John Evelyn's Diary 1650

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John Evelyn's Diary 1650 is in John Evelyn's Diary 1650s.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 January

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 January 01

01 Jan 1650. I began this Jubilee with the public office in our chapel: dined at my Baroness Herbert's, wife of Sir Edward Herbert, afterward Lord Keeper.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 January 18

18 Jan 1650. This night was the Prince of Condé (age 28) and his brother (age 20) carried prisoners to the Bois de Vincennes.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 February

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 February 06

06 Feb 1650. In the evening, came Signor Alessandro, one of the Cardinal Mazarine's (age 47) musicians, and a person of great name for his knowledge in that art, to visit my wife (age 15), and sung before divers persons of quality in my chamber.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 March

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 March 01

01 Mar 1650. I went to see the masquerados, which was very fantastic; but nothing so quiet and solemn as I found it at Venice.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 March 13

13 Mar 1650. Saw a triumph in Monsieur del Camp's Academy, where divers of the French and English noblesse, especially my Lord of Ossory, and Richard, sons to the Marquis of Ormond (age 39) (afterward Duke), did their exercises on horseback in noble equipage, before a world of spectators and great persons, men and ladies. It ended in a collation.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 April

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 April 25

25 Apr 1650. I went out of town to see Madrid, a palace so called, built by Francis I. It is observable only for its open manner of architecture, being much of terraces and galleries one over another to the very roof; and for the materials, which are mostly of earth painted like porcelain, or China-ware, whose colors appear very fresh, but is very fragile. There are whole statues and relievos of this pottery, chimney-pieces, and columns both within and without. Under the chapel is a chimney in the midst of a room parted from the Salle des Gardes. The house is fortified with a deep ditch, and has an admirable vista toward the Bois de Boulogne and river.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 April 30

30 Apr 1650. I went to see the collection of the famous sculptor, Steffano de la Bella, returning now into Italy, and bought some prints; and likewise visited Perelle, the landscape graver.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 May

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 May 03

03 May 1650. At the hospital of La Charité I saw the operation of cutting for the stone. A child of eight or nine years old underwent the operation with most extraordinary patience, and expressing great joy when he saw the stone was drawn. The use I made of it was, to give Almighty God hearty thanks that I had not been subject to this deplorable infirmity.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 May 07

07 May 1650. I went with Sir Richard Browne's (age 45) lady and my wife (age 15), together with the Earl of Chesterfield (age 66), Lord Ossory (age 15) and his brother (age 10), to Vamber, a place near the city famous for butter; when, coming homeward, being on foot, a quarrel arose between Lord Ossory (age 15) and a man in a garden, who thrust Lord Ossory (age 15) from the gate with uncivil language; on which our young gallants struck the fellow on the pate, and bade him ask pardon, which he did with much submission, and so we parted. But we were not gone far before we heard a noise behind us, and saw people coming with guns, swords, staves, and forks, and who followed, flinging stones; on which, we turned, and were forced to engage, and with our swords, stones, and the help of our servants (one of whom had a pistol) made our retreat for near a quarter of a mile, when we took shelter in a house, where we were besieged, and at length forced to submit to be prisoners. Lord Hatton (age 44), with some others, were taken prisoners in the flight, and his lordship (age 15) was confined under three locks and as many doors in this rude fellow's master's house, who pretended to be steward to Monsieur St. Germain, one of the presidents of the Grand Chambre du Parlement, and a Canon of Nôtre Dame. Several of us were much hurt. One of our lackeys escaping to Paris, caused the bailiff of St. Germain to come with his guard and rescue us. Immediately afterward, came Monsieur St. Germain himself, in great wrath, on hearing that his housekeeper was assaulted; but when he saw the King's officers, the gentlemen and noblemen, with his Majesty's Resident and understood the occasion, he was ashamed of the accident, requesting the fellow's pardon, and desiring the ladies to accept their submission and a supper at his house. It was ten o'clock at night ere we got to Paris, guarded by Prince Griffith (a Welsh hero going under that name, and well known in England for his extravagancies), together with the scholars of two academies, who came forth to assist and meet us on horseback, and would fain have alarmed the town we received the affront from: which, with much ado, we prevented.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 May 12

12 May 1650. Complaint being come to the Queen and Court of France of the affront we had received, the President was ordered to ask pardon of Sir R. Browne (age 45), his Majesty's Resident, and the fellow to make submission, and be dismissed. There came along with him the President de Thou, son of the great Thuanus [the historian], and so all was composed. But I have often heard that gallant gentleman, my Lord Ossory (age 15), affirm solemnly that in all the conflicts he was ever in at sea or on land (in the most desperate of both which he had often been), he believed he was never in so much danger as when these people rose against us. He used to call it the bataile de Vambre, and remember it with a great deal of mirth as an adventure, en cavalier.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 May 24

24 May 1650. We were invited by the Noble Academies to a running at the ring where were many brave horses, gallants, and ladies, my Lord Stanhope entertaining us with a collation.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 June

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 June 12

12 Jun 1650. Being Trinity Sunday, the Dean of Peterborough (age 55) preached; after which there was an ordination of two divines, Durell and Brevent (the one was afterward Dean of Windsor, the other of Durham, both very learned persons). The Bishop of Galloway officiated with great gravity, after a pious and learned exhortation declaring the weight and dignity of their function, especially now in a time of the poor Church of England's affliction. He magnified the sublimity of the calling, from the object, viz, the salvation of men's souls, and the glory of God; producing many human instances of the transitoriness and vanity of all other dignity; that of all the triumphs the Roman conquerors made, none was comparable to that of our Blessed Savior's, when he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men, namely, that of the Holy Spirit, by which his faithful and painful ministers triumphed over Satan as often as they reduced a sinner from the error of his ways. He then proceeded to the ordination. They were presented by the Dean in their surplices before the altar, the Bishop sitting in a chair at one side; and so were made both Deacons and Priests at the same time, in regard to the necessity of the times, there being so few Bishops left in England, and consequently danger of a failure of both functions. Lastly, they proceeded to the Communion. This was all performed in Sir Richard Browne's (age 45) chapel, at Paris.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 June 13

13 Jun 1650. I sate to the famous sculptor, Nanteuil, who was afterward made a knight by the French King for his art. He engraved my picture in copper. At a future time he presented me with my own picture, done all with his pen; an extraordinary curiosity.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 June 21

21 Jun 1650. I went to see the Samaritan, or pump, at the end of the Pont Neuf, which, though to appearance promising no great matter, is, besides the machine, furnished with innumerable rarities both of art and nature; especially the costly grotto, where are the fairest corals, growing out of the very rock, that I have seen; also great pieces of crystals, amethysts, gold in the mine, and other metals and marcasites, with two great conchas, which the owner told us cost him 200 crowns at Amsterdam. He showed us many landscapes and prospects, very rarely painted in miniature, some with the pen and crayon; divers antiquities and relievos of Rome; above all, that of the inside of the amphitheater of Titus, incomparably drawn by Monsieur St. Clere himself; two boys and three skeletons, molded by Fiamingo; a book of statues, with the pen made for Henry IV., rarely executed, and by which one may discover many errors in the taille-douce of Perrier, who has added divers conceits of his own that are not in the originals. He has likewise an infinite collection of taille-douces, richly bound in morocco.

21 Jun 1650. He led us into a stately chamber furnished to have entertained a prince, with pictures of the greatest masters, especially a Venus of Perino del Vaga; the Putti carved in the chimney-piece by the Fleming; the vases of porcelain, and many designed by Raphael; some paintings of Poussin, and Fioravanti; antiques in brass; the looking-glass and stands rarely carved. In a word, all was great, choice, and magnificent, and not to be passed by as I had often done, without the least suspicion that there were such rare things to be seen in that place. At a future visit, he showed a new grotto and a bathing place, hewn through the battlements of the arches of Pont Neuf into a wide vault at the intercolumniation, so that the coaches and horses thundered over our heads.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 June 27

27 Jun 1650. I made my will, and, taking leave of my wife (age 15) and other friends, took horse for England, paying the messenger eight pistoles for me and my servant to Calais [Map], setting out with seventeen in company well-armed, some Portuguese, Swiss, and French, whereof six were captains and officers. We came the first night to Beaumont; next day, to Beauvais, and lay at Pois, and the next, without dining, reached Abbeville [Map]; next, dined at Montreuil, and proceeding met a company on foot (being now within the inroads of the parties which dangerously infest this day's journey from St. Omers and the frontiers), which we drew very near to, ready and resolute to charge through, and accordingly were ordered and led by a captain of our train; but, as we were on the speed, they called out, and proved to be Scotchmen, newly raised and landed, and few among them armed. This night, we were well treated at Boulogne. The next day, we marched in good order, the passage being now exceeding dangerous, and got to Calais by a little after two. The sun so scorched my face, that it made the skin peel off.

27 Jun 1650. I dined with Mr. Booth, his Majesty's agent; and, about three in the afternoon, embarked in the packet-boat; hearing there was a pirate then also setting sail, we had security from molestation, and so with a fair S. W. wind in seven hours we landed at Dover. The busy watchman would have us to the mayor to be searched, but the gentleman being in bed, we were dismissed.

27 Jun 1650. Next day, being Sunday, they would not permit us to ride post, so that afternoon our trunks were visited.

27 Jun 1650. The next morning, by four, we set out for Canterbury, Kent [Map], where I met with my Lady Catherine Scott, whom that very day twelve months before I met at sea going for France; she had been visiting Sir Thomas Peyton, not far off, and would needs carry me in her coach to Gravesend. We dined at Sittingbourne, came late to Gravesend, and so to Deptford, taking leave of my lady about four the next morning.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 July

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 July 05

05 Jul 1650. I supped in the city with my Lady Catherine Scott, at one Mr. Dubois, where was a gentlewoman called Everard, who was a very great chemist.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 July 07

07 Jul 1650. Sunday. In the afternoon, having a mind to see what was doing among the Rebels, then in full possession at Whitehall [Map], I went thither, and found one at exercise in the chapel, after their way; thence, to St. James's, where another was preaching in the court abroad.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 July 17

17 Jul 1650. I went to London to obtain a pass, intending but a short stay in England.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 July 25

25 Jul 1650. I went by Epsom to Wotton, Surrey [Map], saluting Sir Robert Cook and my sister Glanville; the country was now much molested by soldiers, who took away gentlemen's horses for the service of the state, as then called.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 04

04 Aug 1650. I heard a sermon at the Rolls; and, in the afternoon, wandered to divers churches, the pulpits full of novices and novelties.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 06

06 Aug 1650. To Mr. Walker's (age 51), a good painter, who showed me an excellent copy of Titian.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 12

12 Aug 1650. Set out for Paris [Map], taking post at Gravesend, Kent [Map], and so that night to Canterbury, Kent [Map], where being surprised by the soldiers, and having only an antiquated pass, with some fortunate dexterity I got clear of them though not without extraordinary hazard, having before counterfeited one with success, it being so difficult to procure one of the rebels without entering into oaths, which I never would do. At Dover, money to the searchers and officers was as authentic as the hand and seal of Bradshawe himself, where I had not so much as my trunk opened.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 13

13 Aug 1650. At six in the evening, set sail for Calais; the wind not favorable, I was very sea-sick, coming to an anchor about one o'clock; about five in the morning, we had a long boat to carry us to land, though at a good distance; this we willingly entered, because two vessels were chasing us; but, being now almost at the harbor's mouth, through inadvertency there broke in upon us two such heavy seas, as had almost sunk the boat, I being near the middle up in water. Our steersman, it seems, apprehensive of the danger, was preparing to leap into the sea and trust to swimming, but seeing the vessel emerge, he put her into the pier, and so, God be thanked! we got to Calais, though wet.

13 Aug 1650. Here I waited for company, the passage toward Paris being still infested with volunteers from the Spanish frontiers.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 16

16 Aug 1650. The Regiment of Picardy, consisting of about 1,400 horse and foot (among them was a captain whom I knew), being come to town, I took horses for myself and servant, and marched under their protection to Boulogne. It was a miserable spectacle to see how these tattered soldiers pillaged the poor people of their sheep, poultry, corn, cattle, and whatever came in their way; but they had such ill pay, that they were ready themselves to starve.

16 Aug 1650. As we passed St Denis, the people were in uproar, the guards doubled, and everybody running with their movables to Paris, on an alarm that the enemy was within five leagues of them; so miserably exposed was even this part of France at this time.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 August 30

30 Aug 1650. The 30th, I got to Paris, after an absence of two months only.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 September

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 September 01

01 Sep 1650. My Baroness Herbert (age 60) invited me to dinner; Paris, and indeed all France, being full of loyal fugitives.

01 Sep 1650. Came Mr. Waller to see me, about a child of his which the Popish midwife had baptized.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 October

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 October 15

15 Oct 1650. Sir Thomas Osborne (age 18) (afterward Lord Treasurer) and Lord Stanhope (age 16) shot for a wager of five louis, to be spent on a treat; they shot so exact that it was a drawn match.

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 November

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 November 01

01 Nov 1650. Took leave of my Lord Stanhope (age 16), going on his journey toward Italy; also visited my Lord Hatton (age 45), Comptroller of his Majesty's Household, the Countess of Morton (age 41), Governess to the Lady Henrietta (age 6), and Mrs. Gardner (age 23), one of the Queen's maids of honor.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 November 06

06 Nov 1650. Sir Thomas Osborne (age 18) supping with us, his groom was set upon in the street before our house, and received two wounds, but gave the assassin nine, who was carried off to the Charité Hospital. Sir Thomas (age 18) went for England on the 8th, and carried divers letters for me to my friends.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 November 16

16 Nov 1650. I went to Monsieur Visse's, the French King's Secretary, to a concert of French music and voices, consisting of twenty-four, two theorbos, and but one bass viol, being a rehearsal of what was to be sung at vespers at St. Cecilia's, on her feast, she being patroness of Musicians. News arrived of the death of the Princess of Orange (deceased) of the smallpox. [Note. This is a transcription error - should read Prince.].

Stewart Books, John Evelyn's Diary 1650 December

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 December 14

14 Dec 1650. I went to visit Mr. Ratcliffe, in whose lodging was an imposter that had liked to have imposed upon us a pretended secret of multiplying gold; it is certain he had lived some time in Paris in extraordinary splendor, but I found him to be an egregious cheat.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 December 22

22 Dec 1650. Came the learned Dr. Boet to visit me.

John Evelyn's Diary 1650 December 31

31 Dec 1650. I gave God thanks for his mercy and protection the past year, and made up my accounts, which came this year to 7,015 livres, near £600 sterling.