Volume 1

Memoirs illustrative of the life and writings of John Evelyn ... comprising his diary, from the year 1641 to 1705-6, and a selection of his familiar letters. To which is subjoined, the private correspondence between King Charles I and his Secretary of State ... [et al.] Sir Edward Nicholas ... 1641, and at other times during the Civil War; also between Sir Edward Hyde ... and Sir Richard Browne Ambassador to the Court of France ... The whole now first published from the original MSS. ... / Edited by William Bray.

  • John Evelyn
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoirs illustrative of the life and writings of John Evelyn ... comprising his diary, from the year 1641 to 1705-6, and a selection of his familiar letters. To which is subjoined, the private correspondence between King Charles I and his Secretary of State ... [et al.] Sir Edward Nicholas ... 1641, and at other times during the Civil War; also between Sir Edward Hyde ... and Sir Richard Browne Ambassador to the Court of France ... The whole now first published from the original MSS. ... / Edited by William Bray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    all lo dinner, but it being Christmas-eve we desir’d to be excus’d, in- tending at three in y® afternoone to seale divers things which lay ready at y® office ; so attended by three of the Clearks of y® Signet, we met and seal’d. Amongst other things was a pardon to West, who being privy to the late conspiracy, had reveal’d the accomplices to save his owne neck. There were also another pardon and two indenizations; and so agreeing to a fortnlglit’s vacation, I return’d home. 31. Recollecting the passages of the yeare past, and made up ac- compts, humbly besouglit Almighty God to pardon those my slnns which had provoked him to discompose my sorrowfull family; that he would accept of our humiliation, and in his good time restore comfort to it. I also blest God for all his undeserved mercies and preservations, begging the continuance of his grace and preservation.—The winter had hitherto been extraordinary wett and mild. •/ 1686. 1 Jan. Imploring y® continuance of God’s providential care for the yeare now entered, I went to the publiq devotions. The Deane of the Chapell and Cleark of the Closset put out, viz. Bp, of London and . . . , and Rochester* and Durham-|' put in their places ; the former had oppos’d the toleration intended, and shewn a worthy zeale for the Reform’d Religion as establish’d. 6. I din’d with y® Abp. of York, where was Peter Walsh, that Romish Priest so well known for Ills moderation, professing the Church of England to be a true member of the Catholic Church ; he is us’d to go to our publiq prayers without scruple, and did not acknowledge the Pope’s infallibility, onely primacy of order. 19. Passed the Prlvie Seale, amongst others, the creation of Mrs. Sedley (concubine to ) Countesse of Dorchester, which the Queene took very grievously, so as for two dinners, standing neere her * Sprat. f Crewe. + Catharine, daughter of Sir Charles Sedley, Bart, one of the famous knot of wits and cour- tiers of King Charles’s time—he was also a poet, and wrote some dramatic ])ieces. She had a daughter by King James II. and was afterwards married to David Earl of Portmore, hy whom she had two sons, and died in 1717- I.<ord Dorset's well known verses, “ Tell me, Dorinda, why so gay,” &c. are addressed to this lady. Her father’s sarcasm when he voted for filling up the vacant throne with the Prince and Pi incess of Orange is well known } “ King James made my daughter a Countess, and I have been helping to make his daughter a jQueen,”