The Diary of John Evelyn Volume I Part 32

2d October, 1658. I went to London, to receive the Holy Sacrament.

On the 3d, Dr. Wild preached in a private place on Isaiah i. 4, showing the parallel between the sins of Israel and those of England. In the afternoon, Mr. Hall (son to Joseph, Bishop of Norwich) on 1 Cor. vi. 2, of the dignity of the Saints; a most excellent discourse.

4th October, 1658. I dined with the Holland amba.s.sador, at Derby House: returning, I diverted to see a very WHITE RAVEN, bred in c.u.mberland; also a porcupine, of that kind that shoots its quills, of which see Claudian; it was headed like a rat, the fore feet like a badger, the hind feet like a bear.

19th October, 1658. I was summoned to London, by the commissioners for new buildings; afterward, to the commission of sewers; but because there was an oath to be taken of fidelity to the Government as now const.i.tuted without a king, I got to be excused, and returned home.

22d October, 1658. Saw the superb funeral of the protector. He was carried from Somerset House in a velvet bed of state, drawn by six horses, housed with the same; the pall held by his new lords; Oliver lying in effigy, in royal robes, and crowned with a crown, sceptre, and globe, like a king. The pendants and guidons were carried by the officers of the army; the imperial banners, achievements, etc., by the heralds in their coats; a rich caparisoned horse, embroidered all over with gold; a knight of honor, armed _cap-a-pie_, and, after all, his guards, soldiers, and innumerable mourners. In this equipage, they proceeded to Westminster: but it was the most joyful funeral I ever saw; for there were none that cried but dogs, which the soldiers hooted away with a barbarous noise, drinking and taking tobacco in the streets as they went.

I returned not home till the 17th of November.

I was summoned again to London by the commissioners for new foundations to be erected within such a distance of London.

6th December, 1658. Now was published my "French Gardener," the first and best of the kind that introduced the use of the olitory garden to any purpose.

23d December, 1658. I went with my wife to keep Christmas at my cousin, George Tuke's, at Cressing Temple, in Ess.e.x. Lay that night at Brentwood.

25th December, 1658. Here was no public service, but what we privately used. I blessed G.o.d for his mercies the year past; and 1st of January, begged a continuance of them. Thus, for three Sundays, by reason of the inc.u.mbent's death, here was neither praying nor preaching, though there was a chapel in the house.

17th January, 1659. Our old vicar preached, taking leave of the parish in a pathetical speech, to go to a living in the city.

24th March, 1659. I went to London, to speak to the patron, Alderman Cuttler, about presenting a fit pastor for our dest.i.tute parish church.

5th April, 1659. Came the Earl of Northampton and the famous painter, Mr.

Wright, to visit me.

10th April, 1659. One Mr. Littler, being now presented to the living of our parish, preached on John vi. 55, a sermon preparatory to the Holy Sacrament.

25th April, 1659. A wonderful and sudden change in the face of the public; the new protector, Richard, slighted; several pretenders and parties strive for the government: all anarchy and confusion; Lord have mercy on us!

5th May, 1659. I went to visit my brother in London; and next day, to see a new opera, after the Italian way, in recitative music and scenes, much inferior to the Italian composure and magnificence; but it was prodigious that in a time of such public consternation such a vanity should be kept up, or permitted. I, being engaged with company, could not decently resist the going to see it, though my heart smote me for it.

7th May, 1659. Came the Amba.s.sador of Holland and his lady to visit me, and stayed the whole afternoon.

12th May, 1659. I returned the visit, discoursing much of the revolutions, etc.

19th May, 1659. Came to dine with me my Lord Galloway and his son, a Scotch Lord and learned: also my brother and his lady, Lord Berkeley and his lady, Mrs. Shirley, and the famous singer, Mrs. Knight,[60] and other friends.

[Footnote 60: Afterward one of Charles II.'s mistresses.]

23d May, 1659. I went to Rookwood, and dined with Sir William Hicks, where was a great feast and much company. It is a melancholy old house, environed with trees and rooks.

26th May, 1659. Came to see me my Lord George Berkeley, Sir William Ducie, and Sir George Pott's son of Norfolk.

29th May, 1659. The nation was now in extreme confusion and unsettled, between the Armies and the Sectaries, the poor Church of England breathing as it were her last; so sad a face of things had overspread us.

[Sidenote: LONDON]

7th June, 1659. To London, to take leave of my brother, and see the foundations now laying for a long street and buildings in Hatton Garden, designed for a little town, lately an ample garden.

1st September, 1659. I communicated to Mr. Robert Boyle, son to the Earl of Cork, my proposal for erecting a philosophic and mathematic college.

15th September, 1659. Came to see me Mr. Brereton,[61] a very learned gentleman, son to my Lord Brereton, with his and divers other ladies.

Also, Henry Howard of Norfolk, since Duke of Norfolk.

[Footnote 61: William, afterward third Lord Brereton; an accomplished and able man, who a.s.sisted Evelyn in establishing the Royal Society. He died in 1679.]

30th September, 1659. I went to visit Sir William Ducie and Colonel Blount, where I met Sir Henry Blount, the famous traveler and water drinker.

10th October, 1659. I came with my wife and family to London: took lodgings at the Three Feathers, in Russell Street, Covent Garden, for the winter, my son being very unwell.

11th October, 1659. Came to visit me Mr. William Coventry (since secretary to the Duke), son to the Lord Keeper, a wise and witty gentleman.

The Army now turned out the Parliament. We had now no government in the nation: all in confusion; no magistrate either owned or pretended; but the soldiers, and they not agreed. G.o.d Almighty have mercy on us, and settle us!

17th October, 1659. I visited Mr. Howard, at Arundel House, who gave me a fair onyx set in gold, and showed me his design of a palace there.

21st October, 1659. A private fast was kept by the Church of England Protestants in town, to beg of G.o.d the removal of his judgments, with devout prayers for his mercy to our calamitous Church.

7th November, 1659. Was published my bold "Apology for the King" in this time of danger, when it was capital to speak or write in favor of him. It was twice printed; so universally it took.

9th November, 1659. We observed our solemn Fast for the calamity of our Church.

12th November, 1659. I went to see the several drugs for the confection of treacle, dioscordium, and other electuaries, which an ingenious apothecary had not only prepared and ranged on a large and very long table, but covered every ingredient with a sheet of paper, on which was very lively painted the thing in miniature, well to the life, were it plant, flower, animal, or other exotic drug.

15th November, 1659. Dined with the Dutch Amba.s.sador. He did in a manner acknowledge that his nation mind only their own profit, do nothing out of grat.i.tude, but collaterally as it relates to their gain, or security; and therefore the English were to look for nothing of a.s.sistance to the banished King. This was to me no very grateful discourse, though an ingenuous confession.

18th November, 1659. Mr. Gunning celebrated the wonted Fast, and preached on Phil. ii. 12, 13.

24th November, 1659. Sir John Evelyn [of G.o.dstone] invited us to the forty-first wedding-day feast, where was much company of friends.

26th November, 1659. I was introduced into the acquaintance of divers learned and worthy persons, Sir John Marsham, Mr. Dugdale, Mr. Stanley, and others.

9th December, 1659. I supped with Mr. Gunning, it being our fast day, Dr.

Fearne, Mr. Thrisco, Mr. Chamberlain, Dr. Henchman, Dr. Wild, and other devout and learned divines, firm confessors, and excellent persons. Note: Most of them since made bishops.

10th December, 1659. I treated privately with Colonel Morley, then Lieutenant of the Tower, and in great trust and power, concerning delivering it to the King, and the bringing of him in, to the great hazard of my life, but the Colonel had been my schoolfellow, and I knew would not betray me.

12th December, 1659. I spent in public concerns for his Majesty, pursuing the point to bring over Colonel Morley, and his brother-in-law, Fay, Governor of Portsmouth.

18th December, 1659. Preached that famous divine, Dr. Sanderson (since Bishop of Lincoln), now eighty years old, on Jer. x.x.x. 13, concerning the evil of forsaking G.o.d.

29th December, 1659. Came my Lord Count Arundel, of Wardour, to visit me.

I went also to see my Lord Viscount Montague.

31st December, 1659. Settling my domestic affairs in order, blessed G.o.d for his infinite mercies and preservations the past year.

ANNUS MIRABILIS, January 1st, 1659-60. Begging G.o.d's blessings for the following year, I went to Exeter Chapel, when Mr. Gunning began the year on Galatians iv. 3-7, showing the love of Christ in shedding his blood so early for us.