DIARY.

1678-9. 15 Jan. I WENT with my Lady Sunderland to Chelsey, and din'd with the Countesse of Bristol [her mother] in the greate house, formerly the Duke of Buckingham's, a spacious and excellent place for the extent of ground and situation in a good aire. The house is large, but ill contriv'd, tho' my Lord of Bristol, who purchas'd it after he sold Wimbledon to my Lord Treasurer, expended much money on it. There were divers pictures of Titian and Vandyke, and some of Bassano, very

* This mansion stood at the north end of Beaufort Row, extending westward about one hundred yards from the water side. It was originally called Buckingham House, but in January, 1682, was sold by Lady Anne Russell, daughter of Francis Earl of Bedford, to Henry Marquis of Worcester, created Duke of Beaufort in the same year; after whom it was known by the title of Beaufort House. It continued to be the residence of that noble family till about the year 1720, when, having stood empty for several years, it was purchased by Sir Hans Sloane in 1738, and was pulled down in 1740.-Faulkner's Hist. of Chelsea.

excellent, especialy an Adonis and Venus, a Duke of Venice, a Butcher in his shambles selling meate to a Swisse; and of Van-Dyke, my Lord of Bristol's picture, with the Earl of Bedford's at length, in the same table. There was in the garden a rare collection of orange-trees, of which she was pleas'd to bestow some upon me.

16. I supp'd this night with Mr. Secretary at one Mr. Houblon's, a French merchant, who had his house furnish'd en Prince, and gave us a splendid entertainment.

25. The Long Parliament, which had sat ever since the Restauration, was dissolv'd by persuasion of the Lord Tress", tho' divers of them were believ'd to be his pensioners. At this all the politicians were at a stand, they being very eager in pursuite of the late plot of the Papists.

30. Dr. Cudworth preached before the King at White-hall, on 2 Timothy, ch. 3. v. 5. reckoning up the perils of ye last times, in which, amongst other wickednesse, treasons should be one of the greatest, applying it to the occasion, as committed under a forme of reformation and godlinesse; concluding that the prophesy did intend more particularly the present age, as one of the last times; the sinns there enumerated, more aboundantly reigning than

ever.

2 Feb. Dr. Durell, Dean of Windsor, preach'd to the Household at White-hall, on 1 Cor. ch. 16.

v. 22; he read ye whole sermon out of his notes, which I had never before seene a Frenchman do, he being of Jersey, and bred at Paris.

4. Dr. Pierce, Deane of Salisbury, preached on 1 John, ch. 4. v. 1, "Try the Spirits, there being so many delusorie ones gone forth of late into the world;" he inveied against the pernicious doctrines of Mr. Hobbes.

My Brother Evelyn was now chosen Knight for ye County of Surrey, carrying it against my Lord Longford and Sr Adam Brown of Betchworth Castle. The country coming in to give him their suffrages were so many, that I believe they eate and dranke him out neere £2,000, by a most abominable

costome.

1 April. My friend Mr. Godolphin was now made one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treaand of the Privy Council.

sury,

4. The Bp. of Gloucester preach'd, in a manner very like Bishop Andrews, full of divisions, and scholastical, and that with much quicknesse. The holy communion followed.

20. Easter day. Our vicar preached exceeding well on 1 Cor. ch. 5 and v. 7. The holy communion followed, at which I and my Daughter Mary (now about 14 yeares old) received for the first time. The Lord Jesus continue his grace unto her, and improve this blessed beginning.

24. The Duke of York, voted against by the

Commons for his recusancy, went over to Flanders, which made much discourse.

4 June. I din'd with Mr. Pepys in the Tower, he having ben committed by ye House of Commons for misdemeanors in the Admiralty when he was Secretary; I believe he was unjustly charg'd.* Here I saluted my Lords Stafford and Petre, who were committed for the Popish plot.

7. I saw the magnificent cavalcade and entry of the Portugal Ambassador.

17. I was godfather to a sonn of Sir ChristTM Wren, Surveyor of his Matys buildings, that most excellent and learned person, with Sr William Fermor, and my Lady Viscountesse Newport, wife of the Treasurer of the Household.

Thence to Chelsey, to Sr Stephen Fox, and my lady, in order to the purchase of the Countesse of Bristol's house there, which she desir'd me to procure a chapman for.

19. I din'd at Sr Robt Clayton's with Sr Rob Viner, the greate banquer.

22. There were now divers jesuites executed about the plot, and a rebellion in Scotland of the

* Mr. Pepys was concerned in a contested election in 1684, and his opponent accused him of being a Papist, which the House of Commons inquired into, but without finding any proof. By Grey's Debates it appears that he was accused of having sent information to the French court of the state of the English navy. Most incredible!