John Evelyn’s diary, 1701

I finished the sale of North Stoake in Sussex to Robert Michell, Esq., appointed by my brother to be sold for payment of portions to my nieces, and other…

An exceeding deep snow, and melted away as suddenly.

Severe frost, and such a tempest as threw down many chimneys, and did great spoil at sea, and blew down above twenty trees of mine at Wotton.

The old Speaker laid aside, and Mr. Harley, an able gentleman, chosen. Our countryman, Sir Richard Onslow, had a party for him.

By an order of the House of Commons, I laid before the Speaker the state of what had been received and paid toward the building of Greenwich Hospital. Mr. Wye,…

I let Sayes Court to Lord Carmarthen, son to the Duke of Leeds. 28th. I went to the funeral of my sister Draper, who was buried at Edmonton in great state. Dr.…

A Dutch boy of about eight or nine years old was carried about by his parents to show, who had about the iris of one eye the letters of Deus meus, and of the other…

The Duke of Norfolk died of an apoplexy, and Mr. Thomas Howard of complicated disease since his being cut for the stone; he was one of the Tellers of the Exchequer.…

Some Kentish men, delivering a petition to the House of Commons, were imprisoned. A great dearth, no considerable rain having fallen for some months.

Very plentiful showers, the wind coming west and south. The Bishops and Convocation at difference concerning the right of calling the assembly and dissolving.…

The Commons demanded a conference with the Lords on the trial of Lord Somers, which the Lords refused, and proceeding on the trial, the Commons would not attend,…

I went to congratulate the arrival of that worthy and excellent person my Lord Galway, newly come out of Ireland, where he had behaved himself so honestly, and to…

My Lord Treasurer made my grandson one of the Commissioners of the prizes, salary £500 per annum.

My grandson went to Sir Simon Harcourt, the Solicitor-General, to Windsor, to wait on my Lord Treasurer. There had been for some time a proposal of marrying my…

I subscribed toward rebuilding Oakwood Chapel, now, after 200 years, almost fallen down.

The weather changed from heat not much less than in Italy or Spain for some few days, to wet, dripping, and cold, with intermissions of fair.

I went to Kensington, and saw the house, plantations, and gardens, the work of Mr. Wise, who was there to receive me. The death of King James, happening on the 15th…

I kept my first courts in Surrey, which took up the whole week. My steward was Mr. Hervey, a Counsellor, Justice of Peace, and Member of Parliament, and my…

I was this day 81 complete, in tolerable health, considering my great age.

Great contentions about elections. I gave my vote and interest to Sir R. Onslow and Mr. Weston.

My grandson quitted Oxford.