John DCL, FRS Diarist

John Evelyn was born at Wotton House following September, aged 37. Both were (pronounced Wooton), on his family's country buried at Wotton church. estate in Surrey, on 31 October 1620. His father Evelyn had been entered for Eton but dreaded the was Richard Evelyn and his mother Eleanor — severe discipline there and was therefore allowed daughter of John and Eleanor Stansfield of Lewes by his father to continue his education in Lewes. in Sussex. He was the fourth of five children, all In May 1637, at the age of 17, he entered Balliol are thought to have been born at Wotton, Elizabeth College, Oxford, as a Gentleman Commoner. born in 1614; Jane in February 1615/6; George in Evelyn's brother George was at the time at 1617 and Richard, the youngest, in 1622. Trinity College, but left later that year. Vacations were spent at Wotton or Lewes, they occasionally travelled with friends throughout England to visit castles, cathedrals, monasteries, churches, country seats, and palaces; Evelyn becoming passionately interested in architecture. In 1639 Evelyn, soon after recovering from a severe bout of malaria, left Oxford. Just prior to his departure his younger brother Richard had joined him at the same college and shared his rooms. As elder brother George was studying law, and as they would all be likely to inherit estates, it was thought that a knowledge of law would be useful. Their father therefore purchased "a handsome apartment" in the Evelyn's father Richard was the High Sheriff of Middle Temple for them as George was already the then combined counties of Surrey and studying there. Thus was at the Sussex; he held this post until they reverted to centre of things during the early days of the separate counties. His grandfather George, thought severe unrest affecting the country. to be the person who introduced gunpowder Evelyn's father Richard died of dropsy in production to England from Flanders, bought the December 1640 and was buried at Wotton. estate in 1579 and built Wotton House from the George, the elder brother, inherited the estate fortune he made, which on his death passed to at Wotton but it was still John's home if he Evelyn's father. Wotton House still sits today cared to make it so! under the shadow of Leith Hill near Dorking, but is no longer a home for the Evelyn family. Because of the unrest in England, Evelyn, although of a cautious, inoffensive nature, had When Evelyn was 5 years old he was sent to the opportunity in 1641 to serve as a volunteer in live with his maternal grandmother in Lewes. the Low Countries. His actual military experience Here he attended excellent schools and remained lasted only a fortnight. He then became a tourist until he entered university. At an early age he visiting, among others, Rotterdam, Haarlem and decided to keep a diary, following the example Amsterdam. His visits took in a number of of his careful and methodical father, calling it a sights, from palaces to libraries and picture “ "Calendar of Events". Evelyn's Kalendar' really galleries. He purchased books, maps, atlases, commenced in 1660, but he had taken copious pictures and curiosities. On returning to London notes long before. he continued his law studies at the Middle In December 1634, Evelyn's much loved sister Temple. Elizabeth died soon after the stillborn birth of In 1642, the situation at home had reached civil her first child, when aged 20. His mother Eleanor war proportions and in October, Evelyn decided sank into a state of melancholy and died in the

Page 1 of 6 John Evelyn, Diarist to loin the beleaguered King at Brentford. He Evelyn returned to England in February 1651/2 to rode fully armed, in his horseman's armour the sad news of the death of his remaining sister recently bought at the Hague, but arrived too Jane and depressed at the way his country had late, as the Royalists had been defeated and deteriorated in such a short time. He were marching to Gloucester; all he could do commented on this in his The State of England. was return home as it was brought to his notice He bought back the lease of Sayes Court — that, as an estate owner actively in the King's confiscated and under the control of the cause, all his family's estates could be Trustees of Forfeited Estates — which was then confiscated. He therefore resolved to go to occupied by soldiers. He also bought a further France for the time being! adjoining 100 acres and enlarged the house. Evelyn and his friend Thicknesse — from his Oxford In May, Sir Richard informed Evelyn that Mary days — left England, with the situation was expecting their first child. She sailed from deteriorating, for a grand tour of Europe in late France in June and Evelyn met her at Rye: after 1643. They first visited the then English leaving Mary and Lady Browne at Tunbridge Resident/Ambassador in Paris, Sir Richard Wells to take the waters, he travelled on to Browne, who introduced them to his intimate Sayes Court. On his way, his servant having circle of friends (Sir Richard's home was Sayes travelled on ahead, Evelyn was set upon by Court at ). Evelyn was enchanted by two cut-throats near Bromley, who struck him Paris and indulged his enthusiasms. In March with long staves and threw him down, took his 1644 they leisurely toured various locations in silver-hilted sword, and dragged him into a France and Italy, spending the New Year in nearby thicket, where they robbed him of two Naples and Easter in Rome. In March 1645 they valuable rings and a pair of buckles set with returned to Paris, but were soon off again to rubies and diamonds. They bound him to a tree Verona and Milan, passing over the Alps by and threatened to cut his throat if he cried out. mule to Geneva, where Evelyn contracted Having tied his easily recognisable horse to a smallpox and was lucky to be vigilantly nursed tree, they departed. Soon after Evelyn freed for some 5 weeks before recovering. himself and rode to Colonel Blout, a JP, who immediately set up a hue and cry. Within By December 1646, the King's armies had two days all items, except the sword, were suffered a number of defeats and His Majesty recovered. A few weeks later one of the was a virtual prisoner. In January 1646/7, robbers was tried, but Evelyn did not press Evelyn returned in leisurely fashion to Paris, by charges. The man was later charged with then having learnt High Dutch, Spanish and another crime and 'pressed to death'. Evelyn's Italian. He had formed a great friendship with Sir son Richard was born in August 1652 at Sayes Richard and his wife and had expressed his Court, by then owned by Evelyn. affections towards their daughter Mary. Evelyn and Mary Browne were married in the As Mary had lived abroad since she was 5 years Residency chapel in Paris in June 1647. It was old, Evelyn determined that she enjoyed the around this time that he was offered a beauties of her native land. They visited the knighthood, which he modestly turned Home Counties, the West Country, and travelled down, as he did on other occasions; and as his north as far as Hull, staying with friends and father had done before him! relatives on the way; finally returning to Sayes Court. In September, Evelyn decided to return to England, as matters concerning his properties The severity of the Puritans was brought home needed his attention. Ile was also acting as a to Evelyn when soon after Christmas Day 1657 secret message carrier from the Queen and he visited Eltham Palace and found the chapel in Prince Charles to the King, and kept Sir Richard ruins. In January 1657/8 his son Richard, whom in touch with events in England by coded letters Evelyn considered something of a child prodigy, addressed to a "Mr Peters", signing himself died aged 5. "Aphanos". Whilst in England he stayed at Sir Evelyn again travelled around the country Richard's now confiscated house, Sayes Court. advising friends on their gardens and buildings Evelyn was not present at the beheading of the — on both of which he was considered an King in January 1648/9 but his brother George expert. He also advised his brother George was. On returning to Paris he reported to Sir on the gardens at Wotton. Meanwhile, Mary Richard, the new King (Charles II) and the Queen stayed behind to look after their growing family. Mother.

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John Evelyn, Diarist

In early September 1658, Evelyn returned to nominated by Charles II as a Council member, Sayes Court where a tremendous hurricane had and was elected a Fellow at its first meeting. In caused widespread damage to trees and fruit. January 1661 at Gresham College in Bishopsgate Some of Sayes Court's 'handsomest' trees were Street, where the Royal Society was then blown down, and a 58ft whale was blown holding its meetings, the audience contained ashore on the Thameside close to the estate. both famous Diarists, Pepys and Evelyn - this This storm was considered to be a strong omen being the first time they were recorded as of an impending event; later in the month Oliver being together, and probably was the start Cromwell died. Evelyn attended his funeral as a of their lifelong friendship. Evelyn spectator, which was purported to have cost continued to be very involved with the £60,000, and considered it "the joyfullest Society's activities, writing numerous early funeral I ever saw". As he was still in touch articles on a variety of subjects and in 1672 with the King by coded messages, this seemed became the Society's Secretary. In 1684 and to him to be an augury for the King's return. again in 1685, his friend Pepys was elected President. Evelyn had on numerous occasions On the restoration of the Monarchy, Evelyn been invited to be President but considered went to Court to pay his respects and to deliver himself unworthy of the honour. letters from the Queen Mother, and was greeted by the King as "his old acquaintance". It was In April 1661, Evelyn was present to watch the about this time that Sir Richard and his wife Coronation Procession from the Tower to returned to England to live with the Evelyns at Whitehall, and then as a member of the Sayes Court. congregation, the Coronation Ceremony in Westminster Abbey. Later he presented the Soon after, the King visited Deptford and Evelyn King, the Lord Chancellor and those nobles arranged for 100 girls, dressed in white and attending in the Privy Chamber with his A Poem carrying baskets of flowers, to walk before him on his Majesty's Coronation which they were all strewing flowers in his path. This was the first pleased to accept. of a number of visits members of the royal family and the nobility made to Sayes Court. Evelyn was associated with the Corporation of Trinity House - started at Deptford in c. 1511. Sir Evelyn was appointed one of the Richard Browne, Evelyn's father-in-law, was commissioners for 'reforming the Buildings, Master in 1672. Pepys was Master in 1676 Streets, Ways and Encumberances, and and in 1685. Evelyn was himself elected a regulating the hackney carriages in the City of Younger Brother there in 1673. London'. He was also appointed to the Commission of Sewers and the Commission for In January 1662/3, Evelyn's son Richard regulating the Mint. The King at this time offered was born (the 2 nd of that name) and was to make Evelyn a Knight of the Bath, but yet christened by Dr Brecon in the great Chamber at again he declined. Evelyn was often called upon Sayes Court. He died in February aged 1 month to consult with the King with regard to palace and was buried in St. Nicholas' Church, Deptford. architecture and the royal gardens. He was later In October 1664, Evelyn visited the King, to become a member of the standing Council for who informed him that he was to be Plantations, whose other members were the appointed one of the four Commissioners Duke of York, the Duke of Buckingham and for the Sick, Wounded and Prisoners of War, the Earl of Lauderdale. his area of responsibility being Kent and Evelyn was now an avid playgoer and also visited Sussex. The four men were given the right some of the public executions - then a 'popular' to appoint Officers, Physicians, Surgeons, entertainment. There had been no plays for Provost Marshals etc., and to dispose of the eighteen years during the Commonwealth, facilities of half of each Hospital in England. and this was soon totally reversed when the The King then thanked him for his new book King returned. Fine organ music also returned to Parallel of Ancient Architecture with the Modern. the churches. Evelyn himself was musical, having During the Plague in 1665 Evelyn stayed at Sayes learnt whilst at Oxford. He played the theorbo, a Court, Mary having gone to Wotton. type of double-necked lute. In October 1665, Evelyn gave Pepys his book, At around 1659 Evelyn became a member of the a translation from the French, on how to Philosophical Society, which in 1660 changed its collect a library. Pepys visited Evelyn at Sayes name to the Royal Society; of which he was Court to discuss the plight of the sick and

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John Evelyn, Diarist wounded under Evelyn's charge and that many thought that the Dutch were commended him on his fine . attacking. Evelyn went to Chatham to view the mischief done by the Dutch there and saw their In November, Pepys again visited Evelyn who triumphant fleet lying at the mouth of the read from his book which he had long been Thames. preparing, called Sylva - or a discourse of Forest Trees and the propagation of timber, which he In August, Evelyn received news of the death of had been requested to produce as the first book his dear friend Abraham Cowley — who had published under the auspices of the Royal written one of his more famous poems in the Society. This book - mostly written at Sayes garden of Sayes Court. The next day Evelyn Court, and presented as a paper to the Society in attended his funeral at Wallingford House and January 1663/4 — was to become a Bible for the subsequent procession to Westminster Abbey arboriculturists until quite recent times, also where he was interred next to Geoffrey Chaucer dealt with the problem, for long of great and a 'goodly' monument erected. concern, of denuding forests to build ships-of- In October 1688, Evelyn entertained the war, by offering a method of replanting to Venetian Ambassador at Sayes Court prior to his ensure stocks of usable timber. Disraeli wrote, state entry "with a very glorious train" into after the Napoleonic Wars, "Inquire at the London, where he travelled to the Tower in the Admiralty how the fleets of Nelson have been King's gilded barge. Evelyn later accompanied constructed; they can tell you that it was with him to his residence to "a noble supper". the oaks which the genius of Evelyn planted". Sir Walter Scott wrote in Kenilworth (1821) - "An In March 1669/70, Evelyn's brother Richard hour's riding brought them to the present died of a stone in his bladder after delaying habitation of Lord Sussex, an antient house the decision to have it surgically removed, called Say's Court, near Deptford, which had against the advice of Pepys who had had one long pertained to a family of that name, but had removed some years earlier. for upwards of one hundred years been Evelyn, although leaving University without a possessed by the antient family of Evelyn … degree, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Say's Court was afterwards the residence of the Civil Law Degree at Oxford in July 1669 on celebrated Mr Evelyn, whose SyIva is still the the occasion of the opening ceremony and manual of British planters". dinner to celebrate the new Sheldonian In January 1665/6 at Hampton Court, Evelyn had Theatre, designed by his friend Christopher the King running towards him and offering his Wren. hand to be kissed, thanking him profusely for his During their first European visit Pepys' wife care and faithfulness and his service when most Elizabeth was taken ill in others had fled London. Brussels and died in London in November 1669. At the time of the Fire, the Duke of Albemarle She was buried at St. Olave's, Hart Street, where had lost 20 ships in a sea battle against the Pepys erected a monument to her. Evelyn Dutch Admiral De Ruyter and the King's attended the funeral. profligate ways meant that there was little His Majesty, in June, 1670 desired Evelyn to write money available for rebuilding their a 'History of our late War', which he declined replacements. This had a dramatic effect in 1667 to do. 1 his was ill-received and the King when De Ruyter's fleet attacked some of the insisted that he write it, assuring him the remaining ships in the Medway, burning and full assistance of the Secretary's Office and sinking three and capturing one. Evelyn was also other sources. As the information was never having great difficulty getting sufficient money given Evelyn did not carry out the project. for the care of the thousands of sick and wounded. He arranged to take over Leeds In January 1670/1, whilst walking near Sayes Castle, which needed extensive repair as Court, Evelyn came upon Grinling Gibbons, the well as requiring water supplies, and in woodcarver and sculptor, working in a small November housed some 600 of the Dutch and house nearby and in June presented him and French prisoners. He had also acquired Chelsea his work to the King. This eventually led to his College for the same purpose. introduction to London society and justly acclaimed fame in an age of sumptuous In June 1667, combustible matter being decoration. prepared for fireships took flame in Deptford Yard causing such a blaze and uproar in the town

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John Evelyn, Diarist

In 1679, Pepys was hounded into resigning his lawn and fruit trees were ruined and post as Secretary of the Navy and was sent to Evelyn's famous holly hedges badly damaged. the Tower on a trumped-up charge. Evelyn Sir Christopher Wren, as assessor, costed the visited him there. total damage at approximately £350. In 1683, Evelyn's father-in-law Sir Richard died In March 1699, Evelyn's last remaining son John aged 78 and on the 14 March 1684/5 Evelyn's died aged 42. He was buried in the family church dearly loved daughter Mary died of smallpox at Wotton. In October of that year Evelyn's aged 18. Both were buried at St. Nicholas' brother George died and the Wotton Estate Church. together with estates in Sussex passed to Evelyn. George was buried in Wotton church. Evelyn was appointed a temporary The library of the house then contained some Commissioner of the Privy Seal in September 2,000 books. 1685 to execute the office during the absence of his friend Lord Claredon in Ireland. On his In February 1700/1, Evelyn, as the Treasurer of return, Evelyn was relieved of the the new hospital, personally informed the appointment and to his surprise Lord Claredon Speaker of the House of Commons that over was ignored and Lord Arundel, a Roman £56,000 had so far been subscribed to the Catholic, was appointed in his place. building fund. In 1702 Evelyn became High Sheriff of Surrey and presented the living at Wotton After the combined fleets of England and church to his old friend Dr Bohun; the tutor of Holland had defeated another French invasion his son John. attempt in May 1692, Queen Mary decreed that a hospital was to be built at Greenwich as a Pepys was 70 when he died at Clapham, after lasting memorial to those who had fallen, on a lengthy illness, on 26 May 1703. Evelyn had the site where Charles II had started to build visited him 11 days before. He was buried in a great palace. The original idea had come St. Olave's Church, Hart Street, near his wife from Evelyn during Charles Il’s reign. Evelyn Elizabeth, and close to the Navy Office where was appointed as one of the Commission to they had spent much of their earlier and endow the new hospital, being once again a tempestuous married life. Evelyn was too ill to Commissioner for the Sick and Wounded. His act as a pall-bearer but called him his "particular wife Mary was continuing to work very hard friend for near forty years" and spoke of his amongst the poor at Deptford. Trinity House great integrity" and called him "a very worthy, contributed their Lighthouses at the North industrious and curious person, none in and South Foreland, near Folkestone, to ensure England exceeded him in knowledge of the a steady income for the hospital from shipping navy universally beloved, hospitable, generous, dues received. learned in many things, skilled in music, a great cherisher of learned men". Not a bad In May 1694, Evelyn and his wife left Sayes epitaph! Court, it being now too big for them, and went to live at Wotton with his brother George. In 1703, Evelyn resigned as Treasurer of They had lived there for some 42 years. Greenwich Hospital and now pursued the life of a country squire, he and Mary spending their To supervise the work on the new hospital summers in Wotton and their winters in their Evelyn moved into a house they owned in house in Dover Street. In June 1705, Evelyn Dover Street. He and Sir Christopher Wren, a visited the nearly completed hospital, which was fellow Commissioner, laid the first stone of the already receiving wounded and worn-out new hospital in June 1696. seamen. In 1697, Evelyn published a small book on coin In January 1705/6, his Diary commented that he collecting with many drawings and engravings had settled his affairs and on the 17th February called Numismata - A Discourse of Medals, Ancient he died aged 85, and was buried in Wotton and Modern. church. Mary lived a further 3 years and, on The visit of the Tzar of Russia to Deptford in being about to die, wished to be buried in a 1698 did nothing for Sayes Court when he stone coffin "near my dear husband, whose was in temporary residence there to learn love and friendship I was happy in 58 years, shipbuilding at the nearby dockyard. As well as nine months". She was 73 years old. damage to the house interior, the bowling

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Bibliography History of the Evelyn Family by Helen Evelyn: 1915 John Evelyn and his Times by Beatrice Saunders: 1970 The Diary of John Evelyn edited by E S de Beer: 1959 The Diary of John Evelyn edited by Iohn Bowie: 1983 Oxford Historical and Literary Studies - Vol. XI; The Early life and Education of John Evelyn by Maynard Smith: 1920 John Evelyn by Arthur Ponsonby : 1933 Monumental Inscriptions at Walton Church

Peter Gurnett 1994 – Local History Society

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