John Evelyn's Diary 1663

7th January 1663. At night I saw the ball, in which his Majesty (age 32) danced with several great ladies.

8th January 1663. I went to see my kinsman, Sir George Tuke's, comedy acted at the Duke's theater, which took so universally, that it was acted for some weeks every day, and it was believed it would be worth to the comedians £400 or £500. The plot was incomparable; but the language stiff and formal.

10th January 1663. I saw a ball again at Court, danced by the King (age 32), the Duke (age 29), and ladies, in great pomp.

21st January 1663. Dined at Mr. Treasurer's, of the Household, Sir Charles Berkeley's (age 33), where were the Earl of Oxford (age 35), Lord Bellassis (age 48), Lord Gerard (age 29), Sir Andrew Scrope, Sir William Coventry (age 35), Dr. Fraser, Mr. Windham, and others.

5th February 1663. I saw "The Wild Gallant", a comedy; and was at the great ball at Court, where his Majesty (age 32), the Queen (age 24), etc., danced.

6th February 1663. Dined at my Lord Mayor's, Sir John Robinson (age 48), Lieutenant of the Tower.

15th February 1663. This night some villains broke into my house and study below, and robbed me to the value of £60 in plate, money and goods:-this being the third time I have been thus plundered.

26th March 1663. I sat at the Commission of Sewers, where was a great case pleaded by his Majesty's (age 32) counsel; he having built a wall over a water course, denied the jurisdiction of the Court. The verdict went for the plaintiff.

30th April 1663. Came his Majesty (age 32) to honor my poor villa with his presence, viewing the gardens, and even every room of the house, and was pleased to take a small refreshment. There were with him the Duke of Richmond (age 24), Earl of St. Alban's (age 58), Lord Lauderdale (age 46), and several persons of quality.

14th May 1663. Dined with my Lord Mordaunt (age 36), and thence went to Barnes, to visit my excellent and ingenious friend, Abraham Cowley (age 45).

17th May 1663. I saluted the old Bishop of Durham, Dr. Cosin (age 68), to whom I had been kind, and assisted in his exile; but which he little remembered in his greatness.

29th May 1663. Dr. Creighton (age 24) preached his extravagant sermon at St. Margaret's [Map], before the House of Commons.

30th May 1663. This morning was passed my lease of Sayes Court [Map] from the Crown, for the finishing of which I had been obliged to make such frequent journeys to London. I returned this evening, having seen the Russian Ambassador (age 18) take leave of their Majesties with great solemnity.

2nd July 1663. I saw the great Masque at Court, and lay that night at Arundel House [Map].

4th July 1663. I saw his Majesty's (age 33) Guards, being of horse and foot 4,000, led by the General, the Duke of Albemarle (age 54), in extraordinary equipage and gallantry, consisting of gentlemen of quality and veteran soldiers, excellently clad, mounted, and ordered, drawn up in battalia before their Majesties in Hyde Park [Map], where the old Earl of Cleveland (age 72) trailed a pike, and led the right-hand file in a foot company, commanded by the Lord Wentworth (age 51), his son; a worthy spectacle and example, being both of them old and valiant soldiers. This was to show the French Ambassador, Monsieur Comminges; there being a great assembly of coaches, etc., in the park.

7th July 1663. Dined at the Comptroller's; after dinner we met at the Commission about the streets, and to regulate hackney coaches, also to make up our accounts to pass the Exchequer.

16th July 1663. A most extraordinary wet and cold season.

16th July 1663. Sir George Carteret (age 53), Treasurer of the Navy, had now married his daughter, Caroline, to Sir Thomas Scott (age 25), of Scott's Hall, in Kent. This gentleman was thought to be the son of Prince Rupert (age 43).

2nd August 1663. This evening I accompanied Mr. Treasurer and Vice-Chamberlain Carteret (age 53) to his lately married son-in-law's, Sir Thomas Scott (age 25), to Scott's Hall. We took barge as far as Gravesend, Kent [Map], and thence by post to Rochester, Kent [Map], whence in coach and six horses to Scott's Hall; a right noble seat, uniformly built, with a handsome gallery. It stands in a park well stored, the land fat and good. We were exceedingly feasted by the young knight, and in his pretty chapel heard an excellent sermon by his chaplain. In the afternoon, preached the learned Sir Norton Knatchbull (who has a noble seat hard by, and a plantation of stately fir trees). In the churchyard of the parish church I measured an overgrown yew tree, that was eighteen of my paces in compass, out of some branches of which, torn off by the winds, were sawed divers goodly planks.

10th August 1663. We returned by Sir Norton's, whose house is likewise in a park. This gentleman is a worthy person, and learned critic, especially in Greek and Hebrew. Passing by Chatham, Kent [Map], we saw his Majesty's (age 33) Royal Navy, and dined at Commissioner Pett's (age 43), master-builder there, who showed me his study and models, with other curiosities belonging to his art. He is esteemed for the most skillful shipbuilder in the world. He hath a pretty garden and banqueting house, pots, statues, cypresses, resembling some villas about Rome. After a great feast we rode post to Gravesend, Kent [Map], and, sending the coach to London, came by barge home that night.

18th August 1663. To London, to see my Lord Chancellor (age 54), where I had discourse with my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury (age 65) and the Bishop of Winchester (age 65), who enjoined me to write to Dr. Pierce (age 41), President of Magdalen College, Oxford, about a letter sent him by Dr. Goffe (age 58), a Romish Oratorian, concerning an answer to Dean Cressy's late book.

20th August 1663. I dined at the Comptroller's [of the Household] with the Earl of Oxford (age 36) and Mr. Ashburnham; it was said it should be the last of the public diets, or tables, at Court, it being determined to put down the old hospitality, at which was great murmuring, considering his Majesty's (age 33) vast revenue and the plenty of the nation. Hence, I went to sit in a Committee, to consider about the regulation of the Mint at the Tower [Map]; in which some small progress was made.

27th August 1663. Dined at Sir Philip Warwick's (age 53), Secretary to my Lord Treasurer (age 56), who showed me the accounts and other private matters relating to the revenue. Thence, to the Commissioners of the Mint, particularly about coinage, and bringing his Majesty's (age 33) rate from fifteen to ten shillings for every pound weight of gold.

31st August 1663. I was invited to the translation of Dr. Sheldon (age 65), Bishop of London, from that see to Canterbury, the ceremony performed at Lambeth Palace [Map]. First, went his Grace's mace bearer, steward, treasurer, comptroller, all in their gowns, and with white staves; next, the bishops in their habits, eight in number; Dr. Sweate, Dean of the Arches, Dr. Exton, Judge of the Admiralty, Sir William Merick, Judge of the Prerogative Court, with divers advocates in scarlet. After divine service in the chapel, performed with music extraordinary, Dr. French and Dr. Stradling (his Grace's chaplains) said prayers. The Archbishop in a private room looking into the chapel, the bishops, who were commissioners, went up to a table placed before the altar, and sat round it in chairs. Then Dr. Chaworth presented the commission under the broad seal to the Bishop of Winchester (age 65), and it was read by Dr. Sweate. After which, the Vicar-General went to the vestry, and brought his Grace into the chapel, his other officers marching before. He being presented to the Commissioners, was seated in a great armchair at one end of the table, when the definitive sentence was read by the Bishop of Winchester, and subscribed by all the bishops, and proclamation was three times made at the chapel door, which was then set open for any to enter, and give their exceptions; if any they had. This done, we all went to dinner in the great hall to a mighty feast. There were present all the nobility in town, the Lord Mayor of London, Sheriffs, Duke of Albemarle (age 54), etc. My Lord Archbishop did in particular most civilly welcome me. So going to visit my Lady Needham, who lived at Lambeth, I went over to London.

10th September 1663. I dined with Mr. Treasurer of the Navy (age 53), where, sitting by Mr. Secretary Morice (age 35), we had much discourse about books and authors, he being a learned man, and had a good collection.

24th October 1663. Mr. Edward Phillips came to be my son's (age 8) preceptor: this gentleman was nephew to Milton, who wrote against Salmasius's "Defensio"; but was not at all infected with his principles, though brought up by him.

5th November 1663. Dr. South (age 29), my Lord Chancellor's (age 54) chaplain, preached at Westminster Abbey [Map] an excellent discourse concerning obedience to magistrates, against the pontificians and sectaries. I afterward dined at Sir Philip Warwick's (age 53), where was much company.

6th November 1663. To Court, to get Sir John Evelyn (age 30), of Godstone, off from being High Sheriff of Surrey.

30th November 1663. Was the first anniversary of our Society for the choice of new officers, according to the tenor of our patent and institution. It being St. Andrew's day, who was our patron, each fellow wore a St. Andrew's cross of ribbon on the crown of his hat. After the election we dined together, his Majesty (age 33) sending us venison.

16th December 1663. To our Society, where Mr. P. Balle, our treasurer at the late election, presented the Society with an iron chest, having three locks, and in it £100 as a gift.

18th December 1663. Dined with the gentlemen of his Majesty's (age 33) bedchamber at Whitehall [Map].