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.