John Evelyn’s diary, 1691

This week a PLOT was discovered for a general rising against the new Government, for which (Henry) Lord Clarendon and others were sent to the Tower. The next day, I…

Lord Preston condemned about a design to bring in King James by the French. Ashton executed. The Bishop of Ely, Mr. Graham, etc., absconded.

I went to visit Monsieur Justell and the Library at St. James's, in which that learned man had put the MSS. (which were in good number) into excellent order, they…

Dined at Sir William Fermor's, who showed me many good pictures. After dinner, a French servant played rarely on the lute. Sir William had now bought all the…

Lord Sidney, principal Secretary of State, gave me a letter to Lord Lucas, Lieutenant of the Tower, to permit me to visit Lord Clarendon; which this day I did, and…

This night, a sudden and terrible fire burned down all the buildings over the stone gallery at Whitehall to the water side, beginning at the apartment of the late…

I went to see Dr. Sloane's curiosities, being an universal collection of the natural productions of Jamaica, consisting of plants, fruits, corals, minerals, stones,…

The Archbishop of Canterbury, and Bishops of Ely, Bath and Wells, Peterborough, Gloucester, and the rest who would not take the oaths to King William, were now…

I dined with Lord Clarendon in the Tower.

I visited the Earl and Countess of Sunderland, now come to kiss the King's hand after his return from Holland. This is a mystery. The King preparing to return to…

I went to visit the Archbishop of Canterbury yet at Lambeth. I found him alone, and discoursing of the times, especially of the newly designed Bishops; he told me…

I went with my son, and brother-in-law, Glanville, and his son, to Wotton, to solemnize the funeral of my nephew, which was performed the next day very decently and…

I went to visit Lord Clarendon, still prisoner in the Tower, though Lord Preston being pardoned was released.

A fast.

I dined with Mr. Pepys, where was Dr. Cumberland, the new Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Lloyd having been put out for not acknowledging the Government. Cumberland is a…

To London to hear Mr. Stringfellow preach his first sermon in the newly erected Church of Trinity, in Conduit Street; to which I did recommend him to Dr. Tenison…

In the morning Dr. Tenison preached the first sermon, taking his text from Psalm xxvi. 8. "Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine…

An extraordinary hot season, yet refreshed by some thundershowers.

I went to Wotton.

No sermon in the church in the afternoon, and the curacy ill-served.

A sermon by the curate; an honest discourse, but read without any spirit, or seeming concern; a great fault in the education of young preachers. Great thunder and…

A great storm at sea; we lost the "Coronation" and "Harwich," above 600 men perishing.

A most pleasing autumn. Our navy come in without having performed anything, yet there has been great loss of ships by negligence, and unskillful men governing the…

I visited the Earl of Dover, who having made his peace with the King, was now come home. The relation he gave of the strength of the French King, and the difficulty…

An extraordinary dry and warm season, without frost, and like a new spring; such as had not been known for many years. Part of the King's house at Kensington was…

Discourse of another PLOT, in which several great persons were named, but believed to be a sham.—A proposal in the House of Commons that every officer in the whole…

My daughter-in-law was brought to bed of a daughter.

An exceedingly dry and calm winter; no rain for many past months.

Dined at Lambeth with the new Archbishop. Saw the effect of my greenhouse furnace, set up by the Archbishop's son-in-law.

I again saw Mr. Charlton's collection of spiders, birds, scorpions, and other serpents, etc.