John Evelyn was born in
Wotton, Surrey, in 1620. He spent most of his early life in Lewes,
Sussex. After being educated at Balliol College,
Oxford, he spent several years travelling
in Europe.
Evelyn was a supporter
of Charles
I and after his
execution in 1649 he went into exile. He returned in 1652 and eventually
became a fellow of the Royal Society. After the Restoration
Evelyn joined the royal court of Charles
II.
In 1661 he published a
book on pollution, The Inconvenience of the
Air and Smoke of London Dissipated. This was followed by
A Disclosure of Forest Trees (1664).
After the Great
Fire of London in 1666 Evelyn submitted proposals for the rebuilding
of the capital. He also published Navigation
and Commerce (1674).
John Evelyn died in 1706.
His diaries covering the years 1641-1706 were found in an old clothes-basket
in 1817 and provide vivid portraits of public figures of the period.
(1)
John Evelyn, diary (11th
June, 1652)
The weather being hot,
and having sent my man on before, I rode negligently under favour
of the shade, till within three miles of Bromley, at a place called
Procession Oak, two cut-throats started out, and striking with long
staves at the horse and taking hold of the reins threw me down, took
my sword, and haled me into a deep thicket some quarter of a mile
from the highway, where they did might securely rob me, as they soon
did. What they got of money was not considerable, but they took two
rings, the one an emerald with diamonds, the other an onyx, and a
pair of buckles set with rubies and diamonds, which were of value,
and after all bound my hands behind me, and my feet, having before
pulled off my boots; they then set me up against an oak, with the
most bloody threats to cut my throat if I offered to cry out or make
any noise.
(2)
In his diary John Evelyn
described Charles
II entering
London in May 1660.
There were 20,000 soldiers...
shouting with joy; the streets covered with flowers, the bells ringing,
fountains running with wine.
(3)
John
Evelyn, diary
entry (17 October,
1660)
The traitors executed were
Scroop, Cook and Jones. I did not see their execution, but met their
quarters mangled and cut and reeking as they were brought from the
gallows in baskets.
(4)
John
Evelyn, diary
entry (28th March, 1667)
The Royal Society experimented with the transfusion of blood.
They took blood successfully out of a sheep and put it into a dog.
The sheep died but the dog is well.
(5)
John
Evelyn, diary
entry (4th February, 1685)
He (Charles II) was a prince of many virtues, and many great
imperfections. He would doubtless have been an excellent prince had
he been less addicted to women. He had many great faults... He neglected
the needs of the people... Wars, plagues, fires made his reign very
troublesome and unprosperous.
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