February

4 I went to Lond, hearing his Majestie had ben the moneday before surpriz’d in his bed chamber with an Apoplectical fit, & so, as if by Gods providence, Dr. King (that excellent chirurgeon as well as Physitian) had not ben accidentaly present [to let him bloud] (with his lancet in his pocket) his Majestie had certainely died that moment, which might have ben of direfull consequence, there being no body else with the King save this doctor & one more, as I am assured: It was a mark of the extraordinary dexterity, resolution, & presentnesse of Judgment in the Doctor to let him bloud in the very paroxysme, without staying the coming of other physitians, which regularly should have ben don, & the not doing so, must have a formal pardon as they tell me: This rescued his Majestie for that instant, but it prov’d onely a reprieve for a little time; he still complain’d & was relapsing & often fainting & sometimes in Epileptical symptoms ’til Wednesday, for which he was cupp’d, let bloud againe in both jugularies, had both vomit & purges &c: which so relieved him, that on the Thursday hops of recovery were signifiedin the publique Gazett; but that day about noone the Physitians conjectur’d him somewhat feavorish; This they seem’d glad of, as being more easily alaied, & methodicaly to be dealt with, than his former fits, so as they prescrib’d the famous Jesuits powder; but it made his Majestie worse; and some very able Doctors present, did not think it a feavor, but the effect of his frequent bleeding, & other sharp operations used by them about his head: so as probably the Powder might stop the Circulation, & renew his former fitts, which now made him very weake:
Thus he pass’d Thursday night with greate difficulty, when complaining of a paine in his side, the<y> drew 12 ounces more of blood from him, this was by 6 in the morning on friday, & it gave him reliefe, but it did not continue; for being now in much paine & strugling for breath, he lay doz’d, & after some conflicts, the Physitians desparing of him, he gave up the Ghost at halfe an houre-after Eleaven in the morning, being the 6 of Feb: in the 36t yeare of his reigne, & 54 of his age:
[Feb:6] ’Tis not to be express’d the teares & sorrows of Court, Citty & Country: Prayers were solemnly made in all the Churches, especialy in both the Court Chapells, where the Chaplaines relieved one another every halfe quarter of an houre, from the time he began to be in danger, til he expir’d: according to the forme prescribed in the Church office: Those who assisted his Majesties devotion were the A:Bish: of Cant: of London, Durrham & Ely; but more especialy the B: of Bath & Wells. It is sayd they exceedingly urged the receiving the H:Sacrament but that his Majestie told them he would Consider of it, which he did so long, ’til it was too late: others whispered, that the Bishops being bid withdraw some time the night before, (except the Earls of Bath, & Feversham), Hurlston the Priest, had presum’d to administer the popish Offices; I hope it is not true; but these buisie emissaries are very forewarde upon such occasions¹: [see September 16:] He gave his breeches & Keys to the Duke, who was almost continualy kneeling by his bed side, & in teares; he also recommended to him the care of his natural Children, all except the D: of Monmoth, now in Holland, & in his displeasure; he intreated the Queene to pardon him, [(Nor without cause)] who a little before had sent a Bishop to excuse her not more frequently visiting him, in reguard of her excessive griefe, & with all, that his Majestie would forgive it, if at any time she had offended him: He spake to the Duke to be kind to his Concubines the DD: of Cleveland, & especialy Portsmouth, & that Nelly might not sterve; I do not heare he said any thing of the Church or his people, now falling under the government of a Prince suspected for his Religion, after above 100 yeares the Church & Nation had ben departed from Rome:
Thus died K.Charles the 2d, of a Vigorous & robust constitution, & in all appearance capable of a longer life. A prince of many Virtues, & many greate Imperfections, Debonaire, Easy of accesse, not bloudy or Cruel: his Counten-ance fierce, his voice greate, proper of person, every motion became him, a lover of the sea, & skillfull in shipping, not affecting other studys, yet he had a laboratory and knew of many Empyrical Medicines, & the easier Mechanical Mathematics: Loved Planting, building, & brought in a politer way of living, which passed to Luxurie & intollerable expense: He had a particular Talent in telling stories & facetious passages of which he had innumerable, which made some bouffoones and vitious wretches too presumptuous, & familiar, not worthy the favors they abused: He tooke delight to have a number of little spaniels follow him, & lie in his bed-Chamber, where often times he suffered the bitches to puppy & give suck, which rendred it very offensive, & indeede made the whole Court nasty & stinking: An excellent prince doubtlesse had he ben lesse addicted to Women, which made him uneasy & allways in Want to supply their unmeasurable profusion, & to the detriment of many indigent persons who had signaly serv’d both him & his father: Easily, & frequently he changed favorites to his greate prejudice &c: As to other publique transactions and unhappy miscarriages, ’tis not here I intend to number them; but certainely never had <a> King more glorious opportunities to have made himselfe, his people & all Europ happy, & prevented innumerable mischiefs, had not his too Easy nature resign’d him to be menag’d by crafty men, & some abandoned & prophane wretches, who corrupted his otherwise sufficient parts, disciplin’d as he had ben by many afflictions, during his banishment: which gave him much experience, & knowledge of men & things; but those wiccked creatures tooke him [off] from all application becoming so greate a King: the History of his Reigne will certainely be the most wonderfull for the variety of matter & accidents above any extant of many former ages: The [sad tragical] death of his father, his banishment, & hardships, his miraculous restauration, conjurations against him; Parliaments, Warrs, Plagues, Fires, Comets; revolutions abroad happning in his time with a thousand other particulars: He was ever kind to me & very gracious upon all occasions, & therefore I cannot without ingratitude [but] deplore his losse, which for many respects (as well as duty) I do with all my soule: [See 2.Octob:1685:]


His Majestie dead, The Duke (now K.James the 2d) went immediately to Council, before entering into any buisinesse, passionately declaring his sorrow, Told their Lordships, That since the succession had falln to him, he would endeavor to follow the example of his predecessor in his Clemency & tendernesse to his people: That however he had ben misrepresented as affecting arbitrary power, they should find the contrary, for that the Laws of England had made the King as greate a Monarch as he could desire; That he would endeavour to maintaine the Government both in Church & state as by Law establish’d, its Principles being so firme for Monarchy, & the members of it shewing themselves so good & Loyal subjects; & that as he would never depart from the just rights & prerogative of the Crown, so would he never Invade any mans propriety: but as he had often adventured his life in defence of the Nation, so he would still proceede, & preserve it in all its lawfull rites & libertyes:
This being the substance of what he said, the Lords desired it might be published as containing matter of greate satisfaction to a jealous people, upon this change: which his Majestie consented to: Then were the Counsel sworn, & proclamation ordered to be publish’d, that all officers should continue in their station; that there might be no failure of publique Justice, ’til his farther pleasure should be known:
Then the King rose, the Lords accompanying him to his bed Chamber, where, whilst he reposed himselfe (tired indeede as he was with griefe & watching) They immediately returned againe into the Council-Chamber to take order for the Proclayming of his Majestie which (after some debate) they consented should be in the very forme, his Grandfather K.James the first was, after the death of Q:Elizabeth, as likewise that the Lords &c: should proceede in their Coaches through the Citty for the more solemnity of it; upon this was I and severall other Gent: (waiting in the privy Gallerie), admitted into the Council Chamb: to be wittnesse of what was resolv’d on:
& Thence with the Lords (the Lord Martial & the Herraulds & other Crowne Officers being ready) we first went to Whitehall gate, where the Lords stood on foote beareheaded, whilst the Herauld proclaimed His Majesties Titles to the Imperial Crowne, & succession according to the forme: The Trumpets & Kettle drumms having first sounded 3 times, which after also ended with the peoples acclamations:
Then an Herauld called the Lords Coaches according to ranke, my selfe accompanying the solemnity in my Lord Cornwallis Coach, first to Temple barr, where the Lord Major & his breathren &c met us on horseback in all their formalities, & proclaymed the King; Thence to the Exchange in Cornhill, & so we returned in the order we set forth: being come to White-hall, we all went and kissed the King & Queenes hands, he had ben on the bed, but was now risen, & in his Undresse. The Queene was in bed in her appartment, but put forth her hand; seeming to be much afflicted, as I believe she was, having deported herselfe so decently upon all occasions since she came first into England, which made her universally beloved: Thus concluded this sad, & yet Joyfull day:
[I am never to forget the unexpressable luxury, & prophanesse, gaming, & all dissolution, and as it were total forgetfullnesse of God (it being Sunday Evening) which this day sennight, I was witnesse of; the King, sitting & toying with his Concubines Portsmouth, Cleaveland, & Mazarine: &c: A french boy singing love songs, in that glorious Gallery, whilst about 20 of the greate Courtiers & other dissolute persons were at Basset round a large table, a bank of at least 2000 in Gold before them, upon which two Gent: that were with me made reflexions with astonishment, it being a sceane of uttmost vanity; and surely as they thought would never have an End: six days after was all in the dust.]

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10 Being sent to by the Sherif of the County, to appeare, & assist the Proclayming the King; [11] I went the next day to Bromely, where I met the Sherif, and the Commander of the Kentish Troope, with an appearance of (I suppose) above 500 horse, & innumerable people: Two of his Majesties Trumpets, & a serjeant, with other officers, who having drawn up the horse in a large field neere to towne, march’d thence [with swords drawne] to the Market place, where making a ring, after sound of Trumpets, & silence made, the high Sherif read the Proclaming Titles, to his Bailife, who repeated it alow’d, & then after many shouts of the people &c: his Majesties health being drunk in a flint glasse of a yard-long, of the Sherif, Commanders, Officers & chiefe Gent: they all disperc’d and I returned:

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14 The King was [this night] very obscurely buried in a Vault under Hen: 7th Chapell in Westminster, without any manner of pomp, and soone forgotten after all this vainity, & the face of the whole Court exceedingly changed into a more solemne and moral behaviour: The new King affecting neither Prophanesse, nor bouffonry: All the Greate Officers broke their white- Staves on the Grave &c: according to forme:
15 Dr. Tenison preach’d to the Household on 42.Psal:ult:
The 2d sermon (which should have ben before the King, who to the great griefe of his subjects, did now the first time go to Masse publicly in the little Oratorie at the Dukes lodgings, the doores set wide open) was by Mr. Fox, a young quaint Preacher, who made a very profitable sermon on Pro: Fooles make a mock at sin, against prophanes & Atheisme; now reigning more than ever through the late dissolutenesse of the Court:...

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18 I was carried by my Lord Privy-Seale to congratulate my Lord Tressurer who
[19] the next day, together with the other new Officers, were all sworne at the Chancery barr, & at the Chequer: I return’d home in the Evening. The late King having the revenue of Excise, Costomes, & other late duties granted for his life onely; were now farmed & let to severall persons upon an opinion that the late K: might let them for 3 yeares after his decease (some of the old Commissioners refusing to act) The major part of Judges, (but as think, not the best lawyers) pronounced it legal; but 4 dissenting: The lease was made but the day before his Majesties death; which seemes by the words of the statute to be invalid:
Note that the Clearke of the Closset, had shut-up the late Kings private Oratory next the Privy-Chamb: above; but the King caus’d it to be open’d againe, & the Prayers should be said as formerly: The Papists now swarmed at Court. &c:
22 Severall most usefull tractates against Dissenters, Papists & Fanatics, & resolution of Cases, were now publish’d by the London divines:...

¹ John Huddlestone, priest (1608-98), aided Charles II’s Worcester flight.

March

5 To my griefe I saw the new pulpet set up in the popish oratory at W-hall, for the Lent preaching, Masse being publiqly saied, & the Romanists swarming at Court with greater confidence than had ever ben seene in England since the Reformation, so as every body grew Jealous to what this would trend; A Parliament was now also summond, and greate industry used to obtaine Elections which might promote the Court Interest: Most of the Corporations being now by their new Charters in power to make what returnes of members they pleased: Most of the Judges likewise having given their opinions that his Majestie might still take the Costomes, which to foure Judges (<esteem’d> the best Lawyers) seemed against the Act of Parliament which determines it with the Kings life:
Now came over divers Envoyès & greate Persons to condole the Death of the late King: The Q: Dowager received them on a bed of mourning, the whole Chamber seiling & floore hung with black, tapers lighted; so as nothing could be more Lugubrous & solemn: The Q:Consort sat out under a state on a black foot-cloth, to entertaine the Circle as the Q: used to do, & that very decently:

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7 Newes coming to me that my Daughter Mary was falln ill of the Small Pox, I hastned home full of apprehensions, & indeede found her very ill, still coming-forth in aboundance, a wonderfull affliction to me, not only for her beauty, which was very lovely, but for the danger of loosing one of extraordinary parts & virtue. &c: Gods holy will be don.
8 ... My Deare Child continuing ill, by reason of the Disseases fixing in the Lungs, it was not in the power of physick without more plentiful expectoration to recover her, insomuch as [9] Dr. Short (the most famous approved & famous Physition of all his Majesties Doctors) gave us his opinion, that she could not escape, upon the Tuesday; so as on Wednesday she desired to have the B: Sacrament given her (of which she had yet participated the Weeke before) after which disposing her selfe to suffer what God should determine to inflict, she bore the remainder of her sicknesse with extraordinary patience, and piety & with more than ordinary resignation, and marks of a sanctified & blessed frame of mind, rendred [up] her soule to the Lord Jesus on Saturday the 14 of March, exactly at halfe-an houre after Eleaven in the fore noone, to our unspeakable sorrow & Affliction, and this not to ours (her parents) onely, but all who knew her, who were many of the best quality, greatest and most vertuous persons:
There were now no lesse than foure Gent: of Quality offering to treate with me about Marriage; & I freely gave her her owne Choice, knowing she was discreete: One (against which I had no exceptions) and who most passionately lov’d her, but was for a certaine natural blemish that rendered him very disagreable, she would in complyance to me have married, if I did injoyne her; but telling me she should never be happy with him (observing it seemes a neerenesse in his nature, and a little under-breeding) I would not impose it; for which she often expressed her satisfaction, & thanks to me in the most obliging & respectfull manner: The other was one Weston a Stafford shire Gent: of the same family, & I thinke heire (within one) to the Earles of Portland: This was but now just beginning:
But the person who first made love to her, was Mr. Wilbraham a Chesshire Gent: of a noble Family, whose extreamely rich & sordid Fathers demands of a Portion, I could by no meanes reach, without injury to the rest of my daughters, which this pious, & good natured Creature, would never have suffered, and so that match stood in suspense; I say in suspense, for the young Gent: still pursu’d, & would have married her in private, if either my Daughter, or We had don so disingenuously: She & we had principles that would by no meanes suffer us to harken it: At last he’s sent for home, continues his Affection, hop<e>s to bring his father to reasonable termes: My Child is taken with his Constancy, his Virtuous breeding, and good nature, & discretion, having beene a fortnight together in my house: This, made us not forward to embrace any other offers, together with the extraordinary indifferency she ever shewed of Marrying at all; for truely says shee to her Mother, (the other day), were I assur’d of your lives & my deare Fathers, never would I part from you, I love you, & this home, where we serve God, above all things in the world, nor ever shall I be so happy: I know, & consider the vicissitudes and changes of the world, I have some experience of its vanities, & but for decency, more than inclination, & that You judge it expedient for me, I would not change my Condition, but rather add the fortune you designe me to my Sisters, & keepe up the reputation of our family: This was so discreetely & sincerely utter’d as, could not proceede but from an extraordinary Child, & one who loved her parents without example: ...
... there was a designe of my Lady Rochester & Clarendon to make her Mayd of <honour> to the Queene, so soone as there was a place empty: but this she did not in the least set her heart upon, nor indeede upon any thing so much as the service of God, <as> a quiet regular life, & how she might improve herselfe in the most necessary accomplishments, & to which she was arived in so greate a measure, as I acknowledge (all partiality of relation layed aside) I never saw, or knew her equal, considering how universal they were; save in one onely Creature of her Sex, Mrs. Godolphin, (late the wife of my Lord Godolphin, whose life for the singular piety, Vertue & discretion, (& that she was to me a Friend, in all the peculiar transcendencys of that relation) I have written at large², and consign’d to my Lady Sylvius (whom she loved above all her Sex) & who requested it of me: And this I mention here, because the Example of that most religious Lady: made I am assured deepe impressions in my deare Child; and that I was told, she caused it to be read to her, at the very beginning of her sicknesse, when She had taken that bed, out of which she never risse, to my insupportable griefe & sorrow; though never two made more blessed ends: But all this sorrow is selfe-love, whilst to wish them here againe, were to render them miserable who are now in happinesse, and above:
This is the little History, & Imperfect Character of my deare Child, whose Piety, Virtue, & incomparable Endowments, deserve a Monument more durable than brasse & Marble: Precious is the Memorial of the Just.
This deare child was born at Wotton in Surry, in the same house and roome where I likewise first drew breath, (my wife being retir’d to my bro: there, the greate sicknesse yeare) upon the first of that moneth, & neere the very houre, that I was borne, upon the last: viz: October:
16 Was my deare Daughter interr’d in the south east end of the church at Deptford neere her Grand mother & severall of my Younger Children and Relations: my desires were she should have ben carried & layed among my owne Parents & Relations at Wotton, where our Family have a Vault, where she was born, & where I have desire to be interred my selfe, when God shall call me out of this uncertaine transitory life; but some Circumstances did not permit it; & so she was buried here³. Our Viccar Dr. Holden preaching her Funerall Sermon on: 1. Phil: 21. For to me to live is Christ, & to die is gaine, upon which he made an apposit discourse (as those who heard it assure me, for griefe suffer’d me not to be present) concluding with a modest recital of her many vertues, and especialy her signal piety, so as drew both teares, & admiration from the hearers, so universaly was she beloved, & known to deserve all the good that could be sayd of her:
Having some days after opened her Trunks, & looked into her Closset, amazed & even astonished we were to find that incredible number of papers and Collections she had made of severall material Authors, both Historians, Poets, Travells &c: but above all the Devotions, Contemplations, & resolutions upon those Contemplations, which we found under her hand in a booke most methodicaly disposed, & much exceeding the talent & usage of [so] young & beautifull women, who consume so much of their time in vaine things: with severall prayers, Meditations, & devotions on divers occasions; with a world of pretty letters to her confidents & others savoring of a greate witt, & breathing of piety & honor: There is one letter to some divine (who is not named) to whom she writes that he would be her Ghostly Father & guide, & that he would not despise her for the many errors & imperfections of her Youth, but beg of God, to give her courage, to acquaint him with all her faults, imploring his assistance, & spiritual direction: & well I remember, that she often desired me to recommend her to such a person, but (though I intended it) I did not think fit to do as it yet, seeing her apt to be scrupulous, & knowing the great innocency & integrity of her life; but this (it seemes) she did of her selfe: ... But as she was a little miracle whilst she lived, so she died with out Example:
26 I was invited to Cap: Gunmans Funerall, that excellent Pilot, & sea-man, who had behav’d himselfe so valiantly in the Dut<c>h-Warr: taken away by the gangreene which happn’d in his cure, upon his unhappy fall from the peere of Calais: This was the Cap: of the yacht, whom they accused for not giving timely warning, on the Dukes (now the King) going into Scotland, when his ship split upon the Sands, when so many perished: But of which I am most confident, the Cap: was no ways guilty, either through negligence, or designe; as he made appeare not onely at the Examination of the matter of fact; but in the Vindication he shewed me some time since, which must needes give any-man of reason satisfaction: ... He was a sober, frugal, cherefull & temperat man; we have few such sea-men left:
There <came> to Condole the death of my deare Daughter this Weeke moneday, & friday: The Countesse of Bristoll, Sunderland, La: Sylvius, Mrs. Penelope Godolphin: Sir Stephen Fox & his Lady &c:
29 ... A servant mayd of my Wifes fell sick of the very same disease, of the same sort of S:pox, & in all appearance in as greate danger, though she never came neere my daughter: we removed her into the Towne with care:

¹ A poem by Mary which made fun of contemporary manners called ’Mundus Muliebris: ...’. E published it in 1690.
² The Life of Mrs Godolphin, first published in 1847.
³ Her epitaph is still at St. Nicholas, Deptford.

April

5 ... Drowsinesse much surpriz’d me: The Lord be gratious to me:
The mayd, by Gods greate mercy, but with extraordinary difficulty, recovered: Blessed be God:
7 Being now somewhat compos’d after my greate affliction, I went to Lond: to heare Dr. Tenison (it being [8] a Wednesday in Lent) at Whitehall: who preached on 3. Gen: 3: I returned in the Evening: I observ’d that though the King was not in his seate above in the Chapell, the Doctor made notwith-standing his three congèes, which they were not us’d to do, when the [late] King was absent, making then one bowing onely: I asked the reason; it was sayd, he had special order so to do: The Princesse of Denmarke yet was in the Kings Closset, but sat on the left hand of the Chaire, the clearke of the Closset standing by his Majesties Chaire as if he had ben present: [I met Q:Dowager going now first from W.hall to dwell at Somerset house.] ...
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23 Was the day of his Majesties Coronation, the Queene was also crown’d, the solemnity very magnificent, as the particulars are set forth in print: The Bish: of Ely preached, but (to the greate sorrow of the people) no Sacrament, as ought to have ben: However the King beginns his reigne with greate expectations and hopes of much reformation as to the former vices, & prophanesse both of Court & Country:
Having ben present at our late Kings Coronation, I was not ambitious of seing this Ceremonie; nor did I think it fit to leave my poore Wife alone, who was yet in greate sorrow:
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May

7th: I was in Westminster Hall when Oates (who had made such a stirr in the whole Kingdome, (upon his revealing a plot of the Papists) as alarm’d several Parliaments, & had occasion’d the execution of divers persons, priests, noble men &c:) was tried for Perjurie at the Kings-bench; but it being exceedingly tedious, I did not much endeavor to see the issue of it, considering that it would certainely be publish’d: Aboundance of R:Cath: were now in the Hall, in expectation of the most gratefull conviction & ruine of a person who had ben so obnoxious to them; & as I verily believe had don much mischiefe & greate injurie to several by his violent & ill grounded proceedings, whilst he was at first so unreasonably blowne-up, & encourag’d, that his insolence was no longer sufferable:
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16 Was sentenc’d Oates to be whip’d & pilloried with uttmost severity: &c:
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21. Din’d at my Lord Privy-Seales, with Sir Will: Dugdale the <Garter> K: at Armes, Author of the Monasticon, & greate Antiquarie; with whom I had much discourse: he told me he was 82 yeares of age, had his sight & memory &c: There was shew’d a dra<u>ght of the exact shape & dimensions of the Crowne the Queene had ben crown’d withall, together with Jewells & Pearles, their weight & value, which amounted to 100650 pounds sterling, an immense summ: attested at the foot of the paper by the Jeweller and Gooldsmith who set the Jewells &c:
22 In the morning, I went (together with a French gent, a person of quality) with my Lord Pr: Seale to the house of Lords, where we were both plac’d by his Lordship next the barr just below the Bishops very commodiously both for hearing and seeing: After a short space came in the Queene & Princesse of Denmark, & stood next above the Arch-Bishops, at the side of the house on the right hand of his Majesties Throne: In the interim divers of the Lords (who had not finish’d before) tooke the Test, & usual Oathes, so as her Majestie (Spanish Ambassador & other forraine Ministers who stood behind the state) heard the Pope, & worship of the Virg: Mary &c: renounc’d very decently, as likewise the following Prayers, standing all the while:
Then came in the King, the Crowne on his head &c and being sate, The Commons were let in, so the house being fill’d, he drew forth a Paper, containing his speech, which he <read> distinctly enough to this effect: That he resolved to call a Parliament from the moment of his brothers decease, as the best meanes to settle all the concernes of the Nation so as might be most easy & happy to himselfe & his subjects: That he would confirme what ever he had said in his declaration at the first Council, concerning his opinion of the principles of the Church of England, for their Loyaltie, & would defend & support it, and preserve its government, as by Law now establish’d: That as he would Invade no mans property, so he would never depart from his owne prerogative: & as he had <ventur’d> his life in defence of the nation so he would proceede to do still: That having given this assurance of his Care of our Religion (his word was your Religion) & propertie, (which he had not said by chance, but solemnly) so he doubted not of suitable returnes of his subjects duty & kindnesse, especialy as to the settling his Revenue for life for the many weighty necessities of the government which he would not suffer to be precarious: That some might possibly suggest that it were better to feede & supply him from time to time onely, out of their inclination to frequent Parliaments; but that that, would be but a very improper Method to take with him; since the best way to engage him to meete oftener, would be allways to use him well; & therefore expected their compliance speedily, that this session being but short, they might meete againe to satisfaction:
At every period of this, the house gave loud shouts &c: Then he acquainted them with that mornings news of Argiles being landed in the West-highlands of Scotland from Holland, and the Treasonous declaration he had published, which he would communicate to them, & that he should take the best care he could it should meete with the reward it deserv’d, not questioning of the parliaments Zeale & readinesse to assist him, as he desired: At which There followed another Vive le roy, & so his Majestie retired: &c: & I went into the Court of Requests &c:
So soone as the Commons were return’d, & put themselves, into a grand Committè they immediately put the Question, & unanimously voted the Revenue to his Majestie during life: Mr. Seamour made a bold speech against many Elections, and would have had those Members who (he pretended) were obnoxious, to withdraw, ’til they had cleared their being legaly return’d, but no body seconded him: The truth is there were very many of the new Members, whose Elections & returnes were universaly censur’d; being divers of them persons of no manner of condition or Interest in the nation, and places for which they served, especialy in the Counties of Devon, Cornwell, Norfolck, &c, said to have ben recommended from the Court, and effect of the new
charters, changing the Electors:
It was reported my L: of Bath, carried-down with him no fewer than 15 Charters, so as some cald him the Prince Elector: whence Seaymor told the house in his speech, that if this were digested, they might introduce what Religion & Lawes they pleased, & that though he never gave heede to the feares & jealosies of the people before, he now was realy apprehensive of Popery &c: The truth is, by printed List of Members of 505, there did not appear to be above 135 who had ben in former Parliaments, especialy that lately held at Oxon:
In the Lords house, my Lord Newport made but an impertinent exception against two or three [young] Peeres, who wanted some moneths, & some onely 4 or 5 daies being of age:
The Popish Lords (who had some time before ben released from their Confinement about the Plot) were now discharg’d of their Impeachment: of which I gave my L. Arundel of Wardoer joy:
Oates, who had but two days before ben pilloried at severall places, & whip’t at the Carts taile from New-gate to Algate; was this day placed in a sledge (being not able to go by reason of his so late scourging) & dragd from prison to Tyburn, & whip’d againe all the way, which some thought to be very severe & extraordinary; but in case he were gilty of the perjuries, & so of the death of many innocents, as I feare he was; his punishment was but what he well deserv’d: I chanc’d to passe in my Coach, just as Execution was doing on him: A strange revolution.
Note, that there was no speech made by my Lord Keeper, after his Majesties as usualy: It was whispered, he would not long be in that station; & many believing the bold Chiefe Justice Jeofries (now made Baron of Wen in Yorkshire, & went through-stitch in that Tribunal) stood faire for that Office: I gave him joy the morning before of his new honor, he having always ben very civil to me &c:
***
24 ... We had hitherto [not] any raine for many monethes, insomuch as the Caterpillar had already devoured all the Winter fruite through the whole land, & even killed severall greate & old trees; such two Winters, & Summers I had never known:
***

June
4. Came to visite, and take leave of me Sir Gab: Sylvius now going Envoyè Extraordinary into Denmark: with his secretary, & chaplaine, a french-man who related the miserable persecution of the Protestants in Fr: not above ten Churches left them, and they threatned to be also demolish’d: That they were commanded to christen their children within 24 houres after birth, or else a Popish-priest was to be call’d, & then the Infant brought-up in popery: and that in some places they were 30 leagues from any Minister or opportunity: That this persecution had dispeopled the most industrious part of the nation and dispers’d them into Swisse, Burgundy, Hollond, Ger: Denmark, England, Plantations & where not. There were with Sir Gab: his Lady, Sir William Godolphin, and sisters, & my Lord Godolphins little son, (my Charge): I brought them to the water side, where Sir Gab: embarked for his Voyage, & the rest return’d to Lond:
***
14 There was now certaine Intelligence of the Duke of Monmoths landing at Lyn (Lyme Regis)in Dorset shire, & of his having set up his standart as K. of England: I pray God deliver us from the confusions which these beginnings threaten:
Such a drowth for want of raine, was never in my memory:
17 To Lond: at which time the D: of Monmoth invaded this nation landing with but 150 men at Lyme in Dorsetshire, which wonderfully alarm’d the whole Kingdome, fearing the joyning of dissafected people; many of the train’d bands flocking to him: he had at his landing published a Declaration, charging his Majestie with Usurpation, & severall horrid crimes, upon pretence of his owne title, and the calling of a free-Parliament: This Decl: was condemn’d to be burnt by the hang-man, the Duke proclaim’d Traytor, a reward of 5000 pounds to him that should kill him &c: Now were also those words in the Inscription about the Pillar (intimating the Papists firing the Citty) erased and cut out &c:
The exceeding Drouth still continued: God grant a successfull conclusion to these ill-boded beginnings: I tooke the Chaire as Vice-President at the R: Society.
***

July

8 To Lond: Came now the newes of Monmouths Utter defeate, and the next day of his being taken by Sir William Portman & Lord Lumley, with the Militia of their Counties. It seemes the horse commanded by my Lord Grey, being newly raised, & undisciplin’d, were not to be brought in so short a time to indure the Fire, which exposed the foote to the Kings: so as when Monmoth had led the foote in greate silence and order thinking to surprise my Lord Feversham Lieutenant General newly incamped, and given him a smart charge, interchanging both greate & small shot; The horse breaking [their owne] ranks; monmoth gave it over, and fled with Grey, leaving their party to be cut into pieces: to the number of 2000: the whole number reported to be about 8000: The Kings but 2700: The slaine were most of the Mendip-miners, who did greate Execution with their tooles, and sold their lives very dearely: whilst their leaders flying were pursu’d and taken the next morning, not far from one another: Mon: had walked 16 miles on foote changing his habite with a poore coate, & was found by L. Lumley in <a> dry-ditch cover’d with fern-braken, but neither with sword, pistol, or so much as any Weapon, and so might happly have passed for some country man, his beard being grown so long, & so gray, as hardly to be known, had not his George discovered him, which was found in his Pocket: Tis said he trembled exceedingly all over not able to speake: Grey was taken not far from him: Most of his party were Anabaptists, & poore Cloth-workers of the Country, no Gent: of account being come into him: The Arch-bouttefew Ferguson, Matthews &c: were not yet found: The 5000 pounds to be given to whomsoever should bring Monmouth in by Proclamation, was to be distributed among the Militia by agreement twixt Sir William Portman & Lumley: The battail ended, some words first in jeast then in heate [passing] twixt Sherrington Talbot a worthy Gent, (son to Sir Jo. Talbot, & who had behav’d himselfe very handsomly) and one Capt: Love, both commanders of the Militia forces of the Country, whose souldiers fought best: both drawing their Swords, & passing at one another Sherrington was wounded to death upon the spot; to the greate regret of those who knew him, being also his fathers onely son:
9 Just as I was coming into the Lodgings at Whitehall a little before dinner my Lord of Devonshire standing very neere his Majesties bed-Chamber-doore in the lobby: came Coll: Culpeper & in a rude manner looking my Lord in the face, Asked whether this were a time and place for Excluders to appeare, my Lord tooke little notice of what he said at first, knowing him to be a hot-headed fellow; but reiterating it againe, Asked Culpeper whether he meant him? he said, yes, he meant his Lordship: My Lord told him he was no Excluder (as indeede he was not) the other affirms it againe: My Lord told him he Lied; on which Culpeper struck him a box o’th’Eare, my Lord him another and fell’d him downe; upon which being soone parted: Culpeper was seiz’d and commanded by his Majestie (who was all the while in the B: chamber) to be carried downe to the Greenecloth Officer, who sent him to the Martialsea, as he deserv’d: My L: Devon had said nothing to him.
***
15 I went to Lond: to see Dr. Tenisons Library, returned in the Evening:
This day was Monmoth brought to Lond: examin’d before the King to whom he made greate submission, accknowledg’d his seduction by Fergusson the Scot, whom he named the bloudy Villain: thence sent to the Tower, had an enterview with his late Dutchesse, whom he received coldly, having lived dishonestly with the Lady Hen: Wentworth for two years; from obstinatly asserting his conversation with that debauched woman to be no sin, seing he could not be perswaded to his last breath, the Divines, who were sent to assist him, thought not fit to administer the holy Communion to him: for the rest of his faults he professed greate sorrow, and so died without any apparent feare, would make use of no cap, or other circumstance, but lying downe bid the fellow do his office better than to my late Lord Russell, & gave him gold: but the wretch made five Chopps before he had his head off, which so incens’d the people, that had he not ben guarded & got away they would have torne him in pieces: He made no Speech on the Scaffold (which was on Tower-hill) but gave a paper (containing not above 5 or 6 lines) for the King, in which he disclaimes all Title to the Crowne, accknowledges that the late King (his Father) had indeede told him, he was but his base sonn, & so desire‘d his Majestie to be kind to his Wife & Children: This relation I had from the Mouth of Dr. Tenison Rector of St. Martines, who with the Bishops of Ely & Bath & Wells, was one of the divines his Majestie sent to him, & were at the execution: Thus ended this quondam Duke, darling of his Father, and the Ladys, being extraordi<na>rily handsome, and adroit: an excellent souldier, & dauncer, a favorite of the people, of an Easy nature, debauched by lust, seduc’d by crafty knaves who would have set him up onely to make a property; tooke this opportunity of his Majestie being of another Religion, to gather a party of discontented; failed of it, and perished:
He was a lovely person, had a vertuous & excellent Lady that brought him greate riches & a second Dukedome in Scotland; Was Master of the Horse, Gen. of the K. his fathers Army, Gent: of the Bed chamber: Knight of the Garter, Chancellor of Camb: in a Word had accumulations without end: Se<e> what Ambition and want of principles brought him to. He was beheaded on Tuesday the 14th July: His mother (whose name was Barlow, daughter of some very meane Creatures) was a beautifull strumpet, whom I had often seene at Paris, & died miserably, without anything to bury her: Yet had this Perkin ben made believe, the King had married her: which was a monstrous forgerie, & ridiculous: & to satisfie the world the iniquitie of the report, the King his father (if his Father he realy were, for he most resembled one Sidny familiar with his mother) publiquely & most solemnly renounced it, and caused it to be so entred in the Council booke some yeares since, with all the Privy Counsel<o>rs attestation.

***

27 This night when we were all asleepe went my Daughter Eliz: away, to meete a young fellow, nephew to Sir Jo: Tippet (Surveyor of the Navy: & one of the Commissioners) whom she married the next day being Tuesday; without in the least acquainting either her parents, or any soule in the house: I was the more afflicted & <astonish’d> at it, in reguard, we had never given this Child the least cause to be thus dissobedient, and being now my Eldest, might reasonably have expected a double Blessing: But it afterward appeared, that this Intrigue had ben transacted by letters long before, & <when> she was with my Lady Burton in Licester shire, and by private meetings neere my house: She of all our Children had hitherto given us least cause of suspicion; not onely for that she was yet young, but seemed the most flattering, souple, and observant; of a silent & particular humor; in no sort <betraying> the levity & Inclination which is commonly apparent in Children who fall into these snares; having ben bred-up with the uttmost Circumspection, as to principles of severest honour & Piety: But so far it seemes, had her passion for this Young fellow made her forget her duty, and all that most Indulgent Parents expected from her, as not to consider the Consequence of her folly & dissobedience, ’til it was too late: This Affliction went very neere me & my Wife, neither of us yet well compos’d for the untimely losse of that incomparable & excellent Child, which it pleased God to take from us by the small pox a few monethes before: But this farther Chastizement was to be humbly submitted to, as part of the burden God was pleased to lay farther upon us; in this yet the lesse afflictive, That we had not ben wanting in giving her an Education every way becoming us: We were most of all astonish’d at the suddainesse of this action, & the privatenesse of its manegement; the Circumstances also Consider’d & quality, how it was possible she should be flattered so to her dissadvantage: He being in no condition sortable to hers, & the Blessing we intended her: The thing has given us much disquiet, I pray God direct us, how to govern our Resentments of her dissobedience; and if it be his will, bring good out of all this Ill:

August

2 So had this Affliction descompos’d us, that I could not be well at Church next Lords day; though I had prepared for the B:Sacrament: I hope God will be more gracious to my onely remaining Child, whom I take to be of a more discreete, sober and religious temper: that we may have that comfort from her, which is deny’d us in the other:
This Accident caus’d me to alter my Will; as was reasonable; for though there may be a reconciliation upon her repentance, and that she has suffer’d for her folly; yet I must let her see what her undutifullnesse in this action, deprives her of; as to the provision she else might have expected; solicitous as she knew I now was of bestowing her very worthily:

***

16 Came newes to us that my undutifull daughter was visited with the small-pox, now universaly very contagious: I was yet willing my Wife should go visite & take care of her:

***

22 I went to Lond, to see my unhappy Child, now in greate danger, and carried our Viccar with me, that according to her earnest desire, (being very sensible & penitent for her fault) he might administer to her the H: Sacrament, which he did; & after some time, and her greate submissions & agonies, leaving her to the mercys of God, & her mother with her I returned in the Evening: We had now the newes of the Newhausels being taken by the Christians: There was also this day an universall appearance of the Kings forces at Brainford:

***

28 My poore unhappy Daughters sickness increasing, a violent feavor succeeding when her other distemper appeared to be past danger; I went up againe to see, & comfort her, together with our Minister: My disconsolate Wife I left with her, who had ben almost all her sicknesse with her; so I return’d home in greate doubt how God would deale with her, whom the next morning he was pleased to take out of this vale of misery, I humbly trust, to his infinite mercy, though to our unspeakeable affliction, loosing another Child in the flower of her age, who had never ’til now given us cause of any displeasure, but many hopes of Comfort: & thus in lesse than 6 moneths were we depriv’d of two Children for our unworthinesse, & causes best known to God, whom I beseech from the bottome of my heart that he will give us grace to make that right use of all these chastisements that we may become better, and intirely submitt [in] all things to his infinite wise disposal.
She departed this life on <Saturday> 29: Aug: at 8 in the Morning: fell sick [& died] on the same day of the weeke, that my other most deare & dutifull daughter did, and as also one of my servants (a very pious youth) had don the yeare before: I beseech God of his mercy Sanctifie this and all my other Afflictions & dispensations to me. His holy will be don Amen.
30 This sad accident kept me from the publique service this day being Sonday.

September

My Child was buried by her sister on 2d September in the Church of Deptford:
The 3 of Sep: I went to Lond, being sent to by a Letter from my Lord Clarendon (Lord privy-seale) to let me know that his majestie being pleased to send him Lord Lieutennant into Ireland, was also pleased to Nominate me one of the Commissioners to execute the office of Privy-Seale during his Lieutenancy there: It behoving me [4] to waite upon his Majestie & give him thanks for his greate honor (returning home that Evening) I accompanied his Lordship [5] the next morning to Windsore (dining by the Way at Sir Hen: Capels at Cue) where his Majestie receiving me with extraordinary kindnesse, I kissed his hands: I told him how sensible I was of his Majesties gracious favour to me: that I would endeavour to serve him with all sincerity, dilligence & loyalty, not more out of my duty, than Inclinations: He said, he doubted not of it, & was glad he had this opportunity to shew the kindnesse he had for me: After this came aboundance of the greate Men to give me Joy, particularly L: Tressurer, L: Sunderland, L. Peterborrow, L: Godolphin, L: Falkland & every body at Court who knew me:

***

15 I went to Lond: accomp<a>nied Mr. Pepys (Secretary of the Admiralty) to Portsmouth, Whither his Majestie was going the first time since his coming to the Crowne, to see in what state the Fortifications were. Wee tooke Coach & 6 horses, late after din<n>er, yet got to Bagshot that night: whilst supper was making ready I went & made a Visite to Mrs. Grahames, some time Maide of honor to the queen Dowager, now wife to Ja: Gr: Esquire of the Privie-purse to the King: her house being a Walke in the Forest, within a little quarter of a mile from Bagshot Towne: very importunate she was that I would sup, & abide there that night: but being oblig’d by my companion, I return’d to our Inn, after she had shew’d me her house which was very commodious, & well furnish’d, as she was an excellent housewife, a prudent & vertuous Lady: There is a parke full of red deare about it: Her eldest sonn, was now sick there of the small pox, but in a likely way of recovery; & other of her Children ran about, & among the infected, which she said let them do on purpose that they might whilst young, passe that fatal dissease, which she fancied they were to undergo one time or other, & that this would be the best: The severity of this cruel dissease so lately in my poore family confirming much of what she affirm’d:
16 The next morning early seting out, we ariv’d early enough at Winchester to waite on the King, who was lodged at the Deanes, (Dr. Megot) I found very few with him besides my Lord Feversham, Arran, Newport, & the Bishop of Bath & Wells to whom his Majestie was discoursing Miracles, & what strange things the Saludadors would do in Spaine, as by creeping into [heated] ovens with[out] hurt &c: & that they had a black Crosse in the roofe of their mouthes: but yet were commonly, notorious & prophane wretches: upon which his Majestie farther said, that he was so extreamely difficult of Miracles, for feare of being impos’d on, that if he should chance to see one himselfe, without some other wittnesse, he should apprehend it some delusion of his senses:
Then they spake of the boy who was pretended to have had a wanting leg restor’d him, so confidently asserted by Fr: de Santa Clara, & others: To all which the Bishop added a greate Miracle happning in that Citty of Winchester to his certaine knowledge, of a poore miserably sick & decrepit Child, (as I remember long kept un-baptized) who immediately on his Baptisme, recover’d; as also of the sanatory effect of K. Charles his Majesties fathers blood, in healing one that was blind: As to that of the Saludador (of which likewise I remember Sir Arthir Hopton, formerly Ambassador at Madrid had told me many like wonders) Mr. Pepys passing through Spaine, & being extreamely Inquisitive of the truth of these pretended miracles of the Saludadors; found a very famous one of them at last, whom he offered a considerable reward to, if he would make a trial of the Oven, or any other thing of that kind, before him: The fellow ingenuously told him, that, finding he was a more than ordinary curious person, he would not deceive him, & so accknowledg’d that he could do none of those feates, realy; but that what they pretended, was all a cheate, which he would easily discover, though the poore superstitious people were imposed upon: yet have these Imposters, an allowance of the Bishops, to practise th<e>ir Juggleings:
This Mr. Pepys affirm’d to me; but said he, I did not conceive it fit, to interrupt his Majestie, who told me what they pretended to do, so solemnly: Then there was something said of the second-sight, happning to some persons, especialy Scotch: Upon which both his Majestie & (I think) my Ld: Arran, told us, that Monsieur a French Nobleman lately here in England, seeing the late Duke of Monmoth, come into the Play-house at Lond: suddainly cryed out to some sitting in the same box: Voila Messieurs comme il entre sans tete: After this his Majestie speaking of some Reliques, that had effected strange cures, particularly a Thorne of our B: S: Crosse; that healed a Gentlewomans rotten nose by onely touching; & speaking of the Golden Crosse & Chaine taken out of the Coffin of St. Edward the Confessor at Westminster, by one of the singing-men, who as the scaffolds were taking-down, after his Majesties Coronation, espying an hole in the Tomb, & something glisten; put his hand in, & brought it to the Deane, & he to the King: his Majestie began to put the Bishop in mind, how earnestly the [late] King (his brother) call’d upon him, during his Agonie, to take out what he had in his pockett: [See Feb: 6:] I had thought (says the King) it had ben for some keys, which might lead to some Cabinets, which his Majestie would have me secure; but (says he) you well remember that I found nothing in any of his pockets but onely a Crosse of Gold, & a few insignificant papers; & thereupon shewed us the Crosse, & was pleased to put it into my hand; it was of Gold about 3 Inches long, having on one side a Crucifix enameled & embossed, the rest was graved & garnished with gold-smith worke & two pretty broad table Amethists (as I conceived) & at the bottome a pendant pearle; within was inchas’d a little fragment (as was thought) of the true Crosse: & a latine Inscription, in Gotic & roman letters:
How his Majestie came by it I do not remember; for more company coming in this discourse ended: Onely I may not forget, a Resolution which his Majestie there made, & had a little before entered upon it, at the Counsels board at Windsor or White-hal: That the Negros in all the Plantations should be Baptized, exceedingly declaiming against that impiety, of their Masters prohibiting it, out of a mistake opinion, that they were then ipso facto free: But his Majestie persists in his resolution to have them Christn’d, which piety the Bishop, deservedly blessed him for; and so I went out, to see the New Palace his late Majestie had began, and brought almost to the Covering: It was placed on the side of the Hill, where formerly stood the old Castle: a stately fabrique of 3 sides, & a Corridor, all built of brique, & Cornished, windoes, Columns at the break & Entrance, of freestone: intended for a Hunting House, when his Majestie came to those parts, & having an incomparable prospect: I believe there had already ben 20000 pounds and more expended; but now his Majestie did not seem to encourage the finishing of it; at least for a while; & it is like to stand:
Hence I went to see the Cathedrall, a reverend pile, & in good repaire: There is still the Coffines of the 6 Saxon kings, whose bones had ben scattered by the sacrilegious Rebells of 1641, in expectation (I suppose) of finding some valuable Reliques; & afterward gather’d-up againe & put into new chests, which stand above the stalls of the Quire: Here lies the body of their Founder, of Card: & severall other Bishops &c: & so I went to my Lodging, very wett, it having rained the whole day:
17 Early next morning we went to Portsmouth, some thing before his Majestie arived: we found all the way full of people, the Women in their best dresse, multitudes of all sorts, in expectance of seeing his Majestie passe by, which he did, riding on horse-back, a good part of the way: We found the Major, his Aldermen with their Mace, & in their formalities standing at the Entrance of the Fort, a Mile on this side of the Towne, where he made a speech to the King, & then went off the Guns of the fort, as did all those of the Garison, so soone as he was come into Portsmouth, all the souldiers (which were neere 3000) drawn up, and lining the streetes, & platforme to Gods-house (which is the name of the Governors house) where (after his Majestie had viewed the new Fortifications, & Ship-yard) he was Entertained at a Magnificent dinner, by Sir <Henry> Singsby, the Lieutenant Governor; all the Gent: of any quality, in his traine setting downe at Table with him, & which I had also don, had I not ben before engag’d to Sir Robert Holmes (Governor of the Isle of Wight) to dine with him at a private house, where likewise we had a very sumptuous & plentifull repast of excellent Venison, Fowle, Fish, fruit, & what not: After dinner I went to waite on his Majestie againe, who was pulling on his boots in the Town hall joyning to the house where he dined, & then having saluted some Ladys &c: that came to kisse his hand; he tooke horse for Winchester, whither he returned that night: This hall is artificialy hung round, with Armes of all sorts, like the Hall & keepe of Windsor, which looks very finely:
I went hence to see the Ship-yard, & Dock, the Fortifications, and other things: What I learned was, the facility of an armies taking the Ile of Wight, should an attempt be made by any Enemy, for want of due care in fortifying some places of it, & the plenty of the Iland, able to nourish 20000 men, besides its inhabitants: Portsmouth when finished will be very strong, & a Noble Key: There were now 32 Men of war in the Harbour: I was invited by Sir R: Beach, the <Commissioner> where after a greate supper, Mr. Secretary and my selfe lay-all that night: & the next morning set out for Gildford [18] where we arived in good houre, & so the day after to Lond: whence [19] taking leave of Mr. Pepys, I came home to my house, after a journey of 140 miles:
I had twice before ben at Portsmouth, Ile of Wight &c: many yeares since: I found this part of Hampshire bravely wooded; especialy about the house and estate of Coll: Norton, who (though now in being, having formerly made his peace by meanes of Coll Legg) was formerly a very fierce Commander in the first Rebellion: His house is large, & standing low, as one goes from Winchester to <Portsmouth>:
By what I observed in this Journey; I find that infinite industry, sedulity, gravity, and greate understanding & experience of affaires in his Majestie, that I cannot but predict much happinesse to the Nation, as to its political Government, & if he so persist (as I am confident he will) there could be nothing be more desired, to accomplish our prosperity, but that he were of the national Religion: for certainely such a Prince never had this Nation since it was one:
20: ...My Wifes & Daughter Susans pictures were drawn: This Weeke:

***

October

2 I spent this morning in Devotion, preparing for the Communion, when having a letter sent me by Mr. P<epys>, with this expression at the foote of it: I have something to shew you,that I may not have againe another time: &c & that I would not fail to dine with him: I went accordingly:
After dinner he had me, and one Mr. Houblon (a very rich & considerable Merchant, whose Fathers had fled out of Flanders upon the persecution of the Duke of Alva) into a private roome: & being sate downe, told us that being lately alone with his Majestie and upon some occasion of speaking concerning my late Lord Arlingtons dying a R: Cath, who had all along seemed to professe himselfe a Protestant, taken all the Tests &c: ’til the day (I think) of his death: His Majestie say’d, that as to his inclinations he had known him long wavering, but <for> feare of loosing his places [he] did not think convenient to declare himselfe: There are (says the King) who believe the Ch: of R: gives Dispensations, for going to church, & many like things; but that it was not so; for if that might have ben had, he himselfe had most reason to make use of it: Indeede he said, As to some Matrimonial Cases, there are now & then Dispensations, but hardly in any Cases else:
This familiar discourse encourag’d Mr. P: to beg of his Majestie (if he might aske it, without offence, and for that his Majestie could not but observe how it was whispered among many), [whither] his Late Majestie had ben reconcil’d to the C. of Rome: He againe humbly besought his Majestie to pardon his presumption, if he had touch’d upon a thing, did not befit him to looke into &c: The King ingenuously told him, That he both was, & died a R: Cath: &that he had not long since declared it was upon some politic & state reasons, best known to himself [(meaning the King his Brother)] but that he was of that persuasion, he bid him follow him into his Closett, where opening a Cabinet, he shew’d him two papers, containing about a quarter of a sheete on both sides, written in the late Kings owne hand, severall Arguments opposite to the Doctrine of the Church of Eng: Charging her with heresy, novelty, & [the] phan<tas>ticisme of other Protestants: The chiefe whereoff (as I remember) were, our refusing to accknowledge the Primacy & Infallibility &c of the Church of Rome, how impossible it was so many Ages should never dispute it, til of late; how unlikely our B: Saviour would leave his Church without a Visible Head & guide to resort to during his absence, with the like usual Topics; so well penn’d as to the discourse, as did by no means seeme to me, to have ben put together by the Late King: Yet written all with his owne hand, blotted, & interlin’d, so as if indeede, it were not given him by some Priest; they happly might be such Arguments and reasons as had ben inculcated from time to time, & here recollected, & in the conclusion shewing his looking on the Protestant Religion, (& by name the Church of Eng:) to be without foundation, & consequently false & unsafe:
When his Majestie had shew’d him these Originals, he was pleas’d to lend him the Copies of those two Papers, attested at the bottome in 4 or 5 lines, under his owne hand: These were the papers I saw & read: This nice & curious passage I thought fit to set downe; Though all the Arguments, and objections were altogether weake, & have a thousand times ben Answerd irreplicably by our Divines; though such as their Priests insinuate among their Proselytes, as if nothing were Catholique but the C. of Rome, no salvation out of that, no Reformation sufferable &c: botoming all their Errors on St. Peters Successors unerrable dictatorship; but proving nothing with any sort of Reason, or the taking notice of any Objection which could be made against it: Here was all taken for granted, & upon it a Resolution & preference it implied:
I was heartily sorry to see all this; though it were no other, than what was long suspected, by his late Majesties too greate indifference, neglect & course of Life, that he had ben perverted, & for secular respects onely, profess’d to be of another beliefe; [See 6: Feb 1684/5] & thereby giving infinite advantage to our Adversaries, both the Court, & generaly the Youth, & greate persons of the nation becoming dissolute & highly prophane; God was incensed to make his Reigne very troublesome & improsperous, by Warrs, plagues, fires, losse of reputation by a universal neglect of the publique, for the love of a voluptuous & sensual life, which a vitious Court had brought into credit. I think of it with sorrow & pitty, when I consider of how good & debonaire a nature that unhappy prince was, what opportunities he had to have made himselfe the most renouned King, that ever sway’d the British Scepter; had he ben firme to that Church, for which his Martyred & Bl: Father suffer’d; & gratefull to Almighty God, who so miraculously Restor’d him, with so excellent a Religion had he endeavored to owne & propagate it, as he should, not onely for the good of his Kingdomes, but all the Reformed Churches in Christendome, now weaken’d, & neere utterly ruind, through our remissnesse, & suffering them to be supplanted, persecuted & destroyed; as in France, which we tooke no notice of: The Consequence of this time will shew, & I wish it may proceede no farther: The Emissaries & Instruments of the C. of R: will never rest, ’til they have crush’d the Church of Eng: as knowing that alone able to cope with them: and that they can never answer her fairely, but lie aboundantly open to <irresistible> force of her Arguments, Antiquity, & purity of her doctrine: so that albeit it may move God (for the punishment of a Nation so unworthy) to eclipse againe the profession of her here; & darknesse & superstition prevaile; I am most confident the Doctrine of the Church of Eng: will never be extinguish’d, but to remaine Visible, though not Eminent, to the consummation of the World: I have innumerable reasons that confirme me in this opinion, which I forbeare to mention here:
In the meane time, as to This discourse of his Majestie with Mr. Pepys, & those Papers; as I do exceedingly preferr his Majesties free & ingenuous profession, of what his owne Religion is, beyond all Concealements upon any politique accounts what so ever; so I think him of [a] most sincere, and honest nature, upon whose word, one may relie, & that he makes a Conscience of what he promises, to performe it: In this Confidence I hope, the Church of England may yet subsist; & when it shall please God, to open his Eyes, & turne his heart (for that is peculiarly in the Lords hands) to flourish also: In all events, whatever do become of the C. of Eng: It is certainely of all the Christian professions on the Earth, the most Primitive, Apostolical, & Excellent:
I returned home this Evening.

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8 To Lond: return’d that Evening: I had my picture drawn this Week: [by the famous Kneller:]

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14 I went to Lond: about my Suite, & finishing my Lodgings at White-hall.
15 Being the Kings birth-day, was a solemn Ball at Court; And Musique of Instruments & Voices before the Ball: At the Musique I happen<ed> (by accident) to stand the very next to the Queene, & the King, who ta<l>ked with me about Musick:
18 Dr. Good-man [at Whitehall:] preached on 2:Cor:4:18:
The King was now building all that range from East to west by the Court & Garden to the streete, & making a new Chapel for the Queene, whose Lodgings this new building was: as also a new Council Chamber & offices next the South end of the Banqueting-house:

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22 I accompanied my Lady Clarendon to her house at Swallowfield in Berkeshire, dining by the way at Mr. Grahams’s Lodge at Bagshot: Where his Lady (my excellent & long acquaintance when maide of honour) entertain’d us at a plentifull dinner: The house, new repaired, and capacious of a good family, stands in a Park: Hence we went to Swallow-fild the house is after the antient building of honourable gent: houses where they kept up the antient hospitality: But the Gardens & Waters as elegant as ’tis possible to make a flat, with art & Industrie and no meane Expenses, my Lady being so extraordinarily skilld in the flowry part: & the dilligence of my Lord in the planting: so that I have hardly seene a seate which shews more toakens of it, then what is here to be found, not onely in the delicious & rarest fruits of a Garden, but in those innumerable & plentifull furniture of the grounds about the seate of timber trees to the incredible ornament & benefit of the place:
There is one Ortchard of a 1000 Golden & other cider Pepins: Walks & groves of Elms, Limes, Oake: & other trees: & the Garden so beset with all manner of sweete shrubbs, as perfumes the aire marvelously: The distribution also of the Quarters, Walks, Parterre &c is excellent: The Nurseries, Kitchin-garden, full of the most desireable plants; two very noble Orangeries well furnish’d; but above all, The Canale, & fishponds, the one fed with a white, the other with a black-running water, fed by swift & quick river: so well & plentifully stor’d with fish, that for Pike, Carp, Breame, & Tench; I had never seene any thing approching it: we had Carps & Pikes &c of size fit for the table of a Prince, every meale, & what added to the delight, the seeing hundreds taken in the drag, out of which the Cooke standing by, we pointed what we had most mind to, & had Carps every meale, that had ben worth at London twenty shill a piece: The Waters are all flag’d about with Calamus arromaticus; of which my Lady has hung a Closset, that retaines the smell very perfectly: Also a certaine sweete willow & other exotics: There is to this a very fine bowling-greene; Meadow, pasture, Wood, in a word all that can render a Country seate delightfull:

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28 I went to the R: Society, being the first meeting after our Summer recesse, & was very full: An Urn full of bones, was presented, for the repository, dug up in an high way, by the repairers of it: in a field in Camberwell in Surry: This Urn & cover was found intire among many others; believed to be truely Roman & antient: Sir Ri: Bulkeley, described to us a model of a Charriot he had invented, which it was not possible to overthrow, in whatsoever uneven way it was drawn: giving us a stupendious relation, of what it had perform’d in that kind; for Ease, expedition, & Safty: There was onely these inconveniences yet to be remedied; that it would not containe above one person; That it was ready to fire every 10 miles, & being plac’d & playing on no fewer than 10 rollers, made so prodigious noise, as was almost intollerable: These particulars
the Virtuosi were desir’d to excogitate the remedies, to render the Engine of extraordinary Use: &c:
31 I dined at our greate Lord Chancellors, who us’d me with greate respect: This was the late L: C. Justice Jeofries, who had ben newly the Western Circuite, to trie the Monmoth Conspirators; & had formerly don such severe Justice among the obnoxious in Westminster Hall &c for which his Majestie dignified him with creating him first a Baron, & now L. Chancellor: He had some yeares past, ben conversant at Deptford: is of an assur’d & undaunted spirit, & has serv’d the Court Interest upon all the hardiest occasions: [of nature cruell & a slave of this Court.]
I had now accomplish’d the 65t yeare of my Age: Lord teach me to Number my daies, so as to employ their remainder to thy glory onely. Amen:

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November

3 I returned home: The French persecution of the Protestants, raging with uttmost barbarity, exceeding what the very heathens used: Innumerable persons of the greatest birth, & riches, leaving all their earthly substance & hardly escaping with their lives, dispers’d thro’ all the Countries of Europe: The Fr: Tyrant, abrogating the Edicts of Nants &c in favour of them, & without any Cause on the suddaine, demolishing all their Churches, banishing, Imprisoning, sending to the Gallies all the Ministers: plundring the common people, & exposing them all sorts of barbarous usage, by souldiers sent to ruine & prey upon them; taking away their children; forcing people to the Masse, & then executing them as Relapsers: They burnt the libraries, pillag’d their goods, eate up their filds & sustenance, banish’d or sent to the Gallies the people, & seiz’d on their Estates:
There had now ben numbred to passe through Geneva onely, from time to time by stealth onely (for all the usual passages were strictly guarded by sea & land) fourty thousand, towards Swisserland: In Holland, Denmark, & all about Germany, were dispersed some hundred thousands besids here in England, where though multitude of all degrees sought for shelter, & wellcome, as distressed Christians & Confessors, they found least encouragement; by a fatality of the times we were fall’n into, & the incharity & indifference of such, as should have embrac’d them: and I pray, it be not laied to our Charge: The famous Claude fled to Holland: Alex & severall more came to Lond: & persons of mighty estates came over who had forsaken all: But France was almost dispeopled, the bankers so broaken that the Tyrants revenue exceedingly diminished: Manufacture ceased, & every body there save the Jesuites &c. abhorring what was don: nor the Papists themselves approving it; what the intention farther is time will shew, but doubtlesse portending some extraordinary revolution:
I was now shew’d the Harangue that the Bishop of Valentia on Rhone, made in the name of the Cleargie, celebrating the Fr: King (as if he were a God) for his persecuting the poore protestants; with this Expression in it: That as his Victories over Heresy was greater than all the Conquests of Alexander & Caesars &c: it was but what was wished in England: & that God seem’d to raise the French King to this power & magnanimous action, that he might be in capacity to assist the doing of the same here: This paragraph is very bold & remarkable; severall reflecting on AB: Ushers Prophecy as now begun in France, & approching the orthodox in all other reformed Churches: &c: One thing was much taken notice of, That the Gazetts which were still constantly printed twice a weeke, & informing us what was don all Europ over &c: never all this time, spake one syllable of this wonderfull proceeding in France, nor was any Relation of it published by any, save what private letters & the persecuted fugitives brought: Whence this silence, I list not to conjecture, but it appeared very extraordinary in a Protestant Countrie, that we should know nothing of what Protestants suffered &c: whilst greate Collections were made for them in forraine places more hospitable & Christian to appearance.
5 It being an extraordinary wett morning, & I indisposed by a very greate rheume, I could not go to Church this day, to my greate sorrow, it being the first Gunpouder conspiracy Anniversary, that had ben kept now this 80 yeares, under a Prince of the Roman Religion: Bonfires forbidden &c: What dos this portend?

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9 Began the Parliament; The King in his Speech requiring continuance of a standing force in stead of a Militia, & indemnity & dispensation to Popish Officers from the Test; Demands very unexpected & unpleasing to the Commons; He also requird a Supply of Revenue, which they granted; but returned no thanks to the King for his Speech ’til farther consideration:

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20 Was the Parliament adjourn’d to ffeb: Severall both of Lords & Commons, excepting against some passage of his Majesties Speech, relating to the Test, & continuance of Popish Officers in Command: This was a greate surprize to a Parliament, which people believed would have complied in all things:
Popish pamphlets & Pictures sold publiqly: no books or answers against them appearing &c: [till long after:]

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December

15 Dining at Mr. Pepyss Secretary of the Admiral<ty>, & still president of our Society: Dr. Slayer shew’d us an Experiment of a wonderfull nature; pouring first a very cold liquor into a Matras, & superfusing on it another (to appearance) cold & cleare liquor also, it first produced a white clowd, then boiling, divers Corruscations & actual flames of fire mingled with the liquor, which being a little shaken together fixed divers sunns and starrs of real fire perfectly globular upon the walls of the Glasse to our greate astonishment, & which there stuck like so many Constellations burning most vehemently, & exceedingly resembling starrs & heavenly bodyes, & that for a long space: It seem’d to exhibite a Theorie of the eduction of light out of the Chäos, & the fixing or gathering of the universal light, into luminous bodys: This matter of Phosphorus, was made out of human blood & Urine, elucidating the Vital flame or heate in Animal bodys: a very noble Experiment:

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18 I dind at the greate entertainement his Majestie gave the Venetian Ambassadors Signors Zenno & Justiniani, accompanied with 10 more Noble Venetians of their most illustrious families Cornaro, Maccenigo &c, who came to Congratulate their Majesties coming to the Crowne &c: The dinner was one of the most magnificent & plentifull that I have ever seene, at 4 severall Tables with Music, Trumpets, Ketle-drums which sounded upon a whistle at every health: The banquet was 12 vast Chargers pild up so high, as those who sat one against another could hardly see one another, of these Sweetemeates which doub<t>lesse were some dayes piling up in that exquisite manner, the Ambassadors touched not, but leaving them to the Spectators who came in Curiosity to see the dinner, &c were exceedingly pleas’d to see in what a moment of time, all that curious work was demolish’d, & the Comfitures &c voided & table clear’d: Thus his Majestie entertain’d them 3 dayes, which (for the table onely) cost him 600 pounds as the Cleark of the Greene-Cloth Sir W: Boreman assur’d me: Dinner ended, I saw their procession or Cavalcade to W:hall, innumerable Coaches attending: The 2 Ambassadors had 4. Coaches of their owne & 50 footemen, as I remember, besides other Equipage as splended as the occasion would permitt, the Court being still in mourning, Thence I went to the Audience which they had in the Queenes presence Chamber: The banqueting-house being full of goods & furniture til the Galleries on the Garden side, Council Chamber & new Chapell, were finish’d, now in building: They went to their Audience in those plaine black Gownes, [& Caps] which they constantly weare in the Citty of Venice: I was invited to have accompanied the two Ambassadors in their Coach to supper that night, returning now to their owne Lodgings, as no longer at the Kings expense, but being weary, I excus’d my selfe:
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22 Our pattent for executing the Office of the Lord Privy-Seale, during the absence of the L: Lieutennant of Ireland, being this day sealed by the L: Chancellor: We went afterwards to St. James’s, where the Court then was, upon occasion of the building at White-hall, where his Majestie deliverd The Seale to My L: Tiveat & my-selfe (the other Commissioner being not come) and then, gave us his hande to kisse: There was the 2 Venetian Ambassadors & a world of Company, amongst the rest, The first Popes Nuntio Signor <Ferdinando conte D’Adda> that had ever ben in England since the Reformation; so wonderfully were things chang’d, to the universal jealosie &c:
24 We were all three Commissioners sworn on our knees by the Cleark of the Crowne before my Lord Chancellor, 3, severall Oathes, Allegeance, Supremacy, & the oath belonging to the L: Privy-Seale, which we onely tooke standing: After which the L. Chancellor invited us all to dinner; but it being Christmas Eve, we desir’d to be excus’d; at 3 in the afternoone intending to Seale divers things which lay ready at the Office: So attended by three of the Clearks of the Signet, we met, & sealed; amongst other things, one was a Pardon to West, who being privy to the late Conspiricy, had reveald the Complices, to save his owne neck: There was also another pardon, & two Indenizations: & so agreeing to a fortnights vaccation, I return’d home to my house:

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31 Recollecting the passages of the yeare past [I] made up Accompts, humbly besought Almighty God, to pardon those my sinns, which had provok’d him to discomposse my sorrowfull family, that he would accept of our humiliation, & in his good time restore comforte to it: I also blesse God for all his undeserved mercys & preservations, beging the continuance of his grace & preservation: The winter had hitherto ben extraordinarily wett, & mild:

Continue to 1686

J:E Sallis