The Diary of John Evelyn (Volume 2 of 2)

56

This is the substance (and very nearly the words employed) of what is stated by King James II. in the MS. printed in his life; but in that MS. are some words which Evelyn has omitted. For example, after speaking of the members of the Church of England as good and loyal subjects, the King adds, "AND THEREFORE I SHALL ALWAYS TAKE CARE TO DEFEND AND SUPPORT IT." James then goes on to say, that being desired by some present to allow copies to be taken, he said he had not committed it to writing; on which Mr. Finch (then Solicitor-General and afterward Earl of Aylesford) replied, that what his Majesty had said had made so deep an impression on him, that he believed he could repeat the very words, and if his Majesty would permit him, he would write them down, which the King agreeing to, he went to a table and wrote them down, and this being shown to the King, he approved of it, and it was immediately published. The King afterward proceeds to say: "No one can wonder that Mr. Finch should word the speech as strong as he could in favor of the Established Religion, nor that the King in such a hurry should pass it over without reflection; for though his Majesty intended to promise both security to their religion and protection to their persons, he was afterward convinced it had been better expressed by assuring them he never would endeavor to alter the Established Religion, than that he would endeavor to preserve it, and that he would rather support and defend the professors of it, than the religion itself; they could not expect he should make a conscience of supporting what in his conscience he thought erroneous: his engaging not to molest the professors of it, nor to deprive them or their successors of any spiritual dignity, revenue, or employment, but to suffer the ecclesiastical affairs to go on in the track they were in, was all they could wish or desire from a Prince of a different persuasion; but having once approved that way of expressing it which Mr. Finch had made choice of, he thought it necessary not to vary from it in the declarations or speeches he made afterward, not doubting but the world would understand it in the meaning he intended. – 'Tis true, afterward IT WAS pretended he kept not up to this engagement; but had they deviated no further from the duty and allegience which both nature and repeated oath obliged them to, THAN HE DID FROM HIS WORD, they had still remained as happy a people as they really were during his short reign in England." – "Life of James II.," ii. 435. The words printed in small caps in this extract are from the interlineations of the son of King James II.

57

Ante, p. 204.

58

James, in his Life, makes no mention of this lease, but only says HE continued to collect them, which conduct was not blamed; but, on the contrary, he was thanked for it, in an address from the Middle Temple, penned by Sir Bartholomew Shore, and presented by Sir Humphrey Mackworth, carrying great authority with it; nor did the Parliament find fault.

59

In the first Dutch war, while Evelyn was one of the Commissioners for sick and wounded, L'Estrange in his "Gazette" mentioned the barbarous usage of the Dutch prisoners of war: whereupon Evelyn wrote him a very spirited letter, desiring that the Dutch Ambassador (who was then in England) and his friends would visit the prisoners, and examine their provisions; and he required L'Estrange to publish that vindication in his next number.

60

The "Life of James II." contains an account of the circumstances of the Duke of Monmouth's birth, which may be given in illustration of the statements of the text. Ross, tutor to the Duke of Monmouth, is there said to have proposed to Bishop Cosins to sign a certificate of the King's marriage to Mrs. Barlow, though her own name was Walters: but this the Bishop refused. She was born of a gentleman's family in Wales, but having little means and less grace, came to London to make her fortune. Algernon Sydney, then a Colonel in Cromwell's army, had agreed to give her fifty broad pieces (as he told the Duke of York); but being ordered hastily away with his regiment, he missed his bargain. She went into Holland, where she fell into the hands of his brother, Colonel Robert Sydney, who kept her for some time, till the King hearing of her, got her from him. On which the Colonel was heard to say, Let who will have her, she is already sped; and, after being with the King, she was so soon with child, that the world had no cause to doubt whose child it was, and the rather that when he grew to be a man, he very much resembled the Colonel both in stature and countenance, even to a wart on his face. However, the King owned the child. In the King's absence she behaved so loosely, that on his return from his escape at Worcester he would have no further commerce with her, and she became a common prostitute at Paris.

61

Evelyn subjoins this note: – "As to that of the Saludador (of which likewise I remember Sir Arthur Hopton, formerly as Ambassador at Madrid, had told me many like wonders), Mr. Pepys passing through Spain, and being extremely inquisitive of the truth of these pretended miracles of the Saludadors, found a very famous one at last, to whom he offered a considerable reward if he would make a trial of the oven, or any other thing of that kind, before him; the fellow ingenuously told him, that finding he was a more than ordinary curious person, he would not deceive him, and so acknowledged that he could do none of the feats really, but that what they pretended was all a cheat, which he would easily discover, though the poor superstitious people were easily imposed upon; yet have these impostors an allowance of the Bishops to practice their jugglings. This Mr. Pepys affirmed to me; but said he, I did not conceive it fit to interrupt his Majesty, who so solemnly told what they pretended to do.

J. E."

62

This collection was afterward purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, and now forms part o£ the British Museum.

63

This is by no means the case now.

64

This seems to have been added after the page was written.

65

Thomas Ken.

66

Thomas White.

67

Francis Turner.

68

John Lake.

69

William Lloyd.

70

Sir John Trelawny, Bart.

71

By Evelyn himself. The letter was as follows: —

"My Lord, The honor and reputation which your Grace's piety, prudence, and signal courage, have justly merited and obtained, not only from the sons of the Church of England, but even universally from those Protestants among us who are Dissenters from her discipline; God Almighty's Providence and blessing upon your Grace's vigilancy and extraordinary endeavors will not suffer to be diminished in this conjuncture. The conversation I now and then have with some in place who have the opportunity of knowing what is doing in the most secret recesses and cabals of our Church's adversaries, obliges me to acquaint you, that the calling of your Grace and the rest of the Lords Bishops to Court, and what has there of late been required of you, is only to create a jealousy and suspicion among well-meaning people of such compliances, as it is certain they have no cause to apprehend. The plan of this and of all that which is to follow of seeming favor thence, is wholly drawn by the Jesuits, who are at this time more than ever busy to make divisions among us, all other arts and mechanisms having hitherto failed them. They have, with other things contrived that your Lordships the Bishops should give his Majesty advice separately, without calling any of the rest of the Peers, which, though maliciously suggested, spreads generally about the town. I do not at all question but your Grace will speedily prevent the operation of this venom, and that you will think it highly necessary so to do, that your Grace is also enjoined to compose a form of prayer, wherein the Prince of Orange is expressly to be named the Invader: of this I presume not to say anything; but for as much as in all the Declarations, etc., which have hitherto been published in pretended favor of the Church of England, there is not once the least mention of the Reformed or Protestant Religion, but only of the Church of England as by Law Established, which Church the Papists tell us is the Church of Rome, which is (say they) the Catholic Church of England – that only is established by Law; the Church of England in the Reformed sense so established, is but by an usurped authority. The antiquity of THAT would by these words be explained, and utterly defeat this false and subdolous construction, and take off all exceptions whatsoever; if, in all extraordinary offices, upon these occasions, the words Reformed and Protestant were added to that of the Church of England by Law established. And whosoever threatens to invade or come against us, to the prejudice of that Church, in God's name, be they Dutch or Irish, let us heartily pray and fight against them. My Lord, this is, I confess, a bold, but honest period; and, though I am well assured that your Grace is perfectly acquainted with all this before, and therefore may blame my impertinence, as that does αλλοτριοεπισκοπειν; yet I am confident you will not reprove the zeal of one who most humbly begs your Grace's pardon, with your blessing. Lond., 10 Oct., 1688." (From a copy in Evelyn's handwriting.) See post, p. 285.

72

Peter Otthobonus succeeded Innocent XI. as Pope in 1689, by the title of Alexander VIII.

73

Sir George, as we have seen, had written in praise of a Private Life, which Mr. Evelyn answered by a book in praise of Public Life and Active Employment.

74

Poor Pepys, as the reader knows, had already undergone an imprisonment, with perhaps just as much reason as the present, on the absurd accusation of having sent information to the French Court of the state of the English Navy.

75

They are now at Oxford, having been presented to the University in 1755 by Henrietta, Countess Dowager of Pomfret, widow of Thomas, the first Earl.

76

It now forms part of the collection in the British Museum.

77

A mistake. Dr. Cumberland was made Bishop of Peterborough and Dr. John Moore succeeded Dr. Lloyd in the see of Norwich.

78

See post pp. 351-52.

79

Some account of these poor people is given in Bray and Manning's "History of Surrey," ii. 714, from the papers of the Rev. Mr. Miller, Vicar of Effingham, in that county, who was chaplain to the King's forces in the colony from 1692 to 1695. Some of the accused were convicted and executed; but Sir William Phipps, the Governor, had the good sense to reprieve, and afterward pardon, several; and the Queen approved his conduct.

80

A mistake for Bath and Wells. Bishop Kidder is referred to.

81

State lotteries finally closed October 18, 1826.

82

Robert Charnock, Edward King, and Thomas Keys.

83

He was concerned in the Rye-House plot, fled into Holland, was given up, and executed in his own country, 1684. See p. 198.

84

While the Czar was in his house. Evelyn's servant writes to him: "There is a house full of people, and right nasty. The Czar lies next your library, and dines in the parlor next your study. He dines at ten o'clock and at six at night; is very seldom at home a whole day; very often in the King's yard, or by water, dressed in several dresses. The King is expected here this day; the best parlor is pretty clean for him to be entertained in. The King pays for all he has."

85

The celebrated navigator, born in 1652, the time of whose death is uncertain. His "Voyage Round the World" has gone through many editions, and the substance of it has been transferred to many collections of voyages.

86

The foundation of the noble library now at Blenheim.

87

Afterward Bishop of Ely. He died 31st of July, 1714. King George I. purchased this library after the Bishop's death, for £6,000, and presented it to the University of Cambridge, where it now is.

88

Ante, p. 330.

89

Captain Kidd; he was hanged about two years afterward with some of his accomplices. This was one of the charges brought by the Commons against Lord Somers.

90

The volume alluded to was "An Enquiry into the Causes of the Miscarriage of the Scots Colony at Darien: Or an Answer to a Libel," entitled "A Defense of the Scots abdicating Darien." See Votes of the House of Commons, 15th January, 1699-1700.

91

Ante, p. 349.

92

Oranges were eaten in this kingdom much earlier than the time of King James I.

93

Justinian Champneys, Thomas Culpepper, William Culpepper, William Hamilton, and David Polhill, gentlemen of considerable property and family in the county. There is a very good print of them in five ovals on one plate, engraved by R. White, in 1701. They desired the Parliament to mind the public more, and their private heats less. They were confined till the prorogation, and were much visited. Burnet gives an account of them.

94

The Captains Kirby and Wade, having been tried and condemned to die by a court-martial held on them in the West Indies, were sent home in the "Bristol;" and, on its arrival at Portsmouth were both shot on board, not being suffered to land on English ground.

95

Charles III., afterward Emperor of Germany, by the title of Charles VI.

96

There is a very good Life of him, with his portrait prefixed, by Thomas Warton, Fellow of Trinity College, and Poetry Professor at Oxford.

97

Over the French and Bavarians, at Blenheim, 13th August, 1704.

98

Mr. Evelyn died on the 27th of this month.