was sheriff of Surrey, where I have sat on the bench with him. +Another of his daughters was married to Sir John Bowles; and this +daughter was a jolly friendly woman. There was at the wedding the Lord +Mayor, the Sheriff, several Aldermen and persons of quality; above all, +Sir George Jeffreys, newly made Lord Chief Justice of England, with Mr. +Justice Withings, danced with the bride, and were exceedingly merry. +These great men spent the rest of the afternoon, till eleven at night, +in drinking healths, taking tobacco, and talking much beneath the +gravity of judges, who had but a day or two before condemned Mr. +Algernon Sidney, who was executed the 7th on Tower Hill, on the single +witness of that monster of a man, Lord Howard of Escrick, and some +sheets of paper taken in Mr. Sidney's study, pretended to be written by +him, but not fully proved, nor the time when, but appearing to have been +written before his Majesty's Restoration, and then pardoned by the Act +of Oblivion; so that though Mr. Sidney was known to be a person +obstinately averse to government by a monarch (the subject of the paper +was in answer to one by Sir E. Filmer), yet it was thought he had very +hard measure. There is this yet observable, that he had been an +inveterate enemy to the last king, and in actual rebellion against him; +a man of great courage, great sense, great parts, which he showed both +at his trial and death; for, when he came on the scaffold, instead of a +speech, he told them only that he had made his peace with God, that he +came not thither to talk, but to die; put a paper into the sheriff's +hand, and another into a friend's; said one prayer as short as a grace, +laid down his neck, and bid the executioner do his office. + +The Duke of Monmouth, now having his pardon, refuses to acknowledge +there was any treasonable plot; for which he is banished Whitehall. This +is a great disappointment to some who had prosecuted Trenchard, Hampden, +etc., that for want of a second witness were come out of the Tower upon +their _habeas corpus_. + +The King had now augmented his guards with a new sort of dragoons, who +carried also grenades, and were habited after the Polish manner, with +long peaked caps, very fierce and fantastical. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +7th December, 1683. I went to the Tower, and visited the Earl of Danby, +the late Lord High Treasurer, who had been imprisoned four years: he +received me with great kindness. I dined with him, and stayed till +night. We had discourse of many things, his Lady railing sufficiently at +the keeping her husband so long in prison. Here I saluted the Lord +Dumblaine's wife, who before had been married to Emerton, and about whom +there was that scandalous business before the delegates. + +23d December, 1683. The smallpox very prevalent and mortal; the Thames +frozen. + +26th December, 1683. I dined at Lord Clarendon's, where I was to meet +that ingenious and learned gentleman, Sir George Wheeler, who has +published the excellent description of Africa and Greece, and who, being +a knight of a very fair estate and young, had now newly entered into +holy orders. + +27th December, 1683. I went to visit Sir John Chardin, a French +gentleman, who traveled three times by land into Persia, and had made +many curious researches in his travels, of which he was now setting +forth a relation. It being in England this year one of the severest +frosts that has happened of many years, he told me the cold in Persia +was much greater, the ice of an incredible thickness; that they had +little use of iron in all that country, it being so moist (though the +air admirably clear and healthy) that oil would not preserve it from +rusting, so that they had neither clocks nor watches; some padlocks they +had for doors and boxes. + +30th December, 1683. Dr. Sprat, now made Dean of Westminster, preached +to the King at Whitehall, on Matt. vi. 24. Recollecting the passages of +the past year, I gave God thanks for his mercies, praying his blessing +for the future. + +1st January, 1683-84. The weather continuing intolerably severe, streets +of booths were set up on the Thames; the air was so very cold and thick, +as of many years there had not been the like. The smallpox was very +mortal. + +2d January, 1684. I dined at Sir Stephen Fox's: after dinner came a +fellow who ate live charcoal, glowingly ignited, quenching them in his +mouth, and then champing and swallowing them down. There was a dog also +which seemed to do many rational actions. + +6th January, 1684. The river quite frozen. + +9th January, 1684. I went across the Thames on the ice, now become so +thick as to bear not only streets of booths, in which they roasted meat, +and had divers shops of wares, quite across as in a town, but coaches, +carts, and horses passed over. So I went from Westminster stairs to +Lambeth, and dined with the Archbishop: where I met my Lord Bruce, Sir +George Wheeler, Colonel Cooke, and several divines. After dinner and +discourse with his Grace till evening prayers, Sir George Wheeler and I +walked over the ice from Lambeth stairs to the Horse-ferry. + +10th January, 1684. I visited Sir Robert Reading, where after supper we +had music, but not comparable to that which Mrs. Bridgeman made us on +the guitar with such extraordinary skill and dexterity. + +16th January, 1684. The Thames was filled with people and tents selling +all sorts of wares as in the city. + +24th January, 1684. The frost continues more and more severe, the Thames +before London was still planted with booths in formal streets, all sorts +of trades and shops furnished, and full of commodities, even to a +printing press, where the people and ladies took a fancy to have their +names printed, and the day and year set down when printed on the Thames: +this humor took so universally, that it was estimated that the printer +gained £5 a day, for printing a line only, at sixpence a name, besides +what he got by ballads, etc. Coaches plied from Westminster to the +Temple, and from several other stairs to and fro, as in the streets, +sleds, sliding with skates, a bull-baiting, horse and coach-races, +puppet-plays and interludes, cooks, tippling, and other lewd places, so +that it seemed to be a bacchanalian triumph, or carnival on the water, +while it was a severe judgment on the land, the trees not only splitting +as if the lightning struck, but men and cattle perishing in divers +places, and the very seas so locked up with ice, that no vessels could +stir out or come in. The fowls, fish, and birds, and all our exotic +plants and greens, universally perishing. Many parks of deer were +destroyed, and all sorts of fuel so dear, that there were great +contributions to preserve the poor alive. Nor was this severe weather +much less intense in most parts of Europe, even as far as Spain and the +most southern tracts. London, by reason of the excessive coldness of the +air hindering the ascent of the smoke, was so filled with the fuliginous +steam of the sea-coal, that hardly could one see across the street, and +this filling the lungs with its gross particles, exceedingly obstructed +the breast, so as one could scarcely breathe. Here was no water to be +had from the pipes and engines, nor could the brewers and divers other +tradesmen work, and every moment was full of disastrous accidents. + +4th February, 1684. I went to Sayes Court to see how the frost had +dealt with my garden, where I found many of the greens and rare plants +utterly destroyed. The oranges and myrtles very sick, the rosemary and +laurels dead to all appearance, but the cypress likely to endure it. + +5th February, 1684. It began to thaw, but froze again. My coach crossed +from Lambeth, to the Horse-ferry at Milbank, Westminster. The booths +were almost all taken down; but there was first a map or landscape cut +in copper representing all the manner of the camp, and the several +actions, sports, and pastimes thereon, in memory of so signal a frost. + +7th February, 1684. I dined with my Lord Keeper, [North], and walking +alone with him some time in his gallery, we had discourse of music. He +told me he had been brought up to it from a child, so as to sing his +part at first sight. Then speaking of painting, of which he was also a +great lover, and other ingenious matters, he desired me to come oftener +to him. + +8th February, 1684. I went this evening to visit that great and knowing +virtuoso, Monsieur Justell. The weather was set in to an absolute thaw +and rain; but the Thames still frozen. + +10th February, 1684. After eight weeks missing the foreign posts, there +came abundance of intelligence from abroad. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +12th February, 1684. The Earl of Danby, late Lord-Treasurer, together +with the Roman Catholic Lords impeached of high treason in the Popish +Plot, had now their _habeas corpus_, and came out upon bail, after five +years' imprisonment in the Tower. Then were also tried and deeply fined +Mr. Hampden and others, for being supposed of the late plot, for which +Lord Russell and Colonel Sidney suffered; as also the person who went +about to prove that the Earl of Essex had his throat cut in the Tower by +others; likewise Mr. Johnson, the author of that famous piece called +Julian. + +15th February, 1684. News of the Prince of Orange having accused the +Deputies of Amsterdam of _crimen læsæ Majestatis_, and being pensioners +to France. + +Dr. Tenison communicated to me his intention of erecting a library in +St. Martin's parish, for the public use, and desired my assistance, with +Sir Christopher Wren, about the placing and structure thereof, a worthy +and laudable design. He told me there were thirty or forty young men in +Orders in his parish, either governors to young gentlemen or chaplains +to noblemen, who being reproved by him on occasion for frequenting +taverns or coffeehouses, told him they would study or employ their time +better, if they had books. This put the pious Doctor on this design; and +indeed a great reproach it is that so great a city as London should not +have a public library becoming it. There ought to be one at St. Paul's; +the west end of that church (if ever finished) would be a convenient +place. + +23d February, 1684. I went to Sir John Chardin, who desired my +assistance for the engraving the plates, the translation, and printing +his History of that wonderful Persian Monument near Persepolis, and +other rare antiquities, which he had caused to be drawn from the +originals in his second journey into Persia, which we now concluded +upon. Afterward, I went with Sir Christopher Wren to Dr. Tenison, where +we made the drawing and estimate of the expense of the library, to be +begun this next spring near the Mews. + +Great expectation of the Prince of Orange's attempts in Holland to bring +those of Amsterdam to consent to the new levies, to which we were no +friends, by a pseudo-politic adherence to the French interest. + +26th February, 1684. Came to visit me Dr. Turner, our new Bishop of +Rochester. + +28th February, 1684. I dined at Lady Tuke's, where I heard Dr. Walgrave +(physician to the Duke and Duchess) play excellently on the lute. + +7th March, 1684. Dr. Meggot, Dean of Winchester, preached an +incomparable sermon (the King being now gone to Newmarket), on Heb. xii. +15, showing and pathetically pressing the care we ought to have lest we +come short of the grace of God. Afterward, I went to visit Dr. Tenison +at Kensington, whither he was retired to refresh, after he had been sick +of the smallpox. + +15th March, 1684. At Whitehall preached Mr. Henry Godolphin, a prebend +of St. Paul's, and brother to my dear friend Sydney, on Isaiah 1v. 7. I +dined at the Lord Keeper's, and brought him to Sir John Chardin, who +showed him his accurate drafts of his travels in Persia. + +28th March, 1684. There was so great a concourse of people with their +children to be touched for the Evil, that six or seven were crushed to +death by pressing at the chirurgeon's door for tickets. The weather +began to be more mild and tolerable; but there was not the least +appearance of any spring. + +30th March, 1684. Easter day. The Bishop of Rochester preached before +the King; after which his Majesty, accompanied with three of his natural +sons, the Dukes of Northumberland, Richmond, and St. Alban (sons of +Portsmouth, Cleveland, and Nelly), went up to the altar; the three boys +entering before the King within the rails, at the right hand, and three +bishops on the left: London (who officiated), Durham, and Rochester, +with the subdean, Dr. Holder. The King, kneeling before the altar, +making his offering, the Bishops first received, and then his Majesty; +after which he retired to a canopied seat on the right hand. Note, there +was perfume burned before the office began. I had received the Sacrament +at Whitehall early with the Lords and household, the Bishop of London +officiating. Then went to St. Martin's, where Dr. Tenison preached +(recovered from the smallpox); then went again to Whitehall as above. In +the afternoon, went to St. Martin's again. + +4th April, 1684. I returned home with my family to my house at Sayes +Court, after five months' residence in London; hardly the least +appearance of any spring. + +30th April, 1684. A letter of mine to the Royal Society concerning the +terrible effects of the past winter being read, they desired it might be +printed in the next part of their "Transactions." + +[Sidenote: SURREY] + +10th May, 1684. I went to visit my brother in Surrey. Called by the way +at Ashted, where Sir Robert Howard (Auditor of the Exchequer) +entertained me very civilly at his newly-built house, which stands in a +park on the Down, the avenue south; though down hill to the house, which +is not great, but with the outhouses very convenient. The staircase is +painted by Verrio with the story of Astrea; among other figures is the +picture of the painter himself, and not unlike him; the rest is well +done, only the columns did not at all please me; there is also Sir +Robert's own picture in an oval; the whole in _fresco_. The place has +this great defect, that there is no water but what is drawn up by horses +from a very deep well. + +11th May, 1684. Visited Mr. Higham, who was ill, and died three days +after. His grandfather and father (who christened me), with himself, had +now been rectors of this parish 101 years, viz, from May, 1583. + +12th May, 1684. I returned to London, where I found the Commissioners of +the Admiralty abolished, and the office of Admiral restored to the Duke, +as to the disposing and ordering all sea business; but his Majesty +signed all petitions, papers, warrants, and commissions, that the Duke, +not acting as admiral by commission or office, might not incur the +penalty of the late Act against Papists and Dissenters holding offices, +and refusing the oath and test. Every one was glad of this change, those +in the late Commission being utterly ignorant in their duty, to the +great damage of the Navy. + +The utter ruin of the Low Country was threatened by the siege of +Luxemburg, if not timely relieved, and by the obstinacy of the +Hollanders, who refused to assist the Prince of Orange, being corrupted +by the French. + +16th May, 1684. I received £600 of Sir Charles Bickerstaff for the fee +farm of Pilton, in Devon. + +26th May, 1684. Lord Dartmouth was chosen Master of the Trinity Company, +newly returned with the fleet from blowing up and demolishing Tangier. +In the sermon preached on this occasion, Dr. Can observed that, in the +27th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the casting anchor out of the +fore ship had been caviled at as betraying total ignorance: that it is +very true our seamen do not do so; but in the Mediterranean their ships +were built differently from ours, and to this day it was the practice to +do so there. + +Luxemburg was surrendered to the French, which makes them master of all +the Netherlands, gives them entrance into Germany, and a fair game for +universal monarchy; which that we should suffer, who only and easily +might have hindered, astonished all the world. Thus is the poor Prince +of Orange ruined, and this nation and all the Protestant interest in +Europe following, unless God in his infinite mercy, as by a miracle, +interpose, and our great ones alter their counsels. The French fleet +were now besieging Genoa, but after burning much of that beautiful city +with their bombs, went off with disgrace. + +11th June, 1684. My cousin, Verney, to whom a very great fortune was +fallen, came to take leave of us, going into the country; a very worthy +and virtuous young gentleman. + +12th June, 1684. I went to advise and give directions about the building +of two streets in Berkeley Garden, reserving the house and as much of +the garden as the breadth of the house. In the meantime, I could not but +deplore that sweet place (by far the most noble gardens, courts, and +accommodations, stately porticos, etc., anywhere about the town) should +be so much straitened and turned into tenements. But that magnificent +pile and gardens contiguous to it, built by the late Lord Chancellor +Clarendon, being all demolished, and designed for piazzas and buildings, +was some excuse for my Lady Berkeley's resolution of letting out her +ground also for so excessive a price as was offered, advancing near +£1,000 per annum in mere ground rents; to such a mad intemperance was +the age come of building about a city, by far too disproportionate +already to the nation:[53] I having in my time seen it almost as large +again as it was within my memory. + + [Footnote 53: What would Evelyn think if he could see what is now + called London?] + +22d June, 1684. Last Friday, Sir Thomas Armstrong was executed at Tyburn +for treason, without trial, having been outlawed and apprehended in +Holland, on the conspiracy of the Duke of Monmouth, Lord Russell, etc., +which gave occasion of discourse to people and lawyers, in regard it was +on an outlawry that judgment was given and execution.[54] + + [Footnote 54: When brought up for judgment, Armstrong insisted on + his right to a trial, the act giving that right to those who came in + within a year, and the year not having expired. Jefferies refused + it; and when Armstrong insisted that he asked nothing but law, + Jefferies told him he should have it to the full, and ordered his + execution in six days. When Jefferies went to the King at Windsor + soon after, the King took a ring from his finger and gave it to + Jefferies. BURNET, ii. 989.] + +[Sidenote: GREENWICH] + +2d July, 1684. I went to the Observatory at Greenwich, where Mr. +Flamsted took his observations of the eclipse of the sun, now almost +three parts obscured. + +There had been an excessively hot and dry spring, and such a drought +still continued as never was in my memory. + +13th July, 1684. Some small sprinkling of rain; the leaves dropping +from the trees as in autumn. + +25th July, 1684. I dined at Lord Falkland's, Treasurer of the Navy, +where after dinner we had rare music, there being among others, Signor +Pietro Reggio, and Signor John Baptist, both famous, one for his voice, +the other for playing on the harpsichord, few if any in Europe exceeding +him. There was also a Frenchman who sung an admirable bass. + +26th July, 1684. I returned home, where I found my Lord Chief Justice +[Jefferies], the Countess of Clarendon, and Lady Catherine Fitzgerald, +who dined with me. + +10th August, 1684. We had now rain after such a drought as no man in +England had known. + +24th August, 1684. Excessively hot. We had not had above one or two +considerable showers, and those storms, these eight or nine months. Many +trees died for the want of refreshment. + +31st August, 1684. Mr. Sidney Godolphin was made Baron Godolphin. + +26th September, 1684. The King being returned from Winchester, there was +a numerous Court at Whitehall. + +At this time the Earl of Rochester was removed from the Treasury to the +Presidentship of the Council; Lord Godolphin was made first Commissioner +of the Treasury in his place, Lord Middleton (a Scot) made Secretary of +State, in the room of Lord Godolphin. These alterations being very +unexpected and mysterious, gave great occasion of discourse. + +There was now an Ambassador from the King of Siam, in the East Indies, +to his Majesty. + +22d October, 1684. I went with Sir William Godolphin to see the +rhinoceros, or unicorn, being the first that I suppose was ever brought +into England. She belonged to some East India merchants, and was sold +(as I remember) for above £2,000. At the same time, I went to see a +crocodile, brought from some of the West India Islands, resembling the +Egyptian crocodile. + +24th October, 1684. I dined at Sir Stephen Fox's with the Duke of +Northumberland. He seemed to be a young gentleman of good capacity, well +bred, civil and modest: newly come from travel, and had made his +campaign at the siege of Luxemburg. Of all his Majesty's children (of +which he had now six Dukes) this seemed the most accomplished and worth +the owning. He is extraordinarily handsome and well shaped. What the +Dukes of Richmond and St. Alban's will prove, their youth does not yet +discover; they are very pretty boys. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th October, 1684. Dr. Goodman preached before the King on James ii. +12, concerning the law of liberty: an excellent discourse and in good +method. He is author of "The Prodigal Son," a treatise worth reading, +and another of the old religion. + +27th October, 1684. I visited the Lord Chamberlain, where dined the +BLACK BARON and Monsieur Flamerin, who had so long been banished from +France for a duel. + +28th October, 1684. I carried Lord Clarendon through the city amid all +the squibs and bacchanalia of the Lord Mayor's show, to the Royal +Society, where he was proposed a member; and then treated him at dinner. + +I went to St. Clement's, that prettily built and contrived church where +a young divine gave us an eloquent sermon on 1 Cor. vi. 20, inciting to +gratitude and glorifying God for the fabric of our bodies and the +dignity of our nature. + +2d November, 1684. A sudden change from temperate warm weather to an +excessive cold rain, frost, snow, and storm, such as had seldom been +known. This winter weather began as early and fierce as the past did +late; till about Christmas there then had been hardly any winter. + +4th November, 1684. Dr. Turner, now translated from Rochester to Ely +upon the death of Dr. Peter Gunning, preached before the King at +Whitehall on Romans iii. 8, a very excellent sermon, vindicating the +Church of England against the pernicious doctrines of the Church of +Rome. He challenged the producing but of five clergymen who forsook our +Church and went over to that of Rome, during all the troubles and +rebellion in England, which lasted near twenty years; and this was to my +certain observation a great truth. + +15th November, 1684. Being the Queen's birthday, there were fireworks +on the Thames before Whitehall, with pageants of castles, forts, and +other devices of girandolas, serpents, the King and Queen's arms and +mottoes, all represented in fire, such as had not been seen here. But +the most remarkable was the several fires and skirmishes in the very +water, which actually moved a long way, burning under the water, now and +then appearing above it, giving reports like muskets and cannon, with +grenades and innumerable other devices. It is said it cost £1,500. It +was concluded with a ball, where all the young ladies and gallants +danced in the great hall. The court had not been seen so brave and rich +in apparel since his Majesty's Restoration. + +30th November, 1684. In the morning, Dr. Fiennes, son of the Lord Say +and Seale, preached before the King on Joshua xxi. 11. + +3d December, 1684. I carried Mr. Justell and Mr. Slingsby (Master of the +Mint), to see Mr. Sheldon's collection of medals. The series of Popes +was rare, and so were several among the moderns, especially that of John +Huss's martyrdom at Constance; of the Roman Emperors, Consulars some +Greek, etc., in copper, gold, and silver; not many truly antique; a +medallion of Otho Paulus Æmilius, etc., ancient. They were held at a +price of £1,000; but not worth, I judge, above £200. + +7th December, 1684. I went to see the new church at St. James's, +elegantly built; the altar was especially adorned, the white marble +inclosure curiously and richly carved, the flowers and garlands about +the walls by Mr. Gibbons, in wood: a pelican with her young at her +breast; just over the altar in the carved compartment and border +environing the purple velvet fringed with I. H. S. richly embroidered, +and most noble plate, were given by Sir R. Geere, to the value (as was +said) of £200. There was no altar anywhere in England, nor has there +been any abroad, more handsomely adorned. + +17th December, 1684. Early in the morning I went into St. James's Park +to see three Turkish, or Asian horses, newly brought over, and now first +shown to his Majesty. There were four, but one of them died at sea, +being three weeks coming from Hamburg. They were taken from a Bashaw at +the siege of Vienna, at the late famous raising that leaguer. I never +beheld so delicate a creature as one of them was, of somewhat a bright +bay, two white feet, a blaze; such a head, eyes, ears, neck, breast, +belly, haunches, legs, pasterns, and feet, in all regards, beautiful, +and proportioned to admiration; spirited, proud, nimble, making halt, +turning with that swiftness, and in so small a compass, as was +admirable. With all this so gentle and tractable as called to mind what +I remember Busbequius, speaks of them, to the reproach of our grooms in +Europe, who bring up their horses so churlishly, as makes most of them +retain their ill habits. They trotted like does, as if they did not feel +the ground. Five hundred guineas was demanded for the first; 300 for the +second; and 200 for the third, which was brown. All of them were +choicely shaped, but the two last not altogether so perfect as the +first. + +It was judged by the spectators, among whom was the King, Prince of +Denmark, Duke of York, and several of the Court, noble persons skilled +in horses, especially Monsieur Faubert and his son (provost masters of +the Academy, and esteemed of the best in Europe), that there were never +seen any horses in these parts to be compared with them. Add to all +this, the furniture consisting of embroidery on the saddle, housings, +quiver, bow, arrows, scymitar, sword, mace, or battle-ax, _à la +Turcisq_; the Bashaw's velvet mantle furred with the most perfect ermine +I ever beheld; all which, ironwork in common furniture being here of +silver, curiously wrought and double gilt to an incredible value. Such +and so extraordinary was the embroidery, that I never saw anything +approaching it. The reins and headstall were of crimson silk, covered +with chains of silver gilt. There was also a Turkish royal standard of a +horse's tail, together with all sorts of other caparisons belonging to a +general's horse, by which one may estimate how gallantly and +magnificently those infidels appear in the field; for nothing could be +seen more glorious. The gentleman (a German) who rode the horse, was in +all this garb. They were shod with iron made round and closed at the +heel, with a hole in the middle about as wide as a shilling. The hoofs +most entire. + +18th December, 1684. I went with Lord Cornwallis to see the young +gallants do their exercise. Mr. Faubert having newly railed in a manage, +and fitted it for the academy. There were the Dukes of Norfolk and +Northumberland, Lord Newburgh, and a nephew of (Duras) Earl of +Feversham. The exercises were, 1, running at the ring; 2, flinging a +javelin at a Moor's head; 3, discharging a pistol at a mark; lastly +taking up a gauntlet with the point of a sword; all these performed in +full speed. The Duke of Northumberland hardly missed of succeeding in +every one, a dozen times, as I think. The Duke of Norfolk did exceeding +bravely. Lords Newburgh and Duras seemed nothing so dexterous. Here I +saw the difference of what the French call "_bel homme à cheval_," and +"_bon homme à cheval_"; the Duke of Norfolk being the first, that is +rather a fine person on a horse, the Duke of Northumberland being both +in perfection, namely, a graceful person and an excellent rider. But the +Duke of Norfolk told me he had not been at this exercise these twelve +years before. There were in the field the Prince of Denmark, and the +Lord Lansdowne, son of the Earl of Bath, who had been made a Count of +the Empire last summer for his service before Vienna. + +20th December, 1684. A villainous murder was perpetrated by Mr. St. +John, eldest son to Sir Walter St. John, a worthy gentleman, on a knight +of quality, in a tavern. The offender was sentenced and reprieved. So +many horrid murders and duels were committed about this time as were +never before heard of in England; which gave much cause of complaint and +murmurings. + +1st January, 1684-85. It proved so sharp weather, and so long and cruel +a frost, that the Thames was frozen across, but the frost was often +dissolved, and then froze again. + +11th January, 1685. A young man preached upon St. Luke xiii. 5, after +the Presbyterian tedious method and repetition. + +24th January, 1685. I dined at Lord Newport's, who had some excellent +pictures, especially that of Sir Thomas Hanmer, by Vandyke, one of the +best he ever painted; another of our English Dobson's painting; but, +above all, Christ in the Virgin's lap, by Poussin, an admirable piece; +with something of most other famous hands. + +25th January, 1685. Dr. Dove preached before the King. I saw this +evening such a scene of profuse gaming, and the King in the midst of his +three concubines, as I have never before seen--luxurious dallying and +profaneness. + +27th January, 1685. I dined at Lord Sunderland's, being invited to hear +that celebrated voice of Mr. Pordage, newly come from Rome; his singing +was after the Venetian recitative, as masterly as could be, and with an +excellent voice both treble and bass; Dr. Walgrave accompanied it with +his THEORBO LUTE, on which he performed beyond imagination, and is +doubtless one of the greatest masters in Europe on that charming +instrument. Pordage is a priest, as Mr. Bernard Howard told me in +private. + +There was in the room where we dined, and in his bedchamber, those +incomparable pieces of Columbus, a Flagellation, the Grammar school, the +Venus and Adonis of Titian; and of Vandyke's that picture of the late +Earl of Digby (father of the Countess of Sunderland), and Earl of +Bedford, Sir Kenelm Digby, and two ladies of incomparable performance; +besides that of Moses and the burning bush of Bassano, and several other +pieces of the best masters. A marble head of M. Brutus, etc. + +28th January, 1685. I was invited to my Lord Arundel's, of Wardour (now +newly released of his six years' confinement in the Tower on suspicion +of the plot called Oates's Plot), where after dinner the same Mr. +Pordage entertained us with his voice, that excellent and stupendous +artist, Signor John Baptist, playing to it on the harpsichord. My +daughter Mary being with us, she also sang to the great satisfaction of +both the masters, and a world of people of quality present. + +She did so also at my Lord Rochester's the evening following, where we +had the French boy so famed for his singing, and indeed he had a +delicate voice, and had been well taught. I also heard Mrs. Packer +(daughter to my old friend) sing before his Majesty and the Duke, +privately, that stupendous bass, Gosling, accompanying her, but hers was +so loud as took away much of the sweetness. Certainly never woman had a +stronger or better ear, could she possibly have governed it. She would +do rarely in a large church among the nuns. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +4th February, 1685. I went to London, hearing his Majesty had been the +Monday before (2d February) surprised in his bedchamber with an +apoplectic fit, so that if, by God's providence, Dr. King (that +excellent chirurgeon as well as physician) had not been accidentally +present to let him bleed (having his lancet in his pocket), his Majesty +had certainly died that moment; which might have been of direful +consequence, there being nobody else present with the King save this +Doctor and one more, as I am assured. It was a mark of the extraordinary +dexterity, resolution, and presence of mind in the Doctor, to let him +bleed in the very paroxysm, without staying the coming of other +physicians, which regularly should have been done, and for want of which +he must have a regular pardon, as they tell me. This rescued his Majesty +for the instant, but it was only a short reprieve. He still complained, +and was relapsing, often fainting, with sometimes epileptic symptoms, +till Wednesday, for which he was cupped, let bleed in both jugulars, and +both vomit and purges, which so relieved him, that on Thursday hopes of +recovery were signified in the public "Gazette," but that day about +noon, the physicians thought him feverish. This they seemed glad of, as +being more easily allayed and methodically dealt with than his former +fits; so as they prescribed the famous Jesuit's powder; but it made him +worse, and some very able doctors who were present did not think it a +fever, but the effect of his frequent bleeding and other sharp +operations used by them about his head, so that probably the powder +might stop the circulation, and renew his former fits, which now made +him very weak. Thus he passed Thursday night with great difficulty, when +complaining of a pain in his side, they drew twelve ounces more of blood +from him; this was by six in the morning on Friday, and it gave him +relief, but it did not continue, for being now in much pain, and +struggling for breath, he lay dozing, and, after some conflicts, the +physicians despairing of him, he gave up the ghost at half an hour after +eleven in the morning, being the sixth of February, 1685, in the 36th +year of his reign, and 54th of his age. + +Prayers were solemnly made in all the churches, especially in both the +Court Chapels, where the chaplains relieved one another every half +quarter of an hour from the time he began to be in danger till he +expired, according to the form prescribed in the Church offices. Those +who assisted his Majesty's devotions were, the Archbishop of Canterbury, +the Bishops of London, Durham, and Ely, but more especially Dr. Ken, the +Bishop of Bath and Wells.[55] It is said they exceedingly urged the +receiving Holy Sacrament, but his Majesty told them he would consider of +it, which he did so long till it was too late. Others whispered that the +Bishops and Lords, except the Earls of Bath and Feversham, being ordered +to withdraw the night before, Huddleston, the priest, had presumed to +administer the Popish offices. He gave his breeches and keys to the Duke +who was almost continually kneeling by his bedside, and in tears. He +also recommended to him the care of his natural children, all except the +Duke of Monmouth, now in Holland, and in his displeasure. He entreated +the Queen to pardon him (not without cause); who a little before had +sent a Bishop to excuse her not more frequently visiting him, in regard +of her excessive grief, and withal that his Majesty would forgive it if +at any time she had offended him. He spoke to the Duke to be kind to the +Duchess of Cleveland, and especially Portsmouth, and that Nelly might +not starve. + + [Footnote 55: The account given of this by Charles's brother and + successor, is, that when the King's life was wholly despaired of, + and it was time to prepare for another world, two Bishops came to do + their function, who reading the prayers appointed in the Common + Prayer Book on that occasion, when they came to the place where + usually they exhort a sick person to make a confession of his sins, + the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who was one of them, advertised him, + IT WAS NOT OF OBLIGATION; and after a short exhortation, asked him + if he was sorry for his sins? which the King saying he was, the + Bishop pronounced the absolution, and then, asked him if he pleased + to receive the Sacrament? to which the King made no reply; and being + pressed by the Bishop several times, gave no other answer but that + it was time enough, or that he would think of it. + + King James adds, that he stood all the while by the bedside, and + seeing the King would not receive the Sacrament from them, and + knowing his sentiments, he desired the company to stand a little + from the bed, and then asked the King whether he should send for a + priest, to which the King replied: "For God's sake, brother, do, and + lose no time." The Duke said he would bring one to him; but none + could be found except Father Huddleston, who had been so assistant + in the King's escape from Worcester; he was brought up a back + staircase, and the company were desired to withdraw, but he (the + Duke of York) not thinking fit that he should be left alone with the + King, desired the Earl of Bath, a Lord of the Bedchamber, and the + Earl of Feversham, Captain of the Guard, should stay; the rest being + gone, Father Huddleston was introduced, and administered the + Sacrament.--"Life of James II."] + +Thus died King Charles II., of a vigorous and robust constitution, and +in all appearance promising a long life. He was a prince of many +virtues, and many great imperfections; debonair, easy of access, not +bloody nor cruel; his countenance fierce, his voice great, proper of +person, every motion became him; a lover of the sea, and skillful in +shipping; not affecting other studies, yet he had a laboratory, and knew +of many empirical medicines, and the easier mechanical mathematics; he +loved planting and building, and brought in a politer way of living, +which passed to luxury and intolerable expense. He had a particular +talent in telling a story, and facetious passages, of which he had +innumerable; this made some buffoons and vicious wretches too +presumptuous and familiar, not worthy the favor they abused. He took +delight in having a number of little spaniels follow him and lie in his +bedchamber, where he often suffered the bitches to puppy and give suck, +which rendered it very offensive, and indeed made the whole court nasty +and stinking. He would doubtless have been an excellent prince, had he +been less addicted to women, who made him uneasy, and always in want to +supply their immeasurable profusion, to the detriment of many indigent +persons who had signally served both him and his father. He frequently +and easily changed favorites to his great prejudice. + +As to other public transactions, and unhappy miscarriages, 'tis not +here I intend to number them; but certainly never had King more glorious +opportunities to have made himself, his people, and all Europe happy, +and prevented innumerable mischiefs, had not his too easy nature +resigned him to be managed by crafty men, and some abandoned and profane +wretches who corrupted his otherwise sufficient parts, disciplined as he +had been by many afflictions during his banishment, which gave him much +experience and knowledge of men and things; but those wicked creatures +took him from off all application becoming so great a King. The history +of his reign will certainly be the most wonderful for the variety of +matter and accidents, above any extant in former ages: the sad tragical +death of his father, his banishment and hardships, his miraculous +restoration, conspiracies against him, parliaments, wars, plagues, +fires, comets, revolutions abroad happening in his time, with a thousand +other particulars. He was ever kind to me, and very gracious upon all +occasions, and therefore I cannot without ingratitude but deplore his +loss, which for many respects, as well as duty, I do with all my soul. + +His Majesty being dead, the Duke, now King James II., went immediately +to Council, and before entering into any business, passionately +declaring his sorrow, told their Lordships, that since the succession +had fallen to him, he would endeavor to follow the example of his +predecessor in his clemency and tenderness to his people; that, however +he had been misrepresented as affecting arbitrary power, they should +find the contrary; for that the laws of England had made the King as +great a monarch as he could desire; that he would endeavor to maintain +the Government both in Church and State, as by law established, its +principles being so firm for monarchy, and the members of it showing +themselves so good and loyal subjects;[56] and that, as he would never +depart from the just rights and prerogatives of the Crown, so he would +never invade any man's property; but as he had often adventured his life +in defense of the nation, so he would still proceed, and preserve it in +all its lawful rights and liberties. + + [Footnote 56: This is the substance (and very nearly the words + employed) of what is stated by King James II. in the MS. printed in + his life; but in that MS. are some words which Evelyn has omitted. + For example, after speaking of the members of the Church of England + as good and loyal subjects, the King adds, "AND THEREFORE I SHALL + ALWAYS TAKE CARE TO DEFEND AND SUPPORT IT." James then goes on to + say, that being desired by some present to allow copies to be taken, + he said he had not committed it to writing; on which Mr. Finch (then + Solicitor-General and afterward Earl of Aylesford) replied, that + what his Majesty had said had made so deep an impression on him, + that he believed he could repeat the very words, and if his Majesty + would permit him, he would write them down, which the King agreeing + to, he went to a table and wrote them down, and this being shown to + the King, he approved of it, and it was immediately published. The + King afterward proceeds to say: "No one can wonder that Mr. Finch + should word the speech as strong as he could in favor of the + Established Religion, nor that the King in such a hurry should pass + it over without reflection; for though his Majesty intended to + promise both security to their religion and protection to their + persons, he was afterward convinced it had been better expressed by + assuring them he never would endeavor to alter the Established + Religion, than that he would endeavor to preserve it, and that he + would rather support and defend the professors of it, than the + religion itself; they could not expect he should make a conscience + of supporting what in his conscience he thought erroneous: his + engaging not to molest the professors of it, nor to deprive them or + their successors of any spiritual dignity, revenue, or employment, + but to suffer the ecclesiastical affairs to go on in the track they + were in, was all they could wish or desire from a Prince of a + different persuasion; but having once approved that way of + expressing it which Mr. Finch had made choice of, he thought it + necessary not to vary from it in the declarations or speeches he + made afterward, not doubting but the world would understand it in + the meaning he intended.----'Tis true, afterward IT WAS pretended + he kept not up to this engagement; but had they deviated no further + from the duty and allegience which both nature and repeated oath + obliged them to, THAN HE DID FROM HIS WORD, they had still remained + as happy a people as they really were during his short reign in + England."--"Life of James II.," ii. 435. The words printed in small + caps in this extract are from the interlineations of the son of King + James II.] + +This being the substance of what he said, the Lords desired it might be +published, as containing matter of great satisfaction to a jealous +people upon this change, which his Majesty consented to. Then were the +Council sworn, and a Proclamation ordered to be published that all +officers should continue in their stations, that there might be no +failure of public justice, till his further pleasure should be known. +Then the King rose, the Lords accompanying him to his bedchamber, where, +while he reposed himself, tired indeed as he was with grief and +watching, they returned again into the Council chamber to take order for +the PROCLAIMING his Majesty, which (after some debate) they consented +should be in the very form his grandfather, King James I., was, after +the death of Queen Elizabeth; as likewise that the Lords, etc., should +proceed in their coaches through the city for the more solemnity of it. +Upon this was I, and several other gentlemen waiting in the Privy +gallery, admitted into the Council chamber to be witness of what was +resolved on. Thence with the Lords, Lord Marshal and Heralds, and other +Crown officers being ready, we first went to Whitehall gate, where the +Lords stood on foot bareheaded, while the Herald proclaimed his +Majesty's title to the Imperial Crown and succession according to the +form, the trumpets and kettledrums having first sounded three times, +which ended with the people's acclamations. Then a herald called the +Lords' coaches according to rank, myself accompanying the solemnity in +my Lord Cornwallis's coach, first to Temple Bar, where the Lord Mayor +and his brethren met us on horseback, in all their formalities, and +proclaimed the King; hence to the Exchange in Cornhill, and so we +returned in the order we set forth. Being come to Whitehall, we all went +and kissed the King and Queen's hands. He had been on the bed, but was +now risen and in his undress. The Queen was in bed in her apartment, but +put forth her hand, seeming to be much afflicted, as I believe she was, +having deported herself so decently upon all occasions since she came +into England, which made her universally beloved. + +Thus concluded this sad and not joyful day. + +I can never forget the inexpressible luxury and profaneness, gaming, and +all dissoluteness, and as it were total forgetfulness of God (it being +Sunday evening), which this day se'nnight I was witness of, the King +sitting and toying with his concubines, Portsmouth, Cleveland, and +Mazarin, etc., a French boy singing love songs[57] in that glorious +gallery, while about twenty of the great courtiers and other dissolute +persons were at Basset round a large table, a bank of at least 2,000 in +gold before them; upon which two gentlemen, who were with me, made +reflections with astonishment. Six days after, was all in the dust. + + [Footnote 57: _Ante_, p. 204.] + +It was enjoined that those who put on mourning should wear it as for a +father, in the most solemn manner. + +10th February, 1685. Being sent to by the Sheriff of the County to +appear and assist in proclaiming the King, I went the next day to +Bromley, where I met the Sheriff and the Commander of the Kentish Troop, +with an appearance, I suppose, of about 500 horse, and innumerable +people, two of his Majesty's trumpets, and a Sergeant with other +officers, who having drawn up the horse in a large field near the town, +marched thence, with swords drawn, to the market place, where, making a +ring, after sound of trumpets and silence made, the High Sheriff read +the proclaiming titles to his bailiff, who repeated them aloud, and +then, after many shouts of the people, his Majesty's health being drunk +in a flint glass of a yard long, by the Sheriff, Commander, Officers, +and chief gentlemen, they all dispersed, and I returned. + +13th February, 1685. I passed a fine on selling of Honson Grange in +Staffordshire, being about £20 per annum, which lying so great a +distance, I thought fit to part with it to one Burton, a farmer there. +It came to me as part of my daughter-in-law's portion, this being but a +fourth part of what was divided between the mother and three sisters. + +14th February, 1685. The King was this night very obscurely buried in a +vault under Henry VII.'s Chapel at Westminster, without any manner of +pomp, and soon forgotten after all this vanity, and the face of the +whole Court was exceedingly changed into a more solemn and moral +behavior; the new King affecting neither profaneness nor buffoonery. All +the great officers broke their staves over the grave, according to form. + +15th February, 1685. Dr. Tenison preached to the household. The second +sermon should have been before the King; but he, to the great grief of +his subjects, did now, for the first time, go to mass publicly in the +little Oratory at the Duke's lodgings, the doors being set wide open. + +16th February, 1685. I dined at Sir Robert Howard's, auditor of the +exchequer, a gentleman pretending to all manner of arts and sciences, +for which he had been the subject of comedy, under the name of Sir +Positive; not ill-natured, but insufferably boasting. He was son to the +late Earl of Berkshire. + +17th February, 1685. This morning his Majesty restored the staff and key +to Lord Arlington, Chamberlain; to Mr. Savell, Vice-chamberlain; to +Lords Newport and Maynard, Treasurer and Comptroller of the household. +Lord Godolphin made Chamberlain to the Queen; Lord Peterborough groom of +the stole, in place of the Earl of Bath; the Treasurer's staff to the +Earl of Rochester; and his brother, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Privy +Seal, in the place of the Marquis of Halifax, who was made President of +the Council; the Secretaries of State remaining as before. + +19th February, 1685. The Lord Treasurer and the other new officers were +sworn at the Chancery Bar and the exchequer. + +The late King having the revenue of excise, customs, and other late +duties granted for his life only, they were now farmed and let to +several persons, upon an opinion that the late King might let them for +three years after his decease; some of the old commissioners refused to +act. The lease was made but the day before the King died;[58] the major +part of the Judges (but, as some think, not the best lawyers), +pronounced it legal, but four dissented. + + [Footnote 58: James, in his Life, makes no mention of this lease, + but only says HE continued to collect them, which conduct was not + blamed; but, on the contrary, he was thanked for it, in an address + from the Middle Temple, penned by Sir Bartholomew Shore, and + presented by Sir Humphrey Mackworth, carrying great authority with + it; nor did the Parliament find fault.] + +The clerk of the closet had shut up the late King's private oratory next +the Privy-chamber above, but the King caused it to be opened again, and +that prayers should be said as formerly. + +22d February, 1685. Several most useful tracts against Dissenters, +Papists and Fanatics, and resolutions of cases were now published by the +London divines. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +4th March, 1685. ASH WEDNESDAY. After evening prayers, I went to London. + +5th March, 1685. To my grief, I saw the new pulpit set up in the Popish +Oratory at Whitehall for the Lent preaching, mass being publicly said, +and the Romanists swarming at Court with greater confidence than had +ever been seen in England since the Reformation, so that everybody grew +jealous as to what this would tend. + +A Parliament was now summoned, and great industry used to obtain +elections which might promote the Court interest, most of the +corporations being now, by their new charters, empowered to make what +returns of members they pleased. + +There came over divers envoys and great persons to condole the death of +the late King, who were received by the Queen-Dowager on a bed of +mourning, the whole chamber, ceiling and floor, hung with black, and +tapers were lighted, so as nothing could be more lugubrious and solemn. +The Queen-Consort sat under a state on a black foot-cloth, to entertain +the circle (as the Queen used to do), and that very decently. + +6th March, 1685. Lent preachers continued as formerly in the Royal +Chapel. + +7th March, 1685. My daughter, Mary, was taken with smallpox, and there +soon was found no hope of her recovery. A great affliction to me: but +God's holy will be done! + +10th March, 1685. She received the blessed sacrament; after which, +disposing herself to suffer what God should determine to inflict, she +bore the remainder of her sickness 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 +our's only, but that of all who knew her, who were many of the best +quality, greatest and most virtuous persons. The justness of her +stature, person, comeliness of countenance, gracefulness of motion, +unaffected, though more than ordinarily beautiful, 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 useful and judicious periods of the books she read in a kind of +common-place, as out of Dr. Hammond on the New Testament, and most of +the best practical treatises. She had read and digested a considerable +deal of history, and of places. The French tongue was as familiar to her +as English; she understood Italian, and was able to render a laudable +account of what she read and observed, to which assisted a most faithful +memory and discernment; and she did make very prudent and discreet +reflections upon what she had observed of the conversations among which +she had at any time been, which being continually of persons of the best +quality, she thereby improved. She had an excellent voice, to which she +played a thorough-bass on the harpsichord, in both which she arrived to +that perfection, that of the scholars of those two famous masters, +Signors Pietro and Bartholomeo, she was esteemed the best; for the +sweetness of her voice and management of it added such an agreeableness +to her countenance, without any constraint or concern, that when she +sung, it was as charming to the eye as to the ear; this I rather note, +because it was a universal remark, and for which so many noble and +judicious persons in music desired to hear her, the last being at Lord +Arundel's, at Wardour. + +What shall I say, or rather not say, of the cheerfulness and +agreeableness of her humor? condescending to the meanest servant in the +family, or others, she still kept up respect, without the least pride. +She would often read to them, examine, instruct, and pray with them if +they were sick, so as she was exceedingly beloved of everybody. Piety +was so prevalent an ingredient in her constitution (as I may say), that +even among equals and superiors she no sooner became intimately +acquainted, but she would endeavor to improve them, by insinuating +something religious, and that tended to bring them to a love of +devotion; she had one or two confidants with whom she used to pass whole +days in fasting, reading, and prayers, especially before the monthly +communion, and other solemn occasions. She abhorred flattery, and, +though she had abundance of wit, the raillery was so innocent and +ingenious that it was most agreeable; she sometimes would see a play, +but since the stage grew licentious, expressed herself weary of them, +and the time spent at the theater was an unaccountable vanity. She never +played at cards without extreme importunity and for the company; but +this was so very seldom, that I cannot number it among anything she +could name a fault. + +No one could read prose or verse better or with more judgment; and as +she read, so she wrote, not only most correct orthography, with that +maturity of judgment and exactness of the periods, choice of +expressions, and familiarity of style, that some letters of hers have +astonished me and others, to whom she has occasionally written. She had +a talent of rehearsing any comical part or poem, as to them she might be +decently free with; was more pleasing than heard on the theater; she +danced with the greatest grace I had ever seen, and so would her master +say, who was Monsieur Isaac; but she seldom showed that perfection, save +in the gracefulness of her carriage, which was with an air of sprightly +modesty not easily to be described. Nothing affected, but natural and +easy as well in her deportment as in her discourse, which was always +material, not trifling, and to which the extraordinary sweetness of her +tone, even in familiar speaking, was very charming. Nothing was so +pretty as her descending to play with little children, whom she would +caress and humor with great delight. But she most affected to be with +grave and sober men, of whom she might learn something, and improve +herself. I have been assisted by her in reading and praying by me; +comprehensive of uncommon notions, curious of knowing everything to some +excess, had I not sometimes repressed it. + +Nothing was so delightful to her as to go into my Study, where she would +willingly have spent whole days, for as I said she had read abundance of +history, and all the best poets, even Terence, Plautus, Homer, Virgil, +Horace, Ovid; all the best romancers and modern poems; 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 vain trifles to the +virtues which adorned her soul; she was sincerely religious, most +dutiful to her parents, whom she loved with an affection tempered with +great esteem, so as we were easy and free, and never were so well +pleased as when she was with us, nor needed we other conversation; she +was kind to her sisters, and was still improving them by her constant +course of piety. Oh, dear, sweet, and desirable child, how shall I part +with all this goodness and virtue without the bitterness of sorrow and +reluctancy of a tender parent! Thy affection, duty and love to me was +that of a friend as well as a child. Nor less dear to thy mother, whose +example and tender care of thee was unparalleled, nor was thy return to +her less conspicuous. Oh! how she mourns thy loss! how desolate hast +thou left us! To the grave shall we both carry thy memory! God alone (in +whose bosom thou art at rest and happy!) give us to resign thee and all +our contentments (for thou indeed wert all in this world) to his blessed +pleasure! Let him be glorified by our submission, and give us grace to +bless him for the graces he implanted in thee, thy virtuous life, pious +and holy death, which is indeed the only comfort of our souls, hastening +through the infinite love and mercy of the Lord Jesus to be shortly with +thee, dear child, and with thee and those blessed saints like thee, +glorify the Redeemer of the world to all eternity! Amen. + +It was in the 19th year of her age that this sickness happened to her. +An accident contributed to this disease; she had an apprehension of it +in particular, which struck her but two days before she came home, by an +imprudent gentlewoman whom she went with Lady Falkland to visit, who, +after they had been a good while in the house, told them she has a +servant sick of the smallpox (who indeed died the next day): this my +poor child acknowledged made an impression on her spirits. There were +four gentlemen of quality offering to treat with me about marriage, and +I freely gave her her own choice, knowing her discretion. She showed +great indifference to marrying at all, for truly, says she to her mother +(the other day), were I assured of your life and my dear father's, never +would I part from you; I love you and this home, where we serve God, +above all things, nor ever shall I be so happy; I know and consider the +vicissitudes of the world, I have some experience of its vanities, and +but for decency more than inclination, and that you judge it expedient +for me, I would not change my condition, but rather add the fortune you +design me to my sisters, and keep up the reputation of our family. This +was so discreetly and sincerely uttered that it could not but proceed +from an extraordinary child, and one who loved her parents beyond +example. + +At London, she took this fatal disease, and the occasion of her being +there was this: my Lord Viscount Falkland's Lady having been our +neighbor (as he was Treasurer of the Navy), she took so great an +affection to my daughter, that when they went back in the autumn to the +city, nothing would satisfy their incessant importunity but letting her +accompany my Lady, and staying some time with her; it was with the +greatest reluctance I complied. While she was there, my Lord being +musical, when I saw my Lady would not part with her till Christmas, I +was not unwilling she should improve the opportunity of learning of +Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure and teaching. +It was the end of February before I could prevail with my Lady to part +with her; but my Lord going into Oxfordshire to stand for Knight of the +Shire there, she expressed her wish to come home, being tired of the +vain and empty conversation of the town, the theaters, the court, and +trifling visits which consumed so much precious time, and made her +sometimes miss of that regular course of piety that gave her the +greatest satisfaction. She was weary of this life, and I think went not +thrice to Court all this time, except when her mother or I carried her. +She did not affect showing herself, she knew the Court well, and passed +one summer in it at Windsor with Lady Tuke, one of the Queen's women of +the bedchamber (a most virtuous relation of hers); she was not fond of +that glittering scene, now become abominably licentious, though there +was a design of Lady Rochester and Lady Clarendon to have made her a +maid of honor to the Queen as soon as there was a vacancy. But this she +did not set her heart upon, nor indeed on anything so much as the +service of God, a quiet and regular life, and how she might improve +herself in the most necessary accomplishments, and to which she was +arrived at so great a measure. + +This is the little history and imperfect character of my dear child, +whose piety, virtue, and incomparable endowments deserve a monument more +durable than brass and marble. Precious is the memorial of the just. +Much I could enlarge on every period of this hasty account, but that I +ease and discharge my overcoming passion for the present, so many things +worthy an excellent Christian and dutiful child crowding upon me. Never +can I say enough, oh dear, my dear child, whose memory is so precious to +me! + +This dear child was born at Wotton, in the same house and chamber in +which I first drew my breath, my wife having retired to my brother there +in the great sickness that year upon the first of that month, and the +very hour that I was born, upon the last: viz, October. + +[Sidenote: SAYES COURT] + +16th March, 1685. She was interred in the southeast end of the church at +Deptford, near her grandmother and several of my younger children and +relations. My desire was she should have been carried and laid among my +own parents and relations at Wotton, where I desire to be interred +myself, when God shall call me out of this uncertain transitory life, +but some circumstances did not permit it. Our vicar, Dr. Holden, +preached her funeral sermon on Phil. i. 21. "For to me to live is +Christ, and to die is gain," upon which he made an apposite discourse, +as those who heard it assured me (for grief suffered me not to be +present), concluding with a modest recital of her many virtues and +signal piety, so as to draw both tears and admiration from the hearers. +I was not altogether unwilling that something of this sort should be +spoken, for the edification and encouragement of other young people. + +Divers noble persons honored her funeral, some in person, others +sending their coaches, of which there were six or seven with six horses, +viz, the Countess of Sunderland, Earl of Clarendon, Lord Godolphin, Sir +Stephen Fox, Sir William Godolphin, Viscount Falkland, and others. There +were distributed among her friends about sixty rings. + +Thus lived, died, and was buried the joy of my life, and ornament of her +sex and of my poor family! God Almighty of his infinite mercy grant me +the grace thankfully to resign myself and all I have, or had, to his +divine pleasure, and in his good time, restoring health and comfort to +my family: "teach me so to number my days, that I may apply my heart to +wisdom," be prepared for my dissolution, and that into the hands of my +blessed Savior I may recommend my spirit! Amen! + +On looking into her closet, it is incredible what a number of +collections she had made from historians, poets, travelers, etc., but, +above all, devotions, contemplations, and resolutions on these +contemplations, found under her hand in a book most methodically +disposed; prayers, meditations, and devotions on particular occasions, +with many pretty letters to her confidants; one to a divine (not named) +to whom she writes that he would be her ghostly father, and would not +despise her for her many errors and the imperfections of her youth, but +beg of God to give her courage to acquaint him with all her faults, +imploring his assistance and spiritual directions. I well remember she +had often desired me to recommend her to such a person; but I did not +think fit to do it as yet, seeing her apt to be scrupulous, and knowing +the great innocency and integrity of her life. + +It is astonishing how one who had acquired such substantial and +practical knowledge in other ornamental parts of education, especially +music, both vocal and instrumental, in dancing, paying and receiving +visits, and necessary conversation, could accomplish half of what she +has left; but, as she never affected play or cards, which consume a +world of precious time, so she was in continual exercise, which yet +abated nothing of her most agreeable conversation. But she was a little +miracle while she lived, and so she died! + +26th March, 1685. I was invited to the funeral of Captain Gunman, that +excellent pilot and seaman, who had behaved himself so gallantly in the +Dutch war. He died of a gangrene, occasioned by his fall from the pier +of Calais. This was the Captain of the yacht carrying the Duke (now +King) to Scotland, and was accused for not giving timely warning when +she split on the sands, where so many perished; but I am most confident +he was no ways guilty, either of negligence, or design, as he made +appear not only at the examination of the matter of fact, but in the +vindication he showed me, and which must needs give any man of reason +satisfaction. He was a sober, frugal, cheerful, and temperate man; we +have few such seamen left. + +8th April, 1685. Being now somewhat composed after my great affliction, +I went to London to hear Dr. Tenison (it being on a Wednesday in Lent) +at Whitehall. I observed that though the King was not in his seat above +in the chapel, the Doctor made his three congees, which they were not +used to do when the late King was absent, making then one bowing only. I +asked the reason; it was said he had a special order so to do. The +Princess of Denmark was in the King's closet, but sat on the left hand +of the chair, the Clerk of the Closet standing by his Majesty's chair, +as if he had been present. + +I met the Queen Dowager going now first from Whitehall to dwell at +Somerset House. + +This day my brother of Wotton and Mr. Onslow were candidates for Surrey +against Sir Adam Brown and my cousin, Sir Edward Evelyn, and were +circumvented in their election by a trick of the Sheriff's, taking +advantage of my brother's party going out of the small village of +Leatherhead to seek shelter and lodging, the afternoon being +tempestuous, proceeding to the election when they were gone; they +expecting the next morning; whereas before and then they exceeded the +other party by many hundreds, as I am assured. The Duke of Norfolk led +Sir Edward Evelyn's and Sir Adam Brown's party. For this Parliament, +very mean and slight persons (some of them gentlemen's servants, clerks, +and persons neither of reputation nor interest) were set up; but the +country would choose my brother whether he would or no, and he missed it +by the trick above mentioned. Sir Adam Brown was so deaf, that he could +not hear one word. Sir Edward Evelyn was an honest gentleman, much in +favor with his Majesty. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +10th April, 1685. I went early to Whitehall to hear Dr. Tillotson, Dean +of Canterbury, preaching on Eccles. ix. 18. I returned in the evening, +and visited Lady Tuke, and found with her Sir George Wakeman, the +physician, whom I had seen tried and acquitted, among the plotters for +poisoning the late King, on the accusation of the famous Oates; and +surely I believed him guiltless. + +14th April, 1685. According to my custom, I went to London to pass the +holy week. + +17th April, 1685. GOOD FRIDAY. Dr. Tenison preached at the new church at +St. James, on 1 Cor. xvi. 22, upon the infinite love of God to us, which +he illustrated in many instances. The Holy Sacrament followed, at which +I participated. The Lord make me thankful! In the afternoon, Dr. Sprat, +Bishop of Rochester, preached in Whitehall chapel, the auditory very +full of Lords, the two Archbishops, and many others, now drawn to town +upon occasion of the coronation and ensuing Parliament. I supped with +the Countess of Sunderland and Lord Godolphin, and returned home. + +23d April, 1685. Was the coronation of the King and Queen. The solemnity +was magnificent as is set forth in print. The Bishop of Ely preached; +but, to the sorrow of the people, no Sacrament, as ought to have been. +However, the King begins his reign with great expectations, and hopes of +much reformation as to the late vices and profaneness of both Court and +country. Having been present at the late King's coronation, I was not +ambitious of seeing this ceremony. + +3d May, 1685. A young man preached, going chaplain with Sir J. Wiburn, +Governor of Bombay, in the East Indies. + +7th May, 1685. I was in Westminster Hall when Oates, who had made such +a stir in the kingdom, on his revealing a plot of the Papists, and +alarmed several Parliaments, and had occasioned the execution of divers +priests, noblemen, etc., was tried for perjury at the King's bench; but, +being very tedious, I did not endeavor to see the issue, considering +that it would be published. Abundance of Roman Catholics were in the +hall in expectation of the most grateful conviction and ruin of a person +who had been so obnoxious to them, and as I verily believe, had done +much mischief and great injury to several by his violent and +ill-grounded proceedings; while he was at first so unreasonably blown up +and encouraged, that his insolence was no longer sufferable. + +Mr. Roger L'Estrange (a gentleman whom I had long known, and a person of +excellent parts, abating some affectations) appearing first against the +Dissenters in several tracts, had now for some years turned his style +against those whom (by way of hateful distinction) they called Whigs and +Trimmers, under the title of "Observator," which came out three or four +days every week, in which sheets, under pretense to serve the Church of +England, he gave suspicion of gratifying another party, by several +passages which rather kept up animosities than appeased them, especially +now that nobody gave the least occasion.[59] + + [Footnote 59: In the first Dutch war, while Evelyn was one of the + Commissioners for sick and wounded, L'Estrange in his "Gazette" + mentioned the barbarous usage of the Dutch prisoners of war: + whereupon Evelyn wrote him a very spirited letter, desiring that the + Dutch Ambassador (who was then in England) and his friends would + visit the prisoners, and examine their provisions; and he required + L'Estrange to publish that vindication in his next number.] + +10th May, 1685. The Scots valuing themselves exceedingly to have been +the first Parliament called by his Majesty, gave the excise and customs +to him and his successors forever; the Duke of Queensberry making +eloquent speeches, and especially minding them of a speedy suppression +of those late desperate Field-Conventiclers who had done such unheard of +assassinations. In the meantime, elections for the ensuing Parliament in +England were thought to be very indirectly carried on in most places. +God grant a better issue of it than some expect! + +16th May, 1685. Oates was sentenced to be whipped and pilloried with the +utmost severity. + +21st May, 1685. I dined at my Lord Privy Seal's with Sir William +Dugdale, Garter King-at-Arms, author of the "MONASTICON" and other +learned works; he told me he was 82 years of age, and had his sight and +memory perfect. There was shown a draft of the exact shape and +dimensions of the crown the Queen had been crowned withal, together with +the jewels and pearls, their weight and value, which amounted to +£100,658 sterling, attested at the foot of the paper by the jeweler and +goldsmith who set them. + +22d May, 1685. In the morning, I went with a French gentleman, and my +Lord Privy Seal to the House of Lords, where we were placed by his +Lordship next the bar, just below the bishops, very commodiously both +for hearing and seeing. After a short space, came in the Queen and +Princess of Denmark, and stood next above the archbishops, at the side +of the House on the right hand of the throne. In the interim, divers of +the Lords, who had not finished before, took the test and usual oaths, +so that her Majesty, the Spanish and other Ambassadors, who stood behind +the throne, heard the Pope and the worship of the Virgin Mary, etc., +renounced very decently, as likewise the prayers which followed, +standing all the while. Then came in the King, the crown on his head, +and being seated, the Commons were introduced, and the House being full, +he drew forth a paper containing his speech, which he read distinctly +enough, to this effect: "That he resolved to call a Parliament from the +moment of his brother's decease, as the best means to settle all the +concerns of the nation, so as to be most easy and happy to himself and +his subjects; that he would confirm whatever he had said in his +declaration at the first Council concerning his opinion of the +principles of the Church of England, for their loyalty, and would defend +and support it, and preserve its government as by law now established; +that, as he would invade no man's property, so he would never depart +from his own prerogative; and, as he had ventured his life in defense of +the nation, so he would proceed to do still; that, having given this +assurance of his care of our religion (his word was YOUR religion) and +property (which he had not said by chance, but solemnly), so he doubted +not of suitable returns of his subjects' duty and kindness, especially +as to settling his revenue for life, for the many weighty necessities of +government, which he would not suffer to be precarious; that some might +possibly suggest that it were better to feed and supply him from time to +time only, out of their inclination to frequent Parliaments; but that +that would be a very improper method to take with him, since the best +way to engage him to meet oftener would be always to use him well, and +therefore he expected their compliance speedily, that this session being +but short, they might meet again to satisfaction." + +At every period of this, the House gave loud shouts. Then he acquainted +them with that morning's news of Argyle's being landed in the West +Highlands of Scotland from Holland, and the treasonous declaration he +had published, which he would communicate to them, and that he should +take the best care he could it should meet with the reward it deserved, +not questioning the Parliament's zeal and readiness to assist him as he +desired; at which there followed another "_Vive le Roi_," and so his +Majesty retired. + +So soon as the Commons were returned and had put themselves into a grand +committee, they immediately put the question, and unanimously voted the +revenue to his Majesty for life. Mr. Seymour made a bold speech against +many elections, and would have had those members who (he pretended) were +obnoxious, to withdraw, till they had cleared the matter of their being +legally returned; but no one seconded him. The truth is, there were many +of the new members whose elections and returns were universally +censured, many of them being persons of no condition, or interest, in +the nation, or places for which they served, especially in Devon, +Cornwall, Norfolk, etc., said to have been recommended by the Court, and +from the effect of the new charters changing the electors. It was +reported that Lord Bath carried down with him [into Cornwall] no fewer +than fifteen charters, so that some called him the Prince Elector: +whence Seymour told the House in his speech that if this was digested, +they might introduce what religion and laws they pleased, and that +though he never gave heed to the fears and jealousies of the people +before, he was now really apprehensive of Popery. By the printed list of +members of 505, there did not appear to be above 135 who had been in +former Parliaments, especially that lately held at Oxford. + +In the Lords' House, Lord Newport made an exception against two or three +young Peers, who wanted some months, and some only four or five days, of +being of age. + +The Popish Lords, who had been sometime before released from their +confinement about the plot, were now discharged of their impeachment, of +which I gave Lord Arundel of Wardour joy. + +Oates, who had but two days before been pilloried at several places and +whipped at the cart's tail from Newgate to Aldgate, was this day placed +on a sledge, being not able to go by reason of so late scourging, and +dragged from prison to Tyburn, and whipped again all the way, which some +thought to be severe and extraordinary; but, if he was guilty of the +perjuries, and so of the death of many innocents (as I fear he was), his +punishment was but what he deserved. I chanced to pass just as execution +was doing on him. A strange revolution! + +Note: there was no speech made by the Lord Keeper [Bridgman] after his +Majesty, as usual. + +It was whispered he would not be long in that situation, and many +believe the bold Chief Justice Jefferies, who was made Baron of Wem, in +Shropshire, and who went thorough stitch in that tribunal, stands fair +for that office. I gave him joy the morning before of his new honor, he +having always been very civil to me. + +24th May, 1685. We had hitherto not any rain for many months, so as the +caterpillars had already devoured all the winter fruit through the whole +land, and even killed several greater old trees. Such two winters and +summers I had never known. + +4th June, 1685. Came to visit and take leave of me Sir Gabriel Sylvius, +now going Envoy-extraordinary into Denmark, with his secretary and +chaplain, a Frenchman, who related the miserable persecution of the +Protestants in France; not above ten churches left them, and those also +threatened to be demolished; they were commanded to christen their +children within twenty-four hours after birth, or else a Popish priest +was to be called, and then the infant brought up in Popery. In some +places, they were thirty leagues from any minister, or opportunity of +worship. This persecution had displeased the most industrious part of +the nation, and dispersed those into Switzerland, Burgundy, Holland, +Germany, Denmark, England, and the Plantations. There were with Sir +Gabriel, his lady, Sir William Godolphin and sisters, and my Lord +Godolphin's little son, my charge. I brought them to the water side +where Sir Gabriel embarked, and the rest returned to London. + +14th June, 1685. There was now certain intelligence of the Duke of +Monmouth landing at Lyme, in Dorsetshire, and of his having set up his +standard as King of England. I pray God deliver us from the confusion +which these beginnings threaten! + +Such a dearth for want of rain was never in my memory. + +17th June, 1685. The Duke landed with but 150 men; but the whole kingdom +was alarmed, fearing that the disaffected would join them, many of the +trained bands flocking to him. At his landing, he published a +Declaration, charging his Majesty with usurpation and several horrid +crimes, on pretense of his own title, and offering to call a free +Parliament. This declaration was ordered to be burnt by the hangman, the +Duke proclaimed a traitor, and a reward of £5,000 to any who should kill +him. + +At this time, the words engraved on the monument in London, intimating +that the Papists fired the city, were erased and cut out. + +The exceeding drought still continues. + +18th June, 1685. I received a warrant to send out a horse with twelve +days' provisions, etc. + +28th June, 1685. We had now plentiful rain after two years' excessive +drought and severe winters. + +Argyle taken in Scotland, and executed, and his party dispersed. + +2d July, 1685. No considerable account of the troops sent against the +Duke, though great forces sent. There was a smart skirmish; but he would +not be provoked to come to an encounter, but still kept in the +fastnesses. + +Dangerfield whipped, like Oates, for perjury. + +8th July, 1685. Came news of Monmouth's utter defeat, and the next day +of his being taken by Sir William Portman and Lord Lumley with the +militia of their counties. It seems the Horse, commanded by Lord Grey, +being newly raised and undisciplined, were not to be brought in so short +a time to endure the fire, which exposed the Foot to the King's, so as +when Monmouth had led the Foot in great silence and order, thinking to +surprise Lieutenant-General Lord Feversham newly encamped, and given him +a smart charge, interchanging both great and small shot, the Horse, +breaking their own ranks, Monmouth gave it over, and fled with Grey, +leaving their party to be cut in pieces to the number of 2,000. The +whole number reported to be above 8,000; the King's but 2,700. The slain +were most of them MENDIP-MINERS, who did great execution with their +tools, and sold their lives very dearly, while their leaders flying were +pursued and taken the next morning, not far from one another. Monmouth +had gone sixteen miles on foot, changing his habit for a poor coat, and +was found by Lord Lumley in a dry ditch covered with fern-brakes, but +without sword, pistol, or any weapon, and so might have passed for some +countryman, his beard being grown so long and so gray as hardly to be +known, had not his George discovered him, which was found in his pocket. +It is said he trembled exceedingly all over, not able to speak. Grey was +taken not far from him. Most of his party were Anabaptists and poor +cloth workers of the country, no gentlemen of account being come in to +him. The arch-_boutefeu_, Ferguson, Matthews, etc., were not yet found. +The £5,000 to be given to whoever should bring Monmouth in, was to be +distributed among the militia by agreement between Sir William Portman +and Lord Lumley. The battle ended, some words, first in jest, then in +passion, passed between Sherrington Talbot (a worthy gentleman, son to +Sir John Talbot, and who had behaved himself very handsomely) and one +Captain Love, both commanders of the militia, as to whose soldiers +fought best, both drawing their swords and passing at one another. +Sherrington was wounded to death on the spot, to the great regret of +those who knew him. He was Sir John's only son. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +9th July, 1685. Just as I was coming into the lodgings at Whitehall, a +little before dinner, my Lord of Devonshire standing very near his +Majesty's bedchamber door in the lobby, came Colonel Culpeper, and in a +rude manner looking at my Lord in the face, asked whether this was a +time and place for excluders to appear; my Lord at first took little +notice of what he said, knowing him to be a hotheaded fellow, but he +reiterating it, my Lord asked Culpeper whether he meant him; he said +yes, he meant his Lordship. My Lord told him he was no excluder (as +indeed he was not); the other affirming it again, my Lord told him he +lied; on which Culpeper struck him a box on the ear, which my Lord +returned, and felled him. They were soon parted, Culpeper was seized, +and his Majesty, who was all the while in his bedchamber, ordered him to +be carried to the Greencloth officer, who sent him to the Marshalsea, as +he deserved. My Lord Devon had nothing said to him. + +I supped this night at Lambeth at my old friend's Mr. Elias Ashmole's, +with my Lady Clarendon, the Bishop of St. Asaph, and Dr. Tenison, when +we were treated at a great feast. + +10th July, 1685. The Count of Castel Mellor, that great favorite and +prime minister of Alphonso, late King of Portugal, after several years' +banishment, being now received to grace and called home by Don Pedro, +the present King, as having been found a person of the greatest +integrity after all his sufferings, desired me to spend part of this day +with him, and assist him in a collection of books and other curiosities, +which he would carry with him into Portugal. + +Mr. Hussey, a young gentleman who made love to my late dear child, but +whom she could not bring herself to answer in affection, died now of the +same cruel disease, for which I was extremely sorry, because he never +enjoyed himself after my daughter's decease, nor was I averse to the +match, could she have overcome her disinclination. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +15th July, 1685. I went to see Dr. Tenison's library [in St. Martin's]. + +Monmouth was this day brought to London and examined before the King, +to whom he made great submission, acknowledged his seduction by +Ferguson, the Scot, whom he named the bloody villain. He was sent to the +Tower, had an interview with his late Duchess, whom he received coldly, +having lived dishonestly with the Lady Henrietta Wentworth for two +years. He obstinately asserted his conversation with that debauched +woman to be no sin; whereupon, seeing he could not be persuaded to his +last breath, the divines who were sent to assist him thought not fit to +administer the Holy Communion to him. For the rest of his faults he +professed great sorrow, and so died without any apparent fear. He would +not make use of a cap or other circumstance, but lying down, bid the +fellow to do his office better than to the late Lord Russell, and gave +him gold; but the wretch made five chops before he had his head off; +which so incensed the people, that had he not been guarded and got away, +they would have torn him to pieces. + +The Duke made no speech on the scaffold (which was on Tower Hill), but +gave a paper containing not above five or six lines, for the King, in +which he disclaims all title to the Crown, acknowledges that the late +King, his father, had indeed told him he was but his base son, and so +desired his Majesty to be kind to his wife and children. This relation I +had from Dr. Tenison (Rector of St. Martin's), who, with the Bishops of +Ely and Bath and Wells, were sent to him by his Majesty, and were at the +execution. + +Thus ended this quondam Duke, darling of his father and the ladies, +being extremely handsome and adroit, an excellent soldier and dancer, a +favorite of the people, of an easy nature, debauched by lust; seduced by +crafty knaves, who would have set him up only to make a property, and +taken the opportunity of the King being of another religion, to gather a +party of discontented men. He failed and perished. + +He was a lovely person, had a virtuous and excellent lady that brought +him great riches, and a second dukedom in Scotland. He was Master of the +Horse, General of the King his father's army, Gentleman of the +Bedchamber, Knight of the Garter, Chancellor of Cambridge, in a word, +had accumulations without end. See what ambition and want of principles +brought him to! He was beheaded on Tuesday, 14th of July. His mother, +whose name was Barlow, daughter of some very mean creatures, was a +beautiful strumpet, whom I had often seen at Paris; she died miserably +without anything to bury her; yet this Perkin had been made to believe +that the King had married her, a monstrous and ridiculous forgery! And +to satisfy the world of the iniquity of the report, the King his father +(if his father he really was, for he most resembled one Sidney who was +familiar with his mother) publicly and most solemnly renounced it, to be +so entered in the Council Book some years since, with all the Privy +Councillors' attestation.[60] + + [Footnote 60: The "Life of James II." contains an account of the + circumstances of the Duke of Monmouth's birth, which may be given in + illustration of the statements of the text. Ross, tutor to the Duke + of Monmouth, is there said to have proposed to Bishop Cosins to sign + a certificate of the King's marriage to Mrs. Barlow, though her own + name was Walters: but this the Bishop refused. She was born of a + gentleman's family in Wales, but having little means and less grace, + came to London to make her fortune. Algernon Sydney, then a Colonel + in Cromwell's army, had agreed to give her fifty broad pieces (as he + told the Duke of York); but being ordered hastily away with his + regiment, he missed his bargain. She went into Holland, where she + fell into the hands of his brother, Colonel Robert Sydney, who kept + her for some time, till the King hearing of her, got her from him. + On which the Colonel was heard to say, Let who will have her, she is + already sped; and, after being with the King, she was so soon with + child, that the world had no cause to doubt whose child it was, and + the rather that when he grew to be a man, he very much resembled the + Colonel both in stature and countenance, even to a wart on his face. + However, the King owned the child. In the King's absence she behaved + so loosely, that on his return from his escape at Worcester he would + have no further commerce with her, and she became a common + prostitute at Paris.] + +Had it not pleased God to dissipate this attempt in the beginning, there +would in all appearance have gathered an irresistible force which would +have desperately proceeded to the ruin of the Church and Government; so +general was the discontent and expectation of the opportunity. For my +own part, I looked upon this deliverance as most signal. Such an +inundation of fanatics and men of impious principles must needs have +caused universal disorder, cruelty, injustice, rapine, sacrilege, and +confusion, an unavoidable civil war, and misery without end. Blessed be +God, the knot was happily broken, and a fair prospect of tranquillity +for the future, if we reform, be thankful, and make a right use of this +mercy! + +18th July, 1685. I went to see the muster of the six Scotch and English +regiments whom the Prince of Orange had lately sent to his Majesty out +of Holland upon this rebellion, but which were now returning, there +having been no occasion for their use. They were all excellently clad +and well disciplined, and were encamped on Blackheath with their tents: +the King and Queen came to see them exercise, and the manner of their +encampment, which was very neat and magnificent. + +By a gross mistake of the Secretary of his Majesty's Forces, it had +been ordered that they should be quartered in private houses, contrary +to an Act of Parliament, but, on my informing his Majesty timely of it, +it was prevented. + +The two horsemen which my son and myself sent into the county troops, +were now come home, after a month's being out to our great charge. + +20th July, 1685. The Trinity Company met this day, which should have +been on the Monday after Trinity, but was put off by reason of the Royal +Charter being so large, that it could not be ready before. Some +immunities were superadded. Mr. Pepys, Secretary to the Admiralty, was a +second time chosen Master. There were present the Duke of Grafton, Lord +Dartmouth, Master of the Ordnance, the Commissioners of the Navy, and +Brethren of the Corporation. We went to church, according to custom, and +then took barge to the Trinity House, in London, where we had a great +dinner, above eighty at one table. + +[Sidenote: CHELSEA] + +7th August, 1685. I went to see Mr. Watts, keeper of the Apothecaries' +garden of simples at Chelsea, where there is a collection of innumerable +rarities of that sort particularly, besides many rare annuals, the tree +bearing Jesuit's bark, which had done such wonders in quartan agues. +What was very ingenious was the subterranean heat, conveyed by a stove +under the conservatory, all vaulted with brick, so as he has the doors +and windows open in the hardest frosts, secluding only the snow. + +15th August, 1685. Came to visit us Mr. Boscawen, with my Lord +Godolphin's little son, with whose education hitherto his father had +intrusted me. + +27th August, 1685. My daughter Elizabeth died of the smallpox, soon +after having married a young man, nephew of Sir John Tippett, Surveyor +of the Navy, and one of the Commissioners. The 30th, she was buried in +the church at Deptford. Thus, in less than six months were we deprived +of two children for our unworthiness and causes best known to God, whom +I beseech from the bottom of my heart that he will give us grace to make +that right use of all these chastisements, that we may become better, +and entirely submit in all things to his infinitely wise disposal. Amen! + +3d September, 1685. Lord Clarendon (Lord Privy Seal) wrote to let me +know that the King being pleased to send him Lord-Lieutenant into +Ireland, was also pleased to nominate me one of the Commissioners to +execute the office of Privy Seal during his Lieutenancy there, it +behoving me to wait upon his Majesty to give him thanks for this great +honor. + +5th September, 1685. I accompanied his Lordship to Windsor (dining by +the way of Sir Henry Capel's at Kew), where his Majesty receiving me +with extraordinary kindness, I kissed his hand, I told him how sensible +I was of his Majesty's gracious favor to me, that I would endeavor to +serve him with all sincerity, diligence, and loyalty, not more out of my +duty than inclination. He said he doubted not of it, and was glad he had +the opportunity to show me the kindness he had for me. After this, came +abundance of great men to give me joy. + +6th September, 1685. SUNDAY. I went to prayer in the chapel, and heard +Dr. Standish. The second sermon was preached by Dr. Creighton, on 1 +Thess. iv. 11, persuading to unity and peace, and to be mindful of our +own business, according to the advice of the apostle. Then I went to +hear a Frenchman who preached before the King and Queen in that splendid +chapel next St. George's Hall. Their Majesties going to mass, I withdrew +to consider the stupendous painting of the Hall, which, both for the art +and invention, deserve the inscription in honor of the painter, Signor +Verrio. The history is Edward III. receiving the Black Prince, coming +toward him in a Roman triumph. The whole roof is the history of St. +George. The throne, the carvings, etc., are incomparable, and I think +equal to any, and in many circumstances exceeding any, I have seen +abroad. + +I dined at Lord Sunderland's, with (among others) Sir William Soames, +designed Ambassador to Constantinople. + +About 6 o'clock came Sir Dudley and his brother Roger North, and +brought the Great Seal from my Lord Keeper, who died the day before at +his house in Oxfordshire. The King went immediately to council; +everybody guessing who was most likely to succeed this great officer; +most believing it could be no other than my Lord Chief Justice +Jefferies, who had so vigorously prosecuted the late rebels, and was now +gone the Western Circuit, to punish the rest that were secured in +several counties, and was now near upon his return. I took my leave of +his Majesty, who spoke very graciously to me, and supping that night at +Sir Stephen Fox's, I promised to dine there the next day. + +15th September, 1685. I accompanied Mr. Pepys to Portsmouth, whither his +Majesty was going the first time since his coming to the Crown, to see +in what state the fortifications were. We took coach and six horses, +late after dinner, yet got to Bagshot that night. While supper was +making ready I went and made a visit to Mrs. Graham, some time maid of +honor to the Queen Dowager, now wife to James Graham, Esq., of the privy +purse to the King; her house being a walk in the forest, within a little +quarter of a mile from Bagshot town. Very importunate she was that I +would sup, and abide there that night; but, being obliged by my +companion, I returned to our inn, after she had shown me her house, +which was very commodious, and well furnished, as she was an excellent +housewife, a prudent and virtuous lady. There is a park full of red deer +about it. Her eldest son was now sick there of the smallpox, but in a +likely way of recovery, and other of her children run about, and among +the infected, which she said she let them do on purpose that they might +while young pass that fatal disease she fancied they were to undergo one +time or other, and that this would be the best: the severity of this +cruel distemper so lately in my poor family confirming much of what she +affirmed. + +[Sidenote: WINCHESTER] + +16th September, 1685. The next morning, setting out early, we arrived +soon enough at Winchester to wait on the King, who was lodged at the +Dean's (Dr. Meggot). I found very few with him besides my Lords +Feversham, Arran, Newport, and the Bishop of Bath and Wells. His Majesty +was discoursing with the bishops concerning miracles, and what strange +things the Saludadors[61] would do in Spain, as by creeping into heated +ovens without hurt, and that they had a black cross in the roof of their +mouths, but yet were commonly notorious and profane wretches; upon which +his Majesty further said, that he was so extremely difficult of +miracles, for fear of being imposed upon, that if he should chance to +see one himself, without some other witness, he should apprehend it a +delusion of his senses. Then they spoke of the boy who was pretended to +have a wanting leg restored him, so confidently asserted by Fr. de Santa +Clara and others. To all of which the Bishop added a great miracle +happening in Winchester to his certain knowledge, of a poor, miserably +sick and decrepit child (as I remember long kept unbaptized) who +immediately on his baptism, recovered; as also of the salutary effect of +King Charles his Majesty's father's blood, in healing one that was +blind. + + [Footnote 61: Evelyn subjoins this note:--"As to that of the + Saludador (of which likewise I remember Sir Arthur Hopton, formerly + as Ambassador at Madrid, had told me many like wonders), Mr. Pepys + passing through Spain, and being extremely inquisitive of the truth + of these pretended miracles of the Saludadors, found a very famous + one at last, to whom he offered a considerable reward if he would + make a trial of the oven, or any other thing of that kind, before + him; the fellow ingenuously told him, that finding he was a more + than ordinary curious person, he would not deceive him, and so + acknowledged that he could do none of the feats really, but that + what they pretended was all a cheat, which he would easily discover, + though the poor superstitious people were easily imposed upon; yet + have these impostors an allowance of the Bishops to practice their + jugglings. This Mr. Pepys affirmed to me; but said he, I did not + conceive it fit to interrupt his Majesty, who so solemnly told what + they pretended to do. + + J. E."] + +There was something said of the second sight happening to some persons, +especially Scotch; upon which his Majesty, and I think Lord Arran, told +us that Monsieur ... a French nobleman, lately here in England, seeing +the late Duke of Monmouth come into the playhouse at London, suddenly +cried out to somebody sitting in the same box, "_Voilà Monsieur comme il +entre sans tete!_" Afterward his Majesty spoke of some relics that had +effected strange cures, particularly a piece of our blessed Savior's +cross, that healed a gentleman's rotten nose by only touching. And +speaking of the golden cross and chain taken out of the coffin of St. +Edward the Confessor at Westminster, by one of the singing-men, who, as +the scaffolds were taken down after his Majesty's coronation, espying a +hole in the tomb, and something glisten, put his hand in, and brought it +to the dean, and he to the King; his Majesty began to put the Bishop in +mind how earnestly the late King (his brother) called upon him during +his agony, to take out what he had in his pocket. "I had thought," said +the King, "it had been for some keys, which might lead to some cabinet +that his Majesty would have me secure"; but, says he, "you will remember +that I found nothing in any of his pockets but a cross of gold, and a +few insignificant papers"; and thereupon he showed us the cross, and was +pleased to put it into my hand. It was of gold, about three inches long, +having on one side a crucifix enameled and embossed, the rest was graved +and garnished with goldsmiths' work, and two pretty broad table +amethysts (as I conceived), and at the bottom a pendant pearl; within +was enchased a little fragment, as was thought, of the true cross, and a +Latin inscription in gold and Roman letters. More company coming in, +this discourse ended. I may not forget a resolution which his Majesty +made, and had a little before entered upon it at the Council Board at +Windsor or Whitehall, that the negroes in the plantations should all be +baptized, exceedingly declaiming against that impiety of their masters +prohibiting it, out of a mistaken opinion that they would be _ipso +facto_ free; but his Majesty persists in his resolution to have them +christened, which piety the Bishop blessed him for. + +I went out to see the new palace the late King had begun, and brought +almost to the covering. It is placed on the side of the hill, where +formerly stood the old castle. It is a stately fabric, of three sides +and a corridor, all built of brick, and cornished, windows and columns +at the break and entrance of free-stone. It was intended for a +hunting-house when his Majesty should come to these parts, and has an +incomparable prospect. I believe there had already been £20,000 and more +expended; but his now Majesty did not seem to encourage the finishing it +at least for a while. + +Hence to see the Cathedral, a reverend pile, and in good repair. There +are still the coffins of the six Saxon Kings, whose bones had been +scattered by the sacrilegious rebels of 1641, in expectation, I suppose, +of finding some valuable relics, and afterward gathered up again and put +into new chests, which stand above the stalls of the choir. + +[Sidenote: PORTSMOUTH] + +17th September, 1685. Early next morning, we went to Portsmouth, +something before his Majesty arrived. We found all the road full of +people, the women in their best dress, in expectation of seeing the King +pass by, which he did, riding on horseback a good part of the way. The +Mayor and Aldermen with their mace, and in their formalities, were +standing at the entrance of the fort, a mile on this side of the town, +where the Mayor made a speech to the King, and then the guns of the fort +were fired, as were those of the garrison, as soon as the King was come +into Portsmouth. All the soldiers (near 3,000) were drawn up, and lining +the streets and platform to God's House (the name of the Governor's +residence), where, after he had viewed the new fortifications and +shipyard, his Majesty was entertained at a magnificent dinner by Sir ... +Slingsby, the Lieutenant Governor, all the gentlemen in his train +sitting down at table with him, which I also had done, had I not been +before engaged to Sir Robert Holmes, Governor of the Isle of Wight, to +dine with him at a private house, where likewise we had a very sumptuous +and plentiful repast of excellent venison, fowl, fish, and fruit. + +After dinner, I went to wait on his Majesty again, who was pulling on +his boots in the Town Hall adjoining the house where he dined, and then +having saluted some ladies, who came to kiss his hand, he took horse for +Winchester, whither he returned that night. This hall is artificially +hung round with arms of all sorts, like the hall and keep at Windsor. +Hence, to see the shipyard and dock, the fortifications, and other +things. + +Portsmouth, when finished, will be very strong, and a noble quay. There +were now thirty-two men-of-war in the harbor. I was invited by Sir R. +Beach, the Commissioner, where, after a great supper, Mr. Secretary and +myself lay that night, and the next morning set out for Guildford, where +we arrived in good hour, and so the day after to London. + +I had twice before been at Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, etc., many +years since. I found this part of Hampshire bravely wooded, especially +about the house and estate of Colonel Norton, who though now in being, +having formerly made his peace by means of Colonel Legg, was formerly a +very fierce commander in the first Rebellion. His house is large, and +standing low, on the road from Winchester to Portsmouth. + +By what I observed in this journey, is that infinite industry, +sedulity, gravity, and great understanding and experience of affairs, in +his Majesty, that I cannot but predict much happiness to the nation, as +to its political government; and, if he so persist, there could be +nothing more desired to accomplish our prosperity, but that he was of +the national religion. + +30th September, 1685. Lord Clarendon's commission for Lieutenant of +Ireland was sealed this day. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +2d October, 1685. Having a letter sent me by Mr. Pepys with this +expression at the foot of it, "I have something to show you that I may +not have another time," and that I would not fail to dine with him. I +accordingly went. After dinner, he had me and Mr. Houblon (a rich and +considerable merchant, whose father had fled out of Flanders on the +persecution of the Duke of Alva) into a private room, and told us that +being lately alone with his Majesty, and upon some occasion of speaking +concerning my late Lord Arlington dying a Roman Catholic, who had all +along seemed to profess himself a Protestant, taken all the tests, etc., +till the day (I think) of his death, his Majesty said that as to his +inclinations he had known them long wavering, but from fear of losing +his places, he did not think it convenient to declare himself. There +are, says the King, those who believe the Church of Rome gives +dispensations for going to church, and many like things, but that is not +so; for if that might have been had, he himself had most reason to make +use of it. INDEED, he said, as to SOME MATRIMONIAL CASES, THERE ARE NOW +AND THEN DISPENSATIONS, but hardly in any cases else. + +This familiar discourse encouraged Mr. Pepys to beg of his Majesty, if +he might ask it without offense, and for that his Majesty could not but +observe how it was whispered among many whether his late Majesty had +been reconciled to the Church of Rome; he again humbly besought his +Majesty to pardon his presumption, if he had touched upon a thing which +did not befit him to look into. The King ingenuously told him that he +both was and died a Roman Catholic, and that he had not long since +declared that it was upon some politic and state reasons, best known to +himself (meaning the King his brother), but that he was of that +persuasion: he bid him follow him into his closet, where opening a +cabinet, he showed him two papers, containing about a quarter of a +sheet, on both sides written, in the late King's own hand, several +arguments opposite to the doctrine of the Church of England, charging +her with heresy, novelty, and the fanaticism of other Protestants, the +chief whereof was, as I remember, our refusing to acknowledge the +primacy and infallibility of the Church of Rome; how impossible it was +that so many ages should never dispute it, till of late; how unlikely +our Savior would leave his Church without a visible Head and guide to +resort to, during his absence; with the like usual topic; so well penned +as to the discourse as did by no means seem to me to have been put +together by the late King yet written all with his own hand, blotted and +interlined, so as, if indeed it was not given him by some priest, they +might be such arguments and reasons as had been inculcated from time to +time, and here recollected; and, in the conclusion, showing his looking +on the Protestant religion (and by name the Church of England) to be +without foundation, and consequently false and unsafe. When his Majesty +had shown him these originals, he was pleased to lend him the copies of +these two papers, attested at the bottom in four or five lines under his +own hand. + +These were the papers I saw and read. This nice and curious passage I +thought fit to set down. Though all the arguments and objections were +altogether weak, and have a thousand times been answered by our divines; +they are such as their priests insinuate among their proselytes, as if +nothing were Catholic but the Church of Rome, no salvation out of that, +no reformation sufferable, bottoming all their errors on St. Peter's +successors' unerring dictatorship, but proving nothing with any reason, +or taking notice of any objection which could be made against it. Here +all was taken for granted, and upon it a resolution and preference +implied. + +I was heartily sorry to see all this, though it was no other than was +to be suspected, by his late Majesty's too great indifference, neglect, +and course of life, that he had been perverted, and for secular respects +only professed to be of another belief, and thereby giving great +advantage to our adversaries, both the Court and generally the youth and +great persons of the nation becoming dissolute and highly profane. God +was incensed to make his reign very troublesome and unprosperous, by +wars, plagues, fires, loss of reputation by an universal neglect of the +public for the love of a voluptuous and sensual life, which a vicious +Court had brought into credit. I think of it with sorrow and pity, when +I consider how good and debonair a nature that unhappy Prince was; what +opportunities he had to have made himself the most renowned King that +ever swayed the British scepter, had he been firm to that Church for +which his martyred and blessed father suffered; and had he been grateful +to Almighty God, who so miraculously restored him, with so excellent a +religion; had he endeavored to own and propagate it as he should have +done, not only for the good of his kingdom, but of all the Reformed +Churches in christendom, now weakened and near ruined through our +remissness and suffering them to be supplanted, persecuted, and +destroyed, as in France, which we took no notice of. The consequence of +this, time will show, and I wish it may proceed no further. The +emissaries and instruments of the Church of Rome will never rest till +they have crushed the Church of England, as knowing that alone to be +able to cope with them, and that they can never answer her fairly, but +lie abundantly open to the irresistible force of her arguments, +antiquity and purity of her doctrine, so that albeit it may move God, +for the punishment of a nation so unworthy, to eclipse again the +profession of her here, and darkness and superstition prevail, I am most +confident the doctrine of the Church of England will never be +extinguished, but remain visible, if not eminent, to the consummation of +the world. I have innumerable reasons that confirm me in this opinion, +which I forbear to mention here. + +In the meantime, as to the discourse of his Majesty with Mr. Pepys, and +those papers, as I do exceedingly prefer his Majesty's free and +ingenuous profession of what his own religion is, beyond concealment +upon any politic accounts, so I think him of a most sincere and honest +nature, one on whose word one may rely, and that he makes a conscience +of what he promises, to perform it. In this confidence, I hope that the +Church of England may yet subsist, and when it shall please God to open +his eyes and turn his heart (for that is peculiarly in the Lord's hands) +to flourish also. In all events, whatever does become of the Church of +England, it is certainly, of all the Christian professions on the earth, +the most primitive, apostolical, and excellent. + +8th October, 1685. I had my picture drawn this week by the famous +Kneller. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +14th October, 1685. I went to London about finishing my lodgings at +Whitehall. + +15th October, 1685. Being the King's birthday, there was a solemn ball +at Court, and before it music of instruments and voices. I happened by +accident to stand the very next to the Queen and the King, who talked +with me about the music. + +18th October, 1685. The King was now building all that range from east +to west by the court and garden to the street, and making a new chapel +for the Queen, whose lodgings were to be in this new building, as also a +new Council chamber and offices next the south end of the banqueting +house. I returned home, next morning, to London. + +22d October, 1685. I accompanied my Lady Clarendon to her house at +Swallowfield, in Berks, dining by the way at Mr. Graham's lodge at +Bagshot; the house, newly repaired and capacious enough for a good +family, stands in a park. + +Hence, we went to Swallowfield; this house is after the ancient +building of honorable gentlemen's houses, when they kept up ancient +hospitality, but the gardens and waters as elegant as it is possible to +make a flat by art and industry, and no mean expense, my lady being so +extraordinarily skilled in the flowery part, and my lord in diligence of +planting; so that I have hardly seen a seat which shows more tokens of +it than what is to be found here, not only in the delicious and rarest +fruits of a garden, but in those innumerable timber trees in the ground +about the seat, to the greatest ornament and benefit of the place. There +is one orchard of 1,000 golden, and other cider pippins; walks and +groves of elms, limes, oaks, and other trees. The garden is so beset +with all manner of sweet shrubs, that it perfumes the air. The +distribution also of the quarters, walks, and parterres, is excellent. +The nurseries, kitchen-garden full of the most desirable plants; two +very noble orangeries well furnished: but, above all, the canal and fish +ponds, the one fed with a white, the other with a black running water, +fed by a quick and swift river, so well and plentifully stored with +fish, that for pike, carp, bream, and tench, I never saw anything +approaching it. We had at every meal carp and pike of a size fit for the +table of a Prince, and what added to the delight was, to see the +hundreds taken by the drag, out of which, the cook standing by, we +pointed out what we had most mind to, and had carp that would have been +worth at London twenty shillings a piece. The waters are flagged about +with _Calámus aromaticus_, with which my lady has hung a closet, that +retains the smell very perfectly. There is also a certain sweet willow +and other exotics: also a very fine bowling-green, meadow, pasture, and +wood; in a word, all that can render a country seat delightful. There is +besides a well-furnished library in the house. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th October, 1685. We returned to London, having been treated with all +sorts of cheer and noble freedom by that most religious and virtuous +lady. She was now preparing to go for Ireland with her husband, made +Lord Deputy, and went to this country house and ancient seat of her +father and family, to set things in order during her absence; but never +were good people and neighbors more concerned than all the country (the +poor especially) for the departure of this charitable woman; everyone +was in tears, and she as unwilling to part from them. There was among +them a maiden of primitive life, the daughter of a poor laboring man, +who had sustained her parents (some time since dead) by her labor, and +has for many years refused marriage, or to receive any assistance from +the parish, besides the little hermitage my lady gives her rent-free; +she lives on four pence a day, which she gets by spinning; says she +abounds and can give alms to others, living in great humility and +content, without any apparent affectation, or singularity; she is +continually working, praying, or reading, gives a good account of her +knowledge in religion, visits the sick; is not in the least given to +talk; very modest, of a simple not unseemingly behavior; of a comely +countenance, clad very plain, but clean and tight. In sum, she appears a +saint of an extraordinary sort, in so religious a life, as is seldom met +with in villages now-a-days. + +27th October, 1685. I was invited to dine at Sir Stephen Fox's with my +Lord Lieutenant, where was such a dinner for variety of all things as I +had seldom seen, and it was so for the trial of a master-cook whom Sir +Stephen had recommended to go with his Lordship into Ireland; there were +all the dainties not only of the season, but of what art could add, +venison, plain solid meat, fowl, baked and boiled meats, banquet +[dessert], in exceeding plenty, and exquisitely dressed. There also +dined my Lord Ossory and Lady (the Duke of Beaufort's daughter), my Lady +Treasurer, Lord Cornbury, and other visitors. + +28th October, 1685. At the Royal Society, an urn full of bones was +presented, dug up in a highway, while repairing it, in a field in +Camberwell, in Surrey; it was found entire with its cover, among many +others, believed to be truly Roman and ancient. + +Sir Richard Bulkeley described to us a model of a chariot he had +invented, which it was not possible to overthrow in whatever uneven way +it was drawn, giving us a wonderful relation of what it had performed in +that kind, for ease, expedition, and safety; there were some +inconveniences yet to be remedied--it would not contain more than one +person; was ready to take fire every ten miles; and being placed and +playing on no fewer than ten rollers, it made a most prodigious noise, +almost intolerable. A remedy was to be sought for these inconveniences. + +31st October, 1685. I dined at our great Lord Chancellor Jefferies', who +used me with much respect. This was the late Chief-Justice who had newly +been the Western Circuit to try the Monmouth conspirators, and had +formerly done such severe justice among the obnoxious in Westminster +Hall, for which his Majesty dignified him by creating him first a Baron, +and now Lord Chancellor. He had some years past been conversant in +Deptford; is of an assured and undaunted spirit, and has served the +Court interest on all the hardiest occasions; is of nature cruel, and a +slave of the Court. + +3d November, 1685. The French persecution of the Protestants raging +with the utmost barbarity, exceeded even what the very heathens used: +innumerable persons of the greatest birth and riches leaving all their +earthly substance, and hardly escaping with their lives, dispersed +through all the countries of Europe. The French tyrant abrogated the +Edict of Nantes which had been made in favor of them, and without any +cause; on a sudden demolishing all their churches, banishing, +imprisoning, and sending to the galleys all the ministers; plundering +the common people, and exposing them to all sorts of barbarous usage by +soldiers sent to ruin and prey on them; taking away their children; +forcing people to the Mass, and then executing them as relapsers; they +burnt their libraries, pillaged their goods, ate up their fields and +substance, banished or sent the people to the galleys, and seized on +their estates. There had now been numbered to pass through Geneva only +(and that by stealth, for all the usual passages were strictly guarded +by sea and land) 40,000 toward Switzerland. In Holland, Denmark, and all +about Germany, were dispersed some hundred thousands; besides those in +England, where, though multitudes of all degree sought for shelter and +welcome as distressed Christians and confessors, they found least +encouragement, by a fatality of the times we were fallen into, and the +uncharitable indifference of such as should have embraced them; and I +prey it be not laid to our charge. The famous Claude fled to Holland; +Allix and several more came to London, and persons of great estates came +over, who had forsaken all. France was almost dispeopled, the bankers so +broken, that the tyrant's revenue was exceedingly diminished, +manufactures ceased, and everybody there, save the Jesuits, abhorred +what was done, nor did the Papists themselves approve it. What the +further intention is, time will show; but doubtless portending some +revolution. + +I was shown the harangue which the Bishop of Valentia on Rhone made in +the name of the Clergy, celebrating the French King, as if he was a God, +for persecuting the poor Protestants, with this expression in it, "That +as his victory over heresy was greater than all the conquests of +Alexander and Cæsar, it was but what was wished in England; and that God +seemed to raise the French King to this power and magnanimous action, +that he might be in capacity to assist in doing the same here." This +paragraph is very bold and remarkable; several reflecting on Archbishop +Usher's prophecy as now begun in France, and approaching the orthodox in +all other reformed churches. One thing was much taken notice of, that +the "Gazettes" which were still constantly printed twice a week, +informing us what was done all over Europe, never spoke of this +wonderful proceeding in France; nor was any relation of it published by +any, save what private letters and the persecuted fugitives brought. +Whence this silence, I list not to conjecture; but it appeared very +extraordinary in a Protestant country that we should know nothing of +what Protestants suffered, while great collections were made for them in +foreign places, more hospitable and Christian to appearance. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th November, 1685. It being an extraordinarily wet morning, and myself +indisposed by a very great rheum, I did not go to church, to my very +great sorrow, it being the first Gunpowder Conspiracy anniversary that +had been kept now these eighty years under a prince of the Roman +religion. Bonfires were forbidden on this day; what does this portend! + +9th November, 1685. Began the Parliament. The King in his speech +required continuance of a standing force instead of a militia, and +indemnity and dispensation to Popish officers from the Test; demands +very unexpected and unpleasing to the Commons. He also required a supply +of revenue, which they granted; but returned no thanks to the King for +his speech, till farther consideration. + +12th November, 1685. The Commons postponed finishing the bill for the +Supply, to consider the Test, and Popish officers; this was carried but +by one voice. + +14th November, 1685. I dined at Lambeth, my Lord Archbishop carrying me +with him in his barge; there were my Lord Deputy of Ireland, the Bishops +of Ely and St. Asaph, Dr. Sherlock, and other divines; Sir William +Hayward, Sir Paul Rycaut, etc. + +20th November, 1685. The Parliament was adjourned to February, several +both of Lords and Commons excepting against some passage of his +Majesty's speech relating to the Test, and continuance of Popish +officers in command. This was a great surprise in a Parliament which +people believed would have complied in all things. + +Popish pamphlets and pictures sold publicly; no books nor answers to +them appearing till long after. + +21st November, 1685. I resigned my trust for composing a difference +between Mr. Thynn and his wife. + +22d November, 1685. Hitherto was a very wet, warm season. + +4th December, 1685. Lord Sunderland was declared President of the +Council, and yet to hold his Secretary's place. The forces disposed into +several quarters through the kingdom are very insolent, on which are +great complaints. + +Lord Brandon, tried for the late conspiracy, was condemned and pardoned; +so was Lord Grey, his accuser and witness. + +Persecution in France raging, the French insolently visit our vessels, +and take away the fugitive Protestants; some escape in barrels. + +[Sidenote: GREENWICH] + +10th December, 1685. To Greenwich, being put into the new Commission of +Sewers. + +13th December, 1685. Dr. Patrick, Dean of Peterborough, preached at +Whitehall, before the Princess of Denmark, who, since his Majesty came +to the Crown, always sat in the King's closet, and had the same bowings +and ceremonies applied to the place where she was, as his Majesty had +when there in person. + +Dining at Mr. Pepys's, Dr. Slayer showed us an experiment of a wonderful +nature, pouring first a very cold liquor into a glass, and superfusing +on it another, to appearance cold and clear liquor also; it first +produced a white cloud, then boiling, divers coruscations and actual +flames of fire mingled with the liquor, which being a little shaken +together, fixed divers suns and stars of real fire, perfectly globular, +on the sides of the glass, and which there stuck like so many +constellations, burning most vehemently, and resembling stars and +heavenly bodies, and that for a long space. It seemed to exhibit a +theory of the eduction of light out of the chaos, and the fixing or +gathering of the universal light into luminous bodies. This matter, or +phosphorus, was made out of human blood and urine, elucidating the vital +flame, or heat in animal bodies. A very noble experiment! + +16th December, 1685. I accompanied my Lord-Lieutenant as far as St. +Alban's, there going out of town with him near 200 coaches of all the +great officers and nobility. The next morning taking leave, I returned +to London. + +18th December, 1685. I dined at the great entertainment his Majesty gave +the Venetian Ambassadors, Signors Zenno and Justiniani, accompanied with +ten more noble Venetians of their most illustrious families, Cornaro, +Maccenigo, etc., who came to congratulate their Majesties coming to the +Crown. The dinner was most magnificent and plentiful, at four tables, +with music, kettledrums, and trumpets, which sounded upon a whistle at +every health. The banquet [dessert] was twelve vast chargers piled up so +high that those who sat one against another could hardly see each other. +Of these sweetmeats, which doubtless were some days piling up in that +exquisite manner, the Ambassadors touched not, but leaving them to the +spectators who came out of curiosity to see the dinner, were exceedingly +pleased to see in what a moment of time all that curious work was +demolished, the comfitures voided, and the tables cleared. Thus his +Majesty entertained them three days, which (for the table only) cost him +£600, as the Clerk of the Greencloth (Sir William Boreman) assured me. +Dinner ended, I saw their procession, or cavalcade, to Whitehall, +innumerable coaches attending. The two Ambassadors had four coaches of +their own, and fifty footmen (as I remember), besides other equipage as +splendid as the occasion would permit, the Court being still in +mourning. Thence, I went to the audience which they had in the Queen's +presence chamber, the Banqueting House being full of goods and furniture +till the galleries on the garden-side, council chamber, and new chapel, +now in the building, were finished. They went to their audience in those +plain black gowns and caps which they constantly wear in the city of +Venice. I was invited to have accompanied the two Ambassadors in their +coach to supper that night, returning now to their own lodgings, as no +longer at the King's expense; but, being weary, I excused myself. + +19th December, 1685. My Lord Treasurer made me dine with him, where I +became acquainted with Monsieur Barillon, the French Ambassador, a +learned and crafty advocate. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +20th December, 1685. Dr. Turner, brother to the Bishop of Ely, and +sometime tutor to my son, preached at Whitehall on Mark viii. 38, +concerning the submission of Christians to their persecutors, in which +were some passages indiscreet enough, considering the time, and the rage +of the inhuman French tyrant against the poor Protestants. + +22d December, 1685. Our patent for executing the office of Privy Seal +during the absence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, being this day +sealed by the Lord Chancellor, we went afterward to St. James, where the +Court then was on occasion of building at Whitehall; his Majesty +delivered the seal to my Lord Tiviot and myself, the other Commissioners +not being come, and then gave us his hand to kiss. There were the two +Venetian Ambassadors and a world of company; among the rest the first +Popish Nuncio that had been in England since the Reformation; so +wonderfully were things changed, to the universal jealousy. + +24th December, 1685. We were all three Commissioners sworn on our knees +by the Clerk of the Crown, before my Lord Chancellor, three several +oaths: allegiance, supremacy, and the oath belonging to the Lord Privy +Seal, which last we took standing. After this, the Lord Chancellor +invited us all to dinner, but it being Christmas eve we desired to be +excused, intending at three in the afternoon to seal divers things which +lay ready at the office; so attended by three of the Clerks of the +Signet, we met and sealed. Among other things was a pardon to West, who +being privy to the late conspiracy, had revealed the accomplices to save +his own neck. There were also another pardon and two indenizations; and +so agreeing to a fortnight's vacation, I returned home. + +31st December, 1685. Recollecting the passages of the year past, and +having made up accounts, humbly besought Almighty God to pardon those my +sins which had provoked him to discompose my sorrowful family; that he +would accept of our humiliation, and in his good time restore comfort to +it. I also blessed God for all his undeserved mercies and preservations, +begging the continuance of his grace and preservation. The winter had +hitherto been extraordinarily wet and mild. + +1st January, 1685-6. Imploring the continuance of God's providential +care for the year now entered, I went to the public devotions. The Dean +of the Chapel and Clerk of the Closet put out, viz, Bishop of London and +..., and Rochester and Durham put in their places; the former had +opposed the toleration intended, and shown a worthy zeal for the +reformed religion as established. + +6th January, 1686. I dined with the Archbishop of York, where was Peter +Walsh, that Romish priest so well known for his moderation, professing +the Church of England to be a true member of the Catholic Church. He is +used to go to our public prayers without scruple, and did not +acknowledge the Pope's infallibility, only primacy of order. + +19th January, 1686. Passed the Privy Seal, among others, the creation of +Mrs. Sedley (concubine to ----) Countess of Dorchester, which the Queen +took very grievously, so as for two dinners, standing near her, I +observed she hardly ate one morsel, nor spoke one word to the King, or +to any about her, though at other times she used to be extremely +pleasant, full of discourse and good humor. The Roman Catholics were +also very angry: because they had so long valued the sanctity of their +religion and proselytes. + +Dryden, the famous playwriter, and his two sons, and Mrs. Nelly (miss to +the late ----), were said to go to mass; such proselytes were no great +loss to the Church. + +This night was burnt to the ground my Lord Montague's palace in +Bloomsbury, than which for painting and furniture there was nothing more +glorious in England. This happened by the negligence of a servant +airing, as they call it, some of the goods by the fire in a moist +season; indeed, so wet and mild a season had scarce been seen in man's +memory. + +At this Seal there also passed the creation of Sir Henry Waldegrave to +be a Peer. He had married one of the King's natural daughters by Mrs. +Churchill. These two Seals my brother Commissioners passed in the +morning before I came to town, at which I was not displeased. We +likewise passed Privy Seals for £276,000 upon several accounts, +pensions, guards, wardrobes, privy purse, etc., besides divers pardons, +and one more which I must not forget (and which by Providence I was not +present at) one Mr. Lytcott to be Secretary to the Ambassador to Rome. +We being three Commissioners, any two were a quorum. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st January, 1686. I dined at my Lady Arlington's, Groom of the Stole +to the Queen Dowager, at Somerset House, where dined the Countesses of +Devonshire, Dover, etc.; in all eleven ladies of quality, no man but +myself being there. + +24th January, 1686. Unheard-of cruelties to the persecuted Protestants +of France, such as hardly any age has seen the like, even among the +Pagans. + +6th February, 1686. Being the day on which his Majesty began his reign, +by order of Council it was to be solemnized with a particular office and +sermon, which the Bishop of Ely preached at Whitehall on Numb. xi. 12; a +Court oration upon the regal office. It was much wondered at, that this +day, which was that of his late Majesty's death, should be kept as a +festival, and not the day of the present King's coronation. It is said +to have been formerly the custom, though not till now since the reign of +King James I. + +The Duchess of Monmouth, being in the same seat with me at church, +appeared with a very sad and afflicted countenance. + +8th February, 1686. I took the test in Westminster Hall, before the Lord +Chief Justice. I now came to lodge at Whitehall, in the Lord Privy +Seal's lodgings. + +12th February, 1686. My great cause was heard by my Lord Chancellor, who +granted me a rehearing. I had six eminent lawyers, my antagonist three, +whereof one was the smooth-tongued solicitor, whom my Lord Chancellor +reproved in great passion for a very small occasion. Blessed be God for +his great goodness to me this day! + +19th February, 1686. Many bloody and notorious duels were fought about +this time. The Duke of Grafton killed Mr. Stanley, brother to the Earl +of [Derby], indeed upon an almost insufferable provocation. It is to be +hoped that his Majesty will at last severely remedy this unchristian +custom. + +Lord Sunderland was now Secretary of State, President of the Council, +and Premier Minister. + +1st March, 1686. Came Sir Gilbert Gerrard to treat with me about his +son's marrying my daughter, Susanna. The father being obnoxious, and in +some suspicion and displeasure of the King, I would receive no proposal +till his Majesty had given me leave; which he was pleased to do; but, +after several meetings we broke off, on his not being willing to secure +anything competent for my daughter's children; besides that I found most +of his estate was in the coal-pits as far off as Newcastle, and on +leases from the Bishop of Durham, who had power to make concurrent +leases, with other difficulties. + +7th March, 1686. Dr. Frampton, Bishop of Gloucester, preached on Psalm +xliv. 17, 18, 19, showing the several afflictions of the Church of +Christ from the primitive to this day, applying exceedingly to the +present conjuncture, when many were wavering in their minds, and great +temptations appearing through the favor now found by the Papists, so as +the people were full of jealousies and discouragement. The Bishop +magnified the Church of England, exhorting to constancy and +perseverance. + +10th March, 1686. A Council of the Royal Society about disposing of Dr. +Ray's book of Fishes, which was printed at the expense of the Society. + +12th March, 1686. A docket was to be sealed, importing a lease of +twenty-one years to one Hall, who styled himself his Majesty's printer +(he lately turned Papist) for the printing missals, offices, lives of +saints, portals, primers, etc., books expressly forbidden to be printed +or sold, by divers Acts of Parliament; I refused to put my seal to it, +making my exceptions, so it was laid by. + +14th March, 1686. The Bishop of Bath and Wells preached on John vi. 17, +a most excellent and pathetic discourse: after he had recommended the +duty of fasting and other penitential duties, he exhorted to constancy +in the Protestant religion, detestation of the unheard-of cruelties of +the French, and stirring up to a liberal contribution. This sermon was +the more acceptable, as it was unexpected from a Bishop who had +undergone the censure of being inclined to Popery, the contrary whereof +no man could show more. This indeed did all our Bishops, to the +disabusing and reproach of all their delators: for none were more +zealous against Popery than they were. + +16th March, 1686. I was at a review of the army about London in Hyde +Park, about 6,000 horse and foot, in excellent order; his Majesty and +infinity of people being present. + +17th March, 1686. I went to my house in the country, refusing to be +present at what was to pass at the Privy Seal the next day. In the +morning Dr. Tenison preached an incomparable discourse at Whitehall, on +Timothy ii. 3, 4. + +24th March, 1686. Dr. Cradock (Provost of Eaton) preached at the same +place, on Psalm xlix. 13, showing the vanity of earthly enjoyments. + +28th March, 1686. Dr. White, Bishop of Peterborough, preached in a very +eloquent style, on Matthew xxvi. 29, submission to the will of God on +all accidents, and at all times. + +29th March, 1686. The Duke of Northumberland (a natural son of the late +King by the Duchess of Cleveland) marrying very meanly, with the help of +his brother Grafton, attempted in vain to spirit away his wife. + +A Brief was read in all churches for relieving the French Protestants, +who came here for protection from the unheard-of cruelties of the King. + +2d April, 1686. Sir Edward Hales, a Papist, made Governor of Dover +Castle. + +15th April, 1686. The Archbishop of York now died of the smallpox, aged +62, a corpulent man. He was my special loving friend, and while Bishop +of Rochester (from whence he was translated) my excellent neighbor. He +was an inexpressible loss to the whole church, and that Province +especially, being a learned, wise, stout, and most worthy prelate; I +look on this as a great stroke to the poor Church of England, now in +this defecting period. + +18th April, 1686. In the afternoon I went to Camberwell, to visit Dr. +Parr. After sermon, I accompanied him to his house, where he showed me +the Life and Letters of the late learned Primate of Armagh (Usher), and +among them that letter of Bishop Bramhall's to the Primate, giving +notice of the Popish practices to pervert this nation, by sending a +hundred priests into England, who were to conform themselves to all +sectaries and conditions for the more easily dispersing their doctrine +among us. This letter was the cause of the whole impression being +seized, upon pretense that it was a political or historical account of +things not relating to theology, though it had been licensed by the +Bishop; which plainly showed what an interest the Papists now had,--that +a Protestant book, containing the life and letters of so eminent a man, +was not to be published. There were also many letters to and from most +of the learned persons his correspondents in Europe. The book will, I +doubt not, struggle through this unjust impediment. + +Several Judges were put out, and new complying ones put in. + +25th April, 1686. This day was read in our church the Brief for a +collection for relief of the Protestant French so cruelly, barbarously, +and inhumanly oppressed without any thing being laid to their charge. It +had been long expected, and at last with difficulty procured to be +published, the interest of the French Ambassador obstructing it. + +5th May, 1686. There being a Seal, it was feared we should be required +to pass a docket dispensing with Dr. Obadiah Walker and four more, +whereof one was an apostate curate of Putney, the others officers of +University College, Oxford, who hold their masterships, fellowships, and +cures, and keep public schools, and enjoy all former emoluments, +notwithstanding they no more frequented or used the public forms of +prayers, or communion, with the Church of England, or took the Test or +oaths of allegiance and supremacy, contrary to twenty Acts of +Parliament; which dispensation being also contrary to his Majesty's own +gracious declaration at the beginning of his reign, gave umbrage (as +well it might) to every good Protestant; nor could we safely have passed +it under the Privy Seal, wherefore it was done by immediate warrant, +signed by Mr. Solicitor. + +This Walker was a learned person, of a monkish life, to whose tuition I +had more than thirty years since recommended the sons of my worthy +friend, Mr. Hyldyard, of Horsley in Surrey, believing him to be far from +what he proved--a hypocritical concealed Papist--by which he perverted +the eldest son of Mr. Hyldyard, Sir Edward Hale's eldest son, and +several more, to the great disturbance of the whole nation, as well as +of the University, as by his now public defection appeared. All engines +being now at work to bring in Popery, which God in mercy prevent! + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +This day was burned in the old Exchange, by the common hangman, a +translation of a book written by the famous Monsieur Claude, relating +only matters of fact concerning the horrid massacres and barbarous +proceedings of the French King against his Protestant subjects, without +any refutation of any facts therein; so mighty a power and ascendant +here had the French Ambassador, who was doubtless in great indignation +at the pious and truly generous charity of all the nation, for the +relief of those miserable sufferers who came over for shelter. + +About this time also, the Duke of Savoy, instigated by the French King +to extirpate the Protestants of Piedmont, slew many thousands of those +innocent people, so that there seemed to be an universal design to +destroy all that would not go to mass, throughout Europe. _Quod Avertat +D. O. M.!_ No faith in Princes! + +12th May, 1686. I refused to put the Privy Seal to Doctor Walker's +license for printing and publishing divers Popish books, of which I +complained both to my Lord of Canterbury (with whom I went to advise in +the Council Chamber), and to my Lord Treasurer that evening at his +lodgings. My Lord of Canterbury's advice was, that I should follow my +own conscience therein; Mr. Treasurer's, that if in conscience I could +dispense with it, for any other hazard he believed there was none. +Notwithstanding this, I persisted in my refusal. + +29th May, 1686. There was no sermon on this anniversary, as there +usually had been ever since the reign of the present King. + +2d June, 1686. Such storms, rain, and foul weather, seldom known at this +time of the year. The camp at Hounslow Heath, from sickness and other +inconveniences of weather, forced to retire to quarters; the storms +being succeeded by excessive hot weather, many grew sick. Great feasting +there, especially in Lord Dunbarton's quarters. There were many +jealousies and discourses of what was the meaning of this encampment. + +A seal this day; mostly pardons and discharges of Knight Baronets' +fees, which having been passed over for so many years, did greatly +disoblige several families who had served his Majesty. Lord Tyrconnel +gone to Ireland, with great powers and commissions, giving as much cause +of talk as the camp, especially nineteen new Privy-Councillors and +Judges being now made, among which but three Protestants, and Tyrconnel +made General. + +New judges also here, among which was Milton, a Papist (brother to that +Milton who wrote for the Regicides), who presumed to take his place +without passing the Test. Scotland refused to grant liberty of mass to +the Papists there. + +The French persecution more inhuman than ever. The Protestants in Savoy +successfully resist the French dragoons sent to murder them. + +The King's chief physician in Scotland apostatizing from the Protestant +religion, does of his own accord publish his recantation at Edinburg. + +11th June, 1686. I went to see Middleton's receptacle of water at the +New River, and the New Spa Wells near. + +20th June, 1686. An extraordinary season of violent and sudden rain. The +camp still in tents. + +24th June, 1686. My Lord Treasurer settled my great business with Mr. +Pretyman, to which I hope God will at last give a prosperous issue. + +25th June, 1686. Now his Majesty, beginning with Dr. Sharp and Tully, +proceeded to silence and suspend divers excellent divines for preaching +against Popery. + +27th June, 1686. I had this day been married thirty-nine years--blessed +be God for all his mercies! + +The new very young Lord Chief-Justice Herbert declared on the bench, +that the government of England was entirely in the King; that the Crown +was absolute; that penal laws were powers lodged in the Crown to enable +the King to force the execution of the law, but were not bars to bind +the King's power; that he could pardon all offenses against the law, and +forgive the penalties, and why could he not dispense with them; by which +the Test was abolished? Everyone was astonished. Great jealousies as to +what would be the end of these proceedings. + +6th July, 1686. I supped with the Countess of Rochester, where was also +the Duchess of Buckingham and Madame de Governè, whose daughter was +married to the Marquis of Halifax's son. She made me a character of the +French King and Dauphin, and of the persecution; that they kept much of +the cruelties from the King's knowledge; that the Dauphin was so afraid +of his father, that he dared not let anything appear of his sentiments; +that he hated letters and priests, spent all his time in hunting, and +seemed to take no notice of what was passing. + +This lady was of a great family and fortune, and had fled hither for +refuge. + +8th July, 1686. I waited on the Archbishop at Lambeth, where I dined and +met the famous preacher and writer, Dr. Allix, doubtless a most +excellent and learned person. The Archbishop and he spoke Latin +together, and that very readily. + +11th July, 1686. Dr. Meggot, Dean of Winchester preached before the +household in St. George's Chapel at Windsor, the late King's glorious +chapel now seized on by the mass priests. Dr. Cartwright, Dean of Ripon, +preached before the great men of the Court in the same place. + +We had now the sad news of the Bishop of Oxford's death, an +extraordinary loss to the poor Church at this time. Many candidates for +his Bishopric and Deanery, Dr. Parker, South, Aldrich, etc. Dr. Walker +(now apostatizing) came to Court, and was doubtless very busy. + +13th July, 1686. Note, that standing by the Queen at basset (cards), I +observed that she was exceedingly concerned for the loss of £80; her +outward affability much changed to stateliness, since she has been +exalted. + +The season very rainy and inconvenient for the camps. His Majesty very +cheerful. + +14th July, 1686. Was sealed at our office the constitution of certain +commissioners to take upon them full power of all Ecclesiastical +affairs, in as unlimited a manner, or rather greater, than the late High +Commission-Court, abrogated by Parliament; for it had not only faculty +to inspect and visit all Bishops' dioceses, but to change what laws and +statutes they should think fit to alter among the colleges, though +founded by private men; to punish, suspend, fine, etc., give oaths and +call witnesses. The main drift was to suppress zealous preachers. In +sum, it was the whole power of a Vicar-General--note the consequence! Of +the clergy the commissioners were the Archbishop of Canterbury +[Sancroft], Bishop of Durham [Crewe], and Rochester [Sprat]; of the +Temporals, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Chancellor [Jefferies] (who +alone was ever to be of the quorum), the Chief justice [Herbert], and +Lord President [Earl of Sunderland]. + +18th July, 1686. I went to see Sir John Chardin, at Greenwich. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +4th August, 1686. I dined at Signor Verrio's, the famous Italian +painter, now settled in his Majesty's garden at St. James's, which he +had made a very delicious paradise. + +8th August, 1686. Our vicar gone to dispose of his country living in +Rutlandshire, having St. Dunstan in the east given him by the Archbishop +of Canterbury. + +I went to visit the Marquis Ravigné, now my neighbor at Greenwich, +retired from the persecution in France. He was the deputy of all the +Protestants of that kingdom in the parliament of Paris, and several +times Ambassador in this and other Courts; a person of great learning +and experience. + +8th September, 1686. Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, was on Monday +suspended, on pretense of not silencing Dr. Sharp at St. Giles's, for +something of a sermon in which he zealously reproved the doctrine of the +Roman Catholics. The Bishop having consulted the civilians, they told +him he could not by any law proceed against Dr. Sharp without producing +witnesses, and impleaded according to form; but it was overruled by my +Lord Chancellor, and the Bishop sentenced without so much as being heard +to any purpose. This was thought a very extraordinary way of proceeding, +and was universally resented, and so much the rather for that two +Bishops, Durham and Rochester, sitting in the commission and giving +their suffrages the Archbishop of Canterbury refused to sit among them. +He was only suspended _ab officio_, and that was soon after taken off. +He was brother to the Earl of Northampton, had once been a soldier, had +traveled in Italy, but became a sober, grave, and excellent prelate. + +12th September, 1686. Buda now taken from the Turks; a form of +thanksgiving was ordered to be used in the (as yet remaining) Protestant +chapels and church of Whitehall and Windsor. + +The King of Denmark was besieging Hamburg, no doubt by the French +contrivance, to embroil the Protestant Princes in a new war, that +Holland, etc., being engaged, matter for new quarrel might arise: the +unheard-of persecution of the poor Protestants still raging more than +ever. + +22d September, 1686. The Danes retire from Hamburg, the Protestant +Princes appearing for their succor, and the Emperor sending his +minatories to the King of Denmark, and also requiring the restoration of +the Duke of Saxe Gotha. Thus it pleased God to defeat the French +designs, which were evidently to kindle a new war. + +14th October, 1686. His Majesty's birthday; I was at his rising in his +bedchamber, afterward in the park, where four companies of guards were +drawn up. The officers, etc., wonderfully rich and gallant; they did not +head their troops, but their next officers, the colonels being on +horseback by the King while they marched. The ladies not less splendid +at Court, where there was a ball at night; but small appearance of +quality. All the shops both in the city and suburbs were shut up, and +kept as solemnly as any holiday. Bonfires at night in Westminster, but +forbidden in the city. + +17th October, 1686. Dr. Patrick, Dean of Peterborough, preached at +Covent Garden Church on Ephes. v. 18, 19, showing the custom of the +primitive saints in serving God with hymns, and their frequent use of +them upon all occasions: touching the profane way of mirth and +intemperance of this ungodly age. Afterward I visited my Lord Chief +Justice of Ireland, with whom I had long and private discourse +concerning the miserable condition that kingdom was like to be in, if +Tyrconnel's counsel should prevail at Court. + +23d October, 1686. Went with the Countess of Sunderland to Cranbourne, +a lodge and walk of my Lord Godolphin's in Windsor park. There was one +room in the house spared in the pulling down the old one, because the +late Duchess of York was born in it; the rest was built and added to it +by Sir George Carteret, Treasurer of the Navy; and since, the whole was +purchased by my Lord Godolphin, who spoke to me to go see it, and advise +what trees were fit to be cut down to improve the dwelling, being +environed with old rotten pollards, which corrupt the air. It stands on +a knoll which though insensibly rising, gives it a prospect over the +Keep of Windsor, about three miles N. E. of it. The ground is clayey and +moist; the water stark naught; the park is pretty; the house tolerable, +and gardens convenient. After dinner, we came back to London, having two +coaches both going and coming, of six horses apiece, which we changed at +Hounslow. + +24th October, 1686. Dr. Warren preached before the Princess at +Whitehall, on 5th Matthew, of the blessedness of the pure in heart, most +elegantly describing the bliss of the beatifical vision. In the +afternoon, Sir George Wheeler, knight and baronet, preached on the 4th +Matt. upon the necessity of repentance, at St. Margaret's, an honest and +devout discourse, and pretty tolerably performed. This gentleman coming +from his travels out of Greece, fell in love with the daughter of Sir +Thomas Higgins, his Majesty's resident at Venice, niece to the Earl of +Bath, and married her. When they returned into England, being honored +with knighthood, he would needs turn preacher, and took orders. He +published a learned and ingenious book of his travels, and is a very +worthy person, a little formal and particular, but exceedingly devout. + +27th October, 1686. There was a triumphant show of the Lord Mayor both +by land and water, with much solemnity, when yet his power has been so +much diminished, by the loss of the city's former charter. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th November, 1686. I went to St. Martin's in the morning, where Dr. +Birch preached very boldly against the Papists, from John xvi. 2. In the +afternoon I heard Dr. Tillotson in Lincoln's Inn chapel, on the same +text, but more cautiously. + +16th November, 1686. I went with part of my family to pass the +melancholy winter in London at my son's house in Arundel Buildings. + +5th December, 1686. I dined at my Lady Arlington's, Groom of the Stole +to the Queen Dowager at Somerset House, where dined divers French +noblemen, driven out of their country by the persecution. + +16th December, 1686. I carried the Countess of Sunderland to see the +rarities of one Mr. Charlton in the Middle Temple, who showed us such a +collection as I had never seen in all my travels abroad either of +private gentlemen, or princes. It consisted of miniatures, drawings, +shells, insects, medals, natural things, animals (of which divers, I +think 100, were kept in glasses of spirits of wine), minerals, precious +stones, vessels, curiosities in amber, crystal, agate, etc.; all being +very perfect and rare of their kind, especially his books of birds, +fish, flowers, and shells, drawn and miniatured to the life. He told us +that one book stood him in £300; it was painted by that excellent +workman, whom the late Gaston, Duke of Orleans, employed. This +gentleman's whole collection, gathered by himself, traveling over most +parts of Europe, is estimated at £8,000. He appeared to be a modest and +obliging person.[62] + + [Footnote 62: This collection was afterward purchased by Sir Hans + Sloane, and now forms part o£ the British Museum.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +29th December, 1686. I went to hear the music of the Italians in the +new chapel, now first opened publicly at Whitehall for the Popish +Service. Nothing can be finer than the magnificent marble work and +architecture at the end, where are four statues, representing St. John, +St. Peter, St. Paul, and the Church, in white marble, the work of Mr. +Gibbons, with all the carving and pillars of exquisite art and great +cost. The altar piece is the Salutation; the volto in _fresco_, the +Assumption of the blessed Virgin, according to their tradition, with our +blessed Savior, and a world of figures painted by Verrio. The throne +where the King and Queen sit is very glorious, in a closet above, just +opposite to the altar. Here we saw the Bishop in his mitre and rich +copes, with six or seven Jesuits and others in rich copes, sumptuously +habited, often taking off and putting on the Bishop's mitre, who sat in +a chair with arms pontifically, was adored and censed by three Jesuits +in their copes; then he went to the altar and made divers cringes, then +censing the images and glorious tabernacle placed on the altar, and now +and then changing place: the crosier, which was of silver, was put into +his hand with a world of mysterious ceremony, the music playing, with +singing. I could not have believed I should ever have seen such things +in the King of England's palace, after it had pleased God to enlighten +this nation; but our great sin has, for the present, eclipsed the +blessing, which I hope he will in mercy and his good time restore to its +purity. + +Little appearance of any winter as yet. + +1st January, 1686-87. Mr. Wake preached at St. Martin's on 1 Tim. iii. +16, concerning the mystery of godliness. He wrote excellently, in answer +to the Bishop of Meaux. + +3d January, 1687. A Seal to confirm a gift of £4,000 per annum for 99 +years to the Lord Treasurer out of the Post Office, and £1,700 per annum +for ever out of Lord Grey's estate. + +There was now another change of the great officers. The Treasury was put +into commission, two professed Papists among them, viz, Lords Bellasis +and Dover, joined with the old ones, Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, +and Sir John Ernley. + +17th January, 1687. Much expectation of several great men declaring +themselves Papists. Lord Tyrconnel gone to succeed the Lord-Lieutenant +[Clarendon] in Ireland, to the astonishment of all sober men, and to the +evident ruin of the Protestants in that kingdom, as well as of its great +improvement going on. Much discourse that all the White Staff officers +and others should be dismissed for adhering to their religion. Popish +Justices of the Peace established in all counties, of the meanest of the +people; Judges ignorant of the law, and perverting it--so furiously do +the Jesuits drive, and even compel Princes to violent courses, and +destruction of an excellent government both in Church and State. God of +his infinite mercy open our eyes, and turn our hearts, and establish his +truth with peace! The Lord Jesus defend his little flock, and preserve +this threatened church and nation! + +24th January, 1687. I saw the Queen's new apartment at Whitehall, with +her new bed, the embroidery of which cost £3,000. The carving about the +chimney piece, by Gibbons, is incomparable. + +30th January, 1687. I heard the famous eunuch, Cifaccio, sing in the new +Popish chapel this afternoon; it was indeed very rare, and with great +skill. He came over from Rome, esteemed one of the best voices in Italy. +Much crowding--little devotion. + +27th February, 1687. Mr. Chetwin preached at Whitehall on Rom. i. 18, a +very quaint, neat discourse of Moral righteousness. + +2d March, 1687. Came out a proclamation for universal liberty of +conscience in Scotland, and depensation from all tests and laws to the +contrary, as also capacitating Papists to be chosen into all offices of +trust. The mystery operates. + +3d March, 1687. Dr. Meggott, Dean of Winchester, preached before the +Princess of Denmark, on Matt. xiv. 23. In the afternoon, I went out of +town to meet my Lord Clarendon, returning from Ireland. + +10th March, 1687. His Majesty sent for the Commissioners of the Privy +Seal this morning into his bedchamber, and told us that though he had +thought fit to dispose of the Seal into a single hand, yet he would so +provide for us, as it should appear how well he accepted our faithful +and loyal service with many gracious expressions to this effect; upon +which we delivered the Seal into his hands. It was by all the world both +hoped and expected, that he would have restored it to my Lord Clarendon; +but they were astonished to see it given to Lord Arundel, of Wardour, a +zealous Roman Catholic. Indeed it was very hard, and looked very +unkindly, his Majesty (as my Lord Clarendon protested to me, on my going +to visit him and long discoursing with him about the affairs of Ireland) +finding not the least failure of duty in him during his government of +that kingdom, so that his recall plainly appeared to be from the +stronger influence of the Papists, who now got all the preferments. + +Most of the great officers, both in the Court and country, Lords and +others, were dismissed, as they would not promise his Majesty their +consent to the repeal of the test and penal statutes against Popish +Recusants. To this end, most of the Parliament men were spoken to in his +Majesty's closet, and such as refused, if in any place of office or +trust, civil or military, were put out of their employments. This was a +time of great trial; but hardly one of them assented, which put the +Popish interest much backward. The English clergy everywhere preached +boldly against their superstition and errors, and were wonderfully +followed by the people. Not one considerable proselyte was made in all +this time. The party were exceedingly put to the worst by the preaching +and writing of the Protestants in many excellent treatises, evincing the +doctrine and discipline of the reformed religion, to the manifest +disadvantage of their adversaries. To this did not a little contribute +the sermon preached at Whitehall before the Princess of Denmark and a +great crowd of people, and at least thirty of the greatest nobility, by +Dr. Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, on John viii. 46 (the Gospel of the +day), describing through his whole discourse the blasphemies, perfidy, +wresting of Scripture, preference of tradition before it, spirit of +persecution, superstition, legends, and fables of the Scribes and +Pharisees, so that all the auditory understood his meaning of a parallel +between them and the Romish priests, and their new Trent religion. He +exhorted his audience to adhere to the written Word, and to persevere in +the Faith taught in the Church of England, whose doctrine for Catholic +and soundness he preferred to all the communities and churches of +Christians in the world; concluding with a kind of prophecy, that +whatever it suffered, it should after a short trial emerge to the +confusion of her adversaries and the glory of God. + +I went this evening to see the order of the boys and children at +Christ's Hospital. There were near 800 boys and girls so decently clad, +cleanly lodged, so wholesomely fed, so admirably taught, some the +mathematics, especially the forty of the late King's foundation, that I +was delighted to see the progress some little youths of thirteen or +fourteen years of age had made. I saw them at supper, visited their +dormitories, and much admired the order, economy, and excellent +government of this most charitable seminary. Some are taught for the +Universities, others designed for seamen, all for trades and callings. +The girls are instructed in all such work as becomes their sex and may +fit them for good wives, mistresses, and to be a blessing to their +generation. They sang a psalm before they sat down to supper in the +great Hall, to an organ which played all the time, with such cheerful +harmony, that it seemed to me a vision of angels. I came from the place +with infinite satisfaction, having never seen a more noble, pious, and +admirable charity. All these consisted of orphans only.[63] The +foundation was of that pious Prince King Edward VI., whose picture (held +to be an original of Holbein) is in the court where the Governors meet +to consult on the affairs of the Hospital, and his statue in white +marble stands in a niche of the wall below, as you go to the church, +which is a modern, noble, and ample fabric. This foundation has had, and +still has, many benefactors. + + [Footnote 63: This is by no means the case now.] + +16th March, 1687. I saw a trial of those devilish, murdering, mischief +doing engines called bombs, shot out of the mortar piece on Blackheath. +The distance that they are cast, the destruction they make where they +fall, is prodigious. + +20th March, 1687. The Bishop of Bath and Wells (Dr. Ken) preached at St. +Martin's to a crowd of people not to be expressed, nor the wonderful +eloquence of this admirable preacher; the text was Matt. xxvi. 36 to +verse 40, describing the bitterness of our Blessed Savior's agony, the +ardor of his love, the infinite obligations we have to imitate his +patience and resignation; the means by watching against temptations, and +over ourselves with fervent prayer to attain it, and the exceeding +reward in the end. Upon all which he made most pathetical discourses. +The Communion followed, at which I was participant. I afterward dined at +Dr. Tenison's with the Bishop and that young, most learned, pious, and +excellent preacher, Mr. Wake. In the afternoon, I went to hear Mr. Wake +at the newly built church of St. Anne, on Mark viii. 34, upon the +subject of taking up the cross, and strenuously behaving ourselves in +time of persecution, as this now threatened to be. + +His Majesty again prorogued the Parliament, foreseeing it would not +remit the laws against Papists, by the extraordinary zeal and bravery of +its members, and the free renunciation of the great officers both in +Court and state, who would not be prevailed with for any temporal +concern. + +25th March, 1687. GOOD FRIDAY. Dr. Tenison preached at St. Martin's on 1 +Peter ii. 24. During the service, a man came into near the middle of the +church, with his sword drawn, with several others in that posture; in +this jealous time it put the congregation into great confusion, but it +appeared to be one who fled for sanctuary, being pursued by bailiffs. + +8th April, 1687. I had a rehearing of my great cause at the Chancery in +Westminster Hall, having seven of the most learned Counsel, my adversary +five, among which were the Attorney General and late Solicitor Finch, +son to the Lord Chancellor Nottingham. The account was at last brought +to one article of the surcharge, and referred to a Master. The cause +lasted two hours and more. + +10th April, 1687. In the last week there was issued a Dispensation from +all obligations and tests, by which Dissenters and Papists especially +had public liberty of exercising their several ways of worship, without +incurring the penalty of the many Laws and Acts of Parliament to the +contrary. This was purely obtained by the Papists, thinking thereby to +ruin the Church of England, being now the only church which so admirably +and strenuously opposed their superstition. There was a wonderful +concourse of people at the Dissenters' meeting house in this parish, and +the parish church [Deptford] left exceedingly thin. What this will end +in, God Almighty only knows; but it looks like confusion, which I pray +God avert. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +11th April, 1687. To London about my suit, some terms of accommodation +being proposed. + +19th April, 1687. I heard the famous singer, Cifaccio, esteemed the best +in Europe. Indeed, his holding out and delicateness in extending and +loosing a note with incomparable softness and sweetness, was admirable; +for the rest I found him a mere wanton, effeminate child, very coy, and +proudly conceited, to my apprehension. He touched the harpsichord to his +voice rarely well. This was before a select number of particular persons +whom Mr. Pepys invited to his house; and this was obtained by particular +favor and much difficulty, the Signor much disdaining to show his talent +to any but princes. + +24th April, 1687. At Greenwich, at the conclusion of the Church service, +there was a French sermon preached after the use of the English Liturgy +translated into French, to a congregation of about 100 French refugees, +of whom Monsieur Ruvigny was the chief, and had obtained the use of the +church, after the parish service was ended. The preacher pathetically +exhorted to patience, constancy, and reliance on God amidst all their +sufferings, and the infinite rewards to come. + +2d May, 1687. I dined with Mynheer Diskvelts, the Holland Ambassador, a +prudent and worthy person. There dined Lord Middleton, principal +Secretary of State, Lord Pembroke, Lord Lumley, Lord Preston, Colonel +Fitzpatrick, and Sir John Chardin. After dinner, the Ambassador +discoursed of and deplored the stupid folly of our politics, in +suffering the French to take Luxemburg, it being a place of the most +concern to have been defended, for the interest not only of the +Netherlands, but of England. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +12th May, 1687. To London. Lord Sunderland being Lord President and +Secretary of State, was made Knight of the Garter and Prime favorite. +This day there was such a storm of wind as had seldom happened, being a +sort of hurricane. It kept the flood out of the Thames, so that people +went on foot over several places above bridge. Also an earthquake in +several places in England about the time of the storm. + +26th May, 1687. To London, about my agreement with Mr. Pretyman, after +my tedious suit. + +2d June, 1687. I went to London, it having pleased his Majesty to grant +me a Privy Seal for £6,000, for discharge of the debt I had been so many +years persecuted for, it being indeed for money drawn over by my +father-in-law, Sir R. Browne, during his residence in the Court of +France, and so with a much greater sum due to Sir Richard from his +Majesty; and now this part of the arrear being paid, there remains yet +due to me, as executor of Sir Richard, above £6,500 more; but this +determining an expensive Chancery suit has been so great a mercy and +providence to me (through the kindness and friendship to me of Lord +Godolphin, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,) that I do +acknowledge it with all imaginable thanks to my gracious God. + +6th June, 1687. I visited my Lady Pierpoint, daughter to Sir John +Evelyn, of Deane [in Wilts], now widow of Mr. Pierpoint, and mother of +the Earl of Kingston. She was now engaged in the marriage of my cousin, +Evelyn Pierpoint, her second son. + +There was about this time brought into the Downs a vast treasure, which +was sunk in a Spanish galleon about forty-five years ago, somewhere near +Hispaniola, or the Bahama islands, and was now weighed up by some +gentlemen, who were at the charge of divers, etc., to the enriching them +beyond all expectation. The Duke of Albemarle's share [Governor of +Jamaica] came to, I believe, £50,000. Some private gentlemen who +adventured £100, gained from £8,000 to £10,000. His Majesty's tenth was +£10,000. + +The Camp was now again pitched at Hounslow, the Commanders profusely +vying in the expense and magnificence of tents. + +12th June, 1687. Our Vicar preached on 2 Peter ii. 21, upon the danger +of relapsing into sin. After this, I went and heard M. Lamot, an +eloquent French preacher at Greenwich, on Prov. xxx. 8, 9, a consolatory +discourse to the poor and religious refugees who escaped out of France +in the cruel persecution. + +16th June, 1687. I went to Hampton Court to give his Majesty thanks for +his late gracious favor, though it was but granting what was due. While +I was in the Council Chamber, came in some persons, at the head of whom +was a formal man with a large roll of parchment in his hand, being an +ADDRESS (as he said, for he introduced it with a speech) of the people +of Coventry, giving his Majesty their great acknowledgments for his +granting a liberty of conscience; he added that this was not the +application of one party only, but the unanimous address of Church of +England men, Presbyterians, Independents, and Anabaptists, to show how +extensive his Majesty's grace was, as taking in all parties to his +indulgence and protection, which had removed all dissensions and +animosities, which would not only unite them in bonds of Christian +charity, but exceedingly encourage their future industry, to the +improvement of trade, and spreading his Majesty's glory throughout the +world; and that now he had given to God his empire, God would establish +his; with expressions of great loyalty and submission; and so he gave +the roll to the King, which being returned to him again, his Majesty +caused him to read. The address was short, but much to the substance of +the speech of their foreman, to whom the King, pulling off his hat, said +that what he had done in giving liberty of conscience, was, what was +ever his judgment ought to be done; and that, as he would preserve them +in their enjoyment of it during his reign, so he would endeavor to +settle it by law, that it should never be altered by his successors. +After this, he gave them his hand to kiss. It was reported the +subscribers were above 1,000. + +But this is not so remarkable as an address of the week before (as I was +assured by one present), of some of the FAMILY OF LOVE, His Majesty +asked them what this worship consisted in, and how many their party +might consist of; they told him their custom was to read the Scripture, +and then to preach; but did not give any further account, only said that +for the rest they were a sort of refined Quakers, but their number very +small, not consisting, as they said, of above threescore in all, and +those chiefly belonging to the Isle of Ely. + +18th June, 1687. I dined at Mr. Blathwaite's (two miles from Hampton). +This gentleman is Secretary of War, Clerk of the Council, etc., having +raised himself by his industry from very moderate circumstances. He is a +very proper, handsome person, very dexterous in business, and besides +all this, has married a great fortune. His income by the Army, Council, +and Secretary to the Committee of Foreign Plantations, brings him in +above £2,000 per annum. + +23d June, 1687. The Privy Seal for £6,000 was passed to me, so that this +tedious affair was dispatched. Hitherto, a very windy and tempestuous +summer. The French sermons to the refugees were continued at Greenwich +Church. + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +19th July, 1687. I went to Wotton. In the way, I dined at Ashted, with +my Lady Mordaunt. + +5th August, 1687. I went to see Albury, now purchased by Mr. Finch (the +King's Solicitor and son to the late Lord Chancellor); I found the +garden which I first designed for the Duke of Norfolk, nothing improved. + +15th August, 1687. I went to visit Lord Clarendon at Swallowfield, where +was my Lord Cornbury just arrived from Denmark, whither he had +accompanied the Prince of Denmark two months before, and now come back. +The miserable tyranny under which that nation lives, he related to us; +the King keeps them under an army of 40,000 men, all Germans, he not +daring to trust his own subjects. Notwithstanding this, the Danes are +exceedingly proud, the country very poor and miserable. + +22d August, 1687. Returned home to Sayes Court from Wotton, having been +five weeks absent with my brother and friends, who entertained us very +nobly. God be praised for his goodness, and this refreshment after my +many troubles, and let his mercy and providence ever preserve me. Amen. + +3d September, 1687. The Lord Mayor sent me an Officer with a staff, to +be one of the Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital. + +PERSECUTION RAGING IN FRANCE; divers churches there fired by lightning, +priests struck, consecrated hosts, etc., burnt and destroyed, both at +St. Malos and Paris, at the grand procession on Corpus Christi day. + +13th September, 1687. I went to Lambeth, and dined with the Archbishop. +After dinner, I retired into the library, which I found exceedingly +improved; there are also divers rare manuscripts in a room apart. + +6th October, 1687. I was godfather to Sir John Chardin's son, christened +at Greenwich Church, named John. The Earl of Bath and Countess of +Carlisle, the other sponsors. + +29th October, 1687. An Anabaptist, a very odd ignorant person, a +mechanic, I think, was Lord Mayor. The King and Queen, and Dadi, the +Pope's Nuncio, invited to a feast at Guildhall. A strange turn of +affairs, that those who scandalized the Church of England as favorers of +Popery, should publicly invite an emissary from Rome, one who +represented the very person of their Antichrist! + +10th December, 1687. My son was returned out of Devon, where he had been +on a commission from the Lords of the Treasury about a concealment of +land. + +20th December, 1687. I went with my Lord Chief-Justice Herbert, to see +his house at Walton-on-Thames: it is a barren place. To a very ordinary +house he had built a very handsome library, designing more building to +it than the place deserves, in my opinion. He desired my advice about +laying out his gardens, etc. The next day, we went to Weybridge, to see +some pictures of the Duchess of Norfolk's, particularly the statue, or +child in gremio, said to be of Michael Angelo; but there are reasons to +think it rather a copy, from some proportion in the figures ill taken. +It was now exposed to sale. + +12th January, 1687-88. Mr. Slingsby, Master of the Mint, being under +very deplorable circumstances on account of his creditors, and +especially the King, I did my endeavor with the Lords of the Treasury to +be favorable to him. + +My Lord Arran, eldest son to the Duke of Hamilton, being now married to +Lady Ann Spencer, eldest daughter of the Earl of Sunderland, Lord +President of the Council, I and my family had most glorious favors sent +us, the wedding being celebrated with extraordinary splendor. + +15th January, 1688. There was a solemn and particular office used at +our, and all the churches of London and ten miles round, for a +thanksgiving to God, for her Majesty being with child. + +22d January, 1688. This afternoon I went not to church, being employed +on a religious treatise I had undertaken. + +_Post annum 1588--1660--1688, Annus Mirabilis Tertius._[64] + + [Footnote 64: This seems to have been added after the page was + written.] + +30th January, 1688. Being the Martyrdom day of King Charles I., our +curate made a florid oration against the murder of that excellent +Prince, with an exhortation to obedience from the example of David; 1 +Samuel xxvi. 6. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +12th February, 1688. My daughter Evelyn going in the coach to visit in +the city, a jolt (the door being not fast shut) flung her quite out in +such manner, as the hind wheels passed over her a little above her +knees. Yet it pleased God, besides the bruises of the wheels, she had no +other harm. In two days she was able to walk, and soon after perfectly +well; through God Almighty's great mercy to an excellent wife and a most +dutiful and discreet daughter-in-law. + +17th February, 1688. I received the sad news of my niece Montague's +death at Woodcot on the 15th. + +15th March, 1688. I gave in my account about the sick and wounded, in +order to have my quietus. + +23d March, 1688. Dr. Parker, Bishop of Oxford, who so lately published +his extravagant treatise about transubstantiation, and for abrogating +the test and penal laws, died. He was esteemed a violent, passionate, +haughty man, but yet being pressed to declare for the Church of Rome, he +utterly refused it. A remarkable end! + +The French TYRANT now finding he could make no proselytes among those +Protestants of quality, and others, whom he had caused to be shut up in +dungeons, and confined to nunneries and monasteries, gave them, after so +long trial, a general releasement, and leave to go out of the kingdom, +but utterly taking their estates and their children; so that great +numbers came daily into England and other places, where they were +received and relieved with very considerate Christian charity. This +Providence and goodness of God to those who thus constantly held out, +did so work upon those miserable poor souls who, to avoid the +persecution, signed their renunciation, and to save their estates went +to mass, that reflecting on what they had done, they grew so affected in +their conscience, that not being able to support it, they in great +numbers through all the French provinces, acquainted the magistrates and +lieutenants that being sorry for their apostacy, they were resolved to +return to their old religion; that they would go no more to mass, but +peaceably assemble when they could, to beg pardon and worship God, but +so without weapons as not to give the least umbrage of rebellion or +sedition, imploring their pity and commiseration; and, accordingly, +meeting so from time to time, the dragoon-missioners, Popish officers +and priests, fell upon them, murdered and put them to death, whoever +they could lay hold on; they without the least resistance embraced +death, torture, or hanging, with singing psalms and praying for their +persecutors to the last breath, yet still continuing the former +assembling of themselves in desolate places, suffering with incredible +constancy, that through God's mercy they might obtain pardon for this +lapse. Such examples of Christian behavior have not been seen since the +primitive persecutions; and doubtless God will do some signal work in +the end, if we can with patience and resignation hold out, and depend on +his Providence. + +24th March, 1688. I went with Sir Charles Littleton to Sheen, a house +and estate given him by Lord Brounker; one who was ever noted for a +hard, covetous, vicious man; but for his worldly craft and skill in +gaming few exceeded him. Coming to die, he bequeathed all his land, +house, furniture, etc., to Sir Charles, to whom he had no manner of +relation, but an ancient friendship contracted at the famous siege of +Colchester, forty years before. It is a pretty place, with fine gardens, +and well planted, and given to one worthy of them, Sir Charles being an +honest gentleman and soldier. He is brother to Sir Henry Littleton of +Worcestershire, whose great estate he is likely to inherit, his brother +being without children. They are descendants of the great lawyer of that +name, and give the same arms and motto. He is married to one Mrs. +Temple, formerly maid of honor to the late Queen, a beautiful lady, and +he has many fine children, so that none envy his good fortune. + +After dinner, we went to see Sir William Temple's near to it; the +most remarkable things are his orangery and gardens, where the +wall-fruit-trees are most exquisitely nailed and trained, far better +than I ever noted. + +There are many good pictures, especially of Vandyke's, in both these +houses, and some few statues and small busts in the latter. + +From thence to Kew, to visit Sir Henry Capel's, whose orangery and +_myrtetum_ are most beautiful and perfectly well kept. He was contriving +very high palisadoes of reeds to shade his oranges during the summer, +and painting those reeds in oil. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +1st April, 1688. In the morning, the first sermon was by Dr. +Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's (at Whitehall), on Luke x. 41, 42. The +Holy Communion followed, but was so interrupted by the rude breaking in +of multitudes zealous to hear the second sermon, to be preached by the +Bishop of Bath and Wells, that the latter part of that holy office could +hardly be heard, or the sacred elements be distributed without great +trouble. The Princess being come, he preached on Mich. vii. 8, 9, 10, +describing the calamity of the Reformed Church of Judah under the +Babylonian persecution, for her sins, and God's delivery of her on her +repentance; that as Judah emerged, so should the now Reformed Church, +whenever insulted and persecuted. He preached with his accustomed +action, zeal, and energy, so that people flocked from all quarters to +hear him. + +15th April, 1688. A dry, cold, backward spring; easterly winds. + +The persecution still raging in France, multitudes of Protestants, and +many very considerable and great persons flying hither, produced a +second general contribution, the Papists, by God's Providence, as yet +making small progress among us. + +29th April, 1688. The weather was, till now, so cold and sharp, by an +almost perpetual east wind, which had continued many months, that there +was little appearance of any spring, and yet the winter was very +favorable as to frost and snow. + +2d May, 1688. To London, about my petition for allowances upon the +account of Commissioner for Sick and Wounded in the former war with +Holland. + +8th May, 1688. His Majesty, alarmed by the great fleet of the Dutch +(while we had a very inconsiderable one), went down to Chatham; their +fleet was well prepared, and out, before we were in any readiness, or +had any considerable number to have encountered them, had there been +occasion, to the great reproach of the nation; while being in profound +peace, there was a mighty land army, which there was no need of, and no +force at sea, where only was the apprehension; but the army was +doubtless kept and increased, in order to bring in and countenance +Popery, the King beginning to discover his intention, by many instances +pursued by the Jesuits, against his first resolution to alter nothing in +the Church Establishment, so that it appeared there can be no reliance +on Popish promises. + +18th May, 1688. The King enjoining the ministers to read his +Declaration for giving liberty of conscience (as it was styled) in all +churches of England, this evening, six Bishops, Bath and Wells,[65] +Peterborough,[66] Ely,[67] Chichester,[68] St. Asaph,[69] and +Bristol,[70] in the name of all the rest of the Bishops, came to his +Majesty to petition him, that he would not impose the reading of it to +the several congregations within their dioceses; not that they were +averse to the publishing it for want of due tenderness toward +dissenters, in relation to whom they should be willing to come to such a +temper as should be thought fit, when that matter might be considered +and settled in Parliament and Convocation; but that, the Declaration +being founded on such a dispensing power as might at pleasure set aside +all laws ecclesiastical and civil, it appeared to them illegal, as it +had done to the Parliament in 1661 and 1672, and that it was a point of +such consequence, that they could not so far make themselves parties to +it, as the reading of it in church in time of divine service amounted +to. + + [Footnote 65: Thomas Ken.] + + [Footnote 66: Thomas White.] + + [Footnote 67: Francis Turner.] + + [Footnote 68: John Lake.] + + [Footnote 69: William Lloyd.] + + [Footnote 70: Sir John Trelawny, Bart.] + +The King was so far incensed at this address, that he with threatening +expressions commanded them to obey him in reading it at their perils, +and so dismissed them. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +20th May, 1688. I went to Whitehall Chapel, where, after the morning +lessons, the Declaration was read by one of the choir who used to read +the chapters. I hear it was in the Abbey Church, Westminster, but almost +universally forborne throughout all London: the consequences of which a +little time will show. + +25th May, 1688. All the discourse now was about the Bishops refusing to +read the injunction for the abolition of the Test, etc. It seems the +injunction came so crudely from the Secretary's office, that it was +neither sealed nor signed in form, nor had any lawyer been consulted, so +as the Bishops who took all imaginable advice, put the Court to great +difficulties how to proceed against them. Great were the consults, and a +proclamation was expected all this day; but nothing was done. The action +of the Bishops was universally applauded, and reconciled many adverse +parties, Papists only excepted, who were now exceedingly perplexed, and +violent courses were every moment expected. Report was, that the +Protestant secular Lords and Nobility would abet the Clergy. + +The Queen Dowager, hitherto bent on her return into Portugal, now on the +sudden, on allegation of a great debt owing her by his Majesty disabling +her, declares her resolution to stay. + +News arrived of the most prodigious earthquake that was almost ever +heard of, subverting the city of Lima and country in Peru, with a +dreadful inundation following it. + +8th June, 1688. This day, the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the +Bishops of Ely, Chichester, St. Asaph, Bristol, Peterborough, and Bath +and Wells, were sent from the Privy Council prisoners to the Tower, for +refusing to give bail for their appearance, on their not reading the +Declaration for liberty of conscience; they refused to give bail, as it +would have prejudiced their peerage. The concern of the people for them +was wonderful, infinite crowds on their knees begging their blessing, +and praying for them, as they passed out of the barge along the Tower +wharf. + +10th June, 1688. A YOUNG PRINCE born, which will cause disputes. + +About two o'clock, we heard the Tower ordnance discharged, and the bells +ring for the birth of a Prince of Wales. This was very surprising, it +having been universally given out that her Majesty did not look till the +next month. + +13th June, 1688. I went to the Tower to see the Bishops, visited the +Archbishop and the Bishops of Ely, St. Asaph, and Bath and Wells. + +14th June, 1688. Dined with the Lord Chancellor. + +15th June, 1688. Being the first day of term, the Bishops were brought +to Westminster on habeas corpus, when the indictment was read, and they +were called on to plead; their counsel objected that the warrant was +illegal; but, after long debate, it was overruled, and they pleaded. The +Court then offered to take bail for their appearance; but this they +refused, and at last were dismissed on their own recognizances to appear +that day fortnight; the Archbishop in £200, the Bishops in £100 each. + +17 June, 1688. Was a day of thanksgiving in London and ten miles about +for the young Prince's birth; a form of prayer made for the purpose by +the Bishop of Rochester. + +29th June, 1688. They appeared; the trial lasted from nine in the +morning to past six in the evening, when the jury retired to consider of +their verdict, and the Court adjourned to nine the next morning. The +jury were locked up till that time, eleven of them being for an +acquittal; but one (Arnold, a brewer) would not consent. At length he +agreed with the others. The Chief Justice, Wright, behaved with great +moderation and civility to the Bishops. Alibone, a Papist, was strongly +against them; but Holloway and Powell being of opinion in their favor, +they were acquitted. When this was heard, there was great rejoicing; and +there was a lane of people from the King's Bench to the water side, on +their knees, as the Bishops passed and repassed, to beg their blessing. +Bonfires were made that night, and bells rung, which was taken very ill +at Court, and an appearance of nearly sixty Earls and Lords, etc., on +the bench, did not a little comfort them; but indeed they were all along +full of comfort and cheerful. + +Note, they denied to pay the Lieutenant of the Tower (Hales, who used +them very surlily), any fees, alleging that none were due. + +The night was solemnized with bonfires, and other fireworks, etc. + +2d July, 1688. The two judges, Holloway and Powell, were displaced. + +3d July, 1688. I went with Dr. Godolphin and his brother Sir William to +St. Alban's, to see a library he would have bought of the widow of Dr. +Cartwright, late Archdeacon of St. Alban's, a very good collection of +books, especially in divinity; he was to give £300 for them. Having seen +the GREAT CHURCH, now newly repaired by a public contribution, we +returned home. + +8th July, 1688. One of the King's chaplains preached before the Princess +on Exodus xiv. 13, "Stand still, and behold the salvation of the Lord," +which he applied so boldly to the present conjuncture of the Church of +England, that more could scarce be said to encourage desponders. The +Popish priests were not able to carry their cause against their learned +adversaries, who confounded them both by their disputes and writings. + +12th July, 1688. The camp now began at Hounslow, but the nation was in +high discontent. + +Colonel Titus, Sir Henry Vane (son of him who was executed for his +treason), and some other of the Presbyterians and Independent party, +were sworn of the Privy Council, from hopes of thereby diverting that +party from going over to the Bishops and Church of England, which now +they began to do, foreseeing the design of the Papists to descend and +take in their most hateful of heretics (as they at other times expressed +them to be) to effect their own ends, now evident; the utter extirpation +of the Church of England first, and then the rest would follow. + +17th July, 1688. This night the fireworks were played off, that had been +prepared for the Queen's upsitting. We saw them to great advantage; they +were very fine, and cost some thousands of pounds, in the pyramids, +statues, etc., but were spent too soon for so long a preparation. + +26th July, 1688. I went to Lambeth to visit the Archbishop, whom I +found very cheerful. + +10th August, 1688. Dr. Tenison now told me there would suddenly be some +great thing discovered. This was the Prince of Orange intending to come +over. + +15th August, 1688. I went to Althorpe, in Northamptonshire, seventy +miles. A coach and four horses took up me and my son at Whitehall, and +carried us to Dunstable, where we arrived and dined at noon, and from +thence another coach and six horses carried us to Althorpe, four miles +beyond Northampton, where we arrived by seven o'clock that evening. Both +these coaches were hired for me by that noble Countess of Sunderland, +who invited me to her house at Althorpe, where she entertained me and my +son with very extraordinary kindness; I stayed till the Thursday. + +18th August, 1688. Dr. Jeffryes, the minister of Althorpe, who was my +Lord's chaplain when ambassador in France, preached the shortest +discourse I ever heard; but what was defective in the amplitude of his +sermon, he had supplied in the largeness and convenience of the +parsonage house, which the doctor (who had at least £600 a year in +spiritual advancement) had newly built, and made fit for a person of +quality to live in, with gardens and all accommodation according +therewith. + +My lady carried us to see Lord Northampton's Seat, a very strong, large +house, built with stone, not altogether modern. They were enlarging the +garden, in which was nothing extraordinary, except the iron gate opening +into the park, which indeed was very good work, wrought in flowers +painted with blue and gilded. There is a noble walk of elms toward the +front of the house by the bowling green. I was not in any room of the +house besides a lobby looking into the garden, where my Lord and his new +Countess (Sir Stephen Fox's daughter, whom I had known from a child) +entertained the Countess and her daughter the Countess of Arran (newly +married to the son of the Duke of Hamilton), with so little good grace, +and so dully, that our visit was very short, and so we returned to +Althorpe, twelve miles distant. + +[Sidenote: ALTHORPE] + +The house, or rather palace, at Althorpe, is a noble uniform pile in +form of a half H, built of brick and freestone, balustered and _à la +moderne_; the hall is well, the staircase excellent; the rooms of state, +galleries, offices and furniture, such as may become a great prince. It +is situated in the midst of a garden, exquisitely planted and kept, and +all this in a park walled in with hewn stone, planted with rows and +walks of trees, canals and fish ponds, and stored with game. And, what +is above all this, governed by a lady, who without any show of +solicitude, keeps everything in such admirable order, both within and +without, from the garret to the cellar, that I do not believe there is +any in this nation, or in any other, that exceeds her in such exact +order, without ostentation, but substantially great and noble. The +meanest servant is lodged so neat and cleanly; the service at the +several tables, the good order and decency--in a word, the entire +economy is perfectly becoming a wise and noble person. She is one who +for her distinguished esteem of me from a long and worthy friendship, I +must ever honor and celebrate. I wish from my soul the Lord, her husband +(whose parts and abilities are otherwise conspicuous), was as worthy of +her, as by a fatal apostasy and court-ambition he has made himself +unworthy! This is what she deplores, and it renders her as much +affliction as a lady of great soul and much prudence is capable of. The +Countess of Bristol, her mother, a grave and honorable lady, has the +comfort of seeing her daughter and grandchildren under the same economy, +especially Mr. Charles Spencer, a youth of extraordinary hopes, very +learned for his age, and ingenious, and under a governor of great worth. +Happy were it, could as much be said of the elder brother, the Lord +Spencer, who, rambling about the world, dishonors both his name and his +family, adding sorrow to sorrow to a mother, who has taken all +imaginable care of his education. There is a daughter very young married +to the Earl of Clancarty, who has a great and fair estate in Ireland, +but who yet gives no great presage of worth,--so universally +contaminated is the youth of this corrupt and abandoned age! But this is +again recompensed by my Lord Arran, a sober and worthy gentleman, who +has espoused the Lady Ann Spencer, a young lady of admirable +accomplishments and virtue. + +23d August, 1688. I left this noble place and conversation, my lady +having provided carriages to convey us back in the same manner as we +went, and a dinner being prepared at Dunstable against our arrival. +Northampton, having been lately burned and re-edified, is now become a +town that for the beauty of the buildings, especially the church and +townhouse, may compare with the neatest in Italy itself. + +Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rochester, wrote a very honest and handsome letter +to the Commissioners Ecclesiastical, excusing himself from sitting any +longer among them, he by no means approving of their prosecuting the +Clergy who refused to read the Declaration for liberty of conscience, in +prejudice of the Church of England. + +The Dutch make extraordinary preparations both at sea and land, which +with no small progress Popery makes among us, puts us to many +difficulties. The Popish Irish soldiers commit many murders and insults; +the whole nation disaffected, and in apprehensions. + +After long trials of the doctors to bring up the little Prince of Wales +by hand (so many of her Majesty's children having died infants) not +succeeding, a country nurse, the wife of a tile maker, is taken to give +it suck. + +18th September, 1688. I went to London, where I found the Court in the +utmost consternation on report of the Prince of Orange's landing; which +put Whitehall into so panic a fear, that I could hardly believe it +possible to find such a change. + +Writs were issued in order to a Parliament, and a declaration to back +the good order of elections, with great professions of maintaining the +Church of England, but without giving any sort of satisfaction to the +people, who showed their high discontent at several things in the +Government. + +Earthquakes had utterly demolished the ancient Smyrna, and several other +places in Greece, Italy, and even in the Spanish Indies, forerunners of +greater calamities. God Almighty preserve his Church and all who put +themselves under the shadow of his wings, till these things be +overpassed. + +30th September, 1688. The Court in so extraordinary a consternation, on +assurance of the Prince of Orange's intention to land, that the writs +sent forth for a Parliament were recalled. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +7th October, 1688. Dr. Tenison preached at St. Martin's on 2 Tim. iii. +16, showing the Scriptures to be our only rule of faith, and its +perfection above all traditions. After which, near 1,000 devout persons +partook of the Communion. The sermon was chiefly occasioned by a Jesuit, +who in the Masshouse on the Sunday before had disparaged the Scripture +and railed at our translation, which some present contradicting, they +pulled him out of the pulpit, and treated him very coarsely, insomuch +that it was like to create a great disturbance in the city. + +Hourly expectation of the Prince of Orange's invasion heightened to that +degree, that his Majesty thought fit to abrogate the Commission for the +dispensing Power (but retaining his own right still to dispense with all +laws) and restore the ejected Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford. In +the meantime, he called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued +to remove Protestants and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places +of trust, and retained the Jesuits about him, increasing the universal +discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they seemed +passionately to long for and desire the landing of that Prince, whom +they looked on to be their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying +incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the only hindrance of +his expedition with a numerous army ready to make a descent. To such a +strange temper, and unheard of in former times, was this poor nation +reduced, and of which I was an eyewitness. The apprehension was (and +with reason) that his Majesty's forces would neither at land nor sea +oppose them with that vigor requisite to repel invaders. + +The late imprisoned Bishops were now called to reconcile matters, and +the Jesuits hard at work to foment confusion among the Protestants by +their usual tricks. A letter was sent to the Archbishop of +Canterbury,[71] informing him, from good hands, of what was contriving +by them. A paper of what the Bishops advised his Majesty was published. +The Bishops were enjoined to prepare a form of prayer against the feared +invasion. A pardon published. Soldiers and mariners daily pressed. + + [Footnote 71: By Evelyn himself. The letter was as follows:-- + + "My Lord, The honor and reputation which your Grace's piety, + prudence, and signal courage, have justly merited and obtained, not + only from the sons of the Church of England, but even universally + from those Protestants among us who are Dissenters from her + discipline; God Almighty's Providence and blessing upon your Grace's + vigilancy and extraordinary endeavors will not suffer to be + diminished in this conjuncture. The conversation I now and then have + with some in place who have the opportunity of knowing what is doing + in the most secret recesses and cabals of our Church's adversaries, + obliges me to acquaint you, that the calling of your Grace and the + rest of the Lords Bishops to Court, and what has there of late been + required of you, is only to create a jealousy and suspicion among + well-meaning people of such compliances, as it is certain they have + no cause to apprehend. The plan of this and of all that which is to + follow of seeming favor thence, is wholly drawn by the Jesuits, who + are at this time more than ever busy to make divisions among us, all + other arts and mechanisms having hitherto failed them. They have, + with other things contrived that your Lordships the Bishops should + give his Majesty advice separately, without calling any of the rest + of the Peers, which, though maliciously suggested, spreads generally + about the town. I do not at all question but your Grace will + speedily prevent the operation of this venom, and that you will + think it highly necessary so to do, that your Grace is also enjoined + to compose a form of prayer, wherein the Prince of Orange is + expressly to be named the Invader: of this I presume not to say + anything; but for as much as in all the Declarations, etc., which + have hitherto been published in pretended favor of the Church of + England, there is not once the least mention of the REFORMED or + PROTESTANT RELIGION, but only of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND AS BY LAW + ESTABLISHED, which Church the Papists tell us is the CHURCH OF ROME, + which is (say they) the Catholic Church of England--that only is + established by Law; the Church of England in the REFORMED sense so + established, is but by an usurped authority. The antiquity of THAT + would by these words be explained, and utterly defeat this false and + subdolous construction, and take off all exceptions whatsoever; if, + in all extraordinary offices, upon these occasions, the words + REFORMED and PROTESTANT were added to that of the CHURCH OF ENGLAND + BY LAW ESTABLISHED. And whosoever threatens to invade or come + against us, to the prejudice of that Church, in God's name, be they + Dutch or Irish, let us heartily pray and fight against them. My + Lord, this is, I confess, a bold, but honest period; and, though I + am well assured that your Grace is perfectly acquainted with all + this before, and therefore may blame my impertinence, as that does + [Greek: allotrioepiskopein]; yet I am confident you will not reprove + the zeal of one who most humbly begs your Grace's pardon, with your + blessing. Lond., 10 Oct., 1688." (From a copy in Evelyn's + handwriting.) See _post_, p. 285.] + +14th October, 1688. The King's birthday. No guns from the Tower as +usual. The sun eclipsed at its rising. This day signal for the victory +of William the Conqueror against Harold, near Battel, in Sussex. The +wind, which had been hitherto west, was east all this day. Wonderful +expectation of the Dutch fleet. Public prayers ordered to be read in the +churches against invasion. + +28th October, 1688. A tumult in London on the rabble demolishing a +Popish chapel that had been set up in the city. + +29th October, 1688. Lady Sunderland acquainted me with his Majesty's +taking away the Seals from Lord Sunderland, and of her being with the +Queen to intercede for him. It is conceived that he had of late grown +remiss in pursuing the interest of the Jesuitical counsels; some +reported one thing, some another; but there was doubtless some secret +betrayed, which time may discover. + +There was a Council called, to which were summoned the Archbishop of +Canterbury, the Judges, the Lord Mayor, etc. The Queen Dowager, and all +the ladies and lords who were present at the Queen Consort's labor, were +to give their testimony upon oath of the Prince of Wales's birth, +recorded both at the Council Board and at the Chancery a day or two +after. This procedure was censured by some as below his Majesty to +condescend to, on the talk of the people. It was remarkable that on this +occasion the Archbishop, Marquis of Halifax, the Earls of Clarendon and +Nottingham, refused to sit at the Council table among Papists, and their +bold telling his Majesty that whatever was done while such sat among +them was unlawful and incurred _præmunire_;--at least, if what I heard +be true. + +30th October, 1688. I dined with Lord Preston, made Secretary of State, +in the place of the Earl of Sunderland. + +Visited Mr. Boyle, when came in the Duke of Hamilton and Earl of +Burlington. The Duke told us many particulars of Mary Queen of Scots, +and her amours with the Italian favorite, etc. + +31st October, 1688. My birthday, being the 68th year of my age. O +blessed Lord, grant that as I grow in years, so may I improve in grace! +Be thou my protector this following year, and preserve me and mine from +those dangers and great confusions that threaten a sad revolution to +this sinful nation! Defend thy church, our holy religion, and just laws, +disposing his Majesty to listen to sober and healing counsels, that if +it be thy blessed will, we may still enjoy that happy tranquility which +hitherto thou hast continued to us! Amen, Amen! + +1st November, 1688. Dined with Lord Preston, with other company, at Sir +Stephen Fox's. Continual alarms of the Prince of Orange, but no +certainty. Reports of his great losses of horse in the storm, but +without any assurance. A man was taken with divers papers and printed +manifestoes, and carried to Newgate, after examination at the Cabinet +Council. There was likewise a declaration of the States for satisfaction +of all public ministers at The Hague, except to the English and the +French. There was in that of the Prince's an expression, as if the Lords +both spiritual and temporal had invited him over, with a deduction of +the causes of his enterprise. This made his Majesty convene my Lord of +Canterbury and the other Bishops now in town, to give an account of what +was in the manifesto, and to enjoin them to clear themselves by some +public writing of this disloyal charge. + +2d November, 1688. It was now certainly reported by some who saw the +fleet, and the Prince embark, that they sailed from the Brill on +Wednesday morning, and that the Princess of Orange was there to take +leave of her husband. + +4th November, 1688. Fresh reports of the Prince being landed somewhere +about Portsmouth, or the Isle of Wight, whereas it was thought it would +have been northward. The Court in great hurry. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th November, 1688. I went to London; heard the news of the Prince +having landed at Torbay, coming with a fleet of near 700 sail, passing +through the Channel with so favorable a wind, that our navy could not +intercept, or molest them. This put the King and Court into great +consternation, they were now employed in forming an army to stop their +further progress, for they were got into Exeter, and the season and ways +very improper for his Majesty's forces to march so great a distance. + +The Archbishop of Canterbury and some few of the other Bishops and +Lords in London, were sent for to Whitehall, and required to set forth +their abhorrence of this invasion. They assured his Majesty that they +had never invited any of the Prince's party, or were in the least privy +to it, and would be ready to show all testimony of their loyalty; but, +as to a public declaration, being so few, they desired that his Majesty +would call the rest of their brethren and Peers, that they might consult +what was fit to be done on this occasion, not thinking it right to +publish anything without them, and till they had themselves seen the +Prince's manifesto, in which it was pretended he was invited in by the +Lords, spiritual and temporal. This did not please the King; so they +departed. + +A declaration was published, prohibiting all persons to see or read the +Prince's manifesto, in which was set forth at large the cause of his +expedition, as there had been one before from the States. + +These are the beginnings of sorrow, unless God in his mercy prevent it +by some happy reconciliation of all dissensions among us. This, in all +likelihood, nothing can effect except a free Parliament; but this we +cannot hope to see, while there are any forces on either side. I pray +God to protect and direct the King for the best and truest interest of +his people!--I saw his Majesty touch for the evil, Piten the Jesuit, and +Warner officiating. + +14th November, 1688. The Prince increases everyday in force. Several +Lords go in to him. Lord Cornbury carries some regiments, and marches to +Honiton, the Prince's headquarters. The city of London in disorder; the +rabble pulled down the nunnery newly bought by the Papists of Lord +Berkeley, at St. John's. The Queen prepares to go to Portsmouth for +safety, to attend the issue of this commotion, which has a dreadful +aspect. + +18th November, 1688. It was now a very hard frost. The King goes to +Salisbury to rendezvous the army, and return to London. Lord Delamere +appears for the Prince in Cheshire. The nobility meet in Yorkshire. The +Archbishop of Canterbury and some Bishops, and such Peers as were in +London, address his Majesty to call a Parliament. The King invites all +foreign nations to come over. The French take all the Palatinate, and +alarm the Germans more than ever. + +29th November, 1688. I went to the Royal Society. We adjourned the +election of a President to 23d of April, by reason of the public +commotions, yet dined together as of custom this day. + +2d December, 1688. Dr. Tenison preached at St. Martin's on Psalm xxxvi. +5, 6, 7, concerning Providence. I received the blessed Sacrament. +Afterward, visited my Lord Godolphin, then going with the Marquis of +Halifax and Earl of Nottingham as Commissioners to the Prince of Orange; +he told me they had little power. Plymouth declared for the Prince. +Bath, York, Hull, Bristol, and all the eminent nobility and persons of +quality through England, declare for the Protestant religion and laws, +and go to meet the Prince, who every day sets forth new Declarations +against the Papists. The great favorites at Court, Priests and Jesuits, +fly or abscond. Everything, till now concealed, flies abroad in public +print, and is cried about the streets. Expectation of the Prince coming +to Oxford. The Prince of Wales and great treasure sent privily to +Portsmouth, the Earl of Dover being Governor. Address from the Fleet not +grateful to his Majesty. The Papists in offices lay down their +commissions, and fly. Universal consternation among them; it looks like +a revolution. + +7th December, 1688. My son went toward Oxford. I returned home. + +9th December, 1688. Lord Sunderland meditates flight. The rabble +demolished all Popish chapels, and several Papist lords and gentlemen's +houses, especially that of the Spanish Ambassador, which they pillaged, +and burned his library. + +13th December, 1688. The King flies to sea, puts in at Faversham for +ballast; is rudely treated by the people; comes back to Whitehall. + +The Prince of Orange is advanced to Windsor, is invited by the King to +St. James's, the messenger sent was the Earl of Faversham, the General +of the Forces, who going without trumpet, or passport, is detained +prisoner by the Prince, who accepts the invitation, but requires his +Majesty to retire to some distant place, that his own guards may be +quartered about the palace and city. This is taken heinously and the +King goes privately to Rochester; is persuaded to come back; comes on +the Sunday; goes to mass, and dines in public, a Jesuit saying grace (I +was present). + +17th December, 1688. That night was a Council; his Majesty refuses to +assent to all the proposals; goes away again to Rochester. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +18th December, 1688. I saw the King take barge to Gravesend at twelve +o'clock--a sad sight! The Prince comes to St. James's, and fills +Whitehall with Dutch guards. A Council of Peers meet about an expedient +to call a Parliament; adjourn to the House of Lords. The Chancellor, +Earl of Peterborough, and divers others taken. The Earl of Sunderland +flies; Sir Edward Hale, Walker, and others, taken and secured. + +All the world go to see the Prince at St. James's, where there is a +great Court. There I saw him, and several of my acquaintance who came +over with him. He is very stately, serious and reserved. The English +soldiers sent out of town to disband them; not well pleased. + +24th December, 1688. The King passes into France, whither the Queen and +child were gone a few days before. + +26th December, 1688. The Peers and such Commoners as were members of the +Parliament at Oxford, being the last of Charles II. meeting, desire the +Prince of Orange to take on him the disposal of the public revenue till +a convention of Lords and Commons should meet in full body, appointed by +his circular letters to the shires and boroughs, 22d of January. I had +now quartered upon me a Lieutenant-Colonel and eight horses. + +30th December, 1688. This day prayers for the Prince of Wales were first +left off in our Church. + +7th January, 1688-89. A long frost and deep snow; the Thames almost +frozen over. + +15th January, 1689. I visited the Archbishop of Canterbury, where I +found the Bishops of St. Asaph, Ely, Bath and Wells, Peterborough, and +Chichester, the Earls of Aylesbury and Clarendon, Sir George Mackenzie, +Lord-Advocate of Scotland, and then came in a Scotch Archbishop, etc. +After prayers and dinner, divers serious matters were discoursed, +concerning the present state of the Public, and sorry I was to find +there was as yet no accord in the judgments of those of the Lords and +Commons who were to convene; some would have the Princess made Queen +without any more dispute, others were for a Regency; there was a Tory +party (then so called), who were for inviting his Majesty again upon +conditions; and there were Republicans who would make the Prince of +Orange like a Stadtholder. The Romanists were busy among these several +parties to bring them into confusion: most for ambition or other +interest, few for conscience and moderate resolutions. I found nothing +of all this in this assembly of Bishops, who were pleased to admit me +into their discourses; they were all for a Regency, thereby to salve +their oaths, and so all public matters to proceed in his Majesty's name, +by that to facilitate the calling of Parliament, according to the laws +in being. Such was the result of this meeting. + +My Lord of Canterbury gave me great thanks for the advertisement I sent +him in October, and assured me they took my counsel in that particular, +and that it came very seasonably. + +I found by the Lord-Advocate that the Bishops of Scotland (who were +indeed little worthy of that character, and had done much mischief in +that Church) were now coming about to the true interest, in this +conjuncture which threatened to abolish the whole hierarchy in that +kingdom; and therefore the Scottish Archbishop and Lord-Advocate +requested the Archbishop of Canterbury to use his best endeavors with +the Prince to maintain the Church there in the same state, as by law at +present settled. + +It now growing late, after some private discourse with his Grace, I took +my leave, most of the Lords being gone. + +The trial of the bishops was now printed. + +The great convention being assembled the day before, falling upon the +question about the government, resolved that King James having by the +advice of the Jesuits and other wicked persons endeavored to subvert the +laws of the Church and State, and deserted the kingdom, carrying away +the seals, etc., without any care for the management of the government, +had by demise abdicated himself and wholly vacated his right; they did +therefore desire the Lords' concurrence to their vote, to place the +crown on the next heir, the Prince of Orange, for his life, then to the +Princess, his wife, and if she died without issue, to the Princess of +Denmark, and she failing, to the heirs of the Prince, excluding forever +all possibility of admitting a Roman Catholic. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +27th January, 1689. I dined at the Admiralty, where was brought in a +child not twelve years old, the son of one Dr. Clench, of the most +prodigious maturity of knowledge, for I cannot call it altogether +memory, but something more extraordinary. Mr. Pepys and myself examined +him, not in any method, but with promiscuous questions, which required +judgment and discernment to answer so readily and pertinently. There was +not anything in chronology, history, geography, the several systems of +astronomy, courses of the stars, longitude, latitude, doctrine of the +spheres, courses and sources of rivers, creeks, harbors, eminent cities, +boundaries and bearings of countries, not only in Europe, but in any +other part of the earth, which he did not readily resolve and +demonstrate his knowledge of, readily drawing out with a pen anything he +would describe. He was able not only to repeat the most famous things +which are left us in any of the Greek or Roman histories, monarchies, +republics, wars, colonies, exploits by sea and land, but all the sacred +stories of the Old and New Testament; the succession of all the +monarchies, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, with all the lower +Emperors, Popes, Heresiarchs, and Councils, what they were called about, +what they determined, or in the controversy about Easter, the tenets of +the Gnostics, Sabellians, Arians, Nestorians; the difference between St. +Cyprian and Stephen about re-baptism, the schisms. We leaped from that +to other things totally different, to Olympic years, and synchronisms; +we asked him questions which could not be resolved without considerable +meditation and judgment, nay of some particulars of the Civil Laws, of +the Digest and Code. He gave a stupendous account of both natural and +moral philosophy, and even in metaphysics. + +Having thus exhausted ourselves rather than this wonderful child, or +angel rather, for he was as beautiful and lovely in countenance as in +knowledge, we concluded with asking him if, in all he had read or heard +of, he had ever met with anything which was like this expedition of the +Prince of Orange, with so small a force to obtain three great kingdoms +without any contest. After a little thought, he told us that he knew of +nothing which did more resemble it than the coming of Constantine the +Great out of Britain, through France and Italy, so tedious a march, to +meet Maxentius, whom he overthrew at Pons Milvius with very little +conflict, and at the very gates of Rome, which he entered and was +received with triumph, and obtained the empire, not of three kingdoms +only, but of all the then known world. He was perfect in the Latin +authors, spoke French naturally, and gave us a description of France, +Italy, Savoy, Spain, ancient and modernly divided; as also of ancient +Greece, Scythia, and northern countries and tracts: we left questioning +further. He did this without any set or formal repetitions, as one who +had learned things without book, but as if he minded other things, going +about the room, and toying with a parrot there, and as he was at dinner +(_tanquam aliua agens_, as it were) seeming to be full of play, of a +lively, sprightly temper, always smiling, and exceedingly pleasant, +without the least levity, rudeness, or childishness. + +His father assured us he never imposed anything to charge his memory by +causing him to get things by heart, not even the rules of grammar; but +his tutor (who was a Frenchman) read to him, first in French, then in +Latin; that he usually played among other boys four or five hours every +day, and that he was as earnest at his play as at his study. He was +perfect in arithmetic, and now newly entered into Greek. In sum +(_horresco referens_), I had read of divers forward and precocious +youths, and some I have known, but I never did either hear or read of +anything like to this sweet child, if it be right to call him child who +has more knowledge than most men in the world. I counseled his father +not to set his heart too much on this jewel, + + "_Immodicis brevis est ætas, et rara senectus,_" + +as I myself learned by sad experience in my most dear child Richard, +many years since, who, dying before he was six years old, was both in +shape and countenance and pregnancy of learning, next to a prodigy. + +29th January, 1689. The votes of the House of Commons being carried up +by Mr. Hampden, their chairman, to the Lords, I got a station by the +Prince's lodgings at the door of the lobby to the House, and heard much +of the debate, which lasted very long. Lord Derby was in the chair (for +the House was resolved into a grand committee of the whole House); after +all had spoken, it came to the question, which was carried by three +voices against a Regency, which 51 were for, 54 against; the minority +alleging the danger of dethroning Kings, and scrupling many passages and +expressions in the vote of the Commons, too long to set down +particularly. Some were for sending to his Majesty with conditions: +others that the King could do no wrong, and that the maladministration +was chargeable on his ministers. There were not more than eight or nine +bishops, and but two against the Regency; the archbishop was absent, and +the clergy now began to change their note, both in pulpit and discourse, +on their old passive obedience, so as people began to talk of the +bishops being cast out of the House. In short, things tended to +dissatisfaction on both sides; add to this, the morose temper of the +Prince of Orange, who showed little countenance to the noblemen and +others, who expected a more gracious and cheerful reception when they +made their court. The English army also was not so in order, and firm to +his interest, nor so weakened but that it might give interruption. +Ireland was in an ill posture as well as Scotland. Nothing was yet done +toward a settlement. God of his infinite mercy compose these things, +that we may be at last a Nation and a Church under some fixed and sober +establishment! + +30th January, 1689. The anniversary of King Charles I.'s MARTYRDOM; but +in all the public offices and pulpit prayers, the collects, and litany +for the King and Queen were curtailed and mutilated. Dr. Sharp preached +before the Commons, but was disliked, and not thanked for his sermon. + +31st January, 1689. At our church (the next day being appointed a +thanksgiving for deliverance by the Prince of Orange, with prayers +purposely composed), our lecturer preached in the afternoon a very +honest sermon, showing our duty to God for the many signal deliverances +of our Church, without touching on politics. + +6th February, 1689. The King's coronation day was ordered not to be +observed, as hitherto it had been. + +The Convention of the Lords and Commons now declare the Prince and +Princess of Orange King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland +(Scotland being an independent kingdom), the Prince and Princess being +to enjoy it jointly during their lives; but the executive authority to +be vested in the Prince during life, though all proceedings to run in +both names, and that it should descend to their issue, and for want of +such, to the Princess Anne of Denmark and her issue, and in want of +such, to the heirs of the body of the Prince, if he survive, and that +failing, to devolve to the Parliament, as they should think fit. These +produced a conference with the Lords, when also there was presented +heads of such new laws as were to be enacted. It is thought on these +conditions they will be proclaimed. + +There was much contest about the King's abdication, and whether he had +vacated the government. The Earl of Nottingham and about twenty Lords, +and many Bishops, entered their protests, but the concurrence was great +against them. + +The Princess hourly expected. Forces sending to Ireland, that kingdom +being in great danger by the Earl of Tyrconnel's army, and expectations +from France coming to assist them, but that King was busy in invading +Flanders, and encountering the German Princes. It is likely that this +will be the most remarkable summer for action, which has happened in +many years. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st February, 1689. Dr. Burnet preached at St. James's on the +obligation to walk worthy of God's particular and signal deliverance of +the nation and church. + +I saw the NEW QUEEN and KING proclaimed the very next day after her +coming to Whitehall, Wednesday, 13th February, with great acclamation +and general good reception. Bonfires, bells, guns, etc. It was believed +that both, especially the Princess, would have shown some (seeming) +reluctance at least, of assuming her father's crown, and made some +apology, testifying by her regret that he should by his mismanagement +necessitate the nation to so extraordinary a proceeding, which would +have shown very handsomely to the world, and according to the character +given of her piety; consonant also to her husband's first declaration, +that there was no intention of deposing the King, but of succoring the +nation; but nothing of all this appeared; she came into Whitehall +laughing and jolly, as to a wedding, so as to seem quite transported. +She rose early the next morning, and in her undress, as it was reported, +before her women were up, went about from room to room to see the +convenience of Whitehall; lay in the same bed and apartment where the +late Queen lay, and within a night or two sat down to play at basset, as +the Queen, her predecessor used to do. She smiled upon and talked to +everybody, so that no change seemed to have taken place at Court since +her last going away, save that infinite crowds of people thronged to see +her, and that she went to our prayers. This carriage was censured by +many. She seems to be of a good nature, and that she takes nothing to +heart: while the Prince, her husband, has a thoughtful countenance, is +wonderfully serious and silent, and seems to treat all persons alike +gravely, and to be very intent on affairs: Holland, Ireland, and France +calling for his care. + +Divers Bishops and Noblemen are not at all satisfied with this so sudden +assumption of the Crown, without any previous sending, and offering some +conditions to the absent King; or on his not returning, or not assenting +to those conditions, to have proclaimed him Regent; but the major part +of both Houses prevailed to make them King and Queen immediately, and a +crown was tempting. This was opposed and spoken against with such +vehemence by Lord Clarendon (her own uncle), that it put him by all +preferment, which must doubtless have been as great as could have been +given him. My Lord of Rochester, his brother, overshot himself, by the +same carriage and stiffness, which their friends thought they might have +well spared when they saw how it was like to be overruled, and that it +had been sufficient to have declared their dissent with less passion, +acquiescing in due time. + +The Archbishop of Canterbury and some of the rest, on scruple of +conscience and to salve the oaths they had taken, entered their protests +and hung off, especially the Archbishop, who had not all this while so +much as appeared out of Lambeth. This occasioned the wonder of many who +observed with what zeal they contributed to the Prince's expedition, and +all the while also rejecting any proposals of sending again to the +absent King; that they should now raise scruples, and such as created +much division among the people, greatly rejoicing the old courtiers, and +especially the Papists. + +Another objection was, the invalidity of what was done by a convention +only, and the as yet unabrogated laws; this drew them to make themselves +on the 22d [February] a Parliament, the new King passing the act with +the crown on his head. The lawyers disputed, but necessity prevailed, +the government requiring a speedy settlement. + +Innumerable were the crowds, who solicited for, and expected offices; +most of the old ones were turned out. Two or three white staves were +disposed of some days before, as Lord Steward, to the Earl of +Devonshire; Treasurer of the household, to Lord Newport; Lord +Chamberlain to the King, to my Lord of Dorset; but there were as yet +none in offices of the civil government save the Marquis of Halifax as +Privy Seal. A council of thirty was chosen, Lord Derby president, but +neither Chancellor nor Judges were yet declared, the new Great Seal not +yet finished. + +8th March, 1689. Dr. Tillotson, Dean of Canterbury, made an excellent +discourse on Matt. v. 44, exhorting to charity and forgiveness of +enemies; I suppose purposely, the new Parliament being furious about +impeaching those who were obnoxious, and as their custom has ever been, +going on violently, without reserve, or modification, while wise men +were of opinion the most notorious offenders being named and excepted, +an Act of Amnesty would be more seasonable, to pacify the minds of men +in so general a discontent of the nation, especially of those who did +not expect to see the government assumed without any regard to the +absent King, or proving a spontaneous abdication, or that the birth of +the Prince of Wales was an imposture; five of the Bishops also still +refusing to take the new oath. + +In the meantime, to gratify the people, the hearth-tax was remitted +forever; but what was intended to supply it, besides present great taxes +on land, is not named. + +The King abroad was now furnished by the French King with money and +officers for an expedition to Ireland. The great neglect in not more +timely preventing that from hence, and the disturbances in Scotland, +give apprehensions of great difficulties, before any settlement can be +perfected here, while the Parliament dispose of the great offices among +themselves. The Great Seal, Treasury and Admiralty put into commission +of many unexpected persons, to gratify the more; so that by the present +appearance of things (unless God Almighty graciously interpose and give +success in Ireland and settle Scotland) more trouble seems to threaten +the nation than could be expected. In the interim, the new King refers +all to the Parliament in the most popular manner, but is very slow in +providing against all these menaces, besides finding difficulties in +raising men to send abroad; the former army, which had never seen any +service hitherto, receiving their pay and passing their summer in an +idle scene of a camp at Hounslow, unwilling to engage, and many +disaffected, and scarce to be trusted. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +29th March, 1689. The new King much blamed for neglecting Ireland, now +likely to be ruined by the Lord Tyrconnel and his Popish party, too +strong for the Protestants. Wonderful uncertainty where King James was, +whether in France or Ireland. The Scots seem as yet to favor King +William, rejecting King James's letter to them, yet declaring nothing +positively. Soldiers in England discontented. Parliament preparing the +coronation oath. Presbyterians and Dissenters displeased at the vote for +preserving the Protestant religion as established by law, without +mentioning what they were to have as to indulgence. + +The Archbishop of Canterbury and four other Bishops refusing to come to +Parliament, it was deliberated whether they should incur _Præmunire_; +but it was thought fit to let this fall, and be connived at, for fear of +the people, to whom these Prelates were very dear, for the opposition +they had given to Popery. + +Court offices distributed among Parliament men. No considerable fleet as +yet sent forth. Things far from settled as was expected, by reason of +the slothful, sickly temper of the new King, and the Parliament's +unmindfulness of Ireland, which is likely to prove a sad omission. + +The Confederates beat the French out of the Palatinate, which they had +most barbarously ruined. + +11th April, 1689. I saw the procession to and from the Abbey Church of +Westminster, with the great feast in Westminster Hall, at the coronation +of King William and Queen Mary. What was different from former +coronations, was some alteration in the coronation oath. Dr. Burnet, now +made Bishop of Sarum, preached with great applause. The Parliament men +had scaffolds and places which took up the one whole side of the Hall. +When the King and Queen had dined, the ceremony of the Champion, and +other services by tenure were performed. The Parliament men were feasted +in the Exchequer chamber, and had each of them a gold medal given them, +worth five-and-forty shillings. On the one side were the effigies of the +King and Queen inclining one to the other; on the reverse was Jupiter +throwing a bolt at Phäeton the words, "_Ne totus absumatur_": which was +but dull, seeing they might have had out of the poet something as +apposite. The sculpture was very mean. + +Much of the splendor of the proceeding was abated by the absence of +divers who should have contributed to it, there being but five Bishops, +four Judges (no more being yet sworn), and several noblemen and great +ladies wanting; the feast, however, was magnificent. The next day the +House of Commons went and kissed their new Majesties' hands in the +Banqueting House. + +12th April, 1689. I went with the Bishop of St. Asaph to visit my Lord +of Canterbury at Lambeth, who had excused himself from officiating at +the coronation, which was performed by the Bishop of London, assisted by +the Archbishop of York. We had much private and free discourse with his +Grace concerning several things relating to the Church, there being now +a bill of comprehension to be brought from the Lords to the Commons. I +urged that when they went about to reform some particulars in the +Liturgy, Church discipline, Canons, etc., the baptizing in private +houses without necessity might be reformed, as likewise so frequent +burials in churches; the one proceeding much from the pride of women, +bringing that into custom which was only indulged in case of imminent +danger, and out of necessity during the rebellion, and persecution of +the clergy in our late civil wars; the other from the avarice of +ministers, who, in some opulent parishes, made almost as much of +permission to bury in the chancel and the church, as of their livings, +and were paid with considerable advantage and gifts for baptizing in +chambers. To this they heartily assented, and promised their endeavor to +get it reformed, utterly disliking both practices as novel and indecent. + +We discoursed likewise of the great disturbance and prejudice it might +cause, should the new oath, now on the anvil, be imposed on any, save +such as were in new office, without any retrospect to such as either had +no office, or had been long in office, who it was likely would have some +scruples about taking a new oath, having already sworn fidelity to the +government as established by law. This we all knew to be the case of my +Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and some other persons who were not so +fully satisfied with the Convention making it an abdication of King +James, to whom they had sworn allegiance. + +King James was now certainly in Ireland with the Marshal d'Estrades, +whom he made a Privy Councillor; and who caused the King to remove the +Protestant Councillors, some whereof, it seems, had continued to sit, +telling him that the King of France, his master, would never assist him +if he did not immediately do it; by which it is apparent how the poor +Prince is managed by the French. + +Scotland declares for King William and Queen Mary, with the reasons of +their setting aside King James, not as abdicating, but forfeiting his +right by maladministration; they proceeded with much more caution and +prudence than we did, who precipitated all things to the great reproach +of the nation, all which had been managed by some crafty, ill-principled +men. The new Privy Council have a Republican spirit, manifestly +undermining all future succession of the Crown and prosperity of the +Church of England, which yet I hope they will not be able to accomplish +so soon as they expect, though they get into all places of trust and +profit. + +21st April, 1689. This was one of the most seasonable springs, free from +the usual sharp east winds that I have observed since the year 1660 (the +year of the Restoration), which was much such an one. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26th April, 1689. I heard the lawyers plead before the Lords the writ +of error in the judgment of Oates, as to the charge against him of +perjury, which after debate they referred to the answer of Holloway, +etc., who were his judges. I then went with the Bishop of St. Asaph to +the Archbishop at Lambeth, where they entered into discourse concerning +the final destruction of Antichrist, both concluding that the third +trumpet and vial were now pouring out. My Lord St. Asaph considered the +killing of the two witnesses, to be the utter destruction of the +Cevennes Protestants by the French and Duke of Savoy, and the other the +Waldenses and Pyrenean Christians, who by all appearance from good +history had kept the primitive faith from the very Apostles' time till +now. The doubt his Grace suggested was, whether it could be made evident +that the present persecution had made so great a havoc of those faithful +people as of the other, and whether there were not yet some among them +in being who met together, it being stated from the text, Apoc. xi., +that they should both be slain together. They both much approved of Mr. +Mede's way of interpretation, and that he only failed in resolving too +hastily on the King of Sweden's (Gustavus Adolphus) success in Germany. +They agreed that it would be good to employ some intelligent French +minister to travel as far as the Pyrenees to understand the present +state of the Church there, it being a country where hardly anyone +travels. + +There now came certain news that King James had not only landed in +Ireland, but that he had surprised Londonderry, and was become master of +that kingdom, to the great shame of our government, who had been so +often solicited to provide against it by timely succor, and which they +might so easily have done. This is a terrible beginning of more +troubles, especially should an army come thence into Scotland, people +being generally disaffected here and everywhere else, so that the seamen +and landmen would scarce serve without compulsion. + +A new oath was now fabricating for all the clergy to take, of obedience +to the present Government, in abrogation of the former oaths of +allegiance, which it is foreseen many of the bishops and others of the +clergy will not take. The penalty is to be the loss of their dignity and +spiritual preferment. This is thought to have been driven on by the +Presbyterians, our new governors. God in mercy send us help, and direct +the counsels to his glory and good of his Church! + +Public matters went very ill in Ireland: confusion and dissensions among +ourselves, stupidity, inconstancy, emulation, the governors employing +unskillful men in greatest offices, no person of public spirit and +ability appearing,--threaten us with a very sad prospect of what may be +the conclusion, without God's infinite mercy. + +A fight by Admiral Herbert with the French, he imprudently setting on +them in a creek as they were landing men in Ireland, by which we came +off with great slaughter and little honor--so strangely negligent and +remiss were we in preparing a timely and sufficient fleet. The Scots +Commissioners offer the crown to the NEW KING AND QUEEN on +conditions.--Act of Poll-money came forth, sparing none.--Now appeared +the Act of Indulgence for the Dissenters, but not exempting them from +paying dues to the Church of England clergy, or serving in office +according to law, with several other clauses.--A most splendid embassy +from Holland to congratulate the King and Queen on their accession to +the crown. + +4th June, 1689. A solemn fast for success of the fleet, etc. + +6th June, 1689. I dined with the Bishop of Asaph; Monsieur Capellus, the +learned son of the most learned Ludovicus, presented to him his father's +works, not published till now. + +7th June, 1689. I visited the Archbishop of Canterbury, and stayed with +him till about seven o'clock. He read to me the Pope's excommunication +of the French King. + +9th June, 1689. Visited Dr. Burnet, now Bishop of Sarum; got him to let +Mr. Kneller draw his picture. + +16th June, 1689. King James's declaration was now dispersed, offering +pardon to all, if on his landing, or within twenty days after, they +should return to their obedience. + +Our fleet not yet at sea, through some prodigious sloth, and men minding +only their present interest; the French riding masters at sea, taking +many great prizes to our wonderful reproach. No certain news from +Ireland; various reports of Scotland; discontents at home. The King of +Denmark at last joins with the Confederates, and the two Northern Powers +are reconciled. The East India Company likely to be dissolved by +Parliament for many arbitrary actions. Oates acquitted of perjury, to +all honest men's admiration. + +20th June, 1689. News of A PLOT discovered, on which divers were sent to +the Tower and secured. + +23d June, 1689. An extraordinary drought, to the threatening of great +wants as to the fruits of the earth. + +8th July, 1689. I sat for my picture to Mr. Kneller, for Mr. Pepys, +late Secretary to the Admiralty, holding my "Sylva" in my right hand. It +was on his long and earnest request, and is placed in his library. +Kneller never painted in a more masterly manner. + +11th July, 1689. I dined at Lord Clarendon's, it being his lady's +wedding day, when about three in the afternoon there was an unusual and +violent storm of thunder, rain, and wind; many boats on the Thames were +overwhelmed, and such was the impetuosity of the wind as to carry up the +waves in pillars and spouts most dreadful to behold, rooting up trees +and ruining some houses. The Countess of Sunderland afterward told me +that it extended as far as Althorpe at the very time, which is seventy +miles from London. It did no harm at Deptford, but at Greenwich it did +much mischief. + +16th July, 1689. I went to Hampton Court about business, the Council +being there. A great apartment and spacious garden with fountains was +beginning in the park at the head of the canal. + +19th July, 1689. The Marshal de Schomberg went now as General toward +Ireland, to the relief of Londonderry. Our fleet lay before Brest. The +Confederates passing the Rhine, besiege Bonn and Mayence, to obtain a +passage into France. A great victory gotten by the Muscovites, taking +and burning Perecop. A new rebel against the Turks threatens the +destruction of that tyranny. All Europe in arms against France, and +hardly to be found in history so universal a face of war. + +The Convention (or Parliament as some called it) sitting, exempt the +Duke of Hanover from the succession to the crown, which they seem to +confine to the present new King, his wife, and Princess Anne of Denmark, +who is so monstrously swollen, that it is doubted whether her being +thought with child may prove a TYMPANY only, so that the unhappy family +of the Stuarts seems to be extinguishing; and then what government is +likely to be next set up is unknown, whether regal and by election, or +otherwise, the Republicans and Dissenters from the Church of England +evidently looking that way. + +The Scots have now again voted down Episcopacy there. Great discontents +through this nation at the slow proceedings of the King, and the +incompetent instruments and officers he advances to the greatest and +most necessary charges. + +23d August, 1689. Came to visit me Mr. Firmin. + +25th August, 1689. Hitherto it has been a most seasonable summer. +Londonderry relieved after a brave and wonderful holding out. + +21st September, 1689. I went to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury since +his suspension, and was received with great kindness. A dreadful fire +happened in Southwark. + +2d October, 1689. Came to visit us the Marquis de Ruvignè, and one +Monsieur le Coque, a French refugee, who left great riches for his +religion; a very learned, civil person; he married the sister of the +Duchess de la Force. Ottobone, a Venetian Cardinal, eighty years old, +made Pope.[72] + + [Footnote 72: Peter Otthobonus succeeded Innocent XI. as Pope in + 1689, by the title of Alexander VIII.] + +31st October, 1689. My birthday, being now sixty-nine years old. Blessed +Father, who hast prolonged my years to this great age, and given me to +see so great and wonderful revolutions, and preserved me amid them to +this moment, accept, I beseech thee, the continuance of my prayers and +thankful acknowledgments, and grant me grace to be working out my +salvation and redeeming the time, that thou mayst be glorified by me +here, and my immortal soul saved whenever thou shalt call for it, to +perpetuate thy praises to all eternity, in that heavenly kingdom where +there are no more changes or vicissitudes, but rest, and peace, and joy, +and consummate felicity, forever. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the +sake of Jesus thine only Son and our Savior. Amen! + +5th November, 1689. The Bishop of St. Asaph, Lord Almoner, preached +before the King and Queen, the whole discourse being an historical +narrative of the Church of England's several deliverances, especially +that of this anniversary, signalized by being also the birthday of the +Prince of Orange, his marriage (which was on the 4th), and his landing +at Torbay this day. There was a splendid ball and other rejoicings. + +10th November, 1689. After a very wet season, the winter came on +severely. + +17th November, 1689. Much wet, without frost, yet the wind north and +easterly. A Convocation of the Clergy meet about a reformation of our +Liturgy, Canons, etc., obstructed by others of the clergy. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +27th November, 1689. I went to London with my family, to winter at Soho, +in the great square. + +11th January, 1689-90. This night there was a most extraordinary storm +of wind, accompanied with snow and sharp weather; it did great harm in +many places, blowing down houses, trees, etc., killing many people. It +began about two in the morning, and lasted till five, being a kind of +hurricane, which mariners observe have begun of late years to come +northward. This winter has been hitherto extremely wet, warm, and windy. + +12th January, 1690. There was read at St. Ann's Church an exhortatory +letter to the clergy of London from the Bishop, together with a Brief +for relieving the distressed Protestants, and Vaudois, who fled from the +persecution of the French and Duke of Savoy, to the Protestant Cantons +of Switzerland. + +The Parliament was unexpectedly prorogued to 2d of April to the +discontent and surprise of many members who, being exceedingly averse to +the settling of anything, proceeding with animosities, multiplying +exceptions against those whom they pronounced obnoxious, and producing +as universal a discontent against King William and themselves, as there +was before against King James. The new King resolved on an expedition +into Ireland in person. About 150 of the members who were of the more +royal party, meeting at a feast at the Apollo Tavern near St. Dunstan's, +sent some of their company to the King, to assure him of their service; +he returned his thanks, advising them to repair to their several +counties and preserve the peace during his absence, and assuring them +that he would be steady to his resolution of defending the Laws and +Religion established. The great Lord suspected to have counselled this +prorogation, universally denied it. However, it was believed the chief +adviser was the Marquis of Carmarthen, who now seemed to be most in +favor. + +2d February, 1690. The Parliament was dissolved by proclamation, and +another called to meet the 20th of March. This was a second surprise to +the former members; and now the Court party, or, as they call +themselves, Church of England, are making their interests in the +country. The Marquis of Halifax lays down his office of Privy Seal, and +pretends to retire. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +16th February, 1690. The Duchess of Monmouth's chaplain preached at St. +Martin's an excellent discourse exhorting to peace and sanctity, it +being now the time of very great division and dissension in the nation; +first, among the Churchmen, of whom the moderate and sober part were for +a speedy reformation of divers things, which it was thought might be +made in our Liturgy, for the inviting of Dissenters; others more stiff +and rigid, were for no condescension at all. Books and pamphlets were +published every day pro and con; the Convocation were forced for the +present to suspend any further progress. There was fierce and great +carousing about being elected in the new Parliament. The King persists +in his intention of going in person for Ireland, whither the French are +sending supplies to King James, and we, the Danish horse to Schomberg. + +19th February, 1690. I dined with the Marquis of Carmarthen (late Lord +Danby), where was Lieutenant-General Douglas, a very considerate and +sober commander, going for Ireland. He related to us the exceeding +neglect of the English soldiers, suffering severely for want of clothes +and necessaries this winter, exceedingly magnifying their courage and +bravery during all their hardships. There dined also Lord Lucas, +Lieutenant of the Tower, and the Bishop of St. Asaph. The Privy Seal was +again put in commission, Mr. Cheny (who married my kinswoman, Mrs. +Pierrepoint), Sir Thomas Knatchbull, and Sir P. W. Pultney. The +imprudence of both sexes was now become so great and universal, persons +of all ranks keeping their courtesans publicly, that the King had lately +directed a letter to the Bishops to order their clergy to preach against +that sin, swearing, etc., and to put the ecclesiastical laws in +execution without any indulgence. + +25th February, 1690. I went to Kensington, which King William had bought +of Lord Nottingham, and altered, but was yet a patched building, but +with the garden, however, it is a very sweet villa, having to it the +park and a straight new way through this park. + +7th March, 1690. I dined with Mr. Pepys, late Secretary to the +Admiralty, where was that excellent shipwright and seaman (for so he had +been, and also a Commission of the Navy), Sir Anthony Deane. Among other +discourse, and deploring the sad condition of our navy, as now governed +by inexperienced men since this Revolution, he mentioned what exceeding +advantage we of this nation had by being the first who built frigates, +the first of which ever built was that vessel which was afterward called +"The Constant Warwick," and was the work of Pett of Chatham, for a trial +of making a vessel that would sail swiftly; it was built with low decks, +the guns lying near the water, and was so light and swift of sailing, +that in a short time he told us she had, ere the Dutch war was ended, +taken as much money from privateers as would have laden her; and that +more such being built, did in a year or two scour the Channel from those +of Dunkirk and others which had exceedingly infested it. He added that +it would be the best and only infallible expedient to be masters of the +sea, and able to destroy the greatest navy of any enemy if, instead of +building huge great ships and second and third rates, they would leave +off building such high decks, which were for nothing but to gratify +gentlemen-commanders, who must have all their effeminate accommodations, +and for pomp; that it would be the ruin of our fleets, if such persons +were continued in command, they neither having experience nor being +capable of learning, because they would not submit to the fatigue and +inconvenience which those who were bred seamen would undergo, in those +so otherwise useful swift frigates. These being to encounter the +greatest ships would be able to protect, set on, and bring off, those +who should manage the fire ships, and the Prince who should first store +himself with numbers of such fire ships, would, through the help and +countenance of such frigates, be able to ruin the greatest force of such +vast ships as could be sent to sea, by the dexterity of working those +light, swift ships to guard the fire ships. He concluded there would +shortly be no other method of seafight; and that great ships and +men-of-war, however stored with guns and men, must submit to those who +should encounter them with far less number. He represented to us the +dreadful effect of these fire ships; that he continually observed in our +late maritime war with the Dutch that, when an enemy's fire ship +approached, the most valiant commander and common sailors were in such +consternation, that though then, of all times, there was most need of +the guns, bombs, etc., to keep the mischief off, they grew pale and +astonished, as if of a quite other mean soul, that they slunk about, +forsook their guns and work as if in despair, every one looking about to +see which way they might get out of their ship, though sure to be +drowned if they did so. This he said was likely to prove hereafter the +method of seafight, likely to be the misfortune of England if they +continued to put gentlemen-commanders over experienced seamen, on +account of their ignorance, effeminacy, and insolence. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +9th March, 1690. Preached at Whitehall Dr. Burnet, late Bishop of Sarum, +on Heb. iv. 13, anatomically describing the texture of the eye; and +that, as it received such innumerable sorts of spies through so very +small a passage to the brain, and that without the least confusion or +trouble, and accordingly judged and reflected on them; so God who made +this sensory, did with the greatest ease and at once see all that was +done through the vast universe, even to the very thought as well as +action. This similitude he continued with much perspicuity and aptness; +and applied it accordingly, for the admonishing us how uprightly we +ought to live and behave ourselves before such an all-seeing Deity; and +how we were to conceive of other his attributes, which we could have no +idea of than by comparing them by what we were able to conceive of the +nature and power of things, which were the objects of our senses; and +therefore it was that in Scripture we attribute those actions and +affections of God by the same of man, not as adequately or in any +proportion like them, but as the only expedient to make some resemblance +of his divine perfections; as when the Scripture says, "God will +remember the sins of the penitent no more:" not as if God could forget +anything, but as intimating he would pass by such penitents and receive +them to mercy. + +I dined at the Bishop of St. Asaph's, Almoner to the new Queen, with +the famous lawyer Sir George Mackenzie (late Lord Advocate of Scotland), +against whom both the Bishop and myself had written and published books, +but now most friendly reconciled.[73] He related to us many particulars +of Scotland, the present sad condition of it, the inveterate hatred +which the Presbyterians show to the family of the Stuarts, and the +exceeding tyranny of those bigots who acknowledge no superior on earth, +in civil or divine matters, maintaining that the people only have the +right of government; their implacable hatred to the Episcopal Order and +Church of England. He observed that the first Presbyterian dissents from +our discipline were introduced by the Jesuits' order, about the 20 of +Queen Elizabeth, a famous Jesuit among them feigning himself a +Protestant, and who was the first who began to pray extempore, and +brought in that which they since called, and are still so fond of, +praying by the Spirit. This Jesuit remained many years before he was +discovered, afterward died in Scotland, where he was buried at ... +having yet on his monument, "_Rosa inter spinas_." + + [Footnote 73: Sir George, as we have seen, had written in praise of + a Private Life, which Mr. Evelyn answered by a book in praise of + Public Life and Active Employment.] + +11th March, 1690. I went again to see Mr. Charlton's curiosities, both +of art and nature, and his full and rare collection of medals, which +taken altogether, in all kinds, is doubtless one of the most perfect +assemblages of rarities that can be any where seen. I much admired the +contortions of the Thea root, which was so perplexed, large, and +intricate, and withal hard as box, that it was wonderful to consider. +The French have landed in Ireland. + +16th March, 1690. A public fast. + +24th May, 1690. City charter restored. Divers exempted from pardon. + +4th June, 1690. King William set forth on his Irish expedition, leaving +the Queen Regent. + +10th June, 1690. Mr. Pepys read to me his Remonstrance, showing with +what malice and injustice he was suspected with Sir Anthony Deane about +the timber, of which the thirty ships were built by a late Act of +Parliament, with the exceeding danger which the fleet would shortly be +in, by reason of the tyranny and incompetency of those who now managed +the Admiralty and affairs of the Navy, of which he gave an accurate +state, and showed his great ability. + +18th June, 1690. Fast day. Visited the Bishop of St. Asaph; his +conversation was on the Vaudois in Savoy, who had been thought so near +destruction and final extirpation by the French, being totally given up +to slaughter, so that there were no hopes for them; but now it pleased +God that the Duke of Savoy, who had hitherto joined with the French in +their persecution, being now pressed by them to deliver up Saluzzo and +Turin as cautionary towns, on suspicion that he might at last come into +the Confederacy of the German Princes, did secretly concert measures +with, and afterward declared for, them. He then invited these poor +people from their dispersion among the mountains whither they had fled, +and restored them to their country, their dwellings, and the exercise of +their religion, and begged pardon for the ill usage they had received, +charging it on the cruelty of the French who forced him to it. These +being the remainder of those persecuted Christians which the Bishop of +St. Asaph had so long affirmed to be the two witnesses spoken of in the +Revelation, who should be killed and brought to life again, it was +looked on as an extraordinary thing that this prophesying Bishop should +persuade two fugitive ministers of the Vaudois to return to their +country, and furnish them with £20 toward their journey, at that very +time when nothing but universal destruction was to be expected, assuring +them and showing them from the Apocalypse, that their countrymen should +be returned safely to their country before they arrived. This happening +contrary to all expectation and appearance, did exceedingly credit the +Bishop's confidence how that prophecy of the witnesses should come to +pass, just at the time, and the very month, he had spoken of some years +before. + +I afterward went with him to Mr. Boyle and Lady Ranelagh his sister, to +whom he explained the necessity of it so fully, and so learnedly made +out, with what events were immediately to follow, viz, the French King's +ruin, the calling of the Jews to be near at hand, but that the Kingdom +of Antichrist would not yet be utterly destroyed till thirty years, when +Christ should begin the Millenium, not as personally and visibly +reigning on earth, but that the true religion and universal peace should +obtain through all the world. He showed how Mr. Brightman, Mr. Mede, and +other interpreters of these events failed, by mistaking and reckoning +the year as the Latins and others did, to consist of the present +calculation, so many days to the year, whereas the Apocalypse reckons +after the Persian account, as Daniel did, whose visions St. John all +along explains as meaning only the Christian Church. + +24th June, 1690. Dined with Mr. Pepys, who the next day was sent to the +Gatehouse,[74] and several great persons to the Tower, on suspicion of +being affected to King James; among them was the Earl of Clarendon, the +Queen's uncle. King William having vanquished King James in Ireland, +there was much public rejoicing. It seems the Irish in King James's army +would not stand, but the English-Irish and French made great resistance. +Schomberg was slain, and Dr. Walker, who so bravely defended +Londonderry. King William received a slight wound by the grazing of a +cannon bullet on his shoulder, which he endured with very little +interruption of his pursuit. Hamilton, who broke his word about +Tyrconnel, was taken. It is reported that King James is gone back to +France. Drogheda and Dublin surrendered, and if King William be +returning, we may say of him as Cæsar said, "_Veni, vidi, vici_." But to +alloy much of this, the French fleet rides in our channel, ours not +daring to interpose, and the enemy threatening to land. + + [Footnote 74: Poor Pepys, as the reader knows, had already undergone + an imprisonment, with perhaps just as much reason as the present, on + the absurd accusation of having sent information to the French Court + of the state of the English Navy.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +27th June, 1690. I went to visit some friends in the Tower, when asking +for Lord Clarendon, they by mistake directed me to the Earl of +Torrington, who about three days before had been sent for from the +fleet, and put into the Tower for cowardice and not fighting the French +fleet, which having beaten a squadron of the Hollanders, while +Torrington did nothing, did now ride masters of the sea, threatening a +descent. + +20th July, 1690. This afternoon a camp of about 4,000 men was begun to +be formed on Blackheath. + +30th July, 1690. I dined with Mr. Pepys, now suffered to return to his +house, on account of indisposition. + +1st August, 1690. The Duke of Grafton came to visit me, going to his +ship at the mouth of the river, in his way to Ireland (where he was +slain). + +3d August, 1690. The French landed some soldiers at Teignmouth, in +Devon, and burned some poor houses. The French fleet still hovering +about the western coast, and we having 300 sail of rich merchant-ships +in the bay of Plymouth, our fleet began to move toward them, under three +admirals. The country in the west all on their guard. A very +extraordinary fine season; but on the 12th was a very great storm of +thunder and lightning, and on the 15th the season much changed to wet +and cold. The militia and trained bands, horse and foot, which were up +through England, were dismissed. The French King having news that King +William was slain, and his army defeated in Ireland, caused such a +triumph at Paris, and all over France, as was never heard of; when, in +the midst of it, the unhappy King James being vanquished, by a speedy +flight and escape, himself brought the news of his own defeat. + +15th August, 1690. I was desired to be one of the bail of the Earl of +Clarendon, for his release from the Tower, with divers noblemen. The +Bishop of St. Asaph expounds his prophecies to me and Mr. Pepys, etc. +The troops from Blackheath march to Portsmouth. That sweet and hopeful +youth, Sir Charles Tuke, died of the wounds he received in the fight of +the Boyne, to the great sorrow of all his friends, being (I think) the +last male of that family, to which my wife is related. A more virtuous +young gentleman I never knew; he was learned for his age, having had the +advantage of the choicest breeding abroad, both as to arts and arms; he +had traveled much, but was so unhappy as to fall in the side of his +unfortunate King. + +The unseasonable and most tempestuous weather happening, the naval +expedition is hindered, and the extremity of wet causes the siege of +Limerick to be raised, King William returned to England. Lord Sidney +left Governor of what is conquered in Ireland, which is near three parts +[in four]. + +17th August, 1690. A public feast. An extraordinary sharp, cold, east +wind. + +12th October, 1690. The French General, with Tyrconnel and their +forces, gone back to France, beaten out by King William. Cork delivered +on discretion. The Duke of Grafton was there mortally wounded and dies. +Very great storms of wind. The 8th of this month Lord Spencer wrote me +word from Althorpe, that there happened an earthquake the day before in +the morning, which, though short, sensibly shook the house. The +"Gazette" acquainted us that the like happened at the same time, +half-past seven, at Barnstaple, Holyhead, and Dublin. We were not +sensible of it here. + +26th October, 1690. Kinsale at last surrendered, meantime King James's +party burn all the houses they have in their power, and among them that +stately palace of Lord Ossory's, which lately cost, as reported, +£40,000. By a disastrous accident, a third-rate ship, the Breda, blew up +and destroyed all on board; in it were twenty-five prisoners of war. She +was to have sailed for England the next day. + +3d November, 1690. Went to the Countess of Clancarty, to condole with +her concerning her debauched and dissolute son, who had done so much +mischief in Ireland, now taken and brought prisoner to the Tower. + +16th November, 1690. Exceeding great storms, yet a warm season. + +23d November, 1690. Carried Mr. Pepys's memorials to Lord Godolphin, now +resuming the commission of the Treasury, to the wonder of all his +friends. + +1st December, 1690. Having been chosen President of the Royal Society, I +desired to decline it, and with great difficulty devolved the election +on Sir Robert Southwell, Secretary of State to King William in Ireland. + +20th December, 1690. Dr. Hough, President of Magdalen College, Oxford, +who was displaced with several of the Fellows for not taking the oath +imposed by King James, now made a Bishop. Most of this month cold and +frost. One Johnson, a Knight, was executed at Tyburn for being an +accomplice with Campbell, brother to Lord Argyle, in stealing a young +heiress. + +4th January, 1690-91. This week a PLOT was discovered for a general +rising against the new Government, for which (Henry) Lord Clarendon and +others were sent to the Tower. The next day, I went to see Lord +Clarendon. The Bishop of Ely searched for. Trial of Lord Preston, as not +being an English Peer, hastened at the Old Bailey. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +18th January, 1691. Lord Preston condemned about a design to bring in +King James by the French. Ashton executed. The Bishop of Ely, Mr. +Graham, etc., absconded. + +13th March, 1691. I went to visit Monsieur Justell and the Library at +St. James's, in which that learned man had put the MSS. (which were in +good number) into excellent order, they having lain neglected for many +years. Divers medals had been stolen and embezzled. + +21st March, 1691. Dined at Sir William Fermor's, who showed me many good +pictures. After dinner, a French servant played rarely on the lute. Sir +William had now bought all the remaining statues collected with so much +expense by the famous Thomas, Earl of Arundel, and sent them to his seat +at Easton, near Towcester.[75] + + [Footnote 75: They are now at Oxford, having been presented to the + University in 1755 by Henrietta, Countess Dowager of Pomfret, widow + of Thomas, the first Earl.] + +25th March, 1691. Lord Sidney, principal Secretary of State, gave me a +letter to Lord Lucas, Lieutenant of the Tower, to permit me to visit +Lord Clarendon; which this day I did, and dined with him. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +10th April, 1691. This night, a sudden and terrible fire burned down all +the buildings over the stone gallery at Whitehall to the water side, +beginning at the apartment of the late Duchess of Portsmouth (which had +been pulled down and rebuilt no less than three times to please her), +and consuming other lodgings of such lewd creatures, who debauched both +King Charles II. and others, and were his destruction. + +The King returned out of Holland just as this accident +happened--Proclamation against the Papists, etc. + +16th April, 1691. I went to see Dr. Sloane's curiosities, being an +universal collection of the natural productions of Jamaica, consisting +of plants, fruits, corals, minerals, stones, earth, shells, animals, and +insects, collected with great judgment; several folios of dried plants, +and one which had about 80 several sorts of ferns, and another of +grasses; the Jamaica pepper, in branch, leaves, flower, fruit, etc. This +collection,[76] with his Journal and other philosophical and natural +discourses and observations, indeed very copious and extraordinary, +sufficient to furnish a history of that island, to which I encouraged +him. + + [Footnote 76: It now forms part of the collection in the British + Museum.] + +19th April, 1691. The Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishops of Ely, Bath +and Wells, Peterborough, Gloucester, and the rest who would not take the +oaths to King William, were now displaced; and in their rooms, Dr. +Tillotson, Dean of St. Paul's, was made Archbishop: Patrick removed from +Chichester to Ely; Cumberland to Gloucester. + +22d April, 1691. I dined with Lord Clarendon in the Tower. + +24th April, 1691. I visited the Earl and Countess of Sunderland, now +come to kiss the King's hand after his return from Holland. This is a +mystery. The King preparing to return to the army. + +7th May, 1691. I went to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury [Sancroft] +yet at Lambeth. I found him alone, and discoursing of the times, +especially of the newly designed Bishops; he told me that by no canon or +divine law they could justify the removing of the present incumbents; +that Dr. Beveridge, designed Bishop of Bath and Wells, came to ask his +advice; that the Archbishop told him, though he should give it, he +believed he would not take it; the Doctor said he would; why then, says +the Archbishop, when they come to ask, say "_Nolo_," and say it from the +heart; there is nothing easier than to resolve yourself what is to be +done in the case: the Doctor seemed to deliberate. What he will do I +know not, but Bishop Ken, who is to be put out, is exceedingly beloved +in his diocese; and, if he and the rest should insist on it, and plead +their interest as freeholders, it is believed there would be difficulty +in their case, and it may endanger a schism and much disturbance, so as +wise men think it had been better to have let them alone, than to have +proceeded with this rigor to turn them out for refusing to swear against +their consciences. I asked at parting, when his Grace removed; he said +that he had not yet received any summons, but I found the house +altogether disfurnished and his books packed up. + +1st June, 1691. I went with my son, and brother-in-law, Glanville, and +his son, to Wotton, to solemnize the funeral of my nephew, which was +performed the next day very decently and orderly by the herald in the +afternoon, a very great appearance of the country being there. I was the +chief mourner; the pall was held by Sir Francis Vincent, Sir Richard +Onslow, Mr. Thomas Howard (son to Sir Robert, and Captain of the King's +Guard), Mr. Hyldiard, Mr. James, Mr. Herbert, nephew to Lord Herbert of +Cherbury, and cousin-german to my deceased nephew. He was laid in the +vault at Wotton Church, in the burying place of the family. A great +concourse of coaches and people accompanied the solemnity. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +10th June, 1691. I went to visit Lord Clarendon, still prisoner in the +Tower, though Lord Preston being pardoned was released. + +17th June, 1691. A fast. + +11th July, 1691. I dined with Mr. Pepys, where was Dr. Cumberland, the +new Bishop of Norwich,[77] Dr. Lloyd having been put out for not +acknowledging the Government. Cumberland is a very learned, excellent +man. Possession was now given to Dr. Tillotson, at Lambeth, by the +Sheriff; Archbishop Sancroft was gone, but had left his nephew to keep +possession; and he refusing to deliver it up on the Queen's message, was +dispossessed by the Sheriff, and imprisoned. This stout demeanor of the +few Bishops who refused to take the oaths to King William, animated a +great party to forsake the churches, so as to threaten a schism; though +those who looked further into the ancient practice, found that when (as +formerly) there were Bishops displaced on secular accounts, the people +never refused to acknowledge the new Bishops, provided they were not +heretics. The truth is, the whole clergy had till now stretched the duty +of passive obedience, so that the proceedings against these Bishops gave +no little occasion of exceptions; but this not amounting to heresy, +there was a necessity of receiving the new Bishops, to prevent a failure +of that order in the Church. I went to visit Lord Clarendon in the +Tower, but he was gone into the country for air by the Queen's +permission, under the care of his warden. + + [Footnote 77: A mistake. Dr. Cumberland was made Bishop of + Peterborough and Dr. John Moore succeeded Dr. Lloyd in the see of + Norwich.] + +18th July, 1691. To London to hear Mr. Stringfellow preach his first +sermon in the newly erected Church of Trinity, in Conduit Street; to +which I did recommend him to Dr. Tenison for the constant preacher and +lecturer. This Church, formerly built of timber on Hounslow-Heath by +King James for the mass priests, being begged by Dr. Tenison, rector of +St. Martin's, was set up by that public-minded, charitable, and pious +man near my son's dwelling in Dover Street, chiefly at the charge of the +Doctor. I know him to be an excellent preacher and a fit person. This +Church, though erected in St. Martin's, which is the Doctor's parish, he +was not only content, but was the sole industrious mover, that it should +be made a separate parish, in regard of the neighborhood having become +so populous. Wherefore to countenance and introduce the new minister, +and take possession of a gallery designed for my son's family, I went to +London, where, + +19th July, 1691. In the morning Dr. Tenison preached the first sermon, +taking his text from Psalm xxvi. 8. "Lord, I have loved the habitation +of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth." In concluding, +he gave that this should be made a parish church so soon as the +Parliament sat, and was to be dedicated to the Holy Trinity, in honor of +the three undivided persons in the Deity; and he minded them to attend +to that faith of the church, now especially that Arianism, Socinianism, +and atheism began to spread among us. In the afternoon, Mr. Stringfellow +preached on Luke vii. 5. "The centurion who had built a synagogue." He +proceeded to the due praise of persons of such public spirit, and thence +to such a character of pious benefactors in the person of the generous +centurion, as was comprehensive of all the virtues of an accomplished +Christian, in a style so full, eloquent, and moving, that I never heard +a sermon more apposite to the occasion. He modestly insinuated the +obligation they had to that person who should be the author and promoter +of such public works for the benefit of mankind, especially to the +advantage of religion, such as building and endowing churches, +hospitals, libraries, schools, procuring the best editions of useful +books, by which he handsomely intimated who it was that had been so +exemplary for his benefaction to that place. Indeed, that excellent +person, Dr. Tenison, had also erected and furnished a public library [in +St. Martin's]; and set up two or three free schools at his own charges. +Besides this, he was of an exemplary, holy life, took great pains in +constantly preaching, and incessantly employing himself to promote the +service of God both in public and private. I never knew a man of a more +universal and generous spirit, with so much modesty, prudence, and +piety. + +The great victory of King William's army in Ireland was looked on as +decisive of that war. The French General, St. Ruth, who had been so +cruel to the poor Protestants in France, was slain, with divers of the +best commanders; nor was it cheap to us, having 1,000 killed, but of the +enemy 4,000 or 5,000. + +26th July, 1691. An extraordinary hot season, yet refreshed by some +thundershowers. + +28th July, 1691. I went to Wotton. + +2d August, 1691. No sermon in the church in the afternoon, and the +curacy ill-served. + +16th August, 1691. A sermon by the curate; an honest discourse, but read +without any spirit, or seeming concern; a great fault in the education +of young preachers. Great thunder and lightning on Thursday, but the +rain and wind very violent. Our fleet come in to lay up the great ships; +nothing done at sea, pretending that we cannot meet the French. + +13th September, 1691. A great storm at sea; we lost the "Coronation" and +"Harwich," above 600 men perishing. + +14th October, 1691. A most pleasing autumn. Our navy come in without +having performed anything, yet there has been great loss of ships by +negligence, and unskillful men governing the fleet and Navy board. + +7th November, 1691. I visited the Earl of Dover, who having made his +peace with the King, was now come home. The relation he gave of the +strength of the French King, and the difficulty of our forcing him to +fight, and any way making impression into France, was very wide from +what we fancied. + +8th to 30th November, 1691. An extraordinary dry and warm season, +without frost, and like a new spring; such as had not been known for +many years. Part of the King's house at Kensington was burned. + +6th December, 1691. Discourse of another PLOT, in which several great +persons were named, but believed to be a sham.--A proposal in the House +of Commons that every officer in the whole nation who received a salary +above £500 or otherwise by virtue of his office, should contribute it +wholly to the support of the war with France, and this upon their oath. + +25th December, 1691. My daughter-in-law was brought to bed of a +daughter. + +26th December, 1691. An exceedingly dry and calm winter; no rain for +many past months. + +28th December, 1691. Dined at Lambeth with the new Archbishop. Saw the +effect of my greenhouse furnace, set up by the Archbishop's son-in-law. + +30th December, 1691. I again saw Mr. Charlton's collection of spiders, +birds, scorpions, and other serpents, etc. + +1st January, 1691-92. This last week died that pious, admirable +Christian, excellent philosopher, and my worthy friend, Mr. Boyle, aged +about 65,--a great loss to all that knew him, and to the public. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th January, 1692. At the funeral of Mr. Boyle, at St. Martin's, Dr. +Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, preached on Eccles. ii. 26. He concluded +with an eulogy due to the deceased, who made God and religion the scope +of all his excellent talents in the knowledge of nature, and who had +arrived to so high a degree in it, accompanied with such zeal and +extraordinary piety, which he showed in the whole course of his life, +particularly in his exemplary charity on all occasions,--that he gave +£1,000 yearly to the distressed refugees of France and Ireland; was at +the charge of translating the Scriptures into the Irish and Indian +tongues, and was now promoting a Turkish translation, as he had formerly +done of Grotius "on the Truth of the Christian Religion" into Arabic, +which he caused to be dispersed in the eastern countries; that he had +settled a fund for preachers who should preach expressly against +Atheists, Libertines, Socinians, and Jews; that he had in his will given +£8,000 to charitable uses; but that his private charities were +extraordinary. He dilated on his learning in Hebrew and Greek, his +reading of the fathers, and solid knowledge in theology, once +deliberating about taking Holy Orders, and that at the time of +restoration of King Charles II., when he might have made a great figure +in the nation as to secular honor and titles, his fear of not being able +to discharge so weighty a duty as the first, made him decline that, and +his humility the other. He spoke of his civility to strangers, the great +good which he did by his experience in medicine and chemistry, and to +what noble ends he applied himself to his darling studies; the works, +both pious and useful, which he published; the exact life he led, and +the happy end he made. Something was touched of his sister, the Lady +Ranelagh, who died but a few days before him. And truly all this was but +his due, without any grain of flattery. + +This week a most execrable murder was committed on Dr. Clench, father of +that extraordinary learned child whom I have before noticed. Under +pretense of carrying him in a coach to see a patient, they strangled him +in it; and, sending away the coachman under some pretense, they left his +dead body in the coach, and escaped in the dusk of the evening. + +12th January, 1692. My granddaughter was christened by Dr. Tenison, now +Bishop of Lincoln, in Trinity Church, being the first that was +christened there. She was named Jane. + +24th January, 1692. A frosty and dry season continued; many persons die +of apoplexy, more than usual. Lord Marlborough, Lieutenant-General of +the King's army in England, gentleman of the bedchamber, etc., dismissed +from all his charges, military and other, for his excessive taking of +bribes, covetousness, and extortion on all occasions from his inferior +officers. Note, this was the Lord who was entirely advanced by King +James, and was the first who betrayed and forsook his master. He was son +of Sir Winston Churchill of the Greencloth. + +7th February, 1692. An extraordinary snow fell in most parts. + +13th February, 1692. Mr. Boyle having made me one of the trustees for +his charitable bequests, I went to a meeting of the Bishop of Lincoln, +Sir Rob.... wood, and serjeant, Rotheram, to settle that clause in the +will which related to charitable uses, and especially the appointing and +electing a minister to preach one sermon the first Sunday in the month, +during the four summer months, expressly against Atheists, Deists, +Libertines, Jews, etc., without descending to any other controversy +whatever, for which £50 per annum is to be paid quarterly to the +preacher; and, at the end of three years, to proceed to a new election +of some other able divine, or to continue the same, as the trustees +should judge convenient. We made choice of one Mr. Bentley, chaplain to +the Bishop of Worcester (Dr. Stillingfleet). The first sermon was +appointed for the first Sunday in March, at St. Martin's; the second +Sunday in April, at Bow Church, and so alternately. + +28th February, 1692. Lord Marlborough having used words against the +King, and been discharged from all his great places, his wife was +forbidden the Court, and the Princess of Denmark was desired by the +Queen to dismiss her from her service; but she refusing to do so, goes +away from Court to Sion house. Divers new Lords made: Sir Henry Capel, +Sir William Fermor, etc. Change of Commissioners in the Treasury. The +Parliament adjourned, not well satisfied with affairs. The business of +the East India Company, which they would have reformed, let fall. The +Duke of Norfolk does not succeed in his endeavor to be divorced.[78] + + [Footnote 78: See _post_ pp. 351-52.] + +20th March, 1692. My son was made one of the Commissioners of the +Revenue and Treasury of Ireland, to which employment he had a mind, far +from my wishes. I visited the Earl of Peterborough, who showed me the +picture of the Prince of Wales, newly brought out of France, seeming in +my opinion very much to resemble the Queen his mother, and of a most +vivacious countenance. + +April, 1692. No spring yet appearing. The Queen Dowager went out of +England toward Portugal, as pretended, against the advice of all her +friends. + +4th April, 1692. Mr. Bentley preached Mr. Boyle's lecture at St. +Mary-le-Bow. So excellent a discourse against the Epicurean system is +not to be recapitulated in a few words. He came to me to ask whether I +thought it should be printed, or that there was anything in it which I +desired to be altered. I took this as a civility, and earnestly desired +it should be printed, as one of the most learned and convincing +discourses I had ever heard. + +6th April, 1692. A fast. King James sends a letter written and directed +by his own hand to several of the Privy Council, and one to his +daughter, the Queen Regent, informing them of the Queen being ready to +be brought to bed, and summoning them to be at the birth by the middle +of May, promising as from the French King, permission to come and return +in safety. + +24th April, 1692. Much apprehension of a French invasion, and of an +universal rising. Our fleet begins to join with the Dutch. Unkindness +between the Queen and her sister. Very cold and unseasonable weather, +scarce a leaf on the trees. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th May, 1692. Reports of an invasion were very hot, and alarmed the +city, Court, and people; nothing but securing suspected persons, sending +forces to the seaside, and hastening out the fleet. Continued discourse +of the French invasion, and of ours in France. The eastern wind so +constantly blowing, gave our fleet time to unite, which had been so +tardy in preparation, that, had not God thus wonderfully favored, the +enemy would in all probability have fallen upon us. Many daily secured, +and proclamations out for more conspirators. + +8th May, 1692. My kinsman, Sir Edward Evelyn, of Long Ditton, died +suddenly. + +12th May, 1692. A fast. + +13th May, 1692. I dined at my cousin Cheny's, son to my Lord Cheny, who +married my cousin Pierpoint. + +15th May, 1692. My niece, M. Evelyn, was now married to Sir Cyril Wyche, +Secretary of State for Ireland. After all our apprehensions of being +invaded, and doubts of our success by sea, it pleased God to give us a +great naval victory, to the utter ruin of the French fleet, their +admiral and all their best men-of-war, transport-ships, etc. + +29th May, 1692. Though this day was set apart expressly for celebrating +the memorable birth, return, and restoration of the late King Charles +II., there was no notice taken of it, nor any part of the office annexed +to the Common Prayer Book made use of, which I think was ill done, in +regard his restoration not only redeemed us from anarchy and confusion, +but restored the Church of England as it were miraculously. + +9th June, 1692. I went to Windsor to carry my grandson to Eton School, +where I met my Lady Stonehouse and other of my daughter-in-law's +relations, who came on purpose to see her before her journey into +Ireland. We went to see the castle, which we found furnished and very +neatly kept, as formerly, only that the arms in the guard chamber and +keep were removed and carried away. An exceeding great storm of wind and +rain, in some places stripping the trees of their fruit and leaves as if +it had been winter; and an extraordinary wet season, with great floods. + +23d July, 1692. 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 entertained. The next day to St. George's +Chapel, and returned to London late in the evening. + +25th July, 1692. To Mr. Hewer's at Clapham, where he has an excellent, +useful, and capacious house on the Common, built by Sir Den. Gauden, and +by him sold to Mr. Hewer, who got a very considerable estate in the +Navy, in which, from being Mr. Pepys's clerk, he came to be one of the +principal officers, but was put out of all employment on the Revolution, +as were all the best officers, on suspicion of being no friends to the +change; such were put in their places, as were most shamefully ignorant +and unfit. Mr. Hewer lives very handsomely and friendly to everybody. +Our fleet was now sailing on their long pretense of a descent on the +French coast; but, after having sailed one hundred leagues, returned, +the admiral and officers disagreeing as to the place where they were to +land, and the time of year being so far spent,--to the great dishonor of +those at the helm, who concerted their matters so indiscreetly, or, as +some thought, designedly. + +This whole summer was exceedingly wet and rainy, the like had not been +known since the year 1648; while in Ireland they had not known so great +a drought. + +26th July, 1692. I went to visit the Bishop of Lincoln, when, among +other things, he told me that one Dr. Chaplin, of University College in +Oxford, was the person who wrote the "Whole Duty of Man"; that he used +to read it to his pupil, and communicated it to Dr. Sterne, afterward +Archbishop of York, but would never suffer any of his pupils to have a +copy of it. + +9th August, 1692. A fast. Came the sad news of the hurricane and +earthquake, which has destroyed almost the whole Island of Jamaica, many +thousands having perished. + +11th August, 1692. My son, his wife, and little daughter, went for +Ireland, there to reside as one of the Commissioners of the Revenue. + +14th August, 1692. Still an exceedingly wet season. + +15th September, 1692. There happened an earthquake, which, though not so +great as to do any harm in England, was universal in all these parts of +Europe. It shook the house at Wotton, but was not perceived by any save +a servant or two, who were making my bed, and another in a garret. I and +the rest being at dinner below in the parlor, were not sensible of it. +The dreadful one in Jamaica this summer was profanely and ludicrously +represented in a puppet play, or some such lewd pastime, in the fair of +Southwark, which caused the Queen to put down that idle and vicious mock +show. + +1st October, 1692. This season was so exceedingly cold, by reason of a +long and tempestuous northeast wind, that this usually pleasant month +was very uncomfortable. No fruit ripened kindly. Harbord dies at +Belgrade; Lord Paget sent Ambassador in his room. + +6th November, 1692. There was a vestry called about repairing or new +building of the church [at Deptford], which I thought unseasonable in +regard of heavy taxes, and other improper circumstances, which I there +declared. + +10th November, 1692. A solemn Thanksgiving for our victory at sea, safe +return of the King, etc. + +20th November, 1692. Dr. Lancaster, the new Vicar of St. Martin's, +preached. + +A signal robbery in Hertfordshire of the tax money bringing out of the +north toward London. They were set upon by several desperate persons, +who dismounted and stopped all travelers on the road, and guarding them +in a field, when the exploit was done, and the treasure taken, they +killed all the horses of those whom they stayed, to hinder pursuit, +being sixteen horses. They then dismissed those that they had +dismounted. + +14th December, 1692. With much reluctance we gratified Sir J. +Rotherham, one of Mr. Boyle's trustees, by admitting the Bishop of Bath +and Wells to be lecturer for the next year, instead of Mr. Bentley, who +had so worthily acquitted himself. We intended to take him in again the +next year. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +January, 1692-93. Contest in Parliament about a self-denying Act, that +no Parliament man should have any office; it wanted only two or three +voices to have been carried. The Duke of Norfolk's bill for a divorce +thrown out, he having managed it very indiscreetly. The quarrel between +Admiral Russell and Lord Nottingham yet undetermined. + +4th February, 1693. After five days' trial and extraordinary contest, +the Lord Mohun was acquitted by the Lords of the murder of Montford, the +player, notwithstanding the judges, from the pregnant witnesses of the +fact, had declared him guilty; but whether in commiseration of his +youth, being not eighteen years old, though exceedingly dissolute, or +upon whatever other reason, the King himself present some part of the +trial, and satisfied, as they report, that he was culpable. 69 acquitted +him, only 14 condemned him. + +Unheard of stories of the universal increase of witches in New England; +men, women, and children, devoting themselves to the devil, so as to +threaten the subversion of the government.[79] At the same time there +was a conspiracy among the negroes in Barbadoes to murder all their +masters, discovered by overhearing a discourse of two of the slaves, and +so preventing the execution of the design. Hitherto an exceedingly mild +winter. France in the utmost misery and poverty for want of corn and +subsistence, while the ambitious King is intent to pursue his conquests +on the rest of his neighbors both by sea and land. Our Admiral, Russell, +laid aside for not pursuing the advantage he had obtained over the +French in the past summer; three others chosen in his place. Dr. Burnet, +Bishop of Salisbury's book burned by the hangman for an expression of +the King's title by conquest, on a complaint of Joseph How, a member of +Parliament, little better than a madman. + + [Footnote 79: Some account of these poor people is given in Bray and + Manning's "History of Surrey," ii. 714, from the papers of the Rev. + Mr. Miller, Vicar of Effingham, in that county, who was chaplain to + the King's forces in the colony from 1692 to 1695. Some of the + accused were convicted and executed; but Sir William Phipps, the + Governor, had the good sense to reprieve, and afterward pardon, + several; and the Queen approved his conduct.] + +19th February, 1693. The Bishop of Lincoln preached in the afternoon at +the Tabernacle near Golden Square, set up by him. Proposals of a +marriage between Mr. Draper and my daughter Susanna. Hitherto an +exceedingly warm winter, such as has seldom been known, and portending +an unprosperous spring as to the fruits of the earth; our climate +requires more cold and winterly weather. The dreadful and astonishing +earthquake swallowing up Catania, and other famous and ancient cities, +with more than 100,000 persons in Sicily, on 11th January last, came now +to be reported among us. + +26th February, 1693. An extraordinary deep snow, after almost no winter, +and a sudden gentle thaw. A deplorable earthquake at Malta, since that +of Sicily, nearly as great. + +19th March, 1693. A new Secretary of State, Sir John Trenchard; the +Attorney-General, Somers, made Lord-Keeper, a young lawyer of +extraordinary merit. King William goes toward Flanders; but returns, the +wind being contrary. + +31st March, 1693. I met the King going to Gravesend to embark in his +yacht for Holland. + +23d April, 1693. An extraordinary wet spring. + +27th April, 1693. My daughter Susanna was married to William Draper, +Esq., in the chapel of Ely House, by Dr. Tenison, Bishop of Lincoln +(since Archbishop). I gave her in portion £4,000, her jointure is £500 +per annum. I pray Almighty God to give his blessing to this marriage! +She is a good child, religious, discreet, ingenious, and qualified with +all the ornaments of her sex. She has a peculiar talent in design, as +painting in oil and miniature, and an extraordinary genius for whatever +hands can do with a needle. She has the French tongue, has read most of +the Greek and Roman authors and poets, using her talents with great +modesty; exquisitely shaped, and of an agreeable countenance. This +character is due to her, though coming from her father. Much of this +week spent in ceremonies, receiving visits and entertaining relations, +and a great part of the next in returning visits. + +11th May, 1693. We accompanied my daughter to her husband's house, +where with many of his and our relations we were magnificently treated. +There we left her in an apartment very richly adorned and furnished, and +I hope in as happy a condition as could be wished, and with the great +satisfaction of all our friends; for which God be praised! + +14th May, 1693. Nothing yet of action from abroad. Muttering of a design +to bring forces under color of an expected descent, to be a standing +army for other purposes. Talk of a declaration of the French King, +offering mighty advantages to the confederates, exclusive of King +William; and another of King James, with an universal pardon, and +referring the composing of all differences to a Parliament. These were +yet but discourses; but something is certainly under it. A declaration +or manifesto from King James, so written, that many thought it +reasonable, and much more to the purpose than any of his former. + +June, 1693. WHITSUNDAY. I went to my Lord Griffith's chapel; the common +church office was used for the King without naming the person, with some +other, apposite to the necessity and circumstances of the time. + +11th June, 1693. I dined at Sir William Godolphin's; and, after evening +prayer, visited the Duchess of Grafton. + +21st June, 1693. I saw a great auction of pictures in the Banqueting +house, Whitehall. They had been my Lord Melford's, now Ambassador from +King James at Rome, and engaged to his creditors here. Lord Mulgrave and +Sir Edward Seymour came to my house, and desired me to go with them to +the sale. Divers more of the great lords, etc., were there, and bought +pictures dear enough. There were some very excellent of Vandyke, Rubens, +and Bassan. Lord Godolphin bought the picture of the Boys, by Murillo +the Spaniard, for 80 guineas, dear enough; my nephew Glanville, the old +Earl of Arundel's head by Rubens, for £20. Growing late, I did not stay +till all were sold. + +24th June, 1693. A very wet hay harvest, and little summer as yet. + +9th July, 1693. Mr. Tippin, successor of Dr. Parr at Camberwell, +preached an excellent sermon. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +13th July, 1693. I saw the Queen's rare cabinets and collection of +china; which was wonderfully rich and plentiful, but especially a large +cabinet, looking-glass frame and stands, all of amber, much of it white, +with historical bas-reliefs and statues, with medals carved in them, +esteemed worth £4,000, sent by the Duke of Brandenburgh, whose country, +Prussia, abounds with amber, cast up by the sea; divers other China and +Indian cabinets, screens, and hangings. In her library were many books +in English, French, and Dutch, of all sorts; a cupboard of gold plate; a +cabinet of silver filagree, which I think was our Queen Mary's, and +which, in my opinion, should have been generously sent to her. + +18th July, 1693. I dined with Lord Mulgrave, with the Earl of +Devonshire, Mr. Hampden (a scholar and fine gentleman), Dr. Davenant, +Sir Henry Vane, and others, and saw and admired the Venus of Correggio, +which Lord Mulgrave had newly bought of Mr. Daun for £250; one of the +best paintings I ever saw. + +1st August, 1693. Lord Capel, Sir Cyril Wyche, and Mr. Duncomb, made +Lord Justices in Ireland; Lord Sydney recalled, and made Master of the +Ordnance. + +6th August, 1693. Very lovely harvest weather, and a wholesome season, +but no garden fruit. + +31st October, 1693. A very wet and uncomfortable season. + +12th November, 1693. Lord Nottingham resigned as Secretary of State; the +Commissioners of the Admiralty ousted, and Russell restored to his +office. The season continued very wet, as it had nearly all the summer, +if one might call it summer, in which there was no fruit, but corn was +very plentiful. + +14th November, 1693. In the lottery set up after the Venetian manner by +Mr. Neale, Sir R. Haddock, one of the Commissioners of the Navy, had the +greatest lot, £3,000; my coachman £40. + +17th November, 1693. Was the funeral of Captain Young, who died of the +stone and great age. I think he was the first who in the first war with +Cromwell against Spain, took the Governor of Havanna, and another rich +prize, and struck the first stroke against the Dutch fleet in the first +war with Holland in the time of the Rebellion; a sober man and an +excellent seaman. + +30th November, 1693. Much importuned to take the office of President of +the Royal Society, but I again declined it. Sir Robert Southwell was +continued. We all dined at Pontac's as usual. + +3d December, 1693. Mr. Bentley preached at the Tabernacle, near Golden +Square. I gave my voice for him to proceed on his former subject the +following year in Mr. Boyle's lecture, in which he had been interrupted +by the importunity of Sir J. Rotheram that the Bishop of Chichester[80] +might be chosen the year before, to the great dissatisfaction of the +Bishop of Lincoln and myself. We chose Mr. Bentley again. The Duchess of +Grafton's appeal to the House of Lords for the Prothonotary's place +given to the late Duke and to her son by King Charles II., now +challenged by the Lord Chief Justice. The judges were severely reproved +on something they said. + + [Footnote 80: A mistake for Bath and Wells. Bishop Kidder is + referred to.] + +10th December, 1693. A very great storm of thunder and lightning. + +1st January, 1693-94. Prince Lewis of Baden came to London, and was much +feasted. Danish ships arrested carrying corn and naval stores to France. + +11th January, 1694. Supped at Mr. Edward Sheldon's, where was Mr. +Dryden, the poet, who now intended to write no more plays, being intent +on his translation of Virgil. He read to us his prologue and epilogue to +his valedictory play now shortly to be acted. + +21st January, 1694. Lord Macclesfield, Lord Warrington, and Lord +Westmorland, all died within about one week. Several persons shot, +hanged, and made away with themselves. + +11th February, 1694. Now was the great trial of the appeal of Lord Bath +and Lord Montagu before the Lords, for the estate of the late Duke of +Albemarle. + +10th March, 1694. Mr. Stringfellow preached at Trinity parish, being +restored to that place, after the contest between the Queen and the +Bishop of London who had displaced him. + +22d March, 1694. Came the dismal news of the disaster befallen our +Turkey fleet by tempest, to the almost utter ruin of that trade, the +convoy of three or four men-of-war, and divers merchant ships, with all +their men and lading, having perished. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +25th March, 1694. Mr. Goode, minister of St. Martin's, preached; he was +likewise put in by the Queen, on the issue of her process with the +Bishop of London. + +30th March, 1694. I went to the Duke of Norfolk, to desire him to make +cousin Evelyn of Nutfield one of the Deputy-Lieutenants of Surrey, and +entreat him to dismiss my brother, now unable to serve by reason of age +and infirmity. The Duke granted the one, but would not suffer my brother +to resign his commission, desiring he should keep the honor of it during +his life, though he could not act. He professed great kindness to our +family. + +1st April, 1694. Dr. Sharp, Archbishop of York, preached in the +afternoon at the Tabernacle, by Soho. + +13th April, 1694. Mr. Bentley, our Boyle Lecturer, Chaplain to the +Bishop of Worcester, came to see me. + +15th April, 1694. One Mr. Stanhope preached a most excellent sermon. + +22d April, 1694. A fiery exhalation rising out of the sea, spread itself +in Montgomeryshire a furlong broad, and many miles in length, burning +all straw, hay, thatch, and grass, but doing no harm to trees, timber, +or any solid things, only firing barns, or thatched houses. It left such +a taint on the grass as to kill all the cattle that eat of it. I saw the +attestations in the hands of the sufferers. It lasted many months. "The +Berkeley Castle" sunk by the French coming from the East Indies, worth +£200,000. The French took our castle of Gamboo in Guinea, so that the +Africa Actions fell to £30, and the India to £80. Some regiments of +Highland Dragoons were on their march through England; they were of +large stature, well appointed and disciplined. One of them having +reproached a Dutchman for cowardice in our late fight, was attacked by +two Dutchmen, when with his sword he struck off the head of one, and +cleft the skull of the other down to his chin. + +A very young gentleman named Wilson, the younger son of one who had not +above £200 a year estate, lived in the garb and equipage of the richest +nobleman, for house, furniture, coaches, saddle horses, and kept a +table, and all things accordingly, redeemed his father's estate, and +gave portions to his sisters, being challenged by one Laws, a Scotchman, +was killed in a duel, not fairly. The quarrel arose from his taking away +his own sister from lodging in a house where this Laws had a mistress, +which the mistress of the house thinking a disparagement to it, and +losing by it, instigated Laws to this duel. He was taken and condemned +for murder. The mystery is how this so young a gentleman, very sober and +of good fame, could live in such an expensive manner; it could not be +discovered by all possible industry, or entreaty of his friends to make +him reveal it. It did not appear that he was kept by women, play, +coining, padding, or dealing in chemistry; but he would sometimes say +that if he should live ever so long, he had wherewith to maintain +himself in the same manner. He was very civil and well-natured, but of +no great force of understanding. This was a subject of much discourse. + +24th April, 1694. I went to visit Mr. Waller, an extraordinary young +gentleman of great accomplishments, skilled in mathematics, anatomy, +music, painting both in oil and miniature to great perfection, an +excellent botanist, a rare engraver on brass, writer in Latin, and a +poet; and with all this exceedingly modest. His house is an academy of +itself. I carried him to see Brompton Park [by Knightsbridge], where he +was in admiration at the store of rare plants, and the method he found +in that noble nursery, and how well it was cultivated. A public Bank of +£140,000, set up by Act of Parliament among other Acts, and Lotteries +for money to carry on the war. The whole month of April without rain. A +great rising of people in Buckinghamshire, on the declaration of a +famous preacher, till now reputed a sober and religious man, that our +Lord Christ appearing to him on the 16th of this month, told him he was +now come down, and would appear publicly at Pentecost, and gather all +the saints, Jews and Gentiles, and lead them to Jerusalem, and begin the +Millennium, and destroying and judging the wicked, deliver the +government of the world to the saints. Great multitudes followed this +preacher, divers of the most zealous brought their goods and +considerable sums of money, and began to live in imitation of the +primitive saints, minding no private concerns, continually dancing and +singing Hallelujah night and day. This brings to mind what I lately +happened to find in Alstedius, that the thousand years should begin this +very year 1694; it is in his "Encyclopædia Biblica." My copy of the book +printed near sixty years ago. + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +4th May, 1694. I went this day with my wife and four servants from Sayes +Court, removing much furniture of all sorts, books, pictures, hangings, +bedding, etc., to furnish the apartment my brother assigned me, and now, +after more than forty years, to spend the rest of my days with him at +Wotton, where I was born; leaving my house at Deptford full furnished, +and three servants, to my son-in-law Draper, to pass the summer in, and +such longer time as he should think fit to make use of it. + +6th May, 1694. This being the first Sunday in the month, the blessed +sacrament of the Lord's Supper ought to have been celebrated at Wotton +church, but in this parish it is exceedingly neglected, so that, unless +at the four great feasts, there is no communion hereabouts; which is a +great fault both in ministers and people. I have spoken to my brother, +who is the patron, to discourse the minister about it. Scarcely one +shower has fallen since the beginning of April. + +30th May, 1694. This week we had news of my Lord Tiviot having cut his +own throat, through what discontent not yet said. He had been, not many +years past, my colleague in the commission of the Privy Seal, in old +acquaintance, very soberly and religiously inclined. Lord, what are we +without thy continual grace! + +Lord Falkland, grandson to the learned Lord Falkland, Secretary of State +to King Charles I., and slain in his service, died now of the smallpox. +He was a pretty, brisk, understanding, industrious young gentleman; had +formerly been faulty, but now much reclaimed; had also the good luck to +marry a very great fortune, besides being entitled to a vast sum, his +share of the Spanish wreck, taken up at the expense of divers +adventurers. From a Scotch Viscount he was made an English Baron, +designed Ambassador for Holland; had been Treasurer of the Navy, and +advancing extremely in the new Court. All now gone in a moment, and I +think the title is extinct. I know not whether the estate devolves to my +cousin Carew. It was at my Lord Falkland's, whose lady importuned us to +let our daughter be with her some time, so that that dear child took the +same infection, which cost her valuable life. + +3d June, 1694. Mr. Edwards, minister of Denton, in Sussex, a living in +my brother's gift, came to see him. He had suffered much by a fire. +Seasonable showers. + +14th June, 1694. The public fast. Mr. Wotton, that extraordinary learned +young man, preached excellently. + +1st July, 1694. Mr. Duncomb, minister of Albury, preached at Wotton, a +very religious and exact discourse. + +The first great bank for a fund of money being now established by Act of +Parliament, was filled and completed to the sum of £120,000, and put +under the government of the most able and wealthy citizens of London. +All who adventured any sum had four per cent., so long as it lay in the +bank, and had power either to take it out at pleasure, or transfer it. +Glorious steady weather; corn and all fruits in extraordinary plenty +generally. + +13th July, 1694. Lord Berkeley burnt Dieppe and Havre de Grace with +bombs, in revenge for the defeat at Brest. This manner of destructive +war was begun by the French, is exceedingly ruinous, especially falling +on the poorer people, and does not seem to tend to make a more speedy +end of the war; but rather to exasperate and incite to revenge. Many +executed at London for clipping money, now done to that intolerable +extent, that there was hardly any money that was worth above half the +nominal value. + +4th August, 1694. I went to visit my cousin, George Evelyn of Nutfield, +where I found a family of ten children, five sons and five +daughters--all beautiful women grown, and extremely well-fashioned. All +painted in one piece, very well, by Mr. Lutterell, in crayon on copper, +and seeming to be as finely painted as the best miniature. They are the +children of two extraordinary beautiful wives. The boys were at school. + +5th August, 1694. Stormy and unseasonable wet weather this week. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th October, 1694. I went to St. Paul's to see the choir, now finished +as to the stone work, and the scaffold struck both without and within, +in that part. Some exceptions might perhaps be taken as to the placing +columns on pilasters at the east tribunal. As to the rest it is a piece +of architecture without reproach. The pulling out the forms, like +drawers, from under the stalls, is ingenious. I went also to see the +building beginning near St. Giles's, where seven streets make a star +from a Doric pillar placed in the middle of a circular area; said to be +built by Mr. Neale, introducer of the late lotteries, in imitation of +those at Venice, now set up here, for himself twice, and now one for the +State. + +28th October, 1694. Mr. Stringfellow preached at Trinity church. + +22d November, 1694. Visited the Bishop of Lincoln [Tenison] newly come +on the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who a few days before had +a paralytic stroke,--the same day and month that Archbishop Sancroft was +put out. A very sickly time, especially the smallpox, of which divers +considerable persons died. The State lottery[81] drawing, Mr. Cock, a +French refugee, and a President in the Parliament of Paris for the +Reformed, drew a lot of £1,000 per annum. + + [Footnote 81: State lotteries finally closed October 18, 1826.] + +29th November, 1694. I visited the Marquis of Normanby, and had much +discourse concerning King Charles II. being poisoned. Also concerning +the _quinquina_ which the physicians would not give to the King, at a +time when, in a dangerous ague, it was the only thing that could cure +him (out of envy because it had been brought into vogue by Mr. Tudor, an +apothecary), till Dr. Short, to whom the King sent to know his opinion +of it privately, he being reputed a Papist (but who was in truth a very +honest, good Christian), sent word to the King that it was the only +thing which could save his life, and then the King enjoined his +physicians to give it to him, which they did and he recovered. Being +asked by this Lord why they would not prescribe it, Dr. Lower said it +would spoil their practice, or some such expression, and at last +confessed it was a remedy fit only for kings. Exception was taken that +the late Archbishop did not cause any of his Chaplains to use any office +for the sick during his illness. + +9th December, 1694. I had news that my dear and worthy friend, Dr. +Tenison, Bishop of Lincoln, was made Archbishop of Canterbury, for which +I thank God and rejoice, he being most worthy of it, for his learning, +piety, and prudence. + +13th December, 1694. I went to London to congratulate him. He being my +proxy, gave my vote for Dr. Williams, to succeed Mr. Bentley in Mr. +Boyle's lectures. + +29th December, 1694. The smallpox increased exceedingly, and was very +mortal. The Queen died of it on the 28th. + +13th January, 1694-95. The Thames was frozen over. The deaths by +smallpox increased to five hundred more than in the preceding week. The +King and Princess Anne reconciled, and she was invited to keep her Court +at Whitehall, having hitherto lived privately at Berkeley House; she was +desired to take into her family divers servants of the late Queen; to +maintain them the King has assigned her £5,000 a quarter. + +20th January, 1695. The frost and continual snow have now lasted five +weeks. + +February, 1695. Lord Spencer married the Duke of Newcastle's daughter, +and our neighbor, Mr. Hussey, married a daughter of my cousin, George +Evelyn, of Nutfield. + +3d February, 1695. The long frost intermitted, but not gone. + +17th February, 1695. Called to London by Lord Godolphin, one of the +Lords of the Treasury, offering me the treasurership of the hospital +designed to be built at Greenwich for worn-out seamen. + +24th February, 1695. I saw the Queen lie in state. + +27th February, 1695. The Marquis of Normanby told me King Charles had a +design to buy all King Street, and build it nobly, it being the street +leading to Westminster. This might have been done for the expense of the +Queen's funeral, which was £50,000, against her desire. + +5th March, 1695. I went to see the ceremony. Never was so universal a +mourning; all the Parliament men had cloaks given them, and four hundred +poor women; all the streets hung and the middle of the street boarded +and covered with black cloth. There were all the nobility, mayor, +aldermen, judges, etc. + +8th March, 1695. I supped at the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry's, +who related to me the pious behavior of the Queen in all her sickness, +which was admirable. She never inquired of what opinion persons were, +who were objects of charity; that, on opening a cabinet, a paper was +found wherein she had desired that her body might not be opened, or any +extraordinary expense at her funeral, whenever she should die. This +paper was not found in time to be observed. There were other excellent +things under her own hand, to the very least of her debts, which were +very small, and everything in that exact method, as seldom is found in +any private person. In sum, she was such an admirable woman, abating for +taking the Crown without a more due apology, as does, if possible, outdo +the renowned Queen Elizabeth. + +10th March, 1695. I dined at the Earl of Sunderland's with Lord Spencer. +My Lord showed me his library, now again improved by many books bought +at the sale of Sir Charles Scarborough, an eminent physician, which was +the very best collection, especially of mathematical books, that was I +believe in Europe, once designed for the King's Library at St. James's; +but the Queen dying, who was the great patroness of that design, it was +let fall, and the books were miserably dissipated. + +The new edition of Camden's "Britannia" was now published (by Bishop +Gibson), with great additions; those to Surrey were mine, so that I had +one presented to me. Dr. Gale showed me a MS. of some parts of the New +Testament in vulgar Latin, that had belonged to a monastery in the North +of Scotland, which he esteemed to be about eight hundred years old; +there were some considerable various readings observable, as in John i., +and genealogy of St. Luke. + +24th March, 1695. EASTER DAY. Mr. Duncomb, parson of this parish, +preached, which he hardly comes to above once a year though but seven or +eight miles off; a florid discourse, read out of his notes. The Holy +Sacrament followed, which he administered with very little reverence, +leaving out many prayers and exhortations; nor was there any oblation. +This ought to be reformed, but my good brother did not well consider +when he gave away this living and the next [Abinger]. + +March, 1695. The latter end of the month sharp and severely cold, with +much snow and hard frost; no appearance of spring. + +31st March, 1695. Mr. Lucas preached in the afternoon at Wotton. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +7th April, 1695. Lord Halifax died suddenly at London, the day his +daughter was married to the Earl of Nottingham's son at Burleigh. Lord +H. was a very rich man, very witty, and in his younger days somewhat +positive. + +14th April, 1695. After a most severe, cold, and snowy winter, without +almost any shower for many months, the wind continuing N. and E. and not +a leaf appearing; the weather and wind now changed, some showers fell, +and there was a remission of cold. + +21st April, 1695. The spring begins to appear, yet the trees hardly +leafed. Sir T. Cooke discovers what prodigious bribes have been given by +some of the East India Company out of the stock, which makes a great +clamor. Never were so many private bills passed for unsettling estates, +showing the wonderful prodigality and decay of families. + +5th May, 1695. I came to Deptford from Wotton, in order to the first +meeting of the Commissioners for endowing an hospital for seamen at +Greenwich; it was at the Guildhall, London. Present, the Archbishop of +Canterbury, Lord Keeper, Lord Privy Seal, Lord Godolphin, Duke of +Shrewsbury, Duke of Leeds, Earls of Dorset and Monmouth, Commissioners +of the Admiralty and Navy, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir Christopher Wren, and +several more. The Commission was read by Mr. Lowndes, Secretary to the +Lords of the Treasury, Surveyor-General. + +17th May, 1695. Second meeting of the Commissioners, and a committee +appointed to go to Greenwich to survey the place, I being one of them. + +21st May, 1695. We went to survey Greenwich, Sir Robert Clayton, Sir +Christopher Wren, Mr. Travers, the King's Surveyor, Captain Sanders, and +myself. + +24th May, 1695. We made report of the state of Greenwich house, and how +the standing part might be made serviceable at present for £6,000, and +what ground would be requisite for the whole design. My Lord Keeper +ordered me to prepare a book for subscriptions, and a preamble to it. + +31st May, 1695. Met again. Mr. Vanbrugh was made secretary to the +commission, by my nomination of him to the Lords, which was all done +that day. + +7th June, 1695. The commissioners met at Guildhall, when there were +scruples and contests of the Lord Mayor, who would not meet, not being +named as one of the quorum, so that a new commission was required, +though the Lord Keeper and the rest thought it too nice a punctilio. + +14th May, 1695. Met at Guildhall, but could do nothing for want of a +quorum. + +5th July, 1695. At Guildhall; account of subscriptions, about £7,000 or +£8,000. + +6th July, 1695. I dined at Lambeth, making my first visit to the +Archbishop, where there was much company, and great cheer. After prayers +in the evening, my Lord made me stay to show me his house, furniture, +and garden, which were all very fine, and far beyond the usual +Archbishops, not as affected by this, but being bought ready furnished +by his predecessor. We discoursed of several public matters, +particularly of the Princess of Denmark, who made so little figure. + +11th July, 1695. Met at Guildhall; not a full committee, so nothing +done. + +14th July, 1695. No sermon at church; but, after prayers, the names of +all the parishioners were read, in order to gathering the tax of 4s. for +marriages, burials, etc. A very imprudent tax, especially this reading +the names, so that most went out of the church. + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +19th July, 1695. I dined at Sir Purbeck Temple's, near Croydon; his lady +is aunt to my son-in-law, Draper; the house exactly furnished. Went +thence with my son and daughter to Wotton. At Wotton, Mr. Duncomb, +parson of Albury, preached excellently. + +28th July, 1695. A very wet season. + +11th August, 1695. The weather now so cold, that greater frosts were not +always seen in the midst of winter; this succeeded much wet, and set +harvest extremely back. + +25th September, 1695. Mr. Offley preached at Abinger; too much +controversy on a point of no consequence, for the country people here. +This was the first time I had heard him preach. Bombarding of Cadiz; a +cruel and brutish way of making war, first began by the French. The +season wet, great storms, unseasonable harvest weather. My good and +worthy friend, Captain Gifford, who that he might get some competence to +live decently, adventured all he had in a voyage of two years to the +East Indies, was, with another great ship, taken by some French +men-of-war, almost within sight of England, to the loss of near £70,000, +to my great sorrow, and pity of his wife, he being also a valiant and +industrious man. The losses of this sort to the nation have been +immense, and all through negligence, and little care to secure the same +near our own coasts; of infinitely more concern to the public than +spending their time in bombarding and ruining two or three paltry towns, +without any benefit, or weakening our enemies, who, though they began, +ought not to be imitated in an action totally averse to humanity, or +Christianity. + +29th September, 1695. Very cold weather. Sir Purbeck Temple, uncle to my +son Draper, died suddenly. A great funeral at Addiscombe. His lady being +own aunt to my son Draper, he hopes for a good fortune, there being no +heir. There had been a new meeting of the commissioners about Greenwich +hospital, on the new commission, where the Lord Mayor, etc. appeared, +but I was prevented by indisposition from attending. The weather very +sharp, winter approaching apace. The King went a progress into the +north, to show himself to the people against the elections, and was +everywhere complimented, except at Oxford, where it was not as he +expected, so that he hardly stopped an hour there, and having seen the +theater, did not receive the banquet proposed. I dined with Dr. Gale at +St. Paul's school, who showed me many curious passages out of some +ancient Platonists' MSS. concerning the Trinity, which this great and +learned person would publish, with many other rare things, if he was +encouraged, and eased of the burden of teaching. + +25th October, 1695. The Archbishop and myself went to Hammersmith, to +visit Sir Samuel Morland, who was entirely blind; a very mortifying +sight. He showed us his invention of writing, which was very ingenious; +also his wooden calendar, which instructed him all by feeling; and other +pretty and useful inventions of mills, pumps, etc., and the pump he had +erected that serves water to his garden, and to passengers, with an +inscription, and brings from a filthy part of the Thames near it a most +perfect and pure water. He had newly buried £200 worth of music books +six feet under ground, being, as he said, love songs and vanity. He +plays himself psalms and religious hymns on the theorbo. Very mild +weather the whole of October. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +10th November, 1695. Mr. Stanhope, Vicar of Lewisham, preached at +Whitehall. He is one of the most accomplished preachers I ever heard, +for matter, eloquence, action, voice, and I am told, of excellent +conversation. + +13th November, 1695. Famous fireworks and very chargeable, the King +being returned from his progress. He stayed seven or eight days at Lord +Sunderland's at Althorpe, where he was mightily entertained. These +fireworks were shown before Lord Romney, master of the ordnance, in St. +James's great square, where the King stood. + +17th November, 1695. I spoke to the Archbishop of Canterbury to interest +himself for restoring a room belonging to St. James's library, where the +books want place. + +21st November, 1695. I went to see Mr. Churchill's collection of +rarities. + +23d November, 1695. To Lambeth, to get Mr. Williams continued in Boyle's +lectures another year. Among others who dined there was Dr. Covel, the +great Oriental traveler. + +1st December, 1695. I dined at Lord Sunderland's, now the great favorite +and underhand politician, but not adventuring on any character, being +obnoxious to the people for having twice changed his religion. + +23d December, 1695. The Parliament wondrously intent on ways to reform +the coin; setting out a Proclamation prohibiting the currency of +half-crowns, etc., which made much confusion among the people. + +25th December, 1695. Hitherto mild, dark, misty, weather. Now snow and +frost. + +12th January, 1695-96. Great confusion and distraction by reason of the +clipped money, and the difficulty found in reforming it. + +2d February, 1696. An extraordinary wet season, though temperate as to +cold. The "Royal Sovereign" man-of-war burned at Chatham. It was built +in 1637, and having given occasion to the levy of ship money was perhaps +the cause of all the after troubles to this day. An earthquake in +Dorsetshire by Portland, or rather a sinking of the ground suddenly for +a large space, near the quarries of stone, hindering the conveyance of +that material for the finishing St. Paul's. + +23d February, 1696. They now began to coin new money. + +26th February, 1696. There was now a conspiracy of about thirty +knights, gentlemen, captains, many of them Irish and English Papists, +and Nonjurors or Jacobites (so called), to murder King William on the +first opportunity of his going either from Kensington, or to hunting, or +to the chapel; and upon signal of fire to be given from Dover Cliff to +Calais, an invasion was designed. In order to it there was a great army +in readiness, men-of-war and transports, to join a general insurrection +here, the Duke of Berwick having secretly come to London to head them, +King James attending at Calais with the French army. It was discovered +by some of their own party. £1,000 reward was offered to whoever could +apprehend any of the thirty named. Most of those who were engaged in it, +were taken and secured. The Parliament, city, and all the nation, +congratulate the discovery; and votes and resolutions were passed that, +if King William should ever be assassinated, it should be revenged on +the Papists and party through the nation; an Act of Association drawing +up to empower the Parliament to sit on any such accident, till the Crown +should be disposed of according to the late settlement at the +Revolution. All Papists, in the meantime, to be banished ten miles from +London. This put the nation into an incredible disturbance and general +animosity against the French King and King James. The militia of the +nation was raised, several regiments were sent for out of Flanders, and +all things put in a posture to encounter a descent. This was so timed by +the enemy, that while we were already much discontented by the greatness +of the taxes, and corruption of the money, etc., we had like to have had +very few men-of-war near our coasts; but so it pleased God that Admiral +Rooke wanting a wind to pursue his voyage to the Straits, that squadron, +with others at Portsmouth and other places, were still in the Channel, +and were soon brought up to join with the rest of the ships which could +be got together, so that there is hope this plot may be broken. I look +on it as a very great deliverance and prevention by the providence of +God. Though many did formerly pity King James's condition, this design +of assassination and bringing over a French army, alienated many o£ his +friends, and was likely to produce a more perfect establishment of King +William. + +1st March, 1696. The wind continuing N. and E. all this week, brought so +many of our men-of-war together that, though most of the French finding +their design detected and prevented, made a shift to get into Calais and +Dunkirk roads, we wanting fire-ships and bombs to disturb them; yet they +were so engaged among the sands and flats, that 'tis said they cut their +masts and flung their great guns overboard to lighten their vessels. We +are yet upon them. This deliverance is due solely to God. French were to +have invaded at once England, Scotland, and Ireland. + +8th March, 1696. Divers of the conspirators tried and condemned. + +Vesuvius breaking out, terrified Naples. Three of the unhappy wretches, +whereof one was a priest, were executed[82] for intending to assassinate +the King; they acknowledged their intention, but acquitted King James of +inciting them to it, and died very penitent. Divers more in danger, and +some very considerable persons. + + [Footnote 82: Robert Charnock, Edward King, and Thomas Keys.] + +Great frost and cold. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +6th April, 1696. I visited Mr. Graham in the Fleet. + +10th April, 1696. The quarters of Sir William Perkins and Sir John +Friend, lately executed on the plot, with Perkins's head, were set up at +Temple Bar, a dismal sight, which many pitied. I think there never was +such at Temple Bar till now, except once in the time of King Charles +II., namely, of Sir Thomas Armstrong.[83] + + [Footnote 83: He was concerned in the Rye-House plot, fled into + Holland, was given up, and executed in his own country, 1684. See p. + 198.] + +12th April, 1696. A very fine spring season. + +19th April, 1696. Great offense taken at the three ministers who +absolved Sir William Perkins and Friend at Tyburn. One of them (Snatt) +was a son of my old schoolmaster. This produced much altercation as to +the canonicalness of the action. + +21st April, 1696. We had a meeting at Guildhall of the grand committee +about settling the draught of Greenwich hospital. + +23d April, 1696. I went to Eton, and dined with Dr. Godolphin, the +provost. The schoolmaster assured me there had not been for twenty years +a more pregnant youth in that place than my grandson. I went to see the +King's House at Kensington. It is very noble, though not great. The +gallery furnished with the best pictures [from] all the houses, of +Titian, Raphael, Correggio, Holbein, Julio Romano, Bassan, Vandyke, +Tintoretto, and others; a great collection of porcelain; and a pretty +private library. The gardens about it very delicious. + +26th April, 1696. Dr. Sharp preached at the Temple. His prayer before +the sermon was one of the most excellent compositions I ever heard. + +28th April, 1696. The Venetian Ambassador made a stately entry with +fifty footmen, many on horseback, four rich coaches, and a numerous +train of gallants. More executions this week of the assassins. Oates +dedicated a most villainous, reviling book against King James, which he +presumed to present to King William, who could not but abhor it, +speaking so infamously and untruly of his late beloved Queen's own +father. + +2d May, 1696. I dined at Lambeth, being summoned to meet my co-trustees, +the Archbishop, Sir Henry Ashurst, and Mr. Serjeant Rotheram, to consult +about settling Mr. Boyle's lecture for a perpetuity; which we concluded +upon, by buying a rent charge of £50 per annum, with the stock in our +hands. + +6th May, 1696. I went to Lambeth, to meet at dinner the Countess of +Sunderland and divers ladies. We dined in the Archbishop's wife's +apartment with his Grace, and stayed late; yet I returned to Deptford at +night. + +13th May, 1696. I went to London to meet my son, newly come from +Ireland, indisposed. Money still continuing exceedingly scarce, so that +none was paid or received, but all was on trust, the mint not supplying +for common necessities. The Association with an oath required of all +lawyers and officers, on pain of _præmunire_, whereby men were obliged +to renounce King James as no rightful king, and to revenge King +William's death, if happening by assassination. This to be taken by all +the Counsel by a day limited, so that the Courts of Chancery and King's +Bench hardly heard any cause in Easter Term, so many crowded to take the +oath. This was censured as a very entangling contrivance of the +Parliament in expectation, that many in high office would lay down, and +others surrender. Many gentlemen taken up on suspicion of the late plot, +were now discharged out of prison. + +29th May, 1696. We settled divers offices, and other matters relating to +workmen, for the beginning of Greenwich hospital. + +[Sidenote: DEPTFORD] + +1st June, 1696. I went to Deptford to dispose of our goods, in order to +letting the house for three years to Vice Admiral Benbow, with condition +to keep up the garden. This was done soon after. + +4th June, 1696. A committee met at Whitehall about Greenwich Hospital, +at Sir Christopher Wren's, his Majesty's Surveyor-General. We made the +first agreement with divers workmen and for materials; and gave the +first order for proceeding on the foundation, and for weekly payments to +the workmen, and a general account to be monthly. + +11th June, 1696. Dined at Lord Pembroke's, Lord Privy Seal, a very +worthy gentleman. He showed me divers rare pictures of very many of the +old and best masters, especially one of M. Angelo of a man gathering +fruit to give to a woman, and a large book of the best drawings of the +old masters. Sir John Fenwick, one of the conspirators, was taken. Great +subscriptions in Scotland to their East India Company. Want of current +money to carry on the smallest concerns, even for daily provisions in +the markets. Guineas lowered to twenty-two shillings, and great sums +daily transported to Holland, where it yields more, with other treasure +sent to pay the armies, and nothing considerable coined of the new and +now only current stamp, cause such a scarcity that tumults are every day +feared, nobody paying or receiving money; so imprudent was the late +Parliament to condemn the old though clipped and corrupted, till they +had provided supplies. To this add the fraud of the bankers and +goldsmiths, who having gotten immense riches by extortion, keep up their +treasure in expectation of enhancing its value. Duncombe, not long since +a mean goldsmith, having made a purchase of the late Duke of +Buckingham's estate at nearly £90,000, and reputed to have nearly as +much in cash. Banks and lotteries every day set up. + +18th June, 1696. The famous trial between my Lord Bath and Lord Montague +for an estate of £11,000 a year, left by the Duke of Albemarle, wherein +on several trials had been spent,£20,000 between them. The Earl of Bath +was cast on evident forgery. + +20th June, 1696. I made my Lord Cheney a visit at Chelsea, and saw those +ingenious waterworks invented by Mr. Winstanley, wherein were some +things very surprising and extraordinary. + +21st June, 1696. An exceedingly rainy, cold, unseasonable summer, yet +the city was very healthy. + +25th June, 1696. A trial in the Common Pleas between the Lady Purbeck +Temple and Mr. Temple, a nephew of Sir Purbeck, concerning a deed set up +to take place of several wills. This deed was proved to be forged. The +cause went on my lady's side. This concerning my son-in-law, Draper, I +stayed almost all day at Court. A great supper was given to the jury, +being persons of the best condition in Buckinghamshire. + +30th June, 1696. I went with a select committee of the Commissioners for +Greenwich Hospital, and with Sir Christopher Wren, where with him I laid +the first stone of the intended foundation, precisely at five o'clock in +the evening, after we had dined together. Mr. Flamstead, the King's +Astronomical Professor, observing the punctual time by instruments. + +4th July, 1696. Note that my Lord Godolphin was the first of the +subscribers who paid any money to this noble fabric. + +7th July, 1696. A northern wind altering the weather with a continual +and impetuous rain of three days and nights changed it into perfect +winter. + +12th July, 1696. Very unseasonable and uncertain weather. + +26th July, 1696. So little money in the nation that Exchequer Tallies, +of which I had for £2,000 on the best fund in England, the Post Office, +nobody would take at 30 per cent discount. + +3d August, 1696. The Bank lending the £200,000 to pay the array in +Flanders, that had done nothing against the enemy, had so exhausted the +treasure of the nation, that one could not have borrowed money under 14 +or 15 per cent on bills, or on Exchequer Tallies under 30 per cent. +Reasonable good harvest weather. I went to Lambeth and dined with the +Archbishop, who had been at Court on the complaint against Dr. Thomas +Watson, Bishop of St. David's, who was suspended for simony. The +Archbishop told me how unsatisfied he was with the Canon law, and how +exceedingly unreasonable all their pleadings appeared to him. + +September, 1696. Fine seasonable weather, and a great harvest after a +cold, wet summer. Scarcity in Scotland. + +6th September, 1696. I went to congratulate the marriage of a daughter +of Mr. Boscawen to the son of Sir Philip Meadows; she is niece to my +Lord Godolphin, married at Lambeth by the Archbishop, 30th of August. +After above six months' stay in London about Greenwich Hospital, I +returned to Wotton. + +24th October, 1696. Unseasonable stormy weather, and an ill seedtime. + +November, 1696. Lord Godolphin retired from the Treasury, who was the +first Commissioner and most skillful manager of all. + +8th November, 1696. The first frost began fiercely, but lasted not long. +More plots talked of. Search for Jacobites so called. + +15th-23d November, 1696. Very stormy weather, rain, and inundations. + +13th December, 1696. Continuance of extreme frost and snow. + +17th January, 1696-7. The severe frost and weather relented, but again +froze with snow. Conspiracies continue against King William. Sir John +Fenwick was beheaded. + +7th February, 1697. Severe frost continued with snow. Soldiers in the +armies and garrison towns frozen to death on their posts. + + (Here a leaf of the MS. is lost.) + +17th August, 1697. I came to Wotton after three months' absence. + +September, 1697. Very bright weather, but with sharp east wind. My son +came from London in his melancholy indisposition. + +12th September, 1697. Mr. Duncombe, the rector, came and preached after +an absence of two years, though only living seven or eight miles off [at +Ashted]. Welcome tidings of the Peace. + +3d October, 1697. So great were the storms all this week, that near a +thousand people were lost going into the Texel. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +16th November, 1697. The King's entry very pompous; but is nothing +approaching that of King Charles II. + +2d December, 1697. Thanksgiving Day for the Peace, the King and a great +Court at Whitehall. The Bishop of Salisbury preached, or rather made a +florid panegyric, on 2 Chron. ix. 7, 8. The evening concluded with +fireworks and illuminations of great expense. + +5th December, 1697. Was the first Sunday that St. Paul's had had service +performed in it since it was burned in 1666. + +6th December, 1697. I went to Kensington with the Sheriff, Knights, and +chief gentlemen of Surrey, to present their address to the King. The +Duke of Norfolk promised to introduce it, but came so late, that it was +presented before be came. This insignificant ceremony was brought in in +Cromwell's time, and has ever since continued with offers of life and +fortune to whoever happened to have the power. I dined at Sir Richard +Onslow's, who treated almost all the gentlemen of Surrey. When we had +half dined, the Duke of Norfolk came in to make his excuse. + +12th December, 1697. At the Temple Church; it was very long before the +service began, staying for the Comptroller of the Inner Temple, where +was to be kept a riotous and reveling Christmas, according to custom. + +18th December, 1697. At Lambeth, to Dr. Bentley, about the Library at +St. James's. + +23d December, 1697. I returned to Wotton. + +1697-98. A great Christmas kept at Wotton, open house, much company. I +presented my book of Medals, etc., to divers noblemen, before I exposed +it to sale. + +2d January, 1698. Dr. Fulham, who lately married my niece, preached +against atheism, a very eloquent discourse, somewhat improper for most +of the audience at [Wotton], but fitted for some other place, and very +apposite to the profane temper of the age. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +5th January, 1698. Whitehall burned, nothing but walls and ruins left. + +30th January, 1698. The imprisonment of the great banker, Duncombe: +censured by Parliament; acquitted by the Lords; sent again to the Tower +by the Commons. + +The Czar of Muscovy being come to England, and having a mind to see the +building of ships, hired my house at Sayes Court, and made it his court +and palace, newly furnished for him by the King.[84] + + [Footnote 84: While the Czar was in his house. Evelyn's servant + writes to him: "There is a house full of people, and right nasty. + The Czar lies next your library, and dines in the parlor next your + study. He dines at ten o'clock and at six at night; is very seldom + at home a whole day; very often in the King's yard, or by water, + dressed in several dresses. The King is expected here this day; the + best parlor is pretty clean for him to be entertained in. The King + pays for all he has."] + +21st April, 1698. The Czar went from my house to return home. An +exceedingly sharp and cold season. + +8th May, 1698. An extraordinary great snow and frost, nipping the corn +and other fruits. Corn at nine shillings a bushel [£18 a load]. + +30th May, 1698. I dined at Mr. Pepys's, where I heard the rare voice of +Mr. Pule, who was lately come from Italy, reputed the most excellent +singer we had ever had. He sung several compositions of the late Dr. +Purcell. + +5th June, 1698. Dr. White, late Bishop of Norwich, who had been ejected +for not complying with Government, was buried in St. Gregory's +churchyard, or vault, at St. Paul's. His hearse was accompanied by two +non-juror bishops, Dr. Turner of Ely, and Dr. Lloyd, with forty other +non-juror clergymen, who would not stay the Office of the burial, +because the Dean of St. Paul's had appointed a conforming minister to +read the Office; at which all much wondered, there being nothing in that +Office which mentioned the present King. + +8th June, 1698. I went to congratulate the marriage of Mr. Godolphin +with the Earl of Marlborough's daughter. + +9th June, 1698. To Deptford, to see how miserably the Czar had left my +house, after three months making it his Court. I got Sir Christopher +Wren, the King's surveyor, and Mr. London, his gardener, to go and +estimate the repairs, for which they allowed £150 in their report to the +Lords of the Treasury. I then went to see the foundation of the Hall and +Chapel at Greenwich Hospital. + +6th August, 1698. I dined with Pepys, where was Captain Dampier,[85] who +had been a famous buccaneer, had brought hither the painted Prince Job, +and printed a relation of his very strange adventure, and his +observations. He was now going abroad again by the King's encouragement, +who furnished a ship of 290 tons. He seemed a more modest man than one +would imagine by the relation of the crew he had assorted with. He +brought a map of his observations of the course of the winds in the +South Sea, and assured us that the maps hitherto extant were all false +as to the Pacific Sea, which he makes on the south of the line, that on +the north end running by the coast of Peru being extremely tempestuous. + + [Footnote 85: The celebrated navigator, born in 1652, the time of + whose death is uncertain. His "Voyage Round the World" has gone + through many editions, and the substance of it has been transferred + to many collections of voyages.] + +25th September, 1698. Dr. Foy came to me to use my interest with Lord +Sunderland for his being made Professor of Physic at Oxford, in the +King's gift. I went also to the Archbishop in his behalf. + +7th December, 1698. Being one of the Council of the Royal Society, I was +named to be of the committee to wait on our new President, the Lord +Chancellor, our Secretary, Dr. Sloane, and Sir R. Southwell, last +Vice-President, carrying our book of statutes; the office of the +President being read, his Lordship subscribed his name, and took the +oaths according to our statutes as a Corporation for the improvement of +natural knowledge. Then his Lordship made a short compliment concerning +the honor the Society had done him, and how ready he would be to promote +so noble a design, and come himself among us, as often as the attendance +on the public would permit; and so we took our leave. + +18th December, 1698. Very warm, but exceedingly stormy. + +January, 1698-99. My cousin Pierrepoint died. She was daughter to Sir +John Evelyn, of Wilts, my father's nephew; she was widow to William +Pierrepoint, brother to the Marquis of Dorchester, and mother to Evelyn +Pierrepoint, Earl of Kingston; a most excellent and prudent lady. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +The House of Commons persist in refusing more than 7,000 men to be a +standing army, and no strangers to be in the number. This displeased the +Court party. Our county member, Sir R. Onslow, opposed it also; which +might reconcile him to the people, who began to suspect him. + +17th February, 1699. My grandson went to Oxford with Dr. Mander, the +Master of Baliol College, where he was entered a fellow-commoner. + +19th February, 1699. A most furious wind, such as has not happened for +many years, doing great damage to houses and trees, by the fall of which +several persons were killed. + +5th March, 1699. The old East India Company lost their business against +the new Company, by ten votes in Parliament, so many of their friends +being absent, going to see a tiger baited by dogs. + +The persecuted Vaudois, who were banished out of Savoy, were received by +the German Protestant Princes. + +24th March, 1699. 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, whom I +pray God to prosper and be the support of the Wotton family. He was aged +forty-four years and about three months. He had been six years one of +the Commissioners of the Revenue in Ireland, with great ability and +reputation. + +26th March, 1699. After an extraordinary storm, there came up the Thames +a whale which was fifty-six feet long. Such, and a larger of the spout +kind, was killed there forty years ago (June 1658). That year died +Cromwell. + +30th March, 1699. My deceased son was buried in the vault at Wotton, +according to his desire. + +The Duke of Devon lost £1,900 at a horse race at Newmarket. + +The King preferring his young favorite Earl of Albemarle to be first +Commander of his Guard, the Duke of Ormond laid down his commission. +This of the Dutch Lord passing over his head, was exceedingly resented +by everybody. + +April, 1699. Lord Spencer purchased an incomparable library[86] of ... +wherein, among other rare books, were several that were printed at the +first invention of that wonderful art, as particularly "Tully's Offices, +etc." There was a Homer and a Suidas in a very good Greek character and +good paper, almost as ancient. This gentleman is a very fine scholar, +whom from a child I have known. His tutor was one Florival of Geneva. + + [Footnote 86: The foundation of the noble library now at Blenheim.] + +29th April, 1699. I dined with the Archbishop; but my business was to +get him to persuade the King to purchase the late Bishop of Worcester's +library, and build a place for his own library at St. James's, in the +Park, the present one being too small. + +3d May, 1699. At a meeting of the Royal Society I was nominated to be of +the committee to wait on the Lord Chancellor to move the King to +purchase the Bishop of Worcester's library (Dr. Edward Stillingfleet). + +4th May, 1699. The Court party have little influence in this Session. + +7th May, 1699. The Duke of Ormond restored to his commission. All +Lotteries, till now cheating the people, to be no longer permitted than +to Christmas, except that for the benefit of Greenwich Hospital. Mr. +Bridgman, chairman of the committee for that charitable work, died; a +great loss to it. He was Clerk of the Council, a very industrious, +useful man. I saw the library of Dr. John Moore,[87] Bishop of Norwich, +one of the best and most ample collection of all sorts of good books in +England, and he, one of the most learned men. + + [Footnote 87: Afterward Bishop of Ely. He died 31st of July, 1714. + King George I. purchased this library after the Bishop's death, for + £6,000, and presented it to the University of Cambridge, where it + now is.] + +11th June, 1699. After a long drought, we had a refreshing shower. The +day before, there was a dreadful fire at Rotherhithe, near the Thames +side, which burned divers ships, and consumed nearly three hundred +houses. Now died the famous Duchess of Mazarin; she had been the richest +lady in Europe. She was niece of Cardinal Mazarin, and was married to +the richest subject in Europe, as is said. She was born at Rome, +educated in France, and was an extraordinary beauty and wit but +dissolute and impatient of matrimonial restraint, so as to be abandoned +by her husband, and banished, when she came into England for shelter, +lived on a pension given her here, and is reported to have hastened her +death by intemperate drinking strong spirits. She has written her own +story and adventures, and so has her other extravagant sister, wife to +the noble family of Colonna. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +15th June, 1699. This week died Conyers Seymour, son of Sir Edward +Seymour, killed in a duel caused by a slight affront in St. James's +Park, given him by one who was envious of his gallantries; for he was a +vain, foppish young man, who made a great _éclât_ about town by his +splendid equipage and boundless expense. He was about twenty-three years +old; his brother, now at Oxford, inherited an estate of £7,000 a year, +which had fallen to him not two years before. + +19th June, 1699. My cousin, George Evelyn, of Nutfield, died suddenly. + +25th June, 1699. The heat has been so great, almost all this month, that +I do not remember to have felt much greater in Italy, and this after a +winter the wettest, though not the coldest, that I remember for fifty +years last past. + +28th June, 1699. Finding my occasions called me so often to London, I +took the remainder of the lease my son had in a house in Dover Street, +to which I now removed, not taking my goods from Wotton. + +23d July, 1699. Seasonable showers, after a continuance of excessive +drought and heat. + +August, 1699. I drank the Shooters' Hill waters. At Deptford, they had +been building a pretty new church. The Bishop of St. David's [Watson] +deprived for simony.[88] The city of Moscow burnt by the throwing of +squibs. + + [Footnote 88: _Ante_, p. 330.] + +3d September, 1699. There was in this week an eclipse of the sun, at +which many were frightened by the predictions of the astrologers. I +remember fifty years ago that many were so terrified by Lilly, that they +dared not go out of their houses. A strange earthquake at New Batavia, +in the East Indies. + +4th October, 1699. My worthy brother died at Wotton, in the 83d year of +his age, of perfect memory and understanding. He was religious, sober, +and temperate, and of so hospitable a nature, that no family in the +county maintained that ancient custom of keeping, as it were, open house +the whole year in the same manner, or gave more noble or free +entertainment to the county on all occasions, so that his house was +never free. There were sometimes twenty persons more than his family, +and some that stayed there all the summer, to his no small expense; by +this he gained the universal love of the county. He was born at Wotton, +went from the free school at Guildford to Trinity College, Oxford, +thence to the Middle Temple, as 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 George her son an +infant, who being educated liberally, after traveling abroad, returned +and married one Mrs. Gore, by whom he had several children, but only +three daughters survived. He was a young man of good understanding, but, +over-indulging his ease and pleasure, grew so very corpulent, contrary +to the constitution of the rest of his father's relations, that he died. +My brother afterward married a noble and honorable lady, relict of Sir +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 afterward married Sir Cyril Wych, a noble and +learned gentleman (son of Sir ---- Wych), who had been Ambassador at +Constantinople, and was afterward made one of the Lords Justices of +Ireland. Before this marriage, her only brother married the daughter of +---- Eversfield, of Sussex, of an honorable 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 £6,000, to which was added £300 more; the +three other daughters, with what I added, had about £5,000 each. My +brother died on the 5th of October, in a good old age and great +reputation, making his beloved daughter, Lady Wych, sole executrix, +leaving me only his library and some pictures of my father, mother, etc. +She buried him with extraordinary solemnity, rather as a nobleman than +as a private gentleman. There were, as I computed, above 2,000 persons +at the funeral, all the gentlemen of the county doing him the last +honors. I returned to London, till my lady should dispose of herself and +family. + +21st October, 1699. After an unusual warm and pleasant season, we were +surprised with a very sharp frost. I presented my "_Acetaria_," +dedicated to my Lord Chancellor, who returned me thanks in an +extraordinarily civil letter. + +15th November, 1699. There happened this week so thick a mist and fog, +that people lost their way in the streets, it being so intense that no +light of candles, or torches, yielded any (or but very little) +direction. I was in it, and in danger. Robberies were committed between +the very lights which were fixed between London and Kensington on both +sides, and while coaches and travelers were passing. It began about four +in the afternoon, and was quite gone by eight, without any wind to +disperse it. At the Thames, they beat drums to direct the watermen to +make the shore. + +19th November, 1699. At our chapel in the evening there was a sermon +preached by young Mr. Horneck, chaplain to Lord Guilford, whose lady's +funeral had been celebrated magnificently the Thursday before. A +panegyric was now pronounced, describing the extraordinary piety and +excellently employed life of this amiable young lady. She died in +childbed a few days before, to the excessive sorrow of her husband, who +ordered the preacher to declare that it was on her exemplary life, +exhortations and persuasion, that he totally changed the course of his +life, which was before in great danger of being perverted; following the +mode of this dissolute age. Her devotion, early piety, charity, +fastings, economy, disposition of her time in reading, praying, +recollections in her own handwriting of what she heard and read, and her +conversation were most exemplary. + +24th November, 1699. I signed Dr. Blackwell's election to be the next +year's Boyles Lecturer. + +Such horrible robberies and murders were committed, as had not been +known in this nation; atheism, profaneness, blasphemy, among all sorts, +portended some judgment if not amended; on which a society was set on +foot, who obliged themselves to endeavor the reforming of it, in London +and other places, and began to punish offenders and put the laws in more +strict execution; which God Almighty prosper! A gentle, calm, dry, +temperate weather all this season of the year, but now came sharp, hard +frost, and mist, but calm. + +3d December, 1699. Calm, bright, and warm as in the middle of April. So +continued on 21st of January. A great earthquake in Portugal. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +The Parliament reverses the prodigious donations of the Irish +forfeitures, which were intended to be set apart for discharging the +vast national debt. They called some great persons in the highest +offices in question for setting the Great Seal to the pardon of an +arch-pirate,[89] who had turned pirate again, and brought prizes into +the West Indies, suspected to be connived at on sharing the prey; but +the prevailing part in the House called Courtiers, out-voted the +complaints, not by being more in number, but by the country party being +negligent in attendance. + + [Footnote 89: Captain Kidd; he was hanged about two years afterward + with some of his accomplices. This was one of the charges brought by + the Commons against Lord Somers.] + +14th January, 1699-1700. Dr. Lancaster, Vicar of St. Martin's, dismissed +Mr. Stringfellow, who had been made the first preacher at our chapel by +the Bishop of Lincoln [Dr. Tenison, now Archbishop], while he held St. +Martin's by dispensation, and put in one Mr. Sandys, much against the +inclination of those who frequented the chapel. The Scotch book about +Darien was burned by the hangman by vote of Parliament.[90] + + [Footnote 90: The volume alluded to was "An Enquiry into the Causes + of the Miscarriage of the Scots Colony at Darien: Or an Answer to a + Libel," entitled "A Defense of the Scots abdicating Darien." See + Votes of the House of Commons, 15th January, 1699-1700.] + +21st January, 1700. Died the Duke of Beaufort, a person of great honor, +prudence, and estate. + +25th January, 1700. I went to Wotton, the first time after my brother's +funeral, to furnish the house with necessaries, Lady Wych and my nephew +Glanville, the executors having sold and disposed of what goods were +there of my brother's. The weather was now altering into sharp and hard +frost. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +One Stephens, who preached before the House of Commons on King Charles's +Martyrdom, told them that the observation of that day was not intended +out of any detestation of his murder, but to be a lesson to other Kings +and Rulers, how they ought to behave themselves toward their subjects, +lest they should come to the same end. This was so resented that, though +it was usual to desire these anniversary sermons to be printed, they +refused thanks to him, and ordered that in future no one should preach +before them, who was not either a Dean or a Doctor of Divinity. + +4th February, 1700. The Parliament voted against the Scots settling in +Darien as being prejudicial to our trade with Spain. They also voted +that the exorbitant number of attorneys be lessened (now indeed +swarming, and evidently causing lawsuits and disturbance, eating out the +estates of the people, provoking them to go to law). + +18th February, 1700. Mild and calm season, with gentle frost, and little +mizzling rain. The Vicar of St. Martin's frequently preached at Trinity +chapel in the afternoon. + +8th March, 1700. The season was like April for warmth and +mildness.--11th. On Wednesday, was a sermon at our chapel, to be +continued during Lent. + +13th March, 1700. I was at the funeral of my Lady Temple, who was buried +at Islington, brought from Addiscombe, near Croydon. She left my +son-in-law Draper (her nephew) the mansion house of Addiscombe, very +nobly and completely furnished, with the estate about it, with plate and +jewels, to the value in all of about £20,000. She was a very prudent +lady, gave many great legacies, with £500 to the poor of Islington, +where her husband, Sir Purbeck Temple, was buried, both dying without +issue. + +24th March, 1700. The season warm, gentle, and exceedingly pleasant. +Divers persons of quality entered into the Society for Reformation[91] +of Manners; and some lectures were set up, particularly in the city of +London. The most eminent of the clergy preached at Bow Church, after +reading a declaration set forth by the King to suppress the growing +wickedness; this began already to take some effect as to common +swearing, and oaths in the mouths of people of all ranks. + + [Footnote 91: _Ante_, p. 349.] + +25th March, 1700. Dr. Burnet preached to-day before the Lord Mayor and a +very great congregation, on Proverbs xxvii. 5, 6, "Open rebuke is better +than secret love; the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of +an enemy." He made a very pathetic discourse concerning the necessity +and advantage of friendly correction. + +April, 1700. The Duke of Norfolk now succeeded in obtaining a divorce +from his wife by the Parliament for adultery with Sir John Germaine, a +Dutch gamester, of mean extraction, who had got much by gaming; the Duke +had leave to marry again, so that if he should have children, the +Dukedom will go from the late Lord Thomas's children, Papists indeed, +but very hopeful and virtuous gentlemen, as was their father. The now +Duke their uncle is a Protestant. + +The Parliament nominated fourteen persons to go into Ireland as +commissioners to dispose of the forfeited estates there, toward payment +of the debts incurred by the late war, but which the King had in great +measure given to some of his favorites of both sexes, Dutch and others +of little merit, and very unseasonably. That this might be done without +suspicion of interest in the Parliament, it was ordered that no member +of either House should be in the commission. The great contest between +the Lords and Commons concerning the Lords' power of amendments and +rejecting bills tacked to the money bill, carried for the Commons. +However, this tacking of bills is a novel practice, suffered by King +Charles II., who, being continually in want of money, let anything pass +rather than not have wherewith to feed his extravagance. This was +carried but by one voice in the Lords, all the Bishops following the +Court, save one; so that near sixty bills passed, to the great triumph +of the Commons and Country party, but high regret of the Court, and +those to whom the King had given large estates in Ireland. Pity it is, +that things should be brought to this extremity, the government of this +nation being so equally poised between King and subject; but we are +satisfied with nothing; and, while there is no perfection on this side +heaven, methinks both might be contented without straining things too +far. Among the rest, there passed a law as to Papists' estates, that if +one turned not Protestant before eighteen years of age, it should pass +to his next Protestant heir. This indeed seemed a hard law, but not only +the usage of the French King to his Protestant subjects, but the +indiscreet insolence of the Papists here, going in triumphant and public +processions with their Bishops, with banners and trumpets in divers +places (as is said) in the northern counties, has brought it on their +party. + +24th April, 1700. This week there was a great change of State officers. +The Duke of Shrewsbury resigned his Lord Chamberlainship to the Earl of +Jersey, the Duke's indisposition requiring his retreat. Mr. Vernon, +Secretary of State, was put out. The Seal was taken from the Lord +Chancellor Somers, though he had been acquitted by a great majority of +votes for what was charged against him in the House of Commons. This +being in term time, put some stop to business, many eminent lawyers +refusing to accept the office, considering the uncertainty of things in +this fluctuating conjuncture. It is certain that this Chancellor was a +most excellent lawyer, very learned in all polite literature, a superior +pen, master of a handsome style, and of easy conversation; but he is +said to make too much haste to be rich, as his predecessor, and most in +place in this age did, to a more prodigious excess than was ever known. +But the Commons had now so mortified the Court party, and property and +liberty were so much invaded in all the neighboring kingdoms, that their +jealousy made them cautious, and every day strengthened the law which +protected the people from tyranny. + +A most glorious spring, with hope of abundance of fruit of all kinds, +and a propitious year. + +10th May, 1700. The great trial between Sir Walter Clarges and Mr. +Sherwin concerning the legitimacy of the late Duke of Albemarle, on +which depended an estate of £1,500 a year; the verdict was given for Sir +Walter, 19th. Serjeant Wright at last accepted the Great Seal. + +[Sidenote: WOTTON] + +24th May, 1700. I went from Dover street to Wotton, for the rest of the +summer, and removed thither the rest of my goods from Sayes Court. + +2d June, 1700. A sweet season, with a mixture of refreshing showers. + +9th-16th June, 1700. In the afternoon, our clergyman had a catechism, +which was continued for some time. + +July, 1700. I was visited with illness, but it pleased God that I +recovered, for which praise be ascribed to him by me, and that he has +again so graciously advertised me of my duty to prepare for my latter +end, which at my great age, cannot be far off. + +The Duke of Gloucester, son of the Princess Anne of Denmark, died of the +smallpox. + +13th July, 1700. I went to Harden, which was originally a barren warren +bought by Sir Robert Clayton, who built there a pretty house, and made +such alteration by planting not only an infinite store of the best +fruit; but so changed the natural situation of the hill, valleys, and +solitary mountains about it, that it rather represented some foreign +country, which would produce spontaneously pines, firs, cypress, yew, +holly, and juniper; they were come to their perfect growth, with walks, +mazes, etc., among 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. The tombs in the church at Croydon of +Archbishops Grindal, Whitgift, and other Archbishops, are fine and +venerable; but none comparable to that of the late Archbishop Sheldon, +which, being all of white marble, and of a stately ordinance and +carvings, far surpassed the rest, and I judge could not cost less than +£700 or £800. + +20th September, 1700. I went to Beddington, the ancient seat of the +Carews, in my remembrance a noble old structure, capacious, and in form +of the buildings of the age of Henry VIII. and Queen Elizabeth, and +proper for the old English hospitality, but now decaying with the house +itself, heretofore adorned with ample gardens, and the first orange +trees[92] that had been seen in England, planted in the open ground, and +secured in winter only by a tabernacle of boards and stoves removable in +summer, that, standing 120 years, large and goodly trees, and laden with +fruit, were now in decay, as well as the grotto, fountains, cabinets, +and other curiosities in the house and abroad, it being now fallen to a +child under age, and only kept by a servant or two from utter +dilapidation. The estate and park about it also in decay. + + [Footnote 92: Oranges were eaten in this kingdom much earlier than + the time of King James I.] + +23d September, 1700. I went to visit Mr. Pepys at Clapham, where he has +a very noble and wonderfully well-furnished house, especially with +Indian and Chinese curiosities. The offices and gardens well +accommodated for pleasure and retirement. + +31st October, 1700. My birthday now completed the 80th year of my age. I +with my soul render thanks to God, who, of his infinite mercy, not only +brought me out of many troubles, but this year restored me to health, +after an ague and other infirmities of so great an age; my sight, +hearing, and other senses and faculties tolerable, which I implore him +to continue, with the pardon of my sins past, and grace to acknowledge +by my improvement of his goodness the ensuing year, if it be his +pleasure to protract my life, that I may be the better prepared for my +last day, through the infinite merits of my blessed Savior, the Lord +Jesus, Amen! + +5th November, 1700. Came the news of my dear grandson (the only male of +my family now remaining) being fallen ill of the smallpox at Oxford, +which after the dire effects of it in my family exceedingly afflicted +me; but so it pleased my most merciful God that being let blood at his +first complaint, and by the extraordinary care of Dr. Mander (Head of +the college and now Vice Chancellor), who caused him to be brought and +lodged in his own bed and bedchamber, with the advice of his physician +and care of his tutor, there were all fair hopes of his recovery, to our +infinite comfort. We had a letter every day either from the Vice +Chancellor himself, or his tutor. + +17th November, 1700. Assurance of his recovery by a letter from himself. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +There was a change of great officers at Court. Lord Godolphin returned +to his former station of first Commissioner of the Treasury; Sir Charles +Hedges, Secretary of State. + +30th November, 1700. At the Royal Society, Lord Somers, the late +Chancellor, was continued President. + +8th December, 1700. Great alterations of officers at Court, and +elsewhere,--Lord Chief Justice Treby died; he was a learned man in his +profession, of which we have now few, never fewer; the Chancery +requiring so little skill in deep law-learning, if the practicer can +talk eloquently in that Court; so that probably few care to study the +law to any purpose. Lord Marlborough Master of the Ordnance, in place of +Lord Romney made Groom of the Stole. The Earl of Rochester goes Lord +Lieutenant to Ireland. + +January, 1700-01. I finished the sale of North Stoake in Sussex to +Robert Michell, Esq., appointed by my brother to be sold for payment of +portions to my nieces, and other incumbrances on the estate. + +4th January, 1701. An exceeding deep snow, and melted away as suddenly. + +19th January, 1701. Severe frost, and such a tempest as threw down many +chimneys, and did great spoil at sea, and blew down above twenty trees +of mine at Wotton. + +9th February, 1701. The old Speaker laid aside, and Mr. Harley, an able +gentleman, chosen. Our countryman, Sir Richard Onslow, had a party for +him. + +27th February, 1701. By an order of the House of Commons, I laid before +the Speaker the state of what had been received and paid toward the +building of Greenwich Hospital. + +Mr. Wye, Rector of Wotton, died, a very worthy good man. I gave it to +Dr. Bohun, a learned person and excellent preacher, who had been my +son's tutor, and lived long in my family. + +18th March, 1701. I let Sayes Court to Lord Carmarthen, son to the Duke +of Leeds. 28th. I went to the funeral of my sister Draper, who was +buried at Edmonton in great state. Dr. Davenant displeased the clergy +now met in Convocation by a passage in his book, p. 40. + +April, 1701. A Dutch boy of about eight or nine years old was carried +about by his parents to show, who had about the iris of one eye the +letters of _Deus meus_, and of the other _Elohim_, in the Hebrew +character. How this was done by artifice none could imagine; his parents +affirming that he was so born. It did not prejudice his sight, and he +seemed to be a lively playing boy. Everybody went to see him; physicians +and philosophers examined it with great accuracy; some considered it as +artificial, others as almost supernatural. + +4th April, 1701. The Duke of Norfolk died of an apoplexy, and Mr. Thomas +Howard of complicated disease since his being cut for the stone; he was +one of the Tellers of the Exchequer. Mr. How made a Baron. + +May, 1701. Some Kentish men, delivering a petition to the House of +Commons, were imprisoned.[93] + + [Footnote 93: Justinian Champneys, Thomas Culpepper, William + Culpepper, William Hamilton, and David Polhill, gentlemen of + considerable property and family in the county. There is a very good + print of them in five ovals on one plate, engraved by R. White, in + 1701. They desired the Parliament to mind the public more, and their + private heats less. They were confined till the prorogation, and + were much visited. Burnet gives an account of them.] + +A great dearth, no considerable rain having fallen for some months. + +17th May, 1701. Very plentiful showers, the wind coming west and south. +The Bishops and Convocation at difference concerning the right of +calling the assembly and dissolving. Atterbury and Dr. Wake writing one +against the other. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +20th June, 1701. The Commons demanded a conference with the Lords on the +trial of Lord Somers, which the Lords refused, and proceeding on the +trial, the Commons would not attend, and he was acquitted. + +22d June, 1701. I went to congratulate the arrival of that worthy and +excellent person my Lord Galway, newly come out of Ireland, where he had +behaved himself so honestly, and to the exceeding satisfaction of the +people: but he was removed thence for being a Frenchman, though they had +not a more worthy, valiant, discreet, and trusty person in the two +kingdoms, on whom they could have relied for his conduct and fitness. He +was one who had deeply suffered, as well as the Marquis, his father, for +being Protestants. + +July, 1701. My Lord Treasurer made my grandson one of the Commissioners +of the prizes, salary £500 per annum. + +8th July, 1701. My grandson went to Sir Simon Harcourt, the +Solicitor-General, to Windsor, to wait on my Lord Treasurer. There had +been for some time a proposal of marrying my grandson to a daughter of +Mrs. Boscawen, sister of my Lord Treasurer, which was now far advanced. + +14th July, 1701. I subscribed toward rebuilding Oakwood Chapel, now, +after 200 years, almost fallen down. + +August, 1701. The weather changed from heat not much less than in Italy +or Spain for some few days, to wet, dripping, and cold, with +intermissions of fair. + +2d September, 1701. I went to Kensington, and saw the house, +plantations, and gardens, the work of Mr. Wise, who was there to receive +me. + +The death of King James, happening on the 15th of this month, N. S., +after two or three days' indisposition, put an end to that unhappy +Prince's troubles, after a short and unprosperous reign, indiscreetly +attempting to bring in Popery, and make himself absolute, in imitation +of the French, hurried on by the impatience of the Jesuits; which the +nation would not endure. + +Died the Earl of Bath, whose contest with Lord Montague about the Duke +of Albemarle's estate, claiming under a will supposed to have been +forged, is said to have been worth £10,000 to the lawyers. His eldest +son shot himself a few days after his father's death; for what cause is +not clear. He was a most hopeful young man, and had behaved so bravely +against the Turks at the siege of Vienna, that the Emperor made him a +Count of the Empire. It was falsely reported that Sir Edward Seymour was +dead, a great man; he had often been Speaker, Treasurer of the Navy, and +in many other lucrative offices. He was of a hasty spirit, not at all +sincere, but head of the party at any time prevailing in Parliament. + +29th September, 1701. I kept my first courts in Surrey, which took up +the whole week. My steward was Mr. Hervey, a Counsellor, Justice of +Peace, and Member of Parliament, and my neighbor. I gave him six +guineas, which was a guinea a day, and to Mr. Martin, his clerk, three +guineas. + +31st October, 1701. I was this day 81 complete, in tolerable health, +considering my great age. + +December, 1701. Great contentions about elections. I gave my vote and +interest to Sir R. Onslow and Mr. Weston. + +27th December, 1701. My grandson quitted Oxford. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +21st January, 1701-02. At the Royal Society there was read and approved +the delineation and description of my Tables of Veins and Arteries, by +Mr. Cooper, the chirurgeon, in order to their being engraved. + +8th March, 1702. The King had a fall from his horse, and broke his +collar bone, and having been much indisposed before, and aguish, with a +long cough and other weakness, died this Sunday morning, about four +o'clock. + +I carried my accounts of Greenwich Hospital to the Committee. + +12th April, 1702. My brother-in-law, Glanville, departed this life this +morning after a long languishing illness, leaving a son by my sister, +and two granddaughters. Our relation and friendship had been long and +great. He was a man of excellent parts. He died in the 84th year of his +age, and willed his body to be wrapped in lead and carried down to +Greenwich, put on board a ship, and buried in the sea, between Dover and +Calais, about the Goodwin sands; which was done on the Tuesday, or +Wednesday after. This occasioned much discourse, he having no relation +at all to the sea. He was a gentleman of an ancient family in +Devonshire, and married my sister Jane. By his prudent parsimony he much +improved his fortune. He had a place in the Alienation Office, and might +have been an extraordinary man, had he cultivated his parts. + +My steward at Wotton gave a very honest account of what he had laid out +on repairs, amounting to £1,900. + +3d May, 1702. The report of the committee sent to examine the state of +Greenwich hospital was delivered to the House of Commons, much to their +satisfaction. Lord Godolphin made Lord High Treasurer. + +Being elected a member of the Society lately incorporated for the +propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, I subscribed £10 per annum +toward the carrying it on. We agreed that every missioner, besides the +£20 to set him forth, should have £50 per annum out of the stock of the +Corporation, till his settlement was worth to him £100 per annum. We +sent a young divine to New York. + +22d June, 1702. I dined at the Archbishop's with the newly made Bishop +of Carlisle, Dr. Nicolson, my worthy and learned correspondent. + +27th June, 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 Addiscombe being new-building, so that my family was +above thirty. Most of the new Parliament were chosen of Church of +England principles, against the peevish party. The Queen was +magnificently entertained at Oxford and all the towns she passed through +on her way to Bath. + +31st October, 1702. Arrived now to the 82d year of my age, having read +over all that passed since this day twelvemonth in these notes, I render +solemn thanks to the Lord, imploring the pardon of my past sins, and the +assistance of his grace; making new resolutions, and imploring that he +will continue his assistance, and prepare me for my blessed Savior's +coming, that I may obtain a comfortable departure, after so long a term +as has been hitherto indulged me. I find by many infirmities this year +(especially nephritic pains) that I much decline; and yet of his +infinite mercy retain my intellect and senses in great measure above +most of my age. I have this year repaired much of the mansion house and +several tenants' houses, and paid some of my debts and engagements. My +wife, children, and family in health: for all which I most sincerely +beseech Almighty God to accept of these my acknowledgments, and that if +it be his holy will to continue me yet longer, it may be to the praise +of his infinite grace, and salvation of my soul. Amen! + +8th November, 1702. My kinsman, John Evelyn, of Nutfield, a young and +very hopeful gentleman, and Member of Parliament, after having come to +Wotton to see me, about fifteen days past, went to London and there died +of the smallpox. He left a brother, a commander in the army in Holland, +to inherit a fair estate. + +Our affairs in so prosperous a condition both by sea and land, that +there has not been so great an union in Parliament, Court, and people, +in memory of man, which God in mercy make us thankful for, and continue! +The Bishop of Exeter preached before the Queen and both Houses of +Parliament at St. Paul's; they were wonderfully huzzaed in their +passage, and splendidly entertained in the city. + +December, 1702. The expectation now is, what treasure will be found on +breaking bulk of the galleon brought from Vigo by Sir George Rooke, +which being made up in an extraordinary manner in the hold, was not +begun to be opened till the fifth of this month, before two of the Privy +Council, two of the chief magistrates of the city, and the Lord +Treasurer. + +After the excess of honor conferred by the Queen on the Earl of +Marlborough, by making him a Knight of the Garter and a Duke, for the +success of but one campaign, that he should desire £5,000 a year to be +settled on him by Parliament out of the Post Office, was thought a bold +and unadvised request, as he had, besides his own considerable estate, +above £30,000 a year in places and employments, with £50,000 at +interest. He had married one daughter to the son of my Lord Treasurer +Godolphin, another to the Earl of Sunderland, and a third to the Earl of +Bridgewater. He is a very handsome person, well-spoken and affable, and +supports his want of acquired knowledge by keeping good company. + +January, 1702-03. News of Vice-Admiral Benbow's conflict with the French +fleet in the West Indies, in which he gallantly behaved himself, and was +wounded, and would have had extraordinary success, had not four of his +men-of-war stood spectators without coming to his assistance; for this, +two of their commanders were tried by a Council of War, and +executed;[94] a third was condemned to perpetual imprisonment, loss of +pay, and incapacity to serve in future. The fourth died. + + [Footnote 94: The Captains Kirby and Wade, having been tried and + condemned to die by a court-martial held on them in the West Indies, + were sent home in the "Bristol;" and, on its arrival at Portsmouth + were both shot on board, not being suffered to land on English + ground.] + +Sir Richard Onslow and Mr. Oglethorpe (son of the late Sir Theo. O.) +fought on occasion of some words which passed at a committee of the +House. Mr. Oglethorpe was disarmed. The Bill against occasional +conformity was lost by one vote. Corn and provisions so cheap that the +farmers are unable to pay their rents. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +February, 1703. A famous cause at the King's Bench between Mr. Fenwick +and his wife, which went for him with a great estate. The Duke of +Marlborough lost his only son at Cambridge by the smallpox. A great +earthquake at Rome, etc. A famous young woman, an Italian, was hired by +our comedians to sing on the stage, during so many plays, for which they +gave her £500; which part by her voice alone at the end of three scenes +she performed with such modesty and grace, and above all with such +skill, that there was never any who did anything comparable with their +voices. She was to go home to the Court of the King of Prussia, and I +believe carried with her out of this vain nation above £1,000, everybody +coveting to hear her at their private houses. + +26th May, 1703. This day died Mr. Samuel Pepys, a very worthy, +industrious and curious person, none in England exceeding him in +knowledge of the navy, in which he had passed through all the most +considerable offices, Clerk of the Acts and Secretary of the Admiralty, +all which he performed with great integrity. When King James II. went +out of England, he laid down his office, and would serve no more; but +withdrawing himself from all public affairs, he lived at Clapham with +his partner, Mr. Hewer, formerly his clerk, in a very noble house and +sweet place, where he enjoyed the fruit of his labors in great +prosperity. He was universally beloved, hospitable, generous, learned in +many things, skilled in music, a very great cherisher of learned men of +whom he had the conversation. His library and collection of other +curiosities were of the most considerable, the models of ships +especially. Besides what he published of an account of the navy, as he +found and left it, he had for divers years under his hand the History of +the Navy, or _Navalia_, as he called it; but how far advanced, and what +will follow of his, is left, I suppose, to his sister's son, Mr. +Jackson, a young gentleman, whom Mr. Pepys had educated in all sorts of +useful learning, sending him to travel abroad, from whence he returned +with extraordinary accomplishments, and worthy to be heir. Mr. Pepys had +been for near forty years so much my particular friend, that Mr. Jackson +sent me complete mourning, desiring me to be one to hold up the pall at +his magnificent obsequies; but my indisposition hindered me from doing +him this last office. + +13th June, 1703. Rains have been great and continual, and now, near +midsummer, cold and wet. + +11th July, 1703. I went to Addiscombe, sixteen miles from Wotton, to +see my son-in-law's new house, the outside, to the coving, being such +excellent brickwork, based with Portland stone, with the pilasters, +windows, and within, that I pronounced it in all the points of good and +solid architecture to be one of the very best gentlemen's houses in +Surrey, when finished. I returned to Wotton in the evening, though +weary. + +25th July, 1703. The last week in this month an uncommon long-continued +rain, and the Sunday following, thunder and lightning. + +12th August, 1703. The new Commission for Greenwich hospital was sealed +and opened, at which my son-in-law, Draper, was present, to whom I +resigned my office of Treasurer. From August 1696, there had been +expended in building £89,364 14s. 8d. + +31st October, 1703. This day, being eighty-three years of age, upon +examining what concerned me, more particularly the past year, with the +great mercies of God preserving me, and in the same measure making my +infirmities tolerable, I gave God most hearty and humble thanks, +beseeching him to confirm to me the pardon of my sins past, and to +prepare me for a better life by the virtue of his grace and mercy, for +the sake of my blessed Savior. + +21st November, 1703. The wet and uncomfortable weather staying us from +church this morning, our Doctor officiated in my family; at which were +present above twenty domestics. He made an excellent discourse on 1 Cor. +xv., v. 55, 56, of the vanity of this world and uncertainty of life, and +the inexpressible happiness and satisfaction of a holy life, with +pertinent inferences to prepare us for death and a future state. I gave +him thanks, and told him I took it kindly as my funeral sermon. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +26-7th November, 1703. The effects of the hurricane and tempest of +wind, rain, and lightning, through all the nation, especially London, +were very dismal. Many houses demolished, and people killed. As to my +own losses, the subversion of woods and timber, both ornamental and +valuable, through my whole estate, and about my house the woods crowning +the garden mount, the growing along the park meadow, the damage to my +own dwelling, farms, and outhouses, is almost tragical, not to be +paralleled, with anything happening in our age. I am not able to +describe it; but submit to the pleasure of Almighty God. + +7th December, 1703. I removed to Dover Street, where I found all well; +but houses, trees, garden, etc., at Sayes Court, suffered very much. + +31st December, 1703. I made up my accounts, paid wages, gave rewards and +New Year's gifts, according to custom. + +January, 1703-04. The King of Spain[95] landing at Portsmouth, came to +Windsor, where he was magnificently entertained by the Queen, and +behaved himself so nobly, that everybody was taken with his graceful +deportment. After two days, having presented the great ladies, and +others, with valuable jewels, he went back to Portsmouth, and +immediately embarked for Spain. + + [Footnote 95: Charles III., afterward Emperor of Germany, by the + title of Charles VI.] + +16th January, 1704. The Lord Treasurer gave my grandson the office of +Treasurer of the Stamp Duties, with a salary of £300 a year. + +30th January, 1704. The fast on the Martyrdom of King Charles I. was +observed with more than usual solemnity. + +May, 1704. Dr. Bathurst, President of Trinity College, Oxford, now +died,[96] I think the oldest acquaintance now left me in the world. He +was eighty-six years of age, stark blind, deaf, and memory lost, after +having been a person of admirable parts and learning. This is a serious +alarm to me. God grant that I may profit by it! He built a very handsome +chapel to the college, and his own tomb. He gave a legacy of money, and +a third part of his library, to his nephew, Dr. Bohun, who went hence to +his funeral. + + [Footnote 96: There is a very good Life of him, with his portrait + prefixed, by Thomas Warton, Fellow of Trinity College, and Poetry + Professor at Oxford.] + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +7th September, 1704. This day was celebrated the thanksgiving for the +late great victory,[97] with the utmost pomp and splendor by the Queen, +Court, great Officers, Lords Mayor, Sheriffs, Companies, etc. The +streets were scaffolded from Temple Bar, where the Lord Mayor presented +her Majesty with a sword, which she returned. Every company was ranged +under its banners, the city militia without the rails, which were all +hung with cloth suitable to the color of the banner. The Lord Mayor, +Sheriffs, and Aldermen were in their scarlet robes, with caparisoned +horses; the Knight Marshal on horseback; the Foot-Guards; the Queen in a +rich coach with eight horses, none with her but the Duchess of +Marlborough in a very plain garment, the Queen full of jewels. Music and +trumpets at every city company. The great officers of the Crown, +Nobility, and Bishops, all in coaches with six horses, besides +innumerable servants, went to St. Paul's, where the Dean preached. After +this, the Queen went back in the same order to St. James's. The city +companies feasted all the Nobility and Bishops, and illuminated at +night. Music for the church and anthems composed by the best masters. +The day before was wet and stormy, but this was one of the most serene +and calm days that had been all the year. + + [Footnote 97: Over the French and Bavarians, at Blenheim, 13th + August, 1704.] + +October, 1704. The year has been very plentiful. + +31st October, 1704. Being my birthday and the 84th year of my life, +after particular reflections on my concerns and passages of the year, I +set some considerable time of this day apart, to recollect and examine +my state and condition, giving God thanks, and acknowledging his +infinite mercies to me and mine, begging his blessing, and imploring his +protection for the year following. + +December, 1704. Lord Clarendon presented me with the three volumes of +his father's "History of the Rebellion." + +My Lord of Canterbury wrote to me for suffrage for Mr. Clarke's +continuance this year in the Boyle Lecture, which I willingly gave for +his excellent performance of this year. + +9th February, 1704. I went to wait on my Lord Treasurer, where was the +victorious Duke of Marlborough, who came to me and took me by the hand +with extraordinary familiarity and civility, as formerly he was used to +do, without any alteration of his good-nature. He had a most rich George +in a sardonyx set with diamonds of very great value; for the rest, very +plain. I had not seen him for some years, and believed he might have +forgotten me. + +21st February, 1704. Remarkable fine weather. Agues and smallpox much in +every place. + +11th March, 1704. An exceedingly dry season. Great loss by fire, +burning the outhouses and famous stable of the Earl of Nottingham, at +Burleigh [Rutlandshire], full of rich goods and furniture, by the +carelessness of a servant. A little before, the same happened at Lord +Pembroke's, at Wilton. The old Countess of Northumberland, Dowager of +Algernon Percy, Admiral of the fleet to King Charles I., died in the 83d +year of her age. She was sister to the Earl of Suffolk, and left a great +estate, her jointure to descend to the Duke of Somerset. + +May, 1704. The Bailiff of Westminster hanged himself. He had an ill +report. + +On the death of the Emperor, there was no mourning worn at Court, +because there was none at the Imperial Court on the death of King +William. + +18th May, 1704. I went to see Sir John Chardin, at Turnham Green, the +gardens being very fine, and exceedingly well planted with fruit. + +20th May, 1704. Most extravagant expense to debauch and corrupt votes +for Parliament members. I sent my grandson with his party of my +freeholders to vote for Mr. Harvey, of Combe. + +4th January, 1704-05. I dined at Lambeth with the Archbishop of Dublin, +Dr. King, a sharp and ready man in politics, as well as very learned. + +June, 1705. The season very dry and hot. I went to see Dr. Dickinson the +famous chemist. We had long conversation about the philosopher's elixir, +which he believed attainable, and had seen projection himself by one who +went under the name of Mundanus, who sometimes came along among the +adepts, but was unknown as to his country, or abode; of this the doctor +had written a treatise in Latin, full of very astonishing relations. He +is a very learned person, formerly a Fellow of St. John's College, +Oxford, in which city he practiced physic, but has now altogether given +it over, and lives retired, being very old and infirm, yet continuing +chemistry. + +I went to Greenwich hospital, where they now began to take in wounded +and worn-out seamen, who are exceedingly well provided for. The +buildings now going on are very magnificent. + +[Sidenote: LONDON] + +October, 1705. Mr. Cowper made Lord Keeper. Observing how uncertain +great officers are of continuing long in their places, he would not +accept it, unless £2,000 a year were given him in reversion when he was +put out, in consideration of his loss of practice. His predecessors, how +little time soever they had the Seal, usually got £100,000 and made +themselves Barons. A new Secretary of State. Lord Abington, Lieutenant +of the Tower, displaced, and General Churchill, brother to the Duke of +Marlborough, put in. An indication of great unsteadiness somewhere, but +thus the crafty Whig party (as called) begin to change the face of the +Court, in opposition to the High Churchmen, which was another +distinction of a party from the Low Churchmen. The Parliament chose one +Mr. Smith, Speaker. There had never been so great an assembly of members +on the first day of sitting, being more than 450. The votes both of the +old, as well as the new, fell to those called Low Churchmen, contrary to +all expectation. + +31st October, 1705. I am this day arrived to the 85th year of my age. +Lord teach me so to number my days to come, that I may apply them to +wisdom! + +1st January, 1705-06. Making up my accounts for the past year, paid +bills, wages, and New Year's gifts, according to custom. Though much +indisposed and in so advanced a stage, I went to our chapel [in London] +to give God public thanks, beseeching Almighty God to assist me and my +family the ensuing year, if he should yet continue my pilgrimage here, +and bring me at last to a better life with him in his heavenly kingdom. +Divers of our friends and relations dined with us this day. + +27th January, 1706. My indisposition increasing, I was exceedingly ill +this whole week. + +3d February, 1706. Notes of the sermons at the chapel in the morning and +afternoon, written with his own hand, conclude this Diary.[98] + + [Footnote 98: Mr. Evelyn died on the 27th of this month.] + + +END OF THE DIARY. + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Footnotes have been moved below the paragraph to which they relate. + +Inconsistencies have been retained in spelling, hyphenation, formatting, +punctuation, and grammar, except where indicated in the list below: + + - "dilligent" changed to "diligent" on Page 1 + - "suprising" changed to "surprising" on Page 2 + - Period added after "1665" on Page 5 + - Period added after "ought!)" on Page 12 + - Semicolon changed to a period added after "1666" on + Page 13 + - Period added after "etc" on Page 26 + - "Luke, xix," changed to "Luke xix." on Page 26 + - Quote added after "Writings," in Footnote 9 + - "day's" changed to "days" in Footnote 10 + - "Fore-land" changed to "Foreland" on Page 34 + - Comma added after "August" on Page 36 + - Period changed to a comma after "received" on Page 40 + - Comma changed to a period after "1667" on Page 41 + - Comma added after "April" on Page 41 + - Period added after "years" on Page 45 + - Period changed to a comma after "September" on + Page 51 + - Period added after "1671" on Page 68 + - "rarites" changed to "rarities" on Page 72 + - Comma changed to a period added after "fowl" on + Page 73 + - Period added after "April" on Page 79 + - Period added after "home" on Page 83 + - Period added after "me" on Page 83 + - Period added after "1672" on Page 86 + - Comma removed after "Psalm" on Page 87 + - Period added after "design" on Page 89 + - Period added after "go-by" on Page 91 + - Closed paren changed to a comma after "Burnet" + on Page 98 + - "eloqence" changed to "eloquence" on Page 98 + - Comma removed after "Luke" on Page 102 + - Period added after "Dr" on Page 104 + - Period changed to a comma after "him" on Page 104 + - Period added after "1675" on Page 105 + - Period added after "London" on Page 106 + - "gentelman" changed to "gentleman" on Page 107 + - Comma added after "November" on Page 108 + - Comma added after "December" on Page 108 + - Period added after "xx" on Page 109 + - Comma removed after "Isaiah" on Page 109 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 110 + - Period added after "manner" on Page 110 + - Period added after "chargeable" on Page 111 + - "Duke s" changed to "Duke's" on Page 111 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 111 + - Period added after "large" on Page 119 + - Period added after "Queen" on Page 120 + - "Brounker" changed to "Brouncker" on Page 121 + - "exemplaily" changed to "exemplarily" on Page 124 + - Comma removed after "Europeans" on Page 147 + - Comma added after "Mingrelia" on Page 147 + - "day s" changed to "day's" on Page 154 + - Period added after "them" on Page 157 + - "at at" changed to "at" on Page 163 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 166 + - "Archibishop s" changed to "Archibishop's" on + Page 168 + - Period added after "lute" on Page 195 + - Period added after "II" on Page 208 + - Comma changed to a period added after "1685" on + Page 212 + - Period added after "solemn" on Page 212 + - "ingenius" changed to "ingenious" on Page 214 + - "familar" changed to "familiar" on Page 214 + - Period added after "spirits" on Page 216 + - Period added after "family" on Page 216 + - Period removed after "Sir" on Page 220 + - Period added after "worship" on Pago 224 + - "pro ceeded" changed to "proceeded" on Page 229 + - Period added after "end" on Page 229 + - Semicolon changed to colon after "note" in + Footnote 61 + - Quote added after "but, says he," on page 234 + - Comma added after "February" on Page 248 + - "etc," changed to "etc." on Page 256 + - "minatures" changed to "miniatures" on Page 258 + - "minatured" changed to "miniatured" on Page 258 + - Period added after "St" on Page 262 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 262 + - "Martin s" changed to "Martin's" on Page 262 + - Period added after "ended" on Page 263 + - Period added after "1687" on Page 263 + - "mal-administration" changed to "maladministration" + on Page 294 + - "Guatavus" changed to "Gustavus" on Page 295 + - Period added after "St" on Page 300 + - Comma added after "February" on Page 300 + - Period added after "£40,000" on Page 307 + - Period added after "season" on Page 307 + - Period added after "Bishop" on Page 307 + - Period added after "frost" on Page 307 + - Period added after "Tower" on Page 307 + - Period added after "years" on Page 308 + - Comma added after "July" on Page 311 + - Comma changed to a period added after "1693" on + Page 321 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 337 + - "proemunire" changed to "præmunire" on Page 337 + - Period added after "1699" on Page 348 + - Period added after "Mr" on Page 355 + - "Norfold" changed to "Norfolk" on Page 356 + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42081 *** |