Evelyn's Diary. 15 Apr 1654. I went to London to hear the famous Jeremy Taylor (age 41) (since Bishop of Down and Connor) at St. Gregory's (near St. Paul's) on Matt. vi, 48, concerning evangelical perfection.

Evelyn's Diary. 18 Mar 1655. Went to London, on purpose to hear that excellent preacher, Dr. Jeremy Taylor (age 42), on Matt. xiv. 17, showing what were the conditions of obtaining eternal life; also, concerning abatements for unavoidable infirmities, how cast on the accounts of the cross. On the 31st, I made a visit to Dr. Jeremy Taylor (age 42), to confer with him about some spiritual matters, using him thenceforward as my ghostly father. I beseech God Almighty to make me ever mindful of, and thankful for, his heavenly assistances!

Evelyn's Diary. 28 Aug 1655. Came that renowned mathematician, Mr. Oughtred (age 81), to see me, I sending my coach to bring him to Wotton, Surrey [Map], being now very aged. Among other discourse, he told me he thought water to be the philosopher's first matter, and that he was well persuaded of the possibility of their elixir; he believed the sun to be a material fire, the moon a continent, as appears by the late selenographers; he had strong apprehensions of some extraordinary event to happen the following year, from the calculation of coincidence with the diluvian period; and added that it might possibly be to convert the Jews by our Savior's visible appearance, or to judge the world; and therefore, his word was, "Parate in occursum"; he said original sin was not met with in the Greek Fathers, yet he believed the thing; this was from some discourse on Dr. Taylor's (age 42) late book, which I had lent him.

Evelyn's Diary. 12 Apr 1656. Mr. Berkeley (age 7) and Mr. Robert Boyle (age 29) (that excellent person and great virtuoso), Dr. Taylor (age 43), and Dr. Wilkins (age 42), dined with me at Sayes Court [Map], when I presented Dr. Wilkins (age 42) with my rare burning-glass. In the afternoon, we all went to Colonel Blount's (age 52), to see his newly-invented plows.

Evelyn's Diary. 06 May 1656. I brought Monsieur le Franc, a young French Sorbonnist, a proselyte, to converse with Dr. Taylor (age 43); they fell to dispute on original sin, in Latin, upon a book newly published by the Doctor, who was much satisfied with the young man. Thence, to see Mr. Dugdale (age 16), our learned antiquary and herald. Returning, I was shown the three vast volumes of Father Kircher's, "Obeliscus Pamphilius" and "Ægyptiacus"; in the second volume I found the hieroglyphic I first communicated and sent to him at Rome by the hands of Mr. Henshaw (age 38), whom he mentions; I designed it from the stone itself brought me to Venice from Cairo by Captain Powell.

Evelyn's Diary. 07 May 1656. I visited Dr. Taylor (age 43), and prevailed on him to propose Monsieur le Franc to the Bishop that he might have Orders, I having sometime before brought him to a full consent to the Church of England, her doctrine and discipline, in which he had till of late made some difficulty; so he was this day ordained both deacon and priest by the Bishop of Meath. I paid the fees to his lordship, who was very poor and in great want; to that necessity were our clergy reduced! In the afternoon I met Alderman Robinson, to treat with Mr. Papillion about the marriage of my cousin, George Tuke, with Mrs. Fontaine.

Evelyn's Diary. 25 Mar 1657. Dr. Taylor (age 44) showed me his MS. of "Cases of Conscience", or "Ductor Dubitantium", now fitted for the press.

Evelyn's Diary. 07 Jun 1657. My fourth son was born, christened George (after my grandfather); Dr. Jeremy Taylor (age 44) officiated in the drawing-room.

Evelyn's Diary. 16 Jul 1657. On Dr. Jeremy Taylor's (age 44) recommendation, I went to Eltham, Greenwich, to help one Moody, a young man, to that living, by my interest with the patron.

Evelyn's Diary. 25 Feb 1658. Came Dr. Jeremy Taylor (age 45), and my brothers, with other friends, to visit and condole with us.

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.

Pepy's Diary. 28 Nov 1665. Up before day, and Cocke (age 48) and I took a hackney coach appointed with four horses to take us up, and so carried us over London Bridge [Map]. But there, thinking of some business, I did 'light at the foot of the bridge, and by helpe of a candle at a stall, where some payers were at work, I wrote a letter to Mr. Hater, and never knew so great an instance of the usefulness of carrying pen and ink and wax about one: so we, the way being very bad, to Nonsuch [Map], and thence to Sir Robert Longs (age 65) house; a fine place, and dinner time ere we got thither; but we had breakfasted a little at Mr. Gawden's, he being out of towne though, and there borrowed Dr. Taylor's (age 52) sermons, and is a most excellent booke and worth my buying, where had a very good dinner, and curiously dressed, and here a couple of ladies, kinswomen of his, not handsome though, but rich, that knew me by report of The. Turner (age 13), and mighty merry we were.

Evelyn's Diary. 26 Feb 1680. To the Royal Society, where I met an Irish Bishop (age 53) with his Lady, who was daughter to my worthy and pious friend, Dr. Jeremy Taylor, late Bishop of Down and Connor; they came to see the Repository. She seemed to be a knowing woman, beyond the ordinary talent of her sex.