John Evelyn's Diary January 1698
Whitehall Palace
Sayes Court, Deptford
John Evelyn's Diary June 1698
Greenwich Hospital
John Evelyn's Diary 1698 is in John Evelyn's Diary 1690s.
2nd January 1698. Dr. Fulham [aged 37], who lately married my niece, preached against atheism, a very eloquent discourse, somewhat improper for most of the audience at [Wotton], but fitted for some other place, and very apposite to the profane temper of the age.
30th January 1698. The imprisonment of the great banker, Duncombe: censured by Parliament; acquitted by the Lords; sent again to the Tower by the Commons.
30th January 1698. The Czar of Muscovy being come to England, and having a mind to see the building of ships, hired my house at Sayes Court, Deptford [Map], and made it his court and palace, newly furnished for him by the King [aged 47].
8th May 1698. An extraordinary great snow and frost, nipping the corn and other fruits. Corn at nine shillings a bushel [£18 a load].
30th May 1698. I dined at Mr. Pepys's [aged 65], where I heard the rare voice of Mr. Pule, who was lately come from Italy, reputed the most excellent singer we had ever had. He sung several compositions of the late Dr. Purcell.
5th June 1698. Dr. White, late Bishop of Norwich, who had been ejected for not complying with Government, was buried in St. Gregory's Churchyard, or vault, at St. Paul's. His hearse was accompanied by two non-juror bishops, Dr. Turner of Ely, and Dr. Lloyd, with forty other non-juror clergymen, who would not stay the Office of the burial, because the Dean of St. Paul's had appointed a conforming minister to read the Office; at which all much wondered, there being nothing in that Office which mentioned the present King.
8th June 1698. I went to congratulate the marriage of Mr. Godolphin [aged 19] with the Earl of Marlborough's [aged 48] daughter [aged 16].
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
9th June 1698. To Deptford, to see how miserably the Czar had left my house [Map], after three months making it his Court. I got Sir Christopher Wren [aged 74], the King's surveyor, and Mr. London, his gardener, to go and estimate the repairs, for which they allowed £150 in their report to the Lords of the Treasury. I then went to see the foundation of the Hall and Chapel at Greenwich Hospital [Map].
6th August 1698. I dined with Pepys [aged 65], where was Captain Dampier [aged 46], who had been a famous buccaneer, had brought hither the painted Prince Job, and printed a relation of his very strange adventure, and his observations. He was now going abroad again by the King's [aged 47] encouragement, who furnished a ship of 290 tons. He seemed a more modest man than one would imagine by the relation of the crew he had assorted with. He brought a map of his observations of the course of the winds in the South Sea, and assured us that the maps hitherto extant were all false as to the Pacific Sea, which he makes on the south of the line, that on the north end running by the coast of Peru being extremely tempestuous.
25th September 1698. Dr. Foy came to me to use my interest with Lord Sunderland [aged 57] for his being made Professor of Physic at Oxford, in the King's gift. I went also to the Archbishop [aged 61] in his behalf.
7th December 1698. Being one of the Council of the Royal Society, I was named to be of the committee to wait on our new President [aged 47], the Lord Chancellor, our Secretary, Dr. Sloane, and Sir R. Southwell [aged 62], last Vice-President, carrying our book of statutes; the office of the President being read, his Lordship subscribed his name, and took the oaths according to our statutes as a Corporation for the improvement of natural knowledge. Then his Lordship made a short compliment concerning the honor the Society had done him, and how ready he would be to promote so noble a design, and come himself among us, as often as the attendance on the public would permit; and so we took our leave.
18th December 1698. Very warm, but exceedingly stormy.