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.