John Evelyn’s diary, 1681

I was at the wedding of my nephew, John Evelyn of Wotton, married by the Bishop of Rochester at Westminster, in Henry VII.'s chapel, to the daughter and heir of Mr.…

Visited and dined at the Earl of Essex's, with whom I spent most of the afternoon alone. Thence to my (yet living) godmother and kinswoman, Mrs. Keightley, sister…

The Parliament now convened at Oxford. Great expectation of his Royal Highness's case as to the succession, against which the House was set. An extraordinary sharp,…

I took my leave of Dr. Lloyd (Bishop of St. Asaph) at his house in Leicester Fields, now going to reside in his diocese.

I dined at Mr. Brisbane's, Secretary to the Admiralty, a learned and industrious person, whither came Dr. Burnet, to thank me for some papers I had contributed…

I dined at Don Pietro Ronquillo's, the Spanish Ambassador, at Wild House, who used me with extraordinary civility. The dinner was plentiful, half after the Spanish,…

But one shower of rain all this month.

Came to dine with me Sir William Fermor, of Northamptonshire, and Sir Christopher Wren, his Majesty's architect and surveyor, now building the Cathedral of St.…

Came my Lady Sunderland, to desire that I would propose a match to Sir Stephen Fox for her son, Lord Spencer, to marry Mrs. Jane, Sir Stephen's daughter. I excused…

Our new curate preached, a pretty hopeful young man, yet somewhat raw, newly come from college, full of Latin sentences, which in time will wear off. He read…

There came to visit me Sir William Walter and Sir John Elowes: and the next day, the Earl of Kildare, a young gentleman related to my wife, and other company. There…

I went to Hampton Court, when the Surrey gentlemen presented their addresses to his Majesty, whose hand I kissed, introduced by the Duke of Albemarle. Being at the…

It still continued so great a drought as had never been known in England, and it was said to be universal.

No sermon this afternoon, which I think did not happen twice in this parish these thirty years; so gracious has God been to it, and indeed to the whole nation: God…

I went to Wotton, and, on the following day, was invited to Mr. Denzil Onslow's at his seat at Purford, where was much company, and such an extraordinary feast, as…

From Wotton I went to see Mr. Hussey (at Sutton in Shere), who has a very pretty seat well watered, near my brother's. He is the neatest husband for curious…

Died my pretty grandchild, and was interred on the 8th .

Dined with Sir Stephen Fox, who proposed to me the purchasing of Chelsea College, which his Majesty had sometime since given to our Society, and would now purchase…

I had another opportunity of visiting his Majesty's private library at Whitehall. To Sir Samuel Morland's, to see his house and mechanics.

I went with Monsieur Faubert about taking the Countess of Bristol's house for an academy, he being lately come from Paris for his religion, and resolving to settle…

I went to see Sir Thomas Bond's fine house and garden at Peckham.

I went to Camberwell, where that good man Dr. Parr (late chaplain to Archbishop Usher) preached on Acts xvi. 30.

To Fulham, to visit the Bishop of London, in whose garden I first saw the Sedum arborescens in flower, which was exceedingly beautiful.

Dr. Hooper preached on Mark xii. 16, 17, before the King, of the usurpation of the Church of Rome. This is one of the first rank of pulpit men in the nation.

I dined with the Earl of Essex who, after dinner in his study, where we were alone, related to me how much he had been scandalized and injured in the report of his…

I dined with my worthy friend, Mr. Erskine, Master of the Charter House, uncle to the Duchess of Monmouth; a wise and learned gentleman, fitter to have been a privy…

I was at the audience of the Russian Ambassador before both their Majesties in the Banqueting House. The presents were carried before him, held up by his followers…

Sir Christopher Wren chosen President , Mr. Austine, Secretary, with Dr. Plot, the ingenious author of the "History of Oxfordshire." There was a most illustrious…