Volume II Part 43 (2/2)
Divers persons of quality entered into the Society for Reformation[91]
of Manners; and some lectures were set up, particularly in the city of London The y preached at Bow Church, after reading a declaration set forth by the King to suppress the groickedness; this began already to take so, and oaths in the mouths of people of all ranks
[Footnote 91: _Ante_, p 349]
25th March, 1700 Dr Burnet preached to-day before the Lord Mayor and a very great congregation, on Proverbs xxvii 5, 6, ”Open rebuke is better than secret love; the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses of an ene the necessity and advantage of friendly correction
April, 1700 The Duke of Norfolk now succeeded in obtaining a divorce from his wife by the Parliaa; the Duke had leave to ain, so that if he should have children, the Dukedoo from the late Lord Thomas's children, Papists indeed, but very hopeful and virtuous gentlemen, as was their father The now Duke their uncle is a Protestant
The Parliao into Ireland as commissioners to dispose of the forfeited estates there, toward pay had in great iven to some of his favorites of both sexes, Dutch and others of little ht be done without suspicion of interest in the Parliament, it was ordered that no reat contest between the Lords and Co bills tacked to the money bill, carried for the Co of bills is a novel practice, suffered by King Charles II, who, being continually in want ofpass rather than not have ith to feed his extravagance This was carried but by one voice in the Lords, all the Bishops following the Court, save one; so that near sixty bills passed, to the great triuret of the Court, and those to whoe estates in Ireland Pity it is, that things should be brought to this extre so equally poised between King and subject; but we are satisfied with nothing; and, while there is no perfection on this side heaven, s too far A the rest, there passed a law as to Papists' estates, that if one turned not Protestant before eighteen years of age, it should pass to his next Protestant heir This indeed see to his Protestant subjects, but the indiscreet insolence of the Papists here, going in triumphant and public processions with their Bishops, with banners and trumpets in divers places (as is said) in the northern counties, has brought it on their party
24th April, 1700 This week there was a great change of State officers
The Duke of Shrewsbury resigned his Lord Chamberlainshi+p to the Earl of Jersey, the Duke's indisposition requiring his retreat Mr Vernon, Secretary of State, was put out The Seal was taken froh he had been acquitted by a great ainst hi in term ti to accept the office, considering the uncertainty of things in this fluctuating conjuncture It is certain that this Chancellor was a most excellent lawyer, very learned in all polite literature, a superior pen, master of a handsome style, and of easy conversation; but he is said to make too much haste to be rich, as his predecessor, and ious excess than was ever known
But the Commons had now so mortified the Court party, and property and liberty were so doms, that their jealousy thened the lahich protected the people fro, with hope of abundance of fruit of all kinds, and a propitious year
10th May, 1700 The great trial between Sir Walter Clarges and Mr
Sherwin concerning the legitimacy of the late Duke of Albemarle, on which depended an estate of 1,500 a year; the verdict was given for Sir Walter, 19th Serjeant Wright at last accepted the Great Seal
[Sidenote: WOTTON]
24th May, 1700 I went from Dover street to Wotton, for the rest of the suoods from Sayes Court
2d June, 1700 A sweet season, with ashowers
9th-16th June, 1700 In the afternoon, our clergyman had a catechism, which was continued for some time
July, 1700 I was visited with illness, but it pleased God that I recovered, for which praise be ascribed to hiraciously advertised reat age, cannot be far off
The Duke of Gloucester, son of the Princess Anne of Denmark, died of the smallpox
13th July, 1700 I went to Harden, which was originally a barren warren bought by Sir Robert Clayton, who built there a pretty house, andnot only an infinite store of the best fruit; but so changed the natural situation of the hill, valleys, and solitary n country, which would produce spontaneously pines, firs, cypress, yew, holly, and juniper; they were co them, and were preserved with the utmost care, so that I who had seen it some years before in its naked and barren condition, was in adht of Sir John Evelyn, of Godstone, and was thus ie and industry of this opulent citizen He and his lady received us with great civility The toift, and other Archbishops, are fine and venerable; but none co all of white s, far surpassed the rest, and I judge could not cost less than 700 or 800
20th Septeton, the ancient seat of the Carews, in my remembrance a noble old structure, capacious, and in fore of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth, and proper for the old English hospitality, but now decaying with the house itself, heretofore adorned with ae trees[92] that had been seen in England, planted in the open ground, and secured in winter only by a tabernacle of boards and stoves reoodly trees, and laden with fruit, were now in decay, as well as the grotto, fountains, cabinets, and other curiosities in the house and abroad, it being now fallen to a child under age, and only kept by a servant or two from utter dilapidation The estate and park about it also in decay
[Footnote 92: Oranges were eaten in this kingdo James I]
23d September, 1700 I went to visit Mr Pepys at Clapham, where he has a very noble and wonderfully well-furnished house, especially with Indian and Chinese curiosities The offices and gardens well accommodated for pleasure and retirement
31st October, 1700 My birthday now coe I with my soul render thanks to God, who, of his infinite ht me out of many troubles, but this year restored reat an age; , and other senses and faculties tolerable, which I irace to acknowledge byyear, if it be his pleasure to protract my life, that I h the infinite merits of my blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus, Arandson (the onlyfallen ill of the smallpox at Oxford, which after the dire effects of it in ly afflictedlet blood at his first complaint, and by the extraordinary care of Dr Mander (Head of the college and now Vice Chancellor), who caused hied in his own bed and bedchamber, with the advice of his physician and care of his tutor, there were all fair hopes of his recovery, to our infinite comfort We had a letter every day either from the Vice Chancellor himself, or his tutor
17th November, 1700 assurance of his recovery by a letter froe of great officers at Court Lord Godolphin returned to his former station of first Coes, Secretary of State
30th November, 1700 At the Royal Society, Lord Somers, the late Chancellor, was continued President