John Evelyn’s diary, 1675

Went to see Mr. Streeter, that excellent painter of perspective and landscape, to comfort and encourage him to be cut for the stone, with which that honest man was…

Supped at Sir William Petty's, with the Bishop of Salisbury, and divers honorable persons. We had a noble entertainment in a house gloriously furnished; the master…

Dr. Brideoak was elected Bishop of Chichester, on the translation of Dr. Gunning to Ely.

Dr. Allestree preached on Romans, vi. 3, the necessity of those who are baptized to die to sin; a very excellent discourse from an excellent preacher.

Dr. Barrow, that excellent, pious, and most learned man, divine, mathematician, poet, traveler, and most humble person, preached at Whitehall to the household, on…

I read my first discourse, "Of Earth and Vegetation," before the Royal Society as a lecture in course, after Sir Robert Southwell had read his, the week before, "On…

This day was my dear friend, Mrs. Blagg, married at the Temple Church to my friend, Mr. Sidney Godolphin, Groom of the Bedchamber to his Majesty.

I went to visit one Mr. Bathurst, a Spanish merchant, my neighbor.

I went with Lord Ossory to Deptford, where we chose him Master of the Trinity Company.

I was at a conference of the Lords and Commons in the Painted Chamber, on a difference about imprisoning some of their members; and on the 3d, at another…

This afternoon came Monsieur Querouaille and his lady, parents to the famous beauty and ... favorite at Court, to see Sir R. Browne, with whom they were intimately…

At Ely House, I went to the consecration of my worthy friend, the learned Dr. Barlow, Warden of Queen's College, Oxford, now made Bishop of Lincoln. After it…

I went with Mrs. Howard and her two daughters toward Northampton Assizes, about a trial at law, in which I was concerned for them as a trustee. We lay this night at…

The Vice Chancellor Dr. Bathurst (who had formerly taken particular care of my son), President of Trinity College invited me to dinner, and did me great honor all…

We heard the speeches, and saw the ceremony of creating doctors in Divinity, Law and Physic. I had, early in the morning, heard Dr. Morison, Botanic Professor, read…

I went to see my Lord Sunderland's Seat at Althorpe, four miles from the ragged town of Northampton (since burned, and well rebuilt). It is placed in a pretty open…

Our cause was pleaded in behalf of the mother, Mrs. Howard and her daughters, before Baron Thurland, who had formerly been steward of Courts for me; we carried our…

The Lord Treasurer's Chaplain preached at Wallingford House.

Dr. Sprat, prebend of Westminster, and Chaplain to the Duke of Buckingham, preached on the 3d Epistle of Jude, showing what the primitive faith was, how near it and…

I visited the Bishop of Rochester, at Bromley, and dined at Sir Philip Warwick's, at Frogpoole .

I went to see Dulwich College, being the pious foundation of one Alleyn, a famous comedian, in King James's time. The chapel is pretty, the rest of the hospital…

I was casually shown the Duchess of Portsmouth's splendid apartment at Whitehall, luxuriously furnished, and with ten times the richness and glory beyond the…

I saw the Italian Scaramuccio act before the King at Whitehall, people giving money to come in, which was very scandalous, and never so before at Court diversions.…

Dined at Kensington with my old acquaintance, Mr. Henshaw, newly returned from Denmark, where he had been left resident after the death of the Duke of Richmond, who…

I got an extreme cold, such as was afterward so epidemical, as not only to afflict us in this island, but was rife over all Europe, like a plague. It was after an…

Dined at Lord Chamberlain's with the Holland Ambassador L. Duras, a valiant gentleman whom his Majesty made an English Baron, of a cadet, and gave him his seat of…

Lord Berkeley coming into Council, fell down in the gallery at Whitehall, in a fit of apoplexy, and being carried into my Lord Chamberlain's lodgings, several…

Dined at my Lord Chamberlain's, with my son. There were the learned Isaac Vossius, and Spanhemius, son of the famous man of Heidelberg; nor was this gentleman less…

Being the day appointed for my Lord Ambassador to set out, I met them with my coach at New Cross. There were with him my Lady his wife, and my dear friend, Mrs.…

We came to Canterbury: and, next morning, to Dover. There was in my Lady Ambassadress's company my Lady Hamilton, a sprightly young lady, much in the good graces of…

Being Sunday, my Lord having before delivered to me his letter of attorney, keys, seal, and his Will, we took a solemn leave of one another upon the beach, the…

Being returned home, I visited Lady Mordaunt at Parson's Green, my Lord, her son, being sick. This pious woman delivered to me £100 to bestow as I thought fit for…

Visited her Ladyship again, where I found the Bishop of Winchester, whom I had long known in France; he invited me to his house at Chelsea.

Lady Sunderland gave me ten guineas, to bestow in charities.