Evelyn's Diary. 25 Dec 1657. I went to London with my wife (age 22), to celebrate Christmas-day, Mr. Gunning (age 43) preaching in Exeter chapel [Map], on Micah vii. 2. Sermon ended, as he was giving us the Holy Sacrament, the chapel was surrounded with soldiers, and all the communicants and assembly surprised and kept prisoners by them, some in the house, others carried away. It fell to my share to be confined to a room in the house, where yet I was permitted to dine with the master of it, the Countess of Dorset (age 35), Baroness Hatton (age 45), and some others of quality who invited me. In the afternoon, came Colonel Whalley, Goffe, and others, from Whitehall [Map], to examine us one by one; some they committed to the marshal [Map], some to prison. When I came before them, they took my name and abode, examined me why, contrary to the ordinance made, that none should any longer observe the superstitious time of the nativity (so esteemed by them), I durst offend, and particularly be at common prayers, which they told me was but the mass in English, and particularly pray for Charles Stuart (age 27); for which we had no Scripture. I told them we did not pray for Charles Stuart (age 27), but for all Christian kings, princes, and governors. They replied, in so doing we prayed for the king of Spain, too, who was their enemy and a Papist, with other frivolous and ensnaring questions, and much threatening; and, finding no color to detain me, they dismissed me with much pity of my ignorance. These were men of high flight and above ordinances, and spoke spiteful things of our Lord's nativity. As we went up to receive the Sacrament, the miscreants held their muskets against us, as if they would have shot us at the altar; but yet suffering us to finish the office of Communion, as perhaps not having instructions what to do, in case they found us in that action. So I got home late the next day; blessed be God!

Evelyn's Diary. 07 Mar 1658. To London, to hear Dr. Taylor (age 45) in a private house on Luke xiii. 23, 24. After the sermon, followed the blessed Communion, of which I participated. In the afternoon, Dr. Gunning (age 44), at Exeter House [Map], expounding part of the Creed.

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Jan 1660. Annus Mirabilis. Begging God's blessings for the following year, I went to Exeter Chapel [Map], when Mr. Gunning (age 46) began the year on Galatians iv. 3-7, showing the love of Christ in shedding his blood so early for us.

Pepy's Diary. 01 Jan 1660. (Lord's Day) This morning (we living lately in the garret) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other, clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gunning's (age 46) chapel at Exeter House [Map], where he made a very good sermon upon these words: - "That in the fulness of time God sent his Son, made of a woman", &c.; showing, that, by "made under the law", is meant his circumcision, which is solemnized this day.

Pepy's Diary. 02 Sep 1663. He being gone, I to my office, where late, putting things in order, and so home to supper and to bed. Going through the City, my Lord Mayor (age 48) told me how the piller set up by Exeter House [Map] is only to show where the pipes of water run to the City; and observed that this City is as well watered as any city in the world, and that the bringing the water to the City hath cost it first and last above £300,000; but by the new building, and the building of St. James's by my Lord St. Albans (age 58)¹, which is now about (and which the City stomach I perceive highly, but dare not oppose it), were it now to be done, it would not be done for a million of money.

Note 1. It was at this time that the Earl of St. Albans (age 58) planned St. James's Square, which was first styled "The Piazza". The "Warrant for a grant to Baptist May and Abraham Cowley (age 45) on nomination of the Earl of St. Albans of several parcels of ground in Pall Mall [Map] described, on rental of £80, for building thereon a square of 13 or 14 great and good houses", was dated September 24th, 1664.

Pepy's Diary. 19 Jan 1665. Up, and it being yesterday and to-day a great thaw it is not for a man to walk the streets, but took coach and to Mr. Povy's (age 51), and there meeting all of us again agreed upon an answer to the Lords by and by, and thence we did come to Exeter House [Map], and there was a witness of most [base] language against Mr. Povy (age 51), from my Lord Peterborough (age 43), who is most furiously angry with him, because the other, as a foole, would needs say that the £26,000 was my Lord Peterborough's (age 43) account, and that he had nothing to do with it. The Lords did find fault also with our answer, but I think really my Lord Ashly (age 43) would fain have the outside of an Exchequer¹, but when we come better to be examined.

Note 1. This word is blotted, and the whole sentence is confused.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Jan 1667. Thence to Exeter House [Map] to the Doctors Commons, and there with our Proctors to Dr. Walker, who was not very well, but, however, did hear our matters, and after a dull seeming hearing of them read, did discourse most understandingly of them, as well as ever I heard man, telling us all our grounds of pretence to the prize would do no good, and made it appear but thus, and thus, it may be, but yet did give us but little reason to expect it would prove, which troubled us, but I was mightily taken to hear his manner of discourse.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Jan 1667. So down to the Hall, and thence with our company to Exeter House [Map], and then did the business I have said before, we doing nothing the first time of going, it being too early. At home find Lovett, to whom I did give my Baroness Castlemayne's (age 26) head to do. He is talking of going into Spayne to get money by his art, but I doubt he will do no good, he being a man of an unsettled head.

Pepy's Diary. 25 Mar 1667. Ladyday. Up, and with Sir W. Batten (age 66) and Sir W. Pen (age 45) by coach to Exeter House [Map] to our lawyers to have consulted about our trial to-morrow, but missed them, so parted, and Sir W. Pen (age 45) and I to Mr. Povy's (age 53) about a little business of Sir W. Pen's (age 45), where we went over Mr. Povy's (age 53) house, which lies in the same good condition as ever, which is most extraordinary fine, and he was now at work with a cabinet-maker, making of a new inlaid table. Having seen his house, we away, having in our way thither called at Mr. Lilly's (age 48), who was working; and indeed his pictures are without doubt much beyond Mr. Hales's (age 67), I think I may say I am convinced: but a mighty proud man he is, and full of state.

Pepy's Diary. 25 Mar 1667. So home, and to the office, and by and by to dinner, a poor dinner, my wife and I, at Sir W. Pen's (age 45), and then he and I before to Exeter House [Map], where I do not stay, but to the King's playhouse; and by and by comes Mr. Lowther (age 26) and his wife (age 16) and mine, and into a box, forsooth, neither of them being dressed, which I was almost ashamed of. Sir W. Pen (age 45) and I in the pit, and here saw "The Mayden Queene" again; which indeed the more I see the more I like, and is an excellent play, and so done by Nell (age 17), her merry part, as cannot be better done in nature, I think.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Mar 1667. Having put him in a way of preparing himself for the voyage, I did go to the Swan [Map], and there sent for Jervas, my old periwig maker, and he did bring me a periwig, but it was full of nits, so as I was troubled to see it (it being his old fault), and did send him to make it clean, and in the mean time, having staid for him a good while, did go away by water to the Castle Taverne, by Exeter House [Map], and there met Sir W. Batten (age 66), Sir W. Pen (age 45), and several others, among the rest Sir Ellis Layton, who do apply himself to discourse with me, and I think by his discourse, out of his opinion of my interest in Sir W. Coventry (age 39), the man I find a wonderful witty, ready man for sudden answers and little tales, and sayings very extraordinary witty, but in the bottom I doubt he is not so. Yet he pretends to have studied men, and the truth is in several that I do know he did give me a very inward account of them. But above all things he did give me a full account, upon my demand, of this judge of the Admiralty, Judge Jenkins; who, he says, is a man never practised in this Court, but taken merely for his merit and ability's sake from Trinity Hall, where he had always lived; only by accident the business of the want of a Judge being proposed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury (age 68) that now is, he did think of this man and sent for him up: and here he is, against the 'gre' and content of the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very excellent man both for judgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all men's report, not to be corrupted.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Dec 1667. After dinner comes Mr. Moore, and he and I alone a while, he telling me my Lord Sandwich's (age 42) credit is like to be undone, if the bill of £200 my Lord Hinchingbrooke (age 19) wrote to me about be not paid to-morrow, and that, if I do not help him about it, they have no way but to let it be protested. So, finding that Creed hath supplied them with £150 in their straits, and that this is no bigger sum, I am very willing to serve my Lord, though not in this kind; but yet I will endeavour to get this done for them, and the rather because of some plate that was lodged the other day with me, by my Lady's order, which may be in part of security for my money, as I may order it, for, for ought I see, there is no other to be hoped for. This do trouble me; but yet it is good luck that the sum is no bigger. He gone, I with my cozen Roger (age 50) to Westminster Hall [Map]; and there we met the House rising: and they have voted my Lord Chief Justice Keeling's (age 60) proceedings illegal; but that, out of particular respect to him, and the mediation of a great many, they have resolved to proceed no further against him. After a turn or two with my cozen, I away with Sir W. Warren, who met me here by my desire, and to Exeter House [Map], and there to counsel, to Sir William Turner, about the business of my bargain with my Lady Batten; and he do give me good advice, and that I am safe, but that there is a great many pretty considerations in it that makes it necessary for me to be silent yet for a while till we see whether the ship be safe or no; for she is drove to the coast of Holland, where she now is in the Texell, so that it is not prudence for me yet to resolve whether I will stand by the bargain or no, and so home, and Sir W. Warren and I walked upon Tower Hill [Map] by moonlight a great while, consulting business of the office and our present condition, which is but bad, it being most likely that the Parliament will change all hands, and so let them, so I may keep but what I have.