Main Text
1657
1657. Jan: 1 Having praied with my Family & celebrated the Anniversarie, I spent some time in imploring Gods blessing the yeare I was entred into.
2 I invited some neighbours: 3. Came Mr. Bovey3 to see me: 4th our Preacher proceedes, concerning the right which the faithfull have to the Creature, by their Interest in Christ, & that they onely do truely enjoy those Comforts.
7 Came Mr. Mathew Wren4 [since Secretary to the Duke slaine in the Dut〈c〉h War]a eldest sonn to the Bish: of Ely (now a Prisoner in the Tower) and a most worthy, & learned Gent: to visite me. (11) Being not well, could not go to the Parish Church. 18, my Indisposition continued: Dr. Joylife that famous Physitian (& Anatomist, first detecter of the lymphatic veins) came to visite me.
24 Came againe the old Marquis of Argile5 & another Scotch Earle: 25. My sore Eyes hindred me from going to Church: 31 I was let bloud:
pg 187Feb: 3 Came my Bro: Geo: & Mr. Needham to visite me. 5, I din'd at the Holland Ambassadors:1 he told me the E. India Comp: of Holland had constantly a stock of 400000 pounds in India, 48 Men of Warr there: of their exact & just keeping their books, Correspondence &c: so as no Adventurers Stock could possibly be lost or defeated:2 That it was a Vulgar Error of the Hollanders furnishing their Enemies with powder & ammunition for their mony, though ingaged in actual warr; but that they usd to merchandize indifferently, & were permitted to sell to the friends of their Enemies:3 He laugh'd at our Commitèe of Trade, as compos'd of men wholy ignorant of it, & how they were the ruine of Commerce, by gratifying some for private ends:4 Sir Geo: Wentworth,5 Bro: to my Lord Deputy Strafford & his lady dined with us &c:
8 Dr. Gauden6 [since Bish: of Excester]a preachd at St. Greg:pg 188an Eloquent discourse touching the dignity of the Crosse of our Lord; how we should embrace it; he said that Jacobs interchanging & crossing his armes to blesse Josephes two sonns Eph: & Manasses was to denote the blessing that should come by it:1 That all foundations & contignations in buildings, all contrivement of natural things were full of those figures & signatures;2 these were pretty curiosities but the application of the use of it, was profitable & pious:
10 I went to visite the Governor of Havana,3 a brave sober, valiant Spanish Gent: taken by Capt: Young4 of Deptford, when after 20 yeares being in the Indias & amassing greate Wealth, his lady, & whole family (excepting twoa〈Sonns〉b) were burnt,c destroyed, & taken within sight of Spaine: His Eldest Son, daughter and Wife perishing with immense treasure: One Soon, with his brother of one yeares old were the onely saved: The young Gent:5 about 17: was a well complexion'd Youth, not olive colourd: he spake latine handsomly, was extreamely well bred, & borne in the pg 189〈Charcas〉a1 1000 miles south of the Equinoxial neere the mountaines of Potisi : had never ben in Europe before: The Governor was an antient Gent: of greate Courage, of the order of S: Jago: sore wounded, his arme & rib broken & lost for his owne share 100000 pounds sterling, which he seem'd to beare with exceeding indifference, & nothing dejected; after some discourse I went with them to Arundel house2 where they dined: They were now going back into Spaine, having obtaind their liberty from Cromewell. An example of human Vicissitude:
11 I went home: 14: To Lond: return'd:b where I found Mrs. Cary; next day came Mr. Mordaunt3 [since Vicount Mordant]c (younger son to the Countesse of Peterborow) to see his Mistris; bringing with him two of my Lord of Dovers daughters:4 so after dinner they all departed.
Mar: 1. To Lond: to receive the B: Comm: Dr. Hewet preaching on 7: Luke: 37, on the Efficacy of teares.
5 Dr. Rand5 a learned Physitian, dedicated to me his Version of Gassendus's Vita Peireskij:6
pg 1908 Our Preacher on 4: Eph: 17: 18: That all sinn, was the product of Ignorance: 15 on the same subject: 16. Came my Bro: Richard, Wife & family to visite us, & staied all this Weeke: 19, I went with my Bro: to Lond: to seale some Writings, wherein I was a Trusteè for my Co: Tuke,1 & return'd: 12:2 My Bro: & lady &c: went home to Woodcot:
22 Our Viccar preached on the same Text, of Gods infinite grace to the Gentiles. 25. I went to Lond: to celebrate the feast of Annuntiation: Dr. Gunning3 preaching at a private house, on: 11: Phil: 6. 7.4 shewing the stupendious humility & exinanition5 of Christ, in his Incarnation: seea notes:a I visited Dr. Taylor, who shewed me his MSS: of Cases of Conscience, or Ductor dubitantium now fitted for the presse:6 I return'd next day: 29 I went to Lond: to keepe Easter, in the morning preach'd Dr. Gillingham on 1. Cor: 15. 20, a Resurrection sermon: The Communion follow'd: In the afternoone Mr. Gunning on 60: Esay. 20. 21. &c: shewing how the Christian Faith spread abroad, under the dominion of Christ: I returned home:
The Protector Oliver, now affecting King-ship, is petition'd to take the Title on him, by all his new-made sycophant pg 191Lords &c: but dares not for feare of the Phanatics, not thoroughlya purged out of his rebell army:1
Aprill: 1 Came Sir Tho: Hanmer2 of Hanmer in Wales to visite me: 2: I went about buisinesse to the Commissioners of the Sewers.35: our Parson—on 4: Eph: 19. 20: as formerly, & on the 12th,b proving the Scriptures to be the Word of God, so on the 〈19th〉c That Truth made us most to resemble God: 21 I went to Lond: to consult Dr. Bate4 about taking preventing Physick: Thence to Visite my Lord Hatton,5 with whom I dined; at my returne I step'd into Bedlame,6 where I saw nothing extraordinarie, besides some miserable poore pg 192Creatures in chaines, one was mad with making Verses: & also visited the Charter-house,1 formerly belonging to the Carthusians; now an old neate, fresh solitarie Colledge for decaied Gent: It has a grove, bowling-greene, Garden: Chapell, hall &c where they eate in common: I likewise saw Christ-Church & Hospital,2 a very goodly building,a Gotic:a also the Hall, Schoole, Lodgings, in greate order, for the bring〈ing〉 up many hundreds of poore Children of both sexes, & is a〈n〉 exemplary Charity: There is a large picture at one end of the Hall, representing the Governors, founders, & Institution:3 so on the 23d I returned home: 25. To Lond, return'd that Evening. I had a dangerous fall out of the Coach in Covent Garden, going to my Bro:4 but without harme, The Lord be praised: 26: our Viccar on his former subject: shewing how the old man, dwelt even in the regenerate:5
27 I tooke preventing Physick.
May: 1 Divers Souldiers quarter'd at my house, but I thank God, went away the next day towards Flanders:62: I tooke Physick. The next-day (lying at Greenewich on the 4th) I went into Surrey with my Co: G: Tuke, to see Baynards,7 an house of my Bro: Richards, which he would have pg 193hired: We going in a Charriot drawne with unruly young horses, one of which (they said) had already killed two keepers,a were often in very greate danger; so as after 20 〈miles〉b riding, we were forced to change our horses.c This is a very faire & noble house of my Bro: built in a park, & having one of the goodliest avenue of Oakes up to it, that ever I saw:1 There is also a pond of 60 Ackers neere it: The Windos of the chiefe roomes are of very fine painted glasse:2 but the situation excessively dirty & melancholy: We return'd next day, dining by the way at Wotton: 8: I went to Lond: to congratulate Mr. Hyldiards sonns,3 newly returned from their Travells: came home at night: 11. To Lond: to visite my Bro: Richard: returnd. 13 To Lond: to treate againe with Sir Cha: Harbord about a Match with my Co: Hungerford, of which formerly:4 return'd at night: There had ben at my house this afternoone Laurence5 president of Olivers Council, & some other of his Court Lords to see my Garden & plantations: 14. Came my Aunt Hungerford to dinner:
16 I went to Lond: to keepe Whitsonday. 17: I received at St. Greg: where now againe Dr. Hewet preached on 2: Act: 4: [Se notes:]d in the Afternoone Mr. Gunning on part of the Creede, I believe in God the H: Ghost: shewing what it was to believe, onely, & to believe in: & spake something of the Controversy with the Greeke-Church [see notes]:e I visited Mr. Mordaunt & returned. 22d, I went to see Sir Tho: Hanmer. 24: our Preacher on his former text: see notes: pg 19430 To Lond: lay at the Midle Temple:131: at Serjeants Inn2 preached Doctor Gauden on 27: Psal: 9. how we are to seeke the face of God [see notes]a &c: In the Afternoone Mr. Gunning expounding the Gospel of the day.316 Luke, declaiming against un-mercifullnesse to the poore, & voluptuousnesse of Life: [See notes.]a1 June I returned home, having dined at the Countesse of Peterborows, & brought Mr. Mordaunt & new married Lady my deare friend, to my house, who returned also that Evening back to Lond:4
3 June Came my Lady Glanvill5 (〈my〉b Wifes Aunt) to visite us: 6: Came my Bro: Richard & his Wife:
7 June My Wife fell in Labour from 2 in the morning till 8½ at night, when my fourth Sonne was borne, it being Sonday: he was Christned on Wednesday on the 10th & named George6 (after my Grandfathers name) my Bro: Rich: Evelyn: Co: George Tuke & Lady Cotton susceptors &c: Dr. Jer: Taylor officiating in the withdrawingroome at Says-Court:
14: A stranger preached on 32: Psal: 11,7 shewing the danger & insecurity of the Wiccked.
16 To Lond, returned: 18 I saw at Greenewich a sort of Catt brought from the East Indies, shaped & snouted much like the Egyptian Ratoone, in the body like a Monkey, & so footed: the eares & taile like a Catt, onely the taile much pg 195longer, & the Skin curiously ringed, with black & white: With this taile, it wound up its body like a Serpent, & so got up into trees, & with it, would also wrap its whole body round; It was of a wolly haire as a lamb, exceedingly nimble, & yet gentle, & purr'd as dos the Cat.1
21 Our Minister preached on 4: Eph: 23. concerning the soules renovation: 25 I went to Lond to visite friends, return'd. 28: our Preacher on his former Text: That putting on the new man, was induing of Christian graces &c:—29a a stranger: see Notes.a
July: 3 A ship blown-up at Wapping,2 shooke my whole house, & the chaire I was sitting & reading in 〈in〉 my study. 5. Dr. Owen preached at my house on. 128 Psal: 1. 2. ad. 5. upon occasion of now Churching my Wife: he also gave us the H: Sacrament: See notes:
12 Our Viccar, on his former: afternoone at Greenewich Mr. Hardy on 84 Psal. 11. shewing in how many Instances God was both Sun & shild, light, & defence to the Righteous: se notes:16 On Dr. Taylors recommendation I went to Eltham to helpe one Moody3 a young man, to that living, by my Interest with the Patron: return'd:
19 Preachd a stranger: on 5: Eph: 2: concerning the necessitie & want of charity: [see notes:]b In the afternoone our pg 196Parson, shewing how holinesse was in God the Archtype, in us as in the Ectype.1
26: on the same &c: see notes:
August 2: Our Minister on the same Text: 6: I went to see Coll: Blount who shewed me the application of the Way-Wiser2 to a Coach, exactly measuring the miles, & shewing it by an Index as one rid along: It had 3 Circles, one point〈e〉d to the number of rods: The other to the miles by 10, to 1000: with all the subdivisions of quarters &c: very pretty, & very usefull: 6:a Our Viccar 18 Joh: 36 declaiming at the folly of a sort of Enthusiasts & desperat Zealots, cald the fift Monarchy-men, pretending to set up the Kingdome of Christ with the Sword: to this passe was this age arivd, when we had no king in Israel:37: Came Sir Edm: Bowyer4 & Lady to visite us.
21 Fell a most prodigious raine at Lond: & the yeare very sickly in the Country.5 Our Viccar, on 3: Psal: 8. An anniversary, commemorating Gods infinite mercys to this nation, in pg 197continuing the purity of his Gospel, notwithstanding the many troubles & alterations in State; which was true but in part: for never was Religion so perverted:130:—on 1. Rom: 6: shewing the benefit of a true faith. A most unseasonable, wett, sickly Summer: my son: Richard ill of a Feavor:
September: I visited Sir Ed. Bowyer at his melancholy Seate at Cammerwell:2 he has a very pretty grove of Oakes, & hedges of yew in his Garden, & a handsom row of tall Elmes before his Court: 6: To Lond: to receive the B: Comm: Dr. Taylor preaching on 1. Cor: 11. 27. piously discoursing of the signes of a worthy Communicant [see notes:]a The afternoone, a grave old man at Woolchurch3 on. 102 Psal: 6 shewing the ignominie of Christs suffering [see notes]:a I returnd home. 13 our Viccar on 45 Isa: 22. how Christ was the onely object of our Faith:
15 Going to Lond: with some Company, who would needes step in to see a famous Rope-daunser call'd the Turk,4 I saw even to astonishment the agilities he perform'd, one was his walking bare foote, & taking hold by his toes onely, of a rope almost perpendicular & without so much as touching it with his hands: also dauncing blindfold on the high-roope: & with a boy of 12 yeares old, tyed to one of his feete about 20 foote beneath him dangling as he daunced, & yet moved as nimbly, as it had ben but a feather: Lastly he 〈stoode〉b on his head, upon the very top of a very high mast, daunced on a small roope that was very slack, & finaly flew downe the pg 198perpendicular, with his head foreward on his breast, his legs & armes extended: with divers other activities, to the admiration of all the Spectators: I also saw the hairy Maid,1 or Woman wh〈om〉 20 years before I had also seene when a child: her very Eyebrowes were combeda upward, & all her forehead as thick & even as growes on any womans head, neately dress'd: There come also tw〈o〉 lock〈s〉 very long out of Each Eare: she had also a most prolix beard, & mustachios, with long locks of haire growing on the very middle of her nose, exactly like an Island Dog;2 the rest of her body not so hairy, yet exceeding long in comparison, armes, neck, breast & back; the 〈Colour〉b of a bright browne, & fine as well dressed flax: She was now married, & told me had one Child, that was not hairy, [as]c nor were any of her parents or relations: she was borne at Ausburg in Germanie, & for the rest very well shaped, plaied well on the Harpsichord &c: I returnd home:
17 I went to see Sir Rob: Needham3 at Lambeth, a relation of mine, and thence John Tradescants Musæum,4 the pg 199chiefest rarities were in my opinion, the antient Roman, Indian & other Nations Armour, shilds & weapons; Some habits also of curiously colourd & wrought feathers: particula〈r〉ly that of the Phoenix Wing, as tradition gos:1 other innumerable things there were too long here to recite, & printed in his Catalogue by Mr. Ashmole,2 to whom after death of the widdow, they are bequeathe'd: & by him designd a Gift to Oxford:
Dunkirk was now beseig'd by our Fleete joynd with theaFrench.3
pg 20019 I went to see divers Gardens about London, returnd home: 20: our Viccar on his former subject: 22: To Lond: to visite the Holland Ambassador1 with whom I had now contracted much friendly corresponden〈c〉e: usefull to the Intelligence I constantly gave his Majestie abroad: returning, I saw at Dr. Joylifes, two Virginian rattle-snakes a live: they exceeded a yard in length, small heads, & slender tailes but as big as my leg in the middle;a when vexed or provoked, swiftly vibrating & shaking theire tailes, they rattled as looud as a Childs rattle, or as if on〈e〉 heard a jack2 going: & this by the collision [or atrition]b3 of certaine gristly Skinns curiously joynted, yet loose, like the Vertebra or back bone; & transparant as parchment; by which they give warning, a providential caution for other creatures to avoid them: They leape cruely:4 the Doctor tried their biting on ratts & mice which they immediately killed; but their vigour must needes be much exhausted here, where they had nothing to eate, & were in another Climate, kept onely in a barill of bran &c: 27: the Viccar proceedes. 30: To Lond: to pay 100 pounds which I had borrowed, returnd: Now 〈w〉as Mardyke taken by the English:5
Octob: 4: Our Viccar proceedes. 10: I dind at Lond: with the Dutch Ambassador, now taking his leave,6 I return'd. 11: The Viccar on his former: see your notes: 18 he preached on: 1 John: 1. 1 about Christs humane-nature. 21:c Came pg 201Mr. Henshaw & Lady1 to visite us, with his Bro: in Law Mr. Dorrell:225 The Viccar proceedes how our B: S. was the Word: 31: I was 〈now〉a 37 yeares of age: Lord so teach me to number my dayes, that I may apply my heart to Wisedome:3
Nov. 1 I went to Lon: to receive the H. Sacrament: Dr. Taylor preaching on 1. Cor: 16.16 concerning Charity [see notes:]b
15 Our Viccar on 1. Jo: 1. 2. How Christ was eternal life: 16 To Lond: about buisinesse with the E. of Chesterfield4 'til the 20th.22: our Viccar proceedes: of the felloship of Believers:
26 I went to Lond: to a Court of the E. India Comp; upon its new Union: where was much dissorder by reason of the Anabaptists, who would have the Adventurers obliged onely by an Engagement, with out Swearing, that they might still pursue their private trade; but it was carried against them: & that Wednesday should be a Generallc Court for Election of Officers; after Sermon, & prayers for good successe: The stock resolv'd on was 800000 pounds:5 (27) I tooke the Oath, pg 202at the E. India house, subscribing 500 pounds:1 & so returnd: 〈29〉:a our Vice: persu'd his former Text.
December 1 To Lond. 2: Dr. Raynolds2 [since Bishop of Norwich]b preached before the E. India Comp: at St. Andrews undershaft on 13 Nehem: 31. shewing by the Example of Nehemiah all the Perfections of a trusty person in publique affaires, with many good precepts apposite to the occasion; ending with a prayer for Gods blessing on the Comp: & Undertaking:
33 Mr. Gunning preached on: 3. John: 3 against the Anabaptists, shewing the effect, & necessity of the Sacrament of Baptisme: [Se notes.]c This Sect was now wonderfully spread:46: Dr. Taylor on 26 Psal: 6: concerning the preparation before the H. Sacrament, but chiefly insisting on care, & perseveration afterwards, also the necesity of restitution in case of wrongs &c:—In the afternoone at the Savoy Monsieur D'Espagne,5Cathechizing: why God makes use of Wicked Instruments to execute his designes, as the Devil himselfe: That very impious men, commonly die by their owne hands, pg 203as being the worst to be found; by the Example of Judas, Achitophel, Saule, &c:
9 I paied in my fi〈r〉sta payment to the E. Ind: stock: There being a Court in Merchant-Taylors hall:110 returned home: 〈13〉b Our Viccar on 1. Jo: 4 that the plenitude of the Saints Joy consisted in his Communion with God.217 Came to dine with me my Bro: R. Evelyn, & Mr. Needham.
20 Viccar: proceeded: 25, I went with my Wife &c: to Lond: to celebrate Christmas day. Mr. Gunning preaching in Excester Chapell3 on 7: Micah 2. Sermon Ended, as he was giving us the holy Sacrament, The Chapell was surrounded with Souldiers: All the Communicants and Assembly surpriz'd & kept Prisoners by them, some in the house, others carried away: It fell to my share to be confined to a roome in the house, where yet were permitted to Dine with the master of it,4 the Countesse of Dorset,5Lady pg 204Hatton1 & some others of quality who invited me: In the afternoone came Collonel Whaly2Goffe3 & others from Whitehall to examine us one by one, & some they committed to the Martial4 some to Prison, some Committed: When I came before them they tooke my name & aboad, examind me, why contrarie to an Ordinance made that none should any longer observe the superstitious time of the Nativity5 (so esteem'd by them) I dursta offend, & particularly be at Common prayers, which they told me was but the Masse in English, & particularly pray for Charles stuard, for which we had no Scripture: I told them we did not pray for Cha: Steward but for all Christian Kings, Princes & Governors: The〈y〉 replied, in so doing we praied for the K. of Spaine too, who was their Enemie, & a Papist, with other frivolous & insnaring questions, with much threatning, & finding no colour to detaine me longer, with much pitty of my Ignorance, they dismiss'd me: These were men of high flight, and above Ordinances: & spake spitefull things of our B: Lords nativity: so I got home late the next day blessed be God: These wretched miscreants, held their muskets against us as we came up to receive the Sacred Elements, as if they would have shot us at the Altar, but yet suffering us to finish the Office of Communion, as perhaps not in their Instructions what they should do in case they found us in that Action:627: Our Viccar proceeded:
pg 20528 I invited some of my Neighbours according to Costome.
31 Praised God for his mercies the yeare past,a & set all things in order in my family: