or ambitious, when I adventured upon that knotty piece. 'Tis very true, that when I committed it to a friend of mine (and one whom I am assured you intimately know) to inspect the printing of it, in my total absence from London, I fully resolved never to tamper more with that author; but when I saw it come forth so miserably deformed, and (I may say) maliciously printed and mistaken, both in the Latin copy (which was a most correct and accurate one of Stephens') and my version so inhumanly depraved, shame and indignation together incited me to resolve upon another edition; and I knew not how (to charm my anxious thoughts during those sad and calamitous times) to go through the five remaining books: but when I had done, I repented of my folly, and that I had not taken the caution you since have given us in your excellent "Enthusiasm," and which I might have foreseen. But to commute for this, it still lies in the dust of my study, where 'tis like to be for ever buried. Sir, I return you a thousand thanks for the favour and honour you have done me, and which I should have sooner acknowledged, had I not been from home when your letter came to my house: I shall now beg of God to restore your health, not for the satisfaction of my impertinent inquiries, but for the universal republic of learning, and the benefit which all good men derive from the fruits of your worthy labour, who am, &c. Dr. Thomas Good to John Evelyn. MR. EVELYN, Baliol College, 13th Dec., 1675. for Many years and troublesome are past and gone since you lived gentleman commoner amongst us, insomuch as you seem to have forgotten your old college; you were in Oxford last act, and did not vouchsafe us a visit. The last year I wrote a letter, to you, showing how unfortunate our college has been by reason of the late wars, and the dreadful fire in London; besides, you have printed several books, and not bestowed one of them upon our college library; these things I thought fit to signify unto you, to make you sensible that we did expect more kindness from a gentleman of your parts and ingenuity; you may resent as you please, they are intended out of a respect to you, as some time a member of our college, from him that is Your friend and servant, THOMAS GOOD. SIR, John Evelyn to Dr. Good. The letter which was left at my house some time since, has been so little out of my thoughts, that I have ever since placed it so in my study as seldom there has passed a day, when I have been at home (which indeed has been very seldom, in regard of much business taking me almost continually from thence for more than these twe years past), wherein I have not looked on the inscription as a monitor, obliging me to give you an account of it; and that I have not hitherto done it was not out of any forgetfulness, but because I could not do it so effectually as I desired, by reason of some inconvenient circumstances which I have ever since, and do still lie under; there being due to me little less than 2000l., most of it for rent, which you may believe is no small disorder to me and my family, who have little other dependence. It is not to every one that I would discover this infirmity, but I assure you it has been the only cause why I answered not your letter, having it still in my resolution to gratify your patience so soon as I was in some handsomer condition. This, as I am a Christian, has been the cause of my remissness; which I cannot yet be so disingenuous as not to acknowledge a fault, and, indeed, want of good manners in me, complicated, as you justly reproach me, with my passing by you lately at Oxford without waiting upon you. I have only to say for that, that unless it were for a gentleman of Magdalen College, who was sick, I was not at liberty to make one visit all the time of my stay, tied as I was to attend to those ladies with whom I came down, not for my pleasure, but business at the assizes at Northampton, which hurried me out of the town when I had resolved to wait upon you and make this apology. As to the books which I have written, I never sent any one that I can tell of, but what were required of me expressly; for though I have had the vanity to publish, and to think some of them might be useful to persons of my little force, I did not think them considerable enough to make any public present of. The honour they have done me in marking them in the Bodleian Catalogue was not only beside my expectation, but beyond my merit or ambition. Thus, Sir, I have endeavoured to reply to the various periods of your letter with all truth and sincerity; the reproaches you give me are but what indeed I deserve, nor will I farther extenuate the causes of them. I am only sorry that the posture of my affairs does not permit me to make the college a handsome present. I am, dear Sir, Your most humble and faithful servant, J. EVELYN.' Dr. Thomas Good to John Evelyn. WORTHY SIR, Baliol College, Oxford, 2nd March, 1675-6. I do not remember that there was one syllable in my late letter tending to your reproach: it is true I imputed a piece of unkindness to you in passing by your old college and your old friend unsaluted, for which you have made ample satisfaction by your apology, and have given a sufficient testimony that you have not forgotten the place or your education by your free and liberal remembrance of us, for which be pleased to accept of this return of our hearty thanks; and, notwithstanding your modest expressions concerning your ingenious books, if you shall vouchsafe to bestow them upon our library, you will very much oblige our whole society, and especially, Your very thankful and humble servant, 1 Evelyn has endorsed this letter (which is without date) as follows: "I now sent him by Dr. Crouch 20%, which was much more than Dr Good expected, as I since understood from him." Dr. John Fell (Bishop of Oxford) to John Evelyn. April 26, 1676. SIR, We must never forget the obligation which my Lord Marshal has laid upon the university in the donation of his Marbles; and, while we remember that, cannot choose to bear in mind your great kindness in that affair. Having at last finished the account of his and our other monuments, they are all dedicated to my Lord, and would be presented to him by the mediation of the same person who was so instrumental in the gift of them. The bearer hereof is the editor, by whose industry and care the work was done; and he is ordered by Mr. Vice Chancellor, in the name of the university, to present you with a copy, as a testimony of the sense they have of your favour to them. This is all that I have at present to trouble you with, adding my wishes of all health to you, I remain, Sir, &c., JOHN OXON. Anne, Countess of Sunderland, to John Evelyn. February 11, 1677-8. I am most confident of your friendly wishes, and value them extremely. For this honour the King has done my Lord, I cannot think it worth the rejoicing much at as times now are; I have else reason to be glad for what you mention; I could say much to you of my thoughts of this matter, but it is my waiting day: I pray God to direct my Lord, and prosper him to the good of his country, and to God's glory; pray for him and me, and I am sincerely your friend, A. SUNDERLAND. 1 See ante, pp. 198-200. All the circumstances of the gifts are de tailed in the Diary, vol. ii. pp. 32-34. Mr. Howard was now Lord Howard. He was created baron in 1669, and succeeded as sixth Duke of Norfolk in 1677. For private circumstances connected with his life, which gave great offence to Evelyn, see Diary, vol. ii. pp 65 and 125. 2 Lord Sunderland was appointed Secretary of State at this time. Anne, Countess of Sunderland, to John Evelyn. March 3, 1677-8. I believe the news of the Duke and Duchess being gone will surprise you, as it does other people; the King has declared that he commanded his brother to retire. I beseech God it may produce the effects hoped for from it. I am heartily grieved for poor Lady S., who has gone with them, it is so bad weather. I thought myself obliged, on all accounts, to tell you this by letter, which should be longer, but I am not well. Your very sincere friend, A. SUNDERLAND. Anne, Countess of Sunderland, to John Evelyn. Whitehall, 28th October, 1678. I can never want inclination to give you any satisfaction in my power, but there is yet very little discovery made. On Saturday the Commons made an address to the King to banish all the Catholics to twenty miles from London, which was favourably answered. There were named to go to-night to visit the prisoners in Newgate, Lord Treasurer, Lord Shaftesbury, Lord Essex, Lord Clarendon, and the Bishop of London, in order to examine them, and to report to the House; but they could not learn any thing of them; found Coleman very insolent, and not at all inclined to enlighten them. They are to go again to-day, to try for better success. This day the two Houses were much alarmed with Sir Edward Rich, of Lincolnshire, coming when they were sitting, and bidding them begone, or they would all be blown up; upon which there was search made, but nothing found, and he looked upon as a madman. The Commons sent up to the Lords to join with them in making all papists incapable of sitting in either House, but as yet they have done nothing in it. There is a strange consternation amongst all sorts of people. I beseech God to fit us to bear all the sad things we have in prospect preMadam Mazarin was named in the House of pared for us. |