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.