In 1638 Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham (age 16) educated at Inner Temple.

Evelyn's Diary. 27 May 1641. Arrived at Hague, I went first to the Queen of Bohemia's (age 44) Court, where I had the honour to kiss her Majesty's (age 44) hand, and several of the Princesses' her daughters. Prince Maurice (age 20) was also there, newly come out of Germany, and my Lord Finch (age 19), not long before fled out of England from the fury of the Parliament. It was a fasting-day with the Queen for the unfortunate death of her husband, and the presence-chamber had been hung with black velvet ever since his decease.

Evelyn's Diary. 20 Aug 1641. I purposely changed my lodgings, being desirous to converse with the sectaries that swarmed in this city, out of whose spawn came those almost innumerable broods in England afterwards. It was at a Brownist's house, where we had an extraordinary good table. There was in pension with us my Lord Keeper, Finch (age 19), and one Sir J. Fotherbee. Here I also found an English Carmelite, who was going through Germany with an Irish gentleman. I now went to see the Weesehouse, a foundation like our Charterhouse, for the education of decayed persons, orphans, and poor children, where they are taught several occupations. The girls are so well brought up to housewifery, that men of good worth, who seek that chiefly in a woman, frequently take their wives from this hospital. Thence to the Hasphouse, where the lusty knaves are compelled to work; and the rasping of brasil and logwood for the dyers is very hard labour. To the Doolhouse, for madmen and fools. But none did I so much admire, as an hospital for their lame and decrepit soldiers and seamen, where the accommodations are very great, the building answerable; and, indeed, for the like public charities the provisions are admirable in this country, where, as no idle vagabonds are suffered (as in England they are), there is hardly a child of four or five years old, but they find some employment for it.

Pepy's Diary. 04 Aug 1660.To White Hall, where I found my Lord gone with the King by water to dine at the Tower with Sir J. Robinson (age 45), Lieutenant. I found my Lady Jemimah at my Lord's, with whom I staid and dined, all alone; after dinner to the Privy Seal Office, where I did business. So to a Committee of Parliament (Sir Heneage Finch (age 38), Chairman), to give them an answer to an order of theirs, "that we could not give them any account of the Accounts of the Navy in the years 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, as they desire". After that I went and bespoke some linen of Betty Lane in the Hall, and after that to the Trumpet, where I sat and talked with her, &c. At night, it being very rainy, and it thundering and lightning exceedingly, I took coach at the Trumpet door, taking Monsieur L'Impertinent along with me as far as the Savoy, where he said he went to lie with Cary Dillon (age 33)¹, and is still upon the mind of going (he and his whole family) to Ireland. Having set him down I made haste home, and in the courtyard, it being very dark, I heard a man inquire for my house, and having asked his business, he told me that my man William (who went this morning-out of town to meet his aunt Blackburne) was come home not very well to his mother, and so could not come home to-night. At which I was very sorry. I found my wife still in pain. To bed, having not time to write letters, and indeed having so many to write to all places that I have no heart to go about them. Mrs. Shaw did die yesterday and her husband so sick that he is not like to live.

Note 1. Colonel Cary Dillon (age 33), a friend of the Butlers, who courted the fair Frances; but the engagement was subsequently broken off, see December 31st, 1661.

Pepy's Diary. 15 Aug 1661. Thence to the Opera, which begins again to-day with "The Witts", never acted yet with scenes; and the King and Duke (age 27) and Duchess (age 24) were there (who dined to-day with Sir H. Finch (age 39), reader at the Temple [Map], in great state); and indeed it is a most excellent play, and admirable scenes. So home and was overtaken by Sir W. Pen (age 40) in his coach, who has been this afternoon with my Lady Batten, &c., at the Theatre [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 22 Dec 1663. This day I hear for certain that my Baroness Castlemaine's (age 23) is turned Papist, which the Queene (age 54) for all do not much like, thinking that she do it not for conscience sake. I heard to-day of a great fray lately between Sir H. Finch's (age 41) coachman, who struck with his whip a coachman of the King's to the losse of one of his eyes; at which the people of the Exchange [Map] seeming to laugh and make sport with some words of contempt to him, my Lord Chamberlin (age 61) did come from the King (age 33) to shut up the 'Change [Map], and by the help of a justice, did it; but upon petition to the King (age 33) it was opened again.

Pepy's Diary. 03 May 1664. Thence walked to Westminster Hall [Map]; and there, in the Lords' House, did in a great crowd, from ten o'clock till almost three, hear the cause of Mr. Roberts (age 30), my Lord Privy Seal's (age 58) son, against Win, who by false ways did get the father of Mr. Roberts's wife (age 27) (Mr. Bodvill) to give him the estate and disinherit his daughter (age 27). The cause was managed for my Lord Privy Seal (age 58) by Finch (age 42) the Solicitor [General]; but I do really think that he is truly a man of as great eloquence as ever I heard, or ever hope to hear in all my life.

Pepy's Diary. 14 Jun 1664. So home to dinner, and after dinner by coach to Kensington. In the way overtaking Mr. Laxton, the apothecary, with his wife and daughters, very fine young lasses, in a coach; and so both of us to my Lady Sandwich (age 39), who hath lain this fortnight here at Deane Hodges's. Much company came hither to-day, my Baroness Carteret (age 62), &c., Sir William Wheeler (age 53) and his lady, and, above all, Mr. Becke, of Chelsy, and wife and daughter, my Lord's mistress, and one that hath not one good feature in her face, and yet is a fine lady, of a fine taille, and very well carriaged, and mighty discreet. I took all the occasion I could to discourse with the young ladies in her company to give occasion to her to talk, which now and then she did, and that mighty finely, and is, I perceive, a woman of such an ayre, as I wonder the less at my Lord's favour to her, and I dare warrant him she hath brains enough to entangle him. Two or three houres we were in her company, going into Sir H. Finche's (age 42) garden, and seeing the fountayne, and singing there with the ladies, and a mighty fine cool place it is, with a great laver of water in the middle and the bravest place for musique I ever heard. After much mirthe, discoursing to the ladies in defence of the city against the country or court, and giving them occasion to invite themselves to-morrow to me to dinner, to my venison pasty, I got their mother's leave, and so good night, very well pleased with my day's work, and, above all, that I have seen my Lord's mistresse.

In 1666 Peter Lely (age 47). Portrait of Heneage Finch 1st Earl Nottingham (age 44).

Pepy's Diary. 01 Sep 1667. Lord's Day. Up, and betimes by water from the Tower, and called at the Old Swan [Map] for a glass of strong water, and sent word to have little Michell and his wife come and dine with us to-day; and so, taking in a gentleman and his lady that wanted a boat, I to Westminster. Setting them on shore at Charing Cross [Map], I to Mrs. Martin's, where I had two pair of cuffs which I bespoke, and there did sit and talk with her.... [Missing text: "and no mas, ella having aquellos [ those ] upon her"] and here I did see her little girle my goddaughter, which will be pretty, and there having staid a little I away to Creed's chamber, and when he was ready away to White Hall, where I met with several people and had my fill of talk. Our new Lord-keeper, Bridgeman (age 61), did this day, the first time, attend the King (age 37) to chapel with his Seal. Sir H. Cholmly (age 35) tells me there are hopes that the women will also have a rout, and particularly that my Baroness Castlemayne (age 26) is coming to a composition with the King (age 37) to be gone; but how true this is, I know not. Blancfort (age 26) is made Privy-purse to the Duke of York (age 33); the Attorney-general (age 69) is made Chief justice, in the room of my Lord Bridgeman (age 61); the Solicitor-general (age 45) is made Attorney-general; and Sir Edward Turner (age 50) made Solicitor-general.

Pepy's Diary. 03 Apr 1668. After dinner by water from the Tower to White Hall, there to attend the Duke of York (age 34) as usual, and particularly in a fresh complaint the Commissioners of the Treasury do make to him, and by and by to the Council this day of our having prepared certificates on the Exchequer to the further sum of near £50,000, and soon as we had done with the Duke of York (age 34) we did attend the Council; and were there called in, and did hear Mr. Sollicitor (age 46) [General] make his Report to the Council in the business; which he did in a most excellent manner of words, but most cruelly severe against us, and so were some of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, as men guilty of a practice with the tradesmen, to the King's prejudice. I was unwilling to enter into a contest with them; but took advantage of two or three words last spoke, and brought it to a short issue in good words, that if we had the King's order to hold our hands, we would, which did end the matter: and they all resolved we should have it, and so it ended: and so we away; I vexed that I did not speak more in a cause so fit to be spoke in, and wherein we had so much advantage; but perhaps I might have provoked the Sollicitor (age 46) and the Commissioners of the Treasury, and therefore, since, I am not sorry that I forbore.

Pepy's Diary. 06 Apr 1668. Thence I to White Hall to attend the Council, and when the Council rose we find my order mightily enlarged by the Sollicitor Generall (age 46), who was called thither, making it more safe for him and the Council, but their order is the same in the command of it that I drew, and will I think defend us well. So thence, meeting Creed, he and I to the new Cocke (age 51)-pitt by the King's gate, and there saw the manner of it, and the mixed rabble of people that come thither; and saw two battles of cocks, wherein is no great sport, but only to consider how these creatures, without any provocation, do fight and kill one another, and aim only at one another's heads, and by their good will not leave till one of them be killed; and thence to the Park in a Hackney coach, so would not go into the tour, but round about the Park, and to the House, and there at the door eat and drank; whither come my Lady Kerneagy (age 29), of whom Creed tells me more particulars; how her Lord, finding her and the Duke of York (age 34) at the King's first coming in too kind, did get it out of her that he did dishonour him, and so bid her continue... [Note. Missing text ... to let him, and himself went to the foulest whore he could find, that he might get the pox; and did, and did give his wife it on purpose, that she (and he persuaded and threatened her that she should) might give it the Duke of York; which she did, and he did give it to the Duchesse; and since, all her children are thus sickly and infirm ], which is the most pernicious and full piece of revenge that ever I heard of; and he at this day owns it with great glory, and looks upon the Duke of York (age 34) and the world with great content in the ampleness of his revenge.

Pepy's Diary. 29 Oct 1668. At the office all the morning, where Mr. Wren (age 39) first tells us of the order from the King (age 38), came last night to the Duke of York (age 35), for signifying his pleasure to the Sollicitor-General (age 46) for drawing up a Commission for suspending of my Lord Anglesey (age 54), and putting in Sir Thomas Littleton (age 47) and Sir Thomas Osborne, the former a creature of Arlington's (age 50), and the latter of the Duke of Buckingham's (age 40), during the suspension. The Duke of York (age 35) was forced to obey, and did grant it, he being to go to Newmarket, Suffolk this day with the King (age 38), and so the King (age 38) pressed for it. But Mr. Wren (age 39) do own that the Duke of York (age 35) is the most wounded in this, in the world, for it is done and concluded without his privity, after his appearing for Lord Anglesey (age 54), and that it is plain that they do ayme to bring the Admiralty into Commission too, and lessen the Duke of York (age 35). This do put strange apprehensions into all our Board; only I think I am the least troubled at it, for I care not at all for it: but my Lord Brouncker (age 48) and Pen do seem to think much of it.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Apr 1669. Up; and with my own coach as far as the Temple [Map], and thence sent it to my cozen Turner, who, to ease her own horses, that are going with her out of town, do borrow mine to-day. So I to Auditor Wood's, and thereto meet, and met my Lord Bellassis (age 54) upon some business of his accounts, and having done that did thence go to St. James's, and attended the Duke of York (age 35) a little, being the first time of my waiting on him at St. James's this summer, whither he is now newly gone and thence walked to White Hall; and so, by and by, to the Council-Chamber, and heard a remarkable cause pleaded between the Farmers of the Excise of Wiltshire, in complaint against the justices of Peace of Salisbury: and Sir H. Finch (age 47) was for the former. But, Lord! to see how he did with his admirable eloquence order the matter, is not to be conceived almost: so pleasant a thing it is to hear him plead. Then at noon by coach home, and thither by and by comes cozen Turner, and The. (age 17), and Joyce, in their riding-clod: they being come from their lodgings to her husbands chamber, at the Temple [Map], and there do lie, and purpose to go out of town on Friday next; and here I had a good dinner for them.

Evelyn's Diary. 25 Jun 1679. The new Commissioners of the Admiralty came to visit me, viz, Sir Henry Capell (age 41), brother to the Earl of Essex (age 47), [his son] Mr. Finch (age 31), eldest son to the Lord Chancellor (age 57), Sir Humphry Winch (age 57), Sir Thomas Meeres (age 45), Mr. Hales, with some of the Commissioners of the Navy. I went with them to London.

Evelyn's Diary. 12 Feb 1686. My greate cause was heard by my Lord Chancellor (age 40), who granted me a re-hearing. I had 6 eminent lawyers, my antagonists 3, whereof one was the smooth-tong Solicitor, whom my Lord Chancellor (age 40) reprov'd in greate passion for a very small occasion. Blessed be God for his greate goodnesse to me this day.