John Evelyn’s diary, 1660

Begging God's blessings for the following year, I went to Exeter Chapel, when Mr. Gunning began the year on Galatians iv. 3-7, showing the love of Christ in…

Wrote to Colonel Morley again to declare for his Majesty.

I went this afternoon to visit Colonel Morley. After dinner I discoursed with him; but he was very jealous, and would not believe that Monk came in to do the King…

Kept the Fast. General Monk came now to London out of Scotland; but no man knew what he would do or declare; yet he was met on his way by the gentlemen of all the…

Now were the gates of the city broken down by General Monk; which exceedingly exasperated the city, the soldiers marching up and down as triumphing over it, and all…

A signal day. Monk, perceiving how infamous and wretched a pack of knaves would have still usurped the supreme power, and having intelligence that they intended to…

Came the most happy tidings of his Majesty's gracious declaration and applications to the Parliament, General, and people, and their dutiful acceptance and…

This day was his Majesty proclaimed in London, etc.

I was desired and designed to accompany my Lord Berkeley with the public address of the Parliament, General, etc., to the King, and invite him to come over and…

Came to me Colonel Morley, about procuring his pardon, now too late, seeing his error and neglect of the counsel I gave him, by which, if he had taken it he had…

This day, his Majesty, Charles II. came to London, after a sad and long exile and calamitous suffering both of the King and Church, being seventeen years. This was…

I received letters of Sir Richard Browne's landing at Dover, and also letters from the Queen, which I was to deliver at Whitehall, not as yet presenting myself to…

The French, Italian, and Dutch Ministers came to make their address to his Majesty, one Monsieur Stoope pronouncing the harangue with great eloquence.

I proposed the embassy to Constantinople for Mr. Henshaw; but my Lord Winchelsea struck in. Goods that had been pillaged from Whitehall during the Rebellion were…

The Warwickshire gentlemen (as did all the shires and chief towns in all the three nations) presented their congratulatory address. It was carried by my Lord…

The Sussex gentlemen presented their address, to which was my hand. I went with it, and kissed his Majesty's hand, who was pleased to own me more particularly by…

I went to Hyde Park, where was his Majesty, and abundance of gallantry.

I heard Sir Samuel Tuke harangue to the House of Lords, in behalf of the Roman Catholics, and his account of the transaction at Colchester in murdering Lord Capel,…

I saw his Majesty go with as much pomp and splendor as any earthly prince could do to the great city feast, the first they had invited him to since his return; but…

His Majesty began first to TOUCH FOR THE EVIL! according to custom, thus: his Majesty sitting under his state in the banqueting house, the chirurgeons cause the…

Mr. Henchman preached on Ephes. v. 5, concerning Christian circumspection. From henceforth, was the Liturgy publicly used in our churches, whence it had been for so…

Came Sir George Carteret and lady to visit us: he was now Treasurer of the Navy.

I heard his Majesty's speech in the Lords' House, on passing the Bills of Tonnage and Poundage; restoration of my Lord Ormond to his estate in Ireland; concerning…

I went to visit Sir Philip Warwick, now secretary to the Lord Treasurer, at his house in North Cray.

Our vicar read the Thirty-nine Articles to the congregation, the national assemblies beginning now to settle, and wanting instruction.

Came Duke Hamilton, Lord Lothian, and several Scottish Lords, to see my garden.

Colonel Spencer, colonel of a regiment of horse in our county of Kent, sent to me, and intreated that I would take a commission for a troop of horse, and that I…

I was invited to an ordination by the Bishop of Bangor, in Henry VII.'s chapel, Westminster, and afterward saw the audience of an Envoyée from the Duke of Anjou,…

Came to visit and dine with me the Envoyée of the King of Poland, and Resident of the King of Denmark, etc.

I went to Chelsea to visit Mr. Boyle, and see his pneumatic engine perform divers experiments. Thence, to Kensington, to visit Mr. Henshaw, returning home that…

I saw in Southwark, at St. Margaret's fair, monkeys and apes dance, and do other feats of activity on the high rope; they were gallantly clad á la monde, went…

Went to London, to see the splendid entry of the Prince de Ligne, Ambassador extraordinary from Spain; he was general of the Spanish King's horse in Flanders, and…

In the midst of all this joy and jubilee, the Duke of Gloucester died of the smallpox, in the prime of youth, and a prince of extraordinary hopes.

The King received the merchant's addresses in his closet, giving them assurances of his persisting to keep Jamaica, choosing Sir Edward Massey Governor. In the…

Arrived the Queen-Mother in England, whence she had been banished for almost twenty years; together with her illustrious daughter, the Princess Henrietta, divers…

I paid the great tax of poll money, levied for disbanding the army, till now kept up. I paid as an Esquire £10, and one shilling for every servant in my house.

There dined with me a French count, with Sir George Tuke, who came to take leave of me, being sent over to the Queen-Mother, to break the marriage of the Duke with…

The regicides who sat on the life of our late King, were brought to trial in the Old Bailey, before a commission of oyer and terminer.

Axtall, Carew, Clement, Hacker, Hewson, and Peters, were executed.

I kissed the Queen-Mother's hand.

Scot, Scroop, Cook, and Jones, suffered for reward of their iniquities at Charing Cross, in sight of the place where they put to death their natural prince, and in…

I dined at the Clerk Comptroller's of the Green Cloth, being the first day of the re-establishment of the Court diet, and settling of his Majesty's household.

Being this day in the bedchamber of the Princess Henrietta, where were many great beauties and noblemen, I saluted divers of my old friends and acquaintances…

Dr. Rainbow preached before the King, on Luke ii. 14, of the glory to be given God for all his mercies, especially for restoring the Church and government; now the…

His Majesty went to meet the Queen-Mother.

Going to London, my Lord Mayor's show stopped me in Cheapside; one of the pageants represented a great wood, with the royal oak, and history of his Majesty's…

Arrived now to my fortieth year, I rendered to Almighty God my due and hearty thanks.

I went with some of my relations to Court, to show them his Majesty's cabinet and closet of rarities; the rare miniatures of Peter Oliver, after Raphael, Titian,…

Came down the Clerk Comptroller by the Lord Steward's appointment, to survey the land at Sayes Court, on which I had pretense, and to make his report.

I waited on my brother and sister Evelyn to Court. Now were presented to his Majesty those two rare pieces of drollery, or rather a Dutch Kitchen, painted by Dowe,…

I presented my son, John, to the Queen-Mother, who kissed him, talked with and made extraordinary much of him.

I visited my Lady Chancellor, the Marchioness of Ormond, and Countess of Guildford, all of whom we had known abroad in exile.

I carried Mr. Spellman, a most ingenious gentleman, grandchild to the learned Sir Henry, to my Lord Mordaunt, to whom I had recommended him as secretary.

This day died the Princess of Orange, of the smallpox, which entirely altered the face and gallantry of the whole Court.

The marriage of the Chancellor's daughter being now newly owned, I went to see her, she being Sir Richard Browne's intimate acquaintance when she waited on the…

Preached at the Abbey, Dr. Earle, Clerk of his Majesty's Closet, and my dear friend, now Dean of Westminster, on Luke ii. 13, 14, condoling the breach made in the…

I dined at Court with Mr. Crane, Clerk of the Green Cloth.

I gave God thanks for his many signal mercies to myself, church, and nation, this wonderful year.