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.]