Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace, Westminster, London, England, British Isles [Map]

John Evelyn's Diary. 6th July 1660. His Majesty (age 30) began first to TOUCH FOR THE EVIL! according to custom, thus: his Majesty sitting under his state in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], the chirurgeons cause the sick to be brought, or led, up to the throne, where they kneeling, the King strokes their faces, or cheeks with both his hands at once, at which instant a chaplain in his formalities says, "He put his hands upon them, and he healed them". This is said to every one in particular. When they have all been touched, they come up again in the same order, and the other chaplain kneeling, and having angel gold strung on white ribbon on his arm, delivers them one by one to his Majesty, who puts them about the necks of the touched as they pass, while the first chaplain repeats, "That is the true light who came into the world". Then follows, an Epistle (as at first a Gospel) with the Liturgy, prayers for the sick, with some alteration; lastly the blessing; and then the Lord Chamberlain and the Comptroller of the Household bring a basin, ewer, and towel, for his Majesty to wash.

John Evelyn's Diary. 17th September 1660. Went to London, to see the splendid entry of the Prince de Ligne (age 41), Ambassador extraordinary from Spain; he was general of the Spanish King's horse in Flanders, and was accompanied with divers great persons from thence, and an innumerable retinue. His train consisted of seventeen coaches, with six horses of his own, besides a great number of English, etc. Greater bravery had I never seen. He was received in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], in exceeding state, all the great officers of Court attending.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th April 1661. So to Whitehall again and, met with my Lord above with the Duke (age 27); and after a little talk with him, I went to the Banquethouse [Map], and there saw the King heal, the first time that ever I saw him do it; which he did with great gravity, and it seemed to me to be an ugly office and a simple one.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 20th April 1661. Then with my Lady and my Lady Wright to White Hall; and in the Banqueting-house [Map] saw the King create my Lord Chancellor (age 52) and several others, Earls, and Mr. Crew (age 63) and several others, Barons: the first being led up by Heralds and five old Earls to the King, and there the patent is read, and the King puts on his vest, and sword, and coronet, and gives him the patent. And then he kisseth the King's hand, and rises and stands covered before the king. And the same for the Barons, only he is led up but by three of the old Barons, and are girt with swords before they go to the King.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 23rd August 1662. So we fairly walked it to White Hall, and through my Lord's lodgings we got into White Hall garden, and so to the Bowling-green, and up to the top of the new Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] there, over the Thames, which was a most pleasant place as any I could have got; and all the show consisted chiefly in the number of boats and barges; and two pageants, one of a King, and another of a Queen, with her Maydes of Honour sitting at her feet very prettily; and they tell me the Queen is Sir. Richard Ford's daughter.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 29th December 1662. Thence to White Hall, and got up to the top gallerys in the Banquetting House [Map], to see the audience of the Russia Embassadors (age 17); which [took place] after long waiting and fear of the falling of the gallery (it being so full, and part of it being parted from the rest, for nobody to come up merely from the weakness thereof): and very handsome it was. After they were come in, I went down and got through the croude almost as high as the King (age 32) and the Embassadors, where I saw all the presents, being rich furs, hawks, carpets, cloths of tissue, and sea-horse teeth. The King took two or three hawks upon his fist, having a glove on, wrought with gold, given him for the purpose. The son of one of the Embassadors was in the richest suit for pearl and tissue, that ever I did see, or shall, I believe.

John Evelyn's Diary. 29th December 1662. Saw the audience of the Muscovy Ambassador (age 17), which was with extraordinary state, his retinue being numerous, all clad in vests of several colors, with buskins, after the Eastern manner! their caps of fur; tunics, richly embroidered with gold and pearls, made a glorious show. the King (age 32) being seated under a canopy in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], the Secretary of the Embassy went before the Ambassador in a grave march, holding up his master's letters of credence in a crimson taffeta scarf before his forehead. The Ambassador then delivered it with a profound reverence to the King, who gave it to our Secretary of State: it was written in a long and lofty style. Then came in the presents, borne by 165 of his retinue, consisting of mantles and other large pieces lined with sable, black fox, and ermine; Persian carpets, the ground cloth of gold and velvet; hawks, such as they said never came the like; horses said to be Persian; bows and arrows, etc. These borne by so long a train rendered it very extraordinary. Wind music played all the while in the galleries above. This finished, the Ambassador was conveyed by the master of the ceremonies to York House [Map], where he was treated with a banquet, which cost £200, as I was assured.

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 13th June 1663. Yesterday, upon conference with the King (age 33) in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], the Parliament did agree with much ado, it being carried but by forty-two voices, that they would supply him with a sum of money; but what and how is not yet known, but expected to be done with great disputes the next week. But if done at all, it is well.

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th July 1664. To London, to see the event of the lottery which his Majesty (age 34) had permitted Sir Arthur Slingsby (age 41) to set up for one day in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], at Whitehall; I gaining only a trifle, as well as did the King, Queen-Consort (age 25), and Queen-Mother (age 54), for near thirty lots; which was thought to be contrived very unhandsomely by the master of it, who was, in truth, a mere shark.

John Evelyn's Diary. 22nd April 1667. Saw the sumptuous supper in the banqueting-house [Map] at Whitehall, on the eve of St. George's day, where were all the companions of the Order of the Garter.

John Evelyn's Diary. 15th February 1668. I saw the audience of the Swedish Ambassador Count Donna, in great state in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map].

John Evelyn's Diary. 19th August 1668. I saw the magnificent entry of the French Ambassador Colbert (age 43), received in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map]. I had never seen a richer coach than that which he came in to Whitehall. Standing by his Majesty (age 38) at dinner in the presence, there was of that rare fruit called the king-pine, growing in Barbadoes and the West Indies; the first of them I had ever seen. His Majesty having cut it up, was pleased to give me a piece off his own plate to taste of; but, in my opinion, it falls short of those ravishing varieties of deliciousness described in Captain Ligon's (age 45) history, and others; but possibly it might, or certainly was, much impaired in coming so far; it has yet a grateful acidity, but tastes more like the quince and melon than of any other fruit he mentions.

John Evelyn's Diary. 20th August 1669. I saw the splendid audience of the Danish Ambassador in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] at Whitehall.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th November 1681. I was at the audience of the Russian Ambassador (age 64) before both their Majesties in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map]. The presents were carried before him, held up by his followers in two ranks before the King's (age 51) State, and consisted of tapestry (one suite of which was doubtlessly brought from France as being of that fabric, the Ambassador having passed through that kingdom as he came out of Spain), a large Persian carpet, furs of sable and ermine, etc.; but nothing was so splendid and exotic as the Ambassador who came soon after the King's restoration. This present Ambassador was exceedingly offended that his coach was not permitted to come into the Court, till, being told that no King's Ambassador did, he was pacified, yet requiring an attestation of it under the hand of Sir Charles Cotterell (age 66), the Master of the Ceremonies; being, it seems, afraid he should offend his Master, if he omitted the least punctilio. It was reported he condemned his son to lose his head for shaving off his beard, and putting himself in the French mode at Paris, and that he would have executed it, had not the French King interceded-but qy. of this.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th January 1682. I saw the audience of the Morocco Ambassador, his retinue not numerous. He was received in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], both their Majesties (age 51) being present. He came up to the throne without making any sort of reverence, not bowing his head, or body. He spoke by a renegado Englishman, for whose safe return there was a promise. They were all clad in the Moorish habit, cassocks of colored cloth, or silk, with buttons and loops, over this an alhaga, or white woolen mantle, so large as to wrap both head and body, a sash, or small turban, naked-legged and armed, but with leather socks like the Turks, rich scymetar, and large calico sleeved shirts. The Ambassador had a string of pearls oddly woven in his turban. I fancy the old Roman habit was little different as to the mantle and naked limbs. He was a handsome person, well featured, of a wise look, subtle, and extremely civil. Their presents were lions and ostriches; their errand about a peace at Tangier [Map]. But the concourse and tumult of the people was intolerable, so as the officers could keep no order, which these strangers were astonished at first, there being nothing so regular, exact, and performed with such silence, as is on all these public occasions of their country, and indeed over all the Turkish dominions.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th October 1685. The King (age 52) was now building all that range from East to West by ye Court and Garden to the streete, and making a new Chapel for ye Queene (age 27), whose lodgings were to be in this new building, as also a new Council chamber and offices next ye South end of ye Banquetting house [Map]. I returned home next morning to London.

John Evelyn's Diary. 18th December 1685. I din'd at the greate entertainment his Ma* (age 52) gave ye Venetian Ambassadors, Sign. Zenno and Justiniani, accompanied with 10 more noble Venetians of their most illustrious families, Cornaro, Maccenigo, &c. who came to congratulate their Maties coming to ye Crowne. The dinner was most magnificent and plentifull, at four tables, with music, kettle drums, and trumpets, wcb sounded upon a whistle at every health. The banquet [desert] was 12 vast chargers pil'd up so high that those who sat one against another could hardly see each other. Of these sweetemeates, weh doubtless were some days piling up in that exquisite manner, the Ambassadors touch'd not, but leaving them to ye spectators who came out of curiosity to see the dinner, were exceedingly pleas'd to see in what a moment of time all that curious work was demolished, the comfitures voided, and the tables clear'd. Thus his Ma* entertain'd them three days, which (for the table only) cost him £600, as the Cleark of the Greene cloth (Sr Wm Bbreman (age 73)) assur'd me. Dinner ended, I saw their procession or cavalcade to Whitehall, innumerable coaches attending. The two Ambass. had 4 coaches of their owne and 50 footemen (as I remember), besides other equipage as splendid as ye occasion would permitt, the Court being still in mourning. Thence I went to the audience wch they had in the Queene's presence chamber, the Banquetting house [Map] being full of goods and furniture till the galleries on the garden side, Council chamber, and new Chapell now in building, were finish'd. They went to their audience in those plain black gownes and caps which they constantly weare in the Citty of Venice. I was invited to have accompanied the 2 Ambassadors in their coach to supper that night, returning now to their own lodgings, as no longer at the King's expence; but being weary I excus'd myself.

John Evelyn's Diary. 11th April 1689. Much of the splendor of the proceeding was abated by the absence of divers who should have contributed to it, there being but five Bishops, four Judges (no more being yet sworn), and several noblemen and great ladies wanting; the feast, however, was magnificent. The next day the House of Commons went and kissed their new Majesties' hands in the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map].

John Evelyn's Diary. 21st June 1693. I saw a great auction of pictures in the Banqueting house, Whitehall [Map]. They had been my Lord Melford's (age 42), now Ambassador from King James (age 59) at Rome, and engaged to his creditors here. Lord Mulgrave (age 45) and Sir Edward Seymour (age 60) came to my house, and desired me to go with them to the sale. Divers more of the great lords, etc., were there, and bought pictures dear enough. There were some very excellent of Vandyke, Rubens, and Bassan. Lord Godolphin (age 48) bought the picture of the Boys, by Murillo the Spaniard, for 80 guineas, dear enough; my nephew Glanville, the old Earl of Arundel's head by Rubens, for £20. Growing late, I did not stay till all were sold.

Around 1749. Canaletto (age 51). View of Whitehall, Old Horse Guards and Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map].

Around 1750. Canaletto (age 52). Westminster from near the Terrace of Somerset House [Map] In the distance the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map], Westminster Abbey [Map] and Westminster Bridge [Map].