John Evelyn’s diary, 1669

Imploring his blessing for the year entering, I went to church, where our Doctor preached on Psalm lxv. 12, apposite to the season, and beginning a new year.

About this time one of Sir William Penn's sons had published a blasphemous book against the Deity of our Blessed Lord.

I went to see a tall gigantic woman who measured 6 feet 10 inches high, at 21 years old, born in the Low Countries.

I presented his Majesty with my "History of the Four Impostors;" he told me of other like cheats. I gave my book to Lord Arlington, to whom I dedicated it. It was…

Saw Mrs. Phillips' "Horace" acted again.

To the Royal Society, when Signor Malpighi, an Italian physician and anatomist, sent this learned body the incomparable "History of the Silk-worm."

Dined at Lord Arlington's at Goring House, with the Bishop of Hereford.

To the Council of the Royal Society, about disposing my Lord Howard's library, now given to us.

To London, to place Mr. Christopher Wase about my Lord Arlington.

I went with Lord Howard of Norfolk, to visit Sir William Ducie at Charlton, where we dined; the servants made our coachmen so drunk, that they both fell off their…

Dined at Mr. Treasurer's, where was (with many noblemen) Colonel Titus of the bedchamber, author of the famous piece against Cromwell, "Killing no Murder." I now…

I dined with the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, and saw the library, which was not very considerable.

At a Council of the Royal Society our grant was finished, in which his Majesty gives us Chelsea College, and some land about it. It was ordered that five should be…

This evening, at 10 o'clock, was born my third daughter, who was baptized on the 25th by the name of Susannah.

Went to take leave of Lord Howard, going Ambassador to Morocco. Dined at Lord Arlington's, where were the Earl of Berkshire, Lord Saint John, Sir Robert Howard, and…

Came my Lord Cornbury, Sir William Pulteney, and others to visit me. I went this evening to London, to carry Mr. Pepys to my brother Richard, now exceedingly…

My wife went a journey of pleasure down the river as far as the sea, with Mrs. Howard and her daughter, the Maid of Honor, and others, among whom that excellent…

I went toward Oxford; lay at Little Wycomb.

Oxford.

In the morning was celebrated the Encænia of the New Theater, so magnificently built by the munificence of Dr. Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury, in which…

The next day began the more solemn lectures in all the faculties, which were performed in the several schools, where all the Inceptor-Doctors did their exercises,…

The Act sermon was this forenoon preached by Dr. Hall, in St. Mary's, in an honest, practical discourse against atheism. In the afternoon, the church was so…

Monday. Was held the Divinity Act in the Theater again, when proceeded seventeen Doctors, in all Faculties some.

I dined at the Vice-Chancellor's, and spent the afternoon in seeing the rarities of the public libraries, and visiting the noble marbles and inscriptions, now…

Dr. Fell, Dean of Christ Church and Vice-Chancellor, with Dr. Allestree, Professor, with beadles and maces before them, came to visit me at my lodging. I went to…

Having two days before had notice that the University intended me the honor of Doctorship, I was this morning attended by the beadles belonging to the Law, who…

I was invited by Sir Henry Peckham to his reading feast in the Middle Temple, a pompous entertainment, where were the Archbishop of Canterbury, all the great Earls…

To London, spending almost the entire day in surveying what progress was made in rebuilding the ruinous city, which now began a little to revive after its sad…

I saw the splendid audience of the Danish Ambassador in the Banqueting House at Whitehall.

I went to visit my most excellent and worthy neighbor, the Lord Bishop of Rochester, at Bromley, which he was now repairing, after the delapidations of the late…

I was this day very ill of a pain in my limbs, which continued most of this week, and was increased by a visit I made to my old acquaintance, the Earl of Norwich,…

To church, to give God thanks for my recovery.

I received the Blessed Eucharist, to my unspeakable joy.

To the Royal Society, meeting for the first time after a long recess, during vacation, according to custom; where was read a description of the prodigious eruption…

My dear brother continued extremely full of pain, the Lord be gracious to him!

This being the day of meeting for the poor, we dined neighborly together.

I heard an excellent discourse by Dr. Patrick, on the Resurrection, and afterward, visited the Countess of Kent, my kinswoman.

To London, upon the second edition of my "Sylva," which I presented to the Royal Society.